Episode 2 - Heartbreakers

Our usual project chat, along with discussion of two projects that broke our hearts. A small amount of yarn porn from a weekend trip to Still River Mill.

Show Notes:

On The Dance Card:
   Wendy is knitting Fagus by Ann Lundblad out of Paca Peds H-T from The Alpaca Yarn Co.   She is still working on her Voodoo.
   Sheila is knitting on Pinkerton Shawl, by Susan Dittrich out of Wollmeise in Scwarz.  She cast on for Harold the House Plant Monster by Rebecca Danger, for a swap that she is in, with Knit Picks Bare 100 % wool.

Rate Your Date:
  Wendy finished her Cabled Caplet by Patons with Bernatn Felting Wool,  with some modifications. Still needs to be blocked and would do it again using Wrap Style book for other modifications. 
 
  Sheila finished her Owlings by Kerrie James with Cascade 220 Superwash in Plum.

Planned Dates:
  Wendy wants to knit the The Traveling Sweater by A. Karen Alfke for Blue Moon Fiber Arts in Valley Yarns Northfield.  She also plans on knitting the Zinnia Dahlia hat by Petra Hoy with Still River Mills Seven Sammys (worsted 20% Samoyed fur, 80 % Merino, 100 yards.)

   Sheila wants to knit Claudia by M J Kim in Knit Picks Bare 100% Peruvian Wool and Felted Clogs by Bev Galeskas to replace a pair that is getting worn.

Crushes and Heartbreaks:
   Sheila had a very hard time with the Koolhaas this week and decided not to cast on for it.
   Wendy's biggest heartbreak is her Myrtle Cardigan by Snowden Becker made with String Theory Caper Sock colorway; Canyon.  Loved the yarn, pattern had some difficulties.  What to do about it?

Blings and Baubles:
  Sheila talks about Traveling Monster from the Rebecca Danger Group and her Monster Swap that she got from Knitpheliac on Ravelry.
  Wendy got some lovely yarn from Still River Mills, Seven Sammys made from dog fur and Limited Production Yarn that includes Quviut, sild and cashmere.   She also got the Celtic Vines finerless mitts pattern and Valley Northfield yarn for a sweater.

Gossip and Innuendo:
   Wendy went to Still River Mills for a tour of their processing plant and then to Webs store for yarn.  She is starting to plan on a trip to Germany for her 20th Anniversary and possibly a trip to the Wollmeise Store.
   Sheila has nothing, sorry.

For more information on Qiviut go here.  I learned a lot about it from the Let'sknit2gether video podacast.

We can be reached at knit1hearttoo@gmail.com and found on Ravlery The Crafty Bus.

KNIT WITH HEART

A Yarnventure to Still River Mill and Webs!

I'll be discussing this trip in Episode 2, but I thought I would post some of the pictures I took on my little Yarnventure this weekend.

My knitting guru, Paulette, called ahead and arranged for our small group of 4 to visit Still River Fiber Processing Mill in Easton, CT on Saturday. I've never seen a fiber mill before, and after meeting the couple that owns Still River Mill and learning about fiber processing, I found myself wishing I could buy a farm somewhere and start one myself!

Here's what a small fiber mill looks like:

A view from the front. Love the barn color!

Some yarn on cones:

The machine that washes the fleece:

The drying room (they dry fleece, yarn and woven items in there):

One of the many machines that either fluff or card the fiber (they had a lot of these!):

The spinning machine, where you can actually see the triangle shaped draft:

I bought some awesome and interesting fiber at Still River Mills, which I will show off in Episode 2. I can highly recommend both the tour and the fiber. My rating: A++!

Our next stop of the day was Sylvester's in Northampton for lunch. I had a delicious salad there with goat cheese, dried cranberries, chicken, tomatoes and red onions. Yum!

And, the final stop:

Webs! If you haven't been there and you live anywhere near Northampton, MA, it is so worth a stop. They have a large shop with all of the latest in yarn and fiber, plus, they have THIS:

Yes, this is a view down one of the aisles in their warehouse. Yes, they have a warehouse...full of discount yarn. I got some good deals at Webs that I'll share with you in Episode 2.

Welcome To Our First Episode!

Show Notes:

Introductions: 
     Sheila (Sheilad37), mom of two boys.  Sheila has been knitting for 5 and half years (not 7 and half, I started in 2005.) Work overnights where I get most of my knitting in.
     Wendy (Pennywenny) SAHM mom of two, one girl and one boy.  Wendy has been knitting for 40 years, since she was 5.  Became stay at home mom after pregnancy related heart issue.

On The Dance Card (on the needles)
  Sheila is knitting: the Pinkerton Shawl by Susan Dittrich in the Spring 2011 Interweave Knits with Wollmeise in Schwarz.
     The Owlings Fingerless mittens by Kerrie James in Cascade 220 Superwash plum.
     The Saroyan Scarf by Liz Abinante in Malabrigo Lace Fuscia.
  Wendy is knitting on Cable Capelet by Patons in Bernat Felting Wool Gardenia colorway.
     The Amigurumi Voodoo Doll designed by her based on the Valentine Bears Pattern by Ana Paula Rimoli in the Amigurumi World Book.

Rate Your Date (finished objects) - One stand / Weekend Fling or Committed Relationships
   Sheila finished: Luxury Cowl by Lion Brand with Cascade Eco Duo, Turn A Square by Jared Flood with various worsted weight Knit Picks Comfy, and Traveling Woman Shawl by Liz Abinante in sKnitches sock tryst in color Osiris (which is actually and Egyptian god, not a Greek god as was stated on the video.)
   Wendy finished: Cowl pattern from Butterfly Yarns in Cascade Eco Duo, and her Royal Tulips Shawl by Anne-Lise Maigaard with Ivy Brambles Romantic.

Planned Dates (future knitting projects)
   Sheila's Plan is Koolhaas and a Mystery Swap Monster by Rebecca Danger.
   Wendy does not have anything planned at this moment.

Crushes and Heartbreaks (what we love or not love)
  Sheila and Wendy are both Crushing on Cascade Eco Duo.  Sheila loves her Owl bag by BusyMindDesigns on Etsy.  Wendy loves her Woodland Creature bag by BlueTulips on Etsy.
  No Heartbreaks today.

Gossip and Innuendos (places we went or are going to)
  We went on the North Shore Yarn Crawl and visited 8 out of the 12 stores. 
Wendy  is going to the Still River Fiber Processing Plant in Connecticut and then will visit Webs in North Hampton Ma.

Bling and Baubles (recent acquistions or purchase)
  Sheila - Cascade Eco Duo, Shawl Swap Partner JaneB (Ravelry name) gave me the lovely Little Colonnade out of Cherry Tree Hill Super Sock Select and Studio Avenue Six sock yarn that I won from TheKnitGirllls blog contest.
  Wendy - Cascade Eco Duo, Loopy Ewe Sock or Yarn Club Lorna's Laces Honor, Sereknity Yarn Swoon, Cascade Epiphany Yarn, and Plymouth Yarn Select Kettle Dyed. 

KNIT WITH HEART


We can be reached at Knit1Hearttoo@gmail.com
We moderate The Crafty Bus on Ravelry.