The Shinybees Knitting and Yarn Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 98 - Knitting in the News Jul 14, 2016

Show notes

This week we're indulging in a current affairs panel TV style format... without the panel. It's just me and three recent knitting related stories that have come to my attention and some thoughts on all of them.

First up there is the story from Dundee of a woman given knitting as a punishment for a road rage related assault. Adamant she was a keen knitter, and that punching a woman in the face was just a momentary old of control before heading into The Knitting Pin, she was tasked with providing 'not a meagre amount' of knitting for charity before December. Warning - I get a bit cross about this.

Then we have an excellent example of using local resources to overcome service gaps by the Faroese, who have strapped 360 degree cameras to five sheep in an attempt to encourage Google to agree to come and map the place properly for them. You can get a sheep's back view of the Faroes via videos uploaded by the local tourist board. This is magnificent. Finally we have unexpected fifteen minutes of fame for DyeForYarn, our German friends Nicole and Cordula, who attracted considerable attention his week due to their quirky choices of yarn names. The mugs didn't get it. Show notes are at www.shinybees.com

Music for this episode is from Adam and theWalter Boys with 'I Need a Drink'.

Episode 97 - Best UK Podcast of 2016 Jun 29, 2016

Show notes

This is the multi-award winning(!) Shinybees podcast, winner of the Best UK Podcast of 2016. Thanks to everyone who voted for the show. If you want to see the video of the acceptance speech, it's in the show notes.

Knitting wise, I have been working mostly on Helen Stewart's Talisman Shawl from her Shawl Society club. It's being knit in Urban Hints 'Blood Orange' from The Wool Kitchen. The #RewindKAL has completed from a prize point of view, but we can keep going with the chat thread as I'm still nowhere near done. I have realised that I am not a slow knitter, I just don't spend enough time knitting. The Golden Skein's Summer Power of 3 Club featured Eden Cottage Yarns, Dublin Dye and Triskelion Yarn. You can find all details at www.thegoldenskein.com. Signups are open 1-7th July for the Autumn quarter 2016. Show notes are at shinybees.com

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

Episode 96 - This Thing Of Paper - An Interview with Karie Westermann Jun 14, 2016

Show notes

Karie Westermann joins me this week as my interview guest to tell us all about her journey into designing knitwear. Also a teacher and writer, Danish-born Karie calls Glasgow in Scotland her home since moving to the UK. A regular contributor to knitting magazines and publications as well as independent and commercial yarn companies, Karie became self employed two years ago.

Author of the Doggerland collection, Karie has now embarked upon her first actual print book project - This Thing Of Paper. Previously a book historian, she will be bringing all this knowledge to the new project, which is funded by a Kickstarter (fully funded within 25 hours!)

Kara's journey back into knitting came as a result of quite a serious illness that left her sick in bed for nine months. It was during this time she returned to knitting, which aided in her recovery and became her main occupation shortly afterward.

You can find everything about Karie at kariebookish.com

Show notes are at shinybees.com

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

Episode 95 - Orange Mocha Frappuccino with Countess Ablaze Jun 07, 2016

Show notes

Returning from a mini podcast break, this week I'm joined by none other than the fabulous Countess Ablaze, who invited me to her studio in Manchester to dye some yarn and have a bit of a chat.

News-wise, the Patreon for the podcast is no more - it just was not working for me int he way I had hoped.

On a brighter note, the podcast has made the finals of the New Media Europe Awards in two categories: Best UK Podcast and Audience Appreciation Award. Please vote on Twitter each day for the show as 50% of the marks come from number of votes.

Onto the non-interview interview. Countess Ablaze is an indie dyer based in Manchester in the UK. Queen of brightly coloured and saturated colour ways and fabulously executed wigs, faux aristocrat Lindsey delights in bold and intense colours, as well as grey. Makes the colours brighter, you see...

She began dyeing in late 2011 and has developed her own, super efficient systems and processes to get the fabulous colour ways she produces. The business grew out of what was a very dark time for her and has blossomed into a thriving studio with customers worldwide.

Using very technical methods (mushing) she considers the dyeing process as more of an art than a science for her personally as a dyer.

Champion of eye-searing neon, you'll find everything at Countessablaze.com.

Show notes are available at www.shinybees.com

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

Episode 94: Global Hypercolour May 17, 2016

Show notes

Hello and welcome to a hyper colour episode of the podcast.

This episode is sponsored by the Indie Burgh Yarn Crawl, Edinburgh's official yarn crawl, which is taking place on 11th June 2016 between 10am and 6pm. Visit three of Edinburgh's fantastic yarn stores and indie emporiums: Ginger Twist Studio, Be Inspired Fibres and Kathy's Knits. Enjoy a range of promotions and discounts, get your yarn passport signed and head to the afterparty at the Safari Lounge. Here you'll find a fantastic range of vendors in the pop-up marketplace including Phileas Yarns, Pekoe Tea, K.M. Bedigan, Spun Plum, C.C. Almon, Edinburgh Yarn Festival, Rainbow Heirloom, Rusty Ferret, Queen of Purls, Lesley Taylor, Hand Drawn Yarn.

For more information head to gingertwiststudios.com/indie-burgh-yarn-crawl

Don't forget to vote for the podcast at the New Media Europe Awards. Link in show notes.

The podcast will be on a break for the next two weeks and returning on 7th June 2016.

Enabler's Corner this week is all about the Indie Burgh Yarn Crawl, which I will be enabling you to in a big way. I went last year and loved it.

Alpaca Chatter is all about how to wash and care for your alpaca items.

Finally there is some random chatter about that most famous 1991 flash in the plan, Global Hypercolour.

Show notes are at www.shinybees.com

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

Episode 93: Alpaca Love May 10, 2016

Show notes

Alpaca is under the microscope this week as a fibre focus for the next few episodes. Before we move onto that thought, I have news for you as always.

First up, the podcast is up for two New Media Europe Awards. Please follow the link in the show notes to cast your vote BEFORE 29th May, when the first round of voting closes. If you want your award back (you are an award winning audience after all!) then you need to get involved.

Also in news the #RewindKAL is ongoing. I have just cast on my Lush Cardigan, so plenty of time to join in still over on Ravelry or on social media with the #RewindKAL. I have some great prizes lined up from Suffolk Socks, Knitting in France and The Golden Skein with some more in the works.

There will be a break in the podcast broadcast schedule following next week's episode, so there will be no episode on 24th and 31st of May. The show will return on 7th June.

In Enabler's Corner we have Lezley Taylor's awesome crochet hook keyrings and stitch markers. Head over to Ravelry to enter the competition to win one of these as well as a set of stitch markers.

Finally we look at alpaca as a fibre as a quick overview before diving into more of a focus on it in the coming episodes. There is a mention for Sir Titus Salt who introduced the fibre to the UK in 1836 and I direct you to the British Alpaca Society's Alpacapedia.

Show notes are at www.shinybees.com

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

Episode 92: Midwinter Yarns - An Interview with Estelle Faust May 03, 2016

Show notes

This week I am joined by Estelle of Midwinter Yarns.Specialising in Scandinavian yarns, Swedish-born Estelle runsMidwinter from her home in the rural Welsh Valleys.

Aided and abetted by her husband Mark, also known as MrMidwinter, she delights in bringing the best yarns Sweden has tooffer to the UK, in her quest to share the culture of herhomeland.

Originally an interior designer, Estelle started her businessafter moving to Wales. She'd often thought of starting a businessbut it was the move and having more space that made it a reality.She's a self-confessed endurance knitter.

You can find everything Midwinter Yarns at www.midwinteryarns.com

Show notes are at www.shinybees.com

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

Episode 91 - Is That It? Apr 26, 2016

Show notes

Chat abound this week! Catching up is the order of the day. LJ completed the marathon and her derriere is fine, thank you for asking.

Yarn Shop Day is on Saturday and I am looking forward to diving face first into The Countess' Tunnock's. That's not a euphemism; she will have a tower of Tunnock's. If you can't come to Manchester, why not check out what's happening in your area? If you're abroad - stage your own Yarn Shop Day.

In Enablers' Corner, I invite you to be enabled to the ME box. It's a monthly stationery subscription box. If you struggle to find the right sort of cards, this could be the answer to your stationery woes. It's £15 inclusive of postage and you can sign up at martineellis.com between 1st and 7th of every month.

In Scottish yarn news, there's the Loch Ness Knit Fest, 29th Sep - 2 Oct 2016. Also, get yourself to Pitlochry next weekend, 7th May at the Atholl Palace Hotel. Dingwall Auction Mart hosts the Highland Wool Fest on 21st May 2016.

I have some emails from lovely listeners. Props to Westy for looking after his fans and producing funny videos by taking the mickey out of himself.

I take a look at The Knitting Goddess' new yarn, Totally British 4ply. It's an 85% Wensleydale, 15% Shetland blend which is grown, spun, processed and dyed in the UK. It's a great way to access breed yarns with the added benefit of lovely hand dyed shades too. I rather like it. It comes in at 400m/100g and retails at £18.50 per skein.

Finally I ask the question, "Is The It?" for the stash accumulation.

Show notes are at www.shinybees.com

Music is courtesy of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need A Drink'.

Episode 90: Curious Handmade - An Interview With Helen Stewart Apr 19, 2016

Show notes

This week I am pleased to welcome the lovely Helen Stewart onto the show. Designer and voice of the award winning Curious Handmade podcast.

Originally from Australia, Helen is quite the nomad and loves travelling. She began designing when she moved to London. It was a part-time venture for a while, until after he second daughter was born. Having become increasingly unhappy in her corporate role and keen to create a situation where she could have flexibility to be with her girls, she took the big leap into designing as a business at the end of 2013. She launched the Curious Handmade podcast around that time and has hosted the weekly show ever since.

She finds inspiration for her designs in many ways but most frequently whilst travelling. High points of her journey have been winning an award for her show, as well as having the opportunity to meet so many interesting and influential people.

You can find everything about Helen at curioushandmade.com and her podcast is on iTunes and Stitcher.

Show notes are at www.shinybees.com

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

Episode 89: Paula Abdul Would Be Proud Apr 15, 2016

Show notes

This week I bring you lots of things to be inspired by. The reference to Paula Abdul is not covered within the show but encompasses the idea of 'two steps forward/two steps back'.

First up there's news about Shiny's Hive, and a party to be remembered at Countess Ablaze for Yarn Shop Day on 30th April 2016. Come and join lots of us fun folk between 10am and 5pm and get involved in the fun. Isla of BritYarn will also be there with a trunk show. British Wool a gogo.

I review Yarn In The City's London Craft Guide. It's a crafty guide to London, with lots of insider tips for food and refreshments along the way. It comes with 11 patterns for ghat all important holiday crafting too. You can find everything to do with the book at www.yarninthecity.com

Finally, we have Wippin' Piccadilly with Voodoo by Boo Knits (yes, still) and Frisson by Brittany Wilson. Lush by TinCanKnits for the #RewindKAL.

Shownotes are at www.shinybees.com

Music is by Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink'

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