This week's WIPs include Jeck socks, toe up socks, Cache Cache Cowl and the Indigo Frost poncho. WIPs include one toe up sock, vanilla style. Featured Baubles and Bling from Vintage Fairie LLC and a viewer donation. We review Amazing Lace by Sharon Mooney and Cheryl Potter, printed by Cooperative Press. Check out our Ravelry group to win a copy!!
SHOW NOTES
Shout Outs:
Jan/Feb KAL/CAL will be to finish works in progress! Get those old projects off the needles and start the new year off right.
Sheila is also hosting a Blue Moon Fiber Arts KAL/CAL that will continue throughout the year and includes any projects made from Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn. More details in the Ravelry group.
On The Dance Card:
Jan/Feb KAL/CAL will be to finish works in progress! Get those old projects off the needles and start the new year off right.
Sheila is also hosting a Blue Moon Fiber Arts KAL/CAL that will continue throughout the year and includes any projects made from Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn. More details in the Ravelry group.
On The Dance Card:
Wendy is working on:
Jeck Sock by Regina Satta in Fibernymph Dye Works Bounce base, Lucky Cat colorway.
Cache Cache Cowl by Kiki Kawaii in Into the Whirled Manchester sock cashmere/merino/nylon yarn, Double Rainbow colorway
Indigo Frost Poncho by Isabell Kraemer in Dream in Color Classy in the In Vino Veritas colorway with scraps for the color work.
Vanilla toe-up socks in a BMFA Mill End
Rate Your Date:
Sheila finished:
One toe up BMFA sock.
Whirlwind Romance:
Nothing
Future Dates:
Sheila will knit socks in Patons Kroy.
Wendy needs to finish her other projects, and then will knit This Way That Way Socks by Mina Phillips.
Baubles & Bling:
Sheila received:
Vintage Fairie LLC donated a needle holder and fairy stitch marker for the BMFA KAL/CAL prizes.
We also received a huge box of yarn to use as prizes. Sheila picked BMFA BFL Superwash in the On The Vine colorway and STR lightweight in the Mad as a March Hare colorway to give as prizes at the end of the BMFA KAL/CAL.
Gossip & Innuendo:
BOOK REVIEW:
This week we reviewed Amazing Lace by Sharon Mooney and Cheryl Potter, printed by Cooperative Press. It is available for purchase on Amazon and Ravelry (pdf version).
We both really liked the concept of this book. It features a series of lace projects that range from a simple lace edging to more complex all over lace designs. It also features "lessons" on various techniques following each pattern. Some lesson examples include choosing yarn, increases and decreases, nupps and beading. The combination of the technique lessons and the wide range of lace projects would make this book ideal for a beginner lace knitter, but still relevant to a more advanced knitter. We liked that it showed projects in fingering weight, variegated, and striping yarns.
We both felt that the photography did not do justice to the beautiful patterns shown and the many techniques demonstrated. We found the photography lighting to be very dark, making it difficult in some photographs to see the details that are important if you have questions about the project. The lighting also affected some of the tutorial photos, where it is so important to see exactly what the yarn and needles are doing. We also wished there were more shots of some projects to show items worn on a model for size reference.
We would definitely recommend this book for advanced lace knitters and new knitters wanting to learn more about lace knitting. The tutorials alone would make this a great book for learning techniques and the many pretty patterns are just the icing on the cake.
Come to our Ravelry group and tell us which pattern in the book is your favorite in our contest thread. A winner will be chosen in Episode 239!
Fiber Events
NETA Spa Weekend Feb 26-28, Hilton Garden Inn Freeport Downtown, Freeport, ME
Connecticut Sheep and Wool Apr 30, Tolland Agricultural Center, Vernon/Rockville, CT
Gore Place Sheep Shearing Festival Apr 30, Gore Place, Waltham MA
Maryland Sheep and Wool May 7-8, Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, MD
New Hampshire Sheep and Wool May 14-15, Deerfield Fairgrounds, Deerfield, NH
Rhode Island Wool and Fiber Festival May 16, Coggeshall Farm Museum, Bristol, RI
Webs Annual Tent Sale May 14-15, Webs, Northampton, MA
Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair May 28-29, Cummington Fairgrounds, Cummington, MA
Maine Fiber Frolic Jun 6-7, Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, ME
Fiber Revival TBA
Finger Lakes Fiber Festival Sep 17-18, Hemlock Fairgrounds, Hemlock ME
Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival Sep 24-25, Washington County Fairgrounds, Greenwich, NY
Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival Oct 1-2, Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, VT
New York Sheep and Wool Oct 15-16, Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY
Fiber Festival of New England Nov 5-6, Eastern States Exhibition, Springfield, MA
