147
Posted in Knitting
November 1, 2006

NaNoSweMo (National Sweater Knitting Month) KAL

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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147 comments

  • pippi

    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!

    Reply to pippi
  • Shannon

    Consider yourself kicked, then, Pippi!

    Reply to Shannon
  • pippi

    more, please!!!
    er, i mean, ouch!

    Reply to pippi
  • loribird

    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? 🙂

    Reply to loribird
  • Lolly

    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!

    Reply to Lolly
  • Kim

    I’d be nuts to join you. But maybe I’ll shoot to finish Forecast this month!

  • LunarAwe

    Ooooh, this sounds like a good plan. It is getting COLD! What about finishing a couple of sweaters in progress? Does that still count?

    Reply to LunarAwe
  • caro

    Lolly sucked me in. I’m totally up for it!

    Reply to caro
  • --Deb

    NaNoSweMo . . . I love it! Brilliant idea!

    Reply to –Deb
  • ann-marie

    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!!!

    Reply to ann-marie
  • Christina

    Count me in. I’ll be ripping and reknitting the fitted ribbed turtleneck from the cover of Hollywood Knits.

    Reply to Christina
  • Erin

    Can I join? Sounds like crazy obssessive fun!

    Reply to Erin
  • laurie in maine

    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!

    Reply to laurie in maine
  • nihal

    i have to join! i have two great packs of yarn and they are begging me to use them up!

    Reply to nihal
  • Monica

    I have sweaters to knit, surely at least one of them has 50,000 stitches.

    Reply to Monica
  • Miki

    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!

    Reply to Miki
  • Adelle

    Very cool! I am going to try to work this in with the Norovember KAL – A noro sweater!

    Reply to Adelle
  • Manda

    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* 🙂

    Reply to Manda
  • Rose

    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.

    Reply to Rose
  • Post authorShannon

    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!

    Reply to Shannon
  • Lisa

    Would a complicated vest count? I want to knit a cabled vest for my dad this month.

    Reply to Lisa
  • Kathy

    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.

    Reply to Kathy
  • Liz

    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

    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.

    Reply to Laura
  • hpny knits

    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…
    🙂

    Reply to hpny knits
  • The Purloined Letter

    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?

    Reply to The Purloined Letter
  • Ansley

    This is a great idea. I have yarn and patterns two sweaters that are waiting to be picked up.

    Reply to Ansley
  • insaknitty

    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! 🙂

    Reply to insaknitty
  • Wanda

    This sounds great. I’m working on one now, but I plan to cast on for new one this weekend. Count me in!

    Reply to Wanda
  • Rebecca

    Sign me up! I’m crazy enough to do it all!

    Reply to Rebecca
  • Ari

    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?

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  • amp

    i’m game, especially since i ripped and re-started my bell sleeve jacket from vk holiday 06 yesterday.

  • jacqui

    love this idea – I’m so in!

    Reply to jacqui
  • tiennie

    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…

    Reply to tiennie
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  • arachne

    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.

    Reply to arachne
  • margaux

    i got the yarn, the needles and the pattern, that you for providing the inspiration!! i’m so in!

    Reply to margaux
  • jody

    alright, sign me up too! i just ordered yarn to knit “A Cardigan for Arwen” from the latest IK.

    Reply to jody
  • Donna

    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!

    Reply to Donna
  • Jenneke

    Sounds like a good excuse to cast on my first sweater!

    Reply to Jenneke
  • Lolly

    What a response!! Fun fun!

    Reply to Lolly
  • Omly

    I’m in! I have swatched and started knitting already.

    Reply to Omly
  • Stacey

    What an awesome idea! Count me in!!

    Reply to Stacey
  • Kara

    Well, how can a girl pass this up. I am in. Heaven help me…

    Reply to Kara
  • Cheryl

    Count me in! I’m swatching now.

    Reply to Cheryl
  • Loren

    I’m in!!! Just started a pullover this week. Will be finished before the end of Nov.

    Reply to Loren
  • Ina

    Excellent idea! Count me in!! Hm… must go figure out number of stitches in sweater.

  • Sam

    I’m up for a challenge… and I do have a UFO that might fit the 50,000 stitch bill.
    Count me in!

  • mary

    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!

    Reply to mary
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  • femiknitter

    Count me in! I shall be knitting an EZ seamless hybrid for someone as a Christmas present. Here goes nothin! Thanks for doing this!

    Reply to femiknitter
  • Sitcomgirl

    I’m in! In my world it may be a combo of sweaters and other gifty things.

    Reply to Sitcomgirl
  • Pingback: Ivy’s Blog » NaNoSweMo (Edit)

  • Ivy

    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

    I’m in. This will be what I need to finish my seamless hybrid sweater by the end of November! Great idea!

    Reply to nova
  • RandomRanter

    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).

    Reply to RandomRanter
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  • Lee Ann

    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…

    Reply to Lee Ann
  • nrrdgrrl

    heheheh. took me a couple of days but now i have managed to incorporate nanoswemo into my nanowrimo novel 😀 thanks for the idea.

    Reply to nrrdgrrl
  • SPR

    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

    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.

    Reply to KnitSteph
  • Kristen

    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

    Reply to Kristen
  • carolyn

    I think I’m in…Hope I can do it. How do you count the stitches in a sweater????

    Reply to carolyn
  • beapea7

    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.

    Reply to beapea7
  • Morgan

    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!!

    Reply to Morgan
  • Rosemary

    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.

    Reply to Rosemary
  • Katya

    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 :/)

    Reply to Katya
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  • Karin

    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 :).

    Reply to Karin
  • Nikol

    I’m in like gunga-din. Started on Sunday, almost to the bustline…

    Reply to Nikol
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  • Suzanne

    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.

    Reply to Suzanne
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  • Alice Few

    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……

    Reply to Alice Few
  • nancynovember

    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!

    Reply to nancynovember
  • lucie

    It’ll be my first, but…I’m in!

    Reply to lucie
  • Petunia

    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!!)

    Reply to Petunia
  • malia

    le sigh. if you twist my arm i guess i could start that central park hoodie i’ve been dreaming about.

    Reply to malia
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  • Alix

    I’m so excited! I missed this last year doing the writerly thing, but this year I’m totally knitting a sweater.

    Reply to Alix
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  • Adelle

    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!

    Reply to Adelle
  • Kate

    What’s that? An excuse to be selfish and knit something for myself in between christmas knitting? I’m in!

    Reply to Kate
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  • Cecilia

    All of the patterns in Knitting with a Smile by Inger Fredholm states how many stitches it takes to make.

    Reply to Cecilia
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  • Topaz

    Maybe this will push me into finishing the Hardcore sweater for my dad.

    Reply to Topaz
  • esmerelda

    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’…

    Reply to esmerelda
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  • Steph

    I’m so in! I cast on this morning and am so excited.

    Reply to Steph
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  • Lauren

    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.

    Reply to Lauren
  • AntiChristy

    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?

    Reply to AntiChristy
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  • Beth K (theknittingidiot)

    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!

    Reply to Beth K (theknittingidiot)
  • Dazie

    Heh. I’m less motivated than most- I’m going for a scarf.

    Two skeins though!

    Reply to Dazie
  • Sarah D.

    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?!?!

    Reply to Sarah D.
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  • Tiny Tyrant

    Cobblestone in Rowan Summer Tweed, for my 48″ chested hubby.

    Yeah I’m insane, you?

    Reply to Tiny Tyrant
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  • Vicki (stitchermom)

    Sure thing! I just started Mr. Greenjeans. It will be fun following everyone’s progress.

    Reply to Vicki (stitchermom)
  • c-wraeknit

    Please sign me up if we can finish something. I began working on Chesapeake and would love to finish.

    Reply to c-wraeknit
  • Pensie

    Can I join? I love to knit and this sounds AWESOME. I can imagine November like this: Write, Knit, Eat, Sleep, repeat.

    Reply to Pensie
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  • Giulia

    I’m going to give it a try too! My project will be my actual first top down sweater, so, well, lol… we’ll see!

    Reply to Giulia
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  • Blasterbuny

    I is definitely in!!! Finally the motivation to learn to knit a sweater

    Reply to Blasterbuny
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  • Jennifer Smith

    What an *awesome* idea! Can we crocheters play, too?

    Reply to Jennifer Smith
  • Janni

    I’m in! Started last night, as I was still finishing another sweater when the month began. Now I’m working on Jenna Adorno’s Tempting, over at Knitty: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/PATTtempting.html
    I’m @Janniverse on Twitter and Instagram, and I’m posting pix as I go. 🙂

    Reply to Janni

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