Are there any knitters out there? **disclosure: I am a big nerd!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I have always wanted to learn to knit. I took it up a couple years ago and tried to learn to make wash clothes as a start. It turned out ok, but I kept making mistakes and getting frustrated. I learned that I was using needles that were way to small for beginners among other things. I ended up getting frustrated and losing interest, mainly because I couldn't think of anything that motivated me to make. I already have too many scarves, I'm afraid I couldn't make anything nice enough to give as a gift, and sweaters and socks are too complicated for a beginner.

 

A friend recently sent me a link about a campaign in New Zealand to knit sweaters for penguins to protect them from an oil spill. http://jezebel.com/5851711/the-worldwide-campaign-to-knit-sweaters-...  - how cute are they??  Maybe I could give this a try...

 

I was also thinking of knitting a sweater for Sophie, and so I'm wondering if there are any knitters on DK who have an easy pattern for a doggie sweater... how fun would it be to establish a DK knitting club?? (told you, I'm a big nerd).

 

 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

For some reason my computer isn't allowing me to reply to peoples comments, so I'll just do it like this:

 

Ricki, Amber looks adorable in that Sweater!!

 

Jen, thanks for the link, and I know exactly what you mean about the claws of death...

 

Rose Ann, i wish I could find a way to make money from knitting, but I doubt anyone wants a lopsided sweater with holes in it that will unravel as you wear it ... :-\

[Rose Ann and Amante]

Practice and patience. Try Jo Ann Fabric. They offer work sessions were you can go in and work on whatever you want. Someones is there to help you as you go. I used to go all the time. Sometimes just to get out of house. I learned a lot. From everyone not just the JoAnn lady!!

[Rhonda, Marabelle & Jeriki]

I love to knit haven't done it in so long though. I think I may start again.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I am a knitter and a crocheter.  I used to do it all the time while my husband watched television but I got a pair of earphones for the television for him to wear  and now I can read while he watches television.  So I have been reading more and knitting less.  The sweater I have been knitting for my mother may not get finished this winter, but it is way too warm for a sweater right now.  Maybe I can finish it by Christmas.

A suggestion for you.  Have you ever seen felting?  You take something that has been knitted or crocheted and then you poke it with some special needles that turn it into a felted item.  It's fun and easy to get into.  They would be great little doggie or kitty sweaters (or hats, or collars, etc.)  Something else to think about.  There were a lot of little felted items at the county fair this year.

[Kyoko]

Those tiny sweaters are cute! But they look like they can fit into cut up sweater sleeves or knitted socks which may be more cost effective?!

[Lorraine Bromley]

I think it was on Doodle kisses about a couple of topics first that there is a site that you can send your doodle hair too and they can spin it into wool for you, or have it knitted for you. There is also another site that says that they collect dog hair for use in making booms for oil spills as it is the best material for the job. So if you were able to knit the penguins sweaters from dog hair would that do a better job?