Keep Calm and Carry Yarn

Vivian and Alyson Chu are a mother-daughter team recording from two continents -- Vivian in Virginia, Alyson in Edinburgh, Scotland. That transatlantic setup gives each episode a natural built-in contrast, as they compare yarn shops across the pond, discuss different knitting cultures, and catch up on each other's lives. Since 2017 they've put out 169 episodes, covering both knitting and crochet with equal enthusiasm. The show is split between the expected (works in progress, finished objects, yarn obsessions) and the delightfully unexpected. They've got a recurring BuzzFeed quiz segment that listeners apparently love enough to specifically request, and they regularly wander into TV show discussions and personal updates that give the podcast a lived-in quality. They also run a Pearl & Plum Etsy store, so there's an entrepreneurial thread woven through the show. The chemistry between them is the real draw. Reviewers consistently call it genuine, and you can hear the authentic affection in how they talk to each other, even when they disagree. Audio quality has improved over time -- earlier episodes had some rough patches -- but the recent production is solid. If you want a knitting podcast that also covers crochet and doesn't take itself too seriously, this one hits a nice sweet spot between craft talk and family conversation.