woo hoo!

90 or 100 st/minute, depends on yarn weight.

I have no doubt that we totally made half a million.

The sweater is looking good - I'm not normally a big fan of garter stitch, but the yarn/color thing going on there is very appealing.

I'm at work so I don't think it's best to do the quick knit test, (although have no fear, there is a sock in this room that I work on over the lunch hour), but I can say that it, on average, takes me about 4 days per sock. I can usually get the first sock done in about 3 days, it takes me about a month and half to finish the second. (I suffer from SSS most terribly.)

Hope that helps and thanks for keeping me entertained at work!

OK, no, I got it wrong the first time. My ordinary knitting speed is 90 or 100 st per TWO minutes. (45 or 50 st per minute).

The sweater is lovely, you will certainly finish it in time for at least part of the tour.

I knit 40 stitches a minute but that includes time to yank the yarn
out of the ball and to fix small errors. I am knitting socks now
and will give you more information as I go along.

I only wish I could knit 90 a minute like techknitter ! Boy,
would my gigantic stash begin to dwindle if I could more than
twice as fast....

Knitting dk weight and a p2, k3, round, I can get all of 26 stitches knit in a minute. No wonder it takes me forever to get socks done! Regular sock weight and size 1 needles average about double the number of stitches in a minute, doing st st all the way round.

Wow, one comment posted before me, but I'm sure by the time I finish this, I'll be number 20 or so :)

Uh Stephanie, save your time for your love affair with Mr Washie and your family. It's warm in Los Angeles and unless there's something wrong with the a/c in the library, you are not going to need that sweater.

I guess I'm a slow knitter, I only got 25 stitches to the minute.

30 stitches with hands that were not warmed up (they usually aren't when I happen to have only a few minutes to knit on the sock). I think that's pretty low, but somehow the socks get made.

Hmmm, maybe I'll just make a wee note of that speed and see if I've gotten faster in a year.

I'll help you out, I do magic loop (I know how you feel about that)so just let me know;)and I'll check it tonight (when I get home from work shhh)

Hmm, I got nearly 50 stitches, almost one full round on a Roza's Sock I have going.

Oh, I forgot to ask - how are you knitting the boucle? Holding the two strands together or alternating? The yarn is georgeous and I can't wait to see the finished sweater!

If we're assuming we're working in stockinette, I can usually do a 64-stitch round in about two minutes with my normal relaxed pace (so about 32 sts a minute). However, if I'm trying to squeeze in one last round in my last minute of my lunch break, I've been known to knit all 64 sts in that minute.

Hilarious! Technitter, you put us all in quite a dither there. Thanks for updating your speed back to human!!! I no longer feel like I could knit faster with my feet.

whew

size 6 needles and corresponding yarn (still not sure how to tell the yarn weights apart, but it is a lovely wool/silk blend), I can knit maybe 25 stitches in a minute. Once I get going, it goes faster, up to possibly 40 st/m.

However, I'm starting a new sock in honour of your visit to my area this Friday. size 2 needles and fingering (?) weight yarn... I might be able to go faster because I won't be switching needles every 12 stitches or so.

Oh plain stockinette in the round on DPNs, I knit close to 1 round or 64 sts. In grand-scheme-of-things time, it usually takes me about 1.5-2 weeks to finish a sock because it's always my secondary or tertiary project to take with me wherever ;)

Woo hoo! almost $400,000! (almost :D )

25 stitches per minute. I'm a happy knitter and refuse to judge my rate as fast or slow.

Well, I'm the slowpoke of the bunch - 17 stitches in one minute, doing k1 p1 ribbing. It still gets me there :-)

Atlanta could probably use hats, though not as thick & heavy as are needed in Toronto. LA? Not likely, but there are still lots of parts of California that could make use of them. So if someone is driving down from the mountains in a truck, maybe they could take the hats home to their local charity.

Doing p2, k4 ribbing, I did about 25 stitches per minute. That would about double when working in plain stockinette, I suspect.

Um...well, I'm up in my office, but I can finish an entire swatch in about 7 minutes-ish. ISH. I can't bring my yarn up here when I work or else I get nothing done. *blush*
The colorway of your sweater is beautiful!
K

22 here...the move from one needle to the next really slows me down I notice...interesting...I think...but Steph...there are NO RULES...so it doesn't matter how fast or how slow I knit...so there....enjoy your research...silly as it is!

I'm avoiding my real work, so w00t! for helping you research knitting time. I did 24 sts in a minutes, in pattern. It totally explains why this sock has been hanging around for over a month.

I don't know if our MSF donations got into your total, but we'll do another one nearer Christmas and I'll let you know. We're gearing up for selling rubber ducks for Halloween for Unicef, and donations with raffle chances for Heifer. :)

I'll email you later tonight or tomorrow with my speed - they frown on mepulling my knitting out at work.

I have a wool sock on metal needles and a cotton blend on bamboo to measure against.

I'm a real sock newbie, this being my first sock with fingering weight and sz 1 needles, so I get about 12 stitches per minute. I knew these socks were going to take forever!

The first time I knit a sock, I got a raging case of carpal tunnel syndrome. I was not used to the small double points. Tell your readers that Rehab doctors recommend only increasing your activity level - any activity - by five percent per week, and build up gradually.

Tendonitis happens if you push too hard, too fast. It is exciting to see a sock form on your needles and to know that you could finish it soon, but don't forget about your arms and fingers. Tendonitis is easier to prevent, than to treat!

I was just wondering if maybe in Atlanta and LA the hats could go to a charity for cancer patients? They are often cold regardless of the weather, and then there's also the sad hair issue sometimes involved in treatment. Seems someone like that could use a hat knit with love and good wishes. Sorry, I'm not in either of those places or I'd offer to be a hat wrangler. BTW? Coveting your new sweater, although I don't need anything to make me look fluffier than I am already!

I am a slow knitter as well - 23 stitches in a minute k3 p2, and 30 stitches per minute plain stockinette. Just this year, I started working both socks at the same time (on dpns) to avoid SSS (and to remember what I did).

About 40 stitches per minute in straight stockinette stitch with fingering weight yarn and #2 dpns.

I think she meant Lousiana, not Los Angeles, when she said LA, if I understood the tour plan correctly. And no, I rarely see anyone wearing a hat here (in Louisiana). Although that hasn't stopped me from thinking about trying one.

2 rounds (64 sts) plus 16 stitches in 1 minute - Cool - 144 stitches in 1 minute, fingering weight, knitpicks size 1.5 needles. I'm at work, too, but they know I'm a knitter. :0)

About 35 stitches per minute using 2.25 mm dpns on a k3p3 brioche rib (I'm doing Roza's socks too). Metal needles, wool blend sock yarn.
And hooray for KWB!

I just happen to have a sock-in-progress in my bag! Work be damned! OK, judging from the other comments, looks like I am about average, 23 stitches in a minute. That was fun!

I knit 29 stitches in a minute (continental, using two circulars).

37 which, fans of Clerks will understand, I find most hilarious. And I know I get faster as I go, but that was the "pick it up and go" speed. Purling is a bit slower, but once I get a rhythm going I rib as fast as I stockinette.

I'll let you know when I get home. I'm also doing magic loop (which is faster for me), but I'll probably make up your slow end of knitters. You might have to throw mine out to stop screwing up the curve!

Aha! It just so happens that I have a sock in my purse right here. Excuse me while I knit... somewhere around 50 sts/min. That said, my "normal" knitting speed varies greatly depending on my mood, but I'm in a pretty good mood right now so I think the number is more or less accurate.
Please tell Jayme-the-wonder-publicist that I am absolutely furious with her for booking the Atlanta stop, the only one I am close enough to go to, on a Wednesday. I've been wanting to go to one of your talks since I learned that you did the tour, and I can't get to Atlanta and back on a Wednesday. Maybe next tour you can put in a word for Columbia, SC, or Atlanta on a weekend.

Half asleep (since it's passed bedtime) and reading I just knit 66stitches in 1minute (k3,p3 ribbing for 30cm.... it's getting boring!) Good night!

25 stitches/minute. And here I thought I was a bit faster! I still get a lot done.

I'm the pokey one. 26 stitches in a minute, with size 2 dpns and Trekking XXL.

26sts in 1 min... :)

I managed what appears to be a respectable 25 sts per minute. As a side note, it seems I can tink at about half that rate.

Strangely, I timed myself last night (in a fit of "can I finish this sock tonight?" mania). I knit a 54-stitch round of k2p1 rib on size 0 dpn's, in 3 minutes. That's 18 stitches/minute.

And no, I didn't finish the sock last night. 15 rows to go!

Right around 60, on size 1 dpns in stockinette. With straights and/or larger needles, considerably slower. Like, half that.

24 SPM on socks here. Much less than I expected! :)

I'd post a number, but I don't want to skew your average. I'm sure amoebas could knit faster.

Can't wait for the drum roll! Of course we can change the world!

Tofutsie's on size one, k2p2 ribbing. 35 sts/min. Not to shabby IMO

Yes, hats are useful in Louisiana (and most of the Gulf Coast) for a few months a year. It does freeze occasionally, and many people do not have shelter at night. And Robby's right about cancer patients. I believe Dez (http://www.mambocats.blogspot.com/) volunteered yesterday to be the LA hat person. I'm sure she's still happy to do it. =)

The jacket is beautiful...I hope you bring it to New Orleans even though you sadly won't be able to wear it in this weather!

And I don't think half a million is unrealistic. We are knitters. If we can turn bits of string into socks, hats, sweaters, car covers, etc., we can do anything. =)

I got 23 to 26 stitches a minute when I timed myself on straight stockinette. I didn't realize how slow I knitted :)

Well now, you clearly will need to do some statistics. What's the variation in knitting speed? How does it correlate to yarn weight, knitting experience, gender, or the cosmic balance? What about dpns versus two circs? How does coffee and/or beer affect knitting speeds?

I remember talking to a weaver in Williamsburg, VA. They are actually in the process (or were) of trying to figure out how fast each of the artisans in residence there can put out a product and are comparing that to what was generally done in the good ol' days (as it were). This weaver was in awe at the production speed of the historical weavers - they totally dogged him (and he was comparing him weaving plain cloth and the historical weaving patterned).

K1,p1,k3,p1 ribbing = 27 stitches in 1 minute

Plain stockinette = 40 stitches in 1 minute

Finished sock = priceless

About 65 sts per minute - warmed up I ought to be a bit faster.

25 stitches/minute, magic loop'd, size 3 needles, dk weight yarn, plain vanilla stockinette, continental, handspun.

Looking forward to seeing you here in New Orleans on Monday. It'll be in the upper 80's - carry the sweater, wear something lighter. We don't wear hats much here, but I'll be pleased to knit one.

22 stitches in one minute (magic loop, which I am new at). Hope the Baltimore/Washington area will be included in your next tour.

28 st/min in pattern on a lace sock. Bring a stopwatch to SnB tonight and we can do a really official timing.

Over at KnitU on the mailing list, Gail, Dez Crawford and I are trying to reach a goal of 1,000 knitted items to be sent to Covenant House in New Orleans, LA. Since Dez is from that area, she says YES hats are needed there. They serve a lot of teenagers so the wilder the better.

Let's see, I got 61 stitches in a minute (using 4 2.25 mm dpns, Koigu, and the plain stockingette stitch sock I'm knitting recently.) I can only assume that a textured/lace/cable pattern will take longer, and I seem to remember you noting that stranded socks take less time... I'll be interested to see what your results are!

I'm trying to get my brains around the concept that you could finish this sweater and wear it immediately. I know it's hotter here, but it must be really cold at night in Toronto.

Oh, and I knit about a round a minute in pattern. I'm currently knitting 64 stitch Monkeys and it's about a round a minute. Much less if children are around!

Of course you got me in the middle of the heel of the sock, so there's a lot of turning the work. I clocked in at about 27 stitches, including one turn.

You should also ask if people are throwing or picking. That can have a huge effect on speed.

Roughly 50 st/minute.

I would be happy to take the hats in Los Angeles on behalf of the Sand N Sea Knitting Guild, of which I am a member. Our member Janel will help with that, as well. Let us know if you need some vegetarian sustenance, so we can revive you. Also, some nice vegetarian options right downtown near Central Library in Los Angeles.

I haven't been bitten by the sock bug yet (just moved from my lace phase into an entrelac zone) but I'd love to be working at the speed of some people who've already answered!

I'll bring your average way down - but after knitting for 5+ years I'm faster than when I started but ummm - still not so fast. I estimate over an hours time I can get going to about 30-40 stitches/minute.
Apparently I'm a confirmed plodder.

It depends on sock weight an needle size. My gosh, size does matter, eh? Right now I'm using size 3 needles (3.25 mm) and slogging along at 17 stitches an inch. Straight stockinette with size 1 needles, and I'm speedier. More like 22 stitches an inch. Eh, I'm going for accuracy not speed, right?

I'm knitting the drunken bee socks at the moment, so with chart reading and messing up knitting through the back loops (I do that every row) I'm knitting about 22sts per minute.

On a plain sock I'm a little bit faster, knitting about 33sts per minute.

37sts over 1 minute. My research could be compromised as I have a cramp alongside my right hand from too much sock knitting last night.

Ack! I *just* finished a pair of socks this morning. Oh well, I guess that just means I have to cast on another pair...y'know...for the good of the new book.

I got 23/min in k1 p1 rib. St st goes a bit faster

I, being an "an extraordinarily optimistic human" (see blog entry for 12/28/2006), think this most recent fundraising effort will take the KWB total above half a million! Soonly if not the moment you're back from the tour.

25 stitches per minute on wood dpns, stockinette, fingering weight.

Hmm, let's see. Cold hands about 22 to the inch, but I knit for a few minutes and once I got going, 30 stitches per minute. I do know that on a weekend, I can finish a pair of socks if that is the only project I have on the go. It never is the only project I touch, and completion rates vary by how much of a pigsty my house is and how much I care about its condition.

Allow me to create the bottom of the bell curve -- 10 sts/ min, turning a heel on size 00. Looking at that little bit of goodness, I am no longer surprised to still be making the size 11 sock...

42 sts per min in k1, p1 rib.

You just knit an entire sweater back in less than 24 hours and you want to know how fast we knit?

We knit slower than you do.

38 per minute.

Using magic loop,33 stitches per minute [2mm needles]

So I knitted for about 6 minutes on a 60 stitch lace sock. I got 4 rows done so (4 x 60)/6= 40 stitches per minute. I probably average a little faster, closer to 45, on a pattern I don't need to refer to the chart for. I throw the yarn if that matters and I usually drink beer while I am knitting so I am sure that affects my speed as well. I am not sure if it makes me better, like when I play pool, but one can hope.

it's not too hot for hats in atlanta, and we already took care of it for you. =] regan/evilsciencechick.com is organizing hat collection and shelter donations, and knitch (the shop hosting you) is aware of it.

we are all very excited that you are going to be here on international talk like a pirate day. =]

45 stitches of worsted wool on wood dpns in a minute

I got 27 stitches for one minute in fingering weight yarn (lorna's) on 3.0mm needles. :)

I know you may not see this before you leave - BUT - I will be in Atlanta next week. If I bring more than one book - can you sign 2? Reason being - i am running a lupus fundraiser and drawing thank you gifts. I would, of course like my own book signed, but was hoping you would sign an extra if I bring it so that I can give it away. Thanks :)

40 stitches per minute using Regia on 2.75mm needles--thought I was faster than that!
Allison

I just sent you an email, but I think I might be the volunteer to take the hats. I've let Kim know at The Knitch, and she should be sending an email reminding everyone who's coming to bring hats

BUT if there's anyone reading this who had already thought THEY were collecting hats, PLEASE EMAIL ME! I have found some local charities who are very interested in receiving hats, and I'd hate for them to get screwed because of lack of organization!

28 st/min, includes moving from one needle to the next.

40 stitches in sock weight yarn.

I managed about 24 stitches in 2x2 ribbing. Not very fast but it's on the German yarn you showed us the other day. Claudia said she had lots of yarn harlot customers after that!

In plain stockinette on dpns, I knit 31 sts in one minute.

Dang, techknitter blew the bell curve.

for ONLY one minute: 15 stitches, no cables, no lace, no decreases. Magic Looped.

29 stitches in a minute. 2mm dpns, fingering weight sock wool. Not drug assisted - it's 7am and no coffe yet.

In a sober state - 40/min
Now with alcohol applied - 10,000/min (or at least that is what I imagine.)

Friends let friends knit drunk :)

46 sts/min continental, magic loop

30 stitches with sock wool on 2.25mm dpns, but I throw, and I'm wearing a sweater, so the non-working end of my right hand needle keeps getting stuck in my sleeve! (By the way, this pair is being made with Knitpicks Gloss - very nice yarn.) Can't wait for the new book!

Wouldn't you know, I just cast off my current SIP just 60 seconds before reading your post. OK, wait a minute -- I have another one. Hold on. Let me get to the stockinette part.

OK.
32 stitches in a minute with a slippery yarn at a relaxed pace.

Sock knitting stats: Over an hour, I average 1.25" of sock, which is 64sts by 13 rounds, so 832 stitches per hour. (Size 0 needles, DPs, of course.) That's 14 sts per minute --> but when I just knit for a minute & count my stitches, it's 24 sts per minute.

A whole sock though (?) can take anywhere from 2 days to 8 months.

I'm getting what seems to be a respectable 26stitches/minute over 2.25 mm dpns on 2x2 rib, using fingering weight.

Cold: 26 spm, including a dropped and recovered stitch and a k2tog for the gusset that I almost forgot.

One round later, so I didn't have pattern: 33 spm, mostly stockinette, with a needle change.

Not too shabby. With wool/nylon on #1 bamboo.

Good lord - I have a feeling I'm in the amoeba crowd. Only started knitting socks this year and started with worsted weight "cottage socks" to get used to the technical bits. I've got a sock weight on the needles now, so let me give it a go tonight. You'll hear from me tomorrow - but it may be a number that will really skew (or is that screw) the average. Can't wait for the bookbookbookbookbook - I'm hoping there will be some technical/advice/pattern stuff in it, similar to Knitting Rules??? Please, pretty please - that's my favourite book and it's getting a little ratty - better get another one.
Chris S.

25 sts per minute! Can you post some kind of average later? Love you!
Heather R.
UCFknitGirl

I knit at about 30 sts a minute

I'm not working on a sock right now (I have a pair on needles but have come to a design impasse) but on an easy-peasy scarf, 36. Way fewer than I thought, but there you are.

Half a million? Yikes. I wouldn't be at all surprised, though.

I am sure cancer patients EVERYWHERE appreciate hats. Likewise premature infants. Might just want to carefully consider the yarn choice.

I can do between 30 - 50 spm (stitches per minute) on 1x1 ribbing for socks. It's more like 60 - 70 spm on stockinette.

When we did truck driving, I could crank out a sock a day, but that was doing nothing but driving and knitting all day.

About 24 spm on shiny metal dpns. I throw. Looks like I am pathetically slow.

38-40 stitches a minute on garter rib (using 2.5mm needles)... depending on whether I'm doing the ribbed row or the plain stockinette one...

I don't have my knitting here at work with me which is where my computer is, but I knit a woman's sock in 8 hours and a man's in about 10, on 2.25 or 2.5 mm needles. Women's I use 64 or 68 stitches and men's usually 72 or 76.

I got 30 st in one minute. I'd never timed myself, kinda fun!

Just picking it up using US4 on big fat mystery yarn for house socks in pattern I'm getting about 24 per minute. LOL the bigger the needle the slower I go which is the opposite of when I first picked up those ridiculous skinny things that nobody could possibly make anything with...

42 st/minute on straight stockinette. I always surprise myself by how quickly I get through knitting a sock. Nice to see other people's speeds!

On a 64 stitch stockinette knit continential sock using 2 2.25mm circulars and sock weight yarn I manage to knit 33 stitches a minute. That seemed kind of slow until I realized that I am able to knit 30 rows per hour........:)

I must be really slow. I knit 19 1/2 stitches per minute.

I had a sock right there in front of me. I knitted 27 st in a minute in plain stockinette.

I've been known to knit a sock in eight hours but...shhhh don't tell my boss.

I got about 20 sts in a minute. I can do a pair of socks in four days, if that is all I work on - that is, if I don't do a few rows on a hat, or pick up the sleeve of a sweater...

34 stitches per minute.

Right now I'm doing 2x2 ribbing on dpns, and I clocked myself at a relaxed 18 stitches per minute. (That included coming to the end of one needle and having to rearrange them for the next lot of stitches. I can see where circs would be faster!)

36 spm on plastic DPNS, including one that has a broken tip that I still use anyway. (What, the other end still has a point and it is totally possible to knit stitches off the blunt end.)

About one round of k4p2 per two minutes then.

And I'd also like to question the "normalcy" of any of your readers/commenters. But given that we then purchase/read your books, I think I should stop typing now.

It took 3 months for my first sock, and its mate is currently at 4 months. Needless to say, I knit pretty slowly: 15-18 stitches/min with wool on 2mm metal dpns, but it is - by my standards - a pretty complicated pattern. However, both socks are coming to see you on Friday, irregardless of slow progress! Yipee!

22 stitches in plain SS per min. I agree..I refuse to judge myself. ;)

23 SPM, on size US #2, in a K2, P2 rib pattern.

I'm getting about 27 stitches in a minute. I think I'm usually a bit faster, but not much. This is on 2.25 mm dpns in plain stockinette.

I'm using magic loop so resetting needles takes a little of time, but I do about 30 sts per minute in stockinette with fingering weight on size US 0 (2mm). I'm a bit slower when doing ribbing.

23 stitches in a minute on a plain stockinette portion of a sock on size zero circulars. hope that helps!!

Alright, I came back to read and my number seems incredibly high... so I tried again, got 57 this time on the plain sock. On the ribbed sock (I'm down to the foot, so only half-ribbed, I guess) the number is 46.
I think everyone is getting plain socks for christmas this year...

WOW - there are some fast knitters. I have to FIND the sock first, then I'll time it. Pulling the wrong needle out repeatedly may skew your results though....
The jacket is amazing. You do need to SLEEP for an hour or two before you head on the tour though, don't you?

I knit at around 26 stitches per minute/sock-wise.

I am a slooowww knitter.

About 40 sts/ minute on a sock on DPNs. It usually takes me a week, though, to knit a *pair* of socks amongst all the other WIPs.

Me again--just some more info--I'm using US size 2 needles, fingering weight yarn, and I knit English (throwing).

Since I have a sock-in-progress handy, I did three two-minute runs to see what my average is. (Your sock recipe, Fleece Artist, stockingette, DPNs)

I'm getting 27 sts/minute, consistently. I know the needle-switches are slowing me down, but there you go. Happy writing! I'm bummed you were in Pittsburgh while I was living in LA, and are going to LA now that I live in Pittsburgh. Perhaps the next tour ... :)

When I'm happily knitting, pure stockinette, I'm in the mid-30s. Add some purling in there and I slow down to high-20s.

I'm a 2-circs person and I think that helps me get those socks done more quickly.

(love the jacket!)

I got 20 stitches in a minute in st st, normal pace, though I could get more in if I was in a hurry. I'm of the group that says switching needles slows me way down. Go KWB!

About 22 sts per min - k3p3 ribbing on size 2 bamboo dpn's.

Best of luck with the new book!

36 stitches per minute in stockinette on 2.25mm bamboo dpns.

It's my first sock on dpns, up till now I've been a Magic Loop gal (on which I'm a little faster) but I might come over to the Spiky Side permanently if only I could stop dropping the spare needle during the changeovers...

About 37 st/minute here! :0)

In plain SS, about 30-40, for patterns, much less. I only get a little bit of time a day to knit, so socks take FOREVER! LOL!

My inner knitter has the same problem - darn thing thinks it only takes an hour to get anything done. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

I managed to get 28 stitches completed. An average pair of socks takes me about 3 months to complete. Reality Bites!

37 stitches in 1 minute.

$500,000? You know we Knitters can hit any taget presented.

25.6 stitches per minute on a stockinette sock, no hurrying.

Oh oh oh, LOVELY sweater. I pine for it. (That is my idea of a pun. Because of the colors...um, I should stop myself now.) My Lady of the Lake Kit is calling my name, nay, SHOUTING it. Wish I had it with me for my hour-long train ride. Drats to bad planning.

By the way, how does the fabric feel? I went with the Lady kit because it was less mohair-y, but that looks pretty dreamy.

36 st = 1 minute (or all 48 st for sock in 90 sec)

Looks like Debra is the one blowing the high end curve not techknitter. And runwithscissors should go ahead and let us know her speed. Steph needs the whole gambit of knitting speeds not just the rabbits! She is trying for some kind of curve or average so we all should try to give honest answers.
Me, I'm in the middle-to-slow lane at 32 spm. That with STR light wgt, 2 addi circs, size 2.5 doing sl1,k2,p2. (Guess which sock I'm trying to catch up on.)
Straight SS on 2 addi circs, size 2.25, with Shepherds Sock is 35 spm so not much improvement there. Anything for the cause. I only have to double my speed to catch up to cat B! Happy Knitting, Alice

Knit at 30 sts/min.
Purl at 15 sts/min.
I was in the process of the knitting heel flap.
:)

23 stitches/minute--stocking stitch, magic loop on 2.5mm.

29 stitches per minute with fingering weight and stockinette on 2.25 mm dpns.

35 stitches in the minute I measured. That's OK. I may be slow, but I'm a student: I've got pleeeeennnnnty of time. ;)

On a patterned sock ~25sts/minute (a monkey)
Over plain stockinette ~30sts/minute

About 25 stitches a minute in straight stockinette on size 1 needles w/fingering weight. I'm on the slow side (although amongst my knitting friends i'm pretty speedy!), but I do knit while I walk all over town (albeit not on 1s--I tend to drop stitches if I knit on tiny needles while walking--and probably not even this "fast"), so i make up in quantity of knitting time for my slow speed! I think I need to learn continental so I can pick up the pace!

Hmm....1 Minute= 66 sts in relax mode...hope I helped

For knitting socks? About two years per sock, most recently.

13 stitches/minute on a pattern row of the vine lace cuff of the August RSC socks (STR lightweight iirc) on an US 1 Addi Lace needle.

24 stitches/minute in sportweight stockinette on wood US2 needles.

I begin to see why it takes me so much longer than many others to knit socks. FWIW I knit worsted weight a bit faster, 35 to 40 stitches per minute I believe for knit and about half that for purl.

I knit continental style now. I was much slower (about 1/3 the speed I can manage knitting Continental I think) when I knit English style. And the thought of how long a pair of socks would take if I were still knitting English style is enough to make me need to lie down for a moment.

I just set my timer and got 28 stitches done in 1 minute on a plain stockinette round. That's with a 'cold start' -- I know I go faster late at night when I'm warmed up and the left side of my brain has calmed down a bit!

40 stitches per minute

I get 21 stitches per minute - but I am on day 6 of fake nails, and probably usually get a few more than that.

Anything for knitting research! 24 sts/min in pattern with fingering weight wool and two 2.5 mm circs. I usually finish a sock in about 4 days. And for some unknown reason have never suffered SSS.

I knit 33 sts on a plain St st rnd in one minute. Never timed myself before.

33 st. in 1 min. in a knit 3 purl 1 rib w/ DK weight yarn on size 4 dpns. I can knit a pair of DK socks in a weekend.

LOVE the jacket.

I'm slow but happy throwing my yarn at 23 stitches a minute on size 2 circular needles (stocking stitch). On an easy lace pattern, my speed drops to about 20 stitches. Just cruisin' along.

3 seconds per stitch. 20 stitches per minute. Rock solidly in that first third of the curve.

42 st in a minute, straight stockinette. I can knit a sock in a day if I'm not doing much else.

I got 26 stitches per minute, doing knit 3, purl 1 ribbing, 2 socks on one circ (aka magic loop). It's my first try at this technique and I love it, but switching needles is a little slow.

35 sts per min on 2mm dpns, could be faster if left alone by children but they flipped out when I set the timer & are now timing how long it takes me to write this note.

The sweater looks lovely. As to sock knitting time, I commute by bus to work and it's a 30 minute bus ride and I can usually finish about 4 rnds of a relatively simple pattern (I knit 2 socks at once on 2 circulars)

80-100 sts per minute, plain stockinette, wood dpns.
Love the jacket.

Hmm, I don't knit socks as I have that hole-in-the-toe fixation when I do - but I'm currently knitting a sweater for my honey on size US 3 (oddly enough, also in garter stitch), and I'm averaging around 41 stitches a minute. If that helps.

Of course, being it's a whole sweater on size 3 needles, and that I'm basically making it up as I go along (it's based on a picture of a sweater from a Highlander episode, and no exact pattern was located so I'm guesstimating as I knit) I figure I may complete it in time for next Christmas . . .

30 sts/m using 2.25mm needles on splitty Tofutsies yarn and knitting K5 P1. Not too bad an effort...I'm happy with that!

Ya know, I think I preferred not knowing my speed (???? slowness?) in knitting. :) I'm a pathetically slow 18 stitches per minute with k2p2 rib, size one needles and fingering weight yarn. I have half an inch of ribbing left so in ... oh, about 28 minutes, I should be able to measure my (lack of) speed in stockinette. I'll get back to you on that.

Plain knitting (sock) with 2.25mm needles (double points) I knit 35 sts in one minute. Your sweater is looking great. I laughed when I followed the link you posted yesterday. I was in Halifax last week and bought the Lady of the Lake kit (in the color displayed) which is shown just below the Garter Stitch Jacket on the Fleece Artist website. Those kits are irresistible!

Yolande

30 stitches per minute in stockinette.

I can do about 25-35 stitches per minute

Yes, we were hats in the winter in Atlanta! It does get cold here! If you still need someone to collect hats in Atlanta and get them to an organization that can distribute them, I can do it. Just email me and let me know so I can make the arrangements. I'll be glad to help!
Kathleen Hartz

32 st in 55 seconds using 2.5 mm circulars, magic loop and Trekking XXL yarn. I used up the last 5 seconds shifting the yarn along the needle.

Looking forward to seeing you in Seattle on Friday!

About 24 stitches per minute with plain stockinette. I'm a somewhat slow knitter I'm afraid.

In stockinette using magic loop, around 50 stitches/minute.

1 stitch per second i.e. 60 stitches per minute (give or take 5 stitches) Think these are Kroy 3 ply (fine fingering weight) using Inox circs (2 sox on 2 circls)2.5 mm up from 2.25 mm because I am at the ankle. I am knitting from Cat Bhordi's new book and it is a little confusing. I think if I knit for 5 minutes it would make the stitch count go up because I just got home from school (teaching in the morning; studenting in the pm) and I am not into my rhythm right at the start of knitting. That may be an excuse and I may be the slowest one of this whole bunch, but it is my excuse and I am clinging to it for dear life, dear hearts. Since I am a theology student you'll all just have to take me at my word -- would I lie?
susanna

I knit between 40 and 45 stitches a minute on a plain stockinette sock, with size 2 dp needles with fingering weight yarn. I know it takes me around 5 hours to make a pair of large size woman's socks.

Beautiful jacket, hope you finish it by tomorrow!

I got 30 stitches of plain stockinette on two circs.

The sweater is beautiful...can't wait to see the finished product!

30 stitches in one minute. This was 2k2p ribbing on wood needles. I can go a bit faster with plain knitting and/or metal needles.

My mom donates monthly to MSF. I wish that they had a way to take online donations that didn't involve a credit card. If I could donate by paypal I could donate much more easily. I'm sure KWB will reach that incredible amazingly 500K:):)
I still can't believe I was out of town when you came to halifax. You will just have to come back again.

I was knitting at 41 sts/1 inch...on a plain stockinette stitch on size 0's. Looking forward to the new book!

I averaged 29 sts per minute. This will be interesting. Best wishes for a fun tour. Panties away!

33 stitches per minute ribbing; 46 stitches per minute stockinette. 60-stitch sock on 5 dpns in both cases.

Using STR medium weight and US sz 2 (2.75mm) clovers, I'm at 35 stitches a minute in stockinette stitch

I'm getting about 25 sts per minute but I'm still on the cuff so I'm not sure if I go faster whne I have more than 3 rows done.

55 minute in stockinette, around 40-45 in ribbing.

Wow . . . Suzanne, I'd love to see that gauge . . . 41st/in! I'm hoping that was really 41st/1 minute. ;o)

I knit 16 stitches in a fairly simple lace patter. It would have been more but I ran out of stitches on that needle.... i feel slow after looking at the other comments.

Um.. welll.... I knit a sock when I'm not knitting other more pressing things, so, maybe 2 weeks, maybe 2 months? Who knows except that they are OTN?

29 st per minute, on sock. Quicker when I'm not working with 00 needles, which I'm just not used to.

With sock yarn on 2mm dpns, stockinette: one round (73 stitches) in 3 minutes. That's 24 sts per minute.

I knit for 5 minutes and calculated an average. I got 36. All the while designing a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study in my head. (Socks on two circs versus DPNs; magic loop would be a follow-up study against the winner)

16 sts per minute. English style, p2 k12 p2 on bamboo needles with mystery yarn. *sigh* just call me pokey.

28 stitches with decreases (2) and 36 stitches stockinette on 2.25mm DPNs at the toe, first raws I knitted today.

37 spm, fingering weight, metal DPNs, two glasses of wine.

128 stitches, 4 minutes, 4 seconds . . . so . . .
about 32 stitches a minute.

I managed 60 stitches per minute, until one of my dogs decided that was enough and put his head on my lap - and knitting...

Speaking as a cancer patient, hats are very appreciated at any time of year. I wore some kind of hat the entire time I was bald, except when I wore my wig to work (hated that thing, very uncomfortable). Just make sure you use a nice soft yarn, because a chemo-bald head is very sensitive. I wore them to sleep in, too, because my head got very cold at night. Still does, sometimes. Fortunately, my hair is growing back now, not quickly enough!

I cant check my st per inch. My socks are at my friend Shelly's for heels.

I JUST cant do heels!

Madame

Hmmm...I got about 33 stitches working stockinette. Got nervous and started making silly mistakes so maybe if I were really relaxed a tad more. Good Luck with your tour.

I am ashamed to admit this...
The first sock usually takes no more than a week.
The second sock can take up to a month, in one case, six months....

I am a bad bad knitter, I do not deserve more sock yarn!

Hope that helps!

We are so psyched you are coming to Atlanta! Thanks!! And, we totally need hats here.....not any time soon, but definitely in January. I know you will find a lot of grateful people happy to accept hats.

If your camera has a white balance setting, try setting it to match the lighting conditions (your photos look like they were taken in open shade, which causes the bluish color cast) This should change the color balance to reflect the lighting, and render the yarn colors more accurately.

If your camera has a custom white balance that would be more accurate yet, but you might have to RTFM (as our IT persons say) to figure out how to use it-

I am still trying to visualize a seventies appliance color kit.

For your research, I knit about 30 stitches per inch, when I am on a roll. English style (next person who tells my I have to learn to knit Continental style, I am going to smack them. It hurts my wrists)

20 spm! Can someone please teach me how to go faster?? I've got Holiday gifts to make!! :)

Can't wait to see you Friday!

I knit at 30 - 60 sts per minute, depending on if it's a couple rows into my groove and stockinette (close to 60 then) or if it's a finnicky lace pattern and I just picked it up (can get under 30 then). Hope that helps!

I can't wait to see you in Seattle on Friday-- I was bummed I missed you last summer! If I dedicate myself, I can knit a pair of socks in a weekend. But with my normal lifestyle (kids and work and... crap... ) it usually takes me more like ten days. I knit on dpns and I can do a round of 56 stitches in right on a minute in stockinette, or 75 seconds in k2p2 rib. Keep on rockin' the socks!

Using Debbie Bliss Merino DK yarn and 2.5mm dpn with this pattern http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTbaudelaire.html

takes me a week for 1 sock, working about 2 hours a night. So, 14 hours per sock. Yeesh I'm a slow knitter...

Ok.. about 50 per min with sz.2 needles and STR lightweight in stockinette
If I am working in any kind of pattern such as the Monkey socks I have on the needles right now, I slow down to about 32 per min.
Carolyn in Massachusetts

24 st in one minute on my sock. Kinda slow....but oh so enjoyable.

With stockinette stitch, I improve to about 26 spm.

$368,318... WOW. Stephanie you rock, as do your knitters/readers. That is an amazing amount to raise. I'm sure that Doctors Without Borders and the individuals who get your hats are very grateful for your contributions and support. You all deserve a round of applause for generousity of spirit and compassion.

(I crochet and love reading Stephanie's books and blog. I work in fundraising and know how hard it can be to get results like these...)

25 stitches per minute size 2 needles (k3 p1); k1 p1 is much slower, and I bet I can kick it up to 35 or so if I have time to get into a steady rhythm.

That was a totally fumble-fingered "pick up and knit", but I'm coming in at 23 spm too, k1p1 rib...

30 stitches on dpns and I was nervous :)

Harlot, I would love to be the hat lady for LA. I just made and distributed 40 hats for the Sunshine Kids, and organization that assists children with Cancer. Most of them are bald and really appreciated a hat made by hand and with love.

Let me know.

I'll be at the library (a few sheep short of a flock, if you remember from last time.)
hugs

Monika

I'm about the furthest thing from normal, but, 45 stitches in a minute, depending on the yarn and the pattern.

50 stitches a minute

Okay I figured it out to an average minute: 13.12 stitches per minute. Of course I am going to make the excuse that I am usually knitting in front of the television, which can be distracting.

Only 25!! In self-defense, some were purls to make the k3, p1 pattern. But still. I always knew I was slow but this is redickle!!

On K2P2 rib, knitpicks size 1 dpns, Tofutsie yarn, around 25 stitches per minute. Stockinette is 38 stitches per minute.

Of course I get nervous as a cat knitting to a timer. Brain freeze, awkwardness, etc. Creepy. Could never play Boggle for this reason. Total anxiety attack! But for you...

I ran some descriptive statistics on the stitches per minutes sent in (152 reported), making some generalizations where people gave ranges. Those knitters knit an average of 32.7 sts/min, the median (if you all line up by sts/min and we pick the middle person) is 30, and the most frequently reported rate is 25 sts/min. (There are a bunch of other numbers, but they aren't really important for this, unless you want to publish knitting speed analysis in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Textiles)

Now what we really need, is data on continental v. english, needle type, yarn type, yarn weight, needle size, st stitch, ribbing, garter, cables, lace, and amount of alcohol consumed, then I can really do some math.

And I knit 45 sts/min. I should probably go knit and leave the math alone.

26 stitches in a minute using Trekking sock yarn on 2.5mm ML needle. Not especially fast, but since it isn't a race I don't much care. :o)

Yahoo, your new book will be about socks. Somehow I missed this fact in previous entries. I am so happy! I love all your books. I knit at a measly 35 stitches a minute. But it is relaxing. I sometimes zone out and have to frog back because I missed the 'turn' in the directions.
I hope you reach the half million mark. That is really an incredible amount you have already. It is amazing where your knitting is taking you, while raising money for a terrific charity and also giving us so much fun with your blog and books and talks.

25 a minute here as well. But then I'm all about process and not speed.

12 sts per inch, and I'm not apologizing! I don't even know anyone else who makes socks at all.

720 stitches in 1 hour = 12 stitches per minute

(But there was a cable! 3 cables! REALLY HARD cables!)

I just timed myself twice--46 stitches per minute both times on double point needles in fingering weight yarn. And after one glass of wine. I'm not certain if the wine added or subtracted to my speed.

And by 12 per 'inch', i of course mean 'minute'...and this time I'll apoligize. ;)

About 26 stitches per minute on the little sock I'm making for my granddaughter. :-)

About 34 spm stockinette when I watch my fingers, more like 28 spm when I don't -- which is mostly how I knit socks. This is with wooden 2.5mm dpns.

With 2 socks on one circular where the top is 2X2 ribbing and the sole is stocking stitch it takes me 5 minutes to do a full round of both socks (120sts total)in handspun sock yarn on 1.5mm needles (I am nothing if not relaxed when I knit). So that's 20sts per minute.

Well, with my current sock (the Rococo pattern by Wildhorse Farm Designs) I am getting about 22 stitches/minute in the pattern. In stockinette, I get about 33 stitches/minute. That's using metal US size 0 dpns.

I think techknitter got confused and gave the machine knitting time, not the hand knitting one..... Mine is 30 stitches a minute on DPN plain. Feel like a turtle.

I love the colors - very nice.

I knitted 25 stitches on size 0 needles. This is with 3 young kids running around- my norm =)

A nice steady 60 stitches per min (plus or minus ten depending on yarn). I really get the "one-onethousand two-onethousand" rhythm going subconciously.

The sweater is beautiful.

20 stitches a minute on two circulars k2p2 on the instep, plain stockinette on the rest...but my husband was timing...maybe he really only gave me 59 seconds!

35 sts per minute, 2.25mm dpns in stockinette.

Can't wait to see the results -- I love numbers and stats!

I can do about 52 stitches a minutes just moving along (fingering weight), if I try to go fast I drop stitches so I can't get a good reading on speed knitting, but you didn't want that anyway did you?

I got 40 stitches per minute in stockinette on 2mm DPNs. The jacket looks gorgeous; definitely worth the wait for that colorway!

If you're concerned about collecting hats for charity in a warm climate, consider preemie hats for a local NICU. The babies there are always fighting to stay warm ( and some, for their very lives ). Just a thought from a fellow Canadian chick. ;)

In one minute, over the straight stockinette part of the foot, I got 18 stitches/minute - fingering weight, US 2 DPN's. Apparently switching needles slows me down because it takes me an average of 5 minutes to finish a 60-stitch round, for 12/minute, which typically includes 4 eyelets.

I'm currently turning the heel. With wrapping stitches, I did about 27 stitches in a minute, magic loop.

~26 st/minute on a stockinette sock.

Yes, socks for my husband's size 13 feet are going to take another eon and a half to finish.

I got 37 but I've had a lot of wine and emotional angst tonight. I can let you know tomorrow what the number is sober and in normalcy... well, for me. Probably wouldn't be a statistically valid sample.

Barb

PS: I always thought I was an enormously slow knitter. This whole thing is sort of gratifying in that I feel like maybe I'm quicker than I knew...

On 2.25mm needles - I timed myself twice: including taking time to change from needle to needle on DPNs, about 24 stitches a minute. Just straight knitting: about 36 stitches a minute. (Which is, oddly, about as fast as I type! Without the needles, of course.)

ok, i don't HAVE a stockinette sock on the needles! the pattern i'm working on has 4 4-stitch cables, and 8 sets of twisted stitches, and i got 15 stitches in one minute. it's a thought, though

I did 32 sts in 50 seconds. The last 10 seconds of the minute were spent fiddling with my Magic Loop to prepare for the second half of the round. So I guess that still counts as 32 sts in a minute. I had no idea I spent that much time transitioning from one half to the other. I've been so happy about not having to retrieve dpns from the bleacher seats 2 rows down, I didn't pay attention. (I drop dpns only when I am knitting in public, usually while watching one kid skate or the other swim. When I sit at home in a comfy chair, they never stray from my hands.)

Plain stocking stitch, sea wool on 2.5mm addis, throwing, magic loop, 38spm whilst reading blog comments, if not reading 47spm.
Always knew I knitted slower whilst reading, now I know how much slower!

I don't have any socks on needles at the moment, but on the sweater I'm knitting (US size 5, Knitpicks Andean Silk yarn, knit English syle in the round) I get 28 to 30 stitches per minute. My speed is pretty constant in stockinette with anything from fingering weight to worsted.

Enjoy your Fleece Artist sweater - it looks lovely!

Ave of 37 st/min on straight stockinett stitch.

as someone who did a good bit of her growing up in Los Angeles, I can attest to our wimpiness - when it's 80-100 degrees outside 10 months out of the year, 55-60 degrees feels freezing because GOD DAMMIT, you're in southern california! :)

unfortunately i can't be the hat lady because i moved away :(

26 sts per min. :)

42 sts/min, continental, on 2.25mm Pony needles.

Only...20? Wow, I didn't know I was that slow. Probably a combination of being really tired and knitting so damned tight. It didn't seem slow at the time though. Huh.

The current socks have small lace panels on them, on a pattern round 27 st/min, on a straight round, 35 st/min.

Sunday!!!! Not QUITE ready to count 'hours to YH', but close LOL.

When I see you, I'll tell you why being your 'hat person' in KS almost made it so I didn't get to see you at all!

I knit 50 st in one minute when knitting socks. I can finish a pair in 15 to 20 hours depending on level of difficulty, on 2.0 mm needles

i knit all my socks at work in between patients. this week i have done an ankle sock in two days and plan to have the other one knit to see you this Sunday in Wichita. woo-hoo!!!(its a 3hr drive).Average by minute barring interuptions is 60st/min. on 2.75mm bamboo...faster in the round on addis depending on slippage...lol.

1st sock -- US 2 (magic loop) tofutsies yarn, 24 st per minute.

32 st/m on k1 sl 1 heel flap.
And, incdentally, 2 min to tink back those same 32 sts after realizing that I had made a mistake!

It takes me a minute and a bit --say 65-70 seconds --to knit a needle (27 st) so that's maybe 25 st per minute. Like Riin says, it doesn't feel slow--probably because you're *knitting*, which makes almost anything better.

32 st/min on 2.5mm dpns, doing 2x2 ribbing, on a 68 stitch sock. By the way, 3 sets per size of KnitPicks dpns is 'within normal limits', isn't it?

What a fascinating question. Anyone out there knitting a sock? Bless your heart.

Hubby just timed me while also watching Jewelry Television (guilty pleasure #2) and I got 35 st in stockinette on DPN's with one needle change. It would be quite interesting to know if yarn and needle size affect speed. I think I may go faster if I'm not watching pretty sparklies simultaneously. But it's not a race. I would so rather be the turtle than the hare. I like green. Unless the hare's an angora bunny, then we may have a problem.

By the way, that mohair is absolutely beautiful. It makes me want to hug and smoosh it. Good things do come to those who wait. I think you did fine. I do that with projects too, sit there and look at the yarn and just know that the right pattern will come along.

OK. When utterly exhausted after teaching a brand new class of 4 year olds for the past 3 days while knitting an obnoxious lace pattern with cotton yarn on 2.25 wooden needles with one needle that halfway broke on the subway this morning but I really need to finish the socks because they are a soon to be gifted present and I can't wait for the metal knit picks needles to arrive---11 stitches/ minute.

Oh wait, make that 2 broken needles. And I think I forgot a yarn over in there so really I should undo it which would make only 3 of the stitches successful. I think I have to wait for the new needles.

15 st/min on stockinette, and 9 on the p2 k1tbl p4 k1tbl portion.

Hm. I'm really slow.

22 sts - maybe the cold medicine is slowing me down? As an aside, I called the LA library today to see if there were still tickets available for Saturday (somehow I missed that you'd be there until yesterday) and the guy I spoke to said, "Umm, actually no. For some reason, this event is very popular." He sounded a bit confused and then said, "In fact, it's so popular we're not even taking names for the wait list anymore..." and then he kinda trailed off. So, I'm bummed that I'll miss you speaking less than 3 miles from me but congrats for selling out the Los Angeles library (and yet again, confusing the general masses)!

Hurray for the new total! Yikes, I've gotta get you a photo of stitch marker prizes, don't I? Talk about being late... And even if you can't get the camera to get the color right, the jacket back looks *stupendously* gorgeous. (You're just *now* admitting your inner knitter is an unrealistic optimist?!?? Oh, c'mon! [g])

Will comment after dinner on personal sock-knitting speed. This should be interesting; especially switching back to itty-bitty needles after working with bigger needles for a week or two. Eek.

I wrote to Ken to let him know I used his mods on the hat pattern.

On the bamboos, I'm roaring at 18 stitches/min.
On the metal ones I get 22/min.

16 sts a minute (US2 DPNS). Now I know why ya'll can chug out those socks in a couple days.

25 st/min on dpns, stockinette. Ironically enough, it's the same speed in pattern. Not that I've spent a lot of time on this or anything.

On size 1, two circ, K2P2, continental - 60/minute.

And when I won Sock Madness, there was a pair I finished in less than 12 hours of knitting time. Yup. I found that scary, too.

110 st/minute using Opal and 2½mm dpns.

30 st per minute on 2mm. I think I can go a wee bit faster on 2.25+. The 2mm's always seem a little awkward.

23 sts per min, in pattern, 2.25 mm needles

Funny how unnatural your knitting becomes the moment you try to clock it or think about it. Still, near as I can make out, I seem to be averaging about 60 sts/minute, in stockinette on #1 circs (2).

Deep Sigh! Average of 15 sts/minute. On US #1's and fingering yarn - Knitpicks Essential 100% merino wool. Lovely stuff. Also on Happy Pills for Shingles pain control. That's bound to skew to works! Ribbing for 2nd sock. I'm usually a thrower. Please take your vitamins and sleep whenever you have the chance. We don't want you to ravel out!

Oh - continental, BTW.

36 sts/min. A little slower on ribbing. Duh, huh?

My husband is on the computer and I just happen to be knitting. He timed me and I got a paltry 23 sts/min. My non-knitting husband tends to read your blog more frequently than I and tells me about it. He finds you quite amusing!

18 stitches a minute, never have been speedy!

about 20 stitches, on ribbing. best fun minute I had since arriving at work, apart from reading the blog while eating lunch! Maz

56 stitches in one minute with K6P2 ribbing on half of them.

One 64 st sock on 2.5 mm? for women's size 39/US8?
One plane ride, San Francisco to Frankfurt = 14 hrs.

And that's without Lamaze breathing.
Sts/min? That'll be an interesting one! Can't wait to check it tomorrow, after the gin has worn off.

34 stitches/minute just plain knitting in the round on 2.75 mm bamboo DPNs.

34 stitches per minute, stockinette, magic loop two-at-a-time on a single size 1 40" circ (so after 32 stitches of the 1st sock I'm fussing the 2nd sock & yarn over into knitting position).

I just knit 62 sts in a cable and rib pattern in 1.5 minutes. The jacket is looking great and what a fantastic total already for Doctors Without Borders!

Hey, all Los Angeles Knitters - Stephanie's all filled up for reservations at the Library! Aaaarrrggghhh! I waited until today at 3 pm to call for reservations & was told they weren't taking any more. The room holds 250 & she said they were trying to find a larger place to hold all of the knitters. I'm going to keep trying - everyone else keep trying also, maybe they will move to a bigger place. Sorry Stephanie, you are in demand! I'm foing & hoping for the best.

I'm a new knitter (lower case "k" for now) and Knitting Rules got me to be bi-textural after a dozen years crocheting. I love both!

Around 20-30 stitches a minute, which is what I get for reserving socks for my commuting knitting -- keeping everything on the needles can get tricky when the train hits a bumpy stretch!

I didn't time myself, but I know I can do 50 sts of garter between Queen and King subway stations (aka one row of my current commute project) - if anyone knows what the time between those two TTC stations is I can give you a number *g*

32 stitches per minute, continental. I guess that is about my average when sitting down. But if I'm walking to class or something it's alot slower (watching out for cars, stairs, skateboards, bikes, buses and other people can be a little distracting.

See you in Seattle.

Negative 40 as I did the wrong row and yanked back too far. **sigh**

52 in fingering on five size 0 (I knit loose) double points, including yanking yarn out of the middle of a recalcitrant ball.

About 35-40 stitches per minute, either stockinette or in a very simple pattern, knitting continental. =)

34 st/min with five 2mm dpns using Regia 4 stranded sock yarn

Sock knit rate: about one second per st in ST st, on sz 1 needles, fingering yarn, and continental method of knitting.

About the same on DPN's as magic loop.

30 SPM

In stockinette, about 35 stitches/minute. Faster if my hands and the yarn cooperate. Slower if they do not. :-)

About 40 stitches per minute, with time in the middle to rearrange stitches for my two-socks-at-a-time-magic-loop on 2's in stockinette.

On mindless socks, I'll do almost a round per minute, 64 sts per round. A complex lace or cable pattern will half that.

23 sts per minute on size 1 DPNs.

I'm getting 24-27 stitches per minute at 2:40am Eastern, picking it up cold, timing each of the first three rows, plus perhaps 2-3spm more when I'm not glancing at the clock. I'm a throwing process knitter working with 1 sock on 2 circs.

Just for you I set the kitchen timer and knitted for a minute, twice. In fingering weight, metal needles, stocking stitch, 57 stitches a minute and I knit continental. That's from a cold start (I did just get up) but it looked average to me. I think you should have also asked how long people had been knitting because speed really does come with experience and I have a theory on wooden needles too.

I love your sweater (maybe not in your colourway...) and can't wait to see it finished. Knit faster please. Send out for pizza or something.

Karen, how come I knew immediately that you were the one knitting socks on the plane from SF to Frankfurt?

Right this moment I'm knitting a hat on US10s. My current sock, which I haven't picked up for close to a month is 11 stitches per inch in an eyelet rib. Can I get back to you in a couple weeks on the spm, Steph?

See you Friday. Predictions here are running low 50s at night and mid to high 70s during the day with a few morning clouds. What kind of emergency food rations would you like?

30K/min
24P/min

I don't feel I'm THAT pokey, but whoa--there are some fast knitters out there.

PS. I pretty much never see anyone in knitted hats here (L.A. vicinity)

My speed is 44 stitches in 60 seconds.

Chris 8-)

30 stitches per min. 4k x 2p ribbing.

I've previously figured out that it takes me about 8 hours per sock total. hmmm...16 hours for a pair of socks. I did not want to know that.

With cold hands, 57 sts/min (continental, magic loop, 2 mm, Regia 4-ply). Maybe I should yell the kids to start a stopwatch when I'm really on the roll... Can it be possible that the fastest "throwers" do 200 sts/min?

Oh, I think it takes me about 2 minutes to knit a row of between 72 and 80 stitches.

32sts/min relaxed knitting on two 2.5mm circulars, stockinette. A sock will take two days to knit if its my only project :)

Using 5 dpns of 2,5mm I knit 48 stiches per minute (including shifting between needles).

Actually a very interesting research. You promise to publish the results right? (please - I loooove funny stats) ;-)

By the way, a good way to time yourself is to use the minesweeper on your computer ;-) Just start the game, and of you go. Who said that we needed stopwatches ;-)

I'm knitting the Queen of Cups socks from Knitty, a goblet lace pattern on size #1 dpns, and my one-minute average (on a fully-patterned row with four 16-st repeats) is 26 sts. On a partially patterned row, it's 40 sts.

On plain stockinette it's a lot more, but what the hey?! See you on Friday in Seattle!

Kathy from Tacoma

34st using 2mm dpn and opal wool bleand sock yarn , stocking stitch.

20 st/min...plain vanilla sock while I read emails in the morning before work. And I throw so I know it takes longer.
I also did some quick calculations...15K stitches per my average sock, so about 24 hours per pair. That makes them worth $250-$375 per pair (depending on whether it's a good tip day or not).
Think I could sell any and make a living at it?

Happy knitting.

plain socks, I can get about 32 sts/minute. if there's a pattern, I'm usually a bit slower.
Yay already starting Christmas knitting from the London mini-stash...

(is it dorky that I had to "warm-up" to get to my regular knitting pace?... i blame just waking up...)

30 SPM on the patterned bit. about 40SPM on the stockinette bit. it's totally geeky that i'm happy to not be the slowest. and i'm not sure my hands could handle that 90-100 SPM of the second comment. there could be friction at that speed. and combustion, maybe.

I get right at 42 stitches in a minute, doing stockinette on size 2 needles.

This assumes, however, that no child wants a cup of juice, no cats run through the room and jump on the yarn, and my dh doesn't bellow from some other room in the house that he "can't see IT" (whatever the current it of his attentions is).

I'm a slow sock knitter because my life intervenes alot. I do make a lot of progress during the Daily Show and the Colbert Report, though.

See ya in Atlanta!

About 25 stitches per minute, but it's 6:30 a.m. and I'm fast asleep at my desk. When I wake up, I'll time it too.

22 stitch/minute size 5 bamboo dpn in kureyon for felted slippers.

Now that you know how fast everyone else knits, did you manage the amount of stitches needed to wear your jacket today, or is it not quite "today" yet for you and you're still sitting there with matchsticks holding your eyes open, whilst you knit away?
I will have to search your site to add my "Knitting without borders" contribution, which I made MONTHS ago, when you last metioned it!

on four needles
i am slower 2 minutes for 40 45 sts
i can knit faster on 2 neeles in garter
stich relly zip along-knit 2 purl 2
we could start up a club for we slower
knitters called yarn crawl
have you ever used bamboo skewers
in place of bitty needles
need to put my scarfs in the mail
for red scarf 2008
i too have had breast cancer so farfree
seven years soft is nice so very nice

From experience, I can knit a foot or cuff for a size 8.5 foot in about an 1.5 to 2 hour time frame. Basically the time it takes to fly from Columbus, OH to Atlanta.

30 sts per minute on US #0 dpns with Trekking (XXL) sock yarn. I find the thing that slows me down is changing needles and picking up the yarn. I guess I am average though. No Speedy Gonzales here.

About 20 SPM on longer-than-usual dpns. When I get into the zone on the leg of a sock I get closer to 35 SPM.

Can't wait for Wicihta. I'm bringing my Girly Boy Scout sock to meet you!

I get 18 stitches per minute doing magic loop, knit 2 purl 2 ribbing... Kind of slow...

I just donated to MSF/DWB in honour of all the knitters who supported me for the recent Weekend to End Breast Cancer and in gratitude for your inspired example of knitterly philanthropy.

Prompted by your talk on May 25, esp. the part about knitters being super-donors, giving a lot or a little, but giving often, perhaps because we are uniquely aware of the power of doing one small simple thing over and over and over and over again, I decided to appeal to personally to knitters whose blogs I have been reading to sponsor me for the Weekend by offering a sock pattern and forming a KAL and within a couple of months we raised nearly $3000, bringing my total funds raised for this event to nearly $4500 (and some are still trickling in).

At 5:30 am on Sunday, on my way to Day Two of the Weekend, I had the most amazing conversation with a cab driver. He asked me what all these people were doing and why and I explained to him that we were raising money and awareness to combat this scourge that is cancer. We discussed the WEBC and the Princess Margaret Hospital foundation and recent/imminent breakthroughs in research and treatment. We discussed the sad state of the world, the ubiquitous wars official and unofficial, and our society's all too pervasive culture of impotence, the prevailing impression cultivated by our conglomerate driven economic-political machine, that as individuals most of us are unable to make a difference, so we might as well just slog along as cogs in the system and try to buy ourselves as much consumer-happiness as we can grab to soothe our frustration, but without rocking the boat too much, and please - leave the world-altering decisions and actions to the big boys.

The driver asked many questions about what I was doing and after I told him how deeply moved I was to be a part of this endeavour, how incredibly empowering it was to contribute in even my small way to making this world a better place, he responded in the most profoundly thoughtful, and uncannily appropriate way. He said: "What a world could we make if instead of violence and hatred, all that anger and passion could be channelled into healing and helpful directions, to curing diseases and feeding the hungry and consoling the desolate."

Thank you for helping demonstrate that we can indeed remake the world, on stitch (and one step) at a time!

Ok. It's long after dinner, I'm falling asleep...the perfect time!

One sock on 2 circs., and I'm a thrower. Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, using 2mm needles, in plain stockinette (to the tune of Peter Gabriel's Signal To Noise [g]) = 20 sts./minute. Both times. (There was a slight contretemps the first go-round.)

Hee - I always knew I was a slow knitter!

28, size 1 dpns

23 stitches on 2.25 mm needles with Opal sock. Luckily for my stitch count I'm working on the plain rounds of Chart 1 of Nancy Bush's Huron Mountain socks. Changing needles at the corners *does* slow me down.

I don't know about the minute thing because I would guess that it would depend on the stitches being used :) But for me it takes about 2 weeks to do a pair of socks - I do work on other things in between :)
Vanessa

cold turkey pick up
36/minute

Thought I was faster. Oh well, I knit as I knit.
24 spm using US size 0 bamboo needles doing 2x2 ribbing. I'd guess my stockinette stitch speed would be at least half again as fast but I've got a ways to go on this cuff before I can find out!
Medium socks usually take me 5 days if they're my primary project.

I knit about 75 stitches per minutes -- when relaxed. Frantic knitting is a different story.

50 st/min in ribbing on 5 dpns.
65 st/min stockinette

There are a lot of homeless in Atlanta-the downtown-Mid-town areas especially. I see them lining up for free lunch from my office window. They could use the hat as it does get cold in Atlanta, I'd be happy to deliver. I also have a contact for cancer patient's who need hats. I'd love to be your "go to girl"

32 spm with Cascade Fixation in patterned on size 3 dpn, and 60 stp in stocking knit on size 2 circulars with Trekking.

I have two in progress, on the rib area I seem to get about 30 stitches per minute, but with the stockinette it is about 45.

Have a great tour!

When I finally got an uninterrupted minute (the dogs really get stimulated when I pick up my knitting and clamour for attention) I knit about 40 stitches. Marlyce

I only got 28 stitches per minute...but I'm doing magic loop..and it's not my best. I'm faster on DPNs...

Or maybe the mintues on my computer are fast.

Hmm...I'm not a fast knitter I guess...

Sadly, don't knit socks, but will probably teach myself how... Or take a class at the LYS once I get some money... Heh...

And you like torturing a yarnoholic with that gorgeous yarn doncha?

On a plain old stockinette section, 42 stitches in a minute on size 1 US. I do always have to pause and fiddle with the tension when I change needles, even after lots and lots of socks!

Hi Steph,

I am a fairly new sock knitter (on my third pair) and I knit about 45 stitches per minute. That's a plain stockinitte stitch sock. Stick a pattern in and my speed will drop.

Can't wait for the new book.

Lori in Boston

Jeez! I guess I'm really slow! I knit 27 stitches in a minute on a k3, p3 rib, using 2.0 mm dpns (did you need all that info?)

The jacket is looking great! Don't work too hard, though!

30 st/minute on 2.25mm dpns (one needle change) in stockinette (I'm a thrower, not a picker). Looks like I'm in the middle of the pack.

Got a sock right here -- 40 spm.

Plain vanilla sock in my usual mindless state of knitting...43

I just clocked myself at normal speed of 38 stitches per minute - size 2 needles and Lornas Laces sock yarn.

21 st/minute in pattern probably a couple sts more in stockinette. Hope this helps you out!!

18 stitches/minute on my current sock doing k3, p3 and one "no, no" to the toddler when he tried to take off with my yarn.

If that's all I'm knitting on, it usually takes me about 3 evenings to do a pair with fingering weight. Granted I have a fairly small foot and I'm not knitting knee socks but that's pretty fair to say.

1 minute = 35 sts ... a slightly butter-fingered result, but probably close enough to my real average ;)

p.s. can't wait to see the finished sweater, it looks like it's going to be gorgeous!

32 st/min on a plain sock in Mountain colours Bearfoot with U.S. 1.5 dpn needles.

P.S. - I found a dissappeared stitch while I was doing the great st/min test. It wasn't dropped, I can't find a k2tog, it is simply gone. Peace out, oh knitter-woman.

40 stitches give or take in one minute, stockinet sock.

I get 45 st per minute, stockinette stitch, size 2 dpns.

I can take the knitted hats. I would love to deliver them to the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children. Did you know that the average age of a homeless person in Atlanta is 8 years old?

8 years old! That means there's a lot of homeless children out there. I'll stop my rant before it starts, but I can make sure that these hand knitted hats are warn by homeless women and children in Atlanta.

not too fast for me.. a mere 23 stitches per minute. Although I did have a 3 year old hanging off my arm at the time...

I average about 40 st per min if it is a plain knit.....not a cable pattern or something like that..........have a safe journey.
Sandy in South Dakota USA

About 45 sts per minute. But that's on double points. Magic loop is faster--less adjustment between rounds. Also metal is faster than wood, but wood is so pretty and feels so good! Also that's plain st. st. Cables, lace, jaywalker, --all slow you down.
Hope this doesn't make me more OCD--counting and timing myself-;-)

about 65 stitches per minute, plain stockingette

About half a round in a minute--so that would be 40 sts...?

I knit about 46 stitches per minute in St stitch using 5 dpns. I may knit faster using 2 circs because positioning my dpns does take time, but I don't have anything on circs right now to time...

26 spm cold, 37 warmed up. Plain stockinette on my purse sock at work.

20 stitches per minute.

in pattern 18-20 stitches per minute and stockinette 30-36 sts per minute. this is why the foot of the sock goes so fast- so much less needle redirection. i hope that I am faster when i am not checking the clock every ten seconds, but that is my competitive nature.

In my 15-minute break at work, I can get about two rows in on my socks (2 at a time, on 2 circs, average of about 30 stitches each side on each sock), possibly with running to the bathroom quickly in there somewhere, too. I've been at work for 14 hours, so I can't do the math, but that's about a standard knitting pace for me.

I knit 25 stitches/ minute in plain stockinette. I too have noticed that switching needles slows me down - I wonder what the time difference would be if I knit on two circs instead.

Hi Stephanie, I'm delurking to answer your question about LA---I grew up out there and yes, most of the time it is too warm to wear a hat. Right now it is REALLY warm out there.

I'm doing 17-18 sts per minute on my current sock; granted, it's fine fingering wool on 2mm needles, but I'm also a slooooow knitter.

this morning before work i knit 5 rounds of 64 stiches in about fifteen minutes. if I did the math right(which is always questionable) I think it comes out to around 22 stiches a minute. Slow, I know but I LOVE socks

16 sts in a minute. k1, p2 ribbing on size 3 needles with sport weight yarn. Maybe I was so slow because I kept checking the time?

I think I am the slowest. Do I wind a prize like in the Iditarod where the slowest mushing team to finish gets the Red Lantern? No wonder my socks take so long. sheesh.
namaste, Susan

For the first couple minutes, I knit about 23 stitches per minute (all stockinette). After about 10 minutes, I was doing 30 stitches per minute. Wow! I never really thought about warming up the muscles in my paws for knitting.
But I've been hating the metal dpn's that I'm using for this pair - too slippery. I always feel faster and less clumsy with bamboo dpn's.

Well,

I knit one side in a minute so that's 24 stitches (not ribbing) I guess I'm a little slow but the way I figure it is I'll never run out of stuff to work on.

50 stitches per minute on knit picks size 2 circular. Not bad but that is plain stockinette.

I knit about 40 stitches per min on size 2US needles with fingering weight yarn.

32 st/min plain knit
25 st/min p3,k3 cable round

me again.
It dawned on me after I posted that maybe I would be quicker with just knitting. I tested and sure enough did 30 sts in one minute. I feel much better now.
So...
16 if k1, p2 which takes some concentration
& 30 if knit all stitches which takes next to none.

Namaste, Susan

I guess I'm slow too! I spend too much time fiddling with my needles and how I hold the yarn.

I got 14 sts. in a minute.

27 working in stockinette around the toe decrease on magic loop. I'm feeling pretty slow, too, now.

I have to say that although it wouldn't seem like people in LA don't need hats, they actually do. Winter here looks like summer, but it can feel very much like winter, especially in the evenings, and most especially if you are not sleeping inside a house.

Stephanie, Phil and I will be the hat people for LA if you need us to be. Please let us know!

Hello Stephanie. If it's not too late to comment, I get about 30 a minute when I'm knitting casually "on the fly", waiting for tea to steep, that sort of thing. When I'm in the zone and knitting is my sole activity, it's more like 35. Best of luck on the research!

I can do like...eight stitches total in a minute. That's a bunch forward, then ten back, then two forward, then ten back, then three back, then five forward, then a few more forward, then back to the marker, then eight. This may have taken more than a minute, actually.

Did I mention I'm on my first row of my first sock on my first set of DPNs? This is like trying to knit with an irate spider.

22 stitches per minute on the first row of "river rapids' sock; size 1 needle; lorna's laces sock yarn

half a mill...here we come!

As if you don't already have enough of a sampling, here are my stats: size 1 DPN's and sock yarn I got 24 stitches in one minute. Half of that was 3x1 rib, plus the time-eater of changing to the next needle. If it wasn't for that I'm sure I could have gotten closer to something like 1000 or so. :) Oh, and it was almost 1am as well. Hopefully my knitting during less vampire-like hours would be a tad quicker. But you wanted leisure time, right? That's when I get mine! Daytime knitting is usually in much smaller chunks of time than a whole uninterrupted minute. There are 4 small boys rampaging through my house.

40 SPM.
Actual working time on one sock ranges from 8-12 hours depending on cuff length and pattern.
I finish a sock in 2.5-3.5 days if I focus on just that one sock. If I can keep that focus I usually have a pair within a week.
Last year I knit 20 pairs of socks! I haven't been keeping track this year but I have 3 on needles now...it would be more but I have 2 of my sock needles in other, non-sock, projects...

A quick test had me at 40sts/min.

If I'm focusing on a pair I can do one in about 3 days (probably less if I NEED to finish them), and then it usually takes about a week per pair. But that's with me being distracted and whatnot.

Round and a half on 64 sts here.

I'm knitting Cookie's Twisted Flower socks and was on the foot chart when I read this. Apparently, I can do 16 stitches when it involves ssk and cabling without a cable needle in a minute ;-)

I just finished the stockinette portion in one minute - 34 stitches.

I'm so excited that you're coming to Seattle tomorrow- I've been eating lunch while working so I can leave work early Friday to get up to the bookstore you'll be speaking at.
Only thing is I've had each of your books since they came out and apparently I can't get "signing line tickets" unless I buy the book at their store. Oh well.
I'll just have to take pictures.

I apologize if this is a repeat, but I don't always have time to read all the comments. I will be at the Atlanta event (with hats in tow), and I would be happy to be the hat person if you still need one.

34 sts of k2p1 ribbing in 1 minute

25 stockinette stitches in one minute on 2.5mm needles. I'm slow =)

I'm sure you've seen this before, and I'm sure you won't even get this far into the comments, but these are amazing and look fantastic.
http://veganyumyum.com/2007/06/knit-night-cupcakes/

I got 33 stockinette stitches in one minute, also on hands that weren't warmed up.

I got 52 sts/min in stockinette on 2.75 mm wood dpns. That was with a bit of speed, though - so my average speed is probably in upper forties, and faster on metal needles.

Was that 90-100 stitches per minute on a sock machine?

I can finish a single sock for a women's size 10 (US) with some basic stockinette and ribbing on 2.25 mm needles in about 8 hours. Specific enough?

Oooo. I can't wait to see where you go with this info in the next book.

I got between 32 and 48 in st st using Jitterbug on bamboo US 2 while reading. I suspect I'm faster when DH is watching sports so I'm not distracted.

well I'm knitting on a scroll sock from more sensational knitted socks - so it's lace....but I got 30sts in a minute...definitly not rushing

Looks like about 40 sts/minute in stockinette at a normal pace.

About 30 stitches a minute for me.

40-50 sts/minute, fingering weight yarn in st.st.

I "lied." I can knit about one st per second if I am just knitting along. So I just gave you the average on a straight stretch.

I checked on the st st part of a patterned sock I am knitting, so I only have 30 sts in st st. (sorry, I do mostly patterned socks).

Anyway, including needle adjustment and pulling yarn, which you of course do in the course of knitting a sock, my time was 30 sts in 41 seconds. This extrapolates to about 40 sts per min.

Hope that helps. Enjoy your tour, and don't be nervous like you say you are in your talks. We all love you.

44 stitches per minute, 2x2 rib fingering weight. Un-distracted and comfortable.

Looks like I'm in the middle. Sweater looks great by the way

16st. per minute! No wonder I can only get one sock done a month (that's if I only work on the sock and NOTHING else) SHEESH! I don't need to be super speedy but 30st per minute would be nice! (any pointers speedy knitters??)

Plain old sock weight and plain old knitting on dps I did 23 stitches in one minute, and a lot of that time I realized was taken up by switching between needles.

Sock knit rate: 39 stitches per minute (continental, 2.25 mm rosewood dpns, stockinette). No idea how long the socks actually take, as they tend to get worked on a few minutes at a time, whenever there is time.

I did not have time to do this but I can tell you that while watching TV and knitting at the same time, it takes 4-5 hours (depending if the show is good, hands tend to stop) to knit a pair of plain socks -- worested weight.

As someone who's lived in Seattle and currently in the greater Los Angeles area and has been to Atlanta in the 'winter time'...I'd say hats are needed by everyone who's homeless and those undergoing chemo treatments. I've made many a hat for my kids and extras through the past 26 years. When it rains in Southern California in the 'winter time' the nights can get really cold. I had to really bundle up last winter when visiting Atlanta, including mittens and a scarf while downtown in the evening. So, I say..hats off! to the knitters! Bring 'em on.
I see you have several volunteers to take them. If they'd like help on Saturday for the collection, I'd be happy to help with the sorting, boxing..etc..whatever is needed!

I did not time myself. My husband says I may be average, but I am not normal.
Jo

Sorry- I'm late, didn't get a chance to read you yesterday. Per minute, I don't know however, our cabin is in Traverse City Michigan, about a 2.5 hour trip and I can knit one sock on the way up and the other on the way back- as long as my husband drives of course!

23 st/min but I'm knitting on baby socks so that was almost three needles. When I knit big people socks I can go faster.

sock yarn is not my forte, I am much faster on laceweight and 2-3mm needles.
On sock yarn or heavier though I am about 35-40 a minute. And yes, DPN's do slow me down, that figure is on straights, DPN's barely move in the round for me, a sock takes forever.

Never timed myself on lace, always too concerned about watching it over timing it.

I knat 31 stockinette sock stitches in a minute.

bamboo dpns 2,5 mm, continental, average of 45 stitches in k2, p2 ribbing, 55 in stockinette, including needle changes and corrections.
that yarn is looking so sooooft. hmmmmm.

Oh dear. Only managed 22 spm but this was on top of two large glasses of wine, being too tired to knit (only knitted that bit to test) and weaving in the ends of a colour change. So perhaps not that bad. May have to try this one morning when I'm feeling brighter. Usually knit onthe bus or train though so I'll have to make allowances there for bumpy roads, going over points etc.

25 spm, 2 3/4 mm dpns, fingering weight, stockinette stitch.

96 spm US#2 needles (your recipe: a full time round, plus half!)

47 st/min, but that's with a two month old sitting in my lap grabbing at my knitting. (You asked for our normal knitting, and that's normal knitting for me these days :)

25 stitches in one minute with 8" 2.00 mm dpns and DIC Smooshy, stocking stitch

Since i have a sock in progress in hand, here's my contribution to research...and as an art historian,this was an easy one! With #1/2.25mm just doing a knit round on "Groovy Socks" from Sockpixie with AllThingsHeather "phoenix" sockweight, i get [27] stitches per minute. (looking and not looking, mixed!) Thanx for all the knitting chuckles, Cori in Kansas

Count me in at about 18-24 stitches per minute, depending on the cat distractions. That's on 2.25mm with standard sock yarn, no fancy patterns - hey, still a beginner here for the most part, so I'm not worried about gaining speed later. For now, it's just so amazingly cool to me that, if the world comes to an end, I will still have sox and sweaters and hats!

I'm perhaps a little unusual, but I knit a pair of the yoga socks in 6 hours....I don't know if that helps at all...

I can do the stitches in a minute thing for ya if you still need people for that....

I knit a 50 gram ball of sock yarn into one sock on a US 000 circ. in about 19 - 28 hours, depending. 12,000 stitches??

People do needs hats in Atlanta, as that's what my Knitting club at oglethorpe university is going to focus on.

Unfortunately, I can't be your hat lady, but the need is there.

I will also be there on Wednesday and can't wait!

love,

Chels

52 spm, using Knitivity sock yarn on size 2 aluminum dpns in 2 X 2 rib with cat on lap.

Crazy Aunt Purl knits hats all the time so LA, CA must have at least a few mildly chilly weeks.

And yes, it does get cold in Atlanta. I have been in Atlanta in January. :-)

U.S. size 3, fingering, 32 st/min

About 40spm in stocking stitch. It takes me a bit over a week of evenings to finish a pair of socks for my husband (huge feet) and a bit under a week for socks for normal human beings!

34 stitches on 2.5 mm needles with 3 ply fingering weight yarn.

My "normal" speed is abt 45-60 sts/min., if I'm not trying to do anything fancy (like read a chart) at the same time.

As of 2 days ago, however, my speed is 0 sts/min--I broke my arm at the wrist. :( :( :( At some point (when the pain subsides), I will see if I can hold my left needle with something other than my fingers...

23 stitches in one minute on 2.5mm needles including one needle change in stocking stitch

about 70 sts per minute - assuming there aren't any snags, or I have to rip back some mistake I've made ;)

26 SPM on lace. Although it's certainly tough to do "relaxed knitting" when there's a timer counting down!

I'm late to this party (couldn't drop work and go knit yesterday, sadly), but I got 50 spm on a plain stockinette sock.

And I agree with other commenters -- you could totally hit half a million for MSF.

I don't know about minutes, but I managed to knit 48 stitches on a pair of socks, 2 socks on magic loop, while waiting in line at the DMV last time I had to go in.

Oh my goodness.

I did it 2x and each time I knit exactly 16 sts/min on size 2mm needles.

Sheesh. No wonder it takes me a lifetime to finish anything -- it appears most people are over double my speed!

29 stitches on 2.75mm needles with sock yarn.

I had to get in on the fun. I only came in at 20 stitches in one minute. I have made 3 pairs of socks and they have all taken me one month per pair with the knitting time I have available. I work on both socks at the same time. I work the cuff of one then the other, the leg of one and then the other, and so on. That way when I finish I have both socks done. I am also in awe of those who can knit without looking at their knitting. I've tried but I always have to check to make sure I haven't made a mistake, which ends up taking twice as long.

I'm working on #2 needles - making a sock for a preemie - 18 sts in a minute - I knew I was slow, but that's pathetic! :)

About 32 sts/min (not as slow as I thought!) and that's w/ half the sts stockinette and the other half a pattern on 5 needles. I'm actually slower on magic loop.

40spm

I'm knitting on 3 socks right now. Once I cast on to do this test.

Fixation on bamboo dp size 1
cold 27spm
warmed up 40spm.

Trekking on 2 circs size 000
cold 34spm
warmed up 40spm

OnLine on my very favorite wood dp size 0
cold 40spm
warmed up 40spm

I did this over several hours so I could have a true cold reading on each sock.

Sherri

You are now my most favorite person in the word, because you knit, AND avoid math whenever you can. I applaud you. I'm not sure how many stiches a munute, I'll have to check.

I asked the speed question awhile back on the Historic Knit list (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HistoricKnit/) and the answers fell into two groups. About half of the eight or ten people who responded said their ordinary speed is about 30 stitches per minute, and the other half (including me) said about 60.

About 40sts per min on a fairly plain pattern; less on a complicated design. I can finish a pair of socks in two days if Sock Madness or some similar lunacy holds me in thrall. Otherwise three months is about right.

26 stitches a minute (using 4 DPNs). I'd be faster if my current sock was on one of my 12" addi circ.

Don't know how many stitches per minute, but I
can finish a pair of men's socks in 2.5/3 days of
intermitent knitting. I just did seven pairs plus
two hats in roughly five weeks. Needed two weeks
to recover from a fall with a beautiful black eye
before I could finish up.

I'm knitting Lorna's Laces sock yarn, size 1 needles. Plain stockinette stitch I'm getting 42 sts per minute pretty consistently.

It would be interesting to know if the sts per minute varies depending on your knitting style, or does it even matter? English or Continental... just curious. I've seen fast knitters both ways.

I knit Continental, btw.

Wow. That is just gorgeous. I love the colorway!

I'm a slow and steady knitter - 28 stitches a
minute.

Warm hands - 36 spm
Cold hands - 23 spm
Dry slippery hands - forget it - it's like 15 spm
Warm hands with hand cream - still 36 spm

I hope to volunteer with Doctors Without Borders/MSF once I get my degree -their website says they need microbiologists on the front lines, as it were- and just thought I'd say the Knitters Without Borders thing is awesome. Behold the mighty power of lots of people with pointy little sticks! I'm a little short on funds, but I think I might offer up a pattern (would be my first) on my blog for the cause.

We'll see.

Using fingering weight yarn I can knit about 80 sts a minute. I can knit more if it's DK. The st count goes down a little if I have cold hands.

I'm not sure what kind of photo program you use, (prolly one better than mine), but I've got a way to trick the camera into getting the right colors: on the edge of your picture put in something white (paper, whatever). When you go to process the digital image, have whatever fixes the color make the white white and, unless the light was colored, your stuff should be the proper color (fingers crossed). Crop that little white bit out of the picture and your're set!

Regarding what you said this afternoon about knitters being super donors...
The knitter is a person who will spend hours and hours and hours knitting a hat, socks, a sweater, or a dishcloth for someone they love knowing full well that it may never be used. It may not fit or it might be the wrong color or wrong style or take so long to complete that it's 2 years too late. There is no guarantee that a handknit item will be well received, yet the knitter spends considerable time and money making a gift from his or her heart instead of bopping over to the mall for a gift card. Is this so different from donating money or time or handknits to people we will never meet or hear about as individuals? Our knitting gives us practice giving from our hearts, without any guarantee of the outcome.

I got about 33 stitches per minutes with cold hands on 2.25 mm needles with Regia Stretch yarn. I try to go faster, but just can't seem to get there. Faster knitting means more socks finished!

34 stitches on un-warmed up hands. Stitch count definitely picks up as I knit, though. I can usually finish a sock a week, as a secondary project.

OK -- 18 spm making a sock on 4 #2 dpns. No wonder I get 10 rows done while my wife makes 11" of a dk sweater on #5's. Not looking to win contests, but advice to get to 33 - 40 would be appreciated.

I am working on size 3 needles, about 28 st. per minute. I am working on 1 long circular, and doing 2 on one needle instead of the normal dpn's.
:)