Episode 005-As one Stashes, the Other Destashes

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Where Do You Hide Your Stash?

This week’s stash hiding spot was shared by Mrs. ScubaFish on Ravelry, who knows how to turn a dropped ceiling into a secret yarn bunker!  Mrs. ScubaFish, we found your knowledge of drop ceilings to be absolutely hilarious!  Thank you for contributing to our podcast!

Listeners, please tell us where you hide your stash in the Misadventures in Knitting Ravelry group!  We may share your secret in an upcoming episode!

A Special Announcement

We are hosting our first ever knit-along, the Too Much Candy KAL!  The KAL will run from September 15th-November 1st.  The only rule is that you knit something Halloween related.  We will create a “bundle” in our Ravelry group to help generate ideas if you are feeling stuck.  “Double dipping” is allowed!  Please share progress and finished objects photos in our Ravelry Group and on Instagram using the hashtag, #TooMuchCandyKAL.  Prizes will be awarded!

Hot Off the Needles

Tara finished the Fluid Slouchy Beanie by Karen MaCall.  She used Knitty and Color’s Dubstep DK in the Supernova colorway.  This hat features a double brim and a nice slouchy fit.

Tara completed the Gearhart Hat by Lori Wagner using Neighborhood Fiber Company’s Subte Worsted (discontinued) in the Kalorama Circle colorway.  The seed stitch diamond pattern is reversible and can be worn inside out.

Tara finished the Kobuk Hat by Caitlin Hunter.  She held two strands of yarn together: Hedgehog Fiber’s DK in the Salty Tales colorway and Shibui Silk Cloud in the Tar Colorway, giving it a soft halo.  Bobbles decorate this hat.

Finally, Tara finished the Marin Shawl by Ysolda Teague.  This shawlette is knit side-to-side and features garter stitch and a unique cabled border that imitates the look of bow ties.  She used Jill Draper Makes Stuff Hoosic (discontinued) in the Raspberry Beret colorway.

Ashley has been very busy with home improvements.  Knitting had to take the back seat while she painted her entire first floor!

What We Are Working On

Ashley is chugging along on her Brighton Plaid crochet blanket by Eclectic Gipsyland. She is using Madeline Tosh Light Unicorn Tails and Neighborhood Fiber Company Rustic Fingering.   Ashley is also doing some finishing for customers at Woolworks.

Ashley took a Foundation Paper Piecing class at Domesticity Studio, our local fabric store.  She made a quilt square designed by Happy Sew Lucky on Etsy.  The quilt square features two birds in flight with the word “HOPE” between them.  This is Ashely’s new favorite thing!

Tara is working on the Exploration Station shawl by Stephen West.  She ran into trouble with the brioche section and after months of questioning, decided to rip back and redo it.  Now the shawl is up and running again!  Tara is using the Merino-Silk-Yak (60-20-20 blend from Yarn Hygge, aka Scandinavian Weave and Knit.  The finished shawl will be used as a display item at fiber festivals.

A few weeks ago, Tara took a beginning soap making class at Soap Studio Brookside in Binghamton, New York.  The class was a lot of fun and Tara hopes to continue soap making at home.  For Christmas gifts this year, Tara will give handmade soap and washcloths to her friends and family.  Tara is following the Picot-Edge Washcloth pattern by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas.

Misadventures

Tara visited Lis Barsuglia-Madsen of Yarn Hygge and Scandinavian Weave and Knit at a craft fair in Blue Mountain Lake, New York.  She purchased a beautiful hand-woven purse and enough yarn to create two Thick and Thin Shawlettes designed by Lis herself.  Tara chose a single ply merino DK weight and a Brushed Kid Mohair Silk laceweight for the shawl.

Tara took a trip to Adirondack Yarns in Lake Placid.  She bought a sweater quantity of Sprited Fibers Fingering in the Licorice colorway and a gradient set of Koigu to make the “Free Your Fade” Shawl by Andrea Mowry.  Tara had a lot of fun visiting the shop and chatting with the owner, Sue.

Ashley had much different misadventures!  Ashley is continuing her yarn diet and plans to destash some her skeins, although it is hard to make the break.

Ashley is participating in the Stash Dash challenge.  Currently, she has finished around 1200 meters.

Ep 002- How the (Mis)Adventures Began

Ep 002 – How the (Mis)Adventures Began

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What we are Working On:

Tara finished the All Ways Cowl by Laura Nelkin, which was the September shipment for the Lola’s Choice Club.  Yarn is Mrs. Crosby Train Case in the Toucan Colorway.

Ashley finished the Susan B. Anderson Smooth Operator Socks for her husband. She used Regia 4-ply Arne and Carlos 03760.

Tara is working on the Joji Locatelli Mystery Wrap/Starting Point Wrap.  She is nervously playing a game of yarn chicken with colorway #3!  If you want to see pictures of the work-in-progress, click here.

Tara is also working on the Diplodocus sweater by Kate Oates of Tot Toppers with Neighborhood Fiber Company Studio Worsted and Jill Draper Hudson.

Ashley is working on the ever-popular Find Your Fade by Andrea Mowry.

Ashley is also working on the Confluence Shawlette by Sivia Harding using Fibre Company Meadow, one of Ashley’s favorite yarns of all time.  She is adding Toho size 6 beads from Koala Beads on Etsy.

Imaginary Knitting:

Tara is lusting after the Creatrix by Laura Nelkin.  She purchased Fibre Company Meadow from Woolworks and copper Miyuki beads from Lovelyarns.

Ashley wants to do a series of fingering weight brioche hats as Christmas gifts.  She is also loving the look of Lee Meredith’s Holm and Barry hats.  Ashley wants to knit the Pink Poodle Scarves by Morehouse Designs for her nieces.  She also likes Carol Sunday’s Milano, which she could knit with yarn from stash.

Misadventures:

Tara is knitting so much that she punctured a small hole on her pointer finger!  She is too lazy to get a bandaid.  She also dealt with yarn b-a-r-f when knitting the Joji Mystery Wrap and channeled Ashley while re-winding it.

Ashley had to redo the kitchener on her Smooth Operator Sock.  She also knit one leg 1/4 inch longer than the other!

Ashley cast on the Mix Tape Sock by Abbi Grasso.  She is struggling with the gauge and had to reknit many times.  Yarn can be found on Abbi’s Etsy Site.  Ashley made a beautiful pair of Christmas Socks with Abbi’s yarn a few years ago.

What We are Wearing:

For several days in a row, Tara wore the Lisbon Pullover by Misa Erder, also known as Craftivore on Ravelry.  She also wore the Recoleta by Joji Locatelli.

Ashley wore the Hedera Socks by Cookie A.  She also wore 5 by Ann Weaver.

How it All Began:  How did we learn to knit?

• How Ashley Began (in her words):

I tried to learn how to knit in HS, but it really didn’t stick. I had great plans of knitting myself a cozy scarf for an upcoming trip to Minnesota. Well, I just made a swatch.

Fast forward 5 years later, to 2001: I was really ready to learn! I had just graduated college and wanted to learn a practical skill set, after studying art so intensely. I took several group classes at my LYS, A Good Yarn, which has since closed. I learnt German Continental and didn’t completely fall in love with the craft until 2008, right before my son was born. (When I discovered I liked wool yarn, especially hand dyed.)

My mother helped me finish a sweater (Sunnyside Up Hoody– a free pattern from Lion Brand) for my son that I started the day before he was born!  I was in full on NESTING mode. She could read a pattern better than I could!

The first REAL project that I completed was a hat (Amy’s Basket Weave hat) for my son.  I used Koigu from my LYS, Woolworks. I came in with my child and my friend. One of the owners, Amy, helped me choose yarn and needles. I was reassured I had the skills to make this hat.

• How Tara Began (in her words):

*Handwork on both sides of the family. Mother always crocheted chevron blankets. Father had a wood shop in the basement where he made furniture, canoes, and musical instruments, such as guitars. Maternal grandmother always knit—made me a grey raglan pullover with a big red heart in the middle. School colors.

*Late 90s, learned to crochet in college while watching the early days of the Daily Show and Strangers with Candy. Made a huge double crochet blanket with red heart yarn.

*While finishing up college, signed up for an Intro to Tapestry weaving in a fit of senioritis with a group of friends. Ended up really enjoying the class and made a Navajo style bag on a lap loom. Instructor was passionate about yarns and weaving, my first introduction to the fiber world. We all thought he was crazy to travel to Maryland for some sort of yarn festival.

*2012, husband said I needed a hobby and purchased a Groupon for Lovelyarns. Took a class with Mary, who was an excellent teacher.  The rest is history!

Upcoming Events:

Knit in Public Day:  Saturday, June 10th

Stash Dash:  May 26th-August 20th, hosted by the KnitGirllls

Tour de Fleece:  Begins July 6th

Wrap-Up:

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