Scarves are one of my most favorite things to knit since most patterns require limited brain power and can be done while I’m doing something else or its not the end of the universe if I put it down mid pattern.

Today I got an email from Lion Brand Yarn today and I saw this really cute scarf.  It’s a pretty simple knit pattern (a Straight Stitch pattern, k on RS, p on WS) but they add a gather (I think) every few inches giving it a lace/net pattern. A size 6 needle is used which always feel good in my hands and I have a great set I love to use, especially for a scarf.

But, the BEST thing is the kind of yarn used.  First of all, its very thin.  Sock/Superfine/Baby/Fingering weight yarn and it comes on a cone.  It’s 75% wool AND… wait for it… 25% Stainless Steel!  HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!?!  As a yarn junkie, this is just TOO cool!

The Wool/Stainless Steel Yarn comes in 4 colors and has an MSRP of $10 for 0.50 oz./14 g (273 yd/244 m).  The pattern requires 2 skeins and considering how utterly cool this yarn is, its pretty decently priced for this product.  Can anyone say Christmas Present(s)?  The only thing that is a minor problem is that since it is so new and cool, it and the entire LB Collection of yarn is only sold through LionBrand.com, the Lion Design catalog and the Lion Brand Yarn Studio in NYC and no where else.  I feel I need to go take a road trip to NYC to the Yarn Studio since its only a 2 hour train ride for me and it sounds like a great excuse to go up there for a visit since I’ve been trying to find a good enough excuse to go up there.

(Kate McQ-L – we have some serious knitting to do!)

Lion Brand Yarn – Lace Net Scarf and Wool Stainless Yarn

Lion Brand Yarns has a few patterns (both knit and crochet) to make bags that can be used shopping but look a lot nicer than the boring black ones I got at Wegmans.  A knitted bag would be wonderful to carry around the local farmer’s market or just walking down the street while doing some local shopping.  I really like this one – their Green Living Tote.  I probably won’t get the recycled cotton yarn that they suggest but will use something out of my stash.  I’m thinking either a cotton blend I have or an acrylic so its easily washed.  This is not something you would want to use wool, unless it’s superwash wool.

The best thing is, this pattern is FREE!  All you have to do is register at Lion Brand’s site and you have access to this pattern and hundreds more.

Lion Brand Yarn – Green Living Tote

ammasmama over on Craftser.org posts a great tutorial on how to create your own resin knitting needles and some of her tricks she uses with lots of pictures to help.

The actual tutorial is on page 6 of the thread but it is lots of bits of inspiration in the other pages.

I personally love how ammasmama uses everyday items to as molds.  Who would have thought that a pair of McDonald straws could make a set of 10.5 needles?

ammasmama at Craftser.org – Resin Knitting Needles

Ammasmama also has an Esty site.

Lion Brand Yarns just came out with this free pattern for a mouse that happens to look much like the mouse in question.  I can’t wait to surprise the little guy with his very own Warehouse Mouse once I’m done with the pink scarf.

As stated before, you must register to get the pattern but its a free registration and you can even opt in for updates to the site via email.

In trying some of the knitting projects out, they are well written and true to the advertised skill level.  I really enjoy that they tell you how much yarn is needed which is helpful even if you don’t use their yarns.  There is a page that tells you what other Lion Brand Yarns are about the same weight so you can expand the yarn pallet for a chosen project.

Registration is required but is totally free and I personally enjoy the email newsletters they send out about every week.  They even have a newsletter that is for kid crafters. (Hook them in early!)

My mother taught me to knit many years ago.  I stopped doing it for easily twenty years but when I was pregnant with my third kid I needed something easy to do while I waited out the last six weeks before he was born and distract me from the Braxton-Hicks contractions I was having.  I had four or five scarves to give out as Christmas presents as a result.

The brilliant idea to start knitting idea came from the dollar section of Target.  They were selling this really cool yarn that came in four colors.  It was like string with confetti sewn into it.  Very cute and I am such a sucker for cheep but cute yarn.

Getting started again was pretty easy.  I didn’t want to go out and buy a book on how to do it when I knew I could find the directions on the internet.  Vogue Knitting and Martha Stewart were where I ended up to get started.  The wonderful thing about the internet there are tons of sites out there with great tutorials that will get you started knitting and eventually you’ll find the directions that work for you.

One of my favorite sites for patterns is Knitting Pattern Central.  The site features all free patterns of all skill levels.  Its updated every few days so I do check it most days to see what kind of new projects are around. There are many other sites out there too that also offer free patterns.  I’m not knocking the patterns that are for sale, there are some TERRIFIC patterns but if you are just getting started or what to try something out, try it on a free one first.

And believe it or not but its not too late to start a knitting project for a holiday gift, just be mindful of the time needed verses the ammount of time you have.  Scarf/Hat sets can be really nice.  Personally, I’m finishing up a nifty hot pink scarf for a friend at the moment.  I promice to post pics of it after its all done.

Cthulu/Penguin

I found this pattern over at Craftzine.com.  What a hoot!  And the best part is that you can download the pattern for free at Raverly.com.  Kudos to you Carly Zimmerman who not only designed the pattern but has given it away.

(Note: you must register at Raverly.com to be able to access the pattern, but if you’re a knitter – or crocheters or other fiber based crafter – I’m sure you’ll be there soon enough anyway.)