Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Ever wonder what a project would look like with a different weight yarn than what the pattern calls for? Home decor items are great for experimentation since you don’t have to worry about fit.
Jen, one of our staffers at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio, adapted our Cream Circle Washcloth pattern to create a bathmat. The original pattern used Cotton-Ease® (a worsted weight yarn) and a size H crochet hook to produce a washcloth that measured 5″ in diameter. But after seeing our new Zpagetti (a super bulky weight yarn) hit the shelves, she had to try it. Simply by using this yarn in conjunction with a larger hook (size Q) She was able to create an adorable bathmat.
Jen followed the pattern almost exactly (only substituting single crochets for slip stitches in the final row) and used two cones of Zpagetti yarn. Once you become comfortable with substituting yarns of different weights you might want to try it on garments as well. I suggest you start by reading our 5 Articles to Help You Make a Sweater That Fits & Flatters article.
Posted in Crocheting, Tips & How To | 19 Comments » Comments
It’s holiday crafting crunch time, but I’m here to tell you that everything will be okay. You can finish all of your gift crocheting and knitting with a bit of planning. Here are some easy tips to help you achieve all of your holiday crafting goals.
Step 1: Make a list of what you want to achieve. Choose the patterns, the yarn, and the gift recipients.
Step 2: Be realistic. Do you have enough time to make all of these items? If you have to buy yarn, will you have it in time? Can you really knit 5 Aran sweaters with heavy cabling in 3 days? Consider what you can reasonably accomplish, then edit down your list. Try using thicker yarns for fast-finish gifts. Being realistic is the best way to eliminate handmade gifting stress.
Step 3: Prioritize. Figure out which items are your must-finish projects, and start those first. If you won’t see your aunt until New Year’s Eve, you can probably start her gift after you finish Mom’s holiday shawl.
Step 4: Edit once more. Once you get working on your gifts, you might find that cowl you thought would take a day really took five. That’s totally fine! Revisit your list and adjust accordingly. Remember, it’s absolutely okay not to craft for every single person on your holiday list.
Step 5: Plan for the unfinished gifts. Even with the best of plans and intentions, sometimes life gets in the way. Set yourself a deadline, and if you find yourself getting a little too close for comfort, consider alternate plans. You can give an IOU card if your gift will be finished shortly, or consider gifting some handmade items from a local store or market.
By staying organized, you can relax and enjoy your crafting instead of stressing about deadlines. Good luck with your gift projects!
Pictured above: Amigurumi Christmas Mouse Ornament
Related links:
Posted in Tips & How To | 5 Comments » Comments
Editor’s Note: We’re excited to welcome Devin, the newest member of our team. With a background in fashion design and patterns published in magazines like Vogue Knitting, Devin will be sharing her own take on trends, techniques, and more. Read more about her here.
As the holidays drew nearer, Kelloggs (my pet bunny) decided he wanted to ring in the season with style, so I made him this festive sweater! For this sweater I used Vanna’s Glamour® yarn in red and Jamie® yarn in white. Although not all pets are as keen to dress up, the technique I used to monogram his initial onto the sweater can be used on any knit project. The “K” is embroidered with a tapestry needle instead of using color-work. There are three reasons that you would use this technique:
Hint: the yarn you use for your monogram doesn’t need to be the same type as the yarn used for the rest of the project, but it MUST be the same weight.
Posted in Tips & How To, Tutorials | 19 Comments » Comments
When you’re making a sweater for yourself or someone else, it’s important to take a few things into consideration. You’ll want to make sure to select a shape that suits you (or the recipient), the right size, and you’ll want to make sure that you’ve got gauge. Here are a couple of articles from LionBrand.com and the Lion Brand Notebook that will help you on your way:
Pattern pictured: Fisherman Sweater & Hat
Posted in Did You Know . . . ?, Tips & How To | 9 Comments » Comments
Often, when I am looking for a new pattern for a project, I like to pick something that features a technique that I haven’t tried before. This way, I learn something with each new project. Usually, I pick something on the small side (a hat, scarf, mitts, etc.). But I know more than a few knitters and crocheters who like to “go all in” when they take on a new challenge, picking out large, more complex designs to keep their yarncrafting interesting.
Whether you like a small project or a large one for a new challenge, I hope you learn something with these projects.
Last week, I shared 10 patterns that featured more advanced colorwork skills. In this week’s post, I’ve rounded up patterns for 5 different stitch patterns and construction methods. These are just some of the interesting techniques out there, but I hope you’ll try (at least) one out and add it to your repertoire. It’s by trying new skills that we continue to grow as yarncrafters.
Mitered CrochetBy decreasing in each row to create the “corner turn” of the triangle or square, mitered crochet creates a cool geometric look with just basic skills. Whether you switch colors for a cool striping effect or use a color-change yarn like Amazing to mimic stripes, it looks fantastic. (It will even look cool in solid colors!) |
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| Mitered Crochet Baby Blanket | Crochet Colorful Mitered Afghan |
Posted in Pattern Recommendations, Tips & How To | 1 Comment » Comments
Often, when I am looking for a new pattern for a project, I like to pick something that features a technique that I haven’t tried before. This way, I learn something with each new project. Usually, I pick something on the small side (a hat, scarf, mitts, etc.). But I know more than a few knitters and crocheters who like to “go all in” when they take on a new challenge, picking out large, more complex designs to keep their yarncrafting interesting.
Whether you like a small project or a large one for a new challenge, I hope you learn something with these projects.
Join me next week for 10 more projects with which to learn new skills!
Intarsia KnittingCreate elaborate-looking designs with basic stitches when you follow a colorwork chart! By switching colors at various points in the pattern, you create graphic designs that look extremely impressive. Got the hang of it? Create your own designs with knitting graph paper.
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| Knit Intarsia Polka-Dot Scarf | Knit NYC Skyline Afghan |
Posted in Pattern Recommendations, Tips & How To | 8 Comments » Comments
As an obsessive coffee drinker, I love handmade coffee cozies! The coffee sleeves cafes use always seem to be too thin, so coffee cozies are an amazing reusable alternative. In the winter, they keep my coffee warm and my hands burn-free; in the summer, they keep my beverage cool and my hands dry. No matter what your style is, you can make your own cozy in just a few easy steps. Here’s how to do it!
1. Gather your supplies. Choose a yarn you want to work with and the appropriate hook or needle size. If you’re using buttons, grab some of those as well. Remember that wools are fantastic for insulating beverages, and both wool and cotton will absorb condensation from your cup. For my cozies, I used Martha Stewart Crafts Roving Wool in Sea Glass Blue and DaVinci in Quartz.
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Posted in Tips & How To, Tutorials | 4 Comments » Comments
This is a guest post from Claire, Floor Manager of the Lion Brand Yarn Studio.
Working at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio and helping people pick projects and yarn every day has taught me many things, not the least of which is that a cowl is a cowl is a cowl — except when it’s a hood! I’m sure all of you are familiar with two or three ways to wear a scarf, but have you tried experimenting with your other handmade items?
With a long infinity scarf style cowl like the Cabildo Cowl (pictured in Cincinatti Red Hometown USA), it’s easy to change up your winter look. Wrap it twice around your neck for an extra snuggly style or pull the second loop up over your head as a hood when it really starts to blow! Leave it long when you get inside and it becomes an accessory focal point for your outfit.
For the brisk fall weather, you might want to toss a wrap on before heading outside to play in the leaves. The Knit Spring Ruana adds a little bit of warmth and a lot of pizazz! You can leave the garter panel to the back for a traditional look, or turn it sideways and add a shawl pin for a less drapey look.
The Cropped Turtleneck is a fun garment to turn on its head — literally! Worn as is, it’s a cute cropped sweater with a generous turtleneck. Turned upside down, it becomes a dramatic fitted piece with a fun boatneck.
Now it’s your turn to look through your hand-crafted items and see what you can make of them. And next time you’re buying yarn, remind yourself that you could be getting two sweaters for the price of one!
Related links:
Posted in Fashion & Style, Tips & How To | 8 Comments » Comments
Baby booties make an excellent gift for new babies at family get-togethers and holiday gatherings. You can even make a small pair as a sweet memento or holiday ornament for a baby’s first Christmas!
Here are six of our favorite ways to take a basic knit or crochet baby bootie pattern and make it extra-special for the little one in your life. We’ve also included links to free baby bootie patterns on LionBrand.com to help you get started (including the Lavish Booties pictured to the right).
Embroidery
A small initial or simple shape like a star or flower is easy to add, and makes your gift extra-special. You probably already have a large-eye blunt needle for seaming your projects, all you have to do is pick a design and yarn!
Appliqués
Appliqués make perfect additions to your booties! You can add tiny handmade shapes by stitching each one up as a separate piece in any color you like, and then sewing them onto your finished booties. Make sure to stitch them on firmly, as little hands may try to pull at them while playing.
Posted in Pattern Recommendations, Tips & How To | 2 Comments » Comments
Many a clever knitter & crocheter has discovered that one project can do double-duty with different styling. For instance, our Knit Grande Wrap pattern can be work many different ways:
For more ideas about how to turn one project into several different looks, check out these blog posts:
Do you have a favorite styling trick for a knit or crochet project? Share it in the comments!
Posted in Fashion & Style, Tips & How To | 9 Comments » Comments
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