Spinning A Yarn's Tale – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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Spinning A Yarn's Tale

Blair Staake

Arts

Frequency: 1 episode/17d. Total Eps: 16

Spinning a Yarn's Tale is a podcast about fiber arts history and culture. Follow us, Denise and Blair, on a meandering journey across the world of fiber and its rich history and culture. We'll be talking about knitting, crochet, spinning and sheep!

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Apple Podcasts

🇬🇧 Great Britain - visualArts
02/07/2026
#77
🇬🇧 Great Britain - visualArts
01/07/2026
#55
🇬🇧 Great Britain - visualArts
17/05/2026
#100
🇬🇧 Great Britain - visualArts
16/05/2026
#62
🇺🇸 USA - visualArts
08/04/2026
#88
🇩🇪 Germany - visualArts
14/03/2026
#100
🇩🇪 Germany - visualArts
13/03/2026
#73
🇩🇪 Germany - visualArts
12/03/2026
#63
🇩🇪 Germany - visualArts
11/03/2026
#33
🇨🇦 Canada - visualArts
15/02/2026
#100

Spotify

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Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bonnie-27
11 shares
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/graminees
3 shares
https://www.eweandiyarns.com/
3 shares

https://youtu.be/FyiyRQ-1E8w
2 shares
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsWL-2xHFps
2 shares
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVF3WAGGV5Q&ab_channel=FruityKnitting
1 share

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 43%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

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Latest published episodes

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MINI EPISODE: 3 Darners

Monday, October 16, 2023 • Duration 12:20

This week I dove a little bit into the different types of darners out there and their Significance in history! I personally like the darning eggs with the short handles, but what are your favorite types of darners?

Our Instagram Page

Reference List

Gilday E. A Darn Good Egg: Darning Tools for Holey Socks. Piecework. 2018;26(1):48-52. Accessed October 16, 2023. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aft&AN=126584944&site=eds-live&scope=site

HABIT F. The Egg and I: Tools for Darning. Piecework. 2020;28(3):12-14. Accessed October 16, 2023. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edb&AN=144272650&site=eds-live&scope=site

https://homethingspast.com/2012/06/07/darning-eggs-mushrooms/

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MINI EPISODE: 2 Steeking

Monday, October 2, 2023 • Duration 10:31

I enjoy steeking, mostly because I hate knitting flat. Why go back and forth when I could go round and round? I know there are arguments that a flat knit garment fits better, but I kind of like the oversized look myself anyway.

Photos on our Instagram

Resources:

https://www.interweave.com/wp-content/uploads/Steeks-Cutting-the-Edge.pdf

https://kddandco.com/2012/04/29/steeks-1-introduction/

https://kddandco.com/2014/08/15/what-is-a-steek/

https://www.hazeltindall.com/steeks

https://icelandicknitter.com/traditional-icelandic-steek-on-my-gamaldags-lopi-sweater/

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Episode 6 - France: Knitting for the Revolution!

Season 1 · Episode 6

Monday, April 10, 2023 • Duration 53:38

This week we are continuing our journey through Europe and we take a pit stop in France! The French have a rich knitting history, just like some of its surrounding countries. The most interesting part is definitely les Tricoteuses; knitters who would watch executions while knitting peacefully on hats. Interesting image? Take a listen to learn more!

Knitting Patterns mentioned:

- Bonnie Cardigan https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bonnie-27

Our sources:

- Beautiful article about revolutionary knitting in France https://lithub.com/on-the-covert-role-of-knitting-during-the-french-revolution-and-world-war-ii/

- Picture of William Lee’s knitting machine can be found here

https://madeupinbritain.uk/Stockings

- Information on natural dyes

https://thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist-features/to-dye-for

- Tricoteuses information https://www.geriwalton.com/tricoteuse-knitting-women-of-the-guillotine/

- Tricoteuses informationhttps://timeline.com/tricoteuse-french-revolution-b9887af073f4

- History of knitting in France (in French)

Episode 5 - Irish Crochet Lace & Welsh Blankets: Crafting to Stay Alive!

Monday, March 27, 2023 • Duration 36:23

This week we are diving into the world of Irish Crochet Lace and Welsh blankets. Two subjects that seem quite unrelated, but can be united by the fact that they are old crafts that were done to stay alive. There are still some ways to support the weavers in Wales, so we added some of those links down below! Definitely worth checking out; hand-crafting used to keep people alive, now we need to keep hand-crafting alive :).

Enjoy!

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bonnie-27

Websites for supporting Welsh weavers:

https://www.t-w-m.co.uk

https://museum.wales/wool/

https://thewelshgirl.com/

REFERENCES:

IRISH LACE:

McCooey, N. (2017). Life Saving Lace. Selvedge.

Brooks, M. (2012). Supplementary meterial1. Textile History. https://doi.org/10.1179/0040496912z.00000000010.s1

Knitting, Crochet, and Netting, With Twelve Illustrations (London: S. Knights, 1846)

Castles, H. (2011). Hybrid stitched textile art: Contemporary interpretations of mid nineteenth century Irish crochet lace making (thesis). University of Ulster, Belfast.

WELSH BLANKETS:

Pictures of Welsh Blankets:

Episode 4 - Fair Isle: The Not So Ancient Art

Monday, March 13, 2023 • Duration 30:42

This week we're going over the brief history and culture surrounding Fair Isle! There's some....... Misconceptions about this supposedly ancient way of knitting. But! I think my favorite part this week is about how fair isle came to the Fair Isles. I know it sounds a little redundant, but trust me, it's a good one!

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bonnie-27

Resources:

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1427&context=tsaconf

“The art of fair isle knitting history, technique, color, and patterns” Ann Feitelson

https://yarnandknitting.com/know-your-sheep-the-shetland-sheep/

https://www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk

https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland

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Episode 3 - Fishermen Were Terrible Husbands

Monday, February 27, 2023 • Duration 36:10

Hi and welcome in! This week we're chatting about ganseys! This adventure takes us through a little bit about the history and stitch pattern of a traditional gansey, as well as the culture behind the fishermen wearing them. Sometimes they were great husbands, sometimes they were.........not. But either way it was interesting to research! Thanks for watching

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bonnie-27

Our sources:

Ruhe, Stella. 2014. Dutch Traditional Ganseys: Sweaters from 40 Villages.

Gilpin, Di & Greenwell, Shelia. 2021.The Gansey Knitting Sourcebook: 150 stitch patterns and 10 projects for gansey knits.

Pictures of ganseys

http://www.ganseys.com/gallery/gordons-ganseys/the-netherlands/urk/

A cool article about Ganseys

https://www.selvedge.org/blogs/selvedge/the-hand-knit-gansey

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Episode 2 - A Brief History of England, Scotland, and Ireland Oh My!

Monday, February 13, 2023 • Duration 50:13

Hi and welcome in!

This is our second episode and that's so weird to think about. Today we chat about the histories of a few different countries, Scotland, England and Ireland to name them. Though there are not as many stocks and socks references in this one, there is a decent amount of banter! MY favorite highlights are the terrible knitters of Dent, tams, and aran sweaters. Thank you for listening again and see you in two weeks!

https://www.eweandiyarns.com/

Blair & Denise (@spinningayarnstale) • Instagram photos and videos

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bonnie-27

References:

Howitt, William. The Rural Life of England (1838)
Rutt, Richard. A History of Hand Knitting. First published in 1987.
Hartley, Marie & Ingilby, Joan. The Old Hand-Knitters of the Dales. 1951.
Blogpost by Penelope Hemingway about "swaving": https://theknittinggenie.com/2013/02/04/not-swaving-but-drooning/
Dales Discoveries about the Terrible Knitters of Dent https://www.dalesdiscoveries.com/more-inspiration/71-terrible-knitters-of-dent
A Stitch in Time https://blog.historicenvironment.scot/2020/05/stitch-time-knitting-archives/#:~:text=Knitting%20was%20a%20popular%20practice,and%20tight%2Dfitting%20for%20warmth
Nargi, Lela. Knitting Around the World: A multi-stranded history of a time-honored tradition. 2011.
History of kilts - Scottish Kilt Collection

Episode 1 - A Brief History of Knitting (ft. Stocks and Socks)

Season 1 · Episode 1

Tuesday, January 31, 2023 • Duration 35:44

Hi and welcome!

This is our first episode of Spinning a Yarn's Tale, a podcast brought to you by Ewe and I Yarns in Chehalis Washington. This episode is a brief history of knitting, and an even brief-er history of spinning and sheep. We chat about the general history without getting too into the details, and there might be some allusions to wearing socks and sandals. We hope to have many more informative episodes filled with maybe a little too much giggling, so please stick around!

https://www.eweandiyarns.com/

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bonnie-27

Show notes:

The first knitted stockings ever found https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Islamic_sock.jpg
Coulthard, Sally. A Short History of the World According to Sheep. 2020.
A good picture of one of the Knitting Madonnas paintings that we looked at https://annkingstone.com/knitting-madonnas/
Rutt, Richard. A History of Hand Knitting. First published in 1987.
Thomas, Mary. Mary Thomas's Knitting Book. 1938.
Nargi, Lela. Knitting Around the World: A multi-stranded history of a time-honored tradition. 2011.

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MINI EPISODE: 1 Circular Needles

Monday, September 18, 2023 • Duration 11:04

Hi all!

Blair checking in to see how all of you are doing, you're well I hope? I'm going to be putting out some mini episodes to bridge the gap between our last episode and when we start recording our longer episodes again. These are going to be coming out on a bi-weekly basis, just like our usual episodes. The only exception is that these are going to be about 10- 15 minutes in length and cover one small, particular, subject.

This weeks episode is about the history of circular needles! I found a few cool facts, and I hope you find them as interesting as I did!

Photos on our Instagram!

REFERENCES:

https://loopholes.blog/2020/02/circular-knitting-needles/

https://pieceworkmagazine.com/going-in-circles-a-history-of-knitting-in-the-round/

The Hazy History of Knitting Needles and article by Anne Berk

Found in my colleges online library catalog.

https://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aft&AN=71325962&site=eds-live&scope=site

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Episode 13 - Nalbinding

Monday, July 31, 2023 • Duration 44:53

Hi there! In the last episode of this season, we are going back in time to talk to you about a craft that we have mentioned several times over the past few episodes: Nalbinding. Nalbinding is one of the oldest needle-crafts and often coined as the predecessor to knitting. But what is nalbinding, how does it work, and is the craft still alive today? Find out in this episode!

Resources:

Picture of Nålbound sock:

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/520143fde4b089a05854f6ac/bb2e9c82-e16b-4642-8b5a-cea1c2a66d6a/Schermafbeelding+2022-01-16+om+12.44.17.png?format=2500w

Nålbinding tutorial:

https://youtu.be/FyiyRQ-1E8w

https://spinoffmagazine.com/nalbinding-a-short-history-of-an-ancient-craft/

https://www.studiomyr.com/blog/2022/1/14/the-history-of-knitwear

https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/nalbinding/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%A5lebinding

Stitch explanation:

http://vakerrysta.blogspot.com/2017/10/what-does-f2-mean-which-nalbinding.html

Spinning A Yarn's Tale – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

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Spinning A Yarn's Tale – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other93

Youtube8

Wikipedia4

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other93

Youtube8

Wikipedia4