All Things Crafts

Knitting in its simplest form is often described as the looping of a string around two sticks. When faced with multi-color patterning, intricate stitches or complex graphs, this seemingly easy craft becomes a more complex activity that can benefit from an innovative tool or two. Right from the start when the ideas for a new knitting project abound, there are aids to guide you in choices of yarn and color. Color... Read more

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If there is one word that seems predominant in descriptions of this season's fashion trends, it is "soft". Shapes are simple and minimalist. It is texture that is getting all the attention. Fabrics of cashmere, mohair, felted wool, chenille, angora, alpaca, boucle and faux fur abound. The fuzzier, the better. "Going soft" is also very evident in what's popular in hand knitting yarns although it... Read more

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Knitters are well-known as experienced hunters and gatherers. They actively stalk yarn and are constantly scouting around for new colors and textures. Once the game is bagged, they furtively store it in the nooks and crannies of their homes, much like squirrels hide nuts for the coming winter. Sometimes, it is forgotten as to where these stashes have been hidden. Coming across a misplaced cache of yarn can be a... Read more

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Chunky means short, thick or broad. Clunky defines a clumsiness in style, form or execution. Chunky describes the look of this season's favorite sweater. Clunky explains what it is like to knit one. Headlines such as "The Super Chunkies" and "Chunky Chic" lead to knitted creations featuring very large stitches and thick textures. Designer John Galliano shows a chunky sweater of the largest... Read more

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Wool yarn, that favorite of knitters, is durable, warm, and never out of fashion.

As the hearts and flowers of Valentine's Day begin to make an appearance and we realize that Spring is still a month or two away, a little romance is more than welcome. As knitters, we can take heart in knowing that our favorite source of knitting material, the woolly sheep, not only provides us with a wonderful fiber to knit but... Read more

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A general conclusion drawn in these modern times is that there seems to be less leisure hours available to us as career and commuting take precedence over hobbies and handicrafts. There are many who would think this state of affairs as entirely preferable to its opposite - a life of dull existence, with no rush of adrenalin or passion to enliven our days and hold us to a promised deadline. When it comes to setting... Read more

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Yes, it is the first week of December and those of us with a true crafting spirit feel compelled to make at least one or two handcrafted items for gift-giving this coming holiday season. I know, time is short and the thought of knitting an entire sweater, even a vest, seems overwhelming. There are so many other activities that demand our attention at this time of the year. A quick and easy project with readily... Read more

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Knitting and beading can make for a great marriage as long as a few rules of engagement are followed.

Memories of the '60's - love beads, hippie beads, beads on a string around necks and wrists, homemade, handmade, swinging with long hair and flowered skirts. Beads were such a strong fashion element of that decade. The subject of beads is a vast one and the hippie incarnation was just a small part of beading... Read more

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"Blue and green should never be seen except in the washing machine!"

The first time I heard this little rhyme, I was standing in the general store on Main Street in the little prairie village of Rosetown. The town belied its name. Unlike a lush and vibrant flower, it was a dry and dusty place. Colors had been bleached by the sun or blown away by the wind. Even still, it had a charm that only a small... Read more

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A "stripe" is defined as "a line or long narrow section differing in color or texture from parts adjoining". Knitting is a natural when it comes to creating stripes. The needles act as guardian of the straight line, that crossover point, where changes in color or texture can be made. It is up for grabs as how to fill in those rows that make up a stripe and the ever-popular horizontal line and... Read more

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