KnitBits: Inmates Knitting, Expensive Yarn and Fun with Needles

I loved this story from the Idaho Statesman about inmates in the Acute Mental Health Unit at the Idaho Department of Correction loom knitting dog sweaters for the Inmate Dog Alliance, in which prisoners train shelter dogs to make them more adoptable. there is just so much greatness in this idea all around, and it helps the dogs and the people alike. The sense of accomplishment, connection to something bigger than themselves and ability to focus on something that is calming are all positive aspect of the program beyond just making sweaters. (The group also makes baby hats, blankets and other goods that are donated.)

This is an older piece from Elizabeth Kay Booth, a designer who worked in a yarn shop, but it came up in my news feed recently and I thought it was worth sharing. It explores answers to the question why is yarn so expensive when you buy it at a yarn store rather than a big-box craft retailer? There are a lot of reasons, of course, and I’ll let her tell you, but the higher quality, natural fibers and slower, small-batch processes that are often used on the yarns sold at yarn shops naturally make them more expensive. And probably better, too.

If you want to boost your knitting trivia knowledge before your next party, check out the 46 Interesting Facts about Knitting from Random Facts, and the history of 10 words related to knitting from Merriam-Webster. It’s so interesting to see how meanings have changed through the years.

I haven’t watched it yet, but I did see on PBS there’s an episode of Broad and High called “The Man Who Knits” available online. The guy the story is about sounds amazing — his first knitting project was an Aran sweater, and he gets his yarn by recycling thrift store garments. Definitely one to add to your watch list.

Have you ever used a 9-inch circular needle? These needles definitely have a learning curve, but they do make knitting the straight parts of a sock really quick and easy, and you have no ladders because there are no needles between which to get loose tension. VeryPink Knits has a great overview of the needles, including a review of some of the major brands and which ones turned out to be her favorite. Next week she’s also posting a piece on how to knit socks with the needles, so stay tuned for that.