Review: Martha Stewart Yarn for Knitting, Crochet, Weaving and Loom Knitting
By Sara Duggan
By Sara Duggan
What are your crafty goals for 2012? This year I plan to learn how to knit a pair of socks. I would also like to spin more yarn using my drop spindle. Another goal I have for myself is to explore more natural fibers, both pure and recycled.I had the opportunity to try Martha Stewart's Cotton Hemp yarn. The colors come in shades like blue icing and pink taffy which inspire me to make a cupcake sachet.This yarn is a worsted weight yarn made from 65% cotton and 35% hemp. It is produced in China. Gauge for a 4" x 4" swatch are a H-8 crochet hook or US-8 knitting needles.You'll find 14 colors in this series with pastel hues. You'll also find that the yarn is a bit more dull or matte than most. One ball of yarn is just under 2 ounces. If you want to knit the Martha Stewart Stripes Afghan you'll need 12 balls of yarn which will cost just over $60.Other Martha Stewart brand yarns include Mambo - a bulky roving, an Alpaca blend with wool and acrylic, a lofty wool blend which consists of 75% wool and 25% acrylic, a medium weight extra soft wool blend, a merino, a tinsel like glitter eyelash yarn and a wool roving. I do find that the skeins are a bit small for the price but then again it is a recognizable brand that some will gladly pay for.I like the cotton hemp yarn for working up quick kitchen dishcloths and bath mitts. With one ball of yarn I made a blossom skinny scarf, a 4" x 4" swatch, and an owl amigurumi. I recommend it for those looking for a plant-based yarn as an alternative to acrylic for making amigurumi.If you don't knit or crochet you might want to give Martha's Knit and Weave loom a try. For those new to loom knitting you might want to start on a small 5" loom until you master the basic stitch.Once you are confident with your skill branch out into the Knit and Weave kit which is a mix and match custom loom. You can make looms in various sizes by interchanging the pieces and adding pegs. When I worked with a store sample I found that some of the pegs were too loose and others were difficult to snap into place.You can also weave on this loom and the sample I saw used lemon drop cotton hemp. It was a soft alternative to the classic loop weaved potholders. I think if you weaved on the long loom it would make a great bath rug.Do be careful with this loom when children are around because the pegs are loose and many. For this reason alone I probably won't buy this.Although I do like the idea of an interchangeable loom I cringe at the thought of keeping track of all the pegs or even of accidentally stepping on one. Any parent with a Lego addict will attest to the fact that stepping on small plastic pieces especially in the dark is quite unpleasant.Now that you've been introduced to some supplies and tools what will you make?
- weave pot holder
- knit or crochet a dishcloth
- make an amigurumi toy
- use the knitting loom to make rectangles or squares for a blanket
- make a scarf or hat
- knit up a nice pair of socks
- weave a nice thick rug with bulky roving
- crochet a bag to carry your loom in
- knit a cover for your kindle, iPod, or nook
Sara Duggan has been writing online since 2007. She has written over 100 lenses on Squidoo - She is a Giant Squid which means she has created 50 or more quality content lenses. She is a member of Rocket Moms, a group of Mom lensmasters who mentor each other to succeed and grow on Squidoo.She started crocheting when she was pregnant with her son in 1999 and hasn't stopped. She writes her own patterns, teaches beginning and intermediate crochet and blogs about all things crochet as Momwithahook.
To Learn more about Martha Stewart Yarn and Loom Knitting visit http://www.squidoo.com/martha-stewart-cotton-hemp-yarn
Sara blogs about all things crochet at http://momwithahook.blogspot.com
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