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.
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 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.
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 Feetand 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.
.
