Knitting

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Color Block Duffle Coat and Matching Blanket

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The COLOUR BLOCK DUFFLE AND BLANKET IN SNUGGLY DK is an adorable and cozy set that is perfect for keeping your little one warm and stylish. The double-breasted duffle coat features raglan sleeves and is paired with a coordinating blanket, both are part of the Building Blocks collection of modern knitting patterns for babies.

The pattern is easy to follow and suitable for newer knitters, using basic garter stitch throughout. The blanket offers a great introduction to the intarsia technique, which is used to neatly join blocks of color with no gaps. The Snuggly DK yarn is soft and gentle against the baby’s skin, making it perfect for baby garments.

It is also easy to care for, machine washable and available in a wide range of colors, making it easy to customize the set to your liking.

This pattern is a great choice for knitters who want to create a cute and cozy set for their baby, with a easy and fun to knit design.

The duffle coat and blanket set is perfect for colder weather and versatile enough to wear casually or dressed up. It can also remind you of Paddington Bear, the famous fictional character who is known for his duffle coat and hat.

So, grab your needles and yarn and get ready to create a beautiful and functional set that will be a staple in your baby’s wardrobe for years to come.

Get the pattern here: COLOUR BLOCK DUFFLE AND BLANKET IN SNUGGLY DK

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Michaels Acquires Joann Intellectual Property; Joann Website Now Forwards to Michaels

Craft retailer Michaels has acquired the intellectual property and private label brands of now-defunct retailer Joann, according to a media release, and the Joann website now forwards to Michaels. 

The releases states that Michaels will be developing the “beloved Big Twist® brands as part of the Michaels portfolio.” It also notes plans to expand its offerings in the fabric, sewing and yarn categories, with more than 600 new products being added. 

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to welcome JOANN customers into our creative community and are committed to delivering the selection, value, and inspiration they are looking for at Michaels,” David Boone, CEO of Michaels, said in the release. 

Specific to yarn, the company notes it has plans to expand its yarn selection by 25 percent this year, including releasing more than 60 new private-label Loops & Threads products beginning this month, expanding offerings of Lion Brand and the Yarnspirations family of brands, and welcoming Big Twist yarns. 

The release specifically mentions Big Twist Value Plus, Big Twist Twinkle, Big Twist Posh and Big Twist Baby Bear, and notes that the offerings are “now being developed as part of Michaels portfolio of brands and will be available in-stores and online later this year.”

No word on what this means for Herrschners, which previously announced it would carry Big Twist. Its page announcing the news still says “at this time we are not able to release details on specific Big Twist varieties or colors, or the exact date the yarn will be available to order” and encourages signing up for email updates.

This news comes just days after the final closing of the last Joann locations and the appearance of a message on their website talking about “stitching up something new.” The Joann website now forwards to a landing page for craft retailer Michaels. 

“Welcome Joann customers,” it says at the top. “We’ve got your go-to essentials and so much more.” The page also notes “everyone is welcome at our craft table” and says the website is a source for “fabrics, yarn, notions & more.”

Further down the page it says “With JOANN stores closing, Michaels is excited to welcome new makers, crafters, and sewing enthusiasts into our community” and has a string of links to product categories these shoppers might be looking for. It says Michaels carries “many of the favorites that Joann customers love” including patterned fabric, yarn, ribbons and notions. 

The release calls this a “dedicated landing page” with a “curated assortment of products” they think are relevant to the Joann shopper. 

If you go directly to Micheaels.com, you see their regular website but there is a link at the top of the page for Joann customers that leads to the same page linked above. 

The release doesn’t mention opening any new stores in towns left without a craft store thanks to the Joann closure. It does note they have 1,300 stores in 49 states and in Canada, and they have both US and Canada-facing websites. 

What do you think of this news? It’s not the exciting future I’d hoped for with Joanns cryptic announcement, but I know legions of knitters and crocheters will be happy to know Big Twist will live on, and other crafters will probably be happy about expanded selection at Michaels.