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Modern Baby Crochet by Sharon Zientara

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Modern Baby Crochet by Sharon Zientara was what today’s subject on the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird.

IMG_3235It may seem like just yesterday, but it was actually last August that Sharon was our guest sharing her earlier book, Quick Crocheted Accessories. (Here is the link to the patterns in Ravelry.)

Sharon may be feeling very inspired lately, as she shared that she went on a trip to Shetland Islands, England, Scotland (in fact, she was editing the patterns for this new book while she was there) traveling with June Hemmons Hiatt. She met the World’s Fastest Knitter Hazel Tindall (who says she’s NOT the fastest), visited the Jamison Woolen Mills being now run by their son, Gary.  [Read more…]

Lena Skvagerson, Lead Designer of Annies Signature Designs

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Lena Skvagerson, Lead Designer of Annie’s Signature Designs, was our guest today on the Yarn Thing podcast. It was LenaSkvagerson_head_introlettera wonderful visit to close out May with!

Lena grew up in Sweden, she was not taught to knit or crochet by her mom, but in school, everyone is taught sewing, knitting, crocheting as well as woodworking. At a point, when she was a teenager, there was mohair sweater trend and Lena says her mother wouldn’t knit the sweater, so she went with friends, got the yarn and made it herself.  After that she was ‘just knitting’, without thought that this would be a career. She was working in a construction company’s office, taking pattern writing classes at night. A job was posted at DROPS that everyone told her she should apply for, and she was part of their team for 25 years! [Read more…]

Candi Jensen

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Candi Jensen was our guest on the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird. Candi and Marly have been friends for a while, in fact Marly things of Candi as her ‘Crochet Godmother’. Candi recalls that after her first crochet books with Vogue Knitting, Marly wrote to her and they’ve been friends ever since.

One of the things that has been admired about Candi is that her work is not the dated crochet projects that it seems everyone imagines it to be. Designing since 1983, she’s learned crochet can be beautiful and following it, seeing it featured on the runways was something she wanted to spread the word about, sharing the astounding growth. She loves seeing the designers like Tommy Hilfiger and Chanel feature crochet. Amazing when you remember this can’t be done by machine! [Read more…]

Bird Seed Cowl by Marly Bird!

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The Bird Seed Cowl is a QUICK KNIT! 

I designed this cowl while I was attending a book signing for Diana Gabaldon. When I went to the event I knew I had some time to kill and figured I would start on a new project. So, I grabbed some Red Heart Boutique Treasures yarn and a pair of size 9 needles and away I went. At first I thought about doing a simple ribbed piece because I find that knitting ribbing is really soothing, but something unexpected happened. Read on to find out how the Bird Seed Cowl came into existence…

BirdSeedCowl_2

This FREE PATTERN is one I designed exclusively for Red Heart, and I totally LOVE it!

[Read more…]

Kristin Omdahl has really BIG new projects to share

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Kristin Omdahl has really BIG new projects to share on the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird today so LET’S GET IT STARTED!KO Profile Pic

Kristin has been studying skin care products for herself and friends for many years. KO Glow basketRecently, she began to offer it to the public, GLOW Body Products, through study and trial, pursuing all-natural, aroma therapy, and anti-aging of the highest qualities. Her natural face cream is an proprietary blend of essential oils that has become beloved by so many, and users are demanding that she never stop creating it! The line includes bath salts (her teenaged athlete loves), sugar scrubs, balms, bar soaps, cleansers and toners. [Read more…]

Jen Lucas is working overtime

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Jen Lucas is working overtime, but took some time out of her busy schedule to visit the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird. Jen has visited before, and says she’s been a listener since the beginning, and we can’t be more proud of her everytime we visit. Jen Lucus profile pic

Jen says she and some friends decided they needed to learn to knit after college, possibly inspired by the ‘Golden Girls’, even though the Sophia character was a crocheter. At the time many things were happening and helping people be inspired, like various knitting blogs, the tv show ‘Knitty Gritty’ with host Vickie Howell. Also, Stephanie Japel did a ‘design-your-own-shawl’ course. So she was able to continue her education easily online while she wore a lab coat by day, testing water.

Now her full-time job is writing books, teaching at knitting guilds… she feels it’s the best job ever, it feels so cool. [Read more…]