An Open Letter to the Yarn Community

An Open Letter to the Yarn Community

Dear Creators,

As a BIPOC creator and maker, it is a powerful time in history to watch as so many companies and corporations take a stand in support of Black lives and stand against racial injustice. That is how it should be. I stand on my platforms to support Black Lives and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) creators because they have long been overlooked. There is SO much talent in this community and BIPOC need more recognition and elevation. Our world is full of color and diversity. More companies have to stand for their diverse audience and understand their needs. Not turn a blind eye. Makers of color deserve recognition. Many of the fiber companies have taken a stand. Yet, some have not.

Many of you know that I was a Joy Creator for Red Heart Yarns which was bought out by Yarnspirations/Spinrite. I continued to use and promote their product in nearly all my video tutorials and projects. I stood behind their product. I was not a paid spokesperson nor was I paid money for my videos. I was given yarn support and like all makers, we do generate a small stipend from using affiliate links that generate a sale from time to time. I was always transparent about that. It is one way we can provide free patterns while still generating a small avenue of income to bring you our patterns.

In the face of recent events, the company I had been representing as a stitch ambassador and Joy Creator has not made a public statement nor taken a stance in support of the Black Lives Matter movement or to denounce the killings of black men and women. There has been no statement against racial injustice that we all witness all too often. There has not been a show of support for the community of makers of color in this industry. With that weighing heavily on my mind and my heart, I reached out in a private email and asked them to remove me from their platform and asked them to stop using my likeness on their website.

I decided it was time to move on to a company I felt better represented people of color and community as a whole. I sent Yarnspirations an email with a knot in my gut and a prayer in my heart. I waited. I did not receive a reply. I kept waiting, refreshing my inbox, checking over and over. Nearly a week had passed when none of my requests were acknowledged nor was there anyone from the company who reached out to me at any time to say anything encouraging – not even a one liner. Their silence spoke volumes. It was apparent to me that my voice was not worthy of a reply.

I decided to raise my voice then, in a more public fashion today. It was only in that route did a round-about apology come forth, yet no stand has been taken publicly on any forum. After taking things to the next level in a series of group emails and on a private blogger group did I receive this apology.

It should not be the job of the BIPOC community or BIPOC ambassadors/makers to handhold companies and tell them how to represent their community of color/diversity OR to tell the company to take a stand. The company should already know that the time has come to stand up to racial injustice and discrimination and speak for their customers and creators of color. We need to be seen. People of color have done enough for them by working for free. The company should have been doing this work LONG before now. They should have come with a BOLD and POWERFUL statement in the beginning that made everyone, ESPECIALLY Black makers and creators and creators of color feel elevated and supported.

We should not have to plea with anyone to make a stand. A statement for BIPOC creators and customers should have been the FIRST step of action and then further action could be taken going forward. That is Anti-Racism in action. A company that stands with their creative artists of color and with the nation to say their community of BIPOC matter. That would have gone so far in quelling the fears and anxieties that many of us feel. Those of us that are here as representatives of color, NEED to HEAR that companies like Yarnspirations/Spinrite stand with Black lives and other people of color as a community.

I have decided to use my voice on my platform because, like me, it is compiled of a large percentage of people of color across the entire globe. Many use their product. I used Red Heart Yarns/Yarnspirations products. I shout it out on every video tutorial on every crochet project. Yet they stay silent on my behalf and on behalf of millions of voices. That is unacceptable. The fact that there was no reply and my request for communication about this matter was ignored in my personal email was an eye-opening revelation.

My blog and YouTube channel reach over 150 countries and my nearly half-million followers on all platforms make up only 18% of my actual viewers.  I use it to speak my truth as a creator of color, as a woman, and as a PROUD young mother of a child of color – and if that truth and Yarnspirations’ stand do not align, then it is imperative for me to move on and to let others know my intentions and why. This wasn’t a hard decision, just painful to recognize that this company has taken a no stand approach and continues to take no stand other than an obscure Equal Opportunity statement.

Silence is complicit and silence is ALWAYS the voice of the oppressor. ALWAYS.

I am moving on and divorcing myself from this company that has not seen the importance of lending their voice to Black lives or makers of color, nor the enormity of what that could mean financially from me or others, walking away. If a company wants to be anti-racist then TRULY be anti-racist.  There is no tiptoeing around and waiting for the “right time.” The time was long before today.

~Nadia

 

Quick follow-up edit:

I hear and see ALL the comments on this post. Don’t worry, I AM listening. For those of you trying to call me out or say this is political-understand this – this is about human rights and human rights are NOT political. Let’s get that straight. Or those who are asking now that I posted this where am I? I am right here. Same place I am everyday – working to bring you more of this craft because that is what I do and love and I am also taking care of Nasir. Just because I am not commenting back to every comment, that doesn’t mean I have gone into hiding. This is my platform, and I do have the right to stand where I stand just as every person on this feed has the right to say and feel the way they do. I have no objections to any of that. This is about being heard in a place that has not lent more voices to this important racial matter and over the injustices that continue to be ignored or passified in this industry.

It seems like some are ok with this being ignored, that it will be swept under the rug and forgotten and everything will go back to being “comfortable” again. Do you know who stands behind the camera in every video tutorial I post? It’s my dad. Even if you don’t know him or see his face on here or he is not as vocal on this platform, he is still a HUGE part of YARNutopia. He is a HUGE part of ME! I stand for Black makers and makers of color in this industry, and I stand for my father and many people who are unseen but still have a voice that is not being heard-Don’t you get it?? My dad always says to me, “Anything worth fighting for is not going to be comfortable or easy, Nadia.” This, right here, is not comfortable, but it is NECESSARY! It is only when we feel uncomfortable that big changes can come and my hope and prayer is that change truly does come. He also tells me that sometimes you have to lose to win. Not win in monetary ways or in fame, but win in a way that you can sleep at night and wake up the next day and look at yourself in the mirror. For anyone who truly knows me, knows where I stand when it comes to racial injustice and how I feel about the Black Lives Matter movement. They know this was the right thing for ME to do. You don’t have to agree and despite all the negative things some may say, I do respect and see everyone’s comments and I am not afraid or hiding from any of it nor does it change the way I feel. Thank you.

FREE Crochet Video Tutorial: Large Basket using Chunky Yarn

FREE Crochet Video Tutorial: Large Basket using Chunky Yarn

Sometimes things don’t go the way we expect and we have to improvise. Which is exactly what I had to do for this beautiful Chunky Basket. This is my latest project for the Funky with Chunky yarn event! Using Bernat Maker Big Yarn I created this very practical, very sturdy basket that is perfect for so much around the house. Great for storage, toys, organization, towels, you name it, one or more of these baskets will come in handy and look stylish, too!! I know for my house, this basket will be great for storing either yarn or Nasir’s toys. With Easter around the corner and the ‘safer at home’ quarantine ordinance in place, this would make a great kids basket. I am sure we will get a lot of use out of this home accessory. Be sure to follow along in today’s video tutorial or written pattern to make your own. Don’t have this yarn? Use tee shirt yarn or any variation of chunky yarn that’s size 5 to create this piece.

This video was not filmed in typical YARNutopia fashion. Because of the latest mandates imposed by the Governor regarding Safer At Home policies. My parents will be unable to travel. Therefore, this was filmed by yours truly. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Follow along with this video tutorial to learn how to make this basket:

My dad will continue to be the videographer, editor, and photographer for our videos when I move away.
Support YARNutopia today so we can continue to bring you clear, quality crochet tutorials even after I move into my new home!
There will be an added expense of more travel and hopefully this won’t deter our ability to provide consistent videos on a weekly basis.

Donate Button with Credit Cards

**You can always contact me via Facebook if you have any problems with the pattern. I am happy to help if you have any questions along the way.
***These patterns are copyright YARNutopia © so PLEASE DO NOT COPY, SHARE, ADJUST OR RESELL MY PATTERN. I wrote and tested this pattern myself, from beginning to end. It took a lot of time and work, and I would really like to have it remain “my pattern.”
***You can sell anything you make from my patterns, please just link back to my website YARNutopia.com. Thank you!

Teacher: Nadia Fuad
Video and Editing: Fuad Azmat (My Daddy)
Share your work on Facebook!
Add me on Snapchat: YARNutopia
Follow me on Instagram
Visit My Ravelry Store and add this to your Favorites!
Follow me on Twitter: @YARNutopia
Enjoy this video and subscribe to my channel on YouTube for more tutorials on how to crochet!
Leave a comment, and share with your friends!

Designed by Nadia Fuad
You *may* sell items made from my pattern, but please reference my website YARNutopia.com.
Please do not copy, sell, and/or post this pattern and claim it as your own.

Materials you will need:
Get the supplies individually by clicking the links below
Bernat Maker Big Yarn in Dusk Blue
Size L-8.00mm Crochet Hook
Yarn Needle
Scissors

NOTES:
-Use a smaller hook to make these smaller
-Use a bigger hook to make these bigger
-You can make this as tall as you want. The smaller the hook you use, and the tighter the tension you have, the sturdier your basket will be.

FREE Crochet Video Tutorial: Two Stitch Grande Scarf

FREE Crochet Video Tutorial: Two Stitch Grande Scarf

Understandably, I have been kind of *wrapped* up in myself for the past several months. Now that I am back in action, I promise I am not going to go all *gangsta wrap* or *Scarf-ace* crazy this month with the puns. Instead I *wrapped* it up with seven of the best *twisted* puns I could think of. I *stuck my neck out* to get these all done in time so all of you can enjoy the *fringe* benefits of my fun, free Punny Valentine’s Series! Starting with the Two-Stitch Grande Scarf! I hope you feel *wrapped* in my love when you make your very own! Please don’t call a *cowl play* on my puns quite yet, I am just getting started!!

 

Follow along with this video tutorial to learn how to make this scarf:

 

 

My dad will continue to be the videographer, editor, and photographer for our videos when I move away.
Support YARNutopia today so we can continue to bring you clear, quality crochet tutorials even after I move into my new home!
There will be an added expense of more travel and hopefully this won’t deter our ability to provide consistent videos on a weekly basis.

Donate Button with Credit Cards

**You can always contact me via Facebook if you have any problems with the pattern. I am happy to help if you have any questions along the way.
***These patterns are copyright YARNutopia © so PLEASE DO NOT COPY, SHARE, ADJUST OR RESELL MY PATTERN. I wrote and tested this pattern myself, from beginning to end. It took a lot of time and work, and I would really like to have it remain “my pattern.”
***You can sell anything you make from my patterns, please just link back to my website YARNutopia.com. Thank you!

Teacher: Nadia Fuad
Video and Editing: Fuad Azmat (My Daddy)
Share your work on Facebook!
Add me on Snapchat: YARNutopia
Follow me on Marly Bird’s Chic Sheep yarn
Visit My Ravelry Store and add this to your Favorites!
Follow me on Twitter: @YARNutopia
Enjoy this video and subscribe to my channel on YouTube for more tutorials on how to crochet!
Leave a comment, and share with your friends!

Pattern:

Designed by Nadia Fuad
You *may* sell items made from my pattern, but please reference my website YARNutopia.com.
Please do not copy, sell, and/or post this pattern and claim it as your own.

Materials you will need:
Get the supplies individually by clicking the links below
Red Heart Yarns Grande in Foggy
Red Heart Yarns Collage in Forget me Not

P-11.5mm Crochet Hook

Yarn Needle
Scissors

NOTES:
-Use a smaller hook to make these smaller
-Use a bigger hook to make these bigger
-This finished scarf is nearly 10 feet long and 12 inches wide.

 

FREE Crochet Video Tutorial: The Uptown Blanket Scarf

FREE Crochet Video Tutorial: The Uptown Blanket Scarf

Uptown means of, in, or characteristic of the residential area of a city or town. Which brings us to the perfect setting for The Uptown Blanket Scarf I made!

This piece can be worn anywhere, but definitely has an urban fashion feel that wraps you up and protects you from the hustle and bustle as you brave the cold weather! If you’re on your way to work, classes, outdoor travel, you name it, this scarf will keep you warm. Don’t be left out in the cold! Grab your hooks and 2 skeins of Comfort Yarn by Red Heart Yarns and make one for yourself or someone you love today!

 

 

 

 

 

My dad will continue to be the videographer, editor, and photographer for our videos when I move away.
Support YARNutopia today so we can continue to bring you clear, quality crochet tutorials even after I move into my new home!
There will be an added expense of more travel and hopefully this won’t deter our ability to provide consistent videos on a weekly basis.

Donate Button with Credit Cards

**You can always contact me via Facebook if you have any problems with the pattern. I am happy to help if you have any questions along the way.
***These patterns are copyright YARNutopia © so PLEASE DO NOT COPY, SHARE, ADJUST OR RESELL MY PATTERN. I wrote and tested this pattern myself, from beginning to end. It took a lot of time and work, and I would really like to have it remain “my pattern.”
***You can sell anything you make from my patterns, please just link back to my website YARNutopia.com. Thank you!

Teacher: Nadia Fuad
Video and Editing: Fuad Azmat (My Daddy)
Share your work on Facebook!
Add me on Snapchat: YARNutopia
Follow me on Instagram
Visit My Ravelry Store and add this to your Favorites!
Follow me on Twitter: @YARNutopia
Enjoy this video and subscribe to my channel on YouTube for more tutorials on how to crochet!
Leave a comment, and share with your friends!

Pattern:

Designed by Nadia Fuad
You *may* sell items made from my pattern, but please reference my website YARNutopia.com.
Please do not copy, sell, and/or post this pattern and claim it as your own.

Materials you will need:
Get the supplies individually by clicking the links below
Red Heart Yarns Comfort Yarn in Latte Fleck
-H-5.00mm Crochet Hook

Yarn Needle
Scissors

NOTES:
-Use a smaller hook to make these smaller
-Use a bigger hook to make these bigger
-You can do as many rows of this pattern as you want to make it as long as you want.
-You can do a Single Crochet or a Reverse Single Crochet around the edge to clean it up and make it have a nice finished look

 

 

 

FREE Written Crochet Pattern: The Uptown Blanket Scarf

FREE Written Crochet Pattern: The Uptown Blanket Scarf

As soon as the summer ends and the temperature starts to change, I get started on all my fall and winter fashion pieces. I love creating new designs for Nate, but this piece isn’t just for the guys in your life! This can be made for anyone. Here, I am using Comfort yarn from Red Heart Yarns. This yarn is perfect for this Diamond Trellis stitch! It gives it dimension and texture to create a wonderful look. It also provides warmth without being too heavy. Blanket scarves are becoming more and more popular. I love the extra wide look of this piece.

Don’t need a scarf? You can take this pattern and by repeating it, turn this into a great blanket. How’s that for versatility?

 

My dad will continue to be the videographer, editor, and photographer for our videos when I move away.
Support YARNutopia today so we can continue to bring you clear, quality crochet tutorials even after I move into my new home!
There will be an added expense of more travel and hopefully this won’t deter our ability to provide consistent videos on a weekly basis.

Donate Button with Credit Cards

**You can always contact me via Facebook if you have any problems with the pattern. I am happy to help if you have any questions along the way.
***These patterns are copyright YARNutopia © so PLEASE DO NOT COPY, SHARE, ADJUST OR RESELL MY PATTERN. I wrote and tested this pattern myself, from beginning to end. It took a lot of time and work, and I would really like to have it remain “my pattern.”
***You can sell anything you make from my patterns, please just link back to my website YARNutopia.com. Thank you!

Teacher: Nadia Fuad
Video and Editing: Fuad Azmat (My Daddy)
Share your work on Facebook!
Add me on Snapchat: YARNutopia
Follow me on Instagram
Visit My Ravelry Store and add this to your Favorites!
Follow me on Twitter: @YARNutopia
Enjoy this video and subscribe to my channel on YouTube for more tutorials on how to crochet!
Leave a comment, and share with your friends!

Pattern:

Designed by Nadia Fuad
You *may* sell items made from my pattern, but please reference my website YARNutopia.com.
Please do not copy, sell, and/or post this pattern and claim it as your own.

Materials you will need:
Get the supplies individually by clicking the links below
Red Heart Yarns Comfort Yarn in Latte Fleck (2 Balls of this yarn–close to 1200 yards)
-H-5.00mm Crochet Hook

Yarn Needle
Scissors

NOTES:
-Use a smaller hook to make these smaller
-Use a bigger hook to make these bigger
-You can do as many rows of this pattern as you want to make it as long as you want.
-You can do a Single Crochet or a Reverse Single Crochet around the edge to clean it up and make it have a nice finished look

Special stitches:
Ch(s): chain(s)
YO: Yarn Over
BLO: Back Loop Only
FLO: Front Loop Only
St(s): Stitch(es)
Sl st: slip stitch
SK: Skip
SC: Single Crochet
HDC: Half Double Crochet
DC: Double Crochet
TR: Treble Crochet
FPTR: Front Post Treble Crochet
FPTR2TOG: Front Post Treble Crochet 2 Together

Pattern:

If you have any confusion or difficulty with reading this pattern, please watch the video tutorial that is linked above in this blog post to have visual instructions.

Ch 38 or any multiple of 4+2
Row 1: SC in 2nd ch from hook and across, turn. (38)

Row 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), DC in each st across, turn. (38)

Row 3: Ch 1, SC in 1st st, FPTR on 2nd SC from Row 1, SC in next 3 sts on Row 2, FPTR2TOG on 2nd St from Row 1 AND 4th St on Row 1, (See video tutorial for visual instructions), *SC in next 3 sts on Row 2, FPTR2TOG on same st as previous FP stitch, and the next 4th stitch, repeat from * across, ending with FPTR where your previous FP stitch is, and SC in last st, turn. (See video tutorial for visual instructions)

Row 4: Ch 2, DC in each st across, turn.

Row 5: Ch 1, SC in first 3 sts, *FPTR2TOG on the FPTR2TOG sts from 2 rows beneath (See video tutorial on how to make them the diagonal look), SC in next 3 sts , repeat from * across ending with SC in last 3 sts, turn.

Rnd 6: Ch 2, DC in each st across, turn.

Rnd 7: Ch 1, SC in first st, *FPTR2TOG on the FPTR2TOG sts from 2 rows beneath, SC in next 3 sts, repeat from * across, ending with SC in last st, turn.

Rows 8-201: Repeat Rows 4-7 as much as you want to achieve the length you want. Mine ended up being 8 feet long.

Continue to SC around entire scarf
You can do a reverse SC if you’d like to instead of a regular SC
You can also add fringe to the ends of this scarf to spice it up as well!
Get creative with it!!

Fasten off and Weave in all ends.

Enjoy!!

This post contains affiliate links, which I may be compensated for when you make a purchase. That means if you click on any link and buy from the linked websites, I will receive a small percentage of the value of your order. The amount you pay is not changed. Thank you for all your support in clicking the links in my blog!! You all are so amazing!! ~Nadia

The yarn provided for this pattern is courtesy of Red Heart Yarns

 

 

Crochet Tutorial: Spiral Circular Scrubby

This dish scrubby is such a perfect quick and easy project to do!
You could use this for dishes, face washing, scrubbing tough surfaces, pretty much anything!
They’d be great gifts to give with fancy soaps or salt scrubs. You can get creative with these and make a bunch in different colors!
This scrubby is worked flat and then sewn in a special way to make the spiral effect. I used Lily’s Sugar & Cream cotton yarn and an H-5.00mm crochet hook.

Spiral Circular Scrubby

Watch this video to see how it’s made! Oh, and click this link to view the written pattern. I found this pattern for free on Ravelry.

 

Teacher: Nadia Fuad
Video and Editing: Fuad Azmat

Share your work on Facebook!

Shop Here

Add me on Snapchat: YARNutopia

Follow me on Instagram

Follow me on Twitter: @YARNutopia

Enjoy this video and subscribe to my channel on YouTube for more tutorials on how to crochet!
Leave a comment, and share with your friends!

Happy Hookin’
~Nadia

Mystery Afghan Crochet Along

Hello my fellow crafters!

For the past 10 weeks I participated in The Crochet Crowd‘s Mystery Afghan Crochet Along. Each week, Mikey would reveal a new clue in making this beautiful piece. For years I have followed Mikey and admired his ability to bring an entire crochet community together. It has motivated me to do something similar. This crochet along project has had its highs and lows. I am supremely satisfied with the final product, but at times, I was definitely challenged by it.

I struggled with Weeks 4-5, but my favorite was to see the squares as they transformed in Week 3. The highlight of the entire project was making the border. Before that, I felt like it looked like a bag of confetti thrown everywhere, but the border definitely tied it all in to make it a piece that I will definitely cherish or gift. I did have a lot of leftover yarn which I found surprising, but I can always use yarn, so that’s not a bad thing! I would consider doing more of these crochet along projects in the future. I had a lot of fun with this challenge, and each week’s reveal was exciting to see! I would highly recommend trying something like this to any crocheter.

Below are photos of each step that I took. If you click the photo, it will link you to the video tutorial that was provided by Mikey of The Crochet Crowd and Yarnspirations.

Supplies used:
H size hook (5.00mm)

4 skeins of Caron Simply Soft yarn in color A, 2 Skeins of colors B, C, and D.

Scissors and a Yarn Needle
Week One

 

Week Two

 

Week Three

 

Weeks Four and Five

Click here for the video for Week 5

Week 6 and 7

Weeks 8 & 9

Click here for the video for Week 9

FINISHED!

Week 10

 

Happy Hookin’!

~Nadia

Teacher: Nadia Fuad
Video and Editing: Fuad Azmat

Share your work on Facebook!

Shop Here

Add me on Snapchat: YARNutopia

Follow me on Instagram

Follow me on Twitter: @YARNutopia

Enjoy this video and subscribe to my channel on YouTube for more tutorials on how to crochet!
Leave a comment, and share with your friends!