Today on the YarnThing Podcast with Marly Bird: Susan Sullivan, Leisure Arts Editorial VP!
The show was extra long today and chock-full of great information: all about Susan Sullivan, Leisure Arts the company (they are awesome!), self publishing, designing, and everything in between. Listen in below to get it all (seriously, it would be way too long to try and put everything from the show in the notes)! All thing links for what Marly and Susan talk about are below as well!
So first a little bit about Susan. It all started when she answered an ad in the Little Rock newspaper for a craft instruction writer. Her interview at Leisure Arts was unusual to say the least. How many job interviews require one to tote bags full of sewing, crochet, quilting, painting, cross stitch, needlepoint, embroidery, and smocking for examination? Once she was deemed knowledgeable enough, she was given a test. She was given a completed plastic canvas 3-D toy soldier which was from a kit that the company was selling at the time. She was also given a kit with all the materials EXCEPT the instructions. Her job was to write complete instructions including drawing the charts showing how to stitch the pieces and giving assembly instructions to create the soldier. She passed the test. Susan started out as a technical writer for all skill sets EXCEPT knit and crochet which were managed in a separate department. Her first management position was overseeing the staff for magazines and a hardbound cross stitch book series. She started managing knit and crochet publications in 1995 and that has been her true passion ever since. She was a crocheter all along but only started knitting after she started managing the yarn publications. Having daily exposure to beautiful knitted items made her determined to learn. And it was great to have on site experts to help her when she hit a snag!
Susan was passionate about her work and her path lead her to advance to Publications Director, then to Managing Editor and finally Editor in Chief in 2007. She was named Vice President of Editorial in 2011. She is incredibly proud of all of the publications and products that her team creates and fully credits this dedicated and talented group with making them come to fruition. After 25 years at Leisure Arts, Susan still can’t believe she gets to go to work every day and gets paid to play with yarn, fabric, rubber bands, and duct tape. Of course, there are those contracts, production schedules, and budgets that tend to jerk her back to reality. But she is truly thankful for all of the opportunities she has received during her time at the 43 year old publishing company.
Leisure Arts puts out books, booklets, leaflets, and products for virtually every craft you can think of. This includes knitting and crochet (their biggest seller), cross-stitch, jewelry making, needlepoint, quilting and sewing. Their basic viewpoint is that everyone should be able to make/use their products. As such, their books are written so that even beginners are able to follow the directions for more advanced techniques. They work with many designers to write their books (including Marly herself!). In addition to their print books and leaflets, Leisure Arts also puts up e-books for sale. They also have videos and on-line tutorials on their website. A few examples of their leaflets are below (Julie here, I learned to crochet from my Mom with the original version of I Can’t Believe I’m Crocheting!, original and updated versions shown).
Important links from the show:
- Leisure Arts Website
- Craft Yarn Council Website, links to the health benefits site, videos and the Discover Knit and Crochet classes/teaching certification are here.
- The Knook, the new thing in the yarn world.
- Design submissions guide for Leisure Arts, anyone can submit.
- Leaflet Number 1, (couldn’t get the image to load up so here it is as a pdf), image of the cover of the very first Leisure Arts publication.
You can also find Leisure Arts on: Facebook, Ravelry, Twitter, and Pintrest.
And definitely won’t forget the GIVEAWAY!! As always, leave a comment below with Susan’s keyword for your chance to win today’s prize: a Crochet pack from Leisure Arts!
Let’s give some love to our sponsors!
XRX Books, Knitter’s Magazine, STITCHES Expos
Craftsy.com/yarnthing
Indian Lake Artisans
Fiesta Yarns
Drew Emborsky
Bijou Basin Ranch
Buffalo Wool Co.
Green Mountain Spinnery
KnitCrate
Leisure Arts is a very important part of my knitting and crocheting background. I still have patterns that I bought way back in my teen years. In fact, I just picked up some more (crochet motifs).
I’ve considered getting The Knook for my sister, a crocheter who refused to even try knitting because there’s too much to keep track of.
I thoroughly enjoyed the podcast with Leisure Arts and learned a lot. I saw the Knook in Walmart and I think that is one of the reasons I picked up knitting again. Looking forward to many more podcasts with Happy Marly and her creative guests.
I enjoyed listening to your podcast, even though I couldn’t’ listen to it live. I bought The Knook, and I can’t wait to start learning how to use it!
I must get the Knook to help teach my young granddaughters to knit!
I just watched the Knook video and it looks so easy!!
Now I need to get me a Knook. Always good to have another tool in the toolbox, and the knook it my next.
The Knook ….. definitely on my “to do” list to help pass these long and dreary winter days! Great podcast, Marly! Susan was very informative; love Leisure Arts! Looking forward to the next one!
The Knock is like the perfect marriage between my two favorite fiber arts.
The Knook looks and sounds like a fun thing to use. I will have to give the Knook a try.
What a wonderful show. I have always wondered what the craze for The Knook was all about. I love when we get the back story on the books and products we use.
The Knook sounds fascinating. I’ve always wanted a tool like this to use for picking up stitches in my knitting. Also, great info on this podcast! Loved hearing the stories and getting to know more about Leisure Arts. I’m one of those knitters who doesn’t really have access to a local yarn shop, so I appreciate seeing the leaflets and books in Walmart.=)
The knook is a very cool idea, but what I really want is a pair of hooked knitting needles. It would make trying to knit continental easier.
This podcast was riveting! All sorts of great info that I didn’t know. I was stunned to learn that there are more crocheters than kinitters. Who knew? (I am partial to crocheting myself, but knitting seems to get all the glory.)
I look forward to checking out the Leisure Arts videos, especially the one about the Knook so I can learn what it is. (Cool name!)
Thank you, Marly, for your great interviews and exuberance. I am a new listener and completely hooked already! Can’t wait to hear more!
I’ve never tried the Knook, but have seen it at JoAnn’s.
I think the Knook is a great idea and another way to explore needle art! Great podcast!
It’s been years since I’ve knitted, I’m more of a crocheted, but the knook looks like something I must try!!!
Always interesting to hear about all that’s going on behind the scenes! I have seen and heard about the Knook, and I think my daughters would enjoy learning to knit with it!
Wonderful show. Now I understand the knook and it can help my crochet friends who want to learn to knit be successful Thank you for imparting knowledge with your intervîews.
Shelly
I would love to try the knook!!
I learned a lot of great stuff from this podcast with Susan Sullivan. I had heard of The Knook but hadn’t checked it out. I suffer from elbow tendonitis that’s aggravated by knitting so this may be a solution to my woes!
The interview was wonderful! I love hearing about talented, passionate people in the industry! And as usual, I’ll need to check out The Knook — something new.
The Knook sounds interesting. My sister has never been able to master knitting maybe that would help. I looked for the APP in ITunes and couldn’t find it. Any help?
Very interesting podcast as I had not heard of Leisure Arts before, and I have now subscribed to their newsletter. As a knitter I would love to try The Knook.
The Knook! I have been looking at it for at least a year! I would love to win one to teach myself and then my granddaugher. I so hope I WIN!!!
I knit and crochet and saw the knook and wanted to give it a whirl! Always fun to learn something new!! I love trying different techniques even if they give you the same look! Thank you for the chance!
Another fabulous guest and wonderful show! I love Leisure Arts. Looking forward to checking out The Knook.
Grest episode! I am a big fan of Leisure Arts and would love to try The Knook someday.
Thanks for another great episode! I have many Leisure Arts booklets, and it was really interesting to hear about the process that leads to their publication. I’ve crocheted since childhood, but The Knook actually got me to try knitting for the first time!
I Love the Knook. It is such fun to do.
Thanks for another great podcast. Even though I do both knit and crochet, The Knook sounds like something I should try.
I just got a Leisure Arts pattern on-line a few weeks ago and found The Knook. I tried to describe it to a knitting friend of mine, which resulted in a blank stare when I explained the tool and said that I thought they were knitting with a crochet hook. So I showed her the video, and her mind was blown!
Actually I think it would be the perfect ‘gateway drug’ for me (a crocheter), because I’m so used to hooking the yarn, that knitting needles just don’t seem to work so well.
I started crafting in middle school with Leisure Arts patterns for plastic canvas and cross-stitch. Now I don’t leave the house without a crochet hook and yarn in my purse, just in case!
I have tried knitting but gave up after one scarf. I might give the knook a try!
I am a brand new listener, and I am so glad I found you!
Thanks for another great show! I love my knook and I am always looking for new patterns. I feel like I am cheating on knitting but I love how easy it is!
Love the podcast! I am always looking to try new things and would love to try the Knook someday.