Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Small bites - Episode 177 - The Knitmore Girls


Listen here:



This week's episode has been brought to you by:
EcolusciousSkinCare_zps0936c17e
We’re excited to be introducing to you, our discerning  listeners, the newest Bar-Maids collection, the Almost Everything.  This uber-moisturizing whole body kit includes a luxurious Lo-Lo Body Bar, a deliciously tingly O’For Feet Sake foot moisturizer, a handy Cuticle Intensive stick, and a silky smooth Lo- Lo Lips Lip Balm.  It’s the perfect way to ensure that your whole body is soft, sensual, and ready for spring.  It’s almost everything Bar-Maids has to offer at a great price.  This is a great gift for the mom who never stops, your fellow friends in fiber that make your hobby a lifestyle, or for anyone in your life who deserves a little pampering. I think my mom definitely deserves some Lo-Lo love this Mothers Day – doesn’t yours?

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Purlescence Yarns is the Bay Area's destination yarn shop. From the best in spinning and weaving equipment to luxurious yarns and fibers, we have what you need to make your fibery dreams a reality. We're always happy to provide mail order service for Knitmore Girls listeners. Call us today, it'll be on its way!

On the needles: (00:32)

Jasmin is inspired to knit a Houdini sock for Andrew, with some improvements. We mention the New Pathways class by Cat Bordhi. Gigi is working on a sock with a Sweet Tomato heel. We also mention Lucy Neatby's Cool Socks for Warm Feet and Nancy Bush's Folk Socks. We mention Miss Kalendar (of the Brass Needles podcast) and her love of turning short-rowed heels.

Jasmin is still working on her CampKIP KAL Daybreak Shawl. Gigi has finished her Sharks Daybreak scarf for Sam.

We officially announce the pattern for the SPAKAL: The Eadon cardigan by Susanna IC.

Mother Knows Best: (14:08)

We talk about knitting in bed. We recommend getting a backrest (Jasmin has this one, Gigi has this one), and making sure you have a good mattress.

When Knitting Attacks: (18:55)

Savvy Girl Melanie (from the Savvy Girls Podcast) comes to visit and (unintentionally) wreaks havoc on Gigi's Morehouse Merino dragon scarf. Gigi flips the colors on her Kleio shawl (by Rosemary Hill). Gigi also downloads her first (solo) pattern- the Mishke by CocoKnits, and realizes that she's short on yardage.

Purloined: (28:05)

This week, we steal the "Guess who's crazy?" segment from the (former) KIPing it Real podcast (now the Positively Over Committed podcast). Jasmin has decided to do one SPAKAL sweater on a drop spindle, and one on the wheel. Challenge ACCEPTED!

Review: (31:31)

We mention the Jimmy Beans Wool needle return/exchange policy (which is made clearer here, post-recording)

For our actual review, we review Juju's Loops: Charming Knitting Patterns. Gigi gives it an "eh", Jasmin really likes it.

Straw into Gold: (42:15)

Jasmin dusts off her Schacht-Reeves saxony wheel and spins some of the Crown Mountain Farms cormo.

Gigi picks her fleece for the SPAKAL- a medium grey merino/corriedale fleece (from Janet Heppler) from a sheep named "Banditta". We talk about measuring out (CLEAN) weight for spinning a sweater. Gigi has measured out her SPAKAL fiber into 1 oz bumps, and is trying to spin 1 oz per sitting.

Trusted and recommended sources for wool: Shari at Morro Fleece Works, Brooke from Sincere Sheep, Crown Mountain Farms, Purlescence Yarns (for Ashland Bay roving). Jasmin also mentions the 6" plastic Schacht weaving bobbins.

Jasmin is spinning her drop spindle SPAKAL sweater on a modular KCL drop spindle. You can find the thread for the SPAKAL here.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Multigenerational - Episode 176 - The Knitmore Girls

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Listen here:


This week's episode is sponsored by:

abstractbanner-1
Abstract Fiber would like to invite you to join our first yarn club!  We are excited to offer a 6 issue yarn club we’re calling One Skein/Two Skein.  Every other month we’ll send you a new exclusive yarn color and pattern.  We’ll do some solid colors, some colorways and will introduce some new luxurious yarns too. Each pattern will have flexibility for expansion, for example companion pieces, or multiple size and style options.  You’ll have the option to buy extra skeins just when you want them.  Spinners, we’ll have a fiber option for you too!  We’re working with some of our favorite designers, starting out in February with a beautiful shawl by Sivia Harding.  Check out all the details at AbstractFiber.com
 EcolusciousSkinCare_zps0936c17e
We’re excited to be introducing to you, our discerning  listeners, the newest Bar-Maids collection, the Almost Everything.  This uber-moisturizing whole body kit includes a luxurious Lo-Lo Body Bar, a deliciously tingly O’For Feet Sake foot moisturizer, a handy Cuticle Intensive stick, and a silky smooth Lo- Lo Lips Lip Balm.  It’s the perfect way to ensure that your whole body is soft, sensual, and ready for spring.  It’s almost everything Bar-Maids has to offer at a great price.  This is a great gift for the mom who never stops, your fellow friends in fiber that make your hobby a lifestyle, or for anyone in your life who deserves a little pampering. I think my mom definitely deserves some Lo-Lo love this Mothers Day – doesn’t yours?
Page-01_zpsdwbinjs4
Purlescence Yarns is the Bay Area's destination yarn shop. From the best in spinning and weaving equipment to luxurious yarns and fibers, we have what you need to make your fibery dreams a reality. We're always happy to provide mail order service for Knitmore Girls listeners. Call us today, it'll be on its way! 

On the needles: (00:30)

One minute update: SharkBean (Genevieve Danger) has been born. You can read her birth story here, you can see pictures of the love blanket here. You can follow Genevieve's adventures on twitter as @dahlingdaughter, her Flickr stream here, or on Jasmin's blog.

Gigi is working on hobbit socks for Mr. Knitmore. She made a foot form out of duct tape. Jasmin is working on a pair of socks for Andrew out of Skinny Bugga, and is considering doing a pair of Houdini socks for him. Jasmin is working on her Daybreak shawl out of Froebe Fibers yarn from Camp KIP.

Gigi is working on her Sothia shawl out of Abstract Fiber MightySock. Jasmin is working on her Breezy Cardigan (out of the baby cormo handspun). Gigi is knitting a Morehouse Merino Dragon scarf out of Malabrigo. We mention the Harry Potter house cup. Jasmin is working on the Garter Yoke Baby cardigan and the garter wrap cardigan (from Churchmouse Yarns).

Congratulations to Isabelle from the Fluffy Fibers podcast, who had her baby in February.

We talk about Stitches West, and some of our favorite vendors. This list includes:

- Little Red Bicycle
- KCL Wood
- Birch Street Clothing
- Stitch Sisterz (cashmere)

Gigi mentions Stitches ETC. Gigi took a lace repair class at the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale from Galina of Skaska.

OFFICIAL PODCAST STUFF:  We'll be recording every other week until the end of June, then we'll be weekly again starting in July.

We announce the SPAKAL! In 2012 we're going to do a SPin-Along-Knit-A-Long. Six months to spin the sweater, three months to knit the sweater.

Step 1: Think about what you want to spin your sweater out of. Brooke from The Sincere Sheep (email: sinceresheepyarns AT gmail DOT com) is happy to help you procure a fleece. Shari from Morro Fleece Works can also help you select some pindrafted roving (from a fleece).

Mother Knows Best: (29:34)

We talk about how to select teachers at fiber events. Some of our favorite teachers include:

- Jean Frost
- Judith MacKenzie McCuin
- Galina Khmeleva
- Lucy Neatby
- Cat Bordhi
- Lily Chin
- Carson Demers
- Anne & Eugene Bourgeouis
- Franklin Habit
- Fiona Ellis
- Sivia Harding

Review: (36:27)

We review the Knitter's Pride needles. While they are very pretty, we found them to be defective out of the package and the customer service to be poor.

Straw into Gold: (43:50)

Gigi's spinning is improving. Jasmin is doing a whole mess of swatching for plying.