Yarn Library

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 full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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.

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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.

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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.

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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! 

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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.

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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. 

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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".

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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. 

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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.

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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. 

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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.

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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.

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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!

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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.

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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.

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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.

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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.

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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.

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk

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!

A full transcript and bibliography is available via our website, yarnlibrary.co.uk