Blog

Stitch Away Stress Interview with Carol...
It’s finally April and guess what that means? It’s Stitch Away Stress month! For the next couple weeks we’ll be giving you tips and tricks on how to use yarn crafts to bust stress and relax. We’ll also be sharing interviews and quotes from people in different walks of life about how knit or crochet have helped them get through stressful situations and get back to feeling happier and healthier. Our second interview is with Carol Caparosa, founder of Project Knitwell. Project Knitwell is...
Stitch Away Stress Interview with...
It’s finally April and guess what that means? It’s Stitch Away Stress month! For the next couple weeks we’ll be giving you tips and tricks on how to use yarn crafts to bust stress and relax. We’ll also be sharing interviews and quotes from people in different walks of life about how knit or crochet have helped them get through stressful situations and get back to feeling happier and healthier. Our second interview is with Alanna Okun, who is a writer, editor, and crafter living in New...
Stitch Away Stress Interview with...
It’s finally April and guess what that means? It’s Stitch Away Stress month! For the next few weeks we’ll be giving you tips and tricks on how to use yarn crafts to bust stress and relax. We’ll also be sharing interviews and quotes from people in different walks of life about how knit or crochet have helped them get through stressful situations and get back to feeling happier and healthier. Our first interview is with Betsan Corkhill, a clinically-trained physiotherapist and well-being...
Member Spotlight: Red Heart
Red Heart. To the average joe, these two words together might not mean much. But to the yarn crafter, Red Heart equals joy.   For 80 years, Red Heart has been one of the most recognized brand names and at the center of joy-filled memories for the giver and the receiver of hand-made, one-of-a-kind creations given from the heart.   Red Heart works with a lot of different bloggers, designers and crafters in the yarn world, who they call “Joy Creators.” These people combine...
April is #StitchAwayStress month!
Does the busyness of life have you feeling stressed out? Do you find yourself wishing for a way to unwind and just relax? Well look no further because the Craft Yarn Council has the perfect solution! April is Stress Awareness Month and to celebrate and educate people about the health benefits of yarn crafts, the CYC is hosting our annual #StitchAwayStress campaign. Make life’s lemons into lemonade by knitting or crocheting a lemon stress ball and squeezing it when life gets tough. This...
Member Spotlight: Yarnspirations
Have you ever knitted or crocheted a blanket using Bernat blanket yarn? Have you made a fun and colorful hat with Caron Cakes? What about a wonderfully cozy sweater with Patons classic wool?   Yarnspirations is the home of yarn brands Patons, Bernat, Caron and Lily Sugar’ N Cream and is part of the craft yarn producer Spinrite LP, which was established in 1952. Spinrite not only manufactures yarn, but also produces yarn and pattern books as well. Spinrite is also North America’s...
YDKWYDK: Deciphering a yarn label
Have you ever looked at a skein of yarn and wondered what all the information meant? Do you still confuse the bleach and dry symbols? Well have no fear because the Craft Yarn Council is here to save the day! Check out this handy guide to reading yarn labels and you’ll never be confused again!   Knowing what to look for on a yarn label can help you quickly find what you need, especially when you’re in the store shopping. The below guide from Lion Brand shows you the main things you...
Sarah Makes: Confessions of a Beginner...
You’ve followed along in my journey learning to crochet and now it’s time to move on. I’ve finally taken up knitting and boy has it been a bumpy ride.   I first tried picking up a pair of needles about a year ago, back before I’d even heard of the Craft Yarn Council. One of my roommates was teaching herself to knit and she tried teaching me, but I just didn’t get it. You might remember from my post about learning to crochet that I don’t have a lot of patience. After about ten...
Member Spotlight: Lion Brand
Lion Brand: if you know anything about yarn, then you’ve probably heard this name before. One of the first yarn companies and manufacturers in the country, Lion Brand has been around since the nineteenth century (1878 to be exact) and sells yarn online and in craft chains and independent yarn shops across the country.     Lion Brand was also the first yarn company to feature a celebrity spokesperson - none other than Vanna White. You might know her from popular game show...
Pat Catan's is Warming Up America!
Join Pat Catan’s for their campaign to Warm Up America! For the past 12 years, Pat Catan’s has partnered with Warm Up America! to raise money and collect donations to help people in need. The six-week campaign invites beginners and experts alike to whip out their yarn and make something to donate or give monetarily. Last year, Pat Catan’s raised their biggest donation for Warm Up America! to date, collecting over $30,000. This year, they hope to beat that goal by raising $32,000. The...
Sarah Makes: C2C Christmas Blanket
For my December “Sarah Makes” project, I decided to tackle a rather ambitious Christmas afghan. I’ve been trying to learn corner to corner crochet for months in order to incorporate the technique into the blog and I finally decided to hunker down and master it after seeing Make & Do Crew’s adorable Christmas blanket. The blanket is rather large and consists of nine corner to corner crochet squares and a banner at the bottom that is equivalent to three squares. To give myself enough...
Warm Up America! heads to South Texas
It’s almost Christmas and the season of giving is once again upon us.  To mark the spirit of Christmas, I’m going to share my experience in South Texas helping those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Read on to hear all about my trip helping in people’s homes and handing out Warm Up America! donations! Almost three months ago, I had the opportunity to go to one of the cities affected by Hurricane Harvey, Beaumont, TX, to help people whose homes were hit. I went with a group of...