(no subject)

[avendya]

So. I'm a beginner still working on her first dishcloth, but trying to decide on my next project. Which is a worse idea for a beginner: an Irish Hiking Scarf (problems: I haven't a clue how to cable things, and my purl stitch is still a bit questionable) or a stuffed TARDIS (problems: supposed to be knitted on size 3 needles; also, I don't know how to change colors of yarn)?

At this point, I am leaning towards knitting the TARDIS, as it looks smaller and faster to make, and also STUFFED TARDIS. I do already have the yarn for the Irish Hiking Scarf (this yarn, which is gorgeous and soft and I can't stop touching it). Opinions?

Comments

[ysobel]

Knit what calls to you. *helpful*

...more seriously, some points to consider: a) cables are not as hard as they seem like they should be; b) scarves can be dauntingly long, but a good way to practice a new skill; c) changing colors is also not as hard as it seems; d) TARDISes are utterly adorable; e) small projects (or projects with small pieces) give faster gratification; f) scarves keep your neck warmer.

This will not help your decision at all. :)

[avendya]

Oh! Or I can buy a set of size three needles, and work on both of them at the same time! I don't have the money to do that right now, but it is possible I might in a couple weeks. [considers]

(also, omg your icon)

[evilawyer]

Stuffed TARDIS is neat (I'm still working on mine), but I'd vote for the scarf. You'll be more inclined to immediately wear the scarf (which I think is an important thing to do, especially if the yarn is soft), whereas a TARDIS, if it's a little lop-sided, may end up in the closet, which is no fun for anyone. Plus, size three needles are kind of a hard way to go for your second project. It can get frustrating working such thin needles until you've got a few projects under your belt.

I have a pattern to for a Clanger bookmarked on my desktop computer. If you'd like it, let me know and I'll send it along.

[jumpuphigh]

I say do whatever calls to you. You will learn the skills you need as you go and the fact that it calls to you will help if you get frustrated.

[indeliblesasha]

Cables are cake! And the scarf is gorgeous and easy to knit and excellent for helping with counting stitches and rows and memorizing patterns. It is also TEDIOUS. I know. I started mine nearly three years ago. I get about an inch done and then get BORED and go work on lace. It was my first real project after puttering around for years. BORED. :) but it's half done now and for my husband, so I will buckle down and finish it for Christmas. But the *sweater* I started two weeks ago will be done first.

My suggestion for your next project is tribbles. More interesting than squares, a couple new stitches, geeky! I am on my phone at the moment so a link will have to wait a bit, but if you are on ravelry youcan just do a pattern search for tribbles :)

[indeliblesasha]

Tribbles!

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/TheTankIsClean/tribble

This is the link to my project page for them, because I make them a little differently, and I figured if you want to change it up a little and practice a couple different things, you can try what I do. :)

Another fun one to do that's quick and easy but interesting is http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/leafy-washcloth - and you get the bonus of practicing blocking on it.

You can also do hand towels with interesting patterns, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kitchen-towels which lets you work on a larger project requiring more attention, but still gets you done faster.

And there's dishcloths that let you practice cables before you start doing 5 feet of them :D
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-cabled-dishcloth

I encourage every new knitter I know to start small, and basic, and then build. Do a few dishcloths, and a couple towels. And then pick something you really really want. The instant gratification of the small projects are going to keep you going, and give you practice, and get your fingers the muscle memory you need to get faster so that the bigger projects to quicker and you don't give up on them.

And pick something you LOVE for your first "big" project, because that's what's going to keep you going if you get frustrated. Not what you think will be easy, the thing you really want more than anything else.

Also, one of the hazards of doing a scarf right off the bat is that as you get more comfortable with knitting, especially cables, your gauge may change. And then your scarf will be uneven from one end to the other. Which would suck.

I skipped the easy things in the beginning, and went straight for the complicated knits, and I never learned the basics. It took me YEARS to pick up things that now seem obvious to me, and I started knitting washcloths awhile ago, and went...wow. I wish I'd done this sooner because little things just got so much clearer.

Also? TWO HOURS. and I'm DONE. It's *amazing*. ♥

In the end, obviously, do what you want to do the most, because knitting is only fun when you love what you're doing. (And if you do make the scarf next, don't use size 3s, omg that will take forever :D)

[aunty_marion]

I'd echo the remarks about doing small projects to practise. I have a lot of dishcloth cotton and if I need to practise a new technique or stitch, I make a dishcloth using it. I have the fanciest dishcloths ever!

[indeliblesasha]

That's....dude.

I use making dishcloths as sort of a palate cleanser, when I'm ready to chuck my knitting at the wall, I go make a dish cloth! But hel-LO! Practice new stitches in cotton! Brilliant!

(See? This is what I mean about missing things because I didn't do this stuff FIRST. I feel so lame. :D )

[rokeon]

*another brand new knitter wandering in* Tribbles! They look quick, easy, geeky, and useful- absolutely perfect combination, thank you! *downloads pattern*

[wyomingnot]

Argh. Hotel internet playing games with me.

My vote is for the scarf. It was one of my early projects.

Fearless knitting, I say.

Then again, a few more dishcloths might not be a bad idea.

[seryn]

I don't like the stuffed TARDIS project because I don't have a need for plushies and having made several, it's actually harder to get them to stand upright than you might think. Plus you have to knit really tightly or the stuffing will show. Thus, chances are pretty good that you'll be disappointed in the results.

There was a TARDIS ipod cozy:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/itardis----doctor-who-ipod-cozy

And the Kindle cover.
And wrist warmers.

I'm making the socks currently. I might borrow that diagram for a phone cover afterward.

___

Generally I choose projects that will teach me something new, or which will result in something I will use. I also preferentially choose projects which do not require buying more yarn but can be made with things in my stash.

My purling got a lot better the year I did a dozen ribbed scarves. But I don't want to make another scarf again, ever. I would never finish the IHS because I loathe the switch between knit and purl and there is a LOT of that in that pattern. It's not hard, but it takes more attention (so I couldn't watch TV while doing it) and there would be a lot of repetition in 2 yards worth of scarf. If I made an IHS, it would have to be for someone I really loved who would really appreciate it and care for it.

If I had really awesome touchable yarn and I wanted a scarf, I would probably double-knit it so it makes a tube using straight needles. That would give me the longest scarf possible with no wrong side and wouldn't require a lot of new tools. That would not be an exciting scarf at the end, though it would really show off the yarn while maximizing length per skein.

[indeliblesasha]

Double knitting is on my list of things-I'm-going-to-learn-once-my-sweater-obsession-abates :D

So I don't understand how it works yet, and I'm curious how it maximizes your yarn for length? I thought it would take *more* for length, rather like knitting in the round for a scarf, instead of flat. How does that work? Because it sounds awesome.

[seryn]

Stockinette maximizes length, but flat stockinette has a wrong side; stockinette tube gives you the most length for a scarf with no wrong side... not the most length total, sorry about the confusion.

[indeliblesasha]

Ah HA. Okay, yes I understand. Thanks for clarifying :)

[lindorie]

Why not do both? If you get bored with one, you can switch to the other. Either way, you'd be learning something new :)

though I'll have to be honest, a stuffed TARDIS sounds like a pretty rad idea

[aunty_marion]

I've knitted the stuffed TARDIS and even as an experienced knitter, I found it problematical. The colour changes on the sides are a damn nuisance - I ended up using small balls and bobbins of the different colours and doing it that way, rather than trying to strand the colours across and back again. And I swiss-darned/duplicate-stitched the window details etcetera! My project page for it is here, if you want to see what I said about it... So I don't think it's really a project for a beginning knitter. And even doing it on smaller needles with thinner yarn, it was over a foot tall - so it's not really a 'small' project, either!

While you're learning, it is always a temptation to dive in at the deep end because something attracts you; but it's usually better, alas, to get the foundations right first. So (as I've said in another comment to someone else above), I'd encourage you to go for smaller projects like dishcloths and washcloths - you can always *practise* the cable pattern for the scarf on one when you feel confident enough, but if you try to make the scarf without practice, you may fail and get discouraged.

I've made a Tardis washcloth, for instance; and I made small practise swatches with bobbles on when I was learning how to do them to make an Extermiknit.

[momijizukamori]

A thought - I don't know if you like neckwarmers/cowls, but that can be a fun way to do a scarf pattern without getting tired out by a whole five feet of it - you only need two-ish for a nice neckwarmer, and then you can add fancy buttons and what not.

The Irish Hiking Scarf was actually my first cable project, and it ended up being a breeze (though I was making a super-big just-over-neckwarmer length one - I don't have the patience for scarves!)

[firecat]

Another vote to try first what you love the most, because that helps you persist even if it's difficult.

[redrose]

If you decide on the TARDIS, try using 5 needles, one to work with, and one for each side. 5 needles in the round is easier than 4.

[jumpuphigh]

Did you ever decide?