Flaunt it - Episode 171 - The Knitmore Girls

Listen here:


This week's episode has been sponsored by:

Here at Abstract Fiber 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.

Have you picked up your copy of Lisa Souza and Vicki Stiefel's book, "10 Secrets of the LaidBack Knitters"? It is a great read with stories, profiles of interesting fiber folk that you may or may not already know as well as 28 great patterns of all shapes and sizes for both knitting and crochet. If you're a seasoned spinner or a newbie, there is a chapter on this fiber art that includes patterns to show off your own handspun yarn. The book is available at all of the usual sources but if you purchase one through Lisa Souza's website, she will sign and personalize it just for you OR for the people on your holiday gift list. Find it a 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! 

On the Needles: (00:37)

Jasmin is now working on the sleeves of the Andrew Sweater from Knits Men Want. She has now buttons for the Garter Stitch Baby Kimono.  She has also just cast on the Breezy Cardigan by Hannah Fettig that she is knitting out of her hand spun. 

Gigi is also working on sleeves, these belonging to the Rocky Coast Cardigan.  She is also knitting on the Sothia shawl.

We celebrated Thanksgiving at The Plumed Horse in Saratoga. We went to the Pajama Jammie Jam at Purlescence on Black Friday. Congratulations to Gregory, who just got married! Jasmin mentions Juanita, who sang some amazing jazz.

Events:(12:01)

02/23-26/2012: Stitches West 2012.
     -No official Meet-and-Greet, but do come and say hi!
     -We will have Preemie hat collection points (to be announced)
     -Still looking for a signal for shy listeners


Contest:(13:31)

Do some good.  Get your entries in by December 25th.  

We have launched our annual Do Some Good Contest, and we picked some amazing prizes:
- a set of three Lolo Bars: CC clove, Little Pumpkin, and Figgy
- a signed copy of Coastal Knits
- one year subscription to Knitter's Magazine
- a set of Knitter's Blocks
- as of this week: one copy of How to Knit a Heart Back Home, and Wishes and Stitches, and How to Knit a Love Song by Rachael Herron.

Mother Knows Best:(16:18)

We answered a question about storing and organizing yarn, fiber and WIPs.
We mention Dry Cleaner Bags, canvas bags from ecobags, rice baskets from Lantern Moon and baskets from Cost Plus Imports.

When Knitting Attacks:(23:15)

Gigi is having issues with her Katriel.  Jasmin bought yarn, but doesn't know for which Hannah Fettig patterns.

Review:(26:10)

We review Knit Noro: Accessories: 30 Colorful Little Knits.

Straw Into Gold:(29:51)

Jasmin dug in her fiber closet and found some oatmeal CVM, that she bought from Patti Sexton. She is enjoying the fiber tremendously and  is spinning it on the miniSpinner.  Gigi picked up some bobbins for her Julia , but didn't do any spinning.

And Sew On:(32:20)

Gigi sewed two nightgowns for herself, and from the fabric that was left over, she sewed a large baby sack gown and a onesie for SharkBean, and a sack gown in a preemie size.

Cold for California- Episode 170 - The Knitmore Girls

Listen here:


This week's episode has been sponsored by:

Here at Abstract Fiber 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.

Have you picked up your copy of Lisa Souza and Vicki Stiefel's book, "10 Secrets of the LaidBack Knitters"? It is a great read with stories, profiles of interesting fiber folk that you may or may not already know as well as 28 great patterns of all shapes and sizes for both knitting and crochet. If you're a seasoned spinner or a newbie, there is a chapter on this fiber art that includes patterns to show off your own handspun yarn. The book is available at all of the usual sources but if you purchase one through Lisa Souza's website, she will sign and personalize it just for you OR for the people on your holiday gift list. Find it a 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!

On the Needles:(00:37)

Jasmin's Mondo Cable Cardi and Ribbi Cardi are getting a lot of wear, now that it is getting cooler. Jasmin is making great progress on the Andrew Sweater.  She has gotten to the heel flaps of the socks from Little Red Bicycle.  She is also knitting on socks for Andrew out of Sanguine Gryphon's Skinny Bugga in Owl Moth.

Gigi is finding the rhythm of her Rocky Coast Cardigan. The Pieman neckwarmer is at the point of bind off.  The Purple Poppies Cardigan will need a refresher on technique, so we will watch Lucy Neatby's Intarsia Untangled 1. Which will also come in handy for knitting the Porcupine Blanket.

Events:(19:50)

11/25/2011: Pajama Jammie Jam at Purlesence on Black Friday.
02/23-26/2012: Stitches West 2012.
     -No official Meet-and-Greet, but do come and say hi!
     -We will have Preemie hat collection points (to be announced)
     -Still looking for a signal for shy listeners

Contest:(22:38)

Do some good.  Get your entries in by December 25th.  

We have launched our annual Do Some Good Contest, and we picked some amazing prizes:
- a set of three Lolo Bars: CC clove, Little Pumpkin, and Figgy
- a signed copy of Coastal Knits
- one year subscription to Knitter's Magazine
- a set of Knitter's Blocks
- as of this week: one copy of How to Knit a Heart Back Home, and Wishes and Stitches, and How to Knit a Love Song by Rachael Herron.

Mother Knows Best:(27:02)

We answered a question about lining hats. Cashmere, silk, possum yarn and Lion Brand Microspun were mentioned.


When Knitting Attacks:(35:05)

Gigi is working on the Katriel, and it attacked her.  Again.

Review:(37:28)

This week we review Knitted Dinosaurs, by Tina Barret.  Best use of Fun Fur. We also mentioned Rebecca Danger's book of The Big Book of Knitted Monsters.


And Sew On:(44:07)

Gigi has blocked out time to sew, and sewn up a number of baby sack gowns. (Sorry, no link for the pattern, it is 30 years old).  At the quilt store we were waylaid by some Dr Seuss fabric.

Knitting up a tsunami - Episode 169 - The Knitmore Girls

Listen here:


This week's episode has been sponsored by:

Here at Abstract Fiber 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.

Lisa Souza has a brand new lace yarn for your pleasure. Grace is a beautiful combination of 80% merino with 20% silk for just the right amount of sheen and handle. We have been putting the yarn through its paces and love the results, as will you. Grace is put up in 4 ounce/744 yard skeins and comes in at $24, which is a great price point, making for some serious stash enhancement for you or the other lace lovers in your circle. Now, which color to choose? Come by the website at www.lisaknit.com and just try to decide.

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:(00:37)

Gigi is working on a neck warmer using the Pieman pattern out of Cascade 220 Superwash.  She is working on the Katriel and making very slow progress.  Also: Vanilla socks out of Meilenweit Fantasy.

Jasmin finished Logan's Sweater using the grosgrain ribbon tutorial.  She is making good progress on Andrew's sweater.  She has borrowed a minispinner, and also got some Try on Tubing that she likes a lot.  Alana Dakos  of Never Not Knitting, who co-authored Coastal Knits, gave birth to a baby boy.  You can congratulate her here.

Events:(14:13)

We are planning to attend Stitches West 2/23-26 in February.
-No official Meet-and-Greet, but do come and say hi!
-We will have Preemie hat collection points (to be announced)
-Still looking for a signal for shy listeners

Contest:(16:07) 

We have launched our annual Do Some Good Contest, and we picked some amazing prizes:
- a set of three Lolo Bars: CC clove, Little Pumpkin, and Figgy
- a signed copy of Coastal Knits
- one year subscription to Knitter's Magazine
- a set of Knitter's Blocks
- as of this week: one copy of How to Knit a Heart Back Home, and Wishes and Stitches


Mother Knows Best:( 22:09)

We answered the question:  How do you change patterns from a flat knitted piece to something that can be knitted in the round?  We mentioned knitter's graph paper.

When Knitting Attacks:(26:30)

Gigi couldn't get the right gauge to knit the Kaanteinen, and is worried about getting math-sprain.

Review:(29:10)

This week we review 60 Quick Baby Knits.  The porcupine blanket triggered a reference to Jasmin's Blog, where she wrote about the Opossum that came into the house a while ago.

And Sew On:(35:43)

Gigi was having a hard time starting to sew.  She finally  got started and sewed a Onesie, that still needs to have snaps attached.  We mentioned a grommet attaching device.

Straw Into Gold:(39:45)

Jasmin has spun some extra yarn for Andrew's sweater and is thinking to make a smaller version for Sharkbean using the Elizabeth Zimmerman percentage method.
Gigi is spinning merino processed by Morro Fleece Works, and getting good pointers from Jasmin.  Jasmin mentioned Judith MacKenzie's comprehensive spinning class. 
Jasmin answered a listener question about how deal with joining plies when spinning.

Brain trust - Episode 168 - The Knitmore Girls

Listen here:


This week's episode has been sponsored by:

Here at Abstract Fiber 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! 

On the Needles:(0:45)

Gigi has started on the sleeves of her Odelia cardigan.  She is working on the braid of the Kleio by Romi Hill, which is reminiscent of the technique that the Philosopher's Wool people taught us.

Also working on the Sothia shawl, which has slowed down.  Her swatch for her Rocky Coast Cardigan has benefited from a soak and dry and tumble in the dryer. Also swatched for: The Shawl Collared Cowl, and a shawl out of Lana Grossa Luxe. 

Jasmin has been working on the Garter Stitch Baby Kimono.  She is working on socks in Little Red Bicycle's Walk of Shame.

We went to the Interweave Knitting Lab in San Mateo, and talked to Annelena who sent a cardigan for Sharkbean, Galina and George from Skaska.com, Carrie from Alpenglow Yarn, and Carrie from Irishgirlie Knits, and the amazing Lily Chin.  Jasmin fell in love with the Jaimie Cross Cable Shawl out of quiviut.

Events:(19:48)

We are planning to attend Stitches West 2/23-2/26.  Premie hat donation stations will be at the booths of some of our friends. Locations to be announced.

Contest:(22:04)

Do Some Good contest.  Do something good, in your immediate community, or go global, and anything in between. Post entries in our ravelry group "Do Some Good" tread.

Mother Knows Best:(25:32)

It never hurts to ask. Hansen Crafts does not have minispinners for rent. 

When Knitting Attacks:(28:48)

Knitting garter stitch is too hard for Gigi, she made mistakes on her Katriel.

Jasmin had issues finishing the Baby Logan sweater, while watching the grosgrain ribbon tutorial. She is not satisfied with the result she got.

Review:(33:05)

This week, we review Vogue Knitting Stitchionary 6.

And Sew On: (37:16)

Gigi has finished joining the quilt top for Sharkbean.  It still needs borders. Jasmin has a play date to go and sew pj pants. 

Straw Into Gold:(39:54)

Gigi loves spinning on the Julia wheel. Her merino yarn is spinning up smoothly. Jasmin is almost done with spinning the yarn for Andrew's sweater, and is planning to get it knit in the 54 days left in this year.  She is borrowing a minispinner from one of our listeners. Jasmin got a new pillow to sit on while she spins.