Podcasts about power purls

This month is about running a little experiment ... I’m letting go of the social media things to trust and align with all that I am doing with the podcast. Right here, behind the mic is the “all inclusive" vehicle to attract all the abundance I need.The other reason for my experiment ... Belief that I can rewrite and recreate what I want the way I want it. NO social media not required. There are no rules, there's not permission slips. What people say is what people say. Just because “the guru” found some sort of success monetarily or with download numbers, does not define your personal success. I know this to be true when I launched my first podcast, Power Purls. I did it without touching a spec of social media and ... it was a wild success. It was all about connecting with a network of people who were my biggest cheerleaders, focusing on the concept of “a rising tide lifts all boats,” to create community and real connection. When it comes to starting a podcast, we may think: “I need the right name, the right niche, the right messaging ...” At the end of the day, what matters is your passion and your voice and your motivation to be a force in the world for the people who need you. When you see this as a responsibility and something outside yourself, the “right” niche, the messaging, and podcast name emerge effortlessly.So I invite you to experiment ...Stand on that edge and see what's there. Let go of what no longer serves you. Let go and see how it puts you back in the driver’s seat of your emotions. Then ... YOU get to decide how you want to show up.I BELIEVE that a podcast has the power to be your number one vehicle for creating change in the world, AND just one person at a time who needs your help. With this mindset, you have the potential to have a love affair with the art and craft of the spoken word — because you’ll know that every time you show up behind the microphone, you’re giving a gift to someone seeking a solution to transform their life.

Finished objects: Michelle finished her Waffa bird. Erica finished the toe up socks (pictured below with TJ's thumbs up of approval). The toe up socks were knit in fingering weight yarn from Gynx Yarn, who is no longer dyeing. Erica also finished 1 of her the cuff down socks for TJ, but it did not receive a thumbs up and has now been frogged to be socks for herself! These socks were being knit in worsted weight yarn on 3.25 mm needles. Now that they have been frogged Erica has started a new pair of cuff down socks for herself! Michelle checked the drum carder out from the library again and finished carding two fleeces. The first is the llama fleece that she recently skirted. It was just too soft to send to the mill. She wishes you could feel how soft it is and really looks forward to spinning it. Michelle also finished carding an Icelandic fleece. As she was carding the fleece, she kept an eye out for nice locks to use in needle felting. She is planning to dye some of them. The locks from the same fleece are both straight and really curly depending where on the sheep they were. Both will work well for beards or hair. A jackpot of curls! The carded fleece ready to spin: Erica has finished combo plied yarns of the Lakeside colourway (below under works in progress on the left) and the Artic Berries colourway (below under Works in Progress on the right) with the Fractured Dawn colourway. Erica has cast on 2 new pairs of socks, a pair of fingering weight socks for TJ, since he did not like the worsted weight yarn on his feet and socks for herself out of the yummy worsted weight yarn. She is using Ann Budd's class on BluPrint to learn new heel and toe knitting techniques. Erica hopes to really feel like a true sock knitter someday! Erica has spun singles of the Lakeside Colourway (left), part of the Wool N Spinning Finn Breed and Colour Study. She has also spun singles of the Artic Berries colourway (right) for the same study. She is focusing on spinning up Lakeside and plans to make a 3 ply yarn in an attempt to keep the original colourway fairly pure. Giveaway winner! Thank you Kay for your comments on our Episode 9 post on FB. Michelle will be giving you some yarn to use in your crochet projects! We hope other listeners will comment on future posts, we really look forward to having more of a 2 way conversation with our listeners! Podcasts: Erica recently listened to the Power Purls podcast series on "Taming Your Time". She learned a lot from this podcast and is working on scheduling some actual downtime for herself! Erica also found the Ewe University podcast on lighting for crafting. She recommends this episode for those who are interested in further discussion of this topic!

Kara Gott Warner hosts a yarn crafting podcast called Power Purls. Kara's a maker, and she's building a community of other creatives and makers through her podcast, her website, and workshops. She's looking to reignite the passion in her business through her podcast, but wants to know how she can increase audience engagement. Learn more about Kara at KaraGottWarner.com.If you want to be considered for a coaching session, apply via the form at AskPat.com.If you enjoyed today's episode and you love the format of this show and helping other entrepreneurs, can you help me convince others to listen too? All you have to do is leave a quick review and rating on iTunes (and subscribe if you haven't already). That would mean the world to me, so thank you so much!Today’s sponsor is FreshBooks, who make the best financial management software out there. It’s ridiculously easy to use and their interface is highly-visual and super-intuitive. You can actually get an unrestricted, thirty-day trial for free; just go to FreshBooks.com/askpat and enter “Ask Pat” in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section.Buy my new book Superfans!

Power Purls Podcast is back! Bridging the worlds of craft and life, Kara Gott Warner reminds us of the depth in the Power Purls name. It’s more than just knitting – this is confidence-building. This is intuition. This is learning. And it starts right where you are.

Kara and Tabetha show you how to get ninja and create content for your fiber biz all at once to put time back on your side, making you more productive and confident! Hey Fiber-Loving Biz Makers! If you're not afraid of making money, working hard, and have the drive to succeed, then I invite you to sign up now for a free 15-minute business coaching discovery session to see if working together is a good fit. Visit karakgottwarner.com/workwithkara to learn more!   Help keep the Power Purls garden growing and become a patron today: www.Patreon.com/KaraGottWarner

I answer the BURNING QUESTION I get asked all the time: Is my creative business idea viable? I'll also explain how to create a content calendar like a BOSS and why this is your SECRET WEAPON for success in a fiber-loving business! Watch Power Purls UNPLUGGED video live each week! Sign up to get notified: www.PowerPurlsPodcast.com/LiveVideo Want to keep the Power Purls garden growing? Support the show! www.Patreon.com/KaraGottWarner

In this on-air coaching session, Kara helps Cynthia Younger, who is at the beginning of her creative business journey, to tackle some of the current struggles she's facing as she builds her service-based business helping women practice self-care through knitting and crochet. If you're ready to take your fiber love to the next level and create a holistically-balanced life and business that converges creativity and you're not afraid of making money, working hard, and have the drive to succeed, then sign up for a free 15-minute business coaching discovery session. Visit: www.KaraGottWarner.com/StrategySession  Help keep the Power Purls garden growing and become a patron today: www.Patreon.com/KaraGottWarner

Power Purls Podcast is now a live weekly video show! Join Kara Gott Warner on the Power Purls Facebook Page each week to watch live and interact with the week's featured guest. Click here to follow Power Purls on Facebook, and get a reminder when Kara goes live every week! In this episode, Kara chats with Julie Crawford, founder of the lifestyle blog, KnittedBliss.com. Julie is smitten with the written word, cozy knits, international travel and domestic pleasures. On the knitted bliss blog, Julie helps knitters and crafters get inspired by sharing projects, recipes and reflections on the crafting life!   [Tweet "I'm listening to Knitted Bliss Blogger, Julie Crawford on #PowerPurlsPodcast #knittingpodcast"] Episode highlights: Julie shares her story and why she started Knitted Bliss, and how it's evolved over the years What inspires her weekly blog features - Modification Monday and Wee Wednesday Julie shares how she curates recipes and projects for the blog Consistency and showing up every week is the secret to her success How Julie diversifies her business, and how she generates income from Knitted Bliss How blogging has evolved since she began blogging As a special gift, Julie if offering a 40% off discount on all of her knitted bliss patterns. Vist: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/knittedblissjc to view the full collection. Enter powerpurls at checkout for 40% off any patterns. Offer ends November 21, 2017  Do you love the podcast? Support the show on Patreon and get: *Bonus episodes *Audio workshops that inspire intentional living through yarn crafting *Weekly minisodes delivered every Monday to inspire your week ahead.   Disclosure:  Please note that some of the links in this episode are affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase and there is no additional cost for you to do so.  When I make a recommendation, it is because I have personal experience with these products and have used them myself. I only recommend products I believe in and suggest them because I know they will be helpful, not because of the small commission I make if you decide to make a purchase. The commission I earn helps offset the production expenses that I incur to produce Power Purls, and by purchasing products through these links, also helps you to become a supporter of this podcast and for that, I am truly grateful.    

Today I'm answering a common question among budding knitwear designers: "Should I design for magazines?" We'll go over the main items you should consider before submitting a design proposal to a magazine, as well as my top tips for success in this area. If you've been wanting to grow your knitwear design biz, give this episode a listen! [Tweet "Should you design for magazines? Weigh the pros and cons with this week's episode of the #PowerPurlsPodcast #knitweardesign"] Episode highlights: It can be tempting to work for "exposure," hoping that will turn you into a superstar. Designing for magazines usually means you will get paid for your work, which is a big benefit! Once you know how much time it will take you to create a design and how much they'll pay, work the numbers. Remember: there's also a marketing benefit for magazine design! Your work gets out to a wider audience. Connection can be a benefit as well. Working with a magazine can connect you with influencers in the industry. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to form connections each time you collaborate on a design. Think about what you can offer above and beyond just sending in a pattern. Solve a pain point for the editor! Rights can be a tricky area for magazine design. For at least some time, the pattern rights will belong to the publication. Make sure you understand the rights agreement and if/when the rights revert to you! Remember that the photos in the magazine don't belong to you; if you republish a design, take your own photos. Even if the rights don't revert back to you at all, that's not necessarily a bad thing! Just make sure you're comfortable with the arrangement. Make sure the fit is right: does your work fit with the magazine and its audience? If not, find another one. Think like a businessperson: tailor your proposal/submission to the magazine you're trying to impress! Kara's tip #1: Keep trying until you get a YES! (No matter how many Nos you hear before that!) Being turned down by one magazine - or ten- does NOT mean that your work isn't good enough! Sometimes rejection just means your work didn't fit their theme or they had too many similar submissions. Kara's tip #2: Be professional! Put together a nice portfolio of your work to show the editor! Study how other designers are using Instagram well to present their portfolios. Maintain a professional website - it's like your virtual home base and it speaks volumes about you and your work. Follow the guidelines and format that the magazine specifies in their calls for proposals. Kara's tip #3: Diversify! Don't put all your eggs in one basket - publish your work in a variety of places. Be aware: If you send your designs out to different magazines, you can't send the same design to more than one place! Never send a previously published design as a proposal to a magazine. All designs must be original. Bonus tip: don't knit your own samples! Hire sample knitters - it will save you a ton of time.   Links Mentioned in this Episode: Trisha Malcolm's episodes - Episode 1 and Episode 72 If you need help with planning out your path to magazine publication, or you'd like someone to review your design proposals, book a FREE consulting session with me and we'll go over it together! Click here for all the details.   Do you love the podcast? Support the show on Patreon and get: bonus episodes audio workshops that inspire intentional living through yarncrafting weekly mini-sodes delivered every Monday to inspire your week ahead. Click the button to join our community!   Disclosure:  Please note that some of the links in this episode are affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase and there is no additional cost for you to do so.  When I make a recommendation, it is because I have personal experience with these products and have used them myself. I only recommend products I believe in and suggest them because I know they will be helpful, not because of the small commission I make if you decide to make a purchase. The commission I earn helps offset the production expenses that I incur to produce Power Purls, and by purchasing products through these links, also helps you to become a supporter of this podcast and for that, I am truly grateful.    

d Today Kara's Project Manager, Jess Cook, is here to talk about her work as a Virtual Assistant and Project Manager in the Fiber Arts industry. Jess works for a variety of creative business owners, most of whom are in the fiber arts industry. She creates email newsletters, blog posts, website copy, and educational content for her clients so that they can focus on the most important work of running their businesses and growing their empires.   "Be open to the conversations that come up in your daily life where you can find an opening to offer your services."   -Jess Cook [Tweet "Learning about the world of Virtual Assisting from @JessCookOnline on the #PowerPurlsPodcast"] Episode highlights: Jess works at Power Purls creating the show notes for each episode and writing the weekly newsletter content. Working with Jess has helped Kara make time for more content like this. Jess got her first job in the area of virtual assisting from a friend she met at a local knitting group. Ahh the power of knitting! If you want to start off as a Virtual Assistant, you don’t need a lot of specialized skills; you can with basic tasks. If you can familiarize yourself with a few key software programs and apps, you can do very basic skills and earn a living as a Virtual Assistant. The skills you take for granted in yourself are marketable skills that you can use to provide a service for someone else! If you want to get started as a VA, join groups where creative business owners hang out and talk about their problems. Find a niche so you can narrow your service focus and find business owners who really fit your skill set. Go to a favorite business owner and offer to help them run their business. You never know when they might need help! Tell everyone you know that you’re looking to work as a VA; then as they hear of people who need help they will refer you! Most people start off at an hourly rate of somewhere from $15-$25/hour, depending on their level of experience and expertise. You don’t need a formal website, but you should have a landing page for people to learn about you and find contact information. If you can get going with just one client, ask them to refer you and give you a testimonial to put on your site or social media. Don't be afraid to just get started!   Learn more about Jess: Her website - Jess Cook Online Instagram: @JessCookOnline Facebook: Facebook.com/JessCookOnline Twitter: @JessCookOnline   MOVE THE NEEDLE ON YOUR KNIT BIZ! Click here to sign up for a free 30-minute creative business strategy session with Kara!   Disclosure:  Please note that some of the links in this episode are affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase and there is no additional cost for you to do so.  When I make a recommendation, it is because I have personal experience with these products and have used them myself. I only recommend products I believe in and suggest them because I know they will be helpful, not because of the small commission I make if you decide to make a purchase. The commission I earn helps offset the production expenses that I incur to produce Power Purls, and by purchasing products through these links, also helps you to become a supporter of this podcast and for that, I am truly grateful.    

Today Kara welcomes Tara Swiger back to the show! Tara first appeared in episode 61, and now she's back to talk about the ways her business has changed since she was last here - including an increased focus on the practice of mindfulness. Tara has worked with makers and artists for seven years, helping them learn to explore their own enthusiasm and build businesses they love. Now she has a new branch of her business, helping people who want to build a business that doesn't include handmade products. In today's special episode, which premieres here and on Tara's own podcast, Tara and Kara discuss their thoughts on mindfulness and share tips for how you can build a mindfulness practice of your own.   “Mindfulness is just paying attention - to where you are and how you feel. From there, you can make better decisions."   -Tara Swiger [Tweet "Building a #mindfulness practice with @TaraSwiger and @KaraKnits on the #PowerPurlsPodcast"] Episode highlights: Tara has been helping makers and artists build businesses for 7 years. Since then she has built another arm of her business, using essential oils. Tara loves learning new business models and finding solutions for people who want to build a business. Kara says that mindfulness is part of her business/life plan. Tara defines mindfulness as being aware in the present moment and paying attention. Kara notes that you can’t just say “I’m going to be more mindful!” It takes work to build a habit. When you’re doing what you love for a living, it’s important to stop and pay attention to how great that is!   Mindfulness Tips & Tricks from Kara and Tara: The apps they love: Headspace and Insight Timer Tara puts her phone on airplane mode when she needs to focus on her work. She also turns off all notifications on her phone. Kara will record a meditation, slogan, or affirmation on her phone so she can refer to them later. Kara likes using her journal to record the positive benefits she sees from her meditation practice. Kara and Tara both like to go to a special spot in their homes where they can build a habit of mindfulness in that space. Tara uses scent (essential oils) to help with her mindfulness practice. You can use any essential oil you like – if you get in the habit of using it before you meditate then soon that scent will trigger a desire to meditate in you. She also uses essential oils to help encourage herself to change her feelings. Kara recommends attending in-person mindfulness events and group meditations whenever possible. There's a special energy you can get in this setting that you can't get from an app!   Learn more about Tara: Tara first appeared in Episode 61 - listen here Website: TaraSwiger.com and EssentialEnthusiasm.com Instagram: @TaraSwiger and @EssentialEnthusiasm Her podcasts: Explore Your Enthusiasm and Essential Enthusiasm Facebook: Facebook.com/TaraSwigerPage Twitter: @TaraSwiger YouTube channel: TaraSwiger.com/youtube Pinterest: Pinterest.com/Tara_Swiger   Join the Stitchucation Short Row Shawl Challenge! Take an educational journey all about short row shawls! This challenge, sponsored by the lovely folks at Berrocco, will help you master this shawl shape and empower you on your intuitive shawl-making exploration. Click here to sign up!   MOVE THE NEEDLE ON YOUR KNIT BIZ! Click here to sign up for a free 30-minute creative business strategy session with Kara!   Disclosure:  Please note that some of the links in this episode are affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase and there is no additional cost for you to do so.  When I make a recommendation, it is because I have personal experience with these products and have used them myself. I only recommend products I believe in and suggest them because I know they will be helpful, not because of the small commission I make if you decide to make a purchase. The commission I earn helps offset the production expenses that I incur to produce Power Purls, and by purchasing products through these links, also helps you to become a supporter of this podcast and for that, I am truly grateful.

Today Kara talks to the Editorial Director and Vice President of Vogue Knitting, Trisha Malcolm. Trisha was the very first guest on this podcast, so we're so glad to have her back again today! Trisha is a magazine publisher with a focus on fashion-forward designs that adapt to the needs of today's knitters. Listen in as we talk about the special 35th anniversary issue of Vogue Knitting Magazine!   “It's a creative job because every issue is different, and every time something new happens, it's exciting!”   -Trisha Malcolm [Tweet "Behind the scenes of @VogueKnitting - listen in on the #PowerPurlsPodcast!"] Episode highlights: Trisha started her career as a high school teacher. Then she got a job at a crafting magazine because she was a teacher who also knew how to do several crafts. This year marks Trisha's 20th anniversary with Vogue Knitting! Vogue Knitting started in 1932, so even though this is our 35th anniversary, the brand is 85 years old. In 1972 they stopped publishing the magazine when Conde Nast sold the pattern side to Butterick Patterns and stopped the magazine. In the 1980s there was a big knitting boom again, and Trisha's boss asked Conde Nast to start publishing the magazine again. The magazine focuses on fashion, but Trisha feels this has become less important because fashion itself has become so much more casual in recent years. Trisha looks at online videos and photos for fashion shows each season, and then she finds all the sweaters and bundles those images together to create a trend report. Trisha is starting to see more shawls and wraps on the runway, and she thinks the designers are taking a nod from the knitters of the world (we love our shawls, don't we?). Trisha redesigned the magazine a year ago to include more "behind the scenes" with designers. Trisha has big plans to take the magazine into a broader digital environment in order to make the content accessible via phone. She doesn't envision that the print issue will disappear, though. For the anniversary issue, they invited regular advertisers to choose a favorite pattern from a past issue, and those patterns are now available for free for a limited time on the website. Trisha works with a small team of 8 to 10 members, and together they publish 6 issues of Vogue Knitting and also create Knit Simple Magazine together. It's important for Trisha to work with people who are, first and foremost, nice. Leave a comment telling us your favorite part of the newest issue of Vogue Knitting Magazine, and you could WIN a free subscription! Mentioned in this episode: Trisha's first episode on the podcast The 31st anniversary issue of Vogue Knitting magazine Deborah Newton's cover design for the issue - her "best design ever" - and you can win a kit to make it! The Vogue Knitting trip giveaway Stitchucation shawls challenge Tracey Purtscher's new book - featured in the anniversary issue The free collection of 35th anniversary patterns Learn more about Trisha and Vogue Knitting: Website: VogueKnitting.com Facebook: Facebook.com/VogueKnittingMag Twitter: Twitter.com/VogueKnitting YouTube channel Pinterest: Vogue Knitting   MOVE THE NEEDLE ON YOUR KNIT BIZ! Click here to sign up for a free 30-minute creative business strategy session with Kara!   Disclosure:  Please note that some of the links in this episode are affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase and there is no additional cost for you to do so.  When I make a recommendation, it is because I have personal experience with these products and have used them myself. I only recommend products I believe in and suggest them because I know they will be helpful, not because of the small commission I make if you decide to make a purchase. The commission I earn helps offset the production expenses that I incur to produce Power Purls, and by purchasing products through these links, also helps you to become a supporter of this podcast and for that, I am truly grateful.    

In this episode I actually got to host a live interview during the Podcast Movement conference with Katie Krimitsos, the founder of Biz Women Rock!. Katie specializes in group and 1:1 coaching to help female entrepreneurs build businesses that will enable them to have the freedom to design their own lifestyles. She is the voice behind the Biz Women Rock! podcast and the Facebook group of the same name. “I fell in love with the idea that any individual could create this thing called a business that could really be the ticket to the freedom to design the life we really want.”   - Katie Krimitsos Episode highlights: As a society we tend to think you can’t make money from creative pursuits, but to Katie this is all a mindset issue. Find three people who do what YOU want to do, so that you can see that it is possible to make money that way. Katie fell in love with entrepreneurship while working with her husband in an organization called the Tampa Bay Business Owners. In 2014 she decided to start a podcast to shine a light on female business owners so we can all share the journey together. Katie’s coaching and her academy all grew out of the podcast. You don’t have to be more than a few steps ahead of the people you’re trying to serve in order to be helpful to them. The key obstacle to a lot of business owners is that they don’t have the confidence to believe in themselves. Katie journals every morning to help her stay in tune with gratitude and visioning. She often chooses a future date and writes about what could happen by then to make herself proactive in her own life. Katie uses her journaling to give her ideas for new content to create for her audience. Feeling discouraged or down? Use affirmations to help you “fake it ‘til you make it.” Everything doesn’t have to be perfect; you don’t have to know everything before you begin. Just experiment! When you start to feel overwhelmed and you feel like your business is running you, it’s time to go back to your WHY.   Mentioned in this episode: My 3-day challenge to help you use your stash and WIN! The Podcast Movement Conference Voxer voice messaging app Zoom video conferencing Learn more about Katie and Biz Women Rock!: Website: BizWomenRock.com The Academy: BizWomenRock.com/Academy The Podcast: Biz WomenRock.com/category/podcast Facebook group: BizWomenRock.com/Group Instagram: Instagram.com/BizWomenRock Twitter: Twitter.com/Biz_WomenRock   MOVE THE NEEDLE ON YOUR KNIT BIZ! Click here to sign up for a free 30-minute creative business strategy session with Kara!   Disclosure:  Please note that some of the links in this episode are affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase and there is no additional cost for you to do so.  When I make a recommendation, it is because I have personal experience with these products and have used them myself. I only recommend products I believe in and suggest them because I know they will be helpful, not because of the small commission I make if you decide to make a purchase. The commission I earn helps offset the production expenses that I incur to produce Power Purls, and by purchasing products through these links, also helps you to become a supporter of this podcast and for that, I am truly grateful.    

Today’s guest is Kara Gott Warner, who also appeared way back in Episode 16. She’s been the Creative Knitting Executive Editor and the host of the Power Purls podcast. She began her career designing knitting patterns in 2002. Her designs have been published in several magazines, including Creative Knitting, Vogue Knitting, Family Circle Easy Knitting, and Interweave Knits. Kara has a background as a technical illustrator, working with craft book publishers such as Random House, Lark Books, Sterling Publishing, and F+W. Kara first joined Annie’s Publishing in 2008 as knitting book editor, and then in 2010 signed on as Executive Editor of Creative Knitting Magazine and Annie’s Knitting Publications. Through the Power Purls podcast, Kara’s mission is to dig deep and ask those burning questions about what turned her guests on to the “two sticks and fiber” in the first place, and what keeps their needles moving! Making the Leap: Do you know your ONE thing? Kara shares how she planned it out and did the math before leaving her full-time job to pursue her dreams. She reveals the empowerment she felt by putting her plan on paper and beginning to work on HER dreams full-time. TWEET: “It’s hard to not get caught up in the busy-ness instead of the #productivity.” @karaknits   Defining your Dream: Do you allow your dream to morph and grow along the way? We all know that dreams may not stay the same over time as they are refined by experiences and situations. Kara decided to focus on her podcast and use it to create a sustainable life and community. The dream has layers to it as she realizes her goals within the knitting industry. Don’t be afraid to let your dream evolve! TWEET: “Your #wellness is all part of the process.” @karaknits The One Thing: In this age of busy-ness, we are probably all involved in several “dreams” and projects at once. Kara tells about the things she has going on within her dream. Even though we focus on ONE thing, we have commitments to many things. Is multi-tasking a bad thing? Absolutely not! Kara shares how to find the one thing that makes thousands of other things become easier. You, too, can find a way to streamline your dream. TWEET: “You can do everything you want, just not at the same time.” @karaknits OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [1:35] Checking in on Kara’s dream after two years [8:50] What am I waiting for? [10:15] The first two weeks after leaving the 9-5 mentality [15:35] Working at your best to chase your dreams [18:50] Defining your dream [23:43] The ONE thing vs. multitasking [27:35] Going in many different directions [29:25] Repurposing material [35:25] Coaching clients and podcast interviews [37:25] The Chalkboard Method   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: Kara’s Websites: www.powerpurlspodcast.com www.karagottwarner.com www.splendidsticks.com (Creative Knitting Editor’s Blog) www.creativeknittingmagazine.com Kara on Twitter Kara on Instagram Kara on Facebook   TWEETS YOU CAN USE: TWEET: “Even though we focus on ONE thing, we have #commitments to many things.” @karaknits TWEET: “If you can’t identify the things that are the most important, then you’re screwed.” TWEET: “Focus on the one thing that helps you get everything else done.” @karaknits

In this episode Kara talks to knitwear designer and regular coaching client, Francoise Danoy. Francoise is a self-proclaimed Yarn Alchemist: she transforms yarn into knitwear designs for her tribe of Fibre Muses to enjoy, and also teaches others how to become Yarn Alchemists themselves. Her mission is to evolve and grow, and right now the way she does that is by helping her Fibre Muses dive deep into themselves to find their creativity and magic. As a result of working with Francoise, a knitter can transform her yarn into a piece of fiber art, as well as discover and benefit from the magical properties of knitting, in order to create a more meaningful experience. “Knitting is a quiet kind of magic that not only allows us to take a skein of yarn and transform in into something new, but connects us to our past, helps us stay grounded in the present and shapes our future.”   - Francoise Danoy [Tweet "Inspiration abounds when designer @ArohaKnits talks business on the #PowerPurlsPodcast!"] Episode highlights:   Francoise was a guest on episode 26, and we're so happy to have her back again! Francoise is a knitwear designer living in Osaka, Japan. Her father is French and her mother is Maori. Francoise refers to herself as a yarn alchemist – she helps knitters transform their yarn into pieces of fiber art Francoise wants to inspire her fibre muses to help them feel confident about creating beautiful hand knits. She has been designing for 2.5 years, knitting for 3 years. Kara and Francoise work together with Kara’s 1:1 coaching service – they have had a monthly call for years now. Coaching gives Francoise an outside perspective on her business and lets her know she's not alone. Francoise says: When it comes to achieving goals, it’s less about succeeding or failing and more about doing the work. The accountability aspect of coaching helps Francoise with the “getting it done” portion of her goal-setting process. Francoise says that her sessions with Kara gives her a major confidence boost. She also loved getting in-person help with TNNA from Kara. Kara recommends the use of an editorial calendar to plan out your content each month and quarter. Francoise says her design process hasn’t changed over the years, but she is more efficient now. She also teaches that same process to others now so they can build a design business. How long does it take to make a design? For hats, 1-2 months, shawls 2-3 months, garments longer. The longest amount of time in the whole process is the test knitting. Kara recommends always hiring a test knitter in order to preserve your passion for knitting. Francoise says it’s still fun for her to knit her own designs, at least at this point. Francoise casts on one project, sees it all the way through, and immediately starts the next one. For her new collection, Francoise is batching by doing all the knitting, then all the pattern writing, then all the edits. Francoise likes to start her work around 9 and be finished with her non-knitting work by lunch. When she creates the sketches for her design, Fracoise tends to envision the colors at that point. Francoise prefers to use semi-solid colorways, blues, yellows, reds, purples. Her upcoming publication is going to feature more rustic and natural colors and warmer tones. Francoise  immediately started her knitting journey with the idea of incorporating Maori designs into her stitches. If she couldn't find a pattern she liked, she would make one up! This is what prompted Francoise to learn new techniques, so that she could incorporate that into her designs. For Francoise, knitting was an opportunity to reconnect with her mother’s culture and learn her own heritage. It is Francoise’s goal to help people have confidence to transform their yarn into amazing projects and make magic. Francoise is now going to a quarterly pattern collection release schedule instead of a monthly one. The biggest thing she’s struggling right now is shifting her mindset from short-term goals and deadlines to long-term. Kara recommends creating a spreadsheet to map out your goals and the timeline associated with it. Francoise is not influenced by the city where she lives (Osaka) for her design process. Francoise’s advice for the fiber arts business: "Just put yourself out there and see it through, just go for it." Mentioned in this episode: 8 steps to creating a killer design (Kara I can't find a landing page for this only a direct download?) Chelsea Fitch Francoise's Tokerau Shawl pattern Fiber Muse Alchemy kits – yarn club subscription from Francoise Swatch Studio The One Thing by Gary Keller   Learn more about Francoise and Aroha Knits: Website: arohaknits.com Facebook group: The Fibre Muse Circle Instagram: instagram.com/arohaknits     MOVE THE NEEDLE ON YOUR KNIT BIZ! Click here to sign up for a free 30-minute creative business strategy session with Kara!   Disclosure:  Please note that some of the links in this episode are affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase and there is no additional cost for you to do so.  When I make a recommendation, it is because I have personal experience with these products and have used them myself. I only recommend products I believe in and suggest them because I know they will be helpful, not because of the small commission I make if you decide to make a purchase. The commission I earn helps offset the production expenses that I incur to produce Power Purls, and by purchasing products through these links, also helps you to become a supporter of this podcast and for that, I am truly grateful.

In this episode, we're talking all things weaving with special guest, Liz Gipson, known as Yarnworker in the yarn universe! We go beyond knitting and crochet and explore the influence that weaving has had in the yarn crafting world over the past several years. Liz shares her experiences, passion and knowledge as an expert weaver, editor, author and teacher. Liz writes a popular weaving for knitters column for Knitty and regularly contributes to blogs and fiber-related publications.She's the author of A Weaver's Guide to Swatching and has had numerous appearances on PBS, DIY and HGTV networks, where she introduced weaving and spinning to the yarn crafting world. Visit her Patreon Community and help Liz build her online weaving school! "Developing a strong responsible relationship with your readers and asking them to support you takes guts, but it's worth it. Authentic reader relationships pay off in so many unexpected ways and are infinitely satisfying—I firmly believe that community-funded content is the new black." -Liz Gipson   [Tweet "Hey, I'm listening to @Yarnworker talking all things weaving with #yarn on #PowerPurlsPodcast!"] Episode highlights: Liz shares how she launched a series of popular weave-alongs after she lost teaching samples How the weave-alongs spurred Liz into a new direction, launching her Patreon Campaign to create an online weaving school Liz expresses her gratitude that her weaving life allows for so many opportunities for reinvention She started her career as an occupational therapist, but then felt despondent and stumbled upon an opportunity to travel to New Zealand to learn about sheep and fiber production Liz studied wool science for a year in New Zealand which began her love affair with the yarn  How she began career in the early days of craft digital publishing Learn how Liz created a bridge to from weaving to the knitting and crochet world with the introduction of small looms Learn more about Liz: Website: Yarnworker.com Liz's books and products  Facebook: Facebook.com/Yarnworker Instagram: Instagram.com/yarnworker Patreon: www.patreon.com/LizGipson    MOVE THE NEEDLE ON YOUR KNIT BIZ! Click here to sign up for a free 60-minute creative business strategy session with Kara!   Disclosure:  Please note that some of the links in this episode are affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase and there is no additional cost for you to do so.  When I make a recommendation, it is because I have personal experience with these products and have used them myself. I only recommend products I believe in and suggest them because I know they will be helpful, not because of the small commission I make if you decide to make a purchase. The commission I earn helps offset the production expenses that I incur to produce Power Purls, and by purchasing products through these links, also helps you to become a supporter of this podcast and for that, I am truly grateful.  

In this Q&A-style episode, Kara welcomes returning guest and "sidekick in crime," Tabetha Hedrick for another edition of Ask Kara & Tabetha Anything! Kara and Tabetha answer questions from live video audience during the live version of Power Purls Podcast, airing every Friday on the Power Purls Facebook page. Click here to watch the video and chime in with your own questions, or leave them in the comments below.  "How you put it all together thorough your own style, voice, and construction is what makes a design unique."  Episode highlights Judy asks: "How does one go about becoming a stitcher?"  Tabetha answers: It's all about reaching out and testing patterns. Kara answers: just get in there-- don't wait for all the ducks to be in a row! Fiber Boss Collective is a great resource for designers, knitters, with lots of activity about sample knitting and indie dyer resources. Why become a person of value by helping others in fiber groups will help you grow relationships. Why Ravelry is a good resource if you want to get into test knitting. Robin asks: "I am a combination knitter and I would like to know which stitches I need to do differently in order to follow a pattern and/or have my knitting turn out looking correct." Kara answers: If you are a combination knitter, purling English and knitting in Continental is a good idea because purling Continental can sometimes cause stitches to slant while working in Stockinette Stitch. Lousetta asks: "What makes a design unique and/or how many differences in a pattern makes it new? When can a designer claim it as a new submission? Tabetha answers: How you put it together thorough your own style, voice and construction is what makes a design unique. One of the biggest questions most new designers have is knowing if it's allowable to use stitch patterns from stitch dictionaries to integrate into a new design. Jennifer asks: "How did you get started in the knitting/yarn industry? and how long did it take you to gain a following? I just designed & published my first pattern (working on my second one now) and I have a 2x a week vlog but I am so new that I do not have a large following. Help!" Kara answers: focus on building community and the big "P" word -- PATIENCE and why this is essential in the beginning. It's about creating a community and growing this overtime. It doesn't take a huge following to make a sustainable living.  Tabetha answers: keep on designing, and give personalized attention with yarn companies. Don't give up! Kara shares why it's beneficial to look outside of the fiber world and gather ideas from mainstream online business people. Resources Fiber Boss Collective - A thriving community, founded by Chelsea Fitch for knitters, crocheters, indie dyers and designers. 1000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly (very long, but worth reading!) Gabby Bernstein - self-proclaimed spirit junkie and encourager. Marie Forleo - life coach and founder of BSchool [Tweet "Do you have a BURNING knitting question? Join the conversation on the Power Purls Facebook page and Ask Kara & Tabetha Anything!"] Become a member. Support the podcast. Disclosure:  Please note that some of the links in this episode are affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase and there is no additional cost for you to do so.  When I make a recommendation, it is because I have personal experience with these products and have used them myself. I only recommend products I believe in and suggest them because I know they will be helpful, not because of the small commission I make if you decide to make a purchase. The commission I earn helps offset the production expenses that I incur to produce Power Purls, and by purchasing products through these links, also helps you to become a supporter of this podcast and for that, I am truly grateful.

In this episode, I share how to become an intuitive knitter in 7 steps. As a former knitting magazine editor, it's all about the pattern, but sometimes relying only on a pattern can become like a crutch because we can get caught up in focusing upon what the pattern says instead of trusting our own wisdom.  Patterns have their place, they are the beginning tools to help us learn, especially when you are new to the craft, but moving in the direction of trusting what's on your needles is what this episode digs into, along with and tips for how you can take some tiny steps down that path.   Episode highlights Master the tools, then dissect - understand the mechanics, then reimagine them The Picasso metaphor - first learn to see and understand, then deconstruct and question Why there's no right or wrong in knitting - go by the beat of your own drum! A good pattern should lead you down a path Kara shares the best advice given early in her designing career The 7 tips to develop your knitting intuition Fall in love with swatching - why this will give you the confidence and ability to be more intuitive Why you should question a pattern if you see a better way to make it Do you like the way most knitting patterns or written, or do you feel that it's time to reimagine how we navigate a pattern that includes a more open-ended intuitive approach? Join the conversation on the Power Purls Facebook page and leave your answer to the question above here.    Become a member. Support the podcast. Disclosure:  Please note that some of the links in this episode are affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase and there is no additional cost for you to do so.  When I make a recommendation, it is because I have personal experience with these products and have used them myself. I only recommend products I believe in and suggest them because I know they will be helpful, not because of the small commission I make if you decide to make a purchase. The commission I earn helps offset the production expenses that I incur to produce Power Purls, and by purchasing products through these links, also helps you to become a supporter of this podcast and for that, I am truly grateful.

Meet Tara Swiger, marketing expert, author and host of Explore Your Enthusiasm podcast. Tara works with makers and artists to create a sustainable, lovable businesses. She does this through her books, the weekly podcast, online classes, and her in-person workshops. She leads adventures for makers who want to explore your own definition of success! In this episode, Tara shares tips and strategies from her new book, Map Your Business a workbook of exercises designed to help you create your own personal blueprint to reach goals that are important to you, and how you can use it to define success, set goals and make a plan that you can stick with!  In this book, Tara takes an integrative approach, encouraging you to align your life and business, and she invites you to take a look at your progress each quarter to make sure you’re on track.  Episode highlights Tara created her own job instead of "a business." Don't just talk about it ... do it if that's what you want to do!  How there's a big difference between the planning stage and actually having started a business After you start, what's next. Now where do you go?  In 2009 Tara left her day job and made it known publicly. She shares why it's important to let the world know Her first class was a marketing path to help creative business owners How the Map Your Business book is not only for business, but how to "draw your universe" The map-making process that Tara shares can be applied to any part of your life The difference between a task and a project - and why understanding this difference is crucial to your success Why making a mindmap helps to understand things visually and in a linear way Why Map Your Business was created like a map and how it came from a series of pdf workbooks that she created for her students How the book helps you to assess your goals monthly and quarterly, and how to pivot if you need to Tara gives Kara advice about how to do a monthly review in her new business-- and explains that this is advice everyone can follow There isn't a "right way" to start a creative business, you need to find what's right for you Tara shares her biggest struggle - a combination of having unrealistic expectations and not getting derailed when things don't go right. Tara explains that there is a way to systematize the overwhelm - make a check list out of it  The power or making a daily list even if it feels redundant Why it's OK to give yourself permission to say NO to getting certain things done Why being a maker contributes to the quality of Tara's daily life and how knitting socks helps her to stay sane during car rides! English Paper Piecing #epp is another passion of Tara's. She loves it so much because this craft is portable much like knitting How replying to a tweet, led to her being featured in the book bestselling book, Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk  Before you think about the Etsy shop or marketing - you FIRST need to to create your product and spend time "practicing." Learn more about Tara: Website: TaraSwiger.com Podcast: Explore Your Enthusiasm Tara's books and programs  Map Your Business Facebook: Facebook.com/Tara.Swiger  Instagram: @TaraSwiger Twitter: @TaraSwiger Mentioned in this episode: Business and marketing books: The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan  The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future, by Chris Gillebeau Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion by Gary Vaynerchuk (the book that Tara was mentioned in and one of Kara's faves!) Podcasts: Smart Passive Income with Pat Flynn, check out episode SPI237 with Lauren from Girly Knits The Ask Pat Podcast - Get your online business questions answered, 5 days a week.       Become a member. Support the podcast. Disclosure:  Please note that some of the links in this episode are affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase and there is no additional cost for you to do so.  When I make a recommendation, it is because I have personal experience with these products and have used them myself. I only recommend products I believe in and suggest them because I know they will be helpful, not because of the small commission I make if you decide to make a purchase. The commission I earn helps offset the production expenses that I incur to produce Power Purls, and by purchasing products through these links, also helps you to become a supporter of this podcast and for that, I am truly grateful. Opening music credit: The Ether Life by Macroform

Vickie Howell is most well-known as the Host and Creative Consultant of DIY Network’s Knitty Gritty, her best selling knitting, crochet, and craft books, and her accessible, inclusive approach to nurturing the creative community via print, video and social media. Today, she shares details about a Kickstarter for Knit Show, which will be the first community funded and internationally accessible episodic knitting & crochet series!   This is your chance to get involved! Without 100 percent funding, this show cannot happen. Click here to help me support the show and let's make this happen! Hurry, because the campaign ends April 19th!    Episode highlights Vickie saw a need for a knitting and crochet show like The Knit Show and filled it She shares how her #1 love for broadcasting and her passion for knitting and crochet and how these created her brand Vickie super power is craft encourager and setting a positive example for yarn crafters Community is no longer local. We are on a global playing field, and have access to so much more today than ever before  How crowd-funding is the new normal  How The Knit Show is show different than the other knit and crochet TV shows  Show overview: tutorials, the benefits of yarn crafting and mental health, fitness segments and overall holistic integration Vickie's plans for continuing with her live video series, Ask Me Monday and why this is important for community Why The Knit Show is a fully-produced show and details about the production team behind its creation Rewards for becoming a backer of the show Vickie shares her secret for keeping the balls in the air while as a wife and mother The Kickstarter ends on April 19th! Click here to become a backer NOW! Learn more about Vickie & Kickstarter Campaign: Community on the web: VickieHowell.com The Knit Show on Kickstarter Facebook: Facebook.com/vickiehowell Instagram: @VickieHowell Twitter: @VickieHowell    Click Here to Join the Stitchucation Workshop 5-Week Workshop, Beginning May 1. Join Kara for 5 full weeks of intuitive shawl-making!      Disclosure:  Please note that some of the links in this episode are affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase and there is no additional cost for you to do so.  When I make a recommendation, it is because I have personal experience with these products and have used them myself. I only recommend products I believe in and suggest them because I know they will be helpful, not because of the small commission I make if you decide to make a purchase. The commission I earn helps offset the production expenses that I incur to produce Power Purls, and by purchasing products through these links, also helps you to become a supporter of this podcast and for that, I am truly grateful. Opening music credit: The Ether Life by Macroform

Welcome to Power Purls Unplugged, with me, Kara Gott Warner. Your comments have shown me that the raw, unpolished aspect of a live podcast certainly has an appeal to many of you. I love getting your feedback. It's been necessary, in order to balance the different time zones and to find the best time frame for this show. Join me today, as I talk to the Power Purls Facebook Group, live, while recording my podcast. We will discuss what being creative with your knitting means to you. Take your knitting to the next level. Let's keep the conversation going!    Catch me live at 12pm EST Fridays, on Facebook.com/PowerPurlsPodcast. To watch past broadcasts, you can find them in the video library on the Power Purls Facebook page.   Episode Highlights:   Kara talks about how to make more space and margin time for creativity The inspiration for making FB live a podcast - my episode with Marly Bird What does “creative” mean in knitting creatively? Listen to my episode with Marly Bird and become inspired! Kara talks about: How the indirect passion for sitting with knitting for hours on end has given me certain things in my life. Can you take a chance with your knitting? Go without a pattern and see what comes? Don't be afraid while attempting something. Kara says: “Those magical mistakes are where the magic happens”. Get crazy and try a new way! See what happens! How different gauges of yarn can really be a creative feature Feeling intuitive? Just jump in! Go with it! Try it! Just keep going and “embrace those beautiful holes”. Kara urges and encourages you to “go free, without a pattern and try it out”. You can stand a chance to win a “swagbag” worth over $100 from Plymouth Yarn! How you can support the show and get some sweet rewards and perks for as little as $1.   With special thanks to my Patreon supporters! Support Power Purls on Patreon! Check out the details here to learn how to become a patron of the show... there are some pretty sweet rewards for getting in on this ground-floor level!  

Marly Bird is bi-crafty - a knitter who also crochets! She has been podcasting about the craft since 2007! She is the national spokesperson for Red Heart Yarns and she’s the host of the YarnThing podcast. She’s an author and designer with a prominent YouTube channel as well! You can find her at craftsty.com and she has classes available at creativebug.com.  Marly had a respectable career in the financial services industry before her love of all things yarn took over her life and career. She was podcasting about it when everyone else was just blogging. She’s always been way ahead of her time, and she’s been able to create a knitting and crocheting empire that has been a resource to share her love of the craft in all forms of media. She’s got a special offer for Power Purls listeners today, so don’t miss out! How she started podcasting in 2007 - Ask Jeeves to the rescue! Her philosophy for sharing her guests with her audience and why she loves sharing the stories and connections How she found her stride when there wasn’t an established format for a podcast Is Craftsy killing the yarn store? She covered it in her early podcast. Bridging the gap between social media and the podcast with Facebook live! How a live show is different than a pre-recorded show Why she transitioned from a pre-recorded show to a live show The run down on having a live hosted podcast on Blog Talk Radio Return to the rustic and real - could it be a trend? Competing and cooperating in the world of yarn Having a business built on podcasting - it isn’t easy The juggling act of creating income from her knitting passion Life lessons from knitting and crochet Knitting bonds and lessons from Grandmothers - there could be some tears! Build your support system the Jim Rohn way Diversify your income in this industry. You can’t be just a designer! Resources: www.MarlyBird.com www.redheart.com/my-first-with-marly-bird www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing Marly has a special discount for a limited time, in her Ravelry Store. She's giving our listeners a free pattern for using the Code POWERPURLS at checkout. Make your purchases by midnight on Dec. 2! www.powerpurlspodcast.com/marly

Dora Ohrenstein is a designer of fashion crochet, author of 6 books, and a writer specializing in crochet history and international traditions.  Dora’s designs appears in all the major print and digital crochet publications. Given her avid interest in advancing the skills of the crochet community, she includes lots of in-depth technical information in all of her books. She also teaches crochet at Vogue Knitting Live, on Craftsy, and in yarn shops across the country.   Earlier in her life Dora was a well-known soprano who sang contemporary classical music, most notably as the solo voice of the Phillip Glass Ensemble, a position she held for 10 years.  Nowadays in addition to her design career, she is a singing teacher at Wagner College in Staten Island. Dora is a born and raised New Yorker.   Being on the road as a musician gave Dora a love of travel, and today she engages in textile travel, which has brought her to many exotic locations, including the Balkans, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and the Ukraine.  The experience has deepened her understanding of how crochet and knitting fit into the larger world of textiles.  Episode Highlights: Failure is the best teacher and how that can help you learn crochet. Find out how each learning style easily lends itself to learning crochet. Crochet is easy enough to learn that you can learn complex patterns fairly quickly. So many lessons are learned from failure and Dora shares some of the ones she learned when she was new to crochet. At the end of the day, it’s just yarn! The best designers and crocheters rip. Find out why it’s helpful! Discipline cultivated in other creative endeavors can actually help hone your crochet skills. If you’re going to be interested in crochet, you better learn to love the process because the outcomes are not going to be fast! Have you ever heard crochet mentioned in a rap? Dora’s got a crochet rap for us! There are beautiful parallels between Dora’s vocal performance skills and her carefully honed crochet skills, both creatively and mathematically. Who knew? There’s something artistic and free about designing your own patterns. The beauty of embracing those “magical mistakes” on the hook. Learn why Dora finds her magic in the swatching. Find out what caused Dora to pick the hook back up after years of not crocheting. Dora has a “once in a lifetime” meeting (with crochet royalty) that ushers her right into the crochet “big leagues”. Dora shares some really great insights into both the knitting and the crocheting industry, and also shares some of her wishes and hopes for the industry. Dora talks about her new book, Top Down Crochet Sweaters, which has just been released. She’s also got a special giveaway for Power Purls listeners! Dora also has patterns for plus sizes too and she has some tips for the right fit. She knows that people aren’t standardized, so patterns can’t be standardized either!  Don't miss an opportunity to win a copy of Dora's new book, Top Down Crochet Sweaters at www.powerpurlspodcast.com/dora.

Welcome to Power Purls Unplugged! You asked, I'm answering! If you signed up for the Power Purls Podcast newsletter, you know that I asked you this question: What kind of podcast topics appeal to you most? 65% of you want lifestyle stories and 63% want to know about the business side of design. So I spent some time digging into your comments and questions and today I'll be answering them here and then turning the tables and asking you --  What kinds of topics appeal to you most as a Power Purls listener and what do you want more of?   Catch me live at 12pm EST Fridays, on Facebook.com/PowerPurlsPodcast. To watch past broadcasts, you can find them in the video library on the Power Purls Facebook page.   Episode highlights: Kara answers one of the biggest questions: How do I start a knit design business? Kara says: Just start! -- let your passion drive you. Put yourself out there with just one idea and get started. Don't put a dollar sign on your passion! How you can sign up for my newsletter and get my free designing guide. Why it's important to tell YOUR story We don't need another pattern, so what is it that makes you different? Listen to my episode with Vickie Howell who is a great example of how you are your brand.  Don't give your patterns away for free as your main business model. How to work with magazine like Creative Knitting -- and use the guidelines to help develop your skills. Join Facebook Groups like The Fiber Boss Collective to learn the biz and network with other designers. Get scrappy and use mainstream models to grow your design business. The myth of work/life balance- it's more about knowing when to make the right choices at the right time. Support Power Purls on Patreon! Check out the details here to learn how to become a patron of the show... there are some pretty sweet rewards for getting in on this ground-floor level!

We've gone a little crazy pants and broadcasted live on Facebook, and... turned it into this podcast episode! with Tabetha Hedrick, Design Director of Sweet Georgia Yarns. I thought it would be an interactive way to bring you another edition of Ask Kara & Tabetha Anything. We answer a listener question about pattern grading and how to create balance between life, work and finding time for our knitting. If you want to watch the original video broadcast, you can check it out, and you can also catch me live at 12pm EST Fridays, on Facebook.com/PowerPurlsPodcast. To watch past broadcasts, you can find them in the video library on the Power Purls Facebook page.   Episode highlights: How we are turning the video version of Unplugged into a podcast episode. When it comes to grading (sizing) patterns, is this the designer's or the publisher's job? Sizing standards for designers and hobby knitters: www.craftyarncouncil.org Does the publisher provide a tech editor for designers patterns? When to hire a tech editor to size your patterns. Kara and Tabetha debate this topic! Work/life balance is learning to "take turns" as Crochet! editor Ellen Gormley explains in episode 021  You can do everything you want, but just not at the same time. We're looking for a way to put everything in a neat box, but we live in an imperfect. If balance is a myth, what can we do what matters most in the moment. Learning to say no and practicing acceptance because we can't control the universe.  

Today I continue with this topic of knitting with a mindful intention on today's edition of Power Purls Unplugged on this #FreeformFriday! Do you struggle unless you see the end result? Is starting with the end in mind always the right way to start? Paying attention to what's happening moment by moment is what this episode explores today. and the idea of deciding in advance to "cultivate not knowing" the end can provide you with special surprises that you wouldn't find unless you let go. Not knowing the next step in both life and knitting can be a roller coaster ride of uncomfortable and exciting feelings, but so worth experiencing this as part of our life's journey.    Join me every Friday at 12pm EST on Facebook.com/PowerPurlsPodcast for my live broadcast. To watch past videos, you can find them in the video library on the Power Purls Facebook page.   Episode and video highlights: Forget the pattern, focus on the stitches and movement. Don't let skill levels defeat you. If you see something you love - then go for it. Don't let the comfort of knowing the end take over. Be a stitch adventurer! Do you think of frogging as torture or a learning experience? I'm often reminded in my life of the wise words of my late grandfather - "Try it you'll like it!" he was always right. How we often hold on to wanting our finished project to be a certain way, but what if that doesn't happen? Support Power Purls on Patreon! Check out the details here to learn how to become a patron of the show... there are some pretty sweet rewards for getting in on this ground-floor level!

Welcome to another edition of Power Purls Unplugged on this #FreeformFriday! In today's episode let's dig into the concept of mindful vs. mindless knitting and explore what this REALLY means to us as knitters? Join me every Friday at 12pm EST on Facebook.com/PowerPurlsPodcast for my live broadcast. To watch past videos, you can find them in the video library on the Power Purls Facebook page. Episode and video highlights: We're never really mindless when we are knitting, but rather fully and completely engaged. Looking at knitting as a freeform art form. Can you let go of "the pattern?" Does the thought of not having a road map for your knitting make your fearful of the unknown? "Mindless" knitting is in fact it's the most mindful way to knit. It puts us so viscerally close to the craft. How spontaneous knitting allows us to focus on the tactile feeling of the yarn gliding through our fingers, the sound of our needles clicking and marveling at the work that is made after knitting just a few rows. The most amazing -- we see something, that just a short time ago was not there. The magic of making something with our hands. What could be more amazing than that? Becoming a fearless knitter! Paint your world with your needles.

Welcome to another edition of Power Purls Unplugged on this #FreeformFriday! In today's episode I talk about the power of keeping either a written or visual journal and how this can help influence our knitting and life in general.  Join me every Friday at 12pm EST on Facebook.com/PowerPurlsPodcast for my live broadcast. To watch past videos, you can find them in the video library on the Power Purls Facebook page. Share and use the hashtag #PowerPurlsUnplugged

Welcome to another edition of Power Purls Unplugged on this #FreeformFriday! Today's episode is short and sweet! I ask you what that pivotal moment was that brought you to knitting. Was it the loss of a loved one, change of career, the birth of a child? Whatever it is I want to dig deep with you. In this episode I share mine and invite you to go back in time to the moment that changed it all for me! Join me every Friday at 12pm EST on Facebook.com/PowerPurlsPodcast for my live broadcast. To watch past videos, you can find them in the video library on the Power Purls Facebook page. Episode and video highlights: I share the moment that I knew I wanted to make knitting my life and career. Why we need to not only rely on passion, but understanding the skills that are important to turn passion into profit. Learn from my upcoming guest, Tina Whitmore of Freia Handpaint Yarns, and how she keeps the fire going in her business.

Welcome to another edition of Power Purls Unplugged on this #FreeformFriday! This episode is a mixed bag of topics. First on the list, I'll be breaking down The 8 Essential Steps to Creating a Killer Proposal which is a free guide offered to anyone wanting to start working with magazines and book publishers. In this episode, I also share details about upcoming trends for the fall knitting season, and the exciting things I found on my trip to The National NeedleArts Trade Show in Washington DC in June. I'll also be sharing a preview of my next interview with Tina Whitmore of Freia Handpaint Yarns which goes live on July 25th. Join me today at 12pm EST on Facebook.com/PowerPurlsPodcast for my live video because I'll be doing a deep dive into the best practices when it comes to creating a design proposal and all the necessary components you'll need to get started as an independent designer. You don't want to miss it, because it's your chance to ask me your biggest knitting and designing questions. To watch past broadcasts, you can find them in the video library on the Power Purls Facebook page, and if you missed me live, you can join me every Friday at 12 noon EST to watch live! For more episodes like this visit: www.PowerPurlsPodcast To subscribe on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/power-purls-podcast/id1043956186 To get Kara's FREE 8-Steps to Creating a Killer Design Proposal: https://karagottwarner.leadpages.co/leadbox/145c10c73f72a2%3A166d5aeedb46dc/5730450056151040/ Support the show! www.Patreon.com/PowerPurlsPodcast

Welcome to another #FreeformFriday! Today I’m recording from Podcast Movement Chicago! I’m thrilled to be here meeting fellow podcasters and learning how I can fine tune Power Purls Podcast so I can continue doing what I do best and that is getting behind the mic to share my most authentic stories. I’ll be talking more about this in my live video as well as sharing other powerful takeaways, so please join me today at 12pm EST on Facebook.com/PowerPurlsPodcast and every Friday. To watch past broadcasts, you can find them in the video library on the Power Purls Facebook page. For more episodes like this visit: www.PowerPurlsPodcast To subscribe on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/power-purls-podcast/id1043956186 To get Kara's FREE 8-Steps to Creating a Killer Design Proposal: https://karagottwarner.leadpages.co/leadbox/145c10c73f72a2%3A166d5aeedb46dc/5730450056151040/ Support the show! www.Patreon.com/PowerPurlsPodcast

Welcome to another #FreeformFriday where I share my random ramblings about what’s happening on the podcast, and what I’ll be talking about on today’s Facebook Live broadcast at 12pm EST. Last week I broadcasted at 4pm, but I’ll admit it was a bit late in the day and if you happened to join me, you may have noticed it was a bit noisy in my backyard! So today, I’m back on track at 12pm EST, talking about the book and giveaway I shared in episode 032 with Carol Sulcoski. Also, in this episode I ask you a question that I’d like you to answer in the comments today on my video. I hope you’ll chime in on today’s convo! To join in, visit me at: www.Facebook.com/PowerPurlsPodcast. For more episodes like this visit: www.PowerPurlsPodcast To subscribe on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/power-purls-podcast/id1043956186 To get Kara's FREE 8-Steps to Creating a Killer Design Proposal: https://karagottwarner.leadpages.co/leadbox/145c10c73f72a2%3A166d5aeedb46dc/5730450056151040/ Support the show! www.Patreon.com/PowerPurlsPodcast

TGIF! It's another freeform Friday of Power Purls Unplugged! This episode of random ramblings covers what you can do to become a conduit for creativity. I talk about 4 ways you can do this, and I'll also be chatting about this on my Facebook Live video, broadcasting June 24 @4pm EST. Join me here: www.Facebook.com/PowerPurlsPodcast and then check the video archives for the June 24 video. For more episodes like this visit: www.PowerPurlsPodcast To subscribe on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/power-purls-podcast/id1043956186 To get Kara's FREE 8-Steps to Creating a Killer Design Proposal: https://karagottwarner.leadpages.co/leadbox/145c10c73f72a2%3A166d5aeedb46dc/5730450056151040/ Support the show! www.Patreon.com/PowerPurlsPodcast

Hey Power Purlers! Welcome to this first edition of Power Purls Unplugged, a new special edition to the podcast. I hope you'll join me at 12pm EST on Fridays for my broadcast on Facebook! To join in, visit me at: www.Facebook.com/PowerPurlsPodcast What I talk about in the Facebook Live video: -Off-the-cuff ramblings about how to include freeform creativity in your day or your week. -Why adding uninhibited creative time enhances your knit design business and knitting life. -Making movement your mantra and part of your business and life plan! -Get messy with paint or yarn... whatever. -How unstructured time will help you be more productive later. -Why I'm going to do Facebook Live videos - because it's not a one-sided conversation like a podcast is. -On the video I can share those "in between" times when I'm not publishing episodes and it opens the door for more engaged conversations. Support the show! www.Patreon.com/PowerPurlsPodcast For more episodes like this visit: www.PowerPurlsPodcast To subscribe on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/power-purls-podcast/id1043956186 To get Kara's FREE 8-Steps to Creating a Killer Design Proposal: https://karagottwarner.leadpages.co/leadbox/145c10c73f72a2%3A166d5aeedb46dc/5730450056151040/

Today I welcome two-time Emmy© winner and New York Times Bestselling author Deborah Norville to Power Purls! Deborah is known to millions as anchor of Inside Edition, the nation's top-rated syndicated news magazine. She is also a huge crafter, loving knitting, crochet, sewing, macrame, embroidery, needlepoint and cross-stitch. Deborah kicks off Season 7 (April 2016) as the new Host of Knit and Crochet Now!, the popular Annie's television show seen on PBS stations across America. In 2008, Deborah partnered with Premier Yarns to create her own collection of high quality super-soft yarns named the Deborah Norville Collection, which started with just four yarns and now boasts over 20 yarns and a full range of dyed birchwood knitting needles and crochet hooks. She is also the author of Knit with Deborah Norville a collection of more than 18 projects and classic patterns for knitting. Deborah is married to Karl Wellner and is the mother of three. She can be reached via her website www.DeborahNorville.com and on social media as @DeborahNorville. For more episodes like this visit: www.PowerPurlsPodcast.com To subscribe on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/power-purls-podcast/id1043956186

Today's episode is a double header. I'm interviewing Kara Gott Warner, host of Power Purls Podcast, and she's interviewing me! Read on for more details and then have a listen to both episodes. About Kara Gott Warner Kara is the Executive Editor of Creative Knitting magazine. She began her career in the yarn industry as a knitting designer in 2002. Kara's designs have been published in several magazines, including Creative Knitting, Vogue Knitting, Family Circle Easy Knitting, and Interweave Knits. Kara has also worked as a technical illustrator, working with craft book publishers such as Random House, Lark Books, Sterling Publishing and F+W. Kara joined Annie’s Publishing in 2008 as knitting book editor, and she became the Executive Editor of Creative Knitting and Annie’s knitting publications. Kara's also a podcast host! Her first show, the Morning Cooldown is a seasonal program that is currently on hiatus. Knitters and yarn industry folks may prefer her latest show, Power Purls Podcast, where she loves to dig deep and ask those burning questions about what turned her guests on to the “two sticks and fiber,” in the first place, and what keeps their needles moving. You can find Kara online on her website, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. About the interview Kara shares an editor's perspective on the magazine design submission process, along with tips for increasing your likelihood of getting a design accepted, and how to build a strong relationship with a magazine as a freelancer. We also talk about the importance of networking within the industry, developing multiple streams of income, and using morning rituals to increase your productivity. Resources mentioned in this episode Kara recommends the following books: The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert Jocelyn Glei's Make Your Mark, Manage Your Day-to-Day, and Maximize Your Potential,  Designing Knitwear by Deborah Newton Knitwear Design Workshop by Shirley Paden Sweater Design in Plain English by Maggie Righetti You may want to listen to these back episodes of the Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show for more discussion about topics addressed in this episode: Episode 1 Episode 43 Episode 49 Episode 56 You can find Kara's interview with me on Power Purls here. If you enjoyed this episode The Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in March, 2016. Be aware that content may be outdated. If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).

Today on the show, I am talking to Kara Gott Warner, Executive Editor of Creative Knitting Magazine and host of the Power Purls Podcast. Kara began her career designing knitting patterns in 2002 and her designs have been published in several magazines, including: Creative Knitting, Vogue Knitting, Family Circle Easy Knitting and Interweave Knits. Kara also has a background as a technical illustrator, working with craft book publishers. She first joined Annie's Publishing in 2008 as knitting book editor, and then in 2010 signed on as Executive Editor of Creative Knitting Magazine and Annie's knitting publications. This past fall, Kara launched her new podcast, Power Purls, where she asks her guests to dig deep and explore what turned them on to knitting in the first place.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Norah Gaughan who is perhaps best known for her book Knitting Nature and a nine year stint as Design Director at Berroco. Today, Norah works as an independent designer, with her current ventures including: being a member of the Brooklyn Tweed Design Team and designing a collection of pieces in collaboration with The Fibre Co. In my own knitting journey, I first stumbled across Norah in the book: Knitting in America. I so captivated by her story because it was at that time that I knew I wanted to embark on a career in the needle arts, and it's one of the earliest books I acquired on the subject of what it means to be a knitwear designer, and reading Norah's story set a fire inside of me, which is why I'm so honored to have Norah on Power Purls! To read the show notes: www.powerpurlspodcast.com/007-norah-gaughan/ To listen to more episodes like this: www.powerpurlspodcast.com To subscribe on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/power-purls-podcast/id1043956186

Today is the first official episode of Power Purls and you are in for a treat! I'm chatting with Trisha Malcolm, editorial director of Vogue Knitting about the design proposal process and what it really takes to put together a top-notch design proposal that gets an editor's attention! Learn what the number one struggle editors face when it comes to the design submission process. Learn to put down on paper what you envision from sketch and swatch through completion. To read the full show notes: www.powerpurlspodcast.com/001-trisha-malcolm To listen to more episodes like this: www.powerpurlspodcast.com To subscribe on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/power-purls-podcast/id1043956186

My name is Kara Gott Warner, Chief Purl Girl of Power Purls, a bi-weekly podcast, featuring interviews with savvy knitwear designers sharing the biz side of design and everyday knitters (like YOU) with compelling lifestyle stories. In this first episode, I take just a few minutes to introduce myself, and my journey to knitting. I also share details about the Podcast so you know what to expect. I'll be sharing with you stories about knitters who have intriguing stories about how knitting has helped them through a time of struggle, or has been a source of inspiration that has transformed their life. To read the full show notes: www.powerpurlspodcast.com/000-welcome To listen to more episodes like this: www.powerpurlspodcast.com To subscribe on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/power-purls-podcast/id1043956186