Episodes
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
120 - All The Fiber Festivals
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
Ep 120 recorded 8/2/23
FOs
Sock for Thing 1. This is the sock I’ve reknit 4 or 5 times. I’m now making him a tube sock and I’ll measure his foot and add an afterthought heel on Christmas morning.
WIPs
Hitchhiker #8? 9? In Lion Briand Shawl in a Ball (discontinued).
Snowflake Sweater Scarf using Big Twist Heather in Grey bought at Joann’s, by Knitatude
2nd Sock for Thing 1.
Summer Happiness by Concept Creative. This is a flexible garment that can be worn as a sleeveless top or a poncho.
New cast on, Vivian by Ysolda Teague knit in Lana Grossa Elastico
Spinning
Tour de Fleece is ove and I complteted my 4-ply yarn of some old, cheap cotton that I bought 1 pound of (just under half a kilo) at a festival many years ago. Not my favorite to spin, but it spins thicker than most cottons, so I’m made a 4-ply DK and I’m going to dye it.
Out and About – upcoming Fiber events in the NE USA (and there are lots this fall)
Happening now: Interweave Yarn Fest, Lancaster PA
Pittsburgh creative Yarn Festival August 24-26
Pennsylvania Endless Mountains Fiber Festival Sept 9-10, New Milford, Pennsylvania
NJ Sheep and Fiber Festival, Sept 9-10, Ringoes, NJ
Western NY Fiber Festival, Sept 17, East Aurora, NY
Vermont Sheep and Wool Sept 30-Oct 1, Tunbridge, VT
Fryeburg Fair, Oct 1-8, Fryeburg Maine
Rhinebeck (NY Sheep and Wool) Oct 21-22, Rhinebeck, NY
Fiber Festival of New England Nov 6 & 7 at Eastern States Exhibition in Springfield, MA
Maryland Alpaca and Fleece Festival, Nov 11-12, West Friendship, MD
Pennsylvania Fall Fiber Festival, Nov 18-19, Leesburg PA
I’ve Got Sunshine
Museums! My kids are at my parent’s house and I am headed into Boston to go visit the Museum of Fine Arts all by myself!
Monday Jun 05, 2023
117 - Bring On The Rain
Monday Jun 05, 2023
Monday Jun 05, 2023
Ep 117 recorded 6/5/23
Back from break, had wrist surgery
WIPs
Socks for Thing 1 – turned the heel (again!)
Davit finished the body and blocked! I need to seam the shoulders and hopefully I’ll be able to knit sleeves soon because I am SOOOO CLOSE
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. I’m nearly back to the 2nd lace section after the Knitting Fail from last episode
Tanwen cowl (Ravelry)– designed by Thayer Preece Parker. I finished the knitting and blocked it!
I have tried a tiny bit of knitting since the surgery. I’ve knit a total of 3 rows on my latest Hitchhiker in Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball. It’s a fuzzy yarn in a garter stitch pattern, so gauge does not matter. Which is good, because I’m not getting gauge at all ha ha
Knitting Fail
More drama with Thing 1’s socks – I was on the third version of these blasted socks.
Spinning
Finished spinning the green fiber from Buchanan Fiber after the surgery. Orders were to move my fingers 10 times per hour so I decided to be productive. Plied on my Lendrum to give that wrist a break and have 933 yards 3-ply heavy fingering.
Startes some old, cheap cotton. Not my favorite to spin, but it spins thicker than most cottons, so I’m planning a 4-ply DK and I’m going yo dye it. 1 bobbin done, bought several new bobbins from Etsy
Started purple silk that I bought at Wayland Farm and Fiber Days
Started bamboo/faux cashmere blend bought from the now-closed Maine Top Mill
On the Run
Finally started exercising again this past week. Went for a 1.5 mile walk around the block and really enjoyed it.
I’ve Got Sunshine
Rain on the Nova Scotia fires!
Sunday Apr 30, 2023
116 - All The Fails
Sunday Apr 30, 2023
Sunday Apr 30, 2023
Ep 115 recorded 4/30/23 All the Fails
WIPs
Socks for Thing 1 – I turned the heel and ran into trouble, more on that later.
Davit designed for Berroco by Amy Palmer, knit using Silk Noir by Great Adirondack Yarn Co bought at Rhinebeck last year. I finished one side’s short rows and all I have left to do is the other side’s short rows and sew the back edges to the shoulders. So close!
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.
Tanwen cowl (Ravelry)– designed by Thayer Preece Parker. This is the prize for the Knit For Food Knitathon winner. I’m working it up in Lana Grossa Elastico, a plant-based yarn with elastic in it so it works cables beautifully.
Summer Happiness Crochet Top designed by Concept Creative in Scheepjes Whirl in the color Sherbert Rainbow, a pastel rainbow from pink to blue.
Knitting Fail
Thing 1’s socks -so proud of myself turning the heel walking from the Washington Monument to the Capitol Building when I realized the sock didn’t look right. I’d grabbed the wrong needles! I meant to use US 2 (2.75mm) but I grabbed US 1s (2.25mm).
Tanwen – I worked on this a lot riding the DC Metro and while driving with friends to the Air and Space Museum out at Dulles, the one with Space Shuttle Discovery. This pattern is an 8-row repeat that is easy to memorize, but the cable pattern is tight. It’s easy to think, oh, the next right side row is the cable row, it doesn’t need a cable yet. Wrong, it is the cable row, rip it back.
Summer Happiness – I’m on the 3rd of 4 repeats that make up this top and at this point the rows are getting long. And while on the train to DC I finished one row and got nearly to the end of a second when I realized that I had screwed up way back near the beginning of the previous row. And it wasn’t a mistake I could fudge around, there weren’t enough holes in the resulting fabric to place all the next row’s stitches. So I had to rip back alllllll my work. Grrrrr.
Spinning
More progress on my current spin, some beautiful green lightly-speckled cotton from Buchanan Fiber. I brought my Nano2 on the trian on our visit to DC. It worked like a charm! I finished the 2nd bobbin and as of today I’m nearly done with the 3rd. I hope to finish it this week.
On the Run
We walked soooooooo many miles in Washington DC – 9 miles alone our first full day!
Out and About – upcoming Fiber Events around New England
NH Sheep and Wool – May 13 & 14
MA Sheep and Woolcraft Fair - May 27-28, Memorial Day Weekend
Maine Fiber Frolic – June 3 & 4
I’ve Got Sunshine
As I’ve mentioned several times, we went to Washington DC last week for school vacation. What I didn’t say is that one of my childhood besties lives down there. We got to hang out at least a little every day and it was marvelous. She and I even snuck away for dinner one night, leaving all the kids with our husbands, and we got a little girl time in <3 and it was marvelous!
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
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
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