YarnCraft Episode 91 :: 5 Ways to Stay Motivated Knitting & Crocheting This Summer

10 May

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On this bonus-length episode of YarnCraft, Liz & Zontee share hints and tricks to stay motivated with projects. Whether you just need an extra boost to get that WIP (work in progress) finished or the warm weather makes you less likely to tackle an afghan, we have tips for you.

The ladies of YarnCraft also answer customer questions and share advice, including tips for crocheters learning to knit and finding the right pattern online. Thanks to Jamie & Lily, Karen H., Dee Bee, Flora, and Patricia for contributing questions and comments.

Patterns discussed include:

Then, we’re joined by esteemed teacher and designer Sally Melville, author of books including Mother/Daughter Knits and–her newest book–Warm Knits Cool Gifts, who shares advice on picking projects for others and for yourself. Check out her website at SallyMelvilleKnits.com.

Finally, on Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life, we talk about the 5 essential skills that will help you to achieve yarncrafting mastery. They include seaming, reading your work, maintaining your stitch count, understanding stitch anatomy (stitch mount, front/back loop, front/back post), and the differences between working flat and in the round.

Join us again in two weeks, when talk about knit & crochet vernacular. From unusual abbreviations to internet jargon, we’ll cover the terms that will keep you in the know. We’ll also be joined by Vicki Stiefel, novelist and knitter (aka KnittingNews) . As always, we want to hear from you — what you’re working on, your questions, and your comments. Post a message on the blog or email us at yarncraft [at] lionbrand [dot] com! You can also call in and leave a message at 774-452-YARN–that’s 774-452-9276.

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

Show Notes:
00:12 Intro & welcome
01:30 What’s on Liz & Zontee’s Hooks & Needles
03:55 Listener Questions
12:09 5 Ways to Stay Motivated Knitting & Crocheting
20:01 Interview with Sally Melville
30:11 Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life
46:09 Thanks to our listeners and guest

  • Dee bee

    I thought that it was interesting that you recommended continental knitting to the youngsters who were asking about learning to knit. I knit by throwing the yarn, but often have problems getting gauge.  I saw some You Tube videos about continental and will try it out. when I was learning to knit my Mom discouraged continental, she is of the opinion that the stitches are uneven, any thoughts on that?

  • http://yarncraft.lionbrand.com YarnCraft Podcast

    Hi Dee bee, interesting question! Every knitter is different, so knitting English, Continental, Portuguese, or other ways of feeding the yarn can result in different gauge in knit and purl. For some people, one method may give you more even tension in both. For others, combining two ways of feeding the yarn can be the winning way. For example, Patty, director of the Lion Brand Yarn Studio in NYC, knits English and purls continental because that’s what works for her.

    We recommend that you try continental (giving yourself time to get used to it, because your tension will change as you get more regular in a particular skill) and see if you have tension issues on the knit versus purl rows. If you do, there are still ways to deal with the issue, which hopefully we’ll have time to cover in a future episode!

  • Dee bee

    Knit English, purl continental, interesting for stockinette, but how does one rib? Looking forwent to an episode on this topic. 

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