Episode 49 - Time to knit some good!

I woke up this morning feeling fine, but by the time we recorded, I could feel a sore throat coming on. As I write this, I am hoping, hoping, hoping, that it doesn't get any worse and doesn't turn into a full blown cold. Or worse. Keep fingers and toes crossed for me.

As we gear up for the coming holiday season we introduce a holiday KAL with a short simple theme. Knit some good. Or crochet some good. Make something to donate. A hat, a scarf, a cowl, something else wonderful? There are many ways and many local charities that can benefit from hand-crafted items this time of year. Shelters may distribute items to people who need them, consider donating to an auction or charity store where the proceeds will go towards "good." You know the drill. If you can't find a local need, there are many national groups that will accept donations. We'll have some chat in our Ravelry group if you need more ideas.

If extra knitting doesn't fit into your busy schedule, consider purchasing patterns that send proceeds to a charity. Gayle and I recently heard Cat Bordhi speak about her latest project The Art of Felfs: Felted Footwear for Families. The proceeds from this e-book  are going directly to the cancer research lab of Dr. David Krag at the University of Vermont Medical School.

We will start a thread for the short KAL in our Ravelry group and hope you will join in to Knit or Crochet some good! Happy knitting everyone.
- Sharlene

What are we wearing?
Fuse by Veronik Avery
Sharlene's Fuse
Lipstick by Joji Locatelli
Gayle's Lipstick
Ondulation by Becky Herrick
Gayle's Ondulation

What are we stalking?
Hitofude Cardigan by Hiroko Fukatsu
Dragonflies Jumper by Joji Locatelli
Deep Breath Sweater by Kirstin Hipsky

What are we knitting?
Ease by Alicia Plummer
Barley hat by tincanknits
Imagine When by Joji Locatelli
Ritzy by Katya Frankel

What have we finished?
5200K by Suvi Simola
Sharlene's 5200K

Barry hat by Lee Meredith
Sharlene's Barry
Note: When I talk about knitting this hat, I mention that there is one seam to "knit" when you finish the hat. Of course, I meant one seam to "sew together." Oops!

Renfrew by Jane Richmond
Sharlene's second Renfrew
22 Little Clouds by Martina Behm
Sharlene's Little Clouds

Thrummed Booties by Katie Startzman
Gayle's Booties
Gnome is where the ♥ is by Susan Claudino
 Gayle's Gnome
Knotted Pine by Alicia Plummer

We review two books from Cooperative Press:
Hitch: Patterns Inspired by the Films of Alfred Hitchcock 
Cascadia
Both books contain patterns that would make wonderful gift items and both books themselves make wonderful gift items for a lucky knitter on your list.

We review two yarns from The Knitting Boutique:
Severn and Susquehanna
Both of these yarns would make wonderful gift items.

We review a new knitting row counter from Grellow & Gray Inc.
called the Sirka Counter.
If you are a knitter who likes gadgets and tools, are a knitter  who counts rows and pattern repeats or you know a knitter who fits either of these categories this is fun new gift item.

Episode 48 - The new normal

Gayle and I were SO happy to be recording a "regular" episode. We were grinning from ear to ear. It bears repeating that we love knitting, making things, and sharing our yarnie adventures with you!

We have received a number of items for review, and unfortunately because of the interviews and our pre-recorded episodes, we've fallen a bit behind. So, we'll share some reviews with you about a couple of items this episode. We are nearing the holiday gift season and it only makes sense to share as many new items with you as possible. Whether you are a gift-giver or not, there may be items or books that will fill a special need during the fall and winter seasons.

Thanks so much to everyone for your wonderful comments on our wool series. It is continuing education, and as Gayle and I learn and encounter new things, we will share our adventures with you. In homage to our podcast guests Deb Robson and Clara Parkes, we will be occasionally adding a new segment to our repertoire. In "What are we swatching?" we will share a new yarn or wool that has caught our attention. We will start that soon. We may have one more guest to add to the series, and hope to finalize that this week. In the meantime if you have wooly questions or observations, please visit the thread on Ravelry and join the discussion.
- Sharlene

What are we wearing?
Boxy by Joji Locatelli
Aniron by Luise O'Neill

What are we stalking?
22 Little Clouds by Martina Behm
Hogwart's Express by Susan Ashcroft
Ease by Alicia Plummer
Bring Me Flowers by Mia Rinde
Hitofude Cardigan by Hiroko Fukatsu
50 Yards of Fun: Knitting Toys from Scrap Yarn

What are we knitting?
5200K by Suvi Simola
Lipstick by Joji Locatelli
Ondulation by Becky Herrick
Gayle's legwarmers

What have we finished?
Askew by Lisa Mutch
Sharlene's Askew
Afternoon Tea by Helen Stewart
Sharlene's Green Tea
Imagine When by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's Imagine
Grace by Jane Richmond
Sharlene's Grace
Nanook by Heidi Kirrmaier
Honey Cowl from madelinetosh
Renfrew by Jane Richmond
Boxy by Joji Locatelli
Aniron by Luise O'Neill
Kirk Ave Tam by Elinor Hickey

Reviews
Knit Notes Journal
The Knitted Slipper Book: Slippers and House Shoes for the Entire Family
Video preview for The Knitted Slipper Book
A Good Yarn Sarasota's custom madelinetosh color: Midnight Pass

Episode 47 - Clara Parkes

Photo credit: Knitter's Review

In this episode we chat with Clara Parkes, who shares a little bit about the Knitter's Review, her books, and her Great White Bale project. There was a lot of info to fit into our usual time, Clara is an amazing source of wooly information.  I am sure we didn't touch on everything everyone is interested in and some of our discussion may leave you with more questions. If so, join into the discussion on our Ravelry group. Maybe someone else can help or point you towards more resources!

Thank-you for listening and we hope you enjoy the chat!
-Sharlene

Clara's Knitter's Review website
The Knitter's Book of Yarn
The Knitter's Book of Wool
The Knitter's Book of Socks
The Yarn Whisperer

What are we knitting?
Wintry Mix by Amy Herzog
Sea Anemone kitchen scrubbie
Hogwarts Express by Susan Ashcroft

What are we stalking?
Lipstick by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's Lipstick
Nanook by Heidi Kirrmaier
Window to My Soul by Joji Locatelli
Pumpkin Ale by Ysolda Teague

Clara's swatching process 

The Great White Bale
Catskill Merino Sheep Farm



Episode audio link here

From Gayle: Last evening in Marrakesh

We went to the wool part of the souk today!

 Drying wool.

 Powdered dyes.

 All natural pigments.

 Dye pot.

 Wool drying from above.

 Undyed.

Episode 46 - We are a bit early!

We are a few days early with Episode 46. Gayle will be traveling for the next week and a half and the easiest thing to do was record and get the episode out there. Because we had recorded the interview with Deb Robson early, we both felt a need to chat about our current knits before another episode flew by. So we play a bit of the catch-up game, sharing what we have been knitting and stalking, and hope to be knitting and stalking. We must have been out of form, because post recording we both realized we left a couple items out. More knits for a future episode then. :)

Gayle will be traveling and our next episode will feature Clara Parkes and more about wool. We are having lots of discussion in our Ravelry group. Please feel welcome to come on over and join us!
- Sharlene

What are we wearing?
Transverse Cardigan by Ann Weaver
Sharlene's Transverse
Marion by Andi Satterlund
Gayle's Marion

What are we stalking?
Nymphalidea by Melinda Vermeer
Cat's Mane by Mer Almagro
Lipstick by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's Lipstick
Charlotte Capelet by Usch Engelmann

What are we knitting?
Imagine When by Joji Locatelli
Meadow yarn by The Fibre Company
Nanook by Heidi Kirrmaier
Boxy by Joji Locatelli
Aniron by Luise O'Neill
Hogwarts Express by Susan Ashcroft

What have we finished?
Lipstick by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's Lipstick
Antarktis by Kalio Knits
Easy Folded Poncho by Churchmouse Yarns
Gayle's Poncho

The Fall Colors KAL is ended and we talk prizes. :) If you have won a prize, please contact Sharlene via a pm on Ravelry and we will get your prize to you asap. Unclaimed prizes will go back into the prize pool at the end of the year!

Deb Robson's Shetland project links:
Dreaming of Shetland
Dreaming of Shetland's Ravelry link

Episode 45 - Deb Robson

Photo by Kristi Schueler

We hope you will enjoy listening to this chat with Deb Robson as much as we enjoyed recording it. Gayle and I have been doing a lot of research, and we were still nervous to talk to Deb. This woman is a font of information! She has so much specialized knowledge and is so eager to share it and we have so much to learn. :)

I've included a couple of links below to specific topics, projects or books that we discussed. But there is so much more! If you visit Deb's blog, poke around in the topics listed on the lower right side and read some of her older posts as well. The posts are tagged well so you can find specific information quickly.

Deb's Dreaming of Shetland project is her current baby. The Ravelry link is here. You can see the patterns included in the book.

If you are a knitter, crocheter, weaver, spinner, or crafter who uses and loves wool, consider learning more about the origins of the materials you use and love. I know, sometimes it is all I can handle to figure out my yarn substitution! But as crafters, this is part of our world too. We have the chance to learn, to teach, and widen our horizons a little bit. And yes, the sheep are cute. So I hope you will follow Gayle and I along on our Wool Series!
- Sharlene

Deb Robson's Craftsy class
The Field Guide to Fleece
The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook
Deb's blog: The Independent Stitch

Sweet Oak Hooded Cardigan by Megan Goodacre
Jamieson and Smith Shetland Wool
Jamieson's yarns
Deb's Dreaming of Shetland project

Ply Magazine - Deb's article that she references appears in the Summer 2013 issue

Rare wools

Sheep: Suffolk
Sheep: Corriedale

The Livestock Conservancy
Rare Breeds Survival Trust sheep watchlist

Deb recommends Pennyroyal and mint as moth repellents :)

Episode audio link here.

Episode 44 - The one with the dolphins

Last episode crows, this episode dolphins. Welcome to Santa Cruz. We recorded this episode at the coast with the sound of the waves in the background. We hope this is as pleasant for you as it was for us. It had been a warm day and sitting at the beach recording was a wonderful way for our day to close. You will hear us sighting some of the following locals. :)

Western gull
Pacific white-sided dolphin
California sea lion
Pacific sardine

No, we didn't actually see sardines from our vantage point, but found out later the presence of the sardines off the coast had attracted a lot of activity in the bay.

What are we wearing?
Buttercup by Heidi Kirrmaier
Sharlene's Buttercup

What are we stalking?
Chevzam by Alexandra Tinsley
Hetty by Andi Satterlund
Renfrew hat from Jane Richmond
Susan Ashcroft shawls
TGV
Little Waffles
Big Waffle
Bring Me Flowers by Mia Rinde

Duck Duck Wool

What are we knitting?
Grace by Jane Richmond, from the Island Collection

Kirk Ave Tam by Elinor Hickey

Bumble Beret by Elizabeth Doherty

Following are some links for Craftsy. We are a Craftsy affiliate and will earn a few pennies towards our podcasting expenses if you either join Craftsy or sign up for a class. Thank-you for using our links!

Deb Robson's free Craftsy class

Episode 44 audio link