Episodes
Tuesday Jul 25, 2017
Episode 18 - SSK, So Much Fun Even The Introverts Are Here
Tuesday Jul 25, 2017
Tuesday Jul 25, 2017
Episode 18 – 7/25/17 – The SSK Episode
Knitting & running in 30 minutes or less
Wips
Firebird by Romi Hill, a gorgeous shawl designed for red yarn. I’m doing this in Blue Heron Yarn’s Egyptian Mercerized Cotton in the Carnelian colorway, it’s dark red tonal gradients. I finished the central flower, which was knit in the round then bound off the top and bottoms, now working on the left wing. The wing has 4 or 5 decreases with a sort of feather hanging down – finished the first feather and onto the 2nd
Pink Hitchhiker by Martina Behm (aka strickmich) knit in Ito Yarn’s Kinu, 100% silk. It’s like a raw silk, not a finished, smooth thread.
Empire Top by Lily Go in Frogtree’s Picoboo, a discontued blend of cotton and bamboo – this is a tunic that criss-crosses across the bust then fits around the ribs and flares over the tummy. Looking to wear this with leggings and boots this fall. My primary WIP at SSK, re-cast it on the day before and got it almost to the raglan arm separation
Triyang shawl by Lee Meredith – cast on last night in Araucania’s Yumbrel
Wearables
Wore lots of knits at SSK – Scarrit Bennet center is fully air conditioned and some rooms were chilly.
Maris Stella by Anna Victoria, knit in Birdie’s Knits gradient kig
Linen Butterflies by me, Monique Leonard – knit in Louet Euroflax Sport
Thoughts on Small Needles by Joji Locatelli; worked the size XL pattern with a lace/thread-weight yarn to make a size M
Out and About
SSK! A summer knitting retreat hosted by the KnitGirllls. 4 days in Nashville with 150 amazing knitters, vendors and teachers. Thank you to Laura, Leslie, Gwen, Sarah and Mama Linneman for all your hard work, it was an amazing retreat. I arraived late, on Thursday morning instead of Wednesday night, but it was fine; I still met so many lovely people and felt welcomes right away.
Took 2 classes and 2 breakouts.
Variegated Yarns class with Margaret Radcliffe. Learned a lot about how to read the yarn, make some colors pop and others fade; how to use texture to bring out colors like when you look at a cake of variegated yarns. Long and short is, play with the yarn BEFORE you cast on for a project
Triyang Shawl with Lee Meredith (aka Leethal) was incredible to see a little into how her mind works. She’s known for usuing unusual construction to make amazing patterns. This shawl as no picking up or binbding off! We knit mini-versions of this shawl and learned the sideways Cast On and how to consider what looks like the middle of the row as your actual “start” of the row. The pattern is very well written and if you follow it exactly as written you will end up with a marvelous shawl. Trust Lee, she’s worked it all out. Even if it feels wrong, just do what’s written and it will work.
2 breakouts by Hipstrings. The first, learning to use a supported spindle. I got the very basics down. I made a rather horrible-looking spindle, but I made one! My very first time spinning. The 2nd, learning to spin cotton on a supported spindle. By the end I had a half-way decent spindle and learned to use the smallest and fastest of her spindles.
Market -
Ross Farm
Knitty and Color
Whimzee Stitches
2 Guys Yarn Co
Hopkins Sewing Studio
Gynx Yarns
Gales Art
Marigold Jen
Hobbledehoy Fibers
Hipstrings
Twist Fiber Studio
Akerworks
Lollipop yarn
Fiber Seed Yarn
Miss Babs
BareNaked Wools
Stranded Dyeworks
Fat Squirrel Fibers
Jeri Brock
Rock and String
Tuft Woolens
Jelby
So much beautiful yarn and so manyknitting bags!
I bought a spindle and a fibre sampler from HipStrings, bags from Whimzee, Fat Squirrel, and
On the Run
I’ve run twice and walked a LOT since the last episode.
Since I was up at the crack of dawn on Friday I went for a run, about a mile around Vanderbilt – beautiful campus! Felt totally safe as a woman running alone. I upped the number of run intervals from 5 to 7. Saturday I went for a walk with PAKnitWit to the Parthenon, about a mile each way.
Today continued the 7-run intervals. Knees are a little creaky after all the running and walking the past 5 days so I’m going to hold off on running again until the end of the week. But I’m so happy to be slowly increasing my running in a healthy manner.
Thursday Jun 29, 2017
Episode 15 - All the Wips
Thursday Jun 29, 2017
Thursday Jun 29, 2017
Episode 15 – 6/29/17
FOs, Wips, Knitting Fail, Stash, Wearables, Tip Time, Out and About, On the Run and In the Gardenp
FOs
Maris Stella shawl – it’s finished! End aren’t woven in yet, but it’s done. Knit in Ocean View gradient kit by Birdies Knits
Wips
Green Hitchiker – Valley Yarns Greylock 100% Cashmere; approximately 90% complete. So close! I’m limiting it to 3 rows before washing my hands so the progress is sort of slow going, but it’s nearly done.
Purple Hitchiker – Cascade Ultra Pima Fine 100% Cotton in Periwinkle (but really more of a royal purple) – about 20% complete. I’ve been focusing on other projects, so not much progress on this one
Firebird – Cast on the Firebird Shawl by Romi Hill in Blue Heron yarns Egyptian Mercerized Cotton in Carnelian. On row 5 of Chart B. The beginning was fairly simple (side note – knitting fail) so I worked on this while watching the America’s Cup. Ironicaly Knitting Fail occurred after the races ended!
Empire Top – Cast on again. Figured out what the problem was last time around. For background, I’d gotten 1 extra st per inch over 4 inches so I cast on 1 size smaller to compensate for those extra few inches over my ribcage circumference. I sat down with a tape measure last week to double check my math and discovered that I’ve lost 3 inches around my ribs at 2 around my bust! No wonder the blasted top didn’t fit, I’d shrunk! I’ve been working my tail off at Physical Therapy the last 4 months and I’ve only lost 5 pounds so I hadn’t bothered to re-measure myself. Thankfully I did before I got any further on the Mommy’s Tunic pattern so I could adjust that down a size too.
Mommy’s Tunic – I finished the cable band and grafted it, then began knitting bust. As I mentioned previously, I ended up going with a smaller size. I’ve finished bust darts and split for front and back – currently working on the back panel.
Knitting Fail
Firebird 2.0 – Finished Chart A and the first few rows of Chart B and I just couldn’t get the right # of sts on the last repeat so I finally just gave up and unraveled and started again. It was so early in the process that I’m not upset – though I am now using lifelines again, lol
Stash
No actual stash, but I need to find some pink yarn. My mother-in-law saw the pink hitchhiker shawl I made for my Family og Hitchhikers project and she really liked. So I need to track down a similar color pink, if I can – alas Webs, where I bought the yarn, has been sold out of that color for the last month. I will keep looking, and I’ll check some fun yarn stores I know on Cape Cod next week. Wish me luck!
Wearables
Thoughts by Joji Locatelli, knit in Araucania’s Yumbrel a discontinued yarn in the Pastels colorway. I find myself wearing this a lot now that the weather is warm. It’s ¾ length sleeve and made in lace-weight yarn so it’s nice and light, the perfect sweater to wear to a movie theater or cool restaurant on a hot day. I’m seriously debating making another one in a very different color.
Tip Time
When picking up sts, use a smaller needle so you don’t get that baggy-looking first row of knit stitches. I try to go at least 3 sizes smaller when I can – for socks this isn’t always possible, but for garments I just grab whatever small needles are handy. Today I used a US Size 1 (2.25mm) to pick up sts on a garment I’m knitting on US Suze 6 (4mm). That’s a smaller needle than I would normally use, but I had it handy so I used it.
Out and About
Next week I’m off to visit my parents on Cape Cod and one of my favorite LYS, A Great Yarn in Chatham which is also a book store. Seriously, if they served tea or mimosas it would be the perfect store. Planning on packing my Mommy’s Tunic, the 2 hitchhikers, and maybe and old sock or the Hamilknit hat. Can’t decide if I want something else mindless, or something I want to actually work on. I know I could finish the hat and the green hitchhiker easily, and make good progress on the others which is why I’m thinking of bringing 4 projects. There’s definitely a part of me that wants to bring something new to cast on, which I just should not do, but the Second Grace sweater by Bristol Ivy is calling my name and I already have the yarn for it…. Gah! Too many choices!!!
July 20-23 off to Nashville for the Super Summer Knitogether with The Knit Girllls
August off to NS, Canada to visit family
On the Run
I graduated from Physical Therapy! Woohoo!!!! Very happy to be done. I have come so far and I feel a LOT stronger than I did 3 months ago. My abs and glutes in particular are much, much stronger which should really help when I start running again. Fingers crossed, I’m hoping to do some very simple runs next week on holiday – something like run 30 secs, walk 90 secs repeat 2-3 times. I’m starting back slooooooowly so I don’t re-injure myself.
In the Garden
First crop – sugar snap peas are ripe and delicious. Also, we debate moving the garden itself next year because our trees have grown a LOT in the past 10 years and the garden is now part shade.
Tuesday May 23, 2017
Episode 11 - Finally Back in the Garden
Tuesday May 23, 2017
Tuesday May 23, 2017
Episode 11 – Knitting on the Run Podcast
Knitting in 30 minutes or less, plus some running and gardening
Today’s segments include wearables, wips, kals, knitting fail, in the garden, on the run, out and about
Wearables
Thoughts by Joji Locatelli knit in Araucania Yumbrel
Wips
Tanwen – Thayer Preece, ilikecake – about 40 inches, 20ish to go
Hitchiker 1 – Valley Yarns Greylock, 100% Cashmere ___ points
Hitchiker 3 – Cascade Ultra Pima Fine in a blue-green color, ____ points
Hamilknit Hat – finished 3rd row of lettering. Hat nos says “oceans rise, empires fall”, “burn”, “talk less, smile more”
Fishy Sweater
KALS
PALKAL2017 – annual KAL by Actually Knitting podcast, it’s a podcaster KAL and I’m super proud to be a sponsor. I’m offering a prize and a discount code. Use code PALKAL2017 for 25% off ALL Ravelry patterns now through September 1, 2017. Thanks for the shout-out on yesterday’s episode, Michelle!
Stash Dash – annual KAL by TheKnitGIrllls. “Race” against yourself to knit a certain distance. Prizes in the following distances: 1K, 3K, 5K, 10K. I’m aiming for 5K, but will probably end up in the 3K.
Splash Pad Party from Down Cellar Studio – I’m back again this year as a sponsor donating a prize. Summer themed KAL with lots of prizes all summer long.
Knitting Fail
Screwed up the Tanwen scarf again There’s a garter stitch section and I purled it on the back instead of knit. Twice. Dropped down 6 rows for one, other was 4 inches [10cm] down – I’m going to duplicate stitch over it
In the Garden
Deck coming together – tomatoes, peppers, basil and flowers. Had “helpers” Took twice as long but they had fun
Also, got chamomile, cilantro and basil seedlingds in the herb garden
Planted cucumber and watermelon seedlings in the garden
On the Run
Finally got to progress past half a mile! Unfortunately I’ve had pain in my foot and Achilles tendon. Gonna talk to my physical therapist about it tomorrow. Fingers crossed it’s nothing major. I want to run!
Out And About
Cape Cod this weekend
Burlington, VT 1st weekend in June
SSK retreat July 20-23
Canada! First week in August in Nova Scotia visiting family
Tuesday May 16, 2017
Episode 10 - Lots of KALs
Tuesday May 16, 2017
Tuesday May 16, 2017
Episode 10 – 5/16/17 - we’ve hit double digits!
Considering I’ve listened to podcasts since 2005, and have listened to a few for 10+ years, it seems a little silly to be celebrating 10 episodes but to me if someone reaches the 10 episode mark then it shows they are in it for the long run and to me, I’m more likely to start listening to them.
Welcome to our new international listeners! New listeners from Canada, Bievenue! I suspect I’m related to most of you, lol, I’m half Canadian. Also Australia, Germany, Sweden and India! Wilkomen! Tak! Dhanyabad – ok, that last was Nepali, not Hindi, but I speak Nepali (or used to). Languages are a hobby of mine so forgive me for geeking out about listeners abroad.
FYI - No FOs until Stash Dash starts
KALS
PALKAL2017 – annual KAL by Actually Knitting podcast, it’s a podcaster KAL and I’m super proud to be a sponsor. I’m offering a prize and a discount code. Use code PALKAL2017 for 25% off ALL Ravelry patterns now through September 1, 2017. Thanks for the shout-out on yesterday’s episode, Michelle!
Stash Dash – annual KAL by TheKnitGIrllls. “Race” against yourself to knit a certain distance. Prizes in the following distances: 1K, 3K, 5K, 10K. I’m aiming for 5K, but will probably end up in the 3K.
Splash Pad Party from Down Cellar Studio – I’m back again this year as a sponsor donating a prize. Summer themed KAL with lots of prizes all summer long.
Wips
Empire Top – Lily Go – frogtree picboo, a discontinued cotton/linen blend. Now roughly 5 inches tall
Tanwen – Thayer Preece, ilikecake
Hitchiker 1 – Valley Yarns Greylock, 100% Cashmere about halfway
Hitchiker 3 – Cascade Ultra Pima Fine in a blue-green color, about halfway
CO Hamilknit Hat
Fishy Sweater
Stash
Birdie Yarns – gradient kit, Ocean View
5 skeins of Old Glory, hand died pretty much the exact colors of the actual Star Spangled banner, a faded navu blue and red, with a hint of white in places.
Pattern Stalking
Maris Stella Lace Shawl by Anna Victoria – eyeing this for the gradient kit I just received
Wearables
Poema by Vera Sanon, knit in Be Sweet’s Bamboo
Vivian by Ysolda Teague in Plymouth Yarn’s Covington, 100% mercerized cotton
In The Garden
Resurrected most of the seedlings I dried out! Too cold and rainy for me to plant – a really crappy week. Cold drizzle almost all week – felt like April! Mother’s Day was only 46!!! Today it’s 78 and it’ll be 90 on Thursday. In New England if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 min.
On The Run
Still walking half mile per day. Also, getting lots more mobility back in my ankle, yay!
Also, Color Run 5K as a family. Thing 1 wants to run a race like mommy and daddy and this is not timed, so he can walk (or be carried)
Out And About
Burlington, VT 1st weekend in June
SSK retreat July 20-23
Canada! First week in August in Nova Scotia visiting family
Tuesday May 09, 2017
Episode 9 - Chaos
Tuesday May 09, 2017
Tuesday May 09, 2017
Episode 9 – Chaos – 5/9/17
It’s been chaos. Kids with allergies not sleeping, Thing 1 ends up with a sinus infection, car repairs, physical therapy running late repeatedly, pattern to tech editor late. Just chaos.
Wips
Tanwen – Thayer Preece Parker, aka ilikecake. Love the pattern, love the yarn but maybe these two aren’t a good combination. Mentioned last week that I had to switch needles – still getting sore hands. Only doing 1-2 inches per day. At 21 inches, only 39 remain
Hitchiker 1 – 100% Cashmere, Greylock by Valley Yarns – 22 points
Hitchiker 2 – pink Ultra Pima Sport using a 6-row repeat – 45 points; set aside for Stash Dash 2017
Hitchiker 3 – blue Ultra Pima Fine using 6-row repeat – 11 points
Empire Top by Lily Go in Frogtree Picoboo – discontinued Cootn/bamboo blend – about 4.5” tall. Raglan tunic than criss-crosses in front of bust – still a looooong way to go.
DYING TO KNIT SOMETHING FOR MYSELF – have a queue, 1 more hitchiker and 3 Hamilton hats need to get done, not to mention my design work. but all I want to do is make myself something pretty, so I will.
Knitting Fail
At Thing 1’s swimming lesson – wasn’t paying attention to the cables and missed the 2nd of t C4F cables…. Didn’t catch it till 8 rows later. Oops!
Wearables
Thoughts, by Joji Locatelli on Araucania Yumbrel laceweight
Mommy’s Tunic – Be Sweet Bamboo
Vivian – Ysolda Teague in Plymouth Yarn Covington
Gardening
not so much – taking plants in and out and in and out. Cold weather this week (for May)
Dried out seedlings. Doh!
On The Run
I got to walk! Last week I got permission to start walking ½ mile – done it 3 times now, so far so good! Huge increases in ankle range of motion, visible changes in my foot (long story). Hoping to be able to start running later this month. But I need new shoes!
Tuesday Mar 28, 2017
Episode 3
Tuesday Mar 28, 2017
Tuesday Mar 28, 2017
Episode 3
WIPs
Linen sweater, Louet Euroflax sport; finished waist decreases; just reached bust increases
Robin by Lee Meredith, Ito’s Kinu silk yarn. On 6th section; on hold for bad US3 needle
Cast on Hamilknit Hat! Schachenmayer Baby Cotton is Natural and Blue. Also waiting for that US3 needle
Empire Top by Lily Go – in Frogtree Picoboo (cotton/bamboo blend, discontinued) still on Yoke increases. Need to get up to nearly 400 sts so a LOOOOONG way to go
Purse Sock – Berocco comfort sock – knitting and unwinding knots at Panera after baby meltdown
Wearables
Vivian by Ysolda Teague
My boys’ lion wore my Vivian!
Stash
Sparrow by Quince Company pp100% linen x2 – Maize and Port
In the Garden
Seedlings are nearly all sprouted! Thing 1 very happy to see his plants;
Have to squirt cat with water to get him out of spare room
On the Run
Meant to walk 1 mile a few times this past week but Thing 2 got sick. Thing 1 still had karate which meant I walked him around the block over and over – 1.3 miles! Knee reacted fine
Heel pain last few weeks not going away. Fingers crossed it’s nothing
TryPod
Knitmore Girls
The KnitGirllls
Yarniacs
NH Knits
Geeky Girls Knit
Unraveling with Greg and Joey
Knit 1 Geek 2
2 Knit Lit Chicks
Down Cellar Studio
Kino Knits
Just One More Row
Actually Knitting
Backstage Knitting
Commuter Knitter (on hiatus)Fiber Knitche
In a Sknit
Knit Actually
Knitting Butterflies
Ladies of the Knit
Mastering the Knits
Prairie Girls Knit & Spin
Ready Set Knipt
ShinyBees
TwinSet Designs
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Knitting On the Run Podcast
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