Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
The film Julie and Julia has inspired one knitter to take her own challenge: knit and blog about all 48 projects from Nicky Epstein’s Knitting on Top of the World. Beginning in January, Mary will knit one garment per month in the order that they appear in the book. She’ll be tracking her progress on her blog. Until then, Mary is preparing by purchasing yarn and supplies, making gauge swatches, and choosing the perfect color combination. It’s an enormous and inspiring task. Best of luck, Mary!
Want to join Mary’s knit-a-thon? Simply purchase your copy of Knitting on Top of the World and join her Yahoo group by clicking here.
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Posted in Community, Knitting, Yarniverse | 5 Comments »
Over the past few weeks, you’ve made some fantastic pledges to charities and have (hopefully) finished up some projects. Here are a few helpful hints to make sending your donations as easy as possible:
1. Double-check that your item meets the charity’s requirements. If your item is complete but fails to meet specifications, consider donating it to a different charity, hospital, or shelter.
2. If you are washing an item before sending, make sure to use a frangrance-free detergent. This is to prevent any potential allergy issues or skin sensitivities.
3. Include your yarn label or a note specifying fiber content and yarn care instructions. This will help the charity if they have any yarn requirements, and it will help recipient keep the item in great shape.
4. Place your item in a plastic bag. This will keep your work clean and dry, even if you’re delivering the item by hand.
5. Deliver or send your item! Don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishment. You’ve done a fantastic job.
Are you finished with your donation? Leave us a comment to tell us about your progress and share your final donation!
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Posted in Community, Crochet-Along, Crocheting, Knit-Along, Knitting | 6 Comments »
This week we want to extend a big thank you with everyone who is crafting for charity. It’s been great reading about your projects and organizations. Here are a few comments we’d like to share:
Pam Says: I decided to take on a summer charity project early in June, so I am a bit ahead of the game. I have been knitting baby blankets for the Ronald McDonald House in my area. My goal is to complete one a month for June, July and August. I am about to complete my second blanket. I am using the Lion Brand Pound of Love.
Tammy Says: I regularly knit for charity. I have some leftover wool in the approved colors and am knitting helmetliners for our troops. I found out about the charity on this site. I have one done and would like to finish the one in progress before the end of summer. I calculated that with the yarn I have I can do a total of 7 or 8 altogether.
Sonja S Says: Thanks so much for motivating us! I have been telling myself for some time that I was going to knit something to impact someone’s life and I love the idea of a knit/crochet a long. So I pledge to make at least 6 knitted cotton washcloths to put into Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. And since I just joined Monthly Dischcloth knitalong I can do two KAL’s at once! =0) I’ll just do washcloths instead of dishcloths for the pattern.
Keep up the fantastic work, everyone! Be sure to share your progress with us in the comments, on Facebook, and on Twitter. If you’re still looking for a pattern, don’t fret. Here are some recommendations based upon your area of interest:
Preemie Hats
Afghans (for the Warm Up America! Foundation)
Chemo Caps
Prayer Shawls
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Posted in Community, Crochet-Along, Knit-Along | 5 Comments »
Now that you’ve started your project, why not connect with others locally? A charity group is a great way to share your love of crafting and keep each other motivated.
First, find out if there is a local chapter of your charity. There may also be a local group that generally crafts for any charity. Use your charity’s website or the Lion Brand Charity Connection to search for such meetings.
If no local groups already exist, make your own! Invite friends and relatives to join you at a set time and location. Many groups meet in casual locations, such as a member’s house or a coffee shop. You may also consider contacting local community centers or churches to see if you can use a meeting space, especially if you need to accommodate a larger number of people.
The most important part of crafting with a group is staying positive and motivated. Bring in your finished items, and ask others to do the same. Viewing your collective work acts as a reinforcement of your progress.
Share your progress in our comments section! We want to hear about your projects and your groups. Keep up the great work!
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Posted in Community, Crochet-Along, Knit-Along | 12 Comments »
Last week we discussed selecting a charity. Click here to read the post if you missed it. Now it’s time to collect supplies and begin your charity projects! First, select the pattern you wish to make. Many charities use their own patterns for consistency, but others allow you to use virtually any pattern. Use our Pattern Finder to help find ideas that meet your charity’s needs. Some of our charity patterns include chemo caps, preemie items, Warm Up America! blankets, and the SHIPS Project hat.
Next, choose the appropriate yarn. Many charities only accept certain yarns for projects; for example, charities for deployed troops often require items to be made of wool, as it is naturally flame retardant, while many children’s charities request machine-washable yarns. Some charities also require newly purchased yarn due to allergies. Always check your charity’s website for fiber, washability, color, and yarn weight requirements prior to purchasing materials. If you cannot find any guidelines, it never hurts to ask a charity’s organizer or chapter leader.
After finding any requirements, gather your yarn! When purchasing new yarn, remember to keep your receipts; the cost of yarn for any donation you make to a 501(c)(3) charity will be tax deductible. You can also check your own yarn collection, as many small items can be made from leftovers from completed projects. Ask friends if they have any extra yarn they would like to donate to your project. You can also find deals at thrift stores and yard sales. If you cannot afford new yarn, some charities have supplies that members may use; inquire with your organization for more details. Remember that it is very important to know your fiber content to comply with any charity requirements.
So now that you have your pattern and your yarn, gather your hook or needles and start yarncrafting! What will you be making? Comment to let us know about your charity, your items, and your yarn. Be sure to share your tips, your charity stories, and your progress!
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Posted in Community, Crochet-Along, Knit-Along | 22 Comments »
Having completed a full repeat of each of patterns (Twin Trees, Dividing Rows, and Flower Garden), the afghan gets easier and easier.
Even though I still had to follow the pattern chart for the Twin Trees, I found that my work pace got really fast, and I didn’t feel like I had to worry or pay such close attention anymore. And just in time for some perfect New York weather too!
So far, I’ve knitted on my roof, at my sunday morning knitting club while sipping coffee, and I even took the afghan and got in a few rows at a BBQ in a friend’s back yard. I love to be able to spend time with friends and get out of the house, while still being productive; and of course the response to the impressive looking afghan is unbelievable. Everyone wants to work on it, and learn the stitches.
Tonight, curled up on my couch with my three cats, watching North By Northwest (my favorite Hitchcock film) I’m just about to bind off, after the final Twin Trees repeat. I don’t know if there is anything more gratifying than, cozying up under a project that you’re still working on. Once I bind off, all that will be left to do is the border edge, which I’m really looking forward too.
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Posted in Community, Knit-Along | 11 Comments »
I love this pattern, and this project reminded me that I had come across a similar flower stitch in a vintage knitting book from the 1930’s years ago and used it as an accent pattern for a baby sweater.
It’s a really great stitch that has a thousand uses.
The Flower Garden is one of those patterns that is really simple, but hard to wrap your mind around at first. Because of this, I have included step by step pictures of the stitch.
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| Step #1 | Step #2 | Step #3 |
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| Step #4 | Step #5 | Step #6 |
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Posted in Knit-Along, Knitting | 63 Comments »
Wheh! After a few long days of chart following, and cabling for the Twin Trees pattern, the simple knit and purl rows of the Dividing Rows pattern were a welcome relief.
I like to have a few different knitting projects going at all times, of varying levels of skill, to be able to switch back and forth, and never get overwhelmed. The Dividing Rows between the more complicated pattern sections of this project provide that same break from thinking too hard.
I was even able to leave the house and take my project out to a weekly knitting circle that I run at a café on Sunday mornings. Spending the afternoon with friends, knitting, drinking coffee and chatting is a weekly necessity and break from my busy work week. I realized several years ago when I started the group that too many knitters felt isolated by their projects, and loved having the support of the other knitters in the group to get through those challenging patterns. The ease of the stockinette and garter rows allowed me to sip coffee and chat while flying though the section. Until that is, everyone was so amazed by the beautiful Twin Trees, that the afternoon turned into a group tutorial. What fun!
We’ve gotten almost 500 comments on the knit-along posts so far. Here are a few common questions that people have been asking:
Do I continue the knit/purl 4 between repeats throughout the pattern?
While there is a knit/purl 4 between each repeat of the Twin Trees motif as stated in the afghan pattern, the Dividing Rows and Flower Garden motif should be worked as stated. You should have 180 sts at the beginning and the end of each section.
In the Flower Garden section, what yarn do I catch to draw up in a “long, loose loop”?
You catch your working yarn and draw it through.
Do I have to sew on the Tulip-Bud Border?
Because of the way the border is made, sewing it on will make it look best. If you’re concerned about sewing the border, take a deep breath and look at your afghan! You’ve made it through the all of the tree cabling and the Flower Garden motif, so you can definitely sew on the border! Consider it an opportunity to practice seaming, which is an important skill for all kinds of projects from sweaters to bags and more. For more on sewing, visit our illustrated guide.
While you’re here, take a moment to give yourself a pat on the back for all of your progress so far! And a special congratulations to everyone who has finished their afghan already!
Good luck and happy knitting!
Posted in Knit-Along, Knitting | 26 Comments »
Last Sunday was a bright and sunny day and I jumped at the chance to sit on my roof overlooking downtown Manhattan and start my spring afghan project. It’s calm, quiet and feels like a private oasis in the center of a busy city. Whenever I start a project as large as this, I try to take my time and read through the pattern in advance, as well as double-checking my cast on. It’s so easy to miss 1 or 2 cast on stitches, when you are working with 180 stitches, and even 1 stitch too few will throw your whole pattern off.
A great thing to remember when tackling a challenging project is to not get overwhelmed by the size of it, but break it down into simple components, section by section and row by row. When setting up, remember that in this project, the right side of the work will have a purled background and the trees will pop out of that because they are knitted, so your right side rows will begin with a purl stitch.
The trees are beautiful, with their twining branches, and do take some concentration, but the pattern chart is simple to follow if you can keep track of what row you are on. I suggest using a post-it to cover the rows already completed. The row directly above the post-it, is the row I am currently working on. Where M1 increases are used on the trunks of the trees, be sure to make them knitwise, as stated in the pattern,
The cables that make the branches twist as if waving in the wind are quick and easy once you’ve done one or two. Even if this is your very first cable project, you CAN do this!
Posted in Community, Knit-Along, Knitting | 61 Comments »
