Two Women Yelling About Knitting

Anjali and Alison
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Crafts
  • Semimonthly

Not the same old knitting podcast. This is a space where we look up from our works in progress and acquisitions and talk about what we see in the wider world of knitting – its political, social, and historical context. But don't worry. It'll be fun! We're friends who share a love of knitting as well as an interest in a lot of sticky topics that relate to knitting – traditional gender roles, consumerism, body liberation, and more. If you want to join us on this journey, hit the "Subscribe" button to follow along.

  1. Oct 18

    Let's talk about knitting and climate change

    The climate is changing and it's impacting our knitting, but no one is really talking about it. Today Anjali and Alison talk about it, joined by TWYAK's first-ever guest: Lisa Johnson, a climate journalist with CBC News and an avid knitter. The conversation covers the climate impacts of knitting -- from sheep farms to finished sweaters -- as well as the "climate resilience" knitting can bring to knitters and their communities. Find Lisa's work at lisasjohnson.ca Follow us on Instagram: @twyakpodEmail us: twyakpod@gmail.com We are now on Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music (audio only) and are experimenting with adding video to our podcast on Spotify. Find us and subscribe on your preferred platform! Background Reading from Climate Lisa Greenhouse gas emissions from a diversity of sheep production systems in the United States — Article with the surprising finding about more intensive vs more range-based sheep farming methods, but please watch the episode for more context from LisaEnvironmental impacts associated with the production, use, and end-of-life of a woollen garment — Follows a theoretical 300-gram sweater from sheep to the end of a sweater's life, in an attempt to measure its environmental impactsEvaluating Environmental Impact of Natural and Synthetic Fibers: A Life Cycle Assessment Approach — Looks at the environmental impact of six fibers: conventional and organic cotton, silk, jute, flax, and polyesterLearn more about regenerative wool at FibershedKnitting Things Mungo, a recycled cotton-wool yarn from Retrosaria Rosa Pomar, entirely made with pre-consumer waste from Portuguese spinning millsLook at My Holes pattern by James WattsProject Hail Mary cardigan pattern, charts and resourcesAlison's Book Recommendations The Gilded Page: The Secret Lives of Medieval ManuscriptsThe Book-Makers: A History of the Book in Eighteen LivesCloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony DoerrAnjali's Podcast Recommendations Bandsplain's Radiohead episode, Part 1 and Part 2Dissect Season 11 about Radiohead's In Rainbows

  2. Sep 25

    Is there a wrong way to knit?

    Is slower knitting more mindful? Are process knitters superior to project knitters? In this episode, Anjali and Alison talk about the recent social media conversation around fast knitting and fast fashion, why continental knitting isn’t always the fastest, and why Elizabeth Zimmerman was right (of course). Plus, we revisit our thoughts on AI and knitting and invent a foolproof method for evaluating yarn stores called the Rosa Pomar Test! Follow us on Instagram: @twyakpodEmail us: twyakpod@gmail.com We are now on Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music (audio only) and are experimenting with adding video to our podcast on Spotify. Find us and subscribe on your preferred platform! Further Reading & Watching Slow Knitting: A Journey from Sheep to Skein to Stitch by Hannah Thiessen seems to be out of print, but you can find it used at places like Powell's BooksThe Slow Fashion Renaissance: An In-Depth Exploration of Crochet and Knitting as Sustainable Technologies for Contemporary Fashion by Jie PengKnitting Rebellion, Elizabeth Zimmerman, Identity and Craftsmanship in Post-War America by Maureen Lilly MarshLou Dangit on timing their knittingVickyIsKnitting on why knitting speed is not always a choiceAI Discussion Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI by Karen HaoSam Altman May Control Our Future -- Can He Be Trusted? - The New YorkerLucy Liang on the Hobbii AI debacleThe Joji Locatelli AI backstory on Craftsnark and Joji's response and apologyDeborah Knits on how AI is breaking the knitting pattern economyOther Knitty Things High Tide Fibers, a store in Rehoboth Beach, RI that passes the Rosa Pomar testRetrosaria Rosa Pomar Mondim in colorway M82Andrea Rangel short row heelPatty Lyons's improved slip slip knitBurgos Vest pattern by Rosa PomarYarn lineup at The Wooly Thistle - help me choose!Other Happy Things Trailer for This is a Gardening ShowCarlsFriendsDotNet is sadly not accepting new orders right now due to overwhelming social media demand! But they say they may be back in November

  3. Sep 4

    Knitting pattern déjà vu

    Welcome back to Season 3! Anjali and Alison kick things off with a topic that a lot of knitters have A Lot of Feelings about: knitwear designers releasing brand-new patterns that are similar (sometimes very similar) to patterns they have already released. We also hear from Sophie Hemmings of the Knit Purl Girl, who was kind enough to share her thoughts from the designer's perspective. Buckle up and put on that cardigan version of the pullover pattern you also own. Or is it a jacket? Or did you buy the blouse version, not the pullover? Doesn't matter, we're going to talk about it all! Follow us on Instagram: @twyakpodEmail us: twyakpod@gmail.com We are now on Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music (audio only) and are experimenting with adding video to our podcast on Spotify. Find us and subscribe on your preferred platform! "Would you like to double down on your meal?" - Portlandia Examples of Single Pattern Releases Felix Cardigan and Felix Pullover by Amy ChristoffersEsther Vest and Esther Jacket by Petite KnitAnker's Sweater by PetiteKnitOoey Gooey, plus the Sock Set, Cowl, and Mitt Set by Andrea MowryCozy Classic Raglan and Cozy Classic Light by Jessie Maed DesignsThe Weekender, Weekender Light and Weekender Crew by Andrea MowryCumulus Blouse and Cumulus Blouse O-neck by PetiteKnitLakes Pullover, Lakes Cardigan, Lakes Crew Cardigan, etc by OzettaCeleste Sweater, Celeste Sweater Junior and Celeste Sweater Man by PetiteKnitGib I and Gib II by Andrea MowryExamples of Multi-Option Patterns Musselburgh by Ysolda TeagueMara Blouse by the Knit Purl GirlLanark Sweater by Rebecca ClowLauder by Rebecca ClowSaglan by Ailbíona McLochlainnOther Knitty Things Alison is wearing the Autumn Alpine sweater with yarn from Queen City YarnThe Tin Can Knits app lets you choose the size you are knitting and just shows you the instructions for that sizeOther Recommendations WALNUT yarn store in TokyoAmirisu Sprint hand-dyed yarnOkadaya ShinjukuCraft Code Switching - Pom Pom Mag SubstackAnjali's Caddis reading glasses are the Wabi Sabi in "Gloss Minor Blues" and Triple G in Heritage Green

  4. Jul 14

    Bonus Episode! The viewer comments that changed our minds about knitting

    We're popping in for a surprise bonus episode! Join Anjali and Alison in a conversation about the viewer comments that made us think differently, opened our minds to new ideas, or even made us realize we were wrong. Y'all are classy and we appreciate you. Watch for our return for Season 3 in the fall! Follow us on Instagram: @twyakpodEmail us: twyakpod@gmail.com Episodes We Mention (In Order of Appearance) Should You Use AI in Your Knitting?Are These Knitting Designers Copying Each Other?Stop Calling Knitting a Grandma HobbyCraftivism & the Melt the Ice HatKnitty Things We Mention Moby sweater by PetiteKnitHanstholm sweater by PetiteKnitAnjali is wearing the Corran Cardigan in De Rerum Natura Robinson in CitronnadeGreen, square buttons from My Sister Knits, an LYS in Fort Collins, COMussel shell buttons from La Mercerie, an LYS in Bainbridge Island, WAWood buttons from Retrosaria Rosa Pomar, an LYS in Lisbon, PortugalDusty's Vintage ButtonsDenver Asian Food Recs Nana's Dim Sum and DumplingsMAK Fam

  5. May 30

    Craftsnark & stitch and b*tch clubs: How knitting gossip has changed

    Some academics believe gossip is essential for social life, but what happens when it moves from in-person to online spaces? Join Alison and Anjali in a conversation about gossip, fiber arts, and that one terrible fiber festival everyone heard about. It'll be fun! Follow us on Instagram: @twyakpodEmail us: twyakpod@gmail.com Further Reading & Listening on Gossip Normal Gossip podcast knitting episode on Apple and SpotifyAn Integrative Definition and Framework to Study Gossip — Group & Organization Management"Gossip About Knitting" — New York TimesGossip: An Investigation into the Feminine Art of Conversation — RISDRitualizing Language: Ancient Greek Women's Gossip and Magic as Intertwining, Subversive Paths to JusticeGossip in Evolutionary Perspective by R.I.M. DunbarGossip-Related Artwork Netherlandish Proverbs (1559) by Peter Bruegel the ElderThe Friendly Gossips (1901) by Eugene de BlaasTwo Women Leaning Back in Sofa, Knitting by Mark RothkoKnitting Gossip Examples #Fybrefest: Unraveling What Went Wrong With this Yarn Festival — Aspen in the Moment'Fybrefest': How the Catskill Wool & Folk Festival unraveled — Times-UnionOriginal post about Stephen West on CraftsnarkWest's first apologyWest's second apologySomething is off about the Stephen West backlash — CraftsnarkTwo Stitches Enter, One Stitch Leaves Storm Sweater vs Staffin PatternThe Sheep Sweater by Rosa Pomar vs Ovis Sweater by Caitlin HunterDiana Black Sheep SweaterButterscotch Sweater vs Newspaper PulloverOther Knitty Things Alison is making the Autumn Alpine sweater with yarn from Queen City YarnAnjali is bartering with the Burgos Vest, knit in Harrisville Designs WATERshed in Elm

  6. May 8

    Who benefits from test knitting?

    What's going on with test knitting culture? Anjali and Alison discuss some of the controversies from the perspectives of both knitters (unrealistic deadlines! demanding photo requirements!) and knitting designers (so much ghosting!). Plus: another edition of Cast On or Drop That Stitch, featuring four trendy knitting patterns. Follow us on Instagram: @twyakpodEmail us: twyakpod@gmail.com Further Reading on Test Knitting Yarnpond: site to find test knitting callsReddit: Test knitting deadlines are getting shorter everywhereReddit: Since when did test knitting just become giving designers free marketing?Reddit: Test Knitting "Reviews"Cast On or Drop That Stitch Patterns Vilma Top by Gregoria FibersUma Scarf by PetiteKnitJanuary Socks by Kaitlin BartholdMiu Top by Una GilOther Knitting Things Anjali's "Woolen Spun" baseball hat from Harrisville DesignsThe Traveler pattern by Andrea MowryFrog It YarnsOxbow Socks pattern by Andrea Mowry

  7. Apr 17

    Knitting and mental health: it's complicated!

    Is knitting good for your mental health if it sometimes makes you feel...bad? In this episode, Anjali and Alison talk about the mental health benefits of knitting, but also some of the darker aspects that aren't often talked about: compulsive yarn buying, procraftination, toxic productivity culture, and more. Follow us on Instagram: @twyakpodEmail us: twyakpod@gmail.com Our new theme song is "Candy Apple Red" by Annabelle Chairlegs! Further Reading & Listening on the Benefits More on soldiers knitting to heal from trauma in Knit, Purl, Heal — Piecework MagazineTherapeutic Knitting with Betsan Corkhill — Why I Knit podcastStitching Time: Women and Fiber Art in Psychiatric History — Psychiatric TimesWhy knitting can help you feel less anxious — Dr. Mia HobbsCrochet increases attention through requiring motor skill learning — NatureFurther Reading on the Complexities We couldn't find the original article we read about procrastination, but here's more on the "Wall of Awful"Meditations for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanBecoming "That Girl": A Digital Ethnography of Productivity and Wellness Culture on YouTube — Kate NortonExcessive Knitting and Addiction — Psychology TodayKnitting, creativity, mental health — Kate DaviesOther Mentions Project KnitwellLou Dangit on InstagramKnitty Things Lumme Pullover in Studio Donegal Soft DonegalCorran Cardigan by Rebecca Clow in De Rerum Natura Robinson in Citronnade

  8. Mar 29

    Is the Melt the ICE hat performative or political?

    Anjali and Alison dive into the messy topic of knitting as political statement, covering the tricoteuses ("knitting women") of the French Revolution, 2017's famous pink hat, and the Melt the ICE hat. Things get a little spicy! Follow us on Instagram @twyakpod: https://www.instagram.com/twyakpod/ Email us: twyakpod@gmail.com #TWYAK // Show Notes Further Reading The Pussyhat's Identity Crisis — SapiensNot My P***y Hat: Why I Didn't Participate in the Women's March This Year — SELFUnifying yet dividing: voices of pussyhat maker–wearers who participated in the 2017 Women's Marches — Fashion & TextilesAnyone else planning on knitting a p***y hat like everyone did years ago? — RedditWhen You Want the Antiracism Cookie — Antiracist DietitianIn Minneapolis, Knitters Are Protesting With Red Hats — New York TimesSize Inclusive Collective post on InstagramPatterns Mentioned Kitty HatMelt the ICE Hat on RavelryAbolish ICE Beanie on RavelryLumme by Sari NordlandTraveler's Shawl by Andrea MowryZipper Sweater by PetiteKnitYarns Mentioned Flywheel by Harrisville Designs in PenstockRe-Ply Rambouillet by Brooklyn TweedGermantown by Kelbourne WoolensSoft Donegal by Studio DonegalAlso Mentioned Folk Tales documentary

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Not the same old knitting podcast. This is a space where we look up from our works in progress and acquisitions and talk about what we see in the wider world of knitting – its political, social, and historical context. But don't worry. It'll be fun! We're friends who share a love of knitting as well as an interest in a lot of sticky topics that relate to knitting – traditional gender roles, consumerism, body liberation, and more. If you want to join us on this journey, hit the "Subscribe" button to follow along.

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