By Tara, on July 30th, 2010%
Welcome to the first installment of Talking to Yarn-Lovers. Each week I’ll have an interview with a different yarn-lover (maker, knitter, crocheter). If you want to share your yarn-love, sign up here and I’ll email you some questions!
Today I’m talking to Kim Werker, writer, editor, celebrator of ugly, and all-around-crafty-gal.
How long have you been knitting or crocheting? I’ve been knitting for seven years and crocheting for six. Where do you find handmade yarn? Do you have any favorites?
I find handmade yarn online, in local yarn shops, and at fibre festivals.
I’m absolutely in love with Felicia Lo’s Sweetgeorgia Yarns, which are hand-dyed here in Vancouver. I’m currently crocheting a shawl out of hand-dyed silk yarn from Indigo Moon, which also happens to be a local-ish yarn – she dyes off the coast on Gabriola Island.
What have you made with handspun yarn?
I made . . . → Read More: Talking to Yarn-Lovers: Kim Werker
By Tara, on June 24th, 2010%
“What can I make with this yarn?“
Over the years I’ve compiled scads of ideas (and posts) on what to make with handspun yarn, banana yarn, hemp yarn, even handspun organic cotton (which I keep selling out of, but look for a few more colors tomorrow morning!).
After almost 4 years of this yarny adventure it’s time for a the Mother Of All Lists.
Let’s do it!
Patterns for Banana yarn Patterns for Hemp Laceweight Patterns for Handspun Organic Cotton Patterns for 1 skein of handspun yarn Part 1 Patterns for 1 skein of handspun yarn Part 2 Knitting patterns for handspun yarn (for boys) Knit gift patterns Knitting patterns worth buying Granny Square patterns Crochet Patterns for handspun yarn Sweater patterns for handspun yarn
If I’m missing YOUR favorite patterns, share them in the comments!
PS. Want the yarn and the pattern . . . → Read More: 40+ Patterns for Handmade Yarn
By Tara, on August 25th, 2009%
Not sure what to do with that delicious handspun Organic Cotton? Here are some ideas! . . . → Read More: Handspun Organic Cotton Yarn – Free Patterns & Tips
By Tara, on April 30th, 2009%
By Tara, on November 12th, 2008%
As the holiday season approaches, I’m beginning to ponder the inevitable Christmas Gift List. Despite my best efforts to avoid it, I always feel the pull of handknitting gifts for my very dearests. The trickiest people on that list are also the smallest.I have two, sweet little brothers, ages 8 and 9. Although adorable and irresistible they have one ginormous flaw: they have extremely specific ideas of what constitutes “cool” handknits. They love knowing I knit something for them, but they are very particular about what they’ll wear.
Here are just a few things I know they’d love:
Stegosaurus Hat Ok, this one is a cheat: I designed it two years ago as a Christmas gift. Actually, D helped me design it: he drew a picture of his ideal hat and this is how it turned out!
Fingerless gloves Both the boys want a set of fingerless gloves for . . . → Read More: 6 free kntiting patterns for boys
By Tara, on October 2nd, 2008%
Tea Scarf – a lovely scarf just perfect to chase the early morning chill. Perfect for Sno-Cone, which is 170 yards of fluffy bright wooliness: Knit/Crochet Handwarmers So cute and simple, great for just the smallest amount of handspun yarn with the biggest impact. The fluffy 80 yards of Oceanic should be plenty for the crochet part (if you use another yarn for the knit cuffs) 200 – This bulky scarf is HOT! Even my picky I-don’t-need-a-scarf husband would wear this one (in the appropriate colors). It takes 4 different colors of 100 yards each and I’d mix Deep Sea with Autumn Sky, Juice and Sunrise Bananaiere. Inka Shawl: A beautiful shawl, this pattern calls for a self-striping yarn. It would be brilliant in a yarn like Summer Salad which is mostly green with little stripes of other . . . → Read More: 4 Free Crochet patterns for Handspun Yarn
By Tara, on September 24th, 2008%
Last night, I gave up on a sweater. My beautiful handspun sweater just isn’t working out. After completing the body and 1 sleeve, I realized I need more yarn. And the yoke isn’t right (too much fabric at the shoulders). And the whole thing is too stiff, not drapey enough. Most of these issues could have been solved by following a pattern (well, except for the drape, I just needed to use a bigger needle and knit it at a different gauge), but because I’m designing it myself, all these little things have to be figured out. If I had chosen a pattern suited for handspun, many of these mistakes might have been avoided. But that’s only if I choose the right pattern! Here’s a few things to keep in mind when choosing a pattern for handspun yarn
Gauge with handspun is variable. One skein might be heavy . . . → Read More: 5 Free Sweater Patterns for Handspun Yarn
By Tara, on September 16th, 2008%
“I just realized that I have developed kind of a collector style in my yarn buying. I don’t buy yarn for specific projects any more but more like “oh-how-beautiful-must-have-that”. This of course results me having several single skeins of this and that (and they are all soooo pretty). So what can I make with your yarn?”
That’s an actual email I got from a customer and it expresses how many of us buy yarn. We see something pretty and we snatch it up. But what to DO with it as it starts to overtake our living space?
Well, after answering this question for myself, I’ve started collecting patterns that will show off handspun. These patterns work with the special properties of handspun yarn, not requiring an exact guage (since handspun has natural inconsistencies).Below are 5 free patterns that (can) use a single skein of handspun – the name links . . . → Read More: 5 Free Knitting Patterns for Handspun Yarn
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