Yarn in the City

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Episode 4: We wish you a Merry Christmas Dec 23, 2014

Show notes

Crafty Christmas Puddings!

A short(-ish) and sweet podcast today, with some as-yet-unfinished gift knitting, a bit about our Christmas traditions, a quick look back on the past year, and what's to come, and Happy New Year wishes for you all.

What we're working onAllison is working on Rachel's Bonfire Night Cowl in SweetGeorgia Superwash Six in the gorgeous Mulberry colorway. She is also still working on a Chunky Cabled Hat from Purl Soho for her husband, after a minor knitting malfunction required some ripping. Rachel is working on the amazing Cattywumpus Hat by Elizabeth Green Musselman, as well as finishing up a long-neglected Hedgehog Hat by Elise Cohen. Over the course of the episode, she also realises that she owes her husband a Copenhagen Hat, so that's next on the needles.

Family TraditionsRachel waxes rhapsodical about the British Institution that is the Christmas Pantomime, but reveals that this year, they are hitting the bright lights of Leicester Square. Allison and her boys are hitting the pub for Christmas dinner this year, and are just happy to be in the same city for Christmas. We also talk about the slipperly slope of opening "just one" present on the night before Christmas, and various scarring experiences from our pasts.

Bath Road Trip Round UpIn which a great time was had by all as we visited A Yarn Story (recently featured in Knit Now Issue 42 and Inside Crochet Issue 61), Country Threads, the overwhelming Bath Christmas Market (including visits to Bijoux Beads and The Makery) and Wool.

Year in ReviewMost of the year was spent in the run up to GLYC 2014, which raised over £800 for Refuge - thanks to all of you for your support! We put out a call for submissions for our upcoming book, and took a fabulous day trip to Bath. Stay tuned for another road trip (to a slightly closer location) in Spring 2015, the release of the book, and perhaps a few other London-based events scattered here and there. And the Great London Yarn Crawl is on again for 5th September 2015, with a big surprise upcoming - watch this space for details coming in early January!

Wrap UpWe wish you all a very Merry Christmas (or other Winter Solstice holiday of your choosing), and hope to bring you much more yarny news and goodness in 2015. We'll be back in mid-January, so we will talk to you then!

Music credits (all available on NoiseTrade):Falling Like Snow - Canaries in the Coal MineAll I Want - John BrazellWonderful Christmastime - Joel Rakes

Episode 3: Last Minute Gift: The Tax Man Cometh Dec 11, 2014

Show notes

This episode we talk about finished knitting/weaving/spinning, new WIPS, the impending changes in how EU crafters buy their digital goods, and some quick projects for those unexpected last minute gifts.

News and Events:Not much to discuss in events, between when the episode goes live and the next episode, so moving right along...

On and off our needles/wheels/looms:

Allison has finished the Selbu Modern beret in Koigu, and the Buzzba Hat by Woolly Wormhead from yarn that she dyed at a workshop last autumn with Debbie Tomkins at Toft Alpacas. She is working on the skull sweater for her brother for Christmas, and the Chunky Cable Hat. She is also well into preprocessing the Lady Pearl vest in some handspun, and the Herringbone Poncho from existing stash.

Rachel has finished one sock of a new design inspired by a pair of socks she recently got in the mail from the States that were knitted by her great-grandfather. She also finished up a warp-faced woven scarf in handspun BFL from the Hello Yarn Fiber Club in the colorway "Scorch", with Panda Silk for weft. There has been secret spinning. The Insight Pullover is still continuing, and she is wishing it were done because it's going to be super cozy (Editorial note: Kate Heppell is now running a KAL for the Insight Pullover on Ravelry. Just in case anyone is interested...).

V-Day: 1 January 2015, aka The Tax Man Cometh:

Requisite disclaimer: we are not tax professionals in any way, shape or form. If you are in the EU and concerned about how the changes to VAT on digital products and services may affect you or your business you should contact a tax professional and/or HMRC. The situation is changing rapidly, even at this late date, so please use your own best judgement and get informed.

Come the first of January, all knitters/crochers/consumers of digital resources in the EU are going to experience a bit of a change in how they are taxed on their newly-acquired digital resources (i.e. knitting patterns). We interviewed Louise Zass-Bangham of Inspiration Knits to get an overview of the upcoming changes, and what they mean for knitters and crafters in the EU and elsewhere.

Additional resources:

Ysolda blogged about the changes, with further links.
Louise has posted a breakdown of what the changes will mean for people who are used to getting their patterns through Ravelry on her blog.

Coincidentally, the same day we spoke with Louise, this lovely cartoon tripped across our Twitter feeds:

Cartoon by Dave Walker.

Read what Dave Walker, a cartoonist, has to say about VATMOSS. He also includes some links to more information.
There is also an absolutely huge, massive thread in the Ravelry Shopkeepers group you can dig in to if you've got several spare days, and a thread detailing how Ravelry is addressing the issue here.

Last minute gift ideas:In which we talk about some super quick projects that can be whipped up in a few hours.

L ast minute slouch by madelinetosh, a hat using 2 yarns held together
G AP-tastic Cowl by Jen Geigley, bulky yarn and seed stitch
L ast-Minute Cowls by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas, in bulky yarn, with lots of different stitch patterns
Last Minute Scarf by Hazel Donnelly, in bulky yarn
Rasta Neckwarmer by Breean Elyse Miller
Super-Bulky Socks (toe up or top down) by Liat Gat
Antler Hat (or any free hat) by Tin Can Knits

Also mentioned: French Press Felted Slippers, Fiber Trends Felted Clogs

Wrap up:We'll have a short episode just before Christmas and recap our Road Trip to the Bath Christmas Market! Afterwards we'll take a break until the new year.

Music Credits (all available on NoiseTrade):Christmas Every Day - Wild SeasonThe Wassail Song - Smalltown PoetsYou're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Phil Childers & The Black Tie AffairLeave The Lights On - A Lion Named Roar

Episode 2: Everyday Inspiration Nov 26, 2014

Show notes

We hopefully have sorted out our sound quality issues, with much excellent assistance from Allison's partner.

News and Events:28 November - The Yarn Bowl Thing, aka launch of Annette Bugansky's limited edition yarn bowls with Knit with Attitude. They will be on display during the Cockpit Arts Open Studio in Holborn from 28-30 November.

29 November - Yarn in the City Bath Road Trip! Now with an option to join up with us in Bath. For more details see our Events page. Or click through for London-to-Bath or Bath-to-Bath ticket options.

29 November - Fyberspates new Viviacious book launch and trunk show at I Knit London.

6 December - Pom Pom Quarterly's Christmas party, at The Last, Athene Place, 73 Shoe Lane, London EC4A 3BQ. We will be there so come say 'hello'!

6-7 December - The Crafty Fox Christmas Market in Brixton, featuring the illustrator behind the Yarn in the City artwork, the lovely Kaylene Adler, on 7 December.

On and off our needles/wheels:Rachel is back at work on the Marie Curie Mittens (after finally digging out a beading crochet hook), but has discovered that they are requiring more spare neurons then she has available at the moment, so they are going on hiatus. She cast on for her Insight Pullover, and is almost finished with a handspun Now in a Minute by Brenda Dayne that is her Bath Road Trip scarf, worked in some Hello Yarn Fiber Club Finn that was spun up for the Tour de Fleece 2013. Spinning-wise, she's spun up 4 oz of Polworth/silk singles from Hello Yarn, plied the first of Alli's Christmas 2013 skeins, and done a bit more Targhee spindling here and there.

Now in a Minute in progress.

Allison has picked up her Selbu Modern Beret and is going full speed ahead with the addition of some Addi Sock Rocket needles which are making her life much easier (good tools y'all...). She's put the Mitini Mitts aside for a bit to consider the yarn/pattern combination, and is working on some superwash BFL from Sweet Georgia Yarns for her spinning.

New Book Reviews:We review two books in this episode. First up, Rachel waxes rhapsodic about Felicity Ford's Knitsonik Colourwork Sourcebook, which gives you a complete system for generating colorwork knitting patterns from everyday objects. (And which basically supports Rachel's long-held belief that swatching is the best thing in the entire world - a belief Allison strongly objects to). Then we both discuss Cirilia Rose's brand new book, Magpies, Homebodies and Nomads, with much oooing and aaahing and pre-processing. We particularly like the Isla Cardigan, the Reyka Pullover, the Loro Vest, the Heima Slippers, and the Jordaan Cape.

Special feature:

A quick chat with Cirilia Rose about her new book, the idea of "bricolage" and inspiration.

Wrap up:We invite you to join us in our Ravelry group, let us know what you think about the podcast, and tell us about events happening where you are. You can also find us on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Music Credits (all available on Noise Trade):Loneliness & Alcohol - Jars of ClayEverything You've Done Wrong - SloanBlue Hotel - Kate Tucker & the Sons of Sweden

Episode 1: Greetings & Salutations Nov 11, 2014

Show notes

In which we babble on and admit we have no idea what we're doing.... as evidenced by the sound mix. Our apologies that some of the levels are off. We're aware of this next time and have fixed as much as we can in post. We'll do better next time - we promise!

News and Events:

12 November: Kate Atherley's Math for Knitters webinar, starting at 1:00 pm EST (so 6:00 pm UK time) - details on her blog.

15-16 November: Cirilia Rose is teaching at Loop. Two classes on Saturday - Clone Your Closet and Bricolage Basics. On Sunday, she'll be running an Intarsia workshop, and holding a book signing for her new book, Magpies, Homebodies and Nomads: A Modern Knitter's Guide to Exploring and Discovering Style from 3:30 to 5:00 pm.

15 November: Grand Opening event at A Yarn Story in Bath from 2-7pm. There will be bubbly and 10% off all purchases.

21-23 November: Made Brighton, in the Corn Exchange.

The yarn bowl collaboration between Annette Bugansky and Knit With Attitude - the concept piece seen here at the MADE London show.

20 or 27 November (details TBC): An evening with ceramicist Annette Bugansky at Knit With Attitude to celebrate their yarn bowl collaboration.

29 November: Fyberspates Vivacious book signing at I Knit, Waterloo.

29 November: Yarn in the City Bath Road Trip. Details here.

14 December: Priory Square Fabric Collection launch party with Katy Jones, at The Village Haberdashery.

11 January 2015: Melanie Berg's Colorwork Shawls workshop at Loop.

1 March: The Bath Half Marathon! Join us for training and mutual motivation in the YitC Ravelry group.

GlennaC was visiting from Toronto and had time for a yarn-y visit and chat.

Knitting randoms:

An interview with Glenna C, who can be found at crazyknittinglady.wordpress.com. You can find her designs on her Ravelry designer page here.

On and off the needles and wheel:

Rachel is working on the Marie Curie Mittens by Emily Bujold, and is dreaming about Kate Heppell's Insight and Overlynd by Melissa Schaschwary. She is spinning some Targhee from Spunky Eclectic in "Bunny Kisses", and some merino/silk for Alli's last year's Christmas present.

Rachel's latest published pattern: Bonfire Night

Off the needles Rachel has wrapped up the Tiny Tea Leaves Cardigan by Melissa LeBarre x 2, Sitka Spruce Hat in Porpoise Fur handspun, and two designs: Bonfire Night and some handspun fingerless mitts coming out in Ennea Collective at the end of the month.

Allison is knitting the Mitini Mitts by Colleen Powley. She's also working on Robin by Lina Olofsson for her brother for Christmas. Spinning-wise not a lot is happening at the moment but she recently finished 2 x 100g braids of SweetGeorgia Yarns panda fibre in "Midnight Garden" that resulted in 570 yards of a 2-ply DK weight yarn - likely destined to be a vest.

Special feature:

YitC Road Trip to Bath, stopping at A Yarn Story and The Shed, before hitting the Bath Christmas Market, Country Threads and Wool. More details on our Events page. Tickets are £28, and can be found here.

Amy Singer and Brenda Dayne, caught knitting on a break at the P3 retreat at Beggar's Reach, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Wrap up:

Many thanks to Knitting Podcast icon Brenda Dayne of Cast On, without whom we never would have met. We are looking forward to seeing what she does next!

Talk to you next time!

A & R

Music Credits (all available on Noise Trade):

Loneliness & Alcohol - Jars of ClayEverything You've Done Wrong - SloanBlue Hotel - Kate Tucker & the Sons of Sweden

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