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When Lisa Kartus makes a knitting mistake, she revels in it. Tune in to this episode of CraftSanity to hear how this financial reporter turned knitting writer has emerged on the crafty scene with her debut kniitting book "Knit Fix: Problem Solving for Knitters"

Drop a stitch or cross your cables in the wrong direction? No problem, Lisa is here to help. Her book is a wonderful resource for DIYers looking to repair those annoying knitting mistakes and get on with their stitching. Lisa, 53, of Wheaton, Ill., details a variety of common knitting mistakes and their remedies. This is a great book to read, then keep on hand for those inevitable knitting emergencies.

Check out the rest of Lisa's"Get Your Knit Fix" Blog Tour.

WIN LISA'S BOOK!!!

WIN A COPY of "Knit Fix: Problem Solving for Knitters" courtesy of the folks at Interweave Press. All you have to do is e-mail me a photo and brief desciption of your knitting problem by 5 p.m. Sept. 19. I'll enter your name in the random drawing and forward your knitting problem on to Lisa, and she'll consider it for a possible write up on her website www.knitmaven.com,

Starting in October, she’ll also broadcast and discuss this weekly knit fix on Cast-On: A Podcast for Knitters, hosted by Brenda Dayne. (Brenda was featured on CraftSanity episode 22.)

We Have "Sweet" Challenge Winners!
We have four winners for collage artist Claudine Hellmuth's books. Check out the gallery of fabulous entries and see who won!

Get your craft on at the Renegade Craft Fair from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 16 & 17 at Chicago's Wicker Park.

Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley.
Or, buy a CraftSanity T-shirt or button.

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

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Since her debut book “Knitting in America” captivated a new generation of knitters in the mid-'90s, legions of yarn loving fans have grown to recognize Melanie Falick’s name on the front of a book as a symbol of quality. Like so many others, I’ve collected and enjoyed her books over the years. Therefore, I'm especially pleased to feature a conversation with her on this week’s show.


Melanie didn’t disappoint this long-time fan and she’ll likely engage you, too. We talked about how she got her start as a writer, knitter and editor and how this crafty combination of skills led her to her current gig as the editorial director for Stewart, Tabori & Chang (STC) Craft Melanie Falick books.

The former editor of Interweave Knits, Melanie, 43, lives with her husband and son in Beacon, New York. Tune in for an insider's view of the publishing world and hear some valuable advice about becoming the next best-selling crafty author. Should you get an agent, or fly solo through book contract negotiations? Check out the podcast for some great advice.

Two clarifications from Melanie
* During the interview Melanie said she wrote an article for Interweave Knits on knitting in the Orenburg region of Russia. She remembered later that she wrote that story for Piecework, another Interweave magazine.
* In the beginning, Melanie talked about STC's kids craft series. She mentioned "Kids Weaving" and "Kids Crochet," but she wants you to know there's a third book "Kids Embroidery", which she does mention at the end of our chat.


Recognize these? If you knit, you probably have a couple of Melanie's lovely knitting books on your shelf.

* Photo of Melanie Falick courtesy of STC Craft.


Coming Soon: Check back later for this week's project.


Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley. Or, get some cool CraftSanity gear.




Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

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If you knit and you own an iPod, this week's guest needs no introduction. Pour yourself some tea and grab your knitting because you’re about to hear from Brenda Dayne, producer of "Cast-On, a podcast for knitters."






For those who have yet to get hooked on her show, here's little background info. Brenda is a 46-year-old American writer and knitter living in west Wales. She’s witty, funny and can work a mic like a professional broadcaster -- a trait that has won her the admiration of many of her crafty podcasting peers. Her knitting podcast is wildly popular, with thousands of knitters around the globe tuning in each week.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Brenda recently about a variety of topics including knitting, podcasting, creative living and her decision to pack up her life and follow her heart to Wales. She's currently on a podcasting break and gearing up for the next season of "Cast-On" which begins July 7. Tune in for a chat with Brenda to get you though the break.

This week's project is a sock pattern from Brenda inspired by the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

Next Week's Show: I’ll be posting an interview with Gayla Trail, creator of the fantastic You Grow Girl website. And I’m running a contest because the folks at Simon and Schuster donated a copy of Gayla’s awesome book, “You Grow Girl: The Groundbreaking Guide to Gardening” that I will be giving to the listener who submits the coolest eco-friendly craft idea by Saturday, June 24. The winner will be announced when I post the interview with Gayla. My hope is to be able to post some fantastic project ideas on the website when I release the green CraftSanity episodes in the coming weeks.

Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

WIN LEIGH RADFORD'S BOOK! See details below.


Leigh Radford didn’t set out to be a knitwear designer. She's been knitting since age 13, but it wasn't until a layoff from a graphic design job that she found her bliss and realized she could make a living off of her knitting by coupling the crafty skills she had learned as a child with her professional design experience.




Instead of pounding the pavement in search of another 9-to-5 gig, she got a part-time job at a yarn shop and soon discovered her fabulous talent for creative pattern design. Now, at age 45, Leigh lives in Portland, Oregon, where she happily creates wonderful knitting patterns and enjoys success as a designer and author.

On this episode of CraftSanity, Leigh will tell us the story of how she transitioned from the corporate world to her current role as art director for Interweave Knits and author of “One Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit and Crochet” (Interweave, 2006) and “AlterKnits: Imaginative Projects and Creativity Exercises.” (STC, 2005)

Whether she’s knitting with homemade yarn made from old T-shirts, stitching crowns out of crepe paper or knitting tasty-looking cupcakes, Leigh Radford knows how to push the creative envelope and inspire others to create with non-traditional materials in unconventional ways.

Here is Leigh's pattern for the Indian Summer Jacket first published in Fall 2004 issue of Interweave Knits magazine.

For an opportunity to connect with others working on projects from Leigh's book, check out the One Skein Knit-Along and Secret Pal Exchange.

CONTEST INFO:
The folks at Interweave Press have agreed to give away a copy of Leigh’s new book, “One Skein: 30 Projects to Knit and Crochet,” to one lucky CraftSanity listener.

The book is packed with projects that can be created with just a single skein of yarn. To take the theme of Leigh’s book one step further, tell me what you’ve made with the little bits of yarn that are left over after the big knitting projects are done. (If you have time to send a photo, that'd be great.)

To enter the contest e-mail your entries to Jennifer@craftsanity.com. Please include your name, and mailing address so I know where to send the book if you win. The deadline to enter is noon Saturday, April 8. Good luck everyone!

This week’s music selection is a song called “Marigolds” by the band Amelia. The song is from the CD titled “Somewhere Left to Fall.” Teisha Helgerson, the band’s lead singer, is one of the models featured in Leigh's new book.

Listen to the podcast

Subscribe to Craftsanity on iTunes

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Support the show! Vote for CraftSanity at Podcast Alley

Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.

Move over Barbie. Plastic perfection is out and retro rag dolls are in. Thanks to English artist and author Claire Garland, we all can knit a super cute alternative to the mass produced, virtually unattainable stereotype of the female form. It’s time to meet a hip new crew of spectacular “Knitted Babes.”

This week Claire introduces us to the babes from her fabulous book “Knitted Babes: Five Dolls & Their Wardrobes to Knit and Stitch.” (Interweave Press, 2005) For all the knitters out there who love to sew, Claire has miniaturized trendy fashions and combined fabric and knitware designs to round out each babe’s wardrobe. From hats, shawls and shoes, to sweaters, dresses and purses, Claire has written patterns to completely outfit your doll after you knit her up and sew on the eyes and hair. Each babe has so much personality it’s easy to forget they’re not real.

Clearly, this married mother of three, has a gift for creative arts. And her story is inspiring for those with big crafty ideas. Claire just recently learned to knit, proving you don’t need 20 years of experience under your belt to get out there and start designing your own creations.

Here's a free pattern for a funky, Knitted Babe dress and accessories for you to try at home. Thanks Claire!



Check out Claire's web site to see the newest additions to the "Knitted Babes" family and order a kit to make one for yourself.

Or, join the knit-along and share your babe with the world.

The song at the of the podcast is "Really, Really Happy" by the Muffs. Thanks to the band for making their music available via the Podsafe Music Network.


Listen to the podcast

Subscribe to Craftsanity on iTunes

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Taking Names: Who do you want to hear from next? Send your comments, guest and show topic suggestions to jennifer@craftsanity.com.