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How to Host a Knitting Party

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knitting party invitationIt might seem like we all have quite enough social obligations this time of year, thank you very much, but wouldn’t it be fun to take time in this buys season to unwind with some friends and just knit together? (Or just after the season, if one more party is just too much to bear.)

I did this over the weekend in the form of attending a fiber festival and it was so nice to just sit and knit for hours on end with no obligations to anyone. Granted, I was knitting Christmas presents, but still.

The folks at Martingale have some good ideas for how you can host a fiber-filled party of your own, including printable invitations, ideas for party favors and tips for setting the mood. And here’s a tip from me: keep food and drink away from the knitting!

Have you ever hosted a knitting party? I’d love to hear about it.

[Photo via Martingale.]

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Comments

  1. I taught at a knitting party this week. Thirteen new knitters! Well, one had knit before. They wanted to take home a finished project so we made flowers. That was a lot of people to help at once but everyone left with a flower. I don’t think they “learned to Knit” enough to be independent but they got a taste. It was a simple flower – cast on 30 stitches, worsted yarn, size 8 to 10 needles. Knit 4 rows, change colors, knit one row in another color – bind off. Sew a running stitch where the colors change, pull both ends to gather, and voila you have a flower. If anyone has other ideas for a super quick project like this let me know!

Have you read?

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.