Friday, August 26, 2005

Fat Needles + Fat Yarn = Sad Looking Knit.

(The views expressed below are those of this knitter. They may not be the views of all knitters...there may be some out there who LOVE chunky knits.)

There are reasons that I did not own any fat needles...
  1. I do not need the satisfaction of knitting a sweater in a night.
  2. I think chunky knits look homemade...cheap...they look like you are taking the short cut...I can't pin point it, but I am not really fond of them.
  3. You literally feel like you are knitting with big fat bread sticks. It is so awkward...so, so wrong.
  4. How can you possibly sew in the ends inconspicuously?
  5. I just don't see the quality in something you can knit so quickly.
  6. Knitter beware: Chunky Knits make you look bigger...so if that's what you are going for, more power to you...but they are definitely not for me.

That brings me to my little scarf project. I really like the pattern, but not like this.

Look at these ends...what to do?

I will make this scarf. I picture more of a gradation of colours. I could use Elann's Peruvian Collection Highland Wool. They have some beautiful browns or greens that I could use to shade the zig zags. I will finish the fat scarf (one day) and give it to someone...somewhere. But it is not what I want to be part of the basket. So I will knit something else. What? I don't know...maybe a hat...I must go through my stash.

Maybe I'll have to go yarn shopping...

5 comments:

Tracy Batchelder said...

You're right, very few people can pull off wearing chunky knits. I try to stay away from them too. However, I think a chunky knit scarf is okay, but not if you don't enjoy knitting it. I know you will come up with something special for the basket.

Anonymous said...

Yep, sounds like a trip to the yarn store is in the works! I agree with you about chunky knits, all the points that you make. I found that on my wrap sweater, which is 15 sts per 10 cm, pressing it with an iron made the fabric very, very thin, almost as if it were knit out of sportweight yarn. So, there are solutions for some of the chunky yarns out there...

Laura said...

I am, I must admit, often seduced by the prospect of a quick FO. As you know from my Ballet Tee story. But I think I've given up on chunky knits. I've only made one bulky knit sweater that I was happy with (from EZ's sweater by the percentages -- that I sized it right was probably luck). You and Kathy (see above) have convinced me of the error of my ways! :)

Debi said...

HI!!!

Thanks for the lovely compliments on my blog and my knitting. I'm glad you liked the bead tutorial too!! Can't wait to see YOUR Kiri!

Thanks for visiting and come back anytime!

Anonymous said...

You know, I really agree with you on the chunky knits, but I've got some sweaters planned that are knit up on U.S. size 10.5 needles. I'll just have to see.