Since 1997, when the first Harry Potter book was released, yarncrafters have had a special relationship with the wizarding world. Throughout the series, knitting patterns are mentioned over and over again, as are magical needles clicking away on scarves, sweaters, hats, and more. “Muggles”, a term from the books, has even become a popular word…

It’s a bittersweet time for the Harry Potter fans this July; as the movie release is right around the corner, we look forward to what might be an epic film, but unfortunately it will be the last.  Our lovely Lion Brand Yarn customers have shared some of their Harry Potter inspired designs with us, and we would…

Whether you’re making a whimsical flower accessory or reinforcing a potholder, the felting process creates many new worlds of fun and function. Best of all, it’s surprisingly easy, even for a beginner! Before you begin, check out our video with an introduction to felting. You’ll learn about how the felting process works, what kinds of…

Picking the right yarn for your sock project can make all the difference! Here are some important factors to consider when selecting your yarn: Thickness. Socks made from fingering weight yarns like Sock-Ease or LB 1878 are thin enough to be comfortably worn inside of shoes. Yarns thicker than sport weight are ideal for making…

Market bags make a perfect summer project. They work up fairly quickly, and are made in cotton and cotton blend yarns (great for summer because of their cool hand and easy care). Best of all, market bags can be used as soon as you’ve completed your project. These four bags in knit and crochet have…

I’ve talked to you in the past about how to increase and decrease, but how do you know when to increase or decrease? Often a pattern will tell you very explicitly how to place your increases or decreases, for example: Next Row (Increase Row – RS): K1 (4, 1, 4, 1), kfb, k4, p1, k5,…

Many people have asked us, “What is the best yarn for making amigurumi?” I always respond by saying that there are so many great options for crocheting and knitting toys; the most important considerations are texture, color, washability, and gauge (when provided by a pattern). That being said, here are 3 of my absolute favorite…

Ever thought about making your own dish cloths? With summer heating up, it’s time to break out the fast-finish super-portable projects.  Dish cloths are lightweight, quick to make and easy to carry with you on vacation, to the beach or even on your commute. You can use a finished dishcloth right away in any season,…

Everyone needs a great pair of comfy slippers, and summer is a great season to make some! Slippers and slipper socks make great portable projects, and are excellent items to have on hand once the weather begins to get cooler.  Here are 5 of great patterns to make a pair of these must haves! These Scrunchy, Slouchy Slipper Socks can be…

Alright, knitters. Now that all of your crocheting friends are cranking out ripple blankets and lacy scarves thanks to last week’s blog post, it’s your turn. The good news is, your choices in decreases are pretty straight forward: k2tog, ssk (or skp) will turn two stitches into one, and for multiple decreases, you’ll either see…