This tutorial on how to make a pair of pants out of bedsheets is 18.99 and I think that’s insane. They have decided to not create a pattern because apparently a pattern wouldn’t show you how to make the adjustable waistband. I believe it’s because they aren’t pattern makers and do not have the skills to create it. Instead you get a 10 minute tutorial and a 20 page booklet. If the waistband is so complicated that you can’t make it into a pattern than how is 10 minutes for the pants entirely going to help? That’s more expensive than most patterns and with more and more now you get the pattern, a video and written instructions. I’m sick of these instagram pattern makers thinking that their shitty product is with an insane amount of money for a subpar experience.

Was super excited when they were teasing this pattern but come to find out it’s only being sold as a kit with the pattern, yarn, and stitch markers with a significant upcharge (it’s using cascade 220). Anyone else disappointed? 🥲

ETA: Everyone commenting that this is a guernsey reference is correct and right in downvoting my clueless replies! Having only ever seen the busier version (with lots of textured stitches on the upper body of the sweater and/or the top of the dropped sleeve) in handknitting patterns, I didn't see the connection, but u/castlecornet linked to these and yep, that's it. That's why I posted! I didn't know. But also, I do think it's a weird coincidence that three such sweaters would come out in one month, given that the textured guernsey has historically been more popular with handknitters (using my 12 years on Ravelry as a guide here, but feel free to correct me again). I think u/wahbanjo is right and that these are all probably more of a response to J. Crew's tiny roll neck sweater than a historical homage.

I do stand by my criticism of Rebecca Clow's sleeve and shoulder shaping though ;)

----

Two patterns dropped in the last week that place ribbing at the top of a dropped sleeve, as well as the bottom (plus sweater neck and hem). I'm not suggesting that anything untoward happened in the design process, just noting what seems to be a strange little microtrend. I noticed this last week with Rosa Pomar's new sweater design, and now there's another one in Rebecca Clow's forthcoming book ... It's harder to see with Pomar's sweater because of the marled yarn, but it's visible in some of the project pages. There may be more!

Did I miss a particularly hot couture sweater drop last year?

As a PS, while I like a number of the designs in Clow's forthcoming book, I am begging designers to figure out non-raglan and non-dropped sleeve sweaters. Although, I guess Clow is a good example of why many don't—the sole example in this book ends up looking like a mini drop-sleeve, just like all her other attempts at set-in sleeves. There are so many books out there on how to do this right—read them!

…What…is going on here?

https://youtu.be/G8PPC7Nmhco?si=eXg41wQtKQtfiZUS

…A *sixteen-pronged approach*?

What.

Can someone decode any of what he’s referring to, about the big bad bullies in the industry that caused him to dissociate? Or whatever the hell happened?

2 1/2 weeks ago, Neighborhood Fiber Company sent an email to her customers asking for financial assistance because she couldn’t afford basic needs. This morning she sent an email opening registration for a retreat next August. How can she afford to book a retreat venue - for a three-day event - when a couple of weeks ago she couldn’t afford food? This seems suspicious. I’ve always respected her and want to give her the benefit of the doubt. I was willing to look past the odd email looking for donations. But this seems like a classic scam - take money for registrations, cancel the event, and disappear with people’s money.

McCalls 8536

My kid did just buy a Mighty Mighty Bosstones album. Maybe I should pick up this pattern, as well as some pogs.

It’s a shame, my impression was that they were very close friends. The merch design for this year even featured the two of them together in a little love heart locket. This isn’t really snark, more craft news I guess. I hope they run the event again though, it was really fun to have the side events like the tattoo event and the Devonshire teas, felt a bit more community oriented than just a shopping experience. Maybe somebody else will help to organise the next one?

love it when AI slop memes keep coming around. If I was a knitting designer I would never feed my info into AI.

Welcome to the bitesized BEC thread!

You have the freedom to indulge in BEC-style (b*tch eating crackers) vent comments in this thread. Naming examples is not required (gasp!) but majority of r/craftsnark rules still apply. Basically, don't be shitty and ruin the thread for others.

Does anyone else just instantly distrust sellers that use generative ai like this? The whole guide looks like a direct copy and paste from an ai chat. No reasonable person would fall for this, right? They're just harming any of their customers that try this and see that the pattern was never going to work in the first place.

This really sucks because I've made dresses using chiffon and satin I've gotten from them.

Are there any good alternative sellers for budget fabrics?

Does anyone know what’s going on here? 4 of the spotlight debut patterns on ravelry right now are these headbands with ear flaps, worn over a baseball hat. Then I started browsing by recently added and there’s another one that was just uploaded. What did I miss??

I've been sitting on this for a while, kind of hesitant to post it since it would be starting shit but I just have to let it out. To my eye, these 2 embroidery designs are identical besides the thorns down to the number of lines in the petals and leaves. Unless this was already a publicly circulated design? Idk I couldn't find anything exactly the same like this but I would take this post down if so. The top is the Rosa by Claudia Quintanilla from her published book, Memory Lane: Embellished Knits to Cherish and the bottom is Eden from Seamless Embroidery by Yumiko Higuchi (originally published in Japanese in 2021). As far as I can tell, neither has ever spoken about or followed the other. No acknowledgement of inspiration or anything. Idk if Higuchi cares about or knows about this, it's not the first time her design has been copied, sadly. It's probably legal (idk) but this just steps over the boundary for me where she should've credited the embroidery designer, morally speaking.

Instagram post from The Clay Department in San Antonio, TX. I’m not able to figure out the context / background but it sounds high key messy, anyone have details?

EDIT: original post on instagram appears to have been deleted! This tantalizes me so much more…

I’m cautiously optimistic but it all depends on how it’s actually enforced.

So Wool Needles Hands posted a video with some pretty bad takes on size inclusivity and apparently the comments got to her.

Came across this Rascol ad on Pinterest. I get the appeal of AI videos, most craft shops, even big ones have tight margins and probably can't afford a human video production at all—actually they could get their team to record a team-mate with their phone and go lo-fi. But not checking that a "knitting" video actually depicts knitting before hitting publish is inexcusable.

"From a simple ball... ...to a unique creation. Rascol. Everything for knitting."

I used to occasionally order from them and followed their socials - until today when they posted an ad for “something magical” arriving. The HP licensed yarn and tchotchkes shite.

Edit to add: this is a still photo from a NOW REMOVED Facebook Reel. Seems like they took it down REALLY quickly.

I saw the piece that eventually won Best in Show at the National Embroidery Awards on display at the Creative Craft Show show earlier this year along with the rest of the shortlisted entries. My immediate thought was that it was an embroidery of an AI-generated image since it just had that unmistakable look about it that's very easy to detect once you've seen enough of that slop. It looked so obviously AI and ugly and gaudy next to everything else on display, I was shocked that it was even allowed to enter and even more so when it was won Best in Show considering the quality and originality of many other entries.

There's an interview with the winner in the latest issue of Embroidery magazine, where they say "When I first sent photos to the panel they were rejected as being AI; the picture was so large you couldn't see the stitching in the photos, so I sent more photos and it was agreed I could enter." I'm sure the panel were suspicious because photos of an embroidery of a clearly AI-generated image would probably look AI-generated themselves, although it wouldn't make sense for someone to pay to enter a competition where you're required to physically display something if it doesn't actually exist in real life.

In this same interview the winner also says the embroidery "evolved from a tattoo picture". To confirm my suspicions I found their Facebook account and it seems what they meant by this is they've been using AI to generate similar designs over the last couple of years, initially in more of a tattoo style before eventually settling on the one used for the embroidery. They have AI slop all over their page going back years, and use it constantly for posts in various groups they run, promo materials, "poetry" that's clearly AI-generated text, and their TikTok is full of AI-generated animations of the winning embroidery amongst other things. I'm 100% certain the design is based on AI.

If someone likes making embroideries from AI-generated images in their personal life, fine enjoy yourself, but this is more about what should be acceptable in a craft competition. The next round is open now and there's no reference at all to AI in the terms and conditions, though obviously they must have some unwritten policy to have initially questioned the eventual winner. It costs £20-30 to enter so it feels like they don't really care as long as they're making money from entrants.

Is this something worth questioning them about? I feel like a strict policy is needed to deter stuff like this, if that is what they want to do. I'm not sure if they've been deceived in this case, where they wouldn't have even shortlisted it if they'd known, or perhaps they could tell and just didn't care. I really wanted to enter something for next year, but the idea of being put against AI slop and judged negatively in comparison to it makes me feel sick.

Here's a link to the interview I referenced: https://pocketmags.com/embroidery-magazine/septemberoctober-2026/articles/the-girl-with-the-butterfly-brain

Here's the thread where you can share any new patterns or products that you don't think deserve their own post. Any craft goes, whether you're sharing sewing patterns, weird yarn colourways, woodburning templates, soapmaking supplies, or any thing else that you'd like to discuss. If you think it deserves it's own thread, feel free to make one!

Please share all personal chatter here--questions, planning, works in progress, successes, failures, discoveries, and anything else pertaining to your personal crafting.

These two images made it into the finalists for the NY Sheep and Wool (Rhinebeck) 2027 logo. The logos are typically voted on by attendees the year prior with a cash prize for the winning artist. If anyone know if a human artist made these, let me know and I'll delete the post. Otherwise I'm thinking about emailing the organizers about this

First world problems, I know, but here goes…

April(ish) 2026-Yarn dyer announces Halloween countdown boxes for pre-order (to be mailed out October 1st) *this is an immersive (and interactive) type thing to begin on 10/18 and run through counting down to Halloween.
Cost of the MCN fingering weight yarn only box was ~$250USD. I’m unsure of the pricing of the “ultimate” box with all of the little extra bits and pieces. I am also unsure if the boxes of different base yarns were a different price. It’s been awhile since ordering…

August 31: Pre-Orders close
Sept 1: Just kidding they’re closing FOR REAL FOR REAL today.

Sept 22nd: Email announces a second round of pre-orders is now happening (to be shipped on or around November 1st, so won’t be participating in the event “live” but will have access to it afterwards).

End of Sept/Beginning of October: some people get shipment notifications** I received mine on 9/29, I know of someone else who received theirs on 10/1.

10/5: Email goes out apologizing for running behind on getting orders sent out. Says “everyone will have their set before the event starts on the 18th-even if I have to overnight it to you.”

10/8: Another email goes out “sharing a little more about what’s been happening behind the scenes”. States they ran out of some of the undyed yarn from their supplier which added an “unexpected challenge” to production and “contributed to our shipping delays”. Once again states they are “committed to getting your yarn to you in time for the event. If we need to upgrade shipping at our expense to make that happen, we will”.

10/14: Sends out another email once again stating about the “unexpected delay” with their yarn supplier. Then says they “lost a few days of packing during the hurricane this past weekend”. Apologies are given and an announcement that “The good news is that all the yarn has been dyed!”.

Beginning in October people begin chatting on the business run discord-which brings us into today. People started putting pieces together and realizing things are just a hot mess.

Yarn dyer has still been sending out regular email newsletters about her life, her pets, etc. Also still sending out emails announcing and soliciting orders for other Halloween themed drops & Christmas Advent Boxes for pre-orders etc. It’s disheartening to say the least. And seeing as how today is October 17th and the event begins tomorrow, I think it’s safe to say that their guarantee and commitment to get everyone their orders in time is not happening.

I’m most disappointed by the fact that way back in the summer that there were supply issues happening…yet they not only left the original pre-order open until September 1st but then ran a second round of preorders beginning September 22nd?!

And I am empathetic & sympathetic that life happens and all. I also understand that they are a mom & son company and it’s just them. However, I also know we are talking about THOUSANDS of dollars here. And the admittance that you knew there were issues starting back in the Summer and didn’t pause pre-orders, and then to take another round of preorders, and then choose not to communicate until days after the first shipping date had come and gone when you KNEW shipping would not be occuring on time just feels icky to me.

**Also in chatting, it appears not everyone was receiving the email updates (and they did check their spam folder too).

I just want my Halloween Countdown pretty yarn box to be able to complete my project that is waiting for the second half to be done (and was made with this dyer’s Halloween countdown box from last year). 😭😭😭

And I’m sad that this has now left a distaste for them as I have enjoyed working with their yarn.

EDIT: I meant to include their name in the title-it is Southern Skeins.

EDIT 2: I have just been removed from the discord server with no explanation, no yarn box, and no refund. Love that for me. 😒

EDIT 3: 10/19-Event page updated to state “Due to the delay all orders, including yarn only orders, that shipped late received a surprise item as an apology for the late shipping**.”**

So I guess it makes it all better that everyone who did not receive their box in time gets a surprise free item as an apology.

Meanwhile I’m still sitting over here saddened because I genuinely still wanted my box, I still wanted to participate in the event and be on the discord. I also just wanted some clarification on the way things were handled so I was discussing. I never thought that would be an issue. Especially because it literally began with me posting where I was actually vouching (defending) SS to someone asking if they were even a legit company. 😞

EDIT 4: 10/20-Event page now updated to say the following
“Shipping Status:
We apologize for the delay in shipping   We are a mother/son business and packing the individual minis took longer than we anticipated. Totally our fault and we own that mistake with bad estimating how long this would take.  Please accept our sincere apologies for the delay and thanks for extending us patience, forgiveness, and grace.”

Sooooo which was it?
-Your supplier was out of yarn?
-Oh wait no, it was the hurricane that happened days after your original ship date impacted your ability to pack yarn?
-Wait, it was back to being supply issues so you didn’t get it dyed in time?
-Wait wait again, it’s because you did “bad estimating” on how long it would take to pack individual minis?

Edit 5: 10/21-An email was sent out by Tyler stating “We are working hard to get all of these packed and in the mail to you this week.” and “thank you for your patience”.

At this point it’s just comical that they still have not gotten boxes sent out that were supposed to be shipped out almost 3 full weeks (20 days) ago. But that “extra little something” being put into boxes will make up for it I’m sure.

Edit 6: 10/22-Event page updated to include the following. *The discord note is quite entertaining to me…yet another thing that is not true. As recently as yesterday they were still removing customers from being able to participate in the discord.

Shipping Updates
“Southern Skeins provided shipping-delay updates via our email management system to purchasers of the Jack the Ripper: Serial Skeins True Crime Yarn Countdown Box + Podcast Experience on the following dates:
October 5, 2026, at 4:21 PM EDT
October 8, 2026, at 6:30 PM EDT
October 14, 2026, at 7:04 AM EDT
October 21, 2026, at 2:56 PM EDT
These communications provided updates regarding production and fulfillment delays affecting the preorder.  If you didn’t receive them it is because you opted out of receiving emails from us or we kindly suggest you check your spam/junk folder.”

Contact Us
“The email questions are coming in quicker than we can respond. Please allow approx 48 hours for a response.  Sending multiple emails only delays our response.  Remember we are a mother / son team of two people. Thank you for your patience with us.”

About Us
“We have been in business over 12 years and have over 10,000 sales on Shopify, in addition -  Faire, wholesale to yarn shops and thousands sales on Etsy and craft shows/festivals.”

Join Our Discord Group.
“At this time we are not monitoring our Discord server nor any DMs sent to us.  You all may chat amongst yourselves there and enjoy that as a fun private space for the participants.”

EDIT 7: 10/24-Event page was updated to shuffle around the orders of the different yarn bases. I can’t understand why other than it just makes it more confusing for the customers.

It’s also stated that “Once all yarn is delivered we will start the fun activities.  Thanks for bearing with us - you haven’t missed anything.”

There is also a listed email update that says it is “scheduled to be sent on 10/26”. Why post that you have already typed up and have scheduled an email update to be sent out? Why not just send it then? If you know it’s not being sent at the time of the update, why mention it at all? They just cannot seem to get it together.

I’m tired y’all. I’m tired of having to make sure I keep these posts updated so that customers have some sort of connection to their purchases. I’m tired that they just keep spewing nonsense out instead of actually taking accountability. I’m just tired of it. This whole thing is much bigger than I think any of us realized a week ago. And it’s disheartening to think that someone who boasts that they have been in business for over 12 years would have ever thought that this was an acceptable way of treating your customers and/or that they would be able to come out of it unscathed.

At what point did they decide they were just going to make this the train wreck it has become? Also not to be dramatic here but who the hell is Dave? It’s been thrown out to us multiple times that it is just the 2 of them, a mother and son duo-Jenna & Tyler. So who is Dave and why is he consistently being thrown into the mix but never introduced? 😫

EDIT 8: 10/26-THE LONG AWAITED SCHEDULED EMAIL UPDATE HAS ARRIVED:
“Firstly, we at Southern Skeins apologize for the delay in shipping your Jack the Ripper order. A combination of unforeseen delays in our supply chain has slowed us down.

We hope you accept an apology by way of 50% off your next order (with code “wearesorry”), and give us the opportunity to continue providing you with the best yarn we can put together for you.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,
Tyler
Southern Skeins”

I have no words.