Knit to This
Knit to This: Black Opry
Oh, thank heavens for the internet and all the treasure troves it continues to reveal!
FOR EXAMPLE.
A little late to the party, but toward the end of 2022, I stumbled across Black Opry and I’ve been listening ever since. It’s a loose consortium of Black musicians who perform and operate under the wide-ranging umbrella that is “Americana music.” (It’s such a large umbrella that I’m sometimes hard-pressed to define what is and isn’t Americana … that can be a fun discussion to have. Try it!).
Black Opry got started by Nashville’s Holly G as a website, but it’s quickly grown in about a million directions, including a full-fledged touring operation called Black Opry Revue—the lineup changes from place to place.
Its mission is clear and succinct: “Black Opry is home for Black artists, fans and industry professionals working in country, Americana, blues, and folk music. Country and roots music have been made and loved by Black people since their conception. For just as long, we have been overlooked and disregarded in the genre. Black Opry is changing that.”
If you’re not new to artists like Robert Finley or Lauren Napier or Nathan Graham or Mickey Guyton, you’ll be happy to see them here—all in one place!—again. If you aren’t familiar with them, you’ll be thrilled by the sheer volume of what awaits you.
And yeah, it’s hard to talk about Black Opry without acknowledging that “Opry” looming in its name. The Grand Ole Opry has elected exactly two Black singers into its ranks in its entire storied history: Charley Pride and Darius Rucker. Black Opry, I think, makes the case that that won’t—can’t—be the case for much longer.
Pick up a heavy-on-the-mindless-garter-stitch project, and then head on over to the Playlists page at BlackOpry.com. You’ll wear a pencil down to a nub taking notes about who to listen to next, I promise.
And look! Two bonuses! A good 30-minute Black Opry primer, from NPR: The Black Opry: a joyful, supportive celebration of Black artists. And up top is an hour+ of a Black Opry Revue concert. (The program starts about six minutes in.)
A Giveaway
Speaking of heavy-on-the-mindless-garter-stitch: This week’s prize is a download of our Baby Bib o’ Love and Baby Genius Burp Cloths pattern plus three skeins of Rowan Handknit Cotton.
How to enter?
Two steps:
Step 1: Sign up for MDK emails, right here. If you’re already signed up, you’re all set. We have a new option for texting, so when you sign up for those, you’ll get a coupon code good for 10% off your next MDK order.
Step 2: What do you knit when you really want to lose yourself to listening? Tell us in the comments.
Deadline for entries: Sunday, April 23, 11:59 PM Central time. We’ll draw a random winner from the entries. Winner will be notified by email.
Come Shop With Us
I enjoy just about any kind of knitting when listening to music. Knitting and music go hand in hand when relaxing and getting away from the daily grind of things.
Plain stockinette, otherwise I lose my place in both tasks!
All my knitting is pretty mindless these days, so all my knitting goes with music!
Pretty much anything but lace charts. I nearly always have plain socks, a ribbed hat and/or a baby blanket on needles. I almost always listen to something while knitting–sometimes music/sometimes audiobooks.
Something mindless.
I’ll knit anything that does not involve counting… when I am counting stitches, I need perfect quiet and no distractions. But other than that music or audio books are my favorite way to knit!
Log cabin dish clothes! Easy and they make great gifts.
Stockinette stitch blanket squares. Next to my knitting chair,, I keep a bag of knitting for just this.
Socks!
Hats or scarves while road tripping with my hubby and listening to audiobooks.
Sleeves. Sleeves are such a bore. Listen to music gets them done!
I’ll have to give that a shot! I’ve been stuck on sleeve island for the last few months!
Any pattern that is easy to follow and where it is not too complicated to keep track of the stitches or shaping.
I’m not really sure. I think my knitting is more by mood, deadline, or both.
I save my hat knitting for when I am traveling or listening to music. Simple knitting, going in a circle, what could be more soothing?
Agreed; my daughter once arrived home from California and informed me that it was a one hat flight.
I keep a pair of vanilla socks on the needles for those times I just need to knit and not pay attention
Hats and socks are my choi.
Whatever project is on my needles . I almost always listen to music when I knit.
Currently getting lost in long sprawling rows of a garter stitch shawl. This video is queued up for later. Thanks for posting this DG!
The stockinette body of a top down pullover.
I usually knit on a blanket when I don’t have to really concentrate and can enjoy the music.
At the moment I’m working on a Stephen West shawl (small honeycombs) with a Fiber Optic infinity gradient. It’s simple enough that I memorized the stitch pattern a few honeycombs in, and don’t even both with the row counter anymore. Perfect for TV knitting or listening!
Anything stockinette.
Usually I’ll knit something that easily reveals my errors. Sometimes I may have to stop what I’m listening to in order to fix my mistakes. But then I return. (For example, I’m currently knitting Veronik Avery’s Lace Ribbon Scarf from knitty. Interesting pattern. Looks great after blocking. And easy to know where you are and when you’ve made a mistake.)
Sleeves! Or, arm socks, right?
Any of the simpler sequence knitting patterns. Rhythmic and easy.
Il volo. Kenny Loggins. Dave Mason. Jazz. Piano Guys. The Doors. Yup, I’m all over the place.
Dish cloths and sleeves for me. Looking forward to giving Black Opry a listen.
Round and round colorwork suits the “humming right along” scenario- socks, sweater, Lopi sweater body, or to-be-felted bag.
Definitely a hat…nothing is more relaxing for me than knitting in the round for me!
(Also, I believe the date may be incorrect and should be 4/19/2023). Happy Sunday!
Ummm, no. I believe the date is 4/16/23!
The contest deadline date is what’s incorrect, not today’s date.
I knit squares with owl patterns
Whatever is on my needles. I always listen while I knit
Ribbing! I will start a cuff down sock or a brim of a hat.
Baby bibs and burp cloths. Truly!
Anything stockinette or ribbing: sleeves or body of sweaters, legs of socks…
Garter is great— had a Garter Stripe Wrap on the needles throughout the pandemic.
Thank yo DG for another great article can’t wait to dive in!
A simple cuff down sock that is past the gussets. Then I can just knit in circles.
I’m working on a mosaic lap blanket and found it is great type of knitting when I want to focus on listening. Mosaic is a easy symmetrical short repeat to establish the row and then work back following the established pattern.
Something mindless so that I’m not distracted by the pattern.
Socks, scarves, hats
MDK got me hooked on dishcloths for mindless but productive knitting. Could used more cotton!
I keep a brioche Cushiest Cowl in my small travel bag for mindless knitting as needed. I stop to squish it from time to time while immersing in music.
Something that requires very little concentration – the body of a stockinette stitch sweater, anything that is simple knitting with NO shaping
Thanks for this, DG!
When I’m listening, I can knit anything, and some interesting stitches are helpful for keeping me in my seat. When I’m also watching, I need to have already done the thinking so that I can just follow my plan!
Not lace patterns!! Stockinette in the round is the best; anything that doesn’t require counting:-)
if I’m listening to something I really want to pay attention to I can knit garter, stockinette or anythig that I’ve memorized the pattern Not the time for charts or new techniques
I usually have a garter stitch scarf on hand for “knitting to listen”.
Vanilla socks for me.
A Josephine has never let me down when I need a mindless knit!
Something easy like washcloths and burp cloths. Amazing coincidence!
Fingering weight slouch hat, washcloths, socks…..endless mindless knitting.
The ball band wash cloth, of course! Nathan Graham is a new favorite after I saw him in a small club in Chicago last year.
I tend to gravitate towards garter stitch and dishcloths. My two favorites are the Ball Band and The Linoleum….I wonder why?
Hi, DG. Thank you for another wonderful article. For the contest question: I’m still too new to knitting to have a favorite kind of knit-while-listening project, but I spent the last five months working on something that would qualify: A blanket for my son made of 15 skeins of yarn. Having just completed it, I have new respect for the temperature blanket maniacs who finish one … and then start another. For now, I’ll be looking for smaller mindless projects to complement my favored sweater knitting.
A washcloth, of course!
The cuff or the foot of a sock. It makes them go faster
Currently I am knitting a blanket with bulky yarn in a ribbed pattern – 2 knit, 2 purl – and it is a very meditative process, good for listening to music and watching TV.
I save my intense knitting for when I’m listening since I can’t when watching tv.
Hats and scarves are my choice
dishcloths–just the garter stitch..
Stockinette stretch of any project.
Anything garter stitch. My current listening project is a temperature blanket for my son.
Long stretches of simple stockinette, such as in the body of a sweater withe no shaping.
Alexandra’s Airplane Scarf in Rowan Kidsilk Haze
A garter stitch baby blanket for Knitting4Peace.
Something like my temperature blanket (garter stitch), cotton dish clothes, really about anything!
Definitely a scarf or blanket in mostly garter stitch. I’m on my 7th #pembrokescarf mostly knit while listening to audio books on the Libby app. Most recently How to Be An Artist by Jerry Saltz, fab!
I’ll knit anything to music!
Dishcloths!
Anything garter stitch. Last year’s temperature blanket was perfect for this.
Washcloths or something simple and familiar…
Socks of course!
With music, projects that don’t require counting because I tend to singalong in my head. Books on tape or podcasts are usually good for anything since I don’t know what’s coming up next and can keep track with what’s on my needles.
I love knitting dishcloths or those Baby Bibs o’ Love for times when my attention is elsewhere….
Temperature blanket would be my first go to. I generally wait for a week’s worth of days to knit on it. Sweaters generally have some good mindless knitting parts.
Any simple pattern with no shaping works for me.
Ahhhh! Thank you for introducing me to Black Opry. I picked up my socks to knit the SECOND time listening to it!
Plain stockinette voyageur hats in red yarn. Easy and strangely satisfying.
Never just one project. Get thru the beginning and gooooo! Usually a scarf or shawl
Socks! Toe up, two at a time. Mindless round and round I go!
Marlogram scarf. Grab two cakes and go!
A well-narrated audiobook.
If I truly want to lose myself in listening the knitting has to be pretty mindless like a garter stitch shawl
My sweet son in law picked up beautiful yarn at a work conference in Seattle and I am knitting A shawl for his lovely wife, shawls are mindless knitting to me!
Usually something basic, like a scarf or shawl.
Vanilla socks!
Easy stuff for traveling and while listening to podcasts and etc. The more challenging stuff I need quiet.
Yesterday! I was invited to a Met opera, Der Rosenkavalier, at the local Cineplex. I had just finished my simple SS project begun last fall. I worried about what I would do in my sleep. I cast on 40 stitches to make a seed stitch swatch in a linen yarn. I was so absorbed, it was so visually interesting, I had to start again later because there were so many errors that parts looked like rib!
Wow! What a great music find for knitting this Sunday morning. I appreciate it.
DJ, you were gone for so long! I was so worried. Thank you for your Nashville note.
I knit plain and simple sweaters for my husband. These are what I work on when I’m listening or watching media. Long expanses of stockinette stitches keep my hands busy and my brain available for input.
The easy part of a pattern. Like the stockingnet or garter part of a sweater or shawl.
If I’m really looking to loose myself, it’s stockinette, in the round, on circs, without increases or decreases. That’s movie theater knitting for me, so mindless I don’t even need to look at it.
Any type of project with a simple garter stitch pattern; socks with an easy to remember pattern (but not the heel!); dish/wash clothes.
Stockinette sleeves
Any pattern that’s easy to remember – no charts!!
I really enjoy your musical suggestions- thanks! Socks are my go-to project when I’m using my mind elsewhere. I always have a pair or two on needles.
I love knitting miles of stockinette. It’s my zen.
Sondheim.
Always listening to him.
Rodgers and Hart, e.g. ‘The American Songbook.’
Oops
What do I knit? Always dependent on what I’m watching/listening to … sometimes you just can’t knit a lace chart while really really listening or watching.
Garter stitch log cabin squares for blankets are my go-to for listening (or watching!) I’ve nearly finished my 4th one now.
Miles and miles of garter stitch or in the round stockinette hats
Anything garter stitch!
Working on a 4-row repeat shawl while listening to Black Opry. Wow! Thank you for introducing these musicians to me this Sunday morning.
Vanilla socks or the body or sleeves of a sweater in stockinet (after short rows).
Dishcloths!
Something without counting, of course
I might reveal myself as not such a good listener, but if I’m listening and not watching, almost anything is good. I finished a sweater this week — one I wanted to wear before it got too warm. So I spent the day with podcasts, an audio book, and music while I knit ribbing, reknit ribbing, and wove in ends. As you might expect, and I should have, after all these years, there was more to do than I expected (or rather, it took longer than I expected).
Toques and plain socks are my go-to mindless knitting.
I agree hats are easy going round and round with one color or two or more. Make your own pattern and repeat.
What’s the deadline? As I lose myself in your essay.
I am still a fairly new knitter so cannot knit anything that needs concentration but most simple shawls work or once I learn the pattern I can listen to anything
I don’t have favorite knitting for enjoying the music, but I do have favorite music for knitting. I can knit anything when I am in a good musical groove.
I’ve recently discovered a hat pattern called No Purls 4 Sailors. Just knit, knit, knit! It’s ferry enjoyable for listening!
That sounds cool. I will have to check that out.
Okay, that “ferry” should be “very”!
Sweaters, just go around and around and around!
I try to have some stockinette or garter parts to knit, socks, blanket whatever.
Anything stocknette in the round usually a sweater body or a shawl.
It’s a hot race between dishcloths and socks. Both mindless and wonderful at the same time.
I crochet double-thick diagonal potholders. I need to find someplace to give some away!
Something very simple, like a hat in the round. Easy for me to pick up and put down.
I love to knit simple socks.
Socks or a baby size Wonderful Wallaby
I’m so bad… I like listening to foreign languages while watching Netflix, using English subtitles. Not the dubbed stuff! I love hearing the native language. Must be simple parts of shawls or socks.
Anything that isn’t super fiddly. Charts are fine once I’ve completed one pass and have familiarity. I tend to listen to classic and contemporary instrumental jazz so the absence of lyrics helps.
Thank you for the Black Opry introduction! I do like folk and blues and I’m excited to fine new artists to listen to.
I knit something not to complicated. Currently a 10 stitch blanket by Frankie Brown
dishcloths. I love haing extra around the house, and they are easy, with no thinking involved
Every project seems to have parts that are suitable for not paying too close attention to, so I sometimes save those when I know I’m going to need something like that.
Adding the Black Opry to my knitting playlist. Thanks much for the info!
Ballband dishcloths
Plain socks are good listening knitting. So are Tunisian crochet dish cloths.
I love to listen to audiobooks and knit but have to not do it while I’m doing a complicated lace pattern or a complicated cable pattern because I realize I’ve been focusing on the pattern and I haven’t heard anything that’s been going on for the last 10 minutes.. lots of relistening happens when that’s going on
I love knitting a simple toque or shawl if I am more focused on music or a movie. My needles seem to know the easy repetition and voila- the magic happens.
Something in Brioche stitch, whatever strikes my fancy.
Thank you for this post…I’m glad to know about Black Opry. Simple hats or cowls knit in the round are my favorite projects for traveling, meetings, listening to music, watching TV, or any other situation where my attention would be divided.
Almost anything is good for knitting while listening to music.
A really easy mindless knit shawl
I would like to say that I knit socks, as many do, but I haven’t scratched that itch yet. For now, I knit dishcloths and washcloths.
A plain sock! (Well, plain in pattern. The yarn should be as wild and interesting as possible.)
Garter stitch shawls…something like Hitchhiker by Martina Behm.
I need to mix it up and add more music. I mostly listen to audio books while knitting. Thank you for the nudge to add music.
a sock – a plain vanilla sock – everything except the turning of the heel part.
or any other simple pattern or straight knitting
I knit a scarf or hat with a mindless sequence stitch.
stockinette sweater in the round is the best “meeting knitting” (knitting for when you can’t look at a chart or stop to count or measure) (although zoom meetings have increased the feasibility for slightly more complex projects)
My current passion is mosaic knitting. Sometimes I forget to slip a stitch and then I have to backtrack on the next row and sometimes it’s “oh well”, it’s a design element.
Well I am currently on a sock kick and am loving the rhythm of the ribbing so much I am now making a 1×1 ribbing hat. But for really lost in my knitting I am making my son another garter stitch blanket. My goal is always to the end of the current row.
A ballband dishcloth
Socks
Deadline for entries 19 March 2023? I knit baby blankets
Shawls are my favorite while listening or watching. I’m also fond of anything garter stitch.
My mindless knitting, which would typically be the body of a sweater.
Dishcloths!
A Musselburgh hat is my current favorite mindless knitting, in sock weight yarn.
I do most of my knitting while listening to something. I may change what I listen to depending on the project I am working on but I rarely change my knitting to accommodate the entertainment.
Plain socks, anything garter stitch, or a stockinette something in the round. At least one of these is always underway in some form. And if it isn’t, then I start one!
My current tv project is Paris Toujours by Isabel Kramer
I’m working (slowly) on a triangular beaded silk shawl that is garter stitch all along the way and needs no counting, marking or changing color. I bring it to the playground with my grandkids, stash it in my bag for a wait at the airport and work on it while watching something with subtitles. A long, slow delight!
Anything!
Dishcloths are my go to for knitting while listening!
I mostly knit sweaters for myself, so I’ll listen carefully to something when I’m in a long stretch of sameness.
You always give the best recommendations! I can’t wait to check out The Black Opry. Thanks DG!
Thanks, finding small projects that have a repetitive vibe,but little segments to help you concentrate too. Mainly socks, but log- cabin and textured patterns are great.
Baby bibs and burps would be great too!
Anything without a pattern!
I knit whatever I’m currently working on. Listening is my preferred method of learning something, and I always love to be learning something. Knitting makes it simpler for an ADHD-ish person like me to concentrate.
I love knitting Youtube channels. Watch knitting while knitting:)
While listening I’ll work on most anything that is already underway. If it’s at a juncture involving a new or tricky technique, then I’ll take a break. The plain garter or stockinette I save for streaming with subtitles.
dishcloths
Thanks for the listening tip DJ.
I like to knit plain jane socks when trying to really pay attention. Or maybe a diagonal dishcloth of some type.
The back of a sweater (in the no increase, no decrease, no raglan section.)
Uhm, March 19? As far as knitting mindlessly, circular needles, vest, bottom up, knit stitch until I have to think at the armholes.
As others have said, something mindless!
Always a blanket, usually garter stitch!
Have you heard the music by Black Violin? It varies from classical, to jazz, to rock. Truly amazing and is truly wonderful to knit to!
I work on my Half and Half Triangles Wrap.
I knit round and round and round on a cuff-down sock. Sometimes they’re ribbed, sometimes striped, sometimes complicated, but mostly not.
What a good idea! I never thought of bibs! I usually do baby hats or blankets. Tight now I’m into using scraps on the Coziest Memory by Kemper Wray.
Socks.
When I want to lose myself on music?… headphones!
Lose myself in knitting. I cant think about what i am doing. It always has to be garter stitch and usually a baby blanket or scarf. And it is usually crochet for the baby blanket.
Bright and cheery dishcloths.
Obsessed with the “Hamilton” soundtrack. I can actually listen, singalong and knit!
Oftentimes, while finishing up all these winter sweaters!, I’ll sit in silence and watch the wild life and birds out the window. Very relaxing.
If I am going to listen to music or podcasts I love knitting plain stockinette items, things like socks or sweaters are best. I find these to be meditative and they don’t distract from what I’m listening to like a more complex pattern would.
Anything that I’ve knitted many times before and have committed the pattern to memory.
My motto: If I’m not knitting, I’m probably not listening. Ideally, something chevron lace in a long-color-change yarn.
Right now my mindless knit is baby socks. The pattern I am using is a tiny version of an adult sock and a pair can be finished in no time!
I mostly listen to music on the go whilst knitting a pair of socks.
Plain socks with a fabulous self patterning yarn. The yarn keeps it interesting and the knitting is easy.
Any pattern that’s easy enough to work without thinking much. Currently I’m into dishcloths.
Socks on 9 inch circs or the main body of a sweater. Something where you just go in circles forever.
Blankets in garter stitch or baby hats. Simple.
Hats! I make hats for charity and if they’re infused with love and beautiful music, well, all the better.
While listening to music i love working on something with a pattern that is interesting, but not too complex. For instance, a simple lace, maybe stranded colorwork in geometric patterns, or perhaps a regularly cabled garment would be just the trick.
Anything stockinette in the round.
Ribbed hats. Someone always wants one…
It can’t be anything distracting, I am not that good of a knitter. Maybe a dish cloth with James Taylor.
Broken Rib Brioche scarf. I’ve done it so much I could do it in my sleep and peaceful music is a good accompaniment.
When I’m listening I like to knit something with a very easy repetitive pattern. Nothing that I need to count for sure!
I always have a simple garter (or striped) blanket on the needles. I call it my “second glass of wine” or “subtitles” knitting. No need to look at my needles.
Dishcloths, body of a sweater… knit knit knit!
Something truly mindless… currently a one row sequence shawl Anywhere by Cecelia Campochiaro
Pretty much always a pair of socks, either a vanilla sock, or some pattern-less part of a more complicated stitch pattern sock, like the toe or cuff, or heel turn.
A plain boring sock. If I get to a part that needs actual counting or attention, I’ll change projects.
I knit knitted knockers when listening!
Wash clothes!
When I’m losing myself in listening, it’s usually at an outdoor music festival. So it’s usually summer – which means nothing that sits on myy lap — and it’s usually outdoors, so mud or dust (sometimes both) can be an issue. So small and washable — usually hats or socks.
That would be almost any knitting that does not have color work or complicated cables
Listening to mindful breathing while knitting one of many unfinished projects.
Washcloths!
I knit a simple patter; whether it’s a cowl, socks, top down sweater. Okay I knit almost anything.
Best mindless knitting for me is stocking stitch in the round, so the body below yoke after splitting for sleeves is perfect for mindless, or socks except the heel and toe. I have a 2 mo old granddaughter who could use some knit bibs!
A charity blanket
I knit whatever I am working on, usually a sweater or shawl. I have multiple WIPs so I match my mood to the music or TV, although I leave lace and intricate counting patterns for quiet times with good daylight.
I love knitting socks while enjoying music, any variation unless it involves a chart.
Christmas music! Needs to be heard all year long!
Audiobooks are my go to for knitting. I love the multitasking of getting through books I want to read while keeping my hands busy!
any knitting & music, unless it’s “REAL” dance music then seat dancing might throw off a few stitches…
I’m with the people who said knitting without needing to count, so sweater bodies or scarves it big items like shawls. Then I can lose myself in whatever I am listening to, like music or a podcast or audio book. Thanks!
Sweaters or mittens and music or audiobook with Bose noise-cancelling ear buds.
Listening and knitting go hand in hand!
Dish cloths sound like the thing!
Unlike tv, music ( classical solo piano is my go-to) never distracts me from my knitting.
Music or podcasts about knitting go hand in hand.
Its a good time to work on sleeves or socks. Anything simple in the round.
Like so many others I knit something mindless when listening to something good. A hat, a blanket, maybe one day socks….Mindless knitting is especially necessary if I’ll be laying down my knitting to follow something or take notes. 🙂
A Sophie scarf!
My go-to knit when I want or need to listen is a straightforward shawl. I have knit several of Purl Soho’s Elementary Wrap and now am working on their Half + Half Triangles Wrap. I always have some “mindless” knitting on hand—just in case.
I knit anything with a repetitive pattern when I listen to music – and sometimes I can even knit in time with the beat!
Shawls, shawls, shawls!
Anything in plain stockinette!
Something stockinette in the round!
I like to knit to the 80’s music. Wide genre to keep me knitting along
Music and knitting – what could be better for the soul?! I like to work on shawls or socks while listening to music.
Socks need the least attention!
Dish cloths.
I like to knit hats when I am listening to music or books.
Socks or dishcloths
I love knitting baby blankets or anything simple. A little lace is fine too.
Dishcloths!
Vanilla socks or something straightforward and repetitive.
Classic piano, no words, just music and knitting or crochet. I float away into a rhythm of bliss ♥️
Socks or washcloths.
throws…I have four children and 8 great grands and they enjoy getting handknit throws for Christmas. Once you cast on the correct number of stitches, they are pretty mindless.
I actually crochet when I want it to be mindless. Currently, it’s a scrappy blanket.
Hats, hats, hats!
When I’m trying to multitask with listening and knitting, I work on those long rows of a shawl. You know those rows that continue to grow and seem to take 1/2 hour per row. Almost done with my Pressed Flower Shawl I’m happy to report.
opera……..I totally listen to classic opera or non-operatic sweeping epic classical music (think Wagner or Holst). Also enjoy symphonic classical with vocal parts (Beethovan’s 9th, Mozart’s Requium, etc)
I like to knit knitted knockers and knitted hats for chemo patients throughout the year.
That is really cool. Good on y.
Vanilla socks are my go to for portable and mindless. ❤️
I can knit something more complicated when only using my ears. It is movies that I need mindless knitting!
I knit socks (simple pattern I’ve memorized) or crochet dishcliths wirh kitchen cotton.
simple and repetitive knits
Something simple, a hat maybe, like others said – nothing that requires counting! Definitely not charted color work!
When I want to lose myself to listening, I knit something mindless like the body of a top down sweater with miles and miles of knitting. Right now, I’m working on the sleeves of the Radiate by Joji Locateli. It’s pretty mindless and perfect since I just had to put my favorite dog down. He had cancer.
Stockinette cowl….nothing to mess up!
Something simple that doesn’t take a lot of concentration.
My current autopilot project is Flickerl, a linen stitch scrappy shawl which is eating up the rag tag mash up of tiny yarn balls that filled the bowl of a comically huge martini glass (which had contained a party flower arrangement, lest anyone worry).
Socks!! Always socks
Stockinette sweater body in the round
I save my “in the round” stockinette baby sweaters for listening time
Anything that goes on and on without counting..sweater bodies or the dreaded 2nd sleeve
I think I can knit just about anything while listening…it’s another story, though, if I’m trying to watch something, or have a conversation!
Definitely something mindless like socks.
My mindless knitting consists of a lovely shawl knitted in garter stitch with a linen,alpaca, wool blend yarn. It’s slow but satisfying knitting.
I love to knit baby blankets with a simple pattern repeat when I need something mindless.
Depends on the knitting pattern. If it’s a simple pattern that doesn’t require a lot of stitch counting or following a complicated pattern or a stockinette stitch, then I’ll work on that project.
I enjoy knitting lace patterns
Love getting lost in any pattern that includes a good chunk of time spent in stockinette knit even on circular needles
Basic, vanilla socks are my go to when I am looking to listen intensely to something while keeping my hands (and creative spirit) occupied.
Stockinette in the round, like a sock or a sweater
almost anything,
Pretty much whatever is on the needles. With the hands going the mind is open.
Socks!
When I want to lose myself in listening, usually an audiobook, I knit on a repetitive pattern for a shawl. It is mindless, relaxing and I truly enjoy my listening.
Dishcloths for mindless knitting or a baby blanket with very simple repeats.
I like to knit some automatic stockinette like the bottom of a sweater in the round.
I usually have a vanilla sock on the needles and they’re great for mindless knitting. I will also knit a dishcloth or I will work the stockinette portion of a sweater. My daughter loves hand knot face cloths so those are a go to as well. For those I use a finder weight cotton.
I’ll knit any garter stitch neck thing or a stockinette sweater in the round while I listen to a Stephen King audio book. Keeps my hands in the real world and one foot in scary King land!
When I’m listening, or “watching” television, I knit the plain rows of a pair of socks, or of a baby afghan.
Of course music and knitting belong together—always!
Socks socks and socks.
Stranded color-work
I love to listen to music while I’m knitting anything that doesn’t require paying attention to an intricate pattern. (PS: Just thinking about Elizabeth Zimmerman yesterday and how she was the one who really got me knitting. Shows my age. LOL!)
Stockinette of course!
Also sleeves-2 @ time on magic loop…
When I want to lose myself in listening, I turn to something rhythmic & repetitive. That’s for the knitting!! Admittedly though, the rhythmic part applies equally well to the listening. But back to the knitting… I like to listen while working on something that becomes automatic with muscle memory rather quickly so large stretched of stockinette, especially in the round, or garter, or ribbing, anything that I can set myself onto autopilot and go rather than having to refer back to charts or written instructions. Hats & cowls are my go-to’s in this situation since I can then have them for random gifts later on. But certainly I have found that I can handle no switching yarns and catching floats or remembering YOs & matching decreases, etc. I’ve proven to myself too many times that I do as much frogging as knitting when I try to do anything that needs ANY attention while I’m listening. Multiply that exponentially when I’m tired!
Pretty much anything but a chart pattern. I get lost and can’t remember where I was. Then when I count I lose whatever I was listening to. Lol!
Knitting in the round or all garter stitch if it is flat…Actually knitting while listening is not quite as challenging as knitting while watching TV. I do lots of TV knitting…baby hats for newborns at Parkland Hospital, Dallas.
For listening whatever project I’m working in is good.
For fifty years my “go to” mindless knitting project has been socks. Recently I have been working on a scrap using blanket for at home mindless work. I hesitate to say it but the blanket is a crochet project taken up to give my arthritic hands a rest with the different motion.
I found a one row pattern that I am happily knitting into a scarf with some souvenir yarn that I bought on a trip with friends. It’s so easy to do this while I listen to an audiobook! I think my collection of scarves is going to keep growing!
I get lost in whatever knitting I’m doing.
Everything
The stockinette body of a sweater or a mindless patterned shawl!
Scarves! Zick zack was great for zooms.
Size 8, 16” circulars …
Worsted yarn of one to 50 colors …
Knit hats!
When I want to lose myself to listening (which is often since I’m an avid Audible user and Amazon Music subscriber – thank you, Alexa!) I pick up any linen stitch or brioche project I have OTN. Might be a cowl, a blanket, a market bag (I’m addicted to those) or . . . . I find those stitches meditative and mind cleansing, opening me up to concentrate on other things. I always use daylight to illuminate my work, and sit in the same chair surrounded by windows opening to my woods, with my dogs at my feet (somehow they always know when I’m in that mood and stick to me like glue) ♥️
I love knitting simple hats. I intersperse with more mindful knitting and then collect them in a cloth bag to donate in the winter for the homeless.
Listening is easy while working on my ribbed temperature blanket. Kay’s blanket enthusiasm encouraged me to start my own project. I’m loving it!
A straight stockinette sweater so I can concentrate on the listening
Dishcloths
A top down sweater with an easy stranded colorwork pattern works for me!
Safiyyah Talley’s 2 in 1 socks- no need to worry about toes, gussets, and heels til the end!
I want to start knitting dishcloths, for these occasions when you want to really listen, and for little breaks from bigger projects. I actually have a hard time starting a new project before I’ve finished one, though. I know I’m in the minority!
anything that doesn’t involve counting
I love to work on gifts for my loved ones while I’m listening mostly to classical music
Baby fruit hats. Easy and fun to do.
I love to knit just about any project (or phase of a project) that doesn’t require counting or close attention to a chart while listening to audio books or music. TV knitting means the simplest patterns or sleeves since my eyes aren’t on the work all the time, but many relaxing hours can go by while I’m tuned into a good listen with my needles in hand.
I love to work on something simple and memorizable–the Stepping Stone Throw was perfect for this, as are dishcloths!
I stay relaxed knitting most anything while I listen to music, but probably stay away from colorwork that requires row by row attention to a chart. BUT sometimes quiet music actually helps me stay on track with such knitting too…!
I actually like to knit colorwork when I’m immersed in something- I can usually memorize each round pretty quickly and it then becomes mindless- yet you do need to stay alert.Good for focus on both knitting and listening!
I like to knit socks when I don’t want to concentrate on my socks but whatever I’m listening to or watching something.
Garter Stitch and more garter stitch: a simple asymmetrical shawl or a dishcloth will do.
Plain old garter stitch. ad for a Log Cabin afghan to bluegrass, Ryan Cooper, String Theory, Jake Bount, or American Roots (all root music!) on my NPR station. Great music, striaght-forward knitting (though not totally idiot proof, as I’ve proved…)
When hard listening is needed then a good dishcloth is on hand but when joyful listening is on tap really whatever is well established on the needles will do. And pick me, pick me as I am a newly minted grandma.
Garter stitch dishcloths! Nothing easier. 🙂
Garter stitch blankets.
When I need to knit and listen, I pick up a pair of socks that use a pattern repeat so that I don’t have to measure when to turn the heel or when to start the toe . . . the pattern measure for me!
A plain sock (the leg part anyway) is always something good to have on hand when watching something on TV — my favorite to watch right now are the St. Louis Cardinals baseball games!
Anything mindless
I love working on a blanket or shawl that has a relatively easy repeat to remember – nothing with a chart!
I’m into listening to audio books more than music. I’ll listen while knitting or crocheting anything except for charted patterns. Charted color work brings me to strict attention; same with charted cables.
I used to knit while my husband played in a traditional Irish band. I generally did stockinette so I could match the beat with my stitches!
A vanilla sock or something in garter stitch – baby bibs or dishcloths are great for that! I also found the Goose Hollow Shawl to be pretty good for conversation knitting. The pattern is easy repeat rows mixed with garter or stockinette and when you’re done, you have a wonderful shawl! I have knit one sweater and will concur that the body (all stockinette) was great for paying attention to something else.
I love Vaughan Williams and Maurice Ravel. They go well with the body of the sweater I’m knitting which is repetitious colorwork unitl I get to the yoke. Maybe the yoke will have to be in silence.
Garter stitch is my go-to easy knitting. Scarf, dishcloth, whatever.
True crime and Jane Austen.
I do love to knit baby bibs, and baby overalls. Dishcloths are also great for losing myself to my listening, especially when it’s a cubs baseball game 🙂
Any project that is in the stockinette stage, definitely not lace, lol. I just finished knitting the beautiful “Leaf Top” by Melanie Reinert (so cute! we won’t talk about the sewing up I still need to do!) and every part that I knit while watching/listening/answering kid questions….let’s just say I could have 3 leaf tops by now…XD
I knit traditional Shetland Haps when I need some listening knitting – start in a corner garter stitch increase to center, decrease to other corner, add simple lace border. Easy peasy!
I have a stash of scrubbie supplies… no worries, easy listening:)
I like to knit the body of a sweater in the round.
Anything garter stitch
Socks. My mindless soothing knitting will always be socks. I am also currently knitting the bakery bears “My Favorite Blanket” kal it is all garter on the bias and it’s pretty close to a zen knitting experience while listening.
The rhythm of garter stitch.
Listening to music. Chatting with my knitting friends. I am knitting socks!
A log cabin blanket. So addictive.
Socks!!! My favorite cuff down pattern is so simple, I’ve got it committed to memory. It sticks with you like a Dr. Seuss rhyme. I could knit socks in a house, I could knit socks with a mouse. I could knit them here or there, I could knit them anywhere…
To listen to something while knitting? I knit something with a shorter number of stitches, so I can finish a round or row and pause, like a baby hat. Interesting question, though, made me think of what I do knit when I want to listen to something good.
At the moment, a blanket/throw. But actually, just about anything.
Usually a single-color hat.
Anything
I knit something simple…..like right now I’m knitting a garter stitch baby blanket with music in the background
A sweater body
Stockinette in the round or garter flat are my go-tos, though a simple. A hat or cowl in the round is a great project because you can go and go.
I knit on any one of my projects that seems to need some attention because it has been waiting on the needles too long.
For watching, I prefer repeats or things I can rewind. I watch old British mysteries on Britbox or the GBBO on Netflix. I worked at a job that had endless loops of the same songs so I prefer quiet when I am home alone.
Knit familiar pattern such as socks or stocking cap!
Long stretches of stockinette in the round
I could be knitting anything…but nothing too fussy. As long as I don’t have to read a really complicated chart, I’m good!
Edwina
I am currently working on a really cool baby blanket that is a combination of rib and garter stitch. Kind of mindless that I can knit to music or TV.
I often knit socks in self striping or variegated colors. Except for turning the heel I just knit round and round and round.
While listening to music I knit two row repeat patterns, so I don’t have to pay attention to a complicated design.
The long stockinette stretch of a Musselburgh Hat!
Just about anything works for me. If I truly want to ‘rock out’ I have to stand up and move
When I want to lose myself in knitting and music I like knitting with some pattern distraction but not much, sweater, socks, shawls with garter stitch
Mittens, I’ve knit so many that it’s a no pattern mindless knit for me.
Something with an easy pattern, usually something I’ve been working on long enough that the pattern is automatic.
I knit cotton hats that are given to cancer patients
Baby blankets and stockinet stitch are my listening favorites.
I like to knit something interesting but not too tricky: a mosaic stitch or simple repeat – both with easy to recognize “oops” if my listening (to audio books) distracts me from the fine details. Kay’s Linoleum Dishcloth is a recent and great project (while listening to Barbara Kingsolver’s latest via Audible)!
Anything that’s just plain vanilla – easy hats, plain sweaters, scarves. No charts, no counting!
Miles of stockinette in the round is perfect for tv, podcast, or audiobook time. Hats, socks, or a sweater.
I listen to Audio books all of the time, unless I am listening to a YouTube video about knitting.
Listening to music and knitting is very calming for my heart and soul!
I like to save all those knit, knit, knit, knit rounds on sweater bodies before or after the gorgeous yoke pattern.
log cabin anything – dish cloths, blankets … maybe I’ll try placemats next. And the Rowan handknit cotton is perfect!
Socks. They’re my go-to for pretty much everything!
For me, if I want to abandon myself to listening (music or audiobook), then it needs to be knitting that doesn’t require attention. The foot of a vanilla sock, a memorized dishcloth pattern, any of those.
Hate to say it but I’m not a music listener while I’m knitting. I listen to TV shows and the type of show depends on the type of knitting Im doing.
I knit a basic sock or one with an easily memorized pattern, dishcloths, or blankets. Lizard Ridge by Laura Aylor from ye olden knitty.com days is a favorite. Sprinkled in with other projects, one random block at a time took me 4 years!
I love music! Today it’s Brandi Carlile station on Pandora.
Knitting the Gossamer Vest from Field Guide Grace. And listening to Brandi Carlile station on Pandora. So busy I didn’t mention What I am knitting!!
I like to knit something fairly mindless when listening to something I have to really concentrate on. Music always gets me through the hard knits though, it provides the rhythm I knit to.
Love knitting in the cotton season
I enjoy listening to Murdoch Mysteries while I knit! It’s a great show on its own but I love listening to it also; the cast is great full of amazing Canadian actors Yannick Bisson, Johnny Harris Helene Joy and so many others! Plus you learn a lot about Canadas past and interesting facts about science and policing!