Episode 186: Mom, Your Sweater's On Backwards

This week my cohost is Thing2! WIPs include the Oxford Hooded Cowl and the Spring Cable socks knit from a frogged 2 year old project. My PHD is one sock. Featured baubles and bling are the new Knitter's Pride Platina cables and Della Q interchangeable needle pouch that I purchased from Hub Mills. We draw the winners of the Lake Effect and Lake Avenue patterns at the end of the show.

SHOW NOTES

KAL/CAL:  We opened a November Stash Busters thread.  Post a pic of your finished project made from yarn purchased at least 6 months ago in the thread and get that stash under control!  A winner will be drawn at the end of November.  Please note that we will be skipping the December KAL and starting with new themed KALs in January 2015.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Oxford Hooded Cable in Lakes Yarn & Fiber Hayden DK in three colorways.

Spring Cable Socks in Play At Life Fiber Arts Socki Maki in the Loud & Proud colorway

Sheila is working on:

Spring Cable Socks in Wollmeise 80/20 in the Spina di Pesci colorway

An improvised felted purse in scrap worsted weight (which she had to restart because some of the yarn was superwash).

Rate Your Date:

Wendy finished:

One sock.

Whirlwind Romance:

No progress this week.

Future Dates:

Lily wants to knit a monster and Wendy will be working on her beaded shawl and perhaps make a hat for Lily.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy purchased:

Knitter's Pride Nova Platina cables in 40" and 32".

Della Q interchangeable needle case in the Kensington pattern

Gossip & Innuendo:

Announcements:

We drew a winner of the PDF copy of Lake Effect and a winner of the PDF copy of Lake Avenue by KaRi Wymer.

Also, if you want to donate some hats and scarves during the holiday season, you can send them to the following address:

Webs Warehouse 
ATTN: Lise Gill
6 Industrial Parkway 
Easthampton, MA 01027

Your donations will be given by Lise to the Hope for Kids charity in western Mass.  This program was started by a former police officer and his family, and they offer assistance to families in need at homeless shelters.

Episode 185: Level Three Friend

Hurray!  We have an actual title this week!  WIPs shown include Spring Cables socks and Oxford Hooded Cowl.  FOs include the Rebecca Danger Bookend Monsters, Saltonstall Striped socks and various crocheted snowflake ornaments.  Featured Baubles and Bling:  a new bag from Knittingsmybag, of course!  We draw a winner of the Cooperative Press PDF Book A Head for Trouble and the end of the show.

SHOW NOTES

KAL/CAL:  We opened a November Stash Busters thread.  Post a pic of your finished project made from yarn purchased at least 6 months ago in the thread and get that stash under control!  A winner will be drawn at the end of November.  Please note that we will be skipping the December KAL and starting with new themed KALs in January 2015.

We are hosting a contest to win the Lake Avenue Cowl or the Lake Effect Wrap patterns by KaRi Wymer (aka CoggieTM from The High Fiber Diet).  A winner will be drawn in Episode 186.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Oxford Hooded Cable in Lakes Yarn & Fiber Hayden DK in three colorways.

Sheila is working on:

Spring Cable Socks in Wollmeise 80/20 in the Spina di Pesci colorway

An improvised felted purse in scrap worsted weight (which she had to restart because some of the yarn was superwash).

Rate Your Date:

Wendy finished:

Snowflakes by Sally V. George.  The patterns includes 10 free snowflake patterns grouped together.  Crocheted in mercerized cotton on a US 6/1.80 mm crochet hook.  Wendy crocheted Snowflakes 1-8.

Saltonstall Striped Socks improvised by me in Cherry Tree Hill Fingerpaints Superwash Silk Fingering in the Mountain Moss colorway.  I used the stitch count and stripe spacing in Pin Striped Socks by Julia Swart, but the sock pattern has been very heavily modified (changed to toe-up, used a short-row heel, changed the slip stitch method and design).  My mods are detailed on the project page.  Also, this yarn was sold to me by DBNY at the Fiber Festival of New England as "self-striping" but it's just variegated.

Sheila finished:

Monster Bookends by Rebecca Danger in scrap worsted weight.

Whirlwind Romance:

No progress this week.

Future Dates:

Wendy plans to knit the Spring Cable sock, but toe-up.  Sheila plans to possibly finish the ancient sweater project and will eventually knit a sock in Blue Moon.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy purchased:

Knittingsmybag medium bag in a folk art woodland animals print.

Gossip & Innuendo:

Contests:

We are also holding a contest for two pattern by KaRi Wymer (links above in Shout-Outs).  We will draw 2 winners (one for each pattern) in Episode 186.

Announcements:

We drew a winner of the PDF copy of A Head for Trouble by Julie Turjomen, published by Cooperative Press.


Also, if you want to donate some hats and scarves during the holiday season, you can send them to the following address:

Webs Warehouse 
ATTN: Lise Gill
6 Industrial Parkway 
Easthampton, MA 01027

Your donations will be given by Lise to the Hope for Kids charity in western Mass.  This program was started by a former police officer and his family, and they offer assistance to families in need at homeless shelters.

Episode 184: A Big Goose Egg

This week it's one Big Goose Egg:  I forgot the title again and Sheila has a big goose egg on her forehead.  WIPs include the Sheila's Bookend Monsters and the felted purse that will not felt, and Wendy's broken stripe socks and crocheted snowflakes.  FOs include the Duotone Cowl, more snowflakes, 1 broken stripe sock and another pair of Seeta mitts.  Baubles and Bling include self-striping sock yarn from Tumbleweed Yarns.  We draw a winner for the Aila Grace PDF pattern, announce a new contest featuring two new designs from KaRi Wymer.  We also update what's happening with the shawls from our summer charity contest!

SHOW NOTES

KAL/CAL:  We opened a November Stash Busters thread.  Post a pic of your finished project made from yarn purchased at least 6 months ago in the thread and get that stash under control!  A winner will be drawn at the end of November.  Please note that we will be skipping the December KAL and starting with new themed KALs in January 2015.

We are hosting a contest to win the Lake Avenue Cowl or the Lake Effect Wrap patterns by KaRi Wymer (aka CoggieTM from The High Fiber Diet.  A winner will be drawn in Episode 186.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Snowflakes by Sally V. George.  The patterns iincludes10 free snowflake patterns grouped together.  Crocheted in mercerized cotton on a US 6/1.80 mm crochet hook.

Saltonstall Striped Socks improvised by me in Cherry Tree Hill Fingerpaints Superwash Silk Fingering in the Mountain Moss colorway.  I used the stitch count and stripe spacing in Pin Striped Socks by Julia Swart, but the sock pattern has been very heavily modified (changed to toe-up, used a short-row heel, changed the slip stitch method and design).  My mods are detailed on the project page.  Also, this yarn was sold to me by DBNY at the Fiber Festival of New England as "self-striping" but it's just variegated.

Sheila is working on:

Monster Bookends by Rebecca Danger in scrap worsted weight.

An improvised felted purse in scrap worsted weight (which she had to restart because some of the yarn was superwash).

Rate Your Date:

Wendy finished:

One Saltonstall Striped sock.

Snowflakes by Sally V. George (Snowflakes 1-4).

Seeta Fingerless Gloves by Maria Sheherazade in String Theory Yarn Caper sock in the Bye Bye Blues colorway (from a Loopy Ewe Sock Club consolation kit).

Sheila finished:

Duotone Cowl by Orange Flower Yarn.  She is calling it "fake" duotone because she is using sKNITches Syncopation self-striping sock yarn in the Zoot Suit colorway.

Whirlwind Romance:

No progress this week.

Future Dates:

Wendy needs to finish up some WIPs.  Sheila plans to knit the Spring Cable sock in Wollmeise yarn.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy purchased:

Tumbleweed Yarn self-striping yarn in the Sugar Skulls colorway.

Gossip & Innuendo:

Contests:

You can win a PDF copy of A Head for Trouble by Julie Turjomen, published by Cooperative Press by posting in our contest thread in our Rav group!  Just tell us which hat you'd choose and why.  A winner will be drawn in Episode 185 (next week).

We are also holding a contest for two pattern by KaRi Wymer (links above in Shout-Outs).  Just tell us in the contest thread what color yarn you would use for these fabulous patterns.  2 winners will be drawn (one for each pattern) in Episode 186.

Announcements:

A winner was drawn for the Aila Grace pattern!

Also, we talked about where all the charity shawls went from this summer's contest!  And if you want to donate some hats and scarves during the holiday season, you can send them to the following address:

Webs Warehouse 
ATTN: Lise Gill
6 Industrial Parkway 
Easthampton, MA 01027

Your donations will be given by Lise to the Hope for Kids charity in western Mass.  This program was started by a former police officer and his family, and they offer assistance to families in need at homeless shelters.

Ep 183: His Beard Looks Like a Bush

This week's WIPs include Bookend Monsters, a felted purse and crocheted snowflake ornaments.  FOs include Christmas-themed socks, Seeta fingerless mitts, sport-weight socks, a cotton baby blanket, a faux Duotone cowl and a Korknisse ornament.  Lots of finishing going on!  Baubles and Bling include more striped sock yarn, a Stitched by Jessalu bag, sock yarn minis and a Going Gnome felted gnome.  We draw two prizes for the stash busting KAL and announce the winner of the Twist Fiber Studio drawing.  We also review a new Cooperative Press Book "A Head for Trouble" by Julie Turjomen.

SHOW NOTES

KAL/CAL:  We opened a November Stash Busters thread.  Post a pic of your finished project made from yarn purchased at least 6 months ago in the thread and get that stash under control!  A winner will be drawn at the end of November.  Please note that we will be skipping the December KAL and starting with new themed KALs in January 2015.

We are hosting a contest to win the Aila Grace shawl pattern by Jennifer Lasonde.  A winner will be drawn next week.

We drew prizes for the Twist Fiber Studio contest and for the September/October stashbusting KAL this week.  Winners are announced at the end of the show!

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Snowflake 4 by Sally V. George.  The pattern is one of 10 free snowflake patterns grouped together.  Crocheted in mercerized cotton on a US 6/1.80 mm crochet hook.

Sheila is working on:

Monster Bookends by Rebecca Danger in scrap worsted weight.

An improvised felted purse in scrap worsted weight.

Rate Your Date:

Wendy finished:

Snowflake 1, Snowflake 2, and Snowflake 3 by Sally V. George.

Seeta Fingerless Gloves by Maria Sheherazade in Tempted Yarns Luxe Grrl base in the After Glow colorway.

Groovy Socks by Caroline Hegwer in Mint Rain tough sock in the Holly Jolly colorway.

Sheila finished:

Duotone Cowl by Orange Flower Yarn.  She is calling it "fake" duotone because she is using sKNITches Syncopation self-striping sock yarn in the Zoot Suit colorway.

Toe-Up socks in sport weight Desert Vista Dyeworks yarn in the Dias de los Muertos colorway.

Lion Brand Diagonal Comfort Blanket in Kitchen cotton dyed with RIT dye.

Korknisse by Manne in scrap yarn.

Whirlwind Romance:

No progress this week.

Future Dates:

Wendy plans to knit another pair of self-striping socks with a simple slipped stitch pattern.  Sheila plans to knit socks and possibly a winter hat from scrap yarn.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy purchased:

Mad Color Fiber Arts self-striping sock in the Sweet Tarts colorway

Cherry Tree Hill Self-Striping yarn in the Mountain Moss colorway

Stitched by Jessalu bag in a modern folk-style fox print

Play At Life mini-skeins in various Supernatural themed colorways

Wendy received:

Going Gnome fall colors gnome from Mom

Gossip & Innuendo:

Contests:

BOOK REVIEW:

This week we review A Head for Trouble by Julie Turjomen, published by Cooperative Press.  This latest collect by Julie Turjomen features hats and matching accessories inspired by female detectives of the 20s and 30s.  The designs are true to their vintage inspiration, and Turjomen includes a resource list to help knitters source buttons and other findings for their own designs.  The book does a great job explaining the various hat styles and how to measure your head to get the correct "vintage-fee" fit.  This books would be an excellent resource for knitting Christmas gifts when you would like to give more than just a hat, and a coordinating scarf, mitts or purse would fit the bill.

You can win a copy of this pdf book by posting in our contest thread in our Rav group!  Just tell us which hat you'd choose and why.  A winner will be drawn in Episode 185.

Announcements:

Winners were drawn for three contests (see Shout Outs).  Thanks for participating in our group!

Episode 182: Lucky Cat

This week's WIPs include sport weight Dias De los Muertos socks, the faux Duotone cowl and Seeta fingerless mitts. FOs include fingering weight Dias de los Muertos socks and the Chevron afghan. Lots of self-striping baubles and bling with some handmade socks by Wendy's mom. We introduced a new pattern by BostonJen of the Down Cellar Podcast. We have several drawings coming up next week so stay tuned!

SHOW NOTES

KAL/CAL:  We opened a September/October combined Stash Busters thread.  Post a pic of your finished project made from yarn purchased at least 6 months ago in the thread and get that stash under control!  Two winners will be drawn at the end of October.

We are hosting a month-long contest sponsored by Ashley Eskew of Twist Fiber Studio who is currently running a kickstarter for her business.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Seeta Fingerless Gloves by Maria Sheherazade in Tempted Yarns Luxe Grrl base in the After Glow colorway.

Sheila is working on:

Duotone Cowl by Orange Flower Yarn.  She is calling it "fake" duotone because she is using Sknitches self-striping sock yarn.

Toe-Up socks in sport weight Desert Vista Dyeworks yarn in the Dias de los Muertos colorway.

Rate Your Date:

Wendy finished:

Spicy Chevron Blanket by Patons (free on Rav), heavily modified, in Loops and Thread Impeccable (Michael's Store Brand yarn).

Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes in Desert Vista Dyeworks in the Dias de los Muertos colorway

Whirlwind Romance:

No progress this week.

Future Dates:

Both of us need to finish WIPs.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy purchased:

Vesper Sock Yarn in Electric Revolution

Fibernymph Dyeworks in Lucky Cat

Wendy received:

Handknit socks and a cowl from Mom

Sheila received:

Handknit socks from Wendy's Mom

Gossip & Innuendo:

Contests:

NEW CONTEST:

Want to win a free copy of Aila Grace by Jennifer Lasonde?  Check out the contest thread in our group and tell us what yarn you would use for this project.  Drawing for the prize in episode 184.

We are running a month-long contest sponsored by Ashley Askew, who is running the Twist Fiber Studio Kickstarter.  Ashley is a college student enrolled in a small business course, where she has gotten expert advice and support to start her own fiber and bag business.  To enter her contest, check out her kickstarter information and then post in the contest thread in our group telling us which colorway/bag set you love the most!  At the end of October, we will draw one winner who will get to choose either a hand-dyed skein of yarn or a 4oz braid of fiber!  Pictures of the prize choices and more details are in the contest thread!  Drawing will be next week.

Note:  You are not required to fund the kickstarter in order to enter the contest.

Announcements:

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.