Electric Sheep

This week join me for a day out in my neighbourhood! Plus we roam through the wonders of the Feed The Sheep thread on Ravelry, there’s a new (to me) online knitting magazine, an update on the Sweater of Doom, and three patterns committing crimes against knitting. No podcast next weekend as I’ll be away at the Greenman music festival in Wales – sorry! However, this week’s show is extra-long to make up for it, and I’ll be back the following weekend. Spitalfields Market, Prick Your Finger, Fabrications, Albion, Geffrye Museum, The Book Club, Commercial Tavern, Callooh Callay Kirby’s Epic Yarn Knit Circus Hoxton Handmade Posterous – knitting patterns Crimes against knitting #3, #2, #1

The Knit Nation episode is finally here! Apologies for the late posting, but I had a fair bit of audio to sort through and not enough time to do it in. But that’s all sorted now, phew! So here’s a snapshot of all the wonderful things going on at this event. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a look at the new edition of Twist Collective and a pattern book fit for a princess. Cookie A, Alice Yu – Socktopus, Beth Brown-Reinsel, Shirley Paden Knitting Magazine, Woolly Wormhead, Bothered Owl, Wollmeise, Loop, Wild Fibers, Qiviuk, Ysolda Twist Collective Fall 2010 Fairytale Knits

It seems that Christmas is determined to arrive as early as possible this year, which reminds those of us knitting gifts that it’s time to start planning our patterns for the festive season. So this week we’re taking a look at the pitfalls to beware when knitting for other people. Plus there are two new knitting podcasts to enjoy; a delicious UK yarn to review; and another classic You Tube video to celebrate the heady metropolis of…. Newport? Nuurdy Girl podcast Voolenvine Yarngasm podcast Artists Palette Yarns – Cloud Fiber Beat – Brooklyn Tweed interview Newport video

The Sheep is back for Series 4, and we’re kicking off with a look at Slow Fashion and some  knitting patterns that can withstand changing trends. Plus I report back from the Stitched Selves project; there’s a new issue of Interweave Knits and an ad campaign that’s raising a smile. In Praise of Slow by Carl Honore Patterns (all Ravelry links): Fireside Sweater, Bliss, Cable Luxe Tunic, Georgie, Sylvi, Kelmscott, Sabbatical, Featherweight Cardigan, Grannie Smith Cardigan Stitched Selves Interweave Knits Fall 2010 Old Spice original ad Old Spice ad – George Stephanopoulos

It’s the 50th episode! Good grief, how did that happen?!? Thank you to all of you who’ve been listening. On this week’s show, we take a look at the magic and power of colour, and how they’re often taken for granted. We’ve also got a run down of the best jumper patterns for beginner knitters embarking on their first garment, and there’s even a video that combines the wonders of Fraggle Rock with knitting. In other news, this episode will mark the end of series three. I’ll be taking a brief sabbatical for about six weeks, but fear not the Sheep will return! Probably sometime round the middle of July. Watch this space… First time jumpers: Top-down raglan; Elizabeth Zimmerman sweater ‘recipe’; Cobblestone; Owls; Oatmeal; Jawbreaker; Minimalist; Debbie Bliss baby patterns – Boat Neck Sweater. Texere Knit Nation Crafty Crafty – Fraggle Rock knitting song

I’m reporting back from the Stitched Up event at the Hunterian Museum and trying my hand at some surgical suturing. Plus there’s a sneaky preview of a brand new knitting book and an hilarious video that gives some literary legends a whole new image. Hunterian Museum Stitch London Simple Knitting – Erika Knight Super Extreme Mega History Heroes Fuzzy Ink Alas, poor Yorick...

This week we take a look at the woman who’s at least partly responsible for my vote next Thursday, Emily Wilding Davison. Plus we go over what’s on my needles; a travel knitting quandary and surfing farm animals are clearly here to stay…. Flaming Lips – Yeah Yeah Yeah Song Knit Nation – www.knitnation.co.uk (see previous post) Surfing sheep Farrah sweater

We’re charging across English history with St George this week, just keep an eye out for those pesky dragons…. Plus there’s a look through the latest edition of Interweave Knits; a yummy UK yarn; and a roundup of what’s on my needles. Interweave Summer 2010 Artists Palette Yarns Norberta Albie the Racist Dragon – Flight of the Conchords

The Sheep is back on schedule and this week he’s joined by some familiar shady characters. Yes indeed, Mary ‘Knit Picks’ McGraw and Zoe ‘Steeking’ O’Riley are back. And definitely up to no good… Plus we take a look at some non-sweater, non-sock patterns. Perfect for knitting gratification and something a little lighter for the fine weather. And I tell you all about what’s been on my needles lately. The Natural History Museum Wildlife Photography Exhibition All the patterns I mention can be found in Ravelry.

It’s the witching hour over at Hoxton towers, as I take a brief nocturnal tour through the city. Plus we look through the pattern book Haiku Knits, that’s using some unusual fibres; there are some macho knitters who are worth reading about; and there’s a blog you really need to take a look at.

Electric Sheep began exactly one year ago today, and my thanks to all those who have listened since then. This week, the Sheep takes over the intro with a special re-mix of the theme tune and a selection of his favourite moments from the past 43 episodes.You have been warned. Plus we have our first Skype interview with the fabulous Woolly Wormhead. There’s the new edition of Knitty to explore; a UK yarn review; some questions for the Sheep; an advert that gets it right with guerrilla knitting; and the wonders of the K Factor.

With the first anniversary of the podcast fast approaching, I thought it was time for a quick recap of some of the episodes that have gone before. Plus we take a look at a Kim Hargreaves’ pattern book, a karma-tastic British yarn, and an alpaca that’s following in David Hasselhoff’s footsteps. Breeze – Kim Hargreaves Ethical Twist Alpaca surfer

Sadly, not a show dedicated to the wonder of the sweater, but the awfulness of a movie. It’s the return of the Sheep’s film review. Plus we take a look at the latest pattern book from Woolly Wormhead, and there’s a fab knitting fair coming to Liverpool. Twisted Woolly Toppers Make Do & Knit

Those dastardly advertising folk at Vodafone are at it again. Hear all about the latest hotly debated hijacking of the knit. Plus we take a look at the new Spring issue of Interweave Knits. Cheer Up Ireland – Ravelry discussion thread Interweave Knits Spring 2010

This week the Sheep is in a feisty mood, taking a look at copyright theft, the power of Twitter and wondering if we’re sheep following the flock, or David tackling Goliath. Plus, we have another chat about the heinous Daily Mail article. And then we cheer ourselves up with some beards. Hidden Eloise has the whole story on her blog (including recent developments not mentioned in the podcast) Perri Lewis investigates -  Her blog with links and comments & in The Guardian looking at copyright issues for independent designers. See the previous post for the Daily Mail’s idiotic article on knitting. (And my rant about it). The (New) Daily Mail Oncological Ontology Project Daily Mail o-matic The Beard Cage The Best Beards. Ever.