The Shinybees Knitting and Yarn Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep 168 - Canter Dec 23, 2020

Show notes

This episode is fairly light on the knitting chat as my creative exploits this week are mostly focused around creating a vision board for 2021. My word for the year for 2021 came courtesy of Gery Cinnamon and his song 'Canter', which I heartily recommend checking out. Make it the radio edit f you have kids around, as the original is tagged explicit. The lyrics really called to me and I decided from that to make my word of 2021 'Canter'. Along with this there is some chat about vision boards and their utility. I have done vision board exercises with my business retreat attendees for years. Having discussed them this past week with my current coaching group, I chat some more about them in this episode. Have you ever done a vision board? I'd love your feedback and any good resources you would recommend. If you haven't made on before - are you considering it? Full show notes are at www.shinybees.com/168 Music for this episode is with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink', available on iTunes.

Ep 167 - A Pod of Christmas Past Dec 11, 2020

Show notes

This week we take a trip down memory lane to 2014, and a pattern pick I originally recorded for A Playful day podcast. It's a Christmas themed one, and it - of course - contains some great comedy knitting patterns. In the news, I talk about Podcasting Unpacked. I was also a guest on the Brewtime Podcast with Fiona Brennan and I heartily encourage you to take a listen. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/167 Music for this episode is Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink', available from iTunes.

Ep 166 - A Scotch Egg is Not a Substantial Knit Dec 04, 2020

Show notes

This week is a quick chat on Scotch Eggs and a surprising fact about Scotch Egg knitting and crochet patterns.

Ep 165 - Getting Rid of Moths in Knitwear Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

Moth infestation in knitwear is every knitter's worst nightmare. In this episode I cover some of the background of which kinds of moths chew knitwear in the UK and how to get rid of them. There are only two, but they do a lot of damage and they're on the rise. You can tell you have an infestation usually when there has already been damage and you find little holes in the knitwear. It's common for these to be in areas like the sleeve and neck. Moth larvae are the culprit (adult moths don't have the mouth parts needed for knitwear decimation). The problem you have with larvae is they're very hard to see. They are around 1mm long which makes it easy for them to slip into the knitwear unnoticed. Unless you have go go gadget eyes, you're unlikely to see them. There are ways to deal with the pesky blighters. The best way is to prevent them in the first place, which may not always be possible, especially if you live in an older property. Cleanliness is key, so vacuum inside the wardrobe regularly and ensure clothes are spread out on the hangers and kept off the floor. Adding natural repellants such as lavender, eucalyptus, laurel, rosemary, patchouli and cedar will dissuade the adults from wanting to lay eggs in the wardrobe. Keep valuable and out of season clothes in storage bags to prevent access. If you have an infestation, step one is to remove all the items from the wardrobe and clean them all. Either launder at a high temperature (60 degrees), dry clean or steam clean them, or clean them and put them in a freezer for 48 hours, which will kill eggs and larvae. Clean the inside of the wardrobe by hoovering right into all the crannies and removing dust. Wipe's the surfaces with a damp cloth with detergent, anti-bacterial spray or diluted white vinegar to remove dirt and eggs. Full show notes are at www.shinybees.com/165 Music Credits: Adam and the Walter Boys, 'I Need A Drink' used with kind permission and available from iTunes.

Ep 164 - Knitted Wreaths For Christmas Nov 18, 2020

Show notes

With all the joy sucked out of life at the moment, it's time to turn festive up to 11! As a massive Christmas fan, I'm always one to have the real tree picked out, chopped down and in the house by the last week in November. This year, I'm planning to go a little bigger on the decoration front and add quite a bit more to interiors to get in the spirit. After all, it's not like we're going to be anywhere but indoors for a while. And when it comes to fairy lights, more is always more. So this week I have a pattern selection to share with you for knitted Christmas wreaths. I'm aware some of my lovely listeners don't celebrate Christmas, so I've been sure to add some suggestions that are suitable for you too. As always, there's a mix of free and paid patterns. Where possible, links go to designer's own sites. Be aware some links go to Ravelry if you have accessibility difficulties on that site. Pattern Pick - Knitted Christmas Wreaths 1) Woolly Wreath & Garland by Church Mouse Yarns and Teas 2) Awreatha by Rachel Kluesner 3) Woodland Wreath by Frankie Brown 4) Hampstead Wreath by Wendy Baker and Belinda Boaden 5) Merry Knitmas Advent Wreath by Sue Stratford 6) Christmas Jumper Wreaths by Zoe Michel Images and links to these patterns are in the full show notes at www.shinybees.com/164 Credits - Music for this episode is with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink' available on iTunes.

Ep 163 - Delicious Little Joys Nov 13, 2020

Show notes

The #DeliciousLittleJoysKAL is coming! Having not hosted a KAL for a long time, I was inspired to do one given we are now in the second, not that exciting sequel to the original lockdown part one. Delicious little joys is the theme and the idea is to embrace the idea of looking for delicious little joys in the every day. Indeed, it's about actively building in joy to your day. It's gonna be miserable in the Northern hemisphere soon, so finding ways to bring joy will be a positive thing. Yarn is any that brings you joy. Pattern is any joyful pattern. We start on 15th November and will continue until we don't need any more joy (which might be around 1st February 2021. It can be a fresh cast on, or one you have had around for a while. Sewing, Crochet or any other craft is welcome, so long as it is joyful. All the chat will take place in the Shinybees Podcast Club on Mighty Networks (shinybees.com/community to join) and you can use the hashtag #DeliciousLittleJoysKAL on social if you like. Things to help with joy: Chase gin #Ginabled Yoga With Adriene Early morning brews with a fantasy book Chocolate Brownie Cake Honey Flapjacks Knitting The For Fox Sake jumper yarn I had originally planned to use – West Yorkshire Spinners Croft – is reported to be a bit pilly. As a result, I'm now considering Eden Cottage Yarns Milburn DK or West Yorkshire Spinners Bluefaced Leicester, if I can find enough balls in the right colours. Books I'm now up to #7.5 in the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. They continue to suffer from the plot-dropping-off-a-cliff in the last 20 pages. Once I accepted this would be the case, I could just enjoy the books for what they are. Winterblaze by Kristen Callaghan was a surprise library find and I enjoyed the strong female protagonist in this book. It's set in Victorian London and the world building and plot were good. It's a bit racy in parts, but not at the expense of a great story. Worth a look. Infinity Son by Adam Silvera was dreadful. I'm glad it was a library book, or I would have been rather annoyed. Zero worldbuilding for the first book in the series, meandering 'yoof' dialogue and sterotyping, boring and predictable. Abandoned at page 85. Avoid. A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende. Heartily recommend this interesting historical fiction set in the Spanish and Chilean revolutions. Full showotes at www.shinybees.com/165 Music for this episode with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need A Drink' available from iTunes.

Ep 162 - The Boyfriend Sweater Curse Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

You may or may not have heard before about the infamous folklore that is the Boyfriend Sweater Curse, also known as The Sweater Curse. The Love Sweater Curse occurs when a knitter undertakes to knit a jumper for a significant other, and this leads to the breakdown of the relationship - sometimes before the recipient has even received the gift! In a 2005 survey, 15% of knitters reported having experienced this very curse. 41% believed that it might be true. SO it's worth knowing about, even if you don't believe in it. This subject came up as I am about to -finally - undertake knitting a jumper for my massive husband. On the way to the knitting, the topic of Wiganese food is covered in some depth, including the Wigan Kebab, Babbie's Yed and Smack Barm Pey Wet. It is via this high carb and extremely beige route that one's Southern husband - who has some very questionable chip habits - came to earn the honour of having his very first jumper knitted for him. Remember - it's a barm cake. It's not a bap, bread roll, bread cake, cob, muffin or any of that nonsense. We'll have no trouble, here! Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/162 - bread based controversy on any social where I'm @Shinybees. Music for this episode is 'I Need A Drink' with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys and is available to download via iTunes.

Ep 161 - Colourwork Sock Inspiration Oct 27, 2020

Show notes

Socktober continues to inspire in this episode where I have a pattern pick of ten colourwork sock pattern ideas to share with you.

Ep 160 - Dorset Buttons with Tania Ashton Jones of TJ Frog Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

I'm joined in this episode by Tania Ashton Jones of TJ Frog to talk all about Dorset Buttons. Tania and I met a few years ago now when she was at the start of her business journey in the yarn world, having previously been in the Royal Navy for 22 years. She came back to knitting via a retreat in France and was hooked. After a happy coincidence where she was introduced to Dorset Buttons via a workshop with her friend, Tania became obsessed with making them, and set about learning about the history of the button. Tania described some of that history, from the original tiny sheep horn buttons, through metal and linen buttons and into the more common types found today. They come in a variety of designs and can be made from any sort of yarn. Originally from Dorset herself, Tania never learned about the button making as a child at school, although happily she reports that some schools do now teach this. Tania currently lives in a small community on the Isle of Skye, and uses her surroundings there, as well as her heritage in Dorset to inform and inspire the products she makes. Knitting still features alongside the Dorset Buttons, and Tania has a very special range of yarns that she created with some very high provenance wools from Dorset and Skye. Indeed her latest Cheviot yarn is grown at the end of her driveway! Along with the yarn, Tania also has project bags and needle holders, which are made of linen and are a nod to the linen fabric originally used to make the Dorset Buttons. These are sewn by a company in Edinburgh, and again reflect Tania's commitment to products with a story and collaborating with other businesses. If you've ever been curious about the Isle of Skye, you should give Tania's podcast a try. Along with the weather (a constant and ever changing source of conversation for us Brits, but particularly so on the West Coast of Scotland!) she talks about what she is making, creativity as well as interviewing textile related businesses on Skye. It's the perfect way to armchair travel to Scotland, so give it a listen! Tania has very kindly offered 10% off all items in her shop until 10th November 2020 with the discount SHINYBEES10. You can find Tania at http://tjfrog.co.uk Full show notes and links at www.shinybees.com/160

Ep 159 - Socktober, the Month of Socks Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

Socktober lends its inspiration this week, where I have a rundown of ten previous banging' Shinybees episodes that cover some great sock themed content. There are a couple of interviews, as well as some expert advice from Clare Devine on the Sock Surgery, all handily signposted from this episode. You'll find all the links in the shownotes at shinybees.com but here is the shortlist: Ep 27 - Toe up or Cuff Down For Socks Ep 29 - How to Make Socks That Fit Ep 33 - How to Fix Your Socks When They Go Wrong Ep 35 - Cast Offs For Socks Ep 38 - Louise Tilbrook - Everyday Knitter 'Science by Day, Socks by Night' Ep 43 - Short Rows for Socks Ep 53 - Knitting Socks for Summer Ep 62 - Kate Atherley - Custom Socks Ep 68 - Socks Yeah - Rachel Coopey In other news, I've completed my Snawheid and had the sewing machine out to sew up a split crotch (not mine). I've welcomed in a new family member to Shiny Heights - Dave the Mini - and have been drawing unnecessary police attention. Also in this episode is some information about Developmental language Disorder. I've just signed up to be an ambassador for raising awareness of DLD. You can find more at RADLD.org. Music for this episode with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink', available from iTunes. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/159

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