Episodes
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!
Thursday Dec 03, 2020
89 - Christmas Knitting Done
Thursday Dec 03, 2020
Thursday Dec 03, 2020
Knitting and Running in 30 min or less. Shownotes can be found at windsweptknits.com. You can find me on IG and Ravelry as WindsweptMonique and on Facebook and Twitter as WindsweptKnits.
Ep 89 recorded 12/3/20
Segments this week include: FOs, Wips, 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.
FOs
I ended up with lots of FOs this week because I finished my Christmas gift knitting!
The Acadian Shawl (Ravelry), a Christmas gift for my mom in the approximate colors of the Acadian Flag (nous sommes fiere d’etre Acadienne!) I’m using the Goldberry crochet pattern and working it in blue, white and red with accents of yellow. I’ve put a photo of the Acadian flag in the shownotes so you can see it.
Star Wars scarf (Ravelry) for Thing 1 – One section left, plan to finish later today. Still loving the new hexagonal needles from Indian Lake Artisans. I’m using Truboo by Lion Brand, a 100% bamboo yarn in white and dark gray. Pattern is a series of free charts by Jessica Goddard.
Thing 1 Dragon Blanket (Ravelry) – all the pieces are finished, I just need to assemble it.
WIPs
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
Wenlock (Ravelery) from Tin Can Knits. I used a bunch of scraps in pink, white and yellow for the star pattern at the top, now I’m on to the body and I’ve using a variegated yarn, Cayenne by Feza Yarns, in cool-toned peach-pink-green variegated colorway.
Started a new winter tunic for myself, Galliatt (Ravelry) by JimiKnits – pattern also available on LoveCrafts
Started a new hat as part of the Fasten Off YAL (more on that a little later), the hat is The Opposite of Strict (Ravelry) by That Metzbower Girl Designs and it’s a ponytail hat designed to use scraps. I’m using up the leftovers from the two RBG Dissent Cowls I made earlier this fall.
Out and About Virtually
Lots of fiber events happening online this winter
The first-ever Fasten Off YAL is going on right now. It’s an inclusive yarn-a-long for anyone to join. It is NOT being run on Ravelry so it’s safe to join for those of you having issues with the new site. There’s a website, a Facebook group, a Discord server to chat on and you can post on IG with the hashtag #fastenoffyal More than 90 knit and crochet designers from around the globe are participating. All the included designs are 25% off through 12/5 using code FO2020 and the crafalong portion runs through 12/31/20.
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 events will be Dec 10-13, and Jan 14-17. I will be attending the January VKL
Stitches At Home December 5,6,12,13.
GGKCS podcast is running their annual winter craftaong starting now through the end of Feb 2021, more details on their Facebook page.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
On the Run
I was doing really well then I tweaked my knee again last Saturday. Meh. Lots of icing and ibuprofen and I’m staying off it as much as possible. It’s starting to be less cranky.
Sunday Nov 22, 2020
88 Happy Thanksgiving
Sunday Nov 22, 2020
Sunday Nov 22, 2020
Knitting and Running in 30 min or less. Shownotes can be found at windsweptknits.com. You can find me on IG and Ravelry as WindsweptMonique and on Facebook and Twitter as WindsweptKnits.
Ep 88 recorded 11/20/20
Segments this week include: FOs, Wips, Spinning, Out and About, On the Run
Note on Ravelry – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such – if a link does not say Ravelry, it does not go to Ravelry. Links to yarn are directly to manufacturer’s pages and should be safe for those still having rav accessibility issues.
WIPs
The Acadian Shawl (Ravelry), a Christmas gift for my mom in the approximate colors of the Acadian Flag (nous sommes fiere d’etre Acadienne!) I’m using the Goldberry crochet pattern and working it in blue, white and red with accents of yellow. I’ve put a photo of the Acadian flag in the shownotes so you can see it.
Star Wars scarf (Ravelry) for Thing 1 – One section left, plan to finish later today. Still loving the new hexagonal needles from Indian Lake Artisans. I’m using Truboo by Lion Brand, a 100% bamboo yarn in white and dark gray. Pattern is a series of free charts by Jessica Goddard.
Tan House Brook Shawl (Ravelry) - in the Sekhment base, an alpaca/silk/linen yarn from A Hundred Ravens in the Nevertheless She Persisted colorway that I bought during the virtual Maryland Sheep and Wool. I’m doing a few rows each week
Thing 1 Dragon Blanket (Ravelry) – all the pieces are finished, I just need to assemble it.
Ankle socks (Ravelry) – just about to the heel turn. Knitting in CoBaSi by Hikoo.
New WIP, Wenlock (Ravelery) from Tin Can Knits. I used a bunch of scraps in pink, white and yellow for the star pattern at the top, now I’m on to the body and I’ve using a variegated yarn, Cayenne by Feza Yarns, in cool-toned peach-pink-green variegated colorway.
Spinning
Continuing on the last color of my gradient spin so I can count it towards the Pigskin party. I’m spinning 5 minutes a day, or every other day. Slow and steady getting back to using the injured leg.
Out and About
Lots of fiber events happening online this fall
Pigskin Party now through the Superbowl Ravelry Group I’m sponsoring for the 3rd year and also participating.
Vogue Knitting Live Upcoming Vogue Knitting Live events will be Dec 10-13, and Jan 14-17. I almost always attend Vogue Live NYC every January, it’s usually a birthday present from my family as it’s often right around my birthday weekend. This year it’s the weekend after so I’ll probably attend the January event.
Stitches At Home December 5,6,12,13.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
On the Run
Still not running, but I am biking regularly!
Monday Nov 16, 2020
87- Stress Knitting
Monday Nov 16, 2020
Monday Nov 16, 2020
Knitting and Running in 30 min or less. Shownotes can be found at windsweptknits.com. You can find me on IG and Ravelry as WindsweptMonique and on Facebook and Twitter as WindsweptKnits.
Ep 87 recorded 11/13/20
Segments this week include: FOs, Wips, Spinning, Out and About, On the Run
Note on Ravelry – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such – if a link does not say Ravelry, it does not go to Ravelry. Links to yarn are directly to manufacturer’s pages and should be safe for those still having rav accessibility issues.
Lots of stress knitting the last week, so I have MULTIPLE FOs!
FOs
Dumpster Fire ornament 1 (Ravelry) & ornament 2 (Ravelry) both made in CoBaSi by Hikoo, a blend of cotton, silk, bamboo and nylon. It’s arguably my favorite fingering weight yarn – makes great socks and tank tops. Pattern by Mary Hull of Kino Knits.
Thing 2 hitchiker (Ravelry) – a DK hitchhiker scarf for Thing 2, out of big box store cotton yarn from Michaels. It’s done and blocked and I accidentally left it out after photographing it and Thing 2 told me how much he LOVED the yarn lol. Good kid, it’s for you!
Dissent Cowl 2 (Ravelry) – this is a Christmas gift for a very knitworthy friend. I’m using some ancient stash and I’ve about halfway through the necklace portion of the cowl.
WIPs
New WIP, what I am calling the Acadian Shawl (Ravelry), a Christmas gift for my mom in the approximate colors of the Acadian Flag (nous sommes fiere d’etre Acadienne!) I’m using the Goldberry crochet pattern and working it in blue, white and red with accents of yellow. I’ve put a photo of the Acadian flag in the shownotes so you can see it.
Star Wars scarf (Ravelry) for Thing 1 – more than halfway through the last chart! I’m about 7/8 of the way through. Still loving the new hexagonal needles from Indian Lake Artisans. I’m using Truboo by Lion Brand, a 100% bamboo yarn in white and dark gray. Pattern is a series of free charts by Jessica Goddard.
Tan House Brook Shawl (Ravelry) - in the Sekhment base, an alpaca/silk/linen yarn from A Hundred Ravens in the Nevertheless She Persisted colorway that I bought during the virtual Maryland Sheep and Wool. I’m on the 2nd set of eyelet rows, almost to the 2nd set of textured stitches.
Thing 1 Dragon Blanket (Ravelry) – the second Christmas Snap The Dragon Blanket, this one from my older son. Using deep stash acrylic.
Knitting Fail
I still have a hard time reading crochet.
Spinning
Still no success at a distaff, but I have spun a little more of the Tussah Silk from Pinestar Studios in Maine on my Akerworks drop spindle.
Started the last color of my gradient spin so I can count it towards the Pigskin party
Out and About
Lots of fiber events happening online this fall
Pigskin Party now through the Superbowl Ravelry Group I’m sponsoring for the 3rd year and also participating.
Vogue Knitting Live Upcoming Vogue Knitting Live events will be Nov 12-15, Dec 10-13, and Jan 14-17. I almost always attend Vogue Live NYC every January, it’s usually a birthday present from my family as it’s often right around my birthday weekend. This year it’s the weekend after so I’ll probably attend the January event.
Stitches At Home December 5,6,12,13.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
On the Run
Still not running, but I’m biking!
Friday Jun 26, 2020
For Spacious Skies
Friday Jun 26, 2020
Friday Jun 26, 2020
Episode 81 - Recorded Thursday, June 26th 2020
New pattern, end of be-a-helper kal, wips, knitting fail, spinning, wearables, out and about and if we have time I’ll do an on the run segment.
New Pattern alert!
As of the time you’re hearing this, I have a new pattern available through Knotions Magazine! The pattern is named For Spacious Skies and is knit using a gorgeous muted red, blue and white colorway from Birdies Knits named Old Glory and a small amount of white yarn for the star.
I found this yarn and this indie dyer at the very first Stitches United in Hartford, CT several years ago. I was so excited – I’d never met a hand-dyer who worked in anything other than wool. Being highly allergic to sheep, wool is not an option for me. This colorway reminded me of 4th of July parades with my grandparents and great-grandmother, of summer beach days and Friday night band concerts at the local park all summer with my family.
The star is worked first, from the center out, then short rows make the circle into a square. The remainder of the top is worked top-down – the bust area is worked back-and forth to the underarm, then the whole piece is joined in the round.
Recommend -1 to -3 inches of ease (negative ease). This means if you’re targeting a 38 bust, that you should choose a 36 (38-2). Bust: 32 - 60” , [81.5 - 152.5) cm]
Be-A-Helper KAL
Last 2 prize winners announced!
WIPs
Laceweight Boxy – Now about 16” long
Papillon – Started 2nd section. Using Berroco Medina that I bought at The Yarn Patch in Crossville, TN last year and a gold Tencel yarn from Artisinal Yarns that I bought at Rhinebeck 2 years ago.
Goldberry – I started a new crochet pattern this week.
Triyang – an old WIP that I started as SSK in 2017, I tend to keep this pattern for travelling and since we have 2 small kids we don’t travel much anymore.
Star Wars scarf for Thing 2 – I’m still working on the Blasters section of the Light Side section.
Ozone Sweater – worked a little on the Ozone Sweater, a crochet sweater, which leads me to…
Knitting Fail
I tried to work on this last Thursday during my stitching group, but apparently I cannot join crochet and talk at the same time. The medallions are linked in 5 places along one side, and I screwed it up 3 times. At the end of 1:45 I had completed (and successfully joined) 1 medallion and started the center of a second. That’s all. In nearly 2 hours.
Spinning
I finished my Pride Month spin! I pulled apart 2 braids from Hipstring’s cotton club from 2019, and spun them color by color to make a rainbow. Then two nights ago I started to learn to chain ply, which I finished yesterday. It’s not my best yarn ever, since it’s my first-ever chain ply, but I’m proud nonetheless.
Wearbles
It’s tank top season finally here in MA so I’ve recently wore my Out Tonight pattern, which is a sleeveless top inspired by the musical Rent. We had a cold windy day last weekend and I wore the Taking Flight shawl, a pattern by Katherine Belisle and inspired by Captain Marvel.
I recently wore my Strawberry Blossoms top, which I still love, but I’ve noticed after washing that the CoBaSi yarn tends to stretch more sideways than vertically when knit in garments. I have an extra skein of the yellow left, so I’m considering pulling out the turned hem, knitting a few extra inches, then re-doing the hem. I’ll let you know if I decide to go ahead with it.
On the Run
No exercise this week, poison ivy sucks
Out and About
Tour de Fleece 1 Sat Jun 27 – Sun Jul 19
Tour de Fleece 2 Sat, Aug 29, 2020 – Sun, Sep 20, 2020
Here in MA we’re slowly opening back up while keeping our new cases of COVID19 low, and I went to a yarn shop! This is my first visit to a LYS since January. I visited @agreatyarn in Chatham, MA, a store I love to visit.
Wednesday Jun 10, 2020
80 - Let's Be Real
Wednesday Jun 10, 2020
Wednesday Jun 10, 2020
Recorded Wednesday 6/10/20
Let’s start with the basics: black live matter. Black people should matter just as much as any other person but the fact is, in American society, they do not.
If you have any doubts about that I am including a link to an old video of Jane Elliot that you should watch. I think all white folks should watch it, it’s only 1 minute and I wager a few of you have seen the clip before. But it speaks volumes.
The fight is not over. We still have work to. Vote, support businesses, make donations if you can, write to your lawmakers, sign petitions. Not all of us are able to attend protests but there’s a lot we can do. Most importantly educate yourself. Listen. I will be donating 50% of the profits from my self-published patterns for the month of June to the Southern Poverty Law Center who work to combat racism across the country. I also personally donated to Black Girls Code, a group who supports black women in computer science. Many of you may know that my background is in computer science, I have a BS in computer science from St Michael’s College and a MSc in Computing and Internet Studies from King’s College London, UK. My field really, really needs diversification. For undergrad I was one of two girls in my grade in my major and there were no black folks at all. I know it’s changed some in the past 15 years, but our field needs to change more, so I’m putting my money where my mouth is.
Also you may have noticed sound quality has changed. My husband surprised me with a new podcast mic for mother’s day, it arrived a few weeks after and I am finally recording with it today. Also Cally the deaf cat is here.
FOs
South Woods - pattern by River Road Knits. First handspun sweater complete! So proud of it. Great fit. I want to make a sleeveless version of this.
Aggregate 2 – Pattern by JimiKnits. Knit in Tencel yarn by Artisinal yarns. Kinda want to start another already. Love this pattern.
Go With the Flo shawl – pattern by Jennifer Lassonde Designs, knit in handspun.
WIPs
Sassy Wrapitude – Part of the Wrapitude collection by Megan Williams, Just Run Knit. Using yellow CoBaSi by Hikoo and bamboo/cotton blend dyed in peachy oranges with speckles of pink and yellow from Great Adirondack Yarn that I bought at Rhinebeck. On section 8, lace.
Laceweight Boxy – Now about 14” long
Papillon – Started 2nd section. Using Berroco Medina that I bought at The Yarn Patch in Crossville, TN last year and a gold Tencel yarn from Artisinal Yarns that I bought at Rhinebeck 2 years ago.
Ankle socks – using Fish Lips Kiss heel and 52 sts, finished the first sock, just finished toe of second sock.
Out and About
Rhinebeck officially cancelled for 2020.
“After much deliberation, the DCSWGA board and festival planning committee have decided to cancel the in-person 2020 NYS Sheep & Wool Festival. In its place, we will host a virtual festival online. More details on that to come.
If you have any questions, please contact our Festival Manager, Nena Johnson at festivalinfo at sheepandwool dot com”
Be a Helper Craftalong
I will close the FO thread on June 20th. Thank you SOOOOO much for your participation.
Monday May 18, 2020
79 Backyard Birds
Monday May 18, 2020
Monday May 18, 2020
Episode 79 – recorded 5/14/20
Wips
South Woods – I’ve finished the sleeves! Only a collar left; on hold for Stash Dash
Sassy Wrapitude – Part of the Wrapitude collection by Megan Williams
Laceweight Boxy – Now about 13” long
Aggregate 2 – on last time through Right Hand Wedge
Papillon – I started the butterfly/papillon shawl using Berroco Medina that I bought at The Yarn Patch in Crossville, TN last year and a gold Tencel yarn from Artisinal Yarns that I bought at Rhinebeck 2 years ago.
Go With the Flo shawl – still in the center section.
Spinning
Finished the first color of the gradient, 2oz of malachite green. Started 2nd shade of green.
On the Run
I’ve been struggling to incorporate fitness since I tweaked my back a month ago. But I'm trying to plan to make success easier
Out and About – Virtually
Vogue Knitting Live happening RIGHT NOW through the 18th. I don’t know if any classes still have openinigs
MDSW was fun 2 weeks ago. It was all virtual and the interest was so great, the server crashed! Luckily someone stepped in with a PDF with links to the vendors. I ordered silk from Tess’ Designer Yarns which arrived last weekend and is soooooo soft and squishy! Also ordered a skein of alpaca/silk/linen from A Hundred Ravens, still waiting for that to ship.
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
78-Preparation Is For the Birds
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
Episode 78 – preparation is for the birds
recorded Wednesday 4/29/20
FOs
Ear savers/mask buddies – I've crocheted several more. A big, huge thanks to Lisa from Fibernymph Dyeworks for mailing me some buttons so I can finish even more!
WIPS
South Woods – I’ve finished the back!
Sassy Wrapitude – Part of the Wrapitude collection by Megan Williams, got the pattern free from attending Into the Wool. Cast on with yellow CoBaSi by Hikoo and bamboo/cotton blend from Great Adirondack Yarn that I bought at Rhinebeck. I’m on the 7th section, which is garter ridges. Just finished interesting slipped stitch section
Ozone Sweater – I finally started the actual sweater!
Earth Rise – new design I’m working on, inspired by the famous photo the Apollo astronauts took the first time they came around the dark side of the room and saw the Earth rising up above the moon’s surface. Not working on it as much - my brain doesn't want to do math
Laceweight Boxy – How long do you make your Boxy sweaters? I’m about 12” and trying to decide how long I want it to be.
Knitting Fail
You may have noticed there’s no Star Wars scarf listed here – that’s because I broke the needle. I didn’t see the green needle on the blue chair in the dark, and when I knelt on the chair to turn on the light on the wall behind, I snapped the needle right at the connector.
Out and About
Maryland Sheep and Wool - virtual May 2 & 3
Vogue Knitting Live - virtual May 11- 18