Would you mind putting a link to where we can find the seller of those adorable triceratops toast progress keepers? Google didn't seem to like my search terms
Being a sock week sponsor and the labor YOU put into it paved the way for my next big collaboration and the reasons behind the structure we’re using. Yarn dyeing is hard work, as is being an influencer. I cannot give my all to being an influencer because so much of my energy is put into yarn dyeing. Yes, I’ve provided yarn support to designers, I’ve collaborated with them and sold their patterns. I have designers I’m purchasing many patterns from for my Halloween countdown boxes. But paying influencers is our next big step in our growth at cesium and I’m really excited for how our progress on this will be good for our community. We can’t grow as indie dyers if there aren’t people talking about our yarn, and there are people who WANT to talk about yarn
Thank you for your response about getting paid for your work. I’m a social worker/therapist and there is so much pressure to work for free or for less money and this idea that if I do get paid I’m only in it for the money (laughable) or that I don’t care. I don’t see my male colleagues get the same pushback. I’m convinced this is a gendered issue. You mentioned teaching, nursing, social work, creative work - all work predominantly done by women. And I don’t mean that just men put pressure on women to martyr themselves, I think women do it to ourselves and one another, too. You’re absolutely right that we should celebrate one another’s success.
You are so correct. I am also a teacher and I KNOW if more men worked with your average 21st century child, they would immediately demand more pay. Compensation is showing appreciation.
I love when you answer questions. Today you had such great answers and feisty Natalie is my favourite. Thank you for sharing honestly in your questions section and always feel free to get on your soap box.
I really enjoyed the question and your answer about collaboration. To me, I think transparency is important, especially in advertising. I also think that my enjoyment of certain podcasters has diminished greatly since they have become shills for incredibly expensive yarns for which they receive yarn support. Those podcasts feel less creative now, less about the individual choices that go into making and now feel like marketing. I am grateful to you for taking on this topic!
Natalie I’m so happy to hear you are getting paid sponsors as you should. You have a huge audience! There have been many times I have purchased from affiliate links from UA-camrs or off do their recommendations alone. You have worked very hard to build your business and you deserve to be paid well.
My two cents about the advertisement conversation: if it's yarn you love and would talk about anyway, it's fine to take it and talk about it just like you'd talk about any other yarn. You get free yarn, they invested in casual advertisement. I feel like that's a fine collaboration IF it's something you actually want and they let you talk about it however you want to. Like you said, if they want something specific, if they want you talk about them more than you casually would on your platforms, or they are a huge company that wants you to advertise them specifically, definitely charge for your work. But I feel like if it's a yarn that you'd love to use and you'd talk about in your podcast or in a post anyway, then additional compensation doesn't seem necessary because you're already receiving the $28-$32 skein(s) of yarn + shipping fees that the dyer paid for. I also 100% think the rules are different for small, indie dyers vs big companies.
It's so funny-- before you began talking about working with new advertisers on UA-cam, I was excited to see you working with new sponsors! You make it super fun (do you smell that?) and it's great to see you getting sponsored for the awesome quality videos you make!
PR packages are HUGE in many other industries. Make-up and fashion are both HUGE industries where companies send free product in return for visibility. Collaborations are a little different. Advertising is also different.
I want you know as a subscriber to your channel and a Love in Stitches member. Your podcasts, videos, zooms have all been very well put together and as always informative and a joy to watch ❤☺️
Your podcasts bring me such joy AND I always learn so much from you! I'm loving my first ever sock week. Three socks done, with one more past the heel turn.
I always enjoy your podcasts and have supported your business. I fully believe that knitters online should be paid for their work. That said, I don’t love ads that are not knitting related when the maker is getting paid in other ways. 🤷♀️
You’ve had quite the week! Amazing how much knitting and work you got done with all the other stuff going on. FYI, I am a bourbon drinker but do not enjoy Jim Bean. So you might like others in the future.
Knitty Natty Native discount code?? YAAAAS. Sweet Peach & Nectar is my go-to. When I first tried Native, I had some breakthrough stank towards the end of the day but I stuck with it, and by the end of the first week, I didn’t have any more issues. Love that I get to support your channel AND stock up on deodorant and body wash!
Working on sock #2. The little treat is a hostess cupcake,devilsfood cake w/ chocolate frostingand it has a squirt of creamy frosting inside.😊 Hope to start my mini mock next. Thanks for all the tips!
Hi Natalie, I've been having such a great time watching your podcast & tutorial videos, you're so fun to hangout and learn with. I'm still gathering my sock making supplies and can 't wait to work with your cuff down, after thought heel, sock tutorials. 😊 Your progress keeper is a chocolate Hostess Cupcake. I think they're available in lemon and vanilla flavors too. Lol! 🩷✌️🧶
This was such a great episode! All the sock fun and then your q & a was very interesting. It is nice to here about the other side of the business you have. Being an influencer and sharing yourself is so amazing, but it is so good to hear the nitty gritty of what you do and particularly the conversation about getting paid! It needs to be talked about so much more. I think many don't realize and that many just don't know that you have to work so hard to do what you do. This is your job! I think many don't realize it because you are so passionate about it and you make it look so easy 🥰 Thanks for the insight and for sharing your thoughts, I really got a lot out of it!
I hope you are in Northern Nevada in September for the Sierra Nevada Yarn Crawl it’s so much fun. Have you watched the Adventures of A & K? They are a van traveling couple with their dog and the are from Texas. Loved your podcast as I always do.
I'm happy my question launched such a great discussion ! Hearing your answer and reading the comments both on instagram and here, I'm very glad to see that mindsets are slowly starting to shift and as you said, people are starting to understand that getting paid for what you do doesn't mean you like it less than those who do it for free. I saw a lot a big podcasters in the last years getting mean comments and having to apologize because they were accepting paid partnership (or even free yarn from very small companies), and that just made me so sad for them. It's very important that people with a large audience like you start those discussions and make others aware of the other side of things ! Thanks a lot for your hard work Nathalie !
I think we are at the exact same spot on the Mini Mock Neck! A note: I stopped after I joined in the round to knit the neckline and it's REALLY tight. I ended up picking out the bind off and bound it off with a stretchier bind off, but I left about 20-30 stitches unbound off and held on scrap yarn until I'm done to make super sure it will fit over my head.
Working on sock 2 while I watch. I have a friend that has recently been monetized. It has made me more aware about advertising. So I watch all of the ads. ❤
Another suggestion for finding advents is to do a simple google or etsy search. 😊 I had to wait a while to buy an advent last year and didnt't know if i'd be able to fine one that late. Fortunately I was able to find a gorgeous advent on etsy with no trouble!
I’m totally in agreement with School Teachers being so very underpaid. Heck, in what other profession are people expected to pay for their own supplies as much as teachers are expected to do so for their classrooms?!!! Really you could never have paid me enough money to deal with all that teachers are expected to deal with. Your UA-cam channel is a teaching platform for me. I’m 64 and have been seriously knitting for about the last twelve years and I have learned so much watching you for “free”. I truly appreciate your content and the work that goes into it. When I can support you in my own little way by buying your patterns (which are great 👍🏻) and sponsor yarn or products (which I am delighted with) I happily do so. Same goes for other professional knitting content creators I follow, and I hope they all see this and value their work to be sufficiently paid.
I feel like, as creatives, we tend to undervalue ourselves, whether that is for our skills that we share, or the product we make. When people recognize the worth of the work that goes into what we do, then it will be easier to recognize our own worth in our work and be able to charge accordingly.
Hi Natalie, I loved your take on unpaid partnerships, you really hit the nail on the head about how your reach/audience really is part of what you have to offer and how payment with money can help even the scales if there is an imbalance when companies are asking for advertising. I’m really glad you take your time as a businesswoman seriously. #question I was wondering how you decided on the pricing for your perfect fit socks course, and whether the price has been reduced now that the course is a pre-recorded video series, rather than live video call lessons since I’d expect it to take a bit leas resources to provide the course in the pre-recorded format?
I am amazed at how easygoing you are during this transitional time, Natalie. Curious how you and Kent were able to narrow down dealers for your van? There must have been a lot of choices to go over before the Wisconsin winner. Well done! And thanks to your podcast I was able to knit my second sock of sock week up to the heel. 👏
My #question builds off of the podcast production question! Do you have any more tips for people looking to start a knitting podcast? How did you get comfortable on camera, how do you plan all of your videos, and how did you gain an audience?
Thank you again for another lovely podcast! I definitely agree with you about how fiber arts is not an art taken seriously! I am a poet, and I also work as a Certified Nursing Assistant. We are the back bone of the healthcare system, yet we do all the grunt work for a wage that does not match the work we do. I definitely see the same thing in the fiber arts world. Thank you for talking about it!
Lol! Isn't it funny how there were foods we love as kids and now I can't imagine eating them? That being said... I did eat a whole box of Nutty Buddy's in a matter of days a couple weeks ago. Still tasty lol
1:15:09 I ordered some of that native deodorant today because I needed some deodorant, and I saw your ad, and I thought it was a good way to get a discount on some thing I wanted to try, and a good way to support you. I appreciate it how you did your “commercial“and thank you!
Also to add onto my other comment - I think fibre arts being a hobby for most people in general and on UA-cam specifically means that sometimes people don't entirely understand the amount of actual work that goes into doing this on a professional level. With knitting and crochet, it can be easy to think that content creators just knit and crochet all day, and not actually think about all the video production (equipment, filming, editing, engagement), admin, business management, or organization required to create artistic content. This is especially the case if you are producing a product that isn't tangible. I think transparency from content creators, designers, and dyers into the process of what and how much work they put into their businesses helps demystify the costs of their products, and make this more accessible as a business for other people.
#question I have heard you speak about the fish lips kiss heel fairly often. Is that a specific pattern? Is it your design? Love the podcast and so excited to see your adventure in months to come! Lots of love
I have to tick off every row of my projects. ..I have multiple projects going and to remember where I am on the pattern, I look for my tick marks...keeps me straight...I print a work copy of my pattern and mark on it and write notes.
On sponsored videos, PR, etc: I fall on the "pay people for their work" side, but I do think there are nuances, so here are some specifics for me. Of course, I'm open to other perspectives, so if anything I say seems wrong, let me know! Free yarn: if a company is sending yarn with no obligation to speak about it, I do not think they need to pay the influencer. This is basically PR. It's a gift, not a contract for work. If the influencer decides to speak about it, that's entirely up to them and they should feel NO guilt if they decide to say nothing, or even say something negative. If a large company is having a designer design something with their yarn, they should pay the designer. I feel this way even if the designer keeps the rights to the pattern, although generally, the company gets the rights for a time period and then they revert back to the designer, and in that case, they definitely need to pay the designer. If an indie yarn company is providing yarn support for a design, I feel a touch conflicted. A lot of indie companies are just one person who is basically just another influencer. In these cases, it feels more like a collaboration than a sponsorship. As such, I think if both parties are okay with it, both parties advertise the design, and the designer keeps the rights, then I think it's okay to not pay the designer. If a yarn company is sponsoring a video, then they absolutely need to pay for it, regardless of if it's an indie company or a large company. And by sponsorship I mean requiring the influencer to talk about the yarn and generally providing talking points. This is an advertisement and needs to be compensated accordingly. In all of the above situations, I think a contract should be drafted. And finally, I think influencers should talk to each other about how much these companies are paying them. Workers only improve their situations when they speak to each other (which is why I think everyone should talk to their coworkers about how much they make, but that's a separate issue). Whew, that's a lot.
As someone who believes I can aspire to be where you are…because I’ve seen your growth and knows it’s possible…content creators should be paid for their work..crafters use other products so I see nothing wrong with any of your ads for things such as Native. I think it’s commendable you’re being recognized outside of our community.
hey Natalie, I'm enjoying having the podcast on in the background while knitting on my sock week socks :) When you were talking about trying a slip stitch pattern for the heel, the time I tried doing it on a short row heel came to mind: those heels turned out way too small, because the slip stitch pattern is so much denser then plain stockinette. In a heel flap one can just add more rows, but in another heel you might need to somehow adjust the stitch count beforehand, to end up with the same measurements as in stockinette. Granted, I have never done a fish-lips-kiss-heel, so it might be very easy to adjust there. I hope your socks turn out great!
Okay good to know! I didn't carry the slip stitch down the heel, but only in the inch above the heel, so I think that will help with the fit. I hope to have them finished for next week's podcast and I can give an update on what I learned!
Hi Natalie! I have heard you mention a few times a separate UA-cam channel that you have. I can’t seem to find a link in any of your videos. What is your other channel’s name 😊 I love watching you while I knit! You are such a beautiful and warm person!
I agree with all of it. You should be fairly paid for your time, experience and expertise. I feel it happens with the craft area the most. It is a skill set and needs to be viewed as such. It's no different the a house painter or a landscaper etc.
Thank you for talking about sponsorship, yarn support, and advertising in fiber art content. This is an important topic not just for content makers to have with each other but also for audience education. I appreciate your emphasis on charging your worth because I 100% agree! 🧶💖
#question Hi Natalie, I am really enjoying sock week and I've just cast on my third sock. My question is about sock yarn. I'm wondering what you and maybe other viewers think about sock yarn with no nylon content. I've heard some people say it can work, but only if it's a high twist yarn, some people say your socks will get holes very quickly, and others say it's totally fine. I would be interested to hear if you have any experience with socks without any nylon content.
This is a great question and I’m interested in an answer too! There are also a lot of great vegan or natural fiber artists and dyers out there who only use natural fibers, which means no nylon content. I’m curious about if it’s feasible to use natural yarn as a durable sock yarn in any way, shape or form.
#question Hi Natalie, I’m just curious if you save your edited podcast episodes? Or do you delete them? I’m quickly realizing saving them (minus reusable B roll footage) uses too much cloud storage and too many flash drives. Is it worth saving them? I always learn so much from you so thought I’d pick your brain on the content creator side too. Thank you so much!
@AtLast796 Additional suggestion for keeping track of row repeats. After many years of knitting I am still not good at reading my knitting and have trouble with 2 and 4 row repeats. I have found it helpful to put a stitch marker on the first row of the pattern, when I'm done with the row I remove the marker, knit the next row then replace the marker, that way if I put my knitting down or stop for the day I can easily see if there is a marker I'm on the pattern row if there's no marker in on the plain row. I hope this makes sense and I hope it is helpful. *)
#question do you weigh your hand dyed skeins before knitting to accurately work out how much yarn something uses? At least in the UK, hand dyed skeins are often closer to 110g than 100g
My understanding of Colleen Hoover books is that they all feature abusive relationships but frame it as romantic. Rachel Oates has some great reviews of Hoover's books.
#question do you knit socks for your husband? If so, what’s his favorite pattern, or best fitting pattern? Looking for pattern recommendations for male members of my family.
#Question Thank you for all of the GREAT content! Ok, so, literally asking for a friend. I was watching you and she came in the room and asked me, after seeing your ring. Is she a rich lady? 😂 Do you have a story about your engagement ring? It is gorgeous.
#Question I am just wondering what microphone you use when recording your podcasts? Is it wireless? It looks so great and easy to use. Thank you for your great and inspiring podcast😊 -Anne
I am new to sock knitting have made my first pair based n a pattern from crazy sock lady vanilla sock…I found your cuff down sock UA-cam videos…do you sell your pattern so that if I follow your video I would know stitch count for my size?.
People should be compensated for their work. We compensate singers, dancers, and movie actors. We celebrate and gladly pay items that serve a purpose. It is only fair that people on UA-cam , Instagram or other platforms earn for their creativity. Whether it is a form of a check or an unlimited amount of yarn, there should be compensation. If there is anyone who feels that online creators should not be compensated, then make your own content.
Question: I would love to do brioche knitting! I've done fisherman's rib, which from my understanding is a similar technique. Any tips for where to start with learning brioche, or other more advanced colorwork? Thanks!
#question I agree that creatives should be paid for their work. Why do you think that its expected that test knitters/crocheters are not paid? I've done sock test knits a couple of times before and I enjoyed doing them but I can imagine that sometimes the testers are expected to put in a lot of work, especially if its for a larger garment like a sweater. This kind of work is essential for a succesful pattern launch for the designer but in my opinion, not fairly compensated.
#question looking for recommendations on best sock patterns for self striping busier yarn. Since youve made lots of socks thought this was a good place to start since im a one sock made so far maker
As a subscriber to your podcast who lives in Scotland I would like to correct the way you pronounce Musselburgh it is not pronounce Musselboro but Musselbura it is the same pronouncing Edinburgh it also ended in bura I hope your new life is as exciting as it sounds best wishes from Scotland
#question talking about advertisement of yarn and patterns, does Thelittelwolfknits/Briana Luppino pay you something for talking about her all the time? (of course you don't have do answer that) ;D Or more in general, do you handle this topic different if it's with friends, and be more relaxed in such cases because it probably happens multiple times that you need yarn or pattern from them and get it for free in return? Because it still is your job, and your worktime that goes into making the stuff/video/vlog/..., for them getting a push on selling yarn and patterns. Now thinking back, you knit at least two big things with multiple podacst apperances with yarn from her (thinking of the lace and fade boxy and the seaside dress), and coming up the pants from her that get a reknit. It was pretty interesting hearing your opinion on that topic, and now i would like to hear other podcasters opinion too... and great podcast around it too! Another #question : Do you plan on adding another segment in the podcast when your van life starts, spotlighting some small things of doing yarny things in the van? I would have so many questions, for example how do you edit in that small space, since a pc would take up much space and energy, or how you store your yarn, if you display it to keep you motivated, or how you handle your different knitting projects, since it will likely be more in the way if you just left it where you sat,... yeah. Sorry for that rambling, I look forward to your joruney!
Sure! For one serving: - 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats (sometimes I add more after stirring - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (I use plain, but flavored makes it yummy too) - 1/3 cup milk (I use almond, plain and unsweetened) - honey to taste (not needed if yogurt is flavored/sweetened) - Optional: cinnamon to taste - Stir everything then add fresh or frozen fruit on top Refrigerate overnight. Stir before eating. I usually make 3-4 servings at a time while I'm measuring everything. I use my 1/2 measuring cup for everything, oats first since they're dry, then yogurt, then milk (filling up partially for 1/3 cup), because I like to use as few dishes as possible lol. This is a base recipe that can change depending on the yogurt flavor, seasoning, or fruit you add! In the fall I like to do diced apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Tastes like apple pie!
I am glad you get paid, whatever that is via advertising or courses. It would be hypocritical for us as your UA-cam audience who get so much enjoyment from your work for free to begrudge you fair compensation for your work.
It's not a coincidence that fields dominated by women -- nursing, teaching, the fiber arts -- are undervalued and underpaid. It's patriarchy. Women's labor has often been taken completely for free (caring for children, taking care of the home, etc.) so the system is set up to value and pay men more.
I'm 100% for creators actually getting paid for partnerships and I think it's super bizarre how often (especially) large companies will think sending a creator free yarn is somehow adequate compensation for all the time, work and energy it takes to have not only created content but also garnered an audience. That said, I think that one of my favorite things about this space is that a lot of people treat podcasting as a hobby, not a job, which means there isn't pressure for them to upload consistently, it can take as much or as little time as they want it to, and they _can_ share their unbiased opinions about yarny products because they aren't being paid to talk about it. I don't think appreciating that makes me a horrible person who wants content creators to starve lol, as I am in no way demanding of content from these people, nor do I expect them to treat it as anything other than a hobby. The weird thing about UA-cam and things like knitting, which can be both hobbies and careers, is that it's hard to know what expectations are appropriate to have of a creator. Like there's an unspoken rule that you should respect that professional content creators do ads to make money (which you should!) but also that it's kind of naive to completely trust opinions expressed in ad reads and it's your fault if you do and the product ends up falling short...it's an ad, not a review, right? But then, that's it's somehow wrong of you to explicitly point that out because then you're accusing the creator of being 'a sellout'. But knitting podcasts especially are usually hobbies and so ALL opinions expressed are often the person's actual opinion. So...the line can be blurry, and I feel that isn't often talked about in a nuanced way. This isn't as much an issue to me if the ad is not yarn related, but if it's for actual yarn, then yeah, I don't think there's anything wrong with appreciating hobbyists who treat this casually and are giving an actual review of a yarny product. I don't want every opinion I come across in this space to be paid for, that doesn't help me as a consumer. But that doesn't preclude me being happy for professional content creators who _do_ get paid for ads or partnerships, because they one MILLION percent deserve to be compensated for the hours they put into their content. I just like there being both.
That is such a great point about there being a mix of those who podcast as a hobby and some as a job! Thank you for such a well thought out response. 💕
Knitters, be careful using Native. The sodium bicarbonate can lift dye in underarms :( their sensitive line doesn't have the sodium bicarbonate in it though!
Save 20% on your first Native purchase! Click here bit.ly/nativeknittynatty and use my code “KNITTYNATTY” #ad
Would you mind putting a link to where we can find the seller of those adorable triceratops toast progress keepers? Google didn't seem to like my search terms
Thanks will try
Being a sock week sponsor and the labor YOU put into it paved the way for my next big collaboration and the reasons behind the structure we’re using. Yarn dyeing is hard work, as is being an influencer. I cannot give my all to being an influencer because so much of my energy is put into yarn dyeing. Yes, I’ve provided yarn support to designers, I’ve collaborated with them and sold their patterns. I have designers I’m purchasing many patterns from for my Halloween countdown boxes. But paying influencers is our next big step in our growth at cesium and I’m really excited for how our progress on this will be good for our community. We can’t grow as indie dyers if there aren’t people talking about our yarn, and there are people who WANT to talk about yarn
Thank you for your response about getting paid for your work. I’m a social worker/therapist and there is so much pressure to work for free or for less money and this idea that if I do get paid I’m only in it for the money (laughable) or that I don’t care. I don’t see my male colleagues get the same pushback. I’m convinced this is a gendered issue. You mentioned teaching, nursing, social work, creative work - all work predominantly done by women. And I don’t mean that just men put pressure on women to martyr themselves, I think women do it to ourselves and one another, too. You’re absolutely right that we should celebrate one another’s success.
You are so correct. I am also a teacher and I KNOW if more men worked with your average 21st century child, they would immediately demand more pay. Compensation is showing appreciation.
I completely agree with the gender overlay on this issue.
I love when you answer questions. Today you had such great answers and feisty Natalie is my favourite. Thank you for sharing honestly in your questions section and always feel free to get on your soap box.
I really enjoyed the question and your answer about collaboration. To me, I think transparency is important, especially in advertising. I also think that my enjoyment of certain podcasters has diminished greatly since they have become shills for incredibly expensive yarns for which they receive yarn support. Those podcasts feel less creative now, less about the individual choices that go into making and now feel like marketing.
I am grateful to you for taking on this topic!
Natalie I’m so happy to hear you are getting paid sponsors as you should. You have a huge audience! There have been many times I have purchased from affiliate links from UA-camrs or off do their recommendations alone. You have worked very hard to build your business and you deserve to be paid well.
My two cents about the advertisement conversation: if it's yarn you love and would talk about anyway, it's fine to take it and talk about it just like you'd talk about any other yarn. You get free yarn, they invested in casual advertisement. I feel like that's a fine collaboration IF it's something you actually want and they let you talk about it however you want to. Like you said, if they want something specific, if they want you talk about them more than you casually would on your platforms, or they are a huge company that wants you to advertise them specifically, definitely charge for your work. But I feel like if it's a yarn that you'd love to use and you'd talk about in your podcast or in a post anyway, then additional compensation doesn't seem necessary because you're already receiving the $28-$32 skein(s) of yarn + shipping fees that the dyer paid for. I also 100% think the rules are different for small, indie dyers vs big companies.
It's so funny-- before you began talking about working with new advertisers on UA-cam, I was excited to see you working with new sponsors! You make it super fun (do you smell that?) and it's great to see you getting sponsored for the awesome quality videos you make!
PR packages are HUGE in many other industries. Make-up and fashion are both HUGE industries where companies send free product in return for visibility.
Collaborations are a little different.
Advertising is also different.
I want you know as a subscriber to your channel and a Love in Stitches member. Your podcasts, videos, zooms have all been very well put together and as always informative and a joy to watch ❤☺️
Thank you!!! 💕💕💕
Loved your Native skit!!! You are sooo creative!!! I bet your sponsors love the work you do for them!!
Very informative! Thanks for being awesome ❤
Such fun! Glad you've arrived safely in TN.
Your podcasts bring me such joy AND I always learn so much from you! I'm loving my first ever sock week. Three socks done, with one more past the heel turn.
I always enjoy your podcasts and have supported your business. I fully believe that knitters online should be paid for their work. That said, I don’t love ads that are not knitting related when the maker is getting paid in other ways. 🤷♀️
You’ve had quite the week! Amazing how much knitting and work you got done with all the other stuff going on. FYI, I am a bourbon drinker but do not enjoy Jim Bean. So you might like others in the future.
Knitty Natty Native discount code?? YAAAAS. Sweet Peach & Nectar is my go-to. When I first tried Native, I had some breakthrough stank towards the end of the day but I stuck with it, and by the end of the first week, I didn’t have any more issues. Love that I get to support your channel AND stock up on deodorant and body wash!
I appreciate your professionalism and think you should be paid!
Working on sock #2. The little treat is a hostess cupcake,devilsfood cake w/ chocolate frostingand it has a squirt of creamy frosting inside.😊
Hope to start my mini mock next. Thanks for all the tips!
In the German knitting community we have an event called “aprilvent “ to knit last years Advents while ordering new.
Hi Natalie,
I've been having such a great time watching your podcast & tutorial videos, you're so fun to hangout and learn with. I'm still gathering my sock making supplies and can 't wait to work with your cuff down, after thought heel, sock tutorials. 😊
Your progress keeper is a chocolate Hostess Cupcake. I think they're available in lemon and vanilla flavors too. Lol!
🩷✌️🧶
This was such a great episode! All the sock fun and then your q & a was very interesting. It is nice to here about the other side of the business you have. Being an influencer and sharing yourself is so amazing, but it is so good to hear the nitty gritty of what you do and particularly the conversation about getting paid! It needs to be talked about so much more. I think many don't realize and that many just don't know that you have to work so hard to do what you do. This is your job! I think many don't realize it because you are so passionate about it and you make it look so easy 🥰 Thanks for the insight and for sharing your thoughts, I really got a lot out of it!
I hope you are in Northern Nevada in September for the Sierra Nevada Yarn Crawl it’s so much fun. Have you watched the Adventures of A & K? They are a van traveling couple with their dog and the are from Texas. Loved your podcast as I always do.
my favorite travel couple
I'm happy my question launched such a great discussion ! Hearing your answer and reading the comments both on instagram and here, I'm very glad to see that mindsets are slowly starting to shift and as you said, people are starting to understand that getting paid for what you do doesn't mean you like it less than those who do it for free. I saw a lot a big podcasters in the last years getting mean comments and having to apologize because they were accepting paid partnership (or even free yarn from very small companies), and that just made me so sad for them. It's very important that people with a large audience like you start those discussions and make others aware of the other side of things ! Thanks a lot for your hard work Nathalie !
I think we are at the exact same spot on the Mini Mock Neck! A note: I stopped after I joined in the round to knit the neckline and it's REALLY tight. I ended up picking out the bind off and bound it off with a stretchier bind off, but I left about 20-30 stitches unbound off and held on scrap yarn until I'm done to make super sure it will fit over my head.
Working on sock 2 while I watch.
I have a friend that has recently been monetized. It has made me more aware about advertising. So I watch all of the ads. ❤
Thank you for your honest opinion and the great q&a section! I'm very happy to see your ads during your videos, you're doing so well Natalie
Thank you Natalie for another fab episode 😊😊😊
Another suggestion for finding advents is to do a simple google or etsy search. 😊 I had to wait a while to buy an advent last year and didnt't know if i'd be able to fine one that late. Fortunately I was able to find a gorgeous advent on etsy with no trouble!
I’m totally in agreement with School Teachers being so very underpaid. Heck, in what other profession are people expected to pay for their own supplies as much as teachers are expected to do so for their classrooms?!!! Really you could never have paid me enough money to deal with all that teachers are expected to deal with. Your UA-cam channel is a teaching platform for me. I’m 64 and have been seriously knitting for about the last twelve years and I have learned so much watching you for “free”. I truly appreciate your content and the work that goes into it. When I can support you in my own little way by buying your patterns (which are great 👍🏻) and sponsor yarn or products (which I am delighted with) I happily do so. Same goes for other professional knitting content creators I follow, and I hope they all see this and value their work to be sufficiently paid.
I feel like, as creatives, we tend to undervalue ourselves, whether that is for our skills that we share, or the product we make. When people recognize the worth of the work that goes into what we do, then it will be easier to recognize our own worth in our work and be able to charge accordingly.
Hi Natalie, I loved your take on unpaid partnerships, you really hit the nail on the head about how your reach/audience really is part of what you have to offer and how payment with money can help even the scales if there is an imbalance when companies are asking for advertising. I’m really glad you take your time as a businesswoman seriously.
#question I was wondering how you decided on the pricing for your perfect fit socks course, and whether the price has been reduced now that the course is a pre-recorded video series, rather than live video call lessons since I’d expect it to take a bit leas resources to provide the course in the pre-recorded format?
I am amazed at how easygoing you are during this transitional time, Natalie. Curious how you and Kent were able to narrow down dealers for your van? There must have been a lot of choices to go over before the Wisconsin winner. Well done! And thanks to your podcast I was able to knit my second sock of sock week up to the heel. 👏
My #question builds off of the podcast production question! Do you have any more tips for people looking to start a knitting podcast? How did you get comfortable on camera, how do you plan all of your videos, and how did you gain an audience?
Thank you again for another lovely podcast! I definitely agree with you about how fiber arts is not an art taken seriously! I am a poet, and I also work as a Certified Nursing Assistant. We are the back bone of the healthcare system, yet we do all the grunt work for a wage that does not match the work we do. I definitely see the same thing in the fiber arts world. Thank you for talking about it!
Thank you for all you do and a big hug for all those times you didn't feel like it and did it anyway. You're amazing ❤
I love the Obsession yarn colorway!
Same! It's so good! The base is super soft too!
Hostess cupcakes! Used to love them🤪🤣🤣
Lol! Isn't it funny how there were foods we love as kids and now I can't imagine eating them? That being said... I did eat a whole box of Nutty Buddy's in a matter of days a couple weeks ago. Still tasty lol
1:15:09 I ordered some of that native deodorant today because I needed some deodorant, and I saw your ad, and I thought it was a good way to get a discount on some thing I wanted to try, and a good way to support you. I appreciate it how you did your “commercial“and thank you!
Also to add onto my other comment - I think fibre arts being a hobby for most people in general and on UA-cam specifically means that sometimes people don't entirely understand the amount of actual work that goes into doing this on a professional level. With knitting and crochet, it can be easy to think that content creators just knit and crochet all day, and not actually think about all the video production (equipment, filming, editing, engagement), admin, business management, or organization required to create artistic content. This is especially the case if you are producing a product that isn't tangible. I think transparency from content creators, designers, and dyers into the process of what and how much work they put into their businesses helps demystify the costs of their products, and make this more accessible as a business for other people.
#question I have heard you speak about the fish lips kiss heel fairly often. Is that a specific pattern? Is it your design?
Love the podcast and so excited to see your adventure in months to come! Lots of love
I have to tick off every row of my projects. ..I have multiple projects going and to remember where I am on the pattern, I look for my tick marks...keeps me straight...I print a work copy of my pattern and mark on it and write notes.
I’ve got my first sock finished! I started the second one yesterday and I’m already halfway through the leg.
Wow!! That is awesome!
On sponsored videos, PR, etc:
I fall on the "pay people for their work" side, but I do think there are nuances, so here are some specifics for me. Of course, I'm open to other perspectives, so if anything I say seems wrong, let me know!
Free yarn: if a company is sending yarn with no obligation to speak about it, I do not think they need to pay the influencer. This is basically PR. It's a gift, not a contract for work. If the influencer decides to speak about it, that's entirely up to them and they should feel NO guilt if they decide to say nothing, or even say something negative.
If a large company is having a designer design something with their yarn, they should pay the designer. I feel this way even if the designer keeps the rights to the pattern, although generally, the company gets the rights for a time period and then they revert back to the designer, and in that case, they definitely need to pay the designer.
If an indie yarn company is providing yarn support for a design, I feel a touch conflicted. A lot of indie companies are just one person who is basically just another influencer. In these cases, it feels more like a collaboration than a sponsorship. As such, I think if both parties are okay with it, both parties advertise the design, and the designer keeps the rights, then I think it's okay to not pay the designer.
If a yarn company is sponsoring a video, then they absolutely need to pay for it, regardless of if it's an indie company or a large company. And by sponsorship I mean requiring the influencer to talk about the yarn and generally providing talking points. This is an advertisement and needs to be compensated accordingly.
In all of the above situations, I think a contract should be drafted.
And finally, I think influencers should talk to each other about how much these companies are paying them. Workers only improve their situations when they speak to each other (which is why I think everyone should talk to their coworkers about how much they make, but that's a separate issue).
Whew, that's a lot.
As someone who believes I can aspire to be where you are…because I’ve seen your growth and knows it’s possible…content creators should be paid for their work..crafters use other products so I see nothing wrong with any of your ads for things such as Native. I think it’s commendable you’re being recognized outside of our community.
hey Natalie, I'm enjoying having the podcast on in the background while knitting on my sock week socks :)
When you were talking about trying a slip stitch pattern for the heel, the time I tried doing it on a short row heel came to mind: those heels turned out way too small, because the slip stitch pattern is so much denser then plain stockinette. In a heel flap one can just add more rows, but in another heel you might need to somehow adjust the stitch count beforehand, to end up with the same measurements as in stockinette. Granted, I have never done a fish-lips-kiss-heel, so it might be very easy to adjust there. I hope your socks turn out great!
Okay good to know! I didn't carry the slip stitch down the heel, but only in the inch above the heel, so I think that will help with the fit. I hope to have them finished for next week's podcast and I can give an update on what I learned!
#question Hey Natalie! Would you mind sharing your overnight oats recipe? Enjoy your podcast and the membership!
Love your “podcast” answer. Hubs and I have another channel, and it is definitely a Team effort 👍🏻
Hello from Mounds, Illinois. It’s a Hostess cupcake progress keeper.
The progress keeper on your tank top is a Hostess Cupcake. ❤😘 It’s a beautiful color! 💜💜
Ooh thank you!
I need to make that mosaic sock!
Hi Natalie! I have heard you mention a few times a separate UA-cam channel that you have. I can’t seem to find a link in any of your videos. What is your other channel’s name 😊 I love watching you while I knit! You are such a beautiful and warm person!
I agree with all of it. You should be fairly paid for your time, experience and expertise. I feel it happens with the craft area the most. It is a skill set and needs to be viewed as such. It's no different the a house painter or a landscaper etc.
Thank you for talking about sponsorship, yarn support, and advertising in fiber art content. This is an important topic not just for content makers to have with each other but also for audience education. I appreciate your emphasis on charging your worth because I 100% agree! 🧶💖
#question Hi Natalie, I am really enjoying sock week and I've just cast on my third sock. My question is about sock yarn. I'm wondering what you and maybe other viewers think about sock yarn with no nylon content. I've heard some people say it can work, but only if it's a high twist yarn, some people say your socks will get holes very quickly, and others say it's totally fine. I would be interested to hear if you have any experience with socks without any nylon content.
This is a great question and I’m interested in an answer too! There are also a lot of great vegan or natural fiber artists and dyers out there who only use natural fibers, which means no nylon content. I’m curious about if it’s feasible to use natural yarn as a durable sock yarn in any way, shape or form.
@@CharRobyno great point! I have a vegan friend and I’d love to be able to knit her a pair of socks.
#question Hi Natalie, I’m just curious if you save your edited podcast episodes? Or do you delete them? I’m quickly realizing saving them (minus reusable B roll footage) uses too much cloud storage and too many flash drives. Is it worth saving them? I always learn so much from you so thought I’d pick your brain on the content creator side too. Thank you so much!
I've been using Native for several years now and love their product but am so disapoointed that they no longer ship to Australia. 😢
@AtLast796 Additional suggestion for keeping track of row repeats. After many years of knitting I am still not good at reading my knitting and have trouble with 2 and 4 row repeats. I have found it helpful to put a stitch marker on the first row of the pattern, when I'm done with the row I remove the marker, knit the next row then replace the marker, that way if I put my knitting down or stop for the day I can easily see if there is a marker I'm on the pattern row if there's no marker in on the plain row. I hope this makes sense and I hope it is helpful. *)
#question do you weigh your hand dyed skeins before knitting to accurately work out how much yarn something uses? At least in the UK, hand dyed skeins are often closer to 110g than 100g
#Question: Hi Natty, I have been using a knitting machine for quite some time , and my question is have you ever thought of using one, if not why?
My understanding of Colleen Hoover books is that they all feature abusive relationships but frame it as romantic. Rachel Oates has some great reviews of Hoover's books.
Enjoy your podcast.. Today you mentioned a Class on Sock Fitting..Were can I get more info on these classes?Am very interested!! Thanks
the cupcakes are called Ding Dongs
#question do you knit socks for your husband? If so, what’s his favorite pattern, or best fitting pattern? Looking for pattern recommendations for male members of my family.
#Question Thank you for all of the GREAT content! Ok, so, literally asking for a friend. I was watching you and she came in the room and asked me, after seeing your ring. Is she a rich lady? 😂 Do you have a story about your engagement ring? It is gorgeous.
#Question I am just wondering what microphone you use when recording your podcasts? Is it wireless? It looks so great and easy to use. Thank you for your great and inspiring podcast😊 -Anne
Colleen Hoover books are not all like Verity. She is one of my favorite authors. I like It Begins with Us and It Ends with Us.
I am new to sock knitting have made my first pair based n a pattern from crazy sock lady vanilla sock…I found your cuff down sock UA-cam videos…do you sell your pattern so that if I follow your video I would know stitch count for my size?.
Could not find the link to where you got that dinosaur charm. I would love to get one.
People should be compensated for their work. We compensate singers, dancers, and movie actors. We celebrate and gladly pay items that serve a purpose. It is only fair that people on UA-cam , Instagram or other platforms earn for their creativity. Whether it is a form of a check or an unlimited amount of yarn, there should be compensation. If there is anyone who feels that online creators should not be compensated, then make your own content.
Question: I would love to do brioche knitting! I've done fisherman's rib, which from my understanding is a similar technique. Any tips for where to start with learning brioche, or other more advanced colorwork? Thanks!
I love your sock blockers! Do you have a link to them?
#question I agree that creatives should be paid for their work. Why do you think that its expected that test knitters/crocheters are not paid? I've done sock test knits a couple of times before and I enjoyed doing them but I can imagine that sometimes the testers are expected to put in a lot of work, especially if its for a larger garment like a sweater. This kind of work is essential for a succesful pattern launch for the designer but in my opinion, not fairly compensated.
#question looking for recommendations on best sock patterns for self striping busier yarn. Since youve made lots of socks thought this was a good place to start since im a one sock made so far maker
As a subscriber to your podcast who lives in Scotland I would like to correct the way you pronounce Musselburgh it is not pronounce Musselboro but Musselbura it is the same pronouncing Edinburgh it also ended in bura I hope your new life is as exciting as it sounds best wishes from Scotland
I believe they are called Ding Dongs.
I should have added that that 3 to 4 grams is for each toe.
#Question when did you first think of starting a UA-cam channel? Do you have any other hobbies?
#question talking about advertisement of yarn and patterns, does Thelittelwolfknits/Briana Luppino pay you something for talking about her all the time? (of course you don't have do answer that) ;D Or more in general, do you handle this topic different if it's with friends, and be more relaxed in such cases because it probably happens multiple times that you need yarn or pattern from them and get it for free in return? Because it still is your job, and your worktime that goes into making the stuff/video/vlog/..., for them getting a push on selling yarn and patterns. Now thinking back, you knit at least two big things with multiple podacst apperances with yarn from her (thinking of the lace and fade boxy and the seaside dress), and coming up the pants from her that get a reknit.
It was pretty interesting hearing your opinion on that topic, and now i would like to hear other podcasters opinion too... and great podcast around it too!
Another #question : Do you plan on adding another segment in the podcast when your van life starts, spotlighting some small things of doing yarny things in the van? I would have so many questions, for example how do you edit in that small space, since a pc would take up much space and energy, or how you store your yarn, if you display it to keep you motivated, or how you handle your different knitting projects, since it will likely be more in the way if you just left it where you sat,... yeah. Sorry for that rambling, I look forward to your joruney!
Hostess Cupcake
Can you share your overnight oats recipe
Sure! For one serving:
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats (sometimes I add more after stirring
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (I use plain, but flavored makes it yummy too)
- 1/3 cup milk (I use almond, plain and unsweetened)
- honey to taste (not needed if yogurt is flavored/sweetened)
- Optional: cinnamon to taste
- Stir everything then add fresh or frozen fruit on top
Refrigerate overnight. Stir before eating.
I usually make 3-4 servings at a time while I'm measuring everything. I use my 1/2 measuring cup for everything, oats first since they're dry, then yogurt, then milk (filling up partially for 1/3 cup), because I like to use as few dishes as possible lol.
This is a base recipe that can change depending on the yogurt flavor, seasoning, or fruit you add! In the fall I like to do diced apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Tastes like apple pie!
I am glad you get paid, whatever that is via advertising or courses. It would be hypocritical for us as your UA-cam audience who get so much enjoyment from your work for free to begrudge you fair compensation for your work.
It's not a coincidence that fields dominated by women -- nursing, teaching, the fiber arts -- are undervalued and underpaid. It's patriarchy. Women's labor has often been taken completely for free (caring for children, taking care of the home, etc.) so the system is set up to value and pay men more.
Has the giveaway for the knitty city giveaway been announced? #question
I'm planning to share the winners in next week's podcast!
@@KnittyNattyawesome thank you!
I'm 100% for creators actually getting paid for partnerships and I think it's super bizarre how often (especially) large companies will think sending a creator free yarn is somehow adequate compensation for all the time, work and energy it takes to have not only created content but also garnered an audience.
That said, I think that one of my favorite things about this space is that a lot of people treat podcasting as a hobby, not a job, which means there isn't pressure for them to upload consistently, it can take as much or as little time as they want it to, and they _can_ share their unbiased opinions about yarny products because they aren't being paid to talk about it. I don't think appreciating that makes me a horrible person who wants content creators to starve lol, as I am in no way demanding of content from these people, nor do I expect them to treat it as anything other than a hobby.
The weird thing about UA-cam and things like knitting, which can be both hobbies and careers, is that it's hard to know what expectations are appropriate to have of a creator. Like there's an unspoken rule that you should respect that professional content creators do ads to make money (which you should!) but also that it's kind of naive to completely trust opinions expressed in ad reads and it's your fault if you do and the product ends up falling short...it's an ad, not a review, right? But then, that's it's somehow wrong of you to explicitly point that out because then you're accusing the creator of being 'a sellout'. But knitting podcasts especially are usually hobbies and so ALL opinions expressed are often the person's actual opinion. So...the line can be blurry, and I feel that isn't often talked about in a nuanced way.
This isn't as much an issue to me if the ad is not yarn related, but if it's for actual yarn, then yeah, I don't think there's anything wrong with appreciating hobbyists who treat this casually and are giving an actual review of a yarny product. I don't want every opinion I come across in this space to be paid for, that doesn't help me as a consumer. But that doesn't preclude me being happy for professional content creators who _do_ get paid for ads or partnerships, because they one MILLION percent deserve to be compensated for the hours they put into their content. I just like there being both.
That is such a great point about there being a mix of those who podcast as a hobby and some as a job! Thank you for such a well thought out response. 💕
Knitters, be careful using Native. The sodium bicarbonate can lift dye in underarms :( their sensitive line doesn't have the sodium bicarbonate in it though!
Hostess cupcake
Your stitch marker is a hostess dingdong
Ahh thank you! haha
The simply serving marker is a Ding Dong. We always called them hockey pucks when I was little cause they came wrapped in foil
Ding Dongs don’t have the white icing squiggle. That’s a Hostess Cupcake.
@kerriskrudland3387 my childhood is a lie!!!!!!
Its a Hostess Ding Dong 😋
Nope, they don’t have the icing squiggle. It’s a Hostess Cupcake.
hot girl knitters don’t support colleen hoover