Ep 018: Desert Island Knits with Charmaine Wombwell

Hello lovelies,

In this episode of the podcast I am talking about how we tend to elevate male knitters, designers and dyers over other knitters, designers and dyers and why we might want to rethink that.

Yep, I decided to finish the podcast with a slightly controversial episode but who doesn't want to go out with a bang.  

And yes, it is the last episode of the podcast.  You will be able to find me over in the Knit Matters Facebook Group and on the Knit School YouTube Channel. 

Thank you so much for listening and, for the last time, go get knit done!

Michelle x

Hello lovelies,

In this week’s episode I’m talking about what to think about if you are thinking about turning your hobby into a business.  Sometimes just because someone says you should, doesn’t mean you should! : )

Things to think about:

1.     Why am I thinking about turning my hobby into a business?  Is it because I have a burning desire to do so or because I feel obliged to?

2.     Do I really want to run a business?  Running a business and having a hobby are very separate things and it’s very easy to forget about the whole running a business bit.

3.     What type of business do I actually want? And what do I want from it?

4.     What part of my hobby do I really want to turn into a business?

In next week’s episode, I’m going to look at the idea that our hobbies, particularly knitting, can in some way fix us when we aren’t very well or is it just turning knitting into snake oil!

Now my dears, I’m away to finish outlining all of the workshops and demos for the Knit School Virtual Retreat so, as always, go get knit done!

Michelle x

Oh and don’t forget to sign-up to the Knit School Virtual Retreat!  You can do that here at knitschool.co.uk/retreat (oh and it’s free which I may have forgotten to mention!)

Hello lovelies,

Welcome to Episode 29 of the Get Knit Done podcast.  I’m thrilled to be joined of Pippa Morris of PipsRainbow for our next edition of Desert Island Knits!

Pippa is a crochet designer and teacher who is also a fab knitter!  We talk about the importance of crochet hooks, why you should take 4ply yarn to the island and how easy it is to get sucked into Michelle’s notions.

Visit the show notes for all the links to where you can find Pippa and to check out the list of awesome bits and pieces that were mentioned on today's show!

Show notes: https://www.knitschool.co.uk/episode29

Check out Pippa’s awesome tutorials, free patterns and reviews on her site and you’ll also find Pippa on Tiktok, Insta and Facebook!

Next week I’ll be talking about whether or not you should turn your hobby into a business!

And with that said, go get Knit done!

Michelle x

Don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast and share it with knitting friends!

Hello lovelies,

Welcome to Episode 28 of the Get Knit Done podcast.

After promising it for last week, this week I’m talking about how reading Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey to help tame my flibbertigibbet nature has helped me focus more on my knitting.

In this episode I talk about the following areas from the book:

1.     Switching off autopilot mode (I originally typed Swatching off there … honestly!)

2.     The limits of your attention

3.     The Power of Hyperfocus

4.     Taming Distractions

5.     Making hyperfocus a habit

There are more sections in the book but not all quite as relevant to knitting!

Visit the full show notes on the podcast page and to download some free knitting resources!

https://www.knitschool.co.uk/episode28 

And with that said, go get Knit done … perhaps with a tiny bit more focus!

Michelle x

Hello lovelies,

Welcome to Episode 27 of the Get Knit Done podcast.

A little change of plan this week!  The original plan was to talk about how the book Hyperfocus has changed how I think about knitting but I didn’t quite get to the end of the book so I’m finally talking about 3 of the major factors in Knitting Pattern design.

For me, the three key aspects of pattern design are:

1. The Design
2. Pattern Writing
3. Marketing and Selling

Visit the full show notes on the podcast page for full details (and to see my terrible sketching!) and to download some free knitting resources!

https://www.knitschool.co.uk/episode27

I’d love to hear from anyone interested in a course in basic knitting pattern design. 

Now, go get Knit done!

Michelle x

Hello lovelies,

Welcome to Episode 26 of the Get Knit Done podcast.

This week I’m talking about the Knit School Quiz and the Wheel of Knitting.  Part of me feels like I need to justify why I have done it because I am worried that people will want to know exactly who I think I am to do such a thing!

The Knit School Quiz is my way of helping knitters work out where they are on their knitting journey and find out what exciting skills there are still to explore.  One of the trickiest things about knitting is that you don’t always know what you don’t know and having a guide is really useful.

It ties into the knitting journeys that I have put together inside Knit School so of course it’s part of getting Knit School out there but then, what is the harm in that?  Again, I always feel like I must justify myself and I’m not sure why that is.  I think part of it is that the criticism online can come thick and fast but really, after 6 years of running an online business, you’d think I’d have the skin of a rhino!

Part of it is that I’m very invested in the work that I have done.  I want to make a contribution to the knitting community, and I feel like this is it!  I’ve also received some interesting feedback about the quiz already, some of which has been helpful and some of which has definitely not been.  Of course, the best advice I have for that situation is one I should heed myself – if you wouldn’t ask someone for advice, don’t take their criticism!

So with that said, you can find and take the quiz here.  Once you take the quiz, you’ll get a copy of the Wheel of Knitting to fill in which will help you see the wool (yes, wool) for the trees!

Take care lovelies.  I’ll be back next week when I’ll be talking about the book Hyper Focus and how it has changed how I look not only at how I work but also at how I knit!

Now, go get Knit done!

Michelle x

Don't forget to Subscribe!  

Visit the show notes on the Knit School site to get more details and download the free knitting resources!

Hello lovelies,

Welcome to Episode 25 of the Get Knit Done podcast!  Still not quite back to knitting chat but closing a knitting business is knitting adjacent so I’m going to go with it : )

There were a lot of factors that went into the decision to close the Loveliest Yarn Company but mostly it’s because I can’t do everything and nor do I want to.  I also talk about how in time, I want to have a completely digital business that I can take home to Ireland with me and how teaching knitting is something I’m very passionate about!

I think it’s important to get to a point where you know what you want to do but most importantly what you are not going to do!  For me it’s been an important life lesson but also a knitting one.  We all feel so much pressure to hustle all the time and I’m not sure that is good for any of us.

In next week’s episode, we will be back to knitting when I’ll be talking about the Knit School Quiz (take it here now if you just can’t wait!) and the Wheel of Knitting!

Take care lovelies, now go Get Knit Done!

Michelle x

Hello lovelies,

Welcome to Episode 24 of the Get Knit Done podcast, another back-in-the-saddle episode!

I’m delighted to be back with you on the podcast.  In this episode, I talk about where I vanished off after June of last year including how I bit off way more than I could chew with the brioche cardigan and why, in the end, I have decided to completely change my business!

I also talk about what is coming up on the podcast over the next few weeks now that I am back to regularly scheduled listening!

It’s a bit of a rambling episode but do stay with me, I promise we will be back to knitting chat asap!

In next week’s episode, I am going to go into more detail about why I’m closing the Loveliest Yarn Company and what it means for the podcast and Knit School!

Take care lovelies, now go Get Knit Done!

Michelle x

Don't forget to Subscribe!  

Visit the show notes on the Knit School site to get more details and download the free knitting resources!

Hello lovelies, Welcome to Episode 23 of the Get Knit Done podcast.  As a pattern buyer and designer but also as someone who rambles through Knitting Twitter and other knitting communities on the internet, I think there are a few harsh (depending on your view of course and very kindly put I hope) truths that we need to talk about in relation to knitting pattern pricing and in this episode, I grasp that nettle!

As always, if you don't agree with me, let's talk about it but let's be kind too!  Knitting is definitely not intended to be a combat sport! 

Visit the show notes here:

https://www.knitschool.co.uk/episode23

Following on from this, rather fittingly, I hope, I have a couple of episodes planned to talk about knitting pattern design!  I'll be talking about what I see as the three different aspects of knitting pattern design and how they relate to one another but how they all need different types of attention! 

Take care lovelies,

Michelle

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Hello lovelies, Welcome to Episode 22 of the Get Knit Done podcast, our next instalment of Desert Island Knits!  I'm joined by the amazing dyer behind Fruitful Fusion,  Ishrat Khawja!

Find out how Ishrat started dyeing, her favourite thing about handdyed yarn and where you can meet her in person this year!

Visit the shownotes for links to everyone mentioned in this episode:

https://www.knitschool.co.uk/episode22

Next week I'll be talking about the 8 (ish!) Harsh Truths about knitting pattern pricing!!  

Take care lovelies,

Michelle

PS. If you are casting on a new project, don’t forget, you can get a project tracker here on the site!