Yarn in the City

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Episode 32: Two of our favourite things Mar 06, 2016

Show notes

On today’s podcast we’re chatting about some new goodies that have crossed our desks at Yarn in the City HQ and they’re two of our favourites: yarn and books! We’re reviewing another awesome new yarn from Blacker Yarns and we’ve also got chat about two new books, including one for our crochet followers.

Shout outs:

Shout outs to Sarah from Crafts from the Cwtch, Louise at Inspiration Knits, LCG contributor Catherine Hopkins and Julie from Knitted Bliss who have all written reviews of the London Craft Guide on their blogs. Thank you!

Shout out as well to Lyndsey at Countess Ablaze who’s amazing studio in Manchester is well, amazing. And a hello to all the knitters from the Joeli’s Kitchen Retreat in Manchester last weekend.

Book news:

All orders and pre-orders up to the end of February have now been sent out. If you pre-ordered a copy and you haven’t received a postage invoice from us, please check your email for a notice from Paypal, and email us at hello@yarninthecity.com if you haven't received on and let us know.

News and Events:

March 18-19 – Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2016 – marketplace, classes, general awesomeness. – Rachel will have copies of the London Craft Guide on her Porpoise Fur stand so you can pop by and take a look for that!

March 18-20 – H+H trade show, the largest stitching-related trade show in Europe, is taking place in Cologne, Germany.

23 - 24th April – Wonderwool Wales, Builth Wells Fairgrounds. We're going for the day with the London Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers. Spaces are filling up quickly so check on our Ravelry board for all the details.

Note from us: we realized after recording this episode of the podcast that we teased you unnecessarily by hinting at news to this year's Great London Yarn Crawl and we're sorry we forgot to mention it! This year's GLYC will take place on Saturday, 10th September and we're once again looking for volunteer yarn guides. If you'd like to help out, please email us at hello@yarninthecity.com with "I'd like to volunteer for this year's GLYC" in the subject line. Thanks!

What we’re working on:

Rachel is almost done with her Honey Cowl in handspun and is dyeing like crazy for EYF. Allison finished the Tulip Cardigan she had picked up again in the last episode, and is so close to being done with her Heggelia mitts! And is anxiously planning what new thing she’ll cast on next.

Two of our favourite things: yarn and books

Yarn Review: the new Tamar Lustre Blend by Blacker Yarns.

Book reviews: Crochet Yeah! By Joanne Scrace and Kat Goldin of The Crochet Project, and Penguin by Anna Maltz. Correction: we mistakenly mentioned Navia as the yarns used in Penguin. Yarn support was actually provided by The Island Wool Company. We apologise for the error!

And a giveaway! Leave a comment below telling us what you'd make with a single skein of the new Tamar in fingering weight. Name the pattern and leave your Ravelry name and we'll keep the contest open until end of day on Monday, March 14th. The winner will receive this gorgeous skein of Tamar and we'll gift you the pattern you selected on Ravelry if you don't already have it!

As always, please let us know what you think through comments on the show notes, send us an email at hello@yarninthecity.com or via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can find us on iTunes or Stitcher Radio (and please consider leaving a review for us!), or download us directly from the Yarn in the City website.

And on Wednesday nights you can find us at knit night at The Goat on the Rise pub on Battersea Rise, close to Clapham Junction station in SW London. We meet from 7pm to around 10pm. The food is great and the knitters are friendly. Join us!

Music (all available on NoiseTrade):After the Fight - Jars of ClayDaisy Child - Brave BabyFind My Way - Brooke Annibale

Episode 31: Unravel-ed Feb 24, 2016

Show notes

We are back from Farnham, and are slowly recovering from the fantastic weekend that was Unravel! In this episode, we talk about the show, get a North American perspective on Unravel from Kate Atherley, and cover the usual news, events and current projects.

Shout-Outs

So many shout outs today! First up is a shout out to the lovely Sarah from Crafts from the Cwtch (go check out her blog now!). Sarah has written the first review of the London Craft Guide, and we are so glad she enjoyed the book!

Another big shout out to Maylin who sent us a lovely note on Sunday about the book that really helped us power through the end of a very long weekend.

Finally, thanks so much to everyone who came by the booth and looked at the book, checked out the yarn and shared it with their friends! We'd particularly like to thank Julie of Evie and Lily who came by throughout the weekend to keep us up to date on her Instagram efforts.

Book news

So, the book is launched, which means we are up to our eyeballs in fulfilment. A few local yarn shops picked up their wholesale orders at Unravel, so if you are looking to find the book in the wild, you can get it at Nest, Wild & Woolly, and Knit with Attitude in London, A Yarn Story in Bath, and Fig Tree Yarns in Jersey. It will also soon be available at Loop,Handweavers Studio & Gallery and Stag & Bow in London, and at The Old Pharmacy in Faversham.

If you preordered the book before 17th of February, you should now have received a Paypal invoice to cover the shipping on your book. If you have not received this invoice, please let us know via the contact links at the bottom of the page, and we will get you sorted out.

Upcoming Events

28th February - Decorative Estonian Cast Ons with Lucinda Guy at YAK in Brighton

12th March - Introduction to Brioche and Shawl Shapes with Bristol Ivy at Loop. The Brioche class is sadly sold out, but the Shawl class will look at how to create different shawl shapes and then add stitch patterns and play with unconventional shaping.

13th March - Knitting Outside the Box with Bristol Ivy at Loop. This full day class is great for people interested in designing, or just wanting to experiment.

16th March - Introduction to Brioche with Bristol Ivy, this time at YAK in Brighton. A good alternative if you miss out on the Loop class.

17th-20th March - Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2016!!!! Classes start on the Thursday, marketplace is Friday and Saturday with associated other goings on. Rachel will be there with Porpoise Fur and will have the book available, so if you'd like to check it out (or get some spinning fluff), come on by!

What we're working on

Rachel finished her Because Sock Yarn by Kate Atherley, in the amazing Yarn in the City colourway dyed for us by Third Vault Yarns, and upon showing it to the designer, discovered that there was some (ultimately highly successful) user error involved in her sample. More on that to come in a future blog post. She also finished a second colourway for the Ironwork hat, and has started a shop sample for A Yarn Story and a handspun Honey Cowl (she might be the only person in the world who has not knit this yet) out of SweetGeorgia BFL/silk in the "Rogue" colourway.

Allison has sadly missed out on having a new FO for this episode, but she's forging ahead on her Candy Bag sample, her handspun Gradient Pullover, and a very long-standing WIP, the Tulip Cardigan.

Unravel-ed

This episode we sit down for a quick Stitch n' Babble with the lovely Kate Atherley , who has recovered enough from her trans-Atlantic jet leg to tell us a bit about her impressions of Unravel and the differences between UK and North American shows. Please forgive the occasional long pauses as we were all feeling the effects of a seriously wool fume heavy weekend.

You can find us on iTunes or Stitcher Radio (and please consider leaving a review for us!), or download us directly from the Yarn in the City website.

Our Knit Night is every Wednesday from 7:00pm to 10:00pm at The Goat on the Rise in Clapham Junction. We'd love to have you join us!

Music Credits (all available on NoiseTrade)A Rainy Week in Paradise - Elessar ThiessenMorning Light - The Dirty Guv'nahsAfter the Fight - Jars of Clay

Episode 30: Knitlandia Feb 07, 2016

Show notes

We're excited to finally be able to share this episode with you as we've had it in the can for a while. We've got an interview with Clara Parkes of the Knitter's Review about her latest book, Knitlandia: A Knitter Sees the World. It makes for a slightly longer than usual episode this time around but we hope you'll stick with us to the end.

Image from @abramsbooks on Instagram

News, Shout-outs, Announcements and Contest Winner!

Big congrats to Kate Price who is the winner of a pair of tickets to Unravel. Kate - please send us an email and we'll connect you with the good folks at Unravel for your tickets to the show.

Shout-outs to Helen Stewart of Curious Handmade for sharing her #3thingsforyarnlove, Jenny from Owl About Yarn and CaroTrike from Ravelry.

Coming up next in the London and UK knitting scene:10th February – It’s the next Late Night Knitty Lock-in of 2016 over at Wild & Woolly. Check out the details on their website.

13th - 14th February – Cécile Balladino is teaching her Eclectic Gipsyland crochet class at Loop. These are the same class but offered on two different days. The class will teach Cécile’s techniques for lace motifs, joining as you go, surface crochet and more. This is not a beginner’s class and you will be expected to already know how to crochet.

NEW Listing - 14th February - There's a Mass Knit-In for Knit Aid called All You Knit Is Love happening at The Book Club in London.

20th February – For those of you up north, Karie Westermann is teaching her Two-Handed Colourwork for Fair Isle and Nordic Style Colourwork class at Be Inspired Fibres in Edinburgh.

19th - 21st February – Unravel is happening at Farnham Maltings. Our Yarn in the City stand will not only have the London Craft Guide but yarn from some of our favourite folks as well including Kettle Yarn Co., Eden Cottage Yarns, SweetGeorgia Yarns, Orkney Angoras and Third Vault Yarns (including a custom colourway exclusive to Yarn in the City!).

A reminder if you didn't see the update on our blog that you can pre-order the London Craft Guide for £15 only until the 18th of February (let us know in the special notes on your order if you'd like to pick it up at Unravel). Once the book launches at Unravel on the 19th of February the price for the print book will be £16.50.

26th - 28th February – Joeli’s Kitchen Retreat in Manchester. Featuring classes with Kate Atherley, Karie Westermann, Joeli and other great teachers, as well as a mini marketplace on the Sunday that will include Countess Ablaze.

On and Off the Needles

New exclusive Yarn in the City colourway from Third Vault Yarns

Rachel finished a sample sweater in advance of her Knit a Sexy Sweater class at A Yarn Story in Bath. She's also been working on knitting up a sample of the Because Sock Yarn project from the London Craft Guide in our new custom colourway from Third Vault Yarns.

Allison finished both her Grown Up Booties and She's a Waterfall projects since the last episode and is back on her Gradient Pullover and now on the third and final band of colour. She's also been crocheting squares for a new sample of the crochet project from the London Craft Guide.

Knitlandia

Clara Parkes' new book Knitlandia: A Knitter Sees the World comes out on February 16th and we were incredibly lucky to have a chat with Clara when she was visiting London back in December. Our topics veer from Knitter's Review to her books (Knitters Book of Yarn, Knitters book of Wool and Knitters Book of Socks) to her Great White Bale project and first foray into Clara Yarn. Following our interview we talk about some of our favourite essays from the book.

You can find us on iTunes or Stitcher Radio (and please consider leaving a review for us!), or download us directly from the Yarn in the City website.

Our Knit Night is every Wednesday from 7:00pm to 10:00pm at The Goat on the Rise in Clapham Junction. We'd love to have you join us!

Music credits (all available on NoiseTrade)A Rainy Week in Paradise - Elessar ThiessenMorning Light - The Dirty Guv'nahs

Episode 29: The Do-Over Jan 24, 2016

Show notes

Now that we’re a few weeks into 2016 we’re curious as to how you’re all doing with your resolutions or goals for this year. We’ve also been doing some thinking about our own plans for Yarn in the City this year and had our own thoughts that we wanted to share with you.

Shout outs:

C. C. from the Geeky Girls Podcast.

The Dublin Brooks Hotel Knit Night, who introduced Alli to the beers of Galway Hooker. Best. Brewery. Name. Ever.

What’s Happening:

30th January - Renée Callahan of East London Knit will be teaching Brioche Basics and Brioche Next Steps classes at A Yarn Story in Bath.

30th January - Woolly Wormhead is teaching two classes at Knit With Attitude, a Knitting in the Round Masterclass and her Turning Sideways class.

31st January - there is a Learn to Darn class happening at Wild & Woolly. Participants are encouraged to bring a woolen garment that needs mending and will learn both invisible and decorative techniques by a professional Japanese clothes mender.

4th-7th February – the annual French stitching show L’Aiguille en Fete takes place at the Porte de Versailles in Paris. This show is jammed with all kinds of inspiration!

5th – 7th February – Purlescence is hosting a weekender featuring the KNITSONIK Colourwork and Bespoke Yokes workshops with our good friends Felicity Ford and Brenda Dayne. If you missed Gwlana last fall, Felicity and Brenda are cramming their classes into two full days (and a Friday evening kick off) at Purlescence’s new location in Oxfordshire.

6th - 7th February – Rachel is teaching an Introduction to Drop Spindling and How to Knit a Sexy Sweater class at A Yarn Story.

10th February – It’s the next Late Night Knitty Lock-in of 2016 over at Wild & Woolly. Check out the details on their website.

20th February – For those of you up north, Karie Westermann is teaching her Two-Handed Colourwork for Fair Isle and Nordic Style Colourwork class at Be Inspired Fibres in Edinburgh.

19th - 21st February – Unravel is happening at Farnham Maltings. We will be there with two stands – a joint Porpoise Fur/Yarn in the City stand where we will be debuting the London Craft Guide! We’ve just found out that our stand will be located in the Barley Room, so we do hope you’ll come and say hello!

Giveaway:

Speaking of Unravel – we still have a pair of tickets to giveaway. To enter, leave a comment in the show notes for Episode 28 and let us know what you’re looking forward to seeing at the show. We’ll draw a name on February 1st and announce the winner on the first podcast episode in February. Contest note: this pair of tickets is for a single day’s entry to the show and does not include any travel to Farnham. Good luck!

Save the Date!

We’ve finally figured out the date for this year’s Great London Yarn Crawl,which will be held on Saturday, 10th September. Mark the date in your calendars now and stay tuned for more details this spring!

What we’re working on:

Rachel is working on a sample of the Waterloo Mitts, our pattern from the London Craft Guide, in Eden Cottage Yarns Whitfeld DK. She is also working up her Knit a Sexy Sweater class sample by knitting the Middlefield Pullover by Melissa LaBarre from New England Knits, in Elann Peruvian Highland Chunky. She's finished knitting her Dark & Stormy, but the buttons and grosgrain ribbon are still to be done. She's finished spinning for the first Unravel hat and is almost ready to cast on. The first stage of the project is in her Design Diaries segment on her blog.

Allison has her first FO of 2016 off the needles – the Quaking Aspen shawl by Courtney Kelley. She’s also finished spinning some Porpoise Fur handspun from the Lab Goddess Fibre Club and is working it up into the Grown Up Booties by Ysolda. She is also almost finished with her She’s a Waterfall shawl by Dani Sunshine.

2016 - The Do-Over:

After last episode’s chat about themes for the year and having a focus for this year, we decided that we wanted to come up for one for our year. There are already lot’s of things out about being creative this year, all of which are great. But we were wondering if there was something we could do that would tie in to what Yarn in the City is all about. We also wanted it to be something that anyone could take part in, no matter how big or small, and in whatever way felt right and personal to them.

We’ve been inspired by Calgary, Canada’s mayor Naheed Nenshi, who challenged his council and the citizens of Calgary to do Three Things for their community as a way to increase civic engagement (an overview here). The idea was simple: if there are over a million people in the city of Calgary and every person did three things to make the city better –image how amazing an already great city would be.

When we were thinking about what we wanted to focus on in 2016 we looked back to the things and themes that resonated with us last year. And they were stories of people within our yarn and fibre community doing great stuff that makes it better for everyone. Whether it’s people who are spreading the passion of wool like the Wovember team, or podcasters likeShinybees and Curious Handmade, who demonstrate than knitting podcasts can build community, or show organisers like Jo and Mica who saw a void in their own community and created the Edinburgh Yarn Festival to fill it.

As a community we’re sharing knowledge and learning from each other and asking questions. So this year we want to encourage you to do three things for the world wide yarn and fibre community. Think about what is important to you. Think about what you’re good at. Talk to your friends and figure out how you can make a difference, however small.

Then we’d like you to do those things, and tell us about them on a dedicated Three Things for the yarn and fibre community thread on our Ravelry board, or on our Facebook page. You can even tweet or Instagram at us. Use the hashtag#3thingsforyarnlove so we can see what you're up to and cheer you on! And once you've done three things, do three more, and three more, and three more...

You can find us on iTunes or Stitcher Radio (and please consider leaving a review for us!), or download us directly from the Yarn in the City website.

Our Knit Night is every Wednesday from 7:00pm to 10:00pm at The Goat on the Rise in Clapham Junction. We'd love to have you join us!

Music credits (all available on NoiseTrade)

Howlin' At Nothing (Live in Denver), S. O. B. - Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night SweatsBright Lights and Amplifiers - American OperaLove in the World - Devon Heath

Episode 28: Start As You Mean To Go On Jan 07, 2016

Show notes

Happy New Year, and welcome to 2016!

News and Events:

9th January - We'll be renewing our memberships of The London Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers at their January meeting. This is great organisation and with excellent content and speakers at their monthly meetings. Membership is only £25 for the year.

10th January – Joanne Scrace (notsogranny) is teaching her Crochet Shawls class at Knit With Attitude.

13th January (mistakenly listed as the 10th of February in the podcast) – It’s the first Late Night Knitty Lock-in of 2016 over at Wild & Woolly. Check out the details on their website.

17th January – the Waltham Abbey Wool Show, at the Waltham Abbey Marriott, Old Shire Lane, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 3LS (Update: Porpoise Fur will be at WAWS, so come say hello if you're at the show!).

30th January – Woolly Wormhead, hat designer extraordinaire, is teaching two classes at Knit With Attitude. In the morning she's teaching a Knitting in the Round Masterclass that will include all sorts of tips and tricks, and in the afternoon it’s all about Turning Sideways.

6th-7th February - Rachel is teaching two classes at A Yarn Story: Learn to Spin: Drop Spindle on Saturday afternoon, and a two part workshop on How to Knit a Sexy Sweater on Sunday; the morning session will cover swatching, and the afternoon is all about pattern modifications.

13th-14th February – Cécile Balladino is teaching her Eclectic Gipsyland crochet at Loop. These same class is offered on both Saturday and Sunday. This is not a beginner’s crochet class so you will be expected to already know how to crochet.

19th-21st February – Unravel is happening at Farnham Maltings. We will be there with two stands – one for Porpoise Fur and also a Yarn in the City stand where we will be debuting the London Craft Guide!

26th-28th February – Joeli’s Kitchen Retreat in Manchester. Featuring classes (some spaces still available for classes with Kate Atherley!) and a mini marketplace on the Sunday that will include Countess Ablaze.

What we’re working on:

Rachel's last FO of 2015 was a lace shawl design that's been submitted to Knittyspin (so there aren't any pictures of it to show). She's also been working on her Dark & Stormy cardigan by Thea Colman, and is on Sleeve #2. She has also picked up her long-standing bead and colourwork project, the Marie Curie Mittens by Emily Bujold, and did a few more rows on the #14 Bus. As you do... Spinning-wise she's been working on some colourful mini-skeins for a design project that will debut at Unravel, and on her Dark Lady BFL from the December instalment of the Porpoise Fur Lab Goddess Fibre Club.

Allison finished the Basic Rib Socks for her Dad while in Miami. She's now working on the Gradient Pullover by Amy Miller in handspun merino/silk, and is hooking up a sample for Unravel of the Candy Bag by C é cile Balladino, one the projects upcoming from the London Craft Guide.

Book News and a Giveaway:

The London Craft Guide is coming! After much more back and forth on the design and layout than we ever would have imagined, we are now in the final stretch for the book to be sent to the printer’s by the end of the month. We will be officially launching at Unravel, but those of you who preordered the book will have your copies sent out as soon as we have them in hand. Thank you so much for your patience!

Keep watching our blog and Instagram feeds as we start to show off some of the amazing projects and shops from the book over the coming weeks leading up to Unravel. Speaking of which: anyone making plans to go to Unravel at Farnham Maltings? Thanks to the lovely organisers of this fantastic local festival we have a pair of day tickets to giveaway.

To enter, leave a comment in the show notes and let us know what you’re looking forward to seeing at the show. Entries will be open until February 1st, and we'll announce the winner on the following podcast. (Contest note: this pair of tickets is for a single day’s entry to the show and does not include any travel to Farnham.) Good luck!

Start as you mean to go on:

The idea for the theme of this podcast came to us after seeing the usual New Year’s resolutions, year-end wrap ups and general commentary on social media in the last week or so. We’ve been struck by the emerging themes, and by the prevalence of all of us to try and shape the direction of our creative endeavours and activities. We’ve seen a few different things that look like fun, or inspired us and we wanted to share them with you:

Instagram #2015bestnine for @allidecks, @yarninthecity and @porpoisefur

1. #2015bestnine – what were your most liked Instagram photos?

2. Finding your word for the year – Karie Westermann had a lovely blog post about this and Allison talked about finding your word in relation to some work she's done with Tara Swiger's Lift Off workshop. We've also found this great Find Your Word resource.

3. The Maker’s Year – A Playful Day

4. The year of #yarnstashlove – Louise Zass-Bangham/Inspiration Knits (and #fibrestashlove, which we are shamelessly stealing from Louise for our own devices)

We’re interested to know what plans you’re making for yourselves this year – or if you are? Are you one of those planners or not at all? Send us a note or let us know in the comments on the show notes.

A small bit of housekeeping: in an effort to be more predictable for you all, we’re going to try out a more formal podcasting schedule this year. We've decided that it will be easier if the podcast episodes go live on a specific day, so you know when they'll be posted. So, apart from this episode (which is obviously not going up on the right day), we will launch an episode of the podcast on the first and third Sundays of the month.

As always, please let us know what you think by tweeting, liking, or loving our posts when you see them go up on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram – or even better, leave a comment in the shownotes or send us an email at hello AT yarninthecity DOT com. You can also find us on iTunes or Stitcher Radio (and please consider leaving a review for us!), or download us directly from the Yarn in the City website.

Knit night is back for 2016, with a later end time too! You can find us on Wednesday nights upstairs at The Goat on the Rise pub on Battersea Rise, a stone’s throw from Clapham Junction station in SW London. We meet from 7pm to around 10pm. The food is great and the knitters are friendly. Join us!

Music credits (all available on NoiseTrade)

Howlin' At Nothing (Live in Denver), S. O. B. - Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night SweatsBright Lights and Amplifiers - American OperaFlee - Paper Airplanes

Episode 27 BONUS: Christmas with Clara Parkes Dec 24, 2015

Show notes

Merry Christmas yarn-lovers!

This short and sweet special podcast episode has us chatting with Clara Parkes during her recent visit to London. London is truly magical this time of year, and we hope you're enjoying the festive season with your loved ones wherever you are.

Music Credits (all available on NoiseTrade)Ain't No Snow Like Christmas Snow - Jeff MichaelsCarol of the Bells - Future of ForestryJoy to the World / Sing Hallelujah - Sky Terminal

Episode 27: Christmas Chatter Dec 17, 2015

Show notes

It's our second-to-last episode before the end of the year! We're chatting about Christmas prep, parties and what we've been working on.

News and Events:

20th December - Prick Your Finger's Unravelling Ceremony, 4:30 - 8:30 pm.

20th December is also the last day of the A Yarn Story #AYSWinterCablesKAL! Don't forget to tag your projects on Ravelry and Instagram for a chance to win some great prizes!

What we're working on:

Rachel has finished the fingerless mittens she was making for her girls as well as an Ifjord hat for her husband to find under the tree.

Allison had a squeaker of a finish getting her Grettir sweater done in time for her husband to wear in family photos with Father Christmas. She's now moved on to attempting to finish a pair of socks in time for Christmas for her Dad.

A short and sweet episode for you this time around! Be sure to join us on Christmas Day an escape the frenzy with us as we'll have a special episode with special guest Clara Parkes.

Happy Christmas!

Music credits (all available on NoiseTrade)Winter Anthem - The BergamotCarol of the Bells - Future of ForestryRaise the Tree - Trent Dabbs

Episode 26: Counting Down to Christmas Dec 01, 2015

Show notes

We've had our last event of the year, the Bath Christmas Craft Crawl, which has inspired us to think about knitting gifts and gifts for knitters.

News and Events

The Bath Christmas Craft Crawl Recap!

5th December - Knit for Peace Knit-in at the Barbican

11th December - PPQ Christmas party

London Craft Guide Update

Now with the designers, and looking at an end-of-2015 or very-early-2016 release date. Thank you all for your patience and our apologies about the continued delay!

Important note: if you preordered the book at the Yarn in the City Pop Up Marketplace, please email us!!!

What we’re working on

Rachel has almost finished two sets of fingerless mittens in Mind the Gap sport weight, and has decided (for the moment) that the other presents aren't due until just after Christmas, and can therefore wait. She is madly and obsessively working on Dark and Stormy by Thea Colman in SweetGeorgia Superwash Merino in Wasabi.

Allison is making great progress on Grettir by Jared Flood, and is almost at yoke. She's finished a quick, made up cowl with Porpoise Fur handspun from the Lab Goddess Fibre Club, and has a pair of socks for her dad to work on; pattern is from Kate Atherley's new book.

2015 Gift Guide – Tiny Treats

Yarn bowls - Emily Cross Ceramics, Little Wren Pottery, Hadley Clay, Earth Wool & Fire, and Kingfishersblue.

Sheep Shawl sticks by JUL Designs.

Sirka counter, available at YAK or Meadow Yarn.

Moth cards by Max Alexander, available at Prick Your Finger or Max’s World.

Silver crochet hooks by Lyn Roberts at A Yarn Story

Knitters Keep from Coco Knits at A Yarn Story

Project bags - The Little Grey Girl, Nicsknots, BritYarn

Knitters jewellery - Hello Sunshine, Max's World, SIlverdashery

John Arbon's fabulous wool and alpaca socks

Grounded by Heather Ordover

Off the air, you can find us on Ravelry, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Please leave a review for us on iTunes or listen to us on Stitcher Radio, and don't hesitate to share your thoughts and feedback with us. We are always out and about, so come say hi at any of the events we're attending if you get a chance! Everyone is also more then welcome to join our Wednesday night knit group from 7-9 pm (or longer) upstairs at The Goat on the Rise, Clapham SW11 1EQ.

Music credits (all available on NoiseTrade)Santa Clause is Strumming to Town - The Winter FailureThis Christmas - Paste Holiday Sampler 2014Christmas is All Around (Love Actually) - Sleeping at Last

Episode 25: Woolly Wovember Part Deux Nov 17, 2015

Show notes

We are still enjoying the month long celebration of all things sheepy that is Wovember, In this episode, we have some shout outs, some exciting news and events, a few FOs and gift knitting underway, and a fabulous interview with Louise Scollay from Knit British which continues the theme from last episodes chat with Rachel Atkinson of My Life in Knitwear about the UK wool industry.

News and Events:

14th November - the release of Rachel's collection for The Fibre Co., and the kick off of A Yarn Story's Winter Cables KAL! You can find the collection on Ravelry, and join in the KAL with us on the A Yarn Story board.

25th November - will be a special Knit Night at The Goat. We'll have some snacks, some yarn to tempt you from Lola at Third Vault Yarns and maybe even a Secret Santa! We'll also collect any handknits and unwanted yarn or tools on behalf of Knit for Peace. Since this will be a little different than our regular knit nights, please RSVP on the thread in our Ravelry group if you'd like to join us.

28th November - the Bath Christmas Craft Crawl! Now with all the details on the Event Page.

5th December - speaking of Knit for Peace, they're holding a Knit-In at the Barbican in London from 10:30am to 5:30pm. Why not come and knit for a bit and contribute by knitting a square for a blanket? They'll also be accepting handknits and materials if you miss bringing them to us at knit night.

What we're working on:

Rachel finished her Angostura vest by Ysolda Teague, in Blacker Yarns Cornish Tin, and is so pleased with it! She's now moved on to some fingerless mitts for her kids out of Trailing Clouds Stratus sport in "Mind the Gap" of course.

Allison has a bunch of projects on the go: she's finished the first sleeve of Grettir by Jared Flood, and should have the second done this week. She's also been working on her Quaking Aspen Shawl in The Fibre Co Acadia, and has started Hamlet the Cheetah from Edward's Menagerie. Also on the list of WIPs is the hoodie for a small boy in Canada that needs to be finished ASAP. On the spinning front, she's spun up her Alpha, Beta, Gamma Finn from the Lab Goddess Fibre club into singles and is going to ply them soon.

Woolly Wovember, Part Deux:

Louise Scollay is the British wool enthusiast behind Knit British. What started as a year-long challenge to knit only with British wool has grown into an ongoing exploration of local yarns, sheep and wool that has spread far beyond the UK. Louise talks with us about the ongoing Breed Swatch-along that kicked off at the beginning of October, about Wovember and the development of this year's theme of the Small Producer, and about her response to Rachel Atkinson's Fleeced blog post.

***

Off the air, you can find us on Ravelry, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Please leave a review for us on iTunes or listen to us on Stitcher Radio, and don't hesitate to share your thoughts and feedback with us. We are always out and about, so come say hi at any of the events we're attending if you get a chance! Everyone is also more then welcome to come join our Wednesday night knit group from 7-9 pm (or longer) upstairs at The Goat on the Rise, Clapham SW11 1EQ.

Music credits (all available on NoiseTrade)Morning Light - The Dirty Guv'nahsLoneliness & Alcohol - Jars of ClayHands & Hearts - Katrina Stone

Episode 24: Woolly Wovember Nov 01, 2015

Show notes

It's November folks, and that means it's time to celebrate ALL THINGS WOOL! In this episode we update you on events for the rest of the year, reveal details about the Bath Christmas Craft Crawl, make a brief foray into the realm of holiday knitting, and have a chat with Rachel Atkinson of My Life in Knitwear about shepherds, the UK wool industry and being informed consumers.

News and Events:

1st - 30th November - Wovember, a celebration of wool spearheaded by Felicity Ford, Tom of Holland and Kate Davies.

5th November - the kickoff of Curious Handmade's Knitvent 2015! YITC listeners can get a 15% discount on the collection by using the code "YITCknitvent15", which is good until 30th November - signups will open on 3rd November. Thank you Helen!

10th/17th November - Anna Maltz, aka Sweaterspotter, is teaching a lace and colourwork class for her popular Solja sweater at Wild & Woolly.

14th November - A Yarn Story's One Year Anniversary Party.

14th November - We will be at the Porpoise Fur booth at Festiwool, at North Hertforshire College in Hitchin. Also exhibiting are a number of vendors from the Pop Up Marketplace (Travelknitter, we're looking for you!), and our Knit Night compatriot Third Vault Yarns.

15th November - Clare Devine, of Yarn and Pointy Sticks, is teaching "2 at a time anything" at Knit with Attitude.

15th/22nd November - Brioche Stitch Basics with Renée Callahan of East London Knit at Loop.

28th November - the Bath Christmas Craft Crawl! Now with all the details on the Event Page.

What we're working on:

Rachel has finished a Lush cardigan for her new niece, and some fingerless mitts from some handspun Suffolk in the "Flamingo" colourway. She is now onto the front of her Angostura vest by Ysolda Teague, in Blacker Yarns Cornish Tin. On the spinning front, she has been spinning like a possessed thing trying to get enough yarn to weave a bunch of scarves for Festiwool, and has spun up 8 oz of Corriedale, 4 oz of BFL and 4 oz of Fibre Club in the past couple of weeks.

Woolly Wovember:

Rachel Atkinson published a post on her blog recently titled "Fleeced" in which she talked about a side of the UK wool industry of which many wool-using crafters may be unaware. We got a chance to talk to Rachel about her story, and discuss where the project is going and what we, as consumers, can do to help.

Many thanks to Rachel for taking the time to speak with us, and we will be following along with her project with great interest!

Off the air, you can find us on Ravelry, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Please leave a review for us on iTunes or listen to us on Stitcher Radio, and don't hesitate to share your thoughts and feedback with us. We are always out and about, so come say hi at any of the events we're attending if you get a chance! Everyone is also more then welcome to come join our Wednesday night knit group from 7-9 pm (or longer) upstairs at The Goat on the Rise, Clapham SW11 1EQ.

Music credits (all available on NoiseTrade)Morning Light - The Dirty Guv'nahsLoneliness & Alcohol - Jars of ClayHands & Hearts - Katrina Stone

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