Episode 73: Review-o-Rama

Episode 73: Review-o-Rama

On this week's episode we take a random journey from reviews of patterns, magazines, and fiber clubs to yoga & the Wii Fit, then back around to more reviews and then a dip into current obsessions. We wander, don't say we didn't warn you.

Winner: Sue from New Hampshire
Brenda Patipa's Twist and Lace
Mustavilla Scarf/Baktus
Knit Circus
Phat Fiber
Whimsical Little Knits
Pioneer
Rigid Heddle Looms

Music:
U-Dot, Continental
People Got A Lotta Nerve, Neko Case

Comments

[Lisa]

Hello ladies!

Ok I'm in the knitting camp.

As for how I buy online and the influences that go to making that decision...

For patterns, I look to see if it is firstly something that I can wear in my tropical weather. Then if it will look good on me and then if it is in my size. So lots of patterns get eliminated in the first one or two steps!

For yarn, it depends... if I have made a decision on the pattern then I mostly buy what was recommended for the pattern or find a reasonable alternative. But for lace shawls, sometimes I don't have a pattern in mind and just buy the lace weight because it's pretty! Or because it's a yarn I've never tried or on a lesser scale, just because.

[Gretchen]

Knitter here...

oh, I try to buy yarn on-line... I really, really do! But I get so darn hung up on the colors (will they Really look like they look on the screen?) that I rarely actually hit the 'buy' button that way!

you gals rock - just love the podcast. thanks!

[Cory Ellen]

Knitter!

I don't buy yarn online. I'm a student and my college town has an awesome little yarn store, so I usually try to buy or special order through them.

My friend and I teach a knitting class, and Stash and Burn is one of our recommended listening assignments!

[Jenny Bennett]

I do both, but definately more knitting.
I live 100 miles from my local(???) yarn store...so I also do alot of stalking to see what people are knitting and using on those projects. Its definately easier to do this before ordering on line!!!

[Oiyi]

Spinning, please.

I tend to look at Ravelry to see examples of the yarn before buying on Etsy.

[Sarah C.]

*Knitting!* :)

I buy a hella lot of yarn online...I am isolated in upstate NY, and I am lazy. I mostly buy "sweater quantities" (that mysterious amt.) of seductive yarns in pretty colors (hello, MadelineTosh, like Nicole mentioned) -- and if these sweater yarns are at all on sale, then it's all over.

[Megan]

Spinner here!

I have quite a stash so I usually only buy yarn online if it's on sale...if it's full price I'm likely to be guilted out of it by the stash (it lives in the room with the computer)

[heather]

Spinning please!

Since I've got so many great yarn stores here in Portland, I really try to only buy yarn online if there are great deals to be had (I'm such a sucker for all of the great sales from WEBS). But I have that hangup, too, about the colors. More than a couple of times I've gotten yarn online that I really didn't like once I took it out of the package. It's so much easier to go to my LYS and see the yarn in person!

[Adrienne]

Spinning!

Since there's no real LYS here, I do my buying online. Mostly, I go by need, and to the Rav destash first to see what's to be had.

For spinning fiber, I tend to watch what others are buying and how they are spinning up.

[erinamelia]

Hey ladies, just listened to the episode and count me in to the space brigade - it's midterm season. Bleh.

I was really excited to hear the Neko Case closing song! YAY NEKO CASE! If you don't have Middle Cyclone yet, go get it. Here, i am making little ushering gestures with my arms. Go go go!

As for buying things online, I was about to get some Knitpicks blocking wires for Ishbel when the spring catalog arrived in my mailbox. It's like the crack den comes to your door! I am also in the throes of a post-Stitches yarn moratorium, hopefully I won't break...

(Also for the drawing: Knitting!)

[Sarah]

Spinning!

Recently I've really only been buying spinning fiber online, because I have a pretty amazing LYS close to me where I buy yarn. I have a couple of favorite "fiber pushers," and my decisions are made solely by emotional response -- when I fall in love with a colorway, I buy it.

[Julianne]

Knitter!

I buy online quite often since my closest LYS is an hour away. I pick out a pattern, search Ravelry for what other people have used to make it, and try to pick one of those yarns. I usually just buy yarn I'm familiar with, except for when I buy from etsy people. I can usually blame lime and violet for any etsy purchases!

[Martha Hasselbach]

Knitter!

I buy some yarn online based off of reviews from podcasts such as this one and others. I also plan out what I'm buying if it's a more expensive yarn and have a project in mind for it.

[Amanda]

Knitting.

I really only buy online when I want a particular yarn and my LYS doesn't have it. Then I shop for the best price. I don't allow myself to browse and I avoid etsy at all costs, it is just to easy to overspend. That being said, I love online shopping when a splurge/reward is in order.

Patterns I do buy online, usually from the designers website.

[Joni Marie]

I knit.
I spin only in my dreams--except for a few encounters with a spindle which I consider "just experimenting".

1. I buy YARN and NOTIONS from shops; I go on line only if that's the only place I can find a specific thing I want or need. We have several good LYSs in this area and 3 are just a few miles away.

2. I buy DVDs and PATTERNS on line all the time.

3. For BOOKS I can go either way.

JoniMarie
Asheville NC

[Ben Russenholt]

Kintting.

I purchased a knitting bag for an Etsy seller and I have also purchased loads of patterns and sticth markers. I have to say that my main motivation is similar to everyone elses. I see things that I think are nice or that I think I NEED only to look back later and find out it was really just a WANT.

My WANT devil wins over the NEED angel all the time.
BTW, the Tarahumara natives run entire unltramarathons either barefoot or in sandals...

[Jess]

Knitter representing!

I mainly purchase yarns from my LYS, however if I find a yarn that has a color scheme that just calls my name, I will order online.

[Bdraeger]

Spinning! (and knitting, but spinning is a new exciting adventure)

I've not purchased much yarn online, but when I have, it's because I'm looking to make a large project more affordable (so I usually head to KnitPicks). If I buy anything from Etsy in the future, it will probably be from dyers/spinners I've met on Ravelry and want to support.

I've never purchased a pattern online, but I owe Cory Ellen (who posted earlier, we teach a knitting class in a college town) some Cookie A patterns, so that won't be true for long!

Thanks for everything you do, Jenny & Nicole. Stash & Burn is by far my favorite podcast.

[Heather Johnson]

Knitter!

I support my LYS as much as possible, but also frequently succumb to indie dyers'products online. I just discovered Miss Babs (thanks to your podcast) and will be definitely be ordering more from her site! I buy most of my patterns online.

[Whistlepea]

I'm a knitter. I buy stuff online when I'm bored or when I see it on blogs or when it's a day ending in 'y'.

[Ariel Luria]

Committed Knitter here!

I've though of starting to spin, it's very much on my radar, but when I asked a spinner's group online whether they "knit to spin or spin to knit" they were pretty unanimous that they knit just to use up the yarn they have spun. I wouldn't like feeling that I HAD to knit to use up stash so I could spin more. I also don't like the thought of perfectly good knitting time used up spinning either! :o)

[Tracy Sadtler]

Spinning, please!

When I buy online, I am often searching for a bargain. I like to peruse Ebay for those I-am-getting-rid-of-my-stash type sales, rather than the I-am-trying-to-run-a-business ones.

When I am feeling more self-indulgent than frugal, I look on Etsy for yummy fiber in lovely colors - perhaps a type of fiber that I have yet to spin.

LOVE your podcast, gals! You are one of the very best! Thanks for keeping it up so consistantly for so long - your hard work is appreciated!

[Deb]

Hello Ladies,
I do buy online...sometimes I see a pattern on a blog or on Ravelry and just have to have the yarn that the pattern is made with--so I turn to the Web. Right now I'm doing all that I can to keep from hitting the "buy" button to make a pattern in the new Vogue Knitting...
I would like the knitting package if I win the contest!
Thanks for one of my very favorite Podcasts.

[Amanda Noel]

Hi girls.
Im a knitter.
I buy on-line a lot, mainly because of my location. I am nowhere near any really good yarn shopping alternatives, so I use the internet to increase my choices. What did we ever do without the internet!

[susetheslowknitta]

hi Jenny & Nicole!
I'm a lucky knitter because I have 2 LYS wthin 5 miles of me and they stock different brands of yarns. Both owners are very helpful and friendly and have taught me a lot.
When I shop online I'm tempted by the gorgeous colours produced by indie dyers (which neither of my LYSs hold), and sometimes by ridiculous prices when other companies are trying to move ends of lines. Mostly its the unusual/one off stuff that I go for.

love the podcast!