YarnCraft interview and contest
Note: Don’t miss the giveaway at the end of this post!
YarnCraft, Lion Brand’s knitting and crocheting podcast, will air its 100th episode on September 13th! You can catch up on any episodes you’ve missed at the YarnCraft blog, or listen directly through iTunes.
The YarnCraft hosts, Liz and Zontee, are on a celebration blog tour, and today they’ve stopped at PlanetJune for a chat…
June: When you’re not podcasting, what are your roles at Lion Brand?
Liz: I do the product development at Lion Brand, which means I am in the lucky position of getting to work directly with mills to produce our new yarns!
Zontee: I work in marketing on content and outreach. I edit our various email newsletters like The Weekly Stitch and YarnPlay, oversee our blog (The Lion Brand Notebook), produce the podcast, and develop content for our website. I also work on our programs at yarn conventions and festivals and work with artists and designers who use our yarns, which means I get to spend a lot of time getting out in the yarncrafting community.
June: You’re both very knowledgeable! Has working on the show broadened your knowledge? And what’s your favourite yarncraft?
Liz: Working on the show has definitely encouraged me to learn a lot more about yarncrafting. We have such great guests that all specialize in different areas, so we get a lot of great information from them. And our listeners always challenge us with unique questions, so we have to do our research to bring them the right answers!
Zontee: One thing I’ve learned about teaching others is that it makes you more aware of the skills you already possess and just how difficult it can sometimes be to explain them. Working on the show has made me more appreciative of people who teach crafts and teach in general, because it really is a skill. I don’t think either Liz or I can really pick a favorite yarncraft, since we’re both multi-craftual. I’m just going to say that I think every craft has its strengths and its place in the world.
June: What’s your favorite YarnCraft episode?
Liz: I love all the episodes with Lily Chin because I always learn something new whenever she’s on the show. My all-time favorite tip is taping your swatch to the wall to measure gauge to get more accurate numbers!
Zontee: I like the episodes when we answer listener questions, because I think that they’re the episodes that cover the most varied, and in the end, probably the most useful advice for our listeners’ daily crafting lives.
June: Liz, I mentioned on Twitter the other day that I was having trouble finding good yellow shades for my amigurumi and there was a lot of agreement. Is there a particular reason for the lack of yellow/orange shades of yarn?
Liz: Generally if it’s hard to find a certain color, yarn weight, or fiber, it’s because that type of product has not sold well for retailers in the past. Yellow and Oranges have typically not been strong sellers in yarn. Even though these have been trendy colors in fashion the last few years, a lot of customers are hesitant to wear yellow and orange, or use it in home décor. We have a great article on our website about Natural Dyeing with food and spices that produced some nice yellows if you want to experiment and make your own.
June: That makes sense; I wouldn’t want to wear yellow/orange shades either – I’d only use them to make flowers and animals! I’d love to try natural dyeing; unfortunately I’m sensitive to wool and acrylic won’t accept dye – it’d be a great solution for people who can work with wool though.
Thank you, Liz and Zontee, for taking the time to chat with me!
Win Vanna’s Choice yarn and a PlanetJune pattern!
I love to design amigurumi patterns using Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice yarn. It has more substance than many other worsted weight yarns, which makes for really nice shaping on my amigurumi, and there’s a huge range of lovely muted colours to choose from.
All these PlanetJune crochet patterns use Vanna’s Choice yarn
Liz and Zontee are giving one lucky reader three balls of Vanna’s Choice in the colour(s) of your choice, and I’ll kick in a free PlanetJune pattern of your choice too, to give you a project for your new yarn!
To enter: just leave a comment on this post, letting me know which shade(s) you’d choose for your 3 balls of Vanna’s Choice if you win (and as you can make at least two amigurumi from one ball, I’d recommend you choose a selection of colours!) and which pattern of mine you’d like!
The contest is not US only (yay!) – you can enter if you have a shipping address in the US or any of the countries Lion Brand can ship to. (If you’re from outside the US you’ll be responsible for any duty and/or import taxes on the prize.)
You may enter until 6pm (EST) on Thursday September 15th 2011. I’ll draw a random winner from all the entries after that time.
Good luck!
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Spring said
Thank you for such a great interview and giveaway. I love reading your blog and your patterns are so adorable. If I won, I would definitely love to make the Stegosaurus for my 3 year old dino obsessed nephew. As for the colors of Vanna’s choice, Linen, Dusty Blue and Silver Blue.
Thanks again for the generous giveaway!
lee said
I adore your lizard pattern! I would choose Vanna yarn in linen, black and mustard yellow. thanks for the lovely giveaway!
Onin said
I thought I left a comment here! anyway, I’ll try again.
I’m Onintze from Spain and I love everything you create. Speccially your dinosaurs. If I win, I would love to do the yellow one or the brown. I don’t know their names in English 🙁
And about the colours, I like very much the oranges but it’s true that is difficult to find the exact colour you’re looking for. I love the convination of light green and orange so I’ll choose Terracota, Dusty purple and Lime
I hope you continue creating such a beautiful things!!
Love
onin
Catlyn L. said
So great! 🙂 Id have to choose the colors Magenta, Mustard, and Pea Green!
Pam said
I like vanna’s choice too! It’s durable and soft. I like sapphire, Magenta, and Kelly green. I love your sea turtle pattern. 🙂
Carmen said
I’d pick pink for bunnies, Silver blue for elephants and Wheat for teddy bears.
Karyn S said
What a fun giveaway. I would like the monkey pattern and chocolate, toffee and linen to work with to make it.
Allison said
Hmm….let me see…..mmmm
Scarlet, wild berry and kelly green to kick off my two year old’s dinosaur collection, starting with the stegosaurus!
Laura said
You’ve got a wonderful blog and tutorial here – my mom just told me about it this morning and I’ve enjoyed browsing through what you have. Thanks for the chance at this giveaway. I would get denim mist, dark gray heather, and mountain print, and I’d like to have the fuzzy monkeys pattern. Thanks again!
Bethany said
I love Lion Brand yarn. A book from them was actually what got me into amigurumi. The colors I would choose would be pink, linen, and taupe. The pattern I would love to make is the farmyard pigs pattern.
Rossella said
Hi!
I’d love the AquaAmi Sea Turtle, because I just love turtles and tortoises!!!
I would crochet it in:
Pearl pist, beige and chocolate 🙂
I didn’t know Lion Brand would ship to Italy, thanks!!!
Kim said
ooo, I love Vanna’s yarns they are so fun for making my amis! I would have to pick Purple Mist, Aqua and Fern. I would love to make some whimsical amis from the Pocket Ami set 2 Bunny Sheep Dragonfly, they would be so much fun!
Love your blog and tips, thank you so much!
Richard Rose said
I’m not sure what the names of the colours are but I would like a dusty green, a dusty pink and a pale blue. If you have any owl patterns I need a new one. 🙂
holly n said
I would choose scarlet, mustard and fern… and I’d choose the fuzzy lamb pattern..it’s just so soft and snuggly looking!!
Valencia said
What a great interview. I’m looking forward to seeing the LionBrand booth and seeing Zontee at the Knit & Crochet Show coming to my home state NC.
I’m getting in the seasonal mood, so I’d like to try the Christmas tree and ornaments from Planet June. I’d choose green, red and gold for my project.
thanks!
Melanie said
Oh, how fun!
I would LOVE the pattern for your sea turtle! Such a great design!
As for Vanna’s Choice, I would choose Eggplant, Kelly Green, and Cranberry.
*fingers crossed!* 🙂
Melanie
Naomi said
I love amigurumi! If I win, I would like cranberry, silver grey, and mustard.
Valerie Coleman said
I’d love to make your AmiDogs German Shepherd in black and chocolate and the denim mist is a beautiful color.
Christina said
How timely! My nephew just asked me whether I could knit or crochet a marshmallow, an apple, and a pear for him. Vanna’s Choice and Planet June patterns are just the remedy. I’d pick Crispy White, Fern, and Scarlet to make the fruit and it’s cushy companion. Thanks for the giveaway and your work on the website.
Dani Vilella said
I would love any shades of blacks, browns and greens!
Sonja said
Hi June,
Hehe, you seemed to be the interviewer in this podcast, or where you supposed too? Good questions :). I’ve never heard one of these podcasts unfortunately.
The colours I would pick are very fall-ish. Rust, beige and expresso, to make your beautiful red fox pattern!
May the luck be with me.
Cheers, Sonja.
Andrea said
Ooooh, I’d get the Fern, Cranberry, and Mustard colorways, though none of those colors would make me a fruit bat from your catalogue, and I certainly find it one of the most adorable critters you’ve done!
Lynn Peterson said
I’d want to make the Triceratops. I have a set of stuffed triceratops in my car, and I’d love to add a handmade one to the herd. The colors I’d like are Fern, Olive, and Kelly Green.
Yaney said
I’ve never used Vanna’s Choice yarn..only because I haven’t seen it around in the local store shelves. They have a lovely range of colours. I’d love to get the following:
Antique rose, Honey & Charcoal print.
As for your patterns, they are all awesome. Tough choice… Hmmm… I think i’d go with your Halloween pocket ami set.
Good luck to everyone!
Heather said
I’ve admired your poison dart frog for ages. I’d make one to keep me company at my desk. I’d make him all blue, so for yarn I’d go with Aqua, Sapphire and Colonial Blue.
Meg P said
Wow! Everyone else asked MUCH easier questions for the prize!
Having to choose just one shade of VC presents a true quandry, but I think I’d pick Sapphire — whatever I make with it pops, and it combines well with many of the other VC shades.
For the pattern, I’m stumped — any PlanetJune pattern I don’t have! The cactus collections and the luck bamboo are on the top of my list to do soon, so I think I’d choose one of those.
Jana said
Wow, trying to choose only three colors out of 57 luscious ones is hard! I guess I would go with the Golden off white, warm medium brown, and the deep gold. I think these would be good for some of the ami dog patterns! As for which pattern? Gee, I have no idea, June! I think I have almost ALL of your patterns already! LOL! No, I think there are a couple of the doggies I don’t have yet. Will have to investigate and let you know. 🙂
Jessi said
Oooooh!!! Thanks for doing the interview!
So hard to choose just three!
I’d saaayyy Dusty Rose, Silver Heather, and Aqua!
Jessi said
Whoops…
I LOVELOVELOVE the Fuzzy lamb pattern and any of the dinosaurs!!!
Rebecca said
I’m loving purple mist, silver heather and dusty purple!!! 😉
Monica said
Congradulations on the Podcast! That was very exciting! I bet you thought so too! After being able to try the Vanna’s Choice yarn, I’m HOOKED! 😉 I do not know exact colors but brown, blue, and a green maybe for the colors. or even the Brick for another Duroc Pig! : ) Not sure what pattern, all of them are awesome! Maybe the lizard or the llama. Thanks again June for all your wonderful patterns! You’re amazing at what you do!
Jemma said
I would choose the colours Pearl Mist, Cranberry, and Mustard.
I’d love to receive your pattern for the Kingfisher.
Gail said
How fun! I’d choose the shades of Purple Mist, Aqua, and Fern. And for the pattern, I’d love to try the cute little African Violets pattern….they’d look neat sitting next to my real ones!
Maryann said
Your patterns are great, and I love Vanna’s Choice! I’d love to win the Cactus Collections 1 & 2–such a great variety would make some great gifts. I’d choose Vanna’s Choice in Fern, Kelly Green, and Chocolate to make them.
Kateryn said
That was a fun interview! I enjoyed it very much. Thanks!
Pick only three colours and only one pattern – TOO hard! Well, the prize is worth the effort 😉
For colours I would choose Brick, Wildberry, and Dusty Green. For the pattern… I would choose your sea turtle!
(my next purchase will be the cactus collections 1 & 2, but that’s really 8 patterns, not one!)
Alicia said
This is a hard one to decide…it would have to be either fuzzy kitten or fuzzy guinea pig patterns. Or Fuzzy Lamb! Fortunately the yarn colours could be the same: black white and pink!
Pat cicchino said
I love the brown and cream colored bat. The red and blue bat is also quite cute.I love seeing new ideas and new yarns.
Rachael said
I love Vanna’s Choice!
I would like to attempt the groundhog and I would choose Honey, Rust, and Mustard. Love the yellows and oranges!
Erika said
Oh cool! I’ve never actually tried Vanna’s Choice yet, but a friend said it was pretty good. I would love to try the fuzzy rat pattern and as for colors I’d love tangerine mist, beige, and fern.
d said
I love your sea turtle pattern, but I missed some of the ones people commented about! I would like to get the colors of the 3 back row dinosaurs.
Brianna said
I love the color of vanna’s choice yarn so the three that I would have to choose are pumpkin orange, dusty rose and cranberry, thankyou!
MissMaro said
This article was very informative. I have always wondered why it’s so hard to find yellow yarn, since somehow a lot of the patterns I make call for it!
If I were to win, I would choose Dusty Blue, Charcoal Grey, and Scarlet Vanna’s Choice Yarn. Pattern-wise, I’d have to say the Dolphin because it’s one of my favorites and I was planning to buy it sometime in the future anyway. But it might be a little too difficult for me at the moment…
yvonne said
I love the Vanna yarn 🙂 Rose, Terracota and Fern. I love your pocket ami set 1 or set 2. Great contest!
Gillian McMullen said
This was a helpful interview and it brought together two of my favorite businesses: Planet June and Lion Brand. If I win, I would love to have Vanna’s Choice in Dusty Green, Mustard, and Honey (sounds like an interesting food recipe!). The pattern I would like is the Gecko!
Ashlee said
I’m brand new to crochet and yarn crafts; five days into my crocheting career. This would be so fun to win!
I started crocheting because both my brother and best friend are having babies soon. I would choose Eggplant, Dusty Purple, and Tangerine Mist Vanna’s Choice yarns for a project I have in mind. After that project I would love to make your Sea Turtle pattern (so cute!).
Thanks for the contest. I look forward to reading your blog and searching your site!
Ashlee
tiffany said
I would use rose, toupe and the very light blue. I would love to try the poison dart frog.
Deborah said
Love your work June! Congrats to the podcast. Thank you for the giveaway. It was hard to choose the yarn and pattern! It would be great to get the colors magenta, olive, and denim mist. I know it doesn’t match my pattern choice, but I think the fuzzy monkeys are awesome!
Lois Lilling said
I have two baby grand nieces.
I’m looking forward to making the dinos for them in some bright colors.
Thanks I hope I win.
Lois
Virginia said
Pattern would have to be the ‘izard for our 2 yr old DGS who loves to find them around our country home. As for the colors Taupe Mist, Terracotta and Eggplant
Lois Lilling said
I love all the dinosaurs. CAN’T WAIT TO TRY MAKING ONE.
I enjoy working with any bright colors. Hopefully, I’ll win.
Sincerely,
Lois
Sam said
I love Vanna’s Choice yarn, its so soft despite being acrylic. The colors I’d choose would be Kelly Green, Toffee, and Sapphire. And I’s always wanted to try your Parasaurolophus (my favorite dinosaur!).