From finding the perfect wool, to the pattern of your dreams (or even just the inspiration needed to finish off those socks you started months ago), hashtags are a great way to connect with the knitting community from the comfort of your sofa. We’ve rounded up the best places to share your knits, commiserate over your tension, or find a local group to
share your love of yarn. Come see…
Image: @florafairweather for #shareyourknits
Image: @woolandthegang, creators of #shareyourknits
#shareyourknits
Wool And The Gang is possibly the trendiest yarn brand around right now. They created the hashtag #shareyourknits so they could get a gander at what you’re doing with their wool. Wool And The Gang’s photographer Brooke Harwood explains, “When we started out we created the hashtag so we could connect with our knitters and they could see how others use our yarn. It’s now so popular! Make sure you use the hashtag #woolandthegang too and if we love it we’ll repost it!”
Image: @papermoon01 for #knittersofinstagram
#knittersofinstagram / #knitstergram / #instaknit
Instagram is absolutely packed full of keen knitters sharing their creative, quirky and downright cuddly creations. The knitting community on Instagram always use one of the versions of these three tags (although #knittersofinstagram is by far the most prolific) and you’ll be able to find out what knitters worldwide are making right now - and even pick up some tips too. #knitstergram / #instaknit
Image: @jemarrowsmithknits for #knitsharelove
#Knitsharelove
Yarn and Pointy Sticks blogger Clare Devine started #knitsharelove for a knit-along last summer so she could share her passion with the fibre community and it grew from there. In fact it was so successful that Clare is now changing the name of her blog to match! She explains, “The hashtag is meant to encourage knitters to share their WIPs (works in progress) and FOs (finished objects) and anything in between, including the dreaded “frog pond” where your wool goes curly after taking apart a project. Almost 1,000 beautiful images have been shared so far and I love seeing fellow knitters continue to share their knitting journeys with us using the hashtag.”
Image: @bkstreetart for #yarnbombers
#yarnbombers / #knittingbombers
Step aside graffiti artists, with the rise of yarnbombing to either brighten up neighbourhoods or make a political or social statement, use these hashtags to either marvel at the imagination of urban knitters or find out how you can join in yourself. #yarnbombers / #knittingbombers
Image: @goldingyarns found via #indiedyersrock
#indiedyersrock / #indiedyersofinstagram
Whether you’re one of the growing band of independent wool dyers in the UK or simply want to purchase their perfectly hued products, these are the hashtags to look out for. Helen Reed who runs The Wool Kitchen and dyes yarn from her home in east London, explains how the hashtags have helped her to make connections.
“Hashtags are such a great way to get inspiration,” says Helen. “In some ways it’s like an open club that you can join and say, 'hi!' I’ve found so many like-minded dyers simply by using hashtags. My favourite one at the moment has to be #indiedyersrock because dyeing yarn is cool!” #indiedyersofinstagram
Image: @marina_pushenko for #knitting_inspiration
#knitspiration / #knitting_inspiration
You have the perfect wool, now you need the pattern. From baby hats to the perfect gloves searching these hashtags can give you the inspiration you need to create a new garment or even be inspired to make a pattern of your own. #knitspiration / #knitting_inspiration
Image: @parisa for #knitaid
#knitaid
Knit Aid is an initiative helping knitters to help others in need in response to the refugee crisis in Europe. In less than a year they have received thousands of lovingly made knitted gifts from all over the world. Knitting groups across the UK are taking part too.
“By bringing together hundreds of knitters from around the world we hope to send warmth and a message of hope and solidarity to those people who may feel that the world has turned its back on them,” explains Shahnaz Ahmed who set up Knit Aid with her friend Karen Whitelaw.
The team behind #KnitAid also use the hashtag #KnitAidforRefugees and #AllYouKnitIsLove – which was used during their All You Knit is Love campaign in February 2016, but is still going strong. Scroll through the #KnitAid hashtag to find a knitting group near you.
Image: @closetoamish for #operationsockdrawer
#operationsockdrawer
Craft fact: knitters love making socks. If you’re working on a pair to keep your tootsies warm, share your make with other knitters or simply enjoy the incredible variety of knitted feet warmers the web has to offer! #operationsockdrawer
Image: @jacquifink for #woolweek
#woolweek / #yarnshopday
Yarn Shop Day may have just happened on 30 April, but #yarnshopday is a great way to search all year round to find out what is going on at your local knitting emporium. British Wool Week also takes place in October so by using the hashtag #woolweek you can not only find out about UK events you can get involved in, but wool weeks happening round the globe.
