knitting? you can do it, too. (and a winner!)

Hello again! It's Jen from HeyJenRenee, wishing you a happy Friday. I was thrilled to see all of your comments on my guest post from Monday – thanks so much for all of your kind words!

Since there were several people who said "I want to learn how to knit!", I thought I'd throw out a few easy ways that you can get started. (Because, trust me – if I learned how, you can too.)

1. Visit your local yarn shop. I can almost promise that they offer beginner classes that can get you off to a solid start. Often, if you purchase yarn at a locally-owned shop, they'll offer free assistance should you run into trouble with your knitting.

2. See if your city has a knitting group. Meetup.com is a great resource to find local groups of women (and men too!) who schedule small gatherings at coffee shops and local hot spots to knit. If you're lucky enough to find a group like this, you'll surely make some great new friends and meet lots of knitters who will be more than willing to help you out if you get stuck with a new stitch or need a little help getting through your pattern. (They'll also hear you out should you need to vent about your day.)

3. Join Ravelry. This should be a requirement for everyone who knits or crochets. Ravelry offers thousands of free patterns and an online community where you can find anything and everything you could ever imagine to keep you inspired. It's also the perfect place to keep track of all the fun things you knit. Take a photo of your finished projects – especially of the things you end up giving away. It's all part of your knitting history.

4. YouTube. Rachel would agree – you can find awesome video tutorials for almost any knitting/crochet technique or stitch on YouTube. And you can replay them again and again until you get it, in the comfort of your own home.

5. Hit up that friend or family member. Do you know someone who is really great at knitting or crochet? Call them up and ask them if they'd be willing to give you a beginners' lesson. Meet them on a cold winter day and maybe offer to buy them a cup of coffee in exchange for their wisdom.

It may or may not be a bit chilly where you live, but around here it's starting to get downright cold. I'm obsessed with chunky knits, and I know I'm not the only one because they're everywhere. I'm addicted to knitting enormously long chunky scarves. (I'm not even going to tell you how many skeins go into one of these!) Here are a few other knits that have caught my eye...

Deena and Ozzy blanket scarf.

Flocks Urchin Pouf. (I am obsessed with these!)

Super-easy leg warmers, pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

Adorable nautical-themed crocheted ornaments.

This fantastically cushy colossal cables throw from Anthro? Yes please.

If you knit, you can totally make something similar for yourself using chunky yarn. Try this free pattern – Sutter's Mill Throw – by Lion Brand Yarn, photo above.

And now, for the winner of the chunky red cowl giveaway ... (courtesy of random.org)


EMILY!

You are the winner! Email me your shipping address (jgeigley[!at]gmail.com) and I'll send the red cowl your way. Thanks so much to everyone who entered. Stop by and visit me at HeyJenRenee any time. And a huge thank you to Rachel for this fun chance to be a guest blogger. I had such a blast!