12 Things We’re Doing Besides Knitting & Crocheting: Cooking, Reading, Traveling and more!

Here in the marketing department at Lion Brand, we talk a lot about knitting and crocheting and yarn and magic loops and swatches and yarn weights (we know our DK from our super bulky) and and and … bottom line is that we’re all experts in one way or another when it comes yarn. We can talk about it all day — and we do! You may however be surprised to know that we’re also fairly well-rounded with an excess of interests, hobbies and obsessions that go beyond the hooks and needles.

We thought you might enjoy a peek into our inner worlds. Have fun and please share some of your own personal interests outside of knitting and crocheting in the comments below.

Margaux:The place I like the most these days is my rooftop; it has nothing fancy but the view of the city is spectacular. On sunny evenings we like to relax there and share a nice bottle of wine with my neighbors. Recently, I had a great time at a low-key dance performance: Andy Warhol’s 15 (Color Me, Warhol) at Dixon Place. This small theater is a non-profit organization committed to supporting the creative process by presenting original works of dance, theater, music, visual art… It’s a very unique place! And continuing on my “discover NYC” tour, I discovered my favorite restaurant in the city: Hometown. It may sound a bit silly but this BBQ joint encompasses the exact image I had of traditional American food.

Shira: Well, I feel like I’m Kelly Clarkson preparing for my summer tour. I am starting my tour by heading to Atlanta to talk to the North Georgia Knitting Guild and the Chain Gang on May 21st! You can check out where I’ll be next here.

On a more personal level I have been getting back into cooking. Life happened and I just put cooking to the side. However a friend came in from out of town and I was feeling very Martha Stewart sooo … A friend of mine told me about this delicious recipe for Hummus-Crusted Chicken. It is so yummy, a real crowd-pleaser and SOOOOO easy! I don’t even use veggies as the recipe calls for! Here’s what you do: 1) Preheat the oven to 450 degrees; 2) Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper; 3) Coat the chicken breasts in hummus, then sprinkle salt, pepper and paprika on top; 4) Squeeze on some lemon juice (I then take the lemon and slice it and put it on top of the chicken); 5) Bake for 25-30min and oulah … I guarantee that you will have re-occurring guests for dinner!

Lorena: My best friend from elementary school just got married to a guy we grew up with, and another old friend just proposed to his girlfriend! The wedding bug has officially hit my circle of friends and I’ve been inspired to read Galt Neiderhoffer’s “The Romantics”, about a group of friends reuniting for a wedding (art imitating life?) Since the weather’s nice, I’ve been taking my reading outdoors to Riverside Park, Union Square Park, and, of course, Central Park. Up next for me? Exploring (and reading in) Brooklyn’s Botanical Garden!

Zoe: I’m getting ready for my third solo exhibition and it’s really crunch time now! Even after the artwork is finished, there is still photography, marketing, packing and shipping to be done before the show can finally be hung in the gallery. ORACLES opens Friday, June 5^th at PSG Gallery in Philadelphia. If you are in the Philadelphia area and enjoy surreal sculpture in needle felted wool, I hope you’ll check it out!

Brandyce: New York City has so many different museums and galleries, it’s almost like you need to carry around a checklist just to keep track with what’s going on! I just recently went to the Brooklyn Museum to check out the exhibition, Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks. The museum itself currently has some exhibitions which are quite enlightening and make you think about how you interpret the world around you. I look forward to seeing a lot more art this summer; The MET has just unveiled its new rooftop garden piece and I can’t wait to check it out.

Ilana: After the winter we just had, all I want to do is be outside and soak up the warmth. As soon as the temperature hit the high 50s I started playing tennis. In a city where real estate is at a premium, you either have to wake up early to reserve a court or wait in line. Court time may be a scarcity but I don’t mind waiting for a spot at my favorite location on the Hudson River where I can play under the lights and see a sunset. That’s New York. You face a lot of challenges but the benefits are pretty amazing!

Danielle: I went to Cort Theater last Saturday to see Larry David in his new play, Fish in the Dark. It’s a quirky show about a dysfunctional family facing the death of their patriarch. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry … it’s great. Fans of Curb Your Enthusiasm will appreciate the hidden references (well, one is pretty, pretty obvious). If you’re visiting New York in the next while, grab tickets if you can – I give this show a big thumbs up! (Pro tip: Larry David’s run ends June 7th and Jason Alexander steps in on June 9th – great news for Seinfeld fans!)

Sarah: I just got back from a vacation in Las Vegas. While I didn’t do much gambling, I did a bit of eating.

Shake Shack has my favorite burger so I had to stop at the one in the New York New York casino. It was just as good as home! I also went to In-N-Out Burger since we don’t have any on the east coast! Right now Las Vegas is the only place where you can get both cult favorites! There’s a big rivalry.

Which one do you prefer?

Welcome Lorena!