I feel I should point out something before I launch into this post: I am not a fan of the videocast. I have tried. I swear. I want to like them. I do. I appreciate the effort, the access, the welcoming community but I just can't get behind them. I have often wondered why it is I'm not drawn to the many, many out there in the same way I am audio podcasts.
I have a few theories that I've come to realise over the course of the last few weeks as I have found myself watching about half a dozen quite a lot. This is new for me and it made me wonder what my original problem was with the videocast. I realise it's a lot about your viewing/ listening habit. I'm a traveller. I found the podcast scene when I racked up hours and hours of commuting a week and they kept me company on nights of insomnia without bothering anyone else in the house. This is when I would access podcasts and I listen to dozens and hungrily devour back episodes. I don't watch tv so the habit of sitting in front of the a programme in the evening after work, videocast or other, just doesn't resonate with me. I'd rather switch on a podcast while I cook or potter around.
HOWEVER..... I have half a dozen I am watching most days recently and catching up on old episodes. I've always tuned in to Round The Twist and The KnitGirllls but now there is CraftStash and 90% Knitting added into the daily cycle. Yarnivore makes me chuckle and I'm hankering to find a few more but I struggle when I do this. I realise the other thing that's left me cold before with videocasts is that you can see. Well, DUH! But seriously, I enjoy the way a good podcaster describes their process/ the yarn or reviews a book. They have to be thorough, they have to tell you all the details and get it right because it's not right there in front of you. I suspect the reason I like these is that the audio and visual is quality both in terms of tech and presentation. They are very good at describing their process and despite wanting my knits and wanting them now, I love to hear all about someone else's process.
So what do you watch? What would you recommend?
9 comments:
I actually don't watch any podcasts, knitting or otherwise (unless Husband forces me to). I just can't get into them. I'm not overly crazy about audio ones either, to be honest. I think it's because I can stop and start with actual reading in a way that's more difficult with podcasts. I know there are pause buttons and all that but I usually wind up missing something and have to rewind to wherever I was and it's just more trouble than it's worth (to me).
But that's me.
I have a video podcast with my friend Amy called Stockinette Zombies at www.stockinettezombies.com We enjoy the visual portion of podcasting because we have physical comedy and lots of non-verbal communication going on. I try to find middle ground with the podcasts I 'watch'. I will listen to the video podcast and pause to look when something they've said makes me want to see what they were talking about.
I watch most of the ones you name, and I also watch Fiberista Files. I like to have both audio podcasts for when I'm working and can't watch a screen, but I also really enjoy video if I'm going to be standing reskeining yarn for a long period of time, and it makes it a bit more bearable to have something to watch. When I started my podcast about a month ago, I knew it would need to be video since I planned to talk a lot about dyeing techniques and I wanted to be able to show examples.
I don't watch videocasts but I do enjoy listening to podcasts, lots of them. I think that if I also watched them then I would probably get yarn overload and that would be a shame.
I did try out a few videos but I just couldn't get into them. Maybe it's because they force me to sit down to watch whereas an audio cast, I can quite happily listen away while doing the housework or on the bus or just walking. I just find them more productive :)
I watch those very same videocasts and enjoy them very much. I normally listen to audio ones whilst I am doing chores around the house, but I knit whilst I watch the video ones. A few good ones that I have come across are TheFatSquirrelSpeaks, Knitabulls and GentleRibbing which are top of my list and Knit1HeartToo.
I find video podcasts hard to watch. There is only really one that I watch regularly and thats megan at whatcha swatchin, she makes me giggle.
The Fat Squirrel Speaks is hilarious, entertaining and informative. It's my favorite video podcast out there. Others try to be this good but don't come close.
I was going to recommend Megan and Amy @ Stockinette Zombie's as well. I also like Emily @ Whatcha Swatchin' and Mel @ Single Handed Knits. I love seeing the things everyone is working on, but I also like to listen to audio podcasts. I just started my own video podcast ... Equal Opportunity Crafter, where I talk mostly about knitting but also my other crafty adventures.
I listen and I watch but more often I watch at the moment. I need quiet time to listen to a podcast properly and have the habit of walking out of the room to tidy something else up when it's on. I have to actually sit with my knitting and all the kids somewhere else to listen properly at the moment!
But, I have more opportunity to sit and watch something when feeding the baby (well, toddler). And, lately, my nearly 9 year old daughter has been joining me in the evening with her knitting and we watch a few of her favourites. It's rather nice to do it together.
She likes to watch Knitty Natter and Fat Squirrel Speaks. I hadn't heard of a couple you mentioned so best I check them out.
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