I just spent some wonderful time with family over the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Since most saw me last, I’ve expended my fiber foray, from knitting commercial yarns from established patterns to improvising patterns and now to spinning and knitting my own handspun yarn.  Even that has evolved first from pencil roving to batts and now to fleece that I hand card.  Much of my interest has been spurred by the podcasts I listened to during my commute and now while I run or knit.

My family was incredulous that I could find so much to listen to about knitting.  I don’t.  I listen to people interested in fibers from around the world.  The first one I listened to was Knitty Nora from the UK.  Then I found the Webs and Knitpicks podcasts.  I thoroughly enjoyed Knitters Uncensored from Munich and I think that’s what really got me interested in spinning.  Some of these podcasts have fizzled out since most are unsponsored and produced in the free time of an already hectic life filled with family, work, knitting and spinning.  Now I enjoy Stash and Burn and Sticks and String from Australia.  I realize that I enjoy listening to people from around the world because I get a glimpse of different cultures from a knitter’s perspective and also to different fiber techniques.  I have ventured into Fair Isle (OK I haven’t steeked anything yet), thought about designing or modifying patterns and also learned about the politics of other countries. I also get lots of ideas for research, from knitting cultures, designers and techniques that I use at my local library.  And all of this is free!