YarnCraft Episode 107 :: 12 New Year’s Resolutions from Knitters & Crocheters

3 Jan

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On the first episode of YarnCraft in 2012, Liz & Zontee talk about their yarncrafting New Year’s resolutions. Let’s get organized,  learn new things, and do more knitting and crocheting! This year is all about concrete, achievable yarncrafting goals here on YarnCraft, so be sure to share your goals for the year with us, here on the blog, on Ravelry, or by voicemail. Throughout 2012, we’re going to be checking in to see how you’re faring!

We also talk to staffers throughout Lion Brand about what they’re hoping to make, learn, and do this year as knitters and crocheters.

Then on Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life, Liz & Zontee share ways that you can volunteer, fund-raise, and rally people in your community through yarncrafting. Find out why knitting and crocheting can help kids learn math, science, and problem-solving. Learn about one listener’s organization that’s fundraising through patterns.

On our next episode, we’ll be talking about trends for 2012 and Lion Brand’s new catalog. We’ll also share an interview with knitter/illustrator/photographer-extraordinaire, Franklin Habit. Tell us what you’re looking forward to making in 2012! Leave 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:
00:11 Intro & welcome
01:48 What’s on Liz & Zontee’s Hooks & Needles
04:13 Liz & Zontee’s New Year’s Resolutions as Yarncrafters
13:18 Lion Brand Staff Resolutions
15:43 Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life
23:51 Thanks to our listeners and guests

  • DCAlane

    Liz – what was the tool case that you recommended?

    It’s funny to hear you talk about the tool organization.  I ordered a Bass Pro Worm Binder today.  I’ll let you know how I like it.  I read about it on Ravelry.

    I’d love to organize my stash, but I’m not sure I want to see my yarn all in once place.  Besides every room in my house could use some organizing…

    I do hope to finish my hybernating projects.  And keep learning new things.   (And FINALLY tackle socks!)

    Pretty standard knitting goals.

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

    Thanks for sharing, DCAlane!

    They are the tool cases from Namaste (click here to visit their website).

  • Paige H

    By quizzing my loved ones now on what they might like (I’ve already got my Mom’s order), I going to try to get a jump on crafting my 2012 Christmas gifts. It may be wishful thinking, but I’m sure going to try.

    Also, one of my gifts last year from my husband was large PVC pipes.  They were probably about 4″ or 5″ in diameter.  He cut them to approximately 12″ lengths (I’m not exactly positive on the lengths) and stacked them with the hole facing out in a spare closet.  They are perfect organizers for my stash.  The yarn just slides in the hole and I can see everything I have!

  • Rose Ann

    After years of valiant, but flawed, attempts at New Years resolutions, i believe I can achieve them this year. KISS. Keep it simple silly. My resolution is to create something every day and find some beauty and kindness in tje world every day as well. So even on a really busy day I can count sewing those buttons on the knitted mitts or weaving in yarn ends as my ‘create’ accomplishment for the day. Keeps me in touch with my creative side without overwhelming deadlines. And I AM creatimg every day.
    Best wishes, all.
    Rose Ann

  • Krist Adrienne

    My husband rolls his eyes and wonders how I could possible need more yarn. He knows nothing!! New Year resolution is to put the yarn into the boxes I purchased last January, then to use some of it before visiting my favourite yarn shop. My mind has already begun to rebel. I may last a week. Meanwhile I will make another crochet box of crochet chocolates to make me feel better. Then, a little collection of elephants with all the different grey colours, a bunch of roses with the reds, pinks and yellows green leaves of course, A coral reef and fish too. That should use about 5% of the stash! Oh dear. Is there a cure for yarn hoarding? If you know please let me know. Live, Love, Laugh, Adrienne

  • http://www.facebook.com/tammypowley Tammy Powley

    Though this year I plan to make more items for myself for a change, I still plan to do a lot of charity crafting. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Crochetlist/ is one group I am a member of, and (along with talking about crochet of course) this groups does a monthly donation drive. One member runs each drive (I happen to be running the one for Feb. 2012), and members send in requested items for a different charity each month. This is a great low-pressure way to help others because there are a lot of members on this list, and if each person just makes one or two items, it adds up :)

    There is also a Knitting for Charity group on Ravelry (http://www.ravelry.com/groups/charity-knitting-2). It is not super active, but hopefully with the new year things will pick up over there.

  • Pemberley816

    Hi Liz and Zontee!  Glad you’re back :)

    I’ve been crocheting since I was 12, but I just learned to knit in December (which, ps, thank your for recommending that crocheters learn to knit in the continental style–it saved me a lot of heartache!).  I’m currently working on a shawl and would like to learn to knit in the round once I’ve finished.  It seems so daunting right now, but I definitely want to learn.

    I also spotted a beautiful shawl in the new catalog, done in Irish crochet.  I’ve never done Irish crochet before, and when I looked on Ravelry I saw some beautiful projects in that style.  So I’d like to work on that this year, as well.

    Last but not least, my stress level significantly decreases when I knit or crochet every day, so I’d like to try to keep that ball rolling too.

  • KSIrishCrocheter

    I am fairly new to yarn crafting, although you would never know considering how much yarn I’ve accumulated. So, obviously one goal is to work through my stash. Another goal is to learn to make amigurumi. I have several books on it and plenty of yarn; now all I need is time.

    Thank you for your wonderful podcasts. I love listening to you as I work on my crochet projects. You are quite inspirational!

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