Explore every episode of the podcast Yarns at Yin Hoo

I’m still knitting on the same projects as last episode, so I indulge in some dream knitting and talk about three patterns that have my attention for spring / summer knitting. There’s a lot of hand stitching underway, including my Alabama Chanin bolero and dress, plus a partial placket shirt with the help of Cal Patch. I include a recipe for black sesame cornbread and two poems by Poet Laureate Ada Limǒn. Plus, the winner of the Q1 prize is announced!

It may have been more than ten years since I began knitting the Inspira Cowl  with colorful, playful, frustratingly tangly Noro yarn.  After a long hibernation, it is BACK and I'm determined to finish.  Plus, casting on the Pressed Flowers shawl, continuing work on a hand sewing project, baking, and a poem by Margaret Ray.

It's a (late) review of my visit to Vogue Knitting Live in NYC and the details of a newly-finished knitting project.  Plus, a poem by Ellen Bass, sewing another Amy Jumpsuit and giving woolens a refresh in the snow!

You don't necessarily need a sweater's quantity of yarn to knit a sweater.  My new Orbital Jumper used up most of my scraps and leftovers.  It's cozy, warm and uniquely mine.  Plus, what's on my needles now and I finally have a craft room instead of an office with an ironing board in the corner!

My recently-finished knit is a REALLY good sweater.  So good, I plan to knit another one very soon. This, and all my other project details, plus some boba inspiration for the holiday season are included in this episode.

In this episode, I talk about overcoming obstacles like working colorwork flat by purling back backwards.  Plus, more hearty recipes from Six Seasons.

I finished a test knit using Tidal Yarns and some fringe. Plus, new cast ons, fiber-y events, stitching a self-portrait, the return of #powerpantry, and a poem suited to the times by Kay Ryan.

It’s a review of my weekend in Rhinebeck for the New York Sheep and Wool Festival and A Woolen Affair. I talk about what I wore, where I shopped, and all the goodness of a fiber festival at peak leaf peeping in New York State. Plus, a life-changing loaf of bread, my clog obsession, and a poem to celebrate the season.

An update on new sewn and knit garments, teaching and planning for classes, a quilting retreat, and Rhinebeck-bound.

Fall festival season continues with a trip to the Southern Adirondack Wool & Arts Festival to meet the men behind two new yarn companies.  

It's fiber festival season and knitting is in full gear!

Once and for all … I commit M1L and M1R to memory. Two nearly, oh so nearly, finished knitting projects, a new one on the horizon, sewing the Plover Pouch, and a new frontier in education. Plus, a poem featuring allusions to sewing and needlework by Samiya Bashir.

I've been making progress on two knitting projects and just finished a hand-sewn top with curved piecing.  Plus, an excerpt from my current read about owls!

This is your chance to exchange a puzzle and other gifts totalling $20-25 to make December 2024 extra special. This episode contains the details of the exchange and hopefully the answers to your questions. Looking forward to another great exchange!

It’s all about the knitting and the cooking in this episode. I’m working toward a Rhinebeck sweater and a wool skirt to match. Plus project planning and lots of cooking — with corn and other vegetables. And a poem in defense of an overgrown garden. This episode is full-on summer!

Quarter 2 Ko-fi prize winners, an update on current projects, a trip to Maine, summer reading, and a poem by Teri Ellen Cross Davis.

Yes, I swatched and lived to tell about it! In this episode, I give the details of finished socks, Rhinebeck sweater planning, making simple syrups, and a poem in celebration of Pride Month. All that, plus an update on the Q2 Ko-fi prizes that will be drawn and announced in the next episode.

This episode is chock full of finished projects and pining for the spring festivals.  I'm scouring some fleece and trying to find just the right pattern for my handspun Lenore yarn.

I've been mending my Cambria duster using a variety of techniques -- inspired by the fact that Cal Patch is coming to teach mending at Orange on May 19! Meanwhile, I've knit my first sweater using beautiful Tidal Yarn, artfully dyed by Patricia.  It took some knitting and un-knitting, but I finally achieved the botanical sweater I have been dreaming of.  All this, plus sock knitting (eye of partridge heel and double gusset have returned) and a poem for the season by Beth Ann Fennelly.

My finished Eun is the coziest sweater in my closet, and knit just in time for a few days' wear before the temperatures rise! In this episode, I also share the details of a completed spinning project, spindle spinning for 100 days, and returning to the knitting of my colorwork sweater in Tidal Yarns.  Plus, a poem by Wendell Berry.

This episode is anchored by my intentions set over the first two weeks of February: honor creative impulses and open your heart. I share a number of new works, talk about my continued spinning progress, and read a poem by Andrea Gibson, poet laureate of Colorado.

It’s an episode about socks and sneakers. I’m back to sock knitting as a portable project after a hiatus of several months AND I made my own pair of sneakers — and lived to tell about it! Have a listen!

No resolutions: just renewing my commitment to what is already working. Is that your story this year? I don’t have the bandwidth for planning, so I’m looking forward to a year of working on the projects that have the most appeal at the moment. In this episode, I talk about two recently finished projects and an new cast on. Plus, beginning bojagi and a poem about Goya’s magnificent candle hat.

Items not to scale is a certain path to charm.  That is what I'm finding as I enjoy my holiday decorations this season. This episode contains an update on my test crochet of KORE, designed by Maysa Tomikawa.  I've been doing some daily spinning and very much enjoying my advent puzzle. All this, plus a fresh poem by Naomi Shihab Nye.

This episode contains an update on my recent knitting AND crochet projects.  I'm thrilled to be working on a test crochet of Kore by Maysa Tomikawa.  I talk about my visits to The Met and a local exhibition about the story of silk production in the Lehigh Valley. There's more linocut -- this time a Hare Moon.  All this, plus advent excitement and a poem by Naomi Shihab Nye.

I’m back from a weekend in Rhinebeck, NY and eager to share all of the fiber-y goodness of the weekend. Listen in for festival news, the details of my finished RB sweater, plus — how to win some NY Sheep & Wool loot! What have I been doing ALL wrong? Listen to find out. This episode closes with a poem titled “How to Listen” by James Crews.

It's all about sweater weather and pumpkin in this episode. Have you ever thought about knitting a cropped sweater?  In this episode, I share some of the perks and some things to consider as you're knitting.  The cropped sweaters in my wardrobe have become some of my favorites! There are also links to pumpkin recipes and a poem by Mary Oliver.

Indigo summer is drawing to a close, and I've made time for indigo dyeing and improvising a version of Malaysian blue rice.  Plus lots of progress on my Rhinebeck sweater and a poem by Lorna Dee Cervantes.

Summer’s not quite over, and I still have some projects planned for an “indigo summer.” I share the details of my completed Holderness top, as well as the start of my Rhinebeck sweater and a blue poem by Laura Villareal.

This episode contains the details of the Yarns at Yin Hoo Advent Puzzle Exchange.  Listen on if you are interested or curious.  I hope you will decide to take part in this very special gift exchange.  Details, links and tips are contained in the episode an in the show notes. Regular segments will resume in Episode 316.

In this episode, I share a summer knitting project that's new on my needles, plus more #outsidethesocksCAL making batts, and a delicious summer pie.

This episode is all about my experience of making boba (bubble tea) at home over the past few months.  I share some tips, favorite combinations, and products that I enjoy using.

It's going to be an indigo summer!  I have summer reading plans, new skills in paper crafts and printing, entries into the Knit Spin Farm #outsidethesockCAL, projects from Taproot magazine, and an excerpt from Camille T. Dungy's new memoir, SOIL: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden. 

In this episode, I've started two new projects with sock yarn, and I've begun the final step on the Moonshadow Table Runner. It's been awhile since my quick trip to MDSW, but I share some of the highlights, like the 1/4 fleece of Lenore that I'm working to scour, prep and spin. There's some #memademay chatter, and a passage from Wendell Berry.

In this episode, I have completed a project with handspun yarn and I’m making progress toward my #taprootmake9. Plus, a poem perfect for the spring season from poet Ted Kooser by way of JoAnna Spring.

The Clean Fleece project is sooo close to reaching its campaign goal of $25,000.  Find out how you can assist this worthy endeavor.  In this episode, I announce the first quarter Ko-fi winner, talk about knitting a new project with handspun, plans for baking one of my Taproot Make 9 selections, and read a poem by Karenne Wood of the Monacan Indian Nation.

Will my Winterlight Mittens get a glimpse of winter? Only time will tell! In this episode, I share news, updates, a prize announcement, “Knit to This” suggestions, and the latest details of my projects.

It’s been an exciting month as a fiber enthusiast, with a teaching engagement, finished projects, plans for 2023 — and a giveaway for YAYH listeners.

In this episode, I talk about some stitching projects completed over the winter holidays, plus quilting, mending, visiting a textile exhibit, and a poem by Billy Collins.

Thanks to my Ko-fi supporters, I’m returning with poems selected from Days 31-40 of my #100daysproject. Check out my Ko-fi page to find out how to contribute, and to see special posts, prizes, and items up for grabs!

I've been finishing up knitting projects -- mostly small, as well as planning for the year ahead.  This week, I share some excerpts about the importance of realism and specificity in poetry.  I also share the results of sewing my first-ever zero waste garment -- and what I will pay more attention to next time. Finally, I urge my fellow textile enthusiasts to consider a donation to fund a scouring facility in the Northeast US.

12.5.22 "Writing Kept Hidden" by Carolyn Forché

12.6.22 "Lost Glove" by Charles Simic

12.7.22 "Why My Mother's Teeth Remained in Cuba" by EJ Vega in Paper Dance: 55 Latino Poets

12.8.22 "Provincetown" by Afaa Michael Weaver

12.9.22 "Quartet" by Robert Hass

12.10.22 "sallie ledbetter: a mother's hymn" by Tyehimba Jess

12.11.22 "Saturday at the Border" by Hayden Carruth

12.12.22 from Kyrie by Ellen Bryant Voigt

12.13.22 "The Gate" by Marie Howe

12.14.22 XXXI from The Desert of Lop by Raoul Schrott

I’m reading a poem every day until March 5th. In this episode, I share a reading of the first ten poems.  This episode comes to you with thanks to the generosity of Ko-fi subscribers and contributors.

Scrappy sewing projects have multiplied and now I’m thinking my way slowly to my first quilting project. I’m starting and re-starting Xmas knitting and immersing myself in 100 days of poetry.

It's episode 300 and I'm finally talking about my visit to the New York Sheep and Wool Festival. It was a LOT of knitting, but I finally finished my RB sweater in Garthenor organic lace. Also in this episode: Operation Everything Pumpkin isn't over yet, I'm already knitting with RB2022 yarn, I jumped off the Stephen West MKAL wagon, and a poem fresh off the page by Dr. Lilly Marsh.

Updates on my Rhinebeck sweater and coordinating skirt. Plus, en plein air "painting" with felt, my version of fig financiers and a poem by Jane Hirshfield.

A catch-up on finished projects and upcoming makes — including my Rhinebeck sweater. Plus, pollinators, recipes to savor summer, and a poem by Fatimah Asghar.

My newly-completed Brise cardigan in 100% yak yarn is going with me everywhere. Seriously, everywhere. In this episode, I talk about felted landscape sketches in Provincetown, upcoming Slow Fashion classes at Yin Hoo studio, and a giveaway of brilliant fiber from Riot of Color. Plus, a poem by Major Jackson.

In this episode, I talk about knitting Brise cardigan no.3 and sewing a blouse based on a commercially made top. There's also exciting news about Slow Fashion Summer Camp, a series of class sessions focused on handwork and the creation of wearable art. Finally, I share some literary passages about the wood thrush, which, as Thoreau noted, is "a Shakespeare among birds."

I’m knitting Brise cardigan no. 3 in beautiful lace weight yak yarn, thinking carefully about small modifications and sharing tips for picking up and knitting stitches on the collar — in ONE take! Also in this episode, finished socks, new socks, pattern drafting, wool dresses, clogs, farro salad, and a poem for Pride Month.