Pearl One, Knit Two

There is a new after school fad that teens are doing, and it involves needles. Breathe Mom and Dad...I'm talking about knitting needles. It seems among certain social circles knitting is the cool thing to do! So does your teen want to know more? Here are a few websites s/he might like!

Craft Yarn Council of America: Learn the basics of knitting and crocheting, find free patterns, participate in a discussion group, or investigate one of the council's special programs at this site. One of the programs is this trade association's Warm Up America program of donating afghans to people in need.

FreePatterns.com Over 1500 free craft patterns for crochet, cross-stitch, quilting, crafts, plastic canvas, and knitting. Free registration required. Images and diagrams may be available. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF).

Knit Net: An online magazine for knitters. Free content includes articles, patterns, a list of knitting blogs, and video demonstrations. (More content is available with a paid subscription.) The magazine is published six times a year.

Knitting Charities: Knitting for a Better World: Annotated list of organizations and projects focused on knitting and crocheting for charitable causes. Includes knitting for premature infants, children in hospitals, domestic violence victims, chemotherapy patients, U.S. armed forces, humanitarian projects in other countries, and more. From a publisher of craft books.

Knitty: Little Purls of Wisdom: "The web-only knitting magazine for knitters with a fresh attitude." Offers a collection of free patterns for sweaters, socks, hats, and other clothing and gifts. Patterns are rated for difficulty, and include recommendations for materials, needle sizes, and gauge. Also include articles about knitting techniques and the knitting community.