Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Many of you have written to us about not being able to find your favorite Lion Brand yarns at your local stores and have encouraged us to offer more there. We thought we would give you a little behind-the-scenes info about how our yarns end up in your local store to help you understand what you’ll find.
Lion Brand offers over 800 different yarn colors and over 45 different types of yarns. The major retail chains that carry yarn–Michaels, JoAnn Fabrics, AC Moore, Hobby Lobby and Walmart–as well as the smaller stores, could not possibly have room for all of our yarns in the space they have available in their yarn department. Of course, we would love for them to offer a wider selection of Lion Brand but we don’t control what retailers offer. As a result, you will often find a good selection of the most popular Lion Brand yarns like Vanna’s Choice®, Homespun®, and Wool-Ease® Thick & Quick® in many retail outlets, but you may not see some of our cult favorites like Cotton-Ease®, Wool-Ease®, or Recycled Cotton. But even if you find a popular yarn like Homespun®, no one store will carry nearly 60 colors.
We know that everyone has her favorite yarns and colors so if you’d like your local store to carry your favorites, don’t hesitate to ask them. You can write on their Facebook page, if they have one, you can email their corporate office, or you can ask a store manager for the yarn and color you like. When enough people demand the same product, it may push your local store to carry it.
If all else fails, we have every single yarn and color on our website, LionBrand.com. Plus, we have something extra online, which is the exclusive LB Collection of fine fibers at value prices.
Posted in Did You Know . . . ?, Tips & How To, Yarns | 32 Comments » Comments
School’s almost back in session! That means that sports games, pep rallies, and other fun after-school activities are fast approaching. Show your spirit by knitting or crocheting accessories in your school colors! Here are just a few of the most popular school colors in three of our favorite fast-finish, easy care yarns: Vanna’s Choice, Wool-Ease, and Hometown USA.
(If you’re looking for colors not listed below, please be sure to click on the names of the yarn above. Each of these lines has 50+ colors, so you have many more options to choose from.)
| Yarn | Vanna’s Choice | Wool-Ease | Hometown USA |
| Blue |  Colonial Blue |
 Blue Heather |
 Detroit Blue |
| Gold |  Mustard |
 Gold |
 Pittsburgh Yellow |
| White |  White |
 White Frost |
 New York White |
| Red |  Scarlet |
 Ranch Red |
 Cincinnati Red |
| Purple |  Eggplant |
 Eggplant |
 Portland Wine |
| Black |  Black |
 Black |
 Oakland Black |
| Brown |  Chocolate |
 Cocoa |
 Billings Chocolate |
| Orange |  Terracotta |
 Sienna |
 Syracuse Orange |
| Green |  Kelly Green |
 Avocado |
 Green Bay |
Want ideas on how to combine your school colors? Stripes are always in style for hats and scarves. You can also knit or crochet a project in a solid color, then use your contrasting shade to duplicate stitch the initials of you or your school. For a tweedy effect, hold both shades together (like in our Sumptuous Tweed Scarf).
What are your school colors? How do you show your school spirit through yarncrafting? Let us know in the comments.
Posted in Tips & How To, Yarns | 43 Comments » Comments
Yarn weights go by so many different names, it can be difficult to keep track of what’s what! (For example, did you know that Fingering weight and Sock weight are one and the same?)
To help you out, we’ve compiled a chart using the yarn weight standards developed by the Craft Yarn Council, along with examples of Lion Brand Yarn in each category.
| Yarn Weight Symbol/Category Name | Commonly Used Names | Example of Lion Brand Yarn |
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Cobweb, Lace, Crochet Thread |  |
| LB Collection® Wool Stainless Steel * | ||
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Sock, Fingering, Baby |  |
| LB Collection® Silk Mohair | ||
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Sport, Baby |  |
| Vanna’s Glamour™ | ||
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DK, Light Worsted |  |
| LB Collection® Cotton Bamboo | ||
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Worsted, Afghan, Aran |  |
| Wool-Ease® | ||
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Chunky, Craft, Rug |  |
| Wool-Ease® Chunky | ||
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Bulky, Roving |  |
| Wool-Ease® Thick & Quick® |
* Note: Although LB Collection® Wool Stainless Steel is listed on our website as a Category 1 Super Fine yarn, it may be used as a Category 0 yarn.
Interested in learning more about which of our yarns are in which weight category? Click here to check out our list of yarns by weight class on LionBrand.com.
Related Links:
Posted in Did You Know . . . ?, Yarns | 13 Comments » Comments
On our radio-style podcast, YarnCraft, my co-host Liz and I often talk about how to customize your knit & crochet projects. In particular, customizing gifts is a popular subject, since many knitters and crocheters like to make things for their loved ones.
One great idea that I got from the book, The Prayer Shawl Ministry: Reaching Those In Need, is to use yarns that match your recipients’ birthstone. It’s, of course, a great idea for birthday presents, but could be used throughout the year. To help you on your way, I’ve put together this handy chart:
| January – Garnet
Deep shades of burgundy make for wonderful accessories and garments in luxe Superwash Merino Cashmere or glitzy Vanna’s Glamour. |
 |
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| Superwash Merino Cashmere in Wine |
Vanna’s Glamour in Garnet |
|
| February – Amethyst
Add a touch of texture with shades of purple with the haziness of Silk Mohair or silky hand of Homespun. |
 |
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| LB Collection Silk Mohair in Iris |
Homespun in Amethyst |
|
| March – Aquamarine
Cool, light organic cotton or easy-care Vanna’s Choice both make wonderful accessories, boleros, and more. |
 |
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| Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton in Blueberry |
Vanna’s Choice in Aqua |
|
| April – Diamond
April’s child loves a touch of glitter, so try one of these soft, metallic yarns for a wonderful project. |
 |
|
| Vanna’s Glamour in Diamond |
Wool-Ease in White Frost |
|
| May – Emerald
Lush shades of green meet quick-to-work-up yarns in Hometown USA and Holiday Homespun. |
|
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| Hometown USA in Green Bay |
Holiday Homespun in Evergreen |
|
| June – Pearl or Moonstone
Subtle shades reflect June’s birthstones. Try this painterly shade of Homespun or the soft taupe glitz of Vanna’s Glamour. |
 |
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| Homespun in Pearls |
Vanna’s Glamour in Moonstone |
|
| July – Ruby
Perfect on their own or held double-stranded (one strand of each), July’s yarns are all about bright, bold red. |
 |
|
| Vanna’s Glamour in Ruby |
Vanna’s Choice in Scarlet |
|
| August – Peridot
Stylish yellow-green is lovely in this heathered solid shade of Homespun or the soft luxury of Superwash Merino Cashmere. |
 |
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| Homespun in Apple Green |
Superwash Merino Cashmere in Green Tea |
|
| September – Sapphire
Classic midnight blue makes for great accessories, shrugs, and more. Double-stranded or used individually, these yarns look luscious. |
 |
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| Vanna’s Choice in Sapphire |
Vanna’s Glamour in Sapphire |
|
| October – Opal
October’s yarns are all about a swirl of soft color with this painterly color of Homespun or self-striping Amazing. |
 |
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| Homespun in Tudor |
Amazing in Carnival |
|
| November – Citrine or Yellow Topaz
This warm, golden fall-friendly color is beautiful in both shimmering Vanna’s Glamour and luxurious Angora Merino. |
 |
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| Vanna’s Glamour in Bronze |
LB Collection Angora Merino in Nectarine |
|
| December – Blue Topaz or Turquoise
Brighten up someone’s winter with a pop of color in silky-smooth, easy-care Microspun or Homespun. |
 |
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| Homespun in Seafoam |
Microspun in Turquoise |
For episodes of YarnCraft (I like to say it’s like “Car Talk” for knitters & crocheters), visit our blog or find us on iTunes. YarnCraft comes out twice a month on Tuesdays.
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, YarnCraft Podcast, Yarns | 28 Comments » Comments
Picking the right yarn for your sock project can make all the difference! Here are some important factors to consider when selecting your yarn:
Thickness. Socks made from fingering weight yarns like Sock-Ease or LB 1878 are thin enough to be comfortably worn inside of shoes. Yarns thicker than sport weight are ideal for making house socks or boot socks.
Durability. Socks usually get a lot of wear and tear, so stronger fibers like wool will help them last longer. Yarns that are blended with nylon add even more strength.
Washability. While you don’t have to wash your handmade socks in a machine, you should still look for washable yarns in order to avoid felting. Socks can felt inside of your shoes when your feet get wet from perspiration or precipitation.
Color. Socks allow you to add a fun pop of color to your outfit, so don’t shy away from beautiful colors! Yarns like Sock-Ease even include self-striping options that are really fun to crochet or knit!
Now that I’ve gone over the important considerations, I’d like to make some yarn suggestions! Of course, Sock-Ease is a great option because it was specifically designed for sock knitters and crocheters. Other yarns to try include LB 1878 (fingering-weight wool), LB Collection Superwash Merino (DK-weight wool), Wool-Ease (worsted-weight wool/acrylic blend), and Cotton-Ease (worsted-weight cotton/acrylic blend).
What are your favorite yarns for making socks? Let us know in the comments!
Related links:
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Tips & How To, Yarns | 9 Comments » Comments
Many people have asked us, “What is the best yarn for making amigurumi?” I always respond by saying that there are so many great options for crocheting and knitting toys; the most important considerations are texture, color, washability, and gauge (when provided by a pattern). That being said, here are 3 of my absolute favorite yarns to use for amigurumi.
Vanna’s Choice is a perennial favorite because it’s a classic yarn that comes in 57 shades. This wide color range really allows you to experiment with different color effects. The colors all match, too, so you don’t have to worry about any clashing. Vanna’s Choice is also machine washable and dryable, so it’s super easy for you to clean your amigurumi.
Like Vanna’s Choice, Wool-Ease is easy-care and comes in a great variety of colors. Shades like Mink Brown, Wheat, Mushroom, and Grey Heather are perfect for imitating fur.
Fun Fur is perfect for adding texture to any amigurumi. Use it to add hair or a mane (such as with our Amigurumi Lion), or use it all over for a fun, fuzzy creature (like our Amigurumi Panda). This yarn comes in a wide variety of realistic fur tones, as well as exciting bright colors, so you can really get bold with your color choices. Fun Fur is also easy care, so you don’t have to sacrifice texture for washability.
What’s your favorite yarn for amigurumi? Let us know in the comments!
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Tips & How To, Yarns | 11 Comments » Comments
Ever thought about making your own dish cloths? With summer heating up, it’s time to break out the fast-finish super-portable projects. Dish cloths are lightweight, quick to make and easy to carry with you on vacation, to the beach or even on your commute. You can use a finished dishcloth right away in any season, and they make great gifts for summer guests or friends hosting picnics and cook outs.
Here are three cotton and cotton blend yarns that make excellent dish cloths, and a great dish cloth pattern for each one!
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Recycled Cotton is a blend of acrylic yarn fiber and the cotton cuttings leftover in tee shirt factories. Using this yarn is a great way to recycle while enjoying the versatility of cotton blends. Try it out with the Cottontail Dishtowels. |  |
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Lion Cotton is 100% cotton, sturdy, strong and very absorbent, making it perfect for dishcloths! Try it out with the Dorothea Dishtowels. |  |
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Cotton-Ease combines the cool hand of cotton and easy care of acrylic. The yarn comes in lovely colors and is easy to coordinate with your kitchen decor! Try it out with the Retro Dish Cloths. |  |
With so many free dish cloth patterns and wash cloth patterns available on our website, the only thing you have to do is pick the perfect yarn and get started!
Have you made dishcloths lately, or used these yarns before? Leave a comment to let us know!
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Pattern Recommendations, Yarns | 9 Comments » Comments
Whether you’re a beginner yarncrafter or you’re teaching someone else, it’s important for you to select a great yarn. There are so many different types of yarn out there, and the selection can be difficult! Three of our all-time favorite beginner yarns are Vanna’s Choice, Wool-Ease, and Cotton-Ease. Here’s why:
Once you’ve gotten the basics down with yarns like these, you can explore new textures, colors effects, and more with complete confidence! And remember, these yarns aren’t just for beginners; they’re classics that are perfect for an incredible variety of projects.
What yarn did you use for your first yarncrafting project? Share your story in the comments!
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Yarns | 18 Comments » Comments
When someone you care about is expecting a baby, you’re likely to have the urge to create a one-of-a-kind beautiful gift. As one of the landmark occasions in a family’s life, a time to celebrate the arrival of a new life, what better way to do that than with something made by hand?
Babies are delicate, so the yarn should be soft so it is comfortable on their skin. The reality of spills and spitting up require a yarn that will hold up well and be washable and dryable.
Our lightest weight baby yarn (#3) is Babysoft. This is soft and it gives you a pastel color palette to choose from. It washes and dries beautifully and we offer 62 free patterns for you to choose from.
If you are looking for cotton yarns we would recommend Cotton-Ease, a blend of cotton and acrylic that has a lovely drape to it, beautiful stitch definition and is easy care. With 17 baby blankets and toys to choose from, this yarn is ideal for welcoming spring and summer babies.
In a #4 (medium) weight yarn, we recommend Vanna’s Choice and Vanna’s Choice Baby, our premium 100% acrylic yarns that are worthy of creating heirloom quality afghans. You’ll have the widest variety of colors to choose from with these yarns–everything from pastels to brights. You’ll also have your pick of over 100 free patterns for that perfect gift. Another great choice in this weight class is Pound of Love, which is offers a selection of traditional baby colors and is the most affordable choice for baby gifts. You can create a hooded blanket with only one ball.
One of our newest yarns, Baby’s First, comes in a thicker, faster #5 weight. The color palette includes sweet sherbet shades and the thicker yarn works up quickly so if the big day is approaching, you may want to choose this soft, easy-care yarn.
Posted in Pattern Recommendations, Products, Yarns | 10 Comments » Comments
It’s finally warming up here in New York, and I’m ready to start working on projects that are appropriate for the warmer days ahead. Cotton is a great fiber to wear in warm weather because it’s cool and breathable. It’s also ideal for market bags, accessories, and washcloths. But, with so many cottons out there, it can be hard to pick the right one for a project. To help you decide which cotton to use for different projects, I thought I’d give you a rundown of my five favorite cotton yarns.
Cotton-Ease is a worsted weight cotton-acrylic blend. It combines the absorbency of the cotton and the lightness of acrylic. It’s machine washable, so whether you make a sweater or a washcloth, you can easily clean any project made with Cotton-Ease.
Baby’s First is a cotton-acrylic blend like Cotton-Ease, but it is a chunky weight. It is constructed of many thin plies, so it is soft and cushy with wonderful stitch definition. Ideal for fast-finish projects, you don’t have to limit yourself to baby items. See Zontee’s adorable cardi (below), which she made by substituting Baby’s First for the required Cotton-Ease in the Bebop Cardi.
Zontee’s Bebop
Recycled Cotton is possibly our most unique cotton-acrylic blend. Like Cotton-Ease, it is a worsted weight, but this yarn is made of cotton fabric clippings that would get wasted in the tee-shirt manufacturing process. The material is sorted by color so that minimal dying is required. Before it’s dyed, it’s spun with acrylic and the result is a beautiful heathered yarn. Make your market bags even more green, or make a cozy cardi for your little one like the Eyelet Remix Cardi (below).
Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton is organically grown and dyed according to the Global Organic Textile Standard by the Institute of Marketecology. This super-soft 100% cotton is worsted weight, and I like to use it for things that will be close to my skin, such as shawl, scarves, and hats. The construction of this yarn is ideal for simple stitches in knit or crochet.
Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton
LB Collection Cotton Bamboo, our most luxurious cotton, combines all the wonderful qualities of cotton with the beautiful drape and sheen of rayon from bamboo! Bamboo is used to make rayon because it is a renewable resource. The result is an affordable little luxury that can be used on garments and baby projects.
What do you like to make with cotton?
Posted in Yarns | 17 Comments » Comments
