The SweetGeorgia Show

Latest Episodes:

067: Publishing for a New Generation of Knitters with Pom Pom Dec 05, 2017

Show notes

This week, Felicia talks with Meghan Fernandes and Lydia Gluck: the two co-founders and editors of Pom Pom Quarterly. If you aren’t already familiar with what Pom Pom is, it’s a beautiful, fresh, and modern quarterly magazine for knitting, crochet, and craft that was founded back in 2012. It’s a magazine that has lovely patterns, thoughtful articles, and useful tutorials. This past summer, they celebrated their 5th anniversary of Pom Pom. In the past 5 years, they have expanded out from magazine to also designing and publishing books, hosting awesome events, and producing a monthly podcast called Pomcast.

Meghan is a former American transplant to London, where she lived for a decade. Now back in her native land, she is at the helm of Pom Pom in North America. While in London she wrote her MA dissertation on knitting in 20th century women’s literature and worked for a publisher, a gallery, and a knitting shop, leaving her with a random but particular set of skills that could really only lead to running a knitting magazine. Meghan now lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and baby daughter.

Lydia was born in London, grew up in Wales, studied in Manchester, and left her heart in Mexico. Lydia has a background in linguistics, and spends a lot of time trying to draw parallels between knitting and grammar. Now she heads up the London Pom Pom office, which is pretty much her favourite job ever.

Please join us this week as Felicia and the Pom Pom ladies discuss creating a new and unique voice for fibre artists!

In this episode, we talk about:

1:35 Introducing the dynamic duo behind Pom Pom and chatting about how they celebrated the magazine’s 5th anniversary
4:35 Felicia asks the ladies about tips on how to survive knitwear photo shoots
5:20 How Pom Pom Quarterly began
7:20 Discussing what Meghan and Lydia thought was missing from other knitting magazines when they decided to start Pom Pom
9:00 How Pom Pom makes it work without being funded by advertising and how the magazine is able to attract readers from a wide range of ages
12:15 Felicia asks Meghan about her master’s dissertation on knitting in 20th century women’s literature and how feminism fits into Pom Pom
17:10 Chatting about Knitting Outside the Box: a new collaboration between Pom Pom Press and Bristol Ivy
18:44 Felicia asks Meghan and Lydia how they manage to continue Pom Pom Magazine while living thousands of miles apart
22:16 Is there a difference between knitting communities in the US and the UK?
23:49 Lydia chats about her new hobby: weaving
26:25 What Pom Pom has in store for the future
28:00 Felicia's final notes and podcast giveaway!

Links and Things

Here's where to find Meghan and Lydia online:

Website: www.pompommag.com
Instagram - Pom Pom: www.instagram.com/pompommag
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pompommag
Twitter: www.twitter.com/pompommag
Ravelry Group: www.ravelry.com/groups/pom-pom
Instagram - Meghan: www.instagram.com/meghanaf
Instagram - Lydia:

066: Ambitious Artistic Knits with Linda Marveng Nov 28, 2017

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Today Felicia is joined by Norwegian knitwear designer Linda Marveng. With a background in architectural history, Linda’s design work is stunningly sleek, fashion-forward, and often highly textured with intricate cables. Linda has had several dream jobs in the yarn industry including working for Rowan as a design consultant and also at Loop (a heavenly yarn shop in Islington, London). In 2012, Linda published a Norwegian knitting book of patterns called To rett en vrang Designstrikk.

Please join us today as Felicia chats with Linda about how she transitioned from working for various yarn companies to designing her own knitwear visions.

In this episode, we talk about:

1:55 Felicia and Linda chat about the Kathe Cardigan using SweetGeorgia’s Superwash Sport forInterweave Knits
2:26 Linda shares how she learned how to knit as a child in school
4:11 Discussing Linda’s educational background in Art History and how she found her way back to the knitting world
8:26 How Linda got her job as a design consultant for Rowan and the role she played for the company
13:40 Felicia and Linda talk about her time working for Loop in London
16:32 Linda discusses how her previous experiences helped influence her knitwear design career and process
19:42 Chatting about the process and vision behind the patterns in Linda’s book: To rett en vrang Designstrikk
25:09 Felicia asks Linda about the intricate and challenging nature of her textured and detailed patterns
27:42 The ladies chat about the recent resurgence in popularity of knitting in Europe
30:47 What projects Linda has in store for the future
32:58 Where you can find Linda and her designs online
34:00 Felicia’s final notes and podcast giveaway!

Links and Things

Here’s where to find Linda online:

Website: www.marveng-puckett.com/linda
Ravelry Group: www.ravelry.com/groups/linda-marveng
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lindamarveng
Facebook: www.facebook.com/linda.marveng

065: Slow Fashion and Mindful Making with Emma Welford Nov 21, 2017

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This week Felicia is joined by knitwear designer, Emma Welford. Emma lives in Western Massachusetts and has been knitting since 2007 and designing since 2011. She is a fellow multi-craftual maker who also sews her own clothes, crochets, and spins on her Lendrum spinning wheel. Emma is no stranger to SweetGeorgia as she has designed two amazing patterns for us in the past: her Fall Break socks and the adorable Ribbonscardigan.

Please join us this week as Felicia and Emma discuss slowing down and enjoying the process of creation!

In this episode, we talk about:

2:39 Emma chats about her main passion before she started knitting seriously: sewing without patterns. Felicia also asks Emma how she got into knitting in 2007.
5:11 Felicia and Emma talk about slow fashion, mindful making, and wearing your handmade knits more by examining if they truly fit into your everyday wardrobe. The ladies also ponder if one can truly have too many sweaters.
9:12 Emma and Felicia discuss the “instantaneous pattern lust” on Ravelry and if it causes knitters to make before thinking
11:05 Talking about minimalism and how Emma tries to slow down the process of creation to enjoy it more
15:15 How Emma chooses her colour palettes and her suggestions to others on how to pick yarn colours for projects
20:50 Frosting VS Cake: the struggle of choosing neutral yarn colours in a store
23:12 Emma chats about her time working at Webs – America’s Yarn Store
26:16 Emma gives suggestions on how to balance working a day job and designing knitwear
30:00 Chatting about Emma’s latest project: a collaboration e-book of patterns called Join Hands (Proceeds from this project will be shared equally between the American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center)
31:10 Felicia and Emma discuss bullet journalling
34:26 Where to find Emma online to keep up with all of her latest designs and projects
34:05 Felicia’s final notes and podcast giveaway!

Links and Things

Here’s where to find Emma online:

Website: www.emmawelford.com – Sign up for her monthly newsletter to keep up with Emma’s latest work!
Instagram: www.instagram.com/emmawelford/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/welforddesigns
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/groups/emma-welford-designs

064: Masterful Weaving with Laura Fry Nov 14, 2017

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When you think of mastery in the fibre arts, a few names may spring into your mind. You might think of experts in the field who are working professionally, proficiently, and prolifically. In the field of weaving, you may think of Laura Fry.

Laura Fry is a full-time professional hand weaver who started weaving in 1975. In her 40+ years of her weaving career the focus of her weaving has evolved and, in addition to still being a production weaver, she is a dedicated teacher in the field and currently teaching the master weavers certificate program at Old’s College. Laura herself earned certification as one of Canada’s master weavers in 1997 and was the 27th weaver to achieve this honour. Laura has also created two series of videos with Interweave: The Efficient Weaver and Wet-Finishing for Weavers.

Please join us for this week’s discussion as Laura chats with Felicia about her journey to becoming a master of her craft.

In this episode, we talk about:

1:56 Laura discusses how she discovered weaving and decided to make it into her career
4:44 Laura chats about how health issues in the last few years has gotten her back into spinning
6:40 Felicia asks Laura about her training and education as a weaver
9:45 Laura breaks down the Old’s College Master Weaver Program
14:12 Laura gives advice to those who would want to learn weaving through self-study instead of a school program
20:25Discussing how Laura keeps herself fit and healthy enough to keep up with the intense physical demands of production weaving. Laura also gives Felicia some tips on posture while weaving.
24:15 Felicia asks Laura how she chooses colours for the pieces she will weave and sell
32:30 Laura chats about efficiency in her weaving
37:30 How Laura manages the busy schedule of being a business owner and a production weaver
41:28 Chatting about Laura’s current work in progress: a book called The Intentional Weaver
46:27 Is there anything Laura would have done differently looking back on her career in the fibre arts?
53:16 Felicia’s final notes

Links and Things

Here’s where to find Laura online:

Website: www.laurafry.com
Blog: www.laurasloom.blogspot.ca
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/LauraAnnFry1

063: Planning Your Knitting Life with Martina Behm Nov 07, 2017

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This week Felicia is talking with knitwear designer Martina Behm. Martina, a mother of two who currently resides in Northern Germany, has been knitting since she was 12 but started getting serious about it in 2006. Since that time she has developed many fun and well-loved knitting patterns including the Trillian shawl, theBrickless shawl, and the Hitchhiker shawl (which has been knit nearly 28,000 times on Ravelry alone!). In addition to designing knitting patterns, Martina has expanded her online store to include new items such as a paper planner for knitters.

Please join us for this week’s conversation about keeping your “knitting mojo”, massive yarn stashes, and utilizing organization tools to make more time for knitting!

In this episode, we talk about:

1:49 Martina tells Felicia how she first started knitting
4:15 Felicia asks Martina to describe her style and aesthetics behind her knitting patterns
7:04 Martina describes how she transitioned from knitting baby patterns for her children and being a freelance journalist to designing her own patterns
11:17 Felicia and Martina chat about how Martina started a knitting blog in her own unique style
12:40 Martina tells Felicia about her large yarn stash and how important impulsivity is to her creative process
17:00 Martina and Felicia talk about how Martina prioritizes time for knitting while being a busy mother of two and a knitwear designer
21:18 Chatting about Martina’s new Strickplaner knitting planner and how it can keep knitters organized
28:50 How Martina gets her “knitting mojo” back when she loses inspiration
30:50 Where to find Martina online and where you can order your own Strickplaner!
32:10 Felicia’s final notes

Links and Things

Here’s where to find Martina online:

Website: www.strickmich.de
Strickplaner Website: www.knitting-planner.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/strickmich
Twitter: www.twitter.com/strickmich
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/designers/martina-behm

062: Leah Churchley on Combatting Chronic Illness with Crafting Oct 31, 2017

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Today Felicia once again chats with Leah Churchley. You might remember Leah from episode 16 of the podcast where she talked her about her experiences with anxiety and how she managed it with knitting. That was back in October 2015, so it’s been about 2 years since we’ve heard from her. Since that episode, lots has happened in Leah’s life, including coming to work at SweetGeorgia as our Digital and Educational Media Assistant.

Please join us for this week’s episode as Felicia and Leah catch up and discuss how craft and the community around it can help us face life’s most difficult challenges.

In this episode, we talk about:

1:40 Leah fills us in on what’s been happening in her life career-wise since she was on the show 2 years ago
3:31 Felicia chats with Leah about her diagnoses with Crohn’s disease in December of 2016
7:31 Leah explains Crohn’s disease and the “joys” of steroids
10:40 Chatting about how being diagnosed with a chronic illness affected Leah’s career as a web developer and spurred her decision to contact Felicia about a job at SweetGeorgia
15:00 How working at SweetGeorgia helped Leah cope with chronic illness and learn what she really needed in a job
18:20 Using the crafting community and knitting to combat loneliness, depression, and stress
24:16 Felicia asks Leah how she accomplishes all her crafting while dealing with the fatigue that goes along with Crohn’s Disease
28:30 What projects Leah is currently working on
33:45 Felicia asks Leah what advice she would give other people suffering from a chronic disease
36:13 Felicia’s final notes and podcast giveaway!

Links and Things

Here’s where to find Leah online:

Blog: www.thecraftycolon.com
Etsy store (a portion of all sales go towards supporting Crohn’s and Colitis Canada): www.etsy.com/ca/shop/TheCraftyColon
Instagram: www.instagram.com/leelabasiccable

061: Evolving your Creativity and Craft with Jean Chung Oct 24, 2017

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On this week’s episode, Felicia is chatting with Jean Chung, a knitwear/clothing designer who has been knitting since 1992 and designing since 2011. She has been published in Twist Collective, Knitscene, and Holla Knits. Jean is now focusing on publishing her designs only on her blog, Candy and Bagel, and designing and selling dancewear locally to have more time for her family and her full-time legal career.

Please join us as Felicia and Jean discuss expanding and exploring new creative ventures!

In this episode, we talk about:

1:55 Jean chats about her family and her legal career
3:05 How Jean discovered knitting
5:20 Jean talks about starting her blog, Candy & Bagel, and her beginnings as a knitwear designer
8:20 Jean discusses her mother’s career as a fashion designer
9:45 Felicia and Jean chat about what inspires her designs and how she shifted from creating designs for knitting magazines to becoming her own boss publishing her own designs
11:39 Felicia asks Jean how she deals with creative slumps and Jean talks about her desire to expand Candy & Bagel beyond knitwear patterns
14:35 Jean tells Felicia about getting back into ballet and creating dance wear for adults
16:30 The ladies discuss being flexible and adapting your company to grow with you as a person
17:50 How Jean balances work, Candy & Bagel, and being a mom
21:40 Giving yourself room and flexibility to enjoy your craft
24:10 What Jean is working on right now
26:25 Felicia’s final notes and podcast giveaway!

Links and Things

Here’s where to find Jean online:

Website: www.candyandbagel.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/candyandbagel
Facebook: www.facebook.com/candyandbagel
Pattern link for Winter Forest Pullover: www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/winter-forest-pullover

060: Patty Lyons on Teaching the Mindful Knitter Oct 17, 2017

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Today Felicia is chatting with Patty Lyons: a nationally recognized knitting teacher and technique expert who is known for teaching the “why” not just the “how” in the pursuit of training the mindful knitter. She specializes in sweater design and sharing her love of the much maligned subjects of gauge and blocking. Patty teaches at knitting shows around North America including Vogue Knitting Live, Stitches, and more. She can also be found teaching online through Interweave, Annie’s, and Craftsy. Patty’s “Improve your Knitting” Craftsy class was named “the most popular Craftsy class” in 2013. These days, Patty is also sharing a lot of her knowledge and instruction through her knit alongs on Ravelry.

Please join us today as Felicia chats with Patty about her experiences teaching in the knitting industry!

In this episode, we talk about:

1:47 Felicia and Patty chat about the first time they met
5:50 Patty chats about how she got into the knitting industry from her previous career as a broadway stage manager
10:50 Patty’s experiences in running a yarn store in New York and how it set her knitting teaching career into motion
13:20 The ladies chat about “Patty’s Big Box of Knitting Fails”
17:18 Discussing Patty’s obsession with the finishing stages of a project
18:13 Patty chats about her most popular Craftsy class: Improve Your Knitting
23:20 Patty discusses knitting without flipping your work
26:37 Felicia and Patty discuss the endless learning possibilities of knitting
27:52 Patty talks about the various forms of classes she offers and the advantages and disadvantages of these different forms
33:00 Chatting about Patty’s online knit alongs and how she brings something different to the table
39:55 How to find motivation to finish knit alongs projects
43:45 What knit alongs Patty has planned for the future
45:10 Patty’s advice for knitters who want to become teachers
48:52 Felicia’s final notes and podcast giveaway!

Links and Things

Here’s where to find Patty online:

Website: www.pattylyons.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/pattylyons
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Patty_Lyons
Ravelry Group: www.ravelry.com/groups/the-patty-lyons-fan-club
YouTube: www.youtube.com/PattyLyons

059: Starting a Weaving Movement with Maryanne Moodie Oct 10, 2017

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This week Felicia chats with Maryanne Moodie: a weaver, creative artist, and instructor. Maryanne is a fibre-obsessed maker working between Melbourne and New York. She divides her time between designing woven wall hangings, developing weaving kits, and teaching sold out workshops around the world. She has published a book On the Loom: A Modern Weaver’s Guide as well as two online weaving courses. Her designs are lush, tactile, and gorgeous and have been featured in New York Magazine, Anthology, O Magazine,and Design*Sponge.

In this episode Felicia and Maryanne discuss balancing life and art and how our craft can aid us in expressing our emotions in a healthy outlet. Please join us for this week’s conversation!

In this episode, we talk about:

2:10 Maryanne chats about splitting her time between her studios in Brooklyn, New York and Melbourne, Australia
3:22 An introduction to Maryanne’s style of frame loom weaving
6:56 How Maryanne found her way to weaving and the weaving community online
13:10 Discussing how Instagram has brought the weaving community together to share works and resources
15:25 Felicia and Maryanne discuss motherhood, identity, and using crafting to cope with life’s daily demands
23:47 Maryanne talks about developing her online weaving classes
30:35 Chatting about Maryanne’s weaving process and how the craft helps her experience emotions fully
38:40 How to balance family life, business, and make the most of the limited time you have to dedicate to your craft
40:15 How various emotions are represented in different aspects of Maryanne’s weaving
42:43 The ladies discuss how sometimes “just pretty” doesn’t draw people in and the freedom of “weaving weird”
46:30 Maryanne chats about the future of weaving
51:28 Tips for the beginning weaver
56:10 Felcia’s final notes and podcast giveaway

Links and Things

Here’s where to find Maryanne:

Website: www.maryannemoodie.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/maryannemoodie
Twitter: www.twitter.com/maryannemoodie

If you are interested in keeping in the loop with what Maryanne is up to, please sign up for her monthly newsletter on her website!

058: Fall with SweetGeorgia Vol 3 Launch with Tabetha Hedrick Oct 03, 2017

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This week Felicia chats with SweetGeorgia’s Design Director, Tabetha Hedrick about the new Fall with SweetGeorgia collection. The ladies discuss their hectic fall schedules and reveal the inspiration behind the 12 new patterns released just in time for the fall season. So grab yourself a pumpkin spice latte, snuggle under a chunky knit wrap, and enjoy a lively discussion about the latest pattern collection from SweetGeorgia yarns!

In this episode, we talk about:

1:20 Felicia and Tabetha chat about their current and upcoming projects this fall
4:20 Discussing the new Fall with SweetGeorgia Vol.3 patterns
6:00 Revealing the two stories the new fall designs are centred around
9:30 Update on new knitting video tutorials on techniques used in the new patterns
12:30 Tabetha discusses her new shawl pattern Kiowa
13:42 Using SweetGeorgia’s new Mohair Silk DK yarn and new Party of Five Mini Skein Sets in this year’s fall collection
16:40 Tabetha chats about her love of chocolate and the new Rustle Party of Five Mini Skein Set
19:35 Get a sneak peak into the upcoming SGY Mystery Shawl KAL (starting October 10, 2017). We also get a bonus glimpse into Tabetha’s mind and her “quota knitting” style.
24:38 The dilemma of picking colour palettes for MKALs and using School of SweetGeorgia‘s Colour Playcourse to boost colour-picking confidence
27:00 What is Tabetha knitting right now?
28:45 Felicia and Tabetha discuss Spinzilla
29:35 Tabetha chats about SweetGeoriga launching at her local yarn store Hook & Needle in Maryville,Tennessee
31:00 Fall with SweetGeorgia Volume 3 giveaway!