Marly Bird's Blog, page 172

Learn to Knit with Marly’s Mom

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In the month of May we will be staring our next Knit Along (KAL). I am so excited to get started! For those of you who don’t know how to knit yet, or it has been a long time, come along with me and learn to knit before we start the KAL.

Unfortunately I can’t tell you much about the KAL yet, don’t worry I will be able to reveal more over the next month. What I can tell you is that I am working away to get everything ready. If you haven’t participated in one of my KALs or CALs before here is what you need to know.

[image error]For each of my KALs you will find the FREE pattern on Red Heart’s website. I will post a new video each week of the KAL to show you how to do each section that we are working on. There are usually prizes to win as we go through each week if you are participating. One of the most important things to know is that we have a great community group on Facebook who is there to help you every step of the way. I will be in that group to answer any of your questions and the members are always so helpful when there is a question as well.

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Join the KAL Facebook group today so you know when the KAL starts in May. You will notice that the images are still reflecting the last KAL that we did in 2016. The comments and questions will always be available to you to refer to as well as the videos. If you are working on an old KAL you can still ask your questions in the group and we will work to get them answered for you as soon as we can.

KAL Preparations:

Although I can’t tell you what the pattern is we will be working on or the yarn you will need I can help you get your skills ready for the KAL.

On my YouTube channel you will find a series of videos where I taught my mom how to knit. I taught her to knit so that she could participate in the KAL that we did in 2016. 

We had a great time filming these. She was a true beginner and didn’t know anything about knitting. I am sure you will feel very comfortable learning along with her.

Here are some of the outtakes so you can see how much fun we had:

You can also head over to Red Heart’s website to Marly’s Learning Corner, a new feature, to see videos of FREE knit patterns that they offer. In these videos I walk you through making each project so that there are no questions on what you should be doing to complete the project.

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Learn to Knit Resources:

Here are the links to my YouTube Channel and Marly’s Learning Corner. I hope that you learn a lot. If you have questions let me know, I am always here to help.

Here is the first YouTube Video Lesson. Have fun!

2016 Knit Along:

[image error]There is always time to participate in the 2016 Garter Stitch Shawl KAL that we did. This would be a great warm up project for you. For the Garter Stitch Shawl KAL we used Red Heart Soft Yarn and made a triangular shawl.

Check out the blog posts from the 2016 KAL so you can see exactly how the 2017 KAL will be structured. Hope to see you in the group.

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Thursday Trivia with Marly Bird

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It’s time for Thursday Trivia with Marly Bird and Red Heart Yarns!

*This post may contain affiliate links*

What can you win in Thursday Trivia:

For you to have a chance to win a prize package of $25 from Red Heart Yarns you must answer this week’s trivia question correctly. Make sure you read to the bottom of the post to get your clue for where to find the answer. Rafflecopter will help us choose a correct answer randomly to win, be sure you enter your email address so we can verify the winner.

Giveaway Timeframe:

You have one week to answer the question.
Winner will be announced the following Thursday at the launch of next week’s question.
Be sure to come back and see if you were the winner.

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This Week’s question:

Please comment on this blog post (and enter the Rafflecopter widget)–What is the name of the Red Heart FREE throw pattern that I did a video for this week?

 

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Spread the word:

Help spread the word about #ThursdayTrivia. You can find each week’s question on the blog under Thursday Trivia.

[image error] FINE PRINT:

The Thursday Trivia Giveaway with Marly Bird and Red Heart Yarns is open to US and Canada addresses only. One winner will win a $25 prize package from Red Heart Yarns. This giveaway ends on 3/15/17 at 11:59 pm Mountain US time. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. If you are on mobile and have difficulty entering, please use a desktop computer to enter. You must enter a blog post comment on THIS post and click the Rafflecopter button to be eligible. Click the button below to enter your information to be entered to win.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Checkout my FREE Patterns with Red Heart Yarns:

See all FREE patterns from Red Heart on their website.

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Marly’s Learning Corner with Red Heart

[image error] This week the Marly’s Learning Corner launched on Red Heart’s website.

Marly’s Learning Corner is the place to go when you want to learn about knitting and crochet. You will find learn how to knit and learn how to crochet video tutorials, knit and crochet tips and techniques videos and product reviews. Plus you will be able to find beautiful knit and crochet pattern designs by Marly Bird, and other designers, in Red Heart yarns.

[image error]With over 100 knit and crochet how to video tutorials you will find a video to help you on your journey of learning the amazing techniques of knitting and crochet.

 

I strive to make my How-to Knit & Crochet Videos easy to understand. To accomplish this I go slowly, to make it feel like I am sitting in the chair beside you as you learn your new technique. My videos also give you a place to get help with a free pattern that is giving you a run for your stitches!

Below you can see the introductory video for the page. Be sure to head over to Marly’s learning corner to find something new to learn.

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Marly’s Learning Corner Giveaway:

As in all that I do I work hard to bring you patterns and tutorials that you want and need. I will be giving away an Athleisure Striping Throw, a FREE Red Heart pattern, yarn kit to one person who answers the question below. Your suggestions are very important to me.

QUESTION: Please make a suggestion, in the comments of THIS blog post, on what you would like to see me teach in Marly’s Learning Corner.

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DETAILS: The giveaway will run through midnight MST on 2/23/17. The will will receive 5 skeins of Red Heart Classic Yarn in their choice of a main color and 4 skeins each of two coordinating colors of Red Heart Classic Yarn (13 skeins of Red Heart Classic Yarn in total). Only US or Canada mailing address are eligible to win. You must comment on this post to be entered to win. Comments anywhere else are appreciated but will not be included in the choosing of the winner. I will use a random number generator to select the winner at the end of the giveaway time period.

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Shannon Dunbabin of Cascade Yarns shares 60 Quick Knitted Toys

Shannon Dunbabin of Cascade Yarns shares 60 Quick Knitted Toys

Shannon Dunbabin of Cascade Yarns shares 60 Quick Knitted Toys with her personal touches on [image error] the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird.

The history of Cascade Yarns began in the late 1980’s. Bob Dunbabin found a location for Cascade Yarns® in a vacant storefront, in Pioneer Square, Seattle. The space was modest, squeezed between a mission for the homeless and the main north-south rail line. To Bob, the modest but logistically well located space suited the company’s needs. Best of all, it came with a good price. Bob believed that knitters cared more about the quality of the yarn, than the prestige of the office location. Bob would use the savings from the location to provide a better yarn at a better price. The real estate market in Seattle changed and Cascade Yarns® has moved 3 times, but the dedication to quality and value in the yarn remains. 

Bob is not a conformist and cared mostly about quality and value. In the 1980’s most premium [image error]yarns came from England or Italy. Bob looked instead to South America. There he worked with Cascade Yarns® supplier to upgrade their equipment and improve the process of production. To Bob, it didn’t matter were a yarn was made, so long as the materials were good, the spinning equipment right, and the workers happy and well trained. Cascade Yarns® continues to work closely with its business partners to insure the highest quality of production is maintained. In short, the proof is in the knitting.

Cascade Yarns® remains a family business with Bob’s daughter-in-law, Shannon, joining the business in 2003 and his son, Rob, moving full time into the business in 2005. We love our yarns and we hope that you enjoy knitting with them.[image error]

From stuffed animals to hand puppets, this book is a treasure trove—or toy chest—bursting with inventive and irresistible patterns to knit!

Knitters will love creating this collection of 60 cool toys, which range from tools like a saw, hammer, and screwdriver to a ballerina doll. Whip up a menagerie of stuffed hippos, owls, foxes, and monkeys; games like a jumbo knitted tic-tac-toe board and penguin bowling; or a unique medieval set that includes a king, a queen, an adorable dragon, and a building-block castle! Every project will capture your heart.

Find Cascade Yarns website at www.CascadeYarns.com The book is available through Amazon (with Marly’s affiliate code) at this link. Here is the link to the show notes from Shannon’s last visit, or the audio of the episode.

You may view the LIVE video Marly posted in her Facebook page, or listen to the audio only podcast episode: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2017/03/09/shannon-dunbabin-of-cascade-yarns-shares-60-quick-knitted-toys

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Athleisure Striping Throw Crochet Pattern

[image error]The Athleisure Striping Throw Crochet Pattern is a free pattern on RedHeart.com

There is a very informative video tutorial available on the Marly Bird YouTube Channel.  In the video I show you how to read the instructions as written in the PDF, but I also show you how to read the row by row chart/spreadsheet I wrote to make the crocheting even easier for this blanket.

It gets even easier than that! Once you have the stitch pattern down and only want to use the color sequence, then you could just follow the color sequence chart that is below!

The instructions for the Athleisure Striping Throw Crochet Pattern are written in 3 different ways all to make crocheting this throw as easy, as simple, and as painless as possible. You’re certain to have success on this afghan.

Red Heart Yarn Used in Throw

Red Heart Classic Yarn: http://bit.ly/2mzlkjl_RHClassic

 

Row by Row Instruction Charts/Spreadsheets

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Color Sequence Color Chart/Spreadsheet [image error]
Full Video Tutorial

 

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The Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival

The Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival

The Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival happening later this month which will feature Marly Bird was the topic of today’s Yarn [image error]Thing podcast with Marly Bird.

What has become the annual Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival started small in 2005 by Barbara Grossman as a fundraiser for the Waldorf School of Pittsburgh. In 2012, Barbara joined forces with her sister Ann Szilagyi, and merged with the Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival as an annual event that takes place at the [image error]David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh, PA. Featuring knitting, crochet, quilting, sewing and other creative art classes, workshops, vendors and special displays, demos, and events, the Festival is a local favorite, having been named a “Top 10 Best Bet in Pittsburgh” by Pittsburgh magazine in February 2013.

Festival headliners over the years have included Annie Modesitt, Kathy Zimmerman, Candace Eisner Strick, Melissa Leapman, Maggie Jackson, Robyn Chachula, The Shibaguyz, Patty Lyons, Edie Eckman, Lisa H Calle, Andrea Wong, Debbie Macomber, StevenBe, Drew Emborsky (The Crochet Dude), Charles Gandy, Alasdair Post Quinn and Nicky Epstein, as well as many local teachers and designers.

The Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival and the Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival have expanded in order to embrace other forms of fiber art, including quilting, sewing, embroidery, surface design, recycling, weaving, tatting, spinning, wet and needle felting, rug hooking, dyeing, paper crafts and jewelry making.

We offer many onsite charity projects and activities: Warm Up America Lounge, supplying attendees with yarn to knit or crochet squares for blankets that are donated to local shelters and other charitable organizations, supported by Red Heart.

We are proud to support the Salvation Army of Pittsburgh’s Annual Fabric Fair, the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Children’s Home and many other local and national non profit organizations.

Barbara and Ann plan and prepare all year long for [image error]each festival, and are excited to have Marly join in the fun this year. Traditional hand crafts have enjoyed a vibrant comeback, thanks in large part to the Internet, where all artists can connect with each other in so many ways (Ravelry, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, blogs). The times, they are a changin’, however the techniques remain the same. We honor the old traditions passed down from our mothers and grandmothers and continue to make wonderful things for our families and friends to treasure.

Find more information at their website: www.PittsburghKnitandCrochet.com and click here for information on classes with Marly or look for her in the Crochet Superbooth at the event. There was an earlier blog post this year RIGHT HERE about this event at MarlyBird.com.

You can watch the video in Marly’s Facebook page or listen to the podcast episode http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2017/03/07/the-pittsburgh-knit-and-crochet-festival

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The post The Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival appeared first on Marly Bird.

Thursday Trivia With Marly Bird

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It’s time for Thursday Trivia with Marly Bird and Red Heart Yarns!

*This post may contain affiliate links*

What can you win in Thursday Trivia:

For you to have a chance to win a prize package of $25 from Red Heart Yarns you must answer this week’s trivia question correctly. Make sure you read to the bottom of the post to get your clue for where to find the answer. Rafflecopter will help us choose a correct answer randomly to win, be sure you enter your email address so we can verify the winner.

Giveaway Timeframe:

You have one week to answer the question.
Winner will be announced the following Thursday at the launch of next week’s question.
Be sure to come back and see if you were the winner.

This Week’s question:

Please comment on this blog post (and enter the Rafflecopter widget)–What animal did I show you how to applique for a FREE blanket pattern from Red Heart?

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Spread the word:

Help spread the word about #ThursdayTrivia. You can find each week’s question on the blog under Thursday Trivia.

[image error] FINE PRINT:

The Thursday Trivia Giveaway with Marly Bird and Red Heart Yarns is open to US and Canada addresses only. One winner will win a $25 prize package from Red Heart Yarns. This giveaway ends on 3/8/17 at 11:59 pm Mountain US time. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. If you are on mobile and have difficulty entering, please use a desktop computer to enter. You must enter a blog post comment on THIS post and click the Rafflecopter button to be eligible. Click the button below to enter your information to be entered to win.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Checkout my FREE Patterns with Red Heart Yarns:

See all FREE patterns from Red Heart on their website.

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The post Thursday Trivia With Marly Bird appeared first on Marly Bird.

Have you met Josh Bennett?

Have You Met Josh Bennett?

Have you met Josh Bennett? He was our guest this week on the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird.[image error]

Josh Bennett grew up in Pennsylvania where he learned to knit from his grandmother when he was 8 years old. After a short time, he stopped, because boys don’t knit. Then he got interested in musical theater, because all boys sing and dance. In 2000, Josh worked at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT where he picked up knitting again from the cast members in the show, and hasn’t stopped.

After moving to New York City in 2001 and knitting constantly, Josh worked at a yarn shop on the Upper West Side that wrote custom patterns for their customers. Noticing the lack of menswear patterns being designed and published, he took his pattern writing skills and was determined to change that.

Since, Josh has collaborated with CFDA Award winner Michael Bastian on a hand knitted line, Michael Bastian by Josh Bennett sold at Bergdorf Goodman, Sak’s 5th Avenue and stores worldwide. They have also worked together on projects for the Folk Couture: Fashion and Folk Art at the American Folk Art Museum, Le Cabinet de Curiosités of Thomas Erber, and a fashion helmet for the NFL/Bloomindale/CFDA Super Bowl XLVIII collaboration which was auctioned off for the NFL Foundation.

He was the Men’s Sweater Designer at Tommy Hilfiger and has also worked with and designed for GANT by Michael Bastian, Perry Ellis, Alexander Wang, Project Runway winner Irina Shabayeva, Rowan Magazine, Vogue Knitting, and other knitting publications. He is the designer of his own exclusive capsule collection of men’s hand knitted sweaters at Bergdorf Goodman, Josh Bennett + Goodman’s.

Josh studied Menswear Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

For more info visit JoshBennettNYC.com. He can also be followed in both Twitter and Instagram as @JoshBennettNYC

If you missed getting to hear our chat with Josh Bennett LIVE, there are two ways to get caught up. LISTEN to the original podcast episode at this link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2017/03/02/have-you-met-josh-bennett-yet or WATCH Marly’s behind-the-scene video she posted LIVE during the visit on her Facebook page.

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Great Falls Poncho Knitting Pattern

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Head over to Ravelry today through Thursday March 2, 2017 to get your one dollar Wednesday pattern.

[image error]This week’s pattern is the Great Falls Poncho. This is a sister knit project to the Mountain Mist Poncho.

Just like with the Mountain Mist Poncho this is designed as  large rectangle that you hold together with buttons. There is no shaping in the project, the difficulty of this project is in working the cables and lace.

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As we move into spring weather you will love this as a quick piece to throw on on cool nights. When selecting your yarn for this project you will want to pick something that will make the cable stitches pop. A yarn with wool will help to make the stitches stand out. Take a look at some of my suggestions below for other yarn suggestions.

Great Falls Poncho Yarn Options:

Red Heart Heart and Sole
Stroll Sock Yarn at Knit Picks

$1 Wednesday Details:

Offer only applies to the selected pattern in this blog post (Great Falls Poncho). Offer is only available until midnight MST on Thursday March 3, 2017. Offer is only valid in my Ravelry Store.

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Friday Night Shopping at Michaels

[image error]The other week I went out on a Friday night for yarn and my daughter tricked me and recorded the whole thing! We had a great time shopping at Michaels. You can join us too by watching the replay below. You are sure to get a good laugh from watching it!

#makeitwithmichaels

While we were at Michael’s I found a great deal on Red Heart Soft Essentials. They were Buy One Get One 50% off! Who could pass up a sale like that! It might surprise some of you that even though I am the national spokes person for Red Heart Yarns, I think I will always be excited about more yarn.

Red Heart Soft Essentials is EXCLUSIVE to Michaels and Red Heart’s website.

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More about Red Heart Soft essentials:

One-Skein Cowl
Red Heart Soft Essentials eBook
Podcast Episode with Cat Babbie of Red Heart Yarns

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