Monday, December 26, 2016

Episode 266: Holidays 2016


This week's WIPs include the Lillian Fay sweater, Fox Paws, Going Up socks, modified Rye socks and a "Glitten" loosely based on the Knotty gloves. FOs include finished washcloths and one Rye sock. Baubles and Bling this week were a custom lanyard for Sheila to wear her ID badge at work. We review the double knitting eBook Double or Nothing and draw a winner of the My Own Backyard shawl pattern. We will draw more random prize winners in the next episode as well as a winner of the eBook giveaway.

 SHOW NOTES
Shout Outs:

This month's KAL/CAL is any project in your favorite Sports Team or School colors! Show your team/school loyalty! This KAL/CAL will run through December 31st. If you have a sports fan or school student, this would be the perfect opportunity to knit a Christmas gift!

Sheila is also hosting a Blue Moon Fiber Arts KAL/CAL that will continue through December and includes any projects made from Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Lillian Fay Cardigan by Ellen Mason in Dream in Color Classy in the Flamingo Pie colorway

Fox Paws by Xandy Peters in 5 colors of Sundara Yarn from deep stash.

Going Up socks in Knit Picks Felici sock in the Dark Side colorway.

Sheila is working on:

Rye socks by Tincanknits in BMFA STR in the Garden Daze colorway

"Glitten" (half glove, half mitten) loosely based on the Knotty Gloves pattern by Julia Mueller.

Rate Your Date:

Sheila finished:

Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth by Ruth Slate in kitchen cotton

One Rye sock

Whirlwind Romance:

Nothing

Future Dates:

Wendy will knit an Inspira Cowl by Graphica.

Sheila will knit socks, a Scrappy Lengthwise Scarf by Zona Sherman and a cowl from Wollmeise scraps.  Her 2017 goal is to use up her scraps.

Baubles & Bling:

Sheila received a phlebotomist themed lanyard for her work ID from Wendy for Christmas (it came later than her other presents).

Gossip & Innuendo:

We drew a winner of the My Own Backyard pattern by Jennifer Lassonde!

BOOK REVIEW:

Double or Nothing: Reversible Knitting for the Adventurous by Alisdair Post-Quinn.  You can purchase a copy HERE on the Fallingblox Designs webpage.

This book is definitely not for a new knitter unless you are extremely adventurous and willing to take on a challenge!  It is more suited to an experienced knitter or an adventurous intermediate knitter.

We really liked a lot of features in this book.  First, it takes you through a series of double knitting projects where you can learn how to take double knitting to another level - double knitted lace, double knitted cables, double knitted colorwork and intarsia, etc.  Often there is a small sample project you can make to try out the new technique so you don't have to commit to a huge project.  That means you could learn the basics of the techniques in this book simply by making the swatch samples.  If you find you enjoy double knitting techniques, you can then move forward to one of the projects,  We also liked the detailed and nicely photographed tutorial pictures.  These are key any time you are learning a new technique and this book really does them well.  Likewise, all of the patterns were nicely photographed so you could really see the double knitting and how it differed on either side.  Finally, we liked that the author wove his own story about his knitting throughout the book.  Although the tone occasionally tended toward the bombastic in the author's story sections, they do connect the book with a personal narrative that makes for an enjoyable read.  All in all, this looks like an interesting challenge for people who want to do more with the double knitting technique and we would recommend it for those knitters.

If you would like to win a copy of this book, enter the contest on our Ravelry page and tell us which pattern piques your interest!

ALSO:

We are still drawing prizes for random people on our Ravelry group membership list as we begin to wind down the podcast.  We will draw another batch of prizes in the next episode so stay tuned.

Fiber Events

None until 2017







Saturday, December 17, 2016

Episode 265: An Announcement at the End


This week's WIPs include the Lillian Fay sweater, Fox Paws shawl, Going Up sock, Grandma's Favorite washcloths, and a modified Rye sock. FOs include the Four Seasons sweater, the Recoleta cardigan, the Lemongrass pullover, washcloths, footie socks, the Wurm hat, headbands and vanilla Halloween socks in BMFA Punkin Chunkin colorway. Featured baubles and bling include our Christmas gifts to each other and new Knitpicks Felici. We have a big announcement at the end of the show, along with drawing 11 prizes!!!

 SHOW NOTES
Shout Outs:

This month's KAL/CAL is any project in your favorite Sports Team or School colors! Show your team/school loyalty! This KAL/CAL will run through December 31st. If you have a sports fan or school student, this would be the perfect opportunity to knit a Christmas gift!

Sheila is also hosting a Blue Moon Fiber Arts KAL/CAL that will continue through December and includes any projects made from Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Lillian Fay Cardigan by Ellen Mason in Dream in Color Classy in the Flamingo Pie colorway

Fox Paws by Xandy Peters in 5 colors of Sundara Yarn from deep stash.

Going Up socks in Knit Picks Felici sock in the Dark Side colorway.

Sheila is working on:

Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth by Ruth Slate in kitchen cotton

Rye socks by Tincanknits in BMFA STR in the Garden Daze colorway

Rate Your Date:

Wendy finally blocked:

Recoleta by Joji Locatelli in Berocco Inca Gold

Lemongrass pullover by Joji Locatelli in Malabrigo Twist in the Ravelry Red colorway

Four Seasons Jumper by Sarah Crawford in Briar Rose DK in the Glory Days colorway

One Going Up sock

Sheila finished:

Vanilla socks in BMFA, Punkin Chunkin colorway

Three washcloths

Vanilla footie socks

Wurm Hat by Katharina Nopp in Cascade Yarn

Generic and Calorimtery Headband in Cascade Yarn

Whirlwind Romance:

Nothing

Future Dates:

Wendy will knit another sweater from yarn salvaged from her old sweaters

Sheila will slippers and more socks

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy purchased:

Felici Sock Yarn in the Lost Lakes, Beyond the Wall and Toucan colorways.

Wendy received dishcloths, hand towels, hotpads/mitt and a dunkin donuts gift card.

Sheila received an organ donation survivor bracelet from Greco Girl Jewelry on etsy and a dunkin donuts gift card.

Gossip & Innuendo:

CONTEST:

My Own Backyard BY Jennifer Lasonde!  Tell us in our Ravelry group which gradient you would use to knit this shawl for an opportunity to win a copy of the pattern in our next episode.

BOOK REVIEW of Double or Nothing: Reversible Knitting for the Adventurous by Alisdair Post-Quinn will be featured in our next episode, along with a contest!

ALSO:

We are drawing prizes for random people on our Ravelry group membership list as we begin to wind down the podcast.  We've had a great 5 years but at this season in our lives, we just don't have the ability to keep recording.  Stay tuned for the final episodes as we give away all the prizes we've amassed to our loyal viewers.  And check the end of the show to see if you are one of the 11 names we drew this week.

Fiber Events

None until 2017