Ode to Lightweight Knitting Projects


I have three projects on the needles not counting the never ending blanket, and all three are taking forever.  I know, two are lace weight and the sweater, well it's a sweater.  Sometimes I feel like a broken record (vinyl of course) repeating myself about my progress on each one.  However, isn't that what knitting is all about?

Knitters have quick and easy projects that are knit up in a few days - the down and dirty instantly satisfying knits.  I love those for maximum holiday knitting or for that obscure skein of yarn that I wonder why on earth I bought only one!


I'm attracted to lightweight knitting projects for many reasons.  Here are a few:

Lightweight knitting projects make my hands extremely happy, the more tiny the needles the more ease I feel knitting.

In the summer, having a wispy pile of lightweight wool on my lap makes me happy.  Summer is not the time for worsted weight wool in a large project.

Sweaters in lightweight wool fit me and can be worn all year round.  I get maximized wearing hours!


Lightweight projects can tuck inside a lovely project bag and then into a purse.  The portability is divine and I'm never idle when I waiting for my husband while he looks at bikes.  Yep, lightweight projects work wonders in a bike shop.


Lightweight wool yields to yards and yards of pleasurable knitting.  A tiny balled up skein a wool can pack nearly 437-800+ yards of knitting bliss.  Sigh.  That just makes me swoon when I think about it.

Links to my projects:   The Perfect Sweater Whiteout Shawl granny smith wrap shawl


I'd love to know what weight wool you like to knit with and the reasons!

Comments

  1. BonnyJuly 28, 2017 at 8:02 AM

    I knit mainly with fingering weight, because like you, it feels more comfortable. I don't think I'm quite patient enough for lace weight and I've never knit a fingering weight sweater. Size 3 or 4 needles for a Hitchhiker, or smaller for socks just feel right in my hands. I did some worsted weight mitts with size 7 needles last year and they felt uncomfortably large!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenJuly 30, 2017 at 6:08 PM

      You might like a fingering weight sweater :) I love your hitchhikers that you knit!

      Delete
  2. DebbieJuly 28, 2017 at 9:17 AM

    My favorite weight yarn to knit with is fingering weight because of comfort and I like the texture and weight of the finished product. Have a good weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenJuly 30, 2017 at 6:07 PM

      We are soul sisters with Steph. I agree with you 100%

      Delete
  3. VeraJuly 28, 2017 at 9:21 AM

    Fingering!! I do have Sigla on the needles, but that is languishing in the heat. I mostly knit socks and shawls and just love all the different colors and combinations you can get in fingering weight. Plus the smaller needles are much easier on my hands.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenJuly 30, 2017 at 6:07 PM

      You are talented with the color combining, I'm getting better!!

      Delete
  4. AnonymousJuly 28, 2017 at 10:35 AM

    I mostly knit in fingering weight, but I recently did a project in lace weight and LOVE that too. Of course, sometimes you have a worsted weight that you'd like to do. Or maybe a DK.

    I guess it's ALL GOOD!

    Have a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenJuly 30, 2017 at 6:06 PM

      you have the best fingering weight projects!!

      Delete
  5. kathy bJuly 28, 2017 at 11:15 AM

    Oh bike shops and knitting! I'm there with you. As for wool weight: fingering is always my friend. However, I actually knit a worsted shawl earlier in the year for the first time. For twiddle mitt s there is nothing like bulky and crochet to make them fast! My hands and wrists love lightweight fingering. But Lace and I have never seen eye to eye despite it being as light as air! Hows that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenJuly 30, 2017 at 6:06 PM

      I liked your worsted weight shawl, it turned out beautifully!

      Delete
  6. DeborahJuly 28, 2017 at 3:33 PM

    I like all weights of yarn for different projects, but I usually knit socks in the summer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenJuly 30, 2017 at 6:05 PM

      I should do more sock knitting! I like the portability of them :)

      Delete
  7. AnonymousJuly 28, 2017 at 3:42 PM

    I don't mind knitting with fingering weight for a shawl. I don't know if I can do that with a garment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJuly 29, 2017 at 11:49 AM

      I'm sorry you've been dragging through the second installment. That can be a bummer. You are disciplined to soldier through a book you're not fond of. I would usually give a book at least 25% and if I'm underwhelmed then I'll DNF it.

      Delete
  8. MaryJuly 28, 2017 at 6:08 PM

    Fingering and sport are my favorite, but boy is it fun to knit a worsted weight sweater on size 7 or 8 needles! (your projects are LOVELY!)

    ReplyDelete
  9. JaneJuly 28, 2017 at 6:51 PM

    I enjoy knitting on anything from fingering to worsted although I favor the lighter weights. I like to rotate yarn weights so my hands, wrists, forearms stay healthy.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Juliann in WAJuly 29, 2017 at 10:40 AM

    I have knit mostly with fingering weight. I am hopi g to try something in a dk soon and I have a bulky weight sweater that is just wanting one more sleeve. Guess I am all over the place!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jeannie Gray KnitsJuly 29, 2017 at 12:49 PM

    My favorite weight is a thickish fingering weight. I knit super loose so thinner fingering weight projects tend to look like lace no matter the pattern and anything heavier than worsted bothers my carpal tunnel. As much as I like to knit with fingering, I prefer to knit hats with worsted - probably because I only wear them if it's 50 below zero. (I know! It's scandalous to be a knitter who doesn't like wearing hats.)

    ReplyDelete
  12. my sisters knitterJuly 29, 2017 at 2:37 PM

    Lightweight wool is my frenemy! I adore it, but yes it does make the project last a bit longer. I love lace and fingering weight and despite the smaller needles...it remains my number one love.
    Oh those beautiful sweaters are making me want to cast on a laceweight one right now.
    Blanket progress...stunning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenJuly 30, 2017 at 6:05 PM

      you have beautiful knits :) Thanks for the blanket love, yours is beautiful as well.

      Delete
  13. UnknownJuly 29, 2017 at 4:40 PM

    I have 3 projects going now too. Unfortunately, none of them are lightweight projects. I'm actually starting to think about Christmas projects, and most of those are lightweight, so I'll be looking forward to that.

    I like to crochet with wool in the winter, but in the summer, I love cotton, or a cotton/silk, linen/silk blend.

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenJuly 30, 2017 at 6:04 PM

      In the summer I knit with lace weight the most. In the winter anything goes. Christmas!! eep!

      Delete
  14. CathieJJuly 30, 2017 at 6:58 AM

    I have trouble with the small needles needed for lightweight knitting projects....my hands cramp up, but I do like your reasoning. I rarely have many knitting projects at once, but I have several cross-stitch projects. Your post has made me want to start a new yarn project though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenJuly 30, 2017 at 6:03 PM

      What a bummer about the cramping! I'm glad you still find knits to work with though.

      Delete
  15. Caffeine GirlJuly 30, 2017 at 9:44 AM

    I tend to prefer projects make from lighter weights. I get warm easily, so they are just more comfortable. Of course, they do take longer so I occasionally go for worsted-weight for my own gratification!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenJuly 30, 2017 at 6:03 PM

      I do love the thinness of fingering weight knits, but it is a knitting commitment!

      Delete
  16. Lisa-24-7July 30, 2017 at 9:51 AM

    Stumbled upon your blog and decided to chime in :) I like light weight as well, usually in the form of socks, which are very very portable. I live in Texas, so I pretty much have to be working light weight or I'll never wear it!

    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenJuly 30, 2017 at 6:02 PM

      I'm thrilled you stumbled upon my blog and chimed it, sounds like we have similar likes. I lived in Texas a long time ago for two years :)

      Delete
  17. chrisknitsJuly 30, 2017 at 10:11 AM

    Anything but lace or bulky, although a bulky now and then is fun!

    ReplyDelete
  18. stephJuly 30, 2017 at 1:33 PM

    you KNOW we're kindred spirits here....the lighter the better....the tinier needles, the better, too!!! Love LOVE your projects.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Amy at love made my homeJuly 31, 2017 at 3:59 AM

    I like lighter yarns as I find heavy things too heavy to hold and work on!

    ReplyDelete
  20. AlinaJuly 31, 2017 at 5:49 PM

    I am all up for lightweight knits - love the sight of light, spiderweb fabric growing out of a tiny thread. But overall I like to switch back and forth between different yarn weights - I feel like it sparkles my imagination and inspires me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenAugust 2, 2017 at 3:20 PM

      variety is a good thing, I switch to thicker wools for small projects :)

      Delete
  21. autumngeishaAugust 1, 2017 at 9:28 AM

    Worsted weight projects used to dominate my knitting but since discovering the joys of sock knitting, I am a convert to the joys of fingering weight projects and tiny needles. I am intrigued by the idea of a fine weight sweater project such as the lovely one you have on the needles...would make a perfect all seasons garment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenAugust 2, 2017 at 3:21 PM

      It is the perfect all seasons garment, and thanks for commenting and visiting today :)

      Delete

Post a Comment


Your comments are welcome as long as they are relevant to the post and spread joy, thank you for visiting and sharing your ideas.

Popular posts from this blog

Weekends

Image
My weekend happily contained: -wearing the above woolens all at the same time without being hot -so many walks and taking in the changing leaves. -a leaf shower on Saturday-the wind swirled the leaves off the trees up in the air to float down -changing screen savers to autumn themes! -a craft fair where my husband and I say "we could make that", but we don't. -french fries at the craft fair -scrambled eggs and toast for dinner because we were lazy. -football season has descended in my house. he was in the front room watching whatever is on today -I sat in the family room and watched A Tree Grows in Brooklyn .   Now I want to read it again. -Oh! I finished the socks!! So I wound up about six skeins of yarn and have three projects ready -started a cowl for me in fall colors (I hope to finish before fall ends) -enjoying Spirits of Joy .  Hannah graciously had a one day free sign up for her birthday at the end of September which I luckily saw on Twitter.  Than...
Read more

Happy List

Image
  - neighborhood pumpkins - my oak trees showing off - new friends at 'school' - Tai Chi hour - lunch out with my husband - cold morning walks - an unexpected warm up - all the fall knitting (imagined and real) - wearing wool - browsing knitting patterns - sister outings - dark chocolate - blue skies - neighborhood dogs - the kids coming to visit next weekend - the to-do lists that I am creating - afternoon reading (possible snooze) - apples! - soups! - hearing the breeze whisper through the trees - setting intentions - giving myself grace when I need it the most - solitude - grandchildren laughing - Holly being Holly - Blue skies - phone calls from family and friends - the kindness of others - assuming everyone is doing their best - drinking water and staying hydrated - hot decaf green tea in a BIG mug - first sip of coffee - geese flying in V formation and honking all the way (delightful!!) - Focusing on gratitude - focusing on joy  What would make your happy list?
Read more

Knitting News

Image
  Good morning to you! How are you? I'm excited about my hat that I've been knitting enjoying the sea of stockinette stitches. When I first started the hat I thought it would be too small, now I wonder if it will be too big. Gah. I will find out soon I guess. I wish the photo about showed how beautiful the colors are in real life, you'll have to trust me on this! Below is my next knitting project, the habitation throw . I will definitely use the pink and gray, I'm still not sure about that purple, I might have a look-see in my stash and do another ponder about that color. I chose this pattern because I can use up some of my stash and I adore Helen Stewart's patterns. What are you working on this week? Also: I will probably not be posting this Friday and the following Monday because of my family visiting. I hope to be back next Wednesday (unless I change my mind).
Read more