In this year’s reader survey, you might remember I had a lot of questions about your thoughts on knitting and crochet video tutorials. An overwhelming number of you (77%) said you’d love to see them, so I’m happy to say I’ve got TWO videos to launch the renewed Hands Occupied YouTube channel. The videos show you how to make a long tail tubular cast on for a knitting project. The first video in this post shows how to do it right handed, and the second video shows the leftie version.
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Picks of the Week
It’s finally fall the first week of fall, which means it’s sweater knitting season! Scarf weather! Pinterest has flooded with some great fall knitting patterns this week, and I’ve been saving my faves on my Knitting & Crochet board. It’s also Fashion Week, so I was reminded to spend some time googling fall 2014 knitwear trends. It looks like extra-oversized (like comically so in some cases) sweaters are really big this season, which is really exciting. It looks like fall 2014 is going to especially be sweater season.
Red Hats for Newborns + A Free Pattern
The story of one of the most critical moments of loss in my life, how you can help raise awareness for this all-too-common issue, and a free knitting pattern to help you contribute to helping the cause.
Picks of the Week
I feel like it’s beginning to look a little like fall on the knitting/crochet internet this week. I know. August 15. Ugh. But since fall is a great season for fiber projects and ramps us up into holiday knitting, I’m not sure I mind. It’s ok, you can hate me for saying it, although I bet I’m not the only knitter or crocheter who feels this way!
Knitting Reimagined
This book isn’t so much on trend as it is beyond trend. Legendary knitwear designer Nicky Epstein’s new book Knitting Reimagined presents 25 innovative patterns that are conceptualized differently than a lot of knitwear you might have encountered on your knitting journeys. Knitting your way through this book would be an amazing way to get inspired to do something new next time you’re feeling bored with knitting yet another cardi or wrap.
Picks of the Week
It’s Friday, and it’s Shark Week, and it’s Chicago Yarn Crawl week! There’s still a month left of summer, too! Life is good, and the weather is too (here in Midwestern America), so I’ve got nothing to complain about. I’ve got a bundle of knitting and crochet to work on this weekend, including all of the fine inspiration below to keep my brain yarn-occupied. :) TGIF!
Chicago Yarn Crawl!
It’s the Chicago Yarn Crawl this week, dudes! This year, I only had a chance to Crawl for one day, hitting up 5 of the many stores participating. But I made sure to snap a few pics of their yarn and supplies to make you all jealous of the amazing yarn stores we’ve got here in Chicagoland. ;) The Yarn Crawl is divided into regions, and I focused on Region 1, the yarn shops within Chicago’s city limits.
Mini Harry Potter Sweater Pattern
Try your hand at the most famous knitting in all of the Harry Potter universe, the Weasley Christmas sweater.
Weekly Reader
TGIF! I had a big work week, and we are still painting our lovely living room. I’m beat! We’ve got great high ceilings which are so fun in real life, but in painting life, are not my favorite thing ever. But I digress. :) The internet gave us some really elegant, Pottery Barn-lookin’ designs this week! Patterns that would knit or crochet up right quick and really class up your abode… and they’d probably do it much more efficiently than a big home DIY project. Like painting – just saying.
