Just Stitches
All about the stuff we make with yarn
What makes a good knitting pattern

Jess here, back again for week 3 of Prize-a-Palooza! This week I’m talking knitting patterns, and what separates the good from the bad.
If You Wear Skirts, You Can Wear a Knitted Skirt

The title of this post is a statement I make regularly at the various knitting events I attend. It is my standard response to knitters, who see me wearing a knitted skirt and make some comment indicating that they couldn’t wear a knitted skirt themselves. This month we are talking about skirts here on the […]
Black Is the New Black

What’s your favorite color? Whether it is the color we love to wear or just a color that we find appealing, most folks immediately know the answer to the question. The color found in wardrobes again and again is black. The reason is simple: black truly goes with everything. And in fact, it actually makes other […]
Taking the Old and Making It New

This month we are thinking about “vintage” and what it means to apply it in today’s knitting world. I like to think of it as a mash-up of “old” and “new”. Over the years, Kellie and I have learned that having even a very basic editorial calendar makes developing content significantly easier. During the days […]
A Compendium of Hearts

It’s February, and that means that love is in the air. Just for you, I’ve collected some patterns to make hearts of yarn. The shape and the symbolism always make them a sweet way to share your talents. I hope you’ll choose one of these charming designs and use up some of your prettiest bits of yarn. All […]
When a Project Comes Together

I love it when a plan comes together! Even more so when the result is so much better than was originally expected. That happened for me this week. I wrote several weeks ago about my love of my Felted Slipper Sock pattern. I have also written numerous times about the joy of working with leftover […]
A Project That Just Works

As a designer, you are always looking to create the project that gets everyone super excited. Unfortunately, projects which go viral are rather rare. I doubt I will ever have it happen to one of my designs. Even so, occasionally you will design something that still makes you rather pleased on many fronts. For me, […]
Swatches and Braces

Good morning dear knitters! This week, my focus has, admittedly, been over on the photo side of my business pursuits. Some of that has been knitting photography for a favorite yarn maker, but most of it has been the busy fall portrait season. Families and high school seniors love photos in the gorgeous fall colors of […]
When Fashion Becomes Functional

For as long as the scarf craze has been appearing and re-appearing, I have never really been a fan. The reason is simple: I am too uncoordinated to wear a scarf! Even when I have the great reference sheets on attractive and functional ways to wear a scarf, I never feel like I can get […]
Traveling Times and Inspiration Found

Last week I was in Omaha, Nebraska visiting a friend. She is one of the many I’ve helped learn to knit over the years, and she is a total inspiration to me because she took the basic skills I taught her and really ran with them.