Adding colorwork to a sweater is a great way to change the look and make simple stockinette look more interesting. You can easily make different looking sweaters from the same pattern by adding or removing colorwork or changing its placement.… Read More...
Houndstooth Knitting Patterns
One of my favorite basic colorwork patterns is houndstooth, and I’m honestly a little shocked I’ve never done a houndstooth knitting pattern roundup before. Now’s the time, thanks to my coming across the Rakish Shawl from The Lamb & Kid … Read More...
How to Pick Up Stitches for Knitting
Last month I told you a bit about the continuing saga of me knitting an argyle vest, which has given me lots of opportunities for writing tutorials about different skills that were used in making it.
That particular post was … Read More...
Earth Day Activities for Kids
I feel like I’ve written about Earth Day a lot, and that’s a good thing because it’s important to take some time to think about how humans are treating the earth and things we can do to help it.
We’ve … Read More...
Basic Triangle Shawl Knitting Pattern
A basic triangle shawl is a great project to have in your arsenal. If you’ve never done shaping before, you’ll get a lot of practice with increases (in this case, yarn overs). And once you understand how knitting a triangle … Read More...
Poppy Cross Stitch Patterns for Anzac Day
Anzac Day is marked each year on April 25 as a reminder of the battle of Gallipoli, a conflict against the Ottoman Turks in 1915 that resulted in the deaths of more than 8,000 Australian soldiers. Anzac is a nickname … Read More...
Celebrate Poem in Your Pocket Day
Poem in Your Pocket Day is April 18 (in 2024), and it’s a great time to bring some poetry into the classroom. I learned from the American Academy of Poets that the celebration began in New York City in 2002 … Read More...
Be Brave with Color Choices to Knit This Shawl
Helen Kennedy says her shawl pattern, Always Be Brave, came about because people shopping at a local yarn fair were drawn to heavily multicolored yarns but didn’t know what to do with them.
She designed the shawl to use a … Read More...
Review: The Sock Project
If you’re on Instagram and you knit, you’ve probably seen some of Summer Lee‘s colorful and fun socks. As you might imagine, when she wrote a book all about sock knitting, it, too, was colorful and fun.
How to Make French Knots
French knots are a pretty common embellishment in cross stitch patterns that might be used for eyes or to add texture like polka dots or stars on a project. If you delve into other genres of needlework you’ll find French … Read More...
Chicken Knitting Patterns
I visit Ravelry pretty often to see what new knitting patterns are being released, and a few times when I’ve visited recently it has shown me Annette Corsino‘s Emotional Support Chicken knitting pattern.
It’s a cute pattern worked in … Read More...
Celebrating World Book Day
World Book Day is an annual celebration of the written word that takes place on April 23 (the UK celebrates in March, which makes it not quite a world day, but still). This day was chosen because it was the … Read More...
Add a Little Lace to Your Sweater
I don’t know why I think of lace knitting as being for spring and summer, but I do. I guess it’s because those holes let in a little more air, which is decidedly not something we want to happen when … Read More...
Designer Spotlight: Notforgotten Farm
Notforgotten Farm is an Etsy shop dedicated to primitive needlework patterns and supplies. Based in Virginia, the shop has patterns for counted and uncounted cross stitch, embroidery, punch needle and appliques, as well as a couple of hand-sewing patterns. They … Read More...
Get Sporti with this Gender-Neutral Knit Collection
Knit fabric made with ribbing is magical. It’s super stretchy, of course, and while it can be clingy it does so in a way that’s super comfortable.
Ribbed projects automatically look kind of sporty, and that’s the idea behind the … Read More...
Cat Cross Stitch Patterns
In addition to writing about cross stitch for Craft Gossip, I also write about knitting and lesson plans, which means I’m always on the lookout for holidays, real and fanciful, that I can write about and share patterns and … Read More...
Have a Circular Knitting Machine? Make a Twisted Headband!
Over the holidays I started getting into using my circular knitting machine more, and though I would never give up on knitting and crocheting with real needles and hooks, I’ve got to say it’s a lot of fun for quick … Read More...
The Perfect Accessory for Your Sci-Fi Adventures
The only problem with going on adventures in time and space is that sometimes you get a little chilly. If you find yourself needing a little extra warmth while you wander the universe, you might need to knit yourself a … Read More...
Celebrating Arab American Heritage Month
Arab American Heritage Month is celebrated in April as a way to celebrate and recognize the contributions of Arab Americans in our history and culture. The month hasn’t officially been recognized by the United States government, but many states mark … Read More...
How to Fix Mistakes in Cross Stitch
I’ve just recently started what for me is the biggest cross stitch project I’ve ever attempted (the Baby Yaga House from Happy Little Mouse) and I know that there are going to be some mistakes in it.
It uses … Read More...