Archive | Craft Tools, crochet equipment, knitting equipment

List of Crochet and Knitting Resources

List of Crochet and Knitting Resources

Finding crochet and knitting resources doesn’t have to be difficult. There are many great places you can turn to for help. When you have a question or are in doubt about a stitch, technique or other tips help can be as easy as a mouse click away. There are of course many paid resources and free resources. Which you choose will depend on the scope of help you need and of course your budget.

Crochet Hook and Knitting Needles

Here is a list of some Crochet and Knitting Resources:

Craft Yarn Council – This is one of my go to sites when I am searching for information. They are a great resources for information on anything to do with yarn. Weights, standards, stitch abbreviations. Their site is well laid out and easy to navigate.

Crochet Guild of America – The Crochet Guild of America. This Guild was established in 1974. This guild charges a low yearly membership and the membership also includes a subscriber to Crochet Magazine. The Guild has 2 major conferences each year. This is a great place to take some in-person classes from qualified instructors. They also sponsor a yearly design competition. If there isn’t a local chapter near you that would be a great opportunity for you to start your own local chapter.

The Knitting Guild Association – Just like the Guild for Crocheters there is a Guild for Knitters. The membership to this Guild also includes a membership for their Cast On magazine. Belonging to a Guild is a great way to build friendships and grow your skills.

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RedHeart Yarn Winner

By Yolanda on July 17, 2015 in Craft Tools, crochet equipment, knitting equipment, Crochet Projects, Giveaways / Contests 6

RedHeart Yarn

RedHeart Yarn Giveaway winner Announced

Congratulations to our RedHeart Yarn Giveaway Winner Dawn Orcutt. You won this week’s giveaway. I would once again like to thank our friends at RedHeart yarns for sponsoring this giveaway. I’m sure Dawn will enjoy her new yarn. All of the yarns that are part of this giveaway are available at your local crafts stores. I hope you will try them out. RedHeart Sparkle Soft is really pretty and as the name says.. it’s soft. : )

Thank to everyone who participated in this giveaway. If you didn’t win don’t worry because there are many more giveaways planned for this year.

Woohoo! RedHeart Yarn Package Giveaway Announcement!

By Yolanda on July 8, 2015 in Craft Tools, crochet equipment, knitting equipment, Giveaways / Contests 316

Announcement: RedHeart Yarn Package Giveaway

Who doesn’t love yarn ? Especially when it’s free. My friends at RedHeart yarns have offered to sponsor a giveaway of some of their yarns. Here is your chance to enter for your chance to win this great package. This package includes a great variety of some of my favorite RedHeart yarns. This great giveaway prize includes;

· 3 balls of Red Heart Sparkle Soft yarn

· 2 balls of Red Heart Boutique Infinity yarn

· 2 balls of Red Heart Boutique Twilight yarn

· 1 Red Heart Tote Bag (great for taking along your WIP on all your errands.)

Red Heart Prize Package Approximate Retail Value $50

To be eligible to win you will need to do the following:

1) Be a member of the blog. Enter by clicking in the “Become a member” box (upper right hand corner) and fill in your information. Don’t worry your information will never be shared or sold to anyone.

2) Leave a comment here on this post stating why you would like to win OR name your favorite RedHeart yarn

UPDATE: So sorry I forgot to say what day a winner will be chosen. A winner will be chosen randomly on Friday, 07/16/15. The winner will be notified here with a reply to their comment and to the email they used to become a member, so be sure to become a member to my blog.

Don’t know what to make with your yarn? Be sure to visit my YouTube for a great selection of How-to step-by-step tutorials. I have uploaded over 450 great projects. Check out the different playlist to find what interests you. While you’re there be sure to SUBSCRIBE and never miss a new video.

http://www.youtube.com/user/yolandasotolopez

Protect your crochet, knit and other delicates while washing

By Yolanda on April 23, 2013 in Craft Tools, crochet equipment, knitting equipment, Crochet Projects, Knitting

Protect your crochet items while washing

Protect your crochet and knit items while washing

Keep your Crochet and Knit Items safe in the wash

In a perfect world all of our treasured handcrafted knit, crochet or sewn items would be gently and lovingly washed by hand. Laid to dry flat over a flat drying rack and then carefully placed back into our wardrobes.

Ahhhh…. enter the real world. With jobs, rushed scheduled and then throw in a few kids and the hand washing days might be a faint memory. Well, here is one way to help protect your clothing. Remember those hoisery bags we used to put our nylons and other unmentionables? Do people even still use those?

Well it turns out those bags are the perfect way to protect all of your handcrafted items. You work so hard and put so much time and love into creating all of your beautiful things to see them ruined in the wash. OK, I know we would all just LOVE to be able to hand wash but the reality is that most of us don’t have the time.

Enter the little hoisery bag to the rescue. Make sure you get a bag that has a zipper. I think those work best. Place your crochet items inside the bag (turn it inside out first- if possible). Now put your bag into your washing machine. I still recommend you set your washer to a delicate setting. Then take out your items and place to dry flat on either a towel or flat drying rack. Some acrylic yarns can be dried in the drying machine just be sure to set on a low temperature and remove promptly to avoid wrinkles and stretching.

This is especially great for people with young children or babies. It keeps your precious items safe.

I hope you try this tip. It has helped save many of my clothing items.

Fast and easy Mason Jar Sewing Kit

By Yolanda on April 17, 2013 in Craft Tools, crochet equipment, knitting equipment, Holiday Projects, Home Decor, Sewing Projects

Make this fast and easy mason jar sewing kit

In a pinch for a quick, easy and inexpensive gift. There are so many times I get invited to someone’s house, get-together, etc. I don’t like to show up empty-handed. So, here is a quick, easy and inexpensive gift. I call it my emergency traveling sewing kit. This little sewing kit in a mason jar makes a great gift. All supplies can be purchased at your local Walmart, Rite-aid, etc. This is a great kit to have in your desk at work, while you’re traveling, or for a child going off to college.

You will need the following supplies.

One small mason jar (the kind for jelly)

1 small sewing kit (I bought mine at the dollar store, but you can find them at Walmart, Rite, CVS, etc.)

A little bit of fiber fill
Small piece of fabric
Ribbon
Hot glue gun

First: Cut your out a fabric piece about an inch larger in diameter than your lid.

Take out inner lid from jar, and insert fabric into opening, lightly stuff with fiber fill. Insert inner lid (with rubber) on top of your fabric and batting

Now tack down the excess fabric with a glue gun. Be careful not to burn yourself. Now add the items of your sewing kit. You can also add a small card.