Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Giveaway: Knitting 101

by

knitting 101

Congratulations to Andy!

There are lots of great books out there that can help people learn to knit, and Knitting 101 by Carri Hammett covers a lot of ground in a relatively short (fewer than 200 pages) book that covers tools of the trade, basics and beyond with skill-building lessons that teach you what you need to know right then to complete the project.

There’s also a more than 45-minute-long DVD (playable on a PC or Mac, though this book is a few years old so I can’t guarantee it will work with your machine) if you need to see someone doing the action to help you learn.

There are all sorts of skills included here, such as casting on, knitting, pruling, increases and decreases, knitting in the round, blocking, picking up sttiches, knitting cables, weaving in ends, color knitting, lace and more. The 22 skill-building patterns start simple scarves and more on to baby blankets, a table runner, a couple of shawls, felted bag, hat, lace curtain panels and a sweet baby bathrobe.

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post by the end of the day Sunday, August 16. Since it’s back-to-school time I’d love to know if any young people in your life are headed to school this year and what grade or year they are in (mostly because my daughter is headed to kindergarten this week, which just seems insane).

By the way, someone last week commented asking if I really do giveaways because the last few didn’t have winners on them. The answer is yes (please get these books out of my house) but I also occasionally go on vacation, have a child home from school or simply let things slide for a little while. I’m sure to catch up after said little one starts school later in the week.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing! Good luck.

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Comments

  2. This would be a great book for me. I am just getting started with knitting, I have been crocheting for at least 10 years. I would love to learn more about knitting through this book. My little guy is not going to school yet but we are starting a mommy and me class this fall. Best of luck with your daughter going to kindergarten, I will be so sad when that day comes I love being home with my little guy! Thanks for the chance to win!!

  3. Hi! My youngest daughter started her junior year in high school. I, too, still find it hard to believe that they grow up so very fast. Hold on to those years, love them all you can.
    Thank you for this giveaway.

  5. I have wanted to learn how to knit for a long time now. I don’t have any kids of my own, but I volunteer at kids church (elementary age – this week I was in 2nd grade), and they were all buzzing about how school is just starting. 🙂

    Thanks!
    Suzanne

  6. My niece will be in the 8th grade this year and already talking about going to High School next year. I told her to enjoy this year because it will go faster then she thinks. She on the other hand doesn’t think it will go fast enough.

  9. This book would be PERFECT for my friend Jerry, who has asked me to teach him to knit so he has something to do during an upcoming 1-month hospital stay. I’m not sure he’ll be able to have visitors during his admission so I’m trying to equip him as best as I can beforehand. Thanks SO MUCH for this fabulous giveaway!!

  10. My seven grandchildren are home schooled; three in one family and four in the other family.

  12. I know how to knit but I have never gotten the gist of tension and shaping so thugs do not fit people. I would like a source not on the internet to learn how.

  16. I would absolutely love to win this book. IL trying to teach myself how to knit and this book would be perfect! I definatley could really use it, and I would too! Thank you so much for doing this giveaway. My fingers will be crossed!
    Thank you again,
    Teresa Miller

  17. I love that this comes with a DVD. Some people (including me) are more visual learners so it helps to actually see the steps!

  18. What a very nice thing to do. I became disabled and so began trying to teach myself to knit. I am surprised at my successes and frustrated with my failures!!!! A knitting 101 book might just be the help I could use. Thanks for the opportunity to enter!!!! I wish you well!

  20. My children are grown but the grandsons start back to school in 2 weeks. I so want to learn to knit – this would be fantastic.

  21. My “baby” is starting 8th grade 🙁
    This book would be great to give her a brush up on her knitting skills.

  22. my “baby’ is 31 years old. While she is a fantastic crochet-er, she would love to learn to knit. I would love to win the book for her.
    It seems like yesterday I was getting her ready for kindergarten. Where did all those years go?

  23. Learning to knit is on my bucket list when I retire and I am getting ready to do just that. My baby is 26 and I am waiting on our first grandchild. So I don;t have anyone in grade school but I do have a son in graduate school working on a Master’s in Engineering. Thanks for the chance!

  24. My youngest just graduated with her masters degree in library science! I am ready to learn some knitting basics!!

  25. I would love to win this for my sister who is just learning to knit. It looks like a great resource.

  26. I would love to win this book to give to my daughter. She taught herself to crochet ,but is having little luck with knitting . I’d love to teach her , but our craft time schedules just don’t jive????.

  27. My grandkids started school last week … junior, freshman, 8th grader. Where do the years go?!

  28. Last year was my first year with no back to school kids. I did get a bit weepy when I went shopping one day and bumped into a wall of school supplies, parents with school lists and shopping carts full of supplies. I was like whoa…I dont need to do this anymore. This year not so bad. 🙂

  29. My kids are grown, as are 2 of the grandkids. my 13 year old grandaughter is going to be in the 8th grade! Wasn’t it just 2-3 years ago, she was a toddler? They grown up so fast. Enjoy those years you have them at home.

    Thanks for the drawing.

  31. I have always wanted to learn to knit. The beginning of school is a busy time here too. We just started homeschooling and I think it can be even busier than when we went to public school, but I love it. I hope your little one is going to love school!

  32. Live in Arizona and 6 grand children started back to school at end of July. Back to school shopping gets more fun as they are in middle school now.

  34. My grand and great-grandchildren are from preschool to high school ( and some that are beyond school, of course). This giveaway sounds great. Even an experienced knitter can learn something new.

  35. Oh,I’ve been trying forever to lean knitting but I just cannot figure it out. I would love to win this book! My sweet granddaughter will be in the 9th grade this year! How fast they grow up. If I can learn knitting, maybe I can teach her and my daughter. That would be lovely!!!

  36. I would like to win this book to give to a friend who has just started knitting. I don’t have any kids starting to school but my nephew’s 3 year old son will be starting day care next week. His daughter is in the second grade. They both like books.

  37. My niece is starting kindergarten this year, she’s the first of the children to go to school! Everyone feels old (ha!) or excited, time sure flies by! 🙂 I’d love to learn to knit her some warm mittens and hat for when she waits for the bus or plays at recess.

  39. I have grandsons in South Carolina, going into middle and high school. This sounds like a good book to have on hand, thanks!

  41. I would like to get back to knitting. As for kids going back to school 5 grandsons: 12th grade, 10th, 8th, 3rd, 1st, and a 2 month old grand daughter who has already mastered wrapping every one around her finger!

  44. My grandson will be heading to school….he’s homeschooled, so I guess he won’t be going far away! 🙂 I’d love to win the knitting book.

Have you read?

What’s Next for Joann?

Now that all the Joann stores have closed, a mysterious message has appeared on the company’s website:

For generations, Joann has been honored to be part of your creativity: your quilts, costumes, school projects, and handmade moments of love. It has been our joy to serve markers and dreamers across the country.

We’re stitching up something new behind the scenes and we can’t wait to share what’s next.

Stay tuned for exciting news about the future of Joann.

To quickly recap, Joann filed for bankruptcy in January for the second time in less than a year. In February, in the hope of making the company more attractive to potential buyers, it petitioned the court for permission to close about 500 of its 800 stores. The company was put up for auction, with Gordon Brothers set to buy the company, sell its assets and close all the stores if no other buyer materialized.

In the end the winning bidder was GA Group, but the result was the same: all stores were to be closed by the end of May if not sooner.

Once store closure sales started the company quickly stopped selling on its website, and now all that remains is this jpeg image hinting at new ventures.

I’m sure there will be a tone of speculation in the coming days and weeks (or as long as it takes for them to announce the meaning of the message) as to what sorts of plans Joann could be cooking up.

My theory based on nothing but my gut is that they will transition to an online only storefront, probably with much reduced inventory, sort of like Herrschners (which had previously announced that it will be carrying Big Twist yarn, the beloved private label yarn brand sold at Joann). I also think they will use whatever retail sales they do to support CreativeBug, the digital learning platform that Joann purchased in 2017. That could mean producing kits for projects that already have classes, or developing classes based on products they want to sell, or both.

As of this writing the CreativeBug website seems to still be functional and there’s a full slate of new classes planned for June. I’ve got my eye on both the Joann website and the Joann restructuring website and will let you know as soon as I see changes.

In the meantime, I’d love to hear your speculation as to what the next chapter might be for Joann.