Shannon Talks Yarn

  Winter in the northern Midwest is not gentle. It’s cold, snowy, dark, and very committed to making you stay indoors. We just had our first big snowfall of the year. It was over a foot... and once that happens, I know it’s officially time to hunker down. In THIS VIDEO , I took full advantage of a winter storm! Honestly? I don’t hate everything about it. Winter is my favorite season for crochet creativity. It’s the time of year when staying home feels justified, when warmth and comfort become priorities, and when making things with my hands feels extra meaningful. WATCH THIS VIDEO about how crochet has helped me deal with seasonal depression. Letting the Seasons Guide Your Making I’ve learned over the years that going with the flow of the seasons makes my crafting feel more natural and enjoyable. In the summer, I don’t want a heavy wool blanket on my lap while I’m crocheting. But in January? Absolutely. Cold weather inspires: Thicker yarns Warmer fibers Texture, cables, and cozy ...

  Sometimes the most fun crochet projects aren’t the ones we plan, they’re the ones that sneak up on us. This week’s project was exactly that. I didn’t set out to make a sunflower granny square hat… but the universe kind of handed it to me. So today’s post and project are dedicated to my niece, Sahvana , who recently learned just how "yarn crazy" her aunt really is! Can you tell how proud of her I am? A Pinterest (or IG?) Photo That Started It All A couple of weeks ago, I came across a simple photo online: a basic trucker hat with a single granny square sewn right on the front. So simple. So cute. So me. That tiny spark of inspiration had me searching for inexpensive blank hats. Amazon didn’t have great deals, so I made a mental note to check Hobby Lobby during my next visit. And sure enough, there they were. Plain trucker-style caps for $1.99. If you were a die hard Joann shopper and are new to the Hob Lob, read THIS POST.   The WIP Bin Comes to the Rescue  My pl...

  Over the past year, I’ve noticed a huge spike in views on my older blog post about my favorite online yarn shops. And while I’m flattered that so many people still find it helpful, it was definitely time for an update! A lot has changed since I first made that list: I’ve explored new shops ( Huge inspo HERE ) My yarn taste has changed ( Read more HERE ) And… Joann officially closed it's doors for good ( Shop HERE instead ) So today, I’m sharing my current top five favorite places to buy yarn online as of December 2025 going into 2026. If you love yarn variety, great prices, rich color palettes, and discovering new fibers, this list is for you. 1. Wool Warehouse: (UK) My #1 Forever Favorite If you’ve been around my channel for a while, this one won’t surprise you! Wool Warehouse is hands-down my favorite place to buy yarn online for several reasons: Their house brand Yarnsmiths is fantastic Affordable, soft, and available in so many colors - especially the wa...

  Every year as the holidays approach, I see the same pattern happen again and again in the crochet and craft community. Requests start rolling in. Expectations rise. Family members make comments. Someone wants a quick hat. Someone else wants stockings for all their kids. And many of us, myself included, start feeling anxious about disappointing people. I've been working hard on this aspect of my personality and spoke more about this topic in THIS VIDEO . Today, I want to give you (and myself!) a gentle reminder: Setting boundaries doesn’t mean you don’t care. It means you’re taking care of yourself. And if the thought of saying “no” makes your stomach twist because you’re afraid someone will think you don’t love them, or that you’re being difficult, or that you “must not be bored enough”… you are absolutely not alone. Let’s talk about it. Why This Time of Year Feels So Hard for Crocheters People outside the yarn world often don’t understand how long a project actually take...

    There’s something really special about returning to something that just feels right . For me, that’s this: sharing updates, reflections, and creative energy directly with you, without any paywalls or platforms in between. If you’ve been with me for a while, you might remember when my email newsletter felt like our own little cozy corner of the internet . I loved that sense of connection, and after trying a few different formats, I realized that’s what I missed most. So, I’ve brought it back: simple, personal, and full of heart. Because of this, I've also disbanded my YouTube memberships, so everyone who wants to can access exclusive content. CLICK HERE to watch the Goodbye Video I made for channel members. A Fresh Start for the Newsletter For a while, I wasn’t sure where my newsletter was headed. I tested out different styles and themes, but nothing really clicked. This new (or should I say old familiar ) format feels like home again. It's an easy way to chat, share u...

  Let’s take a cozy little trip back in time: autumn, 2023 That was the year I teamed up with my sweet friend Jessie from Sweet Moments by Jessie to create one of the most whimsical, silly, joy-sparking crochet projects I’ve ever made… my beloved Pumpkin Pie Purse. And every November, and only November,  she makes her grand appearance again. Yes, we are talking about a purse shaped like a slice of pumpkin pie. And yes… it has a massive dollop of whipped cream on top. Because accuracy matters.  Every time I wear it out to run errands in November, people smile. Strangers stop to ask about it. Yarn lovers ask if I crocheted it. And truly, how can anyone look at crocheted dessert and not grin? The Project: A Silly, Sweet Slice of Fall This purse is easy, fun, and festive. A perfect Thanksgiving-season make that mixes crochet with pure joy. The construction is simple: Front post double crochet in the round to create the “pie slices” Bobble stitches for that fl...

  It’s November, and for once, I’m sitting down just to chat and share what’s been going on behind the scenes. I don’t usually do “update” type videos, but there’s a lot of change happening right now and it all feels worth talking about. Saying Goodbye to Memberships (and Hello Again to Something Familiar) After a lot of thought, I decided to officially disband my YouTube memberships. It was a tough decision, but also one that brought a surprising sense of peace. Times are hard right now, and I don’t want there to be a paywall between us anymore. Before I started memberships, I actually had my own free version, a simple email list where I shared exclusive videos, updates, and chats. And you know what? That space felt special. Cozy. Personal. I missed that. So, I’m going back to it! You can sign up for my free email HERE ! I’ll be sharing videos that won’t appear on my main channel, just like before. Sometimes there might be one a month, sometimes two, it’ll depend on what’s hap...

There’s something magical about fall that always sparks my creativity. The crisp air, the changing leaves, and that golden sunlight filtering through the trees. It all feels like an invitation to slow down and make something beautiful. What Aspects of Fall Inspire My Creativity the Most For me, it’s all about the colors and the coziness . The deep oranges, golden yellows, and rustic reds always get my mind spinning with new project ideas. I find myself pulling out yarns in rich, warm tones and imagining how they’ll come together in a shawl or cozy wrap. And honestly, when the weather turns chilly, there’s nothing better than snuggling up under a blanket with a crochet project in hand. The combination of color and comfort makes fall my most inspired season. Check out my Cozy Crochet Nook HERE! My Favorite Fall Drink When it comes to fall flavors, I’ve been completely obsessed with Hot Chai Tea lately. Since I can’t have dairy, I’ve started making it at home with store-bought chai...

  Have you ever looked at a cake of non-plied fingering weight yarn and thought, “That looks gorgeous, but is it a nightmare to work with?” I wondered the same thing! So, I decided to find out for myself. For this project, I used Hobbii’s Halloween Dalia yarn in the color Pumpkin Spice , and let me tell you-it’s fall in yarn form. I’m talking cozy, spicy, pumpkin-latte vibes all the way through. It’s a soft, gradient cotton yarn that creates the prettiest transitions without any color control needed. What Is Non-Plied Yarn? If you’re not sure what I mean by “non-plied,” it’s basically a yarn that has several individual strands running together, but they’re not twisted . When you hold it up close, you can see those loose strands, which can make it a little tricky to work with at first. Non-plied yarn has an incredible drape and softness, but it also demands a bit more patience and concentration. I wouldn’t call it beginner-friendly, but if you’ve been crocheting for a while a...

  Raise your hand if you’ve ever set a crochet goal… and then completely missed it.  Maybe you promised yourself you’d finish six blankets for charity, crochet matching hats for your whole family, or finally complete that temperature blanket (don’t even get me started on mine!). If you’ve been there, I get it. I’ve been there a lot . The truth is, those kinds of goals can create a ton of unnecessary pressure and guilt - and that’s not what crochet is supposed to be about. Let’s talk about why I think a simple crochet routine can completely change how you feel about your projects. The Problem With Crochet Goals When we set crochet goals, they often come from a place of excitement… not experience. We pick an arbitrary number or a deadline that “sounds good,” and then life happens - work, health, family, or just plain old burnout. Before we know it, we’re behind. We start to feel guilty every time we see that half-finished blanket or unopened yarn haul. And that guilt can...