Episodes
Monday Jun 05, 2023
117 - Bring On The Rain
Monday Jun 05, 2023
Monday Jun 05, 2023
Ep 117 recorded 6/5/23
Back from break, had wrist surgery
WIPs
Socks for Thing 1 – turned the heel (again!)
Davit finished the body and blocked! I need to seam the shoulders and hopefully I’ll be able to knit sleeves soon because I am SOOOO CLOSE
Find Your Fade designed by Andrea Mowry, knit in Midori Bamboo from The Fiber Lady in a discontinued colorway, plus cotton/bamboo sportweight from Great Adirondack Yarn Co. I’m nearly back to the 2nd lace section after the Knitting Fail from last episode
Tanwen cowl (Ravelry)– designed by Thayer Preece Parker. I finished the knitting and blocked it!
I have tried a tiny bit of knitting since the surgery. I’ve knit a total of 3 rows on my latest Hitchhiker in Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball. It’s a fuzzy yarn in a garter stitch pattern, so gauge does not matter. Which is good, because I’m not getting gauge at all ha ha
Knitting Fail
More drama with Thing 1’s socks – I was on the third version of these blasted socks.
Spinning
Finished spinning the green fiber from Buchanan Fiber after the surgery. Orders were to move my fingers 10 times per hour so I decided to be productive. Plied on my Lendrum to give that wrist a break and have 933 yards 3-ply heavy fingering.
Startes some old, cheap cotton. Not my favorite to spin, but it spins thicker than most cottons, so I’m planning a 4-ply DK and I’m going yo dye it. 1 bobbin done, bought several new bobbins from Etsy
Started purple silk that I bought at Wayland Farm and Fiber Days
Started bamboo/faux cashmere blend bought from the now-closed Maine Top Mill
On the Run
Finally started exercising again this past week. Went for a 1.5 mile walk around the block and really enjoyed it.
I’ve Got Sunshine
Rain on the Nova Scotia fires!
Sunday Apr 30, 2023
116 - All The Fails
Sunday Apr 30, 2023
Sunday Apr 30, 2023
Ep 115 recorded 4/30/23 All the Fails
WIPs
Socks for Thing 1 – I turned the heel and ran into trouble, more on that later.
Davit designed for Berroco by Amy Palmer, knit using Silk Noir by Great Adirondack Yarn Co bought at Rhinebeck last year. I finished one side’s short rows and all I have left to do is the other side’s short rows and sew the back edges to the shoulders. So close!
Find Your Fade designed by Andrea Mowry, knit in Midori Bamboo from The Fiber Lady in a discontinued colorway, plus cotton/bamboo sportweight from Great Adirondack Yarn Co.
Tanwen cowl (Ravelry)– designed by Thayer Preece Parker. This is the prize for the Knit For Food Knitathon winner. I’m working it up in Lana Grossa Elastico, a plant-based yarn with elastic in it so it works cables beautifully.
Summer Happiness Crochet Top designed by Concept Creative in Scheepjes Whirl in the color Sherbert Rainbow, a pastel rainbow from pink to blue.
Knitting Fail
Thing 1’s socks -so proud of myself turning the heel walking from the Washington Monument to the Capitol Building when I realized the sock didn’t look right. I’d grabbed the wrong needles! I meant to use US 2 (2.75mm) but I grabbed US 1s (2.25mm).
Tanwen – I worked on this a lot riding the DC Metro and while driving with friends to the Air and Space Museum out at Dulles, the one with Space Shuttle Discovery. This pattern is an 8-row repeat that is easy to memorize, but the cable pattern is tight. It’s easy to think, oh, the next right side row is the cable row, it doesn’t need a cable yet. Wrong, it is the cable row, rip it back.
Summer Happiness – I’m on the 3rd of 4 repeats that make up this top and at this point the rows are getting long. And while on the train to DC I finished one row and got nearly to the end of a second when I realized that I had screwed up way back near the beginning of the previous row. And it wasn’t a mistake I could fudge around, there weren’t enough holes in the resulting fabric to place all the next row’s stitches. So I had to rip back alllllll my work. Grrrrr.
Spinning
More progress on my current spin, some beautiful green lightly-speckled cotton from Buchanan Fiber. I brought my Nano2 on the trian on our visit to DC. It worked like a charm! I finished the 2nd bobbin and as of today I’m nearly done with the 3rd. I hope to finish it this week.
On the Run
We walked soooooooo many miles in Washington DC – 9 miles alone our first full day!
Out and About – upcoming Fiber Events around New England
NH Sheep and Wool – May 13 & 14
MA Sheep and Woolcraft Fair - May 27-28, Memorial Day Weekend
Maine Fiber Frolic – June 3 & 4
I’ve Got Sunshine
As I’ve mentioned several times, we went to Washington DC last week for school vacation. What I didn’t say is that one of my childhood besties lives down there. We got to hang out at least a little every day and it was marvelous. She and I even snuck away for dinner one night, leaving all the kids with our husbands, and we got a little girl time in <3 and it was marvelous!
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
113 - Marching On
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
Ep 113 recorded 3/16/23 Marching On
Welcome back! I just had a statistic pop up telling me that 2 days ago was my 6th podiversary. Wow!
Knit For Food Knitathon
I’m back for a 3rd year – can you please donate $5? No one deserves to be hungry.
WIPs
Songe d’été – Ravelry Link (Summer Dreams) designed by Dreaming In Chocolate Designs, knit using Linea Pura Unico yarn by Lana Grossa (discontinued).
Davit designed for Berroco by Amy Palmer, knit using Silk Noir by Great Adirondack Yarn Co
Summer Happiness Crochet Top designed by Concept Creative in Scheepjes Whirl in the color Sherbert Rainbow
Find Your Fade designed by Andrea Mowry, knit in Midori Bamboo from The Fiber Lady in a discontinued colorway, plus cotton/bamboo sportweight from Great Adirondack Yarn Co.
Knitting Fail
Really, a crochet fail. My brain has been a sieve and I kept screwing up the Summer Happiness top. It’s a problem with me, not with the pattern.
Spinning
More progress on my current spin, some beautiful green lightly-speckled cotton from Buchanan Fiber. Unfortunately, Buchanan Fiber closed a year or two ago which is sad because I love their cotton slivers.
On the Run
Adult ballet class, so much fun. Students from 30 to 84!
Out and About – upcoming Fiber Events around New England
CT Sheep and Wool - April 29
NH Sheep and Wool – May 13 & 14
MA Sheep and Woolcraft Fair - May 27-28, Memorial Day Weekend
Stitches @ Home – April 1&2
Maine Fiber Frolic – June 3 & 4
I’ve Got Sunshine
I bought ballet slippers for class and it was the same store I shopped at as a kid in the 1990s. So excited to find them still open and doing business. Shout out to Dancer’s Drawer in Attleboro, MA.
Wednesday Mar 01, 2023
112 Back from a Break
Wednesday Mar 01, 2023
Wednesday Mar 01, 2023
Ep 112 recorded 3/1/23 Back from a Break
Hey all, long time no talk. I’d planned to take a few weeks off and it just… stretched. The truth is I’d lost my mojo, not in podcasting but in knitting, and it’s really hard to run a knitting podcast when you’re hardly knitting.
WIPs
Songe d’été – Ravelry Link (Summer Dreams) designed by Dreaming In Chocolate Designs, knit using Linea Pura Unico yarn by Lana Grossa (discontinued)
Davit designed for Berroco by Amy Palmer, knit using Silk Noir by Great Adirondack Yarn Co
Frog Princess Dress Blanket by Carol Hladik, a Princess Tiana-inspired blanket crocheted using Joann’s Big Twist acrylic yarn.
Summer Happiness Crochet Top designed by Concept Creative in Scheepjes Whirl in the color Sherbert Rainbow
Knitting Fail
Summer Dreams had a big setback while I was in Florida.
Spinning
I brought my Nano 2 from Dreaming Robots to Florida with me. I love it!
On the Run
I hit a major milestone on Monday, I swam MORE than 1/3 of a mile! I swam 650 yards (594m).
Out and About – upcoming Fiber Events around New England
Farm and Fiber Days at Wayland Winter Farmer’s Market is March 5, this Sunday at Russell’s Garden Center in Wayland, MA.
CT Sheep and Wool - April 29
NH Sheep and Wool – May 13 & 14
MA Sheep and Woolcraft Fair - May 27-28, Memorial Day Weekend
Stitches @ Home – April 1&2
Maine Fiber Frolic – June 3 & 4
Knit For Food Knitathon
I’m back for a 3rd year – can you please donate $5? No one deserves to be hungry.
I’ve Got Sunshine
We went to Florida last week for school vacation and basically spent the week hanging out at my in-law’s pool and playing board games It was super relaxing and the rest we all needed.
Saturday May 21, 2022
110 Kids and Pets
Saturday May 21, 2022
Saturday May 21, 2022
Ep 110 recorded 5/18/22
Segments this week include: Wips, Knitting Fail, Out and About, and I’ve Got Sunshine. A note on showlinks – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such and all links for yarn are directly to the dyer’s website.
WIPs
As You Wish MKAL by Mary Annarella of Lyrical Knits. This is a Princess Bride themed mystery knitalong that will eventually result in a rectangular shawl.
Winona by Brenda Castiel in handspun from Hipstrings.
48-st socks for J, working toe-up, on foot of 2nd sock. Bamboo Pop Sock in Sunset Colorway. Bamboo cotton, PBT blend
52-st sock for E in red sock yarn, turned the heel . Allegro by Wisdom Yarns, distributed by Universal Yarns. May be discontinued. More on this in Knitting Fail
Started Mermaid Skirt by Concept Creative, a Ukranian designers.
Juliana top by Linda’s Craftique, for once worked in the called-for yarn – Neve by Juniper Moon Farms.
Knitting Fail
Use the right needles.
Spinning
I’m spinning handspun yarn for the winner of my drawing for the Knitathon.
Out and About
Vogue Knitting Live Virtual and June 9-12.
GGKCS podcast is having their annual Sheepy Spring AL, visit their FB page for more details.
Stitches at Home Stitches at Home June 11/12 & 18/19, Expo at Home July 8-10. Coming up in person, Stitches So Cal in Pasadena, California November 10-13.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
I’ve Got Sunshine
Kids and Pets
Monday Mar 07, 2022
104 - wow
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Ep 104 recorded 3/2/22
Segments this week include: Be A Helper Craft A Long, FOs, Wips, Out and About, and I’ve Got Sunshine. A note on showlinks – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such and all links for yarn are directly to the dyer’s website.
Be A Helper Craftalong
2 weeks to go – please note Ukrainian charities do not need goods or handmade items from the USA. It takes too much effort and cost to ship them to Ukraine. If you can, please donate instead to vetted charities. There are several with boots on the ground such as World Central Kitchen, Save the Children, Doctors Without B orders, Ukrainian Red Cross, Nova Ukraine.
6th Be A Helper Craft-a-long has begun! We keep the rules simple.
- Anything you make for any charity counts, doesn’t have to be knit/crochet/woven or spun. ANYthing you make for ANY charity.
- One FO per submission
- Donating blood counts too!
- Contest ends when I wake up March 15 and close the form/thread.
- Wips are always welcome
- Partial FOs count, for example if you make a blanket strip and your local yarn shop sews them together to make full blankets, count your blanket strip.
One change this year – due to ongoing accessibility issues on Ravelry, I’ll hold this event both on and off Ravelry. Last year we just used a Google Form and that was hard for some folks, so this year there will be a chat thread and an FO thread on Rav, and for non-Rav users I’ll have a google form where you can link to your IG/FB/Twitter post showing your FO.
Link to submit your Finished Object/blood donation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf08z2uqelVGeUBkm0fofQGveThChBBZzaMvNsRdlPlMzhbgA/viewform?usp=sf_link
FOs
Knights Who Say Knit by Mary Annarella of Lyrical Knits – finished, finished, finished. I brought it to my stitching night and wove in most of the ends, finishing the next day. Bloxking could be a problem with one yarn that ran when blocking. Color catcher?
Lotus Mandala Vest by Morale Fiber, crochet vest. A round vest with armholes. I’m using scraps of Lion Brand Truboo, Berroco Modern Cotton and the discontinued Kertzer Down To Earth Cotton
WIPs
Recalibrate Top by Shana Lines using Nomad Yarn’s hand dyed cotton/rayon Gelato yarn. This has been my stress knitting since Russia invaded Ukraine so I’ve gotten a LOT on this done. Finished left side and joined with “sleeve”, started right side – more in Knitting Fail.
Earthrise, a new pattern of mine inspired by the famous Nasa photo when the astronauts first circled behind the moon and came around back towards earth and photographed the earth rising over the surface of the moon. It’s an awe-inspiring photo.
I started a second Lotus Mandala during the Knitathon in sparkly leftovers from the Priestess Coat I crocheted last year.
Papillon/Butterfly shawl by MarinJa Knits, I finished section 19
As you Wish MKAL by Mary Annarella of Lyrical Knits. This is a Princess Bride themed mystery knitalong that will eventually result in a rectangular shawl.
Winona by Brenda Castiel in handspun from Hipstrings
I’ve started spinning handspun yarn for the winner of my drawing for the Knitathon. Cranky knees mean slow going, but I’m putting in about 15 minutes a day in 5-min segments.
Knitting Fail
Recalibrate top – issues! Issues with me, not the pattern.
Out and About
Vogue Knitting Live Vogue Knitting Live @ Home Mar 17-20.
GGKCS podcast is having their annual Sheepy Spring AL, visit their FB page for more details.
Stitches at Home Stitches West in person Mar 3-6 2022.
CT Sheep and Wool April 30, 2022
NH Sheep and Wool May 14 & 15, 2022
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
I’ve Got Sunshine
There’s no I’ve got Sunshine this week, just a plea to please help your fellow humans.
Sunday Nov 07, 2021
97 Time time time
Sunday Nov 07, 2021
Sunday Nov 07, 2021
Ep 97 recorded 11/5/21
Hello, life is a bit crazy. With the kids in school full times this year I’ve been taking classes and time is a little short but I needed to record an episode for you folks.
Housekeeping
I will be starting up a few testknits soon, all for sleeveless tops. If you’re interested please join my test knitter mailing list at http://www.windsweptknits.com/testknitters/ - if on this list you will only get emails related to test knitting, nothing else. I’ll be having 3 or 4 test knits starting up in the next few months with yarn ranging from fingering to DK and I’d love to have you join.
Be A Helper Craft-a-long
6th annual craftalong is back this year! Dec 15- Feb 28.
Anything you make for any charity counts, doesn’t have to be knit/crochet/woven or spun. ANYthing you make for ANY charity.
• One entry per FO, submission of the Rav forum or to the google form – link coming soon.
• Donating blood counts too
• Google Form closes when I wake up March 1.
• Wips are welcome
FOs
I finished the Priestess Coat before Rhinebeck– by Morale Fiber in Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball
WIPs
Purse Socks! 2nd sock knitting fail, but I've receovered
Three new pattern samples, can’t talk about them yet.
Swatched for a new sweater the Recalibrate Top by Shana Lines using Nomad Yarn’s hand dyed cotton/rayon Gelato yarn.
Star Wars scarf for Thing 2 – I’m halfway!
Out and About Virtually
Vogue Knitting Live Vogue Knitting Live @ Home Nov 11-14.
GGKCS podcast is having their annual Autumnal AL, visit their FB page for more details.
Down Cellar Studio’s Pigskin party is up and running. You can participate on Instagram or on Ravelry and I’m linking to Boston Jen’s website which has the details and the signup page. I am both a sponsor and a participant again this year and it’s lots of fun.
Stitches at Home Nov 6,7, 13 and 14
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
Monday Nov 16, 2020
87- Stress Knitting
Monday Nov 16, 2020
Monday Nov 16, 2020
Knitting and Running in 30 min or less. Shownotes can be found at windsweptknits.com. You can find me on IG and Ravelry as WindsweptMonique and on Facebook and Twitter as WindsweptKnits.
Ep 87 recorded 11/13/20
Segments this week include: FOs, Wips, Spinning, Out and About, On the Run
Note on Ravelry – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such – if a link does not say Ravelry, it does not go to Ravelry. Links to yarn are directly to manufacturer’s pages and should be safe for those still having rav accessibility issues.
Lots of stress knitting the last week, so I have MULTIPLE FOs!
FOs
Dumpster Fire ornament 1 (Ravelry) & ornament 2 (Ravelry) both made in CoBaSi by Hikoo, a blend of cotton, silk, bamboo and nylon. It’s arguably my favorite fingering weight yarn – makes great socks and tank tops. Pattern by Mary Hull of Kino Knits.
Thing 2 hitchiker (Ravelry) – a DK hitchhiker scarf for Thing 2, out of big box store cotton yarn from Michaels. It’s done and blocked and I accidentally left it out after photographing it and Thing 2 told me how much he LOVED the yarn lol. Good kid, it’s for you!
Dissent Cowl 2 (Ravelry) – this is a Christmas gift for a very knitworthy friend. I’m using some ancient stash and I’ve about halfway through the necklace portion of the cowl.
WIPs
New WIP, what I am calling the Acadian Shawl (Ravelry), a Christmas gift for my mom in the approximate colors of the Acadian Flag (nous sommes fiere d’etre Acadienne!) I’m using the Goldberry crochet pattern and working it in blue, white and red with accents of yellow. I’ve put a photo of the Acadian flag in the shownotes so you can see it.
Star Wars scarf (Ravelry) for Thing 1 – more than halfway through the last chart! I’m about 7/8 of the way through. Still loving the new hexagonal needles from Indian Lake Artisans. I’m using Truboo by Lion Brand, a 100% bamboo yarn in white and dark gray. Pattern is a series of free charts by Jessica Goddard.
Tan House Brook Shawl (Ravelry) - in the Sekhment base, an alpaca/silk/linen yarn from A Hundred Ravens in the Nevertheless She Persisted colorway that I bought during the virtual Maryland Sheep and Wool. I’m on the 2nd set of eyelet rows, almost to the 2nd set of textured stitches.
Thing 1 Dragon Blanket (Ravelry) – the second Christmas Snap The Dragon Blanket, this one from my older son. Using deep stash acrylic.
Knitting Fail
I still have a hard time reading crochet.
Spinning
Still no success at a distaff, but I have spun a little more of the Tussah Silk from Pinestar Studios in Maine on my Akerworks drop spindle.
Started the last color of my gradient spin so I can count it towards the Pigskin party
Out and About
Lots of fiber events happening online this fall
Pigskin Party now through the Superbowl Ravelry Group I’m sponsoring for the 3rd year and also participating.
Vogue Knitting Live Upcoming Vogue Knitting Live events will be Nov 12-15, Dec 10-13, and Jan 14-17. I almost always attend Vogue Live NYC every January, it’s usually a birthday present from my family as it’s often right around my birthday weekend. This year it’s the weekend after so I’ll probably attend the January event.
Stitches At Home December 5,6,12,13.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
On the Run
Still not running, but I’m biking!
Friday Jun 26, 2020
For Spacious Skies
Friday Jun 26, 2020
Friday Jun 26, 2020
Episode 81 - Recorded Thursday, June 26th 2020
New pattern, end of be-a-helper kal, wips, knitting fail, spinning, wearables, out and about and if we have time I’ll do an on the run segment.
New Pattern alert!
As of the time you’re hearing this, I have a new pattern available through Knotions Magazine! The pattern is named For Spacious Skies and is knit using a gorgeous muted red, blue and white colorway from Birdies Knits named Old Glory and a small amount of white yarn for the star.
I found this yarn and this indie dyer at the very first Stitches United in Hartford, CT several years ago. I was so excited – I’d never met a hand-dyer who worked in anything other than wool. Being highly allergic to sheep, wool is not an option for me. This colorway reminded me of 4th of July parades with my grandparents and great-grandmother, of summer beach days and Friday night band concerts at the local park all summer with my family.
The star is worked first, from the center out, then short rows make the circle into a square. The remainder of the top is worked top-down – the bust area is worked back-and forth to the underarm, then the whole piece is joined in the round.
Recommend -1 to -3 inches of ease (negative ease). This means if you’re targeting a 38 bust, that you should choose a 36 (38-2). Bust: 32 - 60” , [81.5 - 152.5) cm]
Be-A-Helper KAL
Last 2 prize winners announced!
WIPs
Laceweight Boxy – Now about 16” long
Papillon – Started 2nd section. Using Berroco Medina that I bought at The Yarn Patch in Crossville, TN last year and a gold Tencel yarn from Artisinal Yarns that I bought at Rhinebeck 2 years ago.
Goldberry – I started a new crochet pattern this week.
Triyang – an old WIP that I started as SSK in 2017, I tend to keep this pattern for travelling and since we have 2 small kids we don’t travel much anymore.
Star Wars scarf for Thing 2 – I’m still working on the Blasters section of the Light Side section.
Ozone Sweater – worked a little on the Ozone Sweater, a crochet sweater, which leads me to…
Knitting Fail
I tried to work on this last Thursday during my stitching group, but apparently I cannot join crochet and talk at the same time. The medallions are linked in 5 places along one side, and I screwed it up 3 times. At the end of 1:45 I had completed (and successfully joined) 1 medallion and started the center of a second. That’s all. In nearly 2 hours.
Spinning
I finished my Pride Month spin! I pulled apart 2 braids from Hipstring’s cotton club from 2019, and spun them color by color to make a rainbow. Then two nights ago I started to learn to chain ply, which I finished yesterday. It’s not my best yarn ever, since it’s my first-ever chain ply, but I’m proud nonetheless.
Wearbles
It’s tank top season finally here in MA so I’ve recently wore my Out Tonight pattern, which is a sleeveless top inspired by the musical Rent. We had a cold windy day last weekend and I wore the Taking Flight shawl, a pattern by Katherine Belisle and inspired by Captain Marvel.
I recently wore my Strawberry Blossoms top, which I still love, but I’ve noticed after washing that the CoBaSi yarn tends to stretch more sideways than vertically when knit in garments. I have an extra skein of the yellow left, so I’m considering pulling out the turned hem, knitting a few extra inches, then re-doing the hem. I’ll let you know if I decide to go ahead with it.
On the Run
No exercise this week, poison ivy sucks
Out and About
Tour de Fleece 1 Sat Jun 27 – Sun Jul 19
Tour de Fleece 2 Sat, Aug 29, 2020 – Sun, Sep 20, 2020
Here in MA we’re slowly opening back up while keeping our new cases of COVID19 low, and I went to a yarn shop! This is my first visit to a LYS since January. I visited @agreatyarn in Chatham, MA, a store I love to visit.
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
78-Preparation Is For the Birds
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
Episode 78 – preparation is for the birds
recorded Wednesday 4/29/20
FOs
Ear savers/mask buddies – I've crocheted several more. A big, huge thanks to Lisa from Fibernymph Dyeworks for mailing me some buttons so I can finish even more!
WIPS
South Woods – I’ve finished the back!
Sassy Wrapitude – Part of the Wrapitude collection by Megan Williams, got the pattern free from attending Into the Wool. Cast on with yellow CoBaSi by Hikoo and bamboo/cotton blend from Great Adirondack Yarn that I bought at Rhinebeck. I’m on the 7th section, which is garter ridges. Just finished interesting slipped stitch section
Ozone Sweater – I finally started the actual sweater!
Earth Rise – new design I’m working on, inspired by the famous photo the Apollo astronauts took the first time they came around the dark side of the room and saw the Earth rising up above the moon’s surface. Not working on it as much - my brain doesn't want to do math
Laceweight Boxy – How long do you make your Boxy sweaters? I’m about 12” and trying to decide how long I want it to be.
Knitting Fail
You may have noticed there’s no Star Wars scarf listed here – that’s because I broke the needle. I didn’t see the green needle on the blue chair in the dark, and when I knelt on the chair to turn on the light on the wall behind, I snapped the needle right at the connector.
Out and About
Maryland Sheep and Wool - virtual May 2 & 3
Vogue Knitting Live - virtual May 11- 18