In honor of those crazy kids over at NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), whose challenge I’ve been known to take, I’m declaring it National Sweater Knitting Month here at knitgrrl.com with a knit-along.
How it works with NaNoWriMo: write a 50,000-word novel in a month.
How it works with NaNoSweMo: knit a 50,000-stitch sweater in a month. Or therebouts. I’ve never actually thought about sweaters in stitch count terms, that’s crazy talk. But if you divide your chosen sweater pattern’s rows or rounds by 30, you’ll have an idea of how many rows you need to knit each day to make it.
Feel free to swipe the image above or make your own. Ping this post, leave a comment, let us know what you’re knitting for NaNoSweMo! I’ll post links and/or photos of your completed projects at the beginning of December.
What am I knitting? Umm. I have an idea… haven’t cast on yet… (this is usually how my NaNoWriMos have gone, too, by the way).
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Michelle 11.01.06 at 3:12 pm
You crazy. I loves ya.
pippi 11.01.06 at 4:56 pm
ohhhh! cool!!!!!
now i have a valid excuse to keep yarn!
i need a kick in the pants to get my mytical sweater in gear!
Shannon 11.01.06 at 5:16 pm
Consider yourself kicked, then, Pippi!
pippi 11.01.06 at 5:23 pm
more, please!!!
er, i mean, ouch!
loribird 11.01.06 at 5:54 pm
I used a calculater, and I figure the sweater I started in August, which is almost up to the armpits in the round, already has 23,600 (give or take a few) stitches… Can I use it?
Lolly 11.01.06 at 6:35 pm
I started a sweater on Halloween - would it still count? I love this idea!
I am wondering if it has 50000 stitches though… need that calculator!
Kim 11.01.06 at 7:38 pm
I’d be nuts to join you. But maybe I’ll shoot to finish Forecast this month!
LunarAwe 11.01.06 at 8:26 pm
Ooooh, this sounds like a good plan. It is getting COLD! What about finishing a couple of sweaters in progress? Does that still count?
caro 11.01.06 at 9:08 pm
Lolly sucked me in. I’m totally up for it!
--Deb 11.01.06 at 10:08 pm
NaNoSweMo . . . I love it! Brilliant idea!
ann-marie 11.01.06 at 10:43 pm
oh you read my brain.
I am making my hourglass sweater. i actually started in september, but since i think i’m knitting the wrong size, i might frog and start over.
yeah–i’m a joiner!!!
Christina 11.02.06 at 1:18 am
Count me in. I’ll be ripping and reknitting the fitted ribbed turtleneck from the cover of Hollywood Knits.
Erin 11.02.06 at 3:06 am
Can I join? Sounds like crazy obssessive fun!
laurie in maine 11.02.06 at 3:44 am
Yes, it’s Lolly’s fault…I’m dreaming of baby sweaters. Although the novel writers aren’t each writing 50,000 words. It’s combined, isn’t? I’m thinking the combined sweater stitch count is going to kick their butt!
nihal 11.02.06 at 3:57 am
i have to join! i have two great packs of yarn and they are begging me to use them up!
Monica 11.02.06 at 6:50 am
I have sweaters to knit, surely at least one of them has 50,000 stitches.
Miki 11.02.06 at 8:12 am
Lovely Idea! But shouldn’t the title be “NaKniSweMo” for “National Knit a Sweater in a Month?” Otherwise the current abreviations make it “National Novel Sweater Month.”
Regardless, I am joining!
Adelle 11.02.06 at 8:58 am
Very cool! I am going to try to work this in with the Norovember KAL - A noro sweater!
Manda 11.02.06 at 8:59 am
wow. this is a pretty cool idea. i have a sweater that I started a few months ago but need to rip out and start over. maybe this is the project i need to do it for. if this goes like any of my past nanowrimo efforts, though, i won’t get anything done. so far? I’m on the right track!
*lol* 
Rose 11.02.06 at 9:38 am
I guess it’s as good a time as any to get my Rogue started…If I start now I should have it finished for my birthday.
Shannon 11.02.06 at 11:50 am
Wow, Miki… that’ll show you how completely fried I’ve been this week! Yes, I suppose it probably should be NaKniSweMo…
Laurie — no, each novel by each PERSON needs to be 50,000 in NaNoWriMo. That’s why it’s such a challenge to finish!
Lisa 11.02.06 at 12:49 pm
Would a complicated vest count? I want to knit a cabled vest for my dad this month.
Kathy 11.02.06 at 1:19 pm
I’ve tried NaNoWriMo twice…and never finished. What a stupid month to try! Between Thanksgiving and birthdays, I don’t have a chance. But a sweater? I have one just casted on, maybe this will be the push I need.
Liz 11.02.06 at 2:18 pm
I’m in. Have 2 complicated children’s sweaters to do - reckon there are at least 50,000 stitches in the bigger one - before Christmas, so this’ll be additional incentive…
Laura 11.02.06 at 2:37 pm
I love this idea! Writing 50,000 words about *anything* is out of my realm, but knitting… Hm. I wonder if I can make this happen. I have some gray yarn that’s been begging for years, but I also have some green yarn that’s been mostly knit up that needs to get frogged and made into something else.
Then there’s the obligation knitting (not started, due at Christmas or before), and the red sweater and the socks that are on the needles.
Gads. LOL
Hm.
hpny knits 11.02.06 at 3:18 pm
sounds good. I am working on the ribberd cardi and will start the Minimalist Funnel Neck from mag knits. however- I am NOT counting stitches…
The Purloined Letter 11.02.06 at 3:30 pm
I’m knitting a sweater for my son with a castle on the front. Actually–I cast on for the sleeves on the drive up to Rhinebeck, a few days too early. Does that disqualify me?
Ansley 11.02.06 at 4:05 pm
This is a great idea. I have yarn and patterns two sweaters that are waiting to be picked up.
insaknitty 11.02.06 at 5:03 pm
can I still join if I’ve got a sweater barely started? and I mean *barely*… this would be just the push I need to get it done before christmas!
Wanda 11.02.06 at 5:22 pm
This sounds great. I’m working on one now, but I plan to cast on for new one this weekend. Count me in!
Rebecca 11.02.06 at 5:57 pm
Sign me up! I’m crazy enough to do it all!
Ari 11.02.06 at 6:07 pm
I love it!!!! Wish I had seen this before yesterday, I would definitely have done it. Maybe we could do a DeKniSwMo? Hahahaha..that would be a challenge for me, as I’m the slowest sweater knitter on the planet. Or maybe january..that’s a slow month?
amp 11.02.06 at 8:39 pm
i’m game, especially since i ripped and re-started my bell sleeve jacket from vk holiday 06 yesterday.
jacqui 11.02.06 at 10:36 pm
love this idea - I’m so in!
tiennie 11.02.06 at 11:46 pm
I’m in! Can’t write to save my life so 50,000 words - no way! But 50,000 stitches. Doable for me, I think?! How much exactly is 50,000? Can I finish the 3 sweaters I already have on the needles? Or should I cast a new one on? Ooohh, more yarn…
arachne 11.03.06 at 8:22 am
I’ve been making little things, and have some stuff all spun up to make a sweater, but I’ve been putting it off. If it’s not too late, I’d like to play…I have no idea what I’m going to make, but we’ll see.
Of course, I’ve started and failed NaNoWriMo for three years in a row. Hopefully that’s no indication of how things will go.
margaux 11.03.06 at 8:32 am
i got the yarn, the needles and the pattern, that you for providing the inspiration!! i’m so in!
jody 11.03.06 at 8:37 am
alright, sign me up too! i just ordered yarn to knit “A Cardigan for Arwen” from the latest IK.
Donna 11.03.06 at 9:40 am
As a NaNoWriMo alumna, I’m utterly charmed by this - what a great idea! Since the sweater I’m currently working on has roughly 89,000 stitches in it (and I have about 74,000 to go), I think it would be a fool’s errand to commit to finishing the whole thing by November 30. I’ll happily watch though, and call myself a winner if I finish the back (35,000 stitches, 300 cable twists). Have fun!
Jenneke 11.03.06 at 10:25 am
Sounds like a good excuse to cast on my first sweater!
Lolly 11.03.06 at 11:29 am
What a response!! Fun fun!
Omly 11.03.06 at 11:46 am
I’m in! I have swatched and started knitting already.
Stacey 11.03.06 at 4:32 pm
What an awesome idea! Count me in!!
Kara 11.03.06 at 6:47 pm
Well, how can a girl pass this up. I am in. Heaven help me…
Cheryl 11.03.06 at 6:56 pm
Count me in! I’m swatching now.
Loren 11.03.06 at 10:02 pm
I’m in!!! Just started a pullover this week. Will be finished before the end of Nov.
Ina 11.04.06 at 10:43 am
Excellent idea! Count me in!! Hm… must go figure out number of stitches in sweater.
Sam 11.04.06 at 10:56 am
I’m up for a challenge… and I do have a UFO that might fit the 50,000 stitch bill.
Count me in!
mary 11.04.06 at 6:45 pm
I thought yes, then I thought no, then my daughter asked me when I was knitting her a dress (for which I have the yarn already) and I thought, heck I did the Knitting Olympics, and this is 2 weeks longer, sure I can do it! So, it’s a child’s dress and not a sweater, but I’m going to do it in November!
femiknitter 11.05.06 at 4:41 pm
Count me in! I shall be knitting an EZ seamless hybrid for someone as a Christmas present. Here goes nothin! Thanks for doing this!
Sitcomgirl 11.05.06 at 8:08 pm
I’m in! In my world it may be a combo of sweaters and other gifty things.
Ivy 11.06.06 at 11:23 am
Please do this again next year. I have to finish two huge Harry Potter scarves (around 45,000 stitches each) this month so this year, I can’t. I’m doing NaNoWriMo and I’d love to do the two at the same time for ultimate creative madness.
Good luck!
nova 11.06.06 at 3:15 pm
I’m in. This will be what I need to finish my seamless hybrid sweater by the end of November! Great idea!
RandomRanter 11.06.06 at 5:08 pm
Crazily considering it. Crazy because I am in fact signed up for NaNoWriMo, but have also been knitting this one sweater like mad. (My halloween sale yarn).
Lee Ann 11.07.06 at 3:10 pm
If I were totally insane, I would spin the stuff I got at Rhinebeck and knit a sweater out of it in one month.
I can’t believe I’m even thinking about this.
Crap. I should not have followed that link from Supergirl’s site…
nrrdgrrl 11.07.06 at 3:51 pm
heheheh. took me a couple of days but now i have managed to incorporate nanoswemo into my nanowrimo novel
thanks for the idea.
SPR 11.08.06 at 9:50 am
Hi Shannon, I wanna play too! I’m taking a sweater class and knitting my first sweater - ever. Between the class and the KAL I will have to finish.
KnitSteph 11.08.06 at 1:24 pm
I’m game. I’m working on a sweater that is a test knit for Figheadh.com. The pattern is called Raibert and I’m not sure if she has it listed for sale yet.
SyrenMuse 11.08.06 at 3:55 pm
I’m crazy enough to do this.
Kristen 11.09.06 at 2:57 am
count me in. I it’s 8 days into the month but i started a sweater on the first so kind of cool and i wanted to have to wear when i get home in december this will push me
carolyn 11.09.06 at 6:53 am
I think I’m in…Hope I can do it. How do you count the stitches in a sweater????
beapea7 11.09.06 at 10:35 am
I realized that I am knitting along with this knitalong! I’m making the Greek Pullover from last fall’s Interweave Knits and I’m hoping to wear it on Thanksgiving.
Morgan 11.09.06 at 12:40 pm
I am SO in. I am working on a sweater for the retreat I am going on (this weekend) and want to finish another hopefully shortly thereafter!
Sign me up on the dotted line!!
Rosemary 11.09.06 at 8:08 pm
You are crazy, but there are many sweaters I want to knit and maybe knitting one in a month will make me feel better about all of them. So, I’m joining late with the cover sweater from the new Sara Dallas tweed book. Yes, I started it in late October, but only a little and then I did not work on it at all in the first week of November because it was in VA while I was in CA.
Katya 11.10.06 at 7:04 pm
SQWEE! This is sooo cool! Since I can’t do NaNoWriMo (3 year participant, 2 year winner) Im gonna do this!!
I am knitting a girly version of Jarret from vintage knits and (if i get to it) a cabled sweater from rowan 36 (I think :/)
Karin 11.13.06 at 3:03 pm
Could I be any later to find this? If it’s not too late, I’d love to join - I may even get a sweater finished this month with a little pressure :).
pamela wynne 11.14.06 at 2:03 pm
count! me! in!
Nikol 11.17.06 at 2:14 am
I’m in like gunga-din. Started on Sunday, almost to the bustline…
Suzanne 11.21.06 at 9:37 pm
Count me in. I just started a sweater with Lang Mille Colori. The pattern is in the “New Classic” book. I’ve never made a sweater before.
Alice Few 07.27.07 at 5:58 pm
Will you be running NaNoSweMo this year as well? If so, sign me up! It should be interesting to see if I can do both NaNoSweMo, NaNoWriMo, my podcast, work and family! I’ve always been curious to see what a nervous breakdown feels like……
nancynovember 08.26.07 at 7:14 am
I’m in! I have the yarn and pattern from Noro for a beautiful cardigan knit side to side, but I know Im better at getting things done with deadlines! I haven’t done the math yet, but I’m sure it will be a lot! Great Idea!
lucie 09.13.07 at 6:11 am
It’ll be my first, but…I’m in!
Petunia 09.19.07 at 9:28 am
Me, too, for 2007!! I’m in a “cable” mood, so it’s between Central Park Hoodie and/or Rogue. I’ve got Knitpicks Swish Superwash in Indigo Heather on its way to me. And the Wool of the Andes in Hollyberry is also calling my name. (Had it called a bit earlier, I’d have ordered them together!!)
malia 10.17.07 at 8:55 am
le sigh. if you twist my arm i guess i could start that central park hoodie i’ve been dreaming about.
Alix 10.20.07 at 11:53 pm
I’m so excited! I missed this last year doing the writerly thing, but this year I’m totally knitting a sweater.
Adelle 10.25.07 at 5:49 pm
I must be crazy, but I am giving it a shot too so November will be words and stitches. I suppose when I get burnt out on one, I can switch to the other!
Kate 10.25.07 at 8:35 pm
What’s that? An excuse to be selfish and knit something for myself in between christmas knitting? I’m in!
Cecilia 10.29.07 at 1:20 pm
All of the patterns in Knitting with a Smile by Inger Fredholm states how many stitches it takes to make.
Topaz 10.30.07 at 1:02 pm
Maybe this will push me into finishing the Hardcore sweater for my dad.
Sally Villarreal 10.31.07 at 11:31 pm
I’m finishing all my Christmas gifts!
esmerelda 11.01.07 at 4:57 am
Awesome idea! The very thing I needed to give me a kick up the bum about my SO’s christmas cardigan. Off to calculate the stitches in ‘Avast’…
Steph 11.01.07 at 6:22 pm
I’m so in! I cast on this morning and am so excited.
Lauren 11.03.07 at 12:48 pm
What a great idea! I’ve actually got a sweater already started, so it will technically be Finish Knitting a Sweater Month for me. I think this should provide just the kick in the pants I need to pick it back up and get it done.
AntiChristy 11.05.07 at 4:13 pm
I think you’ve got a great idea here.
One thing though, NaNoWriMo = National Novel Writing Month.
Shouldn’t National Sweater Knitting Month = NaSweKniMo? Or else what does the No in NaNoSweMo stand for?
Beth K (theknittingidiot) 11.07.07 at 11:47 pm
I just saw this on another blog! I just happen to be casting on the blue sky cardi for IK winter 2006.
So, I am going to play too!
Dazie 11.08.07 at 11:07 pm
Heh. I’m less motivated than most- I’m going for a scarf.
Two skeins though!
Sarah D. 11.12.07 at 11:16 pm
I’m in. So far, I’ve nearly finished the back of the Minimalist Cardigan from the fall issue of Interweave Knits. Its beautiful, but all that moss stitch?!?!
Tiny Tyrant 11.01.08 at 10:35 pm
Cobblestone in Rowan Summer Tweed, for my 48″ chested hubby.
Yeah I’m insane, you?
Vicki (stitchermom) 11.11.09 at 7:56 pm
Sure thing! I just started Mr. Greenjeans. It will be fun following everyone’s progress.
c-wraeknit 11.13.09 at 3:33 pm
Please sign me up if we can finish something. I began working on Chesapeake and would love to finish.