Knit Picks' Podcast Knit Picks

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 the old knitting rhyme: “In through the window, run around back, out through the window, off jumps Jack!”
 
Mentioned in This Episode:
WeCrochet Podcast Episode 40 – Crochet Jobs Part 3 – Teaching Crochet To Make Money And Get Confident With Arica Presinal & Pia Thadani 
Aloft 
Learn to Knit Kits 
New Learn to Knit Kits - Learn to Cable Coho Cowl 
Learn to Cable Bowline Hat 
Knit Picks Learning Center 
Straight Needles 
Brava 
Wool of the Andes 
Swish 
Craftster
Preciosa 
Wonderfluff 
Needle 101 
Yarn 101 
Stitch N Bitch The Knitters Handbook by Debbie Stoller 
Stitch N Bitch Nation 
Dishie 
Knitting Rules The Yarn Harlot Unravels the Mysteries of Swatcing Stashing Ribbing & Rolling to Free Your Inner Knitter by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee 
Knitting Needles 
 

Timestamps:
0:03 Welcome to the Knit Picks Podcast
0:44 Stacey's yarn crafting origin story
2:12 Lee's yarn crafting origin story
3:58 Heather's yarn crafting origin story
7:04 Kate's yarn crafting origin story
14:25 New Knit Picks Learn to Knit Kits!
15:34 Teaching someone to knit tips and tricks
40:33 The Credits

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 yarns, try them out. See what happens. 

Dance teacher by day and lover of crafts by night, Michael Smith, only recently got into spinning yarn after a friend arranged to buy him a spinning wheel for his birthday. Since then he's been hooked on its meditative movement and even spins every morning with his tea or coffee. 

Mentioned in this Episode:
Etsy shop with Lee's darning loom 
Yarn Weights explained 
Lee's WotA-held-double cardigan 
Mini Kitty Pouf
Windfall Collection  
Fable Fur
Tuff Granny Throw
Arya by Kristina Morrissey
Professor Meow Pullover by Claire Slade
Wonderfluff
Michael Smith on Instagram 
Piece4PeaceCrafting Podcast 
Wool of the Andes Roving
Beginner Drop Spindle Set (on sale this week)
Drop Spindle
Foldable Spinning Wheel

Timestamps:
0:00 Lee and Stacey check in
17:24 Summer Sale
18:13 Michael Smith Interview
43:34 Credits
See more at https://bit.ly/2UfBEIF 

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. Lee and Stacey also confess to the projects they haven't picked up in a long time. Is it time to frog or pick it back up?

Next, Stacey interviews knit designer Felecia O'Connell about her knitting origins, her designs for Knit Picks (mostly warm-weather knits), and where she draws her design inspiration from. Felecia's specialty is creating designs that are simple, beautiful and fun to knit.

Mentioned in this Episode:
Knit Picks Summer Sale
World UFO Day
KnitKnit Book 
Ujein V-Neck Vest 
Moab Vest
Preciosa
In-Progress Incenter Mittens 
The Sweater Book
Straight and Arrow Cardigan
Windward
UFO Day blog post
Pretty Polly Top Pattern
Shine
Simply Cotton
WeCrochet Summer Sale
Cloverleaf Top
Easy Layering Tank
Lindy Chain Yarn
Cotlin Yarn
Felecia O'Connell on Instagram
Alpaca Cloud Lace
Felecia O'Connell Ravelry
KPP 341 - Get Published with Tian

Timestamps:
0:00 Lee and Stacey catch up
18:30 Summer Sale
19:21 Stacey talks to Felecia
38:17 Credits

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 time researching different natural dyeing techniques. She has experimented with items found at the grocery store as well as items she finds on walks around her neighborhood. Listen in to hear about her insider tricks to get started today dyeing your own Bare Yarns from items around the house. 

Mentioned in This Episode:
World Wide Knit in Public Day Video
Lee's Hawthorne socks in progress
Hawthorne Yarn
Bare Andean Highland Wool
Bare Woodland Tweed
Bare Woolen Cotton
Bare Cotlin
Dye Yarn with Indigo!
Episode 321 Dye It Yourself
A Botanical Yarn Dyeing Journey
Dye Bare Yarn With Kool-Aid
Indigo Dye Kit
Bare Twill
Bare Andes Del Campo
Anna Canning
Dyeing with Mushrooms
The Rainbow Beneath My Feet
Wild Colour
The Fair World Project Podcast

Timestamps:
0:00  Lee and Stacey check in
13:11  Lee interviews Anna
30:16  We're having a summer sale
31:02  Lee continues to interview Anna
46:48  The Credits

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 to how wool retains the dye color, the moisture absorbency, and general feel.

Next, Ursula and Jeanne talk about some of the history of sheep ranching in Oregon and how the unique climate of the Oregon high desert results in such a special wool. The Knit Picks High Desert yarn line was launched earlier this year but is over a year in the making. High Desert comes in an earthy jewel-toned spectrum of 12 beautiful colors inspired by the landscape and skyline of Oregon's high desert. A smooth, rounded yarn with a soft hand, available in sport and worsted weights, High Desert is ideal for knitting texture, cables, and colorwork.

Mentioned In This Episode
High Desert Yarn
Twill Yarn
Wool of the Andes Yarn
Hawthorne Yarn
Swish Yarn
Introducing High Desert Yarns
The High Desert Yarns - The Journey
High Desert - An American Wool Story
Shaniko Wool Company
Responsible Wool Standard
Responsible Wool Standard via the Textile Exchange
Imperial Stock Ranch
Shaniko Wool Company on Facebook
Shaniko Wool Company on Instagram

 

Timestamps:
0:00 Lee and Stacey chat about their love of wool
10:48 Ursula interviews Jeanne
42:34 The credits

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 to Lee and Stacey about their knitting background and even answer our lightning round knitting questions. (*Use the This or That graphic below and answer some of our knitting questions yourself in your Instagram Stories!) 

Later Lee and Stacey pick up where they left off with their socks fight, only to agree that personal preference is key. Both discuss knitting two socks at at a time is a favorite. They cover everything about how to knit socks, demystify sock construction, share some favorite sock yarns, and answer YOUR questions about sock knitting. 

Mentioned in This Episode:
Atrium Cardigan by Melissa Wehrle
Andean Treasure 
Barnstaple vest
High Desert
Gannet Hoodie pattern
Felici
Beyond The Wall colorway
Meet Cathy
Episode 332 - Your Favorite Sock Yarns Explained 
Learn to Knit socks 
Knitting in the Round with Magic Loop (Video Tutorial)
Learn to Knit - The Sock Kit
Rockin' Socks: Colorful Patterns
Socks for Everybody: For the Beginner Sock Knitter
Socktacular: Mix Match Sock for Fancy Feet
Splendid Soles: Colorfully Coordinated Sock Patterns
Hawthorne
Stroll
Static
Aloft
Bare Eco Superwash Alpaca
Swish
Two at once toe up magic loop pattern
Simply Socks: A Collection of Wardrobe Basics
Artful Arches: 12 Colorwork and Textured Sock Patterns
Knitting in the Round on Circular Needles (Video Tutorial)
Knitting in the Round with Two Circular Needles (Video Tutorial)
Knitting in the Round with DPNs (Video Tutorial)

Timestamps:
0:00 Welcome to the Knit Picks Podcast
0:30 What is Lee working on right now?
3:30 Stacey's sad story
8:16 Let's talk about socks
11:42 Meet Michelle and Cathy
19:42 Lightning Round Knitting Questions
27:28 Producer Sarah has FOMO and Heather has the fix
28:25 More socks talk
58:57 Credits