Marshmallow menace - Episode 155 - 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.

On the needles: (00:35)

Gigi has a vanilla sock on the needles. Jasmin has cast on a Hugo monster from the Rebecca Danger book "Big Book of Knitted Monsters".  Gigi is on the second lace chart for the Taygete. Jasmin found the second Unloved Andrew sock, hidden in a Knit Purl Sew What triangle bag, obscured by preserved lemons.

Jasmin mentions the Smitten Kitchen marshmallow recipe.

We will be going on hiatus, starting after our 6/27 episode and we'll be back on 9/5.

Events: (13:58)

- June 11th: WWKIP Day. We'll be at Santana Row, in the center section between Cohiba and Sunglass Hut.
- June 18th: Spinning at the Retzlaff Winery
- June 24-26: Black Sheep Gathering. We're staying at the Courtesy Inn in Eugene, OR.


Contest: (17:51)

We announce the Three Bites contest! Try something new, anything, and tell us about it! The contest closes Monday 6/27/2011. Fabulous prizes include:


- A 1-year subscription to Knitter's Magazine
- A drop spindle kit from Schacht Spindle Co.
- A Pagewood Farm Tinkerbell Needle Felted Silk Scarf Kit


Some favorite submissions for this week include Maria (venusfueri, from the Subway Knits Podcast) moving to the front of the room in yoga. Greentriangleknitter (from the APlayfulDay Podcast) goes back to dance after an injury.


Mother Knows Best: (23:32)


This week, we answer a question from the "What do you want to hear about?" thread about measuring gauge swatches. Jasmin references the Marta cardigan.

Our suggestions:


- Knit the swatch larger than called for. Larger sample sizes are always better.
- Look at how the garment is photographed. 
- Compare your swatch to the dimensions of the garment.
- Wash your swatch


When Knitting Attacks: (30:38)


Gigi is attacked multiple times by her Daybreak shawl.


Review: (35:37)

This week, we review Cowl Girls by Cathy Carron. The cowls make Gigi nostalgic for Boston. Gigi thinks that these are "showstopper" cowls, and that most of them are appropriate for a younger, more stylish demographic. (You can see the project pages for the cowls here.)




Tour de Fleece training: (44:43)


Yikes! We're already on week three of training, so we need to do three weeks in one. You can handle it, you're all amazing. You can find the Team Sasquatch group here.


Week 1: Pick your project/goal
Week 2: Weigh out your fiber OR wash as much fleece as you need for your project (plus a little for buffer) and start processing. Make a processing plan.
Week 3: Spin a sample (I suggest 1 oz) to test your wheel and fiber.