The Yarn Blog is a place for knitting and crochet inspiration, information and instruction. Come here for pattern roundups, information on how to use specific fibre arts tools, deep dives into techniques, histories on patterns, interviews with makers and more!
Halloween is just around the corner! And when we think of Halloween patterns to make, we think of fibre arts icon Morticia Addams, who was knitting creepy clothing long before we ever picked up a needle. Are you ready to make like Morticia? We’ve found thirteen great knitting and crochet Halloween patterns that you can…
Every year, the world celebrates World Oceans Day on June 8. It commemorates the world’s oceans, and also brings attention to how they can be cared for and revitalized. This year’s theme is “Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean,” and the hashtag is #RevitalizeTheOcean . We live on islands surrounded by the ocean here in…
We have been in love with Hedgehog Fibres since before we took over The Yarn Queen. The moment the ink was dry on our business papers, we looked at each other and said, “We need to find out if we can stock Hedgehog Fibres!” We’ve been proud to carry them ever since. We love their…
Me-Made-May started out as a participatory holiday for sewists and has become an event that makers around the globe – including knitters, crocheters and other fibre artists – take part in. This challenge isn’t about making things; it’s about wearing things you’ve already made. Why? Because if you wear the things you make, you can…
Lace yoke sweaters are all the rage right now. They’re a lovely way to show off your best stitchwork. When you see a great lace yoke sweater you know it wasn’t store-bought; the techniques used mean that a lot of love went into making the sweater. And a lot of math went into designing it!…
The good old granny square. If you crochet, you’ve probably made one…or ten…or maybe even hundreds. But did you ever wonder who invented the granny square? Lots of other people have wondered too. Crochet historians knew it was created in the United States and was first popular in the 1890s. But the earliest published example…
Are you getting ready to hit the beach over the summer break? So are we! And we’re also thinking about the great gifts we can make for our loved ones to wear while they soak up some rays. We’ve compiled 9 of our favorite free patterns that you can knit and crochet for some summer-ready…
Can you smell it in the air? It’s nearly summer! We are looking forward to some beautiful weather so we can go for a swim – although since we live in Wellington we’re more likely to be traveling to some beautiful weather for a swim. And before or after a swim, there’s nothing better than…
If you have even a passing interest in the fabric arts, lately you may have seen cute little creatures popping up in your forums and message boards, on Instagram, and even at your local meetups. These are examples of amigurumi, the Japanese word for “crocheted or knitted stuffed toy.” It’s been popular to crochet them…
The Papillon shawl pattern by Marin Melchior is designed so that anyone can knit it. However, the instructions do use a unique methodology that has a steep learning curve. We’ve created the below video to walk you through it so that you will know exactly what to do. Once you’ve learned how to read it,…
These Variations Will Spark Your Imagination The Papillon shawl, designed by Marin Melchior, is legendary, and for good reason. It’s a pattern that creates eye-catching results using simple techniques. But for people who have knitted it so many times that it’s old hat to them (all three of them) or people who just wish the…
Many customers ask, “But what colours should I use for my Papillon shawl?” We photographed 141 different Papillon colourways so you can pick the perfect one for you. Obviously, 141 colourways can be overwhelming! So we’ve grouped the colourways together into similar families. This way you can find the perfect colour for your Papillon shawl….
