Whether you need a refresher on how to pick up stitches, a cheat sheet to how to figure out what kind of yarn you scored at a garage sale, or a list of our favorite crafting reference books, you can find it all here! (Please note that most of these links will take you to external websites; if you find that one of our links no longer works, or if you have an idea for something we should include, let us know!) 

​Technical resources

• ​​Burn Test (Fabric Mart) - how to use a burn test to figure out what kind of fiber your mystery yarn/spinning fiber is made of. Please follow all suggested safety precautions! 
• Converter: Imperial-to-Metric/Metric-to-Imperial (The Calculator Site) - for when your yarn or fiber is only labeled in one set of units and you need to change it to another. 

Technique resources

• ​Perfectly Picked Up Stitches (Kelbourne Woolens) - a quick tutorial on how to pick up and knit stitches, plus the math of how to pick up a buttonband/collar
• Russian Join (Twist Yarn Shop blog) - how to join two balls of yarn (or one ball of yarn that had a knot...) just about seamlessly! 

​​Favorite books/authors/magazines

• Abby Franquemont.  Respect the Spindle is one of our favorite hard-copy spinning resources; if you are a fan of online learning, we encourage you to explore Abby's online learning center, Franquemont University. 
• Franklin Habit. His blogs (listed on his website) are hilarious, honest, and informative. 
  
• ​​Amy Herzog. Her sweater books are phenomenal for anyone looking to improve their sweater knitting - and sweater fitting!
• Toni Lipsey. From helpful blogs to lovely patterns to the best guide yet on Tunisian crochet, Toni has so many great things to offer to crocheters and knitters.
  
• ​​Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. We especially love Knitting Rules!: The Yarn Harlot Unravels the Mysteries of Swatching, Stashing, Ribbing & Rolling to Free Your Inner Knitter. 

Favorite fiber arts websites ​

• Ravelry. An incredible resource for fiber artists of all stripes: keep a project notebook with photos and notes, get information on yarns, find and buy patterns, and join the discussions in the forums. Free for basic use, requires a username and password. PLEASE NOTE: Some users have experienced visual and headache-based disruptions after Ravelry's tech team updated its design and layout a few years ago. If you are prone to these issues when viewing websites, you may wish to avoid visiting this one.
• Knitty. Free digital knitting/crochet/spinning magazine, published several times each year. Free patterns, columns, and reviews of new products. 

Favorite fiber arts events in our area

• Red Alder Fiber Arts Retreat: held in Tacoma, Washington each February
• Puget Sound Local Yarn Shop Tour: a local yarn shop tour that takes you all around Puget Sound so you can get to know the yarn shops in your neighborhood
• PNW Slow Crawl: a larger, regional yarn shop tour that lasts from Memorial Day Weekend  to Labor Day - tour in-person or virtually
• Fiber Fusion Northwest: held at the Evergreen Fairgrounds in Monroe, Washington - currently being held the first weekend in June
• Flock Fiber Festival: one of the newest regional fiber festivals, planned for August 2024 at the Seattle Convention Center