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YarnCraft Episode 141 :: 15+ Ways to Knit & Crochet for Your Wedding

14 May

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YarnCraft Episode 141 :: 15+ Ways to Knit & Crochet for Your WeddingGet 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:

Some ideas for knit & crochet flowers include:

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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YarnCraft Episode 140 :: 5 Top Mother’s Day Gift Ideas, Plus Baby Shower Ideas

30 Apr

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YarnCraft Episode 140 :: 5 Top Mother's Day Gift Ideas, Plus Baby Shower IdeasWe’re only a few weeks from Mother’s Day, so join us as we explore great gift ideas from the ambitious to the quick–as well as some that require no yarncrafting!

Zontee and Michelle also answer a listener question about bring-along projects. Find out what fellow listeners recommend as great, portable patterns.

Patterns discussed include:

Resources discussed include Nicky Epstein’s Knitting Block by Block and Knitting in Circlesand Heather Lodinsky’s 150 Knit & Crochet Motifs.

On Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life, we talk about baby shower projects from gifts like layette sets to decor concepts. Visit LionBrand.com to search for patterns for sachets, baby blankets, and more!

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YarnCraft Episode 138 :: 10 Ideas for Eco-Friendly Projects, PLUS Our Staff’s Favorite Pattern Books

2 Apr

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YarnCraft Episode 138 :: 10 Ideas for Eco-Friendly Projects, PLUS Our Staff's Favorite Pattern BooksReduce, reuse, and recycle in your crafting! Turn old jars into cute vases with a little yarn OR make reusable scrubbers for the kitchen. Learn about all the different ways you can get eco-friendly as YarnCraft looks ahead to Earth Day!

Patterns discussed include:

Yarns discussed include:

On Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life, Zontee and Michelle talk about some of their favorite pattern books. They also interview other Lion Brand staffers to see what pattern books they can’t live without. Books discussed include:

  • Blueprint Crochet by Robyn Chachula
  • Simply Crochet by Robyn Chachula
  • The Knitting Treasury series by Barbara Walker
  • Knitting Around by Elizabeth Zimmerman
  • Custom Crocheted Sweaters by Dora Ohrenstein
  • Boyfriend Sweaters by Bruce Weinstein

Love winning stuff? Be sure to listen for a special announcement after the Stash This! Find out how you can win one of three books from our friends at SMPCraft. Must be 18 or older to enter, and must enter by April 10, 11:59 PM Eastern time. The winners will be announced on our next episode. 

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YarnCraft Episode 137 :: 7 Tips on Knitting & Crocheting for Kids & Babies, Plus Our Top 5 Crochet Techniques to Try

19 Mar

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YarnCraft Episode 137 :: 7 Tips on Knitting & Crocheting for Kids & Babies, Plus Our Top 5 Crochet Techniques to Try

Do you have a little one to craft for? Find out what’s on trend in knitting & crochet for kids. Plus learn what Zontee and Michelle consider essential considerations when crafting for children.

Patterns referenced include:

Zontee also mentions author and loom-knitting designer, Isela Phelps. See her site here.

[Pictured: Knit Strawberry Pink Sideways Cardigan and Hat]

Then on Stash This: Ideas for Your Crafting Life, Zontee and Michelle talk about some of their favorite crochet techniques, in honor of National Crochet Month: Tunisian crochet, hairpin lace, broomstick lace, crochet intarsia, and crochet cables. See the following blog posts on the Lion Brand Notebook for more info on these techniques:

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YarnCraft Episode 135 :: How to Make and Care for Heirloom Projects

19 Feb

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YarnCraft Episode 135 :: How to Make and Care for Heirloom Projects

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:

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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