Category Archives: Podcast

Podcast Episode 178: Live from TNNA!

Last weekend Alisha, Stacey, and Jenny attended The National Needlearts Association winter show held in Phoenix, Arizona. This industry trade show is put on several times a year and lets venders, yarn shop owners, and designers connect with each other as well as find new and exciting yarns and accessories. As much as we enjoyed the warm weather and sunshine, we also loved chatting with all of the friends that stopped by our booth! While being around so many wonderful designers, Jenny was able to set aside some time to chat with a few designers that are part of the Knit Picks IDP program including Audrey Knight, Stephannie Tallent, and Sarah Wilson. Hear all about how they started knitting and transitioned into designing in this behind the scenes sneak peek at TNNA! Featured designers: Audrey Knight – IDP Patterns, www.audknits.comStephannie Tallent – IDP Patterns & Mittens! eBook, www.sunsetcat.comSarah Wilson – IDP Patterns, ...

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Podcast Episode 177: Socks – The Perfect Travel Companion

Kelley talks about one of her favorite things – sock knitting! Listen along as Kelley shares all of the reasons why socks make the perfect travel companion. Kelley also offers words of advice and encouragement for those new to sock knitting. Next, Kelley follows up her chat on socks with three wonderful book reviews – The Knitter’s Book of Socks by Clara Parkes, Sock Knitting Master Class by Ann Budd, and Socks a la Carte Colorwork by Jonelle Raffino and Katherine Cade. Finally, Kelley catches you up on how her works in progress are coming along. Books Reviewed: The Knitter’s Book of Socks by Clara ParkesSock Knitting Master Class by Ann BuddSocks a la Carte Colorwork by Jonelle Raffino & Katherine Cade   3 easy ways to listen…

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Podcast Episode 176: The Process of Product Development

Kelley shares the story of Knit Picks and how the company first began through the evolution of product development from selecting the first yarn lines to developing new needles and tools to enhance your fiber craft. Continuing with the theme of product development, Alison chats with Teri about the newest Knit Picks yarn, Brava! Teri has wool allergies that make it impossible for her to enjoy all of the lovely natural fibers available at Knit Picks, which is exactly why she was so excited throughout the entire development for Brava. And finally, Kelley shares her enthusiasm for the new year along with her plans and goals for getting her work and fiber life organized.   3 easy ways to listen…

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Podcast Episode 175: Interview with Alasdair Post Quinn

This week, Alison gets a chance to chat with Alasdair Post Quinn, author of the new book, Extreme Double Knitting! Know for his innovative spin on double knitting, Alasdair’s patterns show off color and double knitting in unique and creative ways. Hear all about how Alasdair first got into knitting, what drew him to double knitting, and the chain of events brought about the idea for a book on double knitting. After working on his book for the last few years, Alasdair is currently focusing his creative energies on designing single patterns and experimenting with even more extreme forms of double knitting. You an find out more about Alasdair over on his blog and website. Books Mentioned: Extreme Double Knitting by Alasdair Post Quinn (hardcover & eBook available)   3 easy ways to listen…

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Podcast Episode 174: Spinning with a Wheel

This week, Kelley talks about the other half of her fiber life – creating handspun yarn with a spinning wheel! Hear all about Kelley’s advice for those new to spinning with a spindle or a wheel in addition to all of the possibilities you have by making your own yarn. Kelley also reviews the books Learn to Spin by Anne Field, and Color in Spinning, by Deb Menz. Next, Kelley talks about all of the wonderful fiber options you have for spinning and reviews several Knit Picks roving blends. Finally, Kelley catches you up on what kinds of projects are on her needles and spinning wheel. Books & Rovings Reviewed: Learn to Spin by Anne FieldColor in Spinning by Deb MenzWool of the Andes RovingFull Circle Roving   3 easy ways to listen…

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Podcast Episode 173: Creative Colorwork

This week, Kelley chats with Kim about her newfound love of colorwork knitting and all fo the fun projects she has been creating using this technique. Next up, Kelley reviews the books, Exploring Color in Knitting by Sarah Hazell and Emma King as well as Mastering Color Knitting by Melissa Leapman, both of which are helpful resources for any colorwork knitting project. Kelley also shares a helpful tool for colorwork knitting that you can take with you no matter where you go – Color Snap! This is an app available for iphones, blackberry, and android phones that allows you to take pictures and translate them into a color palette. Finally, Kelley catches you up on her roadtrip down to Mexico as well as the progress on her strash re-organization project. Books & Tools Reviewed: Exploring Color in Knitting by Sarah Hazell and Emma KingMastering Color Knitting by Melissa Leapman       Color Snap – iphone/blackberry/android app   3 easy ways to listen…

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Podcast Episode 172: Interview with Hannah Fettig & Alana Dakos

This week, Kelley catches up with Hannah Fettig of Knitbot and Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting, authors of the new book Coastal Knits! A collaboration between two good friends who just happen to live on opposite sides of the country, Hannah and Alana created a collection of patterns that are inspired by the coasts that they reside on. Hear all about the long-distance teamwork of these two designers and how they made Coastal Knits a reality in just under one years time. Books mentioned: Coastal Knits by Hannah Fettig & Alana Dakos   3 easy ways to listen…

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Podcast Episode 171: Rigid Heddle Weaving

This week is all about weaving with a rigid heddle loom! Hear all about Kelley’s adventures in weaving as she chats with Jenny about weaving and why rigid heddle looms are perfect for anyone interesting in learning to weave. Kelley also shares great advice for new weavers and why rigid heddle weaving is wonderful for using up both larger and smaller amounts of yarn you might have hiding in your stash. Kelley also reviews two of her favorite weaving books along with her favorite tool for planning out projects, the Ultimate 3-in-1 Color Tool. Finally, Kelley catches you up on the projects she is planning out for her road trip. Books & Tools Reviewed: Hands On Rigid Heddle Weaving by Betty Linn DavenportWeaving Made Easy by Liz Gipson         Ultimate 3-in-1 Color Tool You can find Kelley’s Rigid Heddle Weaving Class that was mentioned in the podcast here. You’ll find a series of ten ...

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Podcast Episode 170: Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival

During the last weekend in September, the Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival took place here in Canby, Oregon! OFFF is one of Alison's favorite fiber festivals and this year, she was able to get Kelley, who has never attended OFFF before, to join along! Hear all about the different fibers, yarns, animals, and other treats Alison and Kelley discovered at OFFF. Next, Kelley talks about about reworking a pair of socks currently on her needles and shares her own stitch pattern that she created for the socks (see pattern below). Lastly, if you have too much fiber or undyed yarn that you have spun up, Kelley reviews two books on natural dyeing and how you can use what you find in your backyard or kitchen to create unique yarns. Books Reviewed:Harvesting Color by Priscilla Gibson-RobertsDyes from Kitchen Produce by Setsuko Ishii 3 easy ways to listen...

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Podcast Episode 169: Everything Old Is New Again

It seems that this year, there has been a resurgence of popular and much-loved knitting books that are finally back in print! Kelley shares how learning to spin led her down the path of knitting and the books that passed on endless amounts of techniques and knowledge. Kelley then reviews four of her favorite books that are finally back in print and ready to be enjoyed by a new generation of knitters: Aran Knitting, The Book of Fair Isle Knitting, and Charts for Color Knitting, all of which are by Alice Starmore as well as Knitting Around the Word by Lela Nargi. Finally, Kelley catches up with all of the “distractions” that have been making her such a productive knitter. Books Mentioned: Knitting in the Old Way by Priscilla Gibson-RobertsKnitter’s Almanac, The Commemorative Edition by Elizabeth ZimmermanAran Knitting by Alice StarmoreBook of Fair Isle Knitting by Alice StarmoreCharts for Color Knitting by ...

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