Exploring the Fun and Benefits of Crocheting

One of the best hobbies that is gathering a lot of fans nowadays is crocheting. More and more people, especially those who are spending their vacations at home and even those who just want to spend their idle moments by doing something fun are getting their hands on some yarn and creating a lot of wonderful items out of it.

Crocheting can be dated way back in history. A lot of people have been engaged in this hobby because not only it is easy to do, it also produces a lot of stylish and useful products. There are a lot of wonderful products that could be done with crochet, from bonnets to sweaters to blankets and fancy accessories, there are limitless possibilities that you can explore with your creative mind.

Engaging into this hobby is really easy. You can learn the basics of crochet from various crochet classes in Orlando that provide comprehensive and easy to follow activities that would help you enhance your skills in the craft. You also have the choice of learning how to crochet from step by step manuals that are available in bookstores and even on the internet.

One of the reasons why there are a lot of people who are hooked into this hobby is the fact that it doesn’t require much cost. The supplies that you need for this hobby are simple and can be found easily. Almost everything that you need for crocheting can be found in your local yarn store in Orlando.

Choosing the yarn that you will use for your crochet product should be chosen wisely. You should consider several factors that would make the process easier for you. The texture of the crochet yarn varies from smooth to rough. If you are just starting out, choosing a smooth yarn is recommended since they are easier to work with compared with rough textured yarns.

The color of the yarn is also very important especially if you are just learning to crochet. Light colored ones allows you to see your stitches easier compared to dark colored ones, which makes them a better choice if you are practicing your crochet skills.

A wool yarn is oftentimes recommended for individuals who are just starting out exploring crocheting activities. This kind of yarn is resilient and can be unraveledeasily and be used again if ever you make mistakes.  If you are not allergic to this material, this is one of the best kinds of yarns that you could start working with.

Exploring this hobby is definitely a worthwhile experience since you would not only be able to get to do something that you can enjoy, but you would also be given a chance to unleash your stylish and fashionable imagination in creating items that you could use, or even sell. 

Best Gifts to Buy a Knitter - Part 2

I am back for more knitter gift ideas. Well we can never be too prepared for the holidays, not to mention anniversaries, birthdays and homecomings, right? So here I go with the second part of my newly found list-of-gifts you can buy for a knitter. Enjoy everyone!

“I’m saving up for knitting lessons" coin bank.

I laughed out loud when I saw this and said to myself, “I have got to get myself one of those!” This is the coolest way to teach your resident knitter how to save. The best gift for a beginner too, because this will show them how much you care about their new-found hobby. Your grandma will think this to be a very thoughtful gift, coming from you which shows how much you appreciate her patterns in knitting. This is a very creative gift to give your loved one. Show them how much you value their passion for knitting.

Delicious Knitter Cake

Super "like". Yummy-licious cake designed for a knitting enthusiast. Your wife will go crazy over this, when you come out singing "Happy Birthday to you". I'd also recommend this as a homecoming gift when your Grandma visits. 

Something you can share with the whole family. It is picture perfect knitting lover gift idea, making it a sure Facebook "like" when posted. If you are a great pastry chef yourself, bake it and give it to your resident knitter on that special occasion.

"Keep Calm and Knit On" T-Shirt

Is your favorite knitter having a bad week? I'd recommend this gift. This will take the blues away. Available in various colors, you can choose which color your knitter would love to have. A great gift that promotes knitting and a thoughtful one at that!

Got wool mug?

Does your favorite knitter also love coffee? Well in that case, I have the perfect gift in mind. Check out this "Got wool?" Mug I found. Pretty neat and cost-efficient too. Your favorite knitter will absolutely love you. 

Whenever they take their morning coffee, they will not only remember you, but also it will help them remember to finish the knitting project they forgot to do.

Make a card for your favorite knitter.

I am a crafts lover too, not just a knitting expert. I'd recommend you make personalized greeting cards with your favorite knitter's picture printed on it. Saying, "You know knitting and I love you?” Print it out and place on your knitter's refrigerator, or better yet, on top of their latest knitting project. It will be a pleasant surprise to read a handmade/personalized greeting card from a loved one before the knitting lessons start.

Needle Travel Kit

If your knitter tends to travel from place to place, and couldn't quite stay in one location. Well, they don’t have to sacrifice their love for knitting for work. Buying this for your loved one will help them catch up on their knitting wherever they go. Best of all, even if they go to another country or some faraway place, you will be remembered as they knit away.

Hope you loved our gift ideas. Happy Knitting! Visit the Ball of Yarn at 156-A Granada Blvd. Ormond Beach Florida 32174. Call (386) 672-2858 Today!

Best Gifts to Buy a Knitter Part 1

Being a knitter is cool! Ask around, people don't say it much anymore, but you'd be surprised how many people you know are into knitting. Now, I have here some of the best gifts you can give a knitter for special occasions.

Knitters Necklace

Do you want to propose to a knitter? I will give you a tip. Buy her this! Also, this will also melt your Mama's heart if given on her birthday. I'd recommend something like this, as Christmas gifts for your knitting club friends too. So pretty and precious! A Knitter's must have.

Tons of Yarn

You can place them in a nice clear tote or a dainty wicker basket for better presentation. How about buying the knitter some yarn in the different shades of their favorite color. This not only makes the perfect present, the knitter is sure to remember you every time they start doing a new project.

Buy yarn of different types, arrange them neatly inside the basket or bag. Add a flower or a card saying "To my favorite knitter in the world". A gift like that would surely make the knitter's day!

Needle Basket

This type of basket allows the knitter or crochet enthusiast to organize and sort their things nicely.

A needle basket will come in handy to any knitter. This is a gift I would personally like to receive myself. A prized possession that, if taken care properly, can be passed on to the next generation knitter in the family.

Cool Knitting T-shirt with print saying "If I'm sitting, I'm knitting"

I fell in love with this when I saw it online. What an awesome gift this would be for a knitter. If you are up for the challenge, I'd recommend you do your home-made version of this shirt. Print it yourself. Find other cool knitting phrases like "In demand knitter, do not disturb" and PRINT it on a shirt, in the knitter’s favorite color. Over-all, this gift will definitely be a hit to a knitter of any generation.

Leather Case Knitting Bag

Oh so beautiful! This is the perfect gift for the on-the-go knitter. What a fun way to keep your knitting knick-knacks on your travels. Easy to carry and cool to the eyes, a real knitter's delight.

Knitting Kit

Super cute! You can buy knitting kits from The Ball of Yarn online or visit the store. Knitting kits are also available in local knitting shops near you. Make sure it has everything a knitter will need, so they have new sets of everything. A real knitter never complains of having too much yarn and needles.

Knitting plate

Oh one of the coolest gifts I found for a knitter. Let them decide how they want to use it. I would personally hang this on my bedroom wall, but others could make use of this as a yarn holder of some sort. Either way, this plate will come in handy to your well-loved knitter. A gift like this will win the heart of any knitting enthusiast.

Hope you loved our gift ideas. Happy Knitting! Advance Merry Christmas and happy gift hunting!

Visit the Ball of Yarn at 156-A Granada Blvd. Ormond Beach Florida 32174. Call (386) 672-2858 Today!

PART 2: Basic Crochet Stitches Worth – learning for Practice

Through sharing our knowledge to our store visitors, website subscribers and avid readers, we continue to enrich peoples’ lives by making sure the crafts live on. One day our children will continue what we started and we hope in your families, it does the same.

We were brought up and molded with generations of our passion for creative creation.Creativity is in our blood. Our day to day activities always include making beautiful things with our hands. Our daily mission is innovation in this 21st century we will live in, our mantra, the craft must not be forgotten.

“Every piece I make has a little part of you in it. I incorporate my love, passion and purpose into every stitch, every hook, every knitting pattern to bring life to my own unique creation, to be given as a gift come Christmas and Birthdays, integrating your favorite colors, remembering your needs, thinking of your personality and putting in a little bit of childhood memories into the finished crochet-knitting master piece.”

That is what my grandma used to say to me every time I see her sitting near our fire place early evenings. I grew up hearing the soft and familiar click-clack of knitting needles dancing together, creating beautiful things out of a simple ball of yarn.

I have placed below some of the things you might want to learn, below are variations of each sample stitching pattern.

Tunisian Crochet Stitches

• Tunisian Crochet
• Afghan Stitch
• Tunisian Knit Stitch

Who would not fall in love with this creation? Yes, handmade marvelous fabric which you can turn into lamp covers, cell phone holders, baby pillows, blankets and table cloths…not to mention a very pretty blouse or skirt. Learning this stitch will bring you a long way.

The Tunisian crochet is one of the most popular techniques. Learning this stitch will give you an even wider understanding of the varieties of designs you can incorporate into your own wearable crochet-knitting handiwork.

One can create this using Needlework technique resulting to a finished eye-catching and charming fabric. This needlework borrows fundamentals from both crochet and knitting which produces a fusion of the two techniques. Commonly, you will be using a hook noticeably longer than the traditional crochet hook.

Edges, Trims and Fringes

• Picots
• Lacy V’s
• Borders
• Crochet Edging Patterns
• Easy Crochet Afghan Edging
• Vertical Edging
• Fringe making
• Open worked Crochet Edgings
• Borders for Blankets
• Checkered
• Crochet Afghan Edgings

Your foundation as an artist will start by learning and knowing the basic crochet stitches. One should be familiar with these basic crochet building blocks will allow your creativity to take you places as you start combining your pieces to create your own personal crochet wearable work of art.

Feel free to visit our website, www.theballofyarn.com for samples crochet patterns to try at home.

PART 1: Basic Crochet Stitches Worth – learning for Practice

Times have changed in this digital world and age, but one thing is certain--- Age old traditions and hobbies of creativity have survived to still bring color into people’s lives. As my grandma used to say about knitting and crochet, “Every piece I make has a little part of you in it. I incorporate my love, passion and purpose into every stitch, every hook, every knitting pattern to bring life to my own unique creation, to be given as a gift come Christmas and Birthdays, integrating your favorite colors, remembering your needs, thinking of your personality and putting in a little bit of childhood memories into the finished crochet-knitting master piece.”

Your foundation as an artist will start by learning and knowing the basic crochet stitches. One should be familiar with these basic crochet building blocks will allow your creativity to take you places as you start combining your pieces to create your own personal crochet wearable work of art.

Let me give you a rundown of things I learned while I was growing up. You can do your own research on each type. I will see what I can do to give you updated posts and articles next time with more details.

Basic Crochet Stitches
• Single Crochet
• Single Crochet Stitch
• Single Crochet Stitch Variations
• Back Loop Single Crochet Stitch
• Chain Stitch
• Double Crochet
• Double Crochet Stitch Variations
• Slip Stitch
• Half Double Crochet Stitch
• Striped Back Loop Single Crochet Stitch
• Surface Crochet Slip Stitches
• Treble Crochet Stitch
• Double Treble Stitch
• Double Treble Variations
• Triple Treble Stitch
• Triple Treble Variations
• V Stitch
• Cluster Stitch
• Lace Stitch
• Openwork Stitch
• Shell Stitch
• Post Stitch
• Spike Stitch
• Tunisian Crochet Stitch
• Tunisian Technique variations

I have placed below some of the things you might want to learn, below are variations of each sampled stitching pattern.

V Stitches

• Basic V Stitch
• V Stitch in Brick Repeat
• Lacy Interrupted V Stitch

 “V” is for victory. This typical stitch features all forms of “V”. Once you make your first, it does feel victorious. It creates a fine-looking knitting pattern when the crochet stitches are linked together. Numerous variations will allow you to create wearable pieces in different crocheted colors. I recommend, let your imagination run free as you explore making “V” stitches.

Spike Stitches

• Spike stitch
• Long Single Crochet stitch
• Staggered Spike Stitch Stripes

Intriguing is what I would describe it. The first time I saw a finished crochet piece with this stitch, I felt it lovingly with my fingers. I loved the zigzag of the lines, the ins and outs of it.

Shell Stitches
• Shell Stitch
• Solid Shell Stitch
• Treble Shell
• Half double Crochet Shell
• Two Color Treble Crochet Shell Stitch

I adore this knitting stitch. If you feel like going to the ocean or the beach but unable to do so, try this

relaxing piece to create, like the name implies, shell crochet stitches which resemble bivalve seashells. . Showcase your love for the sea, by producing this knitting stitch pattern though the combination of crochet stated above. The design is a combination created by working more than one stitch into the same stitch.

Feel free to visit our website, www.theballofyarn.com for samples crochet patterns to try at home.