Designer Spotlight: Margaret Holzmann

Margaret Holzmann likes to design and knit the BIG things: blankets, throws and sweaters.

She uses these larger items as a canvas for colorwork, shapes, and texture. She excels at construction techniques, the geometry of knitting, and color theory. Following a career as an engineer at Bell Labs and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, she is now a full-time knit designer living in Monrovia, California, and her patterns have appeared in multiple knitting publications.

Read more about Margaret Holzmann on her website theknitwit.org. If you’re an aspiring designer you’ll want to check out her advice on asking for yarn support, how tos on writing an arts & crafts book, and her thoughts on self-publishing verses big publishers, all available on her blog.

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Knit Picks Podcast Episode 347 – Learning & Teaching Yarn Crafts

Today on the Knit Picks Podcast we’re talking all about our knitting pasts and futures. From learning to knit to taking that knowledge and teaching someone to knit, the Knit Picks Podcast team offers up their experience.

First up Lee and Stacey invite friends, co-workers and fellow crafters, Heather and Kate to come on the podcast for a discussion of their knitting and crochet origins. Each starts their craft somewhere but what everyone has in common is that someone else helped them get started.

Next Lee and Stacey share tips and tricks for people who want to teach knitting to their friends and family. While Lee has experience teaching knitting classes, Stacey has experience helping people in one-on-one learning sessions. Stacey also shares …

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Brava Minis: Bite-sized Skeins for Bitty Projects

We love Brava, our 100% Premium Acrylic yarn. Gentle enough for sensitive skin, Brava is hard-wearing yarn that works wonders for projects where durability and easy-care is a must. Hypoallergenic and machine washable, there is no fiber more accessible and dependable than acrylic, perfect for children, new knitters, and charity projects. Brava is now available in tiny individual skeins: Brava Mini singles!

Sample the Brava rainbow with these mini skeins: perfect for swatching, small projects, toys—whatever your heart desires! Single skeins make it so convenient to get small amounts of yarn for colorwork projects and more.

Hands holding small balls of Brava yarn

Projects to Make with Brava Minis:

A wall hanging knitted in brown and black, with long fringe Read more »



Free Downloadable August 2021 Calendar

Happy August! To celebrate, we have your free monthly calendar wallpapers. Enjoy these August 2021 wallpaper images (free download for you!) — featuring assorted yellow and green yarns.

A top-down view of a tablecloth with assorted houseplants and yellow yarn, along with an August 2021 calendar.

How to get the Wallpaper:

To get the free downloadable calendar background of your choice (smart phones, tablets, or desktop computers), simply click on the image of your choice to go to the full-size photo and then save it!

Free August 2021 Wallpaper for Desktop:

A top-down view of a tablecloth with assorted houseplants and yellow yarn, along with an August 2021 calendar.

Free August 2021 Wallpaper for Tablet:

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Late Summer News: Felici. Is. Back.

A circle of colorful Felici self-striping sock yarns

The sun is just about to start setting on this sweltering summer season (at least for us folks in the northern hemisphere), but don’t worry. There’s still time to partake in a few lazy afternoon picnics in the park accompanied by your current WIP, or as I like to call them, pic-knits. If you’re looking for a little fiber/pattern inspo to ride out the dog days with, read on!

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Knit Picks Podcast Episode 346 – An Ode to Chunky Yarns & Get Excited About Spinning with Michael Smith

While the word “chunky” in relation to yarn is not an official yarn weight class, it is common to refer to thicker yarns, Aran, Bulky, Super Bulky and Jumbo as “Chunky”. Today on the Knit Picks Podcast the team talks about chunky yarns and what to do with them! First up Lee and Stacey check in on their WIPs and discuss projects to knit with Bulky and Super Bulky yarns. Later Lee sits down with Michael Smith aka @piece4peacecrafting to learn more about his knitting and his spinning journey. Lee and Stacey talk about the benefits of working with chunky yarns. Projects knit up faster with chunky yarns but also create a thicker fabric. If you’re new to bulky and super bulky …

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Knitting with Fable Fur for a Wild Thing

Inspiration comes from all places, including from a beloved children’s book and Knit Picks Fable Fur.

Max, King of the Wild Things, Tail24″ 7-stitch I-cord knit in Knit Picks Fable Fur, Falke colorway. Weave in ends with a small crochet hook.

Not only is Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are” a family favorite, a Max-style tail and crown also gave me the opportunity to work with our Fable Fur super bulky faux fur yarn.

Armed with size 7 DPNs, I worked up a prototype based on a 7-stitch …

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Knit Picks Podcast Episode 345 – A Celebration of UFOs and Summertime Knits with Designer Felecia O’Connell

UFOs have been in the news recently. How many UFOs have you encountered? In knitting, UFO stands for “UnFinished Object!” In honor World UFO Day and in celebration of summer, today we are talking about our knitting-related UFOs and summertime knitting.

First, on behalf of World UFO Day (celebrated around the end of June), Lee and Stacey talk about their definitions of UFOs vs. WIPs. There are a good deal of insider terms that get thrown around in the crafting community. A quick look:

UFO – UnFinished ObjectWIP – Works in ProgressPHD – Project Half Done (not mentioned in this episode but good to know)

Lee and Stacey also confess to the projects they haven’t picked up in a long time. Is it time …

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FREE DOWNLOADABLE July 2021 CALENDAR

Happy July! To help keep the summertime fun going, we have your free monthly calendar wallpapers. Enjoy these July 2021 wallpaper images (free download for you!) — featuring various hanks of red yarn.

A July 2021 calendar with an image of a pile of red yarn, a box of red yarn, and some yellow flowers

How to get the Wallpaper:

To get the free downloadable calendar background of your choice (smart phones, tablets, or desktop computers), simply click on the image of your choice to go to the full-size photo and then save it!

Free July 2021 Wallpaper for Desktop:

A July 2021 calendar with an image of a pile of red yarn, a box of red yarn, and some yellow flowers Read more »



Take Your Dog To Work Day Shenanigans

A dog laying on a knitted pillow

We LOVE our pets at Knit Picks! We couldn’t pass up the chance to celebrate Take Your Dog (and Cat) to Work Day on this toasty Monday in Vancouver, WA. We’re sharing some of the silliness and shenanigans which have ensued over this past year of working at home; yarn and pets can be a troublesome combo. We even found a few of the cutest pattern collections, which are shared below. Please keep the ohhhs and ahhhs to a minimum, since we’re workin’.

Kate Millard – Merchandising Coordinator:

A husky dog face leaning against a knitted blanket Read more »