Episodes
Thursday Jan 23, 2020
72 - All The Tangents
Thursday Jan 23, 2020
Thursday Jan 23, 2020
Episode 72 1/22/20
Be a helper, wips, knitting fail, wearables, pattern stalking, out and about
Be a Helper Craftalong
4th 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 photo in the FO thread
- Donating blood counts too - post a photo of your bandaid or of you drinking OJ afterwards, something like that.
- FO Thread closes when I wake up April 1st.
- Wips are welcome
One more new prize to announce, a pattern from Jennifer Lassonde of Down Cellar Studio! Thanks so much, Jen!
Wips – lots these last 2 weeks!
Preemie hat – about half way through my first for the year.
Aggregate Shawl – I’ve reached the end of the shawl as written, but I have more yarn left. I’m continuing in the pattern as established until I run out of yarn.
Matchy Socks – nearly to the cuff
Dress – The handmade dress I’ve been working on is coming along nicely. I’ve split for armholes and I’m nearly done with the front left strap.
South Woods – started a new sweater for myself, South Woods by River Road Knits . I’m using some old stash yarn for the lace underlayer and my handspun for the main body of the sweater, which leads me to…
Kitting Fail
Be careful not to twist!
Wearables
My birthday weekend was incredibly warm, topping out at 74F (23C) whereas our highs should hover right around freezing. So I wore lots of warm-weather handknits, like one of my Mommy’s Tunic samples and the Lace Sweater 01 from Vogue Knitting Magazine designed by Brooke Nico. Knit this in a cone of 5/2 bamboo from Webs years ago. The pattern is a lace coat, nearly knee-length, and I wore it as a jacket out for my birthday dinner.
Since then, it’s been COLD. I’ve also worn Frosted sweater by Paper Daisy Creations and lots of shawls, including Changing Staircases, Pont du Marais and Use Your Stash Shawls, both designed by me. Also my boys and I have all worn some handknit socks, all made using the Fish Lips Kiss Heel. I;m wearing my Twist and Shout had by Michele duNaier nearly every day. My youngest has worn the Monomoy Sweater several times and wears his Bermuda Hat every day. And I’ve worn the Dancing Dragons Coat – it makes a great indoor layer on super cold days.
Pattern Stalking
Thing 2 want’s a new sweater, another hat, Halloween socks and Christmas socks and I keep thinking about knitting another Hitofude.
Out and About
Wayland Winter Farmers Market Fiber Days – Jan 26 & Mar 1
Boston Farm & fiber Fest – Feb 9
Stitches United - March 26-29, 2020
Wednesday Oct 16, 2019
67- Getting Ready for Rhinebeck
Wednesday Oct 16, 2019
Wednesday Oct 16, 2019
Episode 67 – Get Ready for Rhinebeck
Segments this week include – Wips, FOs, Knitting Fail, Wearables and Out and About – getting ready for Rhinebeck edition
Quick reminder, Pont du Marais shawl is on sale for podcast listeners – use code FOG to get 30% off through Friday, 10/18
Wips
Christmas socks for Thing 2 – finished 1st, turned heel this morning for 2nd.
A few rows on the latest Hitchhiker – then I put it down and decided to save it for Rhinebeck Knitting.
FOs
Taking Flight – done and blocking, needs ends woven in
Knitting Fail
What happens when you finish a sock at Legoland... and have nothing to cut the yarn so you can start the 2nd?
Wearables
Mommy’s Tunic – one of my patterns, knit in the discontinued Be Sweet Bamboo. Wore this on a recent warm day
Empire Tunic by Lily Go made in discontinued Frog Tree Picoboo, a cotton bamboo blend. ¾ sleeve tunic that crosses over the bust, perfect for the in-between fall weather and leggings
Changing Staircases 2 – designed by Dragon Hoard Yarns and knit up in Great Adirondack Yarn bamboo/cotton blend that I picked up at Rhinebeck last year
Changing Staircases – knit up in Fiber Lady’s Mousou 100% Bamboo
Out and About
Rhinebeck! New York Sheep & Wool Starts Thursday 10/17 – Sunday 10/20 at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY. In a minute I’m going to go over some Tips For First Timers, but first lets do logistics. I will be there Saturday and Sunday likely almost all day both days. Feel free to stop me and say “Hi!” if you see me. On Saturday I will be at the Ravelry Meetup at noon on The Hill, and at the Podcaster meetup at 1, also on The Hill. On Sunday I will be at the Leaping Llama Contest in Bldg 34 at 11:15, and possibly at the Ravelry Meetup right afterwards, depending on timing. The rest of the time I’ll be walking around, shopping, knitting, spinning and soaking up the general awesomeness.
Terminology – I’ve already used some words you might not understand if you haven’t been before
- The Hill – there are several small hills on the property and this confused me so much the first year I went. Look at the fairgrounds map – The Hill is just above the petting zoo. It’s a wide open hillside where lots of folks can gather
- The Buildings – shorthand for Buildings A, B, C, D and 41 which is really one large building divided into sections. Sometimes also refers to Building E, the food hall
- The Barns – a group of much smaller, free standing, well, barns, on the far side from The Buildings. Building 22 has Upper and Lower levels (separate entrances), the rest are all 1 story
Food – lines are crazy from 11:30 to 2 – eat before or after if you can.
Seating – there are lots of places to sit, scattered around. However, if you have issues with mobility, bring a chair in your car and have someone in your party go get it for you. The paths or paved, but the fairground is all small hills. Sit down if you need to, it’s not worth getting hurt.
Bags – try not to bring a backpack. I made this mistake the first year, and you keep bumping into people by accident, it’s not worth it.
Book Signings & Author Talks – lots of fiber authors there, check out the link in the shownotes and make a note of who you want to see.
On a related note – Make A List On Paper! - Check out the list of vendors (link to searchable page) Cell phone signal is spotty. Don’t count on having it – write down what you want to do, what time it is and where it is. Speaking of spotty cell signal – it affects the vendors too. If you have cash you won’t be stuck waiting while the vendor tries to process your card – and some of the bigger vendors will have a fast Cash-Only line.
What am I bringing?
- Purse & 2 resuable shopping bags
- Water bottles – large one for the car, smaller one for carrying around in my purse.
- Larabars or healthy snack to combat the junkfood lol
- Cash
- Easy knitting – hitchhiker or a sock or both for walking around
- Intermediate knitting for hanging out with friends and dinner, etc
- Drop spindle and fiber
- Folding Chair
- Spinning Wheel & fiber for if I get tired and need to sit for a while
What am I wearing?
Haven’t decided yet, probably my Frosted sweater by Lisa K Ross or Dancing Dragons Coat by Heike Campbell over a Mommy’s Tunic or Second Grace by Bristol Ivy. I’ll probably have a shawl each day as well and maybe a hat or mitts. I’ll have layers underneath to keep warm because I am always cold. I will probably wear warm, well-loved boots the first day and sneakers the second
Friday Jul 12, 2019
64-Want some rope?
Friday Jul 12, 2019
Friday Jul 12, 2019
Episode 64
Segments include Tour de Fleece, Wips, Knitting Fail, On the Run, Stash Acquisition, Out & About
Tour de Fleece
This is my second Tour de Fleece!
Wips
New socks knit in Plymouth Yarn Diversity in the Violets colorways. Picked the yarn up last week at A Great Yarn in Chatham, MA. I needed something on smaller needles – I seem to be only using US 4s or 5s and it was just too much. Started the toe, but the wooden needles I bought were too sticky for this yarn.
Sea-themed shawl I mentioned last week.
My third Rent-themed pattern, a shawl with 2 color cables. Yes, that’s a cable using 2 different color yarns within the cable. That sounds hard, but if you learn one simple trick they are SO EASY! I can’t believe more people don’t use this technique. I would call this technique intarsia-adjacent, but much simpler than how I learned intarsia. For the record, I am not a big intarsia fan, but I do really enjoy these 2 color cables.
Knitting Fail
Photoshoot fail – tried to have a sunset photoshoot at the beach last Saturday and it turns out a front came through and there were 30mph winds!
On The Road
Spent a week at my parent’s place on Cape Cod, lots of fun, lots of beach. Thing 1’s arm is doing much, much better and while not able to swim he was able to splash in the water, build sandcastles with help, go on some flat hikes.
Yesterday, I tried to take a self-care day. I’d been planning this day for months, then Thing 1 broke a bone, so he came with me. We drove an hour to a “local” yarn and fiber shop The Fiber Loft.
Stash Acquisition
From The Fiber Loft I got 1lb of cotton sliver that I am going to attempt dying. I also got some beautiful green speckled fiber from Buchanan Fibers and a skein of silk/linen blend in blues and purples for an upcoming shawl.
And yesterday, my very first Akerworks bobbins arrived! I can’t wait to try these. I’m going to use it for my 2nd bobbin in Tour de Fleece.
Out and About
In August I will be spending a week in Nova Scotia, Canada visiting family and I can’t wait!
September 19-22 I will be attending Into The Wool fiber retreat in Crossville, TN run by Dana from Unwind Yarn Company and Tiffany, aka The Project Bag. So looking forward to this!
Rhinebeck! For the first time I will be going both Saturday and Sunday. This is my first time driving myself to the fairgrounds, that is, not being dropped off by family or taking the Webs bus, so if you have any parking tips I’d love to hear them.
Not sure if I’ll be attending these next 2 but I hope to:
Vermont Sheep and Wool, Oct 5 & 6
Fiber Festival of New England, Nov 2 & 3 at the Big E out near Springfield, MA
Thursday Jan 17, 2019
Ep 57 - Find Help If You Need It
Thursday Jan 17, 2019
Thursday Jan 17, 2019
Episode 57 – 1/17/18 - Knitting and Running in 30 minutes or less. You can find me as WindsweptMonique on Ravelry and Instagram or as Windswept Knits on Facebook and Twitter. Shownotes can be found on my website at WindsweptKnits.com
Apologies for the delay last week – my boys have been passing a virus back and forth!
Be A Helper Craft-A-Long
Still goin till Feb 15. Make ANYthing for ANY charity. Wips are awesome. Did you finish a charity project back around the holidays? That counts, the craftalong started on Dec 5th so go ahead and enter it in the FO thread.
Design News
Soon be starting a test knit for a sleeveless top in fingering weight yarn. More details to come soon, but if you’re interested in knitting an A-line summer top, please email me at windsweptMonique@gmail.com or PM me on Ravelry
FOs
2nd sock started for Un-Christmas socks
Wips
Boxy by Joji Locatelli. Using Bamboo Laceweight from Spinaway Farms that I picked up in Rhinebeck 2 years ago. Variegated cool blues from nearly white to nearly navy.
Find Your Fade shawl. I’m on section , the 2nd lace section (still) and still in color #1, the raspberry-dyed handspun cotton that I’ve mentioned in past episodes (and knitting fail)
Another new design that I can’t talk about yet, but it’s a summer knit inspired by the musical Rent that I think a lot of you will like. Can’t wait to talk more about it later.
On the Run
Running and swimming and cross training, nothing special
Running Talk
A lesson I needed to learn: Learn to admit when you need help.
Sunday Jan 06, 2019
56 - Happy New Year
Sunday Jan 06, 2019
Sunday Jan 06, 2019
Episode 56 – 1/4/19 Knitting and Running in 30 minutes or less. You can find me as WindsweptMonique on Ravelry and Instagram or as Windswept Knits on Facebook and Twitter. Shownotes can be found on my website at WindsweptKnits.com
FOs
First of the Un-Christmas Socks - knitting these up in CoBaSi, which is a cotton, bamboo, silk, nylon blend that is super stretchy and breathes beautifully on sweaty feet. The toes, cuffs and heels are a blue/gray blend called Wave Caps, and the foot and leg in a gray named Seattle Sky.
Thing 2’s hat – finished last night and he hasn’t stopped wearing since I put it on his head this morning. in Valley Yarn’s Southwick. I’m using the green as the contrast ribbed brim, then the purple that Thing 2 chose as the body of the hat. No pattern, just knitting to his head size.
Wips
2nd sock started for Un-Christmas socks. Finished toe and started foot.
Boxy by Joji Locatelli. Using Bamboo Laceweight from Spinaway Farms that I picked up in Rhinebeck 2 years ago. Variegated cool blues from nearly white to nearly navy.
Changing Staircases shawl in 50/50 cotton/bamboo blend from Great Adirondack Yarn in the Hydrangea colorway blue, turquoise and purple
Knitting Fail
There are dangers to knitting in dark theme park lines…
Life and stuff
40 before 40? Roughly based on Gretchen Ruben’s happiness project, 18 in 2018. Still not 100% sure I’m going to do this but… Run 5k, 10k, half marathon. Increase muscle mass. Swim one mile in one day. Release 6 patterns. Submit to more knitting magazines. Improve my Spanish or Russian, or learn Arabic (know folks who speak all of these).
Out and about
Florida – late flight – Legoland – to the in-laws – horseback riding and swimming – early morning flight
On the Run
No running but lots of walking, incl. a hike at the Disney Wilderness Preserve one afternoon with Thing 1, my husband Chris and my dad. It’s run by the Nature Conservancy and has a few really nice trails with lots of wildlife – just south of Orlando, definitely recommend it.
Swam ¼ mile this morning for the first time ever!
Friday Dec 28, 2018
55-Live from Florida with a Special Guest
Friday Dec 28, 2018
Friday Dec 28, 2018
After a conversation with a certain special someone at breakfast yesterday, we decided to record a quick episode live from my parent’s house with him as a very special guest.
Apologies for the sound quality, we recorded on a lanai and I don’t have all my regular software here to edit, but this opportunity was too good to pass up 😍
Thursday Nov 01, 2018
50-Rhinebeck Recap
Thursday Nov 01, 2018
Thursday Nov 01, 2018
Episode 50 – Rhinebeck Recap – 11/1/18 Happy Halloween – a day late! Tried to record yesterday but we have a family birthday on Halloween, which makes everything that much more insane!
Segments include FOs, Wips, Knitting Fail, Out and About at Rhinbeck, Pattern Stalking and On the Run.
FOs
12 hats since Rhinebeck for upcoming craft fairs
Wips
Another craft fair hat, this one is turqouise
Find Your Fade shawl. I’m on section 3, the 2nd garter section and still in color #1, the raspberry-dyed handspun cotton that I’ve mentioned in past episodes
Changing Staircases shawl in a cotton/bamboo blend from Great Adirondack Yarns – more on that soon because it’s yarn I bought at Rhinebeck
Knitting Fail
Sometimes your brain doesn't work right. Find Your Fade is a simple pattern and I'm still screwing it up!
Out and About
2 weekends ago was Rhinebeck and I attended on Saturday via the Webs bus
Craft Fair in Orleans, Cape Cod on Nov 3
Pattern Stalking
Shawls – now that it’s getting cold all I want to do is knit shawls. Which is really funny because up until a year or so ago I usually avoided shawls. Tell me about your favorite shawls to wear
On the Run
Have not run at all since Rhinebeck. The day after Rhinebeck my son jumped and landed with all his weight on one bone in the middle-side of my foot. Holy moly that hurt.
Thursday Oct 11, 2018
48 - When Dragons Attack
Thursday Oct 11, 2018
Thursday Oct 11, 2018
Episode 48 – 10/9/18 - When Dragons Attack
Thanks for listening!
Segments this week include FOs, Wips, Knitting Fail, Pattern Stalking, On the Run and the wrap up of our Be A Helper craft a long!
FOs
3 doll sweaters from my Super Simple Fuzzy Sweater pattern, all knit in Plymouth Yarn’s Adore in red, orange, and a green and gray multi-colored yarn
What I’m now calling my Hamilton Socks, 52-st socks in Plymouth Yarn’s Diversity in the Deep Sea colorway
Wips
Another doll sweater, this one in pink
Dancing Dragons Coat by Heike Campbell in Be Sweet Yarn’s Bamboo in the Sea Green colorway, a malachite-green, but a little lighter than true malachite. About 50% done but…
Knitting Fail
Dancing Dragons Coat – I realized I was going to run out of yarn!!
Wearables
Empire Top by Lily Go – wore this to Hamilton
I wore my Changing Staircases shawl several times, knit up in Fibre Lady’s Mousou Bamboo
Mommy’s Tunic, a pattern I designed a few years back – short sleeve A-line tunic with a cabled band under the bust. This one is knit up in Juniper Moon Farm’s Neve in a lovely shade of cobalt blue
Dahlia – the colorwork shawl I knit this summer has been worn at least once
Linen Butterflies – I wore the short sleeve version of this this morning over a tank top before the heat arrived, which I knit in Euroflax Sport 100% linen in their Straw colorway, is a lovely shade of gold, over a tank top one warm day.
Pattern Stalking
Over the past few weeks I’ve realized how many red long-sleeved shirts and sweaters I have, but none of my shawls go with red. I really need to knit a grey, or black, or even royal blue shawl to go with them. There’s a gradient cake yarn I’ve been eyeing a year or so that goes from black, through many shades of gray, to white. If you have a shawl suggestion that would look good in grey gradients I would love to hear about it!
On The Run
Had a great few runs these last few weeks, including a 2.5 miler a week ago. My knee was a little cranky after that last one, but it felt good at the time. I’ve got a 5k fundraiser race for my son’s school coming up this weekend. First whole-family race
- Toddler running in Tot Trot
- 1st-grader and husband running 1-miler
- I’m running 5k
Be A Helper Craft A Long wrap-up
A huge thank-you to everyone who participated! I have 3 prizes to award and all 3 need to be mailed. If you hear your name, please contact me with your mailing address. You can reach me at windsweptmonique@gmail.com, or as WindsweptMonique both on Ravelry and on Instagram.
Wednesday Sep 12, 2018
46 - 20 Rows of Cables Down
Wednesday Sep 12, 2018
Wednesday Sep 12, 2018
Episode 46 – 9/11/18
Knitting and Running in 30 min or less
Thank you for listening!
Be A Helper Craft A Long
I've learned my lesson - don't end a Craft A Long during Back To School! But my chaos is your gain - the Craft A Long has been extended to September 30th. Enter your FOs here:
https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/knitting-on-the-run---windswept-designs/3788284/
FOs
First 52-st sock – Plymouth Yarn Diversity in the Deep Sea colorway
Wips
2nd 52-st sock
Dancing Dragons Coat – finished the back started the left front
Knitting Fail
Last weekend we headed to CT for the day – realized I’d made a mistake 20 rows down, in the cabled pattern (ack!!!)
Stash
Got my first hand carders! Can’t wait to try them out. Also got 2oz of cashmere which I’m going to blend with 16oz of cotton to make a super-soft sweater
Spinning
Started spinning again over the weekend for the first time about a month! Working on a braid of cotton from Hipstrings
Pattern Stalking
Ixchel Sweater from the Autumn 2018 PomPom Quarterly
Thursday Aug 02, 2018
43- No Knitting Police
Thursday Aug 02, 2018
Thursday Aug 02, 2018
Episode 43: 7/31/18 – Knitting and Running in 30 min or less
WIPS
Dahlia - pattern by Brenda York for Berroco Yarns. Finished garter stitch and am about 1/3 way through the stockinette colorwork section. Blue body is Juniper Moon Farms Neve in Lagoon colorway from my LYS that closed. Red is Cascade Ultra Pima Fine in the Cranberry colorway held double, yellow is Berroco Modern Cotton in the Del colorway. Green is also Modern Cotton in the Breakers colorway.
50-st sock in Plymouth yarns Diversity in the Fruity colorway, which is white with stripes of green, yellow, orange, pink and purple.
Spinning
Finished my Tour de Fleece spin! 1lb of cotton became roughly 950 yards of 3-ply sport weight yarn. I am soooooo glad I participated in TdF for the first time. Spinning that much over about 3 weeks really helped me become more consistent in my spinning and by the end I was generating some good yarn!
Out And About
Was out in western MA last weekend for a friend’s wedding and was lucky enough to meet up with Shelley, aka Knitting Travels (hello Shelley! It was lovely to meet you!
Northampton Wools - Great shop; Good selection of wool-less yarns! Old favorites like Penzance, Diversity Sock. New to me yarns too! Came home with 2 skeins of 365 Yak from Lana Grossa
Upcoming:
Aug 11th – Fiber Revival at the Spencer Little Farm in Newbury, MA, coast north of Boston
Oct 20th – Rhinebeck. Current plan is to take the Webs bus on Saturday
Nov 3rd & 4th – Fiber Festival of New England at the Big E – not 100% sure I’m going, but thinking about it.
Knitting Talk
Bringing this older segment back. “cheating” at knitting – I’ve heard a couple people recently talk about how they feel using stitch markers for repeats or using a lifeline is cheating and that’s something I wanted to address here. There are NO knitting police.
On the Run
Actually went for a run today!
Running Talk
This is a re-visit of a topic we discussed a year ago or so and that is shoes. Short version: get a gait analysis from a professional.