From UFO to FO- Episode 50 - The Knitmore Girls

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This episode has been sponsored by:

New this week: Lantern Moon bags and baskets to our array of knitting accessories. $2 of the purchase for the Tote for the Cure basket goes to Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Visit our blog to see that and other wonderful styles from Lantern Moon.

All new subscribers receive a free gift from Eucalan as our way of saying thanks for supporting Verena Knitting!Use subscription code: KNITMG

This week, we're joined by Tika (host of Gives Good Knit) and Andrew.
The More You Know (00:35)

We will be announcing the winners of the "name the listener suggestions segment" contest in Episode 51.

Go and listen to Knaked Knits!
On the Needles (2:05)

Jasmin goes on a finishing binge! This week she has finished the Geoff Scarf (from the Jade Sapphire Scarves for Him kit), and her Abby. She also reunites with her Ice Queen.

Gigi has stalled out on her Carli- it needs to be blocked. Gigi is working on her Marta, knit out of the Wild Plum 3 colorway in the Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted. Look for Julie's Bias bind-off tutorial here.

Jasmin talks about her podcast sock, knit out of Abstract Fiber's sock yarn (in Newport). Gigi discusses "binge knitting", and Jasmin decides that she wants to knit her way through "Sock Innovation" (find the errata here, thanks Betty!). You can find the Cookie A group here.

Tika is knitting a pair of Shark's socks for her younger charge, and talks about having "car knitting" - a pair of socks for impromptu knitting. Tika is also knitting a scarf from Victorian Lace Today along with an old friend.

Gigi makes pom-poms for this scarf.
Mother Knows Best (21:17)

Tika and Jasmin discuss Mother's Day. Tika and her brother are pooling their resources to buy their mom a ballwinder and swift for Mother's Day. They discuss the Knitpicks ballwinder and the cost difference between those and the Royal ballwinders.

Tika suggests taking nice photos, printing them out, and framing them nicely.
When Knitting Attacks (30:04)

Jasmin can't follow a pattern. After a year of the Ice Queen sitting aside, she realizes that she needs to read the pattern. Gigi can't count.

Tika's Seamless Yoke Sweater has a decrease issue.
Review: (34:53)

Andrew joins in to discuss the Knit Kit (CAUTION: noisy link), pros and cons. We compare it to the Clover Knit Mate Knitting Accessory Kit. You can find the Stitchminder iPod/iPhone app here.

Straw Into Gold: (50:07)

Jasmin talks about "swatching" her handspun for Mariah. She talks about how she plies her yarn. (Here's a piece by Judith on how to ply, and you should get Teach Yourself Visually Spinning.)

If you give a knitter Cookie A - Episode 49 - The Knitmore Girls

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This week's episode has been sponsored by:

This week: Call Purlescence Yarns today to place your order for Addi Click Interchangeable needles. Also new this week: Amy Butler's knitting bags. Crafted of heavyweight home dec fabric, they feature lots of pockets and slots for your knitting tools.

All new subscribers receive a free gift from Eucalan as our way of saying thanks for supporting Verena Knitting!Use subscription code: KNITMG

On the Needles: (2:13)

Thanks for all of your feedback about the Galina interview!

Gigi has finished the first stage of her Carli. She has shortened the sleeves by an inch to compenstate for being petite. Jasmin has completed knitting the body, the first sleeve, and is nearly finished with the second sleeve of her Katarina.

Gigi and Jasmin received a special package (from Rosemary Hill) of closures for the Knit(more)-A-Long. Here's what they look like:

You can purchase them here.

Jasmin used the crocheted provisional cast-on that she learned in Lucy Neatby's class (or at Tika's knee) when she cast on the sleeves. She notices that the sleeves will need to be blocked a little more agressively. Jasmin and Steamy will work on this.

Gigi and Jasmin talk about the Knit(more)-a-long being at your own pace. Jasmin has cast on her Carli in Malabrigo "Little Lovely".

Jasmin bought one of the Jade Sapphire "Cashmere Scarf For Him" kits (in "Five O'Clock Shadow") from Bobbin's Nest. She talks about purchasing habits that have changed because of the Social Pressure Experiment. Jasmin talks about using the ChiaoGoo needles.

Gigi has completed the second ball of her Buffalo Gals yarn for the On the Vine scarf. Gigi talks about the intelligent, couture quality of the Marta sweater. (You can find the KnitScience episode that deals with couture here.) Gigi talks about a yarn acquisition that isn't red (Jo Sharp Aran Tweed in a plummy color).

Mother Knows Best: (34:03)

Gigi recommends alternating skeins of handpainted yarns to avoid color shock. Jasmin agrees that this is also a good idea for evening out handspun yarns. Jasmin talks about her handspun Ribbi Cardi, and how one sleeve has significantly more rows than the other because of the variation in handspun thickness.

When Knitting Attacks: (38:59)

Gigi miscounts on her Marta. Jasmin discovers a "bad bobbin", and it takes discussion to discover that it's not her, it's the bobbin.

Review: (44:29)

This week, Andrew joins us to review Cookie A's Sock Innovation. We give it six inspired thumbs up. Jasmin talks about Cookie's more acheivable socks (the Monkey socks, Hedera). Jasmin talks about using Dream in Color Smooshy, Regia Silk, or Tanis Fiber Arts sock yarn for these socks. Jasmin thinks this may be her "Little Box of Socks".

Straw Into Gold: (54:41)

Jasmin talks about spinning the Abstract Fiber 50% cashmere/50% silk roving (in Hydrangea). Jasmin talks about spinning both cashmere and silk at higher speeds to get it finer and tighter.

For a really excellent definition of "woolen" spinning, go give this episode of Stitch-It a listen.

To practice spinning cashmere, use cotton roving. Jasmin encourages you to spin your good stuff and not "save" it.

Jasmin is nearly done spinning Tallulah.

Galina knits behind the Iron Curtain - Episode 48 - The Knitmore Girls

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This week's episode has been sponsored by:

Inspired to knit lace? Purlescence Yarns offers a variety of gorgeous laceweight yarns including variegated silks from Blue Moon Fiber Arts and Claudia Handpainted Yarns to alpaca from Cascade and Alpaca with a Twist. You're sure to find the perfect thing to knit any lace your heart desires. We happily ship anywhere in the world.


All new subscribers receive a free gift from Eucalan as our way of saying thanks for supporting Verena Knitting!
Use subscription code: KNITMG

This week, in lieu of our regular segments, we have an interview with Galina Khmeleva of Skaska Designs Limited.

In this episode, Galina discusses knitting in communist Russia, and how she ended up as an accomplished author, instructor, and historian of the Orenburg lace tradition.

Her books:
Gossamer Webs: The History and Techniques of Orenburg Lace Shawls
The Gossamer Webs Design Collection: Three Orenburg Shawls to Knit

Her workshop schedule and calendar of events can be found here.

Galina's preferred fibers for lace knitting:

1- Quiviut
2- Cashmere (longer staple)
3- Cashmere and silk. Silk helps the knitting retain it's memory.
4- Pygora

Color is our friend! - Episode 47 - The Knitmore Girls

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This week's episode has been sponsored by:

Special this week: Cat Bordhi's specially designed stitch markers, just for sock knitters and her book, New Pathways in Sock Knitting

Subscribe using code: KNITMG

Admin: (00:36)
Knitting Rose
Knit's UP
Yarn Thing
Go listen to The Scarlet Letter over at CraftLit
On the needles: (2:42)

Gigi talks about Carli - her sweater for the Knit(more)-A-Long. Jasmin talks about her new closet from the Container Store (the Elfa storage stuff). Jasmin talks about not planning out her knitting sufficiently, and the construction of the Cocoknits hoodie (Katje).

Jasmin talks about some of the issues regarding Katarina. She used Steamy to block the sweater.

Gigi has worked a little bit on her "On the Vine" scarf. Jasmin talks about knitting her CoachellaTess Ribbon top out of.

Contest: (19:28)

We announce the winners for the "What do YOU want to hear?" contest. The "name the listener segment" contest will close at the end of April.
Mother Knows Best: (25:20)

Gigi and Jasmin discuss color theory. Jasmin likes to buy her blouses at New York and Company. Jasmin suggests using Crayola Crayons for color reference. Gigi's sewing teacher used magenta and orange fabric as coloring calibrators.

Gigi discusses blue undertones vs. yellow undertones. Quilters use a color wheel for selecting complimentary colors. Gigi picked up paint chips at a decorating store to use as complimentary color ideas, and then bought yarn in those colors.

Jasmin theorizes that we are drawn to colors that look good on us. Jasmin advises against painting your skin. Color wheels are available at art stores, quilting stores, and your LYS.

When Knitting Attacks: (37:04)

Gigi didn't notice that her Malabrigo (out of Jasmin's stash) was from different dye lots, so she had to frog a ball's worth of knitting, which was especially hard, since she had done a marvelous job splicing both ends of that ball. Also, she sometimes can't count up to four and ended up with two stitches too many in her cardigan.

Jasmin's managed to misread and miscound on her Coachella top. On the third try, she finally manages to get it right. She is enjoying the bust shortrowing.
Straw into Gold: (45:24)

Jasmin has bought more plastic bobbins. The "romney thing" is made up of one ply of each of the following: burgundy romney (from Morro Fleece Works), light silver Lincoln/Corriedale, gunmetal grey Lincoln/Corriedale, and a strand of natural black romney that Gigi is coveting.

Jasmin is planning to full this four colored yarn to make it bloom. There is a video of her doing it on YouTube. She is planning to spin this more lofty so it will be softer with a soft haze.
CORRECTION:

Jasmin misspoke. Worsted spun yarn is durable and long wearing, not woolen. She is spinning Tallulah (a merino fleece) worsted so that it can be knitted into the Mariah cardigan. Also, she is spinning Suzie Q from Crown Mountain Farms.

Jasmin's fleeces from Boonville and the Monterey Fleece Auction are arriving. Shearing season is rapidly approaching, and Jasmin will be talking about how to pick a good fleece in future episodes.

Also, next week, listen for a special "Easter Egg" for our listeners: an interview with Galina Khmeleva, author of Gossamer Webs: The History and Techniques of Orenburg Lace Shawls.

Luuuuucy! We're knitting! - Episode 46 - The Knitmore Girls

Listen here:

This week's episode has been sponsored by:

Simply Socks Yarn Company caters to the sock knitter with thousands of colors and styles of sock yarn. Whether you’re looking for Lorna’s Laces, Dream in Color, or that special small dyer, we have what you’re looking for- in stock and ready to ship. Don’t forget to visit our sale section for up to 50% off yarn and accessories.

Just in this week: Cookie A's new book, Sock Innovations, full of beautiful sock patterns and lots of inspiring information about sock design, patterned stitches and more. We carry a ton of beautiful sock yarns featured in the book: Blue Moon Socks That Rock, Colinette Jitterbug, Louet Gems. We also carry Lucy Neatby's remarkable sock knitting DVDs. Remember, we happily ship mail orders anywhere in the world!



Subscribe using code: KNITMG

Administrative:

Jasmin Knit(more)-a-long thread in our Ravelry group.
Gigi Knit(more)-a-long thread in our Ravelry group.
The Sock Summit class list (and costs) have been posted!
The "What do you want to hear about" contest ends this Friday (4/3)
Things that are discussed in the chat with Lucy Neatby:

Kauni Yarns
Asciano needles by Deborah Doyle
Navajo knit cardigan = the Venus Rising cardigan
The "cables after whiskey" pullover

And, we're off! - Episode 45 - The Knitmore Girls

Listen here:


This week's episode has been sponsored by:

New this week: Cascade Eco Alpaca, and dyed colors of Pure Alpaca, new certified Free Trade yarns from Frog Tree Alpaca, including the new Picaboo, bamboo, pima cotton, and Green Line
DK and Worsted merino from Lorna's Laces.

Administrative: (00:30)

Knit's up has moved to Libsyn. If you're having problems updating your feeds, find our tutorial here.
On the Needles: (2:00)

Gigi is making good progress on her On the Vine scarf.

Jasmin cast on a sock to chase away her bad knitting mojo. She is using the Abstract Fibers "Supersock" in Newport. (Jasmin and Gigi will be reviewing this yarn in a later podcast.) Jasmin also discusses working with the square knitting needles. Jasmin suggests that LYSes should have "tester" needles so that knitters can try them. (Jasmin refers to the Addi Turbo interchangeable review episode.)

Gigi is working on the Par Five sock out of the brown Malabrigo Sock. Jasmin tries to understand golf. Gigi describes golf as "banhoff".
The Knit(more)-A-Long!
Jasmin's: Katarina (by CocoKnits), in Tess Yarns' Silk and Merino.

(Jasmin is knitting hers in one piece, as opposed to the way that the pattern is written. She talks about how she blocked her Twist.) Jasmin is knitting this at a tighter gauge than is recommended in the pattern (Jasmin is knitting it at 5 sts/6 rows per inch) because she disagrees with both the math in the pattern, the schematic, and the gauge of the recommended yarn.
Gigi's: Carli (by CocoKnits) in Malabrigo worsted, Burgundy. Gigi is matching gauge and knitting the pattern as it is written, thus far.

They talk about substituting yarns and the need to occasionally recalculate a pattern. They also discuss picking colors.

Mother Knows Best: (30:24)

Gigi and Jasmin discuss warm weather knits; they LOVE the Tess Yarns' Microfiber Ribbon. Some of Jasmin's favorite patterns include the ribbed turtleneck (by Jill Ramos), the chevron ribbed tank by Ann Budd, and the perfect periwinkle turtleneck tube vest from Fitted Knits.

Jasmin seals the end of the ribbon with Fray-Check, talks about the best way to wind it,

Straw into Gold: (42:13)

Jasmin is still spinning Talullah, she wants to knit something with cables (like Mariah). Jasmin talks about "swatching" your spinning. Jasmin is going to use her Maggie mini skein-winder to make tiny test skeins.

Reviews: (46:10)

They review the Malabrigo sock yarn. Four Knitmore thumbs up!

They also review the Leslie Wind cable needle necklace. (Video tutorials can be found here.) Jasmin loved it, Gigi didn't.

When good knits go bad - Episode 44 - The Knitmore Girls

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This week's podcast is sponsored by:

New this week: Takhi Cotton Classic, Rowan Cotton Glace, Rowan Handknit Cotton, Classic Elite Provence, RYC Siena, Blue Sky Organic Cotton.

Admin: (00:35)

Here are the links for some of the podcasts that have changed feeds. (Thanks to the Knitting Podcast blog for collecting a comprehensive list.)

Belle of the Ball Podcast
Stitch-It Podcast
Knit Naturally Podcast
Knaked Knits
CogKNITive Podcast
BarknKnit Podcast
High Fiber Diet Podcast
She-Knits Podcast
Brown Eyed Mom
Destiknits
Knitters with Critters (Promo!)
Yarn Thing

Please check out our tutorial on how to update your feeds on this site (our show notes). Please remember to go and give your favorite podcasts reviews (or re-review their new feeds) on iTunes.

On the Needles: (3:50)

Gigi has cast on a pair of socks out of Abstract Fibers' Lady Macbeth colorway. Lady Macbeth says she wants to be a Coriolis. Gigi is knitting a pair of Par Five socks out of the Malabrigo sock yarn (in brown). Gigi and Jasmin both went stashdiving for projects.

Jasmin talks about being the Rain Man of yarn (when looking for the yarn for her Cire-Perdue). Gigi is knitting some tiger-stripey socks out of Fancy Image's sock yarn. Gigi has been swatching!

Gigi and Jasmin will be doing a Knitmore-A-Long, where we'll have several projects that we'll be working on. Simultaneously. Stay posted for details.

(Jasmin talks about the most recent episode of Cast-on, where Brenda talks about brain waves.)

Contest! (13:18)

Post your show topic ideas to our Ravelry thread! Prizes include: Friday Night Knitting Club, the 365 Knitting Stitches a Year Perpetual Calendar, At Knit's End, stitch markers from Brenda Patipa, a subscription to Verena Knitting, and a signed copy of "It Itches" with the matching tote bag!

Contest ends 4/3/2009.

When Knitting Attacks: ( 18:14)

Jasmin's knitting HATES her. Jasmin has ripped out her Coriolis sock ANOTHER two times. Then, her pink cashmere swatches refused to cooperate, despite being knit on fabulous Asciano needles. (You can find some of the Holz and Stein needles here, by the way. Which are Alison's favorites.)

Jasmin thought the Chic Knits hoodie would be a set-in sleeve, fitted hoodie, because she wasn't paying attention. Jasmin finds that she is less patient when she lacks knitting.

Gigi knit her "Franklin's Panopticon" socks on itty needles with the same stitch count, which resulted in a too-small sock. Gigi is also looking for a fine-gauge cable needle. Gigi also had some issues reproducing the channel island cast-on, from lack of practice.

Listen to Gives Good Knit!

Straw into gold: (36:26)

The fleeces from the Monterey Wool Auction and Booneville are starting to arrive! Jasmin talks about having multiple spinning projects. She uses a bobbin winder and small plastic bobbins, and spins large projects 1 0z/29g at a time, lets it rest for 24 hours, then moves it to a plastic bobbin. This saves money on additional bobbins, and allows for more even spinning throughout large projects.

Jasmin is plying the "Romney Thing". It is a 4-ply yarn, 1 ply of burgundy romney, 1 ply of natural black romney, 1 ply of Sheila (Lincoln/Corriedale from Janet Heppler)- silver/grey, 1 ply of Carlos (Lincoln/Corriedale from Janet Heppler)- gunmetal grey. (We got Carlos at the Retzlaff Winery spinning day two years ago.) This was when Jasmin discovered the processing wonders of Shari at Morro Fleece Works.

In getting her spinning chops back, Jasmin grabbed some Crown Mountain Superwash merinoAqualung) to re-calibrate her spinning.

Jasmin is in love with Talullah; a charcoal grey merino that is so soft that it will curl your toes. Jasmin is spinning Talullah fine and tight, and thinks she will make a lovely Twist.