How to Fight a Knitting Rut from Quick, Simple Projects

Are you ready to break out of your knitting rut? Here are a multitude of ways to fend off knitting boredom caused by the quick & simple

Currently we’re talking about fending off knitting boredom. Last time we discussed ways to fight the boredom of knitting a large project. You had some great ideas, so thanks for that!

Now let’s talk about the other type of knitting boredom: the kind that comes from quick, simple projects. Or, more to the point, the kind that comes from knitting the same pattern (or just a couple of patterns) over and over.

To me, one of the great joys of knitting is the fact that there are so many fantastic techniques out there. We often hear that knitting involves only 2 stitches, the knit and the purl. But if you’ve been knitting for a while, you know that’s a little misleading. Is a yarnover a knit stitch or a purl stitch? Does slipping stitches (whether to your right-hand needle or to a cable needle) count as knitting or purling? What about making stitches out of thin air? What about dropping stitches?

The point is that there are a lot of ways to fill in those little squares on a knitting chart. So there’s never really any reason to get stuck in a knitting rut. If you’re tired of a particular knitting pattern, by all means, it’s time to find something new.

Were That It Were So Simple…

Of course, if you’re reading this article, chances are you know it’s not always that simple. You’ve probably gotten into that knitting rut in the first place because it’s safe and familiar. Getting out of that rut will require you to step up and out. Not always easy.

Fortunately, as I said last time, there’s really never been a better time to be a knitter. Resources to help you step up and out abound freely all over the world.

But that’s part of the trouble, isn’t it? Resources abound so freely that sometimes it can lead to paralysis by options.

So let’s take a look at what’s out there and narrow it down so you can decide how best to break out of your knitting rut.

Free Resources for Fighting a Knitting Rut

Seriously, whatever did we do without YouTube?? You can learn so many tremendous resources through the amazing little free video service that could.

Check out my article on some of the best YouTube channels available for learning new knitting techniques.  You’ll find some fabulous knitting instruction here, for beginners to experts.

(Be sure to check out the newly-launched Knit Show with Vickie Howell, too! I’ve already started watching videos and find them fascinating.)

Do you receive any knitting catalogs in the mail? I receive KnitPicks’ catalog even though I never actually pick it up to order yarn. I have found, however, that it’s a fabulous inspirational resource. Whenever I receive it, I flip through it just to “ooh” and “ahh” over the patterns. That often sparks in me the desire to knit a new project. (If you’d like to receive the KnitPicks catalog, click here and request a catalog.)

Speaking of “oohing and ahhing over patterns”… I’ll forever be a huge fan of Ravelry, and I’ll never stop encouraging knitters to register. For the largest collections of patterns available online, both free and for sale, Ravelry is unbeatable.

Best of all, the Ravelry Pattern Browser allows you to either browse and be inspired by whatever is currently popular, or to search for a very specific type of pattern to suit your needs.

I also encourage signing up for yarn and knitting companies’ free e-newsletters. They make great inspirational tools as well. Some of my favorites are Lion Brand, Yarnspirations, Classic Elite, Noble Knits, Berroco, Love Knitting, and Makers’ Mercantile.

In addition to project suggestions, many of these e-newsletters offer free patterns, too.

Another free resource: your local library. Browse their knitting book department. In particularly, check out the stitch dictionaries. That’s a great way to shake out of your knitting rut: try out some new stitches!

Finally, you’re kind of ON one of those free resources! Check out Knitting for Charity’s Free Patterns directory. This directory will link you to every pattern collection published on this site. You’ll also be linked to two invaluable sites full of free patterns, Bev’s Country Cottage and All Free Knitting.

Paid Resources to Break Free of a Knitting Rut

One word: Craftsy.

Full disclosure: I am a Craftsy affiliate, which means whenever you click one of my Craftsy links and make a purchase, I’ll get a small commission. (For more information, see my Disclosure Policy).

But there’s a good reason I’m an affiliate: Craftsy has the largest and most useful collection of online knitting classes you’ll find ANYWHERE. No lie.

Are you a beginning knitter who longs to feel more confident in your stitches? There’s a class for that. Want to learn how to knit Fair Isle? There’s a class for that, too. Wish you were more capable of knitting a sweater that didn’t fit either an elf or an elephant? You guessed it… there’s a class for that as well.

You can even learn how to better pick colors that look good together in your knitting. Or how to shop your yarn stash for the perfect knitting project rather than hit the yarn store, craft store, or Internet every time you want to start a new project.

It is really hard not to find the knitting class that will provide exactly what you need or want to learn at Craftsy. That’s a big reason why I love them!

Recently I shared my review of Darn Good Yarn of the Month, a monthly subscription service that offers a beautiful new hank of yarn at a really reasonable price. Getting a new yarn to try out every month will help you emerge from a knitting rut, too!

Finally, for a collection of other ideas in breaking free of a knitting rut, check out this old (but great) article from the Knitting Review, written by Clara Parkes.

So if you’re ready to find some new ideas and break out of your knitting rut, I hope you’ll find one (or several) of the above options helpful to your knitting journey. What sounds good to you? Did I miss any?