Episode 017–Needles, Beads and Mysteries!

Welcome to Episode 17 of the Misadventures in Knitting Podcast.

Listen to Episode 16 on iTunes!

Listen to Episode 16 on PodBean!

Today’s topics include:

  • Upcoming Events and General Announcements
  • Lykke Needle Review
  • What we are Wearing
  • Hot Off the Needles
  • What we are Working on
  • and, Healthy Living with Tara and Ashley

Today’s stash hiding space was shared by TioTweety on Ravelry.  Thanks for participating, Teresa!

Upcoming Events and General Announcements

The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival will be held May 5th and 6th at the Howard County Fairgrounds.  Tara will attend the festival on Saturday and is hoping to meet listeners at the podcaster meet up in Barn 7/8 at 1:00 PM.  If you are in the Pittsburgh area that same weekend, you can cheer on Ashley, who will run the Pittsburgh 1/2 Marathon!

A shout out to Sally4 for visiting Woolworks!  Thank you to Judy and Mary for participating in our last Google Hang Out!

We are planning a second Knitters Book Club to take place this summer.  More information to come.

Finally, we need your input!  We are planning a future episode that will focus on local yarn shops.  A thread will be created in our Ravelry group asking for your thoughts and opinions.  If you have the time, feel free to participate!

Lykke Needle Review

Lykke needles are very popular so we decided to review them (and thanks for the suggestion, Jackie!).  They are dyed to look like drift wood but are actually birch wood.  A very helpful review can be found at Knitter’s Review, by Clara Parkes.

Ashley says:

  • I like how the size of the needle is etched clearly on the side and won’t rub off.
  • The cord is stiff for magic loop.
  • I like the needle tip which is smooth and has a nice, middle of the road point.
  • The advertising on the website is deceiving.

Tara says:

  • I like the price point!  More affordable than Addi’s.
  • The cord is stiff.  This works well for a hat but I wonder what it would be like for a shawl.
  • The needle tip is dark in color, so be aware if using dark yarns or if you are a beginning knitter.

Overall:

  • They are worth trying out!

What we are Wearing:

Tara has been wearing the Fancy Cardi by Joji Locatelli.  She used Dragonfly Fibers Pixie in the Espresso Roast colorway.

And because the temperature has been on the cooler side, Tara has also worn the Gather Together Sweater by Joji Locatelli.  She used Plucky Trusty in the Two Hearted colorway.

Ashley has been wearing the Four Seasons Shawl by Alana Dakos.  She used Three Irish Girls Wexford Merino Base.

She has also been wearing La Mer Socks by Sandra Park, knitted by Ashley’s friend, Heather.

Hot Off the Needles

Tara finished the Amulet Shawl by Helen Stewart.  She used Old Maiden Aunt’s Sock Yarn in the Buttermint colorway and beads purchased at Lovelyarns in Baltimore, MD.

B4904306-0FE2-4C93-9877-3A074748A300

Ashley finished her #knittersbookclubkal!  She knit the Ruched Beret by Susan B. Anderson, which is from the Weekend Hats Book.

87A42B36-6F68-4421-9127-7AD579D46ECA

What we are Working On

Ashley finished sock #1 of the Vintage Fairy Lights pattern by Helen Stewart.

671A7FAC-A8D5-4543-81EB-C0BEBE2590FA

Ashley is nearly finished with the Confluence Shawlette by Sivia Harding.  She is using The Fibre Company Meadow yarn.  She is using Japanese Toho Beads.

63D38D4B-A92D-4B31-96AF-A7BEF0892379

Finally, Ashley is working on the Impressionist Mystery Knit Along by Helen Stewart.  Ashley is using Primrose Adelaide but is feeling unsure about her color choices.  Tara is also working on this project and is using the same yarn!  Twinsies!

CA015295-6C68-45E1-AC2E-149D42DEB870

Tara is also working on the Creatrix Shawl by Laura Nelkin.  She is finding this challenging but fun!  She is using The Fibre Company Meadow and size 6-0 and 8-0 beads.

BB9B8E5D-6BB4-4CC6-B52F-151A579D2F47

Healthy Living with Ashley and Tara–Movement

Ashley and Tara talk about the benefits of moving!

Tara mentioned the podcast called The Walk, by Naomi Alderman.  She also read a quote from NPR.  Naomi Alderman also has a free phone app called Zombies, Run.

Ashley is training for the 1/2 portion of the Pittsburgh Marathon.  Ashley uses the Strava App to keep track of her pace and miles.

Episode 016–Stash Talk

Welcome to Episode 16 of the Misadventures in Knitting Podcast.

Listen to Episode 16 on iTunes!

Listen to Episode 16 on PodBean!

Today’s topics include:

  •  Come Visit Us
  • The Knitters Book Club Wrap Up
  • Hot off the Needles
  • What we are Working on
  • Sad Knitting Tragedies
  • and, Cozy Home

Today’s stash hiding space was shared by LWT1 on Ravelry.  This knitter is currently hiding a stash of beautiful yarn in a sweater!  Thanks for sharing with us, Lori!

Come Visit Us

The Charm City Yarn Crawl will take place April 6th-15th.  Come visit Ashley and Tara at Woolworks on Sunday, April 8th from 12-4 PM.  See CharmCityYarnCrawl.com for more information about participating stores, discounts, special prizes, and driving routes.

The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday May 5th and 6th at the Howard County Fairgrounds.  Tara will attend on Saturday.  A podcaster meetup will take place in the small show ring in Barn 7/8 around 1 o’clock.

The Knitters Book Club Wrap Up

clara parkes
Photo from Clara’s website: claraparkes.com

Over the past three months, we read A Stash of One’s Own by Clara Parkes.  During our second Google Hangout, Clara Parkes joined us for an hour long discussion about her book.  It was a fun night despite some minor hiccups with technology.  Clara, if you are reading this, THANK YOU SO MUCH!  YOU ARE AWESOME!  Learn more about Clara on her website and at Knitters Review!

IMG_1353

During the hangout, we talked about books we are currently reading.  Clara was reading Migraine by Oliver Sacks and No Time to Spare by Ursula Le Guin.  Other books mentioned were The Road to Oxiana by Robert Byron, More Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin, and The Power by Naomi Alderman.

The final Google Hangout will take place Friday, April 6th at 8 PM Eastern Standard Time.  See our Ravelry group for more information, including the link.

Hot Off the Needles

Tara finished the Flax sweater by TinCanKnits in the size 8-10.  She used Madeline Tosh Vintage and Jill Draper Hudson in a variety of colors.

26BB894E-6B40-46F3-A171-1B5B289865F6

Tara finished the Adult S/M Rosewater Beret by TinCanKnits.  She used Woolfolk Tov DK.

40AEFFCF-3072-4717-B70A-6D772A1E7EC7

Tara finished one Stepping Stone Sock by Clara Parkes, which is a free pattern on Ravelry.  She used Malabrigo Rios.  The single sock is a shop sample at Woolworks.

6DA38D86-F1AB-4719-965C-16360D422736

Ashley finished the March Square (cables) of her River Knits Afghan Along.

E42F14F5-A951-4C15-BCB4-83B669D927EC

What We Are Working On

Tara is working on the Amulet Shawl by Helen Stewart.  She is using Old Maiden Aunt Superwash 4 ply sock yarn in the colorway Buttermint and size 5 triangular beads, which she purchased from Lovelyarns.  Tara is using the Super Floss method to add the beads.  See this video by Laura Nelkin for more information!

C7672B1A-6621-46EA-B37C-040A1816411F

Ashley is working on the Vintage Fairy Lights Socks by Helen Stewart.  She is using the Madeline Tosh Twist Light in the Holi Festival Colorway.

Ashley casted on the Easy Peasy Socks for First Timers by Stacey Trock.  She is using Cascade Wave 220 Superwash.

BC84E6CF-4949-40B1-BBB7-0EB7540BD527

Sad Knitting Tragedies

Ashley lost a special knitting bag, her Addi size 1 needles and her casted on sock in a parking lot . . . WAAHHHH!  😦

Cozy Home

This is a new section for the podcast.  We want to share how we make our own homes cozy!

Tara shared her favorite herbal teas.

Ashley talked about the love affair with her CrockPot.  She makes soup, oatmeal, yogurt, and whole chickens in her CrockPot!  She mentioned Jamie Oliver’s Milk Chicken, find the recipe here.

Episode 010-“Everything is Awesome.”

Click here to listen to Episode 10 on iTunes!

Click here to listen to Episode 10 on Pod Bean!

_  _  _  _

Today’s stash hiding space was shared by Miss CeliesPants on Instagram.  Thank you for sharing with us, Renee!

A Bunch of Thank Yous

Since November is the month to be thankful, we would like to thank all of you who listen to our podcast.  To Amy, Karen and Brenda, the owners of Woolworks Yarn Shop in Baltimore, MD, we thank you for your continual support.  Woolworks offers a variety of yarns and fibers for every knitting occasion, including Woolfolk, Madeline Tosh, and The Fiber Company.  See woolworksbalt.com for a complete list of classes, knit alongs, and other special events, such as the Jane Spalding Ceramics Trunk Show on December 2nd from 11AM-3PM.

To Brooke of Fully Spun Yarn, we thank you for being our first ever long distance, computer screen-to-computer screen interview.  We cannot wait to get our conversation uploaded for the show.  In the meantime, listeners can check out Brooke’s beautiful yarns at fullyspun.com and see her in person December 2nd and 3rd at the Art Pop Squared Artist’s Market in Frederick, Maryland.  And, you did hear that right, listeners.  The Misadventures in Knitting Podcast will eventually include interviews!

Knit Along News

*Congratulations to the grand prize winners of the Too Much Candy Knit Along, JMazurick for the Autumnal Cowl and LMEColl for the Grand Central Socks.  We used the random number generator to select our Ravelry and Instagram winners.  In total, we had 17 gorgeous entries.  Thank you so much to all who participated!

*Our next Knit Along, The Knitters Book Club, is scheduled to begin in January 2018.  Over the course of three months, we will read “A Stash of One’s Own” by Clara Parkes and knit a project designed by one of the contributors.  We will chat about the book and ooh-and-ahh over everyone’s knitting by using Google Hang Out.  Please see the Misadventures in Knitting Ravelry group for complete information and a bundle of potential patterns.

Hot Off the Needles

Ashley finished the Unicorn Hat by Brittany Tyler Simmonds.  Ashley used Rowan Big Wool, Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, and wool roving, which Ashley made into a “fulled” yarn.

C13897DD-5510-4309-BA59-B9B76744626A

Tara finished the 6-12 month Flax Sweater by Tin Can Knits using Cascade 220 Superwash Wave in the “Seattle” colorway.

06E8A41E-D2A1-470D-AAAF-03B52173A33C

Tara also finished the Spindrift Shawl by Helen Stewart using Destination Yarns Postcard Base in the Toes in the Sand colorway.

Misadventures

Ashley has been misadventure-free while Tara has a terrible case of startitis/startosis and knitting ADD.  She wants to cast on more projects than is possible to finish!

What We are Working On

Tara is test knitting a sweater for Melissa Kemmerer in a size 6.  The sweater is called “Angel in my Tiny Pocket” and it features a small pocket along the hem with a duplicate stitch angel for the wearer to touch when they need extra energy or love.  Tara is using Jill Draper Esopus fingering weight, which has been discontinued.

D030C2AF-45EA-48D2-B9E1-15A13B972D04

Tara started the Amulet Shawl by Helen Stewart using Old Maiden Aunt Superwash Merino 4-ply in the Buttermint Colorway.  She also purchased triangular shaped beads from Lovelyarns to decorate the shawl.

Ashley has been working tirelessly on  the Ninlichik Swoncho by Caitlin Hunter using Arranmore Light by the Fibre Company.

9F8063DC-AF37-441E-AA04-4A8FCA5E1539

Ashley is also working on a pair of socks while watching “Stranger Things”.  She is using the “Upside Down” colorway by the Freckled Whimsy.

1536F51A-0B00-430F-8ED3-63A099219CF5

Tara is also working on the Surprise Party Shawl by Helen Stewart and the Wagenfeld Sweater by Ankestrick.  Tara continues to feel unsure how her husband will like this colorful sweater.

4A49B626-C202-4265-9CCC-355012557747

Imaginary Knitting

Tara is daydreaming about Helen Stewart’s “Land of Sweets” Cowl that is part of the 2017 Knitvent Collection.

Ashley is imaginary knitting her Nox Yarn Advent Mini-Skeins.  Ashley has considered Archer’s Paradox by Sweet Birch Design, Parallel Waves by Julia Marsh, and the Felicitas sweater by Maliha Designs.