The Shinybees Knitting and Yarn Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 78 - What to Knit in 2016 Jan 19, 2016

Show notes

Time to own up to my knitting goals for 2016 after the chat last week about goal setting. I'm planning to knit 4 garments - Owligan by Kate Daves, Mallorn by Ann Kingstone, Lush by Tin Can Knits (again! x 2 perhaps!) and Raindrops, also by Tin Can Knits. If you're fretting about stash or just have ambitions of making it feel under control, or indeed you just want to start the year off by loving what you have, check out Curious Handmade's Stash Appreciation Month.

Join our virtual knit night by becoming a patron of the podcast at www.patreon.com/shinybees

In Enabler's Corner, I direct you to listen to episode 34 of this podcast with Kate Davies. Kate Davies Designs has just been announced as a finalist in the UK Microbusiness of the Year Awards. Amazing stuff. Being a knitting business does not mean it isn't a 'proper' business and Kate has some great words of advice for those looking to start out in the industry, as well as some stellar banter about rhino bums.

The Beadalong has come to a close and I draw your attention to some wonderful projects that have come out of the KAL/CAL. Stay tuned for the next group fun.

Finally I introduce to you the dyers for the Winter quarter of The Golden Skein's Power of 3 yarn club. Go and check out Samantha of Scrumptious Purl in Canada, Helen of Ripplescrafts in the Scottish Highlands and Ana of Toil & Trouble in Salem, Mass. There are no spares available but you can find out more and join the club at www.thegoldenskein.com/clubs. Signups close 26th January.

Show notes are at www.shinybees.com

Music for this episode is Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink'.

Episode 77: Knitting Goals Jan 14, 2016

Show notes

Got knitting goals for 2016? Lots of wild plans? Let me help you get super focused with my five top tips for knitty goal setting.

For not the first time on the podcast, we talk about David Bowie's package and Labyrinth. Join us on the first Shinybees Virtual Knit Night by becoming a patron of the podcast over at Patreon.

In Enabler's Corner, it's about KALs again with the Nature's Shades KAL at KnitBritish and the Vintage KAL at The Golden Skein.

Then we have a lot of chat about goal setting. Lots of people hate goal setting. Goal setting for knitting can help you achieve your ambitions this year, done well. I have put together 5 tips for setting goals so you make progress without being overwhelmed.

In the review section, Woolly Wormhead's 'Painted Woolly Toppers' takes centre stage. It's written for hand painted yarns and comprises of ten patterns for hats. It's a great looking book with lovely styling and very interesting construction on the knitting front.

Show notes are at www.shinybees.com

Music for this episode is Adam and The Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink'.

Episode 76: Knitting Calendar Jan 05, 2016

Show notes

Welcome to the first show of 2016! This week it's all about planning your knitting calendar when it comes to attending shows. What are the top tips for survival? I'll share mine with you today!

Podcast news, there's more detail on both the podcast Patreon and the Shinybees Swagporium. Also, check out my interview with Kathryn Bryant on the Podcast Divas show.

Enablers' Corner features Katya Frankel's new mini-collection, Flatland: Adventures in Geometry.

There's a giveaway of Ann Kingstone's Lace Knits.

In a new segment, I give you the yarn events for this month - Waltham Abbey Wool show on 17th March. In order to prepare you fully for this year's yarny festivities I've also included my top tips for surviving a yarn show.

Show notes are at www.shinybees.com

Music for this episode is Adam and the Walter Boys and 'I Need a Drink'.

Episode 75: Joyeux Noel Dec 27, 2015

Show notes

This is a Christmas episode, the final podcast for 2015. There is some pensive reflection on the past year for the podcast and I encourage you to be appreciative of your achievements in 2015 and ignore the stuff you didn't manage.

There is a bauble themed pattern selection for you to enjoy. There really is no excuse for you not to have eyelash/funky fur tinsel on your tree next year.

A bit of beadalong chat follows with some tips for swapping out tricky increases in shawls.

The Patreon for the podcast is live now and the Shinybees Swagporium will be throwing open its virtual doors this week.

Show notes are available at www.shinybees.com

Music for this episode is Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink'.

Episode 74: Knitivity Dec 16, 2015

Show notes

This week it's all a bit festive and we're discussing dogs in comedy Christmas knitwear and that infamous Christmas tradition of the nativity.

In Enablers' Corner, I encourage you to check out Tin Can Knits' 12 days of Christmas, where each day they are giving away one of their patterns for free! Find them at www.tincanknits.com.

In the final Sock Surgery for 2015, I bring together five festive sock patterns to celebrate the yuletide season. I've also pulled together some ideas for gifts for the sock knitter, including a very last minute suggestion if time has totally run away from you. A huge thank you to Clare Devine of Yarn and Pointy Sticks and Kate Read aka Sock Kate for their contribution to the Sock Surgery this year.

In podcast news, I'm starting a Patreon for the podcast, which will be going live on Friday 18th December. This will go towards funding the running costs as well as upgrading the podcast equipment to give you a better listening experience and improving the offering by having a virtual knit night. There will also be a swag shop opening as in the survey you asked for one - what the Award Winning Audience wants, they get! The podcast will always be free at point of use, but if you'd be willing to buy me a coffee per month, you might want to support the podcast.

Show notes are available at www.shinybees.com

Music for this episode is 'I Need a Drink' by Adam and the Walter Boys'.

Episode 73 - The Three Little Pigs Dec 08, 2015

Show notes

This week it's a chatty catch up for the most part, with some news on renovations/maintenance issues at Casa Shiny. Roofers: know your limits!

Enablers' Corner directs you to the sale at Whistlebare Yarns. Get 20% off mohair lovelies over at www.whistlebare.co.uk, hand dyed and produced on the farm. Want to meet this small producer? Check out episode 72.

There is also some chat about a visit to the Countess Ablaze studio in Swinton, Manchester. Her hand dyed fabulousness knows no bounds; I'm a fan girl and I am not sorry.

Wippin' Piccadilly returns with a brief canter through ongoing knitty projects including Owligan by Kate Davies, Be With You/Voodoo by Boo Knits and some socks that cannot be elaborated upon yet, as they're in yarn from the most recent quarter of The Golden Skein.

I wrote for Wovember! If you like wool and you haven't already, go over to www.wovember.com.

The Shinybees celebration yarn and podcast swag should be available this week. Get on the mailing list to be the first to hear about it.

Show notes are at www.shinybees.com

Music is 'I Need A Drink' by Adam and the Walter Boys.

Episode 72: An Interview with Alice Elsworth of Whistlebare Yarns Nov 26, 2015

Show notes

Alice Elsworth, our guest mohair expert, returns to the podcast for an interview to talk about life as a farmer in rural Northumberland in the UK. Alice keeps a herd of mohair goats at Whistlebare Farm and her four young sons keep a flock of Wensleydale sheep!

Alice has her yarn spun into a Mohair/Wensleydale blend and hand dyes the yarn herself on the farm, which is sold at various shows and online under the brand Whistlebare Yarns.

If you've ever wondered what it's like to live and work on a small farm, this interview is for you.

In the news section there is some beadalong chat along with a call for those who fancy knitting some advent Frankensocks. Details are in the Ravelry group.

You can find Alice at www.whistlebare.co.uk where there are links to all her social media as well as details of shows and where you can find the farm to visit in person.

Show notes are at www.shinybees.com

Music for this episode is Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need A Drink'.

Episode 71: Lace Knits Nov 17, 2015

Show notes

This week it's all about lace and felt on the show (still with a smattering of mohair after our focus on the Diamond Fibre of late).

Enablers' Corner welcomes the Felt-Ed Kit Club 2016. Introduce yourself (or your children) to the wonders of wet felting with this monthly club. With 12 projects, it would be a great rainy day project or ideal Christmas gift for kids. It's also an ideal intro to the craft for adults curious about making felt. The monthly kit is accompanies by a worksheet and a video tutorial to accompany the project, created by a trained teacher. You can find out more at www.felt-ed.co.uk.

Then we have a review of 'Lace Knits: Magical Methods for Openwork Knitting' by Ann Kingston. For those not familiar, Ann is a Yorkshire-based knitting designer and author, with an armful of books to her name. There is a precis of the patterns as well as my thoughts on the techniques section and the book as an overall offering. Spoiler: I like it. It is available at www.annkingstone.com

Show notes are available at www.shinybees.com

Music for this episode is 'I Need a Drink' by Adam and the Walter Boys.

Episode 70: An Interview with Boo Knits Nov 12, 2015

Show notes

This week I am delighted to welcome beaded shawl design maven and all round lovely lady Bev, aka Boo Knits to the show. Having long been a fan of Bev's aesthetic, I knitted the Shawl of Awesome for the NMEU UK Podcasters' Awards from one of her patterns, Out Of Darkness.

Boo Knits patterns are the perfect choice for those who want to create a complicated-looking shawl with minimal effort. Simple and easy to follow - even for a beginner - there are a variety of shawls which would make perfect first beaded projects. One of Bev's designs, Be With You, is one of the featured patterns for the #Beadalong, starting on 18th Nov 2015 over on Ravelry.

Bev encourages you all to knit only with yarn you truly love. Warning: contains enabling.

You can find Boo Knits primarily on Ravelry, where there is a very active and welcoming group to get involved with.

Show notes are at www.shinybees.com

Music for this episode is courtesy of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink'.

Episode 69: Man Socks Nov 09, 2015

Show notes

Male knitter? Want to knit socks for the man in your life? Rachel Coopey joins me this week to discuss the finer points of knitting for men, particularly in the sock department.

There's also a Q&A with Alice Elsworth of Whistlebare Yarns in Northumberland, who keeps a flock of her own Angora Goats and produces yarns from their own animals, which she hand dyes on the farm.

The details of the #beadalong are announced. Cast on is 16th November at 8:30pm GMT, live on Periscope (@Shinybees) and the end date is 10th January 2016. Three patterns for knitted beaded shawls have been nominated in the thread in the Ravelry group along with one crocheted section. You can choose any beaded project you like, though, if none of these patterns work for you. Use #beadalong on social media so we can all follow each others' progress. Sign up in the thread on Ravelry.

Show notes as always are at www.shinybees.com.

Music is provided by Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need A Drink'.

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