Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Big personalities have helped some cats like Grumpy Cat, Lil’ Bub and Keyboard Cat to achieve celebrity status on the internet, but we think they’re ALL stars! With that in mind we’ve created a special gallery where you can share your favorite felines with the world. Post your pics of crafting with cats on your favorite social media site (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and simply include the hashtag #LBcats!
You can also upload your pics directly to our gallery here:
Make your furry friend a special #Caturday treat with these patterns for knit and crochet!
 Amigurumi Sardines Cat Toy |
 Miss Mousie |
 Amigurumi Fortune Cookie Cat Toy |
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting | Comments Off Comments
*** Click on the project you’d like to make and choose from two kits: one that contains the pattern and yarns; or one that contains everything – the pattern, yarns, needles and hooks. ***
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Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Products | Comments Off Comments
Today, we’ve got a great tutorial for you by Vanessa from the Crafty Gemini! Vanessa will show you how to create a simple cowl in our beautiful, self-striping yarn, Amazing. This cowl works up extremely fast and will make a great gift for the upcoming holidays. Watch Vanessa’s tutorial below, and check out the link for her Amazing giveaway!
Click here for: 45 Minute Cowl Pattern
Click here for: Amazing yarn giveaway
Posted in Community, Crocheting, Pattern Recommendations | 22 Comments » Comments
We’re so happy we found Kim Guzman‘s three-part tutorial for the Tunisian Crochet Entrelac Throw. Considered to be an intermediate level three pattern, Kim’s tutorial will guide you though this special technique.
Get everything you need to make this afghan in one kit (in the colors seen in the photo to the right) OR we have an alternate version with different colorways available too.
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Kim’s easy tutorial is below in a three-part playlist.
If you enjoyed Kim’s tutorial and are interested in Tunisian crochet techniques, check out her YouTube channel for more tutorials .
Posted in Crocheting, Tutorials | 6 Comments » Comments
Blogger and author Kathryn Vercillo is an expert in the area of using crafting to heal, having researched the topic extensively for her book Crochet Saved My Life. This is part 5 in her 6-part series for us on the topic of yarncraft health. Read her previous blog posts on the Lion Brand Notebook here.
We have discussed a lot of ideas for using crafts to improve your mental and physical health. But what about the reverse – improving your health so that you can be a better crafter? It turns out that one can help the other in a cycle of ongoing self-improvement.
One of the main complaints that knitters and crocheters have is that their crafts can cause them hand pain. This includes carpal tunnel and other repetitive strain injury. You can reduce that by doing regular hand exercises. Keeping your hands limber will allow you to yarncraft for longer periods of time.
It’s a case of one hand washing the other because as you do needlecrafting, you loosen certain parts of your hands. Many people have reported that crochet helps them reduce symptoms of arthritis for example. So you can do hand and finger exercises in order to crochet better and then the more you crochet, the less your hands are likely to hurt.
Here are 9 hand exercises for crafters’ fingers, thumbs and wrists.
Posted in Crafting, Crocheting, Knitting, Wellness | 5 Comments » Comments
Here is the latest installment of Lola, from its creator Todd Clark.
Want to crochet the Granny Baby Blanket too? Get the free pattern here and below.
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Posted in Crocheting, Humor | Comments Off Comments
In her newest Lion Brand tutorial, our favorite crochet expert Yolanda Soto-Lopez guides you through our Market Bag pattern using one of our best warm-weather yarns, Cotton Ease ®.
Check out the video below!
If you like this video, check out more tutorials from Yolanda at All Crafts Channel!
Posted in Crocheting, Tutorials | Comments Off Comments
This column by Barbara Breiter, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Knitting & Crocheting, originally appeared in The Weekly Stitch newsletter.
You may see patterns that talk about selvage stitches (sometimes spelled “selvedge”) and wonder what they could be referring to. All fabric has selvages; they are simply the left and right edges of the piece, or the first and last stitch of each row.
Some patterns specify to work a selvage stitch; you may notice that directions tell you to always knit the first and last stitch of the row or to slip the last stitch of each row. In these cases, the designer has factored in the selvage as part of the design to make it easier for you. However, if you’re creating your own design from a stitch dictionary or just winging it, understanding how to work those selvage stitches (or identify them, if you’re modifying a pattern), will be very helpful.
When you have pieces you are going to seam together, such as the front to the back of a sweater, you will use these edge stitches for seaming. They won’t be visible after the project is seamed. This is particularly useful when you’re creating your own design for a sweater or shrug, which may otherwise end up with yarn-overs and decreases on the edges of the design. Regardless of the pattern stitch used, if you work a stockinette selvage it will make seaming much easier. To do so, simply knit the first and last stitch of every row on the right side and purl them on the wrong side. If a stitch pattern is used, you might check and be sure that the pattern has allowed two extra stitches for seaming so you have a full repeat across after seaming.
Posted in Crafting, Crocheting, Knitting, Tips & How To | 1 Comment » Comments
The research is in and there’s no denying it: people who knit and crochet have a much better chance at staying healthy, being happy and getting organized.
In the past few years, reports from authoritative sources such as CNN, the Huffington Post and Oxford University, cite evidence to support the fact that knitting and crochet can change your life in many ways … and for the better.
Health is a serious matter for all of us, so we took some time to compile our favorite writings on the matter; articles from Lion Brand bloggers such as Kathryn Vercillo and investigative reports from mainstream media outlets such as the Washington Post.
We hope that you find this round-up useful and that you’ll include knitting and crochet as part of your personal health and wellness plan. It works!
:: Treat yourself! Here’s a pattern for our Aromatherapy Eye Pillows (pattern available in knit and crochet) ::
Posted in Crocheting, Did You Know . . . ?, Knitting, Wellness | 6 Comments » Comments
Today, I’m happy to share a new pattern and video tutorial with you, which comes from a popular blog you might be familiar with, Moogly!
The Kisses Pouch made with Bonbons, is a wonderful portable project to work on during the summer. The great thing about this pattern is that it features a lot of stitch repeats, so once you get the hang of it, it’s quite easy to work through. Make one for yourself to hold change or knick-knacks, or make one for the little girl in your life. Go ahead and give this pattern a try, Tamara’s tutorial is extremely helpful and will guide you along the way, view the video below.
Posted in Crocheting, Tutorials | 6 Comments » Comments
