A Little Bit of Everything

Heads up:  I have strong opinions on this subject. Weird subject to get bent out of shape about, I know. But I honestly think that the push for a standard system has muddied the waters and now it is more difficult than ever to know what yarn will work with what pattern. I couldn’t tell you exactly how long ago, but long after I learned to knit, the Craft Yarn Council instituted the system that looks like this: This chart, in my opinion, is less than helpful. This system is used on yarns sold by JoAnn Fabrics or Hobby Lobby,...

Have you ever finished a project and been disappointed that the reality of the project didn’t live up to the vision?

We have all been there.

Sometimes it’s because the project was a little beyond our current skill level, but more often (and sometimes more difficult to foresee) it was because the yarn and the project had relationship problems.

This is the beginning of a series of posts about how to knit for those who have never tried it before. You will find the very basics here, and in following posts we will delve into some of the more interesting techniques. Read on and let's get started!  Knitting is a popular craft that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to relax and de-stress, and it can also be a very productive hobby. Knitting can be used to create all sorts of items, from clothing and accessories to home decor pieces. In this...

Ok, that's a little bit of hyperbole, but I know everyone is looking for ways to be better stewards of the planet. When we talk about this subject, the textile industry isn't usually the first one that comes to mind. But you might be surprised to hear that the textile industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions annually. Or that 11.3 million tons of textile waste are thrown away every year in the US alone. Or that the textile industry accounts for one-fifth of the 300 million tons of plastic produced globally each year. What's more, it's not just the landfills...