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Top 17 Myths of the Kristin Omdahl Brand
Sep
Top 17 Myths about the Kristin Omdahl Brand
I hesitated about writing this for a very long time. As an entrepreneur who is represented exclusively on social media, I run the gamut of praises and insults and everything in between about every facet of my being – personally and professionally. After 17 years, I learned to take the good with the bad; I try really hard to focus on my goals and keep moving forward.
Unfortunately, I often get caught between a rock and a hard place. Social media allows everything we say and do to be escalated. Defending a complaint can become a larger problem, and create a huge backlash against my company. Ignoring a complaint (or comments with insulting or incorrect information) can make them seem like they are true. For me, this is a no-win situation.
I thought you might enjoy seeing a list of the most popular myths/insults/observations I find in comments across social media that are true AND false about my brand or me.
Myth #1: Kristin Omdahl Yarns are the only yarns that have yarn barfs or tangles.
FALSE! Have you searched the term “yarn barf” before? There are thousands and thousands of images all over the internet about every single brand and type of yarn.
All yarn tangles. Period. Here are some suggestions for what to do when ANY yarn tangles:
- Don’t pull it hard, don’t yank it. Regardless of the type of yarn you have purchased, where you have purchased it, how it is wound (unless a ball), or how much you have paid, you will sooner or later encounter the “yarn barf” or “yarn pile” or “yarn mess” when you work with yarn.
- Some yarns are more likely to tangle than others – very large yardage, yarns with lots of fibers (mohair, wool). Thinner yarns tangle. Multiple ply yarns tangle. But your basic acrylic big box store yarns do exactly the same thing. It is unavoidable.
- So, how to proceed? Gently try to shake and separate the strands. You may want to use a yarn needle to help poke them apart. Don’t pull hard, that will make the situation worse. Work slowly and gently, a little bit at a time. Soon you will be ready to get back to working on your project.
Myth #2: Someone told me that if I log into my account I can access my patterns 24/7 and download or print them anytime I want. That can’t be true!
TRUE! Your personal download library gives you unlimited access to your patterns, and will even automatically update any pattern that is modified in any way. You must be logged in at the time of purchase.
Myth #3: Kristin Omdahl Yarns are the only yarns that have knots within the balls.
FALSE! All manufactured yarn can have knots in it. Regardless of brand, you may find knots (joins). All yarn is manufactured from long fibers that are twisted together, spun and wound onto cones. From there it can go through a variety of manufacturing steps before it becomes a hank, skein, or center pull ball of yarn. It is impossible to make an endless thread with no joins. Manufacturers include joined sections in their finished products, in an effort to keep costs down. It is not uncommon to find as many as 2 or 3 joins in a hank, skein or center pull ball of yarn. You may untie the knot and join in your preferred joining method.
Myth #4: Kristin Omdahl is a sell-out because she no longer dyes 100% of her yarns all by herself.
FALSE! I never dyed all of my yarns myself. Originally I learned to dye from another hand dyer who helped me in the beginning. Eventually I dyed more and more of my yarns myself. However, dyeing is a very labor intensive process and I was not able to get consistent results when I dyed myself. I was better at limited edition color ways that didn’t need to match previous batches. Does that make me a failure? Of course not! Part of my journey has been to be honest with myself about what my strengths and weaknesses are and choose when and where to do things myself and when to ask for help. Now I like to devote my time writing more patterns and making more videos to help my customers.
Myth #5: I have been (insert craft of choice here) for 50 years and I’ve never seen such a poorly written pattern in my life.
FALSE! I have been a professional knit and crochet pattern designer for 17 years. I have written and published over 800 knit and crochet patterns in my career. My patterns are tech edited and proofread. And most of my patterns include supplemental charts and video tutorials to help you understand my patterns even better. Am I human and do I make mistakes? Of course I do! But every single time an email comes in about a pattern, whether it is user-error confusion, a typo, or a structural mistake, I prioritize the question and dive into the pattern to see if there is anything I can do to help the confusion or fix an actual problem.
Myth #6: Customer Service emails are answered VERY fast (but sometimes they wind up in Junk or Spam folders)!
TRUE! Most customer service emails are answered within hours, sometimes even more quickly. We try to answer your questions as quickly as we can, because we understand how frustrating it is to wait for answers. Pattern support questions can take longer to answer, because they require me to stop what what I am doing to look back at the details of a pattern. The older the pattern, the longer it takes to re-familiarize myself with it. And sometimes questions are unclear and require more detailed information (which requires more time, too). If you think we haven’t responded to your email, please check your spam folder, we really don’t ignore emails.
Myth #7: Kristin Omdahl Yarns are the only yarns I have ever bought that bleed dye!
FALSE! Have you read the tags on your denim jeans? They always ask you to wash separately because excess dye will continue to rinse out. Huge commercial companies (I’m too small to work with those!), have different types of chemical dye setting processes that I never used.
Myth #8: Several years ago Kristin said “ABC” and last week I heard her say “XYZ”. She must be a liar.
FALSE! I think one of the best parts of being a human being is how we evolve over time. I am proud of the fact that I choose to do my best every single day. When I know better, I do better. And this applies to every aspect of life! Sometimes I change my mind about routines, or ways to improve my life, and I love sharing all of this with my fans. But part of the real treasure of following me for years, is seeing how I evolve, too.
Myth #9: Judi posts live links during The Kristin Omdahl Show. She posts links the whole time that Kristin talks!
TRUE! Judi posts live links for those who want to check out what I am discussing right away. We also post all the same links in the video description after The Show becomes a recording. You always have easy reference for everything discussed.
Myth #10: I left a comment on Kristin’s website and I didn’t see it immediately. She is ignoring me. How rude!
FALSE! Comments are held for review to protect my reputation and your eyes from insulting posts that could come from any variety of robot or ill-mannered person. I usually try to approve comments every 24 – 48 hours.
Myth #11: When Kristin is live she doesn’t always say hello to me or answer my comment immediately. She is ignoring me!
FALSE! The comments scroll by VERY quickly when I livestream The Kristin Omdahl Show on my YouTube channel. I often remind people of this to avoid this myth, but every once in a while someone thinks I intentionally ignore them. I do my very best to greet as many people as possible, and I often answer many questions live on the show. And I also suggest to anyone requiring more help, to leave their comment on the video when it is no longer live (the comments there are permanent) or contact my customer service.
Myth #12: Kristin Omdahl just slaps her label on any old yarn now. She really doesn’t care about the quality of her yarns anymore.
FALSE! I work with small manufacturers who help me create the best yarns possible for my small brand. I try hard to support other women involved in business and help them to support their families. My manufacturers and I work together to supply all of you with the best possible options at the best possible prices. I regularly ask my customers, audience, and fans about their opinions via surveys and I use this information when making decisions about my product lines. I pride myself on offering quality yarns at affordable prices with pattern support and customer support that I believe can’t even be compared to other companies.
Myth #13: I heard that a portion of the money I spend on the Kristin Omdahl website will be donated to Project Kristin Cares. Is that true?
TRUE! A portion of every sale is donated to Project Kristin Cares to allow Kristin to distribute Be So Caring bags to those in need. You can purchase them to distribute in your area too!
Myth #14: I hate to send emails! You don’t have a phone number to call – it’s very annoying!
FALSE! Sure we do – you can call us at 239.315.3729
Myth #15: You overcharge for shipping! You must be making a fortune on shipping fees alone.
FALSE! My shipping fees are exactly what I am charged, and if you spend $75 or more US ($150 International) we will absorb the shipping costs.
Myth #16: Kristin isn’t afraid to be real with her audiences, but that means sometimes things go wrong and she makes mistakes!
TRUE! I think part of the fun of being live and real is the mistakes that happen! Real life IS real, and we all have to deal with mistakes in all aspects of life. As I always say, we are more alike than we are different, and we all make mistakes. Recovering from mistakes, and laughing along the way, is what makes life fun.
Myth #17: Somewhere I saw that Kristin’s patterns are free, but I found the pattern for $1.99 on her website! What a clickbait SCAM!
FALSE! While it is true that I offer free patterns AND paid patterns, I do not trick anyone into buying an ad-free PDF pattern for $1.99. Every single time I announce new patterns in emails I share both the free page and the paid PDF Pattern links. And every single time I share a new video tutorial to supplement a new pattern, I offer links to both the free pattern page and the $1.99 PDF Pattern. I offer the free versions of my patterns on my blog, and I offer ad-free PDF Patterns, often times with charts when applicable, for purchase of $1.99. As long as you are logged in at the time of purchase, you have unlimited access to your PDF Pattern purchases in your very own download library AND you have unlimited downloads, too. Depending on whether you are viewing links on other searching websites or marketing ads on social media, I may promote one or the other link to any given pattern. But both free versions and paid versions of my knit and crochet patterns are totally accessible on my website. And beyond the above explanation of where the patterns are located on my website, I also have extensive search functions you are welcome to use at any time, too.
If you see something on social media that doesn’t make sense or requires more information, please contact customer service. I am here to make the creative side of your life more fun! I hope you found some or all of this information interesting. As always, if you have any questions for me, please feel welcome to leave comments or contact customer service. Let us make time to create, share and inspire, today and every day!
xoxo, Kristin
i have been untangling my yarn barf like you for years. it sometimes seems magical how a little giggle, a little shake will allow the yarn to fall apart and there goes the mess. you should do a video on that.
Thanks for sharing!
I love your yarns and content and live shows and recorded shows and tutorials…
Thanks for sharing!
Every question, yes everyone, I just shook my head and wondered why people get hung up on the smallest things. Then I remember, we’re all just human and make mistakes. I love and appreciate your patterns only being $1.99. I love what your charity does and I donate directly to it because you’re doing great things. Any dyed can bleed, jeans are a good example. A slight difference in the water at your home and even commercially dyed goods will run. Industry standards say there can be up to 3 knots in 100g of yarn. It happens everywhere. Interesting yarns from South Africa will even tell you how many knots are in the skein or ball. That would take a lot of work.
Kristin, you are an amazing woman and you’ve shared so personally the path that life has taken you. Many never recover, even though we’ll never meet, I’m very proud of you. You a great example of what we can do if we try.
Thank you so much for sharing and for your support.
Your yarns are all I buy. I have never been disappointed. I have been following you since Knitting Daily.
You patterns are more reasonably priced than anyone.
I watch your show daily both live or recorded and have learned much even though I have been crocheting and knitting for 50 years.
Chin up!! Negative people can shop elsewhere!!!!
Kristen, isn’t it horrible how social media has become a place for bullies? Or just plain jealousy.
I see it in my work everyday how people have changed . Your yarns are ALL I buy. (I’m sure the retailers have taken a hit, I am a yarn junkie ( are there meetings for that?)
I have so much respect for you putting yourself out there, I am even too shy to say Hi during your live broadcast . I also agree with all the posts above mine. Please don’t stop who you are or what you stand for because we are all here (because we WANT to absorb your knowledge and hear your giggle and see your smile) and when you make a mistake, I don’t feel so bad when I make one too. I am constantly laughing at myself , sometimes I trip walking on my own two feet. I enjoy every pattern, yarn,(I own them all) and every podcast and tutorial. Thankyou for being an inspiration!
Kristen, isn’t it horrible how social media has become a place for bullies? Or just plain jealousy.
I see it in my work everyday how people have changed . Your yarns are ALL I buy. (I’m sure the retailers have taken a hit, I am a yarn junkie ( are there meetings for that?)
I have so much respect for you putting yourself out there, I am even too shy to say Hi during your live broadcast . I also agree with all the posts above mine. Please don’t stop who you are or what you stand for because we are all here (because we WANT to absorb your knowledge and hear your giggle and see your smile) and when you make a mistake, I don’t feel so bad when I make one too. I am constantly laughing at myself , sometimes I trip walking on my own two feet. I enjoy every pattern, yarn,(I own them all) and every podcast and tutorial. Thank you for being an inspiration!
Thanks so much Gina!
enjoyed reading
$1.99 for a crochet or knitted pattern is marvelous!
You are like having really good friend that I have never met in person. Besides all your numerous talents and your ability to do what seems to me to be the impossible, I think you are so real. I also have followed you since knitting daily tv and I will continue follow you. I have created, shared and inspired because of you. Thank you.
Thank you so much!
Hi Kristin I love your show, your yarns , your patterns, your recipes and you. Thank you for all that you do please don’t let anyone put you down beacause you are wonderful person the world needs more people like you. You should seriously consider writing a book with all your wonderful recipes.
Thank you! I hope to write a cookbook one day!
Kristin, you are just REAL and as well as all of your talent, I just love you!
thanks!