FAQ: What is Duplicate Stitch?
September 2nd, 2010
Duplicate stitch is a fantastic way to add color to your project after you’ve finished stitching. With this technique, you simply embroider your design onto the completed fabric, mimicking the look of intarsia or other color work techniques. Duplicate stitch is ideal for embroidering small motifs. You can also use it to cover up small mistakes! Click here to see instructions on how to complete duplicate stitch.
Personally, I love to use duplicate stitch for adding initials to my work. It’s great for school spirit items and birthday presents. Here I’ve added my initial to a swatch using duplicate stitch:
Click here for a chart of letters for your duplicate stitch. How do you utilize this technique in your yarncrafting?
Related links:
Here’s What You Said
September 1st, 2010
Last week we asked you to tell us one word that came to mind when you think of Lion Brand. Below is a word cloud that shows you a picture of those words. We were so honored by your comments that we shared this image with everyone at Lion Brand and it pretty much made everyone’s day. Thank you!
We would also like to tell you in a word cloud what comes to our minds when we think about you.
Are you curious about how word clouds work? Go to this web site and create your own!
Click the images above to enlarge!
Would You Knit Yourself a Couch?
September 1st, 2010
Last year, I wrote about artist Kwangho Lee’s beautiful knitted light fixtures, and recently, I came across some of his newest work on a design blog I enjoy. I love how he has taken materials like plastic cord, combined it with knitting, and come up with amazing new applications. In this series, called “Obsession,” furniture emerges out of knitted plastic.
Be sure to visit his website to see even more photos of this series by clicking on “Furniture.”
Via MoCo Loco.
Related links:
- Kwangho Lee’s official site
- Knitted Light Fixtures on the Lion Brand Notebook
- Obsession Arm Chair by Kwangho Lee (MoCo Loco)
Suggested Size: Choosing the Right Needles or Hook to Get Gauge
August 31st, 2010
It’s easy to get so caught up in following pattern instructions that you lose sight of what’s really important: gauge. You’ve probably already purchased the yarn for your project (or decided which of your stash yarns you’d like to use) by the time you sit down to work your gauge swatch, and you’ve probably just grabbed the needles or hook suggested by the pattern.
That’s a great place to start, BUT the important thing to remember is that the needle/hook size given in a pattern is just that: a suggestion. All it means is that the designer (or possibly the pattern tester) got the gauge specified in the pattern using that particular combination of yarn and needle. Don’t forget that everyone knits or crochets a little differently, and you may need to go up or down a hook size or two — or even more! — to get the correct gauge.
For more on how to make a gauge swatch (and why), please see this FAQ.
Related links:
If You Could Only Use One Word. . .
August 26th, 2010
We love being a part of your lives and your knitting & crochet experiences and it means a lot to us when you share your experience with us. Today, we are asking you to share with everyone who reads this blog, what Lion Brand means to you in just one word. What one word comes to mind when you think about Lion Brand?
Fill out the form below to tell us your word, and next week, we’ll show you an image, known as a word cloud that illustrates your answers.
If you’re looking at this post in your blog reader or e-mail and can’t see the form, please click the title of this blog post to view it online with full content.
See Nathan Vincent’s Crochet Taxidermy in NYC until Sept. 30
August 26th, 2010
If you didn’t have an opportunity to see crochet artist Nathan Vincent’s fascinating yarn taxidermy when it was at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio back in late 2009 (as seen above), and you’re in the New York City area, you now have a second chance to see them! Nathan’s pieces will be on display from now through September 30 at Volume Black, a gallery in downtown Manhattan, located at 89 Washington Street.
From the artist’s website:
My work explores gender permissions and the challenges that arise from straying from the prescribed norms. It questions the qualities of gender by considering what constitutes masculine and feminine. It critiques stereotypical gender mediums by creating “masculine objects” using “feminine processes” such as crochet, sewing, and applique.
Want to learn more about Nathan’s work? Listen to our radio-style podcast YarnCraft’s episode 60 :: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Fiber Artists Ruth Marshall & Nathan Vincent to hear more about his fascinating pieces in his own words.
Related links:
- Nathan Vincent on Display at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio
- YarnCraft Episode 60 :: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Fiber Artists Ruth Marshall & Nathan Vincent
- Nathan Vincent: A Fascinating Glimpse Into An Artist’s Life (Photos from Nathan’s talk at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio)
FAQ: What is Intarsia?
August 25th, 2010
Intarsia is a color work technique that is used to create individual fields of color in one piece. Yarn is not stranded horizontally (like in Fair Isle knitting); rather, each section of color has its own working yarn that moves vertically. You can usually identify intarsia because the color work does not continue over the course of the entire row. Thus, it would be pointless to strand a yarn over a row in which it is not used. Here’s an example that I knit up.
While I only used two colors of yarn, I used three different strands of yarn: one purple piece for the center, one mustard piece for the left, and one mustard piece for the right. Here I have recolored my swatch to show where the matching mustard piece is.
As you can see in this close up, it is important to twist your working yarns when you change colors. This helps to prevent holes from forming when you change colors.
And what can you make with intarsia? Click here to see seven knit and crochet intarsia patterns.
Related links:
On the Road: Customer Projects at Stitches Midwest
August 24th, 2010
This past weekend I had the great pleasure of going to Stitches Midwest in Schaumburg, IL. It was so fun being surrounded by crafters all weekend and seeing knitters everywhere we went. As I’ve said before, one of my favorite things about going to shows is seeing customer projects. Some stop by to show off their work, while other are stumbled upon in hotel lobbies. Either way, seeing the finished work (or work in progress) is always so satisfying for me. Here are some of the beautiful projects from this weekend:
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- Anita’s Vanna’s Glamour Scarf
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- Lemondrop Sock-Ease Socks
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- Microspun “Baby ‘Corn’ Bunting”
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- Aran Cardi in Wool-Ease
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- Steve making the Island Shawl
Please keep your mouse over the slideshow to see the captions. Unless the name of the pattern is specified in the caption, we do NOT have the pattern available. If you’re viewing the photos in your e-mail, please click on the title of the blog post to view it on our website in order to see the captions.
We’re headed to Maker Faire NY in September and Stitches East in October, and we’d love to see you there! Even if you can’t make it to a show you can share your projects in our Customer Gallery.
Related Posts:
Bright & Graphic Tights for Fall!
August 23rd, 2010
New York Magazine’s fashion blog, The Cut, recently featured a fun slide show of bright, textured, and graphic tights–a trend that seems to be catching on for the fall. (Click here to visit the slide show.)
Well, with the introduction of 7 new colors this year to our Sock-Ease line, as well as dozens of patterns for leg warmers and socks added to our website, there are a ton of options for an enterprising knitter or crocheter to capitalize on the look and make her own!
Here are just a couple of the options:
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- Knit Thigh High Footless Socks
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- Scallop Crochet Leg Warmers
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- Knit Tweedy Leg Warmers
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- Crochet Striped Leg Warmers
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- Knit Woodsy Leg Warmers
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- Knit Lexi Leg Warmers
(If you’re looking at this blog post on the website, click on the slideshow to move to the next photo. If you’re viewing this blog post in your e-mail and you’re having trouble with the photos, please click the title of the blog post to view the slide show on the website.)
Find the patterns at (must be logged into LionBrand.com to view):
- Knit Thigh High Footless Socks
- Scallop Crochet Leg Warmers
- Knit Tweedy Leg Warmers
- Crochet Striped Leg Warmers
- Knit Woodsy Leg Warmers
- Knit Lexi Leg Warmers
What is your favorite fashion trend for fall? Leave a comment and let us know!
You Never Know When You Might Learn Something New About Yarncrafting
August 20th, 2010
While I was on vacation last week, I went to a lecture on health and wellness. During the lecture I noticed a woman crocheting in the audience, and I instantly felt right at home. Her name was Elaine (pictured right), and I couldn’t wait to ask her all about her project. When I asked, I was extremely happy to find out that she was crocheting preemie hats for a local charity. Charity yarncrafting has always been near and dear to my heart and I truly appreciate all of those who donate their time and energies to such worthy causes.
Elaine even shared a little fun fact with me: Did you know that while crocheting hats for babies, a preemie hat should be the size of an orange and a full sized baby hat should be the size of a grapefruit?
It really is amazing that you never know when you might learn something new about crafts you thought you knew well!
What interesting knitting & crochet tips and tidbits have you learned unexpectedly? Leave a comment and tell us!
Are you looking for a yarncrafting charity to donate to? Check our Charity Connection database for local, national, and international organizations.
