Yarn In The City

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

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 loca

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 cr

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

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 tri

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

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 availabl

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'

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 No

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

In which Rachel gets perhaps a bit overexcited about sock math, and we pat ourselves on the backs for Spinzilla. News and Events: 18th October - What Knitting Does to Your Brain with Heather Ordover, and The Whirled Cinema in Brixton. Tickets are still available. 23-25th October: Gwlana retreat in West Wales. 29th October - 1st November: Geeky Puffin Knit Palooza, in Edinburgh. 10th/17th November - Anna Maltz, aka Sweaterspotter, is teaching a lace and colourwork class for her popular Solja sweater at Wild & Woolly. 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 at Loop. 28th November - the Bath Christmas Craft Crawl! What we're working on: Rachel weaves in the ends on her Aranami Shawl as we record, and admits that she has picked up a year-old UFO. She also has been trying to quickly finish a baby Lush by Tin Can Knits for her brand spanking new baby niece, who arrived on 8th

It's official. We've fallen off the cold sheep wagon in this episode of the Yarn in the City podcast and we tell you all about in addition to our regular segments - and a new feature! News and Events: Allison recaps her visit to the third annual Yarndale, where she breathed a lot of yarn fumes. The following events are also happening now, just wrapped up or are happening this month: Shetland Wool Week Swiss Wulle Festival  UK Wool Week - where we'll be at the Twin Spin event at Royal Festival Hall on Tuesday, 6th October and also doing a spinning demonstration on Savile Row on Friday the 9th. Come say hello! Details on the sheep slippers that Allison mentions in Erika Knight yarn can be found here. The Knitting & Stitching Show - we're going on Wednesday, opening day! Our What Knitting Does to Your Brain event with Heather Ordover - coming up soon on 18th October. Tickets are still available. Gwlana retreat in West Wales - and we're thrilled to help Brenda and Caerthan announce the details of Gwlana for s

This week we bring you a special podcast episode; an interview with the star of our next event, Heather Ordover. If you don't know Heather, maybe a reference to Craftlit would help? Or the Madame Defarge series of literary-inspired knitting books? In any event, Heather is coming to London next month, and we are really looking forward to hosting her for her talk on Cognitive Anchoring, or why knitting in boring meetings actually helps your brain work better. Some links to things we mention: Cast-On and Greek Muses (Season 2): the origins of Craftlit. Knitting on a treadmill? Knitting in the New Zealand Parliament Telenovelas (for those of you unfamiliar with the concept) Richard Feynman (because who doesn't reference theoretical physicists in a knitting/crafty podcast?),  the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and the Rogers Commission Knitted hexaflexagons and the Mexaflexagon Don't miss out on this very special event! Tickets are available on the event page, and we look forward to seeing you (and your knitt

What's going on: 8th September - 3rd October: Waste Nothing - Finding a Home for the Discarded, an exhibition by the London Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers happening at the crypt at St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square, London. 18-20th September - The Handmade Fair, Hampton Court Palace 26 September - Rachel is teaching Learn to Spin: Drop Spindle, and How to Knit a Sexy Sweater Part 1: Swatching at A Yarn Story in Bath - spaces still available! 26-27th September - Yarndale, Skipton Auction Mart, Yorkshire 26th September - 4th October - Shetland Wool Week 5th - 11th October - UK Wool Week. Also happening in Canada (17th-29th September), France (25 - 27 September), and The Netherlands (12 - 18th October). 5 - 11th October - Spinzilla! A tru 6th October - TwinSpin, a partnership between the Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers and the Campaign For Wool. The London TwinSpin will be held at Royal Festival Hall foyer from 6:00 pm. Just look for the folks with the spinning wheels and/o

Yarn in the City is proud to be sponsored by A Yarn Story. A Yarn Story specialises in hand-dyed yarns and luxury fibres. They carry yarns from indie dyers near and far, such as The Uncommon Thread, SweetGeorgia Yarns and Life in the Long Grass. Find them at www.ayarnstory.co.uk, or in Bath on Walcot Street in the heart of the Artisan Quarter. What's going on: Allison was interviewed on Episode 7 of the SweetGeorgia Yarns podcast - go have a listen and enter to win a Soakbox! Jo Milmine of the fabulous Shinybees podcast, who very kindly interviewed us in Episode 54, has been nominated for the UK Podcasters Awards in two categories. Hooray Jo!!!! Click here to go and vote for Shinybees (don't forget to scroll down to get the Best Games and Hobbies category). 3rd September: Kate Atherley will be teaching her "Math for Knitters" class at A Yarn Story in Bath. 5th September: The 3rd edition of the Great London Yarn Crawl, and the Yarn in the City Pop-Up Marketplace, which will include the Indie Designer Spotlig

Yarn in the City is proud to be sponsored by A Yarn Story. A Yarn Story specialises in hand-dyed yarns and luxury fibres. They carry yarns from indie dyers near and far, such as The Uncommon Thread, SweetGeorgia Yarns and Life in the Long Grass. Find them at www.ayarnstory.co.uk, or in Bath on Walcot Street in the heart of the Artisan Quarter. What's going on: 22nd August: The 10th Anniversary edition of the TTC Knitalong, the inspiration for the GLYC, in Toronto.. 3rd September: Kate Atherley will be teaching her "Math for Knitters" class at A Yarn Story in Bath. 5th September: The 3rd edition of the Great London Yarn Crawl, and the Yarn in the City Pop-Up Marketplace, which will include the Indie Designer Spotlight. 6th September: YITC workshops on Knit Design and Pattern Writing with Kate Atherley, Soho, London 8th September - 3rd October: Waste Nothing - Finding a Home for the Discarded, an exhibition by the London Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers happening at the crypt at St Martin-in-the-Fields in T

Yarn in the City is proud to be sponsored by A Yarn Story. A Yarn Story specialises in hand-dyed yarns and luxury fibres. They carry yarns from indie dyers near and far, such as The Uncommon Thread, SweetGeorgia Yarns and Life in the Long Grass. Find them at www.ayarnstory.co.uk, or in Bath on Walcot Street in the heart of the Artisan Quarter. What's going on: 25-26th July: Fibre-East, Ampthill, Bedfordshire. Rachel will be flying solo at the Porpoise Fur booth that weekend, so come by and say hello! 22nd August: The 10th Anniversary edition of the TTC Knitalong, the inspiration for the GLYC, in Toronto.. 3rd September: Kate Atherley will be teaching her "Math for Knitters" class at A Yarn Story in Bath. 5th September: The 3rd edition of the Great London Yarn Crawl, and the Yarn in the City Pop-Up Marketplace, which will include the Indie Designer Spotlight. 6th September: Workshops on Knit Design and Pattern Writing with Kate Atherley 8th September - 3rd October: Waste Nothing - Finding a Home for the Discar

We talk a bit about our lovely day out at the seaside for the Brighton Knit and Make Social, which was a rousing success! There was a bit of stash enhancement, but it wasn't too bad... We also made it through the Nike Women's 10km run with unscathed and with pretty decent times! What's going on: 26-27th June - Woolfest, Cockermouth, Cumbria 1st July - Tickets go on sale for the 2015 Great London Yarn Crawl and the Pop Up Marketplace. 4-5th July: Fabrications 15th Birthday Celebration 19th July: Introduction to Lace Knitting with Jemima Bicknell at Loop. 25-26th July: Fibre-East, Ampthill, Bedfordshire. Rachel will be flying solo at the Porpoise Fur booth that weekend, so come by and say hello! What we're working on: Allison has finished her Mind the Gap socks, featuring the amazing Mind the Gap self striping sock yarn from Trailing Clouds. She's working on the Pebble Beach Shawlette by Helen Stewart of Curious Handmade, and is swatching for her version of Karie Westermann's Byatt Shawl in Viola baby alpaca/ca

A somewhat meandering and caffeinated podcast for you this time around. What's going on: 13th June - the tenth anniversary of World Wide Knit in Public Day! Check their website for events near you. 20th June - Brighton Knit and Make Social! Tickets are still available, so come join us! 26-27th June - Woolfest, Cockermouth, Cumbria 1st July - Tickets go on sale for the 2015 Great London Yarn Crawl and the Pop Up Marketplace. 25-26th July - Fibre-East, Ampthill, Bedfordshire Marketplace.   What we're working on: Allison has finished her test knit of Rachel's new cowl in Kettle Yarn Co Islington DK (color: Parapadschada, otherwise known as eye-searingly bright pink). She found the project bag containing her long-lost Mind the Gap socks, for which she's using Kate Atherley's Classic Toe-up Pattern. She also has grand intentions of getting back to the Skulls sweater (otherwise known as Robin) by Lina Olofsson, and has baby sweaters in mind for casting on soon. She's also finished the singles of her Rocky Mountain