Interview with Brooke of Fully Spun Yarn

Tara and Ashley interviewed Brooke Addams, the owner of Fully Spun Yarn.  Fully Spun is a unique mill-spun yarn that looks similar to handspun.  Brooke dyes wool roving in small batches and sends it to a mill to be spun.  The result is a colorful, “fractal” effect.

During the interview, Brooke shares her love of knitting and how she began dyeing her own yarn.  Brooke explains her fundraising efforts for Hurricane Harvey relief by knitting a sweater in 24 hours while live streaming on You Tube!   She also reveals a few knitting and sewing misadventures!

Find Brooke’s yarns on Etsy by clicking here.

Follow her on Instagram at IAmFullySpun.

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Episode 010-“Everything is Awesome.”

Click here to listen to Episode 10 on iTunes!

Click here to listen to Episode 10 on Pod Bean!

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

Episode 007-Knit Along With Us!

Listen to the full seventh Episode!

Click here to listen on iTunes!

Click here to listen on PodBean!

Introduction

Today’s stash hiding space was shared MarySK on Ravelry.  Thank you, Mary!

General Announcements

  1. Please share where you “store” your stash in our Ravelry group for a chance to be featured on an upcoming episode.  We are out of spaces and need your help!
  2. Our podcast will continue to air once every three weeks.  Our goal is to have a bi-weekly podcast beginning in January
  3. Knit-Along/Crochet-Along Announcement!
  • First Knit Along!  #TooMuchCandyKAL
  • September 15- November 1st  (that means it is happening right now!)
  • Knit something Halloween related.
  • Sign up and share photos in the Misadventures in Knitting Ravelry Group and on Instagram with the hashtag TooMuchCandyKAL
  • Prizes will be awarded! 1 drawing via Ravelry and 1 drawing via Instagram using the random number generator.
  • Prizes will include a handmade project bag and halloween themed hand dyed yarn!
  • Only US addresses for prizes.

Imaginary Knitting

Tara’s imaginary knitting is the World’s Simplest Mittens by Tin Can Knits.  She will use this pattern for a class at Woolworks.  She wants to make a garland of mittens for the 12 days of Christmas and has Jill Draper Hudson, Neighborhood Fiber Company Studio Worsted, and Madeline Tosh Vintage scraps set aside

Ashley wants to make the Wishmaker Mitts by Erica Heussler and the Bobble Cowl by Joji Locatelli.  She also has an imaginary project that she think would be better classified as a Sad Knitting Tragedy!

Hot Off the Needles

Tara finished the Caragh Sweater by Laura Nelkin.  The sweater is knit side-to-side, has a boxy fit, side cable panels, and an optional cabled cowl.  Tara tested this pattern and found it to be clearly written and interesting to knit.  Here is a link to Tara’s project page.

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What We Are Working On

Ashley is working on the Brighton Plaid by Eclectic Gipsyland.  She feels a break is needed because of the shift in weather.

Ashley swatched for the Campside Cardigan.

Ashley started the Festive Sheep Ornament by Jennifer Dickerson, which is a free crochet pattern on Ravelry.  She was inspired by Aquilla da Hun, of the Lefty Knitter Podcast. She finished all of the pieces and just needs to sew them together.

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Finally, Ashley has joined the underarms of the Children’s Neck Down Cardigan.

Tara is knitting the Exploration Station by Stephen West using Yarn Hygge by Lis Barsuglia-Madsen.

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Tara is knitting the Barley Hat by Tin Can Knits for an upcoming class at Woolworks.  She is using  Madeline Tosh Vintage.

Misadventures

Tara purchased the new Chirstmas colorway by Gynx Yarn!  “Cheers” is a green self-striping sock yarn with different colors representing holiday beverages.

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Ashley loves themes and self-striping yarn!  Freckled Whimsy had a Stranger Things themed self-striping yarn update and Ashley was able to snag a skein!

Ashley also purchased a 2 ply BFL yarn from Brooke of Fully Spun, who recently had a trunk show at Woolworks.  This yarn has a hand-spun look.

Sad Knitting Tragedies

Moths found their way into Tara’s finished sweaters!  Oh no!  Her plan is to wash, block, store in plastic baggies, and expose to both cold and heat to prevent further contamination.

Ashley has a serious case of startosis and has spent many evenings winding yarn!  She wound yarn for the Koi Pond Shawl by Casapinka but has not yet cast on.  The yarn looks at her every night, waiting.

Ashley cast on the Whitman Hat with Woolfolk SNO but found this yarn was not a good match for the pattern.

Question of the Day

Q:  “How do you become a test-knitter?”

A:  When a designer has an item to be tested, they will often ask for help on Instagram or in their Ravelry group.  “Testing Pool” and “Free Pattern Testers” are two Ravelry groups specifically for designers to find testers.  Designers will often post a sneak-peak picture, a supply list, a deadline and a questionairre about the pattern.  Designers like to see that you take pictures of your finished objects and share on Ravelry and Instagram.  As you work through the pattern, you update the designer on your progress and if there are any errors or concerns about the pattern.  Some designers encourage a lot of chatter too, which is always fun.  Testing is generally unpaid and done for the love of knitting and the desire to support a particular designer.