What is Marly Bird Doing These Days became the theme when today's guest was unavailable. Marly let me (Tammy) call in and just dip my toes in ‘Marly World'.

I got to ask her, because people do wonder and sometimes they will ask me: What is Marly working on these days?

Marly has been super inspired by Outlander and the simple designs seen in the program. Working with the colorways from Bijou Basin Ranch and the natural textures of Green Mountains Spinnery have given her lots of creative ideas. I mentioned that her recently published Nottingham Sweater was created in Green Mountain Spinnery yarns and was a well received design. She also used their yarn for her men's saddle-shoulder design Cobalt Cables

We got a little distracted in stories of ‘how to quit smoking'….

There was a big secret Marly has coming up, I won't post here, but listeners have something to look forward to it…..

In the meantime, Marly has recently spent a lot of time filming segments for her YouTube video channel. We think that you will want to subscribe to the channel, even though there hasn't been any videos posted yet. We find that subscribers are the first to know when videos are posted and that you will want to be the first to know when her videos are posted too. This is the link in YouTube for Marly's Channel.

We spoke about upcoming guests we are looking forward to: Marly mentioned Joji Knits who has a wonderful website. She will be calling in from Argentina on September 9th. Marly and I are tickled that Pepperberry Knits be on the show September 4th, because they are local to me, but Marly attempted to get to know them at TNNA and their booth was packed!  Marly would like to have The Plucky Knitter, Fresh from the Cauldron, I admired how busy the Verdant Gryphon booth was at Stitches Midwest, and we both loved Miss Babs and their booth was always popular also!

We LOVE Erin Lane Bags!  This is my bag I purchased (limited edition) at Stitches Midwest and we are also excited about Kristin Omdahl fabrics in the Erin Lane Bags.

Marly has had several patterns published and pieces in upcoming issues of Love of Crochet and Love of Knitting magazines, under the F + W house now. Prime Publishing is another group that Marly is looking forward to learning from.
We also shared Marly's recent family addition, Penny.  Gotta love the Rescue Dogs!

Frequently Asked Questions

What sort of things has Marly been inspired by lately?

So here's the thing… Marly has been really inspired by the show Outlander and the simple designs she's seen in it! She's also been working with beautiful colorways from Bijou Basin Ranch and the natural textures from Green Mountains Spinnery, which has sparked tons of creative ideas.

I heard Marly has a YouTube channel… is it up yet?

Honestly… yes! Marly has been spending a lot of time filming segments for her YouTube channel. While there might not be many videos posted *yet*, you'll definitely want to subscribe so you're the first to know when they start rolling out!

Are there any new patterns out from Marly?

Yes! Her Nottingham Sweater, created with yarn from Green Mountain Spinnery, was super popular. She also used their yarn for a men's saddle-shoulder design called Cobalt Cables. You can find these and more in her Pattern Shop!

Who are some of Marly's upcoming podcast guests?

Oh, we've got some great ones lined up! Marly's excited to chat with Joji Knits all the way from Argentina and Pepperberry Knits, who are local to me and super busy! She's also hoping to have The Plucky Knitter and Fresh from the Cauldron on soon, and she loved chatting with Miss Babs and Verdant Gryphon too.

What's this “big secret” Marly has coming up?

Well, here's the thing… Marly has a really big secret she's working on, and while I can't spill all the beans here… let's just say listeners have something super exciting to look forward to!

Slipped Stitch Studios Project Bags, owner Laura Lundy met Marly on a plane trip (to Ohio for a TNNA event) have a chance to visit and allow us to eavesdrop on their ‘catching up'.

Laura learned to knit when she and a co-worker dropped in at a learn to knit class at a yarn store.  The instructor's critique of her knitting style really spurred her to be a success at the new skill. That was about 10 years ago. In the following years she has become a mommy to two kids and begun her business, Slipped Stitch Studios (website: https://www.slippedstitchstudios.com/). Last fall, she learn to sew. As she studied her project bags and realizing what she liked and didn't like so much, she began creating new bags that she could market.

She has worked hard to have a new bag each year for Madrona and Stitches West. Slipped Stitch Studios creates new bags and buttons each month. Pattern Wallets has become a favorite product for herself and crafters alike. Marly's favorite and Laura's most popular product are the two skein bags. Bag of the Month (or BOM as referred to in the Ravelry group (link to the group: https://www.ravelry.com/groups/slipped-stitch-studios) has also been a popular way to collect per a favorite genre. It began with Dr. Who, and has progressed to Alice in Wonderland (the current one) through Jane Austen and a zombie version of Jane Eyre. Each collection includes all kinds of fun things like stitch markers and tool tins, perhaps a skein of yarn in a matching colorway. Some items can be purchased as add-ons, but there are items that are tossed in as a ‘Surprise'. All given a great deal of thought and possibly put together by hand in very unconventional ways….

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Slipped Stitch Studios project bags like?

So here's the thing… Laura Lundy started Slipped Stitch Studios after learning to sew and realizing she could create her own project bags. She's known for creating new bags and buttons each month, with favorites like the two-skein bags and themed “Bag of the Month” collections!

What's the deal with the “Bag of the Month” club?

Honestly… it's a super fun way to collect bags based on a favorite genre! They started with Dr. Who and have done Alice in Wonderland, Jane Austen, and even a zombie Jane Eyre version. These collections often include fun extras like stitch markers and tool tins, with some items being a special “Surprise.”

Tell me more about Laura Lundy and her business.

Yes! Laura learned to knit about 10 years ago and now has two kids and her business, Slipped Stitch Studios. She learned to sew last fall and started designing her own bags. She works hard to have new items ready for big crafting events!

What is the #projectbagsdontcount trend about?

Oh, you've heard about that, haven't you?! It's this fun idea that project bags don't count towards your yarn stash… which is great news for all of us who love to have a cute bag for every project! It seems to be a very popular sentiment among crafters.

Are there any other popular products from Slipped Stitch Studios besides bags?

Well, the Pattern Wallets are a big hit for Laura and crafters too! And if you love themed collections, the “Bag of the Month” club has been super popular. It's all about fun details and thoughtful additions to make your crafting life a little brighter.

Felicia Lo of Sweet Georgia Yarns was our Guest on Yarn Thing with Marly Bird, and got everyone in the live chat room got all drooly over her yarn colors!

Felicia called in from her home in Vancouver, British Columbia. She reminisced with us that she began to knit in grade school and actually sent away for a pamphlet to learn how. When her family went shopping, she would head to a discount department store that had yarn in and admire the needles. She knit her first sweater the year before high school of acrylic (still has it!). Made transition into sewing while in high school and didn't pick up knitting again until a friend announced she was going to have a baby. Visiting Urban Yarns (Local Yarn Store in that area) and finding all the special yarns, and then Knit-a-Longs….

Felicia starting writing her blog almost ten years ago, in 2004. The next year she discovered spinning, started with a drop spindle and then bought a spinning wheel. At the time, the fiber for spinning available to her was natural white, so she made the next step to dying her yarns, all the while blogging about her experiences. The bright colors of Kool-aid dying to acid dying as made Sweet Georgia Yarns an attractive product! 

The Sweet Georgia Website is: https://www.sweetgeorgiayarns.com/ DON'T FORGET THE YARN IN THERE! The yarn bases that are chosen with a lot of thought put into how it will wear after you've spent all the time to create your garment. However, even in the same pot, yarns will absorb the dye differently. They skeins can be broken up by alternating (Felicia is currently alternating four skeins in a project) but the variations create a unique piece that defines hand-crafting.

The palette of colors below is a sample of the variety available as fiber to spin into sock yarn! CLICK HERE to check out the Sweet Georgia Yarns Panda line. (Chosen to only to demonstrate, you MUST go to the website to see all the lines which are so beautiful!)

Patterns are offered through the website for us to see what Sweet Georgia Yarns can do, but are not automatically chosen or included when you purchase the yarn, because Felicia wants to see what you'll create! There have been designers working with them and they have a new e-book coming out in the fall. There are also Yarn Clubs, currently Sweet Georgia Yarns is accepting Memberships in the Sock Yarn Club (that's the link) and there will be a Lace Club which closes December 31st.

Craftsy has a class offering for you with Felicia Lo called Spinning Dyed Fibers and have given a code to Marly for her listeners. As a sponsor of the Yarn Thing podcast, using this code shows Craftsy they picked the RIGHT podcast to support!  https://www.craftsy.com/ext/MarlyBird_97_CP

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Felicia Lo start her blog and spinning?

So here's the thing… Felicia actually started writing her blog way back in 2004. The very next year, she discovered spinning, starting with a drop spindle and then moving on to a spinning wheel. It's amazing how one thing leads to another, right?!

What's the deal with the yarn bases from Sweet Georgia Yarns?

Honestly… Felicia puts a lot of thought into choosing her yarn bases, making sure they'll hold up well after all the time you spend creating your project. Even within the same dye lot, yarns can take the dye a little differently, and those variations are part of what makes your handmade piece so unique!

Are patterns included when you buy Sweet Georgia Yarns?

Yes! Patterns are available on the Sweet Georgia Yarns website so you can see what amazing things can be made with their yarns. However, they aren't automatically included with your yarn purchase because Felicia really wants to see what *you'll* create!

What's the “Spinning Dyed Fibers” class about?

Oh, you'll love this! Craftsy has a class with Felicia called “Spinning Dyed Fibers,” and they even gave us a special code for listeners. Taking this class is a fantastic way to dive into dyeing your own fibers and learning all about spinning them!

Does Sweet Georgia Yarns have any clubs?

They sure do! Currently, you can become a member of their Sock Yarn Club. Plus, there's a Lace Club coming up that closes on December 31st. It's a fun way to get exclusive access to their beautiful yarns!