How Long Does It Take?

Hello everyone,

This is a great group, and many names are familiar as I'm a crossover
visitor from R.C.T.N. I have only recently taught myself the basic
rudiments of knitting because I want warm socks that don't slide down
the leg, and have real toes & heels. This doesn't seem to be an option
for any store to supply, so here I sit, tangled in my wonderful alpaca
with my bamboo dpns.

Since I'm actually making visable headway on my first sock (working on
the heel flap), DH has announced he'd like a few pairs of socks, DDs
want 1 sweater, 1 hoodie, 1 pair fingerless gloves, and two leg warmers.
DGM would like a toque, scarf & mitten set, and I wouldn't mind making
a few pair of socks for myself! Now, given that I only have a couple of
hours in the evenings to knit, and also given that this one sock has
taken me exactly one week to get this far, is there an 'average'
ballpark time it takes to knit these things? Am I looking at Christmas
presents for next year? lol

Maureen

Wooly wrote:
Just my two cents, mind...

Sounds like it's time to teach DH and DD to knit.

Otherwise the answer is: it will take as long as it takes for you to
do the knitting. The only person who can say how long that will be is
you, because we don't know how fast you knit.

I second that! Send everybody off to knitting classes, and knit for YOU
until you are a lot more experienced. I'm still working on a sweater
for me which has taken over a year, and I have been knitting since
childhood. (Mind you, I did have pneumonia in the middle of it, so that
stopped work for a long time). All those requests sound like Christmas
presents for 2010. Do NOT allow yourself to be pushed into this, you
will regret it.

In the meantime, enjoy working on and then wearing your own socks.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

On Jan 2, 7:41*pm, Olwyn Mary wrote:
Wooly wrote:
Just my two cents, mind...

Sounds like it's time to teach DH and DD to knit. *

Otherwise the answer is: it will take as long as it takes for you to
do the knitting. *The only person who can say how long that will be is
you, because we don't know how fast you knit.

I second that! *Send everybody off to knitting classes, and knit for YOU
until you are a lot more experienced. *I'm still working on a sweater
for me which has taken over a year, and I have been knitting since
childhood. *(Mind you, I did have pneumonia in the middle of it, so that
stopped work for a long time). *All those requests sound like Christmas
presents for 2010. *Do NOT allow yourself to be pushed into this, you
will regret it.

In the meantime, enjoy working on and then wearing your own socks.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com

Maureen as my former learned knitting proffessors Wooly amd Olwyn
Mary , wrote ,,, we can`t tell you how long any thing will take you to
knit, but we all agree that it should also be fun ,,,, i don`t know
your schedule and life style , but i knit in public transport , in
waiting rooms , while speaking on the phone etc.... i am a slow
knitter , but i manage to make stuff ,,, Enjoy your socks ,,,, and
arrange the order of knitting according to your good feelings ,,,
mirjam

HI Maureen.

Congratulations on learning how to knit. Of course everyone knits at
a different pace. As you knit more, you will become more efficient
and knit more quickly. Thicker yarn knits more quickly than thinner
yarn. Socks take longer than simple scarves, and so on.

If you want to make gifts for your family, I say go for it. I'd start
with scarves and work your way up. I was able to knit a simple scarf
in an evening or two when I first learned to knit. A couple of
summers ago, I was sick and couldn't do much more than knit, and made
4 or 5 pairs of socks for gifts. I haven't had time like that since,
so no knitted Christmas gifts this year.

Best of Luck!

Hesira

On Jan 2, 10:47*am, Maureen Miller
wrote:
Hello everyone,

This is a great group, and many names are familiar as I'm a crossover
visitor from R.C.T.N. *I have only recently taught myself the basic
rudiments of knitting because I want warm socks that don't slide down
the leg, and have real toes & heels. *This doesn't seem to be an option
for any store to supply, so here I sit, tangled in my wonderful alpaca
with my bamboo dpns.

Since I'm actually making visable headway on my first sock (working on
the heel flap), DH has announced he'd like a few pairs of socks, DDs
want 1 sweater, 1 hoodie, 1 pair fingerless gloves, and two leg warmers.
* DGM would like a toque, scarf & mitten set, and I wouldn't mind making
a few pair of socks for myself! *Now, given that I only have a couple of
hours in the evenings to knit, and also given that this one sock has
taken me exactly one week to get this far, is there an 'average'
ballpark time it takes to knit these things? *Am I looking at Christmas
presents for next year? lol

Maureen

A good rule of thumb for any hobby:

Inch by inch, it's a cinch. Yard by yard, it's hard. You may think you
learn more in leaps and bounds, but a little bit at a time and you'll be
done in no time.
When I rode the bus to work, it'd take me an hour each way instead of 30
minutes, but that was some great knitting time. I don't have that now, even
though I drive 5 miles.

"Maureen Miller" wrote in message
news:ZePej.65896$vd4.7361@pd7urf1no...
Hello everyone,

This is a great group, and many names are familiar as I'm a crossover
visitor from R.C.T.N. I have only recently taught myself the basic
rudiments of knitting because I want warm socks that don't slide down the
leg, and have real toes & heels. This doesn't seem to be an option for
any store to supply, so here I sit, tangled in my wonderful alpaca with my
bamboo dpns.

Since I'm actually making visable headway on my first sock (working on the
heel flap), DH has announced he'd like a few pairs of socks, DDs want 1
sweater, 1 hoodie, 1 pair fingerless gloves, and two leg warmers. DGM
would like a toque, scarf & mitten set, and I wouldn't mind making a few
pair of socks for myself! Now, given that I only have a couple of hours
in the evenings to knit, and also given that this one sock has taken me
exactly one week to get this far, is there an 'average' ballpark time it
takes to knit these things? Am I looking at Christmas presents for next
year? lol

Maureen

In article ZePej.65896$vd4.7361@pd7urf1no,
Maureen Miller wrote:
Hello everyone,

This is a great group, and many names are familiar as I'm a crossover
visitor from R.C.T.N. I have only recently taught myself the basic
rudiments of knitting because I want warm socks that don't slide down
the leg, and have real toes & heels. This doesn't seem to be an option
for any store to supply, so here I sit, tangled in my wonderful alpaca
with my bamboo dpns.

Um... I do hope that's an alpaca blend. Alpaca is wonderful soft yarn,
but it does tend to stretch out. You can get elastic thread to put
in the tops that will help them stay up. If there's merino wool blended
with it, that will help give the fabric some body.

Since I'm actually making visable headway on my first sock (working on
the heel flap), DH has announced he'd like a few pairs of socks, DDs
want 1 sweater, 1 hoodie, 1 pair fingerless gloves, and two leg warmers.
DGM would like a toque, scarf & mitten set, and I wouldn't mind making
a few pair of socks for myself! Now, given that I only have a couple of
hours in the evenings to knit, and also given that this one sock has
taken me exactly one week to get this far, is there an 'average'
ballpark time it takes to knit these things? Am I looking at Christmas
presents for next year? lol

Encouragement is good. Having people actually want something you make
sure beats having them say "You could buy that at [storename] for less."
But yes, at best I'd say those are next year's gifts - birthday,
Valentine's Day, Christmas, etc. - all year long.

It takes me about three days to knit a toque, depending on how much
time I can spend to work on it. If I have all day, I can finish one
in a day. When I was an obsessed college student with time to spare
and a long Christmas vacation, I once made a sweater in one month.

First, finish the socks for yourself and test-wear them.

Then _after_they're_done_, go through the pattern and count how many
stitches are in them, and how long it took, and figure how much those
socks cost, at minimum wage for the time, plus three times the cost
of the yarn. Inform the family, cheerfully. You want them to know.
Handknit socks by Mom do have a dollar value as well, and that's time
you might have spent doing something else, like making socks for
yourself.

Then negotiations can begin for which gets done first. The simplest
ones (scarf and leg warmers) will take a long time, so you may want
to do the smaller projects first, for a quick success. I think the
toque, the mittens, and then the scarf would be good. (Alpaca is
good for all of those.) Then either the fingerless gloves or take
a break and do the miles of leg warmers. Last of all come the big
items, the sweater and the hoodie. Remember to knit a pair of socks
for yourself between knitting major items for other people.

Also, tell them that they should buy the yarn so they'll get the exact
colors and materials they want, and to be sure to buy enough, all of
the same dye lot. Discuss pattern and fit - do they want skin tight,
lightly skimming the body, loose, or huge and slouchy?

Then you can suggest that if they want the things sooner, they are
intelligent people who can learn to knit and be cool and warm at the
same time.

=Tamar

You know, I decided when I got this alpaca for Christmas that I'd make a
pair of socks out of it because it's so soft and warm. I'm a slow
knitter to start with, partly because I'm new to this and holding four
needles feels awkward, and partly because I want to sit back and enjoy
the knitting and the relaxation that goes with it. I'm actually
honoured that the family wants me to make all these things for them and
I'm looking forward to the hugs when I get each project knitted. ) I
only wondered how long it would take an 'average' knitter who knows what
they're doing because I know I'm still slow at it, and don't want to
promise things like leg warmers and sweaters until next Christmas
because it would be silly to present these things in the summer heat.
lol I don't mind if it takes me 6 months for one pair of socks as long
as I'm enjoying it and the things I give as gifts are 'season
appropriate'. ) It's sure good to be able to come here for advice
though!

Maureen In Vancouver, B.C.

Richard Eney wrote:
In article ZePej.65896$vd4.7361@pd7urf1no,
Maureen Miller wrote:

Hello everyone,

This is a great group, and many names are familiar as I'm a crossover
visitor from R.C.T.N. I have only recently taught myself the basic
rudiments of knitting because I want warm socks that don't slide down
the leg, and have real toes & heels. This doesn't seem to be an option
for any store to supply, so here I sit, tangled in my wonderful alpaca
with my bamboo dpns.


Um... I do hope that's an alpaca blend. Alpaca is wonderful soft yarn,
but it does tend to stretch out. You can get elastic thread to put
in the tops that will help them stay up. If there's merino wool blended
with it, that will help give the fabric some body.


Since I'm actually making visable headway on my first sock (working on
the heel flap), DH has announced he'd like a few pairs of socks, DDs
want 1 sweater, 1 hoodie, 1 pair fingerless gloves, and two leg warmers.
DGM would like a toque, scarf & mitten set, and I wouldn't mind making
a few pair of socks for myself! Now, given that I only have a couple of
hours in the evenings to knit, and also given that this one sock has
taken me exactly one week to get this far, is there an 'average'
ballpark time it takes to knit these things? Am I looking at Christmas
presents for next year? lol


Encouragement is good. Having people actually want something you make
sure beats having them say "You could buy that at [storename] for less."
But yes, at best I'd say those are next year's gifts - birthday,
Valentine's Day, Christmas, etc. - all year long.

It takes me about three days to knit a toque, depending on how much
time I can spend to work on it. If I have all day, I can finish one
in a day. When I was an obsessed college student with time to spare
and a long Christmas vacation, I once made a sweater in one month.

First, finish the socks for yourself and test-wear them.

Then _after_they're_done_, go through the pattern and count how many
stitches are in them, and how long it took, and figure how much those
socks cost, at minimum wage for the time, plus three times the cost
of the yarn. Inform the family, cheerfully. You want them to know.
Handknit socks by Mom do have a dollar value as well, and that's time
you might have spent doing something else, like making socks for
yourself.

Then negotiations can begin for which gets done first. The simplest
ones (scarf and leg warmers) will take a long time, so you may want
to do the smaller projects first, for a quick success. I think the
toque, the mittens, and then the scarf would be good. (Alpaca is
good for all of those.) Then either the fingerless gloves or take
a break and do the miles of leg warmers. Last of all come the big
items, the sweater and the hoodie. Remember to knit a pair of socks
for yourself between knitting major items for other people.

Also, tell them that they should buy the yarn so they'll get the exact
colors and materials they want, and to be sure to buy enough, all of
the same dye lot. Discuss pattern and fit - do they want skin tight,
lightly skimming the body, loose, or huge and slouchy?

Then you can suggest that if they want the things sooner, they are
intelligent people who can learn to knit and be cool and warm at the
same time.

=Tamar

Richard Eney wrote:

In article ZePej.65896$vd4.7361@pd7urf1no,
Maureen Miller wrote:

Um... I do hope that's an alpaca blend. Alpaca is wonderful soft yarn,
but it does tend to stretch out. You can get elastic thread to put
in the tops that will help them stay up. If there's merino wool blended
with it, that will help give the fabric some body.

Uh oh. No, it's pure alpaca. I wanted it because I loved it at the
local yarn & craft fair held just before Christmas. Actually I wanted
alpacas, but that's a whole story by itself. )

Encouragement is good. Having people actually want something you make
sure beats having them say "You could buy that at [storename] for less."
But yes, at best I'd say those are next year's gifts - birthday,
Valentine's Day, Christmas, etc. - all year long.

I'm glad. A year's worth of knitting is really something to look
forward to!

It takes me about three days to knit a toque, depending on how much
time I can spend to work on it. If I have all day, I can finish one
in a day. When I was an obsessed college student with time to spare
and a long Christmas vacation, I once made a sweater in one month.

I'm thinking more like two weeks for the toque, and 6 months for the
sweater. I have only a couple of hours 4 nights of the week and that's
it. But that's o.k. I enjoy the other things that keep me so busy, as
much as I do the knitting.

First, finish the socks for yourself and test-wear them.

That's my plan. Tonight I got the heel finished, and part of the
gusset. Tomorrow night I'm hoping for the foot, or most of it, and I'll
either finish this first sock tomorrow night, or the next night. Either
way I'm happy.

Also, tell them that they should buy the yarn so they'll get the exact
colors and materials they want, and to be sure to buy enough, all of
the same dye lot. Discuss pattern and fit - do they want skin tight,
lightly skimming the body, loose, or huge and slouchy?

DD 1 has already bought the chenielle in electric blue for her leg
warmers and they're getting fitted, but not TOO fitted everything to
wear when I make them because I'm mom and they're not allowed to wear
skin tight anything! lol

Then you can suggest that if they want the things sooner, they are
intelligent people who can learn to knit and be cool and warm at the
same time.

Well lets see now....do I want to sit here and pull my hair out while
teaching them to knit, or let them go to the mall which in turn will
give me a couple of hours free time to knit things up myself? No choice
to make there! lol

=Tamar

Maureen In Vancouver, B.C.

On Jan 3, 10:34*am, Maureen Miller
wrote:
You know, I decided when I got this alpaca for Christmas that I'd make a
pair of socks out of it because it's so soft and warm. *I'm a slow
knitter to start with, partly because I'm new to this and holding four
needles feels awkward, and partly because I want to sit back and enjoy
the knitting and the relaxation that goes with it. *I'm actually
honoured that the family wants me to make all these things for them and
I'm looking forward to the hugs when I get each project knitted. ) *I
only wondered how long it would take an 'average' knitter who knows what
they're doing because I know I'm still slow at it, and don't want to
promise things like leg warmers and sweaters until next Christmas
because it would be silly to present these things in the summer heat.
lol *I don't mind if it takes me 6 months for one pair of socks as long
as I'm enjoying it and the things I give as gifts are 'season
appropriate'. ) *It's sure good to be able to come here for advice
though!

Maureen In Vancouver, B.C.



Richard Eney wrote:
In article ZePej.65896$vd4.7361@pd7urf1no,
Maureen Miller wrote:

Hello everyone,

This is a great group, and many names are familiar as I'm a crossover
visitor from R.C.T.N. *I have only recently taught myself the basic
rudiments of knitting because I want warm socks that don't slide down
the leg, and have real toes & heels. *This doesn't seem to be an option
for any store to supply, so here I sit, tangled in my wonderful alpaca
with my bamboo dpns.

Um... I do hope that's an alpaca blend. *Alpaca is wonderful soft yarn,
but it does tend to stretch out. *You can get elastic thread to put
in the tops that will help them stay up. *If there's merino wool blended
with it, that will help give the fabric some body.

Since I'm actually making visable headway on my first sock (working on
the heel flap), DH has announced he'd like a few pairs of socks, DDs
want 1 sweater, 1 hoodie, 1 pair fingerless gloves, and two leg warmers.
DGM would like a toque, scarf & mitten set, and I wouldn't mind making
a few pair of socks for myself! *Now, given that I only have a couple of
hours in the evenings to knit, and also given that this one sock has
taken me exactly one week to get this far, is there an 'average'
ballpark time it takes to knit these things? *Am I looking at Christmas
presents for next year? lol

Encouragement is good. *Having people actually want something you make
sure beats having them say "You could buy that at [storename] for less." *
But yes, at best I'd say those are next year's gifts - birthday,
Valentine's Day, Christmas, etc. - all year long.

* It takes me about three days to knit a toque, depending on how much
time I can spend to work on it. *If I have all day, I can finish one
in a day. *When I was an obsessed college student with time to spare
and a long Christmas vacation, I once made a sweater in one month.

* First, finish the socks for yourself and test-wear them.

* Then _after_they're_done_, go through the pattern and count how many
stitches are in them, and how long it took, and figure how much those
socks cost, at minimum wage for the time, plus three times the cost
of the yarn. *Inform the family, cheerfully. *You want them to know.
Handknit socks by Mom do have a dollar value as well, and that's time
you might have spent doing something else, like making socks for
yourself.

* Then negotiations can begin for which gets done first. *The simplest
ones (scarf and leg warmers) will take a long time, so you may want
to do the smaller projects first, for a quick success. *I think the
toque, the mittens, and then the scarf would be good. *(Alpaca is
good for all of those.) *Then either the fingerless gloves or take
a break and do the miles of leg warmers. *Last of all come the big
items, the sweater and the hoodie. *Remember to knit a pair of socks
for yourself between knitting major items for other people.

Also, tell them that they should buy the yarn so they'll get the exact
colors and materials they want, and to be sure to buy enough, all of
the same dye lot. *Discuss pattern and fit - do they want skin tight,
lightly skimming the body, loose, or huge and slouchy?

* Then you can suggest that if they want the things sooner, they are
intelligent people who can learn to knit and be cool and warm at the
same time.

=Tamar- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Oh Maureen
i never heard of an Average knitter !!!! i heard once or read once on
one of those GIANTIC kniiting lists that people hold Competitions to
measure how quick they knit ,,,,,, naah this isn`t for me at all i
knit when i knit and finnish when i finnish, Mind you i also crochet
weave write sew knit ,,, and cook and clean etc,,,, Am just today
slowly working the edge of my last moebious ,,,,
mirjam

On Jan 3, 1:08*pm, wrote:
On Jan 3, 10:34*am, Maureen Miller
wrote:





You know, I decided when I got this alpaca for Christmas that I'd make a
pair of socks out of it because it's so soft and warm. *I'm a slow
knitter to start with, partly because I'm new to this and holding four
needles feels awkward, and partly because I want to sit back and enjoy
the knitting and the relaxation that goes with it. *I'm actually
honoured that the family wants me to make all these things for them and
I'm looking forward to the hugs when I get each project knitted. ) *I
only wondered how long it would take an 'average' knitter who knows what
they're doing because I know I'm still slow at it, and don't want to
promise things like leg warmers and sweaters until next Christmas
because it would be silly to present these things in the summer heat.
lol *I don't mind if it takes me 6 months for one pair of socks as long
as I'm enjoying it and the things I give as gifts are 'season
appropriate'. ) *It's sure good to be able to come here for advice
though!

Maureen In Vancouver, B.C.

Richard Eney wrote:
In article ZePej.65896$vd4.7361@pd7urf1no,
Maureen Miller wrote:

Hello everyone,

This is a great group, and many names are familiar as I'm a crossover
visitor from R.C.T.N. *I have only recently taught myself the basic
rudiments of knitting because I want warm socks that don't slide down
the leg, and have real toes & heels. *This doesn't seem to be an option
for any store to supply, so here I sit, tangled in my wonderful alpaca
with my bamboo dpns.

Um... I do hope that's an alpaca blend. *Alpaca is wonderful soft yarn,
but it does tend to stretch out. *You can get elastic thread to put
in the tops that will help them stay up. *If there's merino wool blended
with it, that will help give the fabric some body.

Since I'm actually making visable headway on my first sock (working on
the heel flap), DH has announced he'd like a few pairs of socks, DDs
want 1 sweater, 1 hoodie, 1 pair fingerless gloves, and two leg warmers.
DGM would like a toque, scarf & mitten set, and I wouldn't mind making
a few pair of socks for myself! *Now, given that I only have a couple of
hours in the evenings to knit, and also given that this one sock has
taken me exactly one week to get this far, is there an 'average'
ballpark time it takes to knit these things? *Am I looking at Christmas
presents for next year? lol

Encouragement is good. *Having people actually want something you make
sure beats having them say "You could buy that at [storename] for less.." *
But yes, at best I'd say those are next year's gifts - birthday,
Valentine's Day, Christmas, etc. - all year long.

* It takes me about three days to knit a toque, depending on how much
time I can spend to work on it. *If I have all day, I can finish one
in a day. *When I was an obsessed college student with time to spare
and a long Christmas vacation, I once made a sweater in one month.

* First, finish the socks for yourself and test-wear them.

* Then _after_they're_done_, go through the pattern and count how many
stitches are in them, and how long it took, and figure how much those
socks cost, at minimum wage for the time, plus three times the cost
of the yarn. *Inform the family, cheerfully. *You want them to know.
Handknit socks by Mom do have a dollar value as well, and that's time
you might have spent doing something else, like making socks for
yourself.

* Then negotiations can begin for which gets done first. *The simplest
ones (scarf and leg warmers) will take a long time, so you may want
to do the smaller projects first, for a quick success. *I think the
toque, the mittens, and then the scarf would be good. *(Alpaca is
good for all of those.) *Then either the fingerless gloves or take
a break and do the miles of leg warmers. *Last of all come the big
items, the sweater and the hoodie. *Remember to knit a pair of socks
for yourself between knitting major items for other people.

Also, tell them that they should buy the yarn so they'll get the exact
colors and materials they want, and to be sure to buy enough, all of
the same dye lot. *Discuss pattern and fit - do they want skin tight,
lightly skimming the body, loose, or huge and slouchy?

* Then you can suggest that if they want the things sooner, they are
intelligent people who can learn to knit and be cool and warm at the
same time.

=Tamar- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Oh Maureen
*i never heard of an Average knitter !!!! i heard once or read once on
one of those GIANTIC kniiting lists that people hold Competitions *to
measure how quick they knit ,,,,,, naah this isn`t for me at all i
knit when i knit and finnish when i finnish, Mind you i also crochet
weave write sew knit ,,, and cook and clean etc,,,, Am just today
slowly working the edge of my last moebious ,,,,
mirjam- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -