Q – I’ve heard about blocking, but I’m not sure what it is and what it’s for. Can you explain? A – Blocking refers to the process of stretching and shaping a finished piece to ensure it is the proper size and shape. It can be used to finish any item and even out stitches.…

Although I have been knitting for years, I was always scared of making socks. Closing the toe, turning the heel — these ideas were foreign to me. Then there are all of the decisions involved: double pointed needles or circulars, toe up or top down, two at a time or one, etc. But for my…

Weaving is such a great activity for anyone who loves textiles and textures. I remember weaving on a little cardboard loom in school as a kid. Now, for anyone who wants to have a real loom of their very own, we have the fantastic Cricket Loom. This little high-quality loom is so easy to set…

How do I join the crochet-along (CAL) or knit-along (KAL)? Just download the pattern, pick up your supplies either at your local store or on our website, and start knitting! No need to sign up or anything. Just read the posts and share your thoughts with other participants. How often will you update? Generally, we…

On episode 35 of YarnCraft, our radio-style show for knitters, crocheters, and yarncrafters of all sorts, Liz and I take you all the way to Minnesota for the annual Knit-Out & Crochet sponsored by the Craft Yarn Council of America. Thousands upon thousands of knitters and crocheters descended upon the Mall of America (biggest mall…

It may be a snow day for children all along the East coast on Monday with an expected foot or more of snow expected  here in New York City.   Whether you are a parent or grandparent, you’ll find a wonderful selection of yarncrafting patterns especially for kids. Yarncrafting with children gives you an opportunity to…

A customer came in the other day to our New York Store, and asked if there was a trick to keeping her gauge consistent.  She was working on an afghan made up of many knitted squares.  She knew she would be knitting them over a long period of time and wanted to know how to…

Q – I want to knit a simple baby blanket in worsted weight yarn. How much yarn will I need? A – While the amount of yarn will depend on your gauge, yarn choice, the stitch pattern you select, and the size of your project, we do have a great chart that has estimates for…

For quick Super Bowl party decorations, make big, colorful pom poms in your team’s colors.  Here’s a color chart of yarns that work for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals.  See tomorrow’s newsletter for an idea of something fun to crochet during the game. You can use a piece of cardboard to make pom…

The Cable Luxe Tunic is done — woo-hoo! As a designer, many times I have to work on wooly projects in the summer and cool lightweight projects in the winter, so it was a pleasure having this wonderfully warm project on my lap these last few weeks when the temperature was rarely reaching double digits!…