Category Archives: Podcast

Episode 351 – A Chat with Designer Claire Slade

The Sea Sprite Vest by Claire Slade In this episode, Lee, Stacey, and Andi discuss getting through the long stockinette section of their Game Day Cardigans for the summer KAL. They also compare their preferred methods for marking up patterns and keeping track of progress when working through pattern repeats. Professor Meow Pullover by Claire Slade Lee and Stacey share some behind the scenes work that went into creating Haven: Knit Lace Patterns, and later on, Stacey interviews Claire Slade, the designer of the Sea Sprite Vest from Haven about her design process and ...

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Episode 350 – Why are you spitting on your yarn? 

Summer knitting has arrived in the Pacific Northwest! In this episode, Stacey and Lee discuss their summer crafting, contemplate cotton knits, and talk about wearing knits on the Oregon coast.  Stacey and Lee also share their Game Day KAL progress, and Lee tells the story of an unfortunate set-back involving her cat, Karl. Next, Producer Andi joins in the conversation to talk about methods of joining new balls of yarn as everyone progresses on their cardigans. Later, Stacey and Lee answer your questions! Topics include, cable lengths for magic loop, how to undo knitting, weaving in ends, and more. You can send questions to be answered on future episodes to podcast@knitpicks.com, or leave one in the comments here! Mentioned in this Episode Game Day Cardigan ...

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Episode 349 – New Faces and Knit Alongs

Jen’s Sailaway Cardigan sample that was knit in 4 days! The Knit Picks team has grown a lot during our long podcast hiatus, and in this episode, we’re excited to introduce you to two new staff members: Alena Ruman, the IDP Program Administrator, and Jen Burt, our Content and Outreach Coordinator. Lee interviews Alena about her experiences starting at the Knit Picks warehouse in Ohio and then moving to the Pacific Northwest to work as the IDP Program Administrator. Alena is an experienced yarn dyer and shares with Lee some of her tips for dyeing using acid dyes.

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Episode 348 – We’re back from break!

The podcast is back! After a long break, we’re excited to have a regular recording schedule again. In this episode, you’ll hear about Lee and Stacey’s personal projects that they’ve worked on during our long recording break. They’ll also share with you collections, patterns, and new yarns that have been released over the period.Next, we’re excited to share with you our summer knit along, featuring the Game Day Cardigans by Donna Estin from Generations: Knits for All Ages. The whole podcast team is substituting the suggested yarn for High Desert Worsted, and they share their color ...

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Knit Picks Podcast Episode 347 – Learning & Teaching Yarn Crafts

Today on the Knit Picks Podcast we’re talking all about our knitting pasts and futures. From learning to knit to taking that knowledge and teaching someone to knit, the Knit Picks Podcast team offers up their experience. First up Lee and Stacey invite friends, co-workers and fellow crafters, Heather and Kate to come on the podcast for a discussion of their knitting and crochet origins. Each starts their craft somewhere but what everyone has in common is that someone else helped them get started. Next Lee and Stacey share tips and tricks for people who want to teach knitting to their friends and family. While Lee has experience teaching knitting classes, Stacey has experience helping people in one-on-one learning sessions. Stacey also shares ...

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Knit Picks Podcast Episode 346 – An Ode to Chunky Yarns & Get Excited About Spinning with Michael Smith

While the word “chunky” in relation to yarn is not an official yarn weight class, it is common to refer to thicker yarns, Aran, Bulky, Super Bulky and Jumbo as “Chunky”. Today on the Knit Picks Podcast the team talks about chunky yarns and what to do with them! First up Lee and Stacey check in on their WIPs and discuss projects to knit with Bulky and Super Bulky yarns. Later Lee sits down with Michael Smith aka @piece4peacecrafting to learn more about his knitting and his spinning journey. Lee and Stacey talk about the benefits of working with chunky yarns. Projects knit up faster with chunky yarns but also create a thicker fabric. If you’re new to bulky and super bulky ...

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Knit Picks Podcast Episode 345 – A Celebration of UFOs and Summertime Knits with Designer Felecia O’Connell

UFOs have been in the news recently. How many UFOs have you encountered? In knitting, UFO stands for “UnFinished Object!” In honor World UFO Day and in celebration of summer, today we are talking about our knitting-related UFOs and summertime knitting. First, on behalf of World UFO Day (celebrated around the end of June), Lee and Stacey talk about their definitions of UFOs vs. WIPs. There are a good deal of insider terms that get thrown around in the crafting community. A quick look: UFO – UnFinished ObjectWIP – Works in ProgressPHD – Project Half Done (not mentioned in this episode but good to know) Lee and Stacey also confess to the projects they haven’t picked up in a long time. Is it time ...

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Knit Picks Podcast Episode 344 – Forage for Natural Dyes with Anna Canning and Dye Bare Yarns With Items Found at Home

As the days get longer, knitters often head outside with their crafting. On this episode of the Knit Picks Podcast, we are talking about natural yarn dyeing with bare yarns. First up Lee and Stacey catch up on what they did for World Wide Knit In Public Day and some recently finished projects. They talk about their love of Knit Picks Bare Yarns, undyed yarns. Knit Picks carries all the same yarns you have grown to love and some additional ones in the Bare yarn line. Stacey is a big fan of the Knit Picks Bare Woodland Tweed and the Bare Woolen Cotton.  Next Lee interviews Anna Canning who is a hobby natural yarn dyer. Anna has spent a lot of her personal ...

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Knit Picks Podcast Episode 343 – High Desert Yarn with Jeanne Carver! Everything You Wanted To Know About This American Wool and More

Wool is a favorite yarn fiber by many knitters (including Stacey and Lee). In today’s episode of the Knit Picks Podcast, Knit Picks and WeCrochet’s Chief Marketing Officer Ursula Morgan interviews Jeanne Carver of the Shaniko Wool Company about the creation of Knit Picks newest yarn line, High Desert, a 100% American grown and spun Merino and Merino/Rambouillet wool. First up Lee and Stacey chat about why they both love knitting with animal fibers, and why wool is their favorite. In the United States “wool” refers to the sheep fibers while in other parts of the world wool could include other animal fibers like mohair or cashmere. Stacey and Lee ruminate about why wool is their favorite fiber which includes but are not limited ...

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Knit Picks Podcast Episode 342 – Sock It To Me! The Sock Construction Episode You’ve Been Waiting For

Socks are one of those milestone knitting projects that once successfully completed, help you feel prepared to take on more difficult projects. Knitters who haven’t taken the leap can be intimidated by words like “gusset” and “kitchener stitch” but on today’s podcast Lee and Stacey hope to help make socks less scary for sock newbies by diving deep into everything sock-knitting.   First up, Lee and Stacey check in about what’s on their needles. Lee picked up a project that she started in 2019 while Stacey shares a sad knitting story with a happy ending. (Yes frogging can be happy!) Then Lee and Stacey disagree on how to knit socks: toe-up or top-down?  Next, new Knit Picks team members, Michelle and Cathy talk ...

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