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In this episode of The Crochet Side podcast, I ramble about:

- the Crochet and Knit Giveaways
- how it’s been near-on years since the last episode
- the project I was working on at the time of recording
- the fact that i like being a miss know-it-all and teaching
- the idea of becoming a crochet awesome-teer (certified teacher with a GOLD STAR)
- “Simple Crochet for Cherished Babies”
- “Handmade Bags” by Terrence Terry
- Worsted Weight stash vs DK Weight stash
- Using up my stash

And then I hit the easy route and tack on a story and some previous recordings from a never-heard episode recording.

LINKS
01. Crochet and Knit Giveaways (official website)
02. Marly, of the Yarn Thing podcast
03. Drew Emborsky (The Crochet Dude)
04. Ravelry
05. Trendsetter Yarns and Barry Klein
06. Handmade Bags by Terence Terry
07. Simple Crochet for Cherished Babies

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THIS EPISODE
Here’s the second in what I hope will be a long series of”How to Crochet” podcast mini-episodes.

This episode discusses hooks–styles, materials, et cetera. There’s even a Dr Seuss rip-off for fun.

COMING UP
How To, Episode 3 will be: “Down and Dirty Hooker Basics” - how to form a slip knot and make a chain stitch.

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In this episode, Marly, from the Yarn Thing, joins me as we discuss random things, but MOST IMPORTANTLY, an unveiling of the Super Secret project called the Crochet and Knit Giveaways.

I also announce a page I created to help you calculate the yardage you will need for your projects. To quote the page itself:

“The purpose of this site is to help ease the frustration that some of us have when it comes to designing, altering, or just plain trying to figure out how much yarn a project will require. Math can addle the mind, make us feel stupid, but it’s not something that should frustrate you to the point where your hair is coming out in clumps. The math is fairly ease when it’s broken down in a way that’s easy to understand, but this site isn’t about that. This site is about turning that frown upside down!“

Another note before posting links: we need YOU to help promote the Crochet and Knit Giveaways. You have the entire weekend to help spread the word to your favorite boards/forums, pages, blogs, et cetera. Don’t be a spammer, but share share share!

Links
01. Crochet and Knit Giveaways
02. Marly of the Yarn Thing
03. Project Calculator - How Much Yarn Will You Need?
04. The Loopy Ewe
05. Interweave Press
06. Scouts Swag
07. Red Rocks Fiber Works

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Welcome to episode 14, “How Many Times Will It Take?”

First up, I discuss the possibility of purchasing, or finding through Freecycle, a computer to have a dedicated podcast option to start a studio in the garage. Following that, I discuss:

- What I’m crocheting, of course, and what I’ve just finished.
- How I’ve been dying to dye.
- I’ll mention a yarn store for those of you in the Portland, Oregon area to check out if you haven’t already.
- A couple of yarn/roving shops online that I think are worth a visit.
- I have a story to share with you, and it’s both funny AND humiliating, so that’s a bonus for you.
- A stitch pattern I’d like to share with you so that you can pick up the hook while you listen, if you haven’t already, or just to give you a new stitch pattern to try out when you’re at a loss on what to crochet next.

Next week, Marly of the Yarn Thing and I will be recording a special episode to share with all of our listeners about the new secret project we have underway. It’s all set to launch, and we’re excited to finally be able to share it with you. Yes, it’s already overdue, but our timing hasn’t been the best. It won’t even be the best if we launch in the next week, so we’re going to finally air it all out in the open, give you the scoop, and, with any luck, launch the big bada boom the week after. So, keep your eyes and ears out, stay tuned, and you’ll be hearing from us soon!

**I apologize for the squeaky chair.

LINKS
01. The Wool Eater Blanket by Sarah London
02. CopperPot.etsy.com
03. HazelKnits.etsy.com
04. LaughingRat.etsy.com
05. Yarniapdx.com
06. Yarniapdx.blogspot.com
07. Harmony Stitch Guide, vol 6

p.s. this marks 6 months of the podcast, I believe!

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In this episode I’m bored, sad, and I get sappy over how much I love my kid sister-in-law, and how my daily routine is ruined now that she’s out of town visiting friends for a long weekend. Kids should be confined to the house! Until they annoy you, and then they can be let outside on a leash. That fixes all of my problems, actually.

Back to business–there’s also talk about how I submitted, for the first time ever(!), to Interweave Crochet. Three designs, and only one of which is one I’ve spoken of before. The felted one I previously mentioned? Yeah, that one broke me down with it’s neediness, and I threw it into a corner of my bedroom. Still, I’m super excited about the ones I DID submit, and I hope IC enjoys the heck out of them enough to want one, or all (HEY, a girl can dream).

I mention the previous mini-episode, the first of the “How To Crochet” sub-podcast, and how I’ve already got the second one set-up, I just need to record the thing.

Umm, there’s some other stuff, including two clips of Michelle and I singing “Beat It” and “We are Family”, because I miss her, and my routine and LIFE are ruined. Where am I going to get my entertainment now? She was like a dolphin that did tricks! Really pretty, and skilled at jumping through hoops, but would sometimes chatter at an unbelievably high pitched ee-ee-eee-e-ee-eeeeeee. Or not. I’m really bad at this being alone thing. Hopefully someone will wake up and amuse me soon. There are three other people in this house, surely one of them can do the job.

LINKS
01. Yarn Thing (Marly)
02. The Loopy Ewe

YARN
Okay, I mention looking at yarn, and how I can’t afford any, but, there I was, looking at more. While drooling and sobbing at the same time, I came across these fantastic deals:

01. Jaeger Roma via Smiley’s Yarns for $1.99
02. Lily Elite Cotton via Smiley’s Yarns for $0.99
03. Cervinia Softer via Smiley’s Yarns for $2.99

And then there were these that I bookmarked over at the Loopy Ewe:

04. Charlie Chan via Lime-n-Violet at The Loopy Ewe
05. Elizabeth Taylor via Lime-n-Violet at The Loopy Ewe
06. Plum Pudding via The Plucky Knitter at The Loopy Ewe

Then I found the Roving section of the Loopy Ewe and fainted dead. Really, it’s a miracle I’m even able to type this from the afterlife.

01. Femme via Tempted Yarns at The Loopy Ewe
02. Alpaca Briar Rose via Sakina Needles at The Loopy Ewe
03. Alpaca Cockles via Sakina Needles at The Loopy Ewe

Okay, seriously, I need to stop before I make myself sick with lust.

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Here’s the start of the new mini-episodes I mentioned in the previous podcast episode. A “how to crochet”, along with many suggestions, tricks, tips, and more.

THIS EPISODE
Here’s the first in a long series of “How to Crochet” podcast mini-episodes.

The first discusses yarn–which size is good for learning how to crochet, and why you shouldn’t spend $20 on that first skein.

COMING UP
How To, Episode 2 will be: One hook, two hooks, oops I’m a hooker!
A look into the hooks, sizes, and styles.