Episode 217: Restless Natives

This week's episode announces that the Bosworths will be vending at Fiber Revival on August 8 and also announces a number of prize donations from our viewers!! WIPs include Zigzagular socks, Color Affection Shawl, Melbourne Cobblestone Socks and Retiarius Cowl. FOs include Rose City Roller socks, Dino Baby Booties, Rialto Baby Beanie, TGV Shawl, and Leyburn Socks. Featured Baubles and Bling include fun gifts from our friend Melanie, Valley Yarn and Knitters Pride Cubics circulars.

 SHOW NOTES

July KAL/CAL:  Monsters or other creatures!  Any creature you care to make (except people).  We will draw a winner in August.

Shout Outs:

DON'T FORGET:  Abby Franquemont will be teaching two spinning classes (fine spinning and spindle long draw) at Fiber Revival on Saturday, August 8.  You can read about the courses and sign up HERE.  Don't miss out!!  Also, the Bosworths will be vending.  If you want to purchase a spindle, this is your chance.

Thank you to Mel, Angel and 2 anonymous donors for replenishing our prize box.

Check out the fabulous new knitting news website:  KnitCliks!  The brainchild of designers Carolyn Noyes and Cathy Carron, you can find news about fashion trends, new patterns, podcasts and MORE!

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Melbourne Cobblestone Socks by Kiki Kawaii in Knitpicks Felici in the Wizard color way

Retiarius by Amy King

Sheila is working on:

Color Affection Veera Valimaki

Zigzagular Socks by Susie White in BMFA Socks That Rock, "It's A Collection, Not an Obsession"

Rate Your Date:

Wendy finished:

Dino Baby Booties by Anna Meier in Plymouth Select DK.

Leyburn Socks by Minty Fresh in BMFA Socks That Rock, "It's A Collection, Not an Obsession"

TGV (High Speed Knitting) by Susan Ashcroft in polwarth/silk handspun from CJ Kopec Creations in the "Death to Ovarian Cancer" colorway

Rialto Baby Beanie by Haley Waxberg in Plymouth Select DK.

Sheila finished:

Rose City Rollers by Mara Catherine Bryner in a cotton blend yarn.

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy has transferred most of the sweater singles onto her Akerworks bobbins and has plied almost a full bobbin of yarn.

Future Dates:

Wendy will knit her Rhinebeck sweater and may knit a Yowza Weigh It Shawl by Susan B. Anderson.

Sheila is going to work on a gift item.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy and Sheila received:

Lots of donations for prizes and a few fun items.

Sheila purchased:

Valley Yarns to make ski masks

Knitters Pride Nova Cubics Platina needles

Gossip & Innuendo:

DON'T FORGET:  We will be giving away a PDF copy of the Aurora Borealis Mittens book in Episode 218.  Just tell us in the Ravelry Contest Thread which pattern is your favorite - if you can decide.

PRAYER/COMFORT SHAWL COLLECTION:

Since it did so well last year, we are bringing back the shawl collection, which is organized by Lise Gill.  Lise has offered a wonderful prize for donating shawls of any shape, size or fiber.  The shawls will be distributed to people in need, including elderly patients, mourning family and women in shelters.  It's a great way to recycle shawls you may no longer use or that didn't fit your lifestyle once you knit them.  There is more info in the Charity thread in the Ravelry group on how to become eligible for the prize drawing by posting pictures of your donations.  Shawls should be sent directly to:

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

We collected so many shawls last year!  We hope you will join in giving someone who needs it a virtual hug in the form of a shawl.

2015 Fiber Events

Fiber Revival, Newburyport, MA Saturday Aug 8,  2015

Finger Lakes Fiber Arts Festival, Hemlock NY Sat Sep19 - Sun Sep 20, 2015

Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival, Greenwich NY Sat Sep 26 - Sun Sep 27, 2015

Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival, Tunbridge VT Sat Oct 3 - Sun Oct 4, 2015

New York State Sheep & Wool Festival, Rhinebeck NY Saturday Oct 17 - Sunday Oct 18, 2015

Fiber Festival of New England, West Springfield MA Saturday Nov 7 - Sunday Nov 8, 2015

Episode 216: Daydream Believers

Join us as we fantasize about going to fiber events in the UK! Once we get back to reality, this week's WIPs include a baby hat, the TGV shawl, Leyburn socks, and Rose City Roller socks. FOs include Dino Baby booties and a baby headband with floral accent. Featured Baubles and Bling include Plymouth Select DK. We review the book Aurora Borealis Mittens by Shannon Oakey and announce a giveaway. We also bring back the Comfort Shawl Charity drive! Finally, we draw a winner of the Color Wheel Knits book.

 SHOW NOTES

July KAL/CAL:  Monsters or other creatures!  Any creature you care to make (except people).  We will draw a winner in August.

Shout Outs:

This week we review Aurora Borealis Mittens by Shannon Oakey.  Check Gossip and Innuendo for contest information.

DON'T FORGET:  Abby Franquemont will be teaching two spinning classes (fine spinning and spindle long draw) at Fiber Revival on Saturday, August 8.  You can read about the courses and sign up HERE.  Don't miss out!!

Check out the fabulous new knitting news website:  KnitCliks!  The brainchild of designers Carolyn Noyes and Cathy Carron, you can find news about fashion trends, new patterns, podcasts and MORE!

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Leyburn Socks by Minty Fresh in BMFA Socks That Rock, "It's A Collection, Not an Obsession"

TGV (High Speed Knitting) by Susan Ashcroft in polwarth/silk handspun from CJ Kopec Creations in the "Death to Ovarian Cancer" colorway

Rialto Baby Beanie by Haley Waxberg in Plymouth Select DK.

Sheila is working on:

Rose City Rollers by Mara Catherine Bryner in a cotton blend yarn.

Rate Your Date:

Wendy finished:

Baby Headband using Heidi Headband by Jennifer Lee and Winter Flowers by Clare Doornbos in Fiber Stash Twinkletoes, Eggplant colorway.

Dino Baby Booties by Anna Meier in Plymouth Select DK.

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy has transferred most of the sweater singles onto her Akerworks bobbins and has plied almost a full bobbin of yarn.

Future Dates:

Wendy will finish the baby knits.

Sheila is going to work on her Color Affection after ripping back and going up a needle size.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy purchased:

Plymouth Select DK

Gossip & Innuendo:

BOOK REVIEW:

This week we reviewed Aurora Borealis Mittens by Shannon Oakey (Cooperative Press).  This book is a beautiful collection of 15 mitten patterns and a bonus tam pattern.  It totally deserves the title "Aurora Borealis" because the mittens are photographed in a gorgeous range of colors.  Most (if not all) of the patterns are shown in more than one color option, so you can really be inspired to find what works for you.  The book starts off with a great techniques section that includes good sections on reading charts and how to divide your yarn if you are using a gradient.  There are also 7 different cuff options provided so that you can customize your mittens to your liking.  A couple of special techniques (knitting thrums and using conductive thread) are also discussed, as well as how to determine color dominance for your color work.  The mitten patterns are a wide selection of colorwork styles.  One thing I really love is that you could probably mix and match by using the palm pattern from one mitten and the back pattern from another, or even using one pattern on both sides.  This book is a must have for anyone who loves knitting colorwork mittens.

We will be giving away a PDF copy of this book in Episode 218.  Just tell us in the Ravelry Contest Thread which pattern is your favorite - if you can decide.

PRAYER/COMFORT SHAWL COLLECTION:

Since it did so well last year, we are bringing back the shawl collection, which is organized by Lise Gill.  Lise has offered a wonderful prize for donating shawls of any shape, size or fiber.  The shawls will be distributed to people in need, including elderly patients, mourning family and women in shelters.  It's a great way to recycle shawls you may no longer use or that didn't fit your lifestyle once you knit them.  There is more info in the Charity thread in the Ravelry group on how to become eligible for the prize drawing by posting pictures of your donations.  Shawls should be sent directly to:

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

We collected so many shawls last year!  We hope you will join in giving someone who needs it a virtual hug in the form of a shawl.

Not much will be going on until Fiber Revival!  If you haven't already done it, sign up for a class by Abby Franquemont!

We drew a winner of Color Wheel Knits!

2015 Fiber Events

Fiber Revival, Newburyport, MA Saturday Aug 8,  2015

Finger Lakes Fiber Arts Festival, Hemlock NY Sat Sep19 - Sun Sep 20, 2015

Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival, Greenwich NY Sat Sep 26 - Sun Sep 27, 2015

Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival, Tunbridge VT Sat Oct 3 - Sun Oct 4, 2015

New York State Sheep & Wool Festival, Rhinebeck NY Saturday Oct 17 - Sunday Oct 18, 2015

Fiber Festival of New England, West Springfield MA Saturday Nov 7 - Sunday Nov 8, 2015

Episode 215: Amusement Park Memories

What a glorious week for a throwback pic! Aside from reliving amusement park memories, we show TGV, Leyburn socks and Rose City Roller socks in progress, as well as one finished Rose City sock. Wendy updates on her Tour de Fleece progress, including one finished skein of yarn. Baubles and Bling are wonderful shawl pins from a viewer. We draw a winner of the June KAL/CAL and announce this month's theme.

 SHOW NOTES

July KAL/CAL:  Monsters or other creatures!  Any creature you care to make (except people).  We will draw a winner in August.

Shout Outs:

Don't forget to join the contest to win Color Wheel Knits!  A winner will be drawn in Ep 216.

Abby Franquemont will be teaching two spinning classes (fine spinning and spindle long draw) at Fiber Revival on Saturday, August 8.  You can read about the courses and sign up HERE.  Don't miss out!!

Check out the fabulous new knitting news website:  KnitCliks!  The brainchild of designers Carolyn Noyes and Cathy Carron, you can find news about fashion trends, new patterns, podcasts and MORE!

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Leyburn Socks by Minty Fresh in BMFA Socks That Rock, "It's A Collection, Not an Obsession"

TGV (High Speed Knitting) by Susan Ashcroft in polwarth/silk handspun from CJ Kopec Creations in the "Death to Ovarian Cancer" colorway

Retiarius in Spunky Eclectic Mammoth Yarn in the Rock Lobster colorway (not shown this week)

Sheila is working on:

Generic Toe up sock out of a Ravelry Sock Blank swap item (not shown this week)

Rose City Rollers by Mara Catherine Bryner in a cotton blend yarn.

Rate Your Date:

Sheila finished:

One Rose City Roller sock

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy finished spinning her Abby Batt.  She plied some of her sweater project yarn and is spinning more in an effort to transfer all of her singles onto Akerworks bobbins.

Future Dates:

Wendy will knit a baby headband.

Sheila is going to work on her Color Affection after ripping back and going up a needle size.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy and Sheila received beautiful handmade shawl pins from a viewer as well as some tea!

Gossip & Innuendo:

Not much will be going on until Fiber Revival!  If you haven't already done it, sign up for a class by Abby Franquemont!

We drew a winner for the July CAL/KAL!

2015 Fiber Events

Fiber Revival, Newburyport, MA Saturday Aug 8,  2015

Finger Lakes Fiber Arts Festival, Hemlock NY Sat Sep19 - Sun Sep 20, 2015

Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival, Greenwich NY Sat Sep 26 - Sun Sep 27, 2015

Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival, Tunbridge VT Sat Oct 3 - Sun Oct 4, 2015

New York State Sheep & Wool Festival, Rhinebeck NY Saturday Oct 17 - Sunday Oct 18, 2015

Fiber Festival of New England, West Springfield MA Saturday Nov 7 - Sunday Nov 8, 2015

Episode 214: In Vogue

Note: There were some video technical difficulties this week. So the video is weird in a couple of places. Most of it is fine! This week's WIPs include many socks and the TGV shawlette. FOs include the Mystik Spiral Reboot socks and the Lucille baby cardi. Baubles and Bling featured this week are Knitpicks Felici sock yarn. We review the new book by Veera Välimäki "Colorwheel Knits." There will be a contest to win a free copy, with the winner drawn in Ep 216.

 SHOW NOTES

June KAL/CAL:  SOCKS!  Small socks, big socks, footie socks, knee highs... any sock that can be worn by an actual human.  We will draw a winner in Episode 215, and will keep the thread open until then.

Shout Outs:

Abby Franquemont will be teaching two spinning classes (fine spinning and spindle long draw) at Fiber Revival on Saturday, August 8.  You can read about the courses and sign up HERE.  Don't miss out!!

Check out the fabulous new knitting news website:  KnitCliks!  The brainchild of designers Carolyn Noyes and Cathy Carron, you can find news about fashion trends, new patterns, podcasts and MORE!

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Leyburn Socks by Minty Fresh in BMFA Socks That Rock, "It's A Collection, Not an Obsession"

Wendy is going to knit TGV (High Speed Knitting) by Susan Ashcroft in polwarth/silk handspun from CJ Kopec Creations in the "Death to Ovarian Cancer" colorway

Retiarius in Spunky Eclectic Mammoth Yarn in the Rock Lobster colorway (not shown this week)

Sheila is working on:

Generic Toe up sock out of a Ravelry Sock Blank swap item.

Rose City Rollers by Mara Catherine Bryner in a cotton blend yarn.

Rate Your Date:

Wendy finished:

Lucille cardigan by Courtney Kelley in Fiber Stash Twinkletoes sock in the Eggplant colorway

Sheila finished:

Mystik Spiral Socks by Josh Ryks in Fibernymph Dyeworks self-striping on Bounce in the Good 'n' Plenty colorway.

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy is spinning her Abby Batt.  She will be on Team Akerworks for Tour de Fleece

Future Dates:

Wendy will knit a baby headband.

Sheila is going to knit Zigzagular and focus mainly on socks for a while.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy purchased:

Knitpicks Felici in Wizard, Teacup and Baker Street.

Gossip & Innuendo:

Not much will be going on until Fiber Revival!  If you haven't already done it, sign up for a class by Abby Franquemont!

BOOK REVIEW:  Color Wheel Knits by Veera Valïmäki (published by Cooperative Press)

We both loved this book.  The basic concept is patterns grouped by color groups, with a short blurb about the feeling or emotion of the color group at the beginning of each section.  All of the patterns featured are knit in Sport or heavier yarn, and there is really something for everyone.  There are sweater patterns for men, women and children, hat patterns, scarf, cowl and mitten patterns.  All of the designs are typical of this designer:  fresh, interesting and modern.  She makes great use of color blocking, color work and texture in her designs, and all of the patterns are seamless - perfect for those of us who dislike construction.  Our favorite patterns were "Afloat in Red" and "Grid Plan."  The book is also beautifully photographed. We did note that not all of the sweater designs will work for larger ladies, but there were several designs that could flatter all shapes and sizes.  We definitely recommend this book for 156 pages of perfect winter knitting projects.

We will be giving away a pdf copy of this book in Episode 216.  Leave a comment in the contest thread telling us which pattern is your favorite!

2015 Fiber Events

Fiber Revival, Newburyport, MA Saturday Aug 8,  2015

Finger Lakes Fiber Arts Festival, Hemlock NY Sat Sep19 - Sun Sep 20, 2015

Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival, Greenwich NY Sat Sep 26 - Sun Sep 27, 2015

Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival, Tunbridge VT Sat Oct 3 - Sun Oct 4, 2015

New York State Sheep & Wool Festival, Rhinebeck NY Saturday Oct 17 - Sunday Oct 18, 2015

Fiber Festival of New England, West Springfield MA Saturday Nov 7 - Sunday Nov 8, 2015