The big news in the knitting in the news world this week was the post on the New York Times’ Well blog by Jane Brody talking about the health benefits of knitting. She’s a knitter herself and she explores some of the benefits people have found by taking up knitting, including quitting smoking and losing weight successfully, stress relief and pain relief. And it seems to be good for the brain, too, so just keep stitching!
Another article on the topic of the health benefits of knitting was recently published on SheKnows, if you need more of a reason to spend all weekend knitting.
And in the “people just don’t understand” department, there was a running commentary during the Pistons/76ers game about a woman “knitting” in the stands and how she wasn’t paying attention to the game. As anyone with any knowledge of needlecraft would notice, though, the items in her hands are crocheted, not knit, and, as she notes in the comments below the story, she wasn’t even crocheting, she was sewing pieces of earwarmers together that she’d made for her daughter’s birthday. You go Cora, educate the masses!
There are a couple of sweater knitalongs going on in February that you might want to know about. One is Mary Jane Mucklestone’s Stopover sweater or some sort of similar cardigan. This knitalong starts Feb. 1 and is hosted by Mason-Dixon Knitting. On Ravelry you’ll also find a knitalong for Helen and Ellen, a pullover and cardigan with stranded knit circular yokes and otherwise plain bodies (it’s funny to me that they’re such similar sweaters in both knitalongs). Hosted by Berroco Yarns, this one officially kicks off Feb. 8.
The National Needle Arts Association is in the midst of its triennial survey of the needlework industry, and would love you to take part. The survey looks at which fibers arts you participate in, what kinds of materials you use and where you buy them. It should only take about 10 minutes to complete, and five participants will win $100 fiber arts gift cards. The survey is open through Feb. 13.
A British woman’s service through knitting has earned her a British Empire Medal. Etta Brown of Tain, age 91, has spent years knitting for the Queen Mother’s Clothing Guild, which donates items to people in need. She’s also helped organized other knitters to stitch for charity. She says she knit her first sock at age 8 and has been at it ever since.
Finally, I somehow missed the fact that vogue Knitting sponsored a contest in which knitters were encouraged to write stories inspired by the characters in Nicky Epstein’s Enchanted Knits for Dolls. The winners were recently announced and you can read their sweet stories online.
[Photo of Etta Brown by Alison White, via the Ross-Shire Journal.]
Looking for more knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.
Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.
Looking for Yarn online? Check out Lionbrand our preferred source for purchasing yarn online.
Good post – Thank you !