Episodes
Monday Mar 18, 2019
60 - On The Mend (fixed)
Monday Mar 18, 2019
Monday Mar 18, 2019
Episode 60 – Thank yous, FO, Wips, Wearables, Out and About, On the Run, Fitness Talk, Knitting Talk
Apologies for sound – laptop died. Recording this on travel mic in my car. Need to get an amp to get my mic to work with old laptop. Hopefully I’ll have it all sorted before next recording.
Thank yous
Thanks for bearing with me during this last delay. Turns out the antibiotics did not get rid of strep throat, I was sick again a week after they ended and back at the doctor to get something stronger. Feeling better now!
Big thank you to my test knitters! I have one test knit winding up in the next few weeks, with pattern ready to release in early April and I’ve lucked into some amazing test knitters this time. You ladies are wonderful! Also, if you have any interest in summer knit tops, I have 2 coming out in the next 2 months, so be sure to visit WindsweptKnits.com and join my email list for access to the best discount codes. I promise to only email once or twice a month at most and to never, ever share your data with a 3rd party. No spam, no selling your data, I promise. That’s a personal pet peeve of mine.
FO
Rhinebeck Shawl – Changing Staircases pattern by Dragon Hoard Yarns knit up in bamboo/cotton fingering yarn from Great Adirondach Yarn Co
Wips
2 preemie hats, 1 held single, 1 held double
2 new patterns, a shawl and a cowl
Wearables
All the shawls – Rhinebeck, murder mystery knit along, tan house brook, changing staircases,
Sweaters - Frosted, Second Grace
Boys wearing star wars adaptation of Nordic Yoke pullover from Patons, Thing 2 grew into Thing 1’s Monomoy Sweater, still fits in an ancient sweater I knit for Thing 1, pattern no longer exists, I forget the name.
Pattern Stalking
Ice Time Hat and Cowl set from Jennifer Lassonde of Down Cellar Studio. Full disclosure – Jen gifted them to me for free, but I’d seen her photos and loved this hat even before she sent it to me.
Knitting Talk
Fiber allergies.
Out and About
- Wayland Farm and Fiber, met Boston Jen again. Wearing her Tan House Brooke shawl!
- CT sheep and wool April 27 Vernon, CT – not sure if I can make it
- Sheepshearing festival, Gore Place, April 27th, Waltham, MA
- NH SHeel & Wool May 11-12
- Wool Days, Old Sturbridge Village, May 25-27
- MA sheep and woolcraft fair, May 25 Cummington, MA
On the Run
Actually ran! Well, run-walk-run 1 mile Jeff Galloway-style, when the pool closed suddenly on Monday. Swam 20 laps Wednesday, a new record for me .55 miles (.88km)
Fitness Talk
Tennis ball used like a foam roller on deep/fleshy muscles
Sunday Mar 17, 2019
60 - On The Mend Finally
Sunday Mar 17, 2019
Sunday Mar 17, 2019
Episode 60 – Thank yous, FO, Wips, Wearables, Out and About, On the Run, Fitness Talk, Knitting Talk
Apologies for sound – laptop died. Recording this on travel mic in my car. Need to get an amp to get my mic to work with old laptop. Hopefully I’ll have it all sorted before next recording.
Thank yous
Thanks for bearing with me during this last delay. Turns out the antibiotics did not get rid of strep throat, I was sick again a week after they ended and back at the doctor to get something stronger. Feeling better now!
Big thank you to my test knitters! I have one test knit winding up in the next few weeks, with pattern ready to release in early April and I’ve lucked into some amazing test knitters this time. You ladies are wonderful! Also, if you have any interest in summer knit tops, I have 2 coming out in the next 2 months, so be sure to visit WindsweptKnits.com and join my email list for access to the best discount codes. I promise to only email once or twice a month at most and to never, ever share your data with a 3rd party. No spam, no selling your data, I promise. That’s a personal pet peeve of mine.
FO
Rhinebeck Shawl – Changing Staircases pattern by Dragon Hoard Yarns knit up in bamboo/cotton fingering yarn from Great Adirondach Yarn Co
Wips
2 preemie hats, 1 held single, 1 held double
2 new patterns, a shawl and a cowl
Wearables
All the shawls – Rhinebeck, murder mystery knit along, tan house brook, changing staircases,
Sweaters - Frosted, Second Grace
Boys wearing star wars adaptation of Nordic Yoke pullover from Patons, Thing 2 grew into Thing 1’s Monomoy Sweater, still fits in an ancient sweater I knit for Thing 1, pattern no longer exists, I forget the name.
Pattern Stalking
Ice Time Hat and Cowl set from Jennifer Lassonde of Down Cellar Studio. Full disclosure – Jen gifted them to me for free, but I’d seen her photos and loved this hat even before she sent it to me.
Knitting Talk
Fiber allergies.
Out and About
- Wayland Farm and Fiber, met Boston Jen again. Wearing her Tan House Brooke shawl!
- CT sheep and wool April 27 Vernon, CT – not sure if I can make it
- Sheepshearing festival, Gore Place, April 27th, Waltham, MA
- NH SHeel & Wool May 11-12
- Wool Days, Old Sturbridge Village, May 25-27
- MA sheep and woolcraft fair, May 25 Cummington, MA
On the Run
Actually ran! Well, run-walk-run 1 mile Jeff Galloway-style, when the pool closed suddenly on Monday. Swam 20 laps Wednesday, a new record for me .55 miles (.88km)
Fitness Talk
Tennis ball used like a foam roller on deep/fleshy muscles
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!
Monday Dec 17, 2018
54- Be A Helper Craft-a-long 3
Monday Dec 17, 2018
Monday Dec 17, 2018
Episode 54 – 12/5/18 Knittin & Running in 30 min or less I am WindsweptMonique and today’s segments include: Be A Helper KAL, FOs, Wips, Pattern Stalking, Wearables, On the Run and Running Talk about wearable fitness trackers and accuracy.
Be A Helper KAL
Started on December 5th but I didn’t record last week because Christmas shopping (had to buy all presents by last Saturday – long story) and laryngitis. If you finished a WIP for charity on or after December 5th go ahead and enter it.
- Any thing made for any charity – not just ravelry crafts
- Donate blood
- Wips count
- FO Thread is here
Prizes
- Free pattern from Jennifer Lassonde of Downcellar Studios
- 1 skein Cascade 220 in an orangey peach color from an anonymous donor and a mini skein of merino – thank you very much, donor!
- I’m offering up 1 skein of Shibui Reed
FOs
Kippah made from handspun cotton from Hipstrings, in the Break Of Day colorway, blues and orange using the To Life pattern by Sarah Jordan, aka PAKnitWit
Wips
Tan House Brooke Shawl by Jennifer Lassonde of Down Cellar Studio in my most recent handspun, Midseason Cliffhanger and Recurrent Theme cotton slivers, from fiber from Hipstrings
Icon Dress by Kari-Helene Rane in some very old stash that I want to get rid of. Reached 6th set of decreases in Front of dress
New hat for Thing 2 (not xmas gift) – 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. Folded brim so it will grow with him. About 3/4 way through folded ribbing
Find Your Fade shawl. I’m on section , the 2nd lace section and still in color #1, the raspberry-dyed handspun cotton that I’ve mentioned in past episodes
New socks, these are an un-Christmas gift that I will mail to Maura in January. I’m 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.
Pattern Stalking
I bought 4 patterns during the Indie Designers Gift-a-long sale:
Tan House Brooke, mentioned above by Jennifer Lassonde
Willowbrooke shawl by Brenda Castiel
Heroes of Yarnia RPG Scarf from last year’s MKAL by Tania Richter
Harry Potter and the Strange Persistent Font by Mary Annarella
Wearables
Twist and Shout cabled hat by Michelle DuNaier
Frosted sweater by Paper Daisy Creations
Changing Staircases by Dragon Hoard Designs in Fiber Lady’s Mousou bamboo
Dahlia by Brenda York for Berocco Yarns
On The Run
I’ve run a few times in the last 2 weeks. I’ve also gone for a few swims and boy do I need a swimming cap! Last time I went swimming it was 25F out (-4C) and that is just too cold to have soaking wet, long hair.
Running Talk – Fitbits and other trackers
On my last episode I mentioned that I like having a fitbit because it keeps me honest and a listener, Marie, wrote in saying she’d heard that the data isn’t accurate and wanted to know how I used it.
Thanks very much for writing in Marie. If you have a question about fitness, running, knitting, patterns, GALs or anything else feel free to write in. You can reach on Ravelery or Instagram as WIndsweptMonique or email me at WindsweptMonique@gmail.com. My website is windsweptknits.com and you can find this podcast and shownotes there as well as all my designs and a few other fun projects I’ve worked on, like how to make the R2-D2 sweater I knit for my son last year.
Thursday Nov 29, 2018
53-Indie GAL 2018
Thursday Nov 29, 2018
Thursday Nov 29, 2018
Episode 53 – 11/29/18 – Indie Gift-a-long Wips
FOs, Wips – lots, Knitting Fail, Spinning, Knitting Talk, Wearables, On the Run, Out and About
FOs
Mom’s Christmas socks – both are done; Plymouth Yarn Diversity in Deep Sea
Thing 2’s Christmas socks – both are done; Plymouth Yarn Diversity in Pizazz
Wips
Icon Dress by Kari-Helene Rane in some very old stash that I want to get rid of.
New hat for Thing 2 (not xmas gift) – in Valley Yarn’s Southwick that he chose while we were on holiday in Bermuda.
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 50/50 cotton/bamboo blend from Great Adirondack Yarn in the Hydrangea colorway blue, turquoise and purple
1 handspun kippah, yarn from Hipstrings Cotton Club in some beautiful handspun yarn made with fiber dyed in Pittsburgh. Pattern is To Life by Sarah Jordan (all proceeds to Tree of Life Synagogue).
Spinning
I finished spinning the Midseason Replacement and Recurrent Theme, both 2oz cotton sliver from Hipstrings. Roughly 400 yards total together and they’ll be paired beautifully in a shawl, I expect.
Started spinning new fiber
Knitting Talk
I was able to take some time to get back into design work this week and it felt sooooo good. Garment design is my favorite, and I am working on 2 new patterns. But I’m also trying to branch out and design some accessories that I want to wear. This is all long term, likely coming in 2019 or beyond, but I am really excited by the what’s coming on the horizon!
Down Cellar Studio Pigskin Party
Knitmore’s Grinchalong
Indie Designer Gift-a-long sale ends Nov 29 at 11:59opm Eastern
Be A Helper 3 will run from December 3 to February 15th
Wearables
Oh so many!
Pattern Stalking
Harry Potter and the Strange Persistent Font by Mary Annarella
Don’t Panic by Nim Teasdale (nimble knits)
Willowbrook Shawl by Brenda Castiel – use my handspun
Heroes of Yarnia RPG scarf with draogns and castles that my son would adore, could be done in double knitting or stranded colorwork
On the Run
Until yesterday I hadn’t done a blasted thing since I last recorded. I lost my fitbit about a month ago and I’ve been a lazy bum ever since.
Out and About
December 1st - Norwood Adult Day Health Center, a community VNA
December 8th, 31st Framingham Auxilliary Police Fair, my 4th or 5th time there
Thursday Nov 08, 2018
51 - Craft Fair Season
Thursday Nov 08, 2018
Thursday Nov 08, 2018
Episode 51 – 11/8/18 – Craft Fair Season
FOs, Wips, Spinning, Out and About, On the Run and Be a Helper 3 – I need your feedback
FOs
3 Fun Fur Hats
2 Doll sweaters
5 doll hats – these are all knit on US 10 needles so they knit up very quickly
1 kippah, pattern by PAKnitWit, with all proceeds going to Tree of Life Synogogue which was attacked last week and 11 members were murdered by a white nationalist. On Ravelry, some folks are collecting hand-made kippot to give to the Tree of Life community, so that is where I will send mine.
Wips
2nd Kippah, same pattern
Another Fun Fur hat
Rhinebeck Shawl – the Changing Staircases made with the yarn I just bought at Rhinebeck
Spinning
I’ve actually spun recently! Not much, but a little. I’m working on a cotton sliver from Hipstrings in the Recurrent Theme colorway which is dark jewel tones of blue, aqua, green, purple and burgundy. It’ll be gorgeous!
Out and About
I worked the Nauset Craft Fair last weekend held at the Nauset Middle School in Orleans, Cape Cod, MA. It was my first time there and I had a good time. Despite a huge storm in the morning with biblical-type rain and wind, people came out to support the vendors. My shoes were soaked unloading my car in the morning, starting around 8am. I had spare clothes, but no spare shows with me, so my feet were soaked until I got home at 6:30 that night!
On The Run
I want to talk today about the myth that running is bad for your knees. Yes you heard me, the myth.
Multiple studies including one released in 2016 from Brigham Young University and published European Journal of Applied Physiology can help us understand this.
Be a Helper 3 – I need your feedback
Here are my thoughts – I can’t run a craft-along that ends in August, my family’s schedule is nuts and we’ll have family visiting from overseas next August so it’ll just be bonker balls. The first Be A Helper was during the winter. More people seem to knit in the winter anyways, so I’m thinking of moving it back to winter. What do you all think? Should we run it in conjunction with the holiday season so people who like to knit for charity during Hannukah and Christmas can participate? Or after the holiday season so gift knitters can participate? Or maybe start in December and end in February to give everyone more flexibility?
Let me know what you think.
- thread in Ravelry group, Knitting On The Run/Windswept Designs
- WindsweptMonique on Ravelry and Instagram
- WindsweptKnits on Facebook and Twitter
- windsweptknits.com
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.
Tuesday Sep 04, 2018
44 - Regular Schedules Commence
Tuesday Sep 04, 2018
Tuesday Sep 04, 2018
Episode 44 – 9/4/18 – Autumn means schedules! Knitting & running in 30 min or less.
Summer is over, kids are back to school and life is finally scheduled again! This means I should be able to start recording on a regular basis again, huzzah!
FOs
Dahlia - pattern by Brenda York for Berroco Yarns is finally done! Whole shawl is from stash. 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 & green is Berroco Modern Cotton in the Del & Breakers colorways. Purple is some ancient Plymouth Yarns Covington.
50-st sock – both are complete thought it’s been too hot to wear
44-st sock for Thing 1 – worked on this while on our cruise to Bermuda last week finished both!
Wips
New 52-st sock for me in Plymouth Diversity in the Deep Sea colorway
Sock for Thing 2 – he previously asked for the Deep Sea colorwat but after seeing me knit his brother’s socs in the Pizazz colorway, he changed his mind and wants red socks too
Stash
1 skein of Goshen from Valley Yarns in the Plum colorway from The Black Purl in Bermuda – more about Bermuda later.
2 skeins on Ito Yarn’s Kinu 100% silk this is going to be used for the Ixchel sweater from the latest issue of Pom Pom, the one with the phases of the moon in the sweater
1 skein of Plymouth Yarn’s Diversity that my mom picked out for her Christmas socks
Both these last two are from A Great Yarn which is a lovely Yarn and Book shop in Chatham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Spinning
A braid of cotton from Hipstrings, the Midseason Clifhanger colorway.
Learned how to re-align the wheel of my Lendrum - super easy
Out and About
Fiber Revival at the Spencer Little Farm in Newbury, MA
- Firefly themed bag from Stitched by Jessalu
- Silk brick from Bewitching Fiber Co
- Tussah silk from PineTree
Last week we took a cruise from Boston to Bermuda and it was so lovely. Go swm at the Blue Hole if you ever get the chance.
Upcoming:
Oct 20th – Rhinebeck. Taking 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.
Running
1 short run since the last time I recorded; nothing to write home about. Hoping to get a few shorter runs in next week. Slow and steady
Fitness Talk
What can a personal trainer do for you?