Projects For When You Are Out of Knitting Projects

Sweetie Luvv on Knitlist wrote asking for suggestions for something to knit now that she was caught up. I sent her this answer :

I have it in the back of my mind that I'd like to make slippers or dishcloths or some other small, practical item and stash them for gift giving (if I ever get to the point where I'm caught up on projects).

We had a woman who worked with us years ago who crocheted slippers. When Christmas came she loaded the table in the breakroom with slippers of all colors and types. We had such fun chosing our own special pairs! That lady is now dead, but I still have my last pair of "Mary slippers" and I cherish them.

I received this note in response to my post:

Baby car seat blankets. You would think, being nearly 44, that I'd be running out of friends having babies, but I swear, I've had to knit about 5 of these things this year and got to the point (they're quick and easy) that I started making extras. You never know when you'll need a shower gift!! Dishcloths are another project I like to do when I don't have a project.

Karel Lea, TN

The link I used to have posted here no longer works. Try using your favorite search engine for "knitted baby car seat blanket pattern" or some variation of these words to see if you can find another. --iij

Hm... regular baby blankets, especially simple ones like basketweave or the dishcloth pattern, would be just as useful to have in a gift stash as the car seat blankets. Scarves and neckwarmers would be other 'quickie" gift projects. I like getting suggestions! I'm noticing that a lot of these "non-projects" are portable and use up the yarn stash. More plusses for this project!

I'll post to this blog any other suggestions I get. Readers, please send your favorites to me at tilla2@yahoo.com.

Some ideas that I have seen mentioned on knitlist include:

1. Knitting for charity. The list seems endless : mittens, chemo caps, baby blankets, children's vests... Contact the charity of your choice and see what they need. Here's one mentioned on knitlist :

You could join us on the Mittens_For_Akkol Yahoo Groups list and knit for
the kids in the orphanage in Akkol, Kazakhstan where temps this winter dipped to
40 below zero and the kids have inadequate clothing. There is more info
here: _http://www.knit-on.com Choose the "Help Others" option to get to the page.

Charity items can also include:
Blanket pieces (Warm Up! America)
Hats (shelters, Afghans 4 Afghans, Caps for Kids)
Mittens (shelters, local schools and tutoring programs)
Slippers (Toasty Toes)
Baby items (local charity hospital maternity ward)
Chemo caps
Scarves (Christmas at Sea - also hats and mittens)
Over on KnitTalk we have a folder with info about charity groups and activities to which members can contribute. --- Margo Lynn
2. Bedding for animal shelters.

3. Socks.

4. Hats

5. Knit squares (in all different stitches of course), for a future “sampler” afghan. This one uses up those bits of yarn, and is nice and portable. -- Lois

6. Cat toys. =^..^= They only take an hour or two (mostly) and they use up odd scraps of yarn. ---Eileen
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e111/lindydiva/CatToys_1.jpg

7. Make a dog sweater. Here's a great pattern. http://www.redlipstick.net/knit/chihswe.html

8. Garter stitch coin purse, from Mari.

Cast on enough stitches to make a piece about 3" wide, then knit for about 6 inches and make a yarn over buttonhole and knit a few more rows then cast off. Fold so that the buttonhole overlaps and sew up the sides to make a pouch. It could also be made longer for a cell phone cozy or an eyeglass case. A few people I taught to knit have done this. They would learn to cast on, knit, yarn over, cast off and sew a simple seam.

9. Baby blankets or sweaters are good, because you never know when you will need something in a hurry! -- Margo Lynn