Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
One of my favorite parts of attending yarn conventions and fiber festivals across the country is that I get to talk to Lion Brand customers face-to-face. Sometimes, customers will also come to show us their favorite projects in Lion Brand yarns. It’s always exciting to see what you, our customers, do with our yarn and your creativity. Here are just a few photos from events I’ve been to:
Click on the photos to see them full-screen. Then use the left and right arrows to scroll through them; click the X in the top-left corner to exit. If you’re viewing this blog post in your email or RSS reader, you may need to click the title to see it with full functionality on our website.
Want to show off your latest Lion Brand creation? Click here to browse our online customer gallery and share your own project photos with us!
Or stop by the Lion Brand booth at one of these conventions!
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Posted in Community, On The Road | Leave a comment » Comments
Recently I was invited to the Knitting Heritage Museum Symposium in Madison, Wisconsin. The symposium, which takes place in November, focuses on preserving the history of knit and crochet.
The whole symposium is about history, which I’m very fond of. I love my family history and I love Lion Brand history and that’s what intrigues me about this opportunity. The museum contains many historical knit and crochet pieces on display for anyone to see. I treasure the pieces I have from Lion Brand and make sure that they are preserved in our archive.
At the event, I’m looking forward to broadening the knowledge I have of knit and crochet history. I already know a lot about Lion Brand history but I want to learn more about knit and crochet history. I think it’s important to collect things, archiving them and cherishing them and giving other people the opportunity to experience them. Sharing with others is inspiring and is something I always try to do.
I’m also excited get to have a meet and greet with the Madison Knitters Guild while I’m there. As a member of the board of directors of the Crochet Guild of America, I’m always pleased to meet with guilds all over the country. I can’t wait to meet such a large guild from Wisconsin.
If you’re as interested in the history of yarn crafts as I am, I hope you’ll also consider attending.
Knitting Heritage Museum Symposium
November 8-10, 2012
Wisconsin Historical Society
Madison, Wisconsin 53706
Click here for more information and to register.
Posted in Community, Lion Staff, On The Road | 2 Comments » Comments
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For all of you knitting and crochet enthusiasts in the Nottingham, White Marsh area of Maryland–we’d like to announce that Lion Brand Yarn Company will open its first Lion Brand Yarn Shop within an A.C Moore Arts & Crafts:
8115 Honeygo Boulevard Grand Opening We are thrilled to be able to extend the Lion Brand experience to a local store, especially since not everyone can make it to our New York City flagship store, the Lion Brand Yarn Studio. |
The Lion Brand Yarn Shop will open with a “yarn cutting” ceremony at 9:30a.m., and the first 50 shoppers to arrive will receive a Lion Brand Yarn tote bag filled with goodies. In celebration of the opening, several events will be taking place in the store until 2 p.m.
Festivities include:
The Lion Brand Yarn Shop will offer the largest selection of Lion Brand yarns outside of our retail store, the Lion Brand Yarn Studio. You’ll be able to choose from a wider variety of some of our favorites, such as Amazing, Wool-Ease, Hometown USA and more. Additionally, the new shop will also be home to an exclusive Lion Brand Yarn inspiration center. The inspiration center will have iPads available for easy access to our extensive pattern library, featuring over 4,700 free knitting, crocheting, weaving, loom knitting, and crafting patterns.
Here’s a little sneak peak!
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Do you live near the area, plan on stopping by? Please share your experience with us once you do!
Posted in Community, Events | 42 Comments » Comments
Life can get a bit crazy sometimes, so it’s important to remember that every stitch contains a little bit of love.
Posted in Community | 3 Comments » Comments
Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, many of you may be knitting or crocheting items for charity, or to show support to someone you know who has been affected by breast cancer. Giving someone a handmade gift during a time of need is a thoughtful and special way to show you care.
Below, I’ve selected a few patterns for hats and prayer shawls that are easy to care for (so the recipient doesn’t have to worry about hand washing and drying), and great gifts for giving to that person who just might need an extra pick me up.
Hats are a perfect gift for someone going through chemotherapy treatments; the hat will keep their head warm and protected as the effects of the treatment start to take place.
 Crochet Comforting Blue Cap |
 Knit Lace Beanie |
 Knit Seed Stitch Hat |
Posted in Community, Pattern Recommendations | 3 Comments » Comments
Aside from bringing you thousands of free patterns, hundreds of yarn selections, and this resourceful blog to read, Lion Brand provides many different opportunities to encourage yarn crafting related engagement online.
For instance, if you’re interested in finding a charity that you’d like to donate knit or crochet items to, you can search the Charity Connection section of LionBrand.com, which will help you find a charity based on your interests and place of location.
If you are interested in finding knit or crochet clubs in your area to meet up with some folks and craft together, use our Directory of Knitting and Crochet Clubs to locate groups in your area. You can search for groups by name, or most importantly – by zip code or address to find a club closest to your place of interest. Knitting or crocheting in groups can be a great experience; it allows you to enjoy and share your hobby or passion with others. It’s also a great place to be in case you need some help with a project or want to help others.
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Are you a fan of our popular Weekly Stitch newsletter, which goes out every Friday? Do you love the stories and patterns that it features? If so, you’ll want to check out our newest monthly newsletter, Pattern Journal.
If you’re someone who wonders about the stories behind the patterns, then this is the newsletter for you. Each issue features a story that evoke the mood of a particular pattern. Click here to see our first issue.
Like the newsletter? Add it to your LionBrand.com subscriptions by clicking here.
Related links:
Posted in Community | 4 Comments » Comments
This summer, artist Ellen Schinderman curated an exhibit in Los Angeles called “Home Is Where the Needle Marks”, showcasing fiber art and exploring the home sphere. Working with Lion Brand yarns, Ellen and her cohorts yarn-bombed several areas of LA as part of the Downtown LA Artwalk to draw attention to the fiber arts. Recently, she shared these photos with us:
Click on any image to view full-screen. Click the left and right arrows to navigate; click the X in the top-left corner to exit. Please note: If you’re viewing this blog post in your email or RSS reader, you may need to click the title to view it online.
Plus, the group of knitters and crocheters who helped Ellen create all of the colorful, textural pieces will be taking all of their leftover yarn and making hats and scarves for homeless in their community.
Have you yarn-bombed something in your community? Tell us about it in the comments!
Related links:
Posted in Community, Fiber Arts/Artists | 6 Comments » Comments
If you follow Lion Brand on Twitter or Facebook, you’ll sometimes find behind scenes images from photoshoots, upcoming yarn releases – or even pictures of some of the staff crafting, or at events. Today, I’d like to share with you a few “behind the scenes” images from our offices in the New York City location. We recently invited a few of our favorite craft bloggers to spend a day with us at our Lion Brand offices, and I’d like to share a few of their images that capture some of the creativity and inspiration at Lion Brand.
 Kristy from Glass Posse captured this image of Karen Tanaka, the Creative Director of our Design Department. Karen was sharing some of the Design Department’s mood boards and inspirations. |
 Haley from The Zen of Making captured an image of these cute stuffed animals, which were featured in past window displays. The Lion can be seen here from the Studio’s 1st window display in 2008. |
Posted in Community, Lion Brand Yarn Studio | 2 Comments » Comments
This time of year it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and anxiety of starting a new school year. Recently it’s become popular to introduce teens and children to yarncrafts as they head back to school; it’s been seen that crafting has numerous benefits that can help all ages during times of stress. Plus, taking a little time to relax can be helpful for kids and adults, particularly when you take some time to enjoy a hobby you love together.
Crafting is something you can do by yourself to relax. Knitting or crocheting a few rows between classes or on the morning bus can lend a sense of value to these hurry-up-and-wait portions of the day. It’s a great way to decompress at the end of a long day, and can help clear your mind as you work.
Yarncrafting can help you connect with other people. Lots of activities for young people seem to be designed to be done alone; but crafting, particularly yarncrafting, can be a great way to spend a little face-time with friends or family. Lots of schools are developing crafting clubs, and crafting with a group of peers can introduce students to new friends.
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Posted in Community, Did You Know . . . ? | 3 Comments » Comments
