Posted on 11/16/2010 2:27:11 PM PST by T Minus Four
WEST JORDAN -- More women--and some men, too-- are turning to knitting or crocheting. It's something meaningful they can do for others without spending a lot of money.
At Kamille's knit and crochet shop at Gardner Village, owner Kamille Bauer said their classes have never been so popular.
"People will say, 'Where did you buy that? You made that? No way, how did you make that?' And it's really a fun confidence builder," she said.
Bauer said people are finding out they can save a lot of money by making a cute beanie, headband, socks, blanket or gloves themselves. But they also love giving their handiwork to others.
"I think one of the most special gifts you can give somebody is the gift of your time," she said.
She says one year, she and her husband made scarves for everyone for Christmas gifts.
"So many things are trendy and cute and handmade that you want to make. You'll go into high-end boutiques or baby shops and spend $30 on a beanie, when you could make that in an hour and a half," she said.
Their moms and kids classes are popular, and in other classes Bauer sees 18-year-olds and 64-year-olds sitting next to each other finding things in common as they knit or crochet.
She said there's some nostalgia attached too -- their knit Christmas stocking classes and patterns are very popular, and people tell her the stockings remind them of something their grandma used to make
You seem to handle yours better. :o])
And I’m off to bed. It was a “busy” day today. I’m still trying to process it all.
Best wishes for a good night!
If you have elderly relatives, try making them knee warmers...they work great for those who have had knees replaced. I used sock yarn and put some skinny elastic in the top and bottom to hold them up for my hubby. Or elbow warmers. They both are just simple tubes. I have fingerless hand mitts, to keep my hands warm in the winter. It also keeps the pain level down. I quilt mostly, knit and crochet a little.
That looks like my quilting room! LOL And as bad as hubby’s work/tool shed.
Because Arthur is a problem with my hands I had to relearn how to hold a crochet hook. And use the middle vision in my progressives to see to do the work.
Join or die: https://www.ravelry.com/account/login
If only I could sew....I can do a very basic pattern but I have a friend who makes wedding dresses and I’m so impressed. I don’t really want to be that accomplished but I would love to do something a little more complex than kid Halloween costumes.
The fact that you can piece together knitting to make sweaters and socks seems like you could sew stuff. You have the patience!
But alas, I don’t have the skill or a sewing friend who has the time to help me. Like any handcraft, it makes all the difference to have someone more skilled by your side as you learn.
Oh boy, isn't that the truth! I just started fooling around with it, and suddenly I craved yarn like chocolate. I yearned for yarn. I would try to decide what I would do with yarn I wanted, buying a book or a pattern for it. I thought maybe I was being a little, well, obsessive.
Then I learned this is perfectly normal behavior in knitters and crocheters and it's called a STASH! I just buy yarn for the wheer pleasure of it now :-)
Oh my gosh, I’m making that :-)
This is true, yarn is expensive. I don't do it to save money and would never wear anything I could knit, except maybe a scarf or hat.
I have tried on and off for years to knit and I finally discovered some really good Youtube videos. I am very visual.
Try Youtube, it helped me so much.
Friday :-)
That’s a good idea, I will try it. I’ve been wanting to try knitting a tube with three needles anyway.
That look like a fun site! Joining now!
It’s a great web community. Great web-interface software. You will love it. I’m surprised you did not know of it yet.
Since my hands won’t allow that, all I do is make a rectangle and sew sides together with a length of yarn.
32 cast on makes a good adult hand mitt, just leave an opening for the thumb and close the top with a couple of stitches. I make mine to come up and cover the wrist as it aches from the cold, they could go up further if necessary. They work better for driving for me than regular gloves because it leaves my fingers free to grip the steering wheel...or work on a project if hubby is driving.
I like sock yarn for these and the knee warmers.
62 cast on will fit a 175lb man’s knee/leg. That is the beauty of knitting it can be tailored to fit the wearer...btw those leg warmers things that go on top of boots are making a come back so I’ve been told. And would make a good gift for a young person for CHRISTmas along with a matching scarf.
If you have older lady relatives and you crochet just take a 10.5 inch square and edge it...makes beautiful hankies. I do 2 foundation rows of single crochet, then a popcorn stitch in every other stitch for the next row. Next row is chain 3 and slip stitch in every other stitch, next row chain 3 and slip stitch to the sets of chain 3 of the last row. Makes a lacy looking border..I like the fine weight thread for this if you can find it.
I get to go play in my quilting room today...first time in about 5 days. :)
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