I'm 21, a senior in college, been knitting for over 10 years. Ravelry: raspberryseeds Links go to ravelry project pages. For tumblr posts on a project, search project name in search bar.
A little flip through of my project journal.
This might seem an exhaustive way to keep track of everything. But I enjoy spending time updating it. I can also use it as a quick way to get pattern information for anyone who asks 🤗
Btw almost all these projects are from the start of this year.
“What I do is not up to you”
This is the Wonder Women Wrap by @carissabrowning using @hedgehogfibres sock in Sin and Pollen that I picked up from one of my favorite LYS, @fibrespace
___________ #KnitMyFeelings #wonderwoman #wonderwomanwrap #hedgehogfibres #wwwrapkal #knityourfeminism #knitstagram #knitting #knit #knittersofinstagram #weareknitters #yarn #yarnporn #knittingneedles #ravelry #wip #yarnaddict #happyknitter #nevernotknitting #knitlife #instaknit #igknitters #knittingaddict #yarnofinstagram #watchmewip #moreshawlsplease
#FibreSpaceFO (at Hill East, Washington)
Welcome to my collection of knowledge on the online knitting and crochet community! If you’ve recently learned how to knit or crochet, or even if you’ve been knitting for years, you might be wondering how to meet other yarn enthusiasts or find patterns online. Look no further for all the information (mostly links to Ravelry groups) you need to get started in the online world of fiber art!
The Star of the Show:
Ravelry.com ~ Really the one essential online tool for knitting/crochet. It’s basically Facebook for knitters and crocheters, only way, way better. This’ll be your one-stop shop for patterns, keeping track of your own projects, and connecting with other crafters across the globe. A lot of the other links in this post will be on this website, so you’ll need an account.
KALs:
KALs (Knit-A-Longs) and their crochet counterparts, CALs, are when a group of people decide to make the same project at the same time and track their progress together. They’re great for meeting new people, getting motivation to learn a new technique, or asking questions to people who are already familiar with the pattern you’re working on.
Sock Knitters ~ What it sounds like: they knit socks. They also always have some sort of KAL going on.
KAL Fanatics ~ A giant forum listing currently happening KALs, CALs, MKALs (Mystery Knit-A-Longs), and MCALs
Beginner’s Knit-Along ~ Knit-A-Longs especially for beginners. The KALs never close, so there’s no deadline pressure!
12 Months of Christmas 2017 ~ Planning on knitting or crocheting gifts for friends and family for the holidays? Join over 700 people trying to do the same thing
Competitive Groups:
Maybe you’re more competitive than cooperative. Lucky for you, there are a few great options for you to show off your skills and maybe even earn prizes while you’re at it.
Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup ~ An ongoing competition, and it’s Harry Potter themed! ‘Nuff said.
Tour de Sock ~ This competition happens every summer. It’s a knitting frenzy of socks being made while raising money for charity. It also has a Ravelry group so you can track your progress and discuss with other sock knitters.
NaKniSweMo ~ You’ve heard of NaNoWriMo, the novel-writing challenge that comes around every November, now get ready for that, but with knitting! This group aims to knit a 50,000 stitch sweater every November while their writer friends are writing novels.
Groups by Garment Type:
Are you crazy for hats? Maybe you love knitting socks or crocheting cowls. There’s a group for you. Here’s some to get you started.
Just Learned How to Knit (or crochet)? We Want to Be Your Friend!
So you’ve just decided that you want to learn how to make beautiful loopy fabric with some sticks. Or maybe you’re using a hook, I don’t have anything against crocheters, I just personally prefer knitting :P
You might be wondering how to find other people who can give you tips and tricks and discuss patterns and techniques with you. Well, look no further because I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about the knitting community, online and in your local area. We’re a pretty friendly bunch, so don’t be afraid to meet someone new!
Join Ravelry. Do it. Right now.
Trust me, if you don’t have one already, you’re going to want a Ravelry account. It’s like Facebook for knitting, only way better. This’ll be your one-stop shop for patterns, keeping track of your own projects, and connecting with other crafters across the globe. I could go on and on about all the features it has but it’ll save time to just check it out yourself. You’ll be surprised how much time you might spend looking at and queuing up pretty patterns instead of knitting!
Look up Knitting/Crochet Tumblrs, Blogs, etc.
Tumblr, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram are your friends. Embrace them and embrace the people you meet through them.
Join a KAL.
If you go on Ravelry like I demanded strongly suggested and you see the letters KAL, that stands for Knit-a-Long, which is when a bunch of people all decide to knit the same project, usually around the same time. This can be great for both meeting new people and getting tips on specific techniques because everyone will be struggling through difficult parts together. You won’t need to worry about not understanding the pattern, either, because you’ll have tons of other people to ask. Anyway, knitters love helping, so ask away!
Visit your LYS.
More acronyms! This one stands for Local Yarn Store - any store that specializes in all things yarn (100x better than your local Joann or Michael’s). Some yarn stores will have classes or groups that you can attend to meet other knitters/crocheters in your area. Plus, the staff are generally friendly and knowledgeable so you can ask them anything about problems you’re having or yarn substitutions you might want to make for a pattern.
Find a Local Stitch ‘n Bitch.
That’s a fancy term for knitting club, but I think Stitch ‘n Bitch sounds way more fun and less like you’re in middle school. For this, you can look on Ravelry, find one through your LYS or even through Meetup and other similar sites. It can be a really fun time to mix your crafting hobby with socializing, if that’s your thing.
Enter in County/State Fairs
If you’re in the US, you might have a nearby county or state fair that goes on during the Summer where you can submit entries in knitting or crochet (and much more!) You might even earn a few dollars or an awesome ribbon for your efforts! In my state, there’s also an opportunity to volunteer at the exhibit itself, which basically entailed sitting at a table for a couple hours and knitting so that people can see the process that goes into making the projects on display.
That’s all I have for now. Hopefully I’ve given you everything you need to get started with meeting other knitters and crocheters.
A non-knitter can live with you for years and still have no idea that if you have finished a pair of socks in less than a week, most likely a miracle has occurred.
dededos
kianamaiart
turnnoffyourmind
baratheonpilled
areudirty
romaincrisis
snowghoul
