Category Archives: Podcast

Episode 362 – Speedy Sweaters & Dyeing with Regan

Regan wearing his speedy sweater made from his hand-dyed Twill. You’ve heard our hosts mention the speed with which our Senior Graphic Designer Regan finishes sweaters, so we had to have him on to get him to reveal his secrets! In this episode, Stacey and Lee chat with Regan about how he became a sweater knitter, how he got so fast, and his experiences with dyeing yarn in sweater quantities. Regan’s first sweater crocheted with City Tweed Aran. As always, Lee and Stacey also share their current WIPs and the latest collection they worked ...

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Episode 361 – Holli Yeoh & La Belle Époque

The Sylphide Cardigan from La Belle Époque We’ve got a gorgeous new collection of five patterns out today, all designed by the talented Holli Yeoh, so we had to have her on the podcast to talk about it! After Lee and Stacey share what they’ve been up to lately, Holli joins them to share about her history as a designer and the process of creating the patterns of La Belle Époque.  Designer Holli Yeoh Lee and Stacey also discuss with Holli her approach to size inclusion and a bit about her writing style and the ...

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Episode 360 – March is for Mending!

The time is coming to start putting away heavy knits for the spring, and that’s got mending on our minds. Lee and Producer Andi discuss invisible vs. visible mending. Lee favors visible, using woven darning and contrast colors, and Andi prefers getting as close to invisible as she can using Swiss darning and color matched yarn. They also answer Stacey’s questions on mending. On the left is a not-quite invisible mend by Andi, and on the right is a deliberately visible mend by Lee. Plus, hear about our hosts Lee and Stacey’s personal projects, Lee’s free new pattern she designed, and our latest eBook, Lounge Act: Knits for Kicking Back.  Mentioned in this Episode Game Day Cardigans pattern  Lee’s Game Day with patch pockets  Traditions Afghan pattern  Block ...

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Episode 359 – Meet Isabel!

This week on the Knit Picks Podcast, we’re delighted to introduce Isabel Underwood, a new team member who handles social media for Knit Picks. Our hosts ask her the classic questions about her creative background, favorite yarns, and best and worst projects. Isabel also shares her favorite things about working in the Knit Picks office as well as giving insight into her approach to social media and her plans to expand our presence on different types of social media.  Meet Isabel! Plus, today is the day we launch two brand new yarns, new colors of old favorites, and a surprise return of a discontinued classic! Stacey and Lee also discuss the most recent pattern collection, Happy Hours: Knits for Out and About.  Mentioned in ...

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Episode 357 – Knitting for Halloween

Christmas isn’t the only holiday for handknits! Producer Andi joins hosts Lee and Stacey to talk about her annual Halloween sweaters and horror-movie inspired projects. The trio also discuss other Halloween knits, like costume pieces and toys. Andi’s Ichabod sweater, featuring Wool of the Andes Worsted, turned into a jack-o-lantern costume. Later, Lee and Stacey share the creative process behind our latest pattern collection Scrappy Knits: Projects for Partial Skeins. They also talk about this year’s 12 Weeks of Gifting, featuring free patterns! Mentioned in this Episode Eldfell Pullover pattern  Eldfell Office KAL Instagram story highlight  Reilly Pullover pattern  Lee’s patchwork apron  Connecting Threads  Andi’s Spooky Halloween sweater pattern collection  Andi’s Arachne (spiderweb sweater) pattern  Andi’s Ichabod (pumpkin sweater) pattern  Lee’s Mary Tyler Moore costume  Lee’s Waldo group costume  Stag Head Pullover by Norah ...

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Episode 356 – Adding Sizes to our Anniversary Patterns

For our 20th Anniversary, we revisited some of our 20 most popular patterns, and Abbye Meiklejohn helped rewrite and add sizes to a selection of our older garment patterns. She joins hosts Lee and Stacey to tell them about her process for rewriting existing patterns and expanding their size range while maintaining the original look and feel. Abbye also shares how she likes to approach grading patterns for a larger size and the difference between extending pattern sizes and the individual knitter customizing their sweater.  Gallatin Coat by the Knit Picks Design Team Our hosts also reveal some fears around steeking and pattern photoshoot sample disasters, and Abbye shares a few stories of her own, including singeing a pattern sample while steaming! Mentioned in ...

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Episode 355 – It’s Our 20th Anniversary

It’s the 20th Anniversary of Knit Picks! To celebrate our anniversary, we thought it’d be fun to go around the office and get early Knit Picks yarn memories from the team. You’ll hear a range of voices telling the story of their first Knit Picks yarn, favorite Knit Picks yarn, memorable old projects, and more. Alena’s One Ring Scarf Andi’s Alice in Wonderland ...

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Episode 354 – Revisiting Old Patterns

Here at the Knit Picks Podcast, we’re often excited to share new patterns with you all, but this week we’re talking about revisiting old patterns that we love to knit over and over again. Stacey throws it back with her most recent Clapotis that’s fresh on her needles, and Lee and Andi discuss using Lee’s self-published eBooks over and over again to create something new each time. Our hosts also chat about how using a new yarn can refresh an older pattern to make it feel modern again.  Lee’s Adventure Knitting Sweater Plus, the time has come to wrap up our Game Day Knit Along. The hosts discuss finishing (or not finishing) their projects, and everyone is still contemplating ...

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Episode 353 – Say Hello to Alexis Again!

Changes have been happening at Knit Picks this summer, and we’re excited to reintroduce Alexis Wilson-Castaldi, who is now the Knit Picks Brand Director! You may remember her from when she previously was on the podcast while working in various positions, including in photography and purchasing. She shares a few of her favorite patterns to knit, as well as her favorite yarns. Alexis also tells us about bringing back features like our Yarn of the Month promotions and pulling some yarns marked as discontinued back into the regular selection! Alexis with her stack ...

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Episode 352 – Always Learning with Donna Estin

Game Day Cardigan by Donna Estin from Generations: Knits for All Ages We couldn’t end our Game Day Cardigan KAL without talking to its designer, Donna Estin! She shares with us her inspiration for the sweater and clever little details incorporated into the pattern. Donna also tells us about the Boho Lace Vest from Transitions: Lace Patterns, drawing inspiration from the runway, TKGA’s Master Hand Knitting Certification, and enabling knitters to make their projects their own! Boho Lace Vest by Donna Estin from Transitions: Lace Patterns Plus, Lee and Stacey talk about our new yarn Journey Tweed ...

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