Lion Brand Notebook

News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn

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Archive for the 'Yarniverse' Category

Milk + Knitting = Comfort

November 17th, 2009

I love advertisements that feature knitting or crocheting, and this Canadian milk campaign is so fun and innovative! The website features a milk-drinking woman who has covered her house in all things knitted, from her phone to her cat. Take time away from knitting to try their virtual knitting game! Quebec residents can even enter for a chance to win computers and video game consoles.

Yarn Artisans & Their Creations

November 3rd, 2009

It’s always exciting to see knitters’ and crocheters’ creations, especially when those yarncrafters are sharing their finished goods with the world at large. On today’s episode of YarnCraft (our podcast that you can listen to over at iTunes or at YarnCraft.LionBrand.com), we talk about some of these artisans on Artfire.com, as well as how you can start your own online store for free.

In this vein of thinking, I wanted to feature a line by designer Heather Goldberg, Shadowplay Jewelry, that’s been getting quite a bit of attention. Her ethereal knit necklaces combine yarn with crystals, playing with texture.

What I love about pieces like this is that they challenge us to think outside of the box about what knitted and crocheted pieces can be. [Via DailyCandy.]

Do you create and sell knit or crochet goods? Leave a comment and tell us about what you make.

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Celebrate Halloween with Horror Movie Knits!

October 29th, 2009

I love watching horror movies to get ready for Halloween. Surprisingly, there are many horror films that feature knitting! Here are some of my favorite scary movies to add to your Halloween queue:Pumpkin candy bag

  • Paranormal Activity: Visit your local theater to see one of the main characters knit and make jewelry. The yarn she uses is either a flammé or bouclé. Maybe it’s Homespun!
  • Halloween: In the John Carpenter original, babysitter Laurie Strode (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) proves that knitting is more than a casual pastime. The remake by Rob Zombie features many crocheted afghans in various scenes.
  • Idle Hands: What better way to keep idle hands busy than through knitting?
  • The Addams Family and The Addams Family Values: Matriach Morticia Addams often knits for her family.
  • Rosemary’s Baby: The women who congregate in Roseymary’s apartment knit.
  • Delicatessen: This French film features a woman who makes a machine to frog her work just as quickly as she knits. At least she’s never bored!

Have a ghoulishly good Halloween, everyone!

British Artist To Crochet Two 30 Foot Lions For the 2012 Olympics

October 27th, 2009

A British artist will spend the next two years crocheting two giant lions for the London Olympics.  The creation of the lions will be available for viewing on a webcam.

See Art in Action

October 27th, 2009

A few weeks ago, our friend, artist Travis Meinholf wrote about his new installation at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art. Now, you can watch him talk about the show while people interact with it!

See the show from now until January 24th in San Francisco, CA, and help Travis weave!

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Yarn City Stop-Motion Animation

October 12th, 2009

We’ve all heard of “claymation”, but this unique animation uses yarn!
Via Craft

Discovering the Land of Lost Knitting & Crochet Tools

October 6th, 2009

One of the best parts of YarnCraft, our knitting & crochet podcast, is that we get to hear from you — our listeners and Lion Brand users — and get stories, inspiration, and ideas from you to share with others. (My co-host) Liz and I always enjoy hearing (and sharing) your stories. This week, we got a great e-mail from long-time listener and active YarnCraft community member Josh:

Hi Liz and Zontee,

When you had talked about my post on an earlier episode regarding how my craft room is set up, I had written about the mythical stargate that swallows my tape measure and scissors. You took it a step further to liken it to the Island of Lost Toys, which inspired this article I wrote for Crochet Insider… hope you get a giggle out of it.

All my love to you both,
Josh

We thought it was so much fun we wanted to share the article with you. Click here to read it.

If you want to hear Josh’s original story, listen to episode 22 — Your Yarncrafting Sanctuary – by clicking here. Josh’s story is about 8:40 into the episode.

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Open Source Embroidery: What Will We Make Together?

October 5th, 2009

This is a guest post from our friend, Travis Meinolf, public textile artist and teacher. Travis’s current project can be seen at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art, in San Francisco, CA, from now until January 24th, 2010. If you’re in the area, we hope you’ll stop by, add your own piece to the weavings and interact with textiles in a new way.

Open Source Embroidery is a group art show; the running theme of the works in the show, curated by Dr. Ele Carpenter, is how current open source programming and high-tech philosophies intersect with contemporary and historical craft production practices. My installation in the show, a continuation of my Social Fabric/Weaving Place projects, is a space with small, simple-to-use looms I have designed, materials generously provided by Lion Brand Yarn, and chalkboards, for people to write notes about what it is they would like to be producing in the space.

Previously I have asked for people to spend their time producing material to be made into blankets for people on the streets and in shelters, but this time, I thought I would let it be completely open to suggestion from the participants. Only time will tell what the outcome will be, but the process will be one of absolute agency of the producers. Anyone who participates is invited to direct their action and suggest direction for the group, based on the simple strips of cloth that they can make. I will update as the project progresses. Hopefully the system I have put in place allows for freedom but is a space for structured, productive play, resulting in a true “dialectical material”.

Thanks go out to Lion Brand, who made me feel like a kid on Christmas opening boxes of skeins and skeins of beautiful yarns to provide a truly sensual and mesmerizing weaving experience for museum-goers, again…
Travis J. Meinolf
action weaver

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Chain Stitches as Jewelry

September 21st, 2009

I always love to see how the fashion world takes crafts like crochet and knitting and reinterprets them in unexpected ways. This simple, oversized crochet chain as necklace is such a fun pop of color from German design duo Gabriel & Schwan. Sehr schön!

Via Oh Joy!

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Knitta Please Hits Fashion Week

September 16th, 2009

New York Fashion Week is the place to see and be seen. Underground yarn-bombing group Knitta Please got into the spirit by adding colorful knitted covers to poles outside of the Standard Hotel. The project, which will be on display through tomorrow, is meant to celebrate the relationship between fashion, design, crafting, and street culture. Click here to take a look at the photographs on Flickr.

Via Gothamist.