YarnCraft

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Get ready for wedding season with pattern recommendations from YarnCraft! Zontee and Michelle highlight projects for the bridal party from boutonnieres to shawls, decor ideas, gift patterns, and more.

Patterns discussed include:

• Crochet Bridal Shrug
• Crochet Bridal Shawl
• Crochet Bridal Clutch
• Knit Shimmer-By-Night Bag
• Knit Safran Shrug
• Crochet Opera Sleeves
• Crochet Champagne Glass Covers
• Crafted Champagne Glass Tassels
• Knit & crochet sachets
• Crochet Afghan Squared
• Knit Erin Afghan

Some ideas for knit & crochet flowers include:

• Crochet Orchid
• Knit Rose
• Crochet Rolled Rose and Rosebud
• Knit Petunia
• Crochet Lily of the Valley
• Knit Clove Carnation

We also hear from three brides-to-be at Lion Brand as well as listeners, who share their own ideas for incorporating yarncrafts into their weddings.

Then on Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life, we talk about spring garments for women and men. Hear about the silhouettes, pattern designers, and yarns that we love for this season.

Designers mentioned include Ann Budd, Dora Ohrenstein, Melissa Leapman, Josh Bennett, Robyn Chachula, Bruce Weinstein, Drew Emborsky (the Crochet Dude), Lily Chin, Doris Chan, and Amy Herzog!

Yarns discussed include LB Collection® Cotton Bamboo, Cotton-Ease®, Recycled Cotton, Martha Stewart Crafts™ Cotton Hemp (currently on sale!), Kitchen Cotton, Vanna’s Glamour®, and Vanna’s Sequins.

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In our last episode, we talked about some of our favorite pattern books–and many of you have shared your favorite pattern book recommendations (keep sharing through April 10 for a chance to win one of 3 books from SMPCraft!).

Want to learn more about the designers behind some of our recommended books? Check out some interviews from previous episodes:

• Robyn Chachula – In episode 103‘s Stash This interview, crochet designer Robyn Chachula joins Liz & Zontee to talk about using stitch dictionaries and about the development of her own stitch dictionary, Crochet Stitches Visual Encyclopedia.
• Sally Melville – Revisit episode 91 for a fascinating interview with this expert teacher and designer, who shares advice on picking projects for others and for yourself.
• Dora Ohrenstein – New York-based crochet designer Dora Ohrenstein talks to us in episode 100 about the important lessons she’s learned about crochet over the years. She also gives us a look inside the process behind her book, Creating Crochet Fabric.
• Ann Budd – Veteran designer Ann Budd joins us to talk about her passion for sock-knitting on episode 96, but be sure to check out her many other pattern books which we’ve recommended in other episodes.
• Bruce Weinstein – This designer (and food writer) joins us in both episode 76 and episode 131 to talk about making sweaters, the design process, and his favorite design elements.

Click on the highlighted episode numbers above to go to the individual pages and listen. Join us next Tuesday for a new episode of YarnCraft!

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Make a project that marks a milestone! In this bonus-length episode, Zontee and Michelle share pattern ideas and customization tips for special events throughout your life. Plus we share stories from listeners about the special heirloom projects they’ve given and received over the years.

Patterns discussed include:

• Knit Lavish Booties
• Knit & crochet baby blankets
• Knit & crochet baby sweaters
• Knit & crochet christening sets
• Crochet Best Bunny
• Knit Heirloom Cable Cardigan
• Knit School Colors Felted Laptop Sleeve
• Crochet Boutique Laptop Sleeve
• Crochet iPad Cover
• Crochet coffee cozies
• Nicky Epstein’s afghan patterns (including the Tree of Life Afghans)
• Knit & crochet dish cloths

Click here to see the issue of PatternJournal mentioned. Click here for more information & to purchase Michelle Edwards’ book. Click here to visit Kollabora.

We also share two interviews recorded at Vogue Knitting Live with designer Nicky Epstein and craft blogger Haley Pierson-Cox. These industry insiders give us their trend outlook for 2013.

Then on Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life, Zontee and Michelle share tips on cleaning, caring for, and storing your knit/crochet projects and yarn. Find out what to do when bugs get in your fibers and how to prevent them in the future. Learn how to rip out a project and prepare the yarn for reuse.

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What trends should you be looking out for in 2013? Find out on this episode of YarnCraft! Zontee and Michelle take a look at trends in fashion, publishing, and crafting to bring you some predictions of what’s going to be hot this year–and how you can incorporate those trends into your knitting and crochet!

Yarns discussed include: Fun Fur and Luxe Fur.

Learn more about designer Dora Ohrenstein’s Tunisian crochet classes, at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio, mentioned on this episode by clicking here.

See photos from Zontee’s interview with Vanna’s Choice Contest winner Nancy Nielson by clicking here. Enter by Feb. 15 for a chance to win this year’s story sweepstakes!

Then on Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life, Zontee interviews Benjamin Levisay of XRX. Find him on Twitter and Facebook; learn more about the upcoming Stitches West show by clicking here.  Coupon below (click to enlarge):

Garment pictured (representing the crochet & textures trend): Crochet Sparkling Burgundy Top

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Get answers to your burning questions about YarnCraft, Lion Brand, and the yarn industry in general! On this episode of YarnCraft, Zontee and Michelle tackle some of listeners’ mist frequently asked questions.

Find out which Lion Brand yarns are made in America, what kind of equipment Zontee and Michelle use to record the show, and why dye lots are important.

For tips on publishing your own patterns, revisit episode 86.

Have additional questions for the girls? Ask them by leaving a comment on this blog post! You could be included in a future episode!

Then on Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life, Zontee shares interviews from the Craft & Hobby Association’s Winter trade show. She speaks to designer and author Mary Beth Temple (find her Curvy Girl Crochet pattern on LionBrand.com) and Lion Brand spokesperson Vanna White!

Pattern pictured: Crochet Easy V-Stitch Scarf

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