Shannon Talks Yarn

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...

Every so often, someone comes along who changes the way we see our craft, and for me, that person was Melanie Ham . I still remember the moment I stumbled across her crochet pumpkin tutorial on YouTube. My friend had already shown me the basics-how to chain, how to single crochet, but it was Melanie’s voice, clear instructions, and genuine enthusiasm that made me fall in love with crochet. That little pumpkin became the first real project I ever finished, and I can still remember how proud I felt sewing it closed and adding the stem.  I gave that first pumpkin to my friend who got me interested in crochet. I was so excited to give it to her and she was so surprised when I did.   And it was made possible because Melanie made it feel possible. Melanie had a gift for teaching. Her tutorials were simple without being simplified, detailed without being intimidating. Whether she was showing you how to make a blanket, a basket, or that iconic pumpkin, she spoke like a friend si...

  When the air starts to cool and the leaves begin to change, there’s nothing better than curling up with a yarn project that feels like fall. Whether you’re sipping a pumpkin spice latte or binge-watching spooky movies, it’s the perfect time to crochet something cozy, colorful, and just a little bit magical. That’s why I’ve put together a special YouTube playlist featuring my favorite Fall and Halloween crochet projects - from textured shawls and rustic home décor to fun seasonal makes that celebrate sweater weather in style. Watch the Fall & Halloween Crochet Playlist on YouTube HERE! What You’ll Find in the Playlist: Cozy Shawls & Scarves:  Perfect for layering as the weather cools down. Halloween-Inspired Makes:  Cute, not creepy! Great for decorating or gifting. Autumn Accessories:  Think warm tones, soft textures, and that handmade-with-love feel. Chatty Crochet Videos:  Settle in for a little yarn therapy while I share stories, ti...

If you’ve been scrolling through yarn groups lately, you’ve probably seen the rumors: “You can’t order from Denmark anymore!” or “Wool Warehouse isn’t shipping to the U.S.!” As someone who loves ordering yarn from overseas, I wanted to find out for myself what’s true and what’s just Facebook panic. It turns out you can continue to order from Denmark but as of right now, Wool Warehouse has suspended US shipping and I'm totally bummed about that!!!  A Quick Update (and a Little Real Life) I actually meant to film this video before my surgery, but life had other plans. Recovery went fine, but I had to let go of a lot of expectations I’d set for myself, including some filming goals. So if this topic isn’t brand new, I still wanted to share it in case it clears up some confusion. You can read THIS BLOG POST to catch up on all my surgery updates. What’s Really Going On with Tariffs The biggest change right now is that some international yarn orders now include a tariff fee. It’s ...

  You ever catch yourself in one of those moments where you think you’re being productive… but really, you’re just planning to be?  That was me this week. I almost fell right back into one of my biggest personal traps: convincing myself that planning and buying supplies was the same thing as making progress. Spoiler alert: it’s not. The Sneaky Trap of “Productive” Planning After my hysterectomy recovery started to go well, I found myself full of mental energy but still physically limited. My brain wanted to go, go, go , but my body needed me to stay put. So naturally, I started planning-future projects, market booths, color palettes… the whole deal. Before I knew it, I had a $100 cart full of yarn “for my booth” and was just about to hit checkout. I told myself, “It’s an investment in my business!” (And technically, it could be.) But deep down, I knew it wasn’t time. I hadn’t even started working with the yarn I already had. I didn’t know if I’d enjoy making those pro...