Episodes
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
118 She Told Me To Knit More
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Ep 118 recorded 6/29/23
I can knit! I can even Purl!
FOs
Pride Shawl I finished it about 20 minutes ago. Pattern is Willowbrook by Brenda Castiel.
WIPs
Hitchhiker #8? 9? In Lion Briand Shawl in a Ball (discontinued). This is a simple garter stitch shawl by Martina Behm.
Snowflake Sweater Scarf designed by Knitatude using Big Twist Heather in Grey bought at Joann’s
On the Run
I’m very excited that my wrist is healing nicely and I’ll be back in ballet class next week!
I’ve Got Sunshine
Date night in Boston!
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!
Tuesday Apr 04, 2023
114 KnitAThon Done
Tuesday Apr 04, 2023
Tuesday Apr 04, 2023
Ep 114 recorded 3/31/23
Suddenly it’s April and wow, where has this year gone already? Knitathon update - $340,000!!!! That’s $85,000 each to Meals on Wheels, No Kid Hungry, World Central Kitchen and Feeding America.
FOs
Socks for Thing 2 – his Christmas socks - I unraveled the leg on both and I started re-doing the legs in 2x2 ribbing. The first sock is done!
WIPs
Socks for Thing 1 – I knit socks for him for Christmas and already they don’t fit.
Socks for Thing 2 – 2nd sock leg restarted
Songe d’été – Ravelry Link (Summer Dreams) designed by Dreaming In Chocolate Designs, knit using Linea Pura Unico yarn by Lana Grossa (discontinued) a linen/bamboo blend bought at Webs a few years ago.
Davit designed for Berroco by Amy Palmer, knit using Silk Noir by Great Adirondack Yarn Co bought at Rhinebeck last year.
Summer Happiness Crochet Top designed by Concept Creative in Scheepjes Whirl in the color Sherbert Rainbow, a pastel rainbow from pink to blue.
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 fading on my own schedule and not on the one written in the pattern.
Frog Princess Dress Blanket designed by Carol Hladik, a Princess Tiana-inspired blanket crocheted using Joann’s Big Twist acrylic yarn. Making this for a local charity to raffle off this fall.
On the Run
Walking in warm weather – saw a housefire! Family and dogs are fine.
Out and About – upcoming Fiber Events around New England
Stitches @ Home – April 1&2 – this weekend!
CT Sheep and Wool - April 29
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
Seed starting with my youngest. He’s my gardener. 10 days ago we transplanted 20 lettuce seedlings then started 184 herbs, veggies and greens.
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.
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
93 - Mother Nature Whiplash
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Knitting and fitness 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 93 recorded 3/19/21
Segments this week include: FOs, Wips, Out and About Virtually, On the Run, and I’ve Got Sunshine
Note on Ravelry – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such.
Mother Nature whiplash!
Be A Helper Craft-a-long Quick Update
Deadline extended to 5/1/21 to make up for my lack of participation. We have pattern and yarn prizes.
Short reminder on the rules
- 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 submission of the Google Form https://forms.gle/QdJuQUSr8uM7GoiF6
• Donating blood counts too
• Wips are welcome
Link to submit your Finished Object/blood donation: https://forms.gle/QdJuQUSr8uM7GoiF6
FOs
Boxy – a tweaked Joji Locatelli pattern worked in hand dyed laceweight bamboo from Spinaway Farm. I finished the front and am now up to the shoulders on the back.
WIPs
Slice of Summer – my New Year’s caston using BaH yarns watermelon shawl ball. I’m on the watermelon rind. This is my purse knitting so it gets a round or 2 most days with school pickup, etc.
Tunisian Express – I’m learning Tunisian Crochet and practicing using this pattern. It’s simple and easy to memorize and also includes a great tutorial with photos. I’m using leftover yarn from my Belle blanket and the boys’ dragon blankets. I’ve added a few rows.
I’ve started 2 new design samples, can’t talk much about them yet, but I am very excited at what is coming.
Stash
I got 9 skeins of Lion Brand Shawl In A Ball to make the Priestess Coat by Morale Fiber. I’m using the grey-to white for the body of the coat and a variety of jewel tones for the inserts and hood. This will be my Rhinebeck “sweater” whenever it’s safe to have Rhinebeck again.
Got yarn for some new patterns, I’m excited to work with HiKoo Popcycle! It’s a 50/50 bamboo/polyester blend and every skein uses 2 recycled plastic bottles and you know me, I love recycled and reclaimed fibers. On that note I also got some more Berroco Remix Light which is 100% recycled fibers and made in France. Remix is 30% Nylon, 27% Cotton, 24% Acrylic, 10% Silk, 9% Linen It’s got a slightly tweedy look/texture and makes great sweaters. Remix is worsted weight, Remix Light is sport/DK. And lastly, Valley Yarns Southwick which I’ve only knit a hat out of, this will be my first garment in it. It is so smooth and silky and soft, it’ll make a super comfy top.
Out and About Virtually
Lots of fiber events happening online this winter
Vogue Knitting Live Vogue Knitting Live @ Home this weekend Mar18-21.
Stitches At Home this weekend, is the 2nd weekend Mar 13,14, 20 & 21
Fiberworld is running an online march madness event, visit their website to vote.
GGKCS podcast is having their annual Sheepy Spring AL, visit their FB page for more details.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
On the Run
More knee problems -I’ve injured the other knee. PT wants me to get back in the pool.
I’ve Got Sunshine
Dropkick Murphy’s concert, 2nd year in a row St Paddy’s day online show. Lots of fun. Not safe to gather in large groups yet, but Dropkick Murphy’s has now put on 3 free shows and raised over $750,000 for charity during the pandemic. They’re a local Boston band and Shipping Up To Boston is a bit of a local anthem around here. We let the boys stay up late to watch the show and it was a fun way to spend the evening – the grownups with a pint in hand.
Sunday Mar 07, 2021
92 - Drained
Sunday Mar 07, 2021
Sunday Mar 07, 2021
Knitting and fitness 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 92 recorded 3/5/21
Segments this week include: Be A Helper Craftalaong, FOs, Wips, Out and About Virtually, On the Run, and I’ve Got Sunshine
Note on Ravelry – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such.
So it’s been a month. I was intending to record every other week, as has become my new normal, but we’ve had some family stuff going on here and I have just been completely mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted. I’ve hardly knit anything in the last month. But the end is in sight, and Spring is trying really hard to arrive here in New England, so while I have a few spoons left in my jar I am recording this episode.
Be A Helper Craft-a-long Update
Deadline extended to 5/1/21 to make up for my lack of participation.
New prizes! Jennifer Lassonde from Down Cellar Studio podcast has graciously donated 2 patterns to the winners of Be A Helper Craftalong! A huge thank you to Jen for her generosity in supporting us again this year.
Short reminder on the rules
- 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 submission of the Google Form https://forms.gle/QdJuQUSr8uM7GoiF6
• Donating blood counts too
• Wips are welcome
Link to submit your Finished Object/blood donation: https://forms.gle/QdJuQUSr8uM7GoiF6
FOs
Galliatt (Ravelry) by JimiKnits – Knitting is done! I finished it just in time for the end of the pigskin party – literally the last night - I just need to add the decorative buttons on the sides.
WIPs
Slice of Summer – my New Year’s caston using BaH yarns watermelon shawl ball. I’m nearly done with the pink and on the white/green at the start of the watermelon rind.
Pull Me Over sweater – did a little more of the collar
Boxy – a tweaked Joji Locatelli pattern worked in hand dyed laceweight bamboo from Spinaway Farm. I finished the front and am now up to the shoulders on the back.
Tunisian Express – I’m learning Tunisian Crochet and practicing using this pattern. It’s simple and easy to memorize and also includes a great tutorial with photos. I’m using leftover yarn from my Belle blanket and the boys’ dragon blankets. I’ve added a few rows.
And that’s all I’ve done in an entire month.
Out and About Virtually
Lots of fiber events happening online this winter
Vogue Knitting Live Upcoming Vogue Knitting Live @ Home Mar18-21.
Stitches At Home this weekend, Mar 13,14, 20 & 21
Fiberworld is running an online march madness event, visit their website to vote.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
On the Run
I am back in physical therapy and learned a lot about how your brain reacts to pain. It's fascinating.
I’ve Got Sunshine
Happy news this week is that I stopped composting right around the last episode 3 weeks ago. The happy part isn’t that I’ve stopped composting, it’s that I didn’t have to stop composting until February!
Sunday Feb 07, 2021
91- I've Got Sunshine
Sunday Feb 07, 2021
Sunday Feb 07, 2021
Knitting and fitness 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 91 recorded 2/5/21
Segments this week include: Be A Helper Craftalaong, FOs, Wips, Stash, Spinning, Out and About Virtually, On the Run, and a new segment, I’ve Got Sunshine
Note on Ravelry – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such.
Be A Helper Craft-a-long
Short reminder on the rules
- 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 submission of the Google Form https://forms.gle/QdJuQUSr8uM7GoiF6
• Donating blood counts too
• Wips are welcome
Link to submit your Finished Object/blood donation: https://forms.gle/QdJuQUSr8uM7GoiF6
Prizes:
3 prizes
1 skein of Cascade Yarns Anchor Bay, that’s a wool-cotton blned that’s on the border between DK and worsted, in color #28, a sage green color.
1 skein of The Fiber Co’s Arranmore Donegal Heritage. It’s a merino-cashmere-silk blend that is so soft and squishy. This is an Aran/bulky weight yarn in the Orla colorway, a burnt-siera/dark orange
I am donating a pattern of your choice from my self-published patterns. I can gift this to you via Ravelry or email the PDF directly.
FOs
Wenlock (Ravelery) from Tin Can Knits. Knitting done. Need to weave in ends
WIPs
Galliatt (Ravelry) by JimiKnits – I’m seaming the shoulders, then I just have to knit the turtleneck collar and the side edging. Nearly done!
Willowbrook Shawl (Ravelry) – pattern by Brenda Castiel in my own handspun cotton. Fiber from HipStrings. I used 2 braids, pulled apart the colors, spun them in rainbow order then chain-plied it to maintain the rainbow. I am nearing the end of orange – there’s a lot of orange.
Slice of Summer – my New Year’s cast on using BaH yarns shawl ball. I’m probably 2/3 through the pink.
Ozone crochet top – restarted it now that my crochet skills are better; already through the band of hexies that go around your ribcage. Using Scheepjes Coton 8
Pull Me Over sweater – This was my Christmas Day cast on, though I haven’t picked it up at all since then! Pattern by Andrea Black, using leftover Universal Yarns cotton that are leftovers from knitting my husband a sweater many, many years ago.
Spinning
Buchanan gradient spin – started the 5th and last color of the gradient. This gradient spin goes from malachite green to a beautiful true blue. I can’t wait to knit with it!
Out and About Virtually
Lots of fiber events happening online this winter
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 @ Home Feb 11-14, Mar18-21.
Stitches At Home this weekend, Feb 5-7
GGKCS podcast is running their annual winter craftaong starting now through the end of Feb 2021, more details on their Facebook page.
Spa 2021 is virtual, sign up for their mailing list for further details.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
On the Run
Up until now, we’ve had an abnormally warm winter, but as of 2 weeks ago it’s now just plain cold. No more walking outside for me until it warms up and the ice t.
I’ve Got Sunshine
This is a new segment I’m adding, a short segment, but I want to end the podcast on an uplifting note. After living through a global pandemic for nearly a year, I find that any good news gets lost in all the bad news and I want to change that. I may share personal stories, or something I’ve found from halfway around the planet, we’ll see how this plays out. This week I’m starting with a new shoe designed by Nike to be completely hands free. I’m not talking a sandal, I mean a sneaker-type shoe. “Called the Flyease Go, it is the first totally hands-free shoe, enveloping and releasing your feet solely through natural motion—a bit like Tony Stark putting on his Iron Man suit.
The revolutionary shoe is perfect, says a top Nike designer, for pregnant women in their third trimester, arthritis patients, or those who have lost some or all of the use of their arms—such as stroke victims or injured military veterans.” You get in and out of the shoe by using the “kickstand tab” at the back of the shoe which opens the hinge mid-foot and allows you to slip the shoe off. Picture what you do when you take a shoe off without untying it – only these shoes are designed to release the foot easily when you do that. This is awesome! For anyone with hand or arm injuries, this could be a game changer. During my first pregnancy I pulled a muscle in my lower abdomen and could barely lift my legs to walk let a lone put shoes on in October – a shoe like this, well, I probably would have given a kidney for it easily lol
Friday Jan 22, 2021
90 - Be A Helper 2021
Friday Jan 22, 2021
Friday Jan 22, 2021
Knitting and fitness 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 90 recorded 1/22/21
Segments this week include: Be A Helper Craftalaong, FOs, Wips, Stash, Spinning, Out and About Virtually, 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.
So it’s been a month since I last recorded and what a month it’s been. 2021 definitely told 2020, “hey hold my beer”. With all the craziness happening the last few weeks here in the US and the terror attacks on the Capitol Building I had thought of skipping the Be A Helper Craft-a-long this year because my anxiety levels were hovering around vibrating-chihuahua-on-espresso for a while there, but after some reflection I think that we need it now more than ever.
Welcome to our 5th annual craftalong! Inspired by the famous Mr Rogers quote that in times of trouble you should look for the helpers, I'm encouraging folks to BE the helpers.
Be A Helper Craftalong
5th 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 submission of the Google Form https://forms.gle/QdJuQUSr8uM7GoiF6
• Donating blood counts too
• Google Form closes when I wake up April 15th.
• Wips are welcome
One change this year - due to the ongoing accessibility issues at Ravelry, finished objects can be submitted via a Google Form. I have pages set up to share your beautiful work on Ravelry, but if you want to win a prize, please submit the Google Form. I will link to the Google Form repeatedly over the net few months here in the shownotes, on Ravelry, on IG, on FB and anywhere else I can think to post so you'll be able to find the link when you're ready to submit.
Link to submit your Finished Object/blood donation: https://forms.gle/QdJuQUSr8uM7GoiF6
FOs
Tan House Brook Shawl (Ravelry) – this is a pattern by Jennifer Lassonde of Down Cellar Studios 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 doing a few rows each week
The Opposite of Strict (Ravelry) hat by That Metzbower Girl Designs and it’s a ponytail hat designed to use scraps. I used up the leftovers from the two RBG Dissent Cowls I made earlier this fall.
Princess Blanket by Carol Hladik – wearable crochet blanket.
WIPs
Wenlock (Ravelery) from Tin Can Knits. Knitting done. Need to weave in ends
Galliatt (Ravelry) by JimiKnits – pattern also available on LoveCrafts, using discontinued Longmeadow by Webs. I finished the front and am about 7” in to the back
Willowbrook Shawl (Ravelry) – pattern by Brenda Castiel in my own handspun cotton. Fiber from HipStrings. I used 2 braids, pulled apart the colors, spun them in rainbow order then chainplied it to maintain the rainbow. I am nearing the end of orange – there’s a lot of orange.
Pull Me Over sweater – This was my Christmas Day cast on, though I haven’t picked it up at all since then! Pattern by Andrea Black, using leftover Universal Yarns cotton that are leftovers from knitting my husband a sweater many, many years ago.
Slice of Summer (Ravelry) – my New Year’s caston using BaH yarns shawl ball
Ozone crochet top (Ravelry) – restarted it now that my crochet skills are better; already half way through the band of hexies that go around your ribcage
Stash
My family got me a subscription to Hipstrings Cotton Club! I am so happy to be a member again, I looooove her colorways. I got 2 2-oz braids (technically it was the December shipment) that are beautiful blends of purple, blue, brown, mauve and brown called Moody and On the Horizon. I’m thinking of pulling these 2 apart and making a chain ply, but not sure.
For Christmas I got 3 colors of Nomad Yarn’s hand-dyed Gelato series. This time I got the green, blue and purple to go with the pink, orange and yellow that I bought during a virtual fiber event last summer. Now I have a whole gorgeous rainbow and I need to decide what to do with it!
Spinning
Buchanan Fiber gradient spin – the 4th color is done and plied I’ve been spinning 10 min a day
Out and About Virtually
Lots of fiber events happening online this winter
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 @ Home Feb 11-14, Mar18-21. I got tickets for my birthday am taking classes with Bristol Ivy and Alisdair Post-Quinn and I’m very excited.
Stitches At Home Feb 5-7
GGKCS podcast is running their annual winter craftaong starting now through the end of Feb 2021, more details on their Facebook page.
Spa 2021 is virtual, sign up for their mailing list for further details.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
On the Run
We took our annual New Year’s Day hike. It’s normally a big group event in our town – groups of 30-ish people led by a guide on trails in our town. Of course it was a bit different this year. We hiked by ourselves on a new-to-us trail behind our local agricultural high school. Lovely trail plus the kids loved seeing the cows and horses. Other people on the trail but everyone maintained a safe distance and wore masks.
Belly dancing - great for bad knees and so much fun!