In the 15 years I have taught knitting, probably the #1 fear (and reason students come for help) is what this week is all about: finishing.  In fact, it is the most unloved part of a project for many knitters and a reason there are many UFOs (unfinished objects) in closets.  I actually love to…

I must be getting near the home stretch of the Saturday Morning Hoodie, because I have finally reached the part that that makes it one: the hood. This last week I sewed in the second sleeve, and then I decided to sew the side and sleeve seams together as well. (This just makes the piece a…

Slippers are popular winter projects for both crocheters and knitters. However, the soles of handmade slippers can be, well, slippery. Here are a few ideas for making your slipper soles non-skid. Pre-made soles. Our suede soles are durable and warm. They also add some traction to your slippers. You can also find leather soles or…

This certainly was a good week for me to work on two sleeves that are both identical and symmetrical.  It is that time of the year I find myself at college swimming meets for my daughter, which gives me time to enjoy watching her swim and also work on a great take-along projects–like sleeves to…

There is so much we offer for free on our site to help you with your yarn crafting but I have the feeling you may not know about all of these goodies.  Here are 5 kinds of freebies you can get.  Please check them out and let me know what you think. 1.  Charity Finder…

With the back of my Saturday Morning Hoodie finished, it’s now on to the fronts!  It certainly is not too late for any of you to join in,  because with a stitch gauge of 2 1/2 stitches to the inch,  this hoodie “grows” very quickly. I really like working the back of a sweater (especially…

I love the versatility of dark clothing and accessories. As a yarncrafter, I am often drawn to rich, deep shades. However, it can be very difficult to see your stitches. Here are 5 easy tips that I use to make knitting and crocheting with dark yarns a success. 1. Select the right pattern. Pattern selection…

I think that if there ever was a “Winter to Knit” contest, this winter would take 1st prize!  It’s great to see so many of you join our Winter Knit-Along (KAL)  and it certainly is not too late to join making the Saturday Morning Hoodie.  Some of you have ordered your yarn, or already have…

I am very happy to be here again to lead our 2011 Winter Knit-Along (KAL) with all of you! I think the Saturday Morning Hoodie is a great choice for so many reasons, and I know you will enjoy making it during the rest of what has been a very cold and snowy winter. It…

You probably already know that you need a LionBrand.com account to access our thousands of free patterns. But did you know that your account also helps you to keep track of patterns you’ve downloaded as PDFs, in case you misplace them? What’s more, it allows you to edit (or delete) any of the pattern ratings,…