Black Sheep 2011 Recap - Episode 158 - The Knitmore Girls

Listen here:



This week's episode has been sponsored by:

We're seeing the occasional ray of sun at the Abstract Fiber studio in Portland  The weather is finally warming and lace knitting season has arrived!  We love using MightySock for lace. 50% Tencel makes it drape beautifully, and gives it sheen.  MightySock comes in any of our solids or colorways to suit your project. Give MightySock a try in your next lace project.  You're gonna love it!  Check AbstractFiber.com for a list of retailers or shop online anytime

At Purlescence Yarns we're head over heels for weaving. From rigid heddle looms like Jasmin's favorite Schacht Cricket to table and floor looms for weaving beautiful textures, Purlescence Yarns is your resource for the best in weaving equipment and supplies. Call today to order your loom!

Discover jacket mastery: see how easy it is to get the fit, confirm it as you knit, and know that every jacket will fit on Opening Day with Jean Frost. Take classes from the most talented designers in the Knitting Universe. Shop-till-you-drop in the largest fiber market in the Midwest. See the hottest new knit designs at the Fashion Show or take to the runway yourself -- showing off your knits during the Student Banquet. If you love knitting, YOU CAN'T MISS THIS! Go to KnittingUniverse.com/Events for all the details. If it has to do with knitting, you will find it here. STITCHES Midwest is open to the general public August 25th-28th. For more information please join us online at http://KnittingUniverse.com/Events/ or call 1-800-237-7099.

Black Sheep Gathering recap:



We announced the winners of the Three Bites Contest.

Part 2 of our recommended list of podcasts:

Fluffy Fiber Podcast
Happy Crafter 207
Knitting Psychos
Manic Purl
Miss Elle Knits
Outlier
Sassy Pants Knitter
Savvy Girls Podcast
Spin Control
Spindoctor
Spinning Jenny
Stash and Burn
Sticks and String
Stitch It
Stringchronicity
Subway Knits
Weave Cast
Well Knitted Life
Yarngasm
Yarnings
Yarnspinners Tales

Wednesday: (00:29)
Drive to Oregon with Laura, The Joy of Cooking Fairy.
Dinner at Marche.

Thursday:  (12:35)

Breakfast at Off the Waffle, who offer regular, vegan, and gluten free waffle options.  Browsing at Tsunami Books.   Home away from home at the Courtesy Inn.  We played "How many podcasters can you stuff into a little hotel room?". Dinner at Poppi's Anatolia, who had an amazing, allergen coded menu.

 Friday: (18:51)

Breakfast at Off the Waffle.  We attended the annual fleece judging, sadly not done by Judith MacKenzie McCuin  this year.  The judge was very charming, but he was more concerned with not hurting anyone's feeling than with an objective verdict.  So he said everything was nice, even tender fleeces, that were not nice, and really not suitable for handspinning.  And not worth $20/lb.  Jasmin talked about what a good judging should look like.

Meet and Greet at the Abstract Fiber Booth was a lot of fun, and we got to meet a lot of old and new listeners.  Lunch at the fairgrounds.  We ran into Sasha and Mr. Spin Doctor.
Second Meet and Greet at the Barmaids Booth.  Afterwards, Jasmin sat and spun, I was misbehaving while Jasmin was not keeping a close eye on me.

Dinner at the Pizza Research Institute was lovely, interesting and had unexpected ingredients.  The fancy jalapeno poppers were very tasty.  And the two piece band was totally unexpected, and surprisingly good. 

Saturday: (37:24)

Breakfast at Off the Waffle. Hanging out with sheep and goats at the fairgrounds.  Visiting with George from Skaska Designs, and Klaus from Crown Mountain Farms, who had a ton of new, delicious colors. We stood in line to secure our spot for the fleece viewing and buying, which gets rather competitive.  Jasmin and company scored a number of outstanding fleeces.  While in line we met the awesome Sultana, who spins sweater quantities of yarn on her drop spindle. 

Lunch at the fairgrounds.  The ravelry meet up was very short, they gave away prizes for the bingo, but there was not a whole lot of meeting. Dinner at Marche.  Food was outstanding, as was the company.

Sunday

Breakfast at Studio One Cafe.  Lots of interesting movie memorabilia and satisfying food.  Last minute yarn purchases from Huckleberry's. Laura and I picked sparkly yarn, Jasmin bought yarn because of the cool, Battle Star Galactica name.  And she the bought the uncented Plain Jane LoLo Bar, so she won't smell delicious in yoga class.

We picked up some frozen waffles from Off the Waffle to take home and have later.

We think that the Black Sheep Gathering has wonderful stuff, interesting critters, and Eugene has the most amazing food.

Knitmore Girls Podcast reached a million downloads.  Yeay!

Tour de Fleece training:

Find your spinning support group.

Thanks for listening!  Leave glowing reviews for the podcasts you like.  See you in September!