Friday, January 23, 2015

Episode 80 - And now for something completely different!

This 80th episode of The Yarniacs launches us into our 4th year of this podcasting adventure. What an adventure it has been! We have learned about wool, about yarn, about designing, about technique, and of course, about community. The community we have formed on Ravelry with our fellow yarniacs has been the most fulfilling and wonderful part of podcasting. We can't thank you all enough for listening, for participating in our knit-a-longs, for chatting, and for playing along with us in social media. Truly, you have enhanced our knitting lives.

This episode we celebrate our podcast anniversary with a mash-up of some different party themes. Join us as we share some of our favorites from the last year and look forward to another yarn-filled year of podcasting. Enjoy!


Party Hats!
I Was a Tennaged Mutant by Alex Tinsley
Gayle's Mutant hat
Field of Wildflowers by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's Wildflowers hat
Skiff by Jared Flood
Gayle's Skiff hat
Sharlene's stripey hats

MVK - Most Valuable Knits of 2014
Svalbard by Bristol Ivy
Sharlene's Svalbard
Magnolia by Joji Locatelli
Gayle's Magnolia
Sharlene's Magnolia
Ease by Alicia Plummer
Gayle's Ease
Sharlene's Ease

Gayle is currently swatching
Beaverslide 100% Merino

Our supporting cast
Gayle is enjoying knitting with the KnitPicks Harmony wood interchangeables.
Daylight lamps are Sharlene's most valuable tool. Lamps such as Ott & Verilux are great.
What is a Morris style chair? This is the style of Sharlene's usual knitting chair.
The Clover stitch holders  are one of Gayle's favorite tools.

Favorite yarns we worked with in 2014
Sharlene enjoyed working with fingering yarns, specifically single-ply fingering from
Western Sky Knits and Dragonfly Fibers. Sharlene used the single-ply fingering for her Headland and her Hitofude Cardigan.

Gayle also used a lot of Western Sky Knits yarns including the silk/merino blend that she used for her Puck Shawl and her Obsidian Pullover.
She also enjoyed new to her yarns Gilliat and Holst Garn Coast, which she sued for her Hitofude.

Favorite designers
Joji Locatelli
Elizabeth Doherty
Yelena M. Dasher

Episode 80 audio

Click here for episode 80 audio.

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Friday, January 9, 2015

Episode 79 - Welcome 2015

Happy New Year everyone! Wishing you all health, happiness, and yarny goodness in all you do.

This month we start our annual Self-Indulgent KAL. What is self-indulgent knitting? We believe any knitting that brings you happiness is self-indulgent. Maybe you like to knit for yourself, maybe you like to knit for others. Maybe you are finally going to use that gorgeous yarn that has been waiting patiently in your stash. A new technique? Maybe comfort knitting makes you happy. Any and all of these may be self-indulgent to you. Pick a project that brings you happiness and join in. You can find Self-Indulgent KAL discussion in our Ravelry group here.

Remember, March 21 will be the end of the Self-Indulgent 2015 Knit-a-long!
Use #sikal2015 and #yarniacs for your social media needs.

What are we wearing?
Boxy by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's Boxy
Coastal Hoodie by Tori Gurbisz
Gayle's Hoodie

What are we stalking?
On the Grass by Joji Locatelli
Honey Stitch Cowl by Davina Choy
Hackney Hops by Belinda Boaden
Louvre by von Hinterm Stein

What are we knitting?
Campside by Alicia Plummer
Traveller Tunic by Joji Locatelli
Tracie Too Sport yarn by Imperial Yarn
Angry Sheep Cardigan by Pinneguri
Journey Sock by Unwind Yarn Company

What have we finished?
Scarlet by Merin Collins
Sharlene's Scarlet
Steinway Hat by Heidi Robinson
Sharlene's Steinway
Easy Fingerless Mitts by Roxanne Richardson
Sharlene's Fingerless Mitts
Bankhead by Susie Gourlay
Sharlene's Bankhead hat
Little flowers with leaves by Mimi Alelis
Sharlene's flowers
Sharlene's crochet tape measure cover
Burdock Cardigan by Maura Kirk
Sharlene's Burdock
Gayle's sweater for her dad
Spiral Hat by Laura Kolarik
Gayle's Spiral Hat
Textured felted gift bag by Snowden Becker
Gayle's gift bags
Yowza Weigh It Shawl by Susan B. Anderson
Gayle's Weight It Shawl

Episode 79 audio

Click here for episode 79 audio.

Remember, depending on your browser and connection speed, the audio may take a few minutes to fully load.

Northern California Knitting Retreat - April 17 to April 19, 2015

The Northern California Knitting Retreat will take place Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19, 2015 at the St. Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista, California. The retreat is organized by a committee of friends brought together by their love of fiber craft and knitting from Northern California and by The 2 Knit Lit Chicks and The Yarniacs podcasts. If you are looking for information about the retreat, you can find it in our Ravelry group here, or the Ravelry group for the retreat here.