When the opportunity presented itself for me to visit a working yak ranch that produces yak fibers that are used to make yarn, I realized I could make a mini documentary to share a fascinating glimpse into this unique corner of the world.
yarn
August Sponsor Spotlight
Meet two of the companies helping support Hands Occupied this month!
Yak Yarn!
I don’t know if you’ve ever tried yarn made with yak fibers before, but I highly recommend it. Yak yarn provides a smooth yarn that’s a nice alternative to wool. – Read on to learn how yak yarn can help support earthquake survivors in Nepal.
Reader Survey 2K15!
It’s survey time, folks! That time of year when I ask you 10 quick questions about how Hands Occupied is doing, what you’d like to see on the blog, and what I can do better.
Vogue Knitting Live & A Giveaway!
Vogue Knitting Live is a huge knitting and crochet conference that happens in several cities throughout the United States, and later this month, it’s coming to my town, Chicago! What goes down at VKL? There is a big, booth-style marketplace where you can get your hands on some amazing yarn and knitting supplies. You can take skill-building workshops and hear lectures on knitting trends, designing better patterns, and more.
How to Knit an Afghan for Under $35
Craft supplies can add up when you’re as addicted as I am to DIY, particularly if you go through yarn like there’s no tomorrow. That’s why today I’m going to talk to you about Blitsy, a website that offers really great deals on craft supplies.
Chicago Yarn Crawl!
It’s the Chicago Yarn Crawl this week, dudes! This year, I only had a chance to Crawl for one day, hitting up 5 of the many stores participating. But I made sure to snap a few pics of their yarn and supplies to make you all jealous of the amazing yarn stores we’ve got here in Chicagoland. ;) The Yarn Crawl is divided into regions, and I focused on Region 1, the yarn shops within Chicago’s city limits.
Crochet Trinket Basket
I originally made this little basket to test out a yarn that caught me by happy surprise and to try a cute new pattern at the same time. I wasn’t planning on blogging it, but I realized I used this little 4ish inch basket for a very important purpose: a catch-all for desk ephemera. For a crafter like me, it’s everything from a jump drive to miscellaneous craft supplies to a pack of cards.
These Colors Won’t Run
The basketweave baby blanket knitting pattern I shared recently was made with one of my favorite yarn colors ever. As much as I love the color, I noticed early on that it turned my fingers blue! Using a simple vinegar bath, I was able to keep my fingers dye-free and preserve the yarn color’s vibrance.
