One Million Pillowcase Challenge

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Make one or more pillowcases and make a difference. Join the One Million Pillowcase Challenge

Free Patterns

Charities that accept the pillowcases

Ten Charity Opportunities

Lion Brand put together a list of 10 charities where you can share your handicrafts, while also changing the world.

As a knitter, crocheter, or quilter, you know the joy of gifting handmade items to those you love. Creating quilts, afghans, sweaters, or socks for those we care about is meaningful. But, did you know there are other ways you can use your talents to bring joy to others? There are actually several charities that welcome handmade treasures from knitters, crocheters and quilters.

Ten Charities for Knitters, Crocheters and Quilters

Foundationless Crochet

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Sandra (Cheery Heart) says, "If you've ever struggled with that tricky first row of crochet and working into those starting chains then you'll be pleased to know there is a way around it.

This is a really clever technique which means you can just start working crochet stitches straight away, without working a starting chain first. In effect, the starting chain is being made as you crochet."

Sandra's tutorial for this technique can be found on her blog post, Foundationless Crochet. 

Conservation Breed Wool

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According to the Woolery, "Part of the fun of working with wool is that there are so many unique varieties of sheep. Wool from different breeds work better for different projects and having a choice is fun. In order to make sure we have choices in our wool fibers for the future, we need to work on conserving rare sheep breeds. Choosing to work with Conservation Breed Wool helps support the farmers and organizations who are working hard to preserve these breeds."

Learn more about the rare and native breeds in the Woolery's post,  Conservation Breed Wool.

Knitting Backwards

Pin Loom Manuals

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Vintage Pin Loom instruction manuals (PDF) with patterns as well as information can be downloaded free on eLoomaNation's website. 

Drop Spindle Tutorial

Unique Fiber - Bear

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Fiber can be harvested from lots of animals, including bear.

Interweave recently reposted an article about Maxine Tyler: Official Bear Knitter.

Holding a Crochet Hook

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According to Interweave author, Julia M. Chambers, "The way we hold our hooks—and the reason we find one hook and handhold more comfortable or effective than another—is determined in part by the shape of our hands, the length of our fingers, and muscle memory development. Our lifestyle affects how we use our hands. Someone who swings a hammer every day will hold and use a crochet hook differently from someone who types all day. By being aware of our strengths and weaknesses, we may even be able to prevent repetitive-motion injuries.

I have short fingers and wide hands with a lot of muscle development from playing piano. When I was a child, I did a lot of hand and finger exercises so I could play an octave, because my fingers were so short. My hand-muscle development likely makes the way I hold and use a hook different from someone else who also has short fingers but does not have the muscle development I do from piano. I prefer long crochet hooks and an underhand hold."

Julia covers six ways to hold a crochet hook in her article, Holding a Crochet Hook and with her tips, you should find a method that works the best for your hands. 

Meeting Reminder

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Oiling a Spinning Wheel

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Pre-washing Fabric Tip

Tired of dealing with a tangled and twisted rope of yardage when pre-washing fabric?

Try the tip by Mary Jane Holcomb in Denison, Texas which is shown in the beginning of the following Kaye Wood video.

The tip works for up to 12 yards of fabric. Carole (From My Carolina Home) wrote about her experience with the technique in a post titled, A Brilliant Tip.

Organizing Yarn Stash

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Look around you; do you see random skeins of yarn tucked here and there? Do you have baskets overflowing with patterns, yarn and notions? 

To organize your yarn and stop the stash creep from taking over your house, check out Lion Brand's blog post for some amazing suggestions from real Lion Brand crafters, including photos of storage ideas. The article takes you through step by step, providing plenty of tips along the way.

Get Organized! Stop Stash Creep with these helpful tips. 

Crochet Abbreviations

The Craft Yarn Council shares a list of crochet abbreviations used by yarn industry designers and publishers on their website. 

Crochet Abbreviations Master List

Knitting Abbreviations

The Craft Yarn Council shares a list of knitting abbreviations used by yarn industry designers and publishers on their website. 

Knitting Abbreviations Master List

Pencil Factory

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Pencils aren't even remotely connected to the fiber arts, but the New York Times article Inside One of America's Last Pencil Factories is fascinating.

Check out the photos if you don't feel like reading the article. You'll be amazed at the process.

Red Hats Delivered

red hats delivered to the Sage West Healthcare - Lander
 guild members, dressed in red: Carrie J., Dawna H., Brenda H.
January 2018

The Red Hats for Newborns project (coordinated by Carrie J. - Pingora Yarns) was a resounding success, as over 100 hats were knit/crochet for the project. Approximately 40 hats will be distributed at Sage West Healthcare in Lander, WY, and the rest will be given to Saint John's Hospital in Jackson, WY for distribution.

Babies born in the month of February will be given a hat for the American Heart Association Healthy Heart Month campaign. 

Knitters and crocheters from Lander and Riverton contributed hats for this project. 

Mattress Stitch

Joining Granny Squares