Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
If you’ve ever picked up a stitch dictionary or explored our wonderful StitchFinder, you may find yourself in love with a stitch pattern and wondering just what to do with it. Incorporating a stitch pattern into a project can be a fun experiment. Today, I go over a few of the considerations to keep in mind as you get started.
When you’re making an afghan or scarf, start by swatching your stitch pattern in your desired yarn. This will allow you to test and adjust your hook or needle size so that your fabric is as dense or loose as you like. By swatching the stitch pattern, you’ll also know how wide each repeat of the pattern is. Let’s say my swatch shows me that each repeat of my selected stitch pattern is 4 inches wide, then I know that for an 12-inch wide scarf that’s completely in my stitch pattern without a border, I’ll need to cast on for 3 repeats (12 ÷ 4 = 3).
The other thing to decide is whether or not I want a contrasting border (ribbing, garter, seed stitch, etc.). For some stitch patterns, which naturally bow or ripple, a contrast stitch border will not be necessary, since you’ll want to showcase the uniqueness of the fabric’s edge. But for others like lace and cable patterns, you may want a border to give the design a sense of definition and neatness. To factor this into the design, you’ll want to make sure to add in the extra stitches to cast on or chain before getting started.
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Tips & How To | 6 Comments » Comments
Have you ever substituted in a different yarn than the one called for by the pattern? I’m a bit of an obsessive substituter, so when I saw the gorgeous Rainbow Spots shade of Casey, I just had to knit some baby booties for my cousin’s new baby girl! The only question was which pattern to make. Ever since it was posted, I’ve loved the Ruby Slippers, so I knit a quick gauge swatch, got the right needle, and away I went! The only adjustment I made was leaving off the button band since these booties are for a very tiny baby. Overall, I’m thrilled with how they came out, and I hope little baby Ally is, too!
Isn’t it amazing how a different yarn can make the pattern look totally different?
Related links:
Posted in Knitting, Pattern Recommendations | 1 Comment » Comments
It’s only a few more days until Christmas, but you can still incorporate yarn into your holiday celebration:
Finally, for those of you who are still looking for last-minute gift ideas, here are a few helpful blog posts:
*If you’re viewing this blog post in your email and can’t access the video above, please click on the title of the blog post to view the full article online.
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Pattern Recommendations | 4 Comments » Comments
New from Lion Brand, is Bellini – a uniquely textured wool-blend yarn, perfect for adding extra flair and fringes to your accessories. Bellini yarn can be used by itself to make bold statement pieces, or it can be used with a traditional yarn such as Wool-Ease, for adding trims to winter accessories. The great thing about Bellini is that it’s also ideal for quick projects, so it will make a wonderful fast finish gift for that friend who enjoys all the latest fashion trends.
One skein of Bellini makes a scarf or a cowl (see the patterns below!); you can even have some fun with it and use small sections of the yarn to create pom-poms. While we were experimenting with the yarn in the office, we realized you can even make a cowl with Bellini without knitting or crocheting the yarn. Just slide off the ball band, untwist the hank, and wrap the big loop twice around your neck!
 Knit Cozy Loops Scarf |
 Crochet One Row Short Scarf |
 Knit Foxy Scarf |
Watch the videos below to learn the easy techniques on how to knit and crochet with this yarn:
Click here for the crochet version.
What type project would you like to make with Belini? Share with us in the comments!
Related Links:
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Pattern Recommendations, Tips & How To | 6 Comments » Comments
I love seeing all of the fun and unique ways people craft to celebrate the holidays, or elements of winter. It’s always refreshing to see what other people are inspired to create with yarn. For instance, these tiny Elfin baby booties pictured on the left from DIY Maven are perfect for a baby’s first Christmas, and the little bells at the folds add the perfect finishing touch.
I also love how Sarah from Repeat Crafter Me went with the idea of using a basic crochet hat construction, then added felted pieces to turn her hat into an adorable reindeer. Check out the projects below to see all of the cuteness for yourself!
 Crochet Rudolph the Reindeer Hat Pattern Repeat Crafter Me |
 Crochet Pine Cone Collection (Paid Pattern) Planet June |
 5 and 6 point Knit Star Ornaments Just Crafty Enough |
 Holly Gift Topper One Sheepish Girl |
What do you like to knit or crochet for the holidays? Share your project ideas with us below!
Related Links:
Posted in Community, Crocheting, Knitting | 4 Comments » Comments
| I have been a big fan of slip stitch colorwork for a long-time. It allows you to create wonderful, geometric designs that look so much more complex than they really are! In fact, awhile back, I demonstrated our Fallen Leaves Scarf and its lovely slip stitch pattern on Knitting Daily TV (video at the right; if you’re viewing this blog post in your email, click on the title to see the full article online). |
What I love about slip stitch colorwork is that you only work one color in each row (no changing colors, no stranding) and that even a novice knitter can take it on. All you need to understand is:
Want to try slip stitch knitting for yourself? Here are some of my favorite patterns from LionBrand.com:
(more…)
Posted in Knitting, Tips & How To | 1 Comment » Comments
Everywhere I turn in New York City, I see beautiful knit and crochet accessories with super thick stitches. Stores like Anthropologie, Gap, and H&M are highlighting the chunky stitch trend. By combining super bulky (category 6) yarns with thick needles and hooks, you can work up these fun accessories in a flash. Best of all, they’re fast enough that they make easy holiday gifts! Here are some great patterns for trendy accessories.
Want even more chunky stitch ideas? Be sure to check out this post by our friend Jen that highlights her favorite chunky stitch patterns.
Posted in Pattern Recommendations | Leave a comment » Comments
Ever wonder what a project would look like with a different weight yarn than what the pattern calls for? Home decor items are great for experimentation since you don’t have to worry about fit.
Jen, one of our staffers at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio, adapted our Cream Circle Washcloth pattern to create a bathmat. The original pattern used Cotton-Ease® (a worsted weight yarn) and a size H crochet hook to produce a washcloth that measured 5″ in diameter. But after seeing our new Zpagetti (a super bulky weight yarn) hit the shelves, she had to try it. Simply by using this yarn in conjunction with a larger hook (size Q) She was able to create an adorable bathmat.
Jen followed the pattern almost exactly (only substituting single crochets for slip stitches in the final row) and used two cones of Zpagetti yarn. Once you become comfortable with substituting yarns of different weights you might want to try it on garments as well. I suggest you start by reading our 5 Articles to Help You Make a Sweater That Fits & Flatters article.
Posted in Crocheting, Tips & How To | 19 Comments » Comments
There’s still plenty of time left to knock out handmade projects for those on your holiday gift list. There’s even time to knit or crochet some of these items for upcoming Hannukah gifts. So, to help you make some crafting decisions, I have included a round up of some of our fast finish patterns suitable for men and women. Since these projects require either one or two balls, they’re extremely portable – allowing you to knit or crochet on the go!
 Crochet Family of Beanies |
 Crochet Home Team Hat |
 Knit Solstice Hat |
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Pattern Recommendations | 11 Comments » Comments
It’s holiday crafting crunch time, but I’m here to tell you that everything will be okay. You can finish all of your gift crocheting and knitting with a bit of planning. Here are some easy tips to help you achieve all of your holiday crafting goals.
Step 1: Make a list of what you want to achieve. Choose the patterns, the yarn, and the gift recipients.
Step 2: Be realistic. Do you have enough time to make all of these items? If you have to buy yarn, will you have it in time? Can you really knit 5 Aran sweaters with heavy cabling in 3 days? Consider what you can reasonably accomplish, then edit down your list. Try using thicker yarns for fast-finish gifts. Being realistic is the best way to eliminate handmade gifting stress.
Step 3: Prioritize. Figure out which items are your must-finish projects, and start those first. If you won’t see your aunt until New Year’s Eve, you can probably start her gift after you finish Mom’s holiday shawl.
Step 4: Edit once more. Once you get working on your gifts, you might find that cowl you thought would take a day really took five. That’s totally fine! Revisit your list and adjust accordingly. Remember, it’s absolutely okay not to craft for every single person on your holiday list.
Step 5: Plan for the unfinished gifts. Even with the best of plans and intentions, sometimes life gets in the way. Set yourself a deadline, and if you find yourself getting a little too close for comfort, consider alternate plans. You can give an IOU card if your gift will be finished shortly, or consider gifting some handmade items from a local store or market.
By staying organized, you can relax and enjoy your crafting instead of stressing about deadlines. Good luck with your gift projects!
Pictured above: Amigurumi Christmas Mouse Ornament
Related links:
Posted in Tips & How To | 5 Comments » Comments
 Last Minute Gifts){kind=link}