Hi Everyone!

This week, Gwen Bortner joins Marly on the posdcast!

Gwen has a new class on Craftsy.com, “How to Teach It” and is here to tell us more!  Not only can her class apply to crafty teaching, but applies to many different aspects of teaching something in general!

Gwen is also known as the Entrelac Queen, and has a book out regarding this as well as another Craftsy.com class, called “Entrelac Knitting“.

Gwen Bortner is a Craft Yarn Council Certified Teacher, teaches knitting and business classes at venues throughout the country, has been published in a variety of knitting magazines and is the lead designer for her business, Knitability, LLC.

Education is probably the most important component of the Knitability business plan as all efforts focus on the company motto of “Taking Knitters to the Next Level”. Gwen’s passion is teaching and enjoys every opportunity she has to share her love of knitting with others. Whether teaching through the local community education program or at a national knitting convention, meeting new people and sharing the love of knitting is one of her greatest joys.

In recent years, Gwen has combined her previous work experience as a business consultant for Ernst and Young, LLP and her passion for teaching by offering business classes for members of the crafting industry. Her most recent endeavor was converting her class “Share Your Passion, Teach!” into an online offering via Craftsy called “How to Teach It”

Gwen’s teaching philosophy can be summed up in the following quote, “My job is to make the students’ (in this case other teachers’) toolbox bigger.  If all you own is a hammer, everything looks like a nail! In the process of providing options, more skills are developed and a better teacher is the result. Handcraft skills are rarely passed down between relatives anymore. Good teachers of all handcrafts are critical to ensuring these creative skills continue to be practiced.”

You can find Gwen on Facebook, Twitter, Ravelry, Craftsy and her website!

As you know, Marly loves her listeners who listen after the live show, so leave a comment with the keyword, and be entered to win Gwen’s Crafty class, “How To Teach It”!

Happy rest of the week y’all!

• 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

Who is Gwen Bortner?

Honestly… Gwen Bortner is a Craft Yarn Council Certified Teacher and a lead designer for Knitability, LLC. She teaches knitting and business classes and has been published in knitting magazines. She’s also known as the Entrelac Queen!

What is Gwen’s new class about?

So here’s the thing… Gwen has a new class on Craftsy.com called “How to Teach It”. It’s all about teaching, not just for crafty things but for teaching in general! She even converted her “Share Your Passion, Teach!” class into this online offering.

What is Gwen’s teaching philosophy?

Yes! Gwen believes her job is to expand the “toolbox” for students, giving them more options and skills to become better teachers. She feels it’s super important to have good teachers for all handcrafts because sadly, these skills aren’t always passed down in families anymore.

Where can I find Gwen online?

You can totally connect with Gwen on Facebook, Twitter, Ravelry, and her website! She’s got a whole presence out there to share her love of knitting and teaching.

How can I win Gwen’s class?

Here’s the scoop… if you leave a comment on the Marly Bird podcast page with a specific keyword, you can be entered to win Gwen’s Craftsy class, “How To Teach It”! It’s a great way to get her awesome teaching knowledge.

Marly’s All Male Revue continues with Stephen West of WestKnits!

Stephen joined Marly from right here in Denver, however due to our crazy  spring weather, they missed doing the interview face to face.  (Bummer!)  However, a super fun time was had by all!

Stephen West is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma. After moving to the Chicago area, he caught the knitting bug and started designing patterns while epic amounts of wool infiltrated into his life. There was no looking back.

He moved to Amsterdam two years ago to study Choreography at the School for New Dance Development and he travels frequently teaching knitting workshops throughout the United States and Europe. He creates his own series of popular self-published pattern collections and also designs for Malabrigo Yarns and knitty.com.

You can find Stephen on his website, Twitter, Ravelry and his Facebook.

This week, Stephen and Marly gave away a copy of one of Stephen’s books as well as an advanced copy of his Craftsy.com class, coming out in about a month or so!  Now, if you listen to Marly’s show at all, you know that there aren’t just on the air giveaways, there are post show giveaways, and this week is no exception!  Leave a comment in the thread below, and you will be entered to win a free e-book from Stephen!  Don’t forget that keyword!

Up next week: Franklin Habit!

• 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

Where is Stephen West from?

So here’s the thing… Stephen West is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He caught the knitting bug after moving to the Chicago area and started designing patterns there.

What else does Stephen West do besides design?

Honestly… Stephen West travels frequently teaching knitting workshops throughout the United States and Europe. He also creates his own popular self-published pattern collections and designs for Malabrigo Yarns and knitty.com.

How can I find Stephen West online?

Yes! You can find Stephen on his website, Twitter, Ravelry, and his Facebook page.

What was given away on Marly’s show?

Well… Stephen and Marly gave away a copy of one of Stephen’s books and an advanced copy of his Craftsy.com class. Plus, listeners could leave a comment to win a free e-book from Stephen!

What’s the buzz about Stephen West’s designs?

Oh my goodness… many people feel Stephen West has created a movement in knitting! His designs are loved for their movement and swing, especially his shawls, and people are inspired by how he incorporates movement into his work.