On today's episode I'm cheering myself up in the face of the cold, grey, damp weather. I'm looking forward to some of the simple pleasures of autumn, and fessing up to falling off the destash wagon in a glorious little yarn binge. Show Sponsors: Meadow Yarn is an inviting online retailer selling yarn, needles and notions. It's a small, family business based in rural Suffolk in the UK. Meadow Yarn was born out of a passion for beautiful yarn and knitting accessories and aims to bring you a range of great products. Yarns stocked include Northbound Knitting, Eden Cottage Yarn, the Fibre Co and many more. Blacker Yarns produce a diverse range of breed specific yarn for your knitting and crochet projects. With everything from Shetland and Blue-Faced Leicester through to Wensleydale, Gotland and Manx you’ll be sure to find an unexpected treat. If you are thinking of embarking upon a breed specific adventure, then head over to www.blackeryarns.co.uk. All Blacker’s wares are spun and dyed at their mill in Cornwall using 100% British Fibre and sustainable production methods.” The Shawl Society Update: The 5th shawl in the The Shawl Society will be out next week! Keep your eyes on Instagram for a sneak peek of the design. I used two gradient sets for the samples: Seven Sisters Arts Gradients Seven Sisters Arts has designed a special set just for this pattern: Aurora Gradient Even though we’re in the home stretch of TSS, we still have new members joining us all the time! If you’d like to be a part of the fun, you can join buy purchasing the Shawl Society ebook on Ravelry. You can enjoy the four patterns already released, the two surprises still on the way, and a community that will be knitting together for a long time to come. Copper Corgi Gradients The Knitting Pipeline If you want a chance to win two skeins of Blacker Yarn’s special edition dyed St. Kilda Laceweight make sure that you post your finished Quill Shawl to the Finished Object Thread by Sunday October 2nd. Show Links: Autumn Watch RSPB Arranmore Yarn from The Fibre Co. The Grocery Girls Gregoria Fibers Moel View Yarn Hedgerow Yarns Crafts from the Third Floor Podcast Norah George Blacker Yarn St. Kilda Limited Edition Laceweight Giveaway I’m running a giveaway of The Mindfulness in Knitting by Rachel Matthews. Thanks to the publisher, I have five copies of the book available to win! You can hear all about the book on last week’s episode  and possibly win a copy for yourself, is you leave a comment on that post telling me how knitting brings your joy. Get your comment in by Tuesday the 4th of October, when I’ll be drawing five names. That's everything for today. Have a great weekend, and happy knitting!

  This week I'm talking about the freshest of fresh starts: a brand new baby! There seem to be a lot of babies on the way in the knitting podcast world, and I'm looking forward to a fresh new niece to knit for very soon. I give a rundown of some of my favourite patterns for baby gifts, and my own fantasy knitting queue for fresh babies. Show Sponsors: Meadow Yarn is an inviting online retailer selling yarn, needles and notions. It's a small, family business based in rural Suffolk in the UK. Meadow Yarn was born out of a passion for beautiful yarn and knitting accessories and aims to bring you a range of great products. Yarns stocked include Northbound Knitting, Eden Cottage Yarn, the Fibre Co and many more. Blacker Yarns produce a diverse range of breed specific yarn for your knitting and crochet projects. With everything from Shetland and Blue-Faced Leicester through to Wensleydale, Gotland and Manx you’ll be sure to find an unexpected treat. If you are thinking of embarking upon a breed specific adventure, then head over to www.blackeryarns.co.uk. All Blacker’s wares are spun and dyed at their mill in Cornwall using 100% British Fibre and sustainable production methods.” Giveaway Leave a comment on this post to let me know "What is it about knitting that gives you the most joy?" To be in the running for one of 5 copies of The Mindfulness in Knitting Show Links: Little Skein in the Big Wool Little Skein in the Big Wool Instagram Knitting Expat Podcast Fluffy Fibers Podcast Hue Loco Podcast Knitting Pipeline Podcast Twinkle Twinkle Blanket Georgie Blanket Vivid by Tin Can Knits Dogwood by Tin Can Knits Flax Pullover by Tin Can Knits Flax Light Pullover by Tin Can Knits Baby Kina Cardigan by Muriela Granny’s Favourite by Georgie Nicolson Baby Sophisticate by Linden Down Popcorndrakt by Paelas Paelas Kjappstrikka Drakt: Quick Knit Suit Little Sister’s Dress by Tora Frøseth Design Elijah the Elephant by Ysolde Teague Sophie Rabbit by Ysolde Teague Wooly Wormhead Painted Wooly Toppers for Kids The Mindfulness in Knitting by Rachel Matthews The Cast Off Knitting Club The Shawl Society Update: Blacker Yarns is sponsoring the Mini KAL prize for Quill this month. They’ve given us a gorgeous skein of their brand new very limited edition St. Kilda Laceweight. I've topped it up with another skien, so this is a really special prize! Make sure you post a photo of your finished Quill to the FO Thread on Ravelry by October 2nd for your chance to win! That's everything for this week's episode (it's quite a lot!) I'll talk to you next week. Until then, happy knitting!

Sometimes fresh starts require a little reflection, so today I'm thinking about the goals I had at the beginning of the year, and how I might creatively engage with them in fresh new ways before the year is out. Show Sponsors: Meadow Yarn is an inviting online retailer selling yarn, needles and notions. It's a small, family business based in rural Suffolk in the UK. Meadow Yarn was born out of a passion for beautiful yarn and knitting accessories and aims to bring you a range of great products. Yarns stocked include Northbound Knitting, Eden Cottage Yarn, the Fibre Co and many more. Blacker Yarns produce a diverse range of breed specific yarn for your knitting and crochet projects. With everything from Shetland and Blue-Faced Leicester through to Wensleydale, Gotland and Manx you’ll be sure to find an unexpected treat. If you are thinking of embarking upon a breed specific adventure, then head over to www.blackeryarns.co.uk. All Blacker’s wares are spun and dyed at their mill in Cornwall using 100% British Fibre and sustainable production methods.” Show Links: Yan Tan Tethera Country House Retreat Aranmore Yarn by The Fibre Co. Madewell Cardigan by Joji Locatelli in Eden Cottage Yarn’s Oakworth 4 Ply in the Pennine Mist colourway for the #CHRetreatMadeWellAlong Maria Elena Bliss Project Bags Times Square Cardigan by Norah Gaughan in Fibre Company’s Knightsbridge yarn. Reyka Pullover by Cirilia Rose Yarniacs Colors of Fall KAL #yarniacscolors2016 Tamar DK by Blacker Yarn The Wooly Thistle for Tamar DK in America Spindrift Shawl Free Pattern and Workshop Spindrift Shawl KAL Thread Spindrift KAL winners: April: post 250 eyoung914 May: post 916 TheCarelessCat June: post 1426: Artephile July: post 1024 Joels Aug: post 1851 sgilck That's everything for now! Chat to you next week and until then, happy knitting!

I fell in love with the idea of "Fresh Starts" after last week's episode: the change of seasons is always exciting to me, with endless possibilities opening up. Today I'm chatting about what's fresh in my knitting world, discussing new routines and new-to-me yarnies, designers, podcasts and patterns. Show Sponsors: Meadow Yarn is an inviting online retailer selling yarn, needles and notions. It's a small, family business based in rural Suffolk in the UK. Meadow Yarn was born out of a passion for beautiful yarn and knitting accessories and aims to bring you a range of great products. Yarns stocked include Northbound Knitting, Eden Cottage Yarn, the Fibre Co and many more. What’s in the WIP: I finished the vanilla socks I was knitting from the delicious Regia Pairfect in the Cheesecake colourway. I've wound my yarn for the Madewell Cardigan by Joji Locatelli in Eden Cottage Yarn’s Oakworth 4 Ply in the Pennine Mist colourway for the #CHRetreatMadeWellAlong Show Links: Yan Tan Tethera Yarns The speckley socks that let me discover this lovely yarn Camp Wilkerson Shawl by Caitlin Hunter Boyland Knitworks Dingo Dyeworks Video Podcast Dingo Dyeworks Instagram Dingo Dyeworks Episode 8 The Gentle Knitter Video Podcast Stranded Magazine Stranded "Mild Weather" Issue Double Knit Podcast Tupshin Socks by Erin Birnel Tupshin KAL, running September 1st to 30th The Shawl Society Update I've released the 4th pattern in The Shawl Society, Quill Quill is available now as part of The Shawl Society: buy the ebook here: The Shawl Society The design for Quill draws from older, more patient ways of making and doing. This elongated, triangular shawl features stripes like the lines of a letter on a parchment page and a lace border inspired by feathers. Dream dictionaries say that to dream of writing with a quill pen “symbolizes the way you view your creative process — slow, methodical, beautiful, and not very technological.” For me, that lines up beautifully with the way I approach my knitting, and the way I imagine the Quill shawl in the world. Quill is a generously sized shawl with an engaging mix of colour and texture. It makes for relaxing knitting, and the yarn selected adds another layer of old-fashioned comfort. Tamar DK yarn from Blacker Yarns is a soft, squishy DK weight with rustic charm and a sophisticated colour palette. It is made from historic Wensleydale, Teeswater, Cotswold and Black Leicester Longwool, all British heritage breeds chosen for their long, wavy, lustre fleece. A generous helping of local Cornish mule lambs’ fleece gives this yarn extra bounce and give. Even though the knitting community today is largely bound together with the modern magic of the Internet, the objects we make with our hands are a throwback to a graceful past. Knitting Quill is a beautiful way to slow down at the end of a busy day, giving yourself over to an uncomplicated creative practice and a quieter way of being in the world. Tamar DK by Blacker Yarn Acadia by The Fibre Co Asana KAL winners Winner of the Eden Cottage Yarn: Post #101 by tucker-doory on Ravelry Winner of The Uncommon Thread Yarn: Post #89 by fatpieceofwool on Ravelry Events: Curious Handmade Country House Retreat Oct 20 – 23 // Cumbria, UK The Autumn Country House retreat is coming up quickly. The last few places are available to book, and we'd love to see you there.Cast on your own Madewell Retreat Cardigan and join the fun. It's going to be a very special weekend, and it's the perfect place to relax into creativity with likeminded knitters and some spectacular scenery. If you are interested in finding out more you can email me – helen@curioushandmade.com That's everything for this week! Happy knitting.

Today's episode is about the feeling of freshness and excitement that comes with the change of the seasons. I have itchy fingers and a serious case of Cast-on-itis, and  I'm enjoying every minute. Show Sponsors: Meadow Yarn is an inviting online retailer selling yarn, needles and notions. It's a small, family business based in rural Suffolk in the UK. Meadow Yarn was born out of a passion for beautiful yarn and knitting accessories and aims to bring you a range of great products. Yarns stocked include Northbound Knitting, Eden Cottage Yarn, the Fibre Co and many more. Located on charming Walcot Street in the heart of Bath’s Artisan Quarter is A Yarn Story. Specialising in hand-dyed yarns and luxury fibres from around the world, A Yarn Story is a destination shop, both in-person and online! Major yarn and accessories brands include Hedgehog Fibres, Madelinetosh, Shibui Knits, ChiaoGoo and Cocoknits – and of course many more! Start creating your own yarn story… What’s in the WIP: About to cast off an enormously fun and very quick pair of vanilla socks using Regia Pairfect in the Cheesecake colourway Just cast on another pair of socks using Lollipop sock yarn in the Downton Abbey colourway Wound my yarn for the Pure Joy shawl by Joji Locatelli using my beloved Juno Getting ready to swatch for my Madewell Cardigan by Joji Locatelli in Eden Cottage Yarn’s Oakworth 4 Ply in the Pennine Mist colourway. I need to finish my Times Square Cardigan by Norah Gaughan which I am knitting from the Fibre Company’s gorgeous Knightsbridge yarn. The Shawl Society Update Blacker Yarn’s Tamar DK You can find Tamar in the US from The Wooly Thistle The three shawls that have been released so far are: Talisman Amulet Asana There are three more surprise patterns to come. If you’d like to join in, all you need to do is buy The Shawl Society eBook on Ravelry here. The mini Asana KAL is incredibly inspiring to watch, and we have some beautiful prizes this time from Eden Cottage Yarn and The Uncommon Thread. There are a couple more days to post your finished shawl to the FO thread to be in the running. The deadline is September 4th. Remember that even if you finish after the deadline, you should still post your FOs, as we’ll be drawing prizes for the overall TSS KAL in November! Events: Curious Handmade Country House Retreat Oct 20 – 23 // Cumbria, UK The Autumn Country House retreat is on the way in just under seven weeks, and we're all getting very excited. There are still a couple of twin share places available to book, and we'd love to have you along. Cast on your own Madewell Retreat Cardigan and join the fun, The retreat is being sponsored by The Fibre Company, so you know there will be some very special treats for the attendees. It's a wonderful opportunity to nourish your creative spirit, make some steadfast knitting friends, and just take a break from everyday life. If you are interested in finding out more you can email me – helen@curioushandmade.com