I’m honoring National Craft Month by posting something crafty that catches my eye every weekday. Share your favorite crafty finds in the comments!

I don’t dye self-striping yarns.

In fact, I rarely dye nearly-solid yarns.
(Those multi-color handspun skeins are made of dyed solids, spun together)

But when I first started dyeing, I played around with stripe patterns a lot.
But the real challenge is getting the skein long enough to make your stripes long enough.

I did this by wrapping the yarn allll around my apartment.
Yes, my apartment.
Start at a kitchen chair, around the couch, around the TV, into the bedroom and around the chair in there and back to the kitchen.
Yeah, it was a small space!

When I read Scout’s post on using a warping board, I realized I was crazy.
And that I probably wasn’t going to be dyeing any more striping yarn.
(side note: dude. that was 4 years ago!)

Despite all this, Velma’s post last week on dyeing self-striping yarn blew me away. It’s comprehensive, photo-documented and hilarious!

Just like all good dye sessions should be!

(photo taken by the inimitably colorful Velma)

The uber-smart Cosy has the answer to the eternal question: When IS the hat DONE?

It’s in her 2nd post in a super helpful series on knitting hats.

approximate hat heights

0-6 mo. – 5 in. (12.7 cm)
6-18 mo. – 6.25 in. (15.9 cm)
18 mo.-4 yr. – 7.25 in. (18.4 cm)
4 yr.-adult s – 8.25 in. (21 cm)
adult m-l – 9 in. (22.9 cm)

Read her whole post here.

I’m super honored to be interviewed by the fabulous Diane of CraftyPod about teaching crafts (and specifically, knitting). We had a great conversation about the experience of teaching and how to get started teaching.

If you’ve wanted to start teaching your craft, listen to the conversation here.

Diane mentions that my Learn to Knit kit taught her to knit (squee!), you can find the kits here. Even if you know how to knit, these kits are a great way to teach a family member and avoid frustration that comes from not knowing how to describe when-the-loop-does-this-you-do-this.

Have you taught your craft?
Anything you’d add to our conversation?

It’s been a while since I’ve talked about yarn (the New Year brought new projects), but it is still my first love.

Sometimes I forget and wander into the land of launching a yarn store in 12 days or teaching other yarnies…but all it takes is one great pattern to pull me right back to my first love!

This granny square is what drew my fervent adoration this week.
Or maybe it was this entire rainbow-colored blog.

Or maybe it was Mercedes of Kitchen Sink Dyeworks (she’s kitchensinkdye on Twitter), who is crocheting the most amazing granny squares from her handpainted yarn.

(yarn dyed, squares crocheted and photograph taken by Mercedes)

But once I fell into this granny square vortex, I started scarfing up granny square information.

• How to Granny from Meet Me at Mike’s
• How to Granny from Purl Bee

And then I started branching out into hexagons.

And then I fell down and maybe started crocheting a hex a day.

In case you need even MORE reason to start crocheting, check out this and this.

I’m working on a hexagon blanket for my living room AND a giant granny square (out of various handspun) for A Novel Yarn.

I’ll be sharing my pictures as the projects progress, but in the meantime, I’d love to see yours!

What are you crocheting?

What have you crocheted with handspun or handpainted yarn?

Since there’s just one week left to get the Learn to Knit Kit in time for Christmas (12/17 is the last day!), I want to help you finish your gift-shopping as easily as possible.

In that spirit, the Learn to Knit Kit will have FREE SHIPPING for the next week!

To sweeten the gift, the Kit will include (for the next week ONLY) $10 off your next Blonde Chicken Boutique purchase.

 The kit will have a physical gift certificate in it, so when you give it as a gift, you can sneak it out for yourself (shame!) or leave it in for the recipient!

Wondering if the Kit is right for you? Read Diane’s review here!

Although I’ve taught plenty of people to knit in person, I’ve been wondering how my Learn to Knit Kit would fare on a true non-knitter.

Diane from CraftyPod has answered the question thoroughly! In her review she shares some screen shots from the videos and what do you know, she learns to knit! Read her glowing review here and then get your own copy (for a non-knitting cousin!) here.

And just a friendly warning – December 17th is the last day to buy the kit for Christmas delivery!

Yes!

It is time, future-knitters, to step forward and claim your Learn to Knit Kit!

Not to get too sappy, but when I announce a new thing to the world, it feels like releasing a baby bird. Where’s it going to go? Is it going to find love? A comfy nest?

I like to imagine that these cute little balls of yarn are going somewhere my other yarn has never gone.  They are climbing into the hands (and hearts!) of people who’ve never picked up needles or yarn.

They are the ambassadors of knitting, the first impression you will have of this thing I love so much (my passion). They will settle into your lap  and convince you that this knitting-thing is pretty cool.

Bright, handdyed colors. Soft, squeezable texture.
Will it convince Maybe Knitter to become Proper Knitter? Will it bridge the gap between Future Knitter and Current  Knitter?

I can not wait to see!
To get these sweet little ambassadors into your hands, buy a Kit here.

Oh, I almost forgot – for this week ONLY, the Premium Kit (videos! printed book!) is the same price as the Basic. So yeah, video downloads and a printed book for FREE until Friday!

This week is Learn to Knit Week; every day I’ll be sharing tips, ideas or stories of learning to knit.
If you’d like to share your story, leave it in the comments!

In all this making-a-kit-for-new-knitters, I’ve collected a list of tips for new knitters. Instead of keeping it just for the people who buy the kit, I thought I’d offer it for free!

This is Learn to Knit Week, as I get ready to share the new Learn to Knit kit. Every day I’ll be sharing tips, ideas or stories of learning to knit until the kit is released on Tuesday.

Ok, I am thisclose to being done with the Learn to Knit kit, but one vital component escapes me:

What should I name the darn thing?

I’ve given up hope on coming up with anything, so I’d like your help.  Can you come up with a name for the kit (you can read more about it here, if that’ll help your imagination)?

Share your ideas in the comments and if I pick your idea, I will send you a free Whatever-We-Call-It kit: needles, yarn & instructions.

If you’re already a knitter, it’ll make a great gift for that cousin who’s always asking you to knit her a scarf.

If you’re not a knitter – here’s your chance to learn!

Leave your suggestions in the comments and I will pick a winner this Friday and announce it here on the blog. Be sure to leave you email address in the comments (won’t be visible to anyone else), so I can contact you about sending the kit!

Thanks for your help!

PS. The rules-

Suggest as many names as you like.
The winner will be the FIRST person to post a specific name, so be sure you’re not repeating anyone.
If no one suggests a name I can use, I reserve the right to cancel the contest. But I really don’t want to – so think hard!

For the past month, I’ve been asking you questions about your “learn to knit” experiences, because I’ve been creating a Learn to Knit kit (available next Tuesday!)

Today I want to answer those questions and suggest that you read the comments ya’ll posted, because there are some sweet, hilarious and amazing answers!  I think they show the multitude of ways people learn and adapt to something as individual as knitting.

And if you don’t knit yet? Sign up for my free Maybe-Knitters e-course to help you decide if knitting might be for you.

How did you Learn to Knit?

I taught myself from Debbie Stollar’s Stitch N Bitch book, after having attempted to teach myself from another, far more dificult book. Debbie’s way of explaining things just made it all easier.

AND that book turned me onto the wonder of Craftster.org and Knitty.com. Any question a new knitter has will be answered in those two places.

What did you find challenging about learning to knit?

The whole “pull new stitch through old stitch” had me stymied for SO long. Once I figured that out, the whole thing just *clicked*.

What was the first project you knit?

Oh, gross. My first project that I started was a mauve and beige striped scarf, knit with horrible acrylic yarn, made for my best friend. I cast on far too many stitches and the thing took me FOREVER. I ended up chucking it into the back of my closet and moved on to skinny-er, similarly disgustingly acrylic scarves. After churning out 5 or 20 scarves in a month, I started a hooded pullover out of the most ridiculously bright teal mohair. I finished the sweater (it fit!) but ended up giving it to my mom (she loves all of my knitted outcasts!)

These experiences have instilled a true love for good fiber! I tell every new knitter that I teach that you simply must start with smooth, simple yarn that feels good in your hand. Organic cotton or  a sturdy, soft wool is best, but I know non-knitters are sometimes afraid of wool (it will itch!, they cry, unfamiliar with the bliss of lofty handspun), so I start them out with soft organic cotton.

What yarn did you start with? What do you recommend new knitters use?

(Not a knitter? Think you might be? Sign up for the Maybe-Knitter e-course (free!) to find out)