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Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts

Knitter's Pride 2018 Holiday Gift Guide

On our last blog post, we revealed this year's limited edition holiday gift set, Knit & Purr - click here if you missed it!

As the holiday season shifts into high gear, it's time to start planning your holiday shopping, and perhaps dropping a few hints to loved ones! Today, we share some of our top picks to give and get this holiday season - there's truly something for everyone on your list.

Keep reading to find out how you can enter this month's prize drawing to win a set of our new Rainbow Knit Blockers, too!

Ginger Luxury Sets
Our newest addition to the Knitter's Pride family is already receiving rave reviews! Knitwear designer Courtney Spainhower recently gave our Ginger Special Interchangeable Set a test drive, and crochet designer Phanessa Fong is loving our Ginger Tunisian Hook Set. We're pretty sure that the knitter or crocheter on your list will, too!

Each set comes in a deluxe faux leather case which has a built in magnetic pattern chart keeper and a handy storage pocket to keep the stitch marker, cords, cord keys and end caps which are included with each set safe (note: the Ginger DPN set includes a needle gauge rather than cords and cord keys/end caps). As an added bonus, we've also included a matching pen.

Click here to learn more about our Ginger knitting needle range and click here to learn more about our Ginger crochet range.

Pin the graphic below to your Pinterest wish list!


Wooden Ball Winder & Swift
Any knitter, crocheter, hand spinner or weaver will find a ball winder and swift useful. Not only is it an efficient way to wind hanks of luxury yarns into center-pull balls, it can be used to skein up handspun yarns or re-skein leftover or reclaimed yarn for easier use at a later date.

Both of these time-saving tools come in your choice of Natural Birch or colorful Signature Birch styles - click here for more details.

Pin the graphic below to your Pinterest wish list!
Knit & Purr Limited Edition Gift Set
For a truly remarkable gift, the Knit & Purr 2018 Holiday Gift Set carries a collection of millennium interchangeable knitting needles which are made from a combination of black & red laminated wood that is brought together by hand to create a unique pattern in each needle. 

Packaged beautifully in a specially-designed box resembling a cozy abode, Knit & Purr includes also includes a reusable "Knit & Purr" tote bag to create a delightful treat for any knitter on your list.


Pin the graphic below to your Pinterest wish list!
Jewelry for Knitters
Fashionable and functional, these elegant designs will be a welcome surprise for the knitter who has it all (and crocheters will love them, too!). 

Our Magnetic Knitter's Necklace Kit features a magnetic wooden pendant can be used to keep the cable needles and stitch markers close for easy access. Each kit comes in your choice of two pendant colors and includes cable needles and stitch markers, which can also be purchased separately as needed.

Keep track of your knitting pattern in style with one of our new Row Counter Rings! These rings can be worn on an index finger or thumb, allowing you to push the required number band towards the center for easy rotation as you work. Available in 4 sizes, they are made from high quality stainless steel and are also hypoallergenic.

Pin the graphic below to your Pinterest wish list!
Rainbow Knit Blockers
We've had many fans tell us that our Knit Blockers are such a time-saving tool, they've purchased multiple sets - so you really can't go wrong with our new Rainbow Knit Blockers! This revolutionary tool is designed to speed up the blocking process for knitters & crocheters alike, and now it has a playful new look. Each set includes ten different colors to make blocking your next project more fun.

Pin the graphic below to your Pinterest wish list!
Zing Crochet Set
By popular demand, we've expanded our Zing line to include crochet hooks in a beautiful spectrum of colors. The Zing Crochet Set set includes 9 hook size in a lustrous metallic shade unique to its size. Crocheters will love these lightweight hooks, and each set comes packaged smartly in an attractive zipper case for easy storage and travel.

Pin the graphic below to your Pinterest wish list!

Yarn Bowls & Dispensers
Ask any knitter or crocheters and they'll probably tell you that you can never have too many WIPs (Works In Progress). One of our beautifully handcrafted wooden yarn bowls or dispensers is a thoughtful gift to keep their yarn safe and tangle-free while they work! Our yarn bowls come in two styles, Leafy or Pearly, or choose between our Natural and Signature Yarn Dispenser to delight any yarn lover on your list.

Pin the graphic below to your Pinterest wish list!
Small Gifts for Yarn Friends
We have many affordable options which make excellent stocking stuffers, guild gifts, or fun little extras to include with a handmade or store-bought gift.

Exchange our Knitting Charms with folks in your knitting or crochet group as a token of your friendship - each one can be used as a keychain or bag charm, and includes a miniature Zing needle and hook to mend your work. So handy!

Shawl Pins are a wonderful gift for your shawl-loving friends, and can be given on their own, or with one of your own making. Check out our newest shawl pin styles here!

Our new Vibrance Mesh Bags come in your choice of zipper or snap closures, and are great for organizing just about anything - yarn, notions, school supplies, or even toiletries!

We love tools that do double duty, and each elephant-shaped Needle & Crochet Gauge not only identifies knitting needle and crochet hook sizes easily, it also lets you measure stitch gauge and includes a built-in yarn cutter, too! Choose from two colors, Blush and Lilac.

Stitch Markers are always a gift you can't go wrong with! We've added fun new styles to our Zooni range, all of which come packaged in a mesh zipper pouch for a lovely presentation.

Pin the graphic below to your Pinterest wish list!

November Giveaway
One lucky winner will win a set of Rainbow Knit Blockers - just click here to sign up for our newsletter to be entered in the drawing! Already a subscriber? Don’t worry, you’re automatically entered as long as you are an active subscriber on our list. We'll announce the winner in next month's newsletter!

Winner + Spring Home Decor KAL/CAL Round-Up

First, let's announce the winner of our June blog giveaway - congratulations to caffeine72 with this comment:


We'll be in touch via Ravelry to coordinate the prize delivery. Thanks to everyone else who took our quiz and entered the contest!

Spring Home Decor KAL/CAL Round-Up
We had a great time seeing all of the clever home decor patterns that you all knit or crocheted over the last couple of months.

Here are just a few of the projects that caught our eyes.

#1. Dishsoap Bottle Dress and Cloth
The moment we saw these dresses, we thought they were super clever, and a fun way to bring a little fun into the kitchen.


What a great idea, and we are sure to see more of these popping up on Ravelry! Thanks to LeilaEvelyn on Ravelry for sharing these with us.

#2. The Spa-Riffic Wash Cloth
Many of you took to this delightfully textured pattern, and the results were fabulous!
This one by 55yrknitter looks great with that hand poured bar of soap.


Knittingdancer made hers in this stunning bright orange!


#3. Fronded Trivet
We thought this dual colored pattern deserved some attention. The subtle patterning makes this a great addition to your kitchen or even a botanical inspired bathroom, Great work CornucopiAmy!


Here are the winners for our prizes, as chosen by the Random Number Generator:
2. kshufelt from Ravelry - Knit Blockers 
3. Asteride from Instagram - Reverie Fabric Bag

We will get in touch with you via Ravelry to arrange for the delivery of your prizes. Thanks to everyone who entered our KAL/CAL!

What Does Your Knitting or Crochet Project Say About You?

There are many types of crafters out there - what kind are you? We've created a fun quiz for our fans, click START below to see what your crafting preferences say about you!

Share your quiz results in the comments below for your chance to win your choice of these 2 prizes: a Royale IC Starter Set or a Waves Crochet Set- we'd love to know just how accurate our quiz is!

Don't forget to also include your email address or Ravelry ID so that we can contact you if you win. We'll randomly select one lucky winner to announce on our next blog post on Friday, July 14th. Good luck!



Share this quiz with your crafting friends to see their results using this link or the sharing links at the bottom of this post! 

Join Our Spring Home Decor KAL/CAL!

With Spring and Summer comes warmer weather, and the desire to knit or crochet cozy woolens is gone. You don’t need to put down your hooks or needles though, it’s time to make home decor!

From now until June 30th, we’re hosting a home decor CAL/KAL - just knit or crochet something for your home and share it with us in this Ravelry thread for your chance to win great prizes (more on that in a bit).

During the month of May, we’ll be sharing pattern ideas on our Facebook page, so be sure to check those out. In the meantime, here are 3 of our favorite home decor patterns to inspire you:

This blanket is amazing because it allows to create any size of blanket all the while only having 10 stitches on your needles at a time. This is a variation on the rectangular blanket, made famous by Staci Perry’s tutorials on her Very Pink Knits YouTube Channel.

This is a trend that continues to be popular, this crochet pattern by Nadia Fuad is so fun. It would look especially great in a semi-solid yarn.

We love this basket pattern with the chunky braids and handles! Now you can have a knitting basket that you knit yourself!

As previously mentioned, there are some great prizes up for grabs for anyone participating in our CAL/KAL:
Winners will be selected from the Ravelry group thread and from Instagram, using the event hashtag #KPSpringKAL. You can make as many projects as you like for multiple entries in the contest drawing; double dipping with other KAL/CALs is ok, too!

Once the KAL/CAL closes, we'll announce the winners here on our blog at the beginning of July.

Be sure to share your projects on Instagram with the hashtags #knitterspride and #KPSpringKAL. We can't wait to see what you make, and don't forget to add our blog to your reading list because in our next post, we’ll share a free knitted wash cloth pattern!

Keep it Green by Upcycling for Earth Day + Giveaway

Do you want to help keep as much as you can out of the landfill? Do you hate to see things going to waste? Here are a few tips to help upcycle materials this spring!


Unravel a sweater to reclaim yarn
We all have those sweaters in our closet that are destined to go to the thrift store after the Spring cleaning purge, but what if that sweater could become your next new project?



Start by examining the sweater, if it is still in good condition, you can reclaim the yarn. Start by unseaming the sweater. Once the sweater is in parts, find an end and start unraveling! This can be a fun project to do with kids. Using a swift makes the process go a little faster, and prepares you for the next step. Wash the yarn in a yarn soak to relax the fiber, then hang it up to dry with a weight to get out any of the pesky kinks.


If you don’t like the original color of the yarn, this is the ideal time to dye it.


If you don’t have any old sweaters, head to your local thrift store and there are sure to be plenty of them there to turn into a pretty sizeable stash. For a more detailed explanation of this process, check out this great blog post.


Turn fabric into yarn
Whether it’s a worn out t-shirt, or old sheets, any fabric can become your new rug yarn! Cut up t-shirts and sheets to create long strips of fabric that you can either crochet, knit, or weave long-lasting durable rugs. This gives those old garments a second life, and gives you an excuse to use your Jumbo Birch needles and hooks!



Crochet Rug Tutorial from 1 Dog Woof


Upcycle your worn-out clothes
If you have a t-shirt that is a little worn out or just don't love it anymore, adorn it with yarn!



The Jelly Bean Tee Edging pattern teaches you how to add a knit yoke around a shirt, which can add new life to your favorite sweatshirt! Or, try adding some lace around the worn out cuff of your jeans.



Spruce up your boring outfits by adding appliques, as seen here in the Sweater Makeover pattern from Meredith Crawford.

Giveaway
What is your favorite upcycling tip? How do you celebrate Earth day? Let us know in the comments below for your chance to win 1 of two prizes: a set of our Naturalz DPNs or a pair of our Fixed Circular Needles

We'll announce our winners in our next blog post on Friday, April 28. Good luck!

If you liked this blog, please share it with your friends and knit group! If you try any of these projects, let us know over on Instagram and use the hashtag #knitterspride.

Winner + Crochet World Record

Our international brand KnitPro recently participated in a project to create the world's largest crochet blanket. In conjunction with an Indian group called Mother INDIA's Crochet Queens - MICQ, crocheters throughout India and several other parts of the globe took up the challenge. On the 31st of January in Chennai, India, they not only broke the previous record (which was 3,377 square meters), but also set up a nearly unbeatable new world record of the largest blanket with an impressive 11,148 square meters total!

You can watch the short video below to learn more about this record-breaking project:


We were very happy to be a part of such a major collaborative effort by Indian women! Below, you can see photos of our own team of crocheters who contributed blankets to the project. They were especially excited to participate once they learned that the blankets would be donated to underprivileged children so that they could keep warm during the winter months. Our workers come from humble backgrounds, but the spirit in them to contribute towards a charity cause was very inspiring.

Each individual worked day in and day out to finish as many blankets as they could, and their toil resulted in our donating over 500 ready blankets for the record. In addition to the number of blankets contributed to the project, we also supplied 300 crochet hooks for this project.





We hope you enjoyed this behind-the-scenes peek; to learn more about this project, click here to download a free ebook!

February Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to dianedora and Angele, who have both won Marblz DPNs! We will get in touch with each of you via Ravelry to arrange for the delivery of your prize. Thanks to everyone who entered this month's giveaway!

Winner + Holiday Gift Guide

Congratulations to Barbula, who has won our Marblz DPN giveaway this month! We will get in touch to arrange for the delivery of your prize. Thanks to everyone who entered this month's blog giveaway!

What's at the top of your wish list this holiday season? Today, we'd like to share some of our top picks for knitters and crocheters; you may want to send this link to your friends and family to give them a hint or two - we've conveniently arranged this year's list by craft to help folks find the perfect gift for everyone on their list!

Gifts for Knitters
An interchangeable needle set is perfect for prolific knitters, and we have a quite a few to choose from (click here to see them all). Our limited edition 2015 Holiday Gift Set, Royale, is the ultimate set to gift this year: we've paired our color-coded wood needles with sharp brass tips to provide an unparalleled knitting experience.

Marblz needles are another crowd-pleaser, and we offer both Interchangeable and Double Pointed Needle sets in this line. Each needle features a unique marbled pattern in a range of eye-catching colors which are color-coded for easy size identification.

Gifts for Crocheters
Waves Crochet Sets continue to be a favorite among crocheters; each set includes 9 crochet hooks with ergonomic soft grips which are color-coded by size. Choose from a fluorescent green or pink faux leather zip case they can take on the go!

Gifts for Everyone!
Our Knit Blockers are the blocking tool everyone needs - don't let the name fool you, they are great for finished crocheted projects as well as knitted ones! Click here for our Knit Blocker tutorial from the Knitter's Pride blog archive.
A roomy tote bag makes crafting on the go a breeze! Each bag includes a matching notions case and yarn bag, and other clever features include a spot for storing a mobile device, a key fob, and two inner zipper pockets secure other valuables. Choose from 3 styles (shown below, from L-R: Danube, Rhine, and Volga), we also offer coordinating needle and hook storage cases in each line!
If you're looking for stocking stuffers, guild gifts, or something for everyone in your knitting group, we've got plenty of affordable ideas! Zooni Bead Stitch Markers come in 17 colorful styles to suit a variety of tastes.

We also offer many different styles and colors of in our range of shawl pins - below are just a few of the many options!



If you're planning to knit or crochet gifts for your loved ones this holiday season, we're collecting lots of great pattern ideas here on Pinterest, many of which are available for free! Shown below is the Gingerbread Boy by Sara Elizabeth Kellner.
Wishing all of our fans a merry and festive holiday season!

Olek in India

Olek is a polish-born fiber artist. She is best known for covering large pieces, including people, buildings, statues, and more with crocheted pieces. One of Olek's recent projects has been a collaboration with St+art India foundation to create India's first ever crochet installation.


AllKraftz has partnered with Olek and St+art India foundation to cover an entire women's shelter in crochet pieces. AllKraftz, the Indian retailer for Knitter's Pride and KnitPro products, donated crochet hooks for the entire project and sent 14 women from the KnitPro factory to work full-time on this project.


Olek also visited the KnitPro factory where all Knitter's Pride and KnitPro needles and tools are crafted.



Olek was a pleasure to work with and our team in India greatly enjoyed their experience working with her. In India crochet is seen as a craft done by women in more remote areas and at home. She told the women to crochet freely and make whatever pieces they'd like--she didn't want to dictate patterns but wanted each woman to express herself. She told stories about her experiences working with people in different countries and the crafty women of KnitPro also enjoyed sharing their stories with her.

The final project to cover a women's shelter in Delhi took 60 people 3 weeks and around 90 kilometers (over 50 miles) of fabric!




You can also read a wonderful article about the project that was featured in the Huffington Post here and see more photos in the article from Juxtapoz Magazine here.

Giveaway
This month we're giving away a Waves Crochet Hook Set to one lucky blog reader. To enter to win share with us what inspires you to craft. Don't forget to leave us your Ravelry ID so we can contact you if you're one of our lucky winners!



Winner + Vintage Pattern Inspiration

We're excited to sponsor a new contest which is happening now through April 15, 2015: the Revive a Vintage contest hosted on the Roving Crafters website. This challenge is open to knitters, crocheters, tatters, and other crafters across the globe with the ultimate goal of keeping the traditions of crafting alive. Source patterns or images should be from 40 years ago or earlier to qualify for this contest; you can read the full list of requirements here.

We're looking forward to seeing what folks create based on these guidelines; below are a few of our favorite vintage knitting and crochet inspirations which we've spotted over on Pinterest to get you started in the right direction:


For site links and other information for the above images, click here to visit our Vintage Inspirations Pinterest board!

It seems like many of the vintage knitting patterns we've come across are knit flat and then seamed, as you can see in the vintage illustration and advertisement below:


It will be interesting to see if contestants will choose to update such designs for knitting in the the round, favoring circular needles or DPNs, or if they will continue the tradition of knitting with single-pointed needles as many crafters in the past have used.

There are some great prizes up for grabs, and Knitter's Pride has donated two needle sets for to prize pool (pictured below). When selecting needles for this (or any!) project, we recommend watchingour new "Find your Needle" video series which features Staci Perry of Very Pink Knits to ensure that you have selected the perfect Knitter's Pride needle for your next project; crocheters can get a closer look at our many crochet hook options by watching this short YouTube video!



Speaking of prizes, our lucky winner in this month's blog giveaway is Kathy Trunzo! We have contacted Kathy to arrange for the delivery of the prize, a Knitter's Pride Knit Blockers Set. Be sure to check out our tutorial featuring this time-saving project here on the Knitter's Pride blog & share it with a friend!