One of the most important decisions you must make when you crochet is what yarn to use for your project. The yarn you choose has everything to do with how your finished project looks and stands up to time and wear. The last thing you want to do is spend hours making something only to have it fall apart in the wash, or look worn out after the second wearing. Taking the time to choose just the right yarn will help make your crocheting projects a success. Here are the answers to your top seven crocheting yarn questions: 1. How do I learn about all of the different yarns? The easiest... 

If you are new to crochet, or even a seasoned pro, a crochet group might be just what you have been looking for. Joining a crochet group can offer you help with a new pattern, help completing a lingering project, new crochet project ideas, and the ability to make new friends with a very similar interest to yours. You may have investigated the idea of getting some classes to help with your crochet and found that the cost is too high for your budget, or there are no class times which work for your busy schedule. A great alternative to the structure and cost of crochet lessons... 

With the popularity of beading and jewelry making today, there are literally millions of different beads which you can purchase and add on to your knitting projects. Beads are very readily available just about everywhere and can be very inexpensive to purchase. Beads can be found made of many materials and of all shapes and sizes. Some beads are made from plastics while others are made from more natural products such as wood and glass. Whether you want to add a single focus bead to your crochet projects, or add hundreds of small beads, it is simple to do and will produce great... 

Knitting is one of the most relaxing crafts you can do with your hands. Once you learn to knit you can easily sit back and knit and listen to the radio or watch your favorite television program while you happily knit away and make a great item, for yourself or someone else, at the same time. Knitting is great for those of us who like to keep our hands busy but also like to multitask as well. I used to sit and watch my aunt knit at family gathering and was always amazed that by the end of the day she would have participated in all of the conversation and still she had a ton... 

Crocheting is one of the most relaxing crafts you can do with your hands. Once you learn to crochet you can easily sit back and crochet and listen to the radio or watch your favorite television program while you happily crochet away and make a great item, for yourself or someone else, at the same time. Crocheting is great for those of us who like to keep our hands busy but also like to multitask as well. I used to sit back and watch my aunt crochet at family gathering and was always amazed that by the end of the day she would have participated in all of the conversation and... 

Most everyone who knits appreciates all of the variation in the yarns and fibers available on the market today. Even in a large store like Wal-Mart, you can discover many different kinds of yarns. As you move to craft stores and knitting shops your yarn selection options go through the roof. At these specialty shops you can find yarns made of some of the most exotic fibers such as alpaca and cashmere. For a knitter, browsing through all the options in a store which carries yarn can take hours and is a very enjoyable pastime. Yarn selection for your knitting projects is a much... 

One of the fastest growing trends today is teenagers learning to knit. While the word “knitting” used to make you think of grandma sitting in her rocker knitting a baby blanket for some distant relative, this is just not the case anymore. Today, millions of teens and young adults everywhere are learning to knit. And, they are creating some amazing garments and decorative items! Today, there are many knitting books published which are targeted specifically at teens and young adults. These books are flying off the shelves in record numbers. Many of the knitting books... 

The word “knitting” used to conger up thoughts of grannies sitting in their rockers and making baby blankets to pass the time, but thankfully it has now taken on an entirely different connotation. Knitting has seen a major resurgence in interest in the past ten years or so. People young and old, from all walks of life, are discovering knitting in an entirely new way. And, the best part is that now some stay-at-home parents are using their love of knitting to create income for their families. As owners of a home-based knitting business, many are finding they can earn... 

As you foray into the art of knitting, there will be times where you want to add some stiffness to your finished work. This is the case when you are knitting items such as handbags and certain kinds of lace. Stiffening your yarns or fibers can easily be accomplished by starching your projects with a variety of different stiffening mediums. Starching has been around for a very long time and with the different options available today for starching; you can find just the right one for your project. Classic Starching The oldest form of starching is simply to dissolve ¼ cup... 

Traditionally, handicrafts were born out of invention and necessity. People needed warm blankets for their bed so they learned to weave threads and eventually how to make quilts; they needed clothing so they learned to make fabrics and sew them together. Today’s handicrafts are similar for many of the people who believe that sustainability of our plant is a big issue for those living in our current times. The idea of recycling is often practiced in craft work through the reuse of yarns, fibers and fabrics. While it is fun to browse around your local craft or yarn store...