Episode 125: So Much To Say, So Little Time

Lots going on this episode! Along with the usual WIPs and FOs, Wendy and Sheila show and tell fabulous yarn and fiber from Enchanted Knoll Farm, purchases from Fiber Revival and review the latest Nicky Epstein book on knitting for dolls. We discuss two charities and show the finished Zoom Loom scarf. 

  Show Notes 

KAL/CAL:  We haven't settled on a theme for the next KAL/CAL, which will start in September.

Shout Outs:  BIG thanks to Kathy (aka Katzdaisy) for the awesome prize donation!


On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Seashell Shawl by Ivy Brambles Yarn in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silk Thread II.  I am on the 8th of 9 body chart repeats!  I have also posted my corrections to the chart on Rav for those who may want to knit the shawl.

Fantastic by Suzy Vitale ($5 on Rav) in hand spun Dyeabolical Yarns Portuguese Merino in "Flower Shop Inferno".  This sweater has basically become a sweater of my own design, since I have so far changed 1) the overall stitch count; 2) the hem design and 3) all of the waist shaping.

Sheila is working on:  A baby blanket in kitchen cotton (I will have to ask her for the pattern name, if there is one).

Rate Your Date:

Wendy finished a Zoom Loom scarf by joining it with Dale of Norway Heilo.  Experimenting with the Zoom Loom showed that doubled fingering weight looks nicest, and the Dale of Norway yarn is too scratchy for a blanket.

Whirlwind Romance:

We feature fiber (and some yarn) from Enchanted Knoll Farm, on of Wendy's favorite fiber sources.  Check her out on etsy!

Future Dates:

Wendy plans on knitting:

Hiro Sweater by Julia Farwell-Clay in Valley Yarns Berkshire, but not before Rhinebeck.

Sheila plans on knitting:

Felted Clogs by Fiber Trends ($7.95 on Rav) for Wendy's mom.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy purchased at Fiber Revival:

Spunky Eclectic fiber in the Malala colorway (which is allegedly discontinued, but there may be a few more lingering in the shop).

Stitched by Jessalu bag with tiny Enterprises on it.  I am a sucker!

Wendy also purchased:

Knittingsmybag Mustache themed bag and a flowered Alterknitting Skein bag (a new design!)

Knit to Flatter by Amy Herzog

Sheila reviewed:

Knits for Dolls by Nicky Epstein.  This is a great book if you have someone in your life who has American Girl or similar 15" dolls.   Lots of patterns ranging from simple to complex, in yarns ranging from inexpensive acrylics to luxury fibers and novelty yarns.  Includes patterns for clothing, socks, hats and several small accessories, with a nice stitch guide and technique glossary with explanations in the back.  Two thumbs up!

Gossip & Innuendo:

The Jimmy Fund Walk.  Fellow podcaster Meliabella from His and Hers podcast is walking for charity on September 25th.  Donations will benefit The Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber.  This is a charity close to Sheila's heart because the Jimmy Fund did so much for her son when he had liver cancer.  Sheila is also donating a skein of her Wollmeise to add to the many prizes you will be eligible to win upon making a donation.

A Little Help From My Friends sock pattern by Alison Ziegler ($5 on Rav) will donate 50% of the proceeds to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network in honor of her friend Betty, who is struggling to battle the disease and is relying on help from her friends to get through her prognosis and treatment.  This pattern would make a great gift for one of your friends!

If you are feeling charitable this month, please check out these links.

Upcoming Fiber Events on our radar:

Rhinebeck in Rhinebeck, NY on October 19-20.  We will be at the podcaster meet up.

Fiber Festival of New England in West Springfield, MA on November 2-3.  Post in the group if you are attending and want to meet up.

Stitches East in Hartford, CT on November 7-10.  Post in the group if you are attending and want to meet up.

Contests:
Stitched by Jessalu is holding a Summer Fun Photo Contest!  You can enter one photo of your bag with a landmark of historical significane or pop culture significance per month.  You get a 10% off code just for entering and you could win a $25 off prize at the end of the month!!!  You can get more info on the rules HERE.  You can post your contest photos HERE.  Everyone is vacationing around now, why not travel with your bags and win a prize???

Episode 124: Sweet & Lo

Wendy with special guest Lois of Knittingsmybag! Wendy shows her progress on her handspun sweater and the Seashell Shawl and Lois gives you a sneak preview of the yarn for her October Bag and More! Wendy discusses her new love, the Zoom Loom and a winner of the Skeleton Mitts is drawn. 

  Show Notes 

KAL/CAL:  Lace Theme.  We drew two winners this week!!  Watch at the end to see if you won.  We will be taking a month off from KAL/CAL and will start the new one in September, so stay tuned.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Seashell Shawl by Ivy Brambles Yarn in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silk Thread II.  I am on the 8th of 9 body chart repeats!  I have also posted my corrections to the chart on Rav for those who may want to knit the shawl.

Fantastic by Suzy Vitale ($5 on Rav) in hand spun Dyeabolical Yarns Portuguese Merino in "Flower Shop Inferno".  This will become my Rhinebeck sweater with a few mods for gauge and sizing adjustments.

Special Guest Lois is working on Missoni Inspired Chevron Blanket by Kelly Kingston (about $4 on Rav) in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes.

Rate Your Date:

Lois finished a Ruby Slippers Shawlette by Wendy Weber Deeds ($5 on Rav) in Dream in Color Smooshy, Petal Showers color way.

Whirlwind Romance:

Nothing this week.

Future Dates:

Wendy plans on knitting:

Hiro Sweater by Julia Farwell-Clay in Valley Yarns Berkshire 

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy received a Maine blueberry themed bag from Lois and a pillow with the motto "If I'm Sitting, I'm Knitting"

Wendy purchased:

Schacht Zoom Loom from Spunky Eclectic and wove a bunch of squares for a scarf and a blanket!  After experimentation, the fingering weight doubled is the nicest feel for squares.

Gossip & Innuendo:

Upcoming Fiber Events on our radar:

Rhinebeck in Rhinebeck, NY on October 19-20.  We will be at the podcaster meet up.

Fiber Festival of New England in West Springfield, MA on November 2-3.  Post in the group if you are attending and want to meet up.

Stitches East in Hartford, CT on November 7-10.  Post in the group if you are attending and want to meet up.

Contests:

Skeleton Mittens Contest:  I drew a winner!

Stitched by Jessalu is holding a Summer Fun Photo Contest!  You can enter one photo of your bag with a landmark of historical significane or pop culture significance per month.  You get a 10% off code just for entering and you could win a $25 off prize at the end of the month!!!  You can get more info on the rules HERE.  You can post your contest photos HERE.  Everyone is vacationing around now, why not travel with your bags and win a prize???

Episode 123: Long Time Gone

Sheila is finally back! The ladies bring you the usua; project chat including lots of finished baby booties, Sheila's baby blanket in progress and Wendy's seashell shawl. We draw two prizes for the KAL and one prize for the Orange You Toasty giveaway. Wendy shows the swatch for her Rhinebeck sweater from handspun and both of us discuss our tooth problems. 

Show Notes 

KAL/CAL:  Lace Theme.  We drew two winners this week!!  Watch at the end to see if you won.  We will be taking a month off from KAL/CAL and will start the new one in September, so stay tuned.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Seashell Shawl by Ivy Brambles Yarn in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silk Thread II.  I am on the 8th of 9 body chart repeats!  I have also posted my corrections to the chart on Rav for those who may want to knit the shawl.

Fantastic by Suzy Vitale ($5 on Rav) in hand spun Dyeabolical Yarns Portuguese Merino in "Flower Shop Inferno".  This will become my Rhinebeck sweater with a few mods for gauge and sizing adjustments.

Sheila is working on:  A baby blanket in kitchen cotton (I will have to ask her for the pattern name, if there is one).

Rate Your Date:

Pippi Baby Booties by Frankie Brown (Free on Rav) in unknown fingering weight scrap yarn.

Cozy Little Toes by Judy Kaethler (free on Rav) in Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR medium, My Wild IrishGirlie color way.

Blue Steps by Regina Willer (free on Rav) in unknown fingering weight scrap yarn.  This is one of my go-to bootie patterns.

Whirlwind Romance:

Nothing this week.

Future Dates:

Wendy plans on knitting:

Hiro Sweater by Julia Farwell-Clay in Valley Yarns Berkshire 

Sheila would like to finish her baby blanket and work on these Fiber Trends Felted Clogs for Wendy's mother, who "gifted" Sheila the yarn and partially completed project.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy bought:

Zitron Unisono in Colors 1210 and 1235

Sheila got a ceramic Lucky Cat from Chinatown in San Francisco from Wendy to give her good luck in finding her dream job.

Gossip & Innuendo:

Orange You Toasty Contest!  We drew a winner!

Skeleton Mittens Contest:  Rachel Kluesner from Dyeabolical Yarns has brought out another new pattern!  This time it is the ghoulishly awesome skeleton mittens.  Post in our group to win a free copy of this pattern next week.

Stitched by Jessalu is holding a Summer Fun Photo Contest!  You can enter one photo of your bag with a landmark of historical significane or pop culture significance per month.  You get a 10% off code just for entering and you could win a $25 off prize at the end of the month!!!  You can get more info on the rules HERE.  You can post your contest photos HERE.  Everyone is vacationing around now, why not travel with your bags and win a prize???

Episode 122: Oh Captain, My Captain!

Wendy and cohost Jean Luc Picard bring you the usual project chat, including Wendy's Seashell Shawl and Aquaphobia Socks (a project of shame!). Wendy draws a prize for the "It's Not Really a Team" TdF contest and shows her total TdF progress. Wendy also introduces a week-long contest for a hat pattern by Rachel of Dyeabolical Yarns! 

Show Notes 

KAL/CAL:  Lace Theme.  Post a picture of your finished items with a lace pattern or motif in the thread in our group between now and July 31.  Rules and additional information are HERE.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Seashell Shawl by Ivy Brambles Yarn in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silk Thread II.  I am on the 8th of 9 body chart repeats!  I have also posted my corrections to the chart on Rav for those who may want to knit the shawl.

Aquaphobia Socks by Crystal Flanagan in Into the Whirled Pakkoku sock in the Muse pooling color way.

Rate Your Date:

Nothing this week.

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy spun 1lb and 12oz of wool during TdF - 4oz short of last year's total.  Fiber spun included:

Highland Handmades Superwash Merino in "This Is Just to Say" (4oz).  I used this to knit my Maile Sweater for my new niece.

Into The Whirled Masham top in the "The Wood" color way (8oz).  The first skein was fractal plied, and the second was divided in two and plied so that the colors ran together.

Dyeabolical Yarns Portuguese Merino in "Flower Shop Inferno"  (16oz).  This will become a sweater for Rhinebeck.

Wendy drew a prize winner for the "It's Not a Team" thread - announcement at the end of the show!

Future Dates:

Wendy plans on knitting:

Hiro Sweater by Julia Farwell-Clay in Valley Yarns Berkshire or a sweater from her Dyeabolical handspun.

Lots of different baby socks too numerous to list!

Baubles & Bling:

Nothing this week.

Gossip & Innuendo:

Orange You Toasty Contest!:  Rachel of Dyebolical Yarns has offered a free copy of her latest pattern.  Enter the contest on our group thread and tell us which Dyebolical color way you would use to knit this gorgeous cabled hat.  The winner will receive a free copy of the pattern.  You can check out Rachel's fabulous color ways on Ravelry or on her shop color card.  Have fun!  I can't wait to be inspired by your color choices.

Fiber Revival in Newburyport, MA is coming up on August 10!

Stitched by Jessalu is holding a Summer Fun Photo Contest!  You can enter one photo of your bag with a landmark of historical significane or pop culture significance per month.  You get a 10% off code just for entering and you could win a $25 off prize at the end of the month!!!  You can get more info on the rules HERE.  You can post your contest photos HERE.  Everyone is vacationing around now, why not travel with your bags and win a prize???

Episode 121: Sheila's Back and I'm Gonna Be in Trouble

Sheila is finally back! We show WIPs including Sheila's baby blanket and Wendy's restarted Seashore Shawl. Wendy shows the finished Maile baby sweater. Baubles and Bling include a Nicky Epstein book of doll clothing patterns that we will review next week, and a Minimochi gnome kit. Lots of chatter since Sheila's been gone for two weeks!

Show Notes 

KAL/CAL:  Lace Theme.  Post a picture of your finished items with a lace pattern or motif in the thread in our group between now and July 31.  Rules and additional information are HERE.

On The Dance Card:

Sheila is working on:

A baby blanket of her own design in kitchen cotton.

Wendy is working on:

Seashell Shawl by Ivy Brambles Yarn in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silk Thread II.  Progress is going well now that I am keeping track of the pattern errors on my iPad chart.

Rate Your Date:

Maile Sweater by Nikki Van de Car in Highland Handmades Superwash Merino in the This is Just to Say color way.

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy finished spinning:

Into The Whirled Masham top in the "The Wood" color way.  The first skein was fractal plied, and the second was divided in two and plied so that the colors ran together.

Wendy plans on spinning the third bump of ITW by dividing it into two and plying with opposite ends together.

Remember to post your finished yarn in our "It's Not Really a Team" before the TdF ends on July 21!  The prize will be a Polwarth/Silk 4oz braid from Gale's Arts.

Future Dates:

Wendy plans on knitting:

Hiro Sweater by Julia Farwell-Clay in Valley Yarns Berkshire or a sweater from her Dyeabolical handspun.

Sheila plans on knitting Maile Sweater by Nikki Van de Car in BMFA Socks That Rock.

Baubles & Bling:

Handknit socks from Wendy's mom

a Minimochi Gnome kit from Malia of the Yarnraising Podcast.  Viewer Kansanatheart won the kit and said she would send it to Wendy, so Malia sent it to me!!!

Soho Publishing sent Nicky Epstein's Knits for Dolls for us to review.  We will do a full review next week!

Gossip & Innuendo:

Fiber Revival in Newburyport, MA is coming up on August 10!

Stitched by Jessalu is holding a Summer Fun Photo Contest!  You can enter one photo of your bag with a landmark of historical significane or pop culture significance per month.  You get a 10% off code just for entering and you could win a $25 off prize at the end of the month!!!  You can get more info on the rules HERE.  You can post your contest photos HERE.  Everyone is vacationing around now, why not travel with your bags and win a prize???

Episode 120: I Have a Notion (or 10)

Wendy brings you the usual project chat, including her Maile baby sweater in progress and lots of Tour de Fleece yarn! No baubles and bling this week.

Show Notes 

KAL/CAL:  Lace Theme.  Post a picture of your finished items with a lace pattern or motif in the thread in our group between now and July 31.  Rules and additional information are HERE.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Seashell Shawl by Ivy Brambles Yarn in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silk Thread II.  Still ripped out!

Maile Sweater by Nikki Van de Car in Highland Handmades Superwash Merino in the This is Just to Say color way.

Rate Your Date:

Nothing this week.

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy finished spinning:

Dyeabolical Yarns Portuguese Merino in the Flower Shop Inferno color way.  There are a total of 9 skeins and about 1400 yds - plenty to knit a sweater!

Wendy started spinning:

Into The Whirled Masham top in the "The Wood" color way.  There are 3 4oz bumps, so one will be spun as a fractal ply, one will be spun and plied with the opposite end, and one will be spun and plied with the same ends.  It will be interesting to see how different they look.

Remember to post your finished yarn in our "It's Not Really a Team"!  The prize will be a Polwarth/Silk 4oz braid from Gale's Arts.

Future Dates:

Wendy plans on knitting:

Hiro Sweater by Julia Farwell-Clay in Valley Yarns Berkshire

Sheila plans on knitting Maile Sweater by Nikki Van de Car in BMFA Socks That Rock.

Baubles & Bling:

Nothing this week!  Wendy shows her finished "knitting go bags" made with the Stitched by Jessalu notions bags, and containig a small pair of scissors, stitch markers, a yarn needle and a tape measure.

Gossip & Innuendo:

Stitched by Jessalu is holding a Summer Fun Photo Contest!  You can enter one photo of your bag with a landmark of historical significane or pop culture significance per month.  You get a 10% off code just for entering and you could win a $25 off prize at the end of the month!!!  You can get more info on the rules HERE.  You can post your contest photos HERE.  Everyone is vacationing around now, why not travel with your bags and win a prize???

Fiber Revival on Newburyport, MA on August 10, 2013.  A nice family event with lots of terrific vendors!!

The "It's Not Really a Team" Tour de Fleece Contest!  Spinners, get your spin on!  Check out the thread for a TdF contest in the group.

Episode 119: Infinite Space Bag

Wendy podcasts alone this week, and brings you very little project chat but lots of chat and FOs for Tour de Fleece Week 1. Featured fibers are Highland Handmades and Dyeabolical Yarns. A Very Special Baubles and Bling feature this week as Wendy shows her custom bag order from Stitched by Jessalu.  It is totally awesome!

Show Notes 

KAL/CAL:  Lace Theme.  Post a picture of your finished items with a lace pattern or motif in the thread in our group between now and July 31.  Rules and additional information are HERE.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Seashell Shawl by Ivy Brambles Yarn in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silk Thread II.  I have decided to rip it out entirely and start again, making notations on the chart so that I remember the changes and stop making the same mistakes again and again.

Rate Your Date:

Nothing this week.

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy is spinning:

Dyeabolical Yarns Portuguese Merino in the Flower Shop Inferno color way.  8 oz finished since the beginning of the tour, 2 oz on the bobbins, and 10 more oz to spin!

Highland Handmades Superwash Merino in the This is Just to Say color way.  4 oz finished.

Remember to post your finished yarn in our "It's Not Really a Team"!  The prize will be a Polwarth/Silk 4oz braid from Gale's Arts.

Future Dates:

Wendy plans on knitting:

Hiro Sweater by Julia Farwell-Clay in Valley Yarns Berkshire

Sheila plans on knitting Maile Sweater by Nikki Van de Car in BMFA Socks That Rock.  (Wendy will knit one in handspun).

Baubles & Bling:

Stitched by Jessalu MASSIVE wedge bag with USS Enterprise material and 4 notions bags.

Gossip & Innuendo:

Stitched by Jessalu is holding a Summer Fun Photo Contest!  You can enter one photo of your bag with a landmark of historical significane or pop culture significance per month.  You get a 10% off code just for entering and you could win a $25 off prize at the end of the month!!!  You can get more info on the rules HERE.  You can post your contest photos HERE.  Everyone is vacationing around now, why not travel with your bags and win a prize???

Fiber Revival on Newburyport, MA on August 10, 2013.  A nice family event with lots of terrific vendors!!

The "It's Not Really a Team" Tour de Fleece Contest!  Spinners, get your spin on!  Check out the thread for a TdF contest in the group.