Episode 32: Heidi"s Yarn Haven

Welcome to ep. 32 everybody! We have a lot of great content for you; including field trip notes, an interview, a research paper, show and tell and more goals! Grab your knitting, a cool beverage and put your feet up  and relax while you join us for this episode.

Episode 32 Audio

 

Pippa is helping me knit at 5 weeks old!

What's in our Lesson Plan?

1. What's on the PA system?
2. Fieldtrip notes: Heidi's Yarn Haven in Ukiah, CA
3. An interview with Heidi
4. Show & Tell
5. Button band research paper
6. Goals
7. What's on our Black Board?

What's on the P.A. System?

We are joining a group of other podcasters and hosting the "Summer Stripe Along CAL." This is a craft along and there are some amazing prizes you can win! Hop on over to the group page for this CAL and read all about it. Happy striping!

Field trip Notes and an Interview

Kim had a wonderful time visiting the LYS in her hometown of Ukiah, CA last week. Heidi's Yarn Haven is a fantastic shop that has an amazing inventory of beautiful yarns. She mainly stocks wool and wool blends and she also has a great selection of fiber, buttons and lots of needles and notions. If you are in Northern California on your way to Mendocino or visiting the wine country, take  a little extra time and visit Heidi; I'm certain that you'll find lots of treasures (like Kim did!) Check out our LYS evaluation spreadsheet to learn more about the shop.

Some local yarn 

Heidi's Yarn Haven, and there's Heidi!

 

So much pretty yarn!

Show & Tell

Marcy has started a new sweater project for the Summer Stripe Along CAL. She CO the ...a hint of summer by Isabel Kraemer. She is using Claudia Hand Painted yarns, Linen in the Lemon Ice and Caribbean Blue colors. The WIP is beautiful and this will be a beautiful striped sweater that is perfect for our climate. 

Yamma's Dress for Zoe.

Marcy has a 2nd new CO; Yemma's Dress by Devon Clement. This cute little girl's dress has a knitted bodice and a sewn skirt, which makes it a quick make and a darling gift. She is using deep stash that is so deep that the yarn isn't even on Ravelry!

Pippa is one lucky little baby, her talented mom is knitting her the cutest little dress; Marian by Taiga 

Hilliard. She is making the 12 month size and using Hedgehog Fibres Sock in the Fly color way. 

Marcy is continuing to work on her Cullum Tee by Isabel Kraemer using KnitPicks Lindy Chain yarn in the Ivy color way. She has made several cute modifications, including adding a lace motif to the back. 

Kim has finally finished her Twigs and Willows cardigan by Alana Dakos. She is tired of talking about it and is certain that you all are tired of hearing about it! The yardage for Stash Dash is 1,100 meters. 

She also finished her 2nd So Faded sweater by Andrea Mowry. She's already worn it and is loving it. This time Kim used Madeline Tosh Dandelion yarn which is a 90/10 wool/linen blend and it was lovely to work with. She used the same modifications as on her 1st sweater and she also played with the stripes a bit more on this one. 

Kim is continuing to work on her St Patty socks and is almost done with these vanilla, 2 at a time on magic loop socks. She also has a new sweater cast on that will be based on the So Faded sweater, but will have many modifications. She is using Cricket yarn for this project. 

Kim and Marcy are doing an informal KAL with the Cullum Tee. Kim got off to a slow start by  not swatching and by casting on with a US4 when she knew that a US3 would be better (it was all knitter laziness!) She ended up having to frog and re knit a portion due to the needle size issue.  Then, she had a huge pile of yarn barf and spent 2.5 hours trying to untangle and finally had to cut the yarn anyway...HOWLER! She is back in the saddle though and is enjoying the knit and looking forward to the FO. 

Kim has finished her sample for her design cowl (no final name or project page for this one, yet,) and is unhappy with the size. She will continue to work on this project and give an update when it's finished. She has also been spending time on other design projects, but can't post anything about them yet. 

Button Band Research Paper

Kim used the "Perfect Buttonholes" tutorial from the book Splendid Apparel by Anna Zilboorg. We will do a book review for this book in a few episodes; its' main premise is embroidering your knits, especially cables and lace. The button band tutorial is very thorough and the finished product is a double layered, beautiful, stable edge that won't flop or pull. I encourage you to check out the book at a library, LYS or other book store. 

A finished, beautiful buttonhole!

Knitting the button band

Kim's finished Twigs and Willows

 

 

Goals

Here's the post mortem for last episodes' goals; Kim wanted to finish:

1. The 2nd So Faded sweater: YES
2. Her Twigs and Willows cardigan: YES
3. Her St. Patty Socks: NO, but almost!
4. The Flutter Sleeve Cardigan: NO, she didn't even touch it : (
5. Knitting the sample for her cowl design: YES

and she wanted to CO or carry on with:

1. The Cullum Tee, to have this cute sweater well on its way: YES
2. Spinning, in order to meet her 10K Stash Dash goal!: YES
3. Weaving (for SD,) either a scarf for her DH Tim or a runner for her dining room table. : NO
4. A new CO using either her hand dyed Soft Linen yarn or her Shibui Linen. Hmmm.....:YES, but the new CO was with Cricket yarn.

Here're Kim's new goals for the next episode:

1. To remember that she has set goals...this helps a person to accomplish them!
2. Weave
3. Finish spinning 2 skeins of yarn
4. Finish her Cullum Tee
5. Finish the St. Patty socks
6. Finish the Flutter Sleeve Cardigan

What's on our Black Board?

In our next episode Kim will share her acquisitions from her LYS visit and Marcy and Kim will review the magazine Making, #3. We will share all of our current WIP's, new cast ons and FO's in addition to any other making that we've been up to.  

We wish you a wonderful 2 weeks with  your knitting and creating and we will see you next time! Thank you for joining us. 

Episode 48: Spinning research and lots of FO's!

Welcome knitters and thank you for joining us for our 48th episode! Marcy and Kim share all of their new co's, wip's AND many fo's! In addition, Kim has a short spinning research paper to share; Spring/Summer are the perfect time of year to get into spinning! So, grab your knitting, a bracing beverage (why not?!) get comfy and settle in.

Episode 48 Audio

Pippa & Marcy wearing there knitwear at the ski hill.
Marcy is wearing here Light Gale.
Pippa is wearing a top made by Gaga called Cameron Cardi.

What's in our Lesson Plan?

• On the PA System
• After the Finish Line
• Show & Tell
• Spinning Research Paper
• We are Uber Crafty
• What's on our Black Board?

On the PA System

TNNA (The National Needlearts association,) announced "The First Local Yarn Store Day!" This will be held on April 21, 2018 and it's a day for all of us fiber arts enthusists to celebrate our brick and mortar local yarn shops...because what would we do without them? If you have an LYS, reach out to them and ask what they have planned and then go and support them!

After the Finish Line

Marcy showing off her P-Rex!

Marcy was finally able to wear her P-Rex by Susanne Sommer and it looked amazing! She blocked it and is happier with the length and fit of the sleeves. You can hear more about this FO in episode 38. She also wore her ...a hint of summer top by Isabel Kraemer and it was a huge hit with our knitting group. You can hear more about this project in ep. 32.  The beautiful Light Gale was a perfect outer wear piece for Marcy to wear to Tahoe. Ep. 25 has all of the details about this lovely cape.  It was way back in ep. 4 that Marcy talked about her True sweater by Joji and she enjoyed wearing it last week when it was chilly here. 

Kim wore her Little Bird sweater so much that she had to wash and re block it. Sadly, the neck line unraveled a bit and needs mending. She has been wearing her Zweig  color work pullover a lot and she's seriously thinking about knitting a 2nd next Fall. Her poor Cullum Tee got taken out to dinner but was drenched by a glass of white wine! Thankfully, linen is hardy and will wash easily. Her new Fo, the Waiting for Rain shawl has been Kim's go to shawl for chilly days and evenings and she loves it and is planning on taking it to Europe this summer. 

Show & Tell

Kim has finally finished her Hermione's Everyday socks that she co last March. The Malabrigo sock yarn was a dream to knit with and the pattern is always fun and easy. However, she made these socks a bit too short and so they will be a wonderful Mother's Day gift for her very knitworthy Mom. 

Kim is still working on the gorgeous Tegna top by Caitlin Hunter. She is using 3 skeins of her hand dyed yarn and the base is merino and silk from KnitPicks. She also has a new co, a pair of socks using a skein of Zauberball in an unknown color way. She is putting in contrasting cuffs, heels and toes and is knitting these 2 at a time, top down and with magic loop on a US 1. 

***Kim mentioned that she wants to get another shawl on her needles and is thinking of casting on one of Hunter Hammersen's gorgeous shawls from the book Curls.

Marcy working on her 2nd
Sand Shore Cardigan.

Marcy has been knitting up a storm and has 2 Fo's! She finished her lovely Chaleur pullover by Julie Hoover. She used 2 types of Habu held together and it's beautiful. Make sure to check out her project page and read all about it. She also finished her Olympia socks which she co during the Olympics. She used a special kit from Jimmy Beans Wool and the socks are so cute and patriotic. 

Marcy is almost done with her 2nd (can you believe that she's knitting something again?) Sand shore cardigan by Alicia Plummer. She cast this sweater on almost a year to the day after she co her 1st one, which she ended up giving to her Mom for Mother's Day. She is once again using Fibra Natura Good Earth solids in the Jade color way. This is a fast and fun cardi to knit for Spring through Fall. 

In addition, Marcy has another new co! The Wavelets tee by Yumiko Alexander and she is using DanDoh yarn Cotton Fine in 2 colors and she is holding them together. So far, the project is a little tedious, but the fabric is looking gorgeous and she's excited to get it finished and wear it. 

The start of the Wavelets Tee!

***Marcy won a prize from a KAL that she participated in with the Yarniacs. It was the self indulgent KAL and she won a gorgeous skein of Yarn Ink tough sock yarn. The dyer, Trisha, has just started a video podcast on You Tube called 'The Best Day Ever!' podcast, go check it out!

Marcy's skein of yarn she won!

Spinning Research Paper

• It's a good idea to begin with a drop spindle
• When/if you decide to commit to a wheel, try to spend some time with a few and see how you feel with them. Good places to try out different wheels are: fiber festivals, Stitches events, borrow one from a friend or reach out to your local Spinning/Weaving Guild. 
• 3 main types of wheels are: Saxony, Castle and e-spinners. 

We are Uber Crafty

Kim had a little tendonitis last week and FINALLY got her Cricket Rigid Heddle loom out after 3.5 years because she couldn't knit.  She is excited to use up her stash of novelty yarn from 20 odd years ago and also to become reacquainted with weaving. She is weaving a scarf and plans on casting on another one soon. 

Kim was weaving on her scarf while watching
the Walking Dead.

What's on our Black Board?

In our next podcast Kim and Marcy will share all of their current wip's, Fo's and new cast on's...spoiler alert; there will be many new cast ons! There will be spinning and weaving and who knows what other types of Uber Craftiness!

Thank you for joining us! We hope that you are enjoying Spring and also that your knitting and making are bringing you joy. Happy Knitting!

Episode 41: Welcome December!

Hello dear knitters! Thank you for joining us today for ep. 41. In this field trip podcast, Marcy takes us to visit a yarn shop in Auburn, California. We share our FO's, a few WIP's and our massive cases of startitis! Grab your knitting, some eggnog or tea, get comfy and enjoy! ***Baby Pippa is joining us today, see if you can hear her adorable baby laughs and happy noises.

Episode 41 Audio

What's in our Lesson Plan?

Marcy, Kim, & Pippa, Marcy is holding her yarn
for the Peace Shawl.

1. On the PA System
2. After the finish line
3. Show & Tell
4. Fieldtrip notes: Marcy visits Auburn Needleworks
5. What's on our Blackboard?

On the PA System

• The 'Octopus for a Preemie' project is continuing. Marcy has figured out how to attach all of the useful Pdf's on our blog tab and you can find all information there. Keep crocheting!
• Just a heads up that this is a perfect time to start thinking and planning for any 2018 goals/themes. In our last ep of 2017 we'll talk about how we did with our year long goals and in the 1st ep of 2018 we'll share our new goals/themes for the year. 
• Check out your area to see if there are any Guilds that you might be interested in joining. Kim has joined the Sacramento Weavers and Spinners Guild and is planning on joining the Sacramento Knitting Guild. If there are no guilds in your area you can start one! Also, these groups usually have amazing yearly open houses and sales; this is a great opportunity to purchase beautiful items at a great price.

After the Finish Line

This is a new segment where we talk about the knitwear that we've worn since the last podcast. Marcy wore her Om Shawl  by Andrea Mowry for the 1st time and she loved wearing it and got many compliments. Marcy's 3 year old son Wilson has been wearing his monster pants a lot. Marcy is planning on adding some length so that he can wear them even longer. 

Kim was so happy to wear her Twigs and Willows cardigan by Alana Dakos on Thanksgiving Day. She finished this last Spring and did a research paper on the show about the special button bands and button holes. You can find that in ep. 32. She's also been wearing her Veronika by Cocoknits and her Drachenfels  shawl by Melanie Berg. As soon as the weather cools down she is always wearing and enjoying her hand knit socks.

Show & Tell

Kim was wearing her new finished socks while recording. The crazy Zauber socks were a total product knit and the process was filled with howlers! Read about them on her project page.

Kim is totally color work obsessed at the moment. She is almost done (and is in sleeve hell!) with her Sunset Highway pullover by Caitlin Hunter. Such a lovely knit and it'll be a joy to wear. 

She also has the Lady's Flea cardigan, aka Damejakka Loppa by Pinnegurri, on the needles and this fair isle cardigan will be steeked and Kim plans on installing a zipper. Finally, the Zweig pullover by Caitlin Hunter is on deck and will be CO after recording. 

Marcy and Kim (and it seems like most of the knitting community too!) have had major startitis/castonitit/startosis lately! We want to CO and knit ALL THE THINGS! It's fun, but we only have 2 hands. When Marcy visited Auburn Needleworks she found some yarn to knit Pippa a little dress for Thanksgiving. The Kraemer  Perfection Worsted yarn was perfect for this sweet little sleeveless dress. Pattern is Baby Frock by Hannah Fettig and it fits Pippa perfectly!

The start of Pippa's stocking!

Marcy has also CO a Christmas stocking for Pippa. Its been quite an adventure to pick the colors, but she found what she wanted at our lys, Got Your Goat, and she has CO and Pippa will have a finished stocking for Christmas. She is using the 'New Ancestral Christmas Stocking' pattern by Ann Shayne and this will be the 4th time that she's knit it. 

Project Peace 2017

Marcy found another skein of yarn (Baah! Platinum,)that she really likes from Auburn Needleworks and she's planning on using it with a skein of hand dyed yarn that Kim dyed for her for her birthday. Marcy will be casting on the Project Peace 2017 shawl on December 1 and she is excited to use these two skeins of yarn. If you've never heard of it, please go read the project page notes for this shawl; it's a lovely idea and something that we can all benefit from. It's only $3 and all proceeds go to charity. 

Marcy's mom, Pansy2horses, knit Marcy an adorable tea cozy. It's a beautiful green color and she embroidered a cute little chick on it. Marcy has been wanting a tea cozy and now she's using it everyday. Kim has knit and felted 5 tea cozies and she loves them and uses this one everyday. 

Tea Cozy made for Marcy by her mom.

Fieldtrip Notes

Kim, Marcy, & Pippa

Marcy visited the new (well, the shop is under new ownership and in a new location, but the Auburn Needleworks has been in Auburn for over 25 years,) lys in beautiful Auburn, California. This is a special shop. In addition to the usual yarn and supplies for knitters and crocheting, this lys has needlepoint, cross stitch and weaving supplies. There are very knowledgeable employees to help you in all of these fiber pursuits and they offer many classes as well. If you are driving up interstate 80 to Tahoe or Reno, stop by and say hi, the shop is right by the freeway, a quilt shop and restaurants!

Marcy sat down with Kim, one of the owners of the shop and had a lovely interview, enjoy!

Views of the shop, the one on the left is from the front door looking in,
the one on the right is looking back at the front door.

Both gathering spaces in the yarn shop, one in the front of the shop
 and one in the back of the shop.

Look at all those beautiful colors!

The back part of the shop is dedicated to needle point. 

What's on our Black Board?

When we next record we'll share ALL of  our new CO's (there may be 100's!) WIP's and FO's. There will also be spinning, dyeing and Christmas crafting. Thank you for knitting along with us today and we hope you have a wonderful couple of weeks. Happy Knitting!