Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
About two weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of attending SNAP!, a three day conference held at Thanksgiving Point, Utah which brought together hundreds of amazing D.I.Y, crafting, and home decor bloggers. I was surrounded by creative women who have a passion for sharing things like photos, projects, recipes, and parenting tips online; you could spend hours browsing through the blogs of these talented crafters.
While I was at SNAP!, Zontee joined me in hosting a crochet party after conference hours with the very talented and creative blogger Cindy, from Skip to My Lou. We thought crochet flowers would be a fun project, since flowers can become great embellishments and accessories. One simple crochet flower can be used for a broach, headband, and even a hair pin; there are so many different possibilities. A few of these bloggers already knew how to crochet, but most of them didn’t. Lion Brand Yarn and Skip to my Lou thought that SNAP! would be the perfect venue to round up a few of these bloggers and teach them how to crochet.
Most people got the hang of it and were crocheting little flowers before the end of the event, and those who didn’t have enough time to practice and complete their flower, had a fun time chaining and thinking about the different ways chains can be useful (belts, necklaces, bracelets, garlands, etc.). It’s always good to challenge yourself a little and learn something new – persistence pays off!
 Cindy demonstrating to the crowd. |
 Heather from Whipperberry knocked out this granny square! |
 Mandi from Vintage Revivals crocheted her first flower & made a headband. |
 Marie from Make and Takes and Becca from Blue Cricket Design having fun crocheting. |
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A special thank you to The Chocolate for providing “yarn ball” cupcakes, Natalie of “Sweet” Hobby for providing yarn inspired and granny square cookies, and thanks to Utah Kernel for donating the gourmet popcorn! |
Have you taught or inspired any to knit or crochet lately? Share your experience with us!
Posted in Community, Crafting | 4 Comments » Comments
Broomstick lace has a beautiful, open look that really shows off the character and texture of your yarn. Dating back to the 1800s, this technique creates large loops of yarn that gently twist to the left, giving the finished project especially elegant drape. For a long time I was intimidated by broomstick lace, so I wanted to share how easy it is to create this beautiful, reversible fabric!
Ready to get started? You’ll need:
1. First, make a chain. For this sample I wanted to make repeats of 5, so I chained 15 stitches for 3 repeats. Draw the final chain up over the knitting needle.
2. Crochet back into the chain, drawing up a loop in each stitch and pulling it up over the knitting needle.
3. Repeat until you have drawn up a loop through every stitch in your chain and transferred them onto the knitting needle. This step creates the large loops of yarn you will see in the finished lace.
4. Slide your hook through the first group of loops (for this example that’s 5 loops per repeat) and pull them off the needle. At this point, if it is easier for you to manage, you can remove the large needle from your work altogether.
5. Yarn over and pull through the group of large loops on your hook. Work one single crochet for every loop in the group on your hook (I worked 5 single crochet into the group of 5 loops). Continue this process until all the loops have been crocheted into. Note: make sure to check how many loops you have in each group to avoid accidental increases or decreases.
6. This completes your first row of broomstick lace! You can now draw loops up through each of the single crochet stitches you made in step 5, and continue to repeat steps 1-5 till your project reaches the desired length.
What new techniques have you tried that looked tricky at first? What would you tell a crafter who was nervous about trying a new craft for the first time? Leave a comment to share!
Related Links:
Posted in Crafting, Crocheting, Tips & How To | 6 Comments » Comments
I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I’m still a beginner yarn crafter, as I just learned how to knit last summer. Since I’m not as experienced as others, I’m always thankful when I find tips or new techniques to improve my knitting experience as a whole. Lion Brand just released an e-book entitled Secret Stash: Helpful Tips For Yarn Lovers, which is a compilation of tips submitted by users like you, ranging in topics from organization, how to teach others to knit/crochet, easy ways work with multiple yarns at once, and a lot more. As a little sneak peek, I thought I’d share some of my favorite tips with you!
I think this one is my favorite:
”I knit up gauge swatches for the yarns in my stash and staple them to index cards on a spiral ring.
I write the yarn name, color name, care instructions, needle size and gauge on each card. That way, the next time I use that yarn, I don’t have to swatch again. It also works well as a color wheel for choosing shades for a new project”
-Collen M. Palmer
Posted in Crafting, Crocheting, Did You Know . . . ?, Knitting | 4 Comments » Comments
Making Easter basket grass yourself is a great idea; it’s a simple, fun activity you can do with kids, and helps get everyone into the holiday spirit with egg-hunt anticipation.
Making your own out of yarn secured inside the basket also means you’ll have a lush, great-looking basket and no more plastic grass all over your house or yard. This easy tutorial will show you how to create a festive Easter basket in any color.
What you’ll need:
Posted in Crafting, Tips & How To, Yarns | 4 Comments » Comments
In a recent essay in our newsletter, The Weekly Stitch, Michelle Edwards, author of A Knitter’s Home Companion, discusses project sustainability. Michelle writes,
“Sustainability is about working a project from the first to last stitch, sewing it up, and weaving in loose ends. Blocking it, if needed.”
Her essay discusses the importance of managing your projects, and considering the different factors that help you decide what the purpose of your project is (who is it for, time allotment, yarn needed, etc).
For example, when you see that luxurious, super soft, richly colored skein of yarn, ask yourself: Do you just have to have it? Can it work into a project you have in mind?
Michelle shares her tips with us to help become more efficient yarncrafters. Maybe after you read her story you’ll start tackling some of those WIPs (Work In Progess) that are laying around in storage!
What do you do to ensure that your project is sustainable? Share some of your tips and thoughts with us int he comments.
Related Links:
Posted in Community, Crafting, Did You Know . . . ? | 5 Comments » Comments
As Jess mentioned in a post earlier this week, March is National Craft Month; to celebrate, I thought it would be fun to feature some projects that have been submitted to the Customer Gallery section on LionBrand.com. We’re so happy that you find inspiration from our patterns and/or yarns; keep submitting so we can keep sharing!
 Made by: Elayne Schulman Pattern: Knit Sockies Yarn: Tweed Stripes |
 Made by: Corie Ann Moon Pattern: Original Yarn: Vanna’s Choice, Vanna’s Glamour |
 Made by: Joan Apple Pattern: Knit Need for Tweed Dog Sweater Yarn: Jiffy Thick n Quick |
 Made by: Lois Lamphere Pattern:Knit Center Piece Treasure Yarn: Wool-Ease |
 Made by: Karen Withbroe Pattern: Leisure Arts Big Book of Quick Knit Afghans Yarn: Vanna’s Choice |
 Made by: Carol McIlhenny Pattern: Original Yarn: Vanna’s Choice |
 Made by: Elaine Liner Pattern: Knit Cable Ready Bag Yarn: Wool-Ease Chunky |
 Made by: Ellen Bloom Pattern: Original Yarn: Vanna’s Choice |
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Thank you to everyone who’s submitted a photo to our Customer Gallery! We hope that you continue to inspire others with your craftiness all year long.
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Posted in Community, Crafting, Crocheting, Knitting | 2 Comments » Comments
Did you know that March is both National Crochet Month and National Craft Month? It’s such an exciting month, and there are so many different ways to celebrate. Our favorite way, of course, is to give back to others through teaching. If you’d like to teach a friend, relative, or complete stranger how to crochet or knit, we have many resources to support you. You can find helpful instructions, illustrations, and videos at learntocrochet.lionbrand.com and learntoknit.lionbrand.com.
We also have lots of blog posts to support your teaching. Here are some of our favorite posts.
As you’re teaching friends, remember to check out the two great sweepstakes sponsored by our friends at Knitty Daily. Click here to find out how you can win some amazing books and DVDs. I hope you celebrate the rest of the month with tons of crafting, crocheting, and knitting!
Posted in Community, Crafting, Crocheting, Did You Know . . . ?, Fiber Arts, Knitting | 1 Comment » Comments
For knitters & crocheters, sometimes it can feel stressful when you’re trying to finish a project and it’s slow going. However, it’s important to keep in mind the idea that knitting and crocheting are hobbies that are meant to be enjoyed for the journey, and not just for the end result.
To help you keep that in mind, here are 5 segments from our radio-style podcast, YarnCraft, all about de-stressing when you’re working on a particularly taxing project OR getting motivated when you’re feeling stuck on a project.
Click through the links below to read the episode guide and click on the “play” arrow to listen to the episode (or download it to your computer using the link).
De-Stress with Episode 105 – Fast forward to 31:43 to listen to our “Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life” segment all about de-stressing during the busy holiday gift-making season. These tips are definitely useful year-round!
Get Reinvigorated with Episode 91 – This episode, entitled “5 Ways to Stay Motivated Knitting & Crocheting This Summer,” highlights just that. Get inspired and reinvigorated in your knitting and crocheting, when you’re feeling like you’re stuck in a rut. Fast forward to 12:09 if you want to listen to just that segment.
Take a Moment with Episode 30 – In another “Stash This” segment (at 26:48 in the episode), learn useful ways to take a step back from your knit & crochet projects when you need a moment to gather your thoughts and tackle that next big step, whether it’s ripping back or starting a particularly challenging stitch chart.
Create the Right Environment with Episode 22 – Finding your zen place when yarncrafting is sometimes about creating the right environment. Learn what makes a good crafting space in this episode. Skip to 4:32 if you want to listen to just this segment.
Support Your Hands with Episode 9 – In this early episode, Liz & I share tips for supporting your hands and wrists while yarncrafting, as well as soothing, simple pattern-recommendations that are just right for those times you want a relaxing project to work on. Hop over to 23:48 for this “Stash This” segment.
If you like these segments, subscribe to YarnCraft here or find us on iTunes! We come out with a new episode, every two weeks!
Related links:
Posted in Crafting, Crocheting, Knitting, Tips & How To, YarnCraft Podcast | 3 Comments » Comments
| When your work with your hands as much as knitters and crocheters do it’s important to remember not to strain or overwork your body.
Knitting and crochet should be hobbies that help you relax and relieve stress. There are several ways to reduce stress on your hands and body, and these simple tips will help you avoid injury and treat existing symptoms.* |
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Pay attention to how you are sitting.
Sit down as though you were about to begin crafting. Is your back supported? Is there enough light to see well, and enough room to move your elbows and arms freely as you work? You may be straining your hands to try and compensate for one of these other issues. Examine the places you craft for simple fixes you can make to add light, support and space. |
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Remember to take breaks while you craft.
While it can be tempting to power through a few more rows when you are tired, listen to your body and put your project on pause. Breaks should vary the motion of what you are doing; try doing small, rewarding activities during your break like taking a short walk, watering houseplants or playing with a family pet. |
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Massage and stretch your hands.
This is a wonderful (and relaxing) way to rejuvenate your fingers, wrists and palms. Try different methods and go easy on yourself; only rub or stretch your hands to a point that feels comfortable. There are some great hand stretch suggestions on LiveStrong.org (click here). |
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Choose ergonomic tools.
If you’ve only ever tried straight knitting needles or metal crochet hooks, it might be time to try something new. Many knitters prefer using circular needles when possible because of the bounce-back of the cord that connects them, and crocheters are raving about this ergonomic crochet hook set that fits in the palm of your hand. |
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Wear stress relief gloves.
Wearing these stress relief gloves allows the muscles of your hand to relax while you work. These gloves have been specially designed with crafters in mind, so they are completely fingerless and stand up to long-term use. |
There are many ways to improve your crafting life and alleviate stress on your body while you work. How have you made your crafting more comfortable? Share your tips to help others in the comments section below.
*If you are experiencing recurring or intense pain, please follow the recommendations of your physician for treatment.
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Posted in Crafting, Tips & How To | 22 Comments » Comments
Loom knitting and weaving has been increasing in popularity lately; although many people turn to needles and hooks for yarncrafting, there are some who prefer loom boards with pegs and a hook as their yarncraft tool of choice. Loom knitting is a great alternative to traditional knitting for those who may have arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome; it’s also a good way to introduce beginners to the world of yarncraft. We’ve been receiving a lot more interest in regards to loom weaving and knitting with the recent introduction of our Martha Stewart Crafts™ Lion Brand Yarn Knit and Weave Loom Kit.
Although loom knitting and weaving is a very niche community, there are a lot of different resources available on how to get the best out of your tools. Below, I’ve shared a few helpful resources to get you started on your loom crafting.
Video Tutorials:
Lion Brand Yarn: Loom Knitting and Weaving
This playlist includes 24 videos with tutorials on knitting and weaving on the Martha Stewart Crafts™ Lion Brand Yarn Knit and Weave Loom kit; you can also see the many different configurations that can be created with the loom.
Noreen Crone-Findlay: Loom Knitting and Weaving
Noreen Crone-Findlay is an expert weaver and loom-knitter who has provided a plethora of different weaving techniques and loom configurations on her YouTube Channel that go beyond the conventional ways of thinking about loom weaving. She’s weaved potholders, bags, hearts, and even gnomes!
GoodKnitKisses: Loom Knitting
Kristen, the popular vlogger of GoodKnitKisses, offers a great selection of videos featuring different techniques and patterns that can be utilized on the loom.
Loom Knit Lab: Loom Knitting
Another great site for pattern inspiration from Isela Phelps with tutorials that can show you how to cable knit on a loom in addition to the many other techniques; you can also learn how to pick up a dropped stitch!
Helpful websites:
Loom Knitting Help: This is an excellent site to get you started on your loom knitting ventures. This website is very insightful, provides tips, explains different tools and even shows you how to convert traditional knitting patterns to loom patterns.
Loom Knitters Circle: Isela Phelps, Bethany Dailey and Denise Layman have teamed up to provide a webzine which features plenty of loom patterns, videos, product reviews and cute comics related to loom knitting.
Loom Knitting Groups on Ravelry: Don’t forget about one of the biggest online communities for yarncrafters, Ravelry. There are a decent amount of groups on this site dedicated to loom knitting and loom weaving.
Have you previously tried loom knitting or weaving before? Do you think you may want to give it a try soon? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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Posted in Crafting, Did You Know . . . ?, Knitting, Tips & How To | 6 Comments » Comments
