Episode 12: The Silk Road(s)
What do you think of when you hear the Silk Road? Do you imagine caravans carrying loads of silk, Marco Polo, and boats crossing over land? The reality is that the Silk Road was a complex system of ro...
3 Mar 202519min
Episode 11: Two Big Historical Moments for Knitting Groups in the US
What do World War I and the early 2000s have in common? At both times, knitting groups became hugely popular across the country. By the time the US entered the war in 1917, knitting for soldiers overs...
17 Feb 202529min
Episode 10: The Origins of Amigurumi
Have you seen a Woobles kit lately? We have--they are everywhere! These little stuffed characters are an example of amigurumi, 3-D stuffed toys that are knit or crocheted. Amigurumi originated in Japa...
3 Feb 202519min
Episode 9: A Brief History of Lace
Lace is, by definition, useless. Whether is it is woven, crocheted, knitted, or made with needles or bobbins, lace is an adornment. And it has been a part of human history since (at least) the 1000s C...
20 Jan 202522min
Episode 8: Flannel
Everyone knows that flannel is warm, soft, and plaid. But did you know that flannel was likely traded between Europe in Africa before 1486? And that the origins of the word are actually unknown? (And-...
16 Des 202416min
Episode 7: Berea College, Fireside Industries, and the "Revival" of Mountain Crafts
In the early 1900s, Berea College accomplished something extraordinary: they revived the mountain craft of weaving. Many women left their looms behind when affordable factory cotton became available, ...
2 Des 202426min
Episode 6: Tie Dye
If you were a Girl Scout (like we were) or went to summer camp, chances are you made a tie-dye t-shirt! In the US, tie dye is a fun, casual method of decorating clothes, but it has origins in thousand...
18 Nov 202423min
Episode 5: A Brief History of Broom Making in the US
Happy Halloween! Let's talk about brooms (the vehicle of witches). We do a deep dive into broom making in New England, where broom making shifted from a locally made handcraft, especially by Native Am...
31 Okt 202418min
