Episode 166: KnitWrecker

This week, Wendy's knitwrecking abilities are explored. WIPs include Sheila's self-striping sock and Tan House Brook shawl, as well as Wendy's Star Leaves Shawl and Lalylala Bunny doll. We had no FOs this week. Baubles and Bling included Wendy's purchases from Webs (a skein of yarn and a crochet hook), and a gift in honor of Sheila's new job. We discuss Tour de Fleece, draw prizes for our two KALs and announce a new Charity KAL with awesome prizes!!!

SHOW NOTES

KAL/CAL:  We are hosting a Stash Busting KAL/CAL for the month of July.  Post a pic of your finished project made from yarn purchased at least 6 months ago in the July Stash Busters Thread and get that stash under control!  A winner will be drawn at the end of the week.

We are also hosting a Charity KAL/CAL.  Please see the Gossip & Innuendo information for more details.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Star Leaves Shawl by Jenny Johnson Johnen in Fleece Artist Saldanha 2 in the Starlight colorway.

Rita the Rabbit by Lydia Tresselt in Caron Simply Soft Light

Rate Your Date:

Nothing this week.

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy is currently spinning:

Portfiber Polwarth (4oz) in the Prickly Pear color way by separating out the warm and cool colors and spinning two skeins of contrasting yarn.

Wendy plans to spin a sweater's worth of yarn during Tour de Fleece (July 5 - July 27).  She shows how she blended several 4 oz bumps to make her color experiment yarn.  She is using fibers from Biltmore Fiber (navy blue pencil roving), Spunky Eclectic (navy top), Dyeabolical (custom dyed navy top), Frabjous Fibers (Breeze colorway), and Into The Whirled (Take it to the Bridge colorway).

Future Dates:

Wendy plans to knit:

Deathflake Mittens by Sissel KB, using her warm/cool color experiment.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy bought:

Cascade Sport Weight yarn in a heathered charcoal colorway.

2.55mm crochet hook

Sheila received:

Phlebotomy themed pins

Gossip & Innuendo:

Charity Comfort Shawl KAL/CAL:  This is a new contest inspired by our friend Lise from Webs!  She organizes donated comfort shawls for people in her church community, but she has recently lost a few of her helpers.  If you donate hand knitted or crocheted shawls to her effort, you can be eligible to win a $50 gift certificate to Webs (one prize will be drawn), or a skein of Lorna's Laces yarn (two prizes will be drawn).  The contest will run until August 31, 2014.  Shawls should be sent to:

Lise Gill
c/o Webs Warehouse
75 Service Center Road
Northampton, MA 01060

You can knit or crochet shawls specifically for this charity event OR go through your stash and give away some shawls to a good home.  There is no specific fiber content required - they can be machine washable or handwash only.  There is no specific pattern or size.  Lise will make sure your donations go to people in nursing homes, hospice care, new mothers or other people that need a comfort shawl.

You may post a picture of your donation (one picture per shawl - make sure to post them separately to get multiple chances at the prize) in our Contest Thread.

Tour de Fleece runs from July 5 through July 27th this year.  Wendy will be spinning for Team Dyeabolical.  There is a TdF contest thread in our Ravelry group where you can win a bump of fiber from Wendy's personal stash by posting a pic of your finished TdF projects.

Upcoming fiber events in our area:

Convergence 2014 at Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI, 7/16-7/19/14.  Wendy may attend the marketplace.

Fiber Revival at Spencer Pierce Little Farm in Newbury, MA 8/9/14.  Wendy may attend this event.

Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival at Washington County Fairgrounds, Greenwich, NY 9/27-9/28/14.  We do not plan on attending.

VT Sheep and Wool at Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, VT 10/4-10/5/14.  We do not plan on attending.

Stitches East in Hartford, CT 10/9-10/12/14.  Wendy plans on attending the Saturday marketplace.

Rhinebeck at Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY 10/18-10/19/14.  We plan on attending for the weekend.

New England Fiber Festival at Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, MA, 11/1-11/2/14.  Wendy plans on attending.

The Gathering at Sunday River, Newry, ME, 11/7-11/9/14.  We do not plan on attending.

Episode 165: Just Me and Paul the Mushroom Boy

This week, Wendy is on her own. WIPs include the Star Leaves Shawl and Rita the Rabbit doll. FO is Paul the Mushroom Boy. Wendy discusses her plans for Tour de Fleece.

SHOW NOTES

KAL/CAL:  We are hosting a Stash Busting KAL/CAL for the month of June.  Post a pic of your finished project made from yarn purchased at least 6 months ago in the June Stash Busters Thread and get that stash under control!  A winner will be drawn at the end of the week.

We are also hosting a Sock KAL/CAL.  You choose the pattern.  If you use yarn purchased at least 6 months ago, you can enter your sock in both contests!  A winner will be drawn at the end of June .

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Star Leaves Shawl by Jenny Johnson Johnen in Fleece Artist Saldanha 2 in the Starlight colorway.

Rita the Rabbit by Lydia Tresselt in Caron Simply Soft Light

Rate Your Date:

Wendy finished:

Paul the Mushroom Boy by Lydia Tresselt in various scrap yarns

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy is currently spinning:

Portfiber Polwarth (4oz) in the Prickly Pear color way by separating out the warm and cool colors and spinning two skeins of contrasting yarn.

Future Dates:

Wendy plans to knit:

Deathflake Mittens by Sissel KB.
Wendy plans to crochet:

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy bought:

Pengaz Wristband for Fitbit Flex (light blue).

Gossip & Innuendo:

Tour de Fleece runs from July 5 through July 27th this year.  Wendy will be spinning for Team Dyeabolical.  There will also be a TdF thread in our group just for fun.

Upcoming fiber events in our area:

Convergence 2014 at Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI, 7/16-7/19/14.  Wendy may attend the marketplace.

Fiber Revival at Spencer Pierce Little Farm in Newbury, MA 8/9/14.  Wendy may attend this event.

Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival at Washington County Fairgrounds, Greenwich, NY 9/27-9/28/14.  We do not plan on attending.

VT Sheep and Wool at Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, VT 10/4-10/5/14.  We do not plan on attending.

Stitches East in Hartford, CT 10/9-10/12/14.  Wendy plans on attending the Saturday marketplace.

Rhinebeck at Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY 10/18-10/19/14.  We plan on attending for the weekend.

New England Fiber Festival at Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, MA, 11/1-11/2/14.  Wendy plans on attending.

The Gathering at Sunday River, Newry, ME, 11/7-11/9/14.  We do not plan on attending.

Episode 164: Rough Shape

This week's WIPs include Sheila's Tan House Brook Shawl in Gypsy Girl Creations gradient, her Mystik Spiral socks and Wendy's Star Leaves Shawl. We have no FOs this week, but Sheila has one sock finished. Baubles and Bling this week: a Kelmscott needle minder for cross stitch.

SHOW NOTES

KAL/CAL:  We are hosting a Stash Busting KAL/CAL for the month of June.  Post a pic of your finished project made from yarn purchased at least 6 months ago in the June Stash Busters Thread and get that stash under control!  A winner will be drawn at the end of the week.

We are also hosting a Sock KAL/CAL.  You choose the pattern.  If you use yarn purchased at least 6 months ago, you can enter your sock in both contests!  A winner will be drawn at the end of June .

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Star Leaves Shawl by Jenny Johnson Johnen in Fleece Artist Saldanha 2 in the Starlight colorway.

Sheila is working on:

Mystik Spiral Socks by Josh Ryks in sKNITches Syncopation in the Seriously? colorway.

Tan House Brook shawl by Jennifer Lassonde in Gypsy Girl Creations gradient yarn.

Rate Your Date:

Sheila finished one sock.

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy finished spinning:

Spunky Eclectic BFL in the Malala colorway (which I believe is a limited edition or discontinued colorway).  She spun almost 1000 yds of light fingering weight out of 8 oz of fiber.

Wendy is currently spinning:

Portfiber Polwarth (4oz) in the Prickly Pear color way by separating out the warm and cool colors and spinning two skeins of contrasting yarn.

Future Dates:

Wendy plans to knit:

Deathflake Mittens by Sissel KB.
Wendy plans to crochet:

Paul by Lydia Tresselt, and possibly Rita the Rabbit as well.

Sheila plans to finish her ongoing projects, and expects to have less knitting time with her new job.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy bought:

Kelmscott Needle Minder from 123Stitch with a rabbit design.

Gossip & Innuendo:

Convergence 2014 at Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI, 7/16-7/19/14.  Wendy may attend the marketplace.

Fiber Revival at Spencer Pierce Little Farm in Newbury, MA 8/9/14.  Wendy may attend this event.

Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival at Washington County Fairgrounds, Greenwich, NY 9/27-9/28/14.  We do not plan on attending.

VT Sheep and Wool at Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, VT 10/4-10/5/14.  We do not plan on attending.

Stitches East in Hartford, CT 10/9-10/12/14.  Wendy plans on attending the Saturday marketplace.

Rhinebeck at Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY 10/18-10/19/14.  We plan on attending for the weekend.

New England Fiber Festival at Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, MA, 11/1-11/2/14.  Wendy plans on attending.

The Gathering at Sunday River, Newry, ME, 11/7-11/9/14.  We do not plan on attending.

Episode 163: New Job Joy

This week's WIPs include the Star Leaves Shawl, Tan House Brook Shawl and Mystik Spiral Sock. FOs include the Tan House Brook shawl in Loop Bullseye Batt handspun and the blocked version of the Brush Creek Cowlette in Fiber Optic gradient handspun. Baubles and Bling featured were the Hello Yarn May club offering and a new cross stitch project.

SHOW NOTES

KAL/CAL:  We are hosting a Stash Busting KAL/CAL for the month of June.  Post a pic of your finished project made from yarn purchased at least 6 months ago in the June Stash Busters Thread and get that stash under control!  A winner will be drawn at the end of the week.

We are also hosting a Sock KAL/CAL.  You choose the pattern.  If you use yarn purchased at least 6 months ago, you can enter your sock in both contests!  A winner will be drawn at the end of June .

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Star Leaves Shawl by Jenny Johnson Johnen in Fleece Artist Saldanha 2 in the Starlight colorway.

Sheila is working on:

Mystik Spiral Socks by Josh Ryks in sKNITches Syncopation in the Seriously? colorway.

Tan House Brook shawl by Jennifer Lassonde in Gypsy Girl Creations gradient yarn.

Rate Your Date:

Wendy blocked:

Brush Creek Cowlette by Carina Spencer in Fiber Optic gradient handspun

Wendy finished:

Tan House Brook shawl by Jennifer Lassonde in Loop Bullseye Batt handspun

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy is currently spinning:

Spunky Eclectic BFL in the Malala colorway (which I believe is a limited edition or discontinued colorway).

Future Dates:

Wendy plans to knit:

Deathflake Mittens by Sissel KB.  She plans to spin a Portfibers braid for the yarn, so that has to happen first.

Wendy plans to crochet:

Paul by Lydia Tresselt, and possibly Rita the Rabbit as well.

Sheila plans to finish her ongoing projects, and expects to have less knitting time with her new job.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy bought:

Hello Yarn fiber club May offering:  21 Micron Merino in the Wickerwork colorway.

Wendy is working on:

An improvised cross stitch project for her sister-in-law.

Gossip & Innuendo:

Convergence 2014 at Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI, 7/16-7/19/14.  Wendy may attend the marketplace.

Fiber Revival at Spencer Pierce Little Farm in Newbury, MA 8/9/14.  Wendy may attend this event.

Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival at Washington County Fairgrounds, Greenwich, NY 9/27-9/28/14.  We do not plan on attending.

VT Sheep and Wool at Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, VT 10/4-10/5/14.  We do not plan on attending.

Stitches East in Hartford, CT 10/9-10/12/14.  Wendy plans on attending the Saturday marketplace.

Rhinebeck at Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY 10/18-10/19/14.  We plan on attending for the weekend.

New England Fiber Festival at Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, MA, 11/1-11/2/14.  Wendy plans on attending.

The Gathering at Sunday River, Newry, ME, 11/7-11/9/14.  We do not plan on attending.

Episode 162: The REAL Episode 162

This week's WIPs include the Mystik Spiral Sock and Star Leaves Shawl.  FOs include the Brush Creek Cowlette in handspun Fiber Optic gradient.  Future dates include the Tan House Brook shawl in Gypsy Creations gradient and handspun Loop gradient.  No featured baubles and bling this week, but Wendy shows how she puts together her notions pouches.

SHOW NOTES

KAL/CAL:  We are hosting a Stash Busting KAL/CAL for the month of June.  Post a pic of your finished project made from yarn purchased at least 6 months ago in the June Stash Busters Thread and get that stash under control!  A winner will be drawn at the end of the week.

We are also hosting a Sock KAL/CAL.  You choose the pattern.  If you use yarn purchased at least 6 months ago, you can enter your sock in both contests!  A winner will be drawn at the end of June .

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Star Leaves Shawl by Jenny Johnson Johnen in Fleece Artist Saldanha 2 in the Starlight colorway.

Sheila is working on:

Mystik Spiral Socks by Josh Ryks in sKNITches Syncopation in the Seriously? colorway.

Rate Your Date:

Wendy finished:

Brush Creek Cowlette by Carina Spencer in Fiber Optic gradient handspun (not shown this week)

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy is currently spinning:

Spunky Eclectic BFL in the Malala colorway (which I believe is a limited edition or discontinued colorway).

Future Dates:

Wendy and Sheila plan to knit the Tan House Brook shawl by Jennifer Lassonde.

Baubles & Bling:

Nothing this week.  Wendy does go over how she puts together her notions pouches and where she gets her supplies for them.

Gossip & Innuendo:

Fiber Frolic at Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, ME 6/7-6/8/14. Wendy is unable to attend.

Convergence 2014 at Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI, 7/16-7/19/14.  Wendy may attend the marketplace.

Fiber Revival at Spencer Pierce Little Farm in Newbury, MA 8/9/14.  Wendy may attend this event.

Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival at Washington County Fairgrounds, Greenwich, NY 9/27-9/28/14.  We do not plan on attending.

VT Sheep and Wool at Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, VT 10/4-10/5/14.  We do not plan on attending.

Stitches East in Hartford, CT 10/9-10/12/14.  Wendy plans on attending the Saturday marketplace.

Rhinebeck at Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY 10/18-10/19/14.  We plan on attending for the weekend.

New England Fiber Festival at Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, MA, 11/1-11/2/14.  Wendy plans on attending.

The Gathering at Sunday River, Newry, ME, 11/7-11/9/14.  We do not plan on attending.

Episode 161: Scattered Like Confetti

The Spring Festival Season is finally over! This week's WIPs include the Mystik Spiral Socks, another Star Leaves shawl and the Brush Creek Cowlette. FOs include Trillian and a Bias3 scarf. Whirlwind Romance project is a BFL from Spunky Eclectic. No featured baubles and bling, but lots of random talk about everything.

SHOW NOTES

KAL/CAL:  We are hosting a Stash Busting KAL/CAL for the month of May.  Post a pic of your finished project made from yarn purchased at least 6 months ago in the May Stash Busters Thread and get that stash under control!  A winner will be drawn next week.

We are also hosting a Sock KAL/CAL.  You choose the pattern.  If you use yarn purchased at least 6 months ago, you can enter your sock in both contests!  A winner will be drawn at the end of June (we decided to make it a two month KAL).

We will be giving away a copy of the Yvonne's Wings pattern by Kimberly Gintar.  Post in the contest thread in our group.  A winner will be drawn next week.

If you are interested in trying out one of the three fibers Wendy reviewed from Louet, post in the fiber threads in the group.  I will draw names next week.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Brush Creek Cowlette by Carina Spencer in Fiber Optic gradient handspun (not shown this week)

Star Leaves Shawl by Jenny Johnson Johnen in Fleece Artist Saldanha 2 in the Starlight colorway.

Sheila is working on:

Mystik Spiral Socks by Josh Ryks in sKNITches Syncopation in the Seriously? colorway.

Rate Your Date:

Wendy finished:

B(ias)3 by Amy E Chapleau in Shibui Sock in the Breeze colorway.

Sheila finished:

Trillian by Martina Behm in Cherry Tree Hill Supersock

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy is currently spinning:

Spunky Eclectic BFL in the Malala colorway (which I believe is a limited edition or discontinued colorway).

Future Dates:

Wendy and Sheila plan to knit the Tan House Brook shawl by Jennifer Lassonde (we kept mispronouncing the pattern during the episode as "Tan Brook House" - sorry!)

Baubles & Bling:

Nothing this week.

Gossip & Innuendo:

Fiber Frolic at Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, ME 6/7-6/8/14. Wendy is unable to attend.

Convergence 2014 at Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI, 7/16-7/19/14.  Wendy may attend the marketplace.

Fiber Revival at Spencer Pierce Little Farm in Newbury, MA 8/9/14.  Wendy may attend this event.

Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival at Washington County Fairgrounds, Greenwich, NY 9/27-9/28/14.  We do not plan on attending.

VT Sheep and Wool at Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, VT 10/4-10/5/14.  We do not plan on attending.

Stitches East in Hartford, CT 10/9-10/12/14.  Wendy plans on attending the Saturday marketplace.

Rhinebeck at Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY 10/18-10/19/14.  We plan on attending for the weekend.

New England Fiber Festival at Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, MA, 11/1-11/2/14.  Wendy plans on attending.

The Gathering at Sunday River, Newry, ME, 11/7-11/9/14.  We do not plan on attending.

Episode 160: Fiber Festivaled Out

Wendy is all alone this week. WIPs include the B(ias)3 crocheted scarf. Whirlwind Romances aplenty this week, including 700yds of Enchanted Knoll Farm in the Dragon's Blood colorway and 180yds of Frabjous Fiber in the Tourmaline colorway. Wendy also reviews the Northern Lights wool put up as pencil roving from Louet in the Popsicle colorway. Baubles and bling include more of the neon Regia sock yarn, beads for use in another Star Leaves shawl and four more Stitched by Jessalu notions pouches! I chat a bit at the end about the Webs Tent sale and the few remaining fiber events between now and Rhinebeck.

SHOW NOTES

KAL/CAL:  We are hosting a Stash Busting KAL/CAL for the month of May.  Post a pic of your finished project made from yarn purchased at least 6 months ago in the May Stash Busters Thread and get that stash under control!  A winner will be drawn at the end of the month.

We are also hosting a Sock KAL/CAL.  You choose the pattern.  If you use yarn purchased at least 6 months ago, you can enter your sock in both contests!  A winner will be drawn at the end of June (we decided to make it a two month KAL).

We will be giving away a copy of the Yvonne's Wings pattern by Kimberly Gintar.  Post in the contest thread in our group.  A winner will be drawn next week.

If you are interested in trying out one of the three fibers Wendy reviewed from Louet, post in the fiber threads in the group.  I will draw names next week.

On The Dance Card:

Wendy is working on:

Brush Creek Cowlette by Carina Spencer in Fiber Optic gradient handspun (not shown this week)

B(ias)3 by Amy E Chapleau in Shibui Sock in the Breeze colorway.

Rate Your Date:

No FOs this week.

Whirlwind Romance:

Wendy spun approx. 700yds of Enchanted Knoll Farms in the Dragon's Blood colorway.

Wendy also spun approx 180yds of Frabjous Fibers in the Tourmaline colorway.

Wendy reviewed the following Louet fiber:

Northern Lights Wool Top in the Popsicle colorway:  I thoroughly enjoyed spinning this prep.  It is put up as a pencil roving and drafted like a dream.  It was so easy to spin a thin single that I had to be careful not to make my samples too thin so you could see the different color effects I tried!


I spun the first sample as a chain-ply so that the colors stayed together.  This choice would probably result in a stripey yarn when knit up.  The second sample I spun as a two ply so that the colors would barberpole against each other.  I liked the yarn both ways, and I liked that I could play around with the colors.

The resulting yarn was very soft and definitely next-to-skin friendly.  There are lots of different colors to choose from and this fiber would be great for pretty much any project.

Since I was sent 1/2lb, I am going to offer the remainder of my review samples to an interested spinner/spinners if you'd like to try them yourself.  Or you can pick them up for a good price at the links above directly from Louet.

Future Dates:

Wendy plans to knit another Star Leaves shawl in lace yarn sent to her by the lovely SiberianCat.

Baubles & Bling:

Wendy purchased at Webs Tent Sale:

Madelinetosh DK in the Esoteric colorway.  I picked up a couple of extra skeins for my planned sweater in case what I bought in February isn't enough.  I got worried.

Regia Fluormania in a different colorway than the one I used for the Mystik Spiral socks.  I want to see if I can knit another pair of sock in less than a week!

Stitched by Jessalu notions pouches (because I can apparently never have enough).

I also went to:

Northampton Beadery where I purchased beads for the Star Leaves shawl.  Since they didn't have enough beads of one type, I bought three similar colors and blended them all together.

Gossip & Innuendo:

Wendy went to the Webs Tent Sale at Webs Yarn Store, Northampton, MA, 5/17-5/18/14.  It was a fun event with lots of local artisans in booths, the tent of discount yarn and the usual Webs store and warehouse.

MA Sheep and Wool at Cummington Fairgrounds, Cummington, MA 5/24-5/25/14.  Neither Sheila nor Wendy will attend this year.

Fiber Frolic at Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, ME 6/7-6/8/14. Wendy is on the fence about attending.

Fiber Revival at Spencer Pierce Little Farm in Newbury, MA 8/9/14.  Wendy may attend this event.

VT Sheep and Wool at Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, VT 10/4-10/5/14.  We do not plan on attending.

Stitches East in Hartford, CT 10/9-10/12/14.  Wendy plans on attending the Saturday marketplace.

Rhinebeck at Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY 10/18-10/19/14.  We plan on attending for the weekend.

New England Fiber Festival at Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, MA, 11/1-11/2/14.  Wendy plans on attending.