Episode 41: I Can See the End

  Friday, May 17, 2013. Episode 41: I Can See the End

Today’s segments include: noteworthy, drafting, fully drafted, research, and five favorite things! Let’s knit together!


Noteworthy


May personal sock yarn club prize, donated by Seashoresharon


A note on my personal sock yarn club: I just wasn’t knitting what I set out to knit before, so I thought about the kinds of socks I always knit, and realized that I always have a pair of vanilla socks on the needles. Then I went through my stash and picked out skeins of yarn I really want to knit as vanilla socks. I have a whole bunch now in project bags, and as I finish them, I will replace them with more yarn. Right now I’m knitting with my Spinning Fates yarn for the first time, so I’m counting this as my May project.


May finish it up knitalong prize, donated by Seashoresharon. What happened to finishing? I’m going to save these projects for flexible schedule next month.


Saturday, May 25 Huntingdon Fiber ArtsFest teaching a half day workshop on cast ons and bind offs. I’m starting planning today.


Next week, I’m going to Philly for a visit. I’ll stop by Loop on Tuesday or perhaps Hidden River Yarns since they have Quince and Company now! I’m also planning to visit my brother in Brooklyn and go to a local yarn store while I’m there. Anyone have any suggestions?


June is my podiversary! I’m going to do a giveaway every week when I record. My recording schedule will be a little crazy, but I’ll let you know which day I will close the thread for each giveaway. I’ll announce the first giveaway next week!


Drafting


Color Affection by Veera Valimaki, knit in skinny bugga colorways Acmon blue, Starry night cracker, and Question mark butterfly, on size  signature circular. 4 rows and the bind off left


Irish Coffee Sweater by Thea Colman in Dream in Color Classy colorway November Muse on size 8/5.0mm signature circular. Finished the body of the sweater. I just need to add the short sleeves.


Radiance Shawl by Helen Stewart in Sundara Yarn Silk Lace colorway Arabian Nights on size 5/3.75mm needles. Using wood with the silk lace so it doesn’t slip too much.


Vanilla socks in Spinning Fates toula colorway Elementary, Doctor Watson, on size 1/2.25mm signature needles


Into the Whirled Odds and Ends


Fully Drafted


Hexipuffs


Hobbledehoy Batlings


Research: Drop Spindling


It’s been awhile since I did a research segment! I am using youtube videos to learn to do some parts of spinning, so I thought I’d share with you.

I made my 2-ply using the Andean bracelet technique. Here are the two videos I used:

Then, I used the post that Heather, Bunniphish linked on the ravelry board to wash the yarn, twack it, and hang it to dry. I hung it over wooden hangers and used another wooden hanger to weight it down.

I’m going to make log cabin squares with the handspun.

Five Favorite Things


1. Into the Whirled Sansa BFL/silk fiber (I’m on the waitlist for the fiber club, but I will buy Game of Thrones in destash!)
2. Merlin
3. Call the Midwife
4. Respect the Spindle book
5. Summer break


Wherever you travel, bring your knitting along, and engage your creative process!

Episode 40: Maryland Sheep and Wool 2013

Friday, May 10, 2013. Episode 40: Maryland Sheep and Wool 2013

Today’s segments include: noteworthy, drafting, fully drafted, and five favorite things! Let’s knit together!


Noteworthy


May personal sock yarn club prize, donated by Seashoresharon


A note on my personal sock yarn club: I just wasn’t knitting what I set out to knit before, so I thought about the kinds of socks I always knit, and realized that I always have a pair of vanilla socks on the needles. Then I went through my stash and picked out skeins of yarn I really want to knit as vanilla socks. I have a whole bunch now in project bags, and as I finish them, I will replace them with more yarn. Right now I’m knitting with my Spinning Fates yarn for the first time, so I’m counting this as my May project.


May finish it up knitalong prize, donated by Seashoresharon. I am working on my color affection, and then I’m planning to work on my Irish Coffee sweater again. Remember that one?


Saturday, May 25 Huntingdon Fiber ArtsFest teaching a half day workshop on cast ons and bind offs. I’m very excited! As soon as the semester is over I’m going to start planning my class. There will be lots of handouts because that’s how I roll in my professor life. I love handouts.


Drafting


Color Affection by Veera Valimaki, knit in skinny bugga colorways Acmon blue, Starry night cracker, and Question mark butterfly, on size  signature circular.


Vanilla socks in Spinning Fates toula colorway Elementary, Doctor Watson, on size 1/2.25mm signature needles


Hobbledehoy Batlings


Fully Drafted


Hobbledehoy Batlings


Hexipuffs


Five Favorite Things


1. Into the Whirled (lunch, podcaster meetup)
2. Hobbledehoy and Marigold Jen
3. Spanish Peacock
4. Loop (ice cream, dinner in Fredericksburg, spinning on the way home)
5. Must Stash Podcast


Wherever you travel, bring your knitting along, and engage your creative process!

Episode 39: Reading Again

    Friday, May 3, 2013. Episode 39: Reading Again

Today’s segments include: noteworthy, drafting, lit review, and five favorite things! Let’s knit together!


Noteworthy


April personal sock yarn club prize, winner #42, Dawn, rav name Dawnlee, with her Tilli Thomas socks posing on flowers!


April personal sock yarn club prize, donated by Kathy, katluvsox


May personal sock yarn club prize, donated by Seashoresharon


May finish it up knitalong prize, donated by Seashoresharon. I am working on my color affection, and then I’m planning to work on my Irish Coffee sweater again. Remember that one?


Maryland Sheep and Wool is tomorrow! I will be attending the podcaster meet up at 1:00 in the Lower Corral Vendor area near the sheepdogs. I’ll be shopping and having lunch with friends before that, then more shopping afterwards! This year I’m planning to buy a spindle, some starter fiber, a loop batt, tons of stuff at Into the Whirled, and something from Marigold Jen. Possibly a mug from Jennie the Potter if she has any that I like. I also plan to accompany my friends to a bunch of booths where they should buy stuff, but I won’t because I already have enough. Anyone vending at SSK I’m going to wait and buy their stuff there.


Saturday, May 25 Huntingdon Fiber ArtsFest teaching a half day workshop on cast ons and bind offs. I’m very excited! As soon as the semester is over I’m going to start planning my class. There will be lots of handouts because that’s how I roll in my professor life. I love handouts.


Drafting


Color Affection by Veera Valimaki, knit in skinny bugga colorways Acmon blue, Starry night cracker, and Question mark butterfly, on size  signature circular.

Vanilla socks in Spinning Fates toula colorway Elementary, Doctor Watson, on size 1/2.25mm signature needles


Lit Review: Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald


First, I will say that I’ve always disliked Mr. F. Scott Fitzgerald the man, who was an anti-semite (more common in his time), and he represented what this English major always thought was wrong with the study of literature, the privileging and pretentiousness promoted by white men. However, I did actually enjoy this book for the craft of writing it represents, more so than the themes he explores. 


The craft of writing is fantastic. Mr. Fitzgerald uses language carefully and beautifully. He weaves an amazing visual tale, an accounting of the excess of the 20s, modern and colorful.


The themes he explores are made more interesting by the language used. I just don’t have a lot of sympathy for these privileged people who can’t find satisfaction in all of their money. Some of the themes have to do with class, which is certainly a complicated issue of the United States, but even that mostly falls flat for me. 


We read this book for my book club, and I gave it the lowest rating, a 3. Everyone else gave it a 4 out of 5 stars I believe. My 3 represents an average of a 5 for the language and a 1 for the author. So there you go!


What I’m reading now: Jennie Lawson’s This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) for next month’s book club. Tamar Adler’s An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace, which is a really unique “cookbook” that I love so much I’ve actually gone back to reading before bed! I’ve also started my summer reading for next year with Sheila Curran Bernard’s Documentary Storytelling: Creative Nonfiction on Screen for my writing for video production class.


Five Favorite Things


1. Swap package from Kim, Obsidian78
2. Handspun from Wickedsharp
3. Desert Vista Dyeworks bought with my merino club gift certificate
4. Cotton club and merino club at the Loopy Ewe
5. Barka yarn from Hungary


Wherever you travel, bring your knitting along, and engage your creative process!

Spring Fling 2013

Saturday, April 27, 2013. Episode 38: Spring Fling 2013

Today’s segments include: noteworthy, drafting, fully drafted, and Spring Fling 2013 Top Ten!


Noteworthy


March personal sock yarn club prize winner, I haven’t heard from you yet!


April personal sock yarn club prize, donated by Kathy, katluvsox 

Two knitalongs in May, May personal sock yarn, and May finish it up KAL. Prizes for both donated by SeashoreSharon.


Maryland Sheep and Wool May 4th! I will try to attend a podcaster meet up if we do one. I am planning to meet up with some traveling friends in any event. I am also planning a few definite shops including some for spinning, because my awesome Canadian friends offered to spin for me! If you see me, say hi! I don’t have buttons yet but I do have moo cards. I am happy to give them away.


Saturday, May 25 Huntingdon Fiber ArtsFest teaching a half day workshop on cast ons and bind offs. I’m very excited!


Drafting


Color Affection by Veera Valimaki in Skinny Bugga colorways Acmon Blue, Starry Night Cracker, and Question Mark Butterfly on a size 6/4.00mm signature circular.Sweet tomato heel vanilla socks in Spinning Fates Toula colorway Elementary, Doctor Watson, on size 1/2.25mm signature needlesFully Drafted


Velma socks by Cookie A in A Verb for Keep Warm Metamorphosis colorway Sugar Jets on size 1/2.25mm needles.

Baldwin the Bathroom Monster by Rebecca Danger knit on size 5/3.75mm knitpicks interchangeables. I did the arms on size 4 dpns. Knit in Another Crafty Girl Merino Worsted colorway Scooter. I have enough left over to make a fabulous baby hat!

Sweet tomato heel vanilla socks in Vesper Intergalactic, on size 1/2.25mm signature needles

Hexipuffs


Spring Fling 2013 Top Ten (in no particular order)

1. Finally arriving safely through the snow storm, plane delays, and icy roads
2. Embassy Suites hotel rooms
3. Exchanging local gifts with my roommate
4. My Sister Knits local yarn store and lunch in Fort Collins
5. Goody Bag
6. Manager’s Reception
7. Dinner at Rock Bottom and the antics that ensued/Dinner at the Mexican restaurant
8. Class with Susan B. Anderson
9. Spinning
10. Trip to Loopy


Wherever you travel, bring your knitting along, and engage your creative process!

Episode 37: Retreat Season

Friday, April 12, 2013. Episode 37: Retreat Season

Today’s segments include: noteworthy, drafting, fully drafted, lit review, and five favorite things from the Stitch Your Art Out Retreat!


Noteworthy


March personal sock yarn club prize, winner


April personal sock yarn club prize, donated by Kathy, katluvsox


Spring Fling April 18-21, next weekend! I can hardly contain myself. I am taking two classes, Fair Isle Hat Design with Susan B Anderson and Sideways Lace Shawl with Wendy Johnson. I am going a day early, spending the day with some friends. We’re gonna make a side trip to Boulder and go to some local yarn stores and get some lunch. It should be a blast! Unless I record on the road, which might happen, I’ll skip a week and record the week after. 


Maryland Sheep and Wool May 4th! Saturday, May 25 Huntingdon Fiber ArtsFest teaching a half day workshop on cast ons and bind offs. I’m very excited!


Drafting


Velma socks by Cookie A in A Verb for Keep Warm Metamorphosis colorway Sugar Jets on size 1/2.25mm needles.


Vanilla socks in Vesper Intergalactic, on size 1/2.25mm signature needles


Fully Drafted


Daphne socks by Cookie A in Three Irish Girls Kells Merino colorway Bountiful on size 1/2.25mm needles. 


Lit Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

I can’t tell you that much about this book because it’s the second in the series, so there would be a lot of spoilers! Sufficed to say the book starts after the upset at the end of the last book, and it follows a similar pattern. Lots of action, some teenage angst, a few horrifying things, and another major upset at the end of the book.

Sufficed to say, I really enjoyed this one. I feel like by book 2 it’s really diverged from Hunger Games like themes. Yes, it’s a futuristic reorganization of society and it follows a teenage girl, but that’s about where the differences end. I like Katniss of the Hunger Games far more than Beatrice Prior in Divergent, but I am really enjoying the story in this series. I’m giving Book 2, 4 stars on Goodreads.

Five Favorite Things from the Stitch Your Art Out Retreat

1. Goodie Bags
2. Local Yarn
3. Informative Classes
4. Time with Friends
5. Raystown Lake

Wherever you travel, bring your knitting along, and engage your creative process!

Episode 36: iPad Puzzle Games

Friday, March 29, 2013. Episode 36: iPad Puzzle Games


Today’s segments include: noteworthy, drafting, fully drafted, brainstorming, and five favorite things, iPad puzzle games edition. Let’s knit together!


Noteworthy


March personal sock yarn club prize


Events! I’ll be at Stitch your art out retreat April 5-7, Spring Fling April 18-21, and Maryland Sheep and Wool May 4th! Saturday, May 25 Huntingdon Fiber ArtsFest teaching a half day workshop. I’m very excited!


Drafting


Daphne socks by Cookie A in Three Irish Girls Kells Merino colorway Bountiful on size 1/2.25mm needles. 


Vanilla socks in Vesper Intergalactic, on size 1/2.25mm signature needles


Fully Drafted


Hexipuffs


Brainstorming

I was on a VKN last night, and inspired to look at yarns. My planned projects for April are (after finishing two pairs of dissertation socks)

Vanilla socks in Spinning Fates
Color Affection in Skinny Bugga (to be cast on at Fling)
One of 3 projects for the SSK KAL (knit a project that starts with J or B in honor of Jacey Boggs initials): 

Baldwin the Bathroom Monster with Another Crafty Girl Merino Worsted I bought at SSK last year 
By the Sea by Laura Linneman in the Unwind Yarn kit I bought at SSK last year

or

Brandywine in the Fiber Optic Kashmir I bought at Maryland Sheep and Wool last year. I’m leaning towards this one cause I have yet to knit anything I bought at MD, and I need an excuse to buy more this year. This pattern would also look fabulous in the Gale’s Art that came in our goodie bags.

Five Favorite Things iPad Puzzle Games edition
1. Pudding Monsters
2. Jewel Mania
3. Take it Easy
4. The Room
5. 10000000

Wherever you travel, bring your knitting along, and engage your creative process!

Episode 35: Pretty Things

Sunday, March 23, 2013. Episode 35: Pretty Things


Today’s segments include: noteworthy, drafting, fully drafted, and Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet top ten. Let’s knit together!


Noteworthy


March personal sock yarn club prize


Events! I’ll be at Stitch your art out retreat April 5-7, Spring Fling April 18-21, and Maryland Sheep and Wool May 4th! Saturday, May 25 I will be teaching my first class at the Fiber Festival we’re having in Huntingdon. I’m very excited!


Drafting


Daphne socks by Cookie A in Three Irish Girls Kells Merino colorway Bountiful on size 1/2.25mm needles. 


Vanilla socks in Vesper Intergalactic, on size 1/2.25mm signature needles


Fully Drafted


Pretty Thing by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee knit on size 4/3.5mm signature circular needle in Tempted Prissy Grll colorway . Yarn held double.


Hexipuffs


Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Top Ten
10. Space to sit and knit
9. Aladdin’s for lunch, Middle Eastern Food
8. Fantastic car conversation
7. Ball and Skein yarns
6. Holiday yarns
5. Mother Froggin yarns
4. Space Cadet Creations
3. Wild Hare
2. Melissa Jean Buttons
1. Fibernymph


Wherever you travel, bring your knitting along, and engage your creative process!