By Tracey Van Loggerenberg
In the world of crafts, where every loop and stitch tells a tale, crochet emerges as a captivating tapestry of patience and creativity. Imagine embarking on a journey, a bit more challenging than others perhaps, but one that promises rewards as vast as the patterns it creates. Why should you venture into the realm of crochet? Let’s dive into the enchanting world where yarn transforms into dreams, and hooks weave stories of perseverance and joy.   The Dance of Hooks and Yarn:   Picture this: a slender hook gliding through loops of yarn, each movement deliberate and purposeful. Crochet, unlike its counterpart ...
By Tracey Van Loggerenberg
In the tapestry of life, there exists a craft that goes beyond the mere intertwining of yarn and hook. Crocheting, a rhythmic dance of hands and creativity, weaves a story of benefits as vast and intricate as the projects it creates. The question arises: why should one learn to crochet? Let's embark on a journey through the stitches, exploring the enchanting reasons why picking up a crochet hook might just be the best decision you make.   The Symphony of Serenity:   Imagine a quiet evening, where the world outside fades into a gentle hum. Your fingers, wrapped around a crochet hook, ...
By Tracey Van Loggerenberg
In the bustling tapestry of childhood, where every day is an adventure waiting to be woven, there exists a timeless craft that stitches together more than just yarn and needles. It's the gentle art of knitting, a pursuit that not only ignites creativity but also weaves a myriad of skills into the very fabric of a child's development. The question lingers: should children learn to knit? Without a doubt, yes!   Picture a child, wide-eyed and curious, holding a pair of needles that seem almost as long as their fingers. In their hands, a colorful yarn, vibrant and soft as a ...
By Tracey Van Loggerenberg
Have you ever watched someone knitting and marvelled at how effortless and relaxing it seems? Have you ever had the desire to learn how to knit yourself but felt intimidated by the thought of all those needles and yarn? Learning to knit may seem daunting initially, but with some practice and a lot of patience, anyone can master this enjoyable and rewarding craft.The basic knitting technique involves creating loops of yarn on a needle and then pulling more yarn through those loops to create new stitches. It's a simple concept, but getting comfortable with the movements and tension needed to ...
By Tracey Van Loggerenberg
We live in a global world where that stunning pattern you’ve just picked up calls for a ‘G’ hook, and you’ve never heard of that before. Working out what size crochet hook you need for your pattern can be confusing, but we’ve put together this chart to help you get started on crocheting instead of googling. If you’re curious how these different sizing systems came about, we have an interesting tale to tell.MetricUSAUKCrochet Hook Conversion Chart2.00 mm-142.25 mm1 / B132.50 mm-122.75 mmC113.00 mm-113.25 mmD103.50 mm4 / E93.75 mmF-4.00 mm684.25 mmG-4.50 mm775.00 mm8 / H65.50 mm9 / I56.00 mm10 / J46.50 mm10 ...
Sadly, there are no standard yarn weight categories. If you’re wondering why, we’ve waxed lyrical about the myth of standard yarn weight categories. Our crafting community has become global, with international patterns easily available. Crafters are increasingly being exposed to other naming conventions. In an effort to help you sort your worsted yarn from your Aran yarn, we’ve pulled this table together as a general guide. Yarn Categories UK US * AUS/NZ GAUGE OVER 10CM ** AVERAGE NEEDLE SIZE RANGE 1ply/Cobweb 10-count Crochet Thread/Laceweight (0) 2ply 33 – 40 sts 1.5mm – 2.25mm 2ply/Lace Fingering (1) 3ply 30 – 32 sts 2.25mm – 2.75mm 3ply Sock (1) 3ply 27 – 30 sts 2.75mm – 3.25mm 4ply Sport (2) 4ply 23 – 26 sts 3.25mm – 3.75mm Lightweight DK Sport (2) 5ply 24 ...
By Tracey Van Loggerenberg
Once upon a time, in the vibrant world of knitting and crocheting, where skeins of yarn spun tales of creativity, a curious question lingered: Why are there no standard yarn weight categories? Imagine a crafting realm where every yarn skein, like characters in a story, follows a standardized script, easily understood by all. But alas, in our crafting journey, this remains a myth. Join us as we unravel the intricacies behind this yarny enigma and discover why standard yarn weight categories continue to elude us.   The Quest for Standardization In our quest to understand this elusive concept, let's begin with ...
By Tracey Van Loggerenberg
In the enchanting world of fiber arts, where yarn flows like rivers of color, two noble crafts reign supreme: knitting and crochet. Picture them as siblings, born of the same creative lineage, yet each possessing its own unique charm and personality. But beware, dear readers, for confusing the two can earn you some serious side-eye looks from crafting aficionados. Let's embark on a journey to understand the differences between these two captivating pursuits, and why you should never mistake one for the other.   The Dance of Needles and Hooks Imagine stepping into a grand ballroom filled with the whispers of ...
By Tracey Van Loggerenberg
Join our knitting and crochet drop-in sessions for adults, where you can bring your own projects and craft together in a relaxed and supportive environment. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced crafter, our sessions are designed to provide assistance and foster creativity. Location: Private residence in Kintore, Aberdeenshire Monday Evenings: 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm (Summer), 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm (Winter) Friday Mornings: 10:00 am – 11:30 am During our sessions, we focus on learning specific techniques as requested by participants. So whether you want to master a new stitch or need help with a challenging pattern, ...
By Tracey Van Loggerenberg
Have you ever been confused by the different knitting needle size conventions? There are three main ones: metric, US, and Imperial. It can be hard to keep track of which one is which, especially if you're new to knitting, which is why we’ve put together the below chart to keep you right.A brief history of knitting needle sizesKnitting has been around for centuries, and the different needle size conventions have evolved over time. The metric system is the most recent convention, and it's the one that's most widely used today. It is based on the diameter of the needle in millimeters. ...