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Bernat Recalls Tizzy Yarn

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bernat tizzy yarn recallI saw a post from Vickie Howell about Bernat’s voluntary recall of its Tizzy yarn.

The yarn, which is a polyester novelty yarn that has twists of fiber protruding from the core, is being pulled over worries that garments made out of it can come unraveled when snagged.

The company said:

All knitted or crocheted garments or blankets can come unraveled or pulled apart if they are “snagged”. The potential for these snags can vary depending on the tension of the stitch or the construction of the yarn.

We believe that the risk of snags with Tizzy may be higher than normal. In finished knit or crochet items, the yarn can unravel or snag and form a loop, posing an entanglement hazard to young children. Since this yarn is marketed towards babies we have decided to voluntarily recall this product from the marketplace and discontinue its sale.

Since all yarn is prone to a certain level of risk in this regard, this was a very difficult decision. However, the safety of children is our first concern. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience that this Voluntary Recall may cause you.

If you have the yarn and are interested in obtaining a refund, visit the company’s recall page. I think this is a great proactive (though I hate that word) step and am glad to see it.

[Photo via Bernat.]

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Felted Bag Knitting Patterns

I feel like felting is a knitting genre that deserves a resurgence. My first knitting book (which came out in 2008, eek!) was all about felting, but I don’t feel like there are a lot of felting knitting projects out there these days. I really like the technique as an easy way to make a thicker, more durable knit fabric, and it’s actually perfect for knitting bags.

The ZZ Bag from yamagara recently caught my eye and got me thinking about felted bags, and maybe remaking one of the bags that was in that book. This one has a fun zigzag pattern and is worked in worsted weight yarn. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

A lot of the other knit and felted bag patterns I could find were older, but that doesn’t make them bad patterns. I’ve always loved the booga bag from Black Sheep Bags (the pattern is on their website but the photo is broken so you can also check it out on Ravelry). This is a fun one because you can use all your leftovers or a self-striping yarn (the original was made with Noro) to give it a colorful look that’s super easy to knit. 

An envelope purse is another easy shape to knit, and this version from Lavender Hill Knits on Etsy comes in different sizes for younger girls and teens or adults. The small version is worked with one strand of worsted weight yarn, while the larger uses two held together.

The Japanese knot bag is a classic, and a felted version is a lot of fun. You can find this pattern from Cindy Pilon on Ravelry and knit one for yourself using bulky yarn. I also love her bag The Curve, which is also on Ravelry and has a fun rounded shape and contrasting handles.

And there’s also the amazing stained glass bag from Knitting Dream, which also uses a Noro yarn, but you could use wool scraps on the different fans to give it a unique look. There are two size options to choose from and it’s not as tricky as it looks.