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
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 is also working on a pair of socks while watching “Stranger Things”. She is using the “Upside Down” colorway by the Freckled Whimsy.
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.
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.
Are you interested in sponsoring our podcast? We would love to hear from you! Please email us at misadventuresinknitting@gmail.com
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Introduction:
Today’s stash hiding space was shared by Lil Dead Girl on Ravelry. Thank you for contributing, Alissa!
A special nod to Boston Jen of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. We love listening to your inspiring show and we look forward to meeting you in November!
The Too Much Candy Knit Along and Crochet Along!
*began Sept 15 and will run thru November 1st, 2017.
*Knit or crochet something halloween related.
*Share photos in our Ravelry group and/or on Instagram with #toomuchcandyKAL
*Enter to win awesome prizes! Two Halloween project bags (sewn by the talented Ashley) and two skeins of halloween themed yarn are up for grabs!
*Prizes will be awarded using the random number generator. One chosen from Instagram and the other from Ravelry.
*US addresses only for prizes.
Handmade Bag by Ashley
Miss Babs on Left and Magnolia Jen on Right
Hot Off the Needles
Tara tested the North Bend Hat by Lori Wagner. This hat, which features a beautiful cabled panel, will be available for purchase on Ravelry in mid-November. Lori designed this for A Yarn Less Raveled, a yarn store in Northern California. Tara knit a size small with YOTH Father in the Poppyseed Colorway.
Tara finished three Barley Hats by Tin Can Knits. She used this pattern to teach a “Knit Your First Hat” class at Woolworks. Tara knit a child size (in Madeline Tosh Vintage colorway Glazed Pecan) and two adult small sizes (one in Madeline Tosh Vintage colorway Jasper and the other in Plucky Cachet Small Batch colorway #25).
Ashley finished the Plicate Hat by Hunter Hammersen using Woolfolk SNO. Ashley found this hat to be very enjoyable and recommends the pattern and the yarn, which is incredibly soft. Ashley warns that a swatch is necessary for success with this pattern! Her hat will be on display at Woolworks in Baltimore, MD.
Lastly, Ashley is crocheting Outlander by Lily Go. Ashley is learning to read a crochet chart and she finds this pattern to be very clear. She is using Spirit Trail Fibers Sunna that she purchased at Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. She is using beads from Jubili Beads and Yarn in Collingswood, NJ.
In this photo, you can see the Voolenvine in the background and the Spirit Trail Fibers in the front. Ashley has decided to use the Spirit Trail Fibers for this pattern.
Tara is teaching a “Knit Your First Mitten” class at Woolworks and was inspired by The World’s Simplest Mitten pattern by Tin Can Knits. She is making a Christmas garland using a modified infant size with Jill Draper Hudson. She is also knitting a Child size with Cascade 220 Sport in the Punk Colorway for her son River and the Adult Small size for her son Leo using the Rainbow colorway. (Note, this picture was taken one week after recording.)
Tara is working on the Exploration Station by Stephen West and is nearing the end! She had a “knitting high-five!” moment when she started the final section and had exactly the number of stitches required, 455! Yeah! (Note, these photos are of the finished object and were taken one week after recording.)
Tara gave an update on the moth outbreak in her finished sweater bin. She washed and reblocked five sweaters and multiple accessories. She hopes the moths find somewhere else to live.
Totally Tubular Techniques (and not just the cast-on)!
Tara and Ashley have created a new rotating topic for the podcast called “Totally Tubular Techniques”. Our goal for this section is to make challenging knitting techniques more accessible for all. We hope to inspire confidence in our listeners. Today, our topic is lace knitting but we will eventually cover other advanced techniques, such as colorwork, sweater knitting and brioche (to name a few). Please contribute to our discussion by visiting the Misadventures in Knitting Ravelry Group. You may have ideas that we did not address. We would love to hear from you!
Early on, Ashley and Tara struggled with lace knitting and found it very difficult. They both tried the Ishbel Shawl by Ysolda Teague and initially could not complete it. So, they warmed up to lace by trying other patterns first. Tara knit the Multnomah by Kate Ray and the Traveling Woman by Liz Abinante. Ashley adventured into lace by completing the Monkey Sock and the Pomatomus Sock by Cookie A. She also knit the Twisting Ladders Hat by Corinna Rogers. Ashley’s first charted lace pattern was 198 Yards of Heaven by Christy Verity.
For success with lace, Tara and Ashley recommend you:
Print the pattern and use a hard copy vs. a smart phone or computer screen.
Familiarize yourself by skimming through the pattern before casting on.
Read through the completed projects on Ravelry to see if anyone offered tips or advice in the summary.
Become “friends” with the chart. Charts are actually quite easy to read once you understand how they work. In general, you will need to:
Start from the bottom right hand corner and read right to left (opposite of how we normally read a book).
Pay close attention to the stitch symbols and read the glossary.
Learn about new-to-you stitches on YouTube by doing a quick search.
Use the following knitting notions
highlighter tape (to keep track of where you are in the chart and the pattern)
stitch markers (to place in between each pattern repeat)
Experiment with sharp needle tips.
Start simple and then work your way into more complicated designs.
During the podcast, Ashley and Tara mentioned the following patterns:
Tara is feeling challenged by her new hobby of sewing. She is concerned about how to finish and care for her projects, such as the Farrow Dress, the Lark Tee, and the Willow Tank by Grainline Studio.
Ashley made the Grab Bag by All People Quilt, a Japanese style dumpling bag. This pattern is free if you sign up on the website. Ashley is giving the bag away as part of the #toomuchcandykal! See photo above.
Ashley and her son, William, made the “Roll-it-up!” pillowcase together! This pattern is also from All People Quilt. William is incredibly proud of his first sewing experience!
Ashley finished the Cleo Skirt, a Made by Rae pattern. Ashley participated in a sew-along with our awesome local fabric shop, Domesticity.
Lastly, Ashley finished Butterick B6453, a princess seamed dress. Ashley chose a cute black-and-white polka dot fabric for the project. This dress has a zipper and pockets. She put in a lining and hand-stitched the hem! Wow!
Today’s stash hiding space was shared MarySK on Ravelry. Thank you, Mary!
General Announcements
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!
Our podcast will continue to air once every three weeks. Our goal is to have a bi-weekly podcast beginning in January
Knit-Along/Crochet-Along Announcement!
First Knit Along! #TooMuchCandyKAL
September 15- November 1st (that means it is happening right now!)
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.
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 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.
Tara purchased the new Chirstmas colorway by Gynx Yarn! “Cheers” is a green self-striping sock yarn with different colors representing holiday beverages.
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.
(mis)adventures in knitting 