Episodes
Thursday Jun 29, 2017
Episode 15 - All the Wips
Thursday Jun 29, 2017
Thursday Jun 29, 2017
Episode 15 – 6/29/17
FOs, Wips, Knitting Fail, Stash, Wearables, Tip Time, Out and About, On the Run and In the Gardenp
FOs
Maris Stella shawl – it’s finished! End aren’t woven in yet, but it’s done. Knit in Ocean View gradient kit by Birdies Knits
Wips
Green Hitchiker – Valley Yarns Greylock 100% Cashmere; approximately 90% complete. So close! I’m limiting it to 3 rows before washing my hands so the progress is sort of slow going, but it’s nearly done.
Purple Hitchiker – Cascade Ultra Pima Fine 100% Cotton in Periwinkle (but really more of a royal purple) – about 20% complete. I’ve been focusing on other projects, so not much progress on this one
Firebird – Cast on the Firebird Shawl by Romi Hill in Blue Heron yarns Egyptian Mercerized Cotton in Carnelian. On row 5 of Chart B. The beginning was fairly simple (side note – knitting fail) so I worked on this while watching the America’s Cup. Ironicaly Knitting Fail occurred after the races ended!
Empire Top – Cast on again. Figured out what the problem was last time around. For background, I’d gotten 1 extra st per inch over 4 inches so I cast on 1 size smaller to compensate for those extra few inches over my ribcage circumference. I sat down with a tape measure last week to double check my math and discovered that I’ve lost 3 inches around my ribs at 2 around my bust! No wonder the blasted top didn’t fit, I’d shrunk! I’ve been working my tail off at Physical Therapy the last 4 months and I’ve only lost 5 pounds so I hadn’t bothered to re-measure myself. Thankfully I did before I got any further on the Mommy’s Tunic pattern so I could adjust that down a size too.
Mommy’s Tunic – I finished the cable band and grafted it, then began knitting bust. As I mentioned previously, I ended up going with a smaller size. I’ve finished bust darts and split for front and back – currently working on the back panel.
Knitting Fail
Firebird 2.0 – Finished Chart A and the first few rows of Chart B and I just couldn’t get the right # of sts on the last repeat so I finally just gave up and unraveled and started again. It was so early in the process that I’m not upset – though I am now using lifelines again, lol
Stash
No actual stash, but I need to find some pink yarn. My mother-in-law saw the pink hitchhiker shawl I made for my Family og Hitchhikers project and she really liked. So I need to track down a similar color pink, if I can – alas Webs, where I bought the yarn, has been sold out of that color for the last month. I will keep looking, and I’ll check some fun yarn stores I know on Cape Cod next week. Wish me luck!
Wearables
Thoughts by Joji Locatelli, knit in Araucania’s Yumbrel a discontinued yarn in the Pastels colorway. I find myself wearing this a lot now that the weather is warm. It’s ¾ length sleeve and made in lace-weight yarn so it’s nice and light, the perfect sweater to wear to a movie theater or cool restaurant on a hot day. I’m seriously debating making another one in a very different color.
Tip Time
When picking up sts, use a smaller needle so you don’t get that baggy-looking first row of knit stitches. I try to go at least 3 sizes smaller when I can – for socks this isn’t always possible, but for garments I just grab whatever small needles are handy. Today I used a US Size 1 (2.25mm) to pick up sts on a garment I’m knitting on US Suze 6 (4mm). That’s a smaller needle than I would normally use, but I had it handy so I used it.
Out and About
Next week I’m off to visit my parents on Cape Cod and one of my favorite LYS, A Great Yarn in Chatham which is also a book store. Seriously, if they served tea or mimosas it would be the perfect store. Planning on packing my Mommy’s Tunic, the 2 hitchhikers, and maybe and old sock or the Hamilknit hat. Can’t decide if I want something else mindless, or something I want to actually work on. I know I could finish the hat and the green hitchhiker easily, and make good progress on the others which is why I’m thinking of bringing 4 projects. There’s definitely a part of me that wants to bring something new to cast on, which I just should not do, but the Second Grace sweater by Bristol Ivy is calling my name and I already have the yarn for it…. Gah! Too many choices!!!
July 20-23 off to Nashville for the Super Summer Knitogether with The Knit Girllls
August off to NS, Canada to visit family
On the Run
I graduated from Physical Therapy! Woohoo!!!! Very happy to be done. I have come so far and I feel a LOT stronger than I did 3 months ago. My abs and glutes in particular are much, much stronger which should really help when I start running again. Fingers crossed, I’m hoping to do some very simple runs next week on holiday – something like run 30 secs, walk 90 secs repeat 2-3 times. I’m starting back slooooooowly so I don’t re-injure myself.
In the Garden
First crop – sugar snap peas are ripe and delicious. Also, we debate moving the garden itself next year because our trees have grown a LOT in the past 10 years and the garden is now part shade.
Thursday Jun 22, 2017
Episode 14 - Shipping Up To Boston
Thursday Jun 22, 2017
Thursday Jun 22, 2017
Episode 14 – 6/22/17
Segments this week include Wips, Knitting Fail, Out and About, On the Run, In the Garden
Recording late this week because family was up visiting.
Wips
Lots and lots! Had car trouble and a few doctor’s appointments which means I had some extra knitting time.
Hitchhiker 1 – green Valley Yarns Greylock, 100% cashmere. About 85% complete. Can’t work a full point with the cashmere because it’s getting wider with each point, but getting a little done every day
Hitchhiker 4 – purple Cascade Ultra Pima Fine 100% cotton about 25% complete. Bringing this one as purse knitting – even knitting on an exercise bike while warming up at physical therapy
Stella Maris Shawl – gradient kit from Birdie’s Knits in the Ocean View colorway. Reached Chart 4 and color 6 of 8. Might not run out of yarn after all!
2nd Hamilknit Hat – husband’s coworker asked me to knit her one after seeing mine. She is lovely and knitworthy, so I’m about 40% done with it. And – bonus – I brought it into to Boston last Friday and she tried it on and it fit well! More on Boston later.
Mommy’s Tunic – I started the cable band weeks ago but put it down to get other stuff done. Picked it up again this week and am about 75% done. Planning on finishing it tomorrow and picking up stitches for the bodice this weekend.
Knitting Fail
Twice in the last week I’ve had to unravel/frog the Stella Maris shawl. First time was last Saturday at knitting group. I dropped a stitch while chating with a former Nashville resident about my upcoming SSK trip and didn’t notice until the next row. Had to frog 3 rows.
Got that back, was on the next-to-last row of Chart 4 and realized I’d dropped a stitch the row before. I spent 30 minutes trying to re-work it without frogging, because my last lifeline was the end of Chart 3. But no. Couldn’t quite do it. So I frogged rows 82-92. Argh! I’m back up to row 87 now and since the rows are so big I’m putting a lifeline in after every other RS row. I am not frogging 10 rows again – especially when there are only 98 rows, I was SOOOOOO close to finishing!
Out and About
Sail Boston! We went into Boston last Friday and saw many of the tall ships in town for the Sail Boston event. We started at the Aquarium (had to sneak in one last visit before our membership expired), visited my husband at his office, then walked the waterfront to see all the ships in South Boston. We even walked all the way to the huge Navy ship at Fort Point – if you know Boston, the USS Whidby Island was at the point north east of the cruise ship terminal. Yeah, my feet hurt a lot after all those miles. And yes, my PT wasn’t terribly thrilled with me.
Upcoming events:
I’ll be heading to Cape Cod to visit my parents for the 4th of July and checking out one of my favorite knitting stores, A Great Yarn in Chatham MA. It’s actually a yarn shop and book store. Be still my beating heart, it’s a perfect combination!
I’ll be attending SSK retreat by The Knit Girllls in Nashville, TN July 20-23. Very excited! I’ve never been to a knitting retreat before and I am seriously looking forward to some relaxation, classes with Ann Budd and Lee Meredith, and lots of knitting and barbecue.
In August I’ll be heading up to Nova Scotia, Canada to visit family. My Great Aunt is 103 and we haven’t been up to visit since she turned 100. Definitely time to go back and introduce Thing 2 to his cousins.
On the Run
I walked at least 7 miles in Boston last Friday, much to my physical therapist’s chagrin. But it did give us some important info. I’ve been an extreme overpronator my whole life, which means when I walk my ankles roll inward. With all the extra mobility and strengthening I suddenly found myself supinating – or having my ankles roll outward! So I’m testing walking around without my orthotic inserts and so far so good. Keep your fingers crossed. I would be so happy to be able to buy shoes and not worry about inserts any more.
In the Garden
Our first berries have ripened! We had about a dozen gooseberries. If you’ve never had a gooseberry, they’re hard to explain. They’re round and sort of greenish purple and make GREAT jam because they’re super sour. Eating them raw is an acquired taste but I grew up eating them at my grandparent’s place up in Nova Scotia. Homemade gooseberry jam is amazing.
Our blueberries are getting close to ripening and we have tons of tiny raspberries on our bushes. After the drought of the past 2 years it is so nice to have a glut of berries again.
Tomato plants on the deck have literally doubled in size this week what with all the sun. Maybe we’ll finally get some veggie garden crops soon too – all the cold rain last month stunted everything.
Tuesday Jun 13, 2017
Knitting Fail and 5K
Tuesday Jun 13, 2017
Tuesday Jun 13, 2017
Episode 13 – Knitting Fail and 5Ks - 6/13/17
Segments this week include FOs, Wips, Knitting Fail, Pattern Stalking, Out and About, On the Run, In the Garden
FOs
Pink Hitchhiker – Cascade Ultra Pima Fine in Primrose 2 skeins, 248m
Blue Hitchhiker – Cascade Ultra Pima Fine in Colonial Blue, 2 skeins 248 m
Stash Dash total: 1186 meters
Wips
Stella Maris shawl – at very end of 2nd skein, started Chart 2
Empire Top – got the criss-cross bust part done and knit together but – more to follow in Knitting Fail
Green Hitchhiker – Valley Yarns Greylock 100% cashmere, about 75% done. To the point where I can’t work on a full point at a time any more (I’m allergic to Cashmere) but I’m working on it a little each day
Cast on Purple Hitchhiker – cascade ultra pima fine in Deep Periwinkle – last in the 4 hitchhiker scarfs for my friend’s family.
Knitting Fail 4:47
Stella Maris - Started row 5 in Chart 2 and realized I’d dropped a stitch in row 3 or 4 and it had unraveled. Thankfully I’d put a lifeline in the last row of Chart 1
Empire Top – way too big!!! I got gauge, or super close – only off 1 st over 4 inches, but it’s still 2-3 inches too big. I’m going to frog it and re-start. On the up side, if I wait to re-start to the 20th of June I can participate in the Clors of Fall KAL with the Yarniacs – never had a chance to do a KAL with them before. Can you tell I’m desperately looking ofr a bright side to wasting 500m of knitting during Stash Dash?
Pattern Stalking
Nordic Yoke Set Pullover from Yarnspirations – free pattern. Thing 1 has asked my more than once to knit him a new sweater for the fall (He grew out of last year’s by January) – and since I’ll be knitting myself a colorwork sweater and his baby brother a colorwork hat, I decided to knit him a colorowk sweater too. It calls for 3 colos of DK weight. If I tweak the pattern to be 5 colors, then I have more than enough of Valley Yarns Longmeadow in my stash - a discontinued cotton/acrylic blend that is machine washable
Star Wars Doubleknit Scarf by notanicedragon – free on Ravelry. found this beauty while looking for sweater ideas for Thing 1 – I NEED TO MAKE THIS for my husband! It is absolutely perfect for him. I’ve never double knit, so I’m looking for classes. Can anyone recommend one? Craftsy must have one.
Out and About
Worldwide Knit in Public Day – knit at son’s karate class and at a farm where we took in-laws for ice cream
On the Run
I walked a 5k! Walked, not run, but it’s a start. Thing 1 has been asking to run a race with mommy and daddy, so we signed all 4 of us up for the Color Run at Gillette Stadium. Original plan was Thing 1 to run with daddy and me to push Thing 2 in the jogging stroller with a plastic rain cover to put over it during the “color” parts. Because of the sudden high heat, plans changed. Thing 1 and daddy ran 1k and then walked & rode in the footwell of the stroller about half the race but he had fun and Thing 2 had fun too, once we got moving. He hated the corrall. He even ended up green when some teenager took a handful of colored powder and threw it without looking. It went right through the stroller cover.
In the Garden
Deck plants are thriving. Garden plants still not too happy – we’re now back in the 90s again and they are not thrilled with the heat after weeks and weeks of cold rain. Fingers crossed that when temps even out later this week they decide to grow.
Tuesday Jun 06, 2017
Back in Vermont
Tuesday Jun 06, 2017
Tuesday Jun 06, 2017
Episode 12 – 6/6/17
Thank you for your patience last week – I had caught my kids’ cold and ended up with laryngitis. It is hard to record a podcast when you’ve lost your voice!
FOs, Wips, Stash, Pattern Stalking, On the Run, In the Garden, On the Road
FOs
Stash Dash has begun! Which means there are FOs!
Tanwen scarf by Thayer Preece Parker (ilikecake) in Berocco Remix, worsted weight tweed that is a silk/nylon/linen/cotton blend – pattern as written is reversible but I switched it up to make 1 full row knitting only because I rib slowly and knit very quickly so it made the pattern go faster. This is the 2nd teacher gift for Thing 1’s preschool teachers. He graduates from preschool on Friday!
Hamilknit Hat – Emily Straw from Knitting Butterflies podcast – using Schachenmayer Baby Smiles a fingering weight cotton. I love this pattern!!! Going to cast on a 2nd one soon for a person with a 2 inch bigger head - I think using the same needles and a sport-weight yarn might just do the trick
Wips
Empire Top by Lily Go – fitted tunic that crosses across the bust, fits around the rib cage and flairs out with an A-line bottom. Knitting this in Frogtree Picoboo, which is a discontinued bamboo/cotton blend. I am NEARLY done with the cross-bust part. Got a lot done while sick, which worked out well as someone contacted me on Ravelry to ask if I had extra – they had the same dye lot and ran out during an attached edging on a shawl. Was able to get far enough along to know that I would have at least a skein of leftovers, so I got that skein in the mail
Hitchhiker 3 – back to the blue hitchhiker since I’ve been healthy again, now about 75% complete. Working on this in Cascade Ultra Pima Sport
Mommy’s Tunic – I am starting a new version of my Mommy’s Tunic pattern in Juniper Moon Farm’s Neve cotton. I keep wearing my sample, which I really need to stop doing if I want to keep it for shows, but it’s soooooo comfy I need to make a version I can wear.
Stella Maris – Bought the beads and started this lovely lace-weight small shawl. It’s almost crescent shaped. Working on it in a hand-dyed gradient kit from Birdie Knits. I have the Coney Island set which gradiates from turquoise to white. Shawl starts at the center and works out – started it in the darkest color and it will work out towards the lightest. Chose this directions because I might not have quite enough yarn in the gradient kit and I have some plain white yarn leftover from my hamilknit hat that I can use to finish the edges
Stash,
Nettle Grove – cotton/linen/silk/nettle blend
Pattern Stalking
Let’s talk about Romi Hill. I’ve been drooling about her patterns for years, but never knit one. I know, it’s my loss. Being so sick last week, I spent a morning trying to find the perfect pattern for 1000 yards of variegated crimson red lace-weight yarn. After posting some thoughts/suggestions on Instagram and Twitter, Romi herself responded on twitter regarding her Firebird pattern – and if Romi, herself, says “yes”, who am I to say no? So I bought the pattern and wound the yarn, but haven’t cast on yet
On the Run
No running, but did a lot of walking this past weekend as we just spent 4 days in Burlington, VT – more on that later. Heels held up well, so I’m optimistic.
In The Garden
No gardening this past week, it’s been cold and rainy, but the previous week we got the deck plants and seeds planted. Tomatoes and peppers live on our deck as it’s sunnier than our veggie garden. Planted morning glories and nasturtiums in the pots next to the sliding glass door, where we have trellises. Planted convolvulus and cascading petunias amongst the veggies. Also planted chamomile, cilantro and basil in the herb garden.
On the Road
Just returned from 4 days in Burlington, VT. Lovely time! IT was the 15th college anniversary for my husband and I and we had a lovely time. Got to show the boys around our old college and catch up with people we hadn’t seen in years. Also, caught up with some god friends who are still in the area that we don’t get to see as often as we’d like. We stayed in a hotel with a pool, which was a HUGE hit with the boys. Also went to the Echo Center which is a fresh-water aquarium on Lake Champlain – lovely! And we went to both Magic Hat and Switchback breweries; the Champlain Valley is now full of craft breweries so that was fun! When we lived up there it was just Magic Hat.
Also – go to Church Street! Have lunch outdoors in the summer, its wonderful and very kid friendly.