~ Greetings and Warm Welcome ~to all my sweet friends and blog readers!I want to wish my fellow countrymen a very hearty Happy Independence Day!I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy from the top of my head to the tips of my toes...I wasn't born on the 4th of July but doggone close to it at 5 a.m. on July 5th!Growing up my family chose to celebrate my birthday on the 4th, since all was together for the holiday, and really as an adult it still sort of gets celebrated on the 4th. . . really we sort of celebrate my birthday all week long ;) HA HA! I'll take it!I had a very productive Patriotic Stitching…
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Most Popular Stories
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It's a Grand Old Flag...
The Twisted Stitcher4 Jul 2017 | 2:13 pm -
How To Embroider On Your Child’s T-shirts
Needle Work18 Jul 2017 | 10:00 amThis is a great tutorial on how to Embroidery simple designs on to your child’s clothing or blankets. This tutorial will take you through step by step on how to customize a baby shirt, baby vest or bib. You can … Read More ... -
Knitting Daily
Crochet News19 Jul 2017 | 9:17 amKnitting Daily is hosted by a cast of popular magazine editors: " Interweave Knits" Editor Eunny Jang, "Interweave Crochet" Editor Kim Werker, "Handwoven" Managing Editor and former Managing Editor of "Spin-Off," Liz Gipson, along with Shay Pendray, original host of Needle Arts Studio. KDTV covers a variety of needle crafts from knitting and crochet to stitching, felting, and spinning and guide viewers in learning to make fun yet smart one-of-a-kind designs using the latest products in yarn and fiber. -
Hello, Goodbye....
Thistle Cove Farm13 Jul 2017 | 9:42 amHA! Bet you might have thought something else, eh? Recently, it was my extreme pleasure to go on a small group tour of the Lake District, UK with Helen Bertram of Whitecroft Traditional Tours. It was, in one word, excellent; to use two words...most excellent. All I had to do was show up and be taken care of; long time blog readers know that for an amazingly rare treat. To say it was a shock, coming home to the lovely cacophonic reception of dogs, cats, horses who ALL wanted me to get back to the job of tending to their needs...I ask you...is there a recovery program available for me?�But… -
A Flowerpot of Flowers for the Teachers Assistant.
WordPress Tag: Crochet19 Jul 2017 | 8:00 pmI mentioned a couple of days ago that I’d made cards for Little Cobs to take to school for the
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The Twisted Stitcher
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It's a Grand Old Flag...
4 Jul 2017 | 2:13 pm~ Greetings and Warm Welcome ~to all my sweet friends and blog readers!I want to wish my fellow countrymen a very hearty Happy Independence Day!I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy from the top of my head to the tips of my toes...I wasn't born on the 4th of July but doggone close to it at 5 a.m. on July 5th!Growing up my family chose to celebrate my birthday on the 4th, since all was together for the holiday, and really as an adult it still sort of gets celebrated on the 4th. . . really we sort of celebrate my birthday all week long ;) HA HA! I'll take it!I had a very productive Patriotic Stitching Month during June. I'd like to recap what I stitched...as well as share with you a couple of new finishes:"Betsy's... -
Security...
29 Jun 2017 | 8:47 pmI just want to bring to the attention of my readers that this blog is encrypted and has been for the past year. When coming to my blog the address is � ��https:// ��indicating my secure, encrypted status, which covers all links and content on this blog.ALSO�for your browsing safety, you will note in your address browser a padlock icon which indicates Blogger and my Blog,as encrypted and secure as well.�Just an FYI after some questions received this evening on the security of the content found on my blog. All links, all ads, simply everything on my blog is encrypted, password protected and supported by Blogger who is also encrypted and protected. My blog is a safe web address. -
Early Americans...calling Martha!
21 Jun 2017 | 8:48 am~ Welcome Friends ~Warm Welcome to each of you!and also...A big thank you for coming back to my little slice of the world here on Blogger.:)Today I have to share...my progress on my "Early Americans" sampler by Little House Needleworks.Martha is in the HOUSE!You know...when I started on this journey, I was so excited about this series...and it is so satisfying to me when I see a firm foundation laid (and I figure one row done and stitched is a firm foundation) and I can actually see that what I visualized in my head was perfect. I LOVE my border.�I'm sorry, I'm not bragging on myself (well I guess in reality, I am) ~ I really didn't know if it would look good.Would it be too busy?�That was my primary worry,... -
I'm ready!
9 Jun 2017 | 2:44 pm~ Greetings Friends ~warm wishes to all of you!Hey, guess what?!I'm ahead of schedule! What do I mean?! I mean...I'm ready for Flag Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day...yep, I'm ready!Last night I finished..."Home of the Brave"by Little House NeedleworksA Classic Colorworks Thread Pack�(to get these just ask for them at your shop they can get them year round, always available)With this finish...it mean that the trio of Patriotic Designs that Little House has put out with Classic Colorworks was completed. So...if you follow me on my YouTube Channel�where I do my video podcasts each month on "FlossTube" you will know that I am working on my "Patriotic Room"�Just a room that I'm hoping to fill with Patriotic... -
Goodbye May....
1 Jun 2017 | 5:23 am~ Greetings and Warm Days of Spring Welcome ~to all my friends and fellow stitchers!How are you?!We are buzzing right along...I cannot believe today is the first of June....I need to wrap a few things up for May, so thought I'd swing in to do just that very thing today.Goodbye May...but before we say goodbye to May, let's view:"Hello May"�by Hands on Designfrom the "Hello There" series�I am a member of the Fat Quarter Shop's��"HELLO THERE" Club which is available inAIDA (click HERE) orLINEN (click HERE)This club is totally wonderful and I am enjoying it so much. Everything just right at my finger tips when it arrives in my mailbox each month (AND you get a seasonal needleminder each month too! BONUS!!!...
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Needle Work
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How To Embroider On Your Child’s T-shirts
18 Jul 2017 | 10:00 amThis is a great tutorial on how to Embroidery simple designs on to your child’s clothing or blankets. This tutorial will take you through step by step on how to customize a baby shirt, baby vest or bib. You can … Read More ... -
Tea Towel -All Things Grow With Love
15 Jul 2017 | 10:00 amEmbroider a small and colorful Spring garden on a Sage Green Striped Tea Towel with a creamy white background. The verse is sweet and thoughtful plus the fun little garden of flowers will cheer us up as we do the … Read More ... -
Blue Tit Needlework Brooch
11 Jul 2017 | 10:00 am‘A Little Blue Tit For A Friend’. This little blue tit brooches make the perfect embellishment to your lapel. Made from snippets of new and vintage fabric.… Read More ... -
Embellished Wild Flower Hoop and Pattern
4 Jul 2017 | 10:00 amThis pattern is for a wildflower hoop piece. There are quite a few colors in this so you might want to use your scraps rather than by all the DMC threads individually. You can grab the pattern from here. Wildflower … Read More ... -
Adorable Embroidered Clouds Pattern
1 Jul 2017 | 10:00 amMake your own cute Cloud Baby with this free sewing pattern and tutorial. These little clouds would be adorable for a nursery room or cuddle area. Their little eylashes are so sweet. You can grab the free pattern here. Baby … Read More ...
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Crochet News
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Knitting Daily
19 Jul 2017 | 9:17 amKnitting Daily is hosted by a cast of popular magazine editors: " Interweave Knits" Editor Eunny Jang, "Interweave Crochet" Editor Kim Werker, "Handwoven" Managing Editor and former Managing Editor of "Spin-Off," Liz Gipson, along with Shay Pendray, original host of Needle Arts Studio. KDTV covers a variety of needle crafts from knitting and crochet to stitching, felting, and spinning and guide viewers in learning to make fun yet smart one-of-a-kind designs using the latest products in yarn and fiber. -
Make Your Baby a Hero With This Crocheted Thor Baby Set
18 Jul 2017 | 5:19 amYou know that your little one is destined for greatness, but it might take a little convincing to get other people to believe it. But that's where Etsy seller CrochetHeroDesigns comes in -helping you put together the perfect outfit to deckout your little hero. -
Rides and smiles: Bus driver knits a toy for every kid on her route
13 Jul 2017 | 3:14 pmSchool bus driver, Trudy Serres, of Waukesha, Wisconsin has crocheted over 30 items for the kids. It took her about four months to complete them all. -
Repurpose those plastic bags
13 Jul 2017 | 10:51 amLearn how to repurpose those plastic bags into something useful - make tote bags, baskets, mats, or whatever your imagination will bring to fruition. -
Knitting Project
12 Jul 2017 | 9:53 pmThe group will be dedicated to community service, beginning with a project of making winter hats, mittens, and scarves for surrounding area schools. Bring yarn, hook, knitting needles, and any patterns you'd like to work on during this time.
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Thistle Cove Farm
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Hello, Goodbye....
13 Jul 2017 | 9:42 amHA! Bet you might have thought something else, eh? Recently, it was my extreme pleasure to go on a small group tour of the Lake District, UK with Helen Bertram of Whitecroft Traditional Tours. It was, in one word, excellent; to use two words...most excellent. All I had to do was show up and be taken care of; long time blog readers know that for an amazingly rare treat. To say it was a shock, coming home to the lovely cacophonic reception of dogs, cats, horses who ALL wanted me to get back to the job of tending to their needs...I ask you...is there a recovery program available for me?�But I digress. I'm at the library, again, sigh, and am uploading photos of the trip with the actual travelogue to come... -
Sabbath Keeping
8 Jul 2017 | 10:00 pm"Pleasant words are a honeycomb,sweet to the soul andhealing to the bones."~ Proverbs 16:24 ~If you can't say anything niceDon't say anything at all.�~ Mom ~For most folks, it doesn't cost anything extra to be nice."Not only do I think being nice and kind is easy, but being kind, in my opinion, is important."~ Dwayne Johnson ~"I still get weepy when I see a father being nice to his child. It so affects me." ~ Pat Conroy ~"Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." ~ Mark Twain ~Kindness is never wasted."Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you." ~ Princess Diana ~"Constant kindness can... -
Sabbath Keeping
21 May 2017 | 5:14 pm"I know the plans I have for you",says the Lord."They are plans for good andnot for disaster,to give you a future and a hope."~ Jeremiah 29:11 ~�"God is not concerned about our plans. He does not say-"Do you want to go through this bereavement, this upset?" He allows these things for His own purpose. The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, nobler men and women; or they are making us more captious and fault-finding, more insistent upon our own way. The things that happen either make us fiends, or they make us saints; it depends entirely upon the relationship we are in to God. If we say- "Thy will be done," we get the consolation of John 17, the consolation of knowing that our... -
Sabbath Keeping
14 May 2017 | 5:36 pm"My son, keep your father's command and�do not forsake your mother's teaching."�~ Proverbs 6:20 ~"I remembered my mother's prayers and they have always followed me.�They have clung to me all my life."�~ Abraham Lincoln ~"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother."~ Theodore Hesburgh ~"Motherhood is a choice you make everyday, to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is...and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong."~ Donna Ball, At Home on Ladybug Farm ~"But behind all your stories is your mother's story because hers is... -
Sabbath Keeping
7 May 2017 | 8:30 pm"Let him who boasts boast about this:that he understands and knows me,that I am the LORD, who exercises�kindness, justice and righteousness on earth,for in these I delight,"declares the LORD."~ Jeremiah 9:24~�"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others;for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness;and for poise, walk with the knowledge�that you are never alone."~ Audrey Hepburn ~�"The greatest thing a man can do for his heavenly Father�is to be kind to some of his other children."~ Henry Drummond ~�"You cannot do a kindness too soon,for you never know how soon it will be too late."~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~�"Want to snatch a day from the manacles of boredom? Do overgenerous deeds, acts beyond...
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WordPress Tag: Crochet
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A Flowerpot of Flowers for the Teachers Assistant.
19 Jul 2017 | 8:00 pmI mentioned a couple of days ago that I’d made cards for Little Cobs to take to school for the -
Pattern: Incineroar Amigurumi
19 Jul 2017 | 7:01 pmA 4″ tall amigurumi of the Pokemon Incineroar. The pattern is available on Ravelry and on Etsy. This is more or less just me transferring this pattern over to my new blog. But I did make some changes and I took new pictures so that’s as good of a reason as any to post a comparison pic. Changes: – Added a row to the eyebrows – Removed a row from the tail – Only one crochet hook size needed, because it wasn’t necessary to have two different ones in the first place – Used slightly different colors for the eyes and body That’s it. Nothin’ special. Enjoy the novelty of me posting two things in one day. :P Get the pattern on Ravelry or Etsy. -
Pattern: Mister Fox Amigurumi
19 Jul 2017 | 6:45 pmA 4.5″ tall amigurumi of a cute little foxy guy. The pattern is available on Ravelry and on Etsy. Hi, so I died again. Sorry ’bout that. But the good news is I finally have my crocheting life (pretty much) sorted, and by that I mean I have now decided I will only* use Stylecraft Special DK yarn for my amigurumi. There, done, decision final. You have no idea how much it has been agonizing me to keep using a whole bunch of different types of yarn with different sizes, quality, colors, etc. So my raging perfectionism has led me to Stylecraft and I freaking love it why haven’t I been using this the whole time the past 5 years have been pointless without you in my life. Any who, I’ve sold all my yarn that’s not... -
Watermelon
19 Jul 2017 | 5:16 pmE left bright and early to commute to work in her little mocha coloured Fiat 500. It’s surprising how tiny it is but how much it can hold. She packed her little sunflower seedling operation into the tiny boot; twenty five terracotta pots with a tray of spares in case some didn’t make it out of the playground gates in one piece. The children were excited about taking home a living plant and chattered about how big theirs would grow, it was a great idea but we did have to start a whole new set of plants after the first batch grew too high and became quite fragile to handle. After not much growth they really need to be in a flower bed up against a fence or wall and staked. We don’t have an ideal place for... -
Thanks for Stopping By!
19 Jul 2017 | 4:53 pmI’m so grateful you’re checking out this website! It’s a blog format which can be a little weird, so here are the highlights: 1. Scroll down to read recent blog posts. 2. Check out the “crochet tops” tab to see all designs that are currently available for custom order. All tops can be made in any size and many colors.� 3. Click the “photo gallery” tab to see gorgeous photos of these crochet tops in action taken by the talented Quin Tyler and Jacalyn Meyvis. Links to their websites are on the gallery tab as well. 4. If you have any questions, find my email on the “contact” tab!� Thanks so much for supporting your local crochet addict❤️ Much...
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Knitting News
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Knitting Daily
19 Jul 2017 | 9:34 amKnitting Daily is hosted by a cast of popular magazine editors: " Interweave Knits" Editor Eunny Jang, "Interweave Crochet" Editor Kim Werker, "Handwoven" Managing Editor and former Managing Editor of "Spin-Off," Liz Gipson, along with Shay Pendray, original host of Needle Arts Studio. KDTV covers a variety of needle crafts from knitting and crochet to stitching, felting, and spinning and guide viewers in learning to make fun yet smart one-of-a-kind designs using the latest products in yarn and fiber. -
Nannas show support for refugees
18 Jul 2017 | 5:33 pmTHE knitting Tassie Nannas will cast their needles aside in favour of candles when they gather in Hobart tonight to hold a vigil for offshore refugees. Iris Palmese, 3, and Evie Palmese, 9, with Pauline Shelley and Trish Moran and a banner they have knitted in support of refugees. -
Visitors enjoy a taste of Cotswold life as festival proves popular
18 Jul 2017 | 3:02 pmIn the spirit of Only Fools and Horses, and driven by a fishnet stockinged lady chauffeur, Ben Eddolls kick-started the biennial community event with a bang. From petting Cotswold 'Lion' sheep and handling birds of prey to knitting and weaving, families experienced a slice of Cotswold life, heritage and crafts. -
Tutu's House 7/18/17
18 Jul 2017 | 10:26 amAdvanced Ukulele meets each Tuesday from 9:30-11 a.m. with Aunty Marjie Spencer, and welcomes experienced players of all ages to bring their ukulele and join in a morning of friendship and song. Bring an iPAD or laptop, with forScore or unrealBook 'app' installed for music sharing. -
Meet the Woodford Green 'knitting Noras' helping to keep people in need warm
18 Jul 2017 | 5:31 amEvery Sunday, the "knitty Noras" meet to make colourful squares which are later sewn into blankets, and were recently acclaimed by charity Age UK after finishing their 250th blanket. This team of knitters are helping to spread some goodness around the world by knitting hundreds of blankets for British people in need.
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WEBS Yarn Store Blog
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Ready, Set, Knit! Show 494: Kathy Talks With Leslie Ann Bestor
15 Jul 2017 | 5:36 amIt’s all about spinning and weaving on Ready, Set, Knit! today!! This week, Kathy is talking with our spinning and weaving manager, Leslie Ann Bestor, all about the New England Weaving and Spinning Seminar, which is happening THIS WEEKEND right here in Northampton! NEWS is taking place at Smith College, right up the road (5 minutes!) from our Northampton, Mass store. NEWS only happens every other year and it’s FREE, so you won’t want to miss this! Kathy and LA are also going to be talking about the Tour de Fleece, which is also going on right now. Join our Ravelry group for a lively discussion about the Tour de Fleece! � For more information about the New England Weaver’s Seminar, click here! � Steve’s... -
WEBS Expert Knitter Certification Capstone Graduation 2017
10 Jul 2017 | 4:06 amMy favorite evening of the year is the Capstone Graduation ceremony, held at the Delaney House a few miles down the road from WEBS. It’s a chance to congratulate and praise the students who have made their way through the 19 required classes and electives, and then used the knowledge they’ve acquired to design and knit a sweater that fits them to a T. This year’s graduation was held on June 21, a beautiful summer evening, and our group gathered to socialize, see old and new friends and fellow students and teachers, and celebrate our newest group of 9 graduates. We began with a tribute to a dear friend and colleague, Liz Wrobleski. Liz passed away very unexpectedly in late December–we’d already met and I had... -
Valley Yarns Style Guide: 3 Ways To Style the Harkin Pullover
7 Jul 2017 | 11:26 amDo you ever see something that you really want to knit, but aren’t sure how you would fit that style into your current wardrobe? Me too. All the time. We all want to get as much use out of our handknits as possible. Making your own clothing is time consuming and can get very expensive. When I’m looking at a potential new project, I ask myself these four questions: 1. What fiber will I knit this in and realistically wear? This is really a two-part question. What is the original garment made out of? Was it designed for a cotton and silk blend, so it will have lots of drape and movement? If so, would I be willing to invest the time and money into that particular yarn or something similar? Will it look as... -
Ready, Set, Knit! Show 493: Kathy Talks with Andra Asars
1 Jul 2017 | 6:17 amToday on Ready, Set, Knit!, Kathy is interviewing Andra Asars, our Berroco representative and longtime friend of WEBS! Kathy and Andra are having a great conversation all about the four new Berroco releases for Fall ’17, Quechua, Bento, Catena, and Millefiori Big. As always, these new yarns come with fantastic pattern support crafted by the Berroco design team. You won’t want to miss this! � Check out the pattern collections for these yarns! There are tons of fantastic garments and accessories, with great styling ideas! Quechua Bento Catena Millefiori Big � Steve’s Yarn Picks of the week: <ul> <li>Tram Silk Grab Bag – One time only!</li> <li>Italian Silk Grab Bag – One time only!</li> <li>Malabrigo Worsted Gradient Kit</li> <li>Plymouth...</li></ul> -
Ready, Set, Knit! Show 492: Kathy Talks With Tina Whitmore
24 Jun 2017 | 4:58 amThis week on Ready, Set, Knit!, Kathy is talking with Tina Whitmore, owner of Freia Yarns. Tina started knitting as a child, and has been knitting ever since! She now owns and dyes for Freia Fine Handpaints – and creates the STUNNING hand-pained ombre colorways we all drool after! Listen to learn more about Tina and her company, and what inspired her to start dyeing yarns! Don’t forget! This week is the I-91 Shop Hop weekend! Stop by WEBS and grab a free pattern, designed exclusively for Shop Hop by Melissa LaBarre!! Are you going to try and hit all 11 in one day? Steve’s Yarn Picks of the week: <ul> <li>Freia Fine Handpaints Kanab Creek Shawl Kit – WEBS Exclusive!</li> <li>Lux Adorna Wonder Woman KAL</li> <li>Lorna’s Laces...</li></ul>
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Yarn Harlot
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It started with a boo boo
18 Jul 2017 | 9:23 amA few days ago, before I rode my bike 120km in the pouring rain (I am not even kidding. I’ve never had to ride in conditions like that. At one point I was going up a hill with Jen and Ken, and it was raining so hard that the water was coursing down it, and we all looked down and burst out laughing – none of us had ever ridden “upriver” before. It was nothing short of epic. My riding shoes are still wet, a whole day later.) I hurt my finger. I was making dinner, and moving fast, and a tiny mistake with a knife put a tiny cut in my thumb. I cursed, cleaned it, whacked a little band-aid on it and thought no more about it until I sat down to knit about and hour later. Every stitch I made hurt the cut and stuck... -
And I might have another nap too
10 Jul 2017 | 1:46 pmSometimes when I write to you, I sit here tapping my fingers on the keyboard, thinking of what I could be doing that would be interesting for you to read about. Paperwork? Laundry? Another pair of plain socks because this is Canada and winter is always coming? Then there’s weekends like this one, where I did so much that’s worth telling you about that I can’t decide what to tell you first. I think I’ve got it sorted out now – I’m going to show you knitting – I know, totally shocking. I was going to tell you about the weekend, Jen and I did our “back-to-backs.” It’s a training benchmark everyone doing the rally has to meet, and this was the deadline, and so on Saturday we rode about 115km, and on... -
Turnabout
5 Jul 2017 | 12:20 pmI started out thinking that this Wednesday wasn’t going to be anything special. As a matter of fact, it started with the Dentist (not my best scene) so I didn’t have high hopes. It turns out though, that at just about the moment last night that I put down the blanket and turned to Joe to say “I’m pretty sure I can finish this tomorrow” my sister-in-law Robyn went into labour, and today we’ve got a lovely new nephew. Details to follow, but he’s healthy, and lovely, and his mum is just fine, and they’re tucked up in their bed at home. (That’s where he was born. Quite nice.) Since I have neither a nephew or a blanket to show you, can I distract you (with my thanks, for showing Cameron a little love... -
Long Distance Knitting Ninja
4 Jul 2017 | 3:34 pmI’ve got two feelings about knitting that most of you will have guessed by now. (Well, I have lots and lots of feelings about knitting, but let’s just talk about two today. It’s best not to let all the crazy out of the box at once.) First, I think knitting is a good friend to have. I’m seldom lonely if I have my knitting with me – especially if it’s the right kind, and like all good friends, knitting (usually, let’s not go too deep here) makes me feel pretty good about myself. No matter what else I suck at, knitting can give me a deep feeling of accomplishment, a sense of order out of chaos, and the knowledge that I do a lot of things (just not all things) pretty well. Second, I think it’s not that hard.... -
Oh, Canada
3 Jul 2017 | 5:05 pmI bet you thought I wasn’t going to post for Canada Day this year, but here I am, what may seem like a few days late, but it’s not. Our family had ton’s of commitments this weekend, but luckily the grand occasion of Canada’s Sesquicentennial fell on a Saturday this year, and that means that today’s a Statutory holiday as well, and bingo – there was our Canada Day together. We had a little party with a simple premise. Bring Canadian food. Blog, we had the loveliest time. Poutine, ketchup chips, Hawaiian Pizza (that’s pizza with pineapple on. It’s a bizarrely delicious and Canadian idea) and Caesars and Nanaimo bars and butter tarts and oysters from PEI, and maple (and sprinkle) donuts from Tim...
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Unraveled
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Eye Candy: Good Boy, Bob.
11 Jul 2017 | 11:31 amToday’s Eye Candy is inspired by some sad news that is important to share with the Ravelry community. Sweet Bob, Ravelry’s lovable Boston Terrier mascot and loyal dog of our site’s founders, Jess and Casey, died yesterday, peacefully at home with his people, after being sick for some time. Bob was the best kind of dog – goofy, cuddly, a little bit snorty, and very playful, and he’s going to be missed very much. Today, in his honor, I thought I would share a little assortment of projects that reminded me of Bob. There are Boston Terriers, of course – Lyndilitz’s Boston Terrier, JennaWingate’s Turbo Portrait Blankie, and hookedbyangel’s Boston Terrier Cup Cozy. Here is Bob and Small Bob – a cute wee... -
The Rainbow Flag on Ravelry
3 Jul 2017 | 5:29 pmEvery year in June, we fly the rainbow pride flag on Ravelry. June is LGBT Pride Month and it is a time when people all over the world celebrate diversity and community and stand together against hate and bigotry. Pride happens in June in remembrance of the Stonewall riots, which began on June 28th, 1969. After a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, transgender women of color led an uprising to fight back against the police brutality that the LGBTQ community was, and still is, experiencing. These riots were the spark that began the modern LGBTQ rights movement. On Ravelry, we usually hoist the flag around the June 28th anniversary and keep it up into July. We fly the flag in solidarity with LGBTQI+... -
Eye Candy: Rainbow Connection
27 Jun 2017 | 3:36 pmLindaDavie’s Rainbow Amineko Cats Today I’m sharing bright, beautiful rainbow projects! From left to right: Ullamarike’s incredible Rainbow Umbrella, psyche-dog’s incredible Horse Sculpture, and RadicalWeft’s cheery “Izzy’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow” Wrist Warmers. (Thanks to Raveler missmalarkey sent me a message alerting me to psyche-dog’s incredible project while I was writing this post – I was delighted to see the rainbow colors matched today’s theme, and also, WOW.) Above are Ambiknitrix’s cozy Double Happiness Socks, Beth02116’s cool bike rack (and adorable dog Purl!), and redvoodoo’s moody woven rainbow scarf. I hope these rainbows brightened your... -
Tip: Blog Post Archive
22 Jun 2017 | 1:34 pmWhen we see people in person, they often tell us that they enjoy our blog posts. We are so happy to get this feedback and wanted to show you how to look through the blog post archive in case you missed a post or two. When you are on Ravelry, click the help tab that shows next to the magnifying glass. When you scroll down, you’ll see a Blog Posts heading. To see our full post archive, click “go to the blog post archive” at the end of the list of recent posts. If you are looking for something specific, you can search for it in the search box in the help tab, instead. The search looks for your search topic in both blog posts and wiki pages that are community maintained to help you. Our past posts... -
Eye Candy: Everybody Loves the Sunshine
20 Jun 2017 | 2:19 pmToday in the Northern Hemisphere, we are enjoying the Summer solstice: the day of the year with the most daylight! Where I live, we’re also hitting highs of 100 degrees (and up!) Fahrenheit all week, and I thought it would be appropriate to share projects made with bright, sunny colors. First up, beautiful bright sweaters: Hiiragi’s Holiday test, Julieanne02’s For the love of speckles and stripes, and Louice’s Flower Power. Next we have sunshiney shawls! Woll-moe-re’s Summerleaf, citric4blue’s Eight Tiny Foxes, and aduary’s Sevilla Shawl. Finally, a few vivid projects: RavenEphemera’s Sweetgrass Prairie Socks, tanace’s Diagonal Beach Skirt, and zoltnerly’s Owl’s eyes cowl. All of these have been...
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Lion Brand Notebook
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Pinworthy Summer Crafts: Find Your DIY Inspiration
19 Jul 2017 | 2:46 pmWe've created a Pinterest Board, "Summer Crafts," to keep your inspiration flowing through the warm season. Projects that appear range from some of our favorite Summer patterns to fun crafts you can do with the whole family. A few projects require knitting or crocheting, but many can be accomplished without special skills. Gather up you love of DIY, a few supplies, and dive in! Your Summer Look Mama In A Stitch appears on the Summer Crafts board with two designs. One is her Infinite Ways Sarong, an airy net-like piece that can be worn as a beach cover-up or around your shoulders as a shawl. Her second pattern is the Summer Vacation Top. This shell is primarily stockinette with some openwork detail at... -
Goldilocks and the Three Swatches: Another Short Yarn
18 Jul 2017 | 10:34 amWriter, illustrator, and knitter Franklin Habit joins us for his monthly column featuring humor and insights into a yarncrafter’s life. Once upon a time there was a little girl who was called Goldilocks. Mind you, her birth certificate said Charlene; but as a mere tot she grew so enamored of her long, curly yellow hair that she to began to call herself Goldilocks. She was known to spend hours before the looking glass, stroking and smoothing her curls with her mother's large ivory comb. "That child needs a hobby," said her grandmother. "Or a therapist. You pick." So her mother taught her to knit. She even presented her daughter with a wee knitting basket of her own, woven in wicker and painted with pretty... -
Happy World Emoji Day!
17 Jul 2017 | 2:08 pmPillowji pattern by All About Ami July 17 is World Emoji Day. Why this date? It wasn't chosen at random! July 17 is the day shown on the iOS calendar emoji! Communicating With Emoji Emojis have been an important part of digital communication. Where little smiley faces in emails and texts were once considered tacky and "eww weird" they have become common practice. Emoji creep up in virtually all correspondence except the most formal business emails. (And really, you know you sneak emoji in there when you're emailing coworkers too.) We use emoji to simply and quickly communicate our opinions online as well. For example, you've probably seen one of these pop up on the Lion Brand Facebook page. Rock the... -
LBY Studio Sock-Along: The German Twisted Cast On
14 Jul 2017 | 5:06 pmPost by Gretchen, Lion Brand Yarn Studio Education Director Since we had so many people outside New York City expressing interest our Summer Sock Along at Lion Brand Yarn Studio, we decided to share some of what we talked about in each session here on the Lion Brand Notebook. Even though everyone in the group is knitting socks, we are not knitting the same socks. The group is a mixture of people knitting their first pair of sock and others who are maybe just a smidge obsessed. (Sock knitting can be like that.) Some people are starting from the cuff and working down to the toe, and others are starting from the toe and working up to the cuff. There was general agreement that it was easier for your first sock... -
5 Reasons Why You Want to Use Wool Yarn, Even in Summer
13 Jul 2017 | 1:57 pmWool-Ease® Thick & Quick® Yarn in Oatmeal I am a firm believer in the benefits of working with wool (or wool blend) yarns and use it year-round. However, I do admit that wool and Summer are not generally synonymous. When you imagine working with wool (or any animal fiber) yarn it is much more likely you are envisioning chilly days and curling up inside with a cuddly project. With that being said, don't toss aside all your wool yarns for a Summer fling with cotton. There is still a place for this classic fiber and its many benefits through the warm weather. Below is a list of 5 reasons why it's a...
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AllFreeKnitting.com Articles
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42 Infinity Scarf Patterns to Knit Today
19 Jul 2017 | 11:56 amFrom bulky cowls like the Chunky Orchid Cowl to the lightweight Colorful Anime Cowl, this selection of 42 Infinity Scarf Patterns to Knit Today will have you dressed to impress, regardless of the weather forecast. Infinity scarves are all the rage these days, so you will look completely on trend no matter which knit pattern you choose to make. The great thing about these free knit patterns is you can wear an infinity scarf throughout a variety of seasons. Whether it's autumn or winter, you can style these lovely cowls to perfection. Whether you're looking for a chunky design or a soft and lightweight version, these knit infinity scarves are sure to impress. -
20 Snuggly Knit Afghan Patterns
19 Jul 2017 | 11:45 amThere are so many reasons why knit afghan patterns are popular among knitters. Requiring the use of only a few basic knitting stitches, you don't have to be a master knitter to try your hand at many of them. Knit afghans are not only perfect for snuggling up in on cool nights but they also make great home decor. Enjoy this beautiful collection of 20 knit afghan patterns. You'll just love making them all. -
Half Square Triangle Blanket
19 Jul 2017 | 11:39 amThis attractive, whimsical knit blanket pattern is perfect for a nursery or kid's room. The Half Square Triangle Blanket is a cozy blanket featuring alternating half squares of solid and blended colors. The picture displays a blue blanket, but the pattern can easily be turned into a girls baby blanket with pink DK weight yarn. The Half Square Triangle Blanket is perfect for draping over a crib, rocking chair, or displaying at the end of your child's bed. -
Peek-a-Bamboo Top
19 Jul 2017 | 11:21 amTry on this cute, flirty top for a fun night out. The Peek-a-Bamboo Top is a great beginning knitting project for those looking to push their needles and complete an interesting piece. The Peek-a-Bamboo top features cut-out sleeves and a draped cowl style neck. It's fitted enough to show off your shape, yet cozy like a sweater. Sure to turn heads, the Peek-a-Bamboo Top is a great piece for your fall or winter wardrobe. -
Beautiful Brioche Knit Shawl Pattern
19 Jul 2017 | 10:22 amThe Beautiful Brioche Knit Shawl Pattern creates a gorgeous shawl with many layers of intricate design. This shawl switches off between two different yarns, allowing for many color possibilities and an interesting texture. The knit brioche stitch creates a thick, hefty pattern, so this shawl will be great for those chilly days when it is hard to get cozy warm. Brush up on your brioche stitch knitting, or learn it for the first time using this pattern. You will be very pleased with the final product!
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thewooleryguy
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Project Inspiration: Christmas in July!
18 Jul 2017 | 12:00 amIt’s never too soon to start preparing for the holiday season, and today we’re rounding up some of our favorite small projects for felting and weaving holiday decor! Each one is perfect for beginners, and we even have a free step-by-step needle felting tutorial to get you started! These cute mittens couldn’t be any easier – you use a cookie cutter to create their shape! Click here to get our free tutorial PDF when you sign up for our newsletter (if you’re already a subscriber, simply enter your email address to confirm & claim your free download). When you’re ready to expand your needle felting skills, try one of our everything-you-need kits to create festive decor and adorable ornaments! Shown clockwise... -
Handspinning Inspiration: Adventures in Plying
13 Jun 2017 | 12:00 amHave you ever wondered what happens when you ply a commercially-spun yarn with handspun singles? This can be a fun, quick way to give new life to your handspun creations. Experimenting with leftover singles and yarns from your stash is a great way to see what works, without committing your time and resources to a bigger project. You might be surprised with what you discover! Here are just a few ideas to try – you can click the images below to enlarge! 1. Natural 3-ply: 1 camel/silk single + 1 mixed natural fiber single + 1 strand of commercially-spun cotton yarn (plied): 2. Sparkly 3-ply: 1 natural fiber single + 1 hand-dyed single + 1 commercially-spun sparkle yarn 3. Choose-your-ply Merino: 1... -
DIY Home Decor: Free Tutorial Round-Up
23 May 2017 | 6:32 amNow that warmer weather is here, we’re on the lookout for fun ways to keep crafting this spring! Most crafters have a lot of leftover bits and bobs from previous projects taking up space in their craft rooms – if the urge to spring clean has taken hold, you may find that you have more than you realized! Luckily, there are plenty of clever ways to put these leftovers to good use. In the process, you can also give life to other everyday objects you may have lying around the house such as old jeans, empty plastic jugs, etc. Here are a few of our favorite free tutorials for upcycling home decor this spring. Enjoy! All the Best, Wave, Perri and the entire Woolery Team DIY Upcycled Fringed Basket Add a... -
Make Do & Mend: How to Give New Life To Well-Loved Garments
25 Apr 2017 | 12:00 amWhen your favorite garment has more holes than a slice of swiss cheese, do you toss it in the rag pile or trash can? Rips and tears near a seam are easy to repair invisibly, but a hole that’s front and center requires a little bit of ingenuity – here’s where the visible mending trend can come in handy. Visible mending has become an art form unto itself by using a variety of materials and techniques to highlight what was once an imperfection in a garment, turning it into something unique. Below, you’ll find some creative ways to reinvigorate your wardrobe with visible mending! All the Best, Wave, Perri and the entire Woolery crew Image by Hunter Hammersen, used with permission. Knitwear designer Hunter... -
Guest Post: A Weaver’s Guide to Swatching with Liz Gipson
11 Apr 2017 | 12:00 amWe’re pleased to welcome Liz Gipson of Yarnworker.com to our blog for a special guest post! Liz is a weaver, instructor and author – you may recognize her from Weaving Made Easy and Slots and Holes, or perhaps you’ve spotted her name on the pages of Handwoven Magazine or over at Knitty.com. Today, Liz shares some of the weaving inspiration behind her newest book, A Weaver’s Guide to Swatching. All the Best, Wave, Perri and the entire Woolery crew The thing about writing a book is you don’t have time to fail slowly, you need to fail fast. With less than a year to get together a couple dozen projects and write the accompanying manuscript for my forthcoming book, Handwoven Home, I needed a way to test...
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Blog – A Good Yarn Sarasota
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How to Do a Provisional Crochet Cast On
18 Jul 2017 | 3:00 amSome patterns call for a provisional cast on, where you use waste yarn to cast on for your project. At the end, you “unzip” those stitches, allowing you to graft both ends together, or knit from the live stitches if you prefer. Here’s how to start your project with this technique: In addition to you working yarn, you’ll need a small amount of smooth waste yarn and a crochet hook that is similar in size to the needles you’ll be using (note: some knitters prefer to use a hook size that is slightly larger). Start by knotting the end of your waste yarn. Then create a slip stitch on your hook. Crochet a chain stitch that is approximately 6 stitches longer than the number of stitches you need for your cast... -
3 Tips to Maximize Textured Stitches in Your Knitting
22 Jun 2017 | 5:00 amWhether you’re knitting a washcloth or making a textured sweater, you want to make sure your stitches are on point. In this post, we share a few tips on how to maximize the textured stitches in your knitting. 1: Choose a yarn that pops. Whether it’s cables, seed stitch, or ribbing, choose a nice round yarn like Brainy, our exclusive colorway from the March Shipment of our Purl Diver Club. Brainy is dyed on Quince and Co. Chickadee, a 3-ply sport weight yarn. Yarns with more than two plies produce crisp stitch definition due to their round shape, making them an excellent choice for textured projects. As you’ll see in the illustration below, 2-ply yarns are more flat, and don’t “pop” as well. Notice that... -
How to Knit: SSK vs Twisted SSK
23 May 2017 | 7:56 amIf you’re an avid knitter, you know that there are many ways to decrease stitches. In this blog post, we’re looking at two decreases, SSK and the Twisted SSK, found in the Prairie Hills Shawl from our April Purl Diver Yarn Club. The SSK stitch (or slip, slip, knit) is a familiar decrease for knitters, as it is often paired with K2tog in garments for a mirrored look. These decreases are often used together because of the direction in which the stitches “point” – the SSK leans to the left while K2tog leans to the right. The Twisted SSK can be substituted for the SSK since the stitches also lean to the left. Here’s how to perform the SSK stitch, step by step: Slip the next stitch on the left hand needle onto... -
How to Fix a Dropped Stitch
17 Apr 2017 | 2:50 amNone of us are immune to the ever-problematic dropped stitch in a knitting project. Does it feel like an anxiety-inducing, moment or do you feel confident with your fixing capabilities? Most of us panic about this ladder of dropped stitches in our knitting – but fear not, help is on the way! At the shop, we love the McPorter Stitch Tool for fixing dropped stitches. Add it to your notions bag and you’ll be able to fix any stitch mishaps, no matter where you are! Here’s how to use the tool that came in the March Purl Diver Club shipment. Step one: Don’t panic! Step two: Insert your McPorter Stitch Tool into the stitch below the bottom “rung” of the ladder. Grab the bottom rung of the ladder and pull... -
Weaving with Cotton Yarn on the Zoom Loom
23 Mar 2017 | 5:00 amMany weavers who use a pin loom like the Schacht Zoom Loom will tell you to steer clear of cotton yarns or that you will hurt yourself if you try to weave with it. With this month’s Purl Diver Club tutorial, we’ll share tips to easily and comfortably weave with cotton yarn on your Zoom Loom. The main point in weaving with cotton yarn is to lessen your tension overall, and believe it or not, this starts BEFORE you even begin weaving! Wind off approximately 9 yards of your fingering weight yarn into a small pile of yarn. Even the smallest amount of tension coming from a ball of yarn will cause your first layers to be tight, so measuring out your yarn ahead of time is key. Next, start laying your...
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Sew Me Your Stuff
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Whoa, wait…a new blog post?
23 Jun 2017 | 2:42 pmYou read that right! This is a new blog post! I know it’s been years. A lot has changed — specifically the quality of laptop I was using. For like three years I was stuck using a cheapy cheap because it’s all I could swing after a coffee-related incident, and blogging just wasn’t that easy to swing. But some things haven’t changed, like the fact that I still craft! A while ago I posted a link to my newer blog but I took it down sheepishly when I failed to keep that one updated. I love that this one still gets traffic because I hope that you’re all finding the content really helpful! I hope it stays up as long as there’s an internet. But I’m going to resurrect my other blog, Paroxa Designs. Why not just... -
Interested in Guest Blogging?
5 Mar 2013 | 11:18 amHello everyone! First of all, I apologize for the lack of new blog posts over the last few months. I took on a new job and have been super neglectful of the blog. But I promise to get back on track ASAP! Be sure to submit any topics you want to see covered on the blog here! But there’s more! Are you interested in contributing a guest blog post? I’m open to submissions on any basic sewing topic – just contact me at [email protected]. As long as it pertains to sewing for beginners, let me know if there is a topic you’d like to write about and share on SMYS. -
Notions to Know: How to Sew a Buttonhole
19 Dec 2012 | 1:21 pmIn this post, I covered how to sew on a button by hand. But we all know a button is not very useful without a hole for it! So how do you sew a buttonhole? Many sewing machines come equipped with a buttonhole stitch and foot. If your machine has this function, sewing a buttonhole is as easy as a little set up and pushing the pedal according to your machine’s instructions. If not, there’s still hope for you! This post will teach you how to sew a buttonhole using a simple zigzag stitch. First, mark your fabric where the buttonhole will go. The length of the hole should be just slightly longer than the width of the button. I’m using a 5/8″ button, so my hole will be just longer than 5/8″. When you do this on a... -
Notions to Know: How to Sew on a Button by Hand
16 Dec 2012 | 6:58 amButtons are an extremely common item that we’ve all encountered. And if you’re like me when I started sewing, you probably have a basic understanding of how a button is attached to fabric but aren’t sure exactly how to sew on a button for yourself. It is a very handy skill to learn, however, and can open you up to a wide variety of crafts and projects to complete. Here is a guide on how to sew on a button, and hopefully you find it helpful! First, you’ll need a button, fabric, and corresponding thread. For this example I’m using a sharply contrasting thread, but typically you’ll want one that matches your fabric and/or button. We’ll start on the underside of the fabric, the opposite side from where the... -
Notions to Know: How to Sew a Zipper
13 Dec 2012 | 9:05 amZippers are pretty much ubiquitous in our everyday lives – from clothing to accessories to home goods, we’ve all encountered a zipper at some point. But many people I’ve met who sew as a hobby and are great with many different sewing notions struggle with figuring out how to sew a zipper! There are a few different techniques for attaching different kinds of zippers. but today we’re going to look at the most common and basic way to sew a zipper. It’s going to involve basting, covered in this post, and topstitching, mentioned in this post. You should also dig up your zipper foot if you’re sewing by machine. A zipper foot looks like this: To demonstrate how to sew a zipper, I’ll mimic a zip-open back of a...
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