Jen Lucas is working overtime

Jen Lucas is working overtime, but took some time out of her busy schedule to visit the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird. Jen has visited before, and says she’s been a listener since the beginning, and we can’t be more proud of her everytime we visit. 

Jen says she and some friends decided they needed to learn to knit after college, possibly inspired by the ‘Golden Girls’, even though the Sophia character was a crocheter. At the time many things were happening and helping people be inspired, like various knitting blogs, the tv show ‘Knitty Gritty’ with host Vickie Howell. Also, Stephanie Japel did a ‘design-your-own-shawl’ course. So she was able to continue her education easily online while she wore a lab coat by day, testing water.

Now her full-time job is writing books, teaching at knitting guilds… she feels it’s the best job ever, it feels so cool.Jen’s first book, Sock Yarn Shawls, (Here is the link in Ravelry to view the patterns) is full of triangle shawls which she says was what she was into at the time, and finds that people still are. It was followed by Sock Yarn Shawls II (Ravelry link) and Sock Yarn Accessories (Ravelry Link).

COZY STASH-BUSTING KNITS is divided into various weights of yarns, DK, Worsted and Bulky Weights, the heavier yarns that her earlier books were not focused. The cover design shawl, Damsel, for instance, was created for DK weight yarns in an all-over lace pattern. Also, she’s been using a lot of Madeline Tosh and many of the patterns are featured in that brand including Damsel. Others brands are used, but that seems to be a current favorite she says. The book also includes other shawls, mittens, hats, headbands and scarves.

When she began writing books, Jen says she knitted all of the pieces photographed in the books, but the books have gradually grown and in this book of 22 designs, each design shows who the sample knitters were that helped her out. How exciting for them to see their work acknowledged!

Jen also notes she writes the patterns for one size, and includes notes for larger if you wish to make it a little bigger than she designs for. Just remember to get a bit of extra yarn!

Jen Lucas can be followed through her website, www.jenlucasdesigns.com, which links to her blog too, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Designer page in Ravelry, and Etsy shop.

If you missed getting to hear this live, the episode is still available as an archive where it aired originally: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2016/05/10/jen-lucas-is-working-overtime or with your favorite podcast catcher like iTunes or Stitcher Radio.