Menokreatikkul; Saturday Stitches

As I've been away from The Hutch, as mentioned last week, productivity has been curtailed. This week, then, I thought I might introduce you to some of the yarn-work vloggers and bloggers that I like to ogle now and then. As with perusing Ravelry or places like The Knitting Network, I watch/read these people for inspiration and ideas... and to let myself daydream about possible projects for my own hands to tackle.

First, a couple that I am sure I have mentioned before on the blog, but I am happy to put a repeat link.

Juan the Yarn Addict is a prolific poster of vlogs, so there's plenty to watch. It's also a bit of something for everyone. If you like a natter about yarns and unpacking orders, there are plenty of those. If you just like a coffee and work-along with a natter, there are those on a regular basis. I don't watch everything Juan posts, but I always check in once a week, and I definitely like to watch his crochet videos, as he is great with mixing and matching stitches to create wonderful, textured fabrics. He is also a prolific creator of blankets for charity, and, more recently, infant caps for the local maternity ward. Kudos.

Toni at TLYarn Crafts is one of my faves. She is so full of verve and does really good reviews of various crochet products, be that hooks, yarns, winders...you name it, she'll give it depth and breadth. What I love about all the patterns on the TLYC blog is that Toni is the designer of all of them, and, like me, she is in love with colour, colour, and yet more colour!

What is more, Toni is a big advocate for Tunisian Crochet, and almost all that I have learned about that particular craft has come from her online tutorials. She does have a book on the craft... I am trying not add more to my shelves, though it is very tempting!

More recent additions to my watch list...

Chandi at Expression Fiber Arts brings weekly videos with mini tutorials to help one through the pattern being focused on. To get those weekly patterns, which are free for a limited time, one needs to pop over to the EFA blog. There are some truly gorgeous knits and crochet patterns on offer, and genuine inspiration. Chandi does have a few of her own designs in the earlier pieces, but her main focus has been the yarns on offer... she employs designers for the majority of the patterns. I lust after some of the yarns... but have restrained myself thus far. Chandi had a passion for hand-dyeing as well as luxury yarn and has taken it to superior levels.

Honourable mentions must go to Deborah Knits (lots of insightful and incisive commentary on the craft of knitting - it was she who did the amazing reviews on the Game Of Wool show...) - and also to Simon Henry Makes for sheer entertainment. Simon just natters away on a lot of subjects, not necessarily yarn crafts, but does it with heart and panache. 

Very recently, though, I have added to my subscriptions Rachel Is Knitting. This was thrown my way by the algorithm in the ethermutts, I suppose, because, at the time it came to my attention, she was leading a group of ladies around Scotland on a yarn tour... and, most engagingly, at that! Then came Ireland. Rachel has now announced that she has quit her academic career to go full-time on her channel. I've become a devotee.

There are so many inspirational channels and web pages out there... oh to be a sponge...