Episode 166: KnitWrecker

This week, Wendy's knitwrecking abilities are explored. WIPs include Sheila's self-striping sock and Tan House Brook shawl, as well as Wendy's Star Leaves Shawl and Lalylala Bunny doll. We had no FOs this week. Baubles and Bling included Wendy's purchases from Webs (a skein of yarn and a crochet hook), and a gift in honor of Sheila's new job. We discuss Tour de Fleece, draw prizes for our two KALs and announce a new Charity KAL with awesome prizes!!!

SHOW NOTES

KAL/CAL:  We are hosting a Stash Busting KAL/CAL for the month of July.  Post a pic of your finished project made from yarn purchased at least 6 months ago in the July Stash Busters Thread and get that stash under control!  A winner will be drawn at the end of the week.

We are also hosting a Charity KAL/CAL.  Please see the Gossip & Innuendo information for more details.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Star Leaves Shawl by Jenny Johnson Johnen in Fleece Artist Saldanha 2 in the Starlight colorway.

Rita the Rabbit by Lydia Tresselt in Caron Simply Soft Light

Rate Your Date:

Nothing this week.

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy is currently spinning:

Portfiber Polwarth (4oz) in the Prickly Pear color way by separating out the warm and cool colors and spinning two skeins of contrasting yarn.

Wendy plans to spin a sweater's worth of yarn during Tour de Fleece (July 5 - July 27).  She shows how she blended several 4 oz bumps to make her color experiment yarn.  She is using fibers from Biltmore Fiber (navy blue pencil roving), Spunky Eclectic (navy top), Dyeabolical (custom dyed navy top), Frabjous Fibers (Breeze colorway), and Into The Whirled (Take it to the Bridge colorway).

Future Dates:

Wendy plans to knit:

Deathflake Mittens by Sissel KB, using her warm/cool color experiment.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy bought:

Cascade Sport Weight yarn in a heathered charcoal colorway.

2.55mm crochet hook

Sheila received:

Phlebotomy themed pins

Gossip & Innuendo:

Charity Comfort Shawl KAL/CAL:  This is a new contest inspired by our friend Lise from Webs!  She organizes donated comfort shawls for people in her church community, but she has recently lost a few of her helpers.  If you donate hand knitted or crocheted shawls to her effort, you can be eligible to win a $50 gift certificate to Webs (one prize will be drawn), or a skein of Lorna's Laces yarn (two prizes will be drawn).  The contest will run until August 31, 2014.  Shawls should be sent to:

Lise Gill
c/o Webs Warehouse
75 Service Center Road
Northampton, MA 01060

You can knit or crochet shawls specifically for this charity event OR go through your stash and give away some shawls to a good home.  There is no specific fiber content required - they can be machine washable or handwash only.  There is no specific pattern or size.  Lise will make sure your donations go to people in nursing homes, hospice care, new mothers or other people that need a comfort shawl.

You may post a picture of your donation (one picture per shawl - make sure to post them separately to get multiple chances at the prize) in our Contest Thread.

Tour de Fleece runs from July 5 through July 27th this year.  Wendy will be spinning for Team Dyeabolical.  There is a TdF contest thread in our Ravelry group where you can win a bump of fiber from Wendy's personal stash by posting a pic of your finished TdF projects.

Upcoming fiber events in our area:

Convergence 2014 at Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI, 7/16-7/19/14.  Wendy may attend the marketplace.

Fiber Revival at Spencer Pierce Little Farm in Newbury, MA 8/9/14.  Wendy may attend this event.

Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival at Washington County Fairgrounds, Greenwich, NY 9/27-9/28/14.  We do not plan on attending.

VT Sheep and Wool at Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, VT 10/4-10/5/14.  We do not plan on attending.

Stitches East in Hartford, CT 10/9-10/12/14.  Wendy plans on attending the Saturday marketplace.

Rhinebeck at Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY 10/18-10/19/14.  We plan on attending for the weekend.

New England Fiber Festival at Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, MA, 11/1-11/2/14.  Wendy plans on attending.

The Gathering at Sunday River, Newry, ME, 11/7-11/9/14.  We do not plan on attending.