by 6 people |
Hacking is more than just 0's and 1's
0's and 1's are just binary.
Sure, if you don't know what binary is, it can be a scary word. Not to worry, though: binary just means that something is only one thing, or another. On or off. Black or White. Knit or Purl.
Just like long strings of binary makes up complex computer code, a few simple stitches in crochet make up complex crochet projects. Sure, it helps to learn a few special tricks to get the results you want...
So you experiment, right? That's just what hackers do.
Yarn Hackers is the personal crochet blog of Rachel Keslensky, and when she's not working on her webcomic, she's crocheting.
She posts patterns and conceptual pictures of what she wants to make. She posts pictures. She posts tips and plans for what she wants to do. And it's actually decent stuff - not just sweaters and hats you'd never even consider making for yourself, but cool bags, cute ideas, and nifty solutions!
And even if you don't like what she makes, just go and improve upon her patterns to make your own!
Follow along as she makes all sorts of things she just thought up one day and decided to make. Maybe get a few ideas for good stuff of your own.
Who knows? You just might learn something.
How do you Hack your Yarn?
How "Handy" are you with your yarn?
Yarn Hackers focuses mostly on Rachel's crochet, but every now and then she still thinks knitting looks pretty cool...
Which is Cooler: Knitting, or Crochet?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byKnitting! The universe is held together with a Stockinette Stitch!
Christine says:
I feel like I have to say knitting because it's what I know how to do. But I'm really itching to learn crochet because there are a lot of cool patterns I want to try, and I feel left out.
Posted January 10, 2010
Kit says:
I just can't understand crochet, no matter what, I just can't learn it.
Posted August 17, 2009
Emm says:
Knitting rules, but crochet is cool.
Posted June 29, 2008
Crochet Rocks! I'm a Happy Hooker, damn it!
Fidelina says:
crochet
Posted September 29, 2009
BuffaloGal says:
Knowing how to do both makes me feel POWERFUL!
Posted June 12, 2009
Sabra says:
Crochet. I can do both. I am trying to improve my knitting skills, but keep bumping up against not having the right kind of needles. I have size 9 needles, but only circular, not DPNs. I have size 5 needles, but only DPNs, not straights or circular. I deeply resent having to buy multiples of the same size tool. This is why crocheting is better: flat, round (of ANY diameter, thankyouverymuch), I-cord, whatever--it all takes the same hook!
(And that's just reason #1!)
Posted June 09, 2009
kristenuhess says:
I only know how to crochet (so far) but I have to admit I think knit stuff seems to look better to me. I'll have to learn. I have stick envy.
Posted January 23, 2009
MomwithAHook says:
Both have their positives. I'd say crochet because I can get a hat done in 2 hours in crochet but it would take me hours sometimes a day or two in knit.
Posted September 10, 2008
The Fight Rages on at Twitter!
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- LoveByCC
- RT @andreasjewelry: If you knit or crochet, you should check out @TJBDesigns Scissor fobs needlework knitting crochet accessories http://bit.ly/3aqOxk
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- andreasjewelry
- If you knit or crochet, you should check out @TJBDesigns Scissor fobs needlework knitting crochet accessories http://bit.ly/3aqOxk
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- HippieKender
- @seranakitty Yay another craft! LOL At least you can use the yarn for crochet AND knitting.
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- 4madbird
- new tote listed today! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40353088 #knitting #crochet
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- Hats_Outrageous
- Just added myself to the #handmade, #craft, #art, #felt, #crochet, #knitting, #yarn, and #wool Twitter lists on http://twibes.com
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- TwistedYarns
- We just received two great new magazines--Crochet Today's All Time Best Baby Blankets & Interweave's Knitting Traditions.
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- 1whirleddesign
- another blog!! Rowan Knitting and Crochet Magazine – January 2010 | ebook download http://bit.ly/cGGDSp
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- bgdesign
- @jkathryne0510 your fingers get used to it, knitting is more fun then crochet:))
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- jkathryne0510
- Yikes. Fingers can't get used to working with two knitting needles instead of one crochet hook... :-/
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- quiltcetera
- @QuilterPatSloan I used to crochet before quilting, just getting back into it and knitting, but only a little! ;)
Just Hack It!
Knitting and Crochet can both make similar results - so if you know how to knit better than how to crochet, feel free to adapt these patterns into knitted projects!
Flower Choker - Lion Brand Incredible
The Top Five Reasons Yarn Hackers is the Coolest Crochet
- No stupid patterns to follow! Fed up of having to decipher crochet code? You're in luck! There's no patterns involved on Yarn Hackers (aside from the general shapes of items), so you're free to cut loose with the pattern as you like!
- All types of yarn get used! Love Lion Brand's Incredible? Or Lily's Sugar and Cream? Maybe you're into some specialty stuff, like Canadian wool... you're in luck, because Rachel believes there's a perfect utility for every yarn! It's just a matter of finding out what...
- Totally awesome philosophy! If you can think it up, You can crochet it! (Yes, we're sure there's a utility for a crochet'd robot somewhere. Or at least a robot with a skin that's been crochet'd together.)
- Pretty pretty pictures! Well, what good is a blog about crochet without a picture of the results? And it's not those staged, fake pictures of smiling children wearing hats they wouldn't be caught dead wearing in real life -- these are items that people actually want to wear and use, because let's face it; life's too short to make ugly crochet.
- Anyone can learn to do this! Don't get frustrated because your work doesn't look like the items in the pattern -- because every pattern is what you make of it! If it's all yours to make, you can always fix it to make it right! Every project is always a chance to learn something new!
Denim Capelet - Lion Brand Incredible
Great Books for Yarn Hackers
The Crochet Stitch Bible
Probably THE most important book for any Yarn Hacker. This book contains hundreds of special stitches, patterns, and techniques to make the yarn do what you want it to, and it contains all patterns and stitches in both "crochet code" AND visual graphs for different lacework patterns! If you're going to hack, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better book!
Amazon Price: (as of 02/09/2010) 
Not Your Mama's Crochet: The Cool and Creative Way to Join the Chain Gang (Not Your Mamas)
An awesome attempt to throw in more modern crochet patterns. The book recommends some expensive, hard to work with yarns, so it's best to look at their patterns and find a yarn you can actually work with before tackling these projects.
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 02/09/2010)
Hip Hats to Crochet (Leisure Arts #3908)
Good base patterns for hats. Pick your yarn wisely, however; some of the colors they use in these hats are downright garish! It does recommend blending with novelty yarns like Lion Brand Incredible, which is certainly a great idea if you're looking for a new way to embellish a section.
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 02/09/2010)
Crochet Shrugs (Leisure Arts #4357)
Gorgeous patterns, but not tried any of the ones in the book yet. Make sure you have enough yarn to do what you want, and make sure you size your work (and yourself!) up right. These patterns use LOTS of yarn, so whatever you pick, do so wisely...
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 02/09/2010)
Do Something Good for the Environment with Your Crochet!
Learn how to make Reusable Market Bags that reduce your dependency on harmful plastic shopping sacks!
Yarn Hackers RSS Feed
Here are some of the most recent posts on the Yarn Hackers blog! Check out the progress of your favorite projects, made while you watch!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byGet Started Today!
What are you waiting for? Go check out Yarn Hackers and get some inspiration!
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Who Made All This?
Lensmaster JigsawForte has been a member since March 9 2008, has rated 21 lenses, favorited 34, and has created 76 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "The Ultimate "Bejeweled Blitz" Tips and Tricks!". See all my lenses
by JigsawForte
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