YarnCraft Episode 108 :: 14 New Patterns from Our Catalog, PLUS 5 Trends for 2012

17 Jan

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On this episode, Liz & Zontee walk you through the brand new catalog from Lion Brand, which includes dozens of new patterns that are sure to inspire. They talk about the themes that appear throughout the catalog, as well as highlighting 14 awesome new patterns that you’re sure to add to your to-make list!

Patterns discussed include:

Then Zontee interviews popular blogger, humorist, photographer, illustrator, and knitting teacher, Franklin Habit whose blog is The Panopticon and whose book is It Itches: a stash of knitting cartoons. Franklin tells us about some of the classes he teaches, how he got into antique patterns, and how to take a better fiber photo.

Next, on Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life, Liz & Zontee talk about some of the trend that they’re seeing in for the world of yarncrafting in 2012. Find out what colors will be in style, as well as how to interpret fashion and home decor trends into your knitting and crocheting.

On our next episode, we’ll be talking about textured stitches of different types, as well as patterns for Valentine’s Day. Do you have any favorite textured stitches: bobbles, cables, etc.? Tell us about the textures you love! 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:
00:13 Intro & welcome
01:24 Listener comments & questions
08:15 The New Lion Brand Catalog
17:09 Interview with Franklin Habit
31:14 Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life
35:50 Thanks to our listeners and guest

  • Megplatis

    Hey, ladies! Still loving the podcast but wondering why this episode hasn’t been uploaded to iTunes yet (Wednesday, 18Jan12).  Will you no longer be uploading to iTunes? Keep up the good work!

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

    Hi Megplatis, we were just trying to figure out the same thing. Sometimes iTunes does take a little longer to load new episodes, but rest assured that we are sending episodes to iTunes. We sent them an email, but if you’d like to do the same by clicking on the “report a concern” button, please feel free!

  • Megplatis

    Thanks for the prompt response! I will report it to iTunes as well (the more voices complaining, the more likely we’ll be heard!).

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

    Just checked and the episode did download from iTunes, even though it’s not showing up in the iTunes store list yet. Try opening iTunes and right-clicking (Ctrl+click on Macs) the YarnCraft button in your podcasts and click “update podcast.” Hope that helps!!

  • Paige H

    Hi Liz and Zontee,  Here are some pictures of the yarn storage system I commented about on the the previous episode of Yarncraft.  It’s so cool your intrigued by it.  I don’t know where my husband got the idea, but it works great.  I would imagine you could cut the tubes into any length your shelf could accommodate, but I think 12″ cuts use the entire tube with no waste.   Wool Ease Thick and Quick fits a little snug, but holds skeins such as Fisherman’s Wool and Homespun with room to spare.  Thanks for the great pod casts!  I always enjoy listening to them!!!

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

    Thanks for sharing your photos! Your storage is so attractive!

  • Kate

    I just got a copy of the new catalog, which I LOVE by the way, and I saw the knitting machine in the back.  I have been interested in one of these but it is a lot of money.  Is there any way that you could add some information about a knitting machine in an upcoming blog or episode?  I am still trying to figure out what I can do with it, as I can’t seem to find patterns, to see if it is worth the money.  Can I change any knitting pattern into a knitting machine project?  I am a beginner knitter, only knowing how to knit and purl, but want to try other projects and thought that this might be a way to help me along.  Thanks for any help you can share!!!

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

    Hi Kate, we’ve talked briefly about Zontee’s machine-knitting and Patty’s (the director of the Lion Brand Yarn Studio) machine-knitting, but we’ll definitely keep it mind for the future. For your reference, a standard knitting machine (like the LK-150) is a device that will knit a whole row of stitches at a time because each stitch is on a magnetized latch-hook that moves back and forth when the “carriage” moves over the bed of hooks. Most of them do have some limitations (for instance, the LK-150 only knits and cannot purl–you would have to purl each stitch manually) so there are projects they are good for and projects they are not good for. There are also limitations in terms of increasing and decreasing on a machine (so they can do sweater pieces, but not complex lace). However, many machine-knitters love it for the quick speed of knitting big pieces. Many knitting patterns can be translated to the knitting machine; however, I would say that if you are a beginner knitter, it will be a little tricky for you to do so until you get more advanced at pattern reading and understanding shaping and advanced skills.

    For more of a sense of how a knitting machine works, check out this video from the Lion Brand YouTube channel:

    You may also want to check out About.com’s page about machine-knitting:
    http://knitting.about.com/od/machineknitting/Machine_Knitting_Tips_and_Tricks.htm

    Our best advice for becoming more advanced as a knitter is always to challenge yourself to learn new skills, whether through classes, by learning on your own, or by taking on more challenging projects, and as you get more advanced, you may find that you want to add machine-knitting to your repertoire!

  • http://chickwithhooks.wordpress.com/ Stefanie

    Somehow each episode manages to relate to something on my mind or on my hooks & needles…I was just thinking how I really need to learn to photograph my projects better. Listening to this episode makes me excited to set up what will be my mini-photography studio in my new house, thanks!

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

    Can’t wait to see photos from your new set-up!

  • Giovonnia

    Dear YarnCraft:
    This is my first posting. I have a New Year resolution. I liked the episode on organizing. it got my thinking about my stash. It’s all over the place and I thought I couldn’t afford any nice containers to put my yarn it. Recently I was in a discount store and found some low cost zipper bags and some medium size containers that will fit my sock yarn. so I’m going to go through my sock yarn. The podcast also got me thinking about other organizing stuff I could do. I went on line and found sewing patterns for needle cases I could make. Thank you for a wonderful podcast and the great ideas. I love the Lion Brand Studio. I take alot of classes and enjoy them.Everyone is so nice and helpful. Thank you again.

    Giovonnia

  • SMS

    Dear YarnCraft,
    This is also my first post, and the first podcast I have listened to.  I am so happy I found you.
    Can I suggest a topic that could be of  interests to us beginners?
    I have been knitting scarves, baby blankets, tube hats and even mittens but would like to try my hand at a vest. The pattern I picked was clasified as easy, however, after reviewing the pattern I am afraid to start it because it gives the directions for the Left front but for the Right front it only
    says to -”Work to correspond to Left front, reversing shaping” . I do not have a clue how to go about reversing the directions. 
    The Pattern I am interested in is the Slimline Vest #20128CA – from Lion Brand Yard.
    Thanks for sharing your knowledge I will be listening

    SMS

  • Dee_bee927

    SMS, Yay!! you’re trying something new. I’ve been knitting for decades and I still get confused with those instructions. Zontee, Liz plese to the rescue.

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

    Hi SMS, luckily, there are two articles (one on LionBrand.com and one from the Lion Brand Notebook blog) on this very subject:
    http://cache.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/lionbrand/displayCustomerProjects.fcgi?projectKey=69627&displayType=lit
    http://blog.lionbrand.com/2011/10/11/tips-tricks-for-reversing-shaping/

    Hope they help!

  • Abby M

    Wow!  Great pictures!  

    It’s like a honeycomb of stash!

  • SMS

    Thank you so much, I think this will be a great help.  I am working on the the back section now. I will let you know how it works out.

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