Subway Knits

Episode 28: C'Mon, Vogue

2012-02-25T12:49:00.000-08:00

On the Needles
Larch Cardigan - finally finished the 4 inches of stockinette!
Darjeeling Socks - my first toe ups. I read online through knitty how to do Judy's Magic Cast on, but this video helped me alot. The jury is still out on whether I am a complete toe-up convert.

Knitting Finds
Nike uses knitting for running shoes. Once I get into the regular habit of running and wear out my current pair, I'd like to try these out!
For the knitting scientists - sheep breeding and genomes.
Someone finally got around to busting the myth of whether or not crochet eats up more yarn than knitting.
Knitting Travels
I was in South Carolina this week and that meant meeting up with Mary Beth again. This time we didn't go to Hobby Lobby but rather checked out The Needle Tree which is in Greenville, SC about an hour away from my in-laws. The owner was wearing a beautiful knit dress out of a tonal brown Madtosh Pashmina. I think its the Vali pattern from Rowan.

In fact, I did go to a Hobby Lobby as one opened up less than 5 minutes away from my in-laws new house but I walked away EMPTYHANDED. Shocker. The one thing I purchased knit-wise were buttons.

After The Needle tree we walked around Greenville and had really good tacos and cheese quesadillas at Chicora Alley. We saw a sign for a place called Brew & Ewe - we thought it was a place that had yarn and beer, but turns out it was a coffee shop that had a small space dedicated to handknit crafts. There were no skeins of yarn to be had which was a bit of a disappointment.

Mel and I did spend a morning at Nintey Six Historical Site which was a colonial settlement and site of a siege during the American revolution.

Other than that its been a week of relaxing, knitting and reading.
Review
Entangled Issue 4 came out this week. My photos of Franklin Habit's talk at Lion Brand Yarn Studio and Vogue Knitting live were featured in the "One Day In...Manhattan" article - so honored! It was alot of fun. That being said, this is one of their best issues yet - as I mentioned before, this is the one magazine I actually subscribe to. Great source of information. The founder, Genny Stevens was recently featured in her hometown newspaper.
Announcements
The Downton Abbey Swap sign-ups are closed! Someone at Vogue Knitting got wind of it and the response just exploded - which is something Sharon (stitchmistress) over at the TVKnitting Podcast and I just did not anticipate. We loved the response and the enthusiasm for the swap and we are definitely hoping that if this swap goes well, to do another round that is concurrent with season 3 of Downton Abbey.

Minimum Requirements for the Package

1 Small Knitted Item (fingerless mitts, gloves, cowl, shawlette, hat) that is inspired by Edwardian/Victorian Design. Essentially it should answer one or both of the following questions: Would one of the characters wear it in the show? Or, would a modern-day version of the character wear it? Think lace, cloches, small shawls, picot. It does not have to be complex - if you have any questions or are stuck on trying to find a pattern, please contact one of the hosts!
1 Skein of Yarn
Tea or the swappee’s drink of choice (tea preferably since that IS what the Downton ladies always drank but to be fair there are hot chocolate and/or coffee drinkers.)
Small sweet/food goodie to go with said beverage of choice for a proper tea.

Cost

Between $20 and $40 (various budgets hence the price range, but this excludes the cost of the yarn used to create the knitted item and excluding shipping).

If there are any questions or problems, please contact either me or stitchmistress ASAP.)

We are currently placing everyone up on a spreadsheet and pairing up people and hope to get that done by the end of the weekend or Monday at the latest.

In addition, Lisa and Amy of the amazing Roman Hills have generously offered a special discount to Downton Abbey Swappers and listeners of the Subway Knits podcast!

From now until April 23, 2012 (the mailing deadline for the Downton Abbey Swap), you can get 15% off yarn by using the coupon code SKDA15.

Special thank you to everyone who has contacted me about donating to the knitting club I am starting up at my middle school!

Just discovered a new podcast: The Foodie Knitter. Her voice is great and its very engaging. It also involves food. Yum.

Thanks for listening!
Closing Song: "Vogue" by Madonna

In the Conductor's Booth: An Interview with A Playful Day

2012-02-25T10:32:00.000-08:00

This week, I am on holiday in South Carolina and while I was down here, had the opportunity to chat with Green Triangle Girl of the A Playful Day podcast. As usual we had loads of fun and were definitely playful.

In her About Me page, she lists her interests as "Knitting, photography, tea, gin and keeping a certain knitwear designer in the cupboard under her imaginary stairs." I can definitely agree to ALL of the above.

Some of the things mentioned in the show:
The Blog Hub
Haruni out of Wollmeise
Springtime Bandit
Whippoorwhill
Northbound Knitting
Amy Christoffers
Elizabeth Zimmerman

Thanks for listening!
Closing song: "Pisces" by Emi Meyer

Get Yer Downton Abbey Yarn On!

2012-02-22T08:24:00.001-08:00

Lisa and Amy of the amazing Roman Hills have generously offered a special discount to Downton Abbey Swappers and listeners of the Subway Knits podcast!

From now until April 23, 2012 (the mailing deadline for the Downton Abbey Swap), you can get 15% off yarn by using the coupon code SKDA15.

What better way than to spruce up your swap package by adding in a skein of Mary, The Dowager Countess or any other character? (As for me, I love Daisy, Lavinia, or Sybil!)

Tighten those Corsets and Get Your Oversized Hat: Downton Abbey Swap Signups are OPEN!

2012-02-22T06:05:00.000-08:00

Hie thee over here and make sure you sign-up, as well as send in the questionnaire!

Signups will run from February 22, 2012 till February 28, 2012 or until we get 50 participants (excluding venusfueri and stitchmistress, who are co-hosting the swap but are also participating) for a total of 52 participants.

The thread will remain locked until all the details are finalized and open when sign-ups are ready to go. After 51 people sign up (venusfueri’s post counts at sign-up #1), the thread will be locked again while people are paired up.

Once people are notified of their swappee’s the thread will open up for general chat, fun and hilarity.
Mailing Deadline (for both US and International): April 23, 2012.

Minimum Requirements for the Package

1 Small Knitted Item (fingerless mitts, gloves, cowl, shawlette, hat) that is inspired by Edwardian/Victorian Design. Essentially it should answer one or both of the following questions: Would one of the characters wear it in the show? Or, would a modern-day version of the character wear it? Think lace, cloches, small shawls, picot. It does not have to be complex - if you have any questions or are stuck on trying to find a pattern, please contact one of the hosts!
1 Skein of Yarn
Tea or the swappee’s drink of choice (tea preferably since that IS what the Downton ladies always drank but to be fair there are hot chocolate and/or coffee drinkers.)
Small sweet/food goodie to go with said beverage of choice for a proper tea.

Questionnaire: (Please Email to Maria: subway.knits@gmail.com or Sharon: TVknittingpodcast@gmail.com)
Full Name & Address:
Email Address:
Are you willing to ship internationally?
Do you have any allergies?
Do you have pets? If so, what kinds?
Do you knit, crochet, weave, spin, dye, sew or do any other crafts? If so, which ones?
Do you collect anything?
Are there any tools or supplies for crafting on your wishlist?
What are your favourite colours?
Are there any colours you hate?
What are your favourite movies/tv shows besides Downton Abbey?
What kind of Edwardian/Victorian inspired item would you like to receive as a knitted/crocheted/crafted item?
What is your favourite tea flavour and food to accompany your tea (or other type of drink if you do not like tea, or even coffee)?
Would you prefer to live upstairs with the lords and ladies, downstairs with the servants or would you be a self-made man or woman?
Which character appeals to you most? Why?
If you could have a chance to be given one clothing item from the costumes used on the show, which one would you pick? Why?
Anything else you think your partner should know?
Would you be willing to be an Angel if needed?

If any other questions that you would like to ask your swappee over the course of the swap, you may post them here to the general chat for everyone to answer, or pass along the question to either myself or stitchmistress to ask on your behalf via PM.

In addition, Lisa and Amy of the amazing Roman Hills have generously offered a special discount to Downton Abbey Swappers and listeners of the Subway Knits podcast!

From now until April 23, 2012 (the mailing deadline for the Downton Abbey Swap), you can get 15% off yarn by using the coupon code SKDA15.

What better way than to spruce up your swap package by adding in a skein of Mary, The Dowager Countess or any other character? (As for me, I love Daisy, Lavinia, or Sybil!)

Have fun and happy swapping!

So This is What Happens When You Go Out of Town...

2012-02-22T05:57:00.000-08:00

...the cat gets into your knitting.

Oh yes, the Akimbo makes for a lovely kitty blanket...

Subway Knits in Entangled Magazine!

2012-02-20T14:56:00.000-08:00

Entangled Magazine is the ONLY knitting magazine that I subscribe to. It is online (available at Zinio) but it is so chockful of great articles that it becomes a great resource for something beyond a magazine providing knitting patterns.

Issue 4 has an article called "A Day in Manhattan" where it features many of the LYSs in Manhattan, several of which I have mentioned on the show. In addition, the article has photos taken by me from the events at Lion Brand Yarn Studio and Vogue Knitting Live! It was alot of fun taking the photos and I am so excited to be a part of this issue.

Thanks so much to the editors of Entangled. If you haven't subscribed, go and do so now! I will be providing a more in-depth review of Issue 4 in the next episode, but I can say that it is definitely a great and informative read.

Episode 27: The Hardest Things to Find are Under Your Nose

2012-02-19T17:48:00.000-08:00

Off the Needles
Abstract Leaves Cowl in School Products Handyed Cashmere. This was the cowl that I knit for my knitting groups spoilee.

Saartje's Booties for 2 teachers at work, and they were a big hit! I had to sew on the button during one of my preps but it is technically teacher related work. I snuck into the classroom where the shower was held and put them on top of the wrapped gifts since I didn't have time to wrap them myself.

On the Needles
Larch Cardigan, which is becoming sooooo boring and slow right now, but trying to get through the first 4 inches of stockinett
Herringbone Cowl out of School Products Donegal Cashmere tweed.
Picked up my Habitat again and it was a welcome distraction from the dullness of the Larch and the Herringbone (and the minor pain and strain that the Herringbone Cowl was causing).

I FOUND MY KNITTING, which was the lost Summer Flies shawl. It was in a tote bag that I use to carry my detergent and bleach to the laundromat - I haven't had bleach in awhile, so I was just putting the detergent bottle in my laundry basket. Sometimes if Ravelry isn't so distracting I knit while I wait for the clothes to wash.

Stashers Anonymous
I caved. Two skeins of handspun shetland from On the Round, and a skein of Three Irish Girls' Salmon colorway (part of her yarn shop series). I blame the fact that the latter was knit up in a sample, so I could see how it looked when knitted as opposed to just seeing the color only in the skein. But I found out that a trip to Greece and Turkey is very likely in the cards this summer, so there won't be any knitting related purchases for a good while.

Knitting Finds
The Prime Minister of Australia knits - I bet like most of us she always finds a bit of time here and there.
Two-thirds of teenagers knit! Back in 1961, however.
Gemma of the lovely Superknits yarn company released an organic aran weight yarn called Catherine of Aran-gon.
Give your knitting a history and voice over at Knit Expo.
Knitting Narwhal Stationery from Nut and Bee!!!
Downton Abbey Trading cards - perhaps a cute swag item for the upcoming Downton Abbey swap that Sharon over at TVKnitting are planning to co-host. Take a look at the Valentine's too!

Swatch and Learn
I started a lunchtime knitting club at my school. Right now its 9 girls and we will break into one group of 4 and another of 5 and meet on alternate weeks. By May I hope to merge them together since this is the first time that I am teaching 13 year olds how to knit.

Lion Brand Yarn Studio generously donated needles and skeins of yarn to help me get started. I culled some yarn from my stash and my friend Theresa also donated. I am still in need of needles of various sizes especially 16" circulars since the girls expressed an interest in knitting hats and I beleive a hat is a great beginner project because you can teach multiple skills and not have the person bored and thus encourage them to knit more.

If anyone would like to donate or is interested, please email me or send me a PM through Ravelry. It is my goal to turn this into an after school program so any help is greatly appreciated.

The other knitting related item connected to school is actually for grad school. A long term project for my class this semester is for us to go through the writing process themselves - we can write ANYTHING we want. Clearly my mind went to knitting; I am going to try to write a small piece about some part of the history of the world, through sheep. It's alot harder than it looks.

Announcements
Jessica of Knitting Brooklyn is starting up a Remembering Remy preemie hat KAL. More information can be found at Our Little Remy and Knitting Brooklyn.

Subway Knits has been featured in The Knitter Magazine Issue 42 along with other amazing podcasts.

I feel honored and humbled to be considered and included in such good company. Thanks to AuntiAipee of Knit. Spin.Cake (a lovely podcast) for providing the photos!

Thanks for listening!
Closing Song: Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars

Episode 26: What's Your (Knitting) Sign?

2012-02-04T08:13:00.000-08:00

On the Needles
The Summer Flies shawl for my swappee is officially lost. I cast on for something in cashmere and its a bit tedious, so I am scrambling to finish it. I think I won't get the yarn again because it was hard to knit with due to the way it was plied and the yarn was coming off onto the needles and my hands as well.

I swatched for the Larch Cardigan and even when washing my swatch (done in Shelridge Yarns DK in Azure) I still got gauge. Now the question is: what size? 38 or 41? The sweater is done with minimal ease so I need to figure out which size is best for me.

Lastly, I cast on for Jo March Mittens in 100% handspun Wensleydale gifted to me generously by Rachel from On the Round. I might have to frog it and redo in a smaller needle size because the cuff part is too big, and I like my mitts snug.

Stitching the Past
This week, we jump across the pond back to the United States and to November 24, 1941 when Life magazine published an article on "How to Knit" and it was featured on the front cover. I came across this site from Washington State called HistoryLink.org which is a great source if you want to go into more detail about knitting in America during WWII.

Knitting Finds
Knit-strology: Over at the Canary Sancturary blog is Teresa, a designer on Ravelry who has been doing a blog series on your knit-strology, that is your knitting sign.

This pattern is adorable for a shelf in my knit nook: Red Roof Croft Cottage by Julia Marsh, who is based in Scotland. Done in the right colors, it will definitely give my knit nook that Japanese zakka-esque quality with an British country flair - I definitely want to weigh these down somehow so that I can make them as bookends! Or if not, at least enough so that it looks pretty on a shelf.

There are two new knitting collections out by Finnish designers Mari Muinonen & Suvi Simola called Hold Your Needles.

They come in parts 1 and 2 which go for 15,90 euro each but By purchasing 2 books together, you will recieve a discount of 6,80 euros so the bundle will cost you only 25 euros (regular price 31,80). My favorite out of the two is Hold Your Needles 1: love the Reha Sweater and Muikkuset hat and mittens set.

On a more serious note, the BBC recently published an article about a study from the journal Environmental Science and Technology which states how "microplastic" is a threat to coastlines. The microplastic - beleive it or not - actually came from clothing which has synthetic fibres. the article states, "which release up to 1,900 tiny fibres per garment every time they were washed" this gets into the water supply and into the ocean and animals tend to eat these synthetic fibres.

Finally, there is a really nifty link out to help you design your own custom lopayesa.

The SuperBowl is tomorrow, and people in Indianapolis are going crazy for handknit (and crocheted) Super Bowl scarves.

Review
New Knitscene is out! And this one is all the more special because there is an article in there about the different types of handdyed yarn - and it is Lisa and Amy of Roman Hills who did the samples!

The Knitty Winter Surprise is also out and the two patterns are adorable: Freja Mittens and Majestic Moose Vest.

Announcements
A very belated congrats to Jasmin, Gigi and the rest of the Knitmore family - they welcome Geneveive Danger Knitmore earlier this month. They will be returning March 5, which is incidentally the day my practicum class starts, so you know I will be listening to that episode while heading to the Upper East Side for class.

Several podcasts have sadly come to an end: Stitch It and Knitajourney. These were some of hte first podcasts I listened to when I started to knit and were such an inspiration for me to pick up the mic - I wish Susan and Meghan all the best in the future and hope that they do return once in awhile to update us on their latest knitting and other fibre related adventures.

That being said, there are some new podcasts out on the horizon: Knitting Brooklyn, TVKnitting and With Pointed Sticks. They just started and have a few episodes out but do try and give them 3 bites as Gigi woul say - I remeber when I first started to podcast and still internally cringe when I think about my first episode and that 1.5 minutes of silence because I couldnt figure out GarageBand. Learning how to podcast definitely requires patience and has a learning curve so remember that it is a process and give the new podcasters a chance.

We have a lively Downton Abbey thread, complete with hilarity from the Downton Abbeyonce tumblr thanks to Lisa. I'm thinking of hosting a Downton Abbey swap. Anyone interested?What would you want in a DA-themed package? What kinds of questions would you want in the questionnaire?

Knit-Alongs
The reason why I swatched and have the mojo to knit the Larch Cardigan is because of the Amy Christoffers KAL over in the 2012: A Sweater Odyssey Group. There are prizes and there is alot of fun and chatter to be had.

The second round of the QAL has begun! The last day to enter patterns into the queue to qualify for the Spring edition was January 31, and it will run from February 1-April 30. Guidelines are in the Knit the Queue-Along thread and the following have been donated for prizes. Thank you so much to our sponsors! Please see this post for details.

Thanks for listening!
Closing Song: "Constellations" by Jack Johnson

Knit the Queue Along: Midwinter Edition

2012-02-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

Today the second round of the Knit the Queue Along begins!

After some thought after the first round ended, I decided that this will be a bi-annual QAL with a decent amount of time inbetween - I don't want to run people ragged and let the momentum of the QAL lose steam very early on in the beginning.

As such, there will be the Midwinter QAL (February-April) to help us finish up any last-minute Winter knits before Spring arrives (or make up for lost time with the Christmas knitting) and a Fall QAL (October - December) for the new Fall/Winter knits and Christmas knitting.

Of course, everyone is always welcome to contribute to the general chat thread for the QAL - during the break between the QALs, some people still continued to knit off the queue which was great.

Here is a refresher on the guidelines:

There are two threads: the QAL Chat thread and the QAL FOs thread. The latter is no chat because your post number is the entry number for the RNG.
The project that you submit to the QAL FOs thread must have a queue date. This can be found on your project page on the lower right hand corner of the page, it will say, “Originally Queued: Date Goes Here.” The idea of the QAL is to knit off the queue, not add more to it, there is a deadline for projects that can be added to the queue, while will be February 1. If you submit a project that has an “Originally Queued” date after February 1, it will not count for the QAL.
WIPs are not allowed.
You can submit as many FOs as you like.
The end date for the Spring QAL is April 30.

Now for the fun stuff! We have prizes from three amazing sponsors:

Allyson Dykhuizen of the Sweatshop of Love is 3 copies each of the Madison Cowl and Mitts for lucky winners who will recieve a set of these patterns.

In addition, Allyson is offering Subway Knits Listeners 30% off her patterns with the following code: SKQAL30 from Feburary 1-April 30.

Reni of Knit Girl in Idaho donated a set of Sock Monkey stitch markers (1 regular sized and 1 mini sized) and a set that say Knit Girl and Proud of It and Sock Knitter and Proud of It.

Piddleloop Sewing Team has donated 2 project bags!

A total of 7 lucky winners will receive one of these prizes via Random Number Generator conducted on or the weekend after April 30. Thank you so much to the lovely sponsors and have fun!

Obsessed. I Admit It.

2012-01-29T12:55:00.000-08:00

When I get obsessed about something - and it is quite rare because the things I like are usually not what others like - I go all out.

With Pride and Prejudice, it was owning a thrift store copy and acquiring the fancy cloth cover Penguin editon, seeing both versions of the film adaptations (although to be honest, I really do prefer the Kiera Knightely one over Colin Firth - in my defense it was because Matthew MacFayden is an awesome Mr. Darcy), owning the published sequels/alternate versions (I own the Letters from Pemberley Series, the first books in the Mr. Darcy's Daughters and The Pemberley Chronicles Series and Mr. Darcy's Diary) and now I'm reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Seriously. I'm a sewing machine short of re-enacting the Regency. Oh, and let's not forget Jane Austen Knits.

My other obsession these days - which clearly is a demonstration of my increasing/resurging Britain-ophilia (Anglophilia doesn't quite cut it, what with my love for Shetland yarn and Fair Isle) - is Sherlock. I used a clip of an episode in my science class last week.

But we are not here to talk about Pride and Prejudice, or Sherlock (though it may come up especially when Series 2 of Sherlock is on PBS in May). Downton Abbey is what I am talking about.


There are times when I wish I can live in this world - but up to a point. The house is a perk.

I resisted and resisted - and then over Christmas break I caved. It got me through the rest of my Castle Pullover and I just finished watching Series 1 for the second (or third? I forgot) time today with a friend of mine who is just as obsessed. In fact, she actually told me that when she started watching it, she thought of me because of my ~~obsession~~ love with Pride and Prejudice (I love period fiction).

We have a lively Downton Abbey thread over in the Subway Knits ravelry group - and yes, we can watch the episodes online! I love enabling others and it was really cute to see others realize that we can watch them online - not having cable myself (gasp, I know), and living without a tv for 18 months (in Japan) I got used to having my computer act as a television.

That being said, the obsession is starting to take itself to the next level. For one thing, I have been reading tons of Victorian/Edwardian fiction that is either cheap or free for the Kindle, and I saw The Forsyte Saga on Netflix (and have it for my Kindletoo - that is free). I am also watching The Grand
which is of the Upstairs, Downstairs variety (and I'm trying to watch that too).

And then Lisa and Amy decide to take my obsession even further with all of this:

Thomas & O'Brien (450yd SW75/25 BFL/Nylon)

Matthew (225yd SW Merino Worsted)

Carson (215yd 80/10/10 SW Merino/Cashmere/Nylon DK)

The Dowager Countess (420yd Merino/Silk/Nylon/Silver Sock)


Lavinia (850 yd Baby Alpaca Silk Lace)

Mary (425yd 50/50 Merino Silk Sock)

Sigh. I'll take one of each, but especially Lavinia. What is also fun is that if you order at one of each colorway you essentially get a sampler of all the bases they have to offer as well. If I remember, I think Lisa and Amy are also busy cooking up the rest of the characters. Looking forward to that!

PS. The idea of a Downton Abbey-themed swap is not getting out of my head. What say you?

Stitching the Past: Life Magazine, November 24, 1941

2012-01-29T10:47:00.000-08:00

I've decided to keep the column name the same as the knitting history segment of the show, in order to provide more continuity between the show and the blog.

This week's image is the cover of Life Magazine from November 24, 1941. It shows a woman knitting and a feature on how to knit. As I will explain in a future episode in more detail, knitting was one of the many, if simple ways that people back on the home front could help support the war. This was also the same during WWI.

What makes this image interesting is that the feature and photo was thought out, photographed and written before the United States declared war in December, 1941. Clearly, the United States was doing what it can before they even set boots on the ground in both Europe and Asia - history classes tell us that the United States helped by sending equipment and supplies over, but there was still a need for the basics such as socks and slowly, Americans were gearing up for war themselves.

Eugenie's Got a Brand New Look

2012-01-28T13:31:00.000-08:00

Little Sister gave me a Kindle 4 for Christmas.

Best thing EVER. I have been catching up on my reading, requested so many books (lucky me, I have access to both the Queens and the New York Public Library systems so MORE free books! Now if only I had the time to go to the Bryant Park branch of the NYPL to renew my membership...) and put my knitting patterns on it.

I named it Eugenie - simply because I am on a Victorian/Edwardian kick and I feel that a modern piece of technology should have a fuddy-duddy classic name.

But to get a case for it was a royal pain in the bum. Until I stumbled upon M-Edge's customizer, remembered that Penguin books has those classic orange covers, and behold:

Two of my favorite books, now embracing the keeper of many more. Can't wait for it to arrive!

Update on the Great Gansey Debate

2012-01-22T13:28:00.000-08:00

I was debating about the "did they or didn't they" issue with regards to fishermen and the ganseys with a a listener over at the Caithness Craft Collective awhile back, and she linked to an interesting video that provides some information "straight from the horses mouth." What do you think?

Be Still, My Wool-Loving Heart

2012-01-21T12:25:00.000-08:00

It's all Clara Parkes' fault. Since her Wonders of Wool class, the Wool-Loving Monster has been unleashed.

After recieving some lovely handspun Wensleydale from Rachel over at On the Round, I have fallen in love with handspun even further. The slight coarseness, the rustic quality to it, the lovely colors and man, this skein has such a beautiful luster (see that! using my new wool vocabulary!)

I was puttering about on the computer awhile ago when Rachel sent a tweet about Handspun Shetland.

Repeat after me:

HANDSPUN. SHETLAND.

I may or may not have ordered these two (ps. 10% off with the code WELCOMEBACK till January 29th!)

Photos from On The Round

Man I REALLY want a wheel now. I just cancelled my monthly yoga membership (no time sadly due to work and school, but I will get a class card to go occasionally) so mayyyybe I can get one by the end of the year? I'll have to do alot of trials at Maryland Sheep and Wool again to make sure a Lendrum is the one for me.

In the Conductor's Booth: An Interview with Clara Parkes

2012-01-16T16:36:00.000-08:00

After the Wonders of Wool class at Vogue Knitting Live! I got a chance to sit down with Clara Parkes. She is such a lovely and interesting person to chat with, and I learned alot both in her class and the interview.

My swatch from Wonders of Wool

She is the editor of Knitter's Review and the author of the Knitters Book of Yarn, Wool and Socks.

Several resources for yarn that are mentioned in the episode:

Garthenor Organic Pure Wool - for various types of yarn from specific sheep breeds)
Elsawool - Cormo
Handmaiden Fine Yarn - check out the Swiss Mountain range.
Woolalong with The Knitter's Book of Wool.

Thanks for listening!
Closing Song: "California Rain" by Madeleine Peyroux

Event Photos!

2012-01-16T16:18:00.000-08:00

Finally got a chance to upload all of my photos from the Franklin Habit talk at Lion Brand Yarn Studio and Vogue Knitting Live. Here are some of them, but do check out the Flickr albums!

Episode 25: Stitching the Past

2012-01-15T15:18:00.000-08:00

On the Needles
The Bella Mitts that I am knitting with Yarn Bee Melody Bulky that I purchased from Hobby Lobby back in South Carolina are 50% done. I finished the thumb of the mitt though it's a bit short. That being said, it has been so cold in NYC lately that while walking to and from VK Live I have been just wearing the one completed mitt in my left hand and sticking my right hand in my pocket.

The one sad thing though which has stolen my knitting mojo even though I have a three day weekend is that I am missing some knitting. Its really important knitting because its for my partner in a swap I am participating in with my knitting group and its deadline knitting, which I am already behind in because I was first in a deadlock over what to knit and then now I can't find it. I really hope its in my work bag at school.

Stashers Anonymous
All over twitter there is talk of the stash down and while I am gung ho for it, major knitting events are the exception for me which will be discussed later in the show. But first, Rachel from On the Round sent me a lovely skein of Wensleydale handspun in the colroway Heirloom which is in the neutral range but with hints of pink and green. It's got that rustic quality to it and a small itch factor which is totally fine by me! I am going to knit up the Jo March Mittens by Shalimar yarns in these as Rachel suggested these would make great fingerless mitts.

I also received a skein of yarn from Lisa of Roman Hills - she custom dyed it for my birthday! Its called The Beldon't.

Knitting Finds
Piddleloop Bags - my friend Regina has been raving about these projects bags ever since I met her. I have always admired them from afar on Etsy and finally took the plunge. A lot of the fabrics that Jen and her sister use are very Marimekko-esque in their style - bright colorful prints that definitely put a smile on your face. They are very high quality as they are seamed and serged so you know they wont fall apart.

Stitching the Past
I posted a blog entry about the Coast and Country: The Gansey podcast and episode about the Gansey in Scotland a few days ago - it was really interesting to hear about howthe Moray Firth Gansey Project is working to preserve their local heritage through the gansey. One of the issues is that the men who the ganseys are knitted for as mentioned in the podcast wear the ganseys when they are buried, so according to the interviews, there are few of them remaining. There was a lovely recorded conversation about knitting the gansey (no pattern!) and what it meant for the people of the area.

Source: Maritime Heritage East Museum, England

However, just even scratching the surface with regards to ganseys brings up a slew of issues and some misconceptions - while in the interview the women discuss how the patterns in the ganseys help identify lost fishermen, but in Scotland?

Vogue Knitting Live Recap
This weekend was Vogue Knitting Live in Manhattan - at one point I wasn't sure that I was going to go, but in the end I was able to make it and I'm glad I did. Much like how MS&W and Rhinebeck had different goals my goal for VKL was overall, something different. A different fibre, perhaps something that I have never tried before.

I did find different things: 100% overspun silk from Creatively Dyed, and the Zealana Rimu yarn from New Zealand - its fingering weight and 60% merino, 40% possum. That's something new. I got it in the colroway shadow for a MC and Kiwicrush, a chartreusy color for a colorwork hat. Apparently, Possum fibre has a bunch of really interesting attributes.

Zealana is also part of the initiative with Woolyarns to support the Kaori Wildlife Sanctuary in the Wellington area of NZ.

The best part of the marketplace was Long Island Livestock Company's booth. What caught my attention was that it was on Long Island which is pretty rare and the people that run it, Christopher and Tabbethia were extremely sweet and knowledable about the llamas and alpacas that are on their farm - they have educational programs which I hope I definitely will be able to attend in the future about the farm.

On Saturday after our classes, I met up with Amy and Lisa of Roman Hills and our friend Shelley, who was showing her new DellaQ travel knitting needles/notions pouch in Margherita. I liked it so much that even though the market was closing, I ran and was able to snag one at the last minute.

Knit-Alongs
What began as a chat about knitting the Larch Cardigan between Amy and I is now a full fledged, no holds barred, free for all Amy Christoffers Knit-Along. If you have been interested in knitting any of her patterns, join us over in the Sweater Odyssey 2012 group - there will be prizes! A skein of Roman Hills yarn, a row counter from Velvet Hippo, stitch markers from Madam Tootsie, and Amy Christoffers herself is donating a pattern of the winner's choosing. I am really looking forward to this - the KAL is from February 1-March 31 and I think that's enough time to crank out a new sweater for myself.

The second round of the Queue-Along is coming up also on February 1, so if an Amy Christoffers pattern pops up un your queue before the closing date of February 1 go right ahead! The QAL is to encourage us to knit things off our queues and if you want to add anything to it, the last day to do so is February 1. There will be prizes and I will announce those in the next episode or on February 1 on the Ravelry group and blog, depending on if I can squeeze another episode in. I will say though, the prizes are even more amazing and I wish I could have them all for myself.

Thanks for Listening!
Closing Song: "Super Cool" by Bang Sugar Bang

This is Me. And Almost Every Other Knitter on Ravelry.

2012-01-08T14:11:00.001-08:00

What Happens When You Just Want a Shelf?

2012-01-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

You end up THISCLOSE to ordering the armchair and desk of your dreams.

Thanks to a belated wedding gift from family in the Mother Country (mine, not Mel's), I think I will be getting this chair very very soon:

It is the Cute-As-A-Button Chair from World Market. I have come across this site before and I have to say, they have definitely stepped up their game in the furniture department for this Pottery Barn furniture lover. I looked on the internet for what people have to say and the general consensus is that its a wee bit small but good for small spaces.

This is great for me because we now have an empty corner in our living room in case this doesn't really fit in the bedroom's nook space. That corner is where our Christmas tree goes, but I can just shove it in the bedroom somewhere during the Christmas season. Cannot WAIT. Just look at hte fabric button closeup! Isn't this a perfect chair for a crafty person? I see it with a small lumbar pillow as well.

And I think I changed my mind about the desk. While I did get knobs for the Hemnes desk in advance, I saw the desk in person and it still seems really big and clunky for our space, though all of the drawers and mini cabinet space is nice. I might just save the knobs for something else in the future, or switch them up with the knobs I currently have on our tv console.

I like how when we got rid of the second desk the bedroom just opened up. Moreover, with our tv unit we still have tons of emtpy shelves - I think the knitting books will go there after all, if anything to clear off another bookshelf in the bedroom. This desk definitely caught my eye (and is way cheaper):

It's the Campaign desk from World Market and is on sale for $200. What I really like about it is the pullouts on the side, much like a teacher desk so I can defo put papers on one side, knitting on the other (there are 2 pullouts and 2 drawers). It's very much a Restoration Hardware look which I do like but totally cannot afford.

New Column - But Need a Title!

2012-01-07T16:20:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd start up a new weekly column - mainly of images of knitting from art and other historical finds.

I'll start with this find from my first go-to place for art: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I still remember going there in the 5th grade at Christmastime after reading for class From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (and still own my 5th grade copy). Now as an adult, I enjoy just going there when I can and wandering the familiar halls. It's really hard to say which gallery is my favorite, though I can say going with my sister (the Art History major) makes it for a fun learning experience.


A Serving Girl Knitting

This painting is attributed to Andre Bouys and dated between 1656 and 1740. Currently, it is not on display. In her hands is what looks like to be knitting on double pointed needles (or at least that is what it the knitting looks like when it is done on double pointed needles).

The thing is, however, I need a title for this column. I really stink at this. Any ideas? Anybody?

Coast and Country: The Gansey

2012-01-07T15:40:00.000-08:00

I stumbled upon this podcast called Coast and Country from BBC 4 - given my penchant for anything UK related these days, I thought it was a great one to subscribe to, and something a wee bit different for this city girl.

Their latest episode talked from December about the gansey from Scotland as a means of "safeguarding Scotland's fishing heritage." There was a lovely recorded conversation about knitting the gansey (no pattern!) and what it meant for the people of the area.

It just makes me wish I could visit Scotland even sooner. Or even Wales - now that the Wales Walking Path (with cycling!) will be completed soon.

Episode 24: Retrospectively Speaking

2012-01-02T15:56:00.000-08:00

On the Needles:
I thought I would never say this, but I got suckered into knitting a commissioned item, which is a cabled baby hat.

That is what is currently on and active right now because I have to finish this by the time we get to work on Tuesday. After this, I plan to cast on for some bookmarks as prizes for my students which can be done during the NYE party that Mel and I are planning which is now just a small gathering.

Off the Needles:
I never thought I would say this, but the Castle Pullover is COMPLETE.

In addition, I finished the Snapdragon Tam in Roman Hills Gruber worsted in the colorway Toasted marshmallow. I love how it came out - it looks like a spiral and I finally blocked a tam correctly!!! I used the smaller of my two dinnerplates and it came out nicely and the brim is not all stretched out as well.

Knitting Finds:
Two things of note for this episode: first, Faultline by Gabriella Henry. She is a New Zealand based designer, and designed this beautiful shawl after the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, NZ which was her hometown at the time. 25% of pattern sales (for the forseeable future) will be donated to the Red Cross NZ in recognition of the first response aid they have provided to families.

Second is a Etsy shop called On the Round by Rachel Jones from Owls Head, Maine.

Year in Review:
I came across two great posts covering 2011 in the knitting world by Clara Parkes and Carol of Black Bunny Fibres of the blog Go Knit in your Hat.

1. The Knitting Show: For years there has always been the Sheep and Wool Festivals, but with events like Vogue Knitting Live, Interweave Knitting Lab, Sock Summit and Knit Nation, there is a growing demand for the knitting show itself where it is like a convention or a conference - people take classes, listen to lectures and attend a marketplace all in one centralized location.

2. Yarn and fibre: There was a huge outcry against discontinuing Rowan Calmer, a cotton acrylic blend which is a great alternative for those with knitting allergies. Mission Falls also closed its doors as well as some indie dyer companies, Such as Gaia's Colors and Kitchen Sink Dyeworks and the split of Sanguine Gryphon shortly after Rhinebeck which was a bit of a shocker for me at least and are reforming into The Verdant Gryphon & Cephalopod Yarns.

That being said, there is some new yarn that I was happy to discover: Cascade 220 is now in Sport Weight yarn and Brooklyn Tweed came out with Loft, which is like Shelter but in fingering weight - mmm colorwork. Lorna's Laces came out with a new yarn called Solemate. Lastly, Martha Stewart introduced her line of yarns at Lion Brand Yarn Studio - interesting, but not for me.

There is an increased interest overall in terms of where we get our yarn, how it is made and where it is made - Jared Flood published a series of blog entries detailing the process of making the Shelter yarn at the mill in Maine and books like Knit Local also highlight where to get yarn made in the USA. In addition, Quince & Co. opened this past year.

In the UK, there were events such as Wovember which promotes the wearing of 100% wool and appreciation for the term itself - there are alot of items that say they are Wool but in fact they are not, so there is a need to increase awareness about the misuse of the term. The slogan is "Celebrate real wool that comes from Real Sheep."

There is also the Campaign for Wool which was jump started by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who had observed that the wool industry was facing enormous and unprecedented challenges.

3. Books, Clubs, Magazines and Knit Alongs: so many good books came out this year: Vintage Modern Knits, Wendy Knits Lace, Teeny Tiny Mochimochi, Knitted Socks East and West, and The Knitter's Book of Socks.

In addition, special issues came out this year such as Jane Austen Knits, which demonstrates a trend about looking to the past for inspiration and reinterpreting it for the modern knitter.

There was Little Red in the City which strengthened the connection between print and digital publications - with the purchase of the book you get a scratch off code for a digital copy, and many books and magazines came out with corresponding digitial versions.

Stephen West came out with the Earth and Sky pattern and corresponding mystery KAL which fired up the Ravelry boards and Cookie A came out with a sock club that also featured cookie recipes as well.

Overall, the knitting community - large as it may be - is growing more aware and sophisticated in what we do with our knitting and even closer to one another what with so many people on twitter talking about knitting and spinning and on Ravelry as well. Shows like VK Live in addition to the fiber festivals help us put faces to the names and gives many of us the opportunity to meet one another whether it be a knitter meeting with a favorite designer, or a bunch of knitters that met up through a common interest group on Ravelry.

Events:

I will be attending Vogue Knitting Live this on January 14. I am not sure if there will be some sort of meetup, but I do plan to be there at the Marketplace preview on Friday and hanging out on Saturday before my class.

Queue-Along:
The first round of our Knit the Queue Along is over and we have winners! Thank you so much for everyone who played along both in the FOs thread and the chat thread and asking questions, which helps iron out alot of the finer details of hosting a larger-scale QAL. Thanks to those who donated prizes:

2 copies Faultline Shawl by Gabriella Henry
Skein of yarn (base TBD) in the colorway our choice from a selection by Apothecary Yarns
Set of Stitch markers by Velvet Hippo
Skein of yarn and corresponding pattern from Creatively Dyed

The winners of the QAL are:
katepricey, teenuh, jazzy-j stitches, lapurplepenguin, and kitty stitches. Congratulations!

Thanks for listening!
Closing Song: "Smile" by Madeleine Peyroux from Half the Perfect World

Holiday Special with A Playful Day

2011-12-31T05:44:00.000-08:00

greentrianglegirl on Ravelry, was nice enough to host my crazy self over on her podcast A Playful Day for a twixtmas holiday special. There was talk of stash, Hyperbole and A Half, KNIT ALL THE THINGS, our hopes for the next year, and a Great Debate over who can have Jared Flood.

No shame, really. But in all seriousness of podcasting, I would like to interview him one day.

So long as I can get over my giggle fits.

Happy New Year!

Christmastime in the 212

2011-12-25T05:38:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everybody!

Last night was a very classic NYC Christmas indeed - my mother was very gung-ho about going to "The Tree" at Rockefeller Center. We (as in, my parents, sister, a cousin, Mel, myself and Mel's 2 brothers) took the subway, got off at 5th Avenue and 60th Street, and walked down 5th Avenue to Rockefeller Center.

Earlier in the day, Ollie was eyeing the Christmas gifts:

Where are my toys? I smell catnip!

and dreaming of Santa and catnip while I was tracking his location on NORAD.

Santa...please bring me catnip. I've been a good cat this year!

When my family got out of the train, we headed over to the windows at Bergdorf Goodman and saw the star that is at the intersection of 5th Avenue and 59th Street:

Then we headed further down to Tiffany (on the left) and Cartier wrapped up in a bow.

Then we finally made it to The Tree - so crowded! It's been awhile since my family and I walked down 5th Avenue which was a tradition of ours, so it was nice to start it up again.

After a quick rest stop in the Starbucks at the Rockefeller Center Concourse, we headed over to Times Square then took the train home and had Christmas Eve dinner at the local diner.

Happy Holidays!!!

In the Conductor's Booth: An Interview with Franklin Habit

2011-12-10T17:28:00.000-08:00

December 1 was a very knitterly birthday indeed: first, I went to a talk by Franklin Habit at Lion Brand Yarn Studio called "Impractical Magic: Oddities and Curiosities of Nineteenth-Century Handwork."

And surely, induce seizures of laughter it did. I went with my friend Lisa (she of Roman Hills fame - check out her interview at Knit Nook!), and we were in stitches (pun intended) about 90% of the time. Franklin has an AMAZING sense of humor. Still, I did come out with something practical - I learned about Weldon's Practical Knitter and Needlework.

After the talk, I got to purchase a copy of his book "It Itches" and get it autographed. I did take a lot of my own photos, but currently my camera is dead. I will rectify that in a future post.

Photo copyright Lion Brand Yarn Studio.

But wait, there's more! I contacted Franklin before the talk and asked if it was possible if we can have a small chat - and it happened! Thanks so much to Franklin, and everyone else who helped make this happen.

On Sunday, that is when I REALLY lost my voice, but I still headed on over to the "History, Methods and Styles of Lace Knitting." There I learned about Shetland, Estonian and Orenburg knitting, and I got to take a close up look at an Orenburg Shawl:

Photo copyright Lion Brand Yarn Studio.

And got better at my lace knitting skills by practicing on the Parterre Broderie, which is inspired by French Gardens. I am currently knitting mine in LB Collection Superwash Merino in Natural - I originally got the green, but I am really glad I changed it. I have recently aquired an Audrey Hepburn-esque Coral Pink swing coat. It needs accesories.

Photo copyright Lion Brand Yarn Studio.

There is a part of me that now really wants to knit an Orenburg style shawl. Out of the three lace knitting traditions, it seemed the most craziest to accomplish.

Winter 2011 Knitty is out as well as a new addition to Franklin's column "Stitches in Time," featuring the Faucett Scarf pattern. I may have found a pattern for my FFtC Van Helsing yarn, which is MCN Sock. Its a lovely pattern and can't wait - perfect inaugural historical pattern!

Closing Song: "Ain't Nothin Wrong with That" by Robert Randolph and The Family Band

Episode 23: Field Trip!

2011-12-10T15:59:00.000-08:00

On the Needles
First, I need to make this clear - I am not doing ANY holiday knitting. This year I had put my foot down on it. While I have the yarn for many a holiday gift that is not only assigned to queued projects, I unfortunately do not have the time. Sigh.

Hopefully, I can get a lot of knitting done over my winter break which is 10 days long in two weeks. Yay! Taking the no-holiday knitting a step further, I didn't even ask for anything knitting related on my wish list; not that I am a knitting grinch, its just that there wasn't really anything that was a MUST on my knitting agenda. I am really trying to knit through most of my patterns and through my stash.

I have completed the first of the Dionysius Socks, which have been a bit of a slog. Sadly, because of work and school, everything is a bit of a slog these days when it comes to knitting - at one point I was suffering from a bit of knitter's ennui again, simply because projects were taking too long because I barely had any time.

I did have a little bit of difficulty with the toe because the directions where unclear. Once I figured out what the problem was, I turned to a pair of socks I already knit to figure out how to do basic toe decreases and then I figured it out. To prevent the toe from being too long, I did my decreases for some rows twice as fast, skipping the second row where you jut knit the stitches.

The one thing I AM knitting for someone is the Snapdragon Tam Round Two in Roman Hills Gruber which is their worsted weight yarn out of the colorway Toasted Marshmallow. This is a test knit of the yarn, and this just so happened to be knit around this time of year; and I can just see this one on my co-ELA and Homeroom teacher. She has always complimented me on my knits so I know that she would be one to appreciate it.

Knitting Travels
On Black Friday, DH and I borrowed my parents' car and went to IKEA in Red Hook, Brooklyn on a specific mission: to complete our tv unit. This is very important for Operation Knit Nook because we realized once the whole thing was built, we have SPACE. Going to IKEA is definitely like taking a field trip to a museum, but one filled with stuff you can touch and sit in.

Knitting Finds
First, Miriam Felton came out with a new pattern collection called The Confluence Collection. The idea behind this is "is a grouping of patterns exploring the convergence of lines and points in knitted space." What really caught my eye first was the use of color: fushcia, deep plum and natural as the pallet which is something I wouldn't have thought of, but seeing it together showed me how it worked really well.

The second thing was the use of texture like that on the Vinculum Cardigan. Even the back is really interesting since it tips down into a slight V. The Clustered Vest is aslo of an interesting construction. If you are in the mood for pops of color, a dash of texture and a little bit of something different, do check out this pattern collection. At $18 for 6 patterns, its a pretty good deal especially if you do like a good majority of them which I definitely do.

Next, we have a printable knitting colorwork calendar from Derya Davenport who is the creative mind behind Laylock. Laylock is a Welsh word for lilac and the idea behind the blog is a "one-person knitwear (and knitware) design busy-ness that is footloose & fancy-free." Thanks to Threadpanda for tweeting about this! She also has lovely patterns - some of my favorites include the Parasol Stole and the Cornflower Hat.

Should anyone be inclined to knit a last-minute gift, there is a lovely free, bulky weight cowl out called the Zig Cowl by Isabell Kraemer of the Grasflecken blog, based in Germany.

Finally, I want to end the knitting finds with a video by Brooks Brothers:

Happy Holidays!
Closing Song: "Got Something for You," by Best Coast and Wavves

In the Conductor's Booth: An Interview with Lela Nargi

2011-11-27T13:59:00.000-08:00

On a gorgeous fall day, I had the opportunity to interview Lela Nargi, who recently published Knitting Around the World.

There will be a more detailed review in the next episode (which due to a trip to IKEA is delayed - but there is a knitting connection so you will hear about the trip) but I will say that it is an amazing book. Check it out.

We had a really great and thoughtful conversation about why people knit and once again, Japan and knitting makes a comeback. Before the interview, I explored Cobble Hill a bit and as an architecture buff, it was eye candy galore.

Speaking of knitting around the world: I would like to point out that I made a Subway Knits Listeners map, so please add yourself to it! I know there are a lot of listeners from many varied places around the globe and as someone who has wanderlust, would love to know where everyone is from. The link is also located on the "Where Are You Going, Where Are You From?" section on the right sidebar of the blog.

P.S. The holiday season is upon us, so that means all the closing songs from here until New Year will be holiday themed. I LOVE holiday music, especially contemporary takes on it.

Closing Song: "Carol of the Bells" by The Bird and the Bee

Gobble, Gobble

2011-11-24T11:59:00.000-08:00

What I am thankful for:

a happy, healthy family and friends
my cat
my job
my health

and of course, knitting and all the amazingness that has come from it - the podcast, the listeners and the crazy shenanigans that have ensued since I picked up the needles in August 2007.

Hoping to get 2 episodes out to you this holiday weekend (yay 4-day weekend!): a regular episode, and an interview that was supposed to be last week, but delayed due to craziness at work.

Source: Knit Turkey pattern on Ravelry

Happy Thanksgiving!

In Which I Answer More Questions

2011-11-17T16:59:00.001-08:00

I recently did a guest post as part of NaBloPoMo for Amy over on her blog. Check it out!

Episode 22: A Knitter Grows in Brooklyn

2011-11-12T12:24:00.000-08:00

Off the Needles
We finally have an FO! Two of them actually, since I haven't really talked in much detail about the February Lady Sweater.

Another FO that I have is the Bramble Beret. It was such a slog to finish that thing because I made the mistake of knitting DK yarn with size 8 needles - never again.

On the Needles
I decided to knit through a PD (professional development) meeting that I had on the Saturday of the freak snowstorm that we had on October 30 - I brought the Dionysus socks and almost got done with the first sock.

I cast on for 2 projects even though I said to myself that I will not do so unless I finish all the projects in my PhD bin. In my defense, 1 project is due to necessity and another is a test knit. The necessity project is Bella Mitts from THAT movie and before anyone asks, no it's not because Breaking Dawn is coming out in theatres next week.

The test knit is actually a test knit of yarn - Roman Hills 4 ply worsted weight yarn which is called Gruber in Toasted Marshmallow. Its very wooly in feel but knitting up in the Snapdragon Tam pattern very nicely.

Knitting Travels
Last Sunday, I headed on over to Brooklyn General for a twitter knitter meetup: Kristin from Yarngasm as well as stitchmistress, knittingknoobie and riaknits were all tweeting about a meetup and lo and behold it happened! It did make me realize something - until I became a serious knitter, I never really went into Brooklyn, especially the northwest part. I only went into Bay Ridge for the in-laws and even then never really left.

Another knitting travel comes from my dad, who went to Greece for the first time since 1998 for three weeks. I sent him on a yarn mission in Thessaloniki to Noulikas, located at Vasileos Irakleiou 15, where he picked up some Maxi-Maxi from Mallia Molokotou which is a 100% wool yarn made in Greece. He even tried looking for yarn from his hometown but said via a phone call to my mom that it wasn't that great.

Knitting Finds
Kristin from the Yarngasm podcast has started up a new knitting blog called Knitnook and I had the honor of being the first interviewee! She focuses on new knitting patterns and etsy finds as well as interviews and I had alot of fun anwering the questions.

Another knitting find is Kate Davies' website and online knitting magazine, Textisles.

Reviews
Thanks to the people at Potter Craft, I have The Knitter's Book of Socks by Clara Parkes of Knitter's Review to review this week for you. It retails for $30 USA and $34 in Canada.

We also have a look at Jane Austen Knits, which I picked up at the twitter knitter meetup at Brooklyn General.

Closing song: You and Me by Zee Avi

Knitting Nooks

2011-11-11T16:45:00.000-08:00

Have you checked out Kristin of Yargasm's new website Knit Nook? I was featured on there recently and while I talk more about it in the next episode (which I am currently working on the shownotes on for, but my back decided to be evil, which resulted in me lying down on my back in bed for most of the day) it got me thinking about my own knitting nook, which was one of the questions Kristin asked me.

As of right now, I have no knitting/craft room, much less a knitting nook. I just have a desk, and a spot on the couch.

Our bedroom is pretty big - there is a bed, bike, tall dresser, 2 bookcases, 2 desks, 2 chairs, an end table and my 2 skinny yarn towers. The far wall is the "office" area where the desks and bookcases are. Thing is, ever since Mel got his laptop he is NEVER at the desk where the PC is. Waste of space, especially since we plan to get two bookcases and a bridge to complete our tv unit from IKEA (the Hemnes series in black-brown in case anyone is wondering).

It's going to look exactly like this:

Why the uneven bookcases? We want the tv to be sorta centered to the couch because our living room, while rectangular is laid out wonky because of the placement of windows and doors.

And now that hypothetically, that office area in the bedroom is totally clear of the two old, cheap desks because the PC tower and a bunch of books from the bedroom will be in that unit, this is what I have planned for my knitting nook/teacher space:

The picture with the macarons is the color scheme: plum, coral, grey and mustard - the plum will be painted vertical stripes along the wall. I already have the Manhattan poster and FINALLY found a frame for it cheaply too at Urban Outfitters. I was pleasantly surprised while trolling through that site - I hate their clothes, but their apartment stuff is pretty cute! However, I still prefer etsy and independent artists when it comes to wall art.

The desk is the Hemnes one from IKEA, and it was these knobs that finally got the ball rolling:

Can we see how amazing these knobs are? They are from a seller on Etsy called Vintage Skye and I just so happened to stumble upon a 25% off sale. I could easily visualize them with the grey desk and I was sold.

And I mean, really, how more appropriate can you get for a knitting nook when you find a knob that has a vintage ad on it?

Knitting and History

2011-11-06T05:13:00.000-08:00

Is something I wish I had more time to do research about. What with the new job and all of the obligations, accountability and stress that comes with it, I have barely had any time to just spend the afternoon in the Rose Main Reading Room at the New York Public Library digging up any obscure references to knitting and even textile history.

It's one of my favorite places in the city, and right next to Kinokuniya Bookstores, so if you are heading there for the Japanese knitting books, pop in to the NYPL and see this room. It's awe-inspiring.

There is a photo of me somewhere from Christmas 2004 doing research in this room - I was looking through English Language Japanese newspapers published in Yokohama in the 1890s. I had a whole cartful of them, and got stared at by the tourists who came in rather noisily to take photos of the reading room. I was doing research for my tutorial back in London which eventually became the undergrad thesis, a part of which became the Master's thesis.

To be honest, I miss my academic career, short lived as it was. I miss talking with the college students and sharing ideas. I told myself that I would try and just teach one class at my old college, but there is just too much going on at my middle school to even give me the time.

I was a history major in college - while my focus was on a completely different country, I have learned some valuable skills (:::cough cough how to use Google properly for starters cough cough:::) and in grad school, I learned how to look at things and a bit about material culture if through the Japanese lens. I could teach myself (and anyone else, can for that matter) about textile and knitting history and create something out of that as my analysis.

I may as well throw it out there - I hope that there is room for another budding knitting historian out there because I would like to write and publish a few things in the future. I love the academic side of knitting, but I need the time and the self-confidence (of which both are really lacking as of late). I still have not submitted the master's thesis for journal publication simply because I have no time. Maybe next summer.

In the meantime, I have been doing alot of reading from the internet. Entangled Magazine (which is something I will talk about in more detail on the show when the next issue comes out) is a magazine that just talks about knitting and other textile related crafts. No patterns, just pure discussion and information.

I also recently discovered Kate Davies' blog of Neep Heid and now Sheep Heid fame (clearly, I have been living under a rock but those are on my must-knit list) and have been eagerly reading through the back posts and saw that she published something called Textisles. You have to buy the Warriston pattern to get the issue, but even at first glance, it's worth it.She may have gained another fangirl.

Finally, I do have 2 books that I am meaning to pore through and review as well: the first is Knitting Around the World, by Lela Nargi. I had the pleasure to meet her at Rhinebeck and the first thing that came out of my mouth was "Thank you so much for this book, because it has a bibliography. I love the book for this." I also have Knitting on Top of the World by Nicki Epstein. They go nicely together, I think.

I am still on the lookout for Richard Rutt's The History of Handknitting. If anyone ever finds a copy, contact me.

Episode 21: Fall, Fibre, Friends, Food

2011-10-16T08:38:00.000-07:00

Special shout out to Megan of the Stitch It! Podcast, who in a tweet summarized Rhinebeck in four words and gave the title for these week's episode.

I was loaded up in the car with Mel (the husband), my friend Lisa, co-proprietor of newly-opened Roman Hills yarn company (check it out!) John, and their son Emmet. But there was so much traffic over the last 2 miles that it took us two hours to get into and park.

We also learned that there was a 2 hour line for Sanguine Gryphon. In the morning, we decided to throw that plan of going there out the window. This is the photo that Knitty City tweeted:

Yeah. Right. I have to admit, this plus the traffic dampened my mood a bit and caused a bit of anxiety.

At the Ravelry meetup, I was all set with my sign, but a little bit shy with regards to holding it up. Lisa helped:

I did get to meet with Amy Christoffers and her friend, Becky Herrick. Photo is with Amy, and I look horrible (I think it was being so tired from the traffic and just arriving!). Amy was wearing the Larch Cardigan and her goal was to meet with the Bosworths to talk about her Journey Wheel.

Got to speak a bit with Laura Chau, and was interrupted by people wanting to pet my Traveling Woman Shawl, which was fun since it was nice to see that people liked what I knit! Kristin of Yarngasm arrived and we were finally with our sign:

Also met up with Abby of Knit Knit Cafe and got to chat with a listener! The Ravelry Meetup was alot of fun.

Mmm...apple cider donuts. I also had a cheeseburger with fries and clam chowder in a bread bowl.

After the meetup, I met up with some friends and headed over to the big buildings. I had a mission: to get some books autographed. I met with Lela Nargi (Knitting Around the World) and fangirled over Ysolda while she signed my newly-purchased copy of Little Red in the City, and Clara Parkes (who was wearing Hawthorne). I was worried that there would be a long line but there weren't. I had a lovely chat with the three ladies and ran into Melissa Werle of NeoKnits. She was wearing her Adina cardigan and Catherine was wearing Idlewilde.

After the book signing, I finally got started with some yarn buying. I wanted to get some yarn from Spirit Trail Fibreworks, but unfortunately, there wasn't anything I liked for the Larch Cardigan which I wanted to get yarn for. But I will go back to them in the future. I did get yarn from Creatively Dyed (one is a birthday gift and I purchased a skein of Woodbrook in the colorway Cendros).

Sheep! This was the Best in Show part of the demonstrations that I saw when Mel and I decided to wander around for a bit.

The color theme of this year's Rhinebeck was purple, and teal; I purchased yarn for the Larch Cardigan from Shelridge Farms. it was their DK weight yarn but according to Buffy it was more like a sport weight. The colorway I purchased was Azure.

We finally did end up at Sanguine Gryphon; there was no crowd, but very picked over. However, I did get yarn for Sarah to trade for MadTosh Sugarplum, and a skein of Eidos sock in Bacchic. Wonderful.

In short, I did complete my Rhinebeck goals, which were to meet people, get books signed and yarn for the Larch Cardigan. Next year, we are thinking of getting a place or stay somewhere for the weekend so that we can avoid all the crazy.

Closing Song: "The Melody of a Fallen Tree" by Windsor for the Derby

We Have a Winner!

2011-10-10T18:10:00.000-07:00

The giveaway for the Shades of Green Collection by Erica Jackofsky of Fiddle Knits has ended and we have a winner! There were 14 comments underneath Episode 19 and the RNG picked number 14, so that means kdlb, aka Kristine on Ravelry of The Yarnings Podcast has won!

Thanks to Erica for sponsoring the giveaway. Do check out the collection and her other patterns.

Episode 20: Mitosis

2011-10-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

On the Needles:
Nothing much new to report...still working on the Cladonia and the February Lady Sweater - now that I am out of HPKCHC, I do not feel the pressure to knit the Cladonia and to finish it immediately. That being said, it is still my lunchtime/happy hour knitting.

This weekend is a three day weekend and the principal and the AP in my school told me a bunch of really positive things about my job. In fact the principal told me that i needed to relax and that she is proud of me, so I am definitely taking their advice this weekend! As such, I really want to finish the February Lady Sweater for two reasons: one, Rhinebeck is next weekend. Two, my coworkers are finally realizing that yes, knitting is cool. I think this is because now that it's getting chillier, I am wearing my hats and Traveling Woman shawl; they see it and I am getting a really positive response, if a bit still mixed.

Spin Right Round
This week, I didn't get much spinning done - in the way spinning is normally done. The kids in my class were learning about mitosis this week, and when I read in the lesson plan the words, "spindle fibers" I had a eureka moment. I go to my co-science teacher and say, "I have a crazy idea." The crazy idea was, use the three drop spindles I own, some yarn, 11 kids, me, name tags and visually and kinesthetically demonstrate the stages of mitosis. Using drop spindles.

Knitting Finds
Through the world of twitter, I have discovered a new indie dyer - At Knits End Yarns by Kim Hartmann. She dyes using Kool-Aid and it comes out beautifully! She also has some really great bases such as Sparkle Lace and Falkland sock yarn which I have not seen as an available base. She is going to be part of The Fiber Connection booth with Oblivious Knits and others at Rhinebeck next weekend.

Knitting Travels
There was a pretty decent Groupon offer for School Products Yarns in the Garment District - since this is a three day weekend, I knew that if I didn't go this Saturday, I wouldn't go at all. My mom came with me since we had other errands to run together after and I thought it would be fun for my mom who is a non-knitter to see what yarn shops look like.

Reviews
This week, we are taking a belated look at KnitCircus Fall, and Teeny Tiny Mochimochi by Anna Hrachovec.

KnitCircus is jam packed with so many things that make me happy: first, interviews with Jared Flood and Felicia Lo of Sweet Georgia Yarns. There is a really great feature by Wendy Johnson about designing your own lace cowl. There is also an article on colorwork.

There are plenty of sweaters for both men and women which provides alot of versatility and variety throughout the collection. Some of my favorites include the Sunshine and Fog Tunic, and the majority of the Lacy Goodness Collection such as the Turning Point Shawlette and the Mica Cowl. Ruckle is a really interesting hat because of its contruction with pleating and puckers knit into the body. One of my favorite things about KnitCircus is that they usually end with a recipe: this time, its Candy Apple Scones.

You must get Teeny Tiny Mochimochi if only for one reason: it will make you feel happy just ging through the book. If you are interested in knitting up the mochi, there is great reference information at the beginning of the book to help you with toy construction, and at the end, ways to display and use the mochi in various ways throughout your daily life. It retails for $19.99 in the US, and $22.99 in Canada.

QAL Update
25 FOs so far in the FOs thread and lots of great and supportive chatter here. Come join in on the fun! You can submit an FO at any time, so long as it fits the criteria for the QAL (at the top of the QAL Chat Thread) and is submitted by December 31.

Events
Since there is no formal Subway Knits Meetup, I will be at the Ravelry Meetup from 12-1 at the field by the main gate. Most convenient for everyone.

Stephen West is having classes, book signing and trunk show for Westknits Book 3 at The Yarn Company on the Upper West Side.

Fin!
Closing Song: "A Postcard to Henry Purcell" from the Pride & Prejudice soundtrack.

A Letter to the Listeners or, Where Have All the Episodes Gone?

2011-10-01T17:55:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

If you go onto iTunes, you may be wondering, where did all the episodes go?

The easy answer is that they are still on my laptop. And if you have downloaded them already, still on yours too.

The more complicated answer is, they are waiting to be re-uploaded. Long story short, a listener requested if possible that I put the back episodes back into mp3. What I usually have done is upload them in mp3, then switch later to m4a. However, this is not fair to new and any listeners who have non-m4a friendly devices. So, I am going to upload and keep everything in the mp3 format from here on out.

This was simply because I had one of the more affordable plans when it comes to podcast hosting - I love doing the show, and while I have a donation button on the blog, I have never explicitly asked for donations on the air because I feel weird, and my mom raised me to be too polite to ask for things sometimes. This is one of them. I will always leave it up to you and place no pressure whatsoever. My hope is that one day there is going to be a way to cover the minimal costs of the podcast out of voluntary and individual choice.

That being said, thanks to knitpurlgurl of the Knit Purl Girl and auntieaipee of the Knit.Spin.Cake. podcasts, I found a more affordable way to do the hosting. This means I had to take down all of the episodes from the old RSS feed, and slooooooowly reupload them in order to maximize the storage space I have to the new RSS feed.

Thankfully, I have both regular storage and archival storage - that means I can “archive” a podcast episode in mp3 format, still have it available to you, and be able to upload new episodes. The amount of archival space I have per month is still limited and while it does refresh, it does so every month. So that means the back catalog is going to be going back up very slowly. As most of you know, I like to share and talk alot and in detail. That makes for long episodes and large files.

I will keep you posted as to which episodes are up, and if you are downloading on iTunes, they will refresh there as well.

Thanks so much for the support and the feedback.

Episode 19: For the Love of Color Cards

2011-09-30T06:08:00.000-07:00

The school year has started! My kids are a bit crazy at times and I am feeling overwhelmed and trying to find my feet, but the knitting helps.

On the Needles
There has been a bit of a stall with the knitting lately simply because school has started. That being said, I have cast on for the Cladonia and getting a little bit of it done here and there and it is very good subway knitting. I am knitting the Cladonia in a light fingering, heavy laceweight yarn - Gherkin's Bucket MCN Cashmere in a custom colorway called Saucy.

I have seen a lot of Cladonias done both with the stripes and without and personally I prefer the solid color ones - for me they are more classic. Then again, it depends on what color combination is chosen - my friend Christy is also knitting one and she is using Jabberwocky from Fresh from the Cauldron which is a bright purple and red with black and gray. We were talking about what should be the contrast color and I was insisting that it had to be the black because the other 2 colors were so bright.

One thing that I found so far with the pattern is that I have alot of yarn and the shawl still seems pretty small; what I plan to do is double the stitches for the increases from 28 to 56, so that way it can be nice and big.

Working on the sleeves of the February Lady Sweater. After doing two repeats of the gull lace, I began to gradually decrease those extra 7 stitches that I cast on at the underarm to make the sleeves more fitted and less swingy. I am thinking of ripping out the bindoff of the body of the sweater and going back a bit because I think I knitted it a bit too long and it hangs right at the hip where I want it to be, but that is when it is unblocked. i really don't want it to get any longer so eventually be totally out of shape, so that will just take an hour or two to fix which isn't so bad.

What is very exciting about almost finishing the February Lady Sweater is that I finally was able to pick up my buttons from the post office. I ordered the English Script buttons from Howbeadyful on etsy, which are handmade fabric covered buttons. When I took them out of the package, they were WAY bigger than I had anticipated. I was concerned that they wouldn't fit through the button hole but they did! They are definitely "statement" buttons since they are a light color and pop against the dark blue of the sweater, but I like them.

I am planning my next sweater for once I also finish the Castle Pullover, which is where color cards came in.

I was planning on designing a cowl to submit to KnitScene, but unfortunately it didnt happen b/c i was so busy. I still have the idea in my head, but its on the mental shelf at the moment. I did get yarn for it from Quince and Co - I purchased Lark in twig and storm and also ordered the color card for the company. When I got the skeins, I knew I wanted to knit the sample of the cowl in twig, but wished it was really in chanterelle b/c its a wee bit lighter, and would show the cables more.

The colors were a bit off on my screen, but this is why i was really glad i got the color cards. I also ordered the color cards from Beaverslide Dry Goods - who I have had my eye on since I became a knitter bc Brooklyn Tweed was one of the first knitting blogs I read back when I was in Japan and he kept mentioning them alot "back in the day" around 2007.

I wanted to get the yarn for the melrose peacoat, but was having a hard time getting the right shade of green. I ordered the 3-ply McGill Meadows from Beaverslide, but when I received it, it was too bright of a green to go with the buttons. However, I ordered the color cards as well and thankfully, there was a shade of green just above it: Marsh Sedge. I never thought about it, but I put the button next to it and it WORKED.

Stashers Anonymous
The beaverslide dry goods yarn wasnt the only thing I purchased as of late. One the knitters in Ravelry posted a picture of Wollemeise Klappersnatch and Bluebell in one of the threads, and I just went gaga over Bluebell.

The other something was the Pick Your Poison club by Apothecary Yarns. Pick Your Poison is inspired by herbs that are poisonous and others as well - there are colorways called hemlock, wolfsbane, and ones called cyanide and strychnine. They are all on the superwash merino sock base, and you have great options: either one skein for $23 or two or more for $20.

In addition, you can buy the whole set of 9 colorways for $160. You can also mix and match and get things like 2 of one color, 1 of another, etc. In addition each "concoction" of 2 or more skeins comes with 3 stitch markers from Velvet H ippo. Signups end October 1, so if you are interested, check it out.

Reviews
Two things two review today: Shades of Green pattern e-book and Wendy Knits Lace by Wendy D. Johnson. First, a thanks to Erica Jacksofsky of Fiddle Knits Designs who graciously let me join in on the fun for the podcast tour of Shades of Green, and to Potter Craft for sending Wendy Knits Lace for review.

Shades of Green is a collection of various types of patterns utilizing various types of yarn weights ranging from sport to bulky. All of the patterns are knitted in a shade of green, hence the title of the book. There are various types of patterns spanning all different categories: shawls, sweaters, babies, socks, etc. There are patterns for cup and cellphone cozies and even for men as well.

The whole collection retails for $18 in PDF format and $20 in print (with a digital copy included). If you purchased the patterns individually (which you can do if you only like 1 or two of the patterns from Fiddle Knits or Ravelry) all together they would be $40.

However, if you want a chance at winning your own PDF copy of Shades of Green, leave a comment below on the blog stating which pattern would you want to knit. The deadline for posting your comment is October 9, 2011 at 10:00pm EST.

Now onto Wendy Knits Lace. What really caught my eye was the cover. More importantly, the shirt that the model was wearing - love it! And love how it works with the lace scarf. There is great styling done throughout the book and overall, it serves as a great reference and pattern book. It retails for $22.99 USD.

Events
After the first day of school, I was exhausted. Still, I went to the talk by Anna Hrachovec at Lion Brand Yarn Studio. Lots of fun and it was nice to see her again. Check out the slideshow of the pics here. I took tons of pictures of all the cute mochis at the event:

It is now confirmed: I purchased the tickets to Rhinebeck. Hopefully there will be a meetup with Kristen of Yarngasm and the Savvy Girls.

Knit the Queue Along: QAL
So finally am getting around to posting the guidelines and prizes for the QAL!

Guidelines:
1. There are two threads: the QAL Chat thread and the QAL FOs thread. The latter is no chat because your post number is the entry number for the RNG.

2. The project that you submit to the QAL FOs thread must have a queue date. This can be found on your project page on the lower right hand corner of the page, it will say, "Originally Queued: Date Goes Here." To be fair, since I haven't posted anything about the QAL on Ravelry and am doing it now and the idea of the QAL is to knit off the queue, not add more to it, there is a deadline for projects that can be added to the queue, while will be October 1. If you submit a project that has an "Originally Queued" date after October 1, it will not count for the QAL.

3. WIPs are not allowed. Again, the idea is to knit off the queue and generally speaking, if you click the "Cast On" button from the queue page, it will be a new project. Everyone who has posted an FO so far has a project start date after September 1, so that would be the cutoff date. If you did start something off the queue after September 1, you are fine.

4. You can submit as many FOs as you like (explain how someone suggested a system where people who knit sweaters can get more points but for the first go round, I want to keep it simple. However I would love to implement a chart/points system which is very teacher-ish, explain 25 book campaign and october sky for things like hats, sweaters, etc in terms of the effort and time put in).

5. The end date for QAL Round 1 (because I want to make this an ongoing QAL, but this will be the end date in terms of drawing for prizes) is December 31. Get your Christmas knitting off the queue too!

6. Have fun! The guidelines are meant to make it fair. This is the first round, so for now I want to keep it simple but I am open to suggestions and will make adaptations and such as necessary.

PRIZES!
1. 3 copies of the Terpsichore pattern by Kara Hoover
2. Skein of yarn (base TBD) in the colorway our choice from a selection by Apothecary Yarns
3. Stitch markers from Velvet Hippo
4. Skein of yarn and corresponding pattern from Creatively Dyed

For a total of 6 prizes thus far. If I have spoken to someone about prizes specifically for this round of the QAL (as I would love to give out more prizes for Round 2 and so on) please contact me, or if you are interested in donating, let me know.

Thanks for listening!

Closing Song: "The Cave" by Mumford & Sons from Sigh No More

In the Conductor's Booth: An Interview with Anna Hrachovec

2011-09-05T15:20:00.000-07:00

This week, we have an interview with Anna Hrachovec of Mochimoci Land. She is the author of Knitting Mochimochi and just published Teeny Tiny Mochimochi. We had a fun chat at the Tea Lounge in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Her toys are ridiculously cute and they have a lot of personality. She mentions Flushie the Toilet, and I have to admit, one of my favorites is Ursa Majorly Cute.

She will be speaking and doing a book signing at Lion Brand Yarn Studio this Thursday at 6pm. In addition, she is a part of the Hooked! exhibition taking place in Amsterdam as part of Dutch Design Week and will be exhibiting at Gallery Hanahou this November.

Enjoy!

Episode 18: The Double Whammy

2011-09-02T10:51:00.000-07:00

Discovered a new podcast: Knit. Spin. Cake. Check it out on iTunes and her group is here.

On the Needles
Still working on the February Lady Sweater, but now at the garter stitch hem of the body. I see the end in sight! Last night I ordered buttons for the placket: English Script Fabric Covered button at Howbeadyful on Etsy.

I also ordered the Cabbage Rose buttons for my next sweater which is the Melrose Peacoat from New England Knits. That will be part of the Study Hall for the Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup, which I have re-enrolled in so to speak.

This past weekend, my knitting was at a crisis point in terms of it being all over the apartment and being disorganized. So I dumped everything onto my desk from my WIP bin which I have not touched in months and reorganized everything.

I also tidied up my yarn vase as the yarn cakes just collapsed: I have this tall clear vase that I got when I received my wedding bouquet, which was resting on the top and I was wondering what to do with it. I have some Lantern Moon needles that I don't really use anymore but are too pretty to stick in the yarn towers so I wound up some coordinating skeins, chucked them in, stuck the needles through the yarn cakes and had room to fit in a spindle that I had lying around as well.

One project that I did rescue from the widespread knitting explosion was the Bramble Beret - almost done!

Off the Needles
I finished the Norie hat! But I clearly must have knitting brain fart because again, I introduced another "design element" - from rows 67-83, it says to repeat the rows of stockinette and the cat's paw lace for the final lace repeat. It's snug and very warm; loved knitting with handspun.

Knitting Finds
Terpsichore pattern by Kara Hoover inspired by the painting “Terpsichore: La Muse De La Danse.” Overall a clear pattern and well written. The one critique I do have is the initial photo of the project - it was a bit fuzzy so I couldn't see what the pattern was like and was unsure of it, but when I saw the other photos that are provided in the pattern which can also be seen by clicking on the projects tab on the pattern page then you get a better sense of the pattern in real life.

Pinterest has taken over my life. But the way that it relates to knitting is that for one many designers are on pinterest - the only one I have found so far is Stephen West and Arianne Caron-Lacoste of Falling Stitches - so you can see what inspires them and hopefully you.

But most importantly for now at least are these pins of color palettes created by Design Seeds. I also found some great ideas and things related to knitting, such as using plain wooden clothespins to hold and store extra scraps of yarn.

Knitting Travels
Last week Mel and I went to Turks and Caicos for a short holiday. We got hit by Irene. It affected our 2nd and 3rd day of the trip which were the only full days we had, though we did get out of the city and did get some sun and relaxed. We definitely plan on going back: Turks and Caicos is beautiful.

I got a decent amount of knitting done - the lace edging of the Rock Island Shawl was perfect beach knitting. I did bring my February Lady Sweater on the plane with me and got a bunch of the body done on the flight down - and during the hurricane.

If you ever go to Turks and Caicos, you must try 2 things: first, rum punch. The second thing is conch fritters which is the muscle from the conch shell and they make them into small deep fried balls and the restaurant at our resort served them with spicy mayo, tartar sauce, lemon and lime. I liked them best with the lime. We kept ordering them every chance we got b/c for sure this is one thing that we will never find in NYC.

On Thursday morning we were able to get some beach time in before our flight which was delayed so I worked on the Norie hat in the airport. However, Turks and Caicos follows the TSA rules here in the US - I saw signs from the TSA that had the tsa.gov website so I didn't have to deal with security asking what my knitting was. Then again, the airport which is very tiny, was so crowded, hot and hectic that I think knitting needles were the last thing on peoples' minds.

Overall though it was a lovely trip and a wonderful, low key place to visit - the people there are really nice. Hopefully to make up for Irene we are planning on going back over Easter break.

Then there was round two of Irene - hence the double whammy. NYC shut down the public transportation system and instituted mandatory evacuations for low-lying areas for the first time in history which was admittedly a bit freaky. Having seen what Irene did down in Turks and Caicos I was a bit concerned about up here. Thankfully, it wasn't that bad, but there was flooding in my area over by Astoria park and I keep seeing on the news whole towns upstate and in Vermont being washed away which is upsetting. I spent most of that weekend watching the news nonstop and knitting the Bramble Beret.

Swatch and Learn

While working on the Rock Island, I taught myself a trick of keeping track of how many repeats I did because I forgot my phone, which has the row counter. I have the KnitPicks magnetic chart holder, and used the medium sized magnet to keep track of what row I was on. I placed the smaller magnet to the right of the chart at row 1 - this indicated the first repeat I was working on.

I moved the smaller one as I completed repeats - the lace edge has 8 repeats and while i didnt make it to the 8th I did wonder as to what to do when I did reach the 8th and ran out of rows - the answer was to put the magnet on the left side of the chart. Granted, a pen and just ticking things off works as well too but since i Was at the beach, there were no pens to be had and I didn't drop one in my project bag.

In addition, as a result of working on the Bramble Beret, I finally figured out how to do the 2-1-2 left leaning cable, and created a tutorial.

Events
Next week, Anna Hrachovec of Mochimochi Land will be at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio on September 8 doing a talk and book signing for her new book, Teeny Tiny Mochimochi - its by RSVP only so if you are interested, do call the store to see if you can still sign up. I will be there so do come up and say hi (I am still a bit shy).

Rhinebeck - it IS confirmed, I am definitely going on Saturday for more reasons than one but that will all be revealed by the end of October. So, I am still wondering if people are interested in a meet-up.
Do post ideas and thoughts in the thread for the festival.

Announcements
Amy Christoffers of Savory Knitting (who designed the Larch and the Acer cardigans) is offering 100% of the proceeds from patterns sold from September 1 - 5 to the Vermont Farmer's NOFA Emergency Fund.

Still working on some of the details for the Knit the Queue-Along so we will start after Labor Day officially. In the meantime, go ahead and post any related chatter in the thread for the QAL.

Fin!
Closing Song: "Sand in My Shoes" by Dido from Life for Rent

Tutorial: 2-1-2 Left Leaning Cable with No Cable Needles

2011-08-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

So I have been knitting the Bramble Beret from Vintage Modern Knits for my sister for the past month or so (we won't go into too much detail as to why it entered the UFO bin for the summer).

I got the book back in January. I didn't start the pattern until May even though I had yarn specifically for this purpose.

I was afraid of the 2-1-2 left leaning cable. This is a cable stitch that goes, "slip two stitches onto 1st cable needle, hold in front. Slip 1 stitch onto 2nd cable needle, hold in back. K2, p1 from 2nd cable needle, k2 from first cable needle."

Say what. TWO cable needles?

I finally did figure it out, and then when I worked on my Sea of Japan hat, came across the same cable again. That time, I figured out how to do it with just one cable needle.

Why not no cable needles at all?

It CAN be done. First, hie thee to Grumperina's website and familiarize yourself on how to cable without a cable needle in the first place. It's a great site and this is how I learned how to do cabling - I have never used a cable needle, except for one cowl in bulky weight yarn that had a cable with 16 stitches. Yikes.

So this is what the cable looks like in terms of setup: k2, p1, k2. We need to get the k2 stitches to cross, with the p1 still in the middle.

Here is how I did the 2-1-2 LC (red boxes are to help point out what I am doing with the stitches):

1. Slip the first 2 stitches onto the right needle.

2. Bring the yarn to the front of the next stitch (the purl stitch) and slip that onto the right needle.

3. Knit the next two stitches. All 5 stitches will be on the right needle.

4. This is where Grumperina's tutorial really comes in. First we need to get that purl stitch to the left side of the 2 stitches that were just knitted. Slip the left needle behind the purl stitch. "Pinch" the first two knit stitches with your left thumb and forefinger.

5. This is why we "pinch": slip the right needle out from all 3 of those stitches (the two stitches already knitted on the left, and the purl stitch in the middle). The purl stitch will remain on the left needle, and the two knit stitches are hanging in the air. Bring the right needle in front of the purl stitch, and insert into the two knit stitches that are floating.

6. Purl the purl stitch on the left needle. Now on the right needle, you have 1 stitch purled, two stitches knit (that were originally on the right of the 2-1-2 combo) and two knit stitches still not yet knit all the way on the right. We need to bring those two knit stitches at the end all the way to the left.

7. Take the left needle and bring it to the front. Insert into those last two unknit knit stitches.

8. Pinch again, and slip the back right needle out from the stitches. The three stitches that were originally in the front of the two knit stitches now on the left needle are in the air; catch them with the right needle behind the left.

9. Knit the two stitches on the left needle and Voila! 2-1-2 left leaning cable with no cable needles.

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial - this is the first one that I've written so it's not quite perfect, but do drop a line if you have any questions.

Episode 17: Pattern Binge

2011-08-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

On the Needles
Because I left my February Lady Sweater in my parent's car on Sunday, and there was a miscommunication between my dad and I about him coming by so I can get it back, I didn't get the sweater back until Wednesday night. I was still traumatized by the Snapdragon Tam and wasn't up for much else, so I decided to cast on for a pair of Dionysus Socks which is a free pattern, using Knitsch Fingering Weight yarn in the colorway Mansfield Revisited.

On Friday night, I cast on Norie from The Shetland Trader by Gudrun Johnston. Inspired by seeing the version by Rachel of the bmore crafty blog - join the Small Knits Knit-A-Long on twitter by using the hashtag #skkal.

Knitting Travels
My mom, sister and I went to Socrates Sculpture Park on Wednesday night to see Biutiful with Javier Bardem. It has an outdoor cinema - the most popular and well known cinema is at Bryant Park where there is the big race to grab a spot on the lawn, but there are other locations as well.

This is where I tried to knit in the dark for the first time; granted it wasn't pitch dark b/c of the film and general NYC light pollution but it was dark enough to try it out.

Hung out with Abby at Knitty City and after that we had lunch at this vegan cafe called Peacefood Cafe - first time at a vegan restaurant but the food was pretty good. As a result of eating there, am doing some research about sheep shearing and treatment of sheep. Sheep do need to be sheared, lest they look like Shrek, but the fleeces do get heavy and can cause them to overheat.

Knitting Finds
I did go to Knitty City with a mission - I needed some wooden circular needles to prepare for my trip to Turks and Caicos this Monday. I like wooden needles, though I do make exceptions for my signature DPNs and also, the ChiaoGoo metal lace needles that I picked up at MS&W. GreenTriangleGirl from A Playful Day podcast also talks about them as well in a recent episode. ChiaoGoo also has wooden circulars, made of Moso Bamboo.

Jared Flood recently came out with Wool People, a collection of patterns by various designers highlighting the Shelter line.

Interweave Knits and Knitscene Fall are out, but except for 1 or 2 patterns that I would wait for to be published individually, aren't really worth it.

Announcement
Anyone up for a Fall-Winter Knit-A-Long? More specifically, a Knit the Queue-A-Long. We all have patterns clogging up our queue and I would like to start up a new KAL so that we can get those must-want-to-knit patterns off the queue and into the projects page. More details coming soon - for now, I would like to see who is interested.

Fin
Closing song: "The Summer Wind" by Madeleine Peyroux from Half the Perfect World

Episode 16: Chicken and Rice

2011-08-16T08:40:00.000-07:00

Off the Needles
Towards the end of my program, I was getting severe startitis. I also really really wanted to knit from my stash and just do something with my hands other than write fake lesson plans and write on chart paper during summer school. I needed a reprieve. How does one get a mental reprieve?

Well in my case its finally completing your first knitted FO from a Japanese pattern book, called "Favorite Aran Knits." I knitted cap #7 by Mariko Oka which I call my "Sea of Japan" hat - partially because it is a Japanese pattern, and partially because I knit this up in Fresh from the Cauldron Merino Silk Worsted in Poseidon which is a lovely blue-green sea color with a bit of shimmer.

Two things really helped me with this hat: I finally purchased "Clear and Simple Knitting Symbols" which had most of the cable stitches, but not all of them. However, the cable in the Bramble Beret from Vintage Modern Knits is the same one in Cap #7.

I also completed another Turn a Square for a classmate of mine who asked for one very nicely during the 6-day seminar that I attended immediately after teacher training. In exchange, he bought me lunch. More specifically, Dominican Food. I never had Dominican before so I picked a basic chicken and rice platter at a place in Harlem near where our seminar was located. It was SO good.

But this experience begs the question: what do I do in the future if someone asks me for a knitted object? What do you guys think? Any tips for deflecting future requests?

On the Needles
I cast on for the Rock Island Shawl by Jared Flood. I want to have a few more shawls in my wardrobe and give the Traveling Woman a bit of a break. I cast on for the lace edge in Creatively Dyed Sami in Fresh and Persimmon Tree Farms Piggy Toes SW and I saw this lovely forest/hunter green and sky blue yarn.

I worked on this mostly during a seminar I took the week after my program ended - it was mainly about how students have all different ways of learning and there are neurocognitive causes for that and the students have strengths and weaknesses in these certain areas, like memory and attention.

So why am I mentioning this? On the first day we did introductions - and as part of my introduction I mentioned that I am a knitter and participated in a cognitive study at Columbia University last fall which examined the link between doing repetitive tasks (such as doodling or knitting) and attention and retaining information.

I said this for mainly one reason: if I am going to sit in a chair for 6 hours for 6 days, I am going to knit. Otherwise I will go bonkers. So this was my way of politely declaring it and also asking for permission - I wanted to get a sense of what their reaction was - which was really positive!

The man in charge of the entire program for the NYC Department of Education talked to me about how his grandmother knitted and that there need to be more studies on the connection between memory/attention and knitting. One of the facilitators put down "Knit, sketch, purposeful movement" on our guidelines and norms for the week.

This experience reminded me of the Miss Manners article about knitting in public that came out a few weeks ago and fired up all over twitter.

Knitting Trainwrecks
I did get the February Lady Sweater back on track - bit of an issue with the cast on of the 7 underarm stitches when separating for the sleeves.

After I finished the Sea of Japan hat, I casted on the Snapdragon Tam by Ysolda Teague.

However, last Sunday was a day of epic, epic, fail. Not just knitting trainwrecks, but life fail as well.

That Sunday, I am happily knitting along on my Snapdragon Tam and just about finished. I noticed it was coming along 2:45 - its a 20 minute walk to my yoga studio and I really wanted to go to a particular class at 3:30. So I race to complete the last two rows, cast off and...it's too big. This time, it involved...FROGGING.

So that happened in the 5 minutes before I had to leave for yoga. To top it off, while walking to yoga, my flip flop broke. I missed yoga.

Spin Right Round
A very minor update here - of rather what did not happen during the Tour de Fleece. I was a part of Team Sasquatch and was off to a great start - I finished the first ounce of polwarth that I purchased from Gherkin's Bucket in the colorway Motley. Plus, I even got to spin while watching the actual Tour de France when they did the recaps that fourth of July weekend.

My goal was to spin at least 15 minutes a day - but what I didn't anticipate was feeling so tired during the course of my program that when I got home, I needed those 15 minutes either to sleep a bit more or do the assignments that I had to do and submit on time.

I am definitely going to finish up that braid and came to a realization - I really do enjoy spinning. But man is spinning on a spindle slow. I'm going to have to start saving up for the Lendrum, which I will be able to try again at Rhinebeck! I am 90% definitely going for sure that October 15 (it will be 100% once I purchase the ticket).

If anyone else is going and will be around that Saturday, do let me know b/c I would love to plan a small meetup and get to meet you all.

Knitting Finds
I must be very strange because for the most part, a lot of the fall knitting patterns are not that appealing. This is why I didn't look at the new Twist Collective when it came out lest I be tempted, but overall this is actually a good thing - I can use most of this season to catch up on my queue and knit from my library.

Knitty First Fall: Double Heelix, Lingerie, Dragonwing, Bosnian (this last feature and pattern goes well as a companion piece to an article in Knitty from 2006 about the History of Knitting).

Twist Collective: Boundless, Evendim most of the Spirited Away section such as the Hawthorne Hat and Mitts, Sheepcote and Loure.

Twist also had some really great articles on seaming and the last wool mills in Ireland.

People have been talking about Google+ lately and there are a lot of knitters on there which is another great way to network. There is also a knitter's database that is being compiled so that you can share your information and join in on the conversation.

Finally, I want to mention a blog called Falling Stitches, which is run by Ariane, a French Canadian knitter living Montréal. She has some great designs and one of my favorite things about her blog is the What's Hot on Ravelry Series. Definitely want to knit one of this week's selections, called the Imogen Cowl.

Thanks for Listening!
Closing Song: "Big as the Sky" by A.M. 60

Episode 15: Proofreading

2011-08-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

Need to make a minor retraction - when I reviewed Twist Collective last time, I failed to realize that when you click on the "More Information" button especially in the Paper Dolls section you can see the patters on real people. Thanks to heyfatlulu for pointing that out.

Off the Needles

Completed the Cabled Feather Cowl. Sarah loved it, and she came up with a new term to always give me a chuckle when I am cursing over weaving in ends: Proofreading.

On the Needles

Still working on the Bramble Beret; I messed up in my stitch count in one of the cable repeats so I am debating to either fudge it, tink it or keep going - I am more of the keep going/fudge it school; Leah won't notice it too much because it's only on one of the repeats and its towards the top.

Right now it's on scrap yarn because I needed the 16" cable for a cowl I am designing; I got some yarn recently and didn't like the patterns available for that DK weight yarn for a cowl - went to my Cables and Arans Harmony Guide and looked for a bit of inspriation.

Stashers Anonymous

So you know how I am talking about ways to get over knitter's block? Well...getting new yarn that you normally cannot get in an update from indie dyers helps a bit too. Even though MS&W was recent and I added to the stash there as well, and was a bit overwhelmed by it there are just times when there was a yarn when you have wanted/kept and eye on for a very long time and if you have the chance to get it, you do. It's like waiting for months and months for a pair of boots that you like to go on sale and when they do, you take the opportunity. Especially if you do have plans for it which is usually my MO.

I was able to get a skein of Leah Clearwater from Fresh from the Cauldron in a June 1 update from her new site. I really wanted it b/c the colors are lovely: plum, rose pink, brown, mint green, kelly green and also to knit something for my sister with it beacause her name is Leah - she approved.

I may be able to get two cable hats out of this - going for the very slightly slouchy look and I am going to design these as well - I looked at what was available for fingering weight hats, and they were either too slouchy, too lacy/leafy or too poofy for me. I sound like Goldilocks here, but this is also a good opportunity for me to flex my brain a bit too. Again, I think I am going to go for a dense fabric, and intertwining cables. One word about this yarn: SQOOSH.

Prior to that, I actually caught a Skein update! Skein is an indie dying company run by Kristen in New South Wales Australia. I've had my eye on her yarn for quite awhile and never seem to catch an update, and love her use of color - bright but still subtle and rich earthy and jewel tones.

I did get a skein of Super DK 100% SW Merino in Blush (deep rose pink and cream with hints of rosewood, wine and burgundy) which is what I am using for the cowl I am designing, and a skein of TopDraw Sock 85/15 Merino/Nylon in Tuscany: cream, brown, red, sienna - both of these are not my usual colors but I loved them a lot.

Tuscany reminds me of my honeymoon in Italy when we were in Florence. Stitch definition on the Super DK is excellent - the cables really pop! So I am definitely going to buy from Skein again, especially for sweaters since it would be a great investment. I definitely see this yarn knit up in either the Goodale, Larch, or cardigans.

And then...there are the Harry Potter skeins. Tri'Coterie is run by Maylin who is in France and does alot of self-striping sock yarn; every month is a theme and this month is Harry Potte, so I picked up Ravenclaw for me, Gryffindor as part of Leah's birthday gift.

Knitting Travels

Summer in the city means outdoor knitting in beer gardens; the NY Times recently published an article about them. A few weeks ago, No Sheep Till Brooklyn met up at t.b.d., a beer garden in Greenpoint that is close by where we usually meet. Hung out at Spritzenhaus on WWKIP Day which was also the day of Renegade Brooklyn.

Knit-A-Long

Did not complete my Rose Lace Stole (evil Provisional Cast On) but I had a lot of fun hosting. Congrats to phoenixfire and lapurplepenguin! They will receive stitch markers from Velvet Hippo.

I do have a prize/sponsor for a future KAL from Creatively Dyed and would like to hear from you about what you would like for us to do next.

Fin!

Thanks again for your patience during the (unintended) hiatus and for this episode which is a bit of a catch-up epi.

Closing Song: "Take Back the City" by Snow Patrol from A Hundred Million Suns

Le Tour de Fleece!!!

2011-07-02T05:48:00.000-07:00

Cycling is one of my favorite sports to watch (and do, though I still am a bit afraid to get back on my road bike due to an accident that involved me, a wet bridge and a 10 hour visit to the ER. But don't worry - it was all precautionary, though I did end up on crutches and a leg immobilizer for a week).

So cycling and knitting/spinning combined? Oui, Oui!!! Enter Le Tour de Fleece:

Tour de Fleece is where you set up a goal to spin throughout the tour - how much and for the duration is set up to you. I am one of the captains of Team Sasquatch, which is the catch-all podcaster and podcaster-listener group. We also welcome handcyclists who are the knitters.

My goal is to finish up spinning some Polwarth that I got from Gherkin's Bucket in the colorway Motley on either my Kundert or Dyakcraft Swan spindles. Since my summer teaching program is amping up the ante, I will try to do at least 15 minutes a day.

Allez!

Didja Hear?

2011-06-20T17:45:00.000-07:00

I got interviewed!

Susan of the Knitajourney podcast and I had a chat a few weeks ago, and it is now up on her show. I had such a fun time, and again thank you so much to Susan for wanting to interview me. It was an honor and a pleasure and I had a lot fun (even if I did admit some slightly embarrassing things...).

And while you are at it, check out the back catalog of Knit a Journey episodes and tune in for future ones. Susan has a lovely voice and it's great hearing her take on knitting and podcasting.

In the Conductor's Booth: An Interview with Allyson Dykhuizen

2011-06-17T11:13:00.000-07:00

Allyson of The Sweatshop of Love was in NYC for Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn last week and we finally had the chance to meet! We had been tweeting back and forth for awhile now, and participated in fun shenanigans like the Tinfoil Tiara Brigade.

We had our interview at Artopolis Bakery which was local to my neighborhood; I was worried about hearing subway noises, but in fact it was the noise of the frappe maker machine that you hear in the background.

Some of the things that we talked about:

Renegade Craft Fair
Twin Cities Headband
Current KAL: Loop Entrelac Tank and Make Up Your Mind Sweater (Ravelry Group)
Entrelac Strap How-To Video
Caitlin's Cardi
Cumulus Tee

Thanks so much for the latest feedback and iTunes reviews!

Closing Song: "Master Piece" by Emi Meyer from Suitcase of Stones

Episode 14: Beware the Ennui of May

2011-06-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

Off the Needles

Will talk about the Cabled Feather Cowl next week; but I did finish up the Ripley.

On the Needles

I have been battling a bad case of ennui or something similar to writer's block where you want to write something but don't know how. I think in my case knitter's block is similar but it is as if you want to knit, but then do not have the energy to knit anything at all. After MS&W I decided to spend a Sunday morning going through my stash and sorting through it which probably was a bad idea in the long run; I also decided to see how it would look when organized into the color wheel for fun - I have ALOT of blue and "neutral" colors - cream/gray/brown.

i carry ur heart was not a good project to help get over ennui - same project + same yarn = very boring. I was afraid of the Bramble Beret because of one cable stitch, but finally figured it out! Going back to the basics with the beginning of the February Lady Sweater.

Spin Right Round

Spinning up some polwarth in the "Motley" colorway from Gherkin's Bucket using my Dyakcraft Swan Spindle. Abby Franquemont's book Respect the Spindle is really helping with perfecting my drop spindle technique. Also grabbed the DVD for 10 cents during the Interweave Special!

Knitting Finds

Focusing on Twist Collective Spring & Summer 2011 this week.

I have mentioned Slipped Stitch Studios before when they were featured in Knitty Winter 2011, but only on the Mi pattern Saver - if you check out her etsy shop, there is more for fiber artists, like really well-made project bags, one of which I received as a birthday gift.

Events and a Knit-A-Long

It does sound far off but when I mentioned I was going to Rhinebeck this fall, I made a mistake. I have to go to a wedding that Sunday. And I will be teaching Saturdays. Boo. But, there is another local fair nearby which is the New Jersey Sheep and Fiber Festival September 10-11 in Ringoes, NJ.

How is everyone doing with their Rose Lace Stole? I'm a bit behind but do plan to spend an afternoon with it sometime this weekend.

Fin!

Closing Song: "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + The Machine from Lungs

Episode 13: Maryland Sheep and Wool!!!

2011-05-09T13:45:00.000-07:00

22 (give or take) of the girls in my knitting group came by plane, train and automobile to Maryland Sheep and Wool. You heard them all in the opener.

On the Needles:
With my Twisted Sisters Petite Voodoo in Green Teas(e) and Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk in Kiwi, I am making the Cabled Feather Cowl.

What I also did was reorganize a few things in my projects page - I finally put the Pickadilly, the Fiddlehead Mittens and a French Press Cozy under hibernation.

Knitting Finds

Continuing the review of the spring and summer pattern releases - focusing on Knitty Spring + Summer 2011 this week. Really liking a lot of the sock patterns - all 4 are done in solid colored yarns and feature a lot of cables and texture in their patterns as opposed to lace. My two favorites are Ornamental and Susanna.

Lots of shawls as usual - the styling of the Omelet shawl is fun though I am more of a rectangular stole person myself. Really like the Rondeur Sweater - between this and knitscene there are PLENTY of short sleeve tees to knit up and you can even turn them into sweaters for the winter by nmaking the sleeves longer - even elbow length would be great.

Do want to mention a new pattern that came out recently from a New Zealand designer named Christine Jeffrey: the Colosseo Moebius cowl.

Knitting Travels

I went to Maryland Sheep and Wool this weekend! Saw 21 of the other girls in my knitting group, picked up yarn that I did not have in my stash and got some awesome tools.

Events and Knit-Along

Either he has finally accepted that I am a knitter and that the yarn will not go away, or the apocalypse has arrived - Mel, the ultimate disenabler has not only asked when Rhinebeck is, but if we can borrow my parents car to actually go up on Sunday, October 16. Won't be able to go to events like Black Sheep Gathering or Sock Summit sadly, but I am already going to start saving up my money in the jar again.

What I am really trying to do next year is to either go to Madrona or Stitches West - coincides with Midwinter Recess in the NYC school system which is from February 20-24, or Black Sheep which is at the end of June and school literally ends the day before. Yup, already looked at the calendar.

Bit of an update regarding the Rose Lace Stole Knit-A-Long: unfortunately, Kristin from the Yarngasm podcast won't be able to co-host the knit-along (yay wedding planning!!!) so I will be hosting it myself - welcome to the Yarngasm listeners!

Right now, the prizes stand as just the Velvet Hippo Stitch Markers, but I will keep you posted. Do post about your progress: any tips, knitting trainwrecks, what yarn you are using in the thread, and when you are done, post a photo of the FO in the Finished Shawl thread. Again, the KAL will end on June 30 and the thread will be closed that day; 2 winners will be chosen by RNG.

Fin!

Closing Song: "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele from 21

Episode 12: Back from the South

2011-04-30T06:48:00.000-07:00

Off the Needles:

I completed the Monkey Socks!

Now that I have finished my first Cookie A pattern, I'm looking to start another of the free patterns that also re-appear in knit.sock.love - which pair of cookie a socks should I knit next? Any suggestions?

On the Needles

The Castle Pullover is scarily entering a state of hibernation...in the glove compartment of my parents' car.

I also began my first Ysolda project: Ripley.

Knitting Finds

The new Knitscene is out - great first summer issue! Love the Amy Christoffers section the best. Still puzzled over the French Creek skirt and the Clipper Mitts.

Knitting Travels

Went to South Carolina with side trips to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC and to Savannah. MEt up with my friend Mary Beth and had Chick-fil-A and went to Hobby Lobby. AMAZING. Petted an angora bunny at the Biltmore Estate. Picked up Twisted Sisters Petite Voodoo in Grean Teas(e) and Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk in Kiwi from Wild Fibre in Savannah. Knitted in the golf cart while Mel played golf (I refuse to play since I stink at it and I'm left-handed; no left-handed set of clubs to be had in his family). Drank alot of Arnold Palmers.

Confirmed that my Travelling Woman shawl is indeed cursed (horrible car karma) as we got a stuck in traffic for 3 hours on I-95, got caught in the 62 tornadoes along the VA/NC border, got a nail in the tire and discovered it in Asheville, the gas gauge broke AND stuck in traffic for another three hours heading into Staten Island. In that order.

Events and Knit-A-Longs

Ravelry Meet-up at Knitty City was two weeks ago.

Maryland Sheep and Wool vendors are UP! I have started my preparation by making a list of what I want to get yarn for and taking stock of what I have.

Beginning a Knit-A-Long for the Rose Lace Stole from Interweave Knits, Spring 2011 with Kristin of the Yarngasm podcast. Here are the rules (taken from Kristin's blog, as she wrote them out wonderfully):

The KAL officially begins May 1st.

On that day, Kristin and I will post a thread in our Ravelry groups for participating listeners to discuss the KAL and share their progress, etc.

Choose a group (Team YarnGasm or Team Subway Knits-- it really doesn't matter, this is just for fun)

KAL ends June 30th. On that date, Maria and I will pick 1 winner from each group using a random number generator.

Each winner will receive a set of stitch markers from Velvet Hippo.

ABCs of Me

2011-04-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

Everyone is doing it, so why not me? A little bit of A-Z to help you guys get to know me better!

A. Age: 26
B. Bed size: Queen. Feasibly, I could fit a king in my bedroom. For an NYC apartment its pretty darn big.
C. Chore you hate: Cleaning the cat house.
D. Dogs: I want a Shiba Inu SO badly. Did you know they are the Japanese version of the golden retriever in terms of popularity as family pets in Japan? There were so many in my neighborhood, I'd be able to squee all the time.
E. Essential start to your day: COFFEE.
F. Favorite color: Kelly green, coral, navy, gold. Oh wait. That was the color scheme of my outift yesterday. Can we say preppy?
G. Gold or silver: Gold mostly for costume jewelry. Silver for the good stuff.
H. Height: 5’9. I wish I were 5'11.
I. Instruments you play: Flute and picollo. I could make those suckers scream.
J. Job title: Adjunct Assistant Professor and soon to be Public School Special Education Teacher.
K. Kids: HA! Not till I'm 30. In the meantime, I am a feline mama to Oliver.
L. Live: Currently: New York City. Previously: London, Kyoto, and Philadelphia. Future? Maybe Australia or Canada.
M. Mom’s name: Helen (of Sparta. No. Seriously. My mom's family is from there. She asked me not to name my future children after her).
N. Nicknames: Ri in Science Club in high school. Mazza while I lived in London.
O. Overnight hospital stays: No, thank goodness. But had a very long ER stay because I had an abcess on my left tonsil (TMI I know) two weeks before I left to study abroad.
P. Pet peeve: Students constantly asking me to repeat WHAT I HAD JUST SAID. Trying to be less high strung these days. Yoga helps.
Q. Quote from a movie: Erm...I am not really good at the movie stuff.
R. Right or left handed: LEFTY!
S. Siblings: Leah - 23. Then there are the Siblings-in-law: Kerry: 24, Art - 23 and Rochelle - 18. Mel is from a BIG family.
U. Underwear: Fun cotton bikini panties from Vicky's Secret.
V. Vegetables you dislike: Shiitake mushrooms. Hmm, thats more of a fungus. But they taste slimy.
W. What makes you run late: The NYC subway.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: When I was 2 1/2. Had a concussion on a marble floor of a church right before my sister's baptism.
Y. Yummy food you make: Greek Mac and Cheese. You will have to ask me for the recipe.
Z. Zoo – Definitely make the schlep on the 6 train to check out the Bronx Zoo. It's free on Wednesdays.

In the Conductor's Booth: An Interview With Kate Oates

2011-04-20T16:29:00.000-07:00

I am currently working on Episode 12 - had to chuck the recording I did so far because I did a rush job (120 papers graded in a week plus taking 2 New York State Teaching Certification Exams in one day - yikes!) and wasn't satisfied with it. So in honor of my Spring Break trip to South Carolina, an interview!

A few weeks ago, I had the honor to interview Kate Oates of Tot Toppers and When I Grow Up, who is from Lexington, South Carolina.

It was my first interview via Skype so that was really interesting and alot of fun!

Here are some the things that Kate mentioned in the interview:

Knit Collage
Tot Toppers Etsy Shop
Sugar Bear Hooded Cardi
Gramps Cardigan and Adult Version
Master Charles Sweater
Sweet and Sour Apple Hat
Mary Swanson Cardi-Vest
Sweet Tea Shrug
Math For Hats
O-wool yarn: Balance
Anzula Yarn

Closing Song: "Unbreakable" from Real Life, by Evermore

Episode 11: Equal Opportunity Yarnies Unite!

2011-03-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

On the Needles
Did the heel for the Monkey socks and now working on the foot.

Knitting Trainwrecks
Still working on the Castle Pullover, but gauge is creating a bit of a detour.

Swatch & Learn
This segment is where I talk about tips and tricks I picked up about knitting and what I do to help make knitting easier and more manageable. And soon, I will begin my Knitting History series, so long as there is still interest - picked up No Idle Hands: A Social History of American Knitting from the NYPL and while it can get a bit tedious and dense, I LOVE it. It's really great to know more about the origins and the history of a craft because you learn what happened in the past that perhaps played a role or influenced what we do today.

There was a bit of discussion in the Ravelry group on why I had a bajillion stitch markers on my Castle Pullover, even though the pattern didn't call for it.

Knitting Finds
This week is the start of the Second Annual Knit and Crochet Blog Week. The first topic was about two different yarns. My post is here, but thinking about acrylic and sock yarn opened up another issue that I have been thinking about for awhile: yarn snobbery and yarn as currency.

Events
Knitty City will be having its monthly Ravelry meetup on April 7 (from 6-8pm).

Maryland Sheep and Wool! I will be there on May 6. Still no vendors yet! General tip for now: go with a basic idea of the things you want so that you don't overspend.

I am extending the lottery that I am running with Reni of Knit Girl in Idaho for the Japan stitchmarkers - thank you to those who have donated and participated so far! The information is here, and the lottery sign-up thread is here. I will be extending it to April 10.

Fin!
Closing Song: "Arrivederci" by Emi Meyer from Curious Creature

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week, Day 2: Skill +1up, Video Game Style!

2011-03-29T15:49:00.000-07:00

Today's prompt is as follows:

Day Two: 29th March. Skill + 1UP

Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill and knowledge of your craft to this time last year. Have you learned any new skills or forms of knitting/crochet (can you crochet cable stitches now where you didn’t even know such things existed last year? Have you recently put a foot in the tiled world of entrelac? Had you even picked up a pair of needles or crochet hook this time last year?

I love video games. I grew up with a Nintendo, Super Nintendo, two Nintendo 64s (the first was stolen when I was in the 8th grade) and Playstation 1 and 2.

But get this: there were no boys in the house. Nope, I have no brothers to speak up. My sister and I are (not so much these days, sadly) gamers. It's my mom's fault. She wanted to play Adventure Island on the Nintendo, and threw in Sesame Street for good measure. My sister and I gravitated towards Mario, and later RPGs. Especially Final Fantasy.

My sister and I even had a system with Final Fantasy games: I have horrible hand-eye coordination, so she uses the controls; she has horrible spatial perception, so I am the one with the strategy guide (yes, we "cheated," so what?) so I read the guide, interpreted the maps and told her where to direct Cloud and Tifa in Final Fantasy 7. we talked materia strategy over dinner.

So why am I talking about video games? What do they have to do with knitting?

There was a point in our Final Fantasy playing when my sister would just fight enemies for hours on end. We needed to get the skill points, you see. Cloud needed to get his skills and life points up to fight the final boss, Sephiroth. It took us three tries to beat him. Bah.

Such is with knitting. To move forward and develop as a knitter, one needs to develop his/her skills. Stockinette socks are all well and good, but they get boring. Learn lace! Learn cables!

So did I defeat my own knitting final boss in 2010?

Well...I got really good at doing short row heels for socks. I did those for my Hermione Socks and was able to do them to the point where I just need the instructions for a reference justincase. I could do short row heels in my sleep.

I also developed my lace and chart reading skills with the Ptarmigan Rounds 1 and 2, the Woodland Shawl and Traveling Woman.

I also made a baby garment! The Pepita is sooooo adorable, I want to knit like 10 of them for my future children.

And I tackled colorwork like whoa. I was meant to do colorwork. I love my Selbu Modern and my mom loves her Beaumont Beanie.

I could say more, but these were the highlights. I did pretty good going up against the knitting version of Sephiroth, no? Although he wields a samurai sword (called Masamune, for any Final Fantasy geeks out there). Perhaps he can use that as some really big sort of darning needle or crochet hook.

Knit and Crochet Blog Week, Day 1: A Tale of Two (Types of) Yarns

2011-03-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

So I found out about Knit and Crochet Blog Week at the verylastminute. But good thing that I was still on time! Here is today's topic:

Day One: 28th March. A Tale of Two Yarns.Part of any fibre enthusiast’s hobby is an appreciation of yarn. Choose two yarns that you have either used, are in your stash or which you yearn after and capture what it is you love or loathe about them.

Hmm, this was rather hard and easy at the same time. I wouldn't exactly consider myself a fibre enthusiast. For me, that means you also have to be a Spinner (with a capital "s") or even a weaver. You really learn the subtleties more behind particular fibres when you get to play with it more as a spinner. The Knitter's Book of Wool can only tell you so much. Since I am dabbling in spinning and not yet a Spinner, I identify myself firstly as a knitter. I use yarn with two sticks to make loops and then keep making those loops to make a garment. That's it.

Let's begin with the yarn that just did not work, which I no longer have a photo of (rats). It was this Japanese acrylic that I got in lovely colors (hunter green, lilac, navy blue and fuchsia) from a random little sewing/yarn shop on the north side of the Imperial Park in Kyoto. It wasn't even the nice acrylic from say, Pierrot. It was horrible. But I didn't know any better because I was still a baby knitter and wait - there is a thing called superwash merino sock yarn with SILK in it?

I loved those 4 skeins of acrylic because it was the first ever real stash purchase I made, the colors were great and I just wanted to knit, dangit. I made a hideous striped ski band I gave to a friend in the navy and fuchsia and a green and lilac dishcloth. Yah...those projects and the yarn are deleted from my projects and stash page on Ravelry.

But, the problem was twofold: first, the yarn was very "plasticky" as Elizabeth Zimmerman would say. I did not feel wool-y like some acrylic or acrylic blend yarns do. As such, the yarn was very stiff and the plies barely stayed together (it was a 3-ply). Second, it was squeaky as all heck. I was knitting with blue plastic needles I picked up at the 100-yen shop (the dollar store, if you will) in the shopping arcade off of Shijo-Dori, called Seria, which is in the basement of a clothing shop. Seria also had yarn too but I didn't realize that it was actually decent.

To conclude with the first yarn, my experience with acrylic was both traumatizing and exhilarating at the same time. Nevertheless, there is nothing wrong with acrylic.

THERE. I SAID IT.

And I'll be saying a bunch of other things that will probably shock the fleece off of people. Katie of the Hoxton Handmade podcast had an excellent essay about the merits (and yes, even some of the demerits to be fair) of acrylic.

Moving right along to yarn type number two - on the complete opposite end of the yarn spectrum:

This was pretty hard to choose, so I'll just talk about a category of yarn in general: sock yarn. Basically, A merino-nylon blend, but feel three to throw in cashmere or silk since MCN and MCS are pretty popular these days.

I have made 2 shawls, a hat, several pairs of socks and a baby hat out of sock or fingering weight yarn. The colors are beautiful, and my Traveling Woman shawl (made out of Dragonfly Fibers Djinni Sock in Bad Moon Rising and MadTosh Sock in Twig) is my pride and joy. I have worn that as a scarf around my neck all winter.

Sock yarn is good for many projects, So I like its versatility. I have had sock yarn from indie dyers, commerical companies and somewhere in between. The colors are great and its one of those yarn weights that you can spend about $20-$30 bucks on one skein and poof, there you have the yarn for a whole project. Or maybe more than one.

Unless you are like me and like your triangular shawls so big that you can wrap it around your neck twice and tie it in the back (it's COLD here, people) then there is a bit of a setback there. My Traveling Woman Shawl took up a whole skein of Dragonfly Fibers Djinni Sock in Bad Moon Rising and 3/4 of a skein of MadTosh Sock in Twig. It's HUGE. But I love it.

There is a bit of a dark side to all the pretty yarn though. I talk about that more in this week's podcast episode, which will be up by Wednesday.

Episode 10: Monkeying Around

2011-03-22T15:22:00.000-07:00

On the Needles

Chugging along on my Castle Pullover which is turning out quite nicely; cast on for the Monkey Socks as part of the Manic Purl podcast's March Monkey Madness KAL.

Currently looking at the Dyakcraft needles in the 6" length, hands cramp up with the small DPNs, i usually prefer bamboo because I like how they do eventually curve into the palm of my hand, which is like getting custom fit needles. A friend who is going to be with me at MS&W has the interchangeable set and I think the DPN set so I will try them then.

Stashers Anonymous

My Mythos armful custom came last Friday - already have projects lined up - the Artemis laceweight will be the Anthemion wrap, the Poseidon worsted will be a cable and bobble hat from a Japanese pattern book and the Athena yarn will be socks.

Also picked up 2 skeins of The Fibre Company Savannah DK in Sycamore that was on sale for 40% off at Purl SoHo, where I was for the Vintage Modern Knits book signing - but this came out of the MS&W budget to be fair. Plan to knit the Bramble beret from the book.

Spin Right Round

A listener asked to talk about about how yarn is made and I thought to first start with the difference between worsted and woollen spun yarn. Here is a conversation from the Spin-Off forums of fulling woollen spun yarn.

Jared Flood completed his photo essay series of touring the mill in Maine where the Shelter line of yarns is produced.

Knitting Finds

Stitch markers from Blue Ridge Notions on Etsy - ordered the shell and the blue porcelain ones.

Knitting Travels

Spring is in the air in New York City and that means three things:

In Astoria, everyone is blasting Greek music from the cafes in my neighborhood and from cars. I'm glad I live in the back of the building.
All of the restaurants are open to the warm air and al fresco dining.
Walking! Lot's of it and just wandering around neighborhoods, particularly in those where there are yarn shops.

Here are some of my favorite/recommended yarn shops and the neighborhoods they are in (and places to eat - I like to travel through museums, yarn shops and my stomach):

Upper West Side: Knitty City. Located on 79th and Amsterdam, it is a residential area, but if you walk south along either Amsterdam/Columbus Aves or Broadway it's a nice area to walk and enjoy the various restaurants. I like Alice's Tea Cup located on 73rd Street just off of Columbus Avenue. American Museum of Natural History is on 80th and Central Park West and if feeling up for a walk across the park on a beautiful day, the Metropolitan Musuem of Art and Museum Mile is on 5th Ave and 82nd Street.
SoHo: Purl SoHo. Very pretty visually and they have a nice fabric selection as well - but if you do want fabric, head on over to the garment district for MJ Trimmings and Mood Fabrics. Tons of shops in the area and 2 good places to eat are Balthazar's and SoHo Park.
Union Square/Flatiron District: Lion Brand Yarn Studio.Tons of classes and events here but be careful - they close at 3 on Fridays and are closed all day Saturdays. My friends and I keep forgetting this. Tons of restaurants along Park Avenue South on the other side of the square and there is also the farmer's market and a really fun bar called Lillie's. If you want a quick bite, Whole Foods is on the south side of the square.

There are tons of other yarn shops in the city and every fall there is a NYC Yarn Crawl.

Events and Knit-A-Longs

I will be at Maryland Sheep & Wool, but the vendors are still not up yet!

This Saturday is No Sheep Till Brooklyn for the local area knitters - bit off schedule since it's a Saturday.

Knitty City has Ravelry Meet-Ups; pretty sure the next is April 7.

Abby and Ben from the Knit Knit Cafe are having a Stephen West knit-a-long.

A Special Announcement

As you know last week Japan was hit by a an earthquake and subsequent tsunami in the Tohoku area which is in the northeast. Thankfully all of my friends and their families are ok, but I would like to do something no matter how small.

Thanks to Reni of Knit Girl in Idaho I am going to put up for lottery 4 sets of 2 stitch markers with images of Japan that I took while I lived in Japan (thanks to the people in the Fresh From the Cauldron group for the inspiration of how to structure this):

How to purchase your "lottery" ticket:

Please make a donation of at least $10 to the charity of your choice or to the Japan Society Earthquake Relief Fund or the Red Cross if you are not sure of a charity/fundraising site. (my personal recommendation - great organization and I took Japanese classes here, so far they have raised about $1mil dollars).
Forward the receipt or a screenshot to confirm the donation to subway.knits@gmail.com and please note your Ravelry ID and how much donated.
Post that you have made a donation in the thread for the stitch markers. The post number will be your ticket number and I will close the thread in about two weeks (April 3, 5pm EST) and run a RNG for 4 recipients of the stitch markers, 1 per recipient.

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu!

Fin!

Thanks for tuning in and once again, welcome to new and returning listeners.

Closing Song: "I Feel it All" by Feist.

In the Conductor's Booth: An Interview with Courtney Kelley and Kate Gagnon Osborn

2011-03-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, I had the opportunity and the pleasure to interview Courtney Kelley and Kate Gagnon Osborn of Kelbourne Woolens, distributors of the Fibre Company. We had so much fun!

Me, Courtney and Kate.
Can't really see it, but I'm wearing my Selbu Modern, designed by Kate.

After the interview, I met up with them later at Purl SoHo for their book signing and trunk show and snapped some photos of the handknits from their book, Vintage Modern Knits.

Trying on the Margarethe Lace Shawl

Baltic Mittens

Yummy Road to China Yarn

You can see the rest of the photos here.

Closing song: "Sly" by The Cat Empire.

Episode 9: Onto the Castle

2011-03-09T13:32:00.000-08:00

Off the Needles

Completed Vasili's Socks - still need to weave in the ends and perhaps do a light steam block to open up the sock a bit more. Finished the toe while sitting in the front seat of my parent's car - had the opportunity to try out the Sea Bands and knitting at the same time since I didn't get a chance to do that while in Florida, despite the copius amount of time spent in the car.

On the Needles

Thanks to the generosity of a listener, I have recieved 6 skeins of Lorna's Laces Dove in the colorway Aslan! I knew that this was dying to be a sweater so I eventually cast on for the Castle Pullover, by Cecily Glowik MacDonald from Quince & Co.

Knitting Trainwrecks
I didn't actually get the yarn and immediately swatch for the Castle Pullover; according to the Ravelry database Lorna's Laces Dove is an Aran weight yarn. In reality it's not; I swatched for the Cadence Pullover on 10s and didn't get gauge, even though the fabric was to my taste. Then tried 11s to get gauge and it was too loose so I undid the swatch and pretty much threw my interchangeable needle case across the living room (not quite, but close enough). I took the yarn and wrapped it around my WPI measuring tool and instead of 8 WPI, I got...13 which is a heavy sport/light fingering. Definitely not aran.

Knitting Finds

Velvet Hippo - her stitch markers are so lovely! Like little bits of jewelry for your knitting, which is apt since Torii is also a jewelry maker and it shows in the quality of the stitch markers.

Little Red Bicycle - heard about this indie dyer from the Never Not Knitting podcast, really beautiful tonal and semi-solid colors as well as some variegated.

On Brooklyn Tweed's blog, Jared Flood discusses a recent trip he made to the mill in Maine where the Shelter line is made, and mentions that he is going to post a photo essay series this week on the entire process in which yarn is made at the mill which is very exciting. (not jsut for the gorgeous photography but to also see how yarn is made at a mill)

Events and Knit-a-Longs

Went to the first of Knitty City's Ravelry meet-ups, which are on the first Thursday of the month from 6-8pm. There were snacks, lots of knitting and a 10% discount. I had the pleasure of meeting one of the listeners from the show and learned something interesting about myself. Also met Jennie Gee who created the popular Keep Calm and Carry Yarn bags and recently brought a new series of bags to the shop. I picked up one of them which is a series of screenprinted quotes related to knitting from literature - the first quote was from Charles Dicken's Tale of Two Cities. Definitely plan to go to the next one!

This Sunday, Courtney Kelley and Kate Gagnon Osborn from Kelbourne Woolens, who are distributors of the Fibre Company Yarns will be at Purl SoHo teaching an Intro to Cables and Arans Workshop from 12-3 and a book signing of Vintage Modern Knits and trunk show will follow from 3-6 pm.

Maryland Sheep and Wool is coming! Hooray! Who will be going? Unfortunately the vendors are still not up, so I can not make my plan of attack (via Excel spreadsheet) just yet.

Fin!

Thanks for listening!

Closing Song: "The Car Song," by The Cat Empire from the album Two Shoes.

Episode 8: Veni, Vidi, Mickey

2011-03-03T11:39:00.000-08:00

Off the Needles:

Can finally talk about the Ptarmigan! I knit this up in LB Collection Cashmere for a secret project for my friend Shelley and she loved it. This was the project that was frogged twice because I ran out of yarn and messed up the pattern.

Finished off the Orchids and Fairy Lights hat - my grandmother saw me knitting it (and I saw 2 knitted potholders in her condo!) and was dropping hints that she liked it - along the lines of "That color is too dark for a young girl" (Creatively Dyed Woodbrook in Forest) and "That is such a lovely pattern." I was busy cranking it out at the dinner table in my uncle's house in Orlando, which fascinated both of my aunts and my baby cousins, shocked my grandmother and left my sister to do the dishes.

I was thinking of doing another repeat of the pattern to accommodate for "The Hive" - my grandmother has been rocking the beehive hairdo since the 1950s, but didn't need to. Luckily, this is a hat that really does not require blocking, so I bound off and presented it to my grandmother who promptly wore it even though it was 80 degrees outside. She plans to use it for her bad hair/non-Hive days.

On the Needles:

Since I gave away the first Orchids and Fairy Lights hat, and it is still quite chilly here (I was very sad to have to put on jeans last week after a week of capris and shorts) I am going to knit another hat for myself, in Sanguine Gryphon Free Range in Prairie Chicken which is a yellow green. This might actually show the pattern better as well since it is a lighter color. It's a DK so I will swatch it on 8s like I did for the first one since the CD Woodbrook was more of a light worsted and hopefully will get gauge. If it's a bit off that's fine - the first hat still seemed a little bit baggy as opposed to slouchy so if it's a bit smaller then I hope there will be a slightly more dense fabric and a bit of structured slouchiness - slouchy, but not messy.

Working on Vasili's socks - who is my 7 year old godbrother - using a hybrid: look, I'm modding a pattern! Breaking away from the mold! As I mentioned before I took the Most Basic Kid's socks as a template because I was having a hard time finding good non-stockinette socks for kids and the pattern from Hermione's Everyday Socks and mashed them together with good results!

It was a big hit with Vasili and his sister Persephone, who is 6 - once I am done with these and most of my Monkey socks, I will use the Most Basic Kid's socks as a template for the Lexi Socks (size 3 needle but taking the pattern repeat b/c I want a denser fabric, so 52 stitches, 2 stitches left over will be at the beginning and end of the repeat).

Knitting Finds:

The preview Spring 2011 Issue of Interweave Knits is out! Normally a bit iffy on Spring Issues of any knitting magazine (this may be due to the shock when I entered Masuzakiya in Spring 2008 to find nothing but cotton and cotton blend yarns - where is the WOOL!?!?) because it can get way too hot to knit here. Still, some patterns are of note: Rose Lace Stole, Lara Bubble Top, Ruched Yoke Tee, Prairie Scarf, Hourglass Pillows, Swirl Crop Jacket.

Knitting Travels:

In which I return from Florida, slightly pink and very tired of lines.

Where to begin: let's start at the airport - no problems with getting my knitting needles through security at JFK and Orlando airports, and I had my interchangeables to boot! What really ticked me off was the hour-long line at security in Orlando Int'l Airport; just as my sister and I were about to reach one line for the metal detectors, another opened just in time. Abby from the KnitKnit Cafe mentioned that JFK lines are just as bad - I have been very lucky at JFK, because I have never seen such ridiculous lines as the ones I saw in Orlando, not even at the Manila airport where security is outside of the terminal and only passengers are allowed past a certain point.

What got me was that I couldn't bring my knitting to Disney - I thought security had changed at Disney and they brought in metal detectors but it was just a "Bag Line" and a "No Bag Line." If I stuffed my project bag in the bottom of my bag, no one would have noticed.

Luckily, the 4 of us were very busy screaming our heads off and constantly getting soaked on rides - my 2 cousins had to leave early, so my sister and I used their tickets to double up on the Fast Passes so we can skip the majority of the lines.

I did bring my knitting to Universal Studios: Islands of Adventure so I can meet my friend Amanda from my knitting group and go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter but again, very busy!

Speaking of coasters - the Sea-Bands really don't work on them. But they did work on everything else! I had them on all day at Disney (except for the Mad Hatter Tea Cup ride, which was a last minute ride and a mistake) and was fine and survived the 2.5 hour drive to Orlando from Tampa in which my sister, myself and my 2 cousins were smushed in the back of my yiayia's sedan clown car style.

Events and Knit-A-Longs:

Little late in coming, but Knitty City, my LYS on 79th and Amsterdam on the Upper West Side is hosting the first of its Ravelry meetups tonight from 6-8pm. I am definitely going and will provide a wrap-up in the next episode. There will be more in the future!

Chrissy of the Manic Purl podcast has started a March Monkey Madness knit-a-long, with Cookie A.'s Monkey socks as the pattern. It's been revamped and resized in her new book Knit.Sock.Love. but you can still access the free pattern via Knitty, which is what I am doing. I am knitting mine on 2.75 needles with STR yarn in Pepe Le Plume that I got from a destash. You can knit any form of the Monkey - toe up, no purl, no hole Monkeys and remember to tag your project with "manicmarchmonkeymadness," as there will be prizes.

Fin!

Thanks to CoggieTM of the High Fiber Diet for her recent shout-out to the Subway Knits podcast.

Closing song: "In the Sun" by She & Him

This. Is Awesome.

2011-02-23T17:59:00.000-08:00

From PackBasket Designs

Episode 7: Escape to Splash Mountain

2011-02-16T17:56:00.000-08:00

Hooray! Semester is OVER! Going to celebrate by hightailing it down to Florida where my yiayia ("Grandmother" in Greek), Aunt and Uncle live with trips to Harry Potter World and Disney.

Off the Needles:

The sock monkey is complete, delivered and named to boot - my coworker insisted on it having an "old fashioned" Greek name and my mind drew a blank. I called my sister who after chastising me for not being able to come up with a proper old-school Greek name suggested Zorba. So now we have Zorba the sock monkey.

On the Needles:

Still cranking away on the Pickadilly; casted on Orchids and Fairy Lights in Creatively Dyed Woodbrook in Forest. Love. Cabling without a cable needle is really fast, and Grumperina has a really great tutorial on it.

Stashers Anonymous:

My friend Sarah (of the Pickadilly Skype date) told me a story while we were watching USA Sevens Rugby with an interesting lesson: honestly, don't just buy yarn for the sake of it. There is a larger issue here which will probably be discussed in a future episode, but for now, the idea is something may come up which requires you to not used yarn funds - she had a family of baby squirrels in her dryer and paid a hefty amount to get rid of them humanely (because Austin is awesome like that). She told me that she was really glad that she didn't get any yarn in recent Loopy Ewe and Fresh from the Cauldron updates.

As for me I caved - but with good reason; I recently got into a competitive program for teaching in NYC schools and I deserved a reward for going through a difficult application and a 4 hour interview.

Jen from Fresh from the Cauldron opened up custom requests for her new Mythos series under the "Armful" option: maximum 5 skeins in any combination of colors, which are on set bases. I shared 1 spot with a friend and placed an order for 2 skeins of Artemis, 1 of Poseidon and 1 of Athena. I also knew that this was coming and (somewhat) budgeted for it, lest something along the lines of the NYC version of squirrels in the dryer happen to me.

The Armful option is closed, but Jen will open it up in the future after the summer and there is also the Sampler option for the summer which is each skein in the series.

Knitting Travels:

TSA Website: you can bring knitting needles! I plan to print this out and carry it with me. Traveling into the US from overseas is usually the problem; here are some tips that helped me with the knitting needles issue when I traveled to Italy via Ireland last summer - Mel and I had a connecting flight in Dublin and we needed to go through security again and in the EU the rules are a little more strict.

1. I had a pair of socks with me on DPNs - before I went through security, I took the DPNs out, put them on scrap yarn and stuck point protectors on one end of the needle to make it look like a pencil with an eraser.

2. I placed said DPNs in a pencil case that also carried my make-up brushes and a few pens for good measure.

3. A friend suggested I stick the pencilcase along the side of the bag, not just chucked in.

This definitely worked - of course it does depend on the security agent at each of the checkpoints, but when I went through Italian and Irish security, I had no problem.

I have also heard the opposite of what I did - having a project on the needles helps if there are any problems with security. Since I am going to bring a pair of socks and two hats with me, I am going to try both as I am only going to have carry-on luggage.

Most important thing though - never use fancy interchangeables. And if anything, carry a self-addressed stamped envelope in case things get very messy. When I went to Italy, I had a spare set of DPNs in my suitcase.

My sister and I going to be in Tampa and Orlando, which means being in a car. And for me that means motion sickness. I've heard alot about the Sea-Bands or BioBands
and was able to pick up the Sea Bands and Anti-Nausea Ginger gum from my local CVS - together with my new prescription sunglasses for distance, we shall see how knitting in the car goes.

Speaking of getting knitting through security and knitting in cars, I will be bringing Orchids and Fairy Lights, Hermione's Everyday Socks (adjusted to child size for my godbrother) - perfect for knitting on lines at Disney and at Harry Potter World since it's auto-pilot, but not boring and Red Light Special for nights when I hang in my yiayia's tv room watching Greek soap operas.

Fin!

There will be no show next week as I will be riding copius amounts of rollercoasters, drinking Butterbeer, and prevent my sister from jumping on Winnie the Pooh. (^_~).

Closing Song: "Island in the Sun" by Weezer from The Green Album

Episode 6: Harajuku Knitters

2011-02-09T14:30:00.000-08:00

Short episode this week - instead of stash diving, I'm ungraded paper diving. Not fun.

On the Needles:

Pickadilly! Finally! Getting over my fear of sweater knitting by having a Skype Knitting date with my friend Sarah who is also trying to finish "The Damn Pickadilly." Currently working on the sleeve - started the decreases after 1" of knitting as opposed to kniting for 8" and then doing the decreases. Worried about the fit of the sleeve, and many said the sleeve was really big. Using Boye Locking Ring Stitch Markers to mark the point where I did begin my decreases so that if I have to frog back, I know where to stop.

Off the Needles:

First pair of socks for 2011 - the Knitmore Girls Vanilla Socks. Cast on 58 stitches, not 60 like I said by accident and I found that 56 stitches do suit me better (although the jury is still out on it). I take it back what I said about the jogless join - such a savior and I did a funky version of it (where I took half of the last stitch and half of the first stitch of the previous row as opposed to the whole of the first stitch of the previous row and knitted it on the new row to create the jogless join).

Knitting Travels:

Two parter - first I was finally able to get some subway knitting in. Worked on my Vanilla Socks while on the subway platform and learned that outdoor subway platforms in the winter are not very conducive to knitting. But did learn the best place to knit besides a seat - leaning against the rails on the seats next to the doors opposite the ones that open (on my part of the subway line, the doors always open on one side at every stop till I get to my transfer station, so it's easy for me to just stay on one side and not move even if I have to stand).

Also knitted on the train to Ridgewood (in Queens along the north border of Brooklyn) going to and from a Superbowl party; tried to knit at said Superbowl Party but the game was actually interesting and while the IKEA Poang chair is comfy, it leans to far back for me to knit comfortably. This time, I did get a seat on the subway.

And to continue our discussion of Japanese knitting - there is ALOT to say about this so here are some links that I talked about in the podcast to help you get started:

Places to get Japanese Knitting Books/Magazines:
Kinokuniya
YesAsia.com

Online Resources:
Jenny and Nicole from the Stash and Burn Podcast discuss Japanese knitting in Episode 70.
Interpreting Japanese Patterns (an amazing PDF overview)
Japanese Syllabary (Kana)
Japanese-English Knitting Dictionary
Japanese Knitting Basics
Helpful Japanese Knitting (and Crochet) Books (especially the "Clear and Simple Knitting Symbols)
Basic Knitting Symbols
How to Read Japanese Graphical Charts
Charting Lessons (as Japanese patterns do not come in more than one size)

Knitting Japanese Style in English Books:
Knitted Socks East and West by Judy Sumner
Ori Ami Knits by Olga Buraya-Kefelian and Vanessa Yap-Einbund
Japanese Inspired Knits by Marianne Isager
Haiku Knits by Tanya Alpert
Knit Kimono and Knit Kimono Too by Vicki Square

and don't forget Amigurumi! But that will be a topic for when I figure out how to crochet (which I will have to for the Pickadilly).

Fin!

Closing Song: "Harajuku Girls" by Gwen Stefani from Love.Angel.Music.Baby.

Episode 5: From the West to the East

2011-02-01T18:03:00.000-08:00

Off the Needles:

Vintage Baby Cardigan: all that's missing is the finishing - sewing on the bow to close the front and seaming the underarms. Love the 3-Needle bind-off, I may be closing the toes on my socks with this more often. The Patons Grace is a bit drapey; might not knit this pattern again with cotton, but it would work great with wool or wool-blend. Still have some leftover - might make a baby hat and another pair of booties.

On the Needles:

Knitmore Girls Vanilla Sock: while switching back and forth from the purple to the red Koigu KPM on the first sock, I ended up with gaps on both sides of the heel - how to fix this? I did the trick that Cosmic Pluto suggested to wrap the final stitch on her tutorial, but it didn't work. Have half of the second sock completed - I cast on 60 stitches to see how a 60 stitch sock fits on my foot; 56 stitches is ok, but stretched out a bit.

Knitting Trainwrecks:

Saartje's Booties - the lesson learned here is to NEVER, EVER delete a project page. I remembered I knit these on size 2s, but forgot if I made the larger or the smaller size of the bootie. I cast on for the large and realized it was way too big. Frogging commenced, bootie reknit...and it's still too big. Have to frog it again and knit on size 1s perhaps. Second lesson learned: yes, your gauge can definitely change over the course of 3 years.

Knitting Finds:

Vintage Modern Knits and corresponding KAL by Kate Gagnon Osborn and Courtney Kelley of Kelbourne Woolens/The Fibre Company - what caught my eye was the Adelaide Yoke Pullover which is featured on the cover. Reminded me alot of one of my favorite sweaters, which is a 100% lambswool JCrew raglan sweater in brown with a cream, orange and pink fair-isle motif along the yoke. Also loved the Ajiro Scarf, Abigail Mitts, Maple Bay Cardigan and the Whitby Stockings.

Definitely one of those books that I want to knit about 90% of the patterns in, so it's a great buy if you like the "vintage modern" aesthetic. They will be doing a classes, signings and trunkshows to go along with the release of the book, the schedule of which is here - planning to go to the 3/13 one at Purl SoHo.

EZ Read Along with the Knitmore Girls - one of my favorite EZ quotes so far has been "Perhaps, then, pass by the [acrylic] department, with your nose in the air." Definitely chuckling along to the Knitter's Almanac, if freaking out about how the patterns are written because it's not a format that I am used to; however she does include the "pithy" instructions.

Knitting Travels:

Off to Japan! Part one of a two part series wherein I talk about Japanese yarn and yarn shops and ways to get it both in Japan and in the United States. Some of my local LYS' back in Japan include Masuzakiya (located also in Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe), another craft shop located in the basement of Kyoto Tower, which is across the street from Kyoto Station, Avril (known as Habu in the United States with a NYC location and also locations in Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe), Nomura Tailor (with awesome fabric and sewing notions that made me want to learn how to sew).

If you are there in the summer, check out the noryo-yuka at the Sanjo Starbucks. You can get a Red Bean Frappucino (yum!):

If you need help with translating the Japanese, let me know and I'll do my best - I can also point out on Google maps where most of these places are (which except for Masuzakiya and Yoshikawa in Kyoto Tower, are all in the downtown area between Shijo and Sanjo Dori).

There are also the Japanese Knitting and Crochet and Knitters in Japan group which are great resources (especially the latter for yarn shops since the majority of the group's members live in Japan).

One place that you can buy Japanese yarn from is from Pierrot. You can also order yarn via Rakuten, which is a massive Japanese site that sells almost everything under the sun. Here are some of my favorites:

Puppy Silk Blend
Puppy British Eroika
Puppy Maurice (pretty similar to Lion Brand's Amazing yarn)
Make Make (6 balls will make a pair of socks). Can also find this on kpixie.
Puppy Alpaca Rimisto
Hamanaka Fugue

I have not tried ordering yet but here is the Rakuten Shipping Information. Definitely plan to restock on my favs in the future. In the next episode, I'll be talking about Japanese patterns.

Here is a map of the 4 yarn shops I mentioned that are located in Kyoto.

Fin!

Thanks to Kristin of the Yarngasm podcast and Abby of the KnitKnit Cafe podcast for mentioning me in their latest episodes!

Closing Song: "Love Letter to Japan" by The Bird and the Bee from their album Ray Guns are Not the Future

Yarn Bombing!

2011-01-30T07:54:00.000-08:00

From knithacker.com (Brighton, UK)

Also from knithacker.com (Toronto, CA)

The Title Says it All

2011-01-30T06:02:00.000-08:00

From nataliedee.com

Episode 4: Hello, SweetGeorgia

2011-01-25T17:01:00.000-08:00

On the Needles:

Knitmore Girls Vanilla Socks: doing a 1x1 rib because I misread the pattern; freaked out about it on Twitter (I'm not following directions! No!) but people reassured me that it was ok. Doing a short row heel because I really don't like heel flaps and gussets. Using Koigu KPM in a bright red and a bright purple that I got from the sale bin at Purl SoHo - these are individual 50g skeins, so I am knitting the cuffs, heels and toes in the red and the calf and instep in the plum.

Saartje's Booties: I found one that I actually completed a long time ago in Jaeger Baby Superwash Merino in a blue/yellow that I got back in Japan; Mel's best friend just had another baby boy, so this will be part of the Baby Knitting Basket I'm putting together, complete with Wasabi Baby Hat and the Vintage Baby Cardigan by Kristin Spurkland. Going to finish the other one, and grab some buttons.

Off the Needles:

Hooray! FOs! My Secret Santa spoilee finally got her gift, so I can talk about them now. The final Secret Project is still secret because I haven't given it to the recipient yet.

i carry ur heart mitts: done in Malabrigo Worsted in Moss. Finished in less than 24 hours and only took up half a skein.

Pug Tea Cozy: Made out of the extra white Patons yarn I had for the Sock Monkey (stashbusting!) and a friend was kind enough to make me the ears and pom-pom snout out of the black yarn since we were making things for pug owners. Both thought they were a gag hat before they realized they were tea cozies, but got a kick out of it.

Stashers Anonymous:

I have stash enhancements, but did not pay one cent for them:

Fresh from the Cauldron Van Helsing on MCN Sock - final installment of the Vampire Sock Club which was paid for back in May.
Diaepoca Yarn in a Deep Coral Color - part of a birthday gift from my best friend from grad school who also studies Japan. It came wrapped furoshiki style in a gorgeous fabric with classical Japanese prints on it, which a friend of mine will turn into a project bag because I can't sew.
2 Skeins of Shepherd's Wool from Stonehedge Fiber Mill in Michigan in Granite - part of my Secret Santa package that I recieved, milled in Michigan. Going to use these to make the Grove Mittens and the Laurel hat from Jared Flood's made in brooklyn.

Knitting Finds:

New KnitScene Winter/Spring 2011: Love the "Don't Steek Me" section (particularly the Kenning Mitts, Mette-Marit Pullover, and the Setsedal Love Hat), Bahia Shawl, Mercury Cowl and the Chiton Pullover. But the question is - do you like the heels/socks combo of the Bas-Relief Socks? Debate!

Welly Warmers by Sweatshop of Love

Interview:

Felicia Lo of SweetGeorgia was in town for Vogue Knitting Live and for a talk at Knitty City and was awesome enough to let me speak with her about dyeing, SweetGeorgia and her favorites regarding knitting in my first ever interview!

Events:

Wrap Up of Felicia Lo at Knitty City, in which I run into some listeners of the podcast and Abby from Knit Knit Cafe!

Me and Felicia. I am wearing my Akimbo by Stephen West

done in SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock in Stillwater.

Me and Abby from the Knit Knit Cafe podcast.

Closing Song: "Age of Consent" by New Order from the Marie Antoinette Soundtrack

Episode 3: The Colorwork Class

2011-01-22T09:11:00.000-08:00

On the Needles:
Still working on the Sock Monkey. Hypothetically knitting the Skoufaki again - its all alpaca, so it stretched out.

Stashers Anonymous:
Support one another in trying not to get yarn! Will open up a thread for it by episode 4. Confesh: I got Lion Brand's Wool-Ease Worsted, but it was ONLY $3.75.

Knitting Trainwrecks:
The beginning of the Kyoto Cable legwarmers was all garter stitch done in the round, and I didn't even realize it. Frogged them twice. Also frogged another project three times, but its Super Secret, so can't mention it right now.

Knitting Finds:

Knitty Winter 2011 is out. Looked at the Chrysanthemum Mitts, Java Socks, Sweetheart Socks and loved them; a little disappointed with the sweaters, especially the Constantine and the Joanie Sweaters. If you see a "KS" in the patterns index next to the title of a pattern, it means "KnittySpin" - patterns that work great with handspun, especially the Diversify Cowl. Now I am beginning to pay more attention to the Features section (lots of awesome stuff in there, like the Cool Stuff).

Knitting Daily iPhone app! Free! Two thumbs up.

Events:
Brooklyn Tweed's Intro to Shetland Colorwork Class (I am at the very, very far right of the photo).
Felicia Lo of SweetGeorgia at Knitty City

My two friends and I with Jared Flood at Lion Brand Yarn Studio.

Fin!
Thanks again for being so patient with this episode, and my sincerest apologies for getting the shownotes out this late. As always, iTunes ratings and star reviews are greatly appreciated.

Closing Song:
"Down at the 303" by The Cat Empire from their album "Cities - The Cat Empire Project" (Fan made video with good audio quality - this particular album not on iTunes)

Knitter Down

2011-01-09T16:31:00.000-08:00

Trying to recover from a nasty headcold, so the podcast may be coming up later in the week. Thanks for your patience! Here is a bit of a sneak peak:

Stashers Anonymous
Brooklyn Tweed Intro to Shetland Colorwork Class at Lion Brand Yarn Studio
Sock Monkey Update
Knitting Trainwrecks!

Episode 2: So This is the New Year

2011-01-05T13:25:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Download and listen here.

New Years Goals - NOT Resolutions:
Among other things like finish the WIPs, on a worsted weight sweater kick - Tilted Duster, Alberta (times 2), Cascabel, Castle Pullover, Solstice Cardigan, Mary Swanson Cardi-Vest. Also want to knit the Umaro Blanket.

On the Needles:
Began the first of the 12 Socks in 2011 - Kyoto Cable Legwarmers in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Aslan.

Knitting Finds:
Quince & Co. - mom offered to buy the Lark yarn in Bark for the Cardi-Vest!
Creatively Dyed - Rav Group
Tiny Owl Knits - Rav and Facebook Groups; Interview
Wee Ones - Rav Group & Etsy Shop

Knitting Travels:
Sock Monkey gets worked on while on the N train; commented upon by a busker and two Portuguese tourists.
According to my dad, a "yarn swift" is "tsikriki" and a drop spindle is called "roka" in Greek.

Events & Knit-Alongs:
Vogue Knitting Live and TNNA - let me know what it was like!
New knitting group in NYC - No Sheep Till Brooklyn! Bi-monthly @ Word in Greenpoint, 126 Franklin Street, 7pm. Next meeting is January 16.

Have an event you want people to know about? Let me know and I'll mention it on the podcast!

Fin!

Closing Song - "The New Year," by Death Cab for Cutie

Thanks for listening! As always, iTunes reviews are always appreciated. Come join the Rav group!

No. Sheep. TIL BROOKLYN!!!!

2011-01-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

My friend Lisa (aka daisydeadpetal on Raverly) just started up a new bi-monthly knitting group in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and just sent me the flyer - it's a little last minute as it is tomorrow but but I will definitely be there (after a big family dinner celebrating both Mel's and my dad's birthdays at Peter Luger - can't wait!).

Hope to see local listeners! The deets are below (flyer to come! It's wigging out on the upload).

Word
126 Franklin Street, Brooklyn NY
7pm.

Knit Girl in Idaho Sale!

2010-12-30T16:34:00.000-08:00

I mentioned Knit Girl in Idaho during my "Knitting Finds" segment in Episode 1...and she has a sale going on right now! Check it out here. It is going on from now till January 10, and only happens twice a year.

Episode 1: Welcome!

2010-12-27T14:12:00.000-08:00

Download and Listen here.

Opening Song: "All Hands Against His Own" by The Black Keys

Introduction and About Me:

How the Selbu Modern gave me carpel tunnel
Knitting Daily's Newsletter on Wrist Exercises

Off the Needles - The Holiday Edition:

Hemlock for my in-laws

Beaumont Beanie for my mum

Turn a Square for my dad

Woodland Shawl for my sister

On the Needles:

Sock Monkey by Patons

Two Super Seekrit Projects using Malabrigo Worsted in Moss and LB Lion Brand Collection Cashmere in Natural

Knitting Finds:

Fresh from the Cauldron - Etsy Shop and Ravelry Group

Knit Girl in Idaho - Etsy Shop

Books and Pattern Review:

The Knitters Book of Wool (Amazon)

Knitted Socks East and West (Amazon)

Pickadilly Sweater (Ravelry)

Knitting Travels:

Loop & Rosie's Yarn Cellar

Malabrigo Yarn Lace in Charrua

Japanese Stitch Dictionaries - ISBN 9784529020718, 9784529022934, and 9784529015882

Kinokuniya Bookstore in NYC

Spin Me Right Round:

Kundert Spindles

Bosworth Spindles

Events and Knit-Alongs:

Vogue Knitting Live

Brooklyn Tweed @ Lion Brand Yarn Studio

Slogalong with Stash & Burn podcast

Stash Bust Army (#StashbustArmy on Twitter) with Yarngasm podcast

Starting up "Knit the Queue 2011" (#knitthequeue on Twitter) and my 2011 queue as a sample

Fin:

Happy New Year!

Closing Song - "Stains of Saints" by The Weather Machines

Thanks to Sarah, aka killerlashes for the blog banner! I bow to your mad design skills.