Friday, October 31, 2014

Episode 74 - Happy Halloween with a side of PSA

As I sit down with show notes on this day of spooks and treats it is starting to rain a bit. If you have been listening to the podcast or hearing the news about the extreme drought we have in California, this is mixed tidings, as we need the rain, but it is also the evening of trick-or-treating. My guess is that the rain will have packed up and moved on by the time the small ghouls and goblins are out--rain rarely lasts long here--but that remains to be seen.

I mention Halloween because I happen to own the quintessential Halloween advertising animal, a black cat. When we adopted Boo, we were told by the shelter staff that black cats and dogs are the least adopted color at most animal shelters. Boo was the last adopted kitten from his litter, also the only all-black kitten in the litter. Folks want cats with some color or markings we were told. Previous to our Boo adoption, I had no clue about this color bias, but some internet sleuthing revealed that it is indeed a fact. So, if you are ever in the position to adopt a shelter animal, that is one tiny fact to keep in mind. Consider it a friendly PSA (public service announcement) for black cats and dogs. :)

If you have some ideas for quick holidays gifts, please click on through to our Ravelry group and share them there. Happy knitting!

What are we wearing?
Raiun by Kirstin Johnstone
Sharlene's Raiun
Gayle's Vitamin D
Liesl by Julie Weisenberger
Gayle's Liesl

What are we stalking?
Odaki by Kirstin Johnstone
French Cancan by Mademoiselle C
Campside by Alicia Plummer
Custom Fit by Amy Herzog
Ease by Alicia Plummer
Armande by Andi Satterland
Monstermitts by Julia Allen
Monster Cowl by Julia Allen


What are we knitting?
Magnolia Cardigan by Joji Locatelli
test knit for Elizabeth Doherty (link to her design page)
Stockinette socks
Monomania by Ann Weaver
Inner Peace by Joji Locatelli
Field of Wildflowers by Joji Locatelli
Painted Pixels Blanket by Susan Carlson

What have we finished?
Pebble Beach Shawlette by Helen Stewart
Sharlene's Pebble Beach
simple crochet washcloths
Field of Wildflowers by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's Wildflowers hat
Jaywalker (socks) by Grumperina
Sharlene's Crazy Jaywalkers
Daughter approved by Susan Ashcroft
Gayle's Daughter approved
Kaweah Hat by Veronica Parsons
Odd Stripes (hat) by Joji Locatelli
Gayle's Odd Stripes

Quick(ish) Gifts
-Washcloths-
Oh So Soft Baby Washcloth by Theresa Grant

-Hats-
Barley by tincanknits
Golden Pear by Melissa Thomson
Kitimat by Kayla Sparkes
Hermione Hearts Ron by Christy Aylesworth
A Little Lonely Cable by Joji Locatelli

-Mitts-
Easy Fingerless Mitts by Roxanne Richardson
ZigZag Fingerless Gloves by Whole Earth Education
Commuter Fingerless Mittens by Stephanie Sun

-Others-
Rachael's ISBN Cabled Hot Water Bottle Cozy by Rachael Herron
Minikins by Wooly Wormhead
Tea Toters by Julie Tarsh

Episode 74 audio

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Friday, October 17, 2014

Episode 73 - A chat with Edie Eckman

Gayle and I were guest speakers this week at two meetings of the Santa Cruz Knitting Guild. We enjoyed ourselves immensely and were impressed with the range of knowledge and the service that the guild organizes in our community. It just affirmed our belief that knitters are wonderful folks and reminded us that kind knitters can be found everywhere. If you have the opportunity to visit a guild in your area I encourage you to give it a try. Knitting with a group is very different than knitting solitary and gives us all the opportunity to learn and to create in community as well as providing an opportunity to knit for good. :)

We are now accepting registrations for the Northern California Knitting Retreat. Information can be found in our Ravelry group here, or in the retreat Ravelry group here. Registrations will be accepted until November 5, and if we receive more than we have spaces, we will hold a lottery.

Because of our guild obligations, we release a prerecorded episode this week. Please welcome Edie Eckman to our podcast and community. Edie is a wonderful teacher and author and we are pleased to have had the opportunity to chat with her. Gayle and I have been sharing the crochet love recently and ever since I took a class from Edie three years ago at TNNA, I knew she would make be an informative guest for the podcast. 

As always, thanks so much for listening. You can join in the chat about this episode in our Ravelry group here.
 - Sharlene

Edie's website
Edie's patterns on Ravelry

What are we knitting?
Magnolia Cardigan by Joji Locatelli
Daughter approved by Susan Ashcroft
Inner Peace by Joji Locatelli
Miss Babs Ephemeral bfl/silk blend (discontinued)

Edie's new book is Christmas Crochet for Hearth, Home, and Tree

Fit Satisfaction of Crochet Apparel (pdf link)

Edie's classes on Craftsy
Joining Crochet Motifs
Improve your Crochet Essential Techniques
How to say it: Pattern writing for knitters

Episode 73 audio

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Friday, October 3, 2014

Episode 72 audio

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Episode 72 - KAL wrap up!

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in our Colors of Fall 2014 KAL!  Click here if you would like to see everyone's projects on Ravelry. What a fun KAL. My favorite part is seeing everyone's finished "look" and how you style your knit pieces. Fantastic! Thanks to all who participated, knit along with us, and joined in the discussions. I wish we could send you all prizes just for showing us your stuff. :) The prize winners are announced, and if you hear your name, please pm Gayle or me on Ravelry and we will make sure to get it to you as soon as possible.

Just a reminder that it is October and the date for accepting registrations for the Northern California Knitting Retreat is October 15. Details here if you are interested.

Enjoy the beginning of the fall season and wear your knitwear with pride!
- Sharlene

What are we wearing?
Laika by Ysolda Teague
Sharlene's Laika
yarnosaurus' Laika one, Laika two, Laika three, Laika four, Laika five, and Laika six
Hitofude Cardigan by Hiroku Fukatsu

What are we stalking?
Fickle Heart by Justyna Lorkowska
Abuku by Olga Buraya-Kefelian
Ink Ripples by Elena Fedotova
Kaweah Hat by Veronica Parsons
Hat Season by Joji Locatelli
Axis (mitts) by Samantha Roshak

What are we knitting?
Magnolia Cardigan by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's Magnolia
Monomania by Ann Weaver
Daughter approved (cowl) by Susan Ashcroft

What have we finished?
Chevron Colour-Block Blanket by Espace Tricot
Sharlene's Chevron blanket
Obsidian by Lisa Mutch
Gayle's Obsidian
#9 Hat/Cowl by Steven Berg
Garter Ear Flap Hat by Purl Soho
Golden Pear (hat) by Melissa Thomson
Helix Striped Hat by Corrie Purdum

We announce the winners for the Colors of Fall 2014 KAL! If you hear you name for a prize, please contact us via by Ravelry message.

We talk about Botanical Knits 2, from Alana Dakos.
Sprig has the most projects listed on Ravelry.
We saw the Bare Branches coat at Stitches West and love the hidden tree motif.
The Hanging Leaves shawlette has a lovely edging that moves.