The Shinybees Knitting and Yarn Podcast

Knitting is out and cross stitch is in this week, as the temperature in the UK makes it a bit less fun to be playing with yarn. Nobody likes to knit with sausage fingers, after all. After discovering 8BitNorth Cross Stitch thanks to an uncharacteristically helpful suggested post on Facebook, I've tripled somersaulted into a cross stitch obsession. Having never had across stitch 'stash' before, I'm now edging ever perilously closer to having one. Guess it took some indie/Brtipop and pop culture themed cross stitch patterns to make a stitcher out of me! Full Shownotes and links at www.shinybees.com/178 Music this episode is with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink', available from iTunes.

Hybrid Yarn festivals continue in this episode where Jo is joined by Aimee of KnitSpinCake podcast to review her experience of attending Unravel's hybrid yarn show. Aimee took part in the social aspects, saw some of the vendor showcases and, after attending one workshop with Bristol Ivy, promptly booked onto another with her the next day. Aimee covered the organisation of the show and we discussed some of the technical aspects of how it was run, from a visitor's point of view. She shared her views on the workshop offerings as well as the vendor spotlights. You can find Aimee @knitspincake on Instagram and the podcast at http://knitspincake.blogspot.com Full shownotes are at www.shinybees.com/177 Music for this episode is with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need A Drink' available from iTunes.

This week we're exploring the evolution of yarn festivals through the past year or so. Many of the festivals were forced to cancel their in person offer and have looked to alternative methods of putting on their event. After discussing the idea of online events this week, Unravel Festival's hybrid approach piqued my interest. Having not been a fan of the endless parade of vendors on Instagram live as an alternative to the traditional yarn show, I was interested to see how they are looking to combine an in person element with an online offer. This will be both on the vendor offer, as well as workshops being offered online and in person and a series of talks on offer. Whilst I don't think Instagram live yarn shows offer a great user experience, a show hosted on a specific platform focused on offering a show-like feel could add a lot of value to the industry. You can find all the details for Unravel at https://farnhammaltings.com/events/unravel-2021 Full shownotes - www.shinybees.com/176 Music for this episode is 'I Need a Drink' used with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys, and is available from iTunes.

Knitting, gin, books and a lucky scarf. This week's show is dedicated to Liz Marley aka @greensideknits, dear friend and listener of the podcast. An epic knitter and all round awesome, kind and witty person who will be very sadly missed. There's a general update to get us started, with the tale of Liz's Lucky scarf and how it continues to bring me good luck years later. The podcast will be on the move again in summer to Surrey. Knitting-wise, I've been working on my #DeliciousLIttleJoysKAL project which still isn't finished. After a false start where I re-learned the lesson that one is never too old for a lifeline, I'm focusing on getting at least one row a day in on that project. I'm also working on a modular blanket project using West Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab DK to make a Nintendo themed blanket. Gin-wise, there's a recipe for a refreshing sloe gin fizz. On the book reviews, sticking to the Fantasy/Steampunk angle we have a review of the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carrier, Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw and The Stranger Times by CK McDonnell. Full shownotes and links at www.shinybees.com/175 Music is Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need A Drink' used with kind permission.

If you have a knitter in your life, you'll appreciate this roundup of knitting gift ideas, that isn't more yarn. In this episode, we'll cover some suggestions for six alternative ideas for gifts for knitters. 1) Adidas Samba Fox trainers 2) A wool blanket 3) Project bags 4) Sheepy themed toiletries 5) Stuff to protect the yarn 6) Sheepskin producers, slippers or moccasins. Shownotes and all links at www.shinybees.com/174 Music as always with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys - 'I Need a Drink', available from iTunes.

Following Ep 171 about great patterns for baby knits and Ep 172 about good yarns for kids and baby knits, this week is a roundup of all the community feedback on both these subjects. I'm also asking for some suggestion on behalf of Kat, a lovely listener, who is undertaking a fairly arduous physical challenge. She'd appreciate some suggestions on how she can record this with an accompanying knitting project. All of the chat for this feedback occurred within the Shinybees Podcast Community. You can join for free at shinybees.com/community Kat's Project Hey Jo, do you remember the interview question 'What yarn would you take on a desert island'? I have a similar dilemma: I'm planning to embark on a long distance hiking journey from Belgium tot Santiago the Compostela (2400km). Not in one go, spread over different holidays. Not sure if I'll ever make it but I like the clear focus. I'll be starting hopefully in March with the first stretch from home to the south trough Belgium. That should fit in the current Corona regulations. Being a Knitter, I find myself contemplating the travel knitting almost as much as the actual walking :D I can't take a lot of yarn to keep weight down. I plan to take two projects: * A recreational lace shawl * A project that captures the memories of the journey day by day. Could be as simple as one garter ridge per km. Or I'm thinking some sort of modular knit with every small module representing a day. I don't really know what I want to track yet: weather (sun, rain, cold,...), feelings, distance, landscape. I don't think I can take colours to represent the different items because it's hard to predict how much yarn I would need per colour. Maybe texture is better. Anyone got ideas? Yarn, patterns, textures? Which items I could track? Yarns for Baby Knits Continued From the community, here are some further suggestions on great yarns for baby and kids knits. Helen Swann suggested Sheepjes Colour Crafter as a good alternative to Stylecraft DK. It's 100% acrylic, like Stylecraft DK, but squooshier, with a fair amount of drape. At £1.99 per 100g and in 94 shades, there's bound to be shades you will like. Wendy Dinnage has been knitting for a couple at work who are expecting a baby. They're vegan and very environmentally aware. Wendy decided to use Nurturing Fibres Eco Bamboo as it has great eco credentials. Patterns for Baby Knits A perennial favourite, Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket from The Knitter's Almanac was suggested by Helen Talbot and Linda Hartley. Knitted With Love by Jane Ellison is a favourite of Nichola Nolan. It's currently out of print, but most of the patterns are available as single patterns from Purl and Jane. Nevis top-down cardigan from Marianna's Lazy Daisy Days was suggested by Laura Stephens. This designer also does some lovely preemie sizes too. Alison Naylor's favourite is the Overalls with Cable Detail and Dorothy Helen baby blanket by Oge Knitwear. Leafy Abby Blanket from Silk and Wool by Leyla Alieva was suggested by Maureen Bulger. She's knitted it a number of times and it's gone down really well. A couple of bonnet suggestions – from Anna Friberg, the Sunshine Bonnet by Katarina Lindhagen, and the Beloved Bonnet by Tin Can Knits was suggested by Laura Stephens. Jade Hawson, who is a new listener, did a fantastic Mosaic Blanket (Purl Soho) using a colour changing gradient yarn, which looks fab! Anna Jordan suggests the Gramps Cardigan by Tin Can Knits. Anna Grim likes to make Allsorts the Owls for new parents. Linda Hartley favours the Troublemaker Cardigan by Kathryn Folkerth. Shownotes for this episode are at www.shinybees.com/173 Credits Music for this episode is by kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with ‘I Need a Drink'.

Following on from ep 171, today we are covering some of my go-to baby and kid knitting yarns. Split into 3 sections, we'll cover 4ply, DK and patterned yarns, at a variety of price points. There are also different fibres covered, so if you don't like animal fibre, or you don't want to use synthetics, there is a suggestion for you. 4-ply yarns are Regia Baby Smiles My First Regia, Drops Baby Merino, Adriafil Rugiada 4ply Sparkly, Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino Silk 4ply, Sirdar Snuggle 100% Merino 4ply. DK yarns are Sirdar Snuggly Baby Crofter DK, West Yorkshire Spinners Colour Lab DK, Stylecraft Special DK, West Yorkshire Spinners Bo Peep Luxury DK and Rowan Baby Merino Silk DK. Patterned yarns are King Cole Big Value Baby 4ply Print, Stylecraft Merry Go Round DK, James C Brett Baby Twinkle Print DK, West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4ply Cocktail and Sirdar Snuggly Pattercake DK. Full show notes and links at www.shinybees.com/172 Join the Shinybees Podcast Community at www.shinybees.com/community Music for this episode is with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink' available from iTunes.

Knitting Patterns For New Babies I'm now an Auntie! And that means I actually need to produce some knitwear for the little fella. As such, it seemed a good idea to talk about good knitting patterns for new babies. I have already sent on some hand-me-down hand knits from Sanimal that were knitted by my Mother-in-Law. One was a really cute jumper with little intarsia (yay!) insects on. The other is a cardigan with fishes on the yoke and little orange buttons in the shape of a fish. That was a Tin Can Knits pattern, that was bought from Fluph in Dundee, and knitted in West Yorkshire Spinners Airedale in a petrol blue and a neon orange wool/acrylic blend. Knitting Yarn for Knitting For New Babies Before we get into the patterns, I think it's worth talking a little about yarns. I have a lot of new knitters who have just begun to listen to the podcast. As such, I'll share a few tips about choosing yarn for knitting for new babies. If the recipient's offspring is a knitter, you can be a bit more adventurous in your yarn choices. You're not going to be adding on a lot of extra work for them to look after the fibres when washing them, as they are already likely to be experienced in looking after fibre that can felt easily. Commercial sock yarn is my secret weapon when it comes to yarn for baby knits. It's very hard wearing, you can often machine wash it and it wears really well. They tend to be in bright colours and self-patterning, which can produce an impressive effect with very little effort. If they aren't a knitter, or are not that experienced, although you might be tempted to knit something in a beautiful delicate yarn, think about the recipient. They will be devastated if they ruin the yarn and felt or shrink the item. They also will have to spend time and effort on caring for it that they likely don't have, if they have a new baby. There is a space for acrylic. Sometimes that is all the budget will stretch to, and it's easy to look after and launder for people who are not used to looking after wool items. My go-to acrylic blend is Sirdar Snuggly. It's a polyester/nylon mix and comes in a range of colours and is affordable and widely available. Stylecraft also do a great range of brightly coloured acrylics that are affordable and easy to get hold of. If you definitely want a natural fibre, consider using something like Debbie Bliss Cashmerino, which again comes in a range of colours and is easy to get hold of. Patterns 1) Kaya Mei by Jamie Hoffman Published in Knitsophy designs, this is a free pattern for a worsted weight fair isle beanie. It is sized 6-12 months up to adult. This would work really well with a patterned yarn combined with a plain yarn. 2) Basic Baby Hat by Heather Tucker This is a free pattern for a DK weight basic baby beanie, with a ribbed bottom, stocking stitch body. I like to knit this in patterned yarn and add a ridiculously oversized pom pom on top. 3) In Threes: A Baby Cardigan by Kelly Herdrich This worsted weight cardigan is a super customisable pattern, with the resulting garment lasting quite a long time due to the design. It's also really easy to extend the length to get some more wear out of it. It's a paid pattern available for USD $6. The garter stitch yoke adds nice detail without being too complex. 4) Pilo Cardigan by Imke von Nathusius This is a classic unisex, staple, fingering weight cardigan with raglan sleeves and buttons. Sized from 0-3 months to 7-8 years, it's plain stocking stitch that could work in most yarns. It's available for €5. 5) Kashti by Liz Corke This is a square DK weight blanket that has a main colour and a border made up of 6 different coloured stripes. It's a great way to use up a set of minis or scraps. Blankets are always useful and popular, so it's a good choice. 6) Easiest and Fastest Baby Booties Ever by A La Sascha A super free patter for some worsted weight booties. Everyone loves a set of booties! 7) Little Dino by Susan B Anderson This knitted toy pattern is both cute and a super opportunity to try lots of techniques in one small project. If you're a new knitter, this could be a useful project to upskill quickly. It's available for $5 US. 8) Kicking Bag for Babies by Annika Sanimal was gifted one of these and it was a super useful item, especially when he was small. You can quickly pop the baby in the little bag and keep them snug and cosy. It's fingering weight, so ideal for using us scraps or a much-loved skein of hand dyed. And it's a free pattern. Winner. What are your favourite or go-to patterns for knitting for new babies? Let me know over in the Shinybees Podcast Community, @shinybees on social or via email. Full shownotes available at www.shinybees.com/171

What will be the knitting trends for hand knitters in 2021? Not that I am in any way an authority on the finer points of craft fashion and popularity, but these are my predictions for what will be a knitting trend in 2021. Knitting Trends For 2021 1. Intarsia It's not the first time Intarsia has featured in my list of predicted trends for the year, and it's not quite fulfilled its promise as yet in terms of reaching that top knitting trend popularity. There have been a few notable patterns, but it has still to reach mainstream appeal. I think this is because the patterns haven't been quite ‘must have' enough, but also it's a bit of a fiddly and more involved technique. Once one of the big designers gets in on this, I think it Intarsia will become a bigger trend. 2. Texture We're all in need of some comfort as we slide into a second year of restricted living. As such, I think a big knitting trend this year will be chunky texture. Think big, thick comforting cables, heavier weight yarns and any project you can wrap yourself up and cocoon in. 3. Textured Yarns Hot on the heels of the knitting micro-trend of holding mohair yarns double with a smooth yarn, I think textured yarns will be more popular. This may be in the form of novelty yarns (ok just me). More likely, it will be as an interest in different yarn constructions in natural fibres. Bouclé, chainette and fringed yarns will emerge in popularity. Designs will also feature bigger textured elements, such as fringing, tassels and frills. 4. Tank tops Once the preserve of the 70s, then the 90s, tank tops or knitted vests are going to be a catwalk trend this year. As such, expect them to become a hand knitting trend this year too. Whether it be stranded knits or more utilitarian pieces, expect more patterns for knitted vests. 5. Checks and Plaid Hand knitted checks will become more popular in 2021. Whether it is a tartan style, plaid, checks or argyle, it will emerge as a knitting trend. 6. Sophisticated Loungewear High quality knitted loungewear that's a bit fancier than athleisure will be a big trend. Not necessarily hand knitted versions, but commercially available knitted garments as opposed to synthetics. Yarn trends for 2021 I think more interesting yarn constructions will increase, particularly in natural fibres. Stash usage will increase as stock backlogs from Covid and Brexit delay distribution. What are your thoughts? What do you think will be a big knitting trend in 2021? Let me know in the comments below! What do you want to hear on the podcast? Finish this sentence: “If I could get Jo to make a podcast on anything, it would be…” – put your answers in the comments or email me at info@shinybees.com DeliciousLittleJoysKAL The Delicious Little Joys KAL has come to a close. Prizes will be given out over the next week or so. It's been great to see all the finished objects. The everyday Delicious Little Joys have been fun to join in with, especially right now when there isn't much going on. I'm still working on my Glitz at the Ritz shawl by Helen Stewart. It's a free pattern you can find on Knitty. Full Shownotes at www.shinybees.com/170 Music for this episode is with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys, with I Need a Drink, available from iTunes.

It's a new year so naturally, there's a lot of chat around about challenges, projects and planning. Today's episode is about knitting challenges. Are you taking part in any for 2021? Don't worry if you aren't; hopefully this episode will still be useful for you, and there is no lack-of-challenge shaming! There are plenty of variations on the theme of challenges, when it comes to knitting. Knitalongs would fall into this bracket, along with projects like Make 9, where you select 9 things to make during the year (not all of which have to be knitted). Dear friend of the podcast Helen Stewart of Curious Handmade Podcast is running the 20 for 2021 challenge. This is more flexible as far as challenges go, and is almost a series of prompts, designed to encourage you to try different things in your knitting, without any pressure. There's a hashtag to go along with it #20for2021 and you can tick off multiple prompts for one project, which means you don't need to do 20 projects to take part. A temperature blanket is another idea for a year long challenge. Louise Tilbrook of Everyday Knitter completed one of these in 2020, and has an ebook available, should you wish to create your own version. Here are my top tips for knitting challenges. 1) Don't feel like you have to do a challenge. It's your knitting. Do what you want. 2) Avoid the FOMO. Don't get swept up with the latest knitting celeb MKAL for a garment or accessory you're never going to wear. this about what you would love to have knitted. Break down what you need to learn or practice in order to be able to do that project. Choose mini projects to help you learn those skills in a more achievable and quick way. Use materials that make you excited and inspired to work with them. 3) Cut yourself some slack. If you don't keep up, so what? It's your hobby and it's the thing you are trying to learn and it should be fun, not an obligation. Enjoy the process. Full shownotes and links at www.shinybees.com/169 Music with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys.

This episode is fairly light on the knitting chat as my creative exploits this week are mostly focused around creating a vision board for 2021. My word for the year for 2021 came courtesy of Gery Cinnamon and his song 'Canter', which I heartily recommend checking out. Make it the radio edit f you have kids around, as the original is tagged explicit. The lyrics really called to me and I decided from that to make my word of 2021 'Canter'. Along with this there is some chat about vision boards and their utility. I have done vision board exercises with my business retreat attendees for years. Having discussed them this past week with my current coaching group, I chat some more about them in this episode. Have you ever done a vision board? I'd love your feedback and any good resources you would recommend. If you haven't made on before - are you considering it? Full show notes are at www.shinybees.com/168 Music for this episode is with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink', available on iTunes.

This week we take a trip down memory lane to 2014, and a pattern pick I originally recorded for A Playful day podcast. It's a Christmas themed one, and it - of course - contains some great comedy knitting patterns. In the news, I talk about Podcasting Unpacked. I was also a guest on the Brewtime Podcast with Fiona Brennan and I heartily encourage you to take a listen. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/167 Music for this episode is Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink', available from iTunes.

This week is a quick chat on Scotch Eggs and a surprising fact about Scotch Egg knitting and crochet patterns.

Moth infestation in knitwear is every knitter's worst nightmare. In this episode I cover some of the background of which kinds of moths chew knitwear in the UK and how to get rid of them. There are only two, but they do a lot of damage and they're on the rise. You can tell you have an infestation usually when there has already been damage and you find little holes in the knitwear. It's common for these to be in areas like the sleeve and neck. Moth larvae are the culprit (adult moths don't have the mouth parts needed for knitwear decimation). The problem you have with larvae is they're very hard to see. They are around 1mm long which makes it easy for them to slip into the knitwear unnoticed. Unless you have go go gadget eyes, you're unlikely to see them. There are ways to deal with the pesky blighters. The best way is to prevent them in the first place, which may not always be possible, especially if you live in an older property. Cleanliness is key, so vacuum inside the wardrobe regularly and ensure clothes are spread out on the hangers and kept off the floor. Adding natural repellants such as lavender, eucalyptus, laurel, rosemary, patchouli and cedar will dissuade the adults from wanting to lay eggs in the wardrobe. Keep valuable and out of season clothes in storage bags to prevent access. If you have an infestation, step one is to remove all the items from the wardrobe and clean them all. Either launder at a high temperature (60 degrees), dry clean or steam clean them, or clean them and put them in a freezer for 48 hours, which will kill eggs and larvae. Clean the inside of the wardrobe by hoovering right into all the crannies and removing dust. Wipe's the surfaces with a damp cloth with detergent, anti-bacterial spray or diluted white vinegar to remove dirt and eggs. Full show notes are at www.shinybees.com/165 Music Credits: Adam and the Walter Boys, 'I Need A Drink' used with kind permission and available from iTunes.

With all the joy sucked out of life at the moment, it's time to turn festive up to 11! As a massive Christmas fan, I'm always one to have the real tree picked out, chopped down and in the house by the last week in November. This year, I'm planning to go a little bigger on the decoration front and add quite a bit more to interiors to get in the spirit. After all, it's not like we're going to be anywhere but indoors for a while. And when it comes to fairy lights, more is always more. So this week I have a pattern selection to share with you for knitted Christmas wreaths. I'm aware some of my lovely listeners don't celebrate Christmas, so I've been sure to add some suggestions that are suitable for you too. As always, there's a mix of free and paid patterns. Where possible, links go to designer's own sites. Be aware some links go to Ravelry if you have accessibility difficulties on that site. Pattern Pick - Knitted Christmas Wreaths 1) Woolly Wreath & Garland by Church Mouse Yarns and Teas 2) Awreatha by Rachel Kluesner 3) Woodland Wreath by Frankie Brown 4) Hampstead Wreath by Wendy Baker and Belinda Boaden 5) Merry Knitmas Advent Wreath by Sue Stratford 6) Christmas Jumper Wreaths by Zoe Michel Images and links to these patterns are in the full show notes at www.shinybees.com/164 Credits - Music for this episode is with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink' available on iTunes.

The #DeliciousLittleJoysKAL is coming! Having not hosted a KAL for a long time, I was inspired to do one given we are now in the second, not that exciting sequel to the original lockdown part one. Delicious little joys is the theme and the idea is to embrace the idea of looking for delicious little joys in the every day. Indeed, it's about actively building in joy to your day. It's gonna be miserable in the Northern hemisphere soon, so finding ways to bring joy will be a positive thing. Yarn is any that brings you joy. Pattern is any joyful pattern. We start on 15th November and will continue until we don't need any more joy (which might be around 1st February 2021. It can be a fresh cast on, or one you have had around for a while. Sewing, Crochet or any other craft is welcome, so long as it is joyful. All the chat will take place in the Shinybees Podcast Club on Mighty Networks (shinybees.com/community to join) and you can use the hashtag #DeliciousLittleJoysKAL on social if you like. Things to help with joy: Chase gin #Ginabled Yoga With Adriene Early morning brews with a fantasy book Chocolate Brownie Cake Honey Flapjacks Knitting The For Fox Sake jumper yarn I had originally planned to use – West Yorkshire Spinners Croft – is reported to be a bit pilly. As a result, I'm now considering Eden Cottage Yarns Milburn DK or West Yorkshire Spinners Bluefaced Leicester, if I can find enough balls in the right colours. Books I'm now up to #7.5 in the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. They continue to suffer from the plot-dropping-off-a-cliff in the last 20 pages. Once I accepted this would be the case, I could just enjoy the books for what they are. Winterblaze by Kristen Callaghan was a surprise library find and I enjoyed the strong female protagonist in this book. It's set in Victorian London and the world building and plot were good. It's a bit racy in parts, but not at the expense of a great story. Worth a look. Infinity Son by Adam Silvera was dreadful. I'm glad it was a library book, or I would have been rather annoyed. Zero worldbuilding for the first book in the series, meandering ‘yoof' dialogue and sterotyping, boring and predictable. Abandoned at page 85. Avoid. A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende. Heartily recommend this interesting historical fiction set in the Spanish and Chilean revolutions. Full showotes at www.shinybees.com/165 Music for this episode with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with ‘I Need A Drink' available from iTunes.

You may or may not have heard before about the infamous folklore that is the Boyfriend Sweater Curse, also known as The Sweater Curse. The Love Sweater Curse occurs when a knitter undertakes to knit a jumper for a significant other, and this leads to the breakdown of the relationship - sometimes before the recipient has even received the gift! In a 2005 survey, 15% of knitters reported having experienced this very curse. 41% believed that it might be true. SO it's worth knowing about, even if you don't believe in it. This subject came up as I am about to -finally - undertake knitting a jumper for my massive husband. On the way to the knitting, the topic of Wiganese food is covered in some depth, including the Wigan Kebab, Babbie's Yed and Smack Barm Pey Wet. It is via this high carb and extremely beige route that one's Southern husband - who has some very questionable chip habits - came to earn the honour of having his very first jumper knitted for him. Remember - it's a barm cake. It's not a bap, bread roll, bread cake, cob, muffin or any of that nonsense. We'll have no trouble, here! Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/162 - bread based controversy on any social where I'm @Shinybees. Music for this episode is 'I Need A Drink' with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys and is available to download via iTunes.

Socktober continues to inspire in this episode where I have a pattern pick of ten colourwork sock pattern ideas to share with you.

I'm joined in this episode by Tania Ashton Jones of TJ Frog to talk all about Dorset Buttons. Tania and I met a few years ago now when she was at the start of her business journey in the yarn world, having previously been in the Royal Navy for 22 years. She came back to knitting via a retreat in France and was hooked. After a happy coincidence where she was introduced to Dorset Buttons via a workshop with her friend, Tania became obsessed with making them, and set about learning about the history of the button. Tania described some of that history, from the original tiny sheep horn buttons, through metal and linen buttons and into the more common types found today. They come in a variety of designs and can be made from any sort of yarn. Originally from Dorset herself, Tania never learned about the button making as a child at school, although happily she reports that some schools do now teach this.  Tania currently lives in a small community on the Isle of Skye, and uses her surroundings there, as well as her heritage in Dorset to inform and inspire the products she makes. Knitting still features alongside the Dorset Buttons, and Tania has a very special range of yarns that she created with some very high provenance wools from Dorset and Skye. Indeed her latest Cheviot yarn is grown at the end of her driveway! Along with the yarn, Tania also has project bags and needle holders, which are made of linen and are a nod to the linen fabric originally used to make the Dorset Buttons. These are sewn by a company in Edinburgh, and again reflect Tania's commitment to products with a story and collaborating with other businesses. If you've ever been curious about the Isle of Skye, you should give Tania's podcast a try. Along with the weather (a constant and ever changing source of conversation for us Brits, but particularly so on the West Coast of Scotland!) she talks about what she is making, creativity as well as interviewing textile related businesses on Skye. It's the perfect way to armchair travel to Scotland, so give it a listen! Tania has very kindly offered 10% off all items in her shop until 10th November 2020 with the discount SHINYBEES10. You can find Tania at http://tjfrog.co.uk Full show notes and links at www.shinybees.com/160  

Socktober lends its inspiration this week, where I have a rundown of ten previous banging' Shinybees episodes that cover some great sock themed content. There are a couple of interviews, as well as some expert advice from Clare Devine on the Sock Surgery, all handily signposted from this episode. You'll find all the links in the shownotes at shinybees.com but here is the shortlist: Ep 27 - Toe up or Cuff Down For Socks Ep 29 - How to Make Socks That Fit Ep 33 - How to Fix Your Socks When They Go Wrong Ep 35 - Cast Offs For Socks Ep 38 - Louise Tilbrook - Everyday Knitter 'Science by Day, Socks by Night' Ep 43 - Short Rows for Socks Ep 53 - Knitting Socks for Summer Ep 62 - Kate Atherley - Custom Socks Ep 68 - Socks Yeah - Rachel Coopey In other news, I've completed my Snawheid and had the sewing machine out to sew up a split crotch (not mine). I've welcomed in a new family member to Shiny Heights - Dave the Mini - and have been drawing unnecessary police attention. Also in this episode is some information about Developmental language Disorder. I've just signed up to be an ambassador for raising awareness of DLD. You can find more at RADLD.org. Music for this episode with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink', available from iTunes. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/159

There are some great knitting sites available and I often forget that not everyone has discovered them yet. That was the case this week during a discussion on the Shinybees Podcast Community, when I shared the new Knitty First Fall publication, and found that some people had never heard of Knitty! So, this week I have shared some of my favourite knitting sites that I come back to often, specifically to help those new knitters that have started listening tot the podcast during lockdown, or that have started listening after returning to the needles. Knitty is the first example. It's been running since 2002 and has a great mixture of free patterns, articles and tutorials for all levels of knitter. Run by Amy Singer, it's a treasure trove of pattern inspiration and is where a lot of new pattern designers go to cut their teeth designing. Anyone can submit a pattern to Knitty, and there is some good guidance about what a new designer needs. to bear in mind when doing so. Next up is the Craft Yarn Council, where you will find lots of industry standard information about things like sizing, conventions etc. There are also plenty of downloadables for icons and other paraphernalia to use on your patterns. Guidance for the new designer is plentiful and aimed at helping you make good design submissions. Yarnsub will help you find yarns to substitute in for the yarn a pattern calls for. Knitting History Forum has a large array of resources and reading lists for learning more about historical aspects of knitting from all over the world. Tin Can Knits have very kindly provided not only a massive array of knitting patterns, but also a pattern collection specifically designed to facilitate teaching knitting - The Simple Collection. They also have tutorials on their website for every technique used in their patterns as well as pretty much everybpther technique going. Music for this episode is Adam and the Walter Boys with I Need a Drink, available on iTunes Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/158

The RAF Comforts Committee was formed by the Air Council in October 1939 to determine the type and quantities of 'knitted comforts' required for the RAF as well as arrange for their collection, storage and distribution through their depots. Inspired by a random eBay purchase of an RAF Comforts Committee pin badge some years ago, and recently rediscovering said badge, this episode delves into a little of the history of the RAF Comforts Committee. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/157 Music for this episode with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys, with I Need a Drink, available from iTunes

This week is sponsored by Back to School, specifically the absolute abomination that is school shoe shopping. Despite indeed having no school for the kids, I decided to brave Clarks and get the pre-requisite footwear on a special early morning appointment. Sadly, this did not prevent the usual dick move behaviour when shopping for shoes from my dearly beloved offspring. Naturally, this inspired a back to school themed Pattern Pick. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/156 Music for this episode with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink' available from iTunes.

Following an existential corona crisis a few episodes back, I've added more blonde streaks, I'm working on the Mini and I have been looking for some vintage inspired pieces to add to my wardrobe. This week I've gone through A Stitch in Time Volume 2 by Susan Crawford and Jane Waller to select my top five must-knit patterns. These have been chosen for their versatility in modernising the look to be wearable now, even if you aren't a vintage fan. The styling of the A Stitch in Time books is sublime and I love the extra information that is included about the historical social and economic conditions of the time, and how these shaped fashions. There is also a section with rules of thumb to assist with adjusting the patterns to achieve the perfect vintage fit. My top five patterns are: 1) The Jan Sweater 2) Fair Isle Cardigan 3) A Warm Jacket with an Unusual Bubble-Stitch Yoke 4) Warm Jumper 5) Sports Sweater You can find all these patterns along with 75 more in the A Stitch in Time Volume 2 book which is available at susancrawfordvintage.com for £35 print and £25 PDF. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/155

This week it's about finding a mindless way to feel productive by painting the fence. There's a lot going on at Casa Shiny and my parents have been restricted again in Greater Manchester, along with a load of friends, so the 'rona is making its presence felt. Thus, I have included some quality Youtube material to give you a giggle, including the Floppotron and the genius that is Sexy Sax Man. I've done some knitting on the Snaw Heid hat in between roaming Sussex and Kent looking for a new place to live. Reading wise, it's been all about The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman. She's a northerner and a knitter, so it was always going to be good. I've also just discovered the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/154 Music for this episode is with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys - I Need a Drink which is available on iTunes.

Eight years of the Shinybees Knitting Podcast means today is my Octopodiversary! Not sure if that is even a real world, but I'm now going to own it on the whole internet. This show is a roundup of my top 8 episodes of the past 8 years. Maybe you're a new listener and haven't gone that far back yet. perhaps you've been listening for a while - maybe since the beginning - and have forgotten these episodes. I'd forgotten some of the stuff and I was in them! There are some soundbites from each episode for your listening pleasure, which should bring a smile to your face and a giggle to your heart. 1) Ep 36 - The One With The Circus Music and a Trip to New Lanark Mill 2) Ep 3 - The C Word 3) Ep 34 - Making it as a Knitwear Designer with Kate Davies 4) Ep 55 - Vintage Shetland Project - An Interview with Susan Crawford 5) Ep 13 - The Cat in the Hat 6) Ep 51 - Still Got It 7) Ep 118 - British Wool, Sourcing and Labelling with Joy McMillan of The Knitting Goddess 8) Ep 120 - Rusty Ferret with Leona-Jayne of Fluph Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/153 Music for this episode very kindly provided by James Milmine (original composition) and Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink' - available from iTunes.

This week there's a new home for the podcast community on the horizon, so there's a lot of chat about that - and about the general negativity of social media in general. The podcast is intended to be a fun and uplifting experience, so I am reluctant to bring listeners to a community on a platform that is negative and horrible to be on. I'm fleshing out the platform ready to move over, but the podcast community will be leaving Facebook in the next couple of weeks. A roundup of knitting fails follows this chat, and I discuss needing to rip back an 80% complete jumper. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/152 Music for this episode is Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink' available on iTunes.

We're back after a regrettable rain and laptop-based accident, which caused an unplanned break in the schedule. If you decide to do yoga outside, remember to bring your computer back in when you are finished. If you live in the North, it's probably going to rain, even if it is cracking the flags currently. A two-week break from any sort of work has encouraged me to pick up the needles again. I'll tell you about that a bit later. Interiors and Decorating I've made the most of the unscheduled break by having some decorating work done in the house. Farrow and Ball's Stiffkey Blue is the colour of choice for my spare room/office/podcast ‘studio'. Stiffkey is a dark blue, which I had colour matched at Valspar as it's more cost effective than buying Farrow and Ball paint. I'm a massive interiors fan. The current options for styling are an Edwardian Gentlemen's Club vibe or something a little softer. Being a huge lover of Victoriana, Scots Baronial architecture and bank lamps, I'm sort of leaning towards the Gentleman's Club approach. Interiors I am looking to source more locally since lockdown. I've been a supporter of provenance in knitting yarns for a long while. As long as we know the provenance of yarn, it allows us to make informed choices about what we purchase. Taking this forward, I'm looking to expand this care and attention to supply chains and sustainability to everything I bring into my house. Yarn-wise, you should definitely listen to Ep with Joy McMillan, where we discuss yarn provenance in great detail. This is one of my all-time favourite interviews. Labour Behind The Label This campaign group has written a report about the state of some of the factories in Leicester that are supplying fast fashion online retailers such as BooHoo and ASOS. You can find the report here and they are @labourbehindthelabel on Instagram. Unclear Labelling and Misleading Marketing I bought a cupboard this week from an online store that gives a very ‘British' appearance in its marketing. When the item arrived, it said ‘designed in the UK' on its box, but said it was ‘made in PRC'. This annoys me, because many people don't know that PRC is the full name for China, and it feels like it is deliberately trying to hid the fact that it is manufactured there. It's more sustainable to have locally-manufactured things, so I'm actively trying to do that. I'll be joined soon on the podcast by UK Manufacturing expert and champion Kate Hills, from Make It British to discuss the UK wool manufacturing industry. What I'm Knitting Still working on the Compass Sweater by Tin Can Knits. I'm now on the sleeves and am really loving the result so far. It's going to be really cosy. It's knit in Excelana DK, from Susan Crawford Vintage. Future Knits I'll be casting on Orchidacea by Susan Crawford in Nurturing Fibres Supertwist DK. Eight Bit Geekalong by Lattes and Lamas has massively caught my imagination. It's a free pattern for a mystery knitalong for a colourwork sweater. The swatch clue is already available and the first proper clue is dropped on August 2nd. This pattern is only available on Ravelry [WARNING: there have been some problems for users on the Ravelry website and the Epilepsy Foundation has issued a seizure warning for the website. Do not use it if you may be at risk]. The Queen Bee Pullover, also by Lattes and Llamas looks to be in my future. Surely the Shinybees needs a bee themed colourwork pattern! Susan Crawford Vintage New Website I've been revisiting a lot of Susan's back catalogue recently as I'm planning to re-embrace the tank tops I was so fond of wearing in my earlier years. I used to be very fond of vintage clothing, so I have been looking at some vintage style patterns. There are some really nice patterns, such as the Jan Sweater and the Sun Ray Ribbing Sweater. You can find these and all her other patterns at susancrawfordvintage.com Full shownotes are at Shinybees.com/151 Credits Musis for this episode is with very kind permission of Adam and The Walter Boys with ‘I Need a Drink'

Here we are at episode 150! This week's planned content has been rejigged so it's a little later than planned. There have been some issues with accessibility on Ravelry which meant it is unwise at this stage for me to add any further links to the site. There's lots of information out there about the problems. TL;DR the new site design is giving people visual disturbances, migraines and in some cases, triggering seizures. At the moment, the Ravelry team don't appear to be communicating that they are listening to these valid concerns, so for the time being, I will not be adding new links to the site from here. I am - at this stage - not removing existing links as that sends traffic and pattern sales to designers and dyers - some of whom also fall into the circle of being negatively affected by the recent design changes on Ravelry. I will review this regularly and will remove existing links if it becomes apparent that the potential for harm will remain indefinitely. I have many links to Ravelry on my site and all of us knitters have been long term users and benefactors of the site. I implore Ravelry to listen to the feedback and make the changes that are needed in order for us all to continue to benefit from the site, without excluding disabled people. In lieu of knitting content, I talk about resin jewellery and review a kit I bought from Resin8.co.uk. Full shownotes are at shinybees.com/150 Music for this episode is Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink'.

I've dug up some long term WIPs this week and it has heartily revived my knitting mojo! I've been stuck at home for 13 weeks on my own with two children. I never thought I would have to do this amount of time on my own with kids ever. Not without some kind of park I can go throw them on or grandparents, I can go throw them at. Or, you know, even just being able to go to the pub and have a drink, frankly. So I'm feeling quite proud of myself in some ways. That's pretty good. Right? You know, everyone's still alive. Everyone's reasonably happy. Things are getting done. People are functioning more or less. Some days more, some days less. That's how it is. And I'm sure it's very similar story for you, or it is from those of you that I've been speaking to. Last orders at the bar for the content marketing 101 content calendar creation online workshop that I'm doing with Farnham Maltings. It's taking place next week, 23rd June 2020. On with the knitting then, and the kind of title of today's quick chat. I have actually knitted this week. I'm very pleased. Now, I recorded last week's episode and that was on StashFit and it was a semi review, semi rumbling, introspective about the philosophy of stash and why it's difficult to get rid of some times. I think at times, the stash has a lot of emotional weight that it probably isn't entitled to. Depending on, you know, maybe where you've been, when you've bought some then or who you are with, there's a lot of memories involved. I also found a ton of WIPs lying around. I love a good WIP. I love a good project bag. I've got loads of them. And the problem with project bags is, if you've got more than one, it don't matter if you've got a WIP in it, because you can get the other one and just put a new WIP in that. And before you know, it, there's all these legacy WIPs lying around in baskets, The thing with a WIP is if it's a WIP that's been there for a while, it's not like a new cast on. It can feel like one, because it's a bit new and exciting, but it isn't necessarily a new cast on, so you don't feel guilty about knitting on that instead of the thing you're supposed to be finishing. So I had a rummage around in there, and I found a Snaw Heid hat, which is a pattern by Kate Davies for a 4 ply bobble hat, with little snowflakes on it, and then a really pretty crown. The last time I remember vigorously working on this (and I say vigorously, I have only knitted about two inches of it) was when I lived in Elgin in Scotland. If you've been listening for a while, because this podcast has been going for nearly eight years now, or even if you started listening a few weeks ago, like Helen, but you've gone through the Elgin chapter, you'll know that that was 2015. I just picked it up and started knitting on it. I thought I could totally get this finished. I feel really motivated now to finish this because I'd forgotten all about it. So that's what I did. And it was really enjoyable. Actually, I was quite excited about the whole thing. I think there's something that feels deeply satisfying about it being such an old WIP as well. Now it isn't the oldest whip in that basket by a country mile. There's definitely stuff in there from at least 2013 and earlier. I'm knitting this project in Nurturing Fibres is the Basotho Blanket, self stripe colour way, with the pony grey contrast colour, and the pony grey contrast color is acting as the main colour in this hat. I'll be back again next week, episode 150. In the meantime, please have a lovely, lovely week happy crafting and I will speak to you again soon. Cheers. Full shownotes and links at www.shinybees.com/149 Music for this episode is with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys, with 'I Need a Drink' available on iTunes.

After the revelation of Ep 146, where I talked about seriously considering a Full and Complete destash, which may or may not have been a mid-Corona crisis, this week I review a method for creating a stash that fits. It's not some ghastly attempt at enforcing small stashed and yarn diets - far from it. The StashFit process is a well designed method for achieving a stash that creates joy and excitement, instead of guilt and dread. Cate Carter Evans of Infinite Twist is the dyer behind the system, and she surveyed and worked with many knitters to refine the StashFit process, as well as determine the optimal stash size. Full shownotes at www.shinybees.com/148 Music for this episode is from Adam and the Walter Boys, with 'I Need a Drink', used with kind permission.

Some patterns to comfort or soothe might be what you need right now. This episode has five patterns with that cosy, comforting feeling for you to check out. Also there are three resources for finding great podcasts by BIPOC and/or Women of Colour on all kinds of subjects. It's not always easy to identify podcasts made by hosts from a more diverse range of communities due to siltation on search. Luckily, there are great directories out there to help! Full shownotes and links at www.shinybees.com/147 Music for this episode is by Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink' available on iTunes.

Have you ever considered a complete destash? As in, getting rid of all your stash, totally, and starting again from scratch? Or not starting again? In this episode Jo confesses to having more than a passing consideration for getting rid of all of her painstakingly-assembled-over-nine-years-and-three-continents stash. It's triggered somewhat of a life audit in other areas (or maybe vice-versa). Jo asks some tough questions as to why this might be happening, and invites you to come along on the ride whilst the stash audit takes place. Full shownotes at www.shinybees.com/146 Music for this episode with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys, 'I Need a Drink' available on iTunes.

This week, we're all about the cats. Despite being a non-cat lover, it is hard to deny that there are some great patterns out there for cat themed - well - everything! Whether you are looking for knitting or crochet, fine yarn to heavy yarn or even cat hair, there is a suggestion for everyone today. 1) Cat in a Corset by Anna Hrachovec 2) Cat Love by Sweater Freak 3) Cat Hair Finger Puppet by Kaori Tsutaya and Amy Hirschmann 4) Cat in the Night Mittens by Lumi Karimitsa 5) Slouchy Cat Hat by Maria Gilligan 6) Cat Lover Blanket by Marken of the Hat & I 7) Cats Love Sweaters by Christine Landy 8) Dinosaur by Sara Thomas 9) Cat Window Valence by Christine Nault 10) 095 Cat Sphynx Findus with Wire Frame Amigurumi Full shownotes at www.shinybees.com/145 Music for this episode with kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink'.

Hello and welcome to all new and returning listeners! I planned for today's episode to be a short one, however, once I got into the flow of chatting, it ended up being a full lengther. There's been lots of chat in the Shinybees Podcast Community on Facebook. I'm still looking for a new home beyond Facebook. I've found social media and the news to be extremely negative at the moment. I've responded to this by judiciously muting and blocking of overly negative people and content. This has been an overwhelmingly positive thing. Sidenote – school whatsapp groups are the work of the devil and should be avoided. I've also been taking part in Home by Yoga With Adriene. This is a 30 day freebie program on YouTube for a daily practice. She's non-judgy and it feels quite achievable. Be kind to yourself, dear listener. You're trying your best, and nobody is running the same race that you are. Kitty Couches are the order of the day, in particular the Kitty Couch – Green Sofa pattern by Candy Clayton. You can get this belter on Ravelry for $1.99. Give your cat the personal sofa they truly deserve in one of three exciting shapes! I did a pattern pick way back where I had a pattern pick with cats wearing hats, including a pimp hat (I think that was called ‘my pimp paw is strong') On the knitting front, I'm still working on the Compass Sweater by Tin Can Knits. This pattern is being knit in Susan Crawford Vintage Excelana DK, which is a great workhorse yarn. I would love if the pattern had options for waist shaping, which they usually are in Tin Can Knits patterns. Even a recipe for the shaping in the notes area would be really useful. I've also finished my Lush Cardigan in Countess Ablaze Grande Merino DK. I've finally found suitable buttons to complete the garment, courtesy of Jess at Ginger Twist Studios. These are from Incomparable Buttons, which manufacture handmade ceramic buttons in South Africa. The company has a strong focus on economic empowerment. The colour of the yarn is great, but I think the merino is too soft; it's already bobbling at this gauge. The other two Lush cardigans have been plumper DK and the resulting fabric has been thicker, denser and harder wearing. What I'm reading… Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman Saltwater by Jessica Andrews Wonder by RJ Palacio A Discovery of Witched by Deborah Harkness. You can find me over at goodreads.com/jomilmine Full shownotes are at shinybees.com/144 and music from this episode (with kind permission) is Adam and the Walter Boys with ‘I Need a Drink'.

Staying home has encouraged a wave of new and returning knitters. After receiving many knit-related requests over the past 6 or so weeks, this episode is a compilation of my favourite ones. Finding good resources, particularly free ones, can be a bit tricky I find. I'm also massively fussy about certain things that probably don't bother many people! My favourite resources are: Sheep and Stitch, Very Pink Knits, Purllinknitting, Knitty Grotty by Aneeta Patel and Knitting 1010 - Knitting For Beginners at Paradise Fibers. With that caveat, you can find links to all the resources at shinybees.com/143 Music for this episode is Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink' - available on iTunes.

Today we're having a bit of a catch up, with some knitty chatter along with some discussion of recent reads during lockdown. I'm also gardening quite a lot at the moment, so I talk about that. There hasn't been a huge amount of knitting at Chateau Shiny. I've noticed on social media that this seems to be a fairly common problem for knitters at the moment. As such, there has been a lot of planning and looking on Ravelry, and not a lot of knitting. I'm taking the attitude that this is like an athlete preparing for a race. More of a mental approach to knitting. As there hasn't been a lot of actual knitting to discuss, today, it's more of a covid time capsule of what's going on here. My hope is that I can keep you company for 30 minutes or so, a little bit of light entertainment with a side of knit. Life in lockdown continues. The children continue to alternate between being bored and being too tired to do any school work. The Beast produced some choice Covid artwork, declaring her death from ‘bore'. It was terribly Victorian of her. Not Charlie Dimmock Gardening has featured in the creative pursuits over the past week. I'm not the most accomplished gardener, so it's been trial and error, including the regrettable purchase of four Buxus balls. What I didn't know from Pinterest, is that English Buxus smells of cat pee. Joy. I've also been accidentally ordering massive plants from the local garden, due to not having any pictures or dimensions. I've been planting some Begonias into hanging baskets and playing frost roulette. They're not supposed to be planted out yet I don't think, but I went for it as the weather is due to be good for the next couple of weeks. As long as it isn't frosty, it should be fine. If you have any good recommendations for gardening people to follow, who aren't too serious, please let me know! Mini Driver Lockdown has reignited my love for driving. A new car is high on the list for post-covid life. My current ride is called Norman. Remember the Twix advert that was all grey, and the main character was Norman? He had a very grey and boring life, until he ate a Twix. This is how Norman the car makes me feel. The speakers are – frankly – inadequate for singing along to Tiffany. Wholly lacking in bass, despite being the upgraded speaker pack. You can hear about how Norman tried to kill me in the pod retreat 2 episode. Poppy the Naughty Nova features in the first car story. My Mum is an absolute demon when it comes to running cars on fumes. The Nova was once stolen and used in a smash and grab at Debenhams. Despite me thinking my second car was called Rob, I remembered afterwards it was actually Derek. Curry has also been bringing me deep joy in lockdown. My favourite curry house has reopened and is providing the fine people with excellent curry. Gratitude has been high. Lockdown has recreated a semi-permanent feeling of post-China come-back, where when you find a little victories in being able to get things easily. Or read signs. What things can you do today to get a little victory? Knitting-wise, there hasn't been a lot, as afore-mentioned. It's difficult when knitting is a method for grounding and calming the mind, or as a creative act. I've found it strange that I don't want to knit. This is also for no good reason; it's almost a mental block. I'm not at a hard point in the pattern, I've enjoying the yarn, I just can't be arsed. Not being able to be arsed isn't really a feeling I am accustomed to associating with my knitting. Instead, I have taken to researching what patterns I will be knitting when the mojo comes back. I have just purchased Evolution by Susan Crawford. Orchidacae is definitely my pattern for the Nurturing Fibres yarn. I also love Denby, which is part of the collection. This is a colourwork hat with both a beanie and slouchy option. You can order the printed book at susancrawfordvintage.com and you will receive all the pdf patterns as they are released, followed by the printed book. Beaded knitting seems to be calling to me at the moment. I might need to knit a Boo Knits pattern when I can get some beads. A lot of people don't enjoy the stop-start nature of beaded knitting, but I just love the fancy sparkly effect. Enquiries have been increasing from people looking for baby knitting yarn. I've also had a lot of people asking about learning to knit resources. I will cover these in the next episode as the free resources can be incredibly hit and miss. I'm also planning to crochet a African flower blanket. Reading I've read the following recently: Recipes for Love and Murder – Sally Andrew Death on the Limpopo – Sally Andrew Old Baggage – Lissa Evans Unnatural Magic – C M Waggonner The Last Smile in Sunder City – Luke Arnold You can find me on Goodreads if you want to connect there – www.goodreads.com/jomilmine Music for this episode is by kind permission of Adam and the Walter Boys, available on iTunes.

Today's episode is all about repairing hand knit socks. I have a pair of socks that I have accidentally worn through the heel of, and I wanted to repair them. I've collated some resources and options for repairing knitted items. If you're struggling with existential crises/dread/ennui as a result of over-thinking everything, Dr Shiny's recommendation is vigorous consumption of comedy videos and memes. And Tiger King. Link to Bits n Pieces by Artemisia Methods for Fixing Hand Knit Socks The easiest way to repair worn-through hand knits, is to repair the thin patch before it actually wears through completely. You can do this using several different methods. Using reinforcing thread is a popular way, where you follow the pattern of the stitches to make the existing ones more sturdy. You could also use the same yarn you used initially, if you have any available. You could go in-between and use a finer gauge yarn to duplicate stitch and strengthen the yarn. This method is known as Swiss darning or duplicate stitch. It's helpful to have a darning mushroom or egg to do the repair, to spread the stitches out to make them easier to see. It will also help to avoid sewing the two sides of the sock together! Apparently an incandescent lightbulb will also suffice as a stand in. If you've already worn through the fabric and are the proud owner of a holy sock, you're going to need a different approach. This will take the form of making a patch of some sort. You can either pick up stitches and knit a patch, or knit a patch and sew it on. There are a few options that are a combination of the two as well. There are videos linked in the show notes. Full shownotes and links at www.shinybees.com/141

Today there is a review of Knit Accessories: Essentials and variations as well as some DK pattern ideas for sweaters and some random chat. I have found my way back to my knitting this week. This may have been due to admitting I was struggling with finding the mojo for the knitting. I realised part of the problem was that knitting, for me, is a way of ordering my thoughts. This became apparent when the thoughts immediately began to race upon picking up the needles. I decided to sit with the feeling and luckily, it appears to have abated and I can knit again. Love for Podcasting I am really enjoying being back behind the mic on a more regular basis. It seems that podcasting is a form of reaching out for me. When I started the show, I lived in rural Limpopo in South Africa and was quite isolated. It was hot, not many people knitted and the knitters that were in SA were a long way away in Joburg or Cape Town. I feel like this recent inspiration is connected to that – once again, I am physically isolated, despite being at home and near friends. I love that it is a running joke about how I know someone wherever we travel. These friends are – more often than not – as a result of the podcast or knitting. I also love how I can ‘be' with people all over the world via the podcast. Just this week, I've been on an oil rig in the North Sea! Audio is a conversation and I love the idea of keeping you company. DK Weight Pattern Ideas Feedback I have just brought back a sweater quantity of Nurturing Fibres Supertwist DK in the colourway Sapphire from South Africa. I have found that there weren't many patterns that were appealing to me on Ravelry. I asked the lovely listeners of the show for some suggestions for patterns. Laura Stephens suggested to look at patterns by Libby of Truly Myrtle. Lori Hathaway suggested to look at the patterns by Kim Hargreaves. Then there was a big confusion about Kim Hargreaves (knitwear designer) versus Kim Catterall (bird on Sex in the City). Oops! There also was some chat about Rowan Kidsilk Haze which surely must have reached the stage of being knitting nostalgia now. I have settled for now on one of two patterns for this yarn. The choice is between Cloudburst, which was originally part of the Drift Collection for Eden Cottage Yarns. The other option is Orchidaceae, which is by Susan Crawford and is part of her new collection, Evolution, which is available now. I was intending to buy this collection anyway, so I was pleased to be reminded about this. Habitation Throw Is knitting anything like a garment beyond you right now? If so, Helen Stewart of Curious Handmade has just made her Habitation Throw free for the month of April 2020. The pattern is still for sale and all proceeds from sales of this pattern will be donated to the UN Refugee Agency. Yoga Don't compete with other people or yourself is the main feedback for yoga. If you fancy something different for the kids, they can try Cosmic Kids Yoga. Sammy's Calamities I have great ambitions of writing a series of childrens' books based entirely on the calamities of Sam. These are all true stories of actual perils experienced. Podcast Recommendations We Fix Space junk Diary of a Space Archivist Review of Knit Accessories, Essentials and Variations by Kate Atherley This book was originally published in 2012 and was re-released last week. I offered to review this as I am getting a lot of requests for suggestions of how to get into knitting at the moment. This book is ideal for that purpose. The book begins with a section on ‘before you start'. I know that when I got back into knitting, it was lead entirely by some somewhat dodgy yarn found in Poundstretcher. I like how the recommended yarns include indie and commercial yarns, hitting all the budgets. It also has a section on substituting the yarns for non-wool yarns and different fibres. Swatching is covered in a decent amount of detail. This is a subject that ca often be skimmed over in beginner-suitable books. Let's face it, swatching isn't fun and you can usually get away without it for accessories. The necessity of the activity is explained and there are instructions for how to alter your needles if your gauge is off. The side notes that accompany the patterns are solid and really help to draw attention to the important points. My favourite aspect of the book is the addition of the ‘design your own' element for each group of patterns. This takes all the maths out of making alterations to your projects, particularly for yarn changes. The book contains lots of examples of projects knitted in different weights and dye styles of yarn. In summary: Pros Design Your Own sections in each group of patterns Cheat tables for the yarns and lengths Cons Would love to see some DK in the patterns Links to videos or tutorials for the techniques would be great additions Full Shownotes at www.shinybees.com/140

Getting used to a new normal is tricky. This week has been challenging for most people and today there is a little bit of chat about that, along with a review of Wist Tha Bahn by Joy McMillan. You can hear more from Joy in her interview on the podcast at shinybees.com/118. This is a collection of 6 multi-colour shawls with Northern roots designed by Joy. All the patterns use British wool produced in the UK and dyed by The Knitting Goddess. Full Shownotes at www.shinybees.com/139

Hello and welcome to another slightly strange episode of the Shinybees podcast. This episode has not followed my usual inspiration and research process and I think at the moment, that's ok. I have some knitting patterns for you today, and I will be talking a bit about what I'm up to. I'm going to try and keep away from labouring the finer points of the virus, as we're all hearing enough about that from other sources. I will talk about some of the things that I am doing and thinking, in the hope that it might help you. Either way, it will record some of this for the future when I forget all about it, much like the mishaps that I have blanked from memory that I have shared with you in the past. Shoutouts This episode I have shoutouts for Maureen Dubary in Johannesburg, South Africa and Jennifer O' Brien in Australia. I'm working on getting a shoutout from Joe Wicks for the kids on Joe's PE Lessons. I'm going to try having an unusual name, unusual location and timing the comment to be one of the top ones when it gets to the break. I shall keep you updated of my success or otherwise in this noble quest. If you would like a shout out on the podcast, just send me a message. Everyone loves a shoutout. Listener question – school I received a question from a long time listener, Daniele, regarding what I am doing about school for my kids. My children already follow a sort of distance home school package, and are being set work by their teacher, like a lot of other kids right now. I'm not worrying too much about getting it all done, and am prioritising physical exercise, eating well, staying well and adequate rest over anything else. I am not going to stress about getting the school work done with everything else going on. Nobody in the world is really at school right now, so your kids won't be behind. It's not a priority right now as far as I am concerned. I'm teaching them lots of other stuff we don't usually have time for, such as cooking, nutrition, life skills. For PE you can join the lessons with Joe Wicks. If you want extra sheets or resources, Twinkl is great. You can also download Sal's recommended websites here. Community - I'm still looking at a community platform for us to get together whilst avoiding Facebook etc. I'll be doing Virtual Knit Nights as well – look for details on those soon. Knitting Patterns for DK Jumpers I'm still struggling to find nice DK patterns for a jumper. Whilst there are a lot of colourwork patterns around, I'm looking for a single colour pattern and there isn't much around. Suggestions welcomed! Virus Patterns - As I've been scrolling the Rav database at length recently, I've stumbled across a couple of patterns that are aiming to help foodbanks during the current crisis. Lockdown by Robynn Weldon of Studio Miranda. This is a free pattern to learn brioche – there is a suggested donation of $10 to the Trussell Trust or Food4kids. Don't Touch Your Face by Nicola Susen of Nicolor Designs. This is a free pattern for a cowl and is part of a wider #solidarknitty collaboration between German designers and dyers to assist German food banks. You can find out more about that here. Covid19 Coronavirus Stuffie by Randi Marchant is a pattern for a replicas of the coronavirus. It's $3.60. I found it very anatomically correct and therefore quite impressive. The Coronavirus Cloth by Alli Barrett is a pattern for a knitted dishcloth. It's $2.40 and all proceeds will go to local foodbanks near St John, NB. That's all for this week. If you enjoyed the show, please consider leaving a review on iTunes or your favourite podcatcher. Music for this episode is by Adam and the Walter Boys, available on iTunes.

It's been a while since I was last behind the mic, owing to some unexpected turns of events and globetrotting. All is fine now, though, and I am back in the UK, with some podcasting equipment and able to record and speak to you again. This episode is a quick catch up, with a little knitting and an invitation to share some books you're currently enjoying. The show will be recorded as often as possible going forward, as we're now practising self isolation. We're not symptomatic, just being sensible people who are following the advice given. As such, I'm going to be here as much as possible via the podcast over the coming weeks, to keep you company, supply even more irreverent humour and share knitty news. Full shownotes and links are at www.shinybees.com/137

Yarn Advent Calendars have become increasingly popular in the past couple of years as a more fibre-orientated alternative to the traditional chocolate. Often, a kit that is specially made by an indie dyer will come with a pattern for the yarn. But what if you don't like it, or you don't have the spare cash to splash on a pre-made kit? Lots of knitters like to create their own version of the yarn advent calendar by making up small balls or mini-skeins of yarn (or using mini-skein sets acquired elsewhere). Informal kal or swap groups can be found on Instagram or Ravelry, should one wish to engage in a little yarn exchange. This can add a fun element to collecting together yarn and knitting it into an advent pattern. Frankensocks have certainly been popular as an advent pattern, and they are what I have seen most during informal Insta-browsing. But - there are a host of other patterns springing up which aim to provide a canvas to showcase the advent calendars. Naturally, these can also be used for DIY advent calendars or using up scraps. This episode covers 7 pattern suggestions for scarves, bits, cowls and hats to make good use of your scraps and yarn advent calendars. Full show notes are at www.shinybees.com/136

This week's episode is inspired by a recent decision I made to try and knit a hat in a weekend. This was partly prompted by a sudden ten degree drop in temperature here (doesn't a chill in the air make you want to cast on all the things?) and inspired me to look for a nice, easy pattern. The hat is complete, and I've also picked out another four potential hat in a weekend patterns for you to take a look at, in case you feel the need to cast on this weekend. First up is a bit of news, and I'd like to shout out all the people who have emailed or messaged me since episode 134 was released, expressing their delight at me being back behind the mic. It is truly appreciated, so I hope you won't mind indulging me in saying thanks to them. It is easy to forget that it isn't just me, sat in a bedroom, talking to no-one; there are literally thousands and thousands of listeners worldwide. I'm very grateful to each and every one of you, even if you only listen to one episode ever. Thank you! In other news, I was contacted by a listener of the show, @Zencrafter2 on Twitter is undertaking a challenge leading up to her 50th birthday on 7th December 2020. After hearing about the Knit A Square project, she has decided to try and make 500 squares to donate to the project. That's over 1 a day – amazing! Let's all encourage her along (or join in if you wish over on Twitter – her handle is @Zencrafter2. In other news, I've had several requests for some stories from here and a bit of armchair travel. As such, in this episode I share my endeavours to learn Mandarin. I've always (up until now) been quite good at languages – or Germanic languages, anyway. Chinese is proving to be a bit more challenging than either of those. I struggle to hear the tones of the language, which is a pretty fundamental part of being able to understand and speak it. There are four tones and two of them sound the same to me, which makes me worry about saying a word and getting the tone wrong and actually saying something rude by mistake! I've learned how to say ‘steamed bun' and can order beer and soda water, but otherwise my vocabulary is limited to words associated with yoga (more on that in another episode) and some very specific work-related words that will be of no use to me in everyday conversations. I am really keen to be able to talk to people here (who are extremely friendly) as well as generally understand what is going on. I would imagine this is what illiteracy is like, as I can't read Chinese either. It's hard, but I am determined to be better and not just do the lazy English speaker thing. I've picked out 5 pattern suggestions for knitting a hat in a weekend. These are in thicker yarns with straightforward patterns for maximum speed and satisfaction. Tag me with your projects if you decide to get involved with this or hashtag it up with #hatinaweekend. The first pattern is the one I have knitted, Classic Beanie by Woolly Wormhead. I interviewed Woolly in Episode 61 and encourage you to listen to it. I chose this pattern as I really liked the way the ribs herringboned together as they reached the crown. It's a free pattern for worsted weight yarn on 4.5mm needles, with multiple sizes. I'm knitting it in Morris & Co Empire 10 ply in the colourway Absinthe. You can download it from Ravelry here. The next suggestion is the Classic Cuffed Hat by Purl Soho. Again, this is a free pattern for a basic worsted weight beanie, the classic design with a bobble on top. It's really straightforward no-thinking-required knitting and the simple pattern allows for lots of playing around with yarns. Most dye styles will work with this pattern. You can find the pattern here. Swirlwind by Nicole Vanderlee is a worsted weight toque with a ribbed brim and a swirling slipped stitch pattern on the body. It's a padi pattern at CAN $6.00 and is available from Ravelry. This pattern affords some experimentation room in terms of yarns; it will look great with solids and variegateds alike. The colour changes in the variegated yarns will pop on the slipped stitches. Likewise, striped yarns look great, especially if the same colour is always slipped, as this creates an almost brioche looking effect. Slef striping yarns would also work well. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry here. The Tchaikovsky Hat by Helen Stewart is next on the list ad this pattern is taken from Knitvent 2017. If you aren't already familiar with Knitvent, it's an annual collection of gift knitting pattern that Helen produces each October/November, usually around a theme. The theme for 2017 was The Nutcracker, and you can either buy the pattern separately at £5.34 or as part of the 6 pattern collection at £15.54 here on Ravelry. It's a DK weight hat, with a ribbed brim and a simple repeating textured stitch pattern, that adds interest for the knitter without it being too ‘out there' texture-wise for a gift recipient. You can find Helen's podcast, Curious Handmade, on all podcatchers and at Curious Handmade, and you can listen to her interview on this podcast in Episode 90. Finally we have A Useful Diversion by Elizabeth Felgate. This is a paid pattern (£3.70) doe a deep cuffed 3x3 rib hat with a textured stitch pattern that runs (or diverts) around the body of the hat. It's described as being just enough to be a useful diversion for the knitter and I think it would look great in a nice, high-twist, solid or semi-solid yarn. You can find the pattern on Ravelry here. Getting out of a funk: I asked for any tips from listeners as to how to get out of a funk. It seems to be a pretty common thing at the moment, probably due to the amount of stuff that is going on in the world. Anyway, Nichola Nolan got out of her funk after recently meeting Christine Perry of Winwick Mum fame. She decided to crack through some small projects and ‘pull her finger out'. Aimee Croke has got back into the swing of things by carving out time earlier in the day for her accountancy study by getting up early. She knits along on a simple project whilst watching training videos. Carving out the time is the key, and making it a priority, regardless of whether you want to knit, learn a new skill or anything else. That's all we have time for this week. If you've enjoyed the show, please consider leaving a review on iTunes or your podcatcher of choice. Music for this episode is by Adam and The Walter Boys and is available for purchase on iTunes.

After a longer than expected podbreak, Jo is back and talking about turning the wheel when life gets in the way of creativity. Sometimes you just need to get the things done and that doesn't always leave a lot left over for your craft, and that's ok. How do you keep the creative energy high? The way back to the knitting for me has been through a very simple pattern and some special yarn, to make a gift for a dear friend. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/134 How do you keep the creative energy high? The way back to the knitting for me has been through a very simple pattern and some special yarn, to make a gift for a dear friend. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/134

This week it's a quick catch up after an unscheduled break in programming thanks to contracting pneumonia. First up, I mention the recent discussion around racism, inclusion and diversity in the knitting community. This podcast has not been as inclusive as it should be in the content produced up to now and I apologise for that. News-wise, I share a new podcast interview I did that is released now on The InDependant Spouse podcast with Jess Sands, which is a podcast that shares stories from military spouses and veterans in business. After this, there's a round up of knitting and creative projects that I've been taking part in. Spoiler: I've almost finished writing a book! Shownotes at www.shinybees.com/133 Music for this episode is Adam and the Walter Boys, I Need a Drink.

Carol Feller joins me on the show this week, sharing her journey into knitwear design. Carol Feller (StolenStiches.com) is a designer, teacher, and author living in Cork, Ireland. She has published almost 270 patterns and 7 books, including Short Row Knits (Pottercraft) and Contemporary Irish Knits (Wiley), and is a popular instructor on Craftsy.com with almost 400,000 students. She regularly teaches at yarn shops, fibre festivals, knitting retreats and tours, covering a wide variety of basic and advanced skills including chart reading, garment shaping, short rows, cables, and colourwork. Carol first learned to knit in primary school, and there is a strong history of crafting in her family. In university, she trained as a textile artist, and then as a structural engineer. Both of these backgrounds influence her work, which uses innovative construction methods to create well-shaped and flattering objects that are intuitive and enjoyable to knit, and that make the most out of carefully chosen yarns. She strives to help knitters create beautiful and unique products that they will love to use. Full shownotes at www.shinybees.com/132 Music by Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink' available via iTunes.

Got yarn show plans for 2019? Are you a show veteran? or have you never been to a show? Somewhere in between? In this episode I share some top tips for getting the most out of attending yarn shows, including where to find which ones are happening. Looking at why you want to attend (social, shopping, work or a mixture) can help you to narrow down the wide range of options available these days and ensure you get the best experience. On the shopping side, it's worth saving up if possible, so you have a kitty of money to spend at the show. This can help with planning and budgeting. Some people collect £2 coins all year for instance. Make a list of what you want to make, and consult the stash to see where the gaps are. Once you know what the requirements are, make a list of what you need to get in terms of yardages and weights. This will mean you don't need to find wifi to look it up at a busy show stand and can have the information easily to hand. Having a priority route planned out can help with avoiding distractions. Check out the guide online in advance of the event so you know where you need to go and in what order. On the social side, definitely make sure you have made firm plans with anyone you definitely want to see. If you say you will 'see them there' there is every chance you won't because it is busy and full of yarn fumes. Fit in coffee breaks with catch ups and save money by getting a group airbnb if staying over. If your budget is a little bigger, you might decide to travel to a show in Europe and stay only for the day or just one night as an alternative to staying at a longer UK show, so you get a different experience. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/131 Music for this episode by Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink' with kind permission.

Daria Rakowski is our guest today to discuss widely varying subjects from eyelash yarn merkins(!) to an overview of the Canadian yarn industry. Daria is the creative genius behind Cloud 9 Fiberworks, and is based in Winnipeg in Canada. Originally indulging in her love of yarn as a child, she would often be found under the table in her Aunt's yarn shop in Winnipeg, untangling balls of yarn. Still an aficionado of vintage yarns from the period, she also produces hand dyed yarns, both on custom blended yarns just for her as well as on more commercially available yarns for hand dyeing. Daria takes her inspiration from many places. A lot of her yarns have a nod to fantasy and sci fi (with Star Trek and Harry Potter being two of the bigger influences) and she also draws on random ideas, such as suggestions from customers or other inspiration. In this episode we also discussed the Canadian market at depth, with regard to what is available to dye onto both commercially and as custom spins. The mills in Canada are few and even fewer are capable of handling long staple fibres. Although there is a great climate for growing wool and fibre in the country, it doesn't necessarily translate to the ability to process these fibres. Also, the market is split into little 'islands' - there is so much geographical distance between groups, that it can be hard to both find breed yarns to try and be brave enough to do it. Daria had her own yarn commissioned which was a blend of merino, Shetland and Gotland from local farmers, into a singles, fingering weight yarn. Full show notes for this episode and all links are at www.shinybees.com/130

What will be the five big trends for knitting in 2019? In this episode I share what I think will be the five top trends for the hand knitting world in 2019. Based on what has gone prior and general observation of content and social media, I have picked out the following as things to watch. 1) Intarsia - we've seen brioche come and get overcooked and 2018 was definitely the year of the colour work yoked sweater. Intarsia is the next logical step in this progression for me. Bonus: Beads will be big in 2020/1 I reckon. 2) More Commercial Yarns - people will be combining hand dyed with more off-the-shelf, mass produced yarns in classic palettes and colours to tone down the speckled crazy. 3) More Emphasis on Knitting What You Have - not stashing down or cold shipping necessarily (they get done and abandoned every year) but a growing awareness of impact and sustainability generally. This will expand to knitting and encourage people to use what they have over wanton procurement. 4) Purchasing One-Offs - buying will focus more on the luxury, one-off and single farm type yarns that are special, over mass buying of run-of-the-mill yarns. 5) The Death of the One Skein Shawl - both designers and knitters will abandon this mid 2000-teen trend in favour of multi-skein mega shawls along the lines of the fades. What are your predictions for 2019? Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/129

It's always a popular time to plan your projects for the coming new year, but do you really need to? I won't be doing Make9in2019 next year (spoiler) bout I will be using other people's ideas for that project as inspiration for what I could consider. The podcast will be going on tour soon and that has prompted some consideration in terms of what to take with me. As it's going to be a little longer than the average holiday, it's taken more consideration in terms of planning what to take. This episode is a discussion around the process I'm in currently in terms of trying to work out what is essential and desirable when changing continents. Full show notes at www.shinybees.com/128