Without a paddle - Episode 164 - The Knitmore Girls

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This week's episode has been sponsored by:

Here at Abstract Fiber we're busy getting ready for SOAR. We've got some fabulous new colors including Summit, Lagoon, SOAR, The Gorge.  The next best thing to being at SOAR is our SOAR colorway, the color of Autumn leaves. Available now at abstractfiber.com .


Meet Lo-Lo by Bar-Maids, "The Hottest Natural Moisturizers in the Fiber World." Bar-Maids handcrafts head-to-toe moisturizers for people who wish to proactively protect, defend, and restore their skin to baby bottom soft. Bar-Maids uses only the finest local ingredients available creating non-greasy, non-sticky, non-flaky combinations that penetrate multiple layers of the skin working to soften and nourish.  Once applied, the moisturizer remains where you put it and is not washed down the drain.  With over 38 scents (that smell wonderful), and 8 lip balm flavors that taste yummy, it's hard to choose just one.  Find out how you can keep your hands moisturized and beautiful while knitting up a storm at www.bar-maids.com  Fair shipping practices, cruelty free, and fast turn around times are just icing on the cake.


Here at Lisa Souza,there is an exciting and arty new garment in our pattern line-up. She has been dreamed up by The Queenie Sisters and her name is Eternity. This is a fabulous kimono style jacket that is made with two colors of our Polwarth/silk and is challenging enough for what the girls call an Enthusiastic Intermediate Knitter. The best part about Eternity, other than the fact that she is so very artsy is that she fits a very wide range of body types and is great for the full figure gal. Our sample has been made with Violet and South Pacific but I would be ever so glad to help your color vision at www.lisaknit.com

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!

Three Fates Yarns is getting ready for the fall with new bold, semi-solid colorways. Perfect for all of your fingering weight projects, eponymous sock is a two-ply, high twist superwash merino. Also, check out the new Selene Sock, the ultimate luxury sock yarn. You'll adore using this stunning combination of Blue Faced Leicester, Silk and Cashmere! Three Fates Yarns can be found at threefatesknitting.etsy.com.

On the Needles: (:33)

Jasmin is working on the Baby Wrap sweater, and only has the attached I cord edging to do to finish it.  Natalie, from the Bark n' Knit podcast sent Jasmin a link for a Garter Yoke baby cardigan that she has started out of leftover handspun.  She is also working on a Vanilla sock.

Gigi is working on the Petra by Coco Knits out of Dream in Color Groovy in the Purple Rain Colorway. With the help of her friend Janice, she finished weaving in ends on about 20 preemie hats. We also discuss the optimal way to deal with grosgrain ribbon and button holes.  She is also working on the Sothia, but it has slowed down.

Mother Knows Best: (22:35)

Jasmin's laptop  had issues, her hard drive was disintegrating, and she could not back it up. So back up your computer regularly.  We mentioned Chic Knits download policy.  She also had to look through her downloads from Interweave Knits Magazine .

Macservice fixed the laptop. 

When Knitting attacks: (29:07)

Gigi had a lot of knitting attacks.  The swatch for her Odelia lied and the garment turned out way to big.  She started knitting on her Celeano, without her beads and did the wrong increases, and then tried knitting without needles.  She also knit away on her Heathered Skirt from Veronique Avery's Knitting 24-7, without reading about the decreases.  Redo.  It needs to be lined eventually and that will necessitate a trip to Thai Silk, because wool is most compatible for laundering when paired with silk.

Jasmin spent a lot of time knitting while her computer was chewing information.  Her laptop is one of her important knitting tools.

Review: (40:59)

Successful Lace Knitting by Donna Druchunas.  We didn't care for it.

Straw into Gold:  (48:24)

Gigi is not spinning smoothly and is a bit frustrated.  Her yarn comes out over energized, she gets nervous and treadles faster, which makes for even more over spun yarn.  Jasmin's suggestion is to treadle every night without fiber.  We review the cormo top from Crown Mountain Farms.  The fiber was nice, extremely clean. Jasmin compares this cormo to the cormo roving from Sue Reuser, which is nice enough, but pricey for the quality.