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Knit and Crochet News: This Week’s Hottest Links in Craft Fashion, Art, Events, Healing and More

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There are so many interesting things happening all of the time in the craft world. It’s hard to stay on top of the latest in knit and crochet news. So, I thought I’d make things easier for you. Each weekend I’ll bring you a roundup of links to the things that I think will interest you the most! Here’s this week’s knit and crochet news roundup:

Note: This post may have affiliate links throughout. I get a small percentage of sales made when those links are clicked. However, your price doesn’t go up. Thanks for the support.

crochet and knitting news

Knit and Crochet in the Mainstream News

Sometimes crafting makes the headlines even in mainstream news reports. This week, CNN reported that Crochet Tik-Tok Is Soothing and Sustainable. The article talks about how watching people knit and crochet on TikTok is a trend. It goes on to share that more and more people are crafting during the pandemic. And touches upon how handcrafted clothing, as part of the slow fashion movement, is a sustainable alternative to big clothing businesses. If you’re on TikTok, one crocheter you might want to check out is Knot Bad.

More mainstream knit and crochet news:

Knit and Crochet News: Health and Wellness

One of the most heartwarming knit and crochet news stories from the week has got to be “Knitters create gloves for kids, adults with limb differences.” It’s about a Facebook group that connects people with limb differences (fused fingers, missing digits) with knitters who create unique items just for them. Moreover, it shows a great picture of a happy young boy wearing his colorful one-of-a-kind knit mittens.

Other Health / Wellness Knit and Crochet News:

Hyperbolic Crochet, Math, and a Craft Community

Because of the way that crochet builds one loop upon another, it’s able to depict a wide range of different mathematical equations that are otherwise hard to show in the real world. For example, hyperbolic crochet – made infamous because of its use to create crochet coral reefs – reflects a mathematic principle. This article is about a college community crafting with math and science in mind.

Related: A Look at Arts Education for the Next Generation of Culture Makers mentions that LA students filled a classroom with handmade crochet, felt and beaded anatomy.

Celebrities Are Into Crochet Hats and Fashion

Knit and crochet are all over the fashion runways. An article on ten crochet hats highlights some favorites that celebrities like. For example, Bella Hadid and Ella Emhoff both sport crochet hats. Of course, if you can crochet, then you can make your own crochet hat instead! Still, it’s fun to see how celebrities are styling their handcrafted items.

Related crochet and knitting news:

A Call For Fiber Arts to Support Drama Camps and Babies in NICU

This is an inspiring bit of knit and crochet news. It’s a call for crafters to come together for two good causes. Knitters and crocheters are asked to collect pledges for how many crochet blankets and hats they can make. Then they’re making them before May 15th. All monetary donations (pledges) will go to support children’s summer theatre camps. And all of the crochet and items that are made will go to babies in NICU,

Related knit and crochet news:

Crochet Art in the Streets

And although not knit or crochet, you absolutely must check out: Artist Embroiders Polaroid Landscapes.

Fabulous Crafter: Happy 100th Birthday Betty!

Betty Goveia just celebrated her 100th birthday. She still knits and crochets blankets. Her advice to everyone, “go with the flow.”

Related: There are so many fabulous crafters out there. A recent article about a scientist studying COVID-19 is filled with jargon that isn’t simple to understand. But we can all understand at the end when she says that she relaxes with all things yarn!

And More Knit and Crochet News

Make Sure You Didn’t Miss

Here’s what was on the Marly Bird blog this week. Did you see it all?

Marly Bird’s BiCrafty Boot Camp: Team Thoughts on Month One of Learning How to Knit

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Can you believe it’s been over a month since we launched BiCrafty Boot Camp: Knitting Lessons for Crocheters? On one hand, we can’t believe the time has gone so fast. On the other hand – WE ARE KNITTING NOW! Therefore, it does seem like a lot of time must have passed right? Sure, our knits and purls might not be perfect, yet. But we’re getting there. We are learning how to knit. In fact, we are knitters. And we’re so proud of how far we’ve come and how far you’ve come as well. Haven’t joined BiCrafty Boot Camp, yet? It’s not too late. Get the details here.

team thoughts on Month One of crocheters learning how to knit

What We’ve Learned in Month One

It’s been one month since our first team update. At the time, we’d only had one knitting lesson. Nevertheless, we had learned a lot about knitting needles. Reminder: Signature Needle Arts is offering Marly Bird bootcampers a discount:

Get 10% off at Signature Needle Arts when you use promo code MARLYKNITS. Make sure it’s all caps. You can only use this code once per customer, during the length of BiCrafty Boot Camp. And it can’t be combined with other deals.

Other than that, all we really knew was that we were excited to get to start knitting. We’ve come so far in one month. Here are the Marly Bird BiCrafty Boot Camp Lessons we’ve had since then:

We’ve come so far! And even if you’re not all the way caught up, you’re doing great just the way you are.

Kathryn’s Thoughts on Month One of BiCrafty Boot Camp

If you’ve been following along with the newsletters then you know that Kathryn has been struggling a little bit with learning to knit. She loves BiCrafty Boot Camp. However, the timing was rough for her. She sustained a terrible dog bite injury a few months ago and her hand isn’t fully healed. Her second and third fingers of her left hand don’t quite work right. And she discovered the hard way that if she practices knitting for too many hours in a row then her hands won’t work for days. So she’s had to take it slow and that was super frustrating at first.

Switching Up Knitting Needles

However, she had a turnaround this past week when she realized that slow and steady was a good thing for her hand. Kathryn is a very fast crocheter. She had been working with ChiaoGoo 5″ interchangeable circular metal needles. She liked them a lot but they’re too fast for her beginner hands. She switched to ChiaoGoo 9″ straight bamboo needles. She loves them. Although many experienced knitters don’t like straight needles, she found that the shape was perfect for the state of her hands right now. And she’s loving the bamboo.

Knitting Slowly for Occupational Therapy

Bamboo needles are stickier than metal ones, which means everything moves slowly. That can be annoying for fast knitters, of course. However, Kathryn’s found that intentionally slowing down is exactly what she needs to learn how to knit. So these needles are perfect. Once she switched to them, she started really finally getting the hang of the knit stitch.

Her work went from this:

beginner learning how to knit and making mistakes

To this:

learning how to knit garter stitch

More importantly, she’s realized that the knitting can be an asset to her healing, rather than a detriment. If she knits for too long at once, then she re-injures her hand. However, if she knits very slowly and methodically, it actually helps with her hand’s healing process. She has written about crochet and knitting as occupational therapy in her book Crochet Saved My Life. And here’s more about knitting as occupational therapy.

Kathryn’s Goals for Next Month

If you’ve looked ahead then you know that BiCrafty Boot Camp will cover increases and decreases, knit seed stitch, and even the start of cables in May. Kathryn’s goals are:

  • Learn how to purl stitch. She’s behind but she’s not letting that stop her from following the process.
  • Practice the increases and decreases, even if only in knit stitch.
  • Try out some new knitting needles. We’re focusing on sponsor Prym in May. We used ChiaoGoo in April, and we’ll have a blog post up tomorrow covering our thoughts on all of their different needles.
  • Keep a positive attitude even when it gets challenging. And keep focusing on how knitting heals.

Cryssi’s Thoughts on Month One

Did you read the Meet Cryssi post we shared this month? Get to know my awesome executive admin better through that! You’ve also seen her in some of the lives and the newsletters that you got this month. Cryssi has been ahead of the game, completing the projects as fast as I can share them. She loves learning how to knit. Here are some of her pieces:

learn how to knit stockinette stitch mug rugs

The Joy of Instant Gratification in Knitting

You might recall that as we started BiCrafty Boot Camp we switched from an original plan of making a week-by-week sampler scarf to doing smaller projects that would allow for instant gratification. As Cryssi shared in an early Boot Camper newsletter, that really works well for her. She added, “Having a finished washcloth in my hands this week made me want to knit more than ever before!”

Cryssi’s Tools

We’re all working with ChiaoGoo this month. We want to show you what each sponsor has to offer and they sent us so much great stuff to show you! Cryssi started off working with 24″ circular ChiaoGoo Bamboo Spin needles! She used Hobby Lobby I Love This cotton for the week two dishcloth pattern. She noted that it’s fairly slippery for a cotton, so she loved the grip that bamboo knitting needles provided.

Later in the month she switched over to Lily Sugar ‘n Cream to make her mug rugs. She noted that it’s not as slippery, so she took the chance and switched over to the 24″ circular ChiaoGoo Twist needles! It worked well for her. Plus she loves that sound of the needles clicking. It feels like the sound of a knitter, right?!

Cryssi’s Favorite Tip

Cryssi noticed some comments in the Marly’s Minions group about the struggle many people have using the left hand to move the yarn around the needle. She really emphasized that a big plus for her in learning continental knitting is that you can actually use your needle to “pick” the yarn, similar to the motion used when yarning over in crochet!

Plus, of course, you have to figure out what works for you. She says, “I’ve got really small hands – like child size lol – so purling looks different for me than how Marly shows it. I just use my left thumb to push the yarn down in the right spot.”

Cryssi’s Goals for Next Month

Cryssi says, “WOW MONTH TWO! I am excited to continue to improve my tension and grip but also to branch out into learning new skills. I really hope that by the end of this month I’ll have the muscle memory down so that I can focus on more fun aspects of knitting like color, design, and texture!”

Join Us in Learning How to Knit as Crocheters

We are all very excited about BiCrafty Boot Camp: Knitting Lessons for Crocheters. Being bicrafty is so much fun and we’re thrilled that so many people are learning how to knit right alongside our team members. Remember to join our lives every other Thursday on YouTube. And share your work on Instagram with the #bicraftybootcamp hashtag and in the Marly’s Minions Facebook Group.

Spring Crochet Inspiration: Susanna Bauer’s Crochet Leaf Art

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Are you looking for a little bit of crochet inspiration for spring? Of course, as far as patterns go there are plenty of roundups for Mother’s Day crochet patterns, Memorial Day projects, and spring shawls. However, if you just want to gaze at something pretty that might inspire you to do something more innovative with your own work, then look no further than the upcoming art exhibition by Susanna Bauer. What she does with nature and crochet is truly amazing.

spring crochet inspiration

Who is Susanna Bauer?

Susanna Bauer is a fiber artist who merges the worlds of crochet and nature. She uses simple crochet stitches and yet her work is so innovative that it immediately captures the attention. Why? Because she repurposes found fallen natural leaves into art by crocheting directly onto and around them.

Bauer has been showing her art since 2008. She had her first solo show in 2013, according to the CV on her website. With each new collection of her work, she takes her unique process even further. She creates both 2d and 3d crochet leaf designs. Make sure that you take the time to explore her site to see all of her different work. It truly is some of the best spring crochet inspiration on the web! Notice that although her crocheted leaves make up the biggest percentage of her body of work, she also has crochet over stones and crochet added to wooden sticks.

Susanna Bauer’s Crochet Leaf Art: How Does She Do It

She doesn’t do anything in particular to strengthen the leaves. In other words, she doesn’t apply some special glaze to solidify the leaves and make them stronger. She uses botany techniques to wash and dry them. Then she works very carefully to add intricate crochet lace directly to the leaves themselves. This really gives new meaning to working with tension in crochet. Of course, crocheters and knitters all know that tension makes a big difference when creating fabric. Just imagine the added factor of working with the soft or brittle organic nature of the leaf at the same time.

Susanna Bauer crochet leaf art

Crochet Inspiration: Spring Art Exhibit

Susanna Bauer is an artist. She uses the craft of crochet and her botany skills to create small works of art. As an artist, she displays her work in galleries. In fact, she has a spring 2021 gallery show in May/June at Le Salon Vert in Switzerland. If you happen to live there or know someone who does, visiting this crochet inspiration in person should definitely be on the calendar. After all, if it’s as amazing as this viewed on the screen, just imagine having the opportunity to see all of the stitch detail in real life.

How to Use This Crochet Inspiration

If you’re really creative then maybe you’ll take this crochet inspiration and run with it. However, you don’t have to actually go try to crochet on leaves in order use this inspiration. You might crochet a cozy for river rocks to create artistic paperweights. Perhaps this inspires you to look for spring crochet patterns for leaves, flowers, and other crochet appliques. Or maybe this simply makes you want to get outside and crochet while in nature. Let it inspire you in your own way!

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How to Knit 2×2 Ribbing (Knitting Lessons for Crocheters, Lesson 5)

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Welcome to Lesson 5 of BiCrafty Boot Camp: Knitting Lessons for Crocheters. This week, we’re going to expand our skills and learn how to knit 2×2 ribbing. But guess what? You already know what you need to know in order to knit ribbing!

How to Knit ribbing 2x2 for BiCrafty Boot Camp

BiCrafty Boot Camp To Date

Before we get into this week’s lesson, let’s catch up on what we’ve done so far in BiCrafty Boot Camp:

Many people have asked where they can find the Marly Bird live videos for BiCrafty Boot Camp. They’re on the Marly Bird YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe and hit that like button.

You can also find all updated links, including the videos, as they become available by looking at the bottom of the master list in the main post here.

This Week’s Lesson: How to Knit 2×2 Ribbing

This week we’re going to learn how to knit 2×2 ribbing. In order to knit ribbing, you simply alternate knit stitches and purl stitches within the same row. You can make a variety of knit rib stitches. For example, if you knit then purl, knit then purl, all the way across the row then that’s 1×1 knitting. As you can guess then, if you want to learn how to knit 2×2 ribbing, you’ll be doing a knit two, purl two, knit two, purl two across the row. It’s pretty straightforward.

Crocheter’s Edge

Crocheters Tips to Learn Knitting

Here are some of the things that you already know how to do as a crocheter that will help you learn how to knit 2×2 ribbing:

  • You probably already understand how ribbing affects the fabric that you’re creating. You get more stretch than if you simply work in the same stitch across a whole row over and over again.
  • In crochet, you’ve probably alternated stitches within a row. Therefore, you can easily comprehend how to make different knit stitches within the same row. (In fact, you already did it if you made last week’s mug rug pattern. You used stitch markers to mark off the different types of stitches, but you started the concept.)
  • Have you ever alternated a front loop and back loop stitch across a row? Or front post / back post stitches (for example, to make basketweave crochet patterns)? Then you get the concept of working one stitch, then working what’s essentially its opposite stitch, and alternating across the row. Since knits and purls are basically opposites of each other, it’s a similar concept.

How to Knit 2×2 Ribbing

As you can guess at this point, knitting 2×2 ribbing simply means you’ll knit two, then purl two, knit two, then purl two. In patterns, you’ll see this as K2, P2. (We’ll learn more about reading knitting patterns soon but there are your first abbreviations to get used to since you know your knits and purls now.)

A pattern will typically have a row repeat of 4. So you might cast on 20 or 24 or 40, for example. Then you would k2, p2 across Row 1 and k2, p2 again across Row 2 and repeat for all of your rows. Obviously, you work 4 stitches (k2, p2) so that’s why you cast on the multiple of 4. Alternatively, you might see a cast on that’s a multiple of 4 + 2. In that case, you’ll end each row with an extra two knit stitches, giving your left and right sides the same look.

Knit 2×2 ribbing is frequently used for hat brims and sweater hems. That should give you a sense of how stretchy the fabric typically is.

Knitter’s Tips for Crocheters

It’s very common when you first learn how to knit 2×2 ribbing for your stitches to be a little bit too loose, particularly on the purl stitches. Here’s an easy fix for that:

BiCrafty Boot Camp Coffee Cup Sleeve Pattern

How to knit 2x2 ribbing coffee sleeve free pattern
Photo by Bootcamper Angela Manary!

The great thing about ribbing is that it gives you an elastic stretchy fabric. Therefore, instead of a mug rug, we’re going to make a coffee cup cozy sleeve.

Cast on 36 stitches. We are using long-tail cast on in the video this week (shown below), but use knit cast on if you prefer that.

Knit 2, Purl 2 across each row until you have the sleeve height that you want (~3 inches).

Bind off. In the video, we cover how to bind off in pattern. In a regular bind off, you knit the entire last row. When you bind off in pattern, you continue the pattern (in this case, k2 p2) on the binding off row.

Whipstitch the two short ends together, which you probably know how to do from crochet.

Here’s this week’s live video:

Additional Patterns and Video Tutorials You’re Ready For

At this stage of BiCrafty Boot Camp, you might want to watch these extra videos:

And check out these knitting patterns:

  • Rise and Shine Arm Warmers. These do have an increase, which we haven’t covered yet. But for you ambitious now-knitters out there, you might be able to handle it if you do your research. You already know all the stitches – it’s stockinette and the 2×2 you learned here.
  • Beginner Knit Hat. Similarly, there’s a bit of decreasing on this hat, which we’ll learn in a few lessons. But if you’re ready to do your research and jump ahead, it’s otherwise just a k2 p2 pattern.

Crochet Shawl For Mom: A Free Pattern For Mother’s Day (or any time you want to celebrate mama)

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A few years ago I participated in a Mother’s Day crochet blog hop. More than one dozen designers came together to offer crochet patterns for mom. There were a wide array of different designs, including the free crochet shawl pattern that I chose to include. Since Mother’s Day is coming up again soon, I wanted to remind you about this terrific crochet shawl for mom. Make one for your mom, a mom friend who needs a wearable hug, or even for yourself. After all, moms are always superheroes and they’ve especially been so during the pandemic!

free crochet shawl pattern for mom

*This post contains affiliate links. By clicking on one of these links and making a purchase a portion will go to the blog. The price you pay will not change and the small commission I receive helps me to keep bringing you free content and giveaways on the blog. Thank you for your continued support.*

Rainbow Sprinkles Crescent Crochet Shawl

The Free Crochet Crescent Shawl Pattern is a perfect wrap for the warmer spring and summer months. Plus, the Rainbow Sprinkles Crescent Shawl pattern is a fun project to crochet. You’ll use two balls of the It’s a Wrap Rainbow Sprinkles yarn by Red Heart Yarn. The yarn does all of the work for you because of the rich color play. Therefore, you don’t have to use a lot of advanced crochet stitches to make this crochet shawl for mom.

Unique Shawl Shape

Of course, there are a lot of great crochet shawl patterns. And knit patterns, too, for you bicrafty folks. In fact, during a similar Mother’s Day blog hop of knit and crochet patterns for moms, I included a different pattern – my Tilted Blocks Knit Shawl Pattern. But one thing that makes this crochet shawl for mom special is the crescent shape. You use unique construction, crocheting the border first then working short rows along the border to build the body. It makes it really a fun piece to build

Ready to Make This Crochet Shawl for Mom?

This crochet shawl pattern is easy enough for beginner crocheters. And yet, experienced crocheters should still find it exciting. Although you can always substitute yarn if you know how, I recommend that you stitch to the It’s a Wrap Rainbow Sprinkles yarn to get the same wonderful look of this shawl. The color play is really what makes it stand out.

mothers day crochet shawl pattern

A Crochet Prayer Shawl Pattern

This free crochet crescent shawl pattern is also meditative enough to make a great crochet prayer shawl. You can stitch intentionally with a kind thought in mind for the person that you’re making that for. This will add another layer of special warmth to the piece, particularly if you’re crocheting it for Mother’s Day. Infuse it with your loving thoughts for the mom you’re gifting it to. She’ll feel that kindness, care, and prayer each time that she wraps it around herself. If you’d like, include your prayer, mantra, or thought on a card when you give this crochet shawl to her.

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Knit and Crochet for Mom

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I love to make handmade items for the people who are special in my life. And who is more special than Mom? Whether your mom is your biological mom or someone who simply plays a mom role in your life, she certainly deserves something sweet that tells her you enjoy putting time into making her happy. That’s why today I’ve rounded up all of the past Mother’s Day knit and crochet posts from this blog. Plus I’ve included some fresh links to some of the best things to knit or crochet for Mom. They’re all rich in Mother’s Day gift ideas that will make the moms out there feel loved.

Marly and Marly's Mom in a collage of images of them together

Meet Marly’s Mom

Before we get into the patterns, I just had to remind you that a few years back I did a whole series of YouTube knitting lessons where I taught my mom how to knit. So many people have said that they loved this series. Of course, the point is that you can learn to knit alongside my mom, step by step. For that reason, these videos are the perfect compliment to the BiCrafty Boot Camp: Knitting Lessons for Crocheters happening right now. (It’s not too late to join in; get the details here.) However, what people really loved the most was meeting my mom. And seeing the banter between us.

Here’s the first video in that series if you want a glimpse. And you can find the rest free on YouTube).

59 Free Mother’s Day Patterns (Knit and Crochet)

59 Mother's Day Patterns to Knit, Crochet and Craft

If you’re looking for free Mother’s Day knit and crochet patterns then look no further than this recent post. We rounded up nearly five dozen different patterns that are perfect for Mother’s Day crafting.

Some favorites include:

  • an eyeglasses case
  • the classic “mom” bookmark (which gives you a chance to practice filet crochet)
  • five different Mother’s Day knit and crochet flower bouquet patterns.

That post also links to other Mother’s Day knit and crochet and yarn projects that are available here on the site. Those include:

More Knit and Crochet for Mom from My Favorite Designers

Of course, my blog isn’t the only one that offers great Mother’s Day knit and crochet ideas. (Although this is the only one where you can get to know my own great Mom!) Here are some of the recent, wonderful knit and crochet roundups from other designer’s blogs:

Of course, every single Mom is unique. Your mom might be completely nontraditional. However, there’s almost certainly a pattern out there for her. Whether she’s a Star Wars fanatic, collects unicorns, or is obsessed with being eco-friendly, there’s a crafter’s approach to gifting for her.