Etsy's Handmade Blog
Featured Buyer: Jessica Marshall Forbes of Ravelry.com
Story by JessMF
Published on September 24, 2008 in Spotlight 		Photo by

Jessica Marshall Forbes

This week's Featured Buyer is Jessica Marshall Forbes, a knitter who's been blogging since 2004. You may also know her as the founder of Ravelry.com, the knitting and crochet community website founded by Jessica and her husband Casey last year. Ravelry has taken the fiber world by storm and grown to over 180,000 users and 2.8 million page views per day. Today Jessica is going to share some of her favorite knit and crochet items on Etsy!

I am really excited to talk about my favorite Etsy shops on The Storque! I am a big fan of buying handmade, being a knitter and crocheter myself. Also, Etsy shop owners are wonderful Ravelry participants: many advertise on the site, feeding Ravelers' bottomless appetite for handmade knit and crochet related items. Independent knit and crochet designers, local yarn stores and other small craft businesses are a huge part of what makes Ravelry so fun and rewarding for us.

There are so many amazing shops on Etsy for knit and crochet, so it was so difficult to choose things to include.  I have met so many great crafters through Ravelry and here are some of my favorites!


I am totally addicted to splityarn's pouches. I use them to hold my scissors and stitch markers when I am on the road, and use the longer pouches to hold my crochet hooks.  Beware: once you start with her pouches, you can't stop! 



My dad always told me you should send thank you cards and I like to find pretty, handmade ones on Etsy!  My two favorite shops for yarn-themed cards are Maryse's and Fricknotes. They both feature colorful cards with really amazing photography!


Just like other knitters and crocheters, I am always on the look out for a new bag to carry around my projects.  I have a large purse that I use every day and, without a project bag to protect my work, it can be very easy for something to unravel as I go through my day. (Nightmare!) This lace keeper by julipbags will keep everything safe from harm!

 


I am loving the knitting clutches by persnickityknits!  No reason that our knitting bags can't be stylish as well as functional.  This red one caught my eye but she also has them in more neutral colors.


For tinier projects and knitting in line at the post office, I love the wristlet bags from SewBendy. This one with the little bird is awesome!



I also dabble in hand spinning. Butterflygirldesigns' spindles are definitely on my wishlist! They are so gorgeous and functional! She also has lovely batts and rovings.

For yarns and rovings for spinning, the sky is definitely the limit on Etsy! You could spend a year's salary easily. I picked out a few that I have my eye on.


I am a sucker for blue, green and brown and this Bluefaced Leicester by Squoosh is definitely pushing all my buttons! She also has lovely handspun and hand dyed yarns.


Denise at BlueHandsFibers does really amazing things with color.  I am leaning toward fall tones right now; I love her bulky Harvest merino.


More on the fall-ish theme: I like this neutral, but not too boring, sock yarn from CapistranoFiberArts. 


CapistranoFiberArts also dyes up some mean green and blue, which is what got me hooked on her in the first place! Mmmm yummy!


I was lucky enough to score some handspun yarn from Juliespins' shop this week. It is really incredible. (If you can get your hands on some!) She doesn't have any in her shop currently, as they sell so quickly, but she does do custom handspun and has some really lovely rovings.  She is lovely to work with!


I recently discovered Guttersnipe's shop. She has yarns that are just really fun, especially with the cowl craze going on right now. I love the colors in Earthsea, which is a bulky superwash merino.


Also, just for fun, I like these resin keychains from Debbie at McYarnpants. She also has a ton of other goods made from vintage knitting and crochet magazines, including cards.


There are lots of shops on Etsy that have stitch markers. I like Pookeh's shop because she always has some fun ones! 

When she's not knitting, Jessica crochets, spins, takes pictures, rides her Vespa, gardens, and buys necklaces from Etsy sellers like there's no tomorrow. She lives in Boston with her husband and 2-year old Boston Terrier, Bob, who loves to get his picture taken. When he's not posing for photos, Bob works as mascot for Ravelry.com.

Looking for more on knitting and crocheting? Look no further! For more shopping ideas, our Featured Buyers series is quite impressive! Do some digging, my friend!

Tags crafting, craft supplies, crochet, crocheting, Featured Buyer, Guest Curator, Jessica Marshall Forbes, knitting, online community, Ravelry, roving, shopping, supplies, websites, yarn
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57 comments     Login to add your own!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. JoannasPhotography

Oh! great article!
How nice to see frecklegirl on Etsy!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. shoofly

yay for ravelry!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. notmoira

This is awesome! So many beautiful things from these sellers!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. blondechicken

Yay! I love seeing Jessica's picks - Ravelry is the best thing for knitters since the invention of circulars!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. mmmfiber

Thanks for the great article! Go Fiber!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. smcdesigns

Thank you! Those yarns are gorgeous ...

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. rainydaygoods

you have impeccable taste, m'dear! :) great post! off to heart some shops...

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. Hatdiva

I love the dogtag necklace. Here's an eco frienly option for project bags. Re-use the zipper bags bedding comes in! I have a bunch of favorite handspun lurking about in a couple of those clear bags.

Not that Etsy doesn't have good project bags, just a fun oddball re-use tip.

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. pookeh

i srsly don't know how i lived without ravelry. so cool to see jess as a featured buyer! :) and thanks for the stitch market mention! i iz famous. ;)

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. littlepurls

So great! Love the picks and thanks so much for Ravelry!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:43 p.m. CubistLiterature

I like Ravelry. =)

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. LGordon555

I love Jess, LOVE Ravelry and loved this piece. THANKS!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. bubblegirlknits

Yay, I LOVE Ravelry!! I believe that is where I first read about Etsy.

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. LieblingDesigns

I'm so ditching my boring rubber stitch markers now. Thanks for the article! Off to hang out at Ravelry!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. sillylittlelady

Oh wow! All of this is so fantastic I am drooling! Definitely going to check out all these shops right now and fill my craving :)

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. elizabethwren

I always love to see new knit items. Thanks for this fantastic article!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. littlegiggles

dkKnits.etsy.com has a great shop. i dont know how to make my own yard but if i did id start with that shop! lol.

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. urbancheek

Great article! I love the featured buyers!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. Emmakat

Yay Ravelry! I'm obsessed with it!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. maryse

thanks chica!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. dogties

What fun colorful items.
Simply Amazing

Sept. 24, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. notayarnsnob

Great interview, Jess! Your picks are good ones! : )

Sept. 24, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. AnnieDesign

I loooooove Ravelry!! Thank you Jess for a great interview!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. CaperChris

Great shout out to Ravelry!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. Failli

yay! Loved the article! Can you tell us more about the scarf Jess is wearing? Pattern, yarn used, etc.?

Sept. 24, 2008 at 3:54 p.m. adorkable1

I love yarn, this was a fun read!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 3:54 p.m. adorkable1

I only pushed the button once, I swear... :)

Sept. 24, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. splityarn

Jess has the best taste! Yay!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. jonquilmom

Oh... I LOVE that birdie bag!! I agree about Splityarn's baggies... my little mushroom one gets serious use.

I also LOVE Ravelry!

(zzwhitejd)

Sept. 24, 2008 at 5:54 p.m. fritzl

These are great! Yay, Ravelry!

Sept. 24, 2008 at 8:52 p.m. mullishmuse

that was really fun, those card...my goodness yum.

Sept. 24, 2008 at 9:55 p.m. JessMF

Failli, the scarf is my 2nd Queen Anne lace scarf (crocheted)- it is made from Noro Taiyo.

There's more info on my Ravelry page for this project:

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/freck...

:)

Thanks for all the nice comments, everyone! I am glad you liked my little post.

Sept. 24, 2008 at 11:04 p.m. olivebrown

great yarn picks!

...i really need to drop by ravelry, i've heard so much about it. also, good to know about the advertising...

Sept. 24, 2008 at 11:14 p.m. ohmay

wooot.....love Ravelry!!!!

Sept. 25, 2008 at 2:46 a.m. peanutga11ery1

awesome! But just what I don't need--more fab stuff to buy from fellow ravelers! Well at least I can make up my wish list for the holidays!

Sept. 25, 2008 at 3:47 a.m. wiyomu

cool stuff!

Sept. 25, 2008 at 4:53 a.m. nairnfindlay

Yay! I love Jess's style so this post has been inspirational. Thanks Etsy, and thanks Jess for taking the time to do this :)

(Blottedcopybook from Ravelry)

Sept. 25, 2008 at 6:10 a.m. ElementsbyJulie

What wonderful shops! Gorgeous photos, colors and textures!

Sept. 25, 2008 at 6:32 a.m. Snowberrylime

Great picks! Thanks for bringing us ravelry. :)

Sept. 25, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. HomemadeZen

lovely!

Sept. 25, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. uncharted

i love that keychain...

Sept. 25, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. autumnsarrival

Ravelry is an amazing place I am so proud to be a member of! Absolutely LOVE the fantastic yarns Jess chose (and the artists behind all the hard spinning work!!) & the bird bag is just awesome! Great interview- good to see Jess here!!

Sept. 25, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. hodgepodgefarm

oh, yummy fiber finds! i usually try not to look, as i'll get into trouble...

Sept. 25, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. Craftyfrogmom12

The Split Yarn's zipper pouches are just too cute! Long live Jess, Casey and Bob!!!!

Sept. 25, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. DistressingDelilah

I love those little cards..they are sweet!

Sept. 25, 2008 at 6:45 p.m. pamelasusan

great picks!!

Sept. 25, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. SewBendy

Jess! We are so flattered that you dig our bags - we love making them and were just tickled to see one of them here. Thanks!!

Sept. 25, 2008 at 6:55 p.m. BethToddCreatz

Love you Casey and Jess and of course Bob!!! Go Ravelry!!!
Awesome article!

Sept. 25, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. juliehammondart

I'm a seasonal yarnphile. (not sure if that's a real word) I love to look at it and think about it's possibilities but that's usually as far as it gets, a possibility that is.
On another note... I can't believe you have a vespa. So jealous.
Very cool article! You are adorable!

Sept. 26, 2008 at 12:38 a.m. phydeaux

Ravelry's awesome, looove Bob, what a treat to see Jessica on the Storque and to enjoy her picks!!!

Sept. 26, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. FruitOfMyHands

Thanks for the article. I'm fairly new to Etsy and I enjoyed seeing all the folks that are knitting and crocheting.

Sept. 26, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. handmade

so glad i caught this! yay for ravelry!

Sept. 26, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. CrazyHorseNativeWear

Great article! Capistrano fiber arts! acn' ta wait to check out their stuff. Thanks girl.

Sept. 27, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. ThePaintedTiger

Ravelry and Etsy....made for each other! Thanks for contributing to the Storque, Jess!

Oct. 1, 2008 at 7:14 p.m. gardenologykc

Hey - thanks for sharing the great article. Thanks for the tip on Ravelry - super cool!

Feb. 7, 2009 at 11:26 a.m. learntoknit

I would love to be able to make my own yarn! Thanks for this fantastic article!
www.learnto-knit.com

July 28, 2009 at 6:22 a.m. Federicaknits

I love Ravelry and it is great to hear about Jessica's preferences in terms of handmade accessories, bags and yarns that you can find in Etsy's shops!

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