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Episode #7: Should be Swatching Natalie and Lish welcome back listeners as well as talk about where they have been. (1:28) Natalie shares some exciting news about a new local yarn shop in St. Pete, Stash a place for Yarn. She also shares some of the yarns the shop will carry. Master Status:(4:47) Natalie and Lish have confess they have not completed swatch #7 and #8. They also reviewed Cast On Magazine published from The Knitting Guild Association. Master Plan:(17:10) Natalie and Lish are going to work on the decrease swatches 7 and 8 and block swatches 1-6. In our hands:(17:45) Alicia is keeping things simple while she tries to find her knitting mojo. She is working on a Basic Hat by Jennifer Jackson with Knit Picks Shine Worsted in an Ice Blue colorway. Natalie is working on Toddler Tube socks using Lorna Laces Sport in the Cubs colorway. She continues to work on Kenny’s stocking using Cascade 220 Sport in yellow and blue usingA NEW Family Portrait - A Collection of Three Christmas Stockingsby Dorene Delaney Giordano. Dropped stitches:(22:05) Natalie realized after knitting 6 inches and 3/4ths that she was supposed to start increasing at 6 inches. She decided she just didn’t care enough to rip back and let his be longer. Master Pieces:(23:42) Alicia finished up a purple basic hat using Vanna’s Choice acrylic yarn. Natalie finished up a Sockhead Hatby Kelly McClure in The Unique Sheep Verve base in the Inspecta gradiance colorway. Natalie’s family make great knitwear models! Future Stitches:(27:49) Natalie plans to knit Pomme de Pin Cardigan by Amy Christoffers for SPAKAL. She shares her friend, NaturallyKnitty’s Pomme de Pin Cardigan and Effortless Cardigan. She bound off where she was for her Moonfleetby Janine Le Cras. She plans to knit Haruni shawl by Emily Ross for my Summer of Lace and Beads with the remaining yarn. The yarn is the Barknknit gradiance colorway in Eos base from The Unique Sheep. Alicia plans on knitting a shawl using Bohemia Fibers Sock Yarn in the “I got the right to sing the blues colorway.” A yarn inspired by Eric Northman from True Blood. Simply Selfie: (29:35) Alicia has survived the end of the year, her students’ graduation and went shopping for a mother of the bride dress. Her mom knows to break for yarn shops. Summer is here and she has been going to her nephew’s tball games. Natalie had her birthday but has been sick. She discussed her adventures with her mother in law, cousins, brother, and dad visiting. She celebrated her dad’s 80th birthday. Lish and Natalie discussed how they spent their Father’s Day. Happy Tails: (48:13) The Story of How Hugo became a Humphrey. To submit your own story, please go towww.masteringtheknits.com and fill out a form. We will read your animals rescue story on future podcasts. Comfort Zone:(53:04) Alicia is loving all of her surprises from Natalie including the wedding shawl and gifties. She has been having tea parties with her friends. It is the last last week of work and she is excited for the endless possibilities of summer. Natalie explains the #100happydays. Natalie started blogging again! Thank you for joining us for episode 7 of Mastering the Knits. You can find shownotes at masteringtheknits.com or on our ravelry group Mastering the Knits Podcast. You can email us at masteringtheknits@gmail.com. Alicia is knottyknitter17 on Ravelry, Twitter, Instagram, Natalie can be found on twitter, Instagram, plurk, everlapse, and ravelry as barknknit.
Master Status (2:21): Alicia is all caught up. She knit swatches 1-6. Natalie finished swatch 6. Alicia and Natalie Master Plan:(4:52) Natalie and Lish are going to work on the decrease swatches 7 and 8 and block swatches 1-6. The girls discuss their favorite wool soaks. They plan on beginning their research for the blocking report. In our hands: (9:42) Alicia cast on an American Girl Doll Empire Waist Dress by Elaine Phillips with Patons Beehive Baby Sport. Natalie cast on a Sockhead hat byKelly McClurein Unique Sheep Verve in the Insecta Gradiance colorway. She Cast on 8 more stitches than the pattern calls for to make it a bit bigger. Dropped stitches:(17:57) Natalie literally dropped a stitch when working on her 50 rows shawlette and had to used a crochet needle to pick it up. Master Pieces:(18:58) Alicia finally finished herBlank CanvasbyYsolda Teaguewith Malabrigo Arroyo in a Prussia Blue colorway. She discusses having difficulty picking up the stitches from the bind off. She also finished a basic hat using up some of her Vanna’s Choice acrylic stash. Natalie finishedLala’s Simple Shawlby Laura Linneman aka Lala of the Knitgirlls video podcast in some of her older handspun from Romeldale pin drafted roving from Ozark Carding Mill, LLC. She knit three simple preemie hats used well marinated stash yarn, Lorna Laces Sport in the Cubs colorway. She used this yarn for thesocksshe knit during the week of her wedding. She knit these hats for the charity drive for the Rays Stitch n Pitch which is on June 8th. They are donating them toAll Children’s Hospital in St. Pete. She also finished the 50 Rows Shawlette by Susan B Anderson in Ella Rae Lace Merino Worsted in purple colorway and then a pink/red colorway. The girls also decided a choking characteristic is not something they want in their hand knits. She also finished spinning Bellatrix yarn from the SW Merino in a red and black coloryway by Abstract Fiber Arts and will be gifting for Jessie TinyAnt. Future Stitches (40:58): Natalie wants to knit the swatches of the spinning swatches she completed from the black corriedale fleece she bought at SAFF in 2010. This is for the SPAKAL with the knitmore girls and also Tour de Fleece withTeam Sasquatch. Natalie explainsTour de Fleece. Alicia decided she is going to knit the Swivel Pullover by Kerri Blumer published in Interweave Knits Winter 2014. She is going to knit it withDebbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in Emerald Green. She also discusses an important friendship and offered to knit theChocolate Passion- Jacket with Cables in Alaskaby DROPS design for one of her first friends from Bowling Green, Kelly. On the Road:(49:2) Alicia will be knitting withJanfrom theTwinset Designs Podcaston Thursday June 5, from 6-9 atNatural Stitchesin Pittsburgh, PA. Natalie will be knitting at the Tampa Bay Rays Stitch n Pitch on June 8th at Tropicana Field in St. Pete. Simply Selfie:(52:00) Alicia met a big deadline and it’s been a huge sigh of relief. Alicia and Jeremy are in the process of moving their shop, Main Street Gallery. Her mom is giving her some wedding planning pressure and kicked the planning into high gear. She also has been enjoying her nephew’s T-Ball games. Natalie talks about her trip with Kenny to Sebring! She had a lovely mother’s day weekend. She had a trip to Joann’s, the beach, and a steak dinner. She took the girls to Disney on ice and she is preparing for the onslaught of people coming next week. Raise your Hand: (1:07:30) This week we the girls answer the question: Are you a product or a process knitter? Comfort zone:(1:17:40) Alicia is so happy to have met her deadline! She talks about new energy at the new shop site. Natalie is happy when she takes a moment to enjoy morning time with the girls. She is also loving knitting time while the girls swim. To submit your own story, please go towww.masteringtheknits.com and fill out a form. We will read your animals rescue story on future podcasts. To continue the conversation join our ravelry group Mastering the Knits Podcast. You can email us at masteringtheknits@gmail.com. Alicia is knottyknitter17 on Ravelry, Twitter, Instagram, Natalie can be found on twitter, Instagram, plurk, everlapse, and ravelry as barknknit.
Episode 5: Surprise! Natalie and Alicia thank masteringtheknitsfan for their iTunes review. We also thank MaryEliz for her blog comments and directed listeners to check out her fair isle knee highs! Master Status (2:56): Natalie completed swatches 1, 2, 3 and plans to reknit 3. She used the ribbing technique talked about last week to make sure to tighten yarn between stitches in the moss stitch swatch. She started working on the swatch sheets to put in the binder. Alicia worked on swatch #1. She noticed she still needs work on selvedge ends as well as practice tighten second stitch. Master Plan (6:36): Our plans is to complete swatches 4, 5, and 6 and Alicia will play catch up. We should consider blocking soon! In our hands (8:10): Alicia is still working on Blank Canvas by Ysolda and shares atipfor joining the sleeves. Natalie continues to knit away on an ankle sock usingONline Supersocke Cotton Beach Colorcolor #941 improvised pattern and using fish lips kiss heel. She also spent some time planning her SPAKAL. She plyed old singles left on Leclerc bobbins blue singles from a batt she carded a long time ago. Then 2 plyed some cormo singles and some left over brown and cormo together. She flicked some locks and spun from fold 3 little bobbins and carded some and spun from rolags -2 little bobbins. She also flicked locks and spun from end of lock -one big bobbin. It’s very thin and would be nice for a lace weight. Dropped stitches (25:02): Natalie picked up an extra stitch somewhere along her lace chart. Master Pieces (26:30): Alicia knit a baby hat for baby Camden and shares a story of finishing in a store! Natalie finished Alicia's wedding shawl! Aphrodite by Sivia Harding usingJuniper Moon Farm Findleyin Atmosphere, a lovely pale blue. She used a size 12 crochet hook that was handed down to her by her Aunt . She used size 8 clear crystal beads ordered from beadwrangler beads, kits, & supplies found at 7beads.com. Here is a link to a video showing you how to add beads to your knitting with a crochet hook! Future stitches (29:04): The new term is starting starting for theHarry Potter Knit/Crochet House Cup. GO GRYFFINDOR! Natalie is spinning a 2 ply dkish weight from some Superwash Merino roving in a black and red colorway from Abstract Fibers and that will represent Bellatrix Lestrange. She is planning on knittingLaLa’s Simple Shawlby Laura Linnemanfrom theKnitgirllls video podcastfame in some handspun Romaldale she spun from fiber she bought atSAFFin 2010! This is representingNarcissa MalfoyShe is also planning on knitting 50 row Shawletteby Susan B Anderson, who also has a video podcast through herblog. She is using some silk yarn that was bought for her from a friend on her trip to Barcelona, Spain! Her classes are going to be socks, swatches both knitting for level 1 and spinning, and a premie hat. Alicia plans on knitting Jeremy the Emilien hoodie by Ariane Caron-Lacostefor her 3 month long project. She’d like to knit the French Press Felted Slippers by Melynda Bernardi, and the Swivel Pullover by Kerri Blumer. Simply Selfie (47:50): Alicia has been busy busy busy with end of the year craziness that the school year brings. She also helped with her nephew’s 5th Lego Party. Natalie had game night with friends and family. Her friends are pregnant and gave them their baby stuff. She and her family had an Easter egg hunt, lunch with family, green thumb festival, dance recital, and has been prepping for a weekend getaway with her husband. Happy Tails (1:03:48): Jennie Kaderabek I don’t have a traditional pet adoption story. My first dog adopted us. My two older sisters and I were outside playing. I was around 1, my sisters were 4 1/2 and 5 1/2. They ran into the house and told mom “there is a bear outside”. Of course, she asked where I was! Yep, they left me outside with the “bear”. We adopted the bear, named him Snoopy and he was the BEST dog ever. We suspect he was a black lab mix. We lived on a farm when he found us, so he full adapted to the country living. My grandma would share how she watched us following dad around the farm. The line of people would be dad, my oldest sister, next sister, next sister, a space………..me, followed by Snoopy. To submit your own story, please go towww.masteringtheknits.comand fill out a form. We will read your animals rescue story on future podcasts. Comfort Zone (1:05:22): Alicia finally got to connect with her knitting group. She won 1st place in a 6 week boot camp challenge at her gym and her yard is beginning to look like summer! Natalie enjoys playing games with family. To continue the conversation join our ravelry group Mastering the Knits Podcast. You can email us at masteringtheknits@gmail.com. Alicia is knottyknitter17 on Ravelry, Twitter, Instagram, Natalie can be found on twitter, Instagram, plurk, everlapse, and ravelry as barknknit.
Thank you to Jasmin and GiGi from knit more girls podcast for mentioning us on their podcast.. Also, thank you to Twinset Ellen and Twinset Jan for visiting our group on ravelry! We have a 100 followers on Facebook! 1000+ downloads! Thank you to Jeremy Troski, Jeremy Troski Art and Design and Jeff Dean Dillener for our music! Master Status:(5:06) We received the program and update through The knitting guild association. We read through the instructions. Alicia and Natalie discuss feelings and anticipation to start the program. Natalie developed a solid plan. Master Plan: (10:04) Natalie and Lish are going to start blocking research.The are going to start a binder to organize information. They will complete their first two swatches. In our hands: (12:47) Alicia is currently working on: 1. Traveling Woman (#6) by Liz AbinanteShe abandoned her road map and is going to just keep knitting! She discusses some plans for next projects. Natalie is currently working on: 1.Alicia's wedding shawl Aphrodite by Sivia Harding using Juniper Moon Farm Findley in this lovely pale blue wedding shawl 2. Cast on an ankle sock using ONline Supersocke Cotton Beach Color improvised pattern and using fish lips kiss heel 3. Planning for SPAKAL sweater. SPAKAL( Spin a-long Knit-a-long) with the Knitmoregirls Podcast. Planning to use locks she cleaned from a 3.5 lb ½ corriedale fleece she purchased at SAFF in 2009 from a farm in NY. Master Pieces: (12:58) Alicia finished up traveling woman shawl #5. Natalie finished tubed socks for the girls out of Patons Kroy sock yarn in Blue Striped Ragg leftovers. She also finished a crown for Maria Circlet by Dani Sunshine in Cascade 220 sport in Purple Hyacinth (short rows and bobbles) Simply Selfie: (23:35) Alicia discusses bridal shower planning. Natalie shares Maria's party and anticipates a hectic work week. Raise your Hand: (31:27) This week we ask, what's you goto gift pattern? For baby? For adult? Natalie’s go to pattern for babies is booties EviePants All in One Booties by Marilyn Porter Whimsical Rib Wrap Booties by Diane Hall and Aviatrix hat by Justine Turner She usually uses simple hat for adults. Alicia loves theKnit Hat for Everyone! by Kathy North, The Sunlight Shawl for Sad People by Sylvia Bo Bilvia, and the Baby Boy 5-Hour Sweater by Gail Bable Happy Tails: (38:44) Stephanie Perez, of Columbus, OH, shares PJ’s adoption journey. Comfort zone: (41:12) Natalie loves the moment she gets home to two little girls running over to get hugs. Alicia treated herself to PIZZA from Gem City Pizzaand hit the Goodwill jackpot. You can email us at masteringtheknits@gmail.com. Alicia is knottyknitter17 on Ravelry, Twitter, Instagram, Natalie can be found on twitter, Instagram, plurk, everlapse, and ravelry as barknknit.
Episode: 40 Production scheduling Production What’s in My Teapot Materials Sourcing Shipping After 5 Production Gnome Socks By Spilly Jane Drop stitch Scarf by Lisa Buccellato found in the spring and summer 2012 issue of vogue knitting. I’m not usually one for pink and girly but I really like this! I’m knitting this from Cascade Pima Cotton in a lovely pinky lavender color # 3710 I cast this on last night and tore through the chart the first time. Started a second round on the chart and noticed that that little chicken foot symbol that I had been reading as an Sk2P (a centered decrease) was in the 1st part of the pattern a K3TOG ( right leaning decrease). . It’s a good thing I was only 1 ½ chart repeats in, frogging won’t be as painful as it could have been. Knitted Knockers of a Good Yarn Shop Knitted Knockers is part of Debbie Macomber’s Knit 1 Bless 2 initiative for 2012. I found out about them through a suggestion on my knit groups face book page. The pattern is free and can be linked to through Debbie Macomber’s web site or through www.agoodyarnshop.com I cast on the second of the pair I hoped to get from my little ball of Rowan Hand Knit Cotton. It’s my night stand knitting. I don’t usually knit in bed but now that we have net flix in the bed room it’s become tempting. Hexipuff Count for the week. Zero :P What’s In My Tea Pot Lipton’s Green Tea Super Fruit white Mangosteen and Peach There is no information about the tea on the back of the box! Ingredients include Soy Lecithin and Sunflower Lecithin. I thought this was a preservative. I found a blog from 2007 with a ton more information on Lecithin and its health properties. Not for the squeamish though as they talk about how Lecithin is made which almost made me spit out the tea. The words “foul smelling Sludge” were involved. I found this tea unremarkable. I can taste the peach. I have no idea what a mangosteen tasted like so I’m not sure if that’s in there at all. I’ll finish the box but I won’t rush out to replenish it. Shipping Ruffled and Ruched Scarf by Pam Powers Finished on the day of the party. I was even a bit late… I think it went over pretty well. Lot’s of oohs and ahhhs over how soft the Alpaca / Acrylic was. I wonder if something like Ultra alpaca or and alpaca silk blend would have received better or worse reviews… would a non fiberphile know to be suitably impressed? I finally got to knit the flower! Last time I ran out of yarn. My flower ended up being about muffin sized but turned out quite well. The thought was that the flower could be used as an accessory to other pieces when it’s too warm for the scarf. The flower is great but to attach it to a hat would be a pretty big statement. I still love this pattern and I wouldn’t hesitate to pull it out again for another semi quick gift knit. Uber Secret Christmas socks I’m ashamed to say that after Christmas I didn’t jump right on resizing the Uber Secret Christmas socks. They instead languished on the project pile. I tore back the 1st one a few weeks ago and got it the point that I was ready to graft the toe. Then I over thought it and decided I’d better have my mom try them on before I graft it just to be sure on size. Back to the pile it went. I finally saw my mom this week and had her try it on. Nate just happened to walk past as this was happening and said …. “Geez mom… How many months has it been?” He’s great for a guilt trip. I’m happy to say that both socks have been adjusted, the toes have been grafted, and mom can wear them to Camp Kip. Materials Sourcing On the wheel 4 ozs of Merino from Copperpot Woolies in Cotton Candy. Still on the wheel Minimal progress so far. I started the second bobbin and I got to the point where I want to move to the second hook. In the market for a fleece. It’s one of my goals this year to knit a sweater that fits me. I’ve picked the Rivulet by Shanon Okey The Knitmores are doing their Spakal but I’m not fond of their KAL sweater so I figured I’d spin along and then do my own Knit thing. I’ll be on the lookout for a fleece. To get some education on what to look for I’ll be visiting with Liz from Ewenique Fiber’s in a few week. I will NOT be processing this fleece my self. I’ll be sending this one out. Besides it’ll be much more fun when several lbs of roving show up at the door and Joe flips over “is that MORE WOOL!” Bobbin winder Since I still have problems spinning a consistent single I’ve decided to spin all the singles 1st and then ply all at the end hoping to even everything out. Which led me to wonder does Babe make a bobbin winder? Sadly they do not. But I’ve had some good advice from ravelry. After 5 Strep Throat B and Joe have been under foot all this week. B has been home sick since last Thursday. We thought it was just a cold and didn’t think much of it as we had a doctor apt for him on Tuesday (Kindergarten registration is this week and I wanted him to get his shots up to date.) When we took him in they diagnosed strep. He never even complained about a sore throat. Knook – Knitting But Not A few weeks ago I was wandering in the knitting needle aisle in Hobby Lobby. I went in for fiber fill for Hexipuffs ended up looking at sock yarn and needles. I loose dpns all the time. So when ever I see a good price or a new color I pick up a set. They have sz 2s in purple…. They also have knitting oddities like adjustable sock looms, heart shaped pom pom makers, and The Knook How are they not getting sued by Barnes and Noble? When I first saw this I thought I was buying a Tunisian crochet kit. This is NOT Tunisian Crochet. What’s in the kit Three lovely little wooden crochet hooks with pointed tail ends that have holes in them. (Wha….?) 3 different colored silk cords that I thought were yarn samples to make the 1st project with. Instruction book. Method to the madness Thread the silk cord though the hole on the crochet hook. Crochet a starter chain. Pull up loops along the chain and instead of finishing a crochet stitch the loops get left on the hook. If your cast on edge is longer that the hook the stitches will slide onto the silk cord. (ahhhhh so that’s what the cord is for….) At the end of the row slide the stitches onto the cord and turn the work. From here on out it’s basically knitting with a hook and no needle in the left hand. I found the Knook incredibly wonky and counter intuitive. Perhaps if I hadn’t had so much experience with having a needle in my left hand and having the work be a bit more rigid I would have taken to the nook. But I couldn’t get over how “wrong “it felt. The knook is an interesting novelty that I’m sorry to say some well meaning non knitter will probably buy as a gift for an unsuspecting knitter. Fun if it’s free not worth the 10 bucks I paid. bbbbb