Explore every episode of the podcast Yarn Library

This week, I’m joined by Melanie Berg, the knitwear designer behind Mairlynd.

I first met Melanie when I accidentally attended one of her shawl-design classes entirely in German. Thanks to Google Translate, I managed to follow the class and came away inspired to create my Tide Path shawl.

In this conversation, we explore the relationship between creativity and practicality. Melanie talks about knowing when a design has become too complicated, the difference between designing and writing a usable pattern, and why she thinks of swatching as going on a blind date with your yarn.

She also shares the deeply personal story behind her row maps. The idea grew from her own experience of breast cancer and her connection with Chad Lewis, who helped people continue knitting while undergoing cancer treatment. Their row maps now help knitters keep their place when illness, grief or life itself makes concentration difficult.

We also talk about colour, variegated yarn, left-handed knitting, sustainability, the realities of earning a living as a designer and the difficulty of switching off when creative work is also your hobby.

Melanie turns the tables on me too, asking about humour, social media and what I would do if Instagram disappeared tomorrow.

It’s a warm and wide-ranging conversation about making, teaching and creating patterns that are not only beautiful, but genuinely enjoyable to knit.

Find Melanie at https://mairlynd.de, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mairlynd/, or discover The Knit Class at https://www.knitclass.com/.

In this episode, I’m joined by Irina Shaar, the creator and host of Fiber Chats.

We talk about why she started interviewing people from across the fibre world, what she has learned from those conversations, and the moments that have stayed with her. From finding “your people” at Rhinebeck to knitting through COVID and the way craft connects generations, this becomes a much wider conversation about what knitting gives us.

We also talk honestly about social media, going viral, creative confidence, pattern testing, size inclusivity, pricing and the extraordinary amount of work that goes into designing a knitting pattern, including one shawl that took 250 hours to create.

It’s a warm, funny and sometimes very personal conversation about community, creativity, mistakes and the people behind the patterns.

A quick note on the introduction: it contains short extracts from the conversation, including the line, “I wouldn’t buy a pattern without 100 projects.” These clips are intended as previews of the discussion, not complete standalone statements. The full context comes later in the episode, so please don’t interpret them separately from the wider conversation.

Chantal Miyagishima is the designer and creative force behind Knitatude, one of the most recognisable brands in modern knitting.

We talk about how she went from selling handmade scarves at markets to building a pattern business, writing Sweater Success and creating a community of more than 250 knitters.

Chantal explains what really goes into grading garments across a wide range of sizes, what she has learned from ten years of pattern testing, and why inclusive design is much more complicated than simply scaling a sweater up or down.

We also talk about marketing, burnout, slow fashion, boxing, knit nights, AI-generated patterns and why Chantal still replies to almost everyone who messages her.

Find Chantal:
Instagram, TikTok and YouTube: @Knitatude

Sweater Success is available wherever books are sold.

In this episode of Yarn Library, I’m joined by Aleks Byrd, a designer, teacher and author known for her work with traditional Estonian knitting techniques.

Aleks taught me Estonian inlay a few years ago in New York, and I later used that technique on my heavy metal jumper, so this was a particularly lovely conversation to have.

We talk about what it’s like to teach knitters all over the world, from adapting Estonian braids for Portuguese style knitters to preparing for a packed teaching tour in Australia. Aleks shares what changes from country to country, why some knitting cultures have such strong foundations, and why the best workshops are often about confidence as much as technique.

We also talk about Aleks’s Estonian heritage, her move to Estonia, and the balance between preserving traditional craft and making it feel alive, modern and accessible. We discuss Estonian inlay, national costume, the importance of naming techniques properly, and what happens when heritage craft becomes part of contemporary design.

Along the way, we talk about in person teaching, yarn festivals, books, lace overlays, and the joy of bringing historic techniques into modern knitting.

A thoughtful conversation about identity, tradition, travel, teaching and the living future of craft.

In this episode of Yarn Library, I’m joined by the brilliant Xandy Peters for a properly thought-provoking conversation about knitting, creativity, originality, and what it really means to design something new.

We talk about rage bait in the knitting world, why social media rewards negative hooks, and how that shapes the way craft is talked about online. Xandy also explains the magic of stacked stitches, the design thinking behind Fox Paws, and why mistakes in knitting are sometimes just discoveries in the wrong place.

From there, we get into the bigger questions: is knitting design a meritocracy? Are patterns really the product? Why is it so hard to build trust as a designer now? And where is the line between art, design, craft and instructions?

There’s also beige, digital overwhelm, Munich Knits, knitted nipple tassels, pattern publishing, originality, copying, stitch innovation, and Xandy’s new flower technique.

A wide-ranging, funny and fascinating conversation with one of the most original thinkers in the knitting world.

In this episode of Yarn Library, Adam is joined by Lisa Ha, better known as Get To Hooking Crochet: crochet royalty, author of Snarky Crochet, and one of the funniest voices in the online craft world.

Adam and Lisa expose the truth behind their internet spats and talk about the world of crafting as an influencer. They discuss their entirely fake but surprisingly convincing knitting-versus-crochet rivalry, the infamous i-cord incident, going viral, dealing with comments, the pressure to have an opinion on everything, and how hard it really is to make money as a creator.

Lisa also talks about learning crochet as a child, becoming funny online almost by accident, writing her first book, supporting other makers, and her ongoing mission to become impressive enough for her teenager via a YouTube Play Button.

It is funny, sharp, occasionally inappropriate, and much warmer than either of them would probably like to admit.

In this short episode, Adam shares what’s next for the Yarn Library Podcast. He talks about Georgia stepping back to focus on her PhD, gives thanks for everything she brought to the podcast, and introduces Series 3: a new interview-led chapter featuring thoughtful, wide-ranging conversations from across the world of yarn, craft and creativity.

After celebrating the Hungarian election results (with a little help from some Bilum yarns), we discuss shushing the shh…, (ft. a diversion into engineering disaster that is Georgia’s undergrad library), an errata on merino wool staple length, and finally – Knitting in Public. 

Prompted by a lovely email from a listener we explore the social dynamics, privilege, assumptions about gender and sexuality, concert knitting etiquette and why Georgia had to do a chicken dance this weekend somewhere very fancy.

A labour of love, a test of relationships, and occasionally a source of chaos. This week, Yarn Library dives into the joys and anxieties of gifts, from the thorny question of who is truly "knit worthy" to quantifying the real term numbers on just how many hours you're really gifting when you cast on a jumper. Adam shares a jaw-dropping story from his recent yarn travels and Georgia has a colour work revelation that's given her a new lease of life – and a growing list of gift projects she might actually finish.

Adam and Georgia continue their wide-ranging conversation on sustainability and craft. Georgia shares her years-long quest for the perfect "forever whisk" and a truly terrible housemate gift. They dive into the surprising environmental impact of small-scale ceramics versus mass production, debate the great superwash yarn controversy (chlorine, microplastics, and why Adam is firmly a fan), and unpack the dramatic story of Australia's 1990s wool stockpile crisis.

Join us in the Yarn Library as Georgia brings the notes and Adam brings his opinions (unsourced). This week dives headfirst into the spicy and polarising world of sustainability, complete with repurposed blocking mat cushions, UN reports and why working with uncertainty is sometimes all we can do. Part one of what is definitely going to be two parts... probably.

Wherever you go in the world, there will always be craft! Which makes travel the perfect conversation starter. Your resident yarn librarians take you on a tour of various craftly escapades including love, loss and Lopi. All aboard! 

After many requests for longer visiting hours at the library, Adam and Georgia allow their weekly "housekeeping" to go off piste. Look forward to William Morris tears, retreat highs (and lows), and even what sealed the deal when Georgia met Dima on a dating app.

This week, the Yarn Library talks through mistakes and how we relate to them in our crafts – and beyond! As ever, there's some respectful disagreement, endearing anecdotes, and deep dives into parts of life you didn't think contemplable. 

This week, we discuss how side-by-side crafting build connection and friendships... and why Yarn Library almost became a solo project due to some Rogue Yarn Club communication mishaps. It’s a chat about gendered spaces, communities of practice, and the enduring power of "knit and natter".

The conversation continues with a cornucopia of tangential – yet surprisingly relevant – thoughts on learning. Adam and Georgia discuss how useful ideas can be found in unexpected places including Medicine, Formula One, and the Kindergarten. 

Adam and Georgia deep dive into their knitting origins stories to kick off Season 2 of Yarn Library! With 'that programme' out of the way, look forward to more of the crafty chats you've been asking for. We hope you enjoy Part 1 of our double bill on learning.

We're thrilled to confirm Yarn Library's return for a second season of craftful banter. Enjoy this quick update to let you know what's on the way. 

Seven weeks, fourteen challenges, two dogs, four Team GB divers, and more crocheting than anyone could have anticipated, we reached the final of the Game of Wool. Adam and Georgia dissect the tasks and the result, and reflect on the first series of this flawed but redeemable show.

For more information about the yarn bomb bunting opportunity mentioned in the showcase spot, you can find more details linked below at Sew Knit Craft’s website. Your bunting triangles can be knit or crocheted in any yarn, then either dropped off in person or posted to the shop.

https://sewknitcraft.co.uk/blogs/news/bunting-knit-crochet-a-long

Adam and Georgia make their remote recording debut, discussing all things Game of Wool – it’s Semi-Finals week! The contestants take to dynamic challenges with an eco lean: reimagined Aran jumpers and luxury bags.

Georgia and Adam call their weekly press conference for Statement Week on the Game of Wool – don't worry, there's only one "no comment". As ever, this week's Yarn Library delves into a hodgepodge of tantalising tangents, including Victorian bin bags and an emotionally derailed Aldi trip.

This week, your yarn librarians roll with the rough and smooth of “texture week”. Adam and Georgia break down Game of Wool’s mishap miracles, farfalle fumbles, and pea-forward planning… all served up with a steaming hot side of Munich Mayhem. Enjoy!

This week, we talk fancy dress, avoided techniques, and Adam delivers his first dramatic reading on the pod. In honour of Game of Wool's group challenge, we also reconnect with our inner child through a paper-pen throwback.

Holiday Week sees the knitters create glam swimwear, and wrestle with the curse of the soggy bottom. Adam and Georgia rave about Holger's rave-ready string vest, brag about bougie yarn, and soapbox on tacit material knowledge.

Prompted by the outrage from the Shetland craft community on Channel 4's misrepresentation of Fair Isle knitting, we talk about preservation of heritage crafts, and why we must strive to respect their language and traditions.

We continue our coverage of the Game of Wool, addressing Gordon's response, the catwalk of doggy costumes, and some unapologetically 80s mohair creations. Will we have any hot takes on crochet vs. knitting, or engage in intellectual chats about skill acquisition? You bet.

In this episode, we delve into the complexities of pattern design in the knitting community, including recent controversies surrounding designer compensation, and the myth of exposure-as-compensation. We also touch upon the economics of pattern design, and reflect on the broader implications of craft and the pursuit of mastery in the knitting world.

Knitting influencer Adam Cleevely and craft researcher Georgia Denham have a chat about Episode 1 of the Game of Wool on Channel 4. We talk through the funniest moments, the tragedies, and everything in between – even the adverts!