Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Vickie Howell to Host “Knitting Daily TV”

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vickie howell knitting dailyI’m sure you all know about “Knitting Daily TV,” the fiber-arts-focused show produced by Interweave for PBS. The show is in its 11th season and has been hosted all that time by Eunny Jang, who was editor of Interweave Knits until earlier this year.

The word is out that Vickie Howell will be taking over the hosting job and getting her name in the title of the show, which will be called “Knitting Daily TV with Vickie Howell.”

Vickie, of course, is well-versed in the world of crafty TV, having hosted “Knitty Gritty” for eight seasons, as well as being the co-host of “Styleicious,” among other projects.

“Knitting Daily TV” is considered the longest continuously running fiber arts show in production (counting some time as “Needle Arts Studio with Shay Pendray”; it became “Knitting Daily TV” in 2010). The show’s format has changed some through the years but it focuses on knitting and crochet instruction, learning about yarn and project tutorials.

In a press release, Vickie said she “can’t wait to be back in fellow stitchers’ living rooms sharing my passion for yarn-crafts and the vibrant community surrounding it.” The feeling is mutual!

[Photo courtesy of Bernat via VickieHowell.com]

Comments

  1. I was really sad to hear Eunny was leaving IW and KDTV, and this news makes it worse. Vickie’s site and patterns always seemed to me to be aimed at pre-teens. I hope the standard of KDTV doesn’t sink that low.

  2. I agree. While I don’t dislike Vickie Howell, I have not seen even one single pattern of hers that I would ever consider making. I also really dislike the fact that her name is in the title. It would be different if Eunny’s name had been in the title before. This seems egotistical. On the screen shots I have seen, I have seen no mention of other people I love, like Kristen Omdahl, Laura Bryant and Barry Klein, Shay Pendray, and Clara Parkes. All I have read is Vickie saying, “I, I, I,” and “my, my, my.” Why did Eunny leave? I truly hope Kristen Omdahl did not leave, too. And I hope the show doesn’t start featuring those childish, clunky, unsophisticated type patterns I associate with Vickie Howell.

  3. Vickie turns me off. Her facial expressions look like she is so bored with her guests. Its like she’s being put upon to have the guest there and would rather do the whole show by herself.

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Pencil Knitting Patterns

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns! 

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil. 

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn. 

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point. 

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up. 

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.