Monday, March 21, 2016

Episode 244: Knitting is a Lifestyle


 SHOW NOTES

This week's WIPs include Jeck Socks, Cache Cache cowl, Indigo Frost poncho and generic cuff-down socks. FOs include one vanilla sock. We review Dragonfly Fibers Masterpiece Knits this week! Don't forget to play along in the Ravelry group for a chance to win a copy.

Shout Outs:

Mar/Apr KAL/CAL will be to knit with variegated yarn!  Trying digging something out from deep stash!  We will draw two winners during the first episode in May.

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.  We will draw a new winner during the first episode in April.

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.

Sheila is working on:

Generic Cuff-Down sock in Opal Cotton.

Rate Your Date:

Sheila finished:

One cuff down sock.

Whirlwind Romance:

Nothing

Future Dates:

Sheila needs to finish some projects and will knit more socks, possibly Rose City Rollers and a pair for herself from her BMFA heavyweight mill end.

Wendy plans to design a new sock when she finishes the ones on her needles.

Baubles & Bling:

Nothing this week

Gossip & Innuendo:

BOOK REVIEW:

This week we are reviewing Masterpiece Knits from Dragonfly Fibers.  You can purchase a pdf copy of this book on Ravelry for $18 or a hard copy plus a code for the pdf version on the Dragonfly Fibers website.

The book is unusual in that it is centered around Dragonfly Fibers colorways based on fine art.  We both thought all of the featured colorways were beautiful.  The book has 15 patterns that would be suitable for almost any level of knitter.  There are simple projects for beginners as well as more complex projects for knitters with more experience.  Basically, something for everyone!

We had a little trouble with the format at first as it came up on our devices with two pages at a time, which made it difficult to follow.  Wendy discovered by accident that if she sized the page up to fit only one page on the screen, it shifted to a one page at a time format, which made it much easier to read.  The patterns range from simple hats to sweaters, and include techniques like intarsia, cabling and textured stitches.  We really liked a lot of the patterns, most of which would work great with semi-solid and more variegated yarns.  The sweater patterns do come in some larger sizes for knitters who need them.  This book is definitely worth a look, especially if you love Dragonfly Fibers or fine art.  It is definitely a collection that will have you knitting more than one pattern.

We will be giving away a copy of this book in episode 246.  Just tell us which pattern you would knit in the contest thread on Ravelry!

Fiber Events


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


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








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