Chain Stitches as Jewelry

September 21st, 2009 by Zontee

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!

Posted in Crocheting, Yarniverse | 5 Comments »

Was It Nostalgia?

September 15th, 2009 by Ilana

This pattern from our new catalog was an instant sensation.  Many of you who rated this pattern said that yarn-covered hangers bring back great memories of grandmothers or aunts who had these in their homes.  This updated version uses beautiful colors of the Cotton-Ease yarn and received rave reviews. One customer emailed us that she is planning to make 100 of them to create 10 gifts of 10 hangers each for her friends and co-workers.  It seems like this pattern is just so easy and the results so beautiful and practical that it’s more than nostalgia making these popular.  What do you think?

If you have made any of the patterns on our site, please to post a review.  Your pattern reviews help others decide which patterns to make.

Posted in Crafting, Yarns | 3 Comments »

5 Spring Patterns from YarnCraft Episode #36

March 17th, 2009 by Zontee

In the most recent episode of YarnCraft, our bi-weekly audio podcast, Liz and I look forward to spring with beautiful garments in lightweight cotton, including Cotton-Ease, Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton, Recycled Cotton, and LB Collection Cotton Bamboo. We also discuss how gauge, fabric density, and the look of your finished project relate to each other. We also talk about the Moderne Jacket crochet-along.

Here are five patterns to start your spring:

• Crystal Lake Shawl
• Serene Shell
• Tranquil Wrap
• Koko Kimono
• Vertical Stripes Baby Sweater

To listen to this episode, click here [MP3]. For more information about the podcast or this episode, visit the YarnCraft blog.

Join us next Tuesday for a new episode all about Easter and baby patterns for spring arrivals.

Posted in YarnCraft Podcast | 2 Comments »

Cupcake - Sweet and Stylish

August 8th, 2008 by Liz

I generally believe that everything–whether tool, material, or method–has a purpose to which it is ideally suited. In my opinion, sewing is good for some things (dresses and bags), knitting works best for others (socks) and crochet is ideal for still others (amigurumi and afghans). And I think every yarn has unique characteristics that tell you what sort of project it should be.

Smooth, classic yarns (Vanna’s Choice, Fishermen’s Wool, Wool-Ease, and Lion Wool) are good for detailed, textural stitches, like the cables in the Tree of Life Afghan. Textured yarns like Homespun are usually soft, lightweight, and look great when knitted or crocheted at a slightly looser gauge – making them perfect for quick afghans, shawls, and scarves.

When we set out to design a new baby yarn, we used this line of thinking. We asked: what does a yarn need to make good baby afghans, hats, and sweaters?

• Softness: 10 out of 10 babies agree: a baby yarn should be as soft as possible. (Or at least they would if babies could talk.)
• Bouncy texture: Babies love to snuggle up in a cuddly blanket or sweater, and a project needs enough body to stand up to lots of love and wear!
• Light weight: Don’t crush that baby under pounds of heavy yarn! A security blanket ought to be lightweight enough for year-round companionship.
• Fast to knit or crochet – We all know that babies come on a pretty specific schedule, so being able to use big hooks or needles helps you finish projects on time.
• Bright, Fun Colors – Lively colors celebrate the joy of being a kid.

We mixed all these different ingredients together and came up with: Cupcake. It’s super-soft; easy to use; looks great in simple stockinette, garter, or granny squares; is machine washable and dryable; and comes in fantastic colors. Whether you want to craft an Unsquared Afghan or a Sunny Side Up Hoodie, Cupcake is a wonderful choice.

Of course, all rules are meant to be broken, and sometimes the real fun can start when you take a material and use it for a new purpose. Imagine our delight when we experimented and found out that our ideal baby yarn also makes flattering and comfortable fashion garments. The Sophisticated Options Cardigan and Scarf and the Half Moon Shawl are just two examples. I’m tempted to make a joke about sweet surprises here–after all, Cupcake does lends itself to punning. (See the Think Pink Cupcake for a visual example.)

So next time you’re looking to experiment with a new yarn, treat yourself to Cupcake.

Posted in Yarns | 1 Comment »

5 Spring Projects from YarnCraft Episode #14

May 13th, 2008 by Zontee

In each episode of our podcast, YarnCraft, we feature a segment called “Stash This–Ideas for Your Crafting Life.” As I’ve mentioned before, 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 this episode, our focus was on combining knit and crochet, but in Stash This, we discussed great projects for warm weather. Here is just a sampling of the projects we discussed:

1. Market Bag - We featured a few different carrier bag patterns in Lion Cotton and Cotton-Ease that are great for carrying your groceries, going to the beach, or just running errands.
2. Bauhaus Washcloths - Washcloths are always reliable warm-weather projects because they are portable and useful.
3. Cropped Raglan Sweater - Light, layering pieces are great for the transition from cool to warm weather. This cropped sweater is just charming and Cotton-Ease or Lion Cotton can be substituted for the specified Lion Organic Cotton.
4. Naturally Classic Vest - I think this vest is great for both boys and girls because of its simple lines and neutral colors, plus it’s a good way to keep your kids warm at a time when they might not want to wear their jackets.
5. Lace Socks from the Lion Brand Just Socks book - Socks are a great project because they’re small and easy to carry, but just in case you’re no longer in the mood for thick, wool socks, the Just Socks book has some fantastic lace sock patterns that keep sock-making interesting, but more spring-appropriate.

For more ideas, check out the podcast every other Tuesday by visiting YarnCraft.LionBrand.com or search our Pattern Finder, and tell us about your current spring projects!

Posted in Crocheting, Knitting, YarnCraft Podcast | 1 Comment »

Q & A

April 30th, 2008 by Ilana

This is our first Q & A post so we’d like to share how the questions come to us. Lion Brand customer service associates answer questions by phone and email. We respond to over 12,000 email questions each month. This Q & A feature is culled from the most commonly asked questions. If you would like to submit a question, kindly do so in any of the following ways, rather than through this blog:

You may email it to support@lionbrand.com. For questions about an order you already placed, you may email or call 800-661-7551. If you need phone support to help you work through a pattern, you may call 800-705-8636. Keep in mind that these phone numbers are available only weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Q - I’m trying to find an crochet afghan in Vanna’s Choice that is easy enough for someone who knows simple stitch patterns.

A - The best way to find just what you are looking for is to use our Pattern Finder. With over 1,900 patterns to choose from (and growing daily), this great tool will save you lots of time. We used the pull-down menus to select “crochet” as the craft, “Vanna’s Choice” for the yarn, “easy” for the skill level and “afghans/throws/blankets” for the item type. The Pattern Finder located 14 afghans for you.

Try this with any requirement you have. Whether you looking for a baby blanket in Babysoft, a sweater in Wool-Ease or a scarf in Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, the Pattern Finder is the shortest route to get to those patterns.

If you want to fill in the search bar instead of using the drop-down menus, you can enter words describing what you want. The results will not be as accurate as they are when you use the drop-down menus, but if you prefer this method, use what works for you!

Give the Pattern Finder a try and let us know how it works or if you have any questions about it.

Posted in Tips & How To | 3 Comments »