Knitting up the raveled sleave of care

I knew that using scientific search engines to look for knitting articles would pull up some unrelated topics, but I am curious about how the term knitting has been used scientifically.

To a person with chronic fatigue syndrome who is an avid knitter, an article titled Knitting up the raveled sleave of care: role of sleep and effects of its lack examined in the Journal of the American Medical Association is intriguing. Unfortunately, the mention of knitting in this scientific article is only in the title (The rest of the article is about sleep deprivation.)

Another Apple Cozy

After sharing an image of an apple cozy yesterday, I came across a free knitting pattern for another apple cozy. Does anyone want to make up a bushel?

Apple Cozy

In my research at ChemKnits, I have shared lists of free knitting patterns for numerous types of cozies; Beer Cozies, Tea Cozies, and even golf club cozies. While there are some fantastic projects here, none of them compare to this Apple Cozy. Maybe I'll need to write a post entitled crazy cozy knitting patterns....

What would you use an Apple Cozy for?

Remnant Blankets

I love my 10 hour afghan, but there is something simpler and more beautiful about making a square out of leftover yarn from every pair of socks you ever made and then putting them in a blanket. This blanket has a different beauty from the metered square blanket I shared yesterday, but is just as amazing.

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What do you do to Knit with remnant yarn? Tell me all about it at the KPOTD submission form.

All About the Blankie

Talk a lot of sock yarn! The Heathen Housewife found a way to use up a lot of her remnant sock yarn through a mitered blanket. This blanket has all of the beauty of an intricately created quilt, from this view it doesn't even appear knit.

Somehow I always end up wanting to create blankets... this one looks like it will take a while (especially since I often don't have the patience to finish socks...) I would LOVE to own one of these someday... so until then I will just have to keep saving up my small scraps!

Chicago Yarn Crawl

I was researching my new LYS (local yarn store) and on the website of Montoya Fibers, I came across something interesting: "The Chicago Yarn Crawl starts August 19 and runs through August 28. Special Sunday Hours during the crawl on August 21 and 28 - open 2 to 5."

It turns out, that Chicago is having the 2nd annual Yarn Crawl through the city and suburbs! If you visit a certain number of stores during the week of the crawl, you are eligible for grand prizes. Now I am not going to participate to try to win prizes (I expect that this will be a pretty crowded event), but I think this is a great way to go and check out the local yarn stores! Not to mention that you get 10% off at each store, and each store is offering free patterns.

Knitters, mark your calendars, this seems like a lot of fun!

Worlds Largest Knit Hat

Imagine the head needed to fit this!

Irmgard Kargl holds the record for the largest knit hat, measuring 22'7" high and 59'4" in circumference. The hat was knit by a group, connecting squares of knit material together to form the hat. I wonder if this is available as a free knitting pattern....

Cat Sweater

You frequently see knitting patterns for dog sweaters, but most feline knitting patterns are focused on toys (or mittens.) I think the following photo is the first time I've seen a cat in a knit sweater!

Photo credit Felicia Wichrowski via a Creative Commons License

Do you knit silly things for your pets? Submit it to KPOTD!

365 Knitting Stitches a Year Perpetual Calendar

Now 365 Knitting Stitches a Year Perpetual Calendar is a book that is up the KPOTD alley! A stitch a day, a knitting project a day... daily installments are fun!

I have had this book for a while, and it is a great stitch reference. My one complaint is that I wish some of the stitches were charted instead of written out. This would make it MUCH easier to transfer into other patterns!

Carried Away

This image of a girl being carried away by a bunch of balloons appears to be draped over the top of a building in NYC. This photo may be tagged as extreme knitting, but from the spirals of the balloons, it looks more like crochet to me.

Photo credit Carl MiKoy via a Creative Commons License

Happy Feet 2

Last week on opening night of the Harry Potter Movie, Keith noticed something interesting about the Happy Feet 2 preview. Wait until the end when the title screen comes up.

"Knit graffiti goes mainstream!" - Keith


Two screen shots of what got Keith so excited.

Knitting Injuries

My mother always told me that you shouldn't run with scissors, but given what you can find from surgery scientific journals, you shouldn't run with knitting needles either!

Penetrating Cardiac Injury from a Wooden Knitting Needle from the American Journal of Emergency Medicine is just one example of an article about a knitting related injury.

Knitting while Hiking

I really like walking around outside. I wouldn't call myself a big hiker (I am afraid of falling so I hate loose rocks) but I do enjoy long walks. I cannot really imagine bringing some knitting with me on a hike. Sure, I might bring it camping, but carrying it with you when you hike is dedication!

Photo credit Soksia via a Creative Commons License

Virtual Knitting

Do you not get enough knitting in your real life? How would you like to knit in a video game? In Crafting Mama, there is a part where you have to do step by step knitting. So it's not just a cartoon of knitting, you have to do it correctly to do well in the game!

Personally I would rather knit for real than on a video game, but this is certainly a really fun "knitting project!"

Splish Splash

What a funny knitting project! I had seen pictures of the amigurumi bathtub with bubbles previously, but when I saw it with this octopus on top of it I had to exclaim with delight (out loud!)

I don't think the octopus pattern is included, but I hope you enjoy this bathtub knitting pattern as much as I did.

Challenge: Knit Fractal

Keith and I have been discussing some ideas about integrating knitting and math. The following article has an image which appears to be a knit fractal, but it is actually computer generated.

The image is newsworthy because it is an accurate depiction of the famous equation, but I would love to find someone to re-create this image through knitting. Anyone up for the challenge? It would be a great lacy sculpture!

The Youngest Knitter

Julia at Mind of Winter posted two photographs of a baby "knitting." This young infant looks totally focused on the knitting needles in his hands. (He is holding live stitches on the cord of round needles, not the needles themselves, but at first glance it does look like he could be knitting!)

Congrats, little man. You have just been named Knitting PERSON of the day!

Batman Socks

I never was a comic reader, but I enjoy movies that are based on comic series. Therefore, it is no surprise that I got excited when I found these batman socks. Where else would you incorporate this logo into your knitting?

Yarn Bombing in my Back Yard

I was walking around Boston... and guess what I came across! My friends said that whoever is responsible for these little "cozies" changes them every so often. There were more, but I only had time to snap pictures of three:

I cannot decide if the watermelon or the one with flowers (below) is my favorite.

Hanger Sweater

Do you hang or fold your sweaters? Well Charlene apparently goes a step further... through the creation of this hanger sweater!

Photo credit Charlene McBride via a Creative Commons License

Longest Knit Scarf

What is the longest scarf you've ever knit? Mine is probably around 6 or 7 feet long. The world record for longest knit scarf by an individual is 3,463.73 m or 2.15 MILES. I wouldn't feel too bad, it took Helge Johansen 23 years to complete this scarf.

You'd better start knitting if you want to beat this world record!

Are you curious about other knitting world records?

Food Knitting Books

I am more than a knitter, I love food (you should check out my cooking blog, ChemEats!) It can be fun to create play food while knitting, so it's not surprising that there are many food knitting books out there. I think there is some knit sushi or pizza in my future. What type of food would you like to knit?

Pretty in Punk

Pretty in Punk: 25 Punk, Rock, and Goth Knitting Projects is a really unique book. At first I thought it was just a novelty book, but the earflap hat shown on the cover is one of the most popular items I have ever knit. Sure, the book has some ridiculous items (bum flaps? What is a bum flap!?), but the punk edge it gives to knitting is worth reading. The patterns are unique, and it is an excellent source of inspiration.

What to read my other Pretty in Punk reviews? See Pretty in Punk on Squidoo and reviews of my knitting library on ChemKnits.

Knitting in Science that isn't knitting

I thought it would be fun to search for scientific articles related to knitting. The following articles are some where knitting is used as a descriptive term, rather than the articles actually focusing on knitting itself (I wonder if any of the co-authors are knitters...)

• Knitting and snipping: chaperones in β-helix folding.
• Knitting it all together: breastfeeding education.
• Knitting and untying the protein network: modulation of protein ensembles as a therapeutic strategy.
• Regioselective knitting of aniline via ortho-C-N bond fusion using OsO4 as a template.

There were over 190 results when I searched pubmed for knitting. Just wait and see what else I've found!

Tree Cozies

Someone decided to create cozies for trees on what I gather is University of Texas campus (in Austin). These images are stunning. Magda Sayeg headed up a team of knitters to dress the tree trunks.

Photo credit matthewjuran via a Creative Commons License


Photo credit matthewjuran via a Creative Commons License

How to Knit One Below

The book where I learned about the K1B stitch has already been named KPOTD, but I wanted to share with you a video I created on how to make the K1B stitch. I love this technique, and have incorporated it into some of my own knitting designs. Hopefully this video will make the K1B stitch easy to understand!

Scientific Knitting Patterns

Before I start sharing my scientific knitting research, I wanted to take a moment to share the free science knitting patterns that designers offer online. These patterns vary from 3D knit molecule toys to periodic table sweaters. Of course, if you're looking for some witty molecule knitting charts, you know who to look for!

Fireworks for July 4

I am awarding KPOTD to a fun and simple 4th of July themed knitting project, a Soaring Rocket Dishcloth, the July dishcloth freebie by Lil Knit of This'n'That. This single color dishcloth has a great design. The pattern is giving in written directions, not a chart, but because of the great photo you could convert it to a chart without too much trouble.


Do you want to see more free Independence Day themed knitting patterns?

Longest Scarf Knit by a Team

Liz Rundle headed up a team supping the Children's Hospice in Wales to complete a scarf that measured 33.74 miles. Imagine how large a giant would have to be to wear the longest scarf knit by a team!

A Whole Knit Skeleton!

A few months ago, I received an inquiry about knit skeletons on my website. Although I have an article about skull knitting patterns, I have never completed a skeleton knitting project. I was thrilled when Paula replied that she had found the picture, and attached it to me. This knit skeleton is so intricate and I am extremely impressed by the (apparent) accuracy.

Thank you, Paula for sharing this amazing picture with me! If you know any more information about this amazing knitting project, please contact me!

Men who Knit and the Dogs that Love Them

I love the book Men Who Knit & The Dogs Who Love Them: 30 Great-Looking Designs for Man & His Best Friend not for the mens patterns, but for the dog patterns. These are some of the best dog sweater designs I've ever seen.

I am going to get a puppy soon (I hope), and so I am afraid that I will have to make him/her some sweaters. Not to wear around, but just to take pictures of and post on my blog! I know that this book is one that I will turn to when I'm ready to make Indy a sweater.

I have reviewed this book previously, along with other pet knitting pattern books at ChemKnits.