Episode 29 - With Caitlin Ffrench

Hello Pom fans!

Join Sophie and Lydia for another audio trip through the avenues and byways of yarn and knitting. Learn which PPQ events you can be involved with this autumn, and hear our interview with the fabulous Caitlin Ffrench.

Make sure to download the Soundcloud app if you want to listen on a mobile device, or if you subscribe to Pomcast on iTunes it should appear on your device now! All episodes of Pomcast are also now available on Stitcher too. And while you’re having a listen, why not rate us or even leave a little review – thanks!

Thanks to our sponsors Blacker Yarns.

We also have a lovely giveaway courtesy of Blacker - check it out in reviews below!

NEWS

Our calendars are filling up with so many fun events, so make sure you get these dates in the diary!

On 15th -16th October we'll be at Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool with an exclusive preview of the new Winter Issue, plus signings with some amazing designers, and samples galore.

Closer to home (or at least our PPHQ London home!) you can come see the UK premier of Yarn at Hackney Picturehouse, with an after party and pop-up market. Lydia and Sophie will be hosting a live Q&A with Writer and Executive Producer Krishan Arora and Producer Heather Millard - get your tickets here.

Then we're back on the road for Oslo Knitting Festival at the start of November! Phew, it's exciting couple of months coming up - we're looking forward to meeting lots of you Pomcats at any or all of these events soon. We also have some new pomcat badges for y'all - so don't forget to grab one if you see us!

TELL + TELL

Lydia’s current WIP is a marvelous mustard version of Rocquaine using Viola's Mooresburg DK... mmm, mmmustard.

Sophie is seeing if she can speed knit two take heart hats in four days for gifts – will she do it? Otherwise her more relaxed project is the start of a granny square blanket… ah nice and easy.

REVIEW(S)

Ready to unleash your crochet creativity? Part one of the reviews is the fun new book by Kerry Lord of Toft - Edwards Crochet Imaginarium

Part two of the reviews is exclusive new St. Kilda laceweight from Blacker Yarns in collaboration with The Knitting Goddess and you lucky Pomcats can be in with a chance of winning a skein! Just comment below telling us what you would love to knit with the St. Kilda Laceweight by Sunday 9th October – good luck!

INTERVIEW

This episode we chatted to the magical Caitlin Ffrench, a textile artist, natural dyer and super cool knitting designer. Check out her patterns Firewood and Birding Cape in Issue 5 and her mordant recipe in Issue 18.

Here's Cailtin in Iceland wearing her Hlín cowl, just one of the otherworldly patterns from her new book The Darkness Fell, shot in Iceland. We talked to Caitlin about shooting the book, and the process and inspiration behind it, and so much more. Photo shot by Arlin Ffrench.

WHAT WOULD JUJU DO?

What would Juju do? Well wonder no longer! This episode our friend and craft guru Juju answers two questions from Pomcat Cissi about colour theory and tips on how to undo cast ons after you’ve gone too far...

We still want your questions for this feature so keep 'em coming. Also, we’re planning a little Halloween edition of pomcast for our next episode… do you have any knitting horror stories that you’d like to share? The WIP nightmare? The lost skein or dye batch drama? We want to hear from you! Send all these and anything else to podcast@pompommag.com.

TOP THREE

…smells. Bear with us on this one – it’ll be your next icebreaker, honest!

We always love to hear you suggestions for top three and for anything else you want to hear about, so remember you can always get in touch on the Ravelry forum or podcast@pompommag.com. 

x Pom Pom

Thanks again to Blacker for sponsoring this episode!

Blacker Yarns produce a diverse range of breed specific knitting and crochet yarn. With everything from Shetland and Blue-Faced Leicester through to Wensleydale,
Gotland and Manx you’ll be sure to find an unexpected treat. If you are thinking of embarking upon a breed specific adventure, then head over to www.blackeryarns.co.uk. All Blacker’s wares are spun and dyed on their mill in Cornwall using 100% British Fibre and sustainable production methods.

There are exciting things afoot at Blacker HQ this month: their St. Kilda laceweight yarn, made from the fibre of two of the oldest and rarest British sheep breeds, Soay and Boreray, has been dipped in a rainbow of colour.  Blacker have teamed up with The Knitting Goddess to produce 10 hand dyed shades.  Hand dyed yarn possess a great depth and intensity, which is particularly striking over their subtlety textured St. Kilda yarn.  This collaboration came about from a desire to recognise the importance of this country’s rich textile heritage and elevate the fibre from such rare and beautiful sheep.