Yarn In The City

What's going on (in brief): 30-31st May: Proper Woolley, Holsworthy, Devon. 20 June: the Brighton Knit and Make Social - come down to the beach with us for a day of hanging out and relaxing! 26-27 June: Woolfest, Cockermouth, Cumbria What we're working on: Rachel is frantically trying to finish a handspun sweater out of a combo spin from the Hello Yarn Fiber Club. She also got a bunch of spinning done on her spindle sweaterlot at the I Knit Fandango.  Allison is working on two test knits for Rachel - one is a cowl in the new Kettle Yarn Co Islington DK, and the other is Latticewing in handspun. She's also been spinning some Rocky Mountain Dyeworks roving in True Turquoise. Knitting is not a competition We were lucky enough to get a chance to chat with Karina Westermann about her recent blog posts (Part 1 and Part 2) on the question of: where is knitting going and are we in danger of having the crafting world become all about perfection that should be aspired to rather then projects that we enjoy. We hope yo

Shout outs: Thanks to Deb, who applauded our musical choices, and asked how we pick the songs, so we go on at length about that. Many congratulations to Catherine, our guest on Episode 8, who welcomed her new granddaughter last week! And a shout out from us to the people in our lives (in the knitting world and outside) who are having a bit of a hard time right now - we're thinking of you all. What's going on: 15-16th May: I Knit Fandango, Royal Horticultural Halls, London. We will be there at the Porpoise Fur booth - come say hi! 15-17th May: Gwlana, a knitting retreat in Pembrokeshire, Wales with Brenda Dayne of Cast On and Felicity Ford of Knitsonik. 16-17th May: John Arbon Open Weekend, South Molton, Devon. 23rd May: Highland Wool Festival, Dingwall Mart. 25th May: The Shipston on Stour Wool Fair, Shipston on Stour, South Warwickshire 30-31st May: Proper Woolley, Holsworthy, Devon. 20 June: the Brighton Knit and Make Social - come down to the beach with us for a day of hanging out and relaxing! What we're

What's going on, aka The Madness that is the Month of May:3 May: Love your Yarn Shop Day! Local events include Erika Knight at Nest (Friday night, give them a heads up if you're joining them), Debbie Bliss at Wild & Woolly and 10% off purchases at Knit with Attitude.9-10th May: Stephen West is teaching two classes at Loop in Islington - Knit a top-down shawl and Colour play the Westknits way!14th May: Knit a Tulip for ME Kick Off at Double Tree by Hilton London in Chelsea. The Nymphalidea shawl WIP - knit in Porpoise Fur fibre in the YFP and Clotted Cream colourways. 15-16th May: I Knit Fandango, Royal Horticultural Halls, London. We will be there at the Porpoise Fur booth - come say hi!15-18th May: Gwlana, a knitting retreat in Pembrokeshire, Wales with Brenda Dayne of Cast On and Felicity Ford of Knitsonik. The Mini-Marketplace on Sunday afternoon is open to the public, and will feature Triskelion Yarns, Purlescence, Beads by Laura and Hand Dye

Shout outs:Many thanks to Felix for a wonderful Quotidian Colourwork workshop on 26th March! And many thanks also to our participants, who were fabulous and enthusiastic and brought wonderful inspirations and made lovely swatches. A wonderful time was had by all except for Allison, who was very sick and had to miss out. Sad faces all around... Allison's knitting bag that was to be her source of inspiration for the Knitsonik workshop - another time! Felix now has a thread in her Ravelry group for people to share their swatches, so check it out for some amazing colourwork experimentation! And if you need to get any yarn for your stranded colourwork explorations, our sponsor Tangled Yarn is offering 15% off Jamieson & Smith yarns through 26th April. Just use the code "KNITSONIK" at checkout.What's going on:25-26th April: Wonderwool Wales, Builth Wells.9th May: Wharfe Wool Fair, Otley, near Leeds.9-10th May: Stephen West is teaching two classes at Lo

Shout outs:Many thanks to our sponsor, Tangled Yarn, who stock a wide range of gorgeous yarns, patterns and tools including Jamieson & Smith Jumper Weight and Supreme Jumper Weight. Both yarns are spun from 100% Real Shetland Wool and are perfect for Fair Isle and colourwork. Tangled Yarn also stock Felicity Ford's  KNITSONIK book.Tangled Yarn is offering Yarn in the City fans an exclusive 15% off Jamieson & Smith yarns until April 26th. Just use the discount code KNITSONIK at the checkout. What's going on:Ongoing: YitC Not-A-KAL KAL, in our Ravelry group. First round runs through 1 June.27-28th March: British Alpaca Futurity and P-Lush show in Coventry. Mmmm...alpaca!25-26th April: Wonderwool Wales, Builth Wells.9th May: Wharfe Wool Fair, Otley, near Leeds.15-16th May: I Knit Fandango, Royal Horticultural Halls, London. We will be there at the Porpoise Fur booth - come say hi!16-17th May: John Arbon Open Weekend, South Molton, Devon.23rd May: Highland Wool

Our sponsor: Many thanks to our sponsor, Tangled Yarn, who stock a wide range of gorgeous yarns, patterns and tools including Jamieson & Smith Jumper Weight and Supreme Jumper Weight. Both yarns are spun from 100% Real Shetland Wool and are perfect for Fair Isle and colourwork. Tangled Yarn also stock Felicity Ford's  KNITSONIK book.Tangled Yarn is offering Yarn in the City fans an exclusive 15% off Jamieson & Smith yarns until April 26th. Just use the discount code KNITSONIK at the checkout.     Shout-outs:Big thanks to Jordan, Allison's partner for his technical assistance in recording this episode's interview, and a shout out to our Bath Half marathon buddy Helen, who was sadly not able to run with us because of injury. But we'll get a chance to run with her again, as we've got a Yarn in the City team for the Nike Women's 10K run on 21 June. Details are on our Ravelry group, and everyone is welcome to join us!What's going on:Festival season is in full swi

We have a guest on this episode! Say hello to chopkinsknits. Welcome Tangled Yarn! Awesome sponsor:We are thrilled to have Tangled Yarn joining us as our first YitC Podcast sponsor! Tangled Yarn specialises in hand-dyed yarn and natural fibres from smaller independent suppliers both here in the UK and further afield. They offer free UK shipping on orders of £25 or more, or free international shipping on orders of £75 or more.Tangled Yarn also carries a tempting and colourful selection of Jamieson & Smith yarns, which we'll be using in the Quotidian Colourwork workshop that we're hosting with Felicity Ford of Knitsonik. Some of the gorgeous yarns on offer at Unravel. These beauties were on The Fibre Co. stand. What's going on:We recap Unravel briefly and chat about the following upcoming events:5-8th March: the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show at Olympia Central, London8th March: the Mu

In which we are A) punchy, and B) 12 years old (and not necessarily in a good way)...What's going on:15-17th February: Craft Hobby + Stitch International in Birmingham20-22nd February: come join us at Unravel, in Farnham Maltings!28th February: Alli is doing a Soak demo at A Yarn Story in Bath.1 March: Bath Half Marathon!!!!! (send us good mojo and strong leg vibes please)5-8th March: the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show at Olympia Central, London15-16th March: EYF, and the sure-to-be-amazing Ca-baa-ret!21st March: Rachel is teaching two classes at A Yarn Story: Drop Spindling and Beginnings and Endings. 26th March: Felicity Ford is coming to London to teach her Quotidian Colourwork Class with us at Homemade London. Get your tickets on the Events page! In the works:Rachel has had a major fail in her Insight Pullover, which she discusses at great length, but thankfully without tears (she also blogged about it). To consol

Shout outs:Thanks to MindfulKnits, Whitehart, Scienceknitster, and Jen at the Purple Purl in Toronto for their support and feedback. Also huge thanks to Rockabella Crafts for leaving a review for us on iTunes!What's going on:1 February - the deadline to submit your entry to A Playful Day's Design-along contest! See all the details on her website, and the entry thread is on her Ravelry group.7 February - the Grand Opening of YAK (aka Yarn and Knitting) in Brighton.20-22 February - Unravel, at Farnham Maltings. We will be there on Sunday, with our mothers in tow. Come say hi!14-15 March - Edinburgh Yarn Festival in (strangely enough) Edinburgh. Allison will be around, and will be at the Podcast Lounge so go harass her and bring her pink yarn!26 March - Felicity Ford, fibre and sound artist, of the Knitsonik podcast and the Knitsonik Stranded Colourwork Sourcebook (which we reviewed in Episode 1, and you should get it immediately if you don't have it already) will be doing a workshop in Central London, hosted by

Happy New Year and welcome to 2015! NewsSadly, the lovely Mrs. Moon in St. Margarets has closed their brick and mortar doors, but are still around online, and with many exciting plans for the future. While we are disappointed that they will not be able to be a stop on next September's Great London Yarn Crawl, you'll still have a chance to see them. How is that possible you ask? Well, because the next GLYC will happen alongside theYARN IN THE CITY POP UP MARKETPLACE Mark your calendars now for 5 September 2015, and come join us at Chelsea Old Town Hall for a carefully curated selection of independent makers from around the UK. We can not begin to express how excited we are for this new addition to the Yarn Crawl, and we hope you will be able to join us. More details can be found at...Events18 January - Waltham Abbey Wool Show, in Waltham Abbey (ETA: Our apologies for getting this episode up late which means you're finding out about this show at very short notice).20-22 February - Unravel, at Farnham Maltings i

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

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

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 di

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