Felting allows you to take knit and crochet pieces and turn them into thick, sturdy cloth suitable for purses, hats, slippers and more just by throwing your wool items into the washing machine and dryer. This month, Jackie Smyth, our technical editor, gives some tips on felting. What is felting, Jackie? Felting is the process…

As we continue our series on embellishing your socks, we now introduce a new stitch into our basic sock pattern. Because socks are compact and quick to whip-up, they’re a great opportunity to try out new stitches. In our last two installments, we talked about color-work. In this article, we feature an eyelet sock pattern,…

After crocheting what I was sure was the world’s longest crochet chain (it was at least 60 feet long, but far short of the world record) in fourth grade, I finally decided it might be time to learn another crochet technique. I sat with my grandmother that summer at the kitchen table in our shore…

Socks are a great, compact project that can be made on the go. In each installment, we will show you different ways to add color and pattern to a basic child’s sock. Click here for part 1 and click here for part 2. This month’s article is all about stripes.Striped socks are a fun and…

Techniques for binding off are as numerous as techniques for casting on. There are bind-offs that produce firm edges, looser edges, stretchy edges, edges that look like the pattern stitch used, gathered edges, decorative edges, and bind-offs that join two edges together. It is wise to begin by learning a basic bind-off technique to use…

Techniques for binding off are as numerous as techniques for casting on. There are bind-offs that produce firm edges, looser edges, stretchy edges, edges that look like the pattern stitch used, gathered edges, decorative edges, and bind-offs that join two edges together. It is wise to begin by learning a basic bind-off technique to use…

Why are socks so popular to make right now? Socks are a great easy-to-carry project and they’re compact and satisfying to make. Over the next few months, we will be showing you different ways to embellish your sock patterns. In our first installment, we featured a basic, solid kids’ sock. In this article, we feature…

Why are socks so popular? Socks are a great easy-to-carry project and they’re compact and satisfying to make. Over the next month, we will be showing you different ways to embellish your sock patterns. The first project in our sock series is the solid colored sock — the pattern on which all the rest of…

Well, I have finished the Tranquil Tank Top and it is still Spring!  It has been great to see pictures of the finished tops that many of you have created during our Spring Knit Along.   If you have not finished, don’t worry – we will keep the posts of this KAL available long after this…

Looking for beginner projects that look spectacular? I ask Jackie Smyth, Lion Brand’s technical editor, about her recommendations on three easy-to-make, high impact afghans that are perfect gift projects. What are gift ideas for beginner knitters and crocheters? A classic handknit or hand-crocheted gift is definitely the afghan or throw. You many not realize it, but…