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Indian Lake Artisans

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ILA LogoIndian Lake Artisans owners Pam and Mark joined Marly to talk about their adventure into the yarn industry!

Pam and Mark discussed the beginning of their journey into the knitting and crochet industry, and how they wanted to bring some life back into their community, in the Detroit and greater Michigan area, that was devastated by the recession.  How cool is that?  All of their products are USA born, and is helping folks in their own community!  Their needles are a hexagonal shape, much like that of a classic No. 2 Pencil, easy to hold, and great for a beginner or experienced knitter alike.

Each needle is made and finished by hand, bringing out the beauty of the maple, cherry and walnut woods used.  Indian Lake Artisan’s signature standard straights, in 10″ and 14″, are the needles that have a different topper denoting the needle sizes.  Now they also have circulars, cable needles and double points in their inventory as well as beautiful shawl sticks.

All their needles are 100% guaranteed…if the tip begins to dull they will replace the needles!

As always, we have a great giveaway for you non-live listeners (or live listeners who didn’t get to call in and win), leave a comment here on the show notes with the keyword given by Pam and Mark, and be entered to win a beautiful set of Indian Lake Artisans needles!

You can find/follow Pam and Mark and Indian Lake Artisans on their website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Below we have some information on the other things mentioned on the podcast this week, Mittens for Detroit, a super sweet deal from Indian Lake Artisans for listeners of the podcast, and the weekly pattern deal!

Mittens for Detroit

Make mittens for this organization, send them to Pam and get a coupon code as a thank you! Don’t know how to make mittens? Perfect time to take Marly’s Craftsy class: https://www.craftsy.com/mgg use that link and get the class for 50% off!!!  The mailing information for sending Pam and Mark the mittens you make for this wonderful project is: PO Box 80523, Rochester, MI  48308.

A deal for everybody!

Tops and points

–A special 15% off coupon code just for The Yarn Thing listeners!

The code is case sensitive: MBirdYarnT

The weekly deal for 8/20/13 — 8/27/13.

Listen to the show to get the coupon code for 50% off!

Garden Party Sweater

Soft cotton and classic shaping form a posh design. The simple double crochet stitch pattern produces an artistic lace for a polished feel, while the oversized scallops add a touch of whimsy for a charming finish.

Cozy knitted blanket in shades of blue and gray featuring a textured stitch pattern, draped over a couch.

SPECIAL PODCAST THIS WEEK!  We have a special podcast Thursday with Brett Bara!  Make sure you tune in to hear what is new and exciting with Brett on Thursday!

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Let’s give some love to our sponsors! 
XRX Books, Knitter’s Magazine, STITCHES Expos
Craftsy.com/yarnthing
Fiesta Yarns
Drew Emborsky
Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet
Bijou Basin Ranch

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s so special about Indian Lake Artisans’ needles?

Oh my goodness, these needles are something else! Pam and Mark make them by hand from beautiful woods like maple, cherry, and walnut. They even have a cool hexagonal shape, kinda like a pencil, which makes them super comfy to hold…

Are these needles good for beginners?

Yes! Honestly, they’re great for *everyone*, but especially for beginners because of that comfy pencil-like grip. They really want to make knitting and crochet accessible and enjoyable for all skill levels…

What kind of needles do they offer?

So here’s the thing… they have their signature standard straights in a couple of lengths, but they’ve also expanded to include circulars, cable needles, double points, and even pretty shawl sticks! They’ve got you covered for pretty much any project…

What if my needle tip gets dull?

Don’t you worry about that at all! Indian Lake Artisans offers a 100% guarantee on their needles. If the tip starts to dull, they’ll happily replace them for you. How awesome is that…

How can I support Indian Lake Artisans and Mittens for Detroit?

You can totally help out both! For Mittens for Detroit, just make some mittens and mail them to Pam and Mark. As a thank you, you’ll get a coupon code… And you can find and follow Pam and Mark and Indian Lake Artisans on their website, Facebook, and Twitter too!

Miriam Felton

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This week on The YarnThing Podcast: Miriam Felton

Miriam Felton started playing with fiber, yarn and thread as soon as she could hold a needle.  In 1999, she began knitting, having been taught the basic stitch(es) by her older sister.  Designing knitwear followed soon after.  While many of her designs focus on lace patterns, all of her work features textural details, and exploring positive and negative space with the use of knitted stitches to create lyrical and strikingly visual patterns.

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(picture courtesy Miram Felton)

Miriam has had designs published in Interweave Press magazines and books, the online magazines Knitty, and Twist Collective, the book Sensual Knits, as well as self publishing patterns via her website at miriamfelton.com.

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(picture courtesy Miriam Felton)

Miriam has embarked on a 365 challenge to create something each day this year.  Be that cooking, baking, sewing, quilting, knitting, crochet and/or knitting!  If you follow her on twitter (link below), you can see her daily pictures of things that she has made each day this year.  Such a fun idea!  Have any of you done a year long project like this?

You can find Miriam on Facebook, Twitter, Ravelry, and her class on Craftsy.

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(picture courtesy Miriam Felton)

This week’s giveaway on the blog: leave your comment with the keyword that Miriam chose and be entered to win a copy of Miriam’s Craftsy Class, Lace Shawl Design!

(From Jolene: Hi back, Miriam!)

This week’s Pattern Deal:

You all have responded so awesomely to Marly’s weekly Pattern Deal, so she has decided to continue,

this week with her pattern:

Opening Night!

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(Isn’t the model ca-uute?  It’s Marly’s kid sister!)

See you all next week, tune in for a fun time with Indian Lake Artisans!

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Let’s give some love to our sponsors! 
XRX Books, Knitter’s Magazine, STITCHES Expos
Craftsy.com/yarnthing
Fiesta Yarns
Drew Emborsky
Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet
Bijou Basin Ranch

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Frequently Asked Questions

What’s Miriam Felton all about?

So here’s the thing… Miriam started playing with fiber, yarn, and thread super young and began knitting in 1999. Designing knitwear followed pretty quickly, and while she loves lace, her work really shines with texture and how she plays with space. You can find her patterns on her website, in magazines like Knitty and Twist Collective, and even in books!

What’s this 365 challenge Miriam is doing?

Honestly… Miriam is trying to create something every single day this year! It’s not just about knitting or crochet, either… she’s also cooking, baking, sewing, and quilting. If you follow her on Twitter, you can see pictures of all the cool things she makes daily. Isn’t that a fun idea?

Where can I find Miriam’s designs or connect with her?

Yes! You can find Miriam on Facebook, Twitter, and Ravelry. She also has a class on Craftsy, which sounds amazing if you want to learn more about her design style. Plus, she self-publishes patterns on her website at miriamfelton.com.

What’s the giveaway this week?

Oh my goodness, you have a chance to win a copy of Miriam’s Craftsy Class called Lace Shawl Design! All you have to do is leave a comment with the keyword that Miriam picked. So exciting!

What’s the Pattern Deal this week?

This week’s Pattern Deal is Marly’s very own pattern called Opening Night! It’s super cute, and they even used Marly’s little sister as the model for the picture. How sweet is that?

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Andi Smith

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On today’s show: Andi Smith and her new book: Big Foot Knits!
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Andi Smith is a knitter, crocheter, embroiderer and can now add designer/author to that list.  She is originally from Yorkshire, England, but has lived in the US for over 20 years.  She is a mom and special needs advocate volunteer.  Her first book, Big Foot Knits has just been released by Cooperative Press. Available in both paperback and e-book.
Comment here to be entered to win an e-book of Andi’s book as well as a skein of super yummy yarn!!
Leave your comment here, and make sure you use the code word that Andi gave on the podcast!
You can find Andi on Ravelry, Facebook, and Twitter, as well as on her blog.  You can purchase Big Foot Knits here:  https://www.cooperativepress.com/products-page/books/big-foot-knits-2/
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Other business:  Marly is starting something new!  For all of our loyal listeners, Marly is giving you a weekly pattern deal!  Marke sure you listen to the podcast for Marly’s weekly coupon code, which you can use for one week, for 50% off any pattern in Marly’s Ravelry pattern store.  The coupon code will not be listed on the blog, you can only get it if and when you listen!  Did you get this week’s coupon code?
See y’all next week!
  • Like this podcast? Be sure to leave a comment/review on iTunes to let other know about it!
  • Stay up to date with the Yarn Thing podcast with the App available on iTunes and for Droid.
  • Find our more about Marly at www.MarlyBird.com or follow her on facebook at www.facebook.com/marlybird

This podcast is sponsored by: Knitter’s Magazine, Craftsy.com, Fiesta Yarns, Decades by Drew Emborsky, Love of Knitting, Love of Crochet and Bijou Basin Ranch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Andi Smith and what is her new book about?

So here’s the thing… Andi Smith is a knitter, crocheter, embroiderer, designer, and author. She’s originally from England but has lived in the US for over 20 years. Her brand new book is called *Big Foot Knits*, and it’s all about knitting socks! It’s available in paperback and e-book.

I’m new to knitting socks and have trouble with fit… can Andi’s book help me?

Honestly… yes! Several listeners mentioned having trouble with sock fit, whether it’s due to cankles, large calves, wide feet, or narrow heels. Andi’s book sounds like it’s specifically designed to help crafters figure out how to make socks fit perfectly, no matter your foot or leg shape.

What’s this about a “cankle” mystery word and a giveaway?

Yes! In the podcast, Andi shared a fun “mystery word” which was “cankle,” and a lot of listeners found it hilarious! There was also a chance to win an e-book of Andi’s book and a skein of yarn if you left a comment and used the secret code word from the podcast. Keep an ear out for those codes!

What else is happening on the podcast or blog?

Well, Marly is starting a super cool weekly pattern deal just for loyal listeners! You have to listen to the podcast to get a special coupon code that gives you 50% off any pattern in Marly’s Ravelry store for one week. Make sure you check for that code!

Where can I find Andi Smith online?

You can totally connect with Andi on Ravelry, Facebook, and Twitter. She also has her own blog where you can probably find even more about her designs and her amazing book, *Big Foot Knits*!

Alaska Inside Passage Knitting Cruise

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Hi Everyone!!

Did you miss Marly over the last two weeks?  I know she missed you guys!!  Her time with Crafty Cruises in Alaska was absolutely the best!

The last two weeks have been an amazing whirlwind of fun for John (Marly’s hubby) and Marly!  This was the first time that the Love Birds (see what I did there?) were able to take a grownup vacation and leave the little Birds at home.

Today Marly was full of stories of their trip, ranging from the cruise details, to the fun excursions, to hers and John’s time in Seattle.

As you may know Marly is a huge fan of the Twilight series, and she talked John into going to Forks for the day, where she completely geeked out on all the Twilight things in town.  They also went and saw the coast line, and put her feet in the water (which for Marly is a big deal)!

The group of knitters on the cruise numbered about 35 people, (there were a LOT more folks on the ship, there were just 35 on the cruise to be crafty!) and there were folks from all over!  She was so excited to meet them all once everyone had gotten settled on the ship, and then get to know these folks over the course of the cruise!

Marly and John did do a whale watching excursion and had a fabulous time, and she got some amazing pictures (be sure the check them out in this post)!  She has given some pictures from all different parts of the trip for this post, so make sure you scroll through all of them here.

One of the other things that Marly was so excited to do, was yarn shop hopping!  She visited one in Seattle, and a couple in Juneau, Alaska.  What fiber enthusiast DOESN’T love a local something fun when you go on a vacation and hit up a local yarn store?  Lesson learned…make sure John is either outside the store when she completes her purchase, or at least distract him when the total comes up on the register!  (Make sure you indulge yourself in some Quivut!)

Some things Marly learned about/while cruising:

  • How to pack (minimal shoes, they take up too much room)
  • How to Muster (life jacket, CHECK!)
  • How to Tender (sit down, don’t rock the boat)
  • The cost of your cruise is not necessarily your grand total!
  • Humpback whales are solitary creatures
  • Orcas travel in pods
  • Whales’ tail fins, are much like a fingerprint!

(Sidenote from Jolene: As I’m listening I’m giggling y’all…I’m waving back to all of you as well!! – J)

Next week’s show has a super fun gifts and of course, more prizes!!

  • Like this podcast? Be sure to leave a comment/review on iTunes to let other know about it!
  • Stay up to date with the Yarn Thing podcast with the App available on iTunes and for Droid.
  • Find our more about Marly at www.MarlyBird.com or follow her on facebook at www.facebook.com/marlybird

This podcast is sponsored by: Knitter’s Magazine, Craftsy.com, Fiesta Yarns, Kollage Yarns, Decades by Drew Emborsky, Love of Knitting, Love of Crochet and Bijou Basin Ranch.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Did you go on the Alaska Inside Passage Knitting Cruise all by yourself?

Oh goodness no! Marly went with her hubby, John. It was their first grownup vacation without the kids, and they had such a blast exploring Alaska together. John even got to see some of the Twilight spots with Marly!

How many people were on the knitting cruise part of the trip?

Honestly, there were about 35 crafty folks on the cruise part of the trip, but the ship itself was much bigger! It was so exciting for Marly to meet so many fellow yarn lovers from all over the place.

Did you do any fun excursions in Alaska?

Yes! Marly and John went on a whale watching tour and saw some amazing humpback and orca whales. She also got some absolutely stunning pictures, so be sure to scroll through the post to see all the beautiful scenery!

Was yarn shop hopping part of the fun?

You bet! Marly loves hitting up local yarn stores when she travels. She visited one in Seattle and a couple in Juneau, Alaska… and let’s just say John might have needed a little distraction at checkout! 😉

What’s one thing you learned from cruising?

So here’s the thing… packing light is key! Marly learned that shoes take up a lot of precious suitcase space. She also learned how to muster and tender, and some super interesting facts about whales… like how their tail fins are unique, just like fingerprints!

The Art of Seamless Knitting

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Hi all!

This past episode was so fun, talking about The Art of Seamless Knitting with Simona Merchant-Dest and Faina Goberstein!

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These ladies are such sweet friends of mine, and I was so excited to talk to them about their new collaboration.  So many fun designs that you have the opportunity to tweak just a little bit here and there to make the pattern be something that fits you, which is one of my favorite things about their book.

Simona and Faina have such distinct and amazing styling and designs, I am so excited to share their amazing book with you, my wonderful listeners!

How to find Simona online:  Facebook, Twitter, Ravelry, her blog!

How to find Faina online:  Facebook, Twitter, Ravelry, her Ravelry group, and her blog!

As always, here we go with our super fun giveaway!  If you go and comment on my facebook page, you will be entered to win Faina’s Craftsy class, Sizing Knitwear Patterns. (Who doesn’t need a fresh new Craftsy class??)  If you leave a comment here, using the key word, you will be entered for a copy of this beautiful book!

  • Like this podcast? Be sure to leave a comment/review on iTunes to let other know about it!
  • Stay up to date with the Yarn Thing podcast with the App available on iTunes and for Droid.
  • Find our more about Marly at www.MarlyBird.com or follow her on facebook at www.facebook.com/marlybird

This podcast is sponsored by: Knitter’s Magazine, Craftsy.com, Fiesta Yarns, Kollage Yarns, Decades by Drew Emborsky, Love of Knitting, Love of Crochet and Bijou Basin Ranch.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What’s this book about, Marly?

So here’s the thing… This book, “The Art of Seamless Knitting,” is all about creating beautiful knitted items with Simona Merchant-Dest and Faina Goberstein! They have such amazing designs, and what I really love is how you can tweak them just a little bit to make them fit you perfectly.

How can I make a pattern “mine”?

Honestly… it’s all about those little tweaks! The book and the designers encourage you to customize patterns to fit your vision. So if you love a sweater but want to change the sleeves or neckline, this is the book to help you do it with confidence!

Can I win something from this episode?

Yes! If you leave a comment here on the blog using a special keyword, you’ll be entered to win a copy of this beautiful book. How fun is that?!

Where can I find Simona and Faina online?

You can totally connect with them online! Simona has a Facebook, Twitter, and Ravelry, plus her own blog. Faina is also on Facebook, Twitter, and Ravelry, and she even has a Ravelry group and her own blog. So many ways to connect with these talented ladies!

Is this book good for beginners who want to customize?

Oh, absolutely! Even if you’re not a super advanced knitter, this book is meant to give you the confidence to alter designs. It’s perfect for making one-of-a-kind sweaters that are uniquely yours!

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Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet Magazines -…

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Hi all!

This week, Marly was on location in Golden at the offices for Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet, and spoke with their wonderful editor-in-chief Jennifer Burt.

Jennifer was so wonderful to sit down and talk with Marly about all the ins and outs of things at the Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet offices and what it takes for them to put out these magazines every year.  So many different aspects were discussed, what goes into putting the magazine(s) together, what steps are involved in choosing submissions and Marly is doing everything in her power to make her way into the offices for “naming day” to watch how chosen patterns are named for each magazine.

Currently going on for the Love of Knitting/Love of Crochet folks, the summer issues of their magazines are currently out, and then coming up for the magazines are the fall and winter issues as well as two special issues!  One being a special issue for wedding related projects in mid-June, and another weekend crochet issue in mid-July.  In the weekend crochet issue, they have a side by side comparison of knitting projects vs crochet projects to debunk the myth that crochet uses double the yarn that a knit project does, and that it goes twice as fast.  (Hint: it does go faster, but that double number is about to be changed!)

You can pick up the current issues of Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet in your local craft stores, including JoAnn Fabrics, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, as well as local big bookstores.

Now, if you’d rather have a subscription to their wonderful magazine(s), you are a lucky listener!  There are THREE different ways to enter for a chance to win a subscription to their magazines!

  • As usual, leaving a comment here on the blog with the key word/phrase given by Jen, and that winner will be announced next week.
  • Comment on Love of Knitting or Love of Crochet’s Facebook pages, also using the same key word/phrase.
  • Comment on Marly’s Facebook page, and be entered to win, and if you enter on this page, Marly will draw a name THIS Friday (May 24th).

www.loveofknitting.com is their website, and there is a link in the upper right hand corner for the Love of Crochet links as well.

Next Week on the podcast: Kristin Omdahl!

  • Like this podcast? Be sure to leave a comment/review on iTunes to let other know about it!
  • Stay up to date with the Yarn Thing podcast with the App available on iTunes and for Droid.
  • Find our more about Marly at www.MarlyBird.com or follow her on facebook at www.facebook.com/marlybird

This podcast is sponsored by: Knitter’s Magazine, Craftsy.com, Fiesta Yarns, Kollage Yarns, Decades by Drew Emborsky, Love of Knitting, Love of Crochet and Bijou Basin Ranch.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the new issues coming out for Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet?

Honestly… the summer issues are out now! They also have the fall and winter issues on the way, plus two special issues… one for wedding projects coming mid-June, and a special weekend crochet issue in mid-July.

Where can I get these magazines?

So here’s the thing… you can find them in your local craft stores like JoAnn Fabrics, Michael’s, and Hobby Lobby. They’re also usually available at big bookstores!

How can I win a subscription to the magazines?

Yes! There are three ways to enter… you can leave a comment here on the blog with a special keyword, comment on the Love of Knitting or Love of Crochet Facebook pages with the keyword, or comment on Marly’s Facebook page!

Will crochet really use double the yarn compared to knitting?

The magazines did a comparison to debunk that myth! While crochet does go faster… that “double the yarn” idea is about to be changed!

What kind of content is in Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet?

They discuss all the ins and outs of putting the magazines together and what goes into choosing submissions. Marly is even trying to get in for “naming day” to see how patterns get their names!