Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
This is a guest post, from Lindsey, one of our marketing interns:
I’ve known how to knit (and I mean knit, no purling or increasing/decreasing etc) for a couple years, but have spent the last few months working diligently at learning more yarncrafting skills. My most recent accomplishment: learning to crochet!
Less than one week and two projects into crocheting, I decided to find a great project for my new favorite yarn, Homespun! As a fashion-conscious young New Yorker looking for something fun to make, the Crochet Ruffle Scarf seemed logical to me. So, I looked at the pattern, decided it would be easy enough for me to make, grabbed a ball of Homespun in Lagoon (which matches about half of my current wardrobe), and got started.
You’ll notice I never mentioned consciously picking a hook size. I had two hooks in my apartment—N-13 and I-9— and of course I picked the N-13. The pattern calls for a K-10.5, but I tend not to pay attention when working on scarves. It wasn’t until I was on the second row and delighted with how I could see the ruffle taking shape that I noticed this was going to be the longest scarf ever! Well, I finished it anyway. I used more than the one ball it was supposed to require, but I had already prepared myself for that. At first I thought it was too long, but after a little modeling for my roommate and laughing at how ridiculous it was, I realized it was actually kind of cute. In fact, worn just hanging, not wrapped, it makes quite a fashion statement. Or I can wrap it around my neck as many times as my style — or cold weather — deems necessary.
After finishing it, I had just over a ball of Lagoon still in my stash. As it was just a few days before a friend’s birthday, I decided to find the correct hook and make her a scarf too. I made hers a little smaller than my giant scarf; she prefers function over fashion and the ruffle was enough decoration for her. It turned out perfect and she loves it!
What are some new yarncrafting skills that you’ve learned recently or that you want to learn? Tell us about them!
Posted in Crocheting, Lion Staff | 8 Comments »
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!
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, On The Road, YarnCraft Podcast | 3 Comments »
Before working at Lion Brand, I only had limited experiences with handknit items. A friend of mine knit me a beautiful ribbed red scarf when I was in college, (It wasn’t until working at Lion Brand that I realized that the yarn used was Wool-Ease Thick & Quick) and later in college, my girlfriend knit me a scarf with Homespun. I kept thinking about how beautiful and amazing hand-knit pieces were, but could never wrap my head around the idea that two long cylindrical objects (needles) could take a piece of yarn and create something wearable. It was a task that I considered far too difficult for my clumsy, maladroit hands.
Not two weeks into working at Lion Brand, however, I noticed the incredible knitting and crocheting culture here. From Zontee (of the YarnCraft podcast) to Jackie and Karen (of the Design Department), I had a number of people telling me that knitting wasn’t nearly as hard as I thought. So one day after work, I sat down with Zontee and was ready to learn. She taught me how to cast on and how to knit. That night I knit a number of rows, and came back to work ready for something new.
After work that next day, Zontee was ready to teach me how to purl. A few rows later, I was knitting a stockinette stitch, and was excited to start my first real project. Looking for a fairly simple project that could help me hone my newly found knitting and purling abilities, the people in our Design Department found a great, easy 2 and 1/2 Hour Scarf for me to complete. This would be a little bit more complex, and used three strands weaved in as one, but was an exciting first project. The first day I was ready to choose my yarn. With the expertise of our creative director, Karen, I picked out three beautiful colors of Vanna’s Choice, and I was ready to go. Once again, Zontee helped me cast on and watched me knit my first few rows.
For the next few days, I could be found at home, on the train and after work working on this scarf. This was during NFL playoffs as well, so I was knitting while watching the Giants play – something that I would have never anticipated. The first few rows started off a little shaky (as you can see on the left side of the scarf), but after that, it was four and a half feet of pretty smooth sailing. When I got into trouble toward the end, Zontee also helped me to fix a stitch I’d dropped.
Truthfully, it was fun, exciting and really not as hard as I’d originally imagined. Though the “2 and 1/2 hour” label given to me probably did not take into account the fact that I had knitting growing pains, it still was a fairly quick project to do. With a little bit of help from everyone here, I now have a scarf that I’m proud to say I knit! I’ll admit though, it’s easier to knit a beautiful scarf when you’re surrounded by fantastic knitters.
Do you or someone you know want to learn to knit or crochet? Check out our Learn to Knit Guide and our Learn to Crochet Guide.
Posted in Knitting, Lion Staff | 4 Comments »
Homespun is one of those iconic yarns Lion Brand is known for, so people might be surprised to find out that it was “born” in 1997. I know it surprised me when I started at Lion Brand – I assumed Homespun must have been around forever!
Homespun started when David saw a unique yarn woven into a throw blanket. He thought, with a few modifications, that it would be ideal for hand-knitting and crochet. Lion Brand worked with the mill for over two years to perfect the yarn and the original set of 9 colors.
When we introduced it, the yarn became a sensation. It was totally different from anything else on the market – softer, silkier, and with a wide variety of color effects. It’s also a great weight (CYCA #5 – Bulky). So many crocheters and knitters tell us that they love how quickly they finish projects when they use Homespun. Many charity groups have embraced using Homespun in Prayer or Comfort shawls, because of its soft feel, easy care, and affordability. In 2005, we released a book with Leisure Arts featuring different prayer shawls to knit and crochet. It was so well received; we’re working on a second one now, due to be released in late 2008.
Homespun got an unexpected boost in popularity when we released a pattern for a Homespun poncho designed to look like the one Martha Stewart wore when she left prison. Three years later, it is still one of the most downloaded patterns on our site (out of almost 2,000 total patterns).
About a year ago, we visited the beautiful, historic mill in New England where Homespun is made. Built in 1864, the mill has run on hydro-generated power since 1915 and has such a feeling of textile history. Around the time of this first visit, I was teaching myself how to make yarn on a home spinning wheel (a project still very much in progress) - I was amazed at the similarities between home spinning, and the way Homespun is produced.
The first step in making Homespun begins with dyeing the raw fiber into over 50 individual shades. These shades are then blended together into a sliver, ready for spinning. The colored fiber can be blended in various ways – with one dominant color and 2 or 3 coordinating accents for a Heathered Solid; with 3 or 4 contrasting colors for a Tweed; or with up to 8 colors in a shifting pattern that created the subtle, variegated stripes in our Painterly colors.
We were so inspired by our visit; Lion Brand collaborated with Leisure Arts on a book of patterns with a story on the mill and beautiful photos of the blending and spinning process. You won’t believe the bright shades of fiber that combine to make the earthy hues of Prairie!
Posted in Yarns | 7 Comments »
In each episode of our podcast, YarnCraft, we feature a segment called “Stash This–Ideas for Your Crafting Life.” It’s a chance for me and my co-host Liz from our Design Department to share with you some interesting tips about knitting, crocheting, and yarncrafting.
In podcast episode about “Selling Your Knit/Crochet Items on Etsy & Tips on Customizing with Color,” our “Stash This” was about working with color, the meaning of colors, and personalizing patterns. Here are five tips from episode #12:
For more ideas, check out the podcast every other Tuesday by visiting YarnCraft.LionBrand.com, and tell us what are some ways you’ve used colors to personalize a project!
Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, Tips & How To, YarnCraft Podcast | 2 Comments »
