The Shinybees Knitting And Yarn Podcast

There are some great knitting sites available and I often forget that not everyone has discovered them yet. That was the case this week during a discussion on the Shinybees Podcast Community, when I shared the new Knitty First Fall publication, and found that some people had never heard of Knitty! So, this week I have shared some of my favourite knitting sites that I come back to often, specifically to help those new knitters that have started listening tot the podcast during lockdown, or that have started listening after returning to the needles. Knitty is the first example. It's been running since 2002 and has a great mixture of free patterns, articles and tutorials for all levels of knitter. Run by Amy Singer, it's a treasure trove of pattern inspiration and is where a lot of new pattern designers go to cut their teeth designing. Anyone can submit a pattern to Knitty, and there is some good guidance about what a new designer needs. to bear in mind when doing so. Next up is the Craft Yarn Council, where you

The RAF Comforts Committee was formed by the Air Council in October 1939 to determine the type and quantities of 'knitted comforts' required for the RAF as well as arrange for their collection, storage and distribution through their depots. Inspired by a random eBay purchase of an RAF Comforts Committee pin badge some years ago, and recently rediscovering said badge, this episode delves into a little of the history of the RAF Comforts Committee. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/157 Music for this episode with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys, with I Need a Drink, available from iTunes

This week is sponsored by Back to School, specifically the absolute abomination that is school shoe shopping. Despite indeed having no school for the kids, I decided to brave Clarks and get the pre-requisite footwear on a special early morning appointment. Sadly, this did not prevent the usual dick move behaviour when shopping for shoes from my dearly beloved offspring. Naturally, this inspired a back to school themed Pattern Pick. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/156 Music for this episode with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink' available from iTunes.

Following an existential corona crisis a few episodes back, I've added more blonde streaks, I'm working on the Mini and I have been looking for some vintage inspired pieces to add to my wardrobe. This week I've gone through A Stitch in Time Volume 2 by Susan Crawford and Jane Waller to select my top five must-knit patterns. These have been chosen for their versatility in modernising the look to be wearable now, even if you aren't a vintage fan. The styling of the A Stitch in Time books is sublime and I love the extra information that is included about the historical social and economic conditions of the time, and how these shaped fashions. There is also a section with rules of thumb to assist with adjusting the patterns to achieve the perfect vintage fit. My top five patterns are: 1) The Jan Sweater 2) Fair Isle Cardigan 3) A Warm Jacket with an Unusual Bubble-Stitch Yoke 4) Warm Jumper 5) Sports Sweater You can find all these patterns along with 75 more in the A Stitch in Time Volume 2 book which is availabl

This week it's about finding a mindless way to feel productive by painting the fence. There's a lot going on at Casa Shiny and my parents have been restricted again in Greater Manchester, along with a load of friends, so the 'rona is making its presence felt. Thus, I have included some quality Youtube material to give you a giggle, including the Floppotron and the genius that is Sexy Sax Man. I've done some knitting on the Snaw Heid hat in between roaming Sussex and Kent looking for a new place to live. Reading wise, it's been all about The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman. She's a northerner and a knitter, so it was always going to be good. I've also just discovered the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/154 Music for this episode is with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys - I Need a Drink which is available on iTunes.

Eight years of the Shinybees Knitting Podcast means today is my Octopodiversary! Not sure if that is even a real world, but I'm now going to own it on the whole internet. This show is a roundup of my top 8 episodes of the past 8 years. Maybe you're a new listener and haven't gone that far back yet. perhaps you've been listening for a while - maybe since the beginning - and have forgotten these episodes. I'd forgotten some of the stuff and I was in them! There are some soundbites from each episode for your listening pleasure, which should bring a smile to your face and a giggle to your heart. 1) Ep 36 - The One With The Circus Music and a Trip to New Lanark Mill 2) Ep 3 - The C Word 3) Ep 34 - Making it as a Knitwear Designer with Kate Davies 4) Ep 55 - Vintage Shetland Project - An Interview with Susan Crawford 5) Ep 13 - The Cat in the Hat 6) Ep 51 - Still Got It 7) Ep 118 - British Wool, Sourcing and Labelling with Joy McMillan of The Knitting Goddess 8) Ep 120 - Rusty Ferret with Leona-Jayne of Fluph Full

This week there's a new home for the podcast community on the horizon, so there's a lot of chat about that - and about the general negativity of social media in general. The podcast is intended to be a fun and uplifting experience, so I am reluctant to bring listeners to a community on a platform that is negative and horrible to be on. I'm fleshing out the platform ready to move over, but the podcast community will be leaving Facebook in the next couple of weeks. A roundup of knitting fails follows this chat, and I discuss needing to rip back an 80% complete jumper. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/152 Music for this episode is Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink' available on iTunes.

We’re back after a regrettable rain and laptop-based accident, which caused an unplanned break in the schedule. If you decide to do yoga outside, remember to bring your computer back in when you are finished. If you live in the North, it’s probably going to rain, even if it is cracking the flags currently. A two-week break from any sort of work has encouraged me to pick up the needles again. I’ll tell you about that a bit later. Interiors and Decorating I’ve made the most of the unscheduled break by having some decorating work done in the house. Farrow and Ball’s Stiffkey Blue is the colour of choice for my spare room/office/podcast ‘studio’. Stiffkey is a dark blue, which I had colour matched at Valspar as it’s more cost effective than buying Farrow and Ball paint. I’m a massive interiors fan. The current options for styling are an Edwardian Gentlemen’s Club vibe or something a little softer. Being a huge lover of Victoriana, Scots Baronial architecture and bank lamps, I’m sort of leaning towards the Gentlem

Here we are at episode 150! This week's planned content has been rejigged so it's a little later than planned. There have been some issues with accessibility on Ravelry which meant it is unwise at this stage for me to add any further links to the site. There's lots of information out there about the problems. TL;DR the new site design is giving people visual disturbances, migraines and in some cases, triggering seizures. At the moment, the Ravelry team don't appear to be communicating that they are listening to these valid concerns, so for the time being, I will not be adding new links to the site from here. I am - at this stage - not removing existing links as that sends traffic and pattern sales to designers and dyers - some of whom also fall into the circle of being negatively affected by the recent design changes on Ravelry. I will review this regularly and will remove existing links if it becomes apparent that the potential for harm will remain indefinitely. I have many links to Ravelry on my site and al

I've dug up some long term WIPs this week and it has heartily revived my knitting mojo! I've been stuck at home for 13 weeks on my own with two children. I never thought I would have to do this amount of time on my own with kids ever. Not without some kind of park I can go throw them on or grandparents, I can go throw them at. Or, you know, even just being able to go to the pub and have a drink, frankly. So I'm feeling quite proud of myself in some ways. That's pretty good. Right? You know, everyone's still alive. Everyone's reasonably happy. Things are getting done. People are functioning more or less. Some days more, some days less. That's how it is. And I'm sure it's very similar story for you, or it is from those of you that I've been speaking to. Last orders at the bar for the content marketing 101 content calendar creation online workshop that I'm doing with Farnham Maltings. It's taking place next week, 23rd June 2020. On with the knitting then, and the kind of title of today's quick chat. I have actua

After the revelation of Ep 146, where I talked about seriously considering a Full and Complete destash, which may or may not have been a mid-Corona crisis, this week I review a method for creating a stash that fits. It's not some ghastly attempt at enforcing small stashed and yarn diets - far from it. The StashFit process is a well designed method for achieving a stash that creates joy and excitement, instead of guilt and dread. Cate Carter Evans of Infinite Twist is the dyer behind the system, and she surveyed and worked with many knitters to refine the StashFit process, as well as determine the optimal stash size. Full shownotes at www.shinybees.com/148 Music for this episode is from Adam and the Walter Boys, with 'I Need a Drink', used with kind permission.

Some patterns to comfort or soothe might be what you need right now. This episode has five patterns with that cosy, comforting feeling for you to check out. Also there are three resources for finding great podcasts by BIPOC and/or Women of Colour on all kinds of subjects. It's not always easy to identify podcasts made by hosts from a more diverse range of communities due to siltation on search. Luckily, there are great directories out there to help! Full shownotes and links at www.shinybees.com/147 Music for this episode is by Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink' available on iTunes.

Have you ever considered a complete destash? As in, getting rid of all your stash, totally, and starting again from scratch? Or not starting again? In this episode Jo confesses to having more than a passing consideration for getting rid of all of her painstakingly-assembled-over-nine-years-and-three-continents stash. It's triggered somewhat of a life audit in other areas (or maybe vice-versa). Jo asks some tough questions as to why this might be happening, and invites you to come along on the ride whilst the stash audit takes place. Full shownotes at www.shinybees.com/146 Music for this episode with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys, 'I Need a Drink' available on iTunes.

This week, we're all about the cats. Despite being a non-cat lover, it is hard to deny that there are some great patterns out there for cat themed - well - everything! Whether you are looking for knitting or crochet, fine yarn to heavy yarn or even cat hair, there is a suggestion for everyone today. 1) Cat in a Corset by Anna Hrachovec 2) Cat Love by Sweater Freak 3) Cat Hair Finger Puppet by Kaori Tsutaya and Amy Hirschmann 4) Cat in the Night Mittens by Lumi Karimitsa 5) Slouchy Cat Hat by Maria Gilligan 6) Cat Lover Blanket by Marken of the Hat & I 7) Cats Love Sweaters by Christine Landy 8) Dinosaur by Sara Thomas 9) Cat Window Valence by Christine Nault 10) 095 Cat Sphynx Findus with Wire Frame Amigurumi Full shownotes at www.shinybees.com/145 Music for this episode with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink'.

Hello and welcome to all new and returning listeners! I planned for today’s episode to be a short one, however, once I got into the flow of chatting, it ended up being a full lengther. There’s been lots of chat in the Shinybees Podcast Community on Facebook. I’m still looking for a new home beyond Facebook. I’ve found social media and the news to be extremely negative at the moment. I’ve responded to this by judiciously muting and blocking of overly negative people and content. This has been an overwhelmingly positive thing. Sidenote – school whatsapp groups are the work of the devil and should be avoided. I’ve also been taking part in Home by Yoga With Adriene. This is a 30 day freebie program on YouTube for a daily practice. She’s non-judgy and it feels quite achievable. Be kind to yourself, dear listener. You’re trying your best, and nobody is running the same race that you are. Kitty Couches are the order of the day, in particular the Kitty Couch – Green Sofa pattern by Candy Clayton. You can get this bel

Staying home has encouraged a wave of new and returning knitters. After receiving many knit-related requests over the past 6 or so weeks, this episode is a compilation of my favourite ones. Finding good resources, particularly free ones, can be a bit tricky I find. I'm also massively fussy about certain things that probably don't bother many people! My favourite resources are: Sheep and Stitch, Very Pink Knits, Purllinknitting, Knitty Grotty by Aneeta Patel and Knitting 1010 - Knitting For Beginners at Paradise Fibers. With that caveat, you can find links to all the resources at shinybees.com/143 Music for this episode is Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink' - available on iTunes.

Today we’re having a bit of a catch up, with some knitty chatter along with some discussion of recent reads during lockdown. I’m also gardening quite a lot at the moment, so I talk about that. There hasn’t been a huge amount of knitting at Chateau Shiny. I’ve noticed on social media that this seems to be a fairly common problem for knitters at the moment. As such, there has been a lot of planning and looking on Ravelry, and not a lot of knitting. I’m taking the attitude that this is like an athlete preparing for a race. More of a mental approach to knitting. As there hasn’t been a lot of actual knitting to discuss, today, it’s more of a covid time capsule of what’s going on here. My hope is that I can keep you company for 30 minutes or so, a little bit of light entertainment with a side of knit. Life in lockdown continues. The children continue to alternate between being bored and being too tired to do any school work. The Beast produced some choice Covid artwork, declaring her death from ‘bore’. It was terri

Today’s episode is all about repairing hand knit socks. I have a pair of socks that I have accidentally worn through the heel of, and I wanted to repair them. I’ve collated some resources and options for repairing knitted items. If you’re struggling with existential crises/dread/ennui as a result of over-thinking everything, Dr Shiny’s recommendation is vigorous consumption of comedy videos and memes. And Tiger King. Link to Bits n Pieces by Artemisia Methods for Fixing Hand Knit Socks The easiest way to repair worn-through hand knits, is to repair the thin patch before it actually wears through completely. You can do this using several different methods. Using reinforcing thread is a popular way, where you follow the pattern of the stitches to make the existing ones more sturdy. You could also use the same yarn you used initially, if you have any available. You could go in-between and use a finer gauge yarn to duplicate stitch and strengthen the yarn. This method is known as Swiss darning or duplicate stitch

Today there is a review of Knit Accessories: Essentials and variations as well as some DK pattern ideas for sweaters and some random chat. I have found my way back to my knitting this week. This may have been due to admitting I was struggling with finding the mojo for the knitting. I realised part of the problem was that knitting, for me, is a way of ordering my thoughts. This became apparent when the thoughts immediately began to race upon picking up the needles. I decided to sit with the feeling and luckily, it appears to have abated and I can knit again. Love for Podcasting I am really enjoying being back behind the mic on a more regular basis. It seems that podcasting is a form of reaching out for me. When I started the show, I lived in rural Limpopo in South Africa and was quite isolated. It was hot, not many people knitted and the knitters that were in SA were a long way away in Joburg or Cape Town. I feel like this recent inspiration is connected to that – once again, I am physically isolated, despite

Getting used to a new normal is tricky. This week has been challenging for most people and today there is a little bit of chat about that, along with a review of Wist Tha Bahn by Joy McMillan. You can hear more from Joy in her interview on the podcast at shinybees.com/118. This is a collection of 6 multi-colour shawls with Northern roots designed by Joy. All the patterns use British wool produced in the UK and dyed by The Knitting Goddess. Full Shownotes at www.shinybees.com/139