Episode 27: SKP'17 and lots of Plum!

Welcome to episode 27! In this out of the classroom episode Kim shares all of her experiences at SKP'17 (Spring Knitalong Portland 2017,) we share all of FO's and a WIP or two. Grab a beverage, your knitting, get comfy and join us!

Episode 27 Audio

Kim and Marcy after Recording Episode 27!

Marcy 34 weeks pregnant,
6 more to go!

What's in our Lesson Plan?

• Administrati
• Show and Tell
• Fieldtrip Notes
• What's on our Black Board

Administrati

Both Kim and Marcy are participating in a free 10  day "Initiate Knit  Design Challenge" with Aroha Knits. This begins on April 3rd.

Show and Tell

Kim has had major sweater knitting mojo ever since finishing her #legacysweaterspin sweater. She pulled out her Breathing Space pullover, designed by Veera Valimaki, in order to finish it by the retreat. She used Mad Tosh Merino light for this beautiful, asymmetrical pullover and was able to finish it and get a picture taken with Veera at SKP.  When Kim pulled out this UFO she was so thrilled to see her Sirka counter in the project bag. It told her everything she needed to know to pick up this sweater and continue knitting.

Here's the Sirka counter

Veera was so sweet to don her Breathing Space pullover
to take a picture with Kim in her "just barely finished" sweater!

Kim then decided to pull out of ALL of her sweater UFO's and she ended up frogging her Yin Yang Bolero by Helene Rush. She does want to cast on this cute,  cotton, summer top again but she'd like to use circular needles, not straights! She also uncovered her 1/2 finished Flutter Sleeve Cardigan by Pam Allen. This short sleeved summer top is definitely in the immediate queue. The Classic Elite Classic Silk yarn is yummy and will be wonderful to wear.

Kim met a listener while at the retreat. Shaybear is an amazing
knitter! She is wearing the Radiate pullover by Joji.

In addition, Kim found her languishing Twigs and Willows cardigan by Alana Dakos. This was CO in 2014 and it's a lovely sweater that she really wants to finish and wear. The yarn is Shepherd's Wool worsted in the Roasted Pumpkin color and it's fantastic to knit with. This is an active WIP right now and there have been several HOWLERS...you can read all about them over on her project page. The goal is to have this finished by ep 28.

Marcy has finished her beautiful Light Gale by Alicia Plummer. She used the Sublime yarns Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK in the plum pie color. This is listed as a sweater but she really feels that it's much more of a poncho. She made a few mods and you can read all about them on her project page. She really enjoyed using both the tubular cast on and tubular bind off.

Tubular bind off that I did on my Light Gale.

Marcy also finished an adorable baby hat for her little girl who is expected to arrive in about 6 weeks. The Big Bow Hat by Casey Braden is a free pattern on Ravelry. She used stash yarn and had to tweak a few things because she was using a lighter weight yarn than the pattern called for. It all worked out beautifully and the hat is super cute.

The Big Bow Hat, I can just see my little girl in it now!

Marcy is currently working on her ZickZack scarf by Christy Kamm. This is another free pattern on Ravelry and she is using Meadowcroft Dyeworks Cross Creek Sock yarn in the Corsage and Penny Candy colors. This is a chevron scarf that she is certain will take many months to finish but it'll be super colorful and beautiful when it's done.

I love how these colors are looking together, they make me happy!

Field Trip Notes

Kim felt very lucky to be chosen by a lottery draw for SKP '17. This is a retreat put on by Laura and Leslie from the KnitGirllls video cast. The incredible teachers were Joji Locatelli and Veera Valimaki. This is the Knitgirlll's 1st West Coast retreat and it was held at the beautiful Kennedy School in Portland.

Laura and Leslie from The KnitGirllls Podcast 

on the opening night of the SKP'17  retreat

There are many amazing yarn shops in Portland. Kim visited Knit Purl, Dublin Bay, Twisted and Pearl Fiber Arts. Check them out if you're in the area. She did come back with some stash enhancements and will talk about them as she knits and spins with them. She was very excited to run into the Knotty Knit Wits (Michelle and Leslie,) while at Twisted for a Meet Up with the KnitGirllls. If you haven't watched their fun video cast on You Tube, go take a look, they're a hoot!

Here are our amazing teachers, Joji and Veera, shopping at
Twisted. (They are looking at all of the beautiful Quince
& Co yarn!)

Kim took 3 amazing classes and a lecture from Joji and Veera: Knitting Sweaters that Fit, Style for you, Knitting stripes and Multi colored Projects: How to use your Stash. She learned a ton and left feeling very inspired. Both Joji and Veera were very generous, knowledgable and lovely. 

What's on our Black Board?

In ep 28 Kim and Marcy will have an "in the classroom" episode. They will share all of their knitting, spinning and uber craftiness that they have been up to. 

We hope that you have 2 wonderful and howler free weeks until we see you again. Happy knitting!

Episode 26: Stitches West Fieldrip

Welcome to episode 26 everybody! In this episode we share all of our Stitches West experiences. We also have some FO's to share with you. Grab a (large!) beverage, your knitting and get comfy. We hope you enjoy "visiting" SW with us!

Episode 26 Audio

Marcy and Kim after recording. Marcy is holding the adorable
stuffed bear for her and holding the Das Monster pants for her
little boy. Kim is wearing her finished handspun sweater.

What's in our Lesson Plan?

Marcy and her baby
bump at 31 Weeks!

1. Administrati
2. FO's
3. Stitches West Fieldtrip notes
4. What's on our Black Board?

Administrati

1. Happy International Women's Day everyone! Here is the article that Marcy mentioned about Iceland's 'Day without a Woman'. 
2. March is #trypod month. The intent is that you will "try podcasts" and also, hopefully share podcasts with those that don't listen to a/o watch them. Go ahead and tell your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers about some of your favorite podcasts and help them with the technology, if needed. 
3. You can find all Stiches West information here, as well as the information for all of the other Stitches events held around the country this year.
4. You might like to try "WIP Wednesday" or "Finishing Friday" as a way of finishing up more of your WIP's.

Show and Tell

Monster Pants for Wilson.

Marcy has finished knitting the Das Monster pants for her son. The pattern is free on Ravelry and is by Hronn Jonsdottier. Marcy had a knitting howler and played some yarn chickens with the yarn...but she won! Yay Marcy!

Kim finished the Party on my Needles shawl by Joji Locatelli for her mom. This is a fun and easy shawl pattern and would be perfect for the 1st time shawl knitter. 

Also...Kim finished her hand spun sweater!!! This is the #legacysweaterspin on Instagram and there's also a Ravelry thread here. She dyed the fiber, spun the yarn and then knit the Art Walk Cardi by Hannah Fettig from the  Texture book that Kim won from the lovely Grocery Girl's video podcast. You can read all about this dye/spin/knit a sweater along project on Kim's project page, here. 

***Kim talks about 3 spinning video podcasts that she's been enjoying: 

1. Wool and Spinning by Rachel Smith
2. Snappy Stitches by Chrissy Graham
3. Tiny fibre Studios by Becks. She is hosting a "sample along," this year. I'm very excited to participate in this spinning adventure where we will be spinning in a different manner (short, forward draw, for example,) each month and keeping thorough notes about our spin and the results that we are achieving. 

Stitches West-Fieldtrip Notes

• What we wore at Stitches: Marcy wore her True sweater by Joji Locatelli and her City Cape by Purl Soho. Kim wore her Whispers top by Veera Valimaki, her Summer Insouciant by Julie Hoover and her Find You Fade shawl by Andrea Mowry.
• Tools purchased from SW:  Kim bought some great tools that she's really enjoying. Signature Needles, a Mama Bear Swift n Count by the Oregon Wood Worker and a finger counter by Clover. 
• Acquisitions: Marcy bought a bear for her baby girl from the Ranch of the Oaks booth. Marcy and her mom spent a lot of time looking for the perfect yarn for the baby blanket her mom Terry is going to make for the new grand baby.  They found the perfect yellow to add from Cedar House Yarns Sapling Sock in the Yellow Bell Colorway.  They also found the perfect blue green color to add to the blanket from Magpie Fibers - Swanky Sock in the Mermaid's Garden Colorway. The blanket that her mom Terry is going to make is the Flyaway Blanket by Tin Can Knits, but the version that she is going to make is from from Ravelry user Undone57 her project called Prism.
  

        She also bought a skein of Anzula Breeze and Habu N-75, N-80 and N-35. Kim also bought a    
        skein of Anzula, some Habu (I''ll talk about more of the specifics when I knit with them,) some
        Biscotte self striping sock yarn and some Yarn Love.

• Stitches Inspiration: Kim fell in love with the Floriston cardigan (for the 2nd year in a row!) by Elizabeth Doherty and she declared that she will knit it this year and wear it to SW in 2018! 

          Marcy really liked all of these samples:

Marcy's mom Terry showing off
Hillary by Coco Knits, doesn't she look good!

• Emma version B by Coco Knits,
• Hillary by Coco Knits (this pattern will be released next month)
• Adelaide by Cecily Glowik MacDonald 
• Brise by Hannah Fettig Shoreside 
• Shoreside Tank by Amy Herzog 
• Alate and Chevre by Anne Ginger

• Fashion show and dinner: Marcy and her Mom attended the fashion show and dinner on Friday night and really enjoyed it. The two garments Marcy talks about that caught her eye at the fashion show are from Knitter's Magazine Sprint 2016, the chevron top and kited skirt is called Seafoam and Coral by Laura Bryant. Marcy's mom purchased yarn to knit the top.
• Podcaster meet up: We both really enjoyed meeting and mingling at the podcaster meet up on Saturday afternoon. The 2 Knit Lit Chicks (Barb and Tracie,) The Yarniacs (Gayle and Sharlene,) and The Two Ewes  (Marsha and Kelly) were all there and so many more fun and wonderful knitters! We had a great time.

  

  Julie, Kelly, Marcy, Marsha, Barb, and Tracy

What's on our Black Board?

In our next episode we'll hear all about Kim's field trip notes from a knitting retreat in Portland. We'll also talk about our WIP's and Fo's.

Have a wonderful couple of weeks everybody! Happy knitting.