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Posted in Knitting
August 6, 2008

Kindlegrrl, or knit + Kindle = yay!

The nice thing about teaching the same group of people nearly full time for 6 weeks is that it gave me a lot of time to think during the commute, etc. That Jillian caved and bought a Kindle (which I was able to pet at TNNA) was another thought-provoker, especially when I gave in, too. Then I fell in love with my Kindle. See, we’re starting to run out of wallspace here at Knitgrrl HQ, what with all the books, comic books and yarn. And I can’t begin to tell you the number of times I’ve been caught in an airport with less-than-exciting reading material available. So the Kindle was the right device at the right time for me. Seems I’m not the only one thinking it’s ripe for knitting.

Although the screen isn’t color, its resolution is every bit as crisp as a good laptop screen (it brought back fond memories of my PowerBook 520, actually) — 167 ppi or pixels per inch. This means charts and all the other things we knitters need are perfectly serviceable. To compare it to paper, most printed materials such as books are 300 dpi, or dots per inch. Imagine being able to port around all the patterns in your digital library to the yarn store — actually, there is a first-gen mobile web browser, and for what it’s worth, you can read Knitty.com patterns fairly nicely inside it! No need to print out a bunch of copies which inevitably get lost — you can even write little notes to yourself inside a document, say if you change the number of stitches or adjust the sizing.

In short, I love the Kindle, and I love knitting, and I am planning to bring them together in a big way by publishing things specifically formatted for the Kindle. Now, no worries — I’ll still publish my forthcoming patterns as PDFs on Ravelry and here, but in the interest of forging new paths on the knitting frontier, I’d like to get together a groups of test knitters who have Kindles.

So, if you’ve got a Kindle and are a knitter/fiber person, leave a comment or email me. Let’s play!

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37 comments

  • Susan

    I want it! I so covet the Kindle — but I’m eager to see the nextgen later this year. It may come in pink! I’m hopeful that the price will come down a bit with the nextgen as well. Maybe if I get DH a spinning wheel for Christmas, he’ll get me a Kindle!

    Reply to Susan
  • Anna

    I have a Kindle! I sold a TON of yarn and it was worth every skein! I’ve had it since May but haven’t done anything but read on it.

    Reply to Anna
  • tph

    I got a kindle for my birthday in June. I was skeptical at first, but I love it now.

    I would _love_ to see more knitting content available for it.

  • Natalie

    Woo! Shannon I love us early adopters. I can’t wait to have a knitting chart and patterns on my kindle so I don’t have to have all these papers and notes stuffing my knitting bag! 🙂

    Reply to Natalie
  • Terri

    I did not think I wanted a Kindle until you made me think the words, “knitting books on Kindle”. Please add me to your Knidle group, as I can easily be pushed over the edge by a couple of choice patterns.

    Reply to Terri
  • Post authorShannon

    Mwah ha ha ha! (evil Dr. Horrible-style laugh)

    You’re welcome, Terri! 😉

    Reply to Shannon
  • Katherine

    I just put it on my wishlist. But who knows when I’ll have the money for it. But it’s there.

    Reply to Katherine
  • annmaree

    Yay! The ultimate pic would be a Kindle in a self-knitted cover and (drum roll) the knitting pattern on the Kindle screen!

    Reply to annmaree
  • Pingback: Think Think… - Crafty Kindle? (Edit)

  • mb

    I love my Kindle and I never thought of using it any other way but for my obsessive reading habit. What a great idea you have!!! Now I can use it for my almost obsessive knitting habit. The idea should definitely catch on with other knitters!

    MB

  • Susie

    I’m new to both your blog and knitting. I have a kindle, which I purchased in February. I’d LOVE to see something about knitting specifically formatted for the kindle! Would be great to subscribe to a blog about knitting. Keep us informed!

    Reply to Susie
  • amy

    I have a kindle and I converted Beton’s Book of Needlework from pdf to Kindle and it came out pretty well. I’m notorious for bringing the pattern I’m working on with me on my digital camera. I’ll definitely be trying my next pattern on my kindle!

  • Pingback: anezka media » Blog Archive » Amazon Kindle (Edit)

  • Jessica

    I don’t have a Kindle- I have a Sony Reader. I didn’t even think to PDF some patterns! What an excellent idea 🙂

    Reply to Jessica
  • Post authorShannon

    Just posted today on the blog: Amazon sent me a linky for a $100 off promo they’re doing (oh sure, NOW you send it, Amazon). Click here if you want in on that.

    Reply to Shannon
  • DD

    I have a Kindle and I love it. More knitting patterns would be great. Although, pictures would not be very good on the Kindle. It is a reader, not meant for great graphics.

    What I’m looking for is a knitting pattern to make a cover or case for the Kindle. If anyone knows of one, please email it to me at:

    dskag at comcast dot net (written in this way to discourage spammers)

  • Debi

    I now have a Kindle. Today’s my birthday and my 3 kids & DH & middle-child’s fiancee bought it for me along with gift-cards totalling more than even I could spend in a year. Lucky for me they had no idea how inwxpensive Kindlebooks are. I want to knit a case for it, too. Please e-mail me if you find a pattern.

    Reply to Debi
  • Pingback: Look, ma, I’m on Kindle! — knitgrrl (Edit)

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  • Ida

    I caved and bought myself a Kindle. It just arrived a few days ago, and all I’ve done so far is download a ton of books and read. But, I do intend to marry it to my knitting.

  • Ellie

    I love love love my Kindle. I love the automatic page turning, and have been knitting while reading. Fantastic. I’m currently trying to find a list of abbreviations, knitting help, etc. to upload on it to keep as a reference. I’ve thought about getting the Kindle version of Knitting for Dummies just to have as a resource on it, but I’m not sure it’s worth it. I’m also knitting a cover to felt for my kindle, and hope to post the pattern sometime soon. YAY for Kindles!

    Reply to Ellie
  • Pingback: Oh no, here she goes again… — knitgrrl (Edit)

  • Lisa

    I just ordered the K2 and am now looking for patterns to knit/felt a cover for it. Any suggestions? I am looking forward hours of enjoyment with some of my favorite books (knitting and not).

    Reply to Lisa
  • Susie Cornell

    I love to knit and just received my Kindle with high hopes of transferring my tattered patterns to it!

    Reply to Susie Cornell
  • Regina Needham

    Just received my kindle dx today and one of the first things I thought of was knitting. I’d love to be able to carry all my patterns around. Hoping more knitting books will be released in kindle format. In the meantime, I’d love to knit a cover/case. Any patterns out there?

    Reply to Regina Needham
  • Gail

    I just got the Kindle 2 for my birthday from DH, and am loving it. I really want to knit a case for it. Thinking maybe a felted case, but regular knit would be great too. Does anyone have a pattern or know where I can get one? Also hoping to see more knitting books/patterns in Kindle format.

    Thanks for any help!

    Reply to Gail
  • Karen

    My Kindle DX just arrived this week. I was thinking I ‘d love to knit/felt a bag for it too! Not sure how to figure out exactly how big to knit it though. Looking forward to more Kindle content!

    Reply to Karen
  • Monica

    I would love to check out any patterns you have formatted for the Kindle!

    Reply to Monica
  • Jenny May

    I LOVE my Kindle and my knitting! Bring on the patterns!!! I can’t wait 🙂

    Reply to Jenny May
  • Mariana

    Hey, came across your blog through a google search… just wanted to let you know that I have several patterns for Kindle covers if you’re still looking! 🙂

    Reply to Mariana
  • Pingback: Amazon Kindle - Cooperative Press (Edit)

  • danacat

    i would love to have a pattern for a kindle 3 cover! any suggestions?

    Reply to danacat
  • Ilene

    I got a Kindle about 6 weeks ago. I have converted knitting patterns to PDF and loaded them onto it. Just make sure that the font is large. I love it for that. Also did my main recipes.

    Reply to Ilene
  • Alina

    I just got a Kindle from my (best) sisters (ever) and I can’t wait to get knitting patterns on it! Let me know when you have something, and/or how I can help. 🙂

    Reply to Alina
  • irene

    i love my kindle!

    Reply to irene
  • Abbey

    I got a kindle as an early mothers day present and I love it. I got it for two reason, my husband is active duty Navy and books weight a lot when we move. However, the main reason was an attempt to tame the mountain of printed knitting and crochet patterns in my craft cupboard. I have to say I love it! I can put .pdfs on it and zoom in on a lace chart or a crochet chart. I would love to see more kindle friendly patterns. So far I haven’t purchased any actual kindle knitting books but I expect I will soon. Just like Ellie I am also looking for standard abbreviations and instructions but I don’t want the huge “knitting for dummies” version, just short and sweet for reference.

    Reply to Abbey
  • meham

    Finally gave in for the Kindle because of writing and workshops related thereto. Finally getting around to my knitting again and putting stuff on the Kindle. Seems that since 2008 we can put PDFs directly onto the Kindle (which is how it won that coveted place in my heart). Will be following along from now on, to see what you come up with. See you on Ravelry!
    m

    Reply to meham

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