Episode 78: The Great Sock Rescue!

Another mid-week post! More Show Notes to come ...


Off the Needles: 

Audrey in Unst - Knit Picks / Gloss DK / Velveteen

Episode 77: Loopy Groupie!

Apologies for the serious delay in getting this episode up — it's been a busy one as usual! Also, I'm really starting to dislike the word "busy".

Alas, I'm home sick today, so I finally have time to post! Nothing serious — I thought I had really bad allergies, but it's more like a congestive cold. No worries, I should be in better shape tomorrow.

On the up-side, I got to cast on my Vivian cardigan, which I'll talk about in the next episode of YarnGasm. Super excited about it!

Anywho, here's a rundown of notes from Episode 77:

Off the Needles:

• Improv BFF socks: Instead of purchasing the pattern, I guessed it!
• Audrey in Unst Cardigan: Still need to add buttons! Stay tuned for photos

On the Needles: 

• Breezy Cardigan: Not feeling the love. Contemplating frogging the whole thing. 
• Vanilla Anniversary / Birthday socks for Dennis: Three Irish Girls, Adorn Socks in "Collins" 
• Vanilla Zombie BBQ socks: Lorna's Laces, Shepherd Sock. Halfway done with sock #2!

Stash Enhancements: 

I'm officially a Loopy Groupie! I ordered two skeins of Malabrigo Baby Silkpaca Lace in "Pearl Ten" and "Damask" and US 8 Red Lace Chiaogoo circular needles. As a bonus, they threw in a Loopy Ewe Project tote and an extra skein of Lorna's Laces, Shepherd Sock in Patina!

Episode 76: Cat's Out Of the Bag

The part where my memory royally FAILS me .... Yarn Swift!!!! It's called a yarn swift!!!

On the Needles: 

My rendition of Cookie A.'s BFF sock / BMFA, STR, Lightweight in "A Little Dab'll Do Ya"
Audrey In Unst Cardigan / Knit Picks, Gloss DK in "Velveteen"

More Show notes soon ...

Episode 75: Vampires & Historical Dramas

Sorry guys, no show notes this week ... BUT, here's a link to the Seafood Paella I made for Cinco de Mayo! (Note: I cut the recipe in half, used Minute Brown Rice, Shrimp and Mussels only - perfect for two + lotsa leftovers!)

No show next week, as I'll be away on vacation. Here's a sneak-peak at my in-flight entertainment:

Yarn: BMFA, STR Lightweight in, "A Little Dab'l Do Ya"

 

In-Flight Entertainment: Improv. BFF Socks ala Cookie A.

Episode: 74 - "Zen, Like That"

Show notes coming soon!

Hope everyone's having a great weekend :)

In Other News: 
I baked beer bread! Super easy to make, and quite delicious. (link to recipe)

Episode 73: Grammar Lessons

House Keeping Notes:

I made my own mic stand using nothing but a wire hanger! Check out this handy tutorial.

Off the Needles:

Flannery Socks by Spilly Jane — Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR Lightweight "Blecker"

On the Needles:
Vanilla Sock #2 — Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock "Zombie BBQ"
Breezy Cardigan by Hannah Fettig — Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR Lightweight "Blecker"
Designing a sock pattern w/ Knitty or Nice's hand-dyed Pink Elephant


Spinning:

Hanks In the Hood Navajo plied on the WooLee Winder / 70 oz fingering / DK weight self striping center pull "Happy" 100% Merino Wool 4.1oz

Trindle - Carbon Fiber Micro Trindle / Laceweight Garnet spheres

Gourmet Stash (note to self: pronounced, "Punee", not "Puniss") Punee-Style Rolags Sampler / Luck of the Fryrish

Using it to spin natural BFL roving for "Dyer's Notebook" Dye-Along. Still have to choose a hi-res photo to submit to the DAL thread.

Trindle and Gourmet Stash Punis Sampler

Episode 72: "Party Up Front, Business In Back"

Happy spring, every body! I couldn't be more psyched to see this cold weather go ... although that pretty much means putting the hand-knit sweaters, hats, mittens, scarves, etc. away.  Never the less, the knitting continues!

Apologies again for being a no-show last week. It's slightly hectic times in my life at the moment. But I'm back this week to catch you up on what's happening on my needles.


On the Needles:

Flannery Socks

• Flannery Sock #2 by Spilly Jane — Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR Lightweight "Blecker"
• Vanilla Sock #2 — Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock "Zombie BBQ"
• Breezy Cardigan by Hannah Fettig — Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR Lightweight "Blecker"
• Stitch markers I'm using are from Winemakerssister.etsy.com

Sadly, I've fallen out of love knitting both:

Cambridge Cardigan — Knit Picks Wool Of the Andes Worsted "Cobblestone Heather"
Saroyan Shawl — Malabrigo Twisted "Stone Chat"

Spinning:

Hanks In the Hood self striping center pull "Happy" 100% Merino Wool 4.1oz

Finished spinning and plying on 4/7/13 - fingering / DK 70g

WooLee Winder: Still getting used to using it. Using it to spin natural BFL roving for "Dyer's Notebook" Dye-Along. Still have to choose a hi-res photo to submit to the DAL thread.
Still waiting for my Trindle to come in the mail. It may or may not have gotten lost along the way. I contacted the shop owner and if it doesn't come by this weekend, they said they'll kindly send me another.

GIVEAWAYS!

Eastwitching Whimsical Watercolour Animals by Alison Fennell - Set of 2 Prints
 WINNER: #41 - ChainOfFools
Gourmet Stash Bon Bons, Mini Bats "Fibery Tribbles"
WINNER: #16 - Gidgettm

Congrats to you both and BIG thanks to Alison and Kate! :D

Episode 71: Wall O' Sheep

Off the Needles: 

• Flannery Sock #1 by Spilly Jane — Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR Lightweight "Blecker"

On the Needles:

• Vanilla Sock #2 — Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock "Zombie BBQ"
• Cambridge Cardigan — Knit Picks Wool Of the Andes Worsted "Cobblestone Heather"
• Saroyan Shawl — Malabrigo Twisted "Stone Chat"

On the Wheel:

• Hanks In the Hood self striping center pull "Happy" 100% Merino Wool 4.1oz

• WooLee Winder: Still getting used to using it. Using it to spin natural BFL roving for "Dyer's Notebook" Dye-Along. Still have to choose a hi-res photo to submit to the DAL thread.

GIVEAWAYS!

Eastwitching Whimsical Watercolour Animals by Alison Fennell - Set of 2 Prints
(Enter Here)
Gourmet Stash Bon Bons, Mini Bats "Fibery Tribbles"
(Enter Here)

Greetings From Poang Pattern published! Available to download via Ravelry

Episode 70: Grub & Grog

Happy St. Patrick's Day! It's also officially a year since I started vidcasting! If you're interested, here is the very
Cupcakes
Irish Coffee

Dennis recording with band - enjoying alone time

Off the Needles:

• Rivercat Socks - Blue Moon Fiber Arts, STR Lightweight in "The Green That Sings"

On the Needles:

• Saroyan / Malabrigo Twist in "Stone Chat"
• Vanilla Socks - Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in "Zombie BBQ"
• Flannery Socks - Blue Moon Fiber Arts, STR Lightweight in "Blecker"

Spinning:

Hanks in the Hood, center pull "Happy"

Greenwood Fiberworks - Roving

DAL / Laura from "The Dyer's Notebook"

Judith MacKenzie, "Popular Wheel Mechanics"
Interweave download
Great, Loads of valuable info, but definitely need to watch it over again

Respect the Spindle by Abby Franquemont

What's On Netflix: 

• Weeds, New Season 8 episodes!!!
• Pretty Little Liars
• Vampire Diaries

Irish Coffee Recipe:

• Simple syrup to taste (2 parts sugar diluted in 1 part boiling water)
• 2 parts Irish Whiskey to 1 part hot coffee (or to taste)
• Float chilled Bailey's Irish Cream-infused cream on top (1 cup heavy cream, 1 small bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream, whipped and chilled)

More Floss and Fiber

Knitting, spinning, my short-lived embroidery stint, stitch marker-making ...  how long is my craft resume going to get?

Today, it just got a little longer, my friends.

Cross stitch.

I know. I know. "ANOTHER CRAFT ENDEAVOR?!" You yelp.

Please, allow me to explain.

Our home.
We've been living in it for a little over a year now.
It feels like a home, but it is in desperate need of wall art.
While investing in pretentious, high-end art is a very loose pipe dream of mine, I've got better things to spend my hard-earned cash on (ahem - yarn, roving, pretty dresses, Etsy, supporting fellow crafters!)

Also, if there is but one more bit of decor in our home that screams, "IKEA" I am going to scream!

So, what better solution than to take matters into my own hands and turn to cross stitch?!

I was actually inspired by Carin from 'Round the Twist vidcast. She has a new segment called Pokey Things, in which she discusses her cross stitchery. I thought, "That's a cool craft, I'd like to try that someday, but I think I'm good with knitting and spinning for now."

You'd think I was in control of my creative whims and exploits, but in passing by the bathroom door the other day (like I do) I thought it looked a little blank.

You can probably guess what happened. I thought, "How cool would a framed cross-stitched-something look hanging on that door?!"

So, today I splurged on some cross stitch materials and have been browsing the Etsy for some potential cross stitch patterns.

Stay tuned for more progress on that!

In other news ...

I received my fiber from Greenwood Fiberworks!!! That lovely bit o' business up there is in her "Emily" colorway.

Yes, let the fiber addiction floodgates open! I have a fiber addiction! I admit it!

!!!!!

Not only is her fiber gorgeous, the packaging is too! I love it when sellers put a little "extra" something into their packaging. It just makes it that much more special. Just saying. ;)

KALxo