Holy cow, I was unaware of this resource and I must confess I am pretty psyched about it. I am an avid knitter and I'm always looking for great patterns, guides, etc. that are free. There are some excellent websites out there (Ravelry, in particular) for this purpose, but I didn't realize that MARVEL was such a great resource as well. As an elementary school librarian I'm not sure if this database that will be especially useful for my students, but it's good to know about it for my crafty kids.
1. Pick a subject category to explore. Choose an area that interests
you or something you’d like to learn about. Pick a subcategory too.
On the results page, notice the ‘Find’ box that contains the search
terms used. Does your library subscribe to any of the magazine titles
listed?
I chose "Needlecrafts and Textiles" and then "Knitting." I further limited the search to "Knitting: Socks and Stockings" and was impressed with the 114 hits. The journals include Interweave Knits (including the latest one), Creative Knitting, and Wild Fibers, all exceptional knitting resources.
The "Knitting: Videos, How to" is the one section that I can envision being a great resource for my elementary school aged students. While the articles and patterns might be too text heavy for them to follow, the videos are great!
2. On the results page, look at the projects tab. What projects would you like to download and try?
When I check out the "projects" tab under "Knitting: Mittens, Hats & Scarves" the question is not so much which project would I like to download and try, but rather, can I find one that I don't want to download and try? This is awesome, and I especially appreciate that all the projects are in a PDF format, which makes them easy to download and print. The only thing I wish for that doesn't seem to exist is a little thumbnail photograph of the project in the results list. It's hard to tell from a project title what it might look like, so it would be great to have a hint before committing to downloading the PDF.
3. Look at the “Help” link at the upper right. Tell us something you learned by browsing the online help guide.
When I checked out the "Help" link I discovered that I can use RSS with my Ebsco database searches so that I get updates in my reader when a search that I've performed has a new hit. Wow! That streamlines my information gathering experience and I suspect it will become more popular with library patrons as RSS use becomes more wide spread.
Hi! This would be a good resource for craft-y kids. If your school (or school district)has an art teacher, he or she might find it useful, too.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I love the graphic!
Thanks Maureen - that's a great idea to let the art teacher know about this resource!
ReplyDeleteHi Laura,
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you were doing this, too, until I stumbled on your blog today. I try to choose different ones to read each week. Question for you - I recently experienced some flack from board member because I weeded out the knitting books. (Had good documentation that books had not been checked out in 3 years.) Well, apparently the books were being used just not checked out according to this board member. She wanted me to put the books back, but they were already gone. I tried the persuasive argument that since the knitting stitches were available in MARVEL! Hobbies and Crafts, we did not need to have numerous knitting books take up shelf space. So now my question - and I am not an experience knotter - are the videos and resources available for knitting good replacements for knitting books? I mostly removed pattern books but there was a knitting stitches bible that I wished I had not removed. As a knitter, what is your opinion?
Hi Barb,
DeleteThanks for stopping by! Hmmm... I can see your conundrum in regards to knitting books vs. online resources. I definitely prefer MARVEL Hobbies and Crafts to knitting books when it comes to patterns; styles change and knitting books quickly go out of date (as I'm sure you noticed when you were weeding). The stitch bible is another matter, though. I've kept mine, ancient as it is, because it's hard (impossible?) to find that kind of a compendium online. So maybe your best compromise is to continue to promote MARVEL and also purchase a new knitting encyclopedia that you could keep in the reference section?
Happy crafting! :)