Episodes
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.
Friday Jun 10, 2022
111 Wearing the Summer Handknits
Friday Jun 10, 2022
Friday Jun 10, 2022
Ep 111 recorded 6/8/22
Segments this week include: Wearables, FO, Wips, Out and About, and I’ve Got Sunshine. A note on showlinks – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such and all links for yarn are directly to the dyer’s website.
Wearbles
It’s been gorgeously warm here, even insanely hot 2 days, so I’ve worn summer handknits.
No Day But Today
Linen Butterflies
Watermelon Shawl
Strawberry Blossoms
Lotus Mandala shawls
FOs
48-st sock for E in red sock yarn, finished the first sock. Allegro by Wisdom Yarns, distributed by Universal Yarns. May be discontinued.
WIPs
As You Wish MKAL by Mary Annarella of Lyrical Knits. This is a Princess Bride themed mystery knitalong that will eventually result in a rectangular shawl. Nearing the end of Clue 3! This shawl is sooooo much fun to knit.
48-st sock for E in red sock yarn, started toe of 2nd sock on US 2s. Allegro by Wisdom Yarns, distributed by Universal Yarns. May be discontinued.
Mermaid Skirt by Concept Creative, a Ukranian designer. It’s a wonderful pattern and very easy to follow, even for an advanved beginner like me. It looks super fancy but the photos and inks to video tutorials makes it really easy. It’s charted and written out.
Juliana top by Linda’s Craftique, for once worked in the called-for yarn – Neve by Juniper Moon Farms. This pattern is bottom-up. I finished the ribbing and am starting up the body.
Hitchhiker in Lion Brand Shawl In a Ball
Spinning
I’m spinning handspun yarn for the winner of my drawing for the Knitathon. Spun a bit more this week. Fiber is 90’s School Supplies cotton from Hipstrings.
Out and About
Vogue Knitting Live Virtual and June 9-12.
GGKCS podcast started their annual Summer craft-a-long, visit their FB page for more details.
Splash Pad Party with Down Cellar Studio
Stitches at Home Stitches at Home June 11/12 & 18/19, Expo at Home July 8-10. Coming up in person, Stitches So Cal in Pasadena, California November 10-13.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
I’ve Got Sunshine
Knit in public day is Saturday! Check your local yarn shop. I'll be at March for our Lives in Washington DC while knitting
Saturday May 21, 2022
110 Kids and Pets
Saturday May 21, 2022
Saturday May 21, 2022
Ep 110 recorded 5/18/22
Segments this week include: Wips, Knitting Fail, Out and About, and I’ve Got Sunshine. A note on showlinks – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such and all links for yarn are directly to the dyer’s website.
WIPs
As You Wish MKAL by Mary Annarella of Lyrical Knits. This is a Princess Bride themed mystery knitalong that will eventually result in a rectangular shawl.
Winona by Brenda Castiel in handspun from Hipstrings.
48-st socks for J, working toe-up, on foot of 2nd sock. Bamboo Pop Sock in Sunset Colorway. Bamboo cotton, PBT blend
52-st sock for E in red sock yarn, turned the heel . Allegro by Wisdom Yarns, distributed by Universal Yarns. May be discontinued. More on this in Knitting Fail
Started Mermaid Skirt by Concept Creative, a Ukranian designers.
Juliana top by Linda’s Craftique, for once worked in the called-for yarn – Neve by Juniper Moon Farms.
Knitting Fail
Use the right needles.
Spinning
I’m spinning handspun yarn for the winner of my drawing for the Knitathon.
Out and About
Vogue Knitting Live Virtual and June 9-12.
GGKCS podcast is having their annual Sheepy Spring AL, visit their FB page for more details.
Stitches at Home Stitches at Home June 11/12 & 18/19, Expo at Home July 8-10. Coming up in person, Stitches So Cal in Pasadena, California November 10-13.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
I’ve Got Sunshine
Kids and Pets
Sunday May 15, 2022
109 - The one with COVID
Sunday May 15, 2022
Sunday May 15, 2022
Ep 109 recorded 5/11/22
Segments this week include: FOs, Wips, Spinning, Out and About, and I’ve Got Sunshine. A note on showlinks – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such and all links for yarn are directly to the dyer’s website.
Lots of knitting this week, as COVID invaded our house.
FOs – FO 2 weeks in a row, weird!
48-st socks for J. First sock done. Bamboo Pop Sock in Sunset Colorway.
WIPs
As You Wish MKAL by Mary Annarella of Lyrical Knits. This is a Princess Bride themed mystery knitalong that will eventually result in a rectangular shawl. I’m in Clue 3! This shawl is sooooo much fun to knit.
Winona by Brenda Castiel in handspun from Hipstrings.
48-st socks for J, finished toe of 2nd sock. Bamboo Pop Sock in Sunset Colorway.
52-st sock for E in red sock yarn. Allegro by Wisdom Yarns, correction: distributed by Universal Yarns, not made by Universal Yarns. May be discontinued.
Swatching for 2 new projects, Green Crochet Dress by Krinichka and Mermaid Skirt by Concept Creative, both are Ukranian designers.
Juliana top by Linda’s Craftique, for once worked in the called-for yarn – Neve by Juniper Moon Farms. This pattern is bottom-up. I finished the ribbing and am starting up the body.
Spinning
I’m spinning handspun yarn for the winner of my drawing for the Knitathon. Fiber is 90’s School Supplies cotton from Hipstrings.
Out and About
Vogue Knitting Live Virtual May 12-15 and June 9-12.
GGKCS podcast is having their annual Sheepy Spring AL, visit their FB page for more details.
Stitches at Home Stitches Expo at Home May 13-15, Stitches at Home June 11/12 & 18/19, Expo at Home 8-10. Coming up in person, Stitchs So Cal in Pasadena, California November 10-13.
NH Sheep and Wool May 14 & 15, 2022 – I probably won’t make it.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
I’ve Got Sunshine
Libraries are great, and library apps are keeping me sane
Monday May 09, 2022
108 - Day Off
Monday May 09, 2022
Monday May 09, 2022
Ep 108 recorded 5/4/22
Segments this week include: FOs, Wips, Spinning, Out and About, and I’ve Got Sunshine. A note on showlinks – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such and all links for yarn are directly to the dyer’s website.
FOs
Recalibrate by Shana Lines is done!
My second Lotus Mandala Vest is done!
I’m finished spinning some plain cotton to finish the As You Wish shawl.
WIPs
As You Wish MKAL by Mary Annarella of Lyrical Knits.
Winona by Brenda Castiel in handspun from Hipstrings.
48-st socks for J in Bamboo Pop Sock in Sunset Colorway.
Papillon/Butterfly Shawl (Ravelry) – I’m on section 22 of 31 in the shawl. I’m getting close!!!
Swatching for 2 new projects, Green Crochet Dress by Krinichka and Mermaid Skirt by Concept Creative, both are Ukranian designers.
Spinning
I’m spinning handspun yarn for the winner of my drawing for the Knitathon. Fiber is 90’s School Supplies cotton from Hipstrings.
Out and About
Vogue Knitting Live Virtual May 12-15 and June 9-12.
GGKCS podcast is having their annual Sheepy Spring AL, visit their FB page for more details.
Stitches at Home Stitches Expo at Home May 13-15, Stitches at Home June 11/12 & 18/19, Expo at Home 8-10. Coming up in person, Stitchs So Cal in Pasadena, California November 10-13.
NH Sheep and Wool May 14 & 15, 2022 – I probably won’t make it.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
I’ve Got Sunshine
I had my mother’s day gift last weekend, and it was a day off. In short, I did all the stuff that I love to do that my family does not enjoy. And it was glorious!
Tuesday Apr 12, 2022
107 Short and Sweet
Tuesday Apr 12, 2022
Tuesday Apr 12, 2022
Ep 107 recorded 4/6/22
Segments this week include: FOs, Wips, Out and About, and I’ve Got Sunshine. A note on showlinks – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such and all links for yarn are directly to the dyer’s website.
FOs
Last night I finished the Earthrise shawl and got that to my tech editor today.
WIPs
My second Lotus Mandala Vest is growing!
As You Wish MKAL by Mary Annarella of Lyrical Knits.
Winona by Brenda Castiel in handspun from Hipstrings.
Spinning
I’ve spinning handspun yarn for the winner of my drawing for the Knitathon. I’m also spinning some plain cotton once or twice a week, because I don’t have enough handspun to finish the As You Wish shawl.
Out and About
Vogue Knitting Live Live in Seattle April 8-10, Virtual May 12-15 and June 9-12.
GGKCS podcast is having their annual Sheepy Spring AL, visit their FB page for more details.
Stitches at Home April 2 & 3; 9 & 10, 2022
CT Sheep and Wool April 30, 2022 – I will be attending! At least for the morning. I plan to get there when it opens at 9 and stay until around lunchtime, give or take. A trip to this festival and to Webs is my Mother’s Day gift from my family.
NH Sheep and Wool May 14 & 15, 2022 – I probably won’t make it.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
Friday Mar 25, 2022
106 Be A Helper Prizes
Friday Mar 25, 2022
Friday Mar 25, 2022
Ep 106 recorded 3/23/22
Segments this week include: Be A Helper Craft A Long, FOs, Wips, Out and About, and I’ve Got Sunshine. A note on showlinks – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such and all links for yarn are directly to the dyer’s website.
Be A Helper Craftalong has ended.
Prizes!
FOs
Lots of crochet cleansing pads. Not using a pattern, made up my own.
WIPs
Earthrise, I've started the last skein of yarn.
My second Lotus Mandala Vest is growing! Most of it uses sparkly leftovers of Lion Brand Shawl in A Ball in the Prism colorway from the Priestess Coat I crocheted last year. I finished all those scraps and started a full skein of Shawl In A Ball in the colorway Healing Teal
As You Wish MKAL by Mary Annarella of Lyrical Knits. This is a Princess Bride themed mystery knitalong that will eventually result in a rectangular shawl. I’m nearing the end of Clue 1! This shawl is sooooo much fun to knit.
Winona by Brenda Castiel in handspun from Hipstrings. This is an L-shaped shawl and I’ve reached the corner of the L which is worked like an applied-edging.
Spinning
I’ve spinning handspun yarn for the winner of my drawing for the Knitathon. Cranky knees mean slow going, but I’m putting in about 15 minutes a day in 5-min segments.
I’m also spinning some plain cotton once or twice a week, because I don’t have enough handspun to finish the As You Wish shawl.
Out and About
Vogue Knitting Live Live in Seattle April 8-10, Virtual May 12-15 and June 9-12.
GGKCS podcast is having their annual Sheepy Spring AL, visit their FB page for more details.
Stitches at Home April 2 & 3; 9 & 10, 2022
CT Sheep and Wool April 30, 2022 – I will be attending!
NH Sheep and Wool May 14 & 15, 2022 – I probably won’t make it.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
I’ve Got Sunshine
Warmth!
Sunday Mar 13, 2022
105 Lots of WIPs
Sunday Mar 13, 2022
Sunday Mar 13, 2022
Ep 105 recorded 3/9/22
Be A Helper Craftalong - ends March 15!
One change this year – due to ongoing accessibility issues on Ravelry, I’ll hold this event both on and off Ravelry. Last year we just used a Google Form and that was hard for some folks, so this year there will be a chat thread and an FO thread on Rav, and for non-Rav users I’ll have a google form where you can link to your IG/FB/Twitter post showing your FO
Ravelry Link - click here to visit Ravelry.
Link to submit your Finished Object/blood donation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf08z2uqelVGeUBkm0fofQGveThChBBZzaMvNsRdlPlMzhbgA/viewform?usp=sf_link
FOs
Lots of crochet cleansing pads. Not using a pattern, made up my own.
A crochet bag to hold dirty cleansing pads in my bathroom – also just made up a pattern.
WIPs
Recalibrate Top by Shana Lines using Nomad Yarn’s hand dyed cotton/rayon Gelato yarn. I’m using 6 colors, strawberry, orange, lemon, pistachio, blueberry and lavender. This has been my stress knitting since Russia invaded Ukraine so I’ve gotten a LOT on this done. The right side is growing steadily.
Earthrise, a new pattern of mine inspired by the famous Nasa photo when the astronauts first circled behind the moon and came around back towards earth and photographed the earth rising over the surface of the moon. It’s an awe-inspiring photo. I’m working on the sample, it’s a simple circular shawl, a great first circular shawl. There’s a little very easy lace but nothing complicated. If you can YO and K2tog you can knit this easily. I’m using silk and silkblend yarn that is so soft on my fingers but still affordable. This pattern seems rather appropriate to be knitting right now
My second Lotus Mandala using sparkly leftovers from the Priestess Coat I crocheted last year. At the moment I plan to use all scraps of Lion Brand Shawl In A Ball. I’m nearly to the armholes.
As you Wish MKAL by Mary Annarella of Lyrical Knits. This is a Princess Bride themed mystery knitalong that will eventually result in a rectangular shawl. I’m nearly halfway through Clue 1.
Winona by Brenda Castiel in handspun from Hipstrings. This is an L-shaped shawl and I’ve reached the corner of the L which is worked like an applied-edging.
Spinning
I’ve spinning handspun yarn for the winner of my drawing for the Knitathon. Cranky knees mean slow going, but I’m putting in about 15 minutes a day in 5-min segments.
I’m also spinning some plain cotton once or twice a week, because I don’t have enough handspun to finish the As You Wish shawl.
Out and About
Vogue Knitting Live Vogue Knitting Live @ Home Mar 17-20.
GGKCS podcast is having their annual Sheepy Spring AL, visit their FB page for more details.
Stitches at Home April 2 & 3; 9 & 10, 2022
CT Sheep and Wool April 30, 2022 – I will be attending! At least for the morning. I plan to get there when it opens at 9 and stay until around lunchtime, give or take. A trip to this festival and to Webs is my Mother’s Day gift from my family.
NH Sheep and Wool May 14 & 15, 2022 – I probably won’t make it.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
I’ve Got Sunshine
Took J to Ukranian support rally
Monday Mar 07, 2022
104 - wow
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Ep 104 recorded 3/2/22
Segments this week include: Be A Helper Craft A Long, FOs, Wips, Out and About, and I’ve Got Sunshine. A note on showlinks – all links to Ravelry are clearly labelled as such and all links for yarn are directly to the dyer’s website.
Be A Helper Craftalong
2 weeks to go – please note Ukrainian charities do not need goods or handmade items from the USA. It takes too much effort and cost to ship them to Ukraine. If you can, please donate instead to vetted charities. There are several with boots on the ground such as World Central Kitchen, Save the Children, Doctors Without B orders, Ukrainian Red Cross, Nova Ukraine.
6th Be A Helper Craft-a-long has begun! We keep the rules simple.
- Anything you make for any charity counts, doesn’t have to be knit/crochet/woven or spun. ANYthing you make for ANY charity.
- One FO per submission
- Donating blood counts too!
- Contest ends when I wake up March 15 and close the form/thread.
- Wips are always welcome
- Partial FOs count, for example if you make a blanket strip and your local yarn shop sews them together to make full blankets, count your blanket strip.
One change this year – due to ongoing accessibility issues on Ravelry, I’ll hold this event both on and off Ravelry. Last year we just used a Google Form and that was hard for some folks, so this year there will be a chat thread and an FO thread on Rav, and for non-Rav users I’ll have a google form where you can link to your IG/FB/Twitter post showing your FO.
Link to submit your Finished Object/blood donation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf08z2uqelVGeUBkm0fofQGveThChBBZzaMvNsRdlPlMzhbgA/viewform?usp=sf_link
FOs
Knights Who Say Knit by Mary Annarella of Lyrical Knits – finished, finished, finished. I brought it to my stitching night and wove in most of the ends, finishing the next day. Bloxking could be a problem with one yarn that ran when blocking. Color catcher?
Lotus Mandala Vest by Morale Fiber, crochet vest. A round vest with armholes. I’m using scraps of Lion Brand Truboo, Berroco Modern Cotton and the discontinued Kertzer Down To Earth Cotton
WIPs
Recalibrate Top by Shana Lines using Nomad Yarn’s hand dyed cotton/rayon Gelato yarn. This has been my stress knitting since Russia invaded Ukraine so I’ve gotten a LOT on this done. Finished left side and joined with “sleeve”, started right side – more in Knitting Fail.
Earthrise, a new pattern of mine inspired by the famous Nasa photo when the astronauts first circled behind the moon and came around back towards earth and photographed the earth rising over the surface of the moon. It’s an awe-inspiring photo.
I started a second Lotus Mandala during the Knitathon in sparkly leftovers from the Priestess Coat I crocheted last year.
Papillon/Butterfly shawl by MarinJa Knits, I finished section 19
As you Wish MKAL by Mary Annarella of Lyrical Knits. This is a Princess Bride themed mystery knitalong that will eventually result in a rectangular shawl.
Winona by Brenda Castiel in handspun from Hipstrings
I’ve started spinning handspun yarn for the winner of my drawing for the Knitathon. Cranky knees mean slow going, but I’m putting in about 15 minutes a day in 5-min segments.
Knitting Fail
Recalibrate top – issues! Issues with me, not the pattern.
Out and About
Vogue Knitting Live Vogue Knitting Live @ Home Mar 17-20.
GGKCS podcast is having their annual Sheepy Spring AL, visit their FB page for more details.
Stitches at Home Stitches West in person Mar 3-6 2022.
CT Sheep and Wool April 30, 2022
NH Sheep and Wool May 14 & 15, 2022
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
I’ve Got Sunshine
There’s no I’ve got Sunshine this week, just a plea to please help your fellow humans.