Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Mardi Gras is right around the corner, and the colors that mark Fat Tuesday are starting to pop up everywhere. If you still want to show off some Mardi Gras spirit, there is plenty of time for quick-to-knit or crochet projects, striped with some of these great color combinations below:
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For the boldest, most traditional version of the carnival colors, Vanna’s Choice in Kelly Green, Mustard and Eggplant packs a serious punch. If you really want to make a statement (and stay warm!) on Mardi Gras, I recommend the “Geaux Tigers Hat” pattern, substituting Kelly Green for the Purple colorway. Click here for the pattern. You can also make wrapped bangle bracelets in minutes flat and be ready to go whenever the celebration takes you. Find the pattern for wrapped bangles here. |
| If you’re looking for a slightly earthier version of the traditional tones and the opportunity to work some wool into the mix, Wool-Ease in Cilantro, Mustard and Eggplant will do the trick. Even a beginner knitter will be able to come up with a beautiful, festive creation with the easy Cold Harbor Scarf pattern featured here. Want to crochet instead? A quick and easy striped crochet scarf pattern can be found here. |  |
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Pattern Recommendations | 2 Comments » Comments
Super Bowl XLVII is this coming Sunday, have you gotten your craft supplies ready? A great way to support your favorite team is by sporting accessories or clothing with the team’s colors; it’s even better when the item is handmade.
There are 3 days left to make an item to show your team pride on Sunday, but you still have some time! All you need is a super bulky yarn like Hometown USA, or, a small project with a worsted weight yarn like Vanna’s Choice. Besides, if you don’t get to finish it in time, you can always use it for the next football season (or wear the item on Monday!). You can knit or crochet something as easy as a cozy for your canned beverages, or a simple hat or scarf to show your team spirit.
I thought it would be fun to share a few easy patterns that could be completed in time for the game, and colors in Hometown USA and Vanna’s Choice that match the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens colors – check them out below!
4 easy knit & crochet patterns to show your pride:
 Crochet School Colors Hat and Scarf Set Hometown USA |
 Knit Hat and Scarf Set Hometown USA |
 Knit Geaux Tigers Hat Vanna’s Choice |
 Crochet Can Cozy Vanna’s Choice |
Posted in Community, Crocheting, Knitting, Yarns | 3 Comments » Comments
Author, knitting teacher, and erstwhile crochet-along/knit-along host Heather Lodinsky joins us for an article on cables.
This season, style sections of newspapers and magazines are once again telling us that cables are a hot trend in fashion, showing up in all sorts of knitwear for women, men and children. In knitting, there are those trends that appear again and again, such as lace, fair-isle knitting and cables. It is safe to say that if you have never tried to knit a cable before…now is a great time to learn!
Cables in knitting look much more difficult than they really are. I remember as a girl, looking at a cardigan my mother had knit with cables. I was positive that she must have cut her knitting, and then twisted it to form the “ropes” in her knitting. Well, I had half of the technique right, as cables are made by twisting or moving your stitches as you knit, but no cutting of those stitches is necessary.
In addition to the knitting needles you need to knit your project, you will also want to find the right cable needle for your project. Cable needles come in various shapes and sizes, but the one thing that they all have in common is that they have two points like a double-pointed needle. Some knitters do use a double-point needles as a cable needle, but there is a very good reason why cable needles are shaped the way they are. Some cable needles are shaped as hooks, or simply have a bend in the middle of the needle. But both work the same with the stitches being “moved” held on the bent part of the needle.
Frequently cable needles come in a package with 2 or 3 sizes. It is best to use a cable needle close to the size of the needle you are using to knit your project. If a needle is too thin, the stitches may slide off as you are working your cable. Alternately, if the cable needle is too thick, then your stitches will be stretched as you try to slip them on. Choosing the right size cable needle will make your cable knitting a fun and rewarding experience.
Posted in Did You Know . . . ?, Knitting, Tips & How To | 9 Comments » Comments
So you’ve spent the last few days, weeks, or even months working on that sweater, or crocheting a bunch of granny squares; you’re almost there, but you know that you’re still not done. Whether it’s seaming, blocking or weaving in ends, those final steps sometimes cause crafters to prolong completing their piece.
Finishing doesn’t have to seem like such a task, there are many tips and tricks to help you with the process. I’ve actually included a round up of some articles that should be helpful in finishing your work more effectively; check them out below!
What are some methods you use for finishing your work? Share with us in the comments!
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Tips & How To | 6 Comments » Comments
Homespun is definitely a favorite yarn amongst many Lion Brand fans, and it especially seems to be a “go-to” yarn for those looking to making an afghan. Most of you have expressed your enjoyment of working with Homespun because it’s soft, has a beautiful color range, and unique texture – not to mention, it works up super quick.
It’s always so great to see what our yarns inspire other people to knit/crochet, whether it be an original pattern, or from a pattern on our site. Thank you for uploading pictures to our customer gallery, and please continue to do so! Here’s a roundup of some great projects made by fans like you, with Homespun.
 Afghan in the Round Pattern: Woodland Circle Afghan By: Delilah Sanchez |
 Vintage Ripple Afghan Pattern: Vintage Ripple Throw By: Carolyn Boulet |
 In Fine Style! (original pattern) By: Robert Toth |
Posted in Community, Crocheting, Knitting | 4 Comments » Comments
If you’ve ever picked up a stitch dictionary or explored our wonderful StitchFinder, you may find yourself in love with a stitch pattern and wondering just what to do with it. Incorporating a stitch pattern into a project can be a fun experiment. Today, I go over a few of the considerations to keep in mind as you get started.
When you’re making an afghan or scarf, start by swatching your stitch pattern in your desired yarn. This will allow you to test and adjust your hook or needle size so that your fabric is as dense or loose as you like. By swatching the stitch pattern, you’ll also know how wide each repeat of the pattern is. Let’s say my swatch shows me that each repeat of my selected stitch pattern is 4 inches wide, then I know that for an 12-inch wide scarf that’s completely in my stitch pattern without a border, I’ll need to cast on for 3 repeats (12 ÷ 4 = 3).
The other thing to decide is whether or not I want a contrasting border (ribbing, garter, seed stitch, etc.). For some stitch patterns, which naturally bow or ripple, a contrast stitch border will not be necessary, since you’ll want to showcase the uniqueness of the fabric’s edge. But for others like lace and cable patterns, you may want a border to give the design a sense of definition and neatness. To factor this into the design, you’ll want to make sure to add in the extra stitches to cast on or chain before getting started.
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Tips & How To | 6 Comments » Comments
Have you ever substituted in a different yarn than the one called for by the pattern? I’m a bit of an obsessive substituter, so when I saw the gorgeous Rainbow Spots shade of Casey, I just had to knit some baby booties for my cousin’s new baby girl! The only question was which pattern to make. Ever since it was posted, I’ve loved the Ruby Slippers, so I knit a quick gauge swatch, got the right needle, and away I went! The only adjustment I made was leaving off the button band since these booties are for a very tiny baby. Overall, I’m thrilled with how they came out, and I hope little baby Ally is, too!
Isn’t it amazing how a different yarn can make the pattern look totally different?
Related links:
Posted in Knitting, Pattern Recommendations | 1 Comment » Comments
It’s only a few more days until Christmas, but you can still incorporate yarn into your holiday celebration:
Finally, for those of you who are still looking for last-minute gift ideas, here are a few helpful blog posts:
*If you’re viewing this blog post in your email and can’t access the video above, please click on the title of the blog post to view the full article online.
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Pattern Recommendations | 4 Comments » Comments
New from Lion Brand, is Bellini – a uniquely textured wool-blend yarn, perfect for adding extra flair and fringes to your accessories. Bellini yarn can be used by itself to make bold statement pieces, or it can be used with a traditional yarn such as Wool-Ease, for adding trims to winter accessories. The great thing about Bellini is that it’s also ideal for quick projects, so it will make a wonderful fast finish gift for that friend who enjoys all the latest fashion trends.
One skein of Bellini makes a scarf or a cowl (see the patterns below!); you can even have some fun with it and use small sections of the yarn to create pom-poms. While we were experimenting with the yarn in the office, we realized you can even make a cowl with Bellini without knitting or crocheting the yarn. Just slide off the ball band, untwist the hank, and wrap the big loop twice around your neck!
 Knit Cozy Loops Scarf |
 Crochet One Row Short Scarf |
 Knit Foxy Scarf |
Watch the videos below to learn the easy techniques on how to knit and crochet with this yarn:
Click here for the crochet version.
What type project would you like to make with Belini? Share with us in the comments!
Related Links:
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Pattern Recommendations, Tips & How To | 6 Comments » Comments
I love seeing all of the fun and unique ways people craft to celebrate the holidays, or elements of winter. It’s always refreshing to see what other people are inspired to create with yarn. For instance, these tiny Elfin baby booties pictured on the left from DIY Maven are perfect for a baby’s first Christmas, and the little bells at the folds add the perfect finishing touch.
I also love how Sarah from Repeat Crafter Me went with the idea of using a basic crochet hat construction, then added felted pieces to turn her hat into an adorable reindeer. Check out the projects below to see all of the cuteness for yourself!
 Crochet Rudolph the Reindeer Hat Pattern Repeat Crafter Me |
 Crochet Pine Cone Collection (Paid Pattern) Planet June |
 5 and 6 point Knit Star Ornaments Just Crafty Enough |
 Holly Gift Topper One Sheepish Girl |
What do you like to knit or crochet for the holidays? Share your project ideas with us below!
Related Links:
Posted in Community, Crocheting, Knitting | 4 Comments » Comments
