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Review: Arne & Carlos Field Guide to Knitted Birds

July 27, 2017

Trafalgar Books provided a copy of Arne & Carols Field Guide to Knitted Birds for my review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. This page may contain affiliate links, which help support me, but don’t cost you anything extra.

I’ll just bet you never thought of knitting a bird. Neither had I, but with their Field Guide to Knitted Birds, Arne and Carlos have convinced me that I need to knit an entire flock.

The Birds

Arne & Carlos’ signature whimsical style is in full force and effect here.

Larcenous Knitting Rhymes and Other Poetry

May 29, 2017

Many knitters recognize this children’s rhyme as the way to make a knit stitch, but have you ever considered that it could also describe a crime?

Neither had Jennifer Hoyden, a knitting teacher at a shelter for homeless families in New York City. She was shocked when her students told her it sounded like a teaching tool for burglary. Wow! As a teacher, I know that I need to adapt my message to fit the needs of my audience, but that’s a tough crowd!
This got me thinking of rhymes that we use to teach the basic knitting stitches.

Review & Giveaway: Knit Noro Accessories 2

April 14, 2017

Knit Noro Accessories 2

Sixth&Spring provided a copy of Knit Noro Accessories 2 free of charge. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. This page may contain affiliate links, which help support my day job but don’t cost you anything extra.

N oro Yarn is the quintessential color-changing yarn. It offers wonderful, sophisticated colorways and a range of weights.

But with all that beauty-in-a-ball comes with a challenge: What can I knit that will show off the yarn to its best advantage? Add too much stitch patterning and you muddy the loveliness of the color changes.

The Loom Knitting Project

March 22, 2017

Finished Hat

Loom knitting, also known as frame knitting, has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years. I decided to make it my third project for National Craft Month, because although it is “knitting”, it’s nothing like the knitting I’ve done in the past. I know how to knit with all kinds of needles, and with a knitting machine, but I’ve never tried it on a loom.

This post may contain affiliate links, which help support my day job but don’t cost you anything extra.
The Looms

There are many sizes and styles of knitting looms,

The Shibori Project

March 14, 2017

Shibori Scarf closeup

This week’s National Craft Month project is shibori dyeing. Shibori is a Japanese resist-dyeing technique–a way of creating pattern by preventing dye from reaching all parts of the cloth. Shibori uses some combination of binding/stitching/folding/compressing the fabrics before dyeing, typically with indigo. In other words, it’s fancy tie-dyeing.

Dyeing is a fascinating process, but to someone who has never gone beyond dyeing with Kool-Aid*, the idea of buying all those supplies and fumbling around with them is somewhat off-putting. It would be so much nicer if someone who knows what they are doing could set up all the equipment,

Crochet Guild of America Chain Link Conference

March 9, 2017

Crocheters, do you wish there was a place where you could connect with other crocheters, learn new stitches, see some *amazing* crochet designs, buy yarn, and be inspired by the art of crochet? There is!

Chain Link Conference

The Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) sponsors the Chain Link Conference each year. In 2017 it will be all crochet. Come to Chicago July 26-29, to learn from professional crochet teachers, shop the market, attend fun crochet parties, and “ooh” and “ahh” over the incredible designs you’ll see.

The event will be held at the Westin Chicago Northwest in Itasca,