Mini Madness

I'm on a mini spree at the moment.

For heaven's sake why, you ask? Well, it all started when I saw projects like this baby sock advent calendar that was inspired by this Martha one and then there's this little mitten/hat advent calendar that also translates nicely into a knitting project. And I saw the clothesline project in Itty Bitty Nursery, and thought that would be adorable hanging in our playroom. So I had minis brewing in the back of my mind for a while and then someone on Ravelry had an idea for a mini swap and it sounded like so much fun, I signed up twice.

Just guess where this is going: I furiously knit minis for a few weeks, got burnt out, forgot about them, and now with the swap deadline looming, I'm furiously knitting minis again. I knew this would happen, but I did it anyway. What does that say about me, I wonder? (A bit too much, methinks.)

Anyway, they are fun little projects: they take virtually no yarn and no time. Who cares that they also have virtually no use? They're cute! And free patterns abound.

There are adorable mini mittens, which I tried in some leftover Malabrigo; it made a mitten that is perfect advent-calendar sized. But I'd like to make some tiny sock scrap ones.

I have two favorite sock patterns: the one pictured above was knit in the round on #2s, which was a bit fiddly (of course), but still quick. I didn't bother with grafting the toe; I just did one round of K2T, drew the yarn through, and called it done. The other one I like is knit flat and has some adorable Christmas pattern possibilities. Flat does mean seaming, but it's only a little tiny bit. Each sock takes about an hour.

This one's perfect for Red Sox fans.

Berocco published a whole bunch of tiny sweater patterns: Minutia and Minutia '08. I think I'll try this little raglan  next. And don't forget hats! Love that the first step is pop your feet up with a cup of tea.

Too much fun. Does anyone know where I can get little tiny clothespins?

Comments

[Stacey]

I've wanted to make one of those little mini socks and sweater wreaths ever since I've seen them popping up all over ravelry! :) FUN!

[stefaneener]

Is this what happens when you put your kids in school? So much time you actually knit useless things? I'm so strapped for time I can't knit the stuff I long for. . . sigh.

They are awfully cute. I love the advent calendar thing. Sigh again.

Off to grade more Robinson Crusoe papers.

[Jodi]

So cute! I'm on a mini knitting spree, too -- a hat and mittens "advent calendar" (winter garland?) like the Garnet Hill one.

Let's see how long our mini knitting sprees last. :-) I hope I finish mine in time for the holidays.

[Jody]

THere I was, blissfully ignoring that looming swap deadline, when you had to go and post about it.

*scrambling to find my mini patterns*

[Holly Jo]

Minis are the most satisfying knits. I gave them as Christmas ornaments a couple years ago. Your socks look so well knit. That's a lot of shaping in a little space.

Babysized clothes pins. Michaels has them - ours are in the greeting card making section for baby invitations.

[Terrie]

Those are so adorable!! Thanks for all the links...I've been wanting to make these for a while :)

[KimK]

So cute and fun! The first sweater I ever knitted was a mini raglan -- I just needed that tiny peek into the construction, then it made sense to me and I was encouraged to knit a big one.