Hark! The Harlot! - Episode 28 - The Knitmore Girls

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This episode has been sponsored by:

Customize, customize, customize! - Episode 27 - The Knitmore Girls

(Photo courtesy of Brenda Patipa)

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This episode has been sponsored by:

On the Needles:

Gigi is knitting Sam a beanie out of Claudia's Handpaints worsted (Sharks colorway). She is also knitting a sock in Meilenweit Jacquard (vanilla sock pattern) in with different shades of blue stripes, with Cat Bordhi's star toe.

Jasmin is working on the second vintage Lisa Souza sock (in The Sea). She is SO CLOSE to finishing test knitting a sweater for Sandi (from Purlescence). It is knit in Manos silk/wool, in a lovely olive green.

The Knitmore Girls advise against knitting yourself into hand pain. It's not worth it, and it's bad for you. If you develop hand pain, please see a physician.

Jasmin has been doing a little spinning. She is spinning up some of the Crown Mountain Farms Superwash merino in "Atlantis". It's lovely. (If you're not a spinner, Crown Mountain sells handspun sock yarn. You can find it here, but know that you'll be waiting a bit if you order it. Tell Klaus we say hi!)Contest!

We'll be running our "Do some good" contest through January 1st. Give of yourselves either on a global level, or a local level and send us an e-mail about it. (If you give to Doctors Without Borders, please CC us on the email you send to Stephanie.) We have THREE signed copies of Free-Range Knitter.

We will be airing our chat with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka, The Yarn Harlot) in Episode 28, airing on 11/23/2008.Announcements:

The Yarn Thing/Knaked Knits KAL-CAL deadline has been extended to Thanksgiving (November 27th).Mother Knows Best:

Cast on a few "brainless" knitting projects for on-the-go knitting. (During the holidays "high bandwidth" projects seem to fall by the wayside.)When Knitting Attacks:

Gigi recommends reading your notes. Carefully. She also recommends following directions carefully when you're executing a new technique for the first time.Review:

Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard. This is a fabulous book. (DO NOT let anyone make a duct tape dummy of you. You've been warned.) We love it. Do yourself a favor, get your hands on a copy.

Jasmin is going to knit the "Favorite Cardigan" with the pink cashmere. (Jasmin engineered underarm gussets for the Gold Bullion Sweater and the Rugby Pinup Sweater.)

(Apologies for the squeaking in the background, Elphie decided this segment was a great time to play with her squeaky toys, and chase her tail, and we were hoping that the mics wouldn't pick it up. Niki, on the other hand, was very quiet.)

[As an aside, the awesome hair stuff Jasmin uses is "DevaCurl". They also have a line for people with straight hair called "DevaCare", but we haven't used that one.]

[Sorry, no links for the "Green Shruggy Thing". I'll look in my magazine stash and see if I can dig up the name and a picture of it in Ravelry.]

Gigi loves the "HOAX Fashion Formula" book from the '80s.

Do some good, change the world - Episode 26 - The Knitmore Girls

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This episode has been sponsored by:

On the Needles:

Gigi has finished her Zig Zag Slip Stitch Socks!

Jasmin finished her Mushroom Caps socks, and promptly cast on an Andrew-Style vanilla sock (ribbing all the way down the cuff, and the top of the foot) in a vintage Lisa Souza sock yarn in "The Sea".

Also, Jasmin had an essay in Episode 70 of Cast-on! (Go listen!)

Jasmin is still working on her Sandi sweater in the Manos silk and wool (olive green). Despite how lovely the yarn is, the knots are vexing.

Gigi is working on an Upstream sock, and a Foxglove Sock. The Upstream sock is being knit in a fall-ish colorway of Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn (missing the label, of course), and the Foxglove sock is in Blue Moon Socks that Rock in "Tiger's Eye".

Jasmin loves wristers. Colleen made her a pair of Fetchings, and later, she knit a pair of the elbow-length wristers from Sally Melville's The Purl Stitch.

Jasmin bought a little yarn. She got some Woobu in "In the Navy" and a sweater's worth of Heavyweight STR in "Pride". She also got a FABULOUS cardigan pattern (The Vermont Fiber Designs "Simple Cardigan").

Also, if you're knitting socks as gifts, shoot us an e-mail and we'll be happy to send you the label template, free!

We got a cafepress order! Gigi got her 1000 Knitters shirt, and we both got Dolores 2008 and "I'm kind of a knitting superhero" mugs to inspire us.

Contests:

We have winners! (Names are not posted on show notes, but are in the podcast. Winners have been e-mailed.)

The "Do some good" contest!

We have 3 signed copies of "Free Range Knitter" by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Stephanie has done loads of fundraising for Doctors Without Borders. So, we're asking you to donate to Doctors Without Borders (please CC us on the e-mail you send to Stephanie), knit for charity, give canned food to your local food donation location. (We give to Second Harvest Food Bank.)

This is on your honor, so e-mail us once you've done your donating.

When Knitting Attacks:

Gigi has been flattened by her knitting. Her Knitting Pure and Simple Wrap Cardigan (out of Cascade Venezia) with shaping turned out ... wrong for her. But SO right for Jasmin!

Jasmin's yarn refuses to cooperate, despite having been perfectly well-behaved while it was being wound.

Mother Knows Best:

Gigi found a gem on the German knitting board on Ravelry - putting the information of the socks that you're working on an index card, and wrap a yard of leftover yarn around it for any future darning. Jasmin has firm plastic holders from the Japanese Stationary store that help maintain the integrity of the index card. (You can get these at Maido or Kinokuniya.)

Book Review:
The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood. Four Knitmore thumbs down. 

GREAT NEWS!

Gigi has a new niece! Desiree had her baby!

Team in Training:

Our friend Mari talks about her work with Team in Training. You can read about it on her blog, or contact her on Ravelry to give.

If you're not on Ravelry, you can contact Mari for details on how to donate at shewalks2008[AT]gmail[DOT]com .

To gift or not to gift?- Episode 25 - The Knitmore Girls

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On the Needles:

Gigi finished her Icarus! Also, the Knitmore Girls need to do some serious blocking (including Gigi's "Flamingo Feathers" (really a Peacock Plumes shawl made in pink Malabrigo laceweight) and "Fischu".

Jasmin is still working on her Day-Glo sock #2 and her Mushroom Caps sock #2, and has finished the spinning for her (future) toe-up rainbow socks. Jasmin is also spinning a batt from Crystal Creek Fibers (silk and ramboullet) for Gigi. She's also finishing a sweater for Sandi (at Purlescence Yarns).

Gigi is working on her Neck Down Wrap Caridgan. She's still working on the Coriolis, Upstream socks, and the Zig Zag Slip Stitch socks.

Tika started her NaNoSweMo sweater (Selina from Rowan) out of felted tweed.

The girls decided that finishing UFOs feels good. (Jasmin's zippy UFO boxes can be found here.)

Contest!

Submit your knitting jokes/limericks by November 7th. Winners will be announced in Episode 26. The prizes are a signed copy of Cat Bordhi's New Pathways for Sock Knitting (Book One) and A Treasury of Magical Knitting.

When Knitting Attacks:

We talk about taking on too much holiday knitting, baking, and sewing.

Mother Knows Best:

Only knit for people who desperately beg for knitted gifts. If people don't beg, they won't appreciate it. (The cashmere socks were the Whitby socks from Knitting on the Road, and Jasmin used the charcoal grey Grignasco cashmere.) This year, Gigi is knitting a Sharks hat for Sam (the Knitmore Boy) out of the Claudia's Handpaint worsted in "Sharks".

Instead of giving kids knitted gifts, give them the gift of time, or books!

Announcement:

NaNoSweMo - National Sweater Knitting Month. Now is a great time to knit a first sweater, and Jasmin recommends starting with a baby sweater.
NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month

If you're a US listener (who is eligible to vote) go and vote on Tuesday!

We're taking on official sponsorship. Promote your patterns or your Etsy shop! Send us an e-mail for details.

You can see us posing for Brenda Patipa's "On the Vine" in Ravelry!

Frogging Technology - Episode 24 - The Knitmore Girls

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Announcements:

New equipment! Now we should sound as dulcet as Brenda Dayne. (Please send us any feedback you have about the sound.)

Marly (from the Yarn Thing Podcast) and Sydney (from the Knaked Knits Podcast) are hosting the Holiday KAL-CAL. (Last year's Holiday KAL-CAL podcast can be found here.)

Changelings Knit and Stitch - Go and listen!

On The Needles:

Gigi is still working on her Zig Zag Slip Stitch socks from the Little Box of Socks
Jasmin has finished her first Day-Glo sock (which is the same yarn as Gigi's contrast color for her ZZSS Socks), and started the second sock.
The Social Pressure Experiment is going well. In addition to the 25 lbs of yarn that Jasmin got rid of last weekend, she's purged another 3 big bags. Tika finished her Elphaba Knee Socks, and got wine when we went to Unwined to listen to Juanita sing with the Jack Conway Trio.
Gigi has been purging knitting bags. Jasmin likes her good bags (like the Amy Butler bag, or the Tom Bihn bag - especially the sock baggie), but noticed that she's always using the canvas bags from individual vendors.
Gigi wants to hear from you: what makes an optimal knitting bag.
Jasmin's Lily of the Valley shawl caught on the velcro in her work bag.
Jasmin is a little over halfway done with spinning the yarn for her rainbow socks.

Mother Knows Best:

Our friend, Ursula is knitting her husband a sweater with a bunch of texture, and was unsure as to whether the neck decreases would work out correctly. The solution? A neck swatch!
To do a neck swatch:
Figure out the total number of neck decreases. Add a few stitches to that. Follow directions for neck decreases. It really works.

When Knitting Attacks:

Technology attacked, and the end result? New recording equipment for the podcast.
Gigi cast on a sock out of the Tess' Yarns sock yarn (which Gigi and Jasmin both loooove!), and neglected to swatch. The sock was eeeensy weensy!
Jasmin should not do math for a Cat Bordhi sock at 11PM. When will I ever learn?!

Thanks!

Your donations help the podcast run, so thanks a MILLION!

Contest:

The Cat Bordhi knitting joke & limerick contest deadline has been extended to Friday, November 7th. Send us your limericks and jokes!

A limerick looks like this:

We host a knitting podcast,
Which normally is a real blast.
When technology fails,
Jasmin weeps and she wails,
With Gigi watching nearby, aghast.

A little loopy - Episode 23 - The Knitmore Girls

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Thank You!

October is the first month where all of our hosting fees have been covered by listener donations. Thanks! Also, thanks to Maltesemama for the hot pink Malibu Namaste knitting bag.

Contest!

In addition to knitting jokes, we'd like to give Cat Bordhi some knitting limericks. The contest deadline is extended to Friday, November 7th.

We will also be launching a contest for three signed copies of the Yarn Harlot's newest book "Free Range Knitter". Stay tuned!

On the Needles:

Gigi is working on an Upstream sock (in Trekking), and a Coriolis.
Jasmin is working on a pair of Houdini socks.
Jasmin is working on an Upstream sock out of Ellen's Half-Pint Farm sock yarn in crayon colors.
What do we get the most wear out of? Our handknit socks.
When Jasmin and Andrew got married, they had their own version of Thermostat Wars (not as hard-core as the Yarn Harlot's).
Jasmin is spinning some of the Royal Hare superwash merino in "Calistoga Calypso". Someday, they will be toe-up socks.

Mother Knows Best:

1. Keep it local.
Yarn stores are important to keeping the art alive, and while we're all for saving money, Jasmin has an idea for knitters in a troubled economy. Take the same money you'd spend online, spend it locally. It will buy you less stuff, but it will keep your money in your community. The media is sensationalizing, and they're scaring people into spending zero money locally. That extra dollar or two can make all the difference.

2. Don't buy NOTHING, just buy less.

Drastic drops in purchases (because you've been told by the media to stuff your money in mattresses) can be devastating to any local business. Buy value yarns, recognize the value in saving, but nothing? Too drastic.

3. Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Go get your mammograms done! Remind the women in your life to go and get mammograms. Guys, do a pectoral exam.

4. Get registered and VOTE!

It DOES matter who you vote for. Read up on the measures/propositions, be informed on the issues, and learn about the candidates. If you can vote, you should. It's a civic duty.

When Knitting Attacks:

Gigi is working on the Neckdown Wrap Cardigan from Knitting Pure and Simple out of Cascade Venezia. There's no shaping, and it sags and droops. She's going to rip it back and use the numbers for the Basic Chic Pulli for the shaping.

Jasmin went to the Color Fiber Festival, and came out with just one skein of sock yarn. Tika bought a great, big bag of fabulous stuff, but followed the terms of the Social Pressure Experiment. Jasmin took the stuff that she spun and knit to show to Girl on the Rocks and Pigeonroof Studios so they could see their roving all grown up. Jasmin resisted stuff from Tactile and Cellach Dyes.

Jasmin got rid of 25 lbs of yarn at the Purlescence Yarn Swap and brought back NOTHING! She was also mocked for the skein of hideous muppet pelt she brought in.

Gigi went to Pacific International Quilt Festival and bought Project Runway fabric to make sock bags out of. (Our local quilt shop is Quilter's Nest.) Gigi was not on her game in class.

Ooooh, shiny! - Episode 22 - The Knitmore Girls

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On The Needles:

Gigi is working on the Zig Zag Slip Stitch Socks (out of Black Regia and Day-Glo colored Opal), Jasmin is doing a pair of vanilla socks out of the Day-Glo colored Opal.

Jasmin is having problems getting rid of background noise in the interview with the Yarn Harlot - please send an e-mail if you're an audio whiz. Please.

Jasmin is about to finish her second footprint (a la the Houdini Sock).

Gigi is knitting Fortissima Colori (a sparkly one), using Judy's Magic Cast On (which we learned in Cat's class). Gigi is combining techniques from Cool Socks, Warm Feet and Cat's class.

Jasmin is spinning hot pink sock yarn, and Going Home from Crown Mountain Farms. She also has commitment issues when it comes to big projects- whether it's knitting or spinning.

Gigi asks, "When does a project become an 'UFO'?"

When Knitting Attacks:

Gigi has a stash full of yarn and nothing to knit.

Mother Knows Best:

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's sock washing method. Gigi learns that generic bobbins don't work so well in her Janome sewing machine.

Events:

October 16-19 Pacific International Quilt Festival (at the Santa Clara Convention Center)
(Gigi will be there in her Red Fedora. In class on Thursday, shopping the market on Friday and Saturday.)
October 18th (Saturday) - Color Fiber Festival (in Berkeley). Jasmin will be there, with her hot pink hair.