Knitting Podcasts 1

Knitting podcasts?
Yes! Knitting podcasts!

I've mentioned before that Katie introduced me to knitting podcasts. It seems like every time I tell someone that I've been listening to them, or that I heard something on one, the reaction is usually incredible surprise that there could be such a thing - podcasts where people talk about knitting.

I have to admit, I was pretty surprised when Katie showed me the first one, and when I found even more if I'd only look for them. The first one Katie found for me was Pointy Sticks (by Christine of Big Pink Cookie.) By now I have listened to a lot of different 'casts, so I'm going to share with you about the ones I listen to faithfully, the ones I get really excited about when a new episode downloads to my iTunes. We'll just take these a couple at a time.

As I mentioned, the first 'cast I listened to is Pointy Sticks. I didn't have any way to listen other than sitting at my computer, so catching up on a whole year of episodes was a little tough until I got an iPod (any mp3 player will do, though.) I just couldn't stop listening! I still have not met Christine, but it felt immediately like I was with a friend, just listening about something she is passionate about. Just as "full immersion" language programs can teach a foreign language in a short time, this full immersion in the knitting world, with it's own language, proved very helpful in those very early days of my knitting life. Simply by listening to Christine I became familiar with terms that would later really mean something to me. She made me curious about the Magic Loop method (scroll down just a smidge), DPN's, sock-knitting, Addi Turbo's, knitting in the round, and so much more. If I couldn't figure out what she was referring to, a Google search was all it took, and soon I was learning all sorts of nifty knitting goodness. Katie had encouraged me to take a knitting class early on (thank you so much Katie!), and my instructor was really surprised at the things I knew about and had learned in the month between the two classes I took. I learned it all due to sitting with Christine, just listening. Now I'm considering lace. Thanks, Christine!

Another podcast I listen to faithfully is Sticks & String. Okay, I have to admit, part of the attraction initially was David Reidy's accent. He describes himself as an "Australian bloke who lives in the Blue Mountains two hours west of Sydney, and knits and podcasts about knitting." Let me tell you right off the bat though, when Australians talk about knitting "jumpers", they are talking about sweaters. It was such a relief when he finally explained that! :-) It's fascinating to hear about the knitting world in a totally different hemisphere!David posts new episodes every week, except when he takes a break between each series of ten episodes. I go into a little bit of withdrawal, but after all, nobody is paying him to do this, so I'm just glad he keeps doing it at all!

Okay folks, that's my first installment on knitting podcasts. Hopefully you'll give these a listen and come back with a greater respect for knitting podcasts! I'll tell you about two more of my trusted listens in about a week.