Have you ever crafted for charity? In this episode of the podcast, we feature charites that can use your handmade items! "Click for Babies" provides hospitals with purple hats to help protect infants. "Knitted Knockers" provides bra inserts to women who have undergone mastectomies. Podcast listeners highlight ways they contribute to non-profit organizations, and Knit Picks' own Stacy talks about "Helping Hands: Made with Love, Given with Heart", our recent book featuring charity craft patterns. Tune in to this episdode of the podcast, and be inspired!

Have you ever made something so cute, you can still hear the "oohs" and "ahhhs" from everyone who saw it? This episode is devoted to cute knit and crochet - things you wear, decorations, and handmade stuffed friends to keep or give away. We hear from Anna Hrachovec, popular designer of knitted toys, about her career in knitting, pattern writing, and fine art, and her new book, "Adventures in Mochimochi Land" (pictured above). We'll also hear from podcast listeners about the cutest thing they've ever knit, and the relationships these things have fostered in their own lives. Knit Picks Director Alison Backus also gives us her top 3 tips when crafting stuffies.

Have you knit a garment you thought was unflattering or just didn't fit correctly? Did you know what went wrong, or were you stumped? This episode aims to help you target key elements of fit. Alison Backus, Director of Knit Picks, explains ease and what it means in knitting. Amy Herzog talks about all elements of fit, from how to assess which shapes might flatter your body, to what pattern elements can be altered and which should remain untouched. Podcast listeners also describe their stories of knitting things that fit.

Remember when you were a new knitter or crocheter? What were some of the big mistakes you made? In this podcast, we explore what it means to be new to the craft. Alexis, Knit Picks Photography Assistant and new-ish knitter, takes advice from listeners. Debbie Stoller, author of the incredibly popular "Stitch 'N Bitch" series, tells us about how she discovered knitting, and how she's inspired countless other people to take it up. Three podcast listeners also tell us about their experiences. Whether you're a new knitter, or recall your new knitting days fondly, you'll find something in this episode to which you're sure to relate.

Have you given or received handmade gifts in the past? Do you intend to give them this holiday season? In this episode we bring you stories of the good, the bad, and the ugly (literally, the ugly). Read by the Knit Picks staff or listeners themselves, you'll hear tales of gifts gone unappreciated, gifts transformed unintentionally, and gifts beloved for life. Grab some eggnog, a cookie, and your last-minute gift to knit or crochet, and enjoy!

Many of you have a favorite designer, someone you've followed for years. You knit many of their designs, and marvel at how they constantly come up with ideas you can't wait to get on your needles. We asked you to name your "Designer Crush", and you responded! In this episode, we interview Knitwear Designers Jane Richmond, Carol Feller, and Laura Nelkin about their process and inspiration. We also ask them questions straight from their fans!

Many of us learned to knit from family and friends, but for some crafters, knitting and crochet started in school! In this episode we go to Cedarwood Waldorf School in Portland Oregon where Gia Davis and Shannon Casey, the Handwork Teaches, tell us about why handwork is part of Waldorf, and how it contributes to a child's education. We interview two students at the school, Weston French and Taea Jackson, about their love of craft. We also hear from two podcast listeners about how knitting was taught to them as part of their formal education.

Are you a fiber lover? Have you considered the animals from which you acquire your materials? In this episode, recorded at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in Canby, Oregon, we speak to farmers of three different animals raised for their fiber. Jack Lyda of Honey Lane Farms tells us about his love of raising Shetland sheep. Dave Archer of Inti's Gift Alpacas speaks of farming a herd of alpacas, and Angora lovers Heather and Shannon take us into the world of competitive rabbits. We also hear from podcast listeners Lindsey and Shaina about their good/bad experiences spinning and knitting exotic animal fibers. Put yourself on a "high fiber diet", and enjoy!

What makes a knitting pattern so good you can't help but cast on? In this episode we explore what makes a really great pattern. Hear from KnitPicks Director Alison Backus and Catalog Director Hannah Meir, as well as podcast listeners about what they require of a pattern. Designer Hilary Smith Callus tells us what she includes in her patterns to make them satisfying to knitters, and Tech Editor Maureen Hannon reveals the secrets of her job, reading and correcting patterns, for KnitPicks.

Do doctors make good knitters or crocheters? Has knitting ever seen you through a difficult personal or medical journey? We hear from Matt Petkun, CEO of KnitPicks, about how his uncle, an aspiring surgeon, inspired Matt to knit his first scarf. Then we speak to three podcast contributors about how they got through hard medical and personal times, as well as one listener's journey to medical school, and how craft has helped all of them along.