Intro + ideas for small non-wearable items

[pebblerocker]

I've just re-learnt how to knit, having made nothing since the ghastly scarflike object I made at age 8 and then bootees for three newborn relatives at wide intervals over the next couple of decades. I'd bought some hand-knitted socks and I love them so much I want to make myself some more, so in the last week I've been learning the magic loop method and making a pair of toe-up heelless spiral ribbed socks which I'm extremely excited about. Yay me!

Having used up that wool, though, I'm keen to keep knitting. I'm staying with my mother-in-law for a week and she no longer knits, so she gave me her leftover wool to do what I like with. However everything she had was acrylic and I'm somewhat rabid about only wearing natural fibres, especially on my feet, so socks are out. Can anyone point me to some patterns for non-wearable items I can make out of the acrylic? Maybe tea cosies or, I don't know, ipod cosies and things? Something fast and fun.

I don't know much about wool weights (DK, 8-ply, worsted... it's all Greek to me) and there are no labels on the balls, but it looks fairly thick. My only available needle is a 3.5mm circular so I hope it'll work for what I have to knit with. And I'm at pretty basic skill level: I can knit, purl, increase, decrease, and look up stitches on Youtube. What things can I make while I'm staying here?

ETA: vampirefan suggested toys -- I have a half-grown cat who will bite and fight my fluffy scarf any chance he gets, so I'll try making him a cat toy or two! Even I should be able to make something up without a pattern: magic loop method, little ring, increase, decrease, stuff and add tassels. He'll love it.

Comments

[pebblerocker]

Hi! I think your posts about knitting helped to wake my urge to start knitting again.

Spotlight isn't too far, so I definitely plan on going there to build up some supplies and paw at balls of wool in pretty colours. These interchangeable needle points sound like a brilliant invention! My mother never used circular needles so there's a lot out there I've never heard of.

I'll look you up when I've joined Ravelry. Glad to know you don't have to translate everything into American terminology and back again to use the site :)

[vilakins]

I buy mainly from Spotlight and the two sites I mentioned:

Knitworld - you have one in your city! The one in mine is too far away.

The Yarn Queen - where I bought my circs

Spotlight can be a pain because they often just get a yarn in once. Are there any knitting shops near you? I found one close by, full of amazing stuff, but horrendously expensive (and with a rather snobby owner). :-( I should see if there's somewhere near work.

[pebblerocker]

I go past Knitworld often but haven't been in there yet. And there's a fabric and curtain shop in my town which I know has some knitting stuff -- I've only gone there for buttons, but it'll be worth checking out even though it's small and it's good to support local businesses.

[vilakins]

It's certainly worth checking out Knitworld. I wish there was one closer to me; way out west is just too far. I hope your LYS (local yarn store) is better than the pricey one I found.

I've also bought the occasional bargain on TradeMe.