As the end of August draws near, Gayle and I record on one of our typical seasonal foggy afternoons. The start of the new school year approaches and I have already seen both Halloween and winter decorations for sale in the stores. There is still a month left until the autumnal solstice, giving us a few precious weeks to finish and photograph our KAL entries. The discussion on fall colors and how to wear our hand knits has been so fun and thought provoking. I look forward to seeing all the fall looks, hoping to freshen up my own appearance using all the great ideas. If you haven't done so already, stop by our Yarniacs Podcast group on Ravelry and join in the chat.
Gayle and I recorded this episode at a local park, so there are some crows in the background, and a car or two zooming by. It isn't too distracting, and I hope you will enjoy.
- Sharlene
What are we wearing?
Yogini Bolero by Wendy Bernard
Sharlene's Yogini
What are we stalking?
Vignette by Amy Herzog
Grace by Jane Richmond
Bravura by Tracy Purtscher, as shown on The Fiber Factor
(Bravura pattern not available as of this episode release, but should be available in future)
Casual Lace cardigan by Justyna Lorkowska
Cromarty by Heather Dixon
Gnome is where the ♥ is by Susan Claudino
What are we knitting?
Afternoon Tea by Helen Stewart
Askew by Lisa Mutch
Altostratus by Lisa Mutch
Bumble Beret by Elizabeth Doherty
CustomFit by Amy Herzog
Easy Folded Poncho from Churchmouse Yarns and Tea
What have we finished?
Sharlene's Zip cardigan, designed with CustomFit software from Amy Herzog
Zephyr Cove by Rosemary Hill
Book review
More Modern Top-Down Knitting: 24 Garments Based on Barbara G. Walker's 12 Top-Down Templates by Kristina McGowan from Stewart, Tabori and Chang
A podcast and blog from two knitting friends in search of the perfect yarn!
Friday, August 23, 2013
Friday, August 9, 2013
Episode 42 - Fall is coming
This episode finds us back in our usual recording spot (my dining table) after recording "in the field" for the past two episodes. We are definitely back in our groove, post-analysis paralysis. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing since for both of us, analysis paralysis seems to yield lots of knit hats for charity! In my case, being trapped in a yarn store adds to the donation pile as well!
Lots of project talk, color talk, and new patterns to check out. Fall--not winter--is coming, and we want to be prepared with the colors and styles of Fall!
- Sharlene
What are we wearing?
February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne
Sharlene's February Lady
Summer Dawn by Andrea Black
Gayle's Summer Dawn
What are we stalking?
Boxy and Buttony by Joji Locatelli
Window to my soul by Joji Locatelli
Aniron by Luise O'Neill
Obsidian by Lisa Mutch
What are we knitting?
Afternoon Tea by Helen Stewart
Askew by Lisa Mutch
Altostratus by Lisa Mutch
Amy Herzog CustomFit sweater
Gayle's Stripey mitts
Easy Folded Poncho by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas
What have we finished?
Boxy by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's Boxy
Brattleboro Hat by Melissa LeBarre
Sharlene's modified Brattleboro
Sharlene second modified Brattleboro
Sharlene's "Trapped in a yarn store" hat
Dance All Night Slouch Socks by Erica Jackofsky
Gayle's Slouch Socks
Seamless Salomas Slippers by Megan Williams
Gayle's Salomas Slippers
Oak Trail by Alana Dakos
Nozky by Monika Sirna
Gayle's legwarmers
Julissa by Vanessa Smith
Gayle's Julissa
Lots of project talk, color talk, and new patterns to check out. Fall--not winter--is coming, and we want to be prepared with the colors and styles of Fall!
- Sharlene
What are we wearing?
February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne
Sharlene's February Lady
Summer Dawn by Andrea Black
Gayle's Summer Dawn
What are we stalking?
Boxy and Buttony by Joji Locatelli
Window to my soul by Joji Locatelli
Aniron by Luise O'Neill
Obsidian by Lisa Mutch
What are we knitting?
Afternoon Tea by Helen Stewart
Askew by Lisa Mutch
Altostratus by Lisa Mutch
Amy Herzog CustomFit sweater
Gayle's Stripey mitts
Easy Folded Poncho by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas
What have we finished?
Boxy by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's Boxy
Brattleboro Hat by Melissa LeBarre
Sharlene's modified Brattleboro
Sharlene second modified Brattleboro
Sharlene's "Trapped in a yarn store" hat
Dance All Night Slouch Socks by Erica Jackofsky
Gayle's Slouch Socks
Seamless Salomas Slippers by Megan Williams
Gayle's Salomas Slippers
Oak Trail by Alana Dakos
Nozky by Monika Sirna
Gayle's legwarmers
Julissa by Vanessa Smith
Gayle's Julissa
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Trapped in a yarn store?
The subtitle to this post should be "Fantasy or nightmare?" In general, being trapped in a yarn store would be an enjoyable experience. I can't leave? Oh, darn, let's just feel the fiber. But when trapped inside with a customer who hadn't intended to spend quite that much time and a FedEx delivery guy who cannot stand still, one does start to wonder if the hidden camera person is going to pop out of the classroom. Seriously, a FedEx guy? Oh, the comedic possibilities! The guy came in with one small box, not even yarn-filled, turned to leave and couldn't get the door open.
"Um, does your door stick?" he asked after repeated handle rattlings and some pushing and pulling. No, our door doesn't stick. Not like that, with such purpose and finality. It wouldn't even rattle within the door frame. When it became obvious that the door was definitely not going to open, the aforementioned customer called her husband who was at the bakery having a coffee. We also managed to flag down our regular UPS driver and sent him to fetch the landlord.
Long story short, someone did manage to get the door out of the frame to release the customer, the FedEx guy having jumped out the window. (Note: The store is firmly first-floor grounded.) The door latch had broken in the closed position, not to be released by mere handle rattling. Fortunately, one of our regular knitters Carol was there to keep me company and lend a calming presence. But I would seriously love to hear the story FedEx guy told once he got back to the station. "I was trapped in a yarn store and the door wouldn't open!" Sure you were buddy, sure you were...
- Sharlene
"Um, does your door stick?" he asked after repeated handle rattlings and some pushing and pulling. No, our door doesn't stick. Not like that, with such purpose and finality. It wouldn't even rattle within the door frame. When it became obvious that the door was definitely not going to open, the aforementioned customer called her husband who was at the bakery having a coffee. We also managed to flag down our regular UPS driver and sent him to fetch the landlord.
Long story short, someone did manage to get the door out of the frame to release the customer, the FedEx guy having jumped out the window. (Note: The store is firmly first-floor grounded.) The door latch had broken in the closed position, not to be released by mere handle rattling. Fortunately, one of our regular knitters Carol was there to keep me company and lend a calming presence. But I would seriously love to hear the story FedEx guy told once he got back to the station. "I was trapped in a yarn store and the door wouldn't open!" Sure you were buddy, sure you were...
- Sharlene
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Beta testing: Measurements
You may have heard Gayle and I mention that we are beta testing software for Amy Herzog called CustomFit. I have been looking forward to this since we contacted Amy, have knit my swatch and tentatively tried generating my first pattern. The hard part prior to the pattern generation is taking one's own measurements. Fortunately my partner in crime Gayle is ever at the ready and together we tackled this task. Even with instructions, taking measurements is hard! Why? I think the answer to that lies with the garment industry's one-size-fits-most approach to garments. We are used to being served with minimal choices. Women don't generally shop with measurements in mind, and the average shopper probably can't tell you her measurements beyond her bra size. (And don't get me started on that, since the media would have us believe that we are all walking around wearing ill-fitting bras.)
So, challenge accepted. Measurements taken. I am not sure they are 100% correct, but they can be tweaked further along in the process. Fingers crossed for a good fit!
So, challenge accepted. Measurements taken. I am not sure they are 100% correct, but they can be tweaked further along in the process. Fingers crossed for a good fit!
Friday, July 26, 2013
Episode 41 - Lazy days of summer
For some reason this is a particularly low-key episode. It was a hot day while recording, and I had been a bit under the weather health-wise the past week and though there is a lot of knitting, we are both a little low-energy.
Technical difficulties? If you have had difficulties reaching a few of the older episodes this week, those should be resolved now. We were booted off of our hosting service for using too much bandwidth! No, I don't understand because, well... isn't that what a hosting service is supposed to do? But we are moving on, our files have been moved, and the transition should be seamless to users. If you experience any difficulties, please let us know what episode you are trying to access so that we can make sure all the file transfers function as they should.
What are we wearing?
Low Tide Cardigan by tincanknits
Sharlene's Low Tide
Marion cardigan by Andi Satterlund
Gayle's Marion
What are we stalking?
Ginny's Cardigan by Mari Chiba
Army of Caterpillars by Miranda Harp
Nanook by Heidi Kirrmaier
Buttony and Boxy by Joji Locatelli (pattern not available yet, but you can see Joji's project page here)
Black Mamba by Rachel Frank
Angry Sheep Cardigan by The Needle Lady
What are you knitting?
Boxy by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's project page on Ravelry
Afternoon Tea Shawl by Helen Stewart
Askew by Lisa Mutch
Julissa by Vanessa Smith
Boxy and Buttony by Joji Locatelli
Nozky legwarmers by Monica Sirna
Easy Folded Poncho by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas
What have we finished?
Sharlene is swatching for Amy Herzog's CustomFit
Wild Cherry by Melissa Goodale
Gayle's Wild Cherry
Booga Bag by Julie Anderson
Gayle's Booga Bag
Book reviews
History on Two Needles by Annie Modesitt
What (else) Would Madame Defarge Knit? edited by Heather Ordover
Technical difficulties? If you have had difficulties reaching a few of the older episodes this week, those should be resolved now. We were booted off of our hosting service for using too much bandwidth! No, I don't understand because, well... isn't that what a hosting service is supposed to do? But we are moving on, our files have been moved, and the transition should be seamless to users. If you experience any difficulties, please let us know what episode you are trying to access so that we can make sure all the file transfers function as they should.
What are we wearing?
Low Tide Cardigan by tincanknits
Sharlene's Low Tide
Marion cardigan by Andi Satterlund
Gayle's Marion
What are we stalking?
Ginny's Cardigan by Mari Chiba
Army of Caterpillars by Miranda Harp
Nanook by Heidi Kirrmaier
Buttony and Boxy by Joji Locatelli (pattern not available yet, but you can see Joji's project page here)
Black Mamba by Rachel Frank
Angry Sheep Cardigan by The Needle Lady
What are you knitting?
Boxy by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's project page on Ravelry
Afternoon Tea Shawl by Helen Stewart
Askew by Lisa Mutch
Julissa by Vanessa Smith
Boxy and Buttony by Joji Locatelli
Nozky legwarmers by Monica Sirna
Easy Folded Poncho by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas
What have we finished?
Sharlene is swatching for Amy Herzog's CustomFit
Wild Cherry by Melissa Goodale
Gayle's Wild Cherry
Booga Bag by Julie Anderson
Gayle's Booga Bag
Book reviews
History on Two Needles by Annie Modesitt
What (else) Would Madame Defarge Knit? edited by Heather Ordover
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Book reviews for Cooperative Press
Gayle and I chat a bit about both of these books in Episode 41, but we usually have much more to say than we can fit into the podcast. :)
- Sharlene
What (else) Would Madame Defarge Knit? Edited by Heather Ordover
This is the second offering in the Madame Defarge series, with knitting patterns based on "classic characters." If you listen to Heather's podcast CraftLit, you are already familiar with her podcast formula sharing a little bit of crafting chat and a little bit of book chat followed by a chapter or two of the current book selection. Knitters, myself included, look forward to knitting time spent with earbuds in place, listening to the current installment of Heather's classic selections.
The Madame Defarge series brings us knitting patterns and essays based on several "classic characters." If you have a favorite classic among those featured in this book, you might find extra inspiration to create one of the patterns while rereading or listening to an old friend. Having spent many past summers reading and rereading Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series I felt that Marilla's Shawl was an old friend and certainly something that the ever-practical Marilla would have thrown over her shoulders while sitting on the porch with Matthew. But if you aren't familiar with the literature that has inspired, you will still find the twenty-eight patterns for shawls, mitts, socks, and other accessories fun to browse. The essays by the pattern designers will give you insight into a significant character or theme from the classic novel that inspired the piece, and may in turn inspire you to read something new or to reread a forgotten favorite.
History on Two Needles by Annie Modesitt
History on Two Needles looks backward in art history to find inspiration. There are patterns here that will work for Renaissance Fair wear to pieces that will fit into a contemporary wardrobe. For each of the seventeen patterns found here, the artwork that influenced the design is pictured. Most of the designs are knitted recreations of the original garment, one exception being the Woodstock Tunic featuring a textured sweater design that is "quartered to reflect the elements of Edward's shield." I think it will be interesting to watch the Ravelry project pages for these pieces and see how knitters mix and match pieces into their contemporary wardrobes.
We reviewed electronic versions of both books and in both cases, I would like to have seen a photo index of the patterns. It is easy to thumb through the pages of a book to quickly find a specific photo or design, but not so easy to do this with an electronic file. This added functionality would be a welcome resource. To view all the patterns in each book before preparing my review, I found it easier to look at the each book's Ravelry entry to see all the pattern images in one place.
If you enjoy classic literature, or art history, or just aspire to these interests, both books are worth taking a look. These books remind us that as knitters and crafters, we can look for inspiration in many other areas of our lives. We are reminded to look back, and to look into history and literature for something new for our contemporary wardrobes.
- Sharlene
What (else) Would Madame Defarge Knit? Edited by Heather Ordover
This is the second offering in the Madame Defarge series, with knitting patterns based on "classic characters." If you listen to Heather's podcast CraftLit, you are already familiar with her podcast formula sharing a little bit of crafting chat and a little bit of book chat followed by a chapter or two of the current book selection. Knitters, myself included, look forward to knitting time spent with earbuds in place, listening to the current installment of Heather's classic selections.
The Madame Defarge series brings us knitting patterns and essays based on several "classic characters." If you have a favorite classic among those featured in this book, you might find extra inspiration to create one of the patterns while rereading or listening to an old friend. Having spent many past summers reading and rereading Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series I felt that Marilla's Shawl was an old friend and certainly something that the ever-practical Marilla would have thrown over her shoulders while sitting on the porch with Matthew. But if you aren't familiar with the literature that has inspired, you will still find the twenty-eight patterns for shawls, mitts, socks, and other accessories fun to browse. The essays by the pattern designers will give you insight into a significant character or theme from the classic novel that inspired the piece, and may in turn inspire you to read something new or to reread a forgotten favorite.
History on Two Needles by Annie Modesitt
History on Two Needles looks backward in art history to find inspiration. There are patterns here that will work for Renaissance Fair wear to pieces that will fit into a contemporary wardrobe. For each of the seventeen patterns found here, the artwork that influenced the design is pictured. Most of the designs are knitted recreations of the original garment, one exception being the Woodstock Tunic featuring a textured sweater design that is "quartered to reflect the elements of Edward's shield." I think it will be interesting to watch the Ravelry project pages for these pieces and see how knitters mix and match pieces into their contemporary wardrobes.
We reviewed electronic versions of both books and in both cases, I would like to have seen a photo index of the patterns. It is easy to thumb through the pages of a book to quickly find a specific photo or design, but not so easy to do this with an electronic file. This added functionality would be a welcome resource. To view all the patterns in each book before preparing my review, I found it easier to look at the each book's Ravelry entry to see all the pattern images in one place.
If you enjoy classic literature, or art history, or just aspire to these interests, both books are worth taking a look. These books remind us that as knitters and crafters, we can look for inspiration in many other areas of our lives. We are reminded to look back, and to look into history and literature for something new for our contemporary wardrobes.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Episode 40 - Best Laid Plans
The original title of this episode was going to be "Road Trip" for reasons which will become apparent once you listen. But even the best of plans have a way of falling apart sometimes, don't they? Thwarted by the heat of the 100 degree day, our plans to record while visiting yarn stores went out the window, and the secondary plan to finish recording once we returned to the bay and its cooling breezes flew out the other window after Gayle got the "come rescue us!" phone call from her stranded husband. So. Best laid plans. We call it a wrap almost 48 hours later and give you a little recap. Hope it doesn't come across too disjointed!
Gayle and I are excited to share two special things with you. First, we are going to be beta testers for Amy Herzog's new CustomFit software. (See links below.) Second, we have decided on a KAL based on the Pantone colors for Fall 2013. Details on the podcast and to follow in our Ravelry group.
- Sharlene
What are we wearing?
Current by Cecily Glowik MacDonald
Sharlene's Current
Colors of Kauai by Hanna Maciejewska
What are we stalking?
Amy Herzog's blog
Amy's Fit to Flatter mission here
Amy's CustomFit announcement here
February Fitted Pullover by Amy Herzog
Julissa by Vanessa Smith
Aniron by Luise O'Neill
Boxy by Joji Locatelli
Afterlight by Amy Herzog
What are we knitting?
Askew by Lisa Mutch
Low Tide Cardigan by tincanknits
Outlast textiles information
Booga Bag by Julie Anderston
Wild Cherry Shawl by Melissa Goodale
Bumble Beret by Elizabeth Doherty
KAL links
Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2013
Think about how you will wear your new garment made using one of the Fall 2013 colors. Photograph it with a complete Fall look.
Audio link here.
Gayle and I are excited to share two special things with you. First, we are going to be beta testers for Amy Herzog's new CustomFit software. (See links below.) Second, we have decided on a KAL based on the Pantone colors for Fall 2013. Details on the podcast and to follow in our Ravelry group.
- Sharlene
What are we wearing?
Current by Cecily Glowik MacDonald
Sharlene's Current
Colors of Kauai by Hanna Maciejewska
What are we stalking?
Amy Herzog's blog
Amy's Fit to Flatter mission here
Amy's CustomFit announcement here
February Fitted Pullover by Amy Herzog
Julissa by Vanessa Smith
Aniron by Luise O'Neill
Boxy by Joji Locatelli
Afterlight by Amy Herzog
What are we knitting?
Askew by Lisa Mutch
Low Tide Cardigan by tincanknits
Outlast textiles information
Booga Bag by Julie Anderston
Wild Cherry Shawl by Melissa Goodale
Bumble Beret by Elizabeth Doherty
KAL links
Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2013
Think about how you will wear your new garment made using one of the Fall 2013 colors. Photograph it with a complete Fall look.
Audio link here.
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