knittingthestash Episode 118: Tips for Buying Yarn Online and a 10K Giveaway

Well my yarn peeps--we've done it! 10K subscribers. Wowza. Let's celebrate with a HUGE yarn giveaway, shall we? Plus, I have 5 tips for buying yarn online that will make your purchases--and projects--successful. Hint: kits are your friend! And, of course, a little Flock Farm Yarn Shop Update. I hope you'll grab a cup of tea and hang a while! ~Melissa

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: The giveaway is closed; the winner was announced on episode 119. Thanks so much for all of your comments and kind words!

SHOW NOTES:

1st or 51st Sweater KAL

Amy Engelbrecht-Wiggans

Laurie Lamont

Jennifer Chisam

Fire and Ice Cowl Kits

Yarn Card Photos

You can find me:
on Ravelry as knittingthestash

Chapters
00:00 Welcome
03:10 5 Tips for Buying Yarn Online
16:22 Pairing Kits with Small-Batch Yarn
23:44 Flock Farm Yarn Shop Update
26:56 10K Giveaway

[inykim]

Congratulations on 10K, Melissa! Your podcast is a real standout for me - I enjoy your skilled and thoughtful knitting, technical discussion, history lessons, and farmy yarn talk. Would love to continue seeing more all natural yarn, both undyed and naturally dyed, in the shop. Thank you for giving us access to yarns and makers we wouldn’t otherwise hear about!

[anitateigen]

I always watch your podcast as soon as it comes out. I love your varied content. I especially enjoy when you deep dive into sweater design/modification/reworking and also into techniques and books. Spencer always adds some levity as well. You've created a special niche for yourself, and thank you for teaching us about farm yarns!

[vegetablesmatter]

That was so cool at the end to see all the one-skein project ideas to sample yarn come back into play as you showed off all the beautiful skeins of the giveaway. It all came full circle!
One thing I really love about your podcast is your theme of the year. Last year's knitting history was super fun, and it's been a joy seeing the Flock Farm Yarn Shop grow. I don't know that there's anything in particular I want you to do more of; rather, I know and trust that you're going to keep producing content that I love. Plus, as I've said before, I'm a braver knitter knowing that I can come to you for help!

[zoedoodle]

Even though I'm not much of a sweater knitter, I love watching your podcasts. You have so many interesting tips and facts about yarn and knitting and your enthusiasm for what you do is so lovely. And it's always fun and very sweet seeing you and Spencer interacting and cutting up when he makes a cameo appearance.

[ammmullan]

It's wonderful to find a podcast that includes the more technical aspects of yarn. A goal for my knitting, going forward, is to try a different yarn for each new project -- big or small. I love the feel of wool and other yarns as they run through my needles; you really get to know the fibres. Keep up the good work.

[lindarose]

Congratulations! It is exciting that so many people have recognized the clear, passionate and creative space you create here. Learning about the properties - of fibers from various sheep breeds, and of yarns made from those raw fibers- is fascinating.

[gottmuscle]

Congratulations on reaching such an amazing milestone. Loved your tips and suggestions for trying new yarns. They came at just the right time for me. So nice that you showcase the smaller farms and small batch yarns. Thankful that we have the Internet so they can reach a greater audience, thanks to your podcasts.

[slowstitches]

Congrats on 10k subscribers, Melissa! I've been following you and learning from you for quite a while. I love when you talk about yarns and how they behave and patterns and interesting constructions. Your enthusiasm for all things fiber-y is delightful.

[lucyb]

Hi Melissa, congratulations on hitting 10K subscribers! Your podcast is one of the few knitting related that I watch. You provide wonderful tips and strategies for new and seasoned knitter. I love that you are working with small producers to highlight and feature their products and farm stories to the knitting community. Your suggestion to create small projects with new yarns before diving into a larger project when trying out a new yarn is spot on. Off topic, I may have missed it, but would love to hear more about your "kit home" in New York. I recall Spencer mentioning how you love kits and your home is a kit also. Thank you for the wealth of information you bring to this community.

[mommaknitter]

Congratulations on reaching such an amazing milestone! I really enjoy your podcasts, I learn so much from every episode. I feel like I’m in a knitting class and look forward to learning something new. Your episodes with Spencer are very entertaining! Thanks for all you do to put together each episode😍

[quiltnana]

So glad Felicia had you on her podcast and introduced you! I would love to see more content around breed specific yarns, and also anything on designing or tweaking designs to fit better.
Thank you for what you are doing to make small producers breed specific yarns more available to knitters!
Beverly Hart

[maizy]

Melissa, I want to congratulate you on this wonderful achievement. 👏👏👏 Wow! Can we sit and appreciate it for a moment before we go on to what we might want to see from the podcast? I remember watching you years ago when you had the pillowcasess of fiber behind you. I went back and watched the loom room episode a while back ago and your theme of time. I don't have anything specific to request because the podcast has been such an organic growth of you as a knitter, I think that is what has made it great. You have been authentic and carried your integrity and creativity along the way. I'm excited to see where you continue to go. Question - do you still have the loom and do you weave?

[robinyoung]

Like Desna, I am grateful Felicia shared your interview with us. I appreciate your clear explanations for tackling modification of pattern and getting to know yarns. There is so much to learn and I appreciate that your explanations make sense. As for what to share next, I look forward to seeing the videos I've missed, because my current answer is YES to more on all topics.

[LottaSocks]

This is my first episode, and I’m amazed at such beautiful wool, patterns and information! I plan on watching more vids, researching all the wools you talk about and carry in your shop. I’ve knitted for many many years, crocheted for a gazillion years before I taught myself to knit. I especially love how you are getting the wool/s out to the public! My plan: follow along, get some of that wool (looks sooo scrumptious!), knit up some beauties! Socks, cowls, mitts, are always fun! Glad I found your channel and site! Looking forward to more woolly goodness!

[anhu]

Congratulations on 10k subscribers! I'm not sure I'd change anything about your cast. I like the history, sweater info, Spencer guest shows. I always enjoy knitting or practice spinning while watching you. The yarns you showed are gorgeous! So grateful for all you do.

[katlady]

I so enjoy all of your content. As a knitter who now spins yarn and has processed fleece myself I love hearing about the connection to the shepherds, ranches, farms, etc and all the breed specific yarns you highlight. Additional content that would rock my boat would focus on breed specific characteristics and how that translates into the finished yarns. Congratulations on your YouTube milestone!

[danatennen]

I love when you introduce us to new dyers, yarn makers and designers. I love your podcast. Congratulations!

[bags-by-carol]

I'm so enjoying your podcast and all of your fantastic information/projects/tips. I'd love to see more kits in the shop -- when you show the yarn/pattern pairings, as you said it is so helpful to imagine the project in the planned yarn of the designer. Hoping for more of the Flock Cowl Kits!!
Just keep sharing what you make and what inspires you, plus more duo podcasts with the Mr.! ;) -- thanks!

[desnayoung]

Thank you to Felicia (Sweet Georgia) for having you as a guest. Im binging all your episodes now to catch up. A treasure trove of great tips and so much more.

[denisemcgovern]

10k is a big deal! Congratulations! I love the pairings of yarn to patterns that help me learn about the unique characteristics of the wool and construction.
It feels like a wine pairing dinner where the chef and sommelier work together to showcase what's possible.