Podcasts about unwind yarn company

Ep 103 recorded 2/16/22 A note on showlinks – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such and all links for yarn are directly to the dyer's website. Be A Helper Craftalong One month to go! 6th Be A Helper Craft-a-long has begun! We keep the rules simple. Anything you make for any charity counts, doesn't have to be knit/crochet/woven or spun. ANYthing you make for ANY charity. One FO per submission Donating blood counts too! Contest ends when I wake up March 15 and close the form/thread. Wips are always welcome Partial FOs count, for example if you make a blanket strip and your local yarn shop sews them together to make full blankets, count your blanket strip. One change this year – due to ongoing accessibility issues on Ravelery, I'll hold this event both on and off Ravelry.  Last year we just used a  Google Form and that was hard for some folks, so this year there will be a chat thread and an FO thread on Rav, and for non-Rav users I'll have a google form where you can link to your IG/FB/Twitter post showing your FO. Link to submit your Finished Object/blood donation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf08z2uqelVGeUBkm0fofQGveThChBBZzaMvNsRdlPlMzhbgA/viewform?usp=sf_link Prizes A set of mini skeins from Unwind Yarn Company – especially exciting as Dana does not dye anymore. Jen Lassonde of Downcellar Studio has very generously offered one of her patterns and a skein of yarn, thank you Jen! FOs Knights Who Say Knit by Mary Annarella of Lyrical Knits, a really fun Monty Python and the Holy Grail inspired pattern.  The knitting is done but I have about 100 ends to weave in.   WIPs Recalibrate Top by Shana Lines using Nomad Yarn's hand dyed cotton/rayon Gelato yarn.  I'm half way through the back panel in the yellow Gelato. Earthrise, a new pattern of mine. Lotus Mandala Vest by Morale Fiber, crochet vest.   Started a second Lotus Mandala during the Knitathon  Papillon/Butterfly shawl by MarinJa Knits I've started spinning handspun yarn for the winner of my drawing for the Knitathon last weekend Out and About Vogue Knitting Live Vogue Knitting Live @ Home Feb 17-20 and Mar 17-20.  Vogue Knitting Live in person in NYC is cancelled for 2022 but will be back Feb 9-12 2023 GGKCS podcast is having their annual Winter AL, visit their FB page for more details. Stitches at Home Stitches West in person Mar 3-6 2022. CT Sheep and Wool April 30, 2022 NH Sheep and Wool May 14 & 15, 2022 If you have any events you'd like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com I've Got Sunshine Last weekend I participated in the Knit For Food Knitathon last weekend – we raised over $270,000!!!  Crafters are amazing people and when we come together we can do amazing things.

Ep 102 recorded 2/9/22 Knit For Food Knitathon THIS WEEKEND https://givebutter.com/knitforfood22/moniqueleonard Update as of posting this episode - over $181,000! Please donate! Help put us over $200K Be A Helper Craftalong - Just over a month to go! 6th Be A Helper Craft-a-long has begun! We keep the rules simple. Anything you make for any charity counts, doesn't have to be knit/crochet/woven or spun. ANYthing you make for ANY charity. One FO per submission Donating blood counts too! Contest ends when I wake up March 15 and close the form/thread. Wips are always welcome Partial FOs count, for example if you make a blanket strip and your local yarn shop sews them together to make full blankets, count your blanket strip. One change this year – due to ongoing accessibility issues on Ravelery, I'll hold this event both on and off Ravelry.  Last year we just used a  Google Form and that was hard for some folks, so this year there will be a chat thread and an FO thread on Rav, and for non-Rav users I'll have a google form where you can link to your IG/FB/Twitter post showing your FO. Link to submit your Finished Object/blood donation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf08z2uqelVGeUBkm0fofQGveThChBBZzaMvNsRdlPlMzhbgA/viewform?usp=sf_link Prizes A set of mini skeins from Unwind Yarn Company – especially exciting as Dana does not dye anymore. Jen Lassonde of Downcellar Studio has very generously offered one of her patterns and a skein of yarn, thank you Jen! One skein of yarn - currently a mystery thanks to shipping delays. FOs A sample I can't talk about, I finished it December 30th and very proud of it Star Wars scarf for Thing 2    WIPs Recalibrate Top by Shana Lines using Nomad Yarn's hand dyed cotton/rayon Gelato yarn.  I'm half way through the back panel in the yellow Gelato. Knights Who Say Knit by Mary Annarella of Lyrical Knits, a really fun Monty Python and the Holy Grail inspired pattern. Earthrise, a new pattern of mine inspired by the famous Nasa photo Swatching for 4 new patterns, keep your ears peeled about those.  Papillon/Butterfly shawl by MarinJa Knits Out and About Virtually Vogue Knitting Live Vogue Knitting Live @ Home Feb 17-20 and Mar 17-20.  Vogue Knitting Live in person in NYC is cancelled for 2022 but will be back Feb 9-12 2023 GGKCS podcast is having their annual Winter AL, visit their FB page for more details. Down Cellar Studio's Pigskin party is ending this weekend – be sure to get your points in. Stitches at Home Feb 12-13, Stitches West in person Mar 3-6 2022. If you have any events you'd like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com I've Got Sunshine My 6-year old helped me plan the garden this year.  

Ep 101 recorded 12/15/21 Segments this week include: Housekeeping, Start of the Be A Helper Craft A Long, Wips, Out and About, and I've Got Sunshine.  A note on showlinks – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such and all links for yarn are directly to the dyer's website. Housekeeping New testknit starting in a week or two, for a sleeveless top in fingering weight yarn.  If you're interested send me an email windsweptMonique@gmail.com or sign up for my test knitter mailing list at http://www.windsweptknits.com/testknitters/ - if on this list you will only get emails related to test knitting, nothing else.  I'll be having 3 or 4 test knits starting up in the next few months with yarn ranging from fingering to DK and I'd love to have you join. Be A Helper Craftalong 6th Be A Helper Craft-a-long has begun! We keep the rules simple. Anything you make for any charity counts, doesn't have to be knit/crochet/woven or spun. ANYthing you make for ANY charity. One FO per submission Donating blood counts too! Contest ends when I wake up March 15 and close the form/thread. Wips are always welcome Partial FOs count, for example if you make a blanket strip and your local yarn shop sews them together to make full blankets, count your blanket strip. One change this year – due to ongoing accessibility issues on Ravelry, I'll hold this event both on and off Ravelry.  Last year we just used a  Google Form and that was hard for some folks, so this year there will be a chat thread and an FO thread on Rav, and for non-Rav users I'll have a google form where you can link to your IG/FB/Twitter post showing your FO. Link to submit your Finished Object/blood donation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf08z2uqelVGeUBkm0fofQGveThChBBZzaMvNsRdlPlMzhbgA/viewform?usp=sf_link Prizes A set of mini skeins from Unwind Yarn Company – especially exciting as Dana does not dye anymore. Another skein of yarn that is still in the mail and given the state of the USPS I'll announce after it arrives, just to be safe! Jen Lassonde of Downcellar Studio has very generously offered one of her patterns and a skein of yarn, thank you Jen! Since WIPs are allowed, and given the tornado crisis in KY last week, I'm going to open up the prizes to anyone who donated blood after the tornadoes.  So if you donated blood anywhere in the world on or after Dec 10, you've earned yourself a prize entry so go and fill out the google form or enter it in the Rav FO thread. WIPs Focusing on one pattern sample, can't talk about it. Recalibrate Top by Shana Lines using Nomad Yarn's hand dyed cotton/rayon Gelato yarn.  I'm half way through the back panel in the yellow Gelato. Star Wars scarf for Thing 2 – I'm over ¾ done!  I'm over halfway done with the Dark Side!  Wearables Tan House Brook shawl by BostonJen knit up in Sekhmet, an alpaca/silk/linen blend by A Hundred Ravens Second Grace by Bristol Ivy Out and About Virtually Indie Design GAL wrapping up I 2 weeks.  I'm a participating designer Fasten Off YAL – off Ravelry event, also wrapping up in 2 weeks.  I'm also a participating designer. Vogue Knitting Live Vogue Knitting Live @ Home Jan 20-23.  Vogue Knitting Live in person in NYC is cancelled for 2022 but will be back Feb 9-12 2023 GGKCS podcast is having their annual Winter AL, visit their FB page for more details. Down Cellar Studio's Pigskin party is up and running.  You can participate on Instagram or on Ravelry and I'm linking to Boston Jen's website which has the details and the signup page.  I am both a sponsor and a participant again this year and it's lots of fun. Stitches at Home Jan 7-9, Stitches West in person Mar 3-6 2022. If you have any events you'd like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com I've Got Sunshine For today, we are all healthy. 

Episode 71 – Be A Helper Craftalong – we’ll go over the (simple) rules and some ideas for what you can make.   Be A Helper Craftalong 4th Be A Helper Craftalong has begun! We keep the rules simple. Anything you make for any charity counts, doesn’t have to be knit/crochet/woven or spun. ANYthing you make for ANY charity. One FO per photo in the FO thread Donating blood counts too - post a photo of your bandaid or of you drinking OJ afterwards, something like that. FO Thread closes when I wake up April 1st. Wips are welcome Prizes 1 skein of Sock Yarn from A Great Yarn in Chatham, MA dyed exclusively for them by Hauteknits in the Finest Hours colorway, 75% merino, 25% nylon 1 25g skein of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock plus a mini skein of handspun Spun to order handspun, by me. I have 2 or 3 colorways that I’ll let the winner choose for me to spin up. Need some ideas? Check out these charities: Preemie Hats – check with your local hospital for yarn requirements. These need to be washed in an industrial strength washing machine so there may be limits, many only accept acrylic/nylon. If your local hospital isn’t accepting hats, Dana from the Unwind Yarn Company collects them from her retreat attendees in the fall and I’ll be happy to collect them and mail them to her with my own in September. Greg, aka Knitting Daddy of the Unraveling podcast also has accepted mailed hats in the past for his local hospital. Knitted Knockers– these are prostheses for breast cancer survivors who have not had or cannot have reconstructive surgery. Knockers must be made with plant based yarn – wool is too scratchy on scar tissue – and a list of acceptable yarns is linked in the shownotes available via PDF and there are top down and bottom-up patterns on their website. Mother Bears– I learned of this charity from the 2 Knit Lit Chicks who run a Mother Bear KAL every year. These bears provide comfort to children who are victim of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. Mother Bear will snail mail you the knitting or crochet pattern for a small fee. All they ask is that you return the finished bear with $3 to cover the shipping to Africa. KnitAid– has USA and UK branches. UK is currently collecting hats, mittens, blankets and water bottle covers.  All items must be knit in dark-colored yarn because the recipients will not be able to wash them easily. CompassionKnit- Bay Area, CA charity that gives handknit items to foster kids, most of whom have very few belongings of their own. A gift knit especially for them, something a stranger took hours and hours to make just for them, is something they cherish. Animal Rescue Craft Guild – knit, crochet or sew Joey pouches, bat wraps, nests, possum pouches, etc for animal survivors of the devastating wildfires in Australia. Before crafting, check the announcements on the FB page (linked in the show notes) as the graphic is updated with what they do and do not need.  They work closely with carers and animal rescue groups and update the graphic regularly.  Please be aware they currently have plenty of koala mittens but are in need of a lot of other help. A Great Yarn in Chatham, MA runs an annual blanket project for the homeless population on Cape Cod. Use any washable worsted-weight yarn to make a panel 1-foot [30cm] by 6 feet [1.8 m] and drop it off or mail it to the shop, mailing address in show notes.  Their goal this year is 250 blankets.  A Great Yarn 894 Main Street Chatham, MA 02633 A local homeless shelter or domestic violence shelter. Please check with them before assuming they take items, but many are happy to accept gifts of socks, hats, scarves and mittens especially in the winter. Do you have a charity craft idea that you think others would like to hear about? Let me know and I’ll talk about it on a future episode. Out and About Wayland Winter Farmers Market Fiber Days – Jan 26 & Mar 1 VKL NYC Jan 16-20 Stitches United - March 26-29, 2020 Knitting Weekend and Fiber Marketplace at Slater Mill -  Jan 11 & 12 Boston Farm & fiber Fest – Feb 9

Episode 64 Segments include Tour de Fleece, Wips, Knitting Fail, On the Run,  Stash Acquisition, Out & About Tour de Fleece This is my second Tour de Fleece! Wips New socks knit in Plymouth Yarn Diversity in the Violets colorways.  Picked the yarn up last week at A Great Yarn in Chatham, MA.  I needed something on smaller needles – I seem to be only using US 4s or 5s and it was just too much.  Started the toe, but the wooden needles I bought were too sticky for this yarn. Sea-themed shawl I mentioned last week. My third Rent-themed pattern, a shawl with 2 color cables.  Yes, that’s a cable using 2 different color yarns within the cable.  That sounds hard, but if you learn one simple trick they are SO EASY!  I can’t believe more people don’t use this technique.  I would call this technique intarsia-adjacent, but much simpler than how I learned intarsia.  For the record, I am not a big intarsia fan, but I do really enjoy these 2 color cables. Knitting Fail Photoshoot fail – tried to have a sunset photoshoot at the beach last Saturday and it turns out a front came through and there were 30mph winds! On The Road Spent a week at my parent’s place on Cape Cod, lots of fun, lots of beach.  Thing 1’s arm is doing much, much better and while not able to swim he was able to splash in the water, build sandcastles with help, go on some flat hikes. Yesterday, I tried to take a self-care day.  I’d been planning this day for months, then Thing 1 broke a bone, so he came with me.  We drove an hour to a “local” yarn and fiber shop The Fiber Loft.  Stash Acquisition From The Fiber Loft I got 1lb of cotton sliver that I am going to attempt dying.  I also got some beautiful green speckled fiber from Buchanan Fibers and a skein of silk/linen blend in blues and purples for an upcoming shawl. And yesterday, my very first Akerworks bobbins arrived!  I can’t wait to try these.  I’m going to use it for my 2nd bobbin in Tour de Fleece. Out and About In August I will be spending a week in Nova Scotia, Canada visiting family and I can’t wait! September 19-22 I will be attending Into The Wool fiber retreat in Crossville, TN run by Dana from Unwind Yarn Company and Tiffany, aka The Project Bag.  So looking forward to this! Rhinebeck!  For the first time I will be going both Saturday and Sunday.  This is my first time driving myself to the fairgrounds, that is, not being dropped off by family or taking the Webs bus, so if you have any parking tips I’d love to hear them. Not sure if I’ll be attending these next 2 but I hope to: Vermont Sheep and Wool, Oct 5 & 6 Fiber Festival of New England, Nov 2 & 3 at the Big E out near Springfield, MA

FOs Somer Knitting My Knitted Heart Vanilla Socks by Elizabeth Suarez using Regia Arne & Carlos Color 02464 Vanilla socks using Unwind Yarn Company in “Bluffs” Spinning Panorama Fiber Polwarth/silk in “Bluebonnet” Miss Babs merino/silk in “Copperhead” Miss Babs BFL in “Mango Madness” Handmade Hollows superwash merino in “Falling Leaves” Active WIPS Somer Knitting Whiz […]

Episode39 – 5/25/18 – Knitting and Running in 30 minutes or less Today’s segments include Be A Helper Craft-a-long, including Prizes and some Charity Ideas, Wips, Spinning, Running and today’s Knitting Talk will answer the question – “Why did you start a podcast?” Be A Helper Summer 2018 As I mentioned last week, the Be A Helper KAL is back for the summer.  We went over most of the details but I’ll go over a few updates quickly today and a few addendums (thanks to those who reached out with some questions!) Last episode I said that this was a KAL for anything you knit, crochet, weave or spin but someone pointed out that during the last KAL I said any craft. I’m going to go with what we used previously – ANY thing you make for ANY charity will count.  I’m still running the craft-a-long on Ravelry, but you do not need to link to a project page.  Just post a photo of your finished item in the thread on Ravelry and tell us who you are donating it to!  Donating blood still counts, too. Another listener point out that it’s a pain trying to get all the photos up in time for Stash Dash and ending things the same night could be an issue for some, and I whole heartedly agree. So I’m giving you an extra week.  We start on May 25th and will end August 31st.  You have all summer to finish your charity work.  Please post 1 picture per finished object in the thread. Wips are allowed! Double or triple dip in any KAL you want, I totally encourage this! Prizes – So far we have three prizes , one skein of FishKnits Yarn in the At Sixes and Sevens colorway, a self-striping Merino-nylon sock yarn, one skein on non-wool yarn of my choosing though I’d love to hear any input for you folks – anything you’ve been tempted to knit with? And lastly a huge thanks to Tiffany from The Project Bag who is offering a free project bag and matching notions pouch and she will ship it anywhere in the world!  Tiffany sent over an example photo and I’m posting it in the Ravelry group.  The prize won’t be the exact fabric pattern shown, but the bags will coordinate and her photo will give you an idea of her gorgeous handiwork.   Charity Ideas If you don’t have a charity you currently craft for, I’m going to talk about a few here that may be of interest to you: Preemie Hats – check with your local hospital for yarn requirements. These need to be washed in an industrial strength washing machine so there may be limits.  If your local hospital isn’t accepting hats, Dana from the Unwind Yarn Company is collecting them from her retreat attendees this fall and may be willing to accept a few more via mail if you contact her.  Greg, aka Knitting Daddy of the Unraveling podcast also has accepted mailed hats in the past for his local hospital. Knitted Knockers – these are prostheses for breast cancer survivors who have not or cannot have reconstructive surgery. Knockers must be made with plant based yarn – wool is too scratchy on scar tissue – and a list of acceptable yarns is linked in the who notes along with the free patterns. Mother Bears – I learned of this charity from the 2 Knit Lit Chicks and they are currently running their Mother Bear KAL. These bears provide comfort to children who are victim of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Afrca.  Mother Bear will snail mail you the knitting or crochet pattern for a small fee.  All they ask is that you return the finished bear with $3 to cover the shipping to Africa.  KnitAid – has USA and UK Neither is currently collecting, but you could knit scarves or hats or baby clothes for next winter.  All items must be knit in dark-colored yarn because the recipients will not be able to wash them easily. Do you have a charity craft idea that you think others would like to hear about?  Let me know and I’ll talk about it on a future episode.  Send me a PM on Ravelry, I’m WindsweptMonique, or email me at windsweptMonique@gmail.com WIPS I’ve put a couple of rows onto my Changing Staircases shawl by Jenga Knits.  This is a shawl inspired by the Harry Potter books, the way the staircases are constantly changing and I’m working on it in Mousou a 100% bamboo yarn from The FiberLady. I turned the heel on my 52-stitch sock, which is using the Fish Lips Kiss heel and Cobasi by Hikoo, which is a bamboo, cotton, silk and nylon blend.  Those of you who’ve used that pattern will understand why I can be so precise about the 1/3! The Addition By Subtraction Mystery Knit A Long, I am 1/3 of the way through Clue #2.  I am working on this in 4 colors of 3 different yarns.  For the light color I’m using Ito Yarn’s Washi in the Crocus colorway, a pale purple.  This is a Japanese style paper yarn, laceweight, and I‘m holding it double.  The dark is Ito Yarn’s Kinu, a laceweight silk in the Grey colorway and I’m holding it double.  The zany is  Your Crazy is Showing from Birdie’s Knits and it is a crazy combination of every color you can imagine but it looks beautiful.  Lastly I’m using another Kinu, the Plum colorway which is actually a dark pastel pink, not purple as the name might imply.  There is a slipped stitch section which caused me a little bit of a headache given that silk and paper yarns have absolutely no stretch to them, but I’ve learned how to knit that section more loosely than normal and it’s actually working out nicely. Spinning Still practicing on my wheel.  Don’t quite have the hang of it yet.  Tried spinning the bamboo sample I got from The Fiber Lady at stitches United and boy was that easier!  I now understand why long staple fibers are much preferred!  But I am going to keep trying.  My problem seems to be getting that first bit twisted and onto the bobbin.  Once I have it I can sustain it for a little while, but getting started is not my forte!   Knitting Talk I was recently asked, why did I start a podcast?  As I’ve now passed my 1st podaversary, I decided to tackle that question here. First off, I LOVE podcasts.  I started listening back in 2005 and currently on my phone I am subscribed to 109 podcasts, 12 of which are for my kids.  Some are weekly, some put out 15-20 a year and some are like Serial and every now and then you get 10 in a row.  So it’s not quite as insane as it sounds.  No, I do not keep up do date with all of them – I am still far behind after going to FL for 10 days in February but I’m slowly catching up while driving, cooking, cleaning, etc.  I also listen at 1.5x which makes a 60 minute podcast take only about 40 minutes so that helps. Back to this particular podcast – I had been considering starting a podcast for about 2-3 years and kept putting it off because of family, kids, lack of time, etc.  I was super stressed and a bit down in the dumps and I finally decided to take on a project just for me.  I’d just gotten in to SSK a few weeks before and then listening to the Just One More Row podcast, Dana was talking about exactly that, getting lost in motherhood and the doldrums of thousands of thankless tasks and how taking time for herself and doing projects just for herself was really helping.  That was the lightbulb moment I needed and I decided to just go out and do it.  I bought a microphone, downloaded Audacity and released the first episode on March 14th, 2017.  The sound quality was horrible, and I was so incredibly nervous, but I did it.  And I’m so glad I did!  Now more than a year on, I have met so many wonderful people because of this podcast.  It’s been a joy.  Running How long should your shoes last?  “Experts” say 300-500 miles, depending on how much wear and tear they get.  But if you see any damage, change shoes right away!  Also, if you see uneven wear on the bottom of your shoe, (e.g., more wear on the inside edge than the outside edge, or vice versa) then be SURE to go to a running store (and bring your current shoes!).  They can help you find the right type of shoe to stop that and help prevent injuries down the road.  

In this episode, I give a recap of the Into the Wool Fiber Retreat 2017, announce the release of the With a Paddle and Without a Paddle hats (and tell you how to enter to win the patterns), and have a chat with Dana Hamilton of Unwind Yarn Company.  Full show notes and pictures can be found at kinoknits.com/038. Recorded October 14, 2017.  

As always, show notes can be found at www.stitchedtogether.co.uk. Come and join the conversation on the Stitched Together Podcast & Patterns Ravelry Group board.Stuff and ThingsSelf Indulgent Craft-A-Long (#STSICAL2015) started on Christmas Day and runs to February 29th 2016. The thread will be locked when I get up and get online on 1st March. The CAL is for anything new and exciting that makes your heart sing after all the responsibilities and hard work of the run up to the end of the year, so it shouldn't be a WIP.Prizes were all kindly donated and are:A project bag from Knit and Stitch Bits..The Wool Barn Alpaca Sock (grey) in the Denim colourway. The is a sock/4ply weight yarn, comprised of 70% Natural Light Grey Baby Alpaca/20% Silk/10% Cashmere and it weighs 100g and has 400m/436yds.From a generous viewer, who wishes to remain anonymous, The Uncommon Thread, Silky Merino Fingering in the Pern colourway. The yarn is a sock/4ply weight yarn and is comprised of 75% Superwash Merino/25% Mulberry Silk, it weighs 100g and measures 400m.Enter a photo of your FO in the thread before it is locked. One entry per person. You must be a member of the group.Chat is very welcome over in the group.Done and DustedMy project for the #STSICAL was knit using 40% Alpaca/40% Merino/20% Silk from John Arbon that I spun as a worsted 2ply to get a heavy sock/4ply weight yarn. I got 740m from 216g. I made Eyeblink by Heidi Alander. Decided to unpick the bind off and the last wrong side row. I then knit 8 rows and then did a beaded bind off using the technique in this video, by YarnFairy. I like how this technique means there are no holes under the picots.  I used Toho Metallic Iris Purple size 6/0 beads from JillyBeads.Eclipse by Lara Smoot using Yeomans Yarn Sport in the Birch colourway and The Yarn Yard Clan in pink.Refraction Shawlette Plus in DyeForYarn Sock BFL Superwash in the Wooden Treasure Chest colourway. The centre panel is made using some of the charts from Refraction Shawlette, with a different final chart.Regia Snowflake Color Socks in the 07709 colourway.Superwash Merino fibre, from World of Wool, that I dyed using Wilton's Food Dyes, I spun it as a worsted 2-ply and the resulting yarn was 282m/308yds of sport weight yarn.KraftyKoala merino silk fibre, was spun as a worsted chain-ply yarn. It measures 124m/136yds of a worsted weight yarn. Fibre was bought in a de-stash and I don't think she is dyeing anymore.A LOT of blocked squares for my Sock Yarn Blanket, which is based loosely on Shannon Geddes' Sock Yarn Square.Nose to the GrindstoneKnitting Goddess Socks, my usual vanilla pattern using The Knitting Goddess 4ply merino nylon that I got at Fibre East 2014. I don't think she uses this base anymore.The Doodler by Stephen West was the 2015 MKAL. I am using Countess Ablaze Lady Persephone Sock in the Persia colourway, Eden Cottage Yarns Pendle in Steel and The Yarn Yard Clan in Waverley. I referred to a great set of tutorials by jkimisyellow, which were really helpful.I've been prepping some Heavenly Wools New Zealand Halfbred Wool Roving in the Dragon's Breath Over Natural Grey. I have 200g and want to spin it as a true 3-ply. It's mainly a merino breed with 24.5 micron count.Splashed OutMy first Fat Squirrel Bag (I think it's a Small Wedge).20g Mini Skeins from Sara's Texture CraftSome bargains from EasyKnits; Lush in Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Smoke in Dabloon (150g skein) and Twinkle DK in Berry.Unwind Yarn Company Journey Sock (150g skein) in Jimmy Angelov.Fondant Fibre Winter Wonderland Rolags.Online CommunityKatya Frankel is holding an Anything Goes KAL from 20th February to 20th March over in her Ravelry Group, and is offering a 20% discount on all of her self-published designs from 8-29 February with the code anythinggoeskal.I really like her new shawl pattern Sidereal but I might join in with the Vector pattern from Flatland.

As always, show notes can be found at www.stitchedtogether.co.uk. Come and join the conversation on the Stitched Together Podcast & Patterns Ravelry Group board.Stuff and ThingsLara Smoot kindly offered to give away a copy of one of her most recently released patterns, Journey to Atlantis, which was previously an exclusive club pattern on Miss Babs Knitting Tour. It uses around 500m of a worsted weight yarn to make. The winner was drawn at random using random.org and is Entry Number 2, ThisPianoGirl.Self Indulgent Craft-A-Long (#STSICAL2015) started on Christmas Day and runs to February 29th 2016. The thread will be locked when I get up and get online on 1st March. The CAL is for anything new and exciting that makes your heart sing after all the responsibilities and hard work of the run up to the end of the year, so it shouldn't be a WIP.Prizes were all kindly donated and are:A project bag from Knit and Stitch Bits..The Wool Barn Alpaca Sock (grey) in the Denim colourway. The is a sock/4ply weight yarn, comprised of 70% Natural Light Grey Baby Alpaca/20% Silk/10% Cashmere and it weighs 100g and has 400m/436yds.From a generous viewer, who wishes to remain anonymous, The Uncommon Thread, Silky Merino Fingering in the Pern colourway. The yarn is a sock/4ply weight yarn and is comprised of 75% Superwash Merino/25% Mulberry Silk, it weighs 100g and measures 400m.Enter a photo of your FO in the thread before it is locked. One entry per person. You must be a member of the group.Chat is very welcome over in the group.Done and DustedMy project for the #STSICAL was knit using 40% Alpaca/40% Merino/20% Silk from John Arbon that I spun as a worsted 2ply to get a heavy sock/4ply weight yarn. I got 740m from 216g. I made Eyeblink by Heidi Alander. I used 620m, which has left me with 35g/120m of yarn.Sockhead Hat by Kelly McClure, using left over Hilltop Cloud BFL/Cashmere/Silk from the Foolproof.Handspun Monster using 110m of Fondant Fibre Falkland Silk, a worsted weight yarn.Purple Kitty using Cascade 220 Superwash.Windward by Heidi Kirrmaier knit from Posh Yarn Miranda Heavy Lace (70% Alpaca, 20% Silk, 10% Cashmere) Barley by TinCanKnits in Cascade 220 Superwash.`Hobbledehoy merino/tencel in the Lagoon colourway was spun as a worsted 2-ply. I got 383m/419yds from 114g/4oz in a fingering/4-ply weight yarn.Nose to the GrindstoneRegia Snowflake Color Socks in the 07709 colourway.Orange Mittens using StarCroft Nash Island Light in the Lobster Bake colourway. I want to add a convertible top as seen in Stonybrook by Wendy Poush.Refraction Shawlette Plus has been frogged and re-started using extra increases and making the "wings" in stocking stitch instead of garter. Uses DyeForYarn Sock BFL Superwash in the Wooden Treasure Chest colourway.Spinning Superwash Merino fibre, from World of Wool, that I dyed using Wilton's Food Dyes, on my new spindle.Crafting Library750 Knitting Stitches: The Ultimate Knit Stitch Bible (UK Link) (US Link) Increase, Decrease (UK Link)  (US Link)by Judith Durant.Splashed OutJust Ducky Handspun Pierced Heart Spindle made with Lignum tip, Black Ebony whorl, Padauk shaft. Weight: 1.2 oz/34g Length: 11 3/4”Hello Yarn Falkland in the Ghastly Silence colourway.Into The Whirled 50% merino/25% bamboo/25% silk in the 221b colourway.JOMA Yarn Cash-A-Rino (70% Superwash merino/20% cashmere/10% nylon) in the Humingbird colourway. 115g/4oz of fingering/4-ply weight yarn, measuring 371m/406ydsUnwind Yarn Company Journey Sock (80% Superwash merino/20% nylon) in the La Grande Jatte colourway. 100g of fingering/4-ply weight yarn measuring 365m/400yds.Countess Ablaze Lord of Silk DK (75% Falkland merino/25% mulberry silk) in the Nightmare colourway. 100g of DK weight yarn measuring 240m/262yds)

Show Notes:News and Notes -Richard joins me this week as a guest co-host. He talks about his knitting and shows off the scarf he made for Pig (my dog) for Pig's birthday.Finished Objects -TKGASS square 2 in Holiday Yarn Hanky Panky colorwayWorks in Progress -Garden socksC25K socks - Racing Hearts socks in Desert Vista Dyeworks colorway. Two options available - Gray and RedColor Affection (KAL ends Sept. 18)Abalone cardigan by Hedgehog FibersSpinning -Anzula fiber (Corridale) in the Ocean colorway (finished up)Dancing in the Hall by Storied Yarns  - 200 yes plus a small chain-plyed mini-skeinMountain Color Fiber in the Meadow colorwayChain-plyed remainder of the Abalone from Unwind Yarn Company for a mini-skein

Show Notes:Finished Objects -Basic Dude Socks for Hunter, pattern by Jolene Richardson. Used Sensations Kashmirs Yarn in Green Stripe on my Chiagoo US 6 (4.00 mm) needles, magic looped.Works in Progress -Something Blue for Jenn's wedding. The Knit Hilton Lace Edging pattern by Nancie Wiseman. I switched it from a garter stitch pattern to a stockinette stitch pattern by purling all the rest rows instead of knitting them.Color Affection KAL -Begins May 15Sign-up on Ravelry Group for entry in prize drawing next week:2 of the patterns1 skein/braid/batt from Unwind Yarn Company. (Thanks, Dana!)Will continue throughout the summer.You may double-dip, our even join in with your WIP.I will be using Dream in Color Smooshy (said it wrong on the podcast) in Sundown Orchid, Amethyst Ink, and Happy Forrest.C25K - Still having to walk. Shins HURT!Check out the "Chubby Jones Podcast" It is cute, and has the intervals for the C25K plan. Thanks, nontoxicmoma, for recommending it.Julie (Joenjules) suggested a sock knit-a-long, designed by a "girlfriend" and proceeds from the pattern go to charity. Check out the Rav group to post your thoughts and/or ideas about this.News and Notes -Fitness Themed Swap: Go to the Rav group to post ideas/suggestions for a fitness themed swap. We could begin in June, and send packages out in August.200 member give away! I give away two prizes from our current member list. Did you win??? If so, send me a PM on Ravelry.

Show Notes:News and Notes -Thanks for the sweet notes on Ravelry.Finished Objects -ETTA, Amy's green hat out of my hand-spun Luckiest from Unwind Yarn Company.Works in Progress -Hermione's Everyday SocksPurple Zebra SocksCorrine SweaterBlue Lace HankieSpinning:KnitGirllls spinning seriesUnwind Yarn Company: Luckiest, Abalone, MagmaGnome AcresShetiboFitness:4 glasses of water a day for this week!

Show Notes:No Finished objects.Works In Progress -Amy's purple zebra socks - plain stockinette sock with afterthought heel in Paton's sock yarn. Hermione's Everyday Socks - in my hand-dyed yarn. Corrine SweaterETTA, Amy's green hat out of my hand-spun Luckiest from Unwind Yarn Company.Blue Lace Hankie for Jenn's wedding out of JellyBeans yarn in the Blue Marble colorway 80% merino 20% silk.Hermione's Everyday SocksFitness - working out while travelingGrilling outsideThis episode's audio is in-sync here, iTunes, and on the YouTube channel, but not at Blip.tv.

Show Notes:News and Notes -Jetgirl1313 (winner of membership prize) picked the Cats Knitting fabric. I will sewing her prize and shipping it off this week.Thanks PKJewelry for the Angry Birds stitch markers and row counters.No finished objects.Works in Progress -Yoga socks for Carla, my yoga instructor.Hogwarts Express - In No Two Snowflakes yarn in the Godric's Hollow colorway (in keeping with the HP theme of course!)Straun Take 2 for my brother out of Cascade Eco Alpaca, on my new KnitPicks interchangeable needles.Hermione's Quidditch socks on hold until I get a few other things off the needles. Will try to get them done for Studentknits Statistics KAL.Mittens for Me MKAL - Clue 1 with the KnitGirlllsLala love you Cowl for the Knitabulls Feb KAL out of Malabrigo Rios in the Cumparista colorway on US 8 Hiya Hiya sharps 16" cable.Spinning -Using a drop spindle. I don't have a wheel yet but I am hoping.Wysteria fiber in a blue-green corridale (1 oz. sample - 8 yds bulky)Wysteria fiber in a purple corridale (1oz. sample - 20 yards)Mixed the purple with a blue for another 8 yesBegan my Unwind Yarn Company fiber in the Abalone colorway.Fitness - Walking 2 milesNo change in weight

Show Notes:News and Notes -Ravelry group approaching a membership goal. When we reach my goal of 100 members, we will have a prize give away to a randomly selected member of the group. Not sure yet what the prize might be.Shout out to Virge!Finished Objects - Slanted Vineyard socks, the Slant pattern by Hunter Hammersen, knit in CloudLover Yarn in the Haunted Vineyard colorway, for the KnitGirllls SAL/KAL, that ends in February.Works in Progress -Wisteria Shawl Collar Pullover, pattern by Lion Brand yarn, knit out of an unknown yarn in a rainbowish colorway, using size 8 circular needles. (Sorry, Lion Brand, I did not use the recommended yarn. I might use Lion Brand Amazing for a future version of this sweater.)Hogwarts ExpressWaves SocksHermione's Quidditch socks on hold until I get a few other things off the needles. Will try to get them done for Studentknits Statistics KAL.New/Upcoming:Straun Take 2 for my brother out of Cascade Eco AlpacaSpiderman Hat for the baby nephewMittens for Me KAL with the KnitGirlllsBaby Projects for 3 friends/coworkersSpinning - Actually seeing improvement. Using Wysteria Fiber, corriedale, in the Blue-Green colorway.Bought gorgeous fiber from Dana (craftygirl83) at Unwind Yarn Company in Abalone and Luckiest.Fitness - Biggest Loser Contest: Weigh-in on Tuesday - 195 lbs (13.9285 stone for those "across the pond"). Gave us a food/exercise journal and a water bottle. Took a before picture. First workout???? Not sure what happened. Did yoga again on Tuesday - TOUGH!Nutrition -Still fighting with sugar intake. Feel like I am having sugar withdrawal symptoms.Need to eat more veggies and less "bad" carbsGreat suggestion from droppingneedles on Ravelry of drinking glass of hot tea before bed for those night time cravings.

Show Notes:No Finished Objects this week.WIP's are the same as last week. Been doing some designing that I can't show you just yet.Color Affection KAL -Started May 15 and will run through September 18. There is a prize thread up on the Ravelry group for FO's.Drawing for the patterns and yarn from Unwind Yarn Company!Spinning - Doing the Joint SAL FroggyMonkey/Knitabulls. I am spinning the FroggyMonkey colorway. Will begin in the next day or so.Also doing the Downton Abbey SAL with Storied Yarns. I got the "Dancing in the Hall" colorway, inspired by Matthew and Mary's troubled relationship.C25K Project - Begin your training now ladies!!Colorway contest sponsored by Desert Vista Dyeworks. (Thanks, Susan!) Post your color ideas to either my Ravelry group or Susan's. Winner of the contest wins a skein of the yarn. Contest runs through May 25. Pre-orders for the yarn will be posted on June 1.Pam (PKJewelry) and I are designing the "running sock". Pattern to be debuted soon.Yarn and Pattern will be a fundraiser for the American Heart Association.Fitness Swap: It is still in the works, but will begin in a month or two, once the other two big things going on are under way.