YarnCraft Episode 20 :: Oops! Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

15 Jul

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Dropped StitchToo many stitches, too few stitches, a dropped stitch–it happens to the best of us. This time on YarnCraft, Liz and Zontee share their own yarncrafting mishaps–and talk about lessons learned and insights gained.

We also share stories from listeners like you about knitting and crochet snafus, as well as advice on fixing common problems, like lifelines, purposely dropping stitches, and other tricks of the trade.

Learn more about recovering dropped stitches, ripping out stitches one by one, and more at our Learning Center.

A book recommended is When Bad Things Happen to Good Knitters by Marion Edmonds & Ahza Moore, which was previously featured in the Lion Brand E-Newsletter.

Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life – Discover resources at the Learning Center on the NEW Lion Brand website, why YouTube can be a good way to learn a new skill, and what website Liz & Zontee go to when they can’t quite salvage that project in time to give it as a gift.

Other sites mentioned include:
Knitter’s Review
Knitty.com
CrochetMe
Crochetville

To share your comments and thoughts, post a message on the blog, email to yarncraft [at] lionbrand [dot] com!

Direct Download

Look for YarnCraft on Blubrry.com.
And also look for us on Ravelry.com!

Theme music is “Boy with a Coin” by Iron and Wine, from the PodSafe Music Network.

Show Notes:
00:12 Intro and welcome
01:28 Liz & Zontee’s mistake stories
08:07 Listener stories
15:28 Tips on fixing problems
25:40 Stash This
31:26 Thanks to our guests

  • http://somethingtodowhile.blogspot.com Celeritas

    Ripping back with mohair can be physically difficult! I heart mohair so I try to find a pattern that I can do without messing it up and having to rip.

  • http://yarntoknit.blogspot.com Holly

    Thanks for telling my story in the Podcast. It’s a little surreal to hear it, but also cool.

  • Grace

    I love frogging! Maybe that’s why I don’t have any disaster stories… I just hook up my ball winder and gleefully start ripping/winding when something goes wrong.

    A handy tip for ripping mohair is to put your project in the freezer (without your plastic needles) for a bit. The mohair is less sticky when it’s cold.

  • Doreen

    I just listened to your podcast on knit and crochet mistakes and wanted to share with you how sometimes a project that isn’t going well can turn out very sweet.

    Recently, I was crocheting a lace heart ornament out of thread. As the pattern progressed, I found it confusing and wasn’t happy with how it was turning out at all. Since I was just a bit short on the thread anyway, the puckered piece went to the bottom of my bag and I moved on to more enjoyable projects.

    Not long after, I was asked to give a eulogy at my mom’s grave site. (She had passed away in November, and we were interring her ashes this summer.) The words came slowly yet deliberately as I wrote them down. I wrote about her legacy, and concluded with how much I received from her. She was the one who passed down her love of stitching to me. Because of her, I am an avid knitter and crocheter. Suddenly, the lace heart came to mind. I pulled it out of the bottom of my bag, and creatively used the remaining thread to make a presentable border. It steamed up beautifully with the iron. At the eulogy I was allowed to place this lace heart, one last thing I could make for my mom, down into the grave site as well. What had started as a frustration became something so meaningful.

    Thanks for letting me share this with you. I enjoy your podcasts.

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  • http://www.misfityarns.com Michele

    Thanks for sharing my story!

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  • Denise

    I enjoyed this podcast — I just moved and missed a few episodes. When I first learned to knit (a LONG) time ago, I recall learning about threading a “life line” through a particular row of knitting so I could rip back to there and be in no danger of going farther. Well, the following day that I listened to that podcast, I was about to turn the heel of my first toe up sock on 2 circs. I have experience with circs and turning heels, but always from the other direction. So, there I sat, threading a life line through those teeny sock stitches. Well, I was so glad I did!! I missed something in the instructions the first time through and I had to rip back. It was uncanny!!! Thanks Liz & Zontee!!! It was a great reminder at the perfect time!

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