Latest Posts

episode 79 Unpacking #EYF2017

This episode is just a meander through EYF 2017 along with Lacey to my Cagney, Louise Hunt from Caithness Craft. No show notes, no stash photos (you can get them all next time) – we are just going to settle in for an immediate unpacking of my bags and of this wonderful festival. (Podcat fans, watch out for two podcat interruptions this time!)

UPDATE: Due to space I can no longer host the audio files on the blog, please use your favourite podcatcher, or right click the podgen link to open the podcast episode in a new window

You can also listen on iTunes, the podcast app, or search your favourite podcatcher, if you prefer! 

Also there were great images in the Knitmastery photobooth. All images copyright to EYF.

| Info

Music: Carefree by Kevin McLeod n FreeMusicArchive and shared under Creative Commons Attribution license. Images are copyright to those attributed (i.e. EYF) otherwise they are mine. Please do not reproduce.

destined to be felled by yarn fumes?

There are 3 more sleeps until Edinburgh Yarn Festival and I’m loving dipping into social media (when I get a chance) and seeing everyone with their venue maps out, making plans and reckoning on spending a good wadge of the yarn budget this weekend. It is also awesome to see the vendors, teachers and VIPs getting ready to come over to Auld Reekie and watching them pack up their goodies. Yesterday I was messaging with my good pal, Lacey to my Cagney, Louise Hunt and we both said that we were already feeling overwhelmed by the choice and we’re not even there yet!    Read More

episode 78 – British stash invasion

Welcome back to the podcast – this episode we are all just a very big bit excited about Edinburgh Yarn Festival.

↓Listen to the podcast

You can also listen on iTunes, the podcast app, or search your favourite podcatcher, if you prefer! 

| Show notes

(this episode’s show notes are a little shorter down to all the things I need to do pre-EYF, it doesn’t happen often!)

| British Wool at EYF

I’m so excited about the amount of British wool represented at EYF this year. I’m giving you a run down of those I’m excited to be seeking out. If you can’t visit Edinburgh, all of these yarn companies have online shops, so visit the links below.

IMG_0606

Fact: It was Uradale Wool I was knitting with when i decided to Knit British!

Uradale/Aalmerk wool, from Shetland, on stand A9
Ardalanish , from the Isle of Mull, on stand C2
Blacker (obvs!) on stand N1 in the PodcastLounge
Cambrian Mountain Wool, from Wales, on stand B3
Garthenor, organic British wool, on stand M1
Home Farn Wensleydale on stand F5
Iona Wool on stand D4
Uist Wool on stand F4
Update:I mention Black Bat Rare Breed in this podcast, but they are now unable to attend.

What is on your EYF shopping list? I’ve been procrastinating and made a pinterest board! Read More

Let’s Make a Podcast at EYF – tips and advice

Some of the Podcasters coming to Edinburgh Yarn Festival are stopping by the blog today with a few tips for you, if you are planning to take up the Let’s Make a Podcast Challenge in the Podcast Lounge.

Lots of people want to get started with a craft based podcast because we feel such a connection to our craft and the community of others who share our interests.  I wrote about these aspects recently.

(right click image to open in a new tab)

So if you’re coming to EYF and you’re inspired to start podcasting you’ll need to know the kind of podcast-tastic things we’ll be providing for you. (also listen in to  episode 77 for info on this) Read More

episode 77 – Heart

Welcome in for another episode of the podcast. Today’s episode features a lot of projects and people with real heart.

↓Listen to the podcast

UPDATE: Due to space I can no longer host the audio files on the blog, please use your favourite podcatcher, or right click the podgen link to open the podcast episode in a new window

You can also listen on iTunes, the podcast app, or search your favourite podcatcher, if you prefer!

| Sponsor

Edinburgh Yarn Festival is the UK’s premier urban knitting event and is running from 9-12th March.

With workshops from world class tutors such as Bristol Ivy, Nancy Marchant, Woolly Wormhead and Felix Ford; with a yarn-packed market place full of hand-picked vendors ; with meet ups, demos and the Blacker Yarns Podcast Lounge – the Edinburgh Yarn Festival is a truly a haven and an important date on every yarn-lovers calendar.

Click to visit their website.
[/grey_box]

|  Show Notes

| Thanks and Woolly Muckers

My heart is pretty full this week. I did not start the last episode lightly with my statements about embracing positivity (and neither do i care how many folk went bye-byes after it) but thank you so very much to everyone who got in touch to go “YAY! POSITIVITY!” and were so supportive. Thank you.

AND! The Woolly Muckers sponsorship spots sold in a minute flat! THANK YOU! I very much appreciate that and I am bowled over. I am really looking forward to introducing you to Mazzy, Alison, Maylin, Susan, Sue, Lesley, Anthea, Emma, Barb and Christine to you, on the podcast over the next year. Read More

episode 76 – all views expressed are my own

Welcome in to another episode, it’s lovely to have you here

↓Listen to the podcast↓-

UPDATE: Due to space I can no longer host the audio files on the blog, please use your favourite podcatcher, or right click the podgen link to open the podcast episode in a new window

Shownotes

I start this podcast with an important message and a bit of a raised voice. If you are the kind of person who likes free speech, standing up for your rights and the rights of your fellow human you can pretty much skip the the first 5 mins. Here…look at some of the positive images that I am clinging to (As Beyonce sings, Who Run The World?!),  whilst I talk to the one or two listeners who have told me this week that they aren’t interested in standing up for equality  et al.

For anyone who who misconstrues my words in the podcast, let me put it clearly here also…

This is primarily a podcast about wool and knitting and the powerful force that knitting can be in our lives. When I record this podcast I don’t put listeners into neat boxes or consider what your politics may be – because I consider us all to be unique.  I don’t talk about politics in any great deal  but I definitely get to have an opinion and all views expressed in this podcast are my own. If you don’t like it, just don’t listen. Don’t put words in my mouth and read between my lines. Tune out and take your scorn elsewhere. If you want to come back and play nice, you’ll be welcomed. I’ll be here trying to cling to the positive and my knitting life (c)raft as usual.

Now, let’s get on with some wool shiz…yeah?! Cool. Read More

KnitBritish Woolly Muckers: Listener Sponsors

I am pleased to announce that I will be launching the KnitBritish Woolly Muckers on Friday. If you have no idea what the KnitBritish Woolly Muckers are, read this post first. This is an opportunity for you to sponsor an episode of KnitBritish in 2017.

I am opening the Woolly Mucker sales on Friday. 3rd February at 11am (UK time). There will also be a podcast out that day too. There are ten (10) spots only. I do not expect them to all disappear at once, but when they are gone, they are gone, so this post is your klaxon, of sorts.

This is the link you need for the shop.
http://knitbritish.bigcartel.com
(It will be added to the menu above soon too)

You’ve been asking me for ways to support KnitBritish, but we’re doing it my way, so you want to help KnitBritish then I want to give you things! Essentially, what you are doing is buying a bundle of goodies and the terms of the sale mean that you are also going to sponsor an episode of the show in 2017.

For your £35 (plus additional postage) this is what you get.

  • TWO 100g skeins of limited edition Cornish Tin II DK, in Levant Grey – courtesy of the very lovely, kind and generous Blacker Yarns . (Worth over £30.00)
  • A handmade, screenprinted project bag from The Knitting Goddess, printed in colours to represent my love of natural sheepy shades on heavyweight fairtrade organic cotton. (34cm tall x 28 cm wide) (RRP £25.00)
  • A KnitBritish dotted notebook and badge! (You are meant to be as impressed with this as you would a Blankety Blank Chequebook and pen!)
  • You will be a featured sponsor of an episode of the show in 2017.

Click on an image to open a larger slide show

Your episode (on a date tbc between us) will bear the message “KnitBritish is proud to be sponsored by “Insert your name here” (or words to that effect).  If you are game, I’d also like to include you in the episode a bit more, but I know that some people are a bit shy.

I can’t think of another way to sufficiently thank you for your support unless I make you part of the show in some small way.

The shop accepts PayPal only and the Woolly Muckers bundles will be posted out once per week. I will post to UK, Europe (select “France” for European destinations), USA, Canada, Australia and NZ. Postage applies for each country. Postage is untracked and will be second class UK and standard International.

Woolly Muckers Listener Sponsors are only open to individuals, not businesses. Please do not purchase this if you have a wool business interest that you are looking to promote via the show. If you are a business and interested in sponsoring the podcast you can visit the sponsor menu option above, but please be aware there are very few spaces left for 2017.

There will be tote bags coming soon, but to save my own confusion they will go on sale later in the month.

I must apologise for the length of time its taken since I first announced it, one or two things behind the scenes transpired all at once, and well, tbh, I’ve been struggling a bit recently – like we all have. However, we need to be positive about the things we can be positive about and shine a little light where we can.

This is a new kind of thing for KB and something we haven’t done before. I don’t predict too many foibles, but do email me louise (at) knitbritish (dot) net, if you have any questions.

Until Friday!

episode 75 – The Indiestry

Today I’m really delighted to be able to bring you two interviews from some incredible people who are working to their own vision for creating unique British wool that speaks of where it has come from and the special relationships with farmer and mill to create those yarns.

UPDATE: Due to space I can no longer host the audio files on the blog, please use your favourite podcatcher, or right click the podgen link to open the podcast episode in a new window

You can also listen on iTunes, the podcast app, or search your favourite podcatcher, if you prefer!

| Sponsor

Edinburgh Yarn Festival is the UK’s premier urban knitting event and is running from 9-12th March.

With workshops from world class tutors such as Bristol Ivy, Nancy Marchant, Woolly Wormhead and Felix Ford; with a yarn-packed market place full of hand-picked vendors ; with meet ups, demos and the Blacker Yarns Podcast Lounge – the Edinburgh Yarn Festival is a truly a haven and an important date on every yarn-lovers calendar.

Click to visit their website.

| Show Notes

Pussy Power and other news

(photo credit: https://twitter.com/brianmka)

The power and value of knitting is never lost here at KnitBritish. How glorious is the sea of pink hats at the Women’s Marches and how glorious that knitting plays its part in asserting our rights. Crafting as a political act is not a new concept but I feel that the pussyhat is going to be an incredibly strong icon for generations to come. More power to our needles and all the positive changes it can bring.

| Wool Tribe

The new issue of Wool Tribe is out now! Read More