Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Episode 254: Master of PHDs


 SHOW NOTES

This week's WIPs include Jedi the Giraffe, Indigo Frost poncho, Ex Tempore shawl, vanilla ankle socks and vanilla toe-up socks. No dates to rate, but Wendy finished a lot of little African Flower motifs for the giraffe. We announce the winner of the May BMFA KAL/CAL and we review the new XRX book Knit My Skirt.

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

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:

None this week, although Wendy finished a ton of African Violet motifs for her Giraffe.

Whirlwind Romance:

Nothing

Future Dates:

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

Sheila plans to finish what she has on the needles.

Baubles & Bling:

Nothing this week.

Gossip & Innuendo:

BOOK REVIEW:

We reviewed a new XRX book, Knit My Skirt by Candace Eisner Strick.  It is available on the XRX website and also on Amazon!

We both really liked this book.  The concept is simple:  this book teaches you how to make a custom-fitting skirt and how to add an undergarment to give it structure.  The patterns are sorted by construction:  bottom up, top down and side to side.  There really is something for everyone in the variety of designs.  We didn't like some styles and we loved others.  There are definitely some skirts that need a slender figure, but there were also plenty that would work on larger sizes.  The fact that you customize your skirt makes it way more likely the end product will be flattering!

This book is well written and includes a lot of great extras.  There is a history of the skirt that we both really enjoyed reading.  The photography is great and each pattern shows a lot of views of the skirt so you can see the garment as a whole but also see close-ups of important features.  We love a book with plenty of good photos!  It includes the usual features like a stitch guide and instructions, and the e-book also has hyperlinks to the patterns from the index, which is a another feature we both love.  There's even a clever section explaining why you NEED a knit skirt, and providing a counterargument to all the reasons you don't think you want one.  If you are interested in knitting a different kind of garment and learning how to make it your exact size, this is a great book for you.  It is probably best suited to intermediate knitters and above, but an enthusiastic beginner could definitely tackle some of the patterns.

Fiber Events

Fiber Revival Aug 13, Spencer Peirce Little Farm, Newbury, MA

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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