Craftsy and Lion Brand Yarn Company Partner on Innovative Techniques & Inspiration For First Time

DENVER and CARLSTADT, N.J., Oct. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Pick up your needles and yarn! Knitters and crocheters around the world have long enjoyed Lion Brand Yarn Company's designer patterns and beautiful yarns.  Now, students have the unique opportunity to expand their skill set with Lion Brand's time-tested techniques, and create varieties of stylish sweaters, classic cables and more, in three new online classes powered by Craftsy®, the preeminent online destination for passionate makers to learn, create, and share.

"Over the past 135 years, Lion Brand Yarn Company, a family-owned and operated business, has inspired millions of knitters and crocheters with beautiful, one-of-a-kind patterns and instruction on essential techniques," said John Levisay, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Craftsy. "Now, together, we're combining the creativity and originality of the Lion Brand yarns and patterns with the magic of Craftsy's online education experience."

With the expertise of two talented instructors, Patty Lyons, who helped launch the Lion Brand Yarn Studio in New York City, and Lion Brand designer Amy Ross, Craftsy and Lion Brand Yarn Company have created three classes for enthusiasts and experienced knitters alike.

"We're thrilled to be collaborating with Craftsy to combine their expertise in online education with Lion Brand's high quality accessible yarns and designer patterns," said VP of Marketing Ilana Rabinowitz at Lion Brand Yarn Company. "Now, knitters everywhere have the opportunity to break out of their comfort zone and build new skills in a low-risk way by going online to learn."

This relationship is an exciting expansion for Craftsy, which currently offers more than 45 knitting classes covering fundamentals, intermediate and advanced techniques, inspiring projects, pattern design, and business basics. As unique offerings in Craftsy's catalog, these exclusive Lion Brand classes are designed to provide a bridge for the casual knitter, from the tried and true to more complex projects, helping them develop transferrable techniques for hundreds of possibilities.

The three new Lion Brand Yarn Company classes launching on Craftsy today are:

My First Sweater: Find out how fun and easy it can be to make your first sweater-- sure to be your new favorite! Make any of three cute sweaters based on Amy's easily modified sweater pattern, and breeze through simple shaping for a flattering fit.

Improve Your Knitting: Alternative Methods and Styles: Discover all the different ways to create the knit and the purl stitch: continental, combination, backwards knitting, Portuguese and more. Plus, find out how to combine styles for more even tension overall, improve your cabling and create Fair Isle using both hands.

Explorations in Cables: Crack the code for classic cables! Master both simple and compound cables, beautify your cables with blocking and turn mistakes into triumphs-- all while knitting two impressive projects.

With the convenience of the Craftsy platform students can enjoy classes anytime and anywhere, across desktop and mobile platforms (computer, tablet, or phone). While high-definition video provides an unparalleled view at every step, each lesson is also carefully designed, planned and curated to highlight the most valuable information. Plus, with lifetime access to all classes, students can customize their learning experience by pausing, rewinding and revisiting techniques as often as they'd like, sharing projects with fellow knitters, and asking expert instructors one-on-one questions.

With chilly winter weather on the way, the Lion Brand class launch offers students the perfect opportunity to take their skills to a new level with fun projects, from the comfort of home. Plus, it's never too late to whip up a quick gift just in time for the holidays. So grab a cup of tea, sign up for a new class, and keep calm and knit on! Take a look at the trailer below for a preview of what students will love about My First Sweater.

To access the new classes, visit www.craftsy.com/lion.

About Craftsy
Craftsy is the preeminent online destination for passionate makers to learn, create, and share. With classes in quilting, sewing, knitting, cake decorating, art, photography, cooking and many more categories, over two million makers are taking their skills to new heights alongside the world's best instructors. Craftsy's online classes combine top-quality content, anytime convenience and the intimacy of an in-person experience. Members of the Craftsy community – whether neighbors or makers across the globe – inspire and support each other with ideas, tips and positive feedback along the way. For more information, visit www.craftsy.com.

About Lion Brand Yarn Company
Founded in New York City, Lion Brand Yarn Company is a 135 year-old family-owned and operated business devoted to inspiring and educating knitters and crocheters with yarns, patterns, how-tos and ideas that elevate their yarn crafting experience. Year after year Lion Brand drives innovation in the yarn business and pursues excellence in the quality of their products. Crafters love their patterns offered through magazines, books with major publishers, as well as their web site, which offers 5,235 free knitting and crochet patterns, with more added every week. Lion Brand yarns are available throughout the United States in craft chains, discount chains and internationally in 17 countries. For more information, visit www.lionbrand.com.

CRAFTSY is a registered trademark of Sympoz, Inc. Corporation.

Contact:
Sonie Guseh | 212.784.5698| [email protected]
Elana Rueven | 212.784.5723| [email protected]

Related Links:
Craftsy
Lion Brand Knitting Classes on Craftsy
My First Sweater
Improve Your Knitting: Alternative Methods and Styles
Explorations in Cables
Lion Brand

Video with caption: "Check out this trailer of the "My First Sweater" Lion Brand class on Craftsy." Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5dnrcFN4dQ&feature=youtu.be

Image with caption: "Expert instructor Amy Ross teaches knitting technique for students." Image available at: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131030/NY05378-a

Image with caption: "Discover all the different ways to create the knit and the purl stitch." Image available at: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131030/NY05378-b

Image with caption: "Craftsy is the preeminent online destination for passionate makers to learn, create, and share." Image available at: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131030/NY05378LOGO-c  

Image with caption: "Lion Brand Yarn Company is a 135 year-old family-owned and operated business devoted to inspiring and educating knitters and crocheters." Image available at: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131030/NY05378LOGO-d

SOURCE Craftsy