Site Reviews

Sewing Site Reviews

HGTV Alex Anderson Quilts

This comprehensive site offers instruction and reviews of a large variety of quilts and the techniques to make them. It is basically the information from each weekly TV show. Each section includes a list of materials and equipment needed, and photos of each step as well as the finished quilt. The site includes a schedule for the TV show, podcasts, and order forms for quilting books. The site is well laid out, and easy to navigate. There is a navigation bar on the left as well as 'tabs' along the top. Towards the bottom are annotated links to specific areas of interest, then the links are repeated along the bottom of the first page. You can't get lost on this site! Alex even includes a monthly calendar. You can click on any day of the month to find 'upcoming quilt events.' The colors are soft and welcoming. In the center towards the top is a changing picture. It switches from pictures of Alex to those of books for sale, quilts that are highlighted, etc.

Sew Your Own Tote Bag

This is one page from a very large 'how-to' site. It gives pictures and instructions on how to make a tote bag. It breaks down the process into small steps that can be followed by a beginning sewer. It offers a 'printer friendly' version, as well as several links to more ideas for making a tote.

Along the left-hand side are links to many other projects such as: costumes, patterns, home decorating, machine embroidery, etc. On the right are links to "most popular sites", 'related sites', 'what's hot', and even 'car shopping hints'! All these links could make the site too 'busy'. However, they are in smaller text, and grouped in such a way that they do not distract from the main purpose for the page - instruction on making the tote.

Background is white, and links are in red (on the left) and blue (on the right).

This page is similar to what I want to show in the 'sewing' section of our site. The inclusion of step by step photos with the instructions will be helpful to sewers of any skill level.

Our site will focus on instruction and/or demonstration of each craft.

• step-by-step instructions and pictures of each step.
• Materials list
• Equipment requirements

Sewing Reviews by Sharon

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Spinning Site Review

Joy of Handspinning

This website is directed at Beginning and Advanced Handspinners. The top of the page says: ”Providing information and supplies for beginning and advanced handspinners”

Information from this site, which I would like to include in our own:

• Types of wheels and drops spindles, with pictures.
• Types of fiber you can spin and wheel recommendations and the animals/plants they come from, with pictures.
• Parts of the spinning wheel and how it works.
• How to make a drop spindle.
• How the drop spindle works, with video.
• Handspinning techniques.
• Wool preparation - washing, drying and carding.
• Setting the twist once you've spun your yarn.

Information/Features from this site, which we wouldn't want:

• An online store that sells spinning supplies.
• Information about Dyeing techniques.
• Information on the Wooly Wabbit Farm – with Angora bunnies.

Other bits I'd like to include:

• Descriptions of what the fiber is like to spin and which fibers are best suited for beginners and certain wheel types.

I like the idea of having video on the website - video showing the user how to use a drop spindle or spinning wheel. I'm not sure if we will have the capability and/or space, but it would be great if we could include a few videos.

We can tie links in with other areas of our site on what to do with your yarn - crochet and knitting and even adding it to certain sewing projects.

Spinning Review by: Aspen Easterling

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Knitting Site Reviews

Knitting-and.com

This website has sections on Crochet, Embroidery and Sewing, Knitting, Small Looms and Spinning.

The focus of this site is much broader than Joy of Handspinning site, which is directed solely at spinners. The information on Knitting-and.com isn't as detailed. The author is reaching out to a wider audience, but the amount of information is limited. I'd like to think that since there are three of us, dividing and conquering our website, we will be able to thoroughly cover all of our areas.

Information from this site, which I would like to include in our own:

• Lots of pictures.
• About me page.
• Hook conversion chart (for UK, metric and American).
• She has some ideas for things to do with kids (kids knitting book).
• Links section is titled "Explore"

Information/Features from this site, which we wouldn't want:

• She has an online store - clothes and such at Cafe Press.
• She has her Amazon wishlist.
• A music recommendation with a link to Amazon for purchase.
• Photo gallery - with photos of crafts, family, friends, trips, and more.

This site is more of a personal interest and sharing ideas page.

Review by: Aspen Easterling

Knitty

This webzine focuses solely on knitting, with articles related to patterns, techniques, and other knitting interests.

This site seems to be mostly for a younger generation of knitters who want to make something more than simple sweaters and socks. The patterns (which are changed quarterly, although there is an archive of everything that has appeared previously) run the gamut of possible knit goods: hats, sweaters, scarves, baby clothes, blankets, shawls, mittens, stuffed animals, and more. The articles are written by knitters, for knitters, and serve as resources to explain difficult techniques (such as intarsia or kitchener stitch) or easier ways of performing complicated tasks (like knitting two socks at the same time). The site is organized with different areas for patterns, articles, columns, and the front page. This is similar to a print magazine, but written for the internet. As previously mentioned, there is also a pattern archive, and previous articles are also available.

What I'd keep from this site:

• The ranking system used on the patterns
• The tone--most of the articles seem to be written by a "friend," someone whose advice you would trust
• The pictures--everything has photographs to go with it

What I'd lose:

• I don't think our website would work well organized as a zine, as we won't be updating it nearly as often
• The huge selection of articles and patterns--we simply don't have the time
• The entry page, with it's huge image and little (and not very explanatory) text

Review by: Angel Batterman