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