Needles, Hooks, and Crooks: A Podcast about Fiber Felonies

Spoilers warning! This episode we play a game of "fact or fiction" with stories of fiber felonies. Answers in the show notes below! Fact: "Jumper Cables", "Skein of the Crime Fiction: Knit & Nibble Mystery Series by Peggy Ehrhert, Berkeley Prime Crime Knitting Mysteries by Maggie Sefton, A Riverbank Knitting Mystery Series by Allie Pleiter Other themed mysteries: Nevada Barr National Park mysteries, Tony Hillerman and Anne Hillerman, William Kent Krueger mysteries, Sarah Andrews forensic geologist series, Toni Dwiggins forensic geologist series Natalie's projects are Jili socks w/ The Blue Brick sock twins yarn & another test sweater for Jennifer Brou w/ stash yarn including Brown Sheep Wildfoote, ND Yarn Company fingering, super vintage Phildar Lugano, & Zitron Trekking XXL. Natalie is snacking on frozen grapes, freezies, & Canadian Smarties. Ashley is knitting Winter Weekend Socks by Shannon Squire w/ Blue Brick in Muskoka DK & casting on for Easy V by Caitlin Hunter w/ Shelter & Spincycle from Starlight. She is snacking on Kitchen Kettle Jams, especially Fig Balsamic. We also mentioned our National Park Centennial Blanket project!

In this episode, Natalie brings us a series of theft-related stories and studies that span centuries and countries! Including a story about "sheep lifting" by Lauren Potts (BBC) called "Fleecing the Farmers", a 2017 study on South African sheep theft, and 2006 paper by Lynn Abrams on Knitting, Autonomy and Identity. We have a couple more "yarn-jacking" stories as well; one from the U.S. with Fresno-based Anzula Luxury Yarns and one from Nova Scotia, Canada with LK Yarns.. Natalie is knitting “Rowing Socks” with Briggs & Little yarns using the Woodcutters Daughter pattern as well as working on Shifty Ashley is (reluctantly, ugh...cables...) knitting Here We Gnome Again by Sarah Schira with Goosey Fiber scraps Natalie is snacking on St.Viateur Bagel Shop which came in the mail. Ashley is snacking on fresh strawberries from the garden (and now has the theme song from this show stuck in her head)

Warning: This episode contains some slightly gross material that describes injuries related to knitting and crocheting instruments. So if that is not something you'd like to hear described, consider skipping this episode.  This week, Ashley brings us a handful of stories from folks who suffered crafting-related injuries! Including a woman who accidentally impaled herself with a knitting needle and two stories of kiddos who were injured while playing with craft-related tools. Natalie and Ashley also share a few personal stories they've heard about folks who were injured while crafting.  Since it's been a while since we've had an episode, we also catch up on FOs (finished objects) from the past few months and our latest snacks!  Natalie has finished Snuggle is Real (with ND Yarn Co), Tricerasox (using Jamie Lomax's Triceratops Cowl chart), another pair of Boring Man Socks (with amazing Seismic Yarn butter sock), & the latest Imagined Landscapes MKAL - Make Gnome Mistake Ashley has also finished Make Gnome Mistake and the Snuggle is Real (with Machete Shop & Sugarplum Circus). Excitingly she also finally finished her Flax Light sweater (which ended up being a sweater dress...) using her Goosey Fibers advent calendar. She'll wear the sweater dress with BeWildHer leggings as soon as it's cool enough.  For snacks, Natalie made her Easter candy stash last into summer while Ashley has been snacking on Old Bay Goldfish. 

In this episode we talk about ripped off designers Lisa Grossman (The Tsarina of Tsocks) and Emma Bermudez through internet fast fashion listings like these, as well as the ripped off designers Bailey Prado (instagram), Mela Gonzales, and Elexiay; all of whom face enormous hurdles to do anything about it according to NPR.  We also cover the Fiberista Club scandal (Ravelry thread), and a happy ending with Dye Hard Yarns. Plus some surprising examples of embezzling in the industry, including a LYS (Knit With Yarn Shop) that tried to fight the good fight (court documents). Plus Ashley brings us a breaking fiber theft news story! Natalie is still working on her super secret test knit for Jennifer Brou. Ashley has cast on Nightshift by Andrew Mowry with Spincycle yarn, and is still working on Flax by Tin Can Knits with Goosey Fibers yarn. Natalie made delicious Shreddies trail mix bars, and Ashley is consuming east coast Girl Scouts thin mints.

Ashley brings us some fictional fiber felonies from movies and television! We'll discuss the movies "Idle Hands" and "Foul Play" and the television shows "Only Murders in the Building" and "Battlestar Galactica". Spoilers abound, so skip ahead if you haven't seen these movies or TV shows.  In our knitting and snacking discussion, Ashley and Natalie are both working on The Snuggle is Real by Maxim Cyr; Ashley is using Machete Shop and Sugarplum Circus yarn and Natalie is using ND Yarn Company. Ashley has also been snacking on Dots pretzels (thanks Natalie!) and also made a cake (which was delicious) from this Snacking Cakes cookbook.  Natalie is also working on a super secret test knit for Jennifer Brou. She's stash-busting using various yarns including "Sheep to Shop" yarn from Missoula and yarn from Grazing Goat Ranch Fiber Farm.  She's test knitting while snacking on Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate PB Cups, Juanita's Chips (the BEST chips), and avocados. 

Content Warning: Today's episode will feature discussions of infanticide and sexual abuse. So take care of yourself and if these are topics you do not wish to hear discussed, please skip this episode. Resources National Sexual Violence Resource Center National Sexual Assault Hotline Other things we talk about during this episode are as follows:  Before the story, we direct you to Interweave's podcast Fiber Nation. At the end, we refer you to Cynthia Owen's memoir Living With Evil. We are both knitting the Red Cedar Hat and Ashley is using Spincycle Yarns and Farmer's Daughter Fibers while Natalie is using ND Yarn Company and Hikoo Abracadabra. Natalie is also knitting the Portage Cardigan with a mishmash of "close enough" skeins from Tobacco Root Fiber, Ancient Arts Yarns, and Feederbrook Farm. Natalie also mentioned an 80s-version of Spruce Island Sweater by Jennifer Brou. Ashley made Cinnamon Sugar Scones by Smitten Kitchen. Natalie is snacking on lox-based snacks. 

In this episode, Ashley shares some things she learned about "yarning bombing". She also has poor audio quality from trying out a new recording set-up, whoops! Ashey used Crimes of the Senses: Yarn Bombing and Aesthetic Criminology by Andrew Millie, Craftivism and Yarn Bombing: A Criminological Exploration by Alyce McGovern, and this TED Talk by Magda Sayeg as key resources for this story.  We both recently read/listened to The Power of Knitting by Loretta Napoleoni (highly recommended!). We also briefly mention "The Racism Drama Unraveling the Knitting World, a well-researched Daily Beast Article. Ashley watched A Castle for Christmas - A Netflix Christmas Movie - which happens to mention yarn bombing!  Natalie and Ashley are both knitting Leave Gnome Stone Unturned by Sarah Schira. Ashley is also working on a set of Knitted Pinecones by Jesie Ostermiller. We are snacking on Dot's Pretzels (Natalie) and Trader Joe's Dark Stars (Ashley).

In this episode, Natalie "weaves" together crack in a crochet kit, knitting as addiction, and knitting in recovery. Articles & blogs we mention: It Takes Balls to Knit CNN article Engaging in cognitive activities study Recovery.org article Managing anxiety in eating disorders Psychology Today Knitting through recovery Fibers and snacks we mention: Mountain Range Sweater by Natalie Meredith Magpie Fibers Swatching for This Bird Knits Sugarplum Circus Fortissima Colori Knitpicks Trader Joe's everything bagel chips Not mentioned, but still relevant: Everything bagel shortbread cookie recipe (that Ashley's partner, Adam, will have to taste test)

This is a story about yarn thievery, a hero who crochets (with appropriate sound effects, ha!), and how amazing and supportive the fiber community is. In this episode we mention: A Hundred Ravens yarn DFW Fiber Fest Knit City Rose City Yarn Crawl Habitat for Humanity Byrons Lens ABC 8 Story Gnorwen/Imagined Landscapes Maxim Cyr (Snuggle is Real) ND Yarn Co Gordon the Gourd (Knitty Jo) For context, we also briefly mention two of our amazing fiber friends, Adrian and Leah.

This is the story of Sandy Marifke, stabbed with a knitting needle (and other things). In this episode we mention: Tin Can Knits Flax Light Sweater Goosey Fibers (again) DRK Wool and Honey Jamie Hoffman's Rattlesnake Fleece Artist GGH Knit Picks Juanita's chips Gratitude Brewing: Daddy Said I Could Have Unicorns

This is the introduction to Needles, Hooks, and Crooks: a podcast about fiber-related felonies. In this trailer we introduce ourselves and our plan for this podcast. Here are links to the things that we mention throughout the episode: True Crime & Knit Knitting needles & abortion ND Yarn Company Goosey Fibers Robin's Nest Fiber Co Imagined Landscapes Gnome-Along 7 Drea Renee Knits Everyday Socks