I have done a fair bit of smaller cross stitch pieces in my time (and I definitely have working something bigger as a goal for 2024!) but for the most part I’ve only worked projects with full cross stitches, backstitch … Read More...
Bag Knitting Patterns Made with Sock Yarn
I’ve been writing posts for a while about things to do with sock yarn
that aren’t socks, and this month’s installment is bags. In keeping with the season and the idea that you might be wanting to use up some … Read More...
Polar Bear Learning Activites
After that post about penguin learning activities, I couldn’t resist sharing some polar bear activities, too. You can do a whole week of learning about cold-weather animals, or just throw in some polar bear activities to add to your … Read More...
Knit a Simple Looking Sweater Full of Fun Techniques
At first glance, the Doppio Sweater by Seunghee Hong looks like a pretty classic, straightforward, mostly stockinette stitch sweater. But as you div e into it, you’ll see there’s more going on that makes it more interesting to knit.
For … Read More...
Penguin Learning Activities for Kids
After talking about Antarctica the other day, it got me thinking about activities involving animals that live in cold climates. So today we’re taking a look at penguin learning activities.
To begin with the basics, Living Life and Learning has … Read More...
Make Your Mittens with Colorwork
Mittens are a utilitarian item if ever there was one. They just need to keep our hands warm reliably. They don’t have to be cute.
But since we’re knitters and we’re going to knit our own mittens anyway, they might … Read More...
Funny Valentine’s Day Cross Stitch Patterns
If your love isn’t super romantic and cheesy, maybe you’d rather stitch up a little something to make you both laugh for Valentine’s Day. These funny designs are still sweet but with a punny or funny twist.
If you met … Read More...
All About Antarctica for Kids
Antarctica is technically a continent, not a country, but I couldn’t resist throwing it in here (especially since it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere). On average it’s the coldest, driest and windiest continent, and of course the least inhabited, with … Read More...
Henley Sweater Knitting Patterns
The type of sweater I’ve knit most often is a standard raglan, but my favorite kind of sweater to wear is a henley. (I went on and on about how much I love henleys, and the Achoo sweater in particular, … Read More...
Use Your Stash to Make Loop Scarves
I’ve recently been playing more with my Sentro knitting machine, and my favorite thing to make right now is loop scarves. Because the easiest thing to make on one of these machines is a tube, you can just crank … Read More...
Designer Spotlight: Stitch and Poke Company
Get your salty cross stitch patterns right here, from Stitch and Poke Company on Etsy.
There’s literally one about staying salty, which is about 8 inches on 18 count fabric, and looks great on dark colored fabric.
I first … Read More...
Activities for The Snowy Day
There are a lot of great winter-themed books that lend themselves to activities in the classroom or at home, and it’s great to read and explore winter books after the holiday break because it makes getting back to school a … Read More...
Knitting Patterns to Use Your Yarn Odd Balls
If you’ve been around here for much time at all, you probably know that I’m all about stash busting and projects that allow you to use little bits of yarn left over from other projects (or that random skein you … Read More...
A Shawl to Knit to Get through the Current Calamity
I generally write most posts for Craft Gossip several weeks in advance of when they go live, so I’m writing this not knowing what calamitous events might be happening in the world or in your life when you read it. … Read More...
What’s the Difference Between Cross Stitch and Embroidery?
The other day I wrote a post that included the information that a project could be worked as cross stitch, needlepoint or petit point, and I have to admit I’m not totally sure what the difference between all those terms … Read More...
A Super Bulky Vest to Knit and Wear Right Away
In 2022 for Christmas I got myself a mystery yarn grab bag from Lion Brand Yarn, and in it were a couple of skeins of super bulky yarn. Because it was almost the beginning of the year and I was … Read More...
Martin Luther King, Jr. Cross Stitch Patterns
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is an important holiday in the United States acknowledging the civil rights movement and King’s legacy of both nonviolent resistance and pushing against the system in the hope of changing things for the better for … Read More...
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Activities for Kids
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
is a federal holiday in the United States, which may mean kids are home from school (my daughter’s school is in session; they call it a “day on” instead of a day off and do … Read More...
Knit a Sweater Inspired by Fast Fashion
I love a design with a good origin story. This one goes like this: Berroco released a rectangular shawl/wide scarf pattern called Ludlow, and a lot of knitters wanted to know about the sweater the model was wearing. It … Read More...
Designer Spotlight: Scared Thread Design
Sacred Thread Design is an Etsy seller based in Canada who offers lots of whimsical, watercolor-style designs, as well as sweary, snarky designs.
Sometimes it’s easier to write about a designer when they just do one kind of thing, but … Read More...