Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Have you recently gotten the Martha Stewart Crafts Knit & Weave Loom Kit as a gift? Or, have you gotten one to familiarize yourself with yarn crafting? Whether you’re a newbie to loom knitting & weaving, or familiar with the craft and need some new inspiration, look no further because I’ve got some patterns to get you started on more projects!
Take a look at the patterns in the different categories below; and note that most of the images have links to more patterns within that category as well.
(Click on the images for pattern)
Loom Woven and Knit Afghans
 Loom Woven Afghan Homespun Thick & Quick Click here for more loom woven afghans |
 Loom Knit Diagonal Afghan Martha Stewart Crafts Extra Soft Wool Blend Click here for more loom knit afghans |
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Has crafting ever brought you out of a tough time? Often, the meditative and creative aspects of yarn crafts can be just what the doctor ordered when it comes to coping with grief, depression, or that funk you just haven’t been able to emerge from. Though knitting and crochet are often looked at as lighthearted, serene crafts, the emergence of many crafting social groups over the last several years speaks to the release of both the craft and the social component that frequently comes along with it. A new book highlights the healing that can come from crochet.
Crochet Saved My Life chronicles the journey of a college freshman coping with the usual suspects–new school, new state, new friends–as well as the far less familiar, including the surprise diagnosis of an inoperable brain tumor. Author Kathryn Vercillo describes how she found release from her anxiety and stress in the therapeutic nature of each repetitive stitch.
More than telling her own story, which includes the profound motion of dropping a knife from her wrist and picking up yarn instead, Vercillo also shares the stories of other men and women who have found solace in crochet and knitting, as well as the effects these crafts have on those with various mental and physical conditions, including anxiety, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis.
To learn more about the book, click here.
So many of us have found comfort in the stitches of knitting and crochet. Have these yarn crafts gotten you through difficult times in your life? Share your experiences below.
Posted in Community, Crafting, Crocheting, Knitting | 154 Comments » Comments
I was immediately attracted to the Bellini yarn when we were given a few skeins to play with in the office. The bold texture appealed to me since I love making a statement with my style. I imagined knitting with the cushy fringe between my fingers and knew I had to work with it. As I was pondering what I would make with it, it occurred to me that the Turin colorway looked a lot like fur. What kind of accessory could I make that would be different and would lend itself to the the fur-like texture? Then it hit me – I should make boots!
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Posted in Fashion & Style, Knitting, Yarns | 4 Comments » Comments
Lion Brand has a huge variety of yarns spanning the spectrum of colors, fibers and textures, but the one that is the most intriguing to me is our LB Collection Wool Stainless Steel. It’s about what you might expect it to be from its name: 75% wool, 25% stainless steel. In a yarn! Crazy, right? It’s lace-weight, so you can make really intricate openwork, but the tiny steel thread gives it dimensional body and weight you wouldn’t find in a different fiber makeup. It’s an obvious choice for crocheted jewelry or knitted lace shawls, but the options are truly endless, especially when used double-stranded or in conjunction with other yarns. Take a look at some of the inspiration I’ve found on Ravelry!
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Pattern Recommendations, Yarns | 3 Comments » Comments
Technical editor and yarncrafting expert Kj Hay returns to share her expertise on starting your knitting project on the right foot. Click here for the first half of this series or click here to check out Kj’s earlier blog posts on crochet.
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Work same as long-tail cast on method demonstrated earlier until needle and yarn are in the “sling shot” position. In the “sling shot” position, the yarn has been attached to the needle with a slip knot and the two strands have been wrapped around your index finger and thumb. The tail should travel from the slip knot, between your thumb and index finger, around the back of your thumb and down into your palm. Similarly, the working yarn should travel from the slip knot, between your index finger and thumb, around the back of your index finger and down into your palm.
Repeat this process until desired number of stitches have been cast on.
And this is just the beginning. There are many, many different cast on methods and many variations on the cast on methods you already know. You may enjoy listening to YarnCraft episode 129, for more information and inspiration. Click here for the episode guide to this podcast (an online radio show); use the player below to listen right now.
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Posted in Knitting, Tips & How To, Tutorials | 4 Comments » Comments
Technical editor and yarncrafting expert Kj Hay returns to share her expertise on starting your knitting project on the right foot. Join us tomorrow for the second half of this series or click here to check out Kj’s earlier blog posts on crochet.
“Let’s start at the very beginning. A very good place to start.” — “Do-Re-Mi” from the Sound of Music.
When you read you begin with A-B-C. When you knit you begin with casting on. Thankfully to begin knitting, there is no need to learn every one of the huge number of cast on methods. It is wise to begin by learning one general cast on method, and forge ahead with your first few projects. After you have completed some projects about which you are deservedly proud, you may be in the mood to learn some new cast on methods.
Videos, illustrations and written instructions for a few of the most commonly used cast on methods are available in the Lion Brand Learning Center.
The last of these methods, long-tail cast on, is possibly the favorite method for beginners and experienced knitters alike. This method uses two strands of yarn; a long tail and the strand of working yarn connected to the ball. New stitches are made by drawing loops of the working yarn through loops from the long tail. In this way a foundation of loops and a row of stitches are formed at the same time. There are actual a number of different ways to work a long-tail cast on. The approaches differ in manner in which the strands, and needle(s) are manipulated and can produce slightly different results. The most common approach is demonstrated in this Lion Brand video:
A long-tail cast on requires more motions than many other methods, but with a little practice it can be performed very quickly and provides a good beginning edge for almost all knitted projects.
Posted in Knitting, Tips & How To | 5 Comments » Comments
In 1912, Lion Brand released a pattern book, “Manual of Worsted Work for Those Who Knit and Crochet”, which was wildly successful in its release. The book contains plenty of vintage patterns ranging from cardigans, afghans, hats and more. Since it was so successful, Lion Brand released another book in 1916 (Lion Yarn Book, pictured left) with more great vintage styles reflective of that time.
What I find interesting about looking at these vintage patterns is that they’re still relatively similar to styles worn today (albeit, there may be a bit more ribbon incorporation in some of the older styles). If you’re a lover of antique patterns, you’ll enjoy the Lion Yarn Book and its assortment of patterns. Below, I’ve created a side by side comparison of some of the older styles found in the 1912 and 1916 books with more modern styles that have similar silhouettes – have a look for yourself!
 Ladies’ Knitted Derby Coat (1912) |
 Ladies’ Light Weight Knit Coat (1916) |
Knit Fitted Jacket |
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It’s almost here. The coveted three-day weekend. The opportunity to get that extra day you feel you need every weekend to get those extra household chores done, spend more time recharging, or take a mini road trip. No matter what your plans for the long weekend, one thing is for sure: it’s a perfect opportunity to use some extra downtime finish (or start!) some outstanding projects.
If you don’t already have a great project on your hook or needles, I’ve rounded up a collection of fun, quick-to-knit or -crochet patterns that you’ll be able to cast on and bind off in just one (long) weekend!
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| Knit Fast Finish Throw | Braided Rug | Crochet 5 1/2 Hour Throw |
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A few weeks ago, we shared a guest blog post from Jessica in our sales department. Jessica is a big fan of crocheted infinity cowls and told us a little bit about her recent project. In response, we got this email from Esther C.:
“My daughter is short like me, and I am trying to tell her these cowls that you can use different ways would make us look top heavy. Do you agree? Is there a pattern for easy/intermediate that would fit the bill – maybe one using lighter weight yarn?”
First off, I just want to say that Jessica is petite (about 5 foot 2 inches or so), so shorter women can definitely wear infinity scarves! I think the key is simply to consider the scale of your project versus your proportions. A very long scarf may look disproportionate on a shorter person, but look just right on a taller person, and vice versa.
As a shorter woman myself, I like cowls that are more closely fitting around the neck (instead of dangling further down the torso). Here are a few options in that style:
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| Knit Gray Lace Cowl | Knit Pale Gray Lace Cowl | Crochet Cardiff Cowl |
Posted in Crocheting, Fashion & Style, Knitting, Tips & How To | 5 Comments » Comments
This Sunday, February 10, marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year. This lunar new year celebration, which represents the Year of the Snake and year 4711 on the Chinese calendar, will continue for 15 days. If you’re anything like me, those two weeks sound like the perfect opportunity to get creative and ring in the year of the snake, so I’ve rounded up some of the best snake patterns to knit and crochet.
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| Crochet Sssandy the Snake | Crochet Coral Snake |
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Pattern Recommendations | 4 Comments » Comments
