YarnCraft

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We’re back! Après le déluge (or the hurricane, as it happens to be), Zontee and Michelle are back with favorite cast-ons, bind-offs, foundations, and more. Find out which cast-ons or starting chain methods are the best for your needs on this episode of YarnCraft.

We explore techniques including Judy’s Magic Cast-On, Magic Ring, Cable Cast-On, Picot Cast-On and Cast-Off, No-Chain Foundations, and more. Patty Lyons, Studio Director of the Lion Brand Yarn Studio and head of the education department, joins us to talk about all these techniques, which she teaches 3 classes about.

For additional resources, be sure to check out YouTube, as well as these two books that have come out in the last year:

• Cast On, Bind Off: 54 Step-by-Step Methods by Leslie Ann Bestor
• Cast On, Bind Off: 211 Ways to Begin and End Your Knitting by Cap Sease

For trim patterns, visit the Lion Brand StitchFinder.

Then on Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life, Lion Brand staff tell us what’s on their holiday yarncrafting wish list. Supplies they’re interested in include LB Collection Cashmere (what else?), LB Collection Baby Alpaca, a ball winder and yarn swift, yarn cutter pendant, and more.

Read more…

Hi all–just wanted to update you guys on the status our next episode. It’s been a hectic week, here in NYC, but we’re slowly getting back into the swing of things.

Many affected by Hurricane Sandy are still without power and/or heat, so I hope you’ll check out the many resources online about places to donate money and supplies. If you’re in the affected areas, there are also many shelters and facilities to volunteer at.

Michelle and I just want to let you know that our next episode, #129, will go live on Nov. 20th. We’ll be talking about cast-on and cast-off methods, ways to start your crochet projects, and also decorative trims you can add to projects.

Be a part of it! Leave a comment about your favorite cast-ons, starting chain methods, and trims–you could be included in our next episode!

In the meantime, I again want to thank everyone who’s sent in emails and comments of support–we truly appreciate it…as does our Nor’easter Snowman (click on the photo to get his pattern on LionBrand.com)!

Hi all, Zontee here. We’ve received many messages of support and good thoughts from YarnCraft listeners, so I just wanted to give everyone an update. As you may have noticed from LionBrand.com, our offices in both NJ and NY are currently still without power as are the homes of many of our staff, and we appreciate all of your concern during this very difficult period.

Myself, Michelle, Liz, and families are just fine.

Due to the storm, however, we will have to postpone our next episode. We’ll keep you posted!

In the meantime, please consider donating food, supplies, time, and/or money to relief efforts. I’m planning on spending some time volunteering this weekend in NYC, and hope you will find a way to help those affected by the storm too.

As a New York/New Jersey-based company, this devastating event has affected us quite a bit, and our hearts go out to all of those in need. Thank you again for all of your good thoughts and support during this period–we truly appreciate it.