5 Tips for Common Mistakes from YarnCraft #20
August 5th, 2008
In the July 15th episode of YarnCraft, entitled Oops! Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them, we shared our mistake stories and the stories of our listeners. We also offered pointers on how to fix (and also avoid) some common mistakes.
Here are a few pointers:
1. For knitters, dropped stitches can be a real issue. Follow the directions in our Learning Center to pick a stitch back up. More advanced? You can even purposely drop a stitch that is a knit instead of a purl and vice versa and pick it up in order to fix it.
2. Another tip for knitters is ripping back stitch by stitch so as not to drop any stitches in between. Directions can be found here in our Learning Center.
3. Crocheters, if you made a mistake and need to rip back, use a safety pin or a stitch marker to hold the stitch that you want to rip up to, that way you don’t rip back too far. Putting them on a stitch just before a section of pattern that you’re a little unsure about can give you some sense of security–it’s a little bit like on the show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”, where once you reach the $1,000 and the $32,000 marks, you know that you can’t walk away with less than those amounts. That’s basically what the markers will do for you.
4. Knitters, you can achieve a similar effect as #3 by using a lifeline, thread a piece of waste yarn (in another color so that it’s easier to see) through the stitches on a line just before a difficult part of the pattern, so that you know that if you rip back, you won’t rip behind this row.
5. Check your gauge! Both knitters and crocheters often have problems that can easily solved by checking gauge before starting the project–see my previous post for more info on gauge and its uses.
For this episode, which also includes a segment on great online resources, listen here [MP3].
Are You a Granny Person or a Ripple Person?
August 2nd, 2008
Two of the most popular types of crochet afghans are granny square and ripple afghans. Does the preference for one over the other say something about you? Tell us which you prefer!
Turn Your Hobby Into a Business
August 1st, 2008
If you’ve been knitting or crocheting for friends and relatives and are considering turning your skills into sales, you may want to take a look at Etsy. It’s an online marketplace for all things handmade. Etsy provides a venue where you can sell individual handmade items or open your own virtual store. In April, we visited the Etsy offices in Brooklyn and were really impressed with how creative and customer-friendly they were.
It costs 20 cents to list an item plus 3.5% of the selling price. You can find out more about how to sell here.
Here are a couple of products for sale today that are made with Lion Brand Yarn. The hat is listed for $25.00 and the slippers for $20.00. We’d love to hear from people who have tried this and would like to share their experiences with others.
Vote on a Project for the Crochet-Along!
July 31st, 2008
The Tree of Life Afghan Knit-Along was such a hit that we’re planning a crochet-along in August. Help us choose the project for this crochet-along by taking our quick and easy survey and telling us which of the following designs YOU want to make with us!
[Click here to take the survey.]
Yarn Adventures in New Hampshire
July 30th, 2008
Last week, Jack and I drove up to Manchester, New Hampshire, for the Knit & Crochet Show and the Crochet Guild of America’s Chain Link Conference. We arrived on Tuesday evening and took in a baseball game–the local minor league team, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats were playing the Trenton Thunder.
On Wednesday, the CGOA hosted Professional Development Day for crocheters who are or want to work in the field. Lion Brand was proud to sponsor this event, and I had a great time meeting crocheters from all over the country, and fans of the YarnCraft podcast, including one all the way from San Juan, Puerto Rico! Speaking of YarnCraft, while there, I interviewed Drew Emborsky (also known as the Crochet Dude), a designer and all around great guy who you’ll hear in our latest episode. I also interviewed quite a few other writers and designers–including Lily Chin, Margaret Hubert, Jean Leinhauser, and more. Interviews to follow in upcoming episodes.
Jack and I also went up to the mill that makes Homespun yarn, as it was pretty close to the convention center. In fact, the whole area used to have yarn and textile mills all over! The restaurant off of the convention center, JD’s Restaurant, actually had spinning wheels and old spools from the old mills. There’s even a mill museum in Manchester.
The Homespun mill is housed in a building that was built in 1864! (That’s it on the left.) It’s really amazing to see the various raw fibers and colors being spun into our various shades of Homespun. We’re really proud of the fact that Homespun is made in America in a place steeped with such a strong yarn history.
Back at the Knit & Crochet show, we walked the Market Preview, and I even appeared as a guest on writer and yarncrafter Mary Beth Temple’s podcast, Getting Loopy!
All in all, a great time. Want to check out the next Knit & Crochet Show, taking place in Portland, OR, in September? Maybe we’ll see you there!
Even Barbie Knits!
July 25th, 2008
One of our associates, Lisa, in Accounting, collects Barbie Dolls and has this vintage “Knitting Barbie” in her office.
If you have Barbie dolls and would like to knit for them, pick up a copy of our friend, Nicky Epstein’s book.
Seen in the Yarniverse - Pizza as Scarf
July 24th, 2008
I always love seeing the creative things that people do with Lion Brand yarns, whether it’s making something based on a pattern or doing something entirely out of the box–pizza box, in this case. Craftzine’s blog recently featured this great crocheted pizza scarf by Starcee. It’s crocheted out of Cotton-Ease and Vanna’s Choice, and it looks good enough to eat!
Want to show us what you’ve been making with our yarns? Add your projects to the Customer Gallery.
Make a Pattern - Rate a Pattern
July 23rd, 2008
One of the great features of our Pattern Finder(R) is the feedback we get from people. You’ll find a wealth of information from people who have actually made the pattern and taken the time to write a detailed review along with a rating from 1 to 5 stars.
We invite you to participate in the rating process. You’ll be helping others by sharing the experience you have had making a pattern.
5 Loom-Knitting Patterns for Kids from YarnCraft #19
July 22nd, 2008
YarnCraft is our 30-minute downloadable radio-show on all things yarn-related. To find out more about the show or to listen to episodes, visit the YarnCraft blog.
In episode 19, Working with Looms and More, we discussed loom-knitting and spool-knitting, and the benefits of these crafts. They’re great for people with joint pain, for whom knitting and crocheting might be too painful. They’re great for beginners who may find knitting and crocheting tough to get started on. They’re especially great for children, as an introduction to all the possibilities of yarn. Here are 5 kid-friendly patterns for various looms and spool-knitters:
- Slouchy Leggings - This pattern uses the round Knifty Knitter (available at your local craft stores) and is great because it is a beginner pattern that’s perfect for introducing kids and teenagers to loom-knitting.
- Sleeveless Turtleneck Top - A versatile top that’s perfect for teenagers, this pattern is easy to make with the Knitting Board, which allows you to create double-knit fabric.
- Fair Isle Cap - For many people, color-work is easier on a loom than it is on hooks or needles because both hands are free to manipulate the yarn. This baby cap is a great way to practice loom-knitting.
- Bee Bopper Bag - This great purse makes a great present. Practice color-work and shaping.
- Hot Pads - Younger kids love playing with the spool-knitters because of the long strands of I-cord-like tubes they create. Whether you purchase a spool-knitter or make your own, learn to use it with our directions.
For more on knitting without needles and more, listen to the podcast [MP3].
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Lola–Not Your Average Knitter
July 18th, 2008
Who is Lola, you ask? She’s a quick-witted, independent, grandmother with equally quick knitting needles. Twice a month, we feature Lola comic strips in the Lion Brand E-Newsletter, but she also stars in her own daily comic featured in 125 papers around the U.S.
Lola has a new book out–called Gimme a Break!–so we checked in with cartoonist Todd Clark to find out a little bit more about our favorite knitting grandma.
Lion Brand: How did you get started drawing/writing comics?
Todd Clark: I’ve drawn for as long as I can remember. My Mom was an awesome artist. My plan was to be the next Salvador Dali, but as soon as I got to college I realized my art skills were sorely lacking compared to others. I’d always been able to make people laugh, and could still draw these glorified stick figures, so I started telling everyone I was going to be a cartoonist. At some point I had to back up my claims. I had some great encouragement early on from some pretty big editors and got a few breaks writing jokes for some pretty well-known comic strips.
LB: Who or what inspired the character of Lola?
TC: Lola is based on my former partner Steve’s great aunt-Lola. She’s real. A WWII veteran and fantastic lady. The actual Lola is much sweeter than her comic strip alter ego. Steve and I did a book signing years ago in her hometown of Augusta, GA., and Lola came with us and sat at the table. It was very cool. She had contacted her entire church and they all came by. She wouldn’t let them get away with buying just one book. They all had to buy several.
LB: If Lola were to knit you something, what would you like it to be?
TC: I’d probably have her knit something for my little 4 year old girl, Rhiannon. If I was forced to choose for me, I’d have to say something blue and orange, maybe a scarf, the colors of my beloved Boise State University Broncos.
Want Lola in your inbox? Subscribe to the Lion Brand Weekly E-Newsletter, also featuring new patterns, book features, new stitches every week, and more.
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