Episode 76 - Happy Thanksgiving

Thankgiving is upon us, the "official" start of the holiday season. For some, this means a lengthened "to do" list--more responsibilities, more tasks, more shopping, more events, and more stress. Some of us add gift-knitting or crafting to the list as well. Whether you are one of those knitters or not, remember to take the time to enjoy this season, to smile and laugh, and to make your knitting and crafting time a place of contentment and relaxation. Happy knitting!

What are we wearing?
Headlands test knit
Gayle's Idlewood
Idlewood by Cecily Glowik MacDonald

What are we stalking?
Woodfords by Elizabeth Doherty
Warm Wishes Hottie Cover by Helen Stewart
Willow Creek by Justyna Lorkowska
Ellery by Jenn Emerson

What are we knitting?
Simple socks
swatching with Neighborhood Fiber Company studio worsted
Skiff (hat) by Jared Flood
Gilliatt by De Rerum Natura (yarn)
Ease by Alicia Plummer
Snowball Buddies by Susan Claudino

What have we finished?
Magnolia Cardigan by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's Magnolia
Fuego Hat by Justyna Lowkowska
Mochimochi Snowmen by Anna Hrachovec
Monstermitts by Julia Allen
Gayle's mitts
Crochet Penguin Hat by Sarah Zimmerman
Gayle's Penguin hat

Pattern giveaway!
In the spirit of the season, we are giving away a few electronic versions of patterns that have been donated by some wonderful designers. First, we have the  Knitvent 2014 series from Helen Stewart. You can enter to win in our Ravelry group here. If you would like to purchase the series now, Helen has generously offered a coupon code for Yarniacs listeners. Use code: yarniacs25 for a discount through the end of November.

Brenda Castiel has generously offered your choice of her self-published patterns, as well as discount code: PODCAST for 25% off of her self-published patterns through December 31, 2014.

We also have the Aila Grace shawl from  Jennifer Lasonde, and the Lady Lallybrock mitts from Laura Ballard.  May the odds be ever in your favor! :)

Episode 76 audio

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Episode 75 - Hitting a snag

I call this time of year "the slippery slope." Once Halloween is over, there is unabashed Christmas and winter holiday advertising in stores and in the media. Yes, I know there is some advertising before Halloween, but before Halloween they try to sneak it to us, as if really ashamed to be doing it, but just can't help themselves. Post Halloween we get the real deal snowmen and elves and wrapped packages galore. Most folks I know try to resist it for a few more weeks, but as any parent of school age kids knows, this is indeed the slippery slope to the winter holidays. Like it or not, plans need to be made, shopping for necessities becomes unbearably crowded, and everyone's life seems to be busier than usual. I always wonder who are these people filling up the grocery store and don't they shop for food the rest of the year?

Despite the slippery slope, in episode 75 Gayle and I get back to basics with our regular segments and a short discussion about snags and repair in your knitted garments. If you have a good resource or a great repair technique, please share the link or info in our Ravlery group. We'd love to hear from you!
- Sharlene

What are we wearing?

Nanook by Heidi Kirrmeier
Monomania by Ann Weaver

What are we stalking?
Sous Sous by Norah Goughn
Definitely Susan by Josee Paquin
cowls by Hilary Smith Callis
Skiff by Jared Flood
Indie gift-a-long on Ravelry
Fuego by Justyna Lorkowska

What are we knitting? 
Magnolia Cardigan by Joji Locatelli
Fickle Heart by Justyna Lowkowska
Yowza Weigh It Shawl by Susan B. Anderson
Monstermitts by Julia Allen
Ease by Alicia Plummer

What have we finished?
Sharlene's test knit for Elizabeth Doherty (pattern to be released soon)
Sharlene's stockinette socks
Cupido Cowl by Hiroko Fukatsu
Sharlene's Cupido
Raveling Rose yarns
Inner Peace by Joji Locatelli
Monomania by Ann Weaver
Gayle's Monomania

Discussion on snags and repair

Snags

- using a tapestry needle or a dpn to "ease" snagged yarn back into place

http://www.marthastewart.com/307188/how-to-fix-a-snagged-thread-in-a-sweater

- knot the snag inside the sweater

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWGtvznk11s

 Holes (one strand broken)

- weaving in new yarn in place of broken strand (duplicate stitch)

Holes (multiple broken stands)

- weave in several strands if enough of a foundation left to duplicate stitch

- woven patch

http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2010/04/07/darn-there-s-a-hole-in-my-sock.aspx

- sew closed

http://ladyott.com/2012/04/18/how-to-mend-holes-in-woolens/
- many help videos on YouTube

Sock darning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPBSmDN3b24

(video on darning socks from Knitpicks)

http://cookiea.com/news/2012/07/repairing-socks/

(blog tutorial from sock designer CookieA

Your type of repair will change depending on the garment or item and the location of the repair. (For example, is the hole or damaged area located on a highly visible area of the piece?)

Episode 75 audio

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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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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