Episodes
Sunday Oct 25, 2020
85- Prepping for Be A Helper Craftalong
Sunday Oct 25, 2020
Sunday Oct 25, 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 85 recorded 10/23/20
Segments this week include: Be a Helper Craft-a-long prep, Wips, Spinning, Stash, 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.
Be a Helper Craftalong
For those of you who are new to the podcast, every winter I run the Be A Helper Craftalong, inspired by famous quote from Mister Rogers, that in times of troubles to look for the helpers. This charity-focused craftalong urges people to BE the helper. The rules are very simple:
- Anything you make for any charity counts, doesn’t have to be knit/crochet. ANYthing you make for ANY charity.
- One entry per FO
- Donating blood counts too - post a photo of your bandaid or of you drinking OJ afterwards, something like that.
- Wips are welcome
First up I’d like to talk to you all quickly about the schedule for this year’s craftalong.
Secondly, I will have to adjust how I run the event and track FOs since Ravelry is not safe for everyone to use.
WIPs
Star Wars scarf (Ravelry) for Thing 1 – finished the Death Star and all of Chart 2! 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.
Thing 2 hitchiker (Ravelry) – a DK hitchhiker scarf for Thing 2, out of big box store cotton yarn from Michaels. It’s still my car knitting and knitting a row or 2 most days.
Ankle socks (Ravelry) – Still on the 2nd sock getting closer to the heel. I’m in physical therapy and have been working on it a little before each appointment.
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.
Willowbrook Shawl (Ravelry) – by Brenda Castiel in my own handspun cotton. I spun this yarn with fiber from fiber from Hipstrings with this shawl in mind last June during Pride month. I’ve finished the pinks and am on the red in the rainbow handspun.
Dissent Cowl 2 (Ravelry) – this is a Christmas gift for a very knitworthy friend. I’m using some ancient stash and I’ve finished the first dots section and have reached the color band.
Spinning
Still no success at a distaff, but I have spun a little more of the Tussah Silk from Pinestar Studios in Maine
Out and About
Virtual Rhinebeck – this past weekend.
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 eve nts 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 Expo at Home – Nov 6-8
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
On the Run
Had an MRI, fun times. Stress fracture is healing though the knee itself is still swollen and sore. No walking for quite a while yet. But once I’m back on my feet I will continue the 100 Mile challenge I was part of.
Saturday Oct 10, 2020
84: Knitting and Injuries in 30 minutes or less
Saturday Oct 10, 2020
Saturday Oct 10, 2020
Ep 84 Knitting and injuries in 30 minutes or less because even in a pandemic we’re all still busy
Segments this week include: FOs, Wips, Stash, 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.
FO
Dissent Cowl (Ravelry) – my homage to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, pattern by Carissa Browning and together we’ve raised over 30,000 through this pattern for the ACLU. Nice work knitters! I’m using ancient stash yarn. Over halfway through the necklace portion
Thing 2 Dragon Blanket (Ravelry) - I assembled it yesterday while my kids were at school. I modeled it and posted some silly photos on FB/Insta because how often do you get to wear a dragon blanket, complete with spines?!? Thing 2 is going to LOVE it
WIPs
Star Wars scarf (Ravelry) for Thing 1 – started the Millennium Flacon and the Death Star, then it’ll be the Dark Side and some weird alien writing, then the Dark Side is the last third. I’m trying to work 5 rows a day so it’ll be done in time for Christmas. Still loving the new hexagonal needles from Indian Lake Artisans. I’m using Truboo by Lion Brand, a 100% bamboo yarn.
Thing 2 hitchiker (Ravelry) – a DK hitchhiker scarf for Thing 2, out of big box store cotton yarn from Michaels. It’s still my car knitting and knitting a row or 2 most days.
Ankle socks (Ravelry) – Still on the 2nd sock. It lives in my purse so I’ve worked on this a few times waiting in lines.
Pigskin Party Castons:
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;ve started section 3.
Willowbrook Shawl (Ravelry) – by Brenda Castiel in my own handspun cotton. I spun this yarn with fiber from fiber from Hipstrings with this shawl in mind last June during Pride month.
Spinning
New Akerworks lightweight drop spindle – started spinning silk singles again. Won’t be wheel-spinning again for a while, I have a leg injury and am currently awaiting an MRI next week. This is my first spindle from Akerworks. I love their wheel bobbins soooo much, and I had a feeling I’d like their spindles and so far I really do.
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.
Stitches @ Home – put on by the folks XRX the folks who to Stitches East/West/South etc. Continuing Oct 10 and 11.
Virtual Rhinebeck – Oct 15-18 I’ve signed up for 2 classes on crochet to improve my skills and learn how to read a pattern better because the charts are definitely harder to read than knitting charts.
Indie Untangled Everywhere – the popular Rhinebeck-adjacent event for independent dyers is also going digital this year, more than 40 vendors plus access to zoom calls with designers.
Vogue Knitting Live Upcoming Vogue Knitting Live eve nts 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.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
On the Run
I need an MRI. Damn.
Friday Oct 02, 2020
83-Will Wonders Never Cease?
Friday Oct 02, 2020
Friday Oct 02, 2020
Ep 83 Knitting and running in 30 minutes or less because even in a pandemic we’re all still busy
I’m titling this one “Will Wonders Never Cease?” because I have actually recorded 2 weeks in a row! Once upon a time I had a regular recording schedule, but then my youngest son stopped napping and it’s been chaos ever since lol
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
Dissent Cowl (Ravelry) – my homage to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, pattern by Carissa Browning and together we’ve raised over 30,000 through this pattern for the ACLU. Nice work knitters! I’m using ancient stash yarn. Over halfway through the necklace portion
Star Wars scarf (Ravelry) for Thing 1 – started the center panel – the center section has weird alien fonts, the Millenium Flacon and the Death Star, then it’ll be the Dark Side. Still loving the new hexagonal needles from Indian Lake Artisans. I’m using Truboo by Lion Brand, a 100% bamboo yarn.
Thing 2 hitchiker (Ravelry) – a DK hitchhiker scarf for Thing 2, out of big box store cotton yarn from Michaels. It’s not my favorite yarn, but it’s machine washable and Thing 2 is 5. It’s still my car knitting and getting a little love most days.
Thing 2 Dragon Blanket (Ravelry) – almost done with this crochet blanket in purple (his favorite color) and green. I literally just need to assemble it.
Ankle socks (Ravelry) – Still on the 2nd sock. It lives in my purse so I’ve worked on this a few times waiting in lines.
Pigskin Party Castons:
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 first knit the Tan House Brook shawl a few years back and really enjoyed it, but the shawl disappeared a few months later 😩 so I’m now finally getting around to making another.
Willowbrook Shawl (Ravelry) – by Brenda Castiel in my own handspun cotton. I spun this yarn with fiber from fiber from Hipstrings with this shawl in mind last June during Pride month. It’s my very first chain ply, so I could maintain the rainbow gradient. Since it’s my first chainply, it’s definitely not my best yarn but this shawl is in garter stitch which should hide the worst of my mistakes!
Stash
I attended the virtual FiberWorld festival and made a few purchases
Nomad Yarns Gelato hand dyed cotton/rayon blend in pastel icecream-inspired colorways – sooooo gorgeous! Planning to make a lace crochet top with this..
Watermelon Shawl Ball – Brenda and Heather Yarns - You may be asking, what on earth is a shawl ball? It’s a gradient skein that’s purposely dyed so each color looks visually as large as the others. BaH Yarns shawl balls have more of the outer color so that your shawl will visually balance! I think I’m going to save this skein for my annual Christmas or Birthday caston and a knit a shawl as special treat for myself once the gift knitting is done. I bought their bamboo base, but Brenda and Heather dye both wool and plant fibers and their colorways are FNATASTIC!
Needles from Indian Lake Artisans – these needles are hexagonal wood and I find them very easy to grip – which is great since I have arthritis in 2 fingers. And one awesome thing on their interchangeables is, the cable join swivels on the cord so when you twist your needles, they don’t come unscrewed!
A Great Yarn in Chatham closing, then sold
6 skeins of Universal Yarns Universe Cotton 41%/Linen 42%/Polyamide 8%/Glitter 9% laceweight. I got 3 skeins of Tin, a charcoal gray and 3 skeins of Paper which is a burgundy/Cabernet color. Also picked up a prize for the Be A Helper Craftalong.
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.
Stitches @ Home – put on by the folks XRX the folks who to Stitches East/West/South etc. Oct 3,4, 10 and 11.
Virtual Rhinebeck – Oct 15-18 I’ve signed up for 2 classes on crochet to improve my skills and learn how to read a pattern better because the charts are definitely harder to read than knitting charts.
Indie Untangled Everywhere – the popular Rhinebeck-adjacent event for independent dyers is also going digital this year, more than 40 vendors plus access to zoom calls with designers.
Vogue Knitting Live, Oct 8-11 now open for registration. 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.
If you have any events you’d like me to share please email me windsweptmonique@gmail.com
On the Run
Knee injury. Lovely.