A Few New Things at Lion Brand and Berroco

Great tip from my Lion Brand e-newsletter today:

• Works for knitting or crochet: I like to use bobby pins (the straight kind) to mark my rows, my stitches, and also to put articles together. To keep track of a lot of stitches, I count out 10 stitches and place a pin and continue. Then I only have to count by 10s. - Anonymous

New free pattern @ Berroco - Mayer

• "A cozy fall jacket with an exaggerated collar, Mayer features the same waffle textured stitch used in Faber, from Norah Gaughan vol 5."

Knitting How To Videos from Berroco and Lion Brand

Berroco and Lion Brand now feature detailed how to videos about various techniques to help you with your knitting and crochet projects. You do not have to be a registered user to view the video clips!

Placement of the Hook when Crocheting

Yes, where you put the hook matters and makes a difference. It can change the thickness and the way the piece you are crocheting looks and feels. Here is an excerpt from a recent email I received from Interweave Press:

"Where you put the hook when you crochet makes a difference in both the look and movement of the fabric. Inserting the hook under both loops of the stitch produces a sturdy fabric suitable for a variety of projects. But inserting the hook in the back loop only (blo), front loop only (flo) or alternating blo and flo can produce very different kinds of fabrics. Over the next few weeks, we'll look at the effect of these stitches and when you might want to use them. And we'll show you a pattern that uses each technique. We'll start with back loop only (blo). Blo stitching produces a stretchy fabric much akin to ribbing in knitted garments. As such, it is suitable for cuffs and collars. It's also a good way to add fluidity to an afghan, to keep it from being too heavy. But what happens when you work an entire garment in blo? Good things happen. A case in point: The Big Bow Cardigan (Interweave Crochet Winter 2008). The stretchy rib of blo worked vertically creates a sweater that hugs your shape. If this sweater were worked through both loops, it would produce a garment more like a coat. Working through the back loop only makes a cardigan that can flare at the shoulders and narrows at the waist, creating a slimming vertical line. In addition, it keeps the warmth in. To work blo, insert the hook in the back loop only of the two loops at the top of the stitch. Work blo every row for a completely ridged look. (Working the right side only in blo will produce a fabric that has a wider stripe of flat crochet between the ridges; it will not be quite as stretchy.)Other uses for blo: working a row of blo on the edge of a bag will produce a turning ridge for the bottom. Work a row of blo at the top of a hat to produce a flat top. For pictures of swatches worked in double crochet and double crochet blo, see the blog."

Crochet Me is definitely a blog worth visiting, even if it is just to take a quick glance at the nice photographs.

Woman Within Knitwear Sale

Nice knitted designs are hard to find in plus sizes. Here are some from Woman Within. They are all on sale for only $12.88 (not including tax and shipping costs).

This trapeze top is perfect for larger shoulders, and smaller hips.


Anyone can wear this long henley sweater. It's flattering for most body types.


This swing cardigan is perfect for flattering the arm.

This light weight sweater is not on sale, but still a great price at $40.

I love the color of this wrap cardigan ("pearl grey"), which is perfect for layering.



NOTE: Woman Within has a maternity section with prices starting at $14.99!