Episode 253: Catjacked Again!

 SHOW NOTES

This week's WIPs include Ex Tempore shawl, Indigo Frost poncho, Jedi the Giraffe, Cuff down shorty socks, Toe Up generic socks and CBD Fudge Neckcessory. FOs include toe-up Patons Kroy socks. No knitting related Baubles and Bling this year. We will be reviewing a new book from XRX called "Knit My Skirt" next week, so stay tuned!

Shout Outs:

The New KAL/CAL is based on YELLOW!  Do any project with at least 50% yellow yarn.

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.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Jedi the Curious Giraffe by Heidi Bears in Anne Geddes baby yarn

Indigo Frost Poncho by Isabell Kraemer in Dream in Color Classy in the In Vino Veritas colorway.

Ex tempore shawl by Briony Singleton

Sheila is working on:

Generic cuff down shorty sock in cotton yarn

CBD Fudge Neckcessory by Deborah Tomasello in CBD Metallic Spice from her new yarn line.

Generic To-Upsocks in Fishknits self-striping yarn in the Fuji Fight Like A Girl colorway, which Sheila has renamed "Running on Recycled Parts" because green is for organ donation.

Rate Your Date:

Sheila finished:

Generic Patons Kroy socks.

Whirlwind Romance:

Nothing

Future Dates:

Wendy plans to knit a sweater in a few months, and will probably start some socks.

Sheila plans to knit a sockhead beanie.

Baubles & Bling:

Nothing this week.

Gossip & Innuendo:

We will be reviewing a new XRX book, Knit My Skirt by Candace Eisner Strick next week.  We will also have a contest to win this book, so stay tuned!

Fiber Events

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

Episode 252: Biohazard Yarn

 SHOW NOTES

This week we review Stephannie Tallent's new Craftsy class! WIPs include Jedi the Giraffe, Indigo Frost, Ex tempore shawl and vanilla socks. FOs include Atomic Blender socks and one vanilla sock. Featured Baubles and Bling is a bag from Tricia Paul Designs.

Shout Outs:

The New KAL/CAL is based on YELLOW!  Do any project with at least 50% yellow yarn.

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.

This week, we review Stephannie Tallent's new Craftsy class!  See below for a summary review.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Jedi the Curious Giraffe by Heidi Bears in Anne Geddes baby yarn

Indigo Frost Poncho by Isabell Kraemer in Dream in Color Classy in the In Vino Veritas colorway.

Ex tempore shawl by Briony Singleton

Sheila is working on:

Generic cuff down sock

Rate Your Date:

Sheila finished:

Atomic Blender socks.  Design will be out this week.

Sheila also finished a generic cuff down sock.

Whirlwind Romance:

Nothing

Future Dates:

If the crocheted toy goes well, Wendy my try another of these patterns.

Sheila has chosen her next skin of BMFA and will knit socks.

Baubles & Bling:

Sheila purchased:

bag from Tricia Paul Designs

Gossip & Innuendo:

REVIEW:

Wendy watched the new Craftsy course by Stephannie Tallent:  Custom Colorworks Techniques:  Mitts.  This is a great course if you want to take your knitting from following patterns as written (and always being a little disappointed by the outcome) to customizing everything about a project.  Not only will this teach you how to customize an existing mitt pattern, but it will give you the skills to design your own pattern and to begin to learn how to customize everything that you knit.

The class is packed with extras that can really help up your knitting game.  For those who dread chart reading, there is a nice section on how to read charts to give you a leg up.  There is also a great section on the color wheel and how to select colors that go well together.  I think this is a key skill that everyone could use.  You will also learn how to use knitter's graph paper (and where to source it), how to do the necessary math calculations for the project, and how to get inspired to create your own pattern motifs.  As with all Craftsy classes, you will get downloadable class materials that you can refer to again and again while doing future projects.  And Stephanie is there to answer any questions that you post on the class as you go along.

I would not recommend this class for beginning knitters unless you are very adventurous.  You will at least need to know stockinette, garter, knitting in the round, stranded colorwork, increases/decreases and chart reading (although you can learn about charts in the handy tutorial).  At the end of this class you will have a perfectly fitting pair of mitts in colors you love with the design of your choice!  And this could be the beginning of you modifying patterns to suit what YOU want instead of settling for what the designer likes.  Two thumbs up!

Fiber Events

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

Episode 251: Business As Usual

 SHOW NOTES

This week's WIPs include Atomic Blender socks, Ex Tempore shawl, and Indigo Frost poncho. FOs include Opal yarn socks in the Harry Potter colorway, 1 Atomic Blender sock and one felt slipper. Featured Baubles and Bling include a birthday bag of recovery goodies for Wendy from Sheila, Hamamelis Shawl pattern by Kristin Kapur, Fireflies Rising Shawl pattern and Summertide Shawl pattern by Helen Stewart. We also got donations this week! Thank you!

Shout Outs:

Mar/Apr KAL/CAL prizes are drawn this week!  We will post the new KAL/CAL next week.

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.  Because she was unable to record today, she will draw a winner in the next episode.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Indigo Frost Poncho by Isabell Kraemer in Dream in Color Classy in the In Vino Veritas colorway.

Rate Your Date:

Wendy finished:

Atomic Blender socks in Dyeabolical Yarn Targhee sock in the Atomic Blender colorway.  Pattern will be available soon.

This Way That Way socks by Mina Philipp in Knitpicks Felici in the Teacup colorway.

Whirlwind Romance:

Nothing

Future Dates:

Wendy plans to knit the Extempore shawl by Briony Singleton in Freia Handpaints Metropolis gradient.  She also plans to knit the Pebble Beach shawl  by Helen Stewart.  These will both be great recovery shawls.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy purchased:

The Lemonade Shop Yarns fingering weight in the Disco Hippo colorway

Gossip & Innuendo:

Wendy drew the KAL/CAL winners this week.  She will post a 50% off code in the group for those who wish to purchase Stephannie Tallent's Craftsy class.  Her review of the class will be in the next episode.

Fiber Events

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

Episode 250: Alone Again, Naturally

 SHOW NOTES

This week's WIP is the Indigo Frost poncho. FOs include Atomic Blender and This Way That Way socks. Featured Baubles and Bling is yarn from The Lemonade Shop. Wendy draws winners of the bi-monthly KAL and announces a code to get Stephannie Tallent's Craftsy class for 50% off! Wendy will review that class in the next episode.

Shout Outs:

Mar/Apr KAL/CAL prizes are drawn this week!  We will post the new KAL/CAL next week.

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.  Because she was unable to record today, she will draw a winner in the next episode.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Indigo Frost Poncho by Isabell Kraemer in Dream in Color Classy in the In Vino Veritas colorway.

Rate Your Date:

Wendy finished:

Atomic Blender socks in Dyeabolical Yarn Targhee sock in the Atomic Blender colorway.  Pattern will be available soon.

This Way That Way socks by Mina Philipp in Knitpicks Felici in the Teacup colorway.

Whirlwind Romance:

Nothing

Future Dates:

Wendy plans to knit the Extempore shawl by Briony Singleton in Freia Handpaints Metropolis gradient.  She also plans to knit the Pebble Beach shawl  by Helen Stewart.  These will both be great recovery shawls.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy purchased:

The Lemonade Shop Yarns fingering weight in the Disco Hippo colorway

Gossip & Innuendo:

Wendy drew the KAL/CAL winners this week.  She will post a 50% off code in the group for those who wish to purchase Stephannie Tallent's Craftsy class.  Her review of the class will be in the next episode.

Fiber Events

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

Episode 249: 10th Time's The Charm

 SHOW NOTES

This week's WIPs include Atomic Blender socks, generic cuff down socks and This Way That Way socks. That's a lot of socks! FOs include cotton footie socks, Atomic Blender socks and one This Way That Way socks. Featured Baubles and Bling include Rock and String Creations sock yarn in the Miss Congeniality colorway, Freia Fine Handpaints in the Metropolis colorway, and Knitter's Pride Cubics needles.

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 the next winner in May.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

This Way That Way socks by Mina Philipp in Knitpicks Felici in the Teacup colorway.

Sheila is working on:

Be My Valentine Socks by the Cozy Knitter in unlabeled cotton sock yarn.  She will not be using the cable pattern, just the gusset and heel combo.

Atomic Blender socks in BMFA mill end.

CBD Fudge Neckcessory by Deborah Tomasello in CBD Metallic Spice from her new yarn line (which we reviewed last episode).

Rate Your Date:

Sheila finished:

One Atomic Blender sock.

Be My Valentine Socks by the Cozy Knitter in unlabeled cotton sock yarn.  She did not use the cable pattern, just the gusset and heel combo on a footie sock.

Wendy finished:

Atomic Blender socks in Dyeabolical Yarn Targhee sock in the Atomic Blender colorway.  Pattern will be available when the sample socks are knit.

One This Way That Way sock.

Whirlwind Romance:

Nothing

Future Dates:

Sheila will knit socks.

Wendy needs to finish her current WIPs..

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy purchased:

Freia Fine Handpaints sport gradient in the Metropolis colorway

Rock and String Creations self-striping yarn in the Miss Congeniality colorway

Sheila purchased:

Various sizes of Knitter's Pride Cubics needles

Gossip & Innuendo:

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

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