Follow along and discover your next inspiration as we cast on for projects we love, explore new techniques, and dish about the latest and greatest from Knit Picks.
Meet the team »
We’ve made a few changes in the office recently and I’m pleased to introduce you to one of our newest Knit Picks team members, Jennifer! Jennifer is brand new to our team, and has become a Jill-of-all-trades around the office. From processing all the new books we get in, to e-mailing with the designers in our IDP program, she’s quickly become an indispensable addition to our little group. We asked her some quick questions about her crafty background and her experience working here, so far!
Do you ever find yourself wanting more information about a Knit Picks product? We do product reviews and demonstrations for many of the items we carry, and they’re available for you on our site, anytime you need them. Whether it’s a new yarn, a tool, or a bag, it’s sometimes fun to know as much as you can about something before you order it.
I like to watch the yarn reviews because there’s lots of suggestions as to what certain yarns are good for, as well as what they’re not! I don’t always follow the rules, but I’ve learned a lot about fiber blends, and how some are good for items like socks, for instance, while others not so much.
April showers bring May flowers, along with a treasure trove of crafty goodness in minty greens and cool teal blues! From small pouches adorned with llamas to pretty, yet totally practical storage for your craft room, here’s a smattering of things we’re loving this month for April. Happy crafting!
We hear it’s been snowing on the East Coast these days, so why not talk about Christmas?
Around New Years this year, I started knitting a project I plan to work on throughout the year. It’s Just Crafty Enough’s Mitten Garland Advent Calendar (Ravelry link) and I’m making mine in Preciosa Fingering Yarn in Bare, Gladiola, Stormy, Stormy, and Bonsai. I started by knitting four or five mittens right after Christmas, and then I realized I had twenty more months to complete the project, so I put it away for a while. The crazy thing is, I started to miss it! So after I finished a sweater for my daughter, I took the mittens back out again. So it has gone, for the past few months: I fill in with a couple mittens here or there, when I finish a larger project and don’t quite want to cast on for another, right away. There are a few tools I’ve picked up that sure have helped move things right along. Want to know what they are? They might just help you in small knitting projects you might be doing, this summer.
It’s spring, and our knitting needles are busily working through piles of yarn and mountains of unfinished objects! Now is the time to clear your queue and get ready to change up what’s on your needles, just as the weather is shifting from the chill of winter to the first warm promises of spring. Curious about what we’ve been up to outside of the office? Here’s a roundup of our most recent staff projects, including a project in our newest yarn, Paragon!
For the entire month of April, save 20% on Diadem yarn* – an incredible blend of soft baby alpaca and shimmering mulberry silk. This is truly a “treat yourself” worthy yarn, and it’s pretty nice to gift to someone special too!
Diadem is available in fingering and DK yarn options, making it versatile for projects that I describe as little luxuries – think elegant cowls and wraps as well as warm, but dressy hats and mitts. If you’re looking for pattern inspiration, follow the link HERE to see our patterns for Diadem – there are even a handful of free patterns available for download, too!
This Spring, my goal is to start weaving. Last summer my husband bought me a rigid heddle loom for a milestone birthday, and last week, I finally got it warped. This is the week I’m finally going to begin, and to get me to the start line (let alone the finish line), I’ve been looking at some great books on the topic. Here are 3 books we carry on weaving. At 40% off during our book sale, why not pick one up? You’re sure to get inspired, and maybe you’ll get weaving, too!
My favorite book on weaving to come through the office has been Inventive Weaving on a Little Loom by Syne Mitchell. Packed with great stitch patterns and helpful hints, like fixing broken warp threads, it also has great essay on topics I never considered, but am sure to encounter. My favorite essay is called “Weaving Ugly Things” and it begins, “There will come a time when you’ll look down at the fabric on the loom and think, “Dang, that’s ugly”. The author then goes on to talk about how unpredictable weaving can be, even for seasoned veterans. With great full color illustrations, and imaginative stitch patterns I can’t wait to try, this book is about to be added to my library.
Spring has officially arrived (even here in the Pacific Northwest!), which means that our color palette is transitioning from winter neutrals to soft pastels and brighter pops of color. We can’t help but smile when we see the bowl of cheery cotton yarns in our April calendar.
To get the free April 2016 calendar background of your choosing (for smart phones, tablets and desktop computers), simply click the applicable device icon below. Enjoy!
Important yarn sale reminder: today is the last day to take advantage of the Monthly Yarn Sale for March and save 20% off Aloft!
If you’ve never worked with Aloft before, it’s such a fun and versatile yarn with endless possibilities. And don’t let the fact that this is a lace weight yarn scare you off (it’d be a shame to miss out on this luxurious blend of super kid mohair and silk!), personally – I love knitting Aloft of larger needles (try a US 8 or 10). This create a lovely open fabric that shows off the fluffy mohair and it will feel as light as a cloud.
Need a bit of pattern inspiration? I’ve put together my top 5 pattern picks for Aloft!
