Are You Kidding Me?

A friend told me that Lion Brand has discontinued the pastel baby colors of its Homespun. This is serious. Serious enough that I got on Facebook to check it out -- and I hate Facebook the way other people hate Homespun. Lion Brand announced the discontinuation here.

Now, Homespun is not my favorite yarn, but you can make one incredibly cute baby blanket from it.

Given the strong reaction on Facebook -- where you can sign a petition of protest -- it appears that there is a market for this yarn. I am devastated that this blanket is no longer possible. Sure, you could substitute, but Homespun worked perfectly for this particlar item.

And the few people who have this in their stash are selling it for outrageous prices. Not very knitterly in my mind. However, who am I to judge? 

For more information, follow this link. However, I think you have to be on Facebook to see it. Sorry.

Happy Independence Day!

I admit it: I love Independence Day. I wait all year to hear a string of voices read the Declaration of Independence on National Public Radio. It's really an amazing document -- and short, too. I guess that makes me a history geek.

I'm celebrating another type of independence today. I no longer have to wear a walking boot. Look:

Those are my feet and there is a shoe in each one! I have to admit that the cute shoes didn't last. I have to wear adjustable, athletic shoes because 1. The doctor said so; and 2. My right foot is still swollen (as you can see) and it doesn't fit comfortably in most of my shoes. The doctor also ordered me to do a minimum of walking for the rest of the month. I can't even go for a recreational walk! So, in a way, I have a little less independence.  But that's OK -- as long as I'm healing!

It's a beautiful, beautiful day here. Keith is out biking (moment of self-pity). I parked myself on the porch and worked on this:

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It is the beginning of a Moderne Baby Blanket, a freeform and fun design by the Mason-Dixon Knitting girls. I am making this one out of Lion Brand Jiffy, a bulky alcrylic yarn. This baby is due in August, so I figure he will need a blank that you can toss on the ground and throw in the washing machine. It's a fun, mindless project.

A Different View of Lion Brand Yarn

For the first time in more than a year, my friend Marsha and I went to the Madison Knitting Guild last night. For new readers, we have been told we have the largest guild chapter int he world, with about 500 members. Meetings draw 200 to 300 members. With those kind of numbers, we get amazing speakers!

We had a surprise speaker last night: Jack Blumenthal of Lion Brand Yarns, and he really opened up my eyes and mind.



Jack Blumenthal of Lion Brand Yarn vice president

 First of all, I had assumed Lion was just another big company. Not at all. It is a family-run business in its fourth generation! I was impressed by how consumer-oriented and down-to-Earth Blumenthal is.
Jack himself is clearly devoted to the business and very knowledgeable about the yarn world. However, asked if he knitted or crocheted, he replied, "Well, I've had a a lot of lessons..."
We also learned that there is a lot more to Lion Brand than the yarns we see in our local big-box stores. For one thing, the company has a drop-dead beautiful retail store, the Lion Brand Yarn Studio. In November alone, the Studio offers 49 classes! Unfortuantely for me, it's located in New York City, so I can't jump in my car to check it out. 

And who knew that Lion offered some high-end yarns? There is a pure cashmere, a washable wool, a silky mohair -- all at very reasonable prices as part of the LB Collection. Luckily you don't have to get to New York to buy them; they can be ordered through the company's web site.

Let's face it, many knitters like to turn up their noses, especially when the Homespun yarn is mentioned. But given the success of the company, it's clear that Lion Brand yarns meet the needs of many, many knitters. And I have to confess: My favorite baby blanket is made with Homespun -- and it is stunning!

Oh, and about that adorable picture at the top? That is a package of Lion Brand Bonbons. Incredibly cute little skeins of yarn. They are marketed to crafters who only need small amounts of yarn, but I think they are too cute to use!