Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
| Author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Knitting & Crocheting Barbara Breiter joins us for her monthly column on techniques that people frequently ask about.
For super quick projects, nothing beats knitting (or crocheting!) with thick yarn or multiple strands and big needles. You can knit up an afghan in a fraction of the time it would take to make with worsted weight yarn and, for example, size 8 needles. Larger needles are considered to be US sizes 15, 17, 19, 35, and 50. Particularly with the largest of needles, you may find them cumbersome at first…but remember how awkward knitting with any size needle was when you first began? With a bit of practice, you’ll be handling these jumbo size needles just like smaller ones. Because of the heft, size 35 and 50 are almost always plastic, but as with any needle size, you’ll find different options out on the market. |
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| Knit 2 Hour Tweed Scarf |
Posted in Knitting, Tips & How To | 10 Comments » Comments
Have you ever noticed just how many different ways there are to make a sweater? You could make it in one-piece from the top-down or bottom-up. You could make it piecemeal with a front, back, and sleeves. You could knit it from sleeve to sleeve. You could even make it in many modular pieces!
For those who are new to the world of garment-making, a great place to start is a baby sweater. They’re small, so they don’t take a lot of yarn or time commitment (and babies don’t mind a mistake in the knitting here or there). Here are just a few of the different sweaters that we’ve designed–and if you click through to view their schematics, you’ll get a sense of just how differently each one is made! Make one (or make them all) and get some practice so that you feel ready to take on an adult sweater of your own!
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| Sunrise Stripes Pullover Features a classic raglan construction, where you knit from the top-down, dividing for the bodies and sleeves. |
One-Piece Baby Pullover This sweater is created from the lower edge of the front, knit up to the top of the neck and sleeves and back down to the bottom of the back. |
Posted in Knitting, Pattern Recommendations, Tips & How To | 8 Comments » Comments
The beginning of April means the start to a lot of things: spring blooms, warmer weather, and longer days. But as any sports fan knows, the first week of April means one thing: Major League Baseball’s Opening Day. Want to show your support for your favorite team? I’ve compiled a palette of colors for all 32 MLB teams in one of my favorite team-spirit yarns, Hometown USA. Not only is it soft and bulky so that projects will work up in a few evenings by the fire, it also comes in every bold color you can think of to support your favorite teams and schools.
I was lucky enough to attend the New York Mets Opening Day on Monday afternoon, and I brought the Mets-inspired blanket I’m knitting in Hometown USA along, using this color palette below!
| New York Mets |    |
| Neon Orange – Forth Worth Blue – New York White |
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Yarns | 2 Comments » Comments
There are a few fashion trends happening in knitwear apparel and accessories as of late, and “animal-like” knitwear is one of them. It seems that everywhere I look, whether it be online, in stores, or at street vendor stations – there are accessories with animal faces or ears on them. The animal scoodies (scarf and hoody combined) and animal hats appear to be the most popular; it’s hard to resist getting these items because they’re so cute.
Lucky for you, since you know how to knit or crochet, you can make your own! Below, I’ve rounded up a few of our patterns for children that incorporate animal elements for “aww” worthy projects. If you’re ambitious, maybe you could knit the Bunny Hat and Booties set just in time for Easter!
 Crochet Fox ScoodieVanna’s Choice: Brick, Black Vanna’s Choice Baby: Lamb |
 Knit Bunny Hat and Booties Vanna’s Choice: White, Pink Vanna’s Choice Baby: Pink Poodle |
 Knit Toddler Monkey Hat Vanna’s Choice: Chocolate, Beige |
 Crochet Toddler Owl Hat Vanna’s Choice: Barley, Chocolate, White, Terracotta |
 Knit Baby Animal ‘Froggy’ Hat *Substitute “Lion Suede” yarn for Chenille in: Emerald, Terracotta, Porcelain |
 Knit Baby Bear Hooded Jacket *Substitute “Sasha” yarn for Homespun Thick & Quick in Pearls or Dove (1 skein for 3-6 mos size) |
What do you think about this trend? Have you been incorporating more owl faces or ears into your projects? Share with us in the comments!
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Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Pattern Recommendations | 9 Comments » Comments
I’m sure many of you have been shedding your heavy winter jackets preparing for warmer weather ahead. Now is the perfect time to get started on projects that will be ready for when you need just a little extra warmth for your neck and shoulders, but not a jacket. It’s the perfect time for a … shawl project!
The triangle shawl is a very popular pattern style and can be a staple piece to have because of its versatility. Below, you’ll find some basic shawl patterns to get you started, along with a video displaying 7 different ways you can wear your shawl. My favorite is the handkerchief style; check out the video and see for yourself.
 Knit Indian Summer Shawl Click here for more knit shawls |
 Crochet New Years Shawl Click here for more crochet shawls |
 Shawl Stick: Scroll in Cherry Click here for more shawl sticks and pins |
Do you tend to start your shawl projects at the beginning of spring, or do you work on them all year long? Share your preferences with us!
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Spring is just around the corner, but there is still time to get some last minute Easter patterns under your belt in anticipation of the season. I’ve rounded up a few for you. What will you be making to fill baskets or celebrate spring this year?
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| Knit Cute Cabled Lamb | Crochet Wee Rabbit Egg Cozy |
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After a somewhat gloomy start to the week here in NYC, I really started to crave spring and things that were bright and cheery. I also began to think about what my next project will be now that the weather is slowly warming up; so I decided to search for some bright patterns that were perfect for transitional and warmer weather.
Below, I’ve included a few patterns that have definitely got me in the Spring mood. I simply adore the Child’s Sun Top in Cotton-Ease, and I love the Sunnyside Cowl, which only requires on skein of LB Collection Silk Mohair; it’s the perfect for cooler mornings and evenings. Take a look at the patterns and find some inspiration for Spring!
(Click here for pattern in image)
 Crochet Summer TunicCotton-Ease |
 Crochet Fiesta DishclothsKitchen Cotton |
 Knit Sun and Sea Shawl Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton |
 Knit Sunnyside Cowl LB Collection Silk Mohair |
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 Knit Child’s Sun Top Cotton-Ease |
What are your favorite projects to work on during the warmer months? Share with us in the comments?
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Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Pattern Recommendations | 3 Comments » Comments
Okay, so maybe you haven’t heard of National Ear Muff Day, which just passed yesterday, but if you’ve been anywhere near a secondary school math classroom in the last decade–or have math nerd friends like I do–you’ve probably heard a thing or two about Pi Day. The Reader’s Digest Version? It’s March 14–3/14–and Pi, the irrational number that is related to the circumference and diameter of a circle, is approximately equal to 3.14, though the decimal places are though to go on forever. You can learn a little more about Pi here, or you can just dive in to some of the fun mathematical-themed knitting and crochet patterns I found on Ravelry to celebrate Pi.
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| Knit Irrational Scarf by Anne Bruvold | Knit Pi Digits Scarf by Christina J |
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| Knit Pi Dish Towel by Shannon Servesko | Crochet Amigurumi Pi by Alicia Kachmar |
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Pattern Recommendations | 2 Comments » Comments
As we head into spring, there are more days when you need to start and end the day with a light sweater, but you may want it to be something easy to throw on and off as necessary. That, to me, is quintessential shrug weather. Relatively quick to knit or crochet, they’re great projects for “just because” gifts. Make one for your best friend, your mother, your goddaughter, or your niece. Whip one up for your little girl, your sister, or your coworker.
Whether their style is earthy and simple, a little glitzy, or fancy, we have patterns that are just right for them.
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| Crochet Acorn Shrug | Knit Crowded Cable Shrug | Knit Sparkling Shrug |
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| Knit Stockinette Stitch Shrug | Crochet Glittery Shrug | Simple Crochet Shrug |
Posted in Crocheting, Fashion & Style, Knitting, Pattern Recommendations | Leave a comment » Comments
Lately I’ve had spring on the brain despite the weather reports of chilly temperatures. In hopes of making my wishful thinking a reality, I decided to make a spring-themed project to usher in the season. One day while I was browsing the cyber universe, I saw these adorable gloves on Japanese blog with bunnies on them! “How perfect is this”, I thought. “Nothing says spring like bunnies!”
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Posted in Knitting, Tips & How To | 2 Comments » Comments
