CrochetCast

Episode Whatever

yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com (Jeanie Gist) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 20:46:00 -0700

I have no idea what episode number this is since I've recorded and accidentally deleted so many of them but here it is.

Click here to listen.

Book Review
Amazing Crochet Lace by Doris Chan available on Amazon

Interview with Doris Chan on Crochet Insider.

Blog Spotlight

Heavenly Babies

Fiber Trends Crochet Felted Slippers
First pair

Second Pair

Third and fourth pair

Yarn Reviews
Lion Brand Organic Cotton

Bernat Cool Crochet (retails for about $3.99 per skein)

DFW Fiber Festival - April 13 - 15th

Listener Question:
What is YOUR favorite crochet blog or crochet website?

Laurel Burch Bags

Crochet Wiki - http://www.craftacular.com/

Interweave Crochet

Subscribe!

Cheryl's blog (with pics of her stitch markers and bunny!)

New Episode Coming Soon!

yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com (Jeanie Gist) — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:40:00 -0700

Recording has been delayed because Cheryl's mom was hospitalized for a few days. She's out now and doing fine (thank goodness), and recording will resume soon. Your patience is greatly appreciated!

Jeanie & Cheryl

New And Improved!

yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com (Jeanie Gist) — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 18:23:00 -0800

Click here to listen

A new show with an all new format and a new co-host! Inspired by many of the podcasting "duo's" such as Lime & Violet and Stash and Burn, I've asked my friend, neighbor, and fellow fiber-enthusiast (Cheryl) to co-host the show with me. I still do most of the talking in this episode (Cheryl's dealing with a little mic-fright) but the next show will be MUCH more Cheryl and MUCH less me (I promise)!

In this show, we introduce you to my new co-host Cheryl (and all her "critters"), talk about the new upcoming format of the show, and talk about what's on our "hooks" and "needles".

Edited to Add: Seeing as it appears to have done more harm than good amongst the fiber community, the editorial portion of this episode has been removed.

Show notes:

Cheryl's Lion Head Bunny (Mushie)

Gracie

Cheryl's Tea Leaf LusterSheen Shrug (Leaflet #3922)

Brooks Farm Duet Hat and Scarf

New Crochet Book, Crochet On The Edge (on sale at Amazon)

Grumperina's post about Addi Turbo's needles

Below is a copy of the email I sent to the owners of KnitPicks (roughly adapted from Grumperina's letter to Skacel). Feel free to copy and paste (modifying as necessary) this text into your own email to the KnitPicks folks!

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Petkun -- My name is XXXXX XXXXXXX and I'm writing to let you know that I adore your KnitPicks Options needles. In fact, I adore them so much that I'd like to formally beseech you and your research crew to design a crochet hook set that is as impressive as your Options knitting needles.

As I'm sure you know, crochet is extremely popular and there is a niche in the market for a high quality, smooth, and fast crochet hook set (such as your Options needles). I understand that the focus of your company is on knitting, (the name "KnitPicks" somewhat gives it away), however many crocheters patronize your site as well and crochet with many of your fabulous yarns, and would be eternally grateful if you could design and produce crochet hooks as nice as your Options knitting needles. Specifically, a crochet hook set (sizes B - L or there-abouts) that is as smooth and slick as your knitting needles would make crocheting much faster and enjoyable, and you would have many delighted customers.

I know that you and your staff need to have a sense of the market before launching a whole new crochet hook line. Not to worry - I will urge all my crocheting friends who've dreamed of crochet hooks as smooth as your Options needles to write to you. I hope you will see that the demand is high, and invest time into researching this option further.

Thank you again for manufacturing superior products, for listening to the needs and desires of knitters and crocheters, and for your willingness to evolve as the fiber-arts change. I appreciate your consideration. Please feel free to contact me with any further questions, or to request any additional information.
Sincerely,
XXXXXX XXXXXX
999-999-9999
email@email.com

P.S. Being able to purchase additional hooks individually would be an awesome feature as well!

Want us to review a particular yarn? Just have the manufacturer contact us and we'll take care of the rest.

Still Alive!

yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com (Jeanie Gist) — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 20:41:00 -0800

Hey Everybody!!! Yes, the show and I are still alive, although we have been somewhat illusive lately. I'd like to thank EVERYBODY who has left comments and sent me emails asking about the show and want to let you all know that I hope to have a new episode recorded soon. Believe it or not, I'd recorded an episode just before the holidays but somehow (during editing) deleted a large portion of the middle of the show. Don't ask. Needless to say, with all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I never had a chance to re-record the show but hope to record an entirely new episode very soon.

In the meantime, I thought I'd link to a couple of entries from my personal blog since they're crochet-related, so that you can see what I've been up to. Enjoy!

No Time To Write
Practically Speaking

Crochet Felting

yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com (Jeanie Gist) — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 22:02:00 -0700

Click here to listen.

Oh my gosh! A new episode!!! Thanks to all of you who emailed me asking for more episodes and for all the support and encouraging words. Let me know how you feel about unedited episodes for future reference (but be gentle if you hate the idea). Interested in submitting episode content or doing a guest episode? Email me!

Oh and I think I was WRONG about the shrinkage -- after looking at my before and after pics, it appears that you get more shrinkage in width than in height. Once again though, if you get different results, please post that in a comment!

Here's just one example of a needle felting artist's work.

Here is a link to several different felting patterns and books.

And another.

Nonibags

You can see some of my crocheted felted bags in my introduction episode show notes.
Here are a few more...

Yikes!

My crocheted slipper (no pattern) before felting

And after felting.

(yeah, I suggest following a pattern!)

A bag before felting

And after.

Episode 5

yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com (Jeanie Gist) — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 15:17:00 -0700

Click here to listen.

Thank you for your patience between episodes -- I promise to do better, really!

Rowans Carnival Shawl from Classic Holiday Book 3

My unfinished Carnival Throw

Sample Motifs from various yarns

The Crochet Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden

My first Sweet Pea Shawl from The Happy Hooker

Edited to Add: My second Sweet Pea Shawl (modeled by my oldest son's girlfriend)
Made from just over 3 skeins of Cotton Tots Wonder White

Better Late Than Never

yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com (Jeanie Gist) — Fri, 2 Jun 2006 14:33:00 -0700

Easter Episode (click here to listen)

Well, I was not able to get a brand new episode out to you last weekend as hoped, however I have finally published the Easter episode which (despite being very late) still has some good info for you. Enjoy!

Rick Rack Purse Pattern by Susan Lawrence
Felted Rose Bag by Nicky Epstein
One Scrappy Chick blog - Peeps
Berroco Crocheted Peeps
Knit Peeps
Easter Crochet Pattern Central
Hill Country Yarns
Jaywalker Socks by Grumperina
Sock Seaming Tutorial
Pointy Sticks Podcast
Clear Clogs
My email address

MusicInside Joke by Little Thom
Life With You by Bill deRome
Travel Ditty Guitar by Acoustic Rosh
Last Goodbye by Brian Sharpe

My felted bag, which is proportioned somewhat differently than the KnitPicks pattern.

My Jaywalker Socks in Hill Country Yarns Sweet Feet Sock Yarn in the Happy colorway. I'd love to see pics if anybody's crocheted socks in the yarn!

yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com (Jeanie Gist) — Sat, 20 May 2006 16:39:00 -0700

Just a note to let y'all know that the episode that was supposed to be recorded this weekend is going to be postponed somewhat. Two of my three kids decided to stay with mom on their dad's weekend, and one seems to be coming down with Strep.... soooooo..... not exactly an "alone weekend" as I was expecting to be able to record a podcast.

In lieu of this episode of CrochetCast however, you can check out the progress on my Interweave Crochet Lace Dress and a Sweet Pea Shawl I crocheted for my mom on my blog!

See you in a week or two!

How To Review A Pattern

yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com (Jeanie Gist) — Sat, 6 May 2006 21:19:00 -0700

Episode 4 (click here to listen)

Finally! A new episode of CrochetCast!!! Thank you all so much for your patience -- this episode was long overdue.

In this episode I introduce you to Hill Country Yarns, explain my pattern review process, gush over Emy's Crochet Lace Dress, and share with you what's on my hooks and needles.

No music this episode due to my lengthy crochet ramblings...

Hill Country Yarns
Lolly's Project Spectrum
Interweave Crochet Lace Dress pattern (pdf)
Emy's Vintage Fusion Knit & Crochet blog
Wendy's Knit and Tonic blog
The New Crochet
April's Knit 2 B Tied podcast
Zarah's Project Spectrum Yarn Swap
Send "Project Gone Wrong" MP3 submissions to yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com

Spring '06 Interweave Crochet Review

yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com (Jeanie Gist) — Sun, 2 Apr 2006 13:53:00 -0700

Episode 3 (click here to listen)

Dedicated to Dave at Chub Creek -- thanks Dave, hope you like the less structured format. Music by the Podsafe Network:
Hypocrite's Plea by Justin Gordon

Spring '06 Interweave Crochet

Gilded Twinset

Babette Blanket

Sweetpea Cardigan

Lacy Leaf Cocoon

Titania's Capelet

Pink Frosting

Naturally Pattern N1053

Carnival Cardi Wrap

Seafoam Wrap Skirt

Blue Sky Crochet Camisole

Stitch Diva Hairpin Lace Skirt

Goddess Yarns Poncho

Spring Spirals

Seaside Espadrilles

Classic Elite Spring '06 Complements Booklet

Interweave Crochet Granddaughter Socks

My Granddaughter Sock :-(

yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com (Jeanie Gist) — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 22:11:00 -0800

Due to the unexpected death of a very dear friend, episode 3 of CrochetCast will be postponed until next weekend.

Thanks,

Jeanie

Vintage Crochet

yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com (Jeanie Gist) — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 20:35:00 -0800

Episode 2 (click here to listen)

Well I just couldn't wait the full two weeks between episode one and episode two... there was just too much to share with you!

In this episode, I reveal my vintage crochet and knitting magazine and pattern collection, I review Interweave Knits Fall '05 issue of their Crochet Magazine, I show off my eBay win, I share with you a new yarn with a cause, and I give a little podcast info to those who are new to podcasts.

OldMags.com - www.oldmags.com
Stargazer's Crochet & Craft Links website - http://home.inreach.com/marthac/links.html
Adrina Thorpe -- www.adrinathorpe.com/
Johnathon Coulton - http://www.jonathancoulton.com/
Interweave Knits Fall '05 Crochet Magazine - www.interweavecrochet.com/materials.asp
Andrwe Kesler - ?
Hill Country Yarns -- www.HillCountryYarns.com
Cast On podcast - www.cast-on.com
The Mosh Knit - http://moshknit.blogspot.com/
Chub Creek - www.chubcreek.com

My vintage crochet and knitting magazines and patterns (it's hard to tell from the pic, but this stack is layer upon layer of magazines and stands about 6" high)

Interweave Knits Fall '05 Crochet Magazine Review

Fingerless Glovettes (Sandi Wiseheart)

Fever Tank (Jennifer Alppleby)

Felted Folk Rug & Chair Pad (Tiffany Reynolds)

Zig Zag Skirt (Mari Lynn Patrick)

Textured Tweed Clutch (Mari Lynn Patrick)

My eBay win

Hill Country Yarns Breast Cancer Awareness colorway

Hill Country Yarns Self-striping sock yarn

Rib Tickler

Gypsy Crochet Swing Top

Gypsy Crochet Vest (way simple!)

Gypsy Crochet Vest

As Requested, My Crocheted Ruffle Scarf Pattern

yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com (Jeanie Gist) — Thu, 9 Mar 2006 11:57:00 -0800

Okay, here's how I made my crocheted ruffle scarf (below). I'm sure there are several ways you can do this, but this is how I did it.

Choose a mohair or mohair blend yarn -- actually anything sort of fuzzy will work. My pink scarf is made from Lion Brand Jiffy, but I've also made them from Red Heart Symphony and Caron Simply Soft worsted weight acrylic yarn. As you can tell, I'm definitely NOT a yarn snob, although I do love the "good stuff" as well.

Choose a large crochet hook. Usually a size L, M, or even N is best (depending on your yarn). You basically are going for a "fluffy" look so you don't want to crochet it too tightly. Err on the side of too large as opposed to too small if you're not sure. The size crochet hook you choose will more than likely be significantly larger than the "suggested hook size" on the yarn label for this particular pattern.

Depending on how long you want your scarf, chain around 150 to 180 stitches. 150 stitches will still yield a nice long scarf, so unless you want a really long scarf, go for 150.

Row 1: 2DC in 4th chain from hook and 2DC in each chain across. Chain 3 and turn.
Row 2: 2DC is each stitch across.
Continue until scarf is desired width. Bind off.

That's it! For my pink scarf, I only needed two rows!

Here's a variation for you. This is a two-tone scarf I made for my daughter in her school colors.

It's made from Caron Simply Soft on the green side and Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted on the gold side. I had to mix the yarns since Lion didn't have the right shade of green in their worsted weight and since Caron didn't make the right shade of gold! Hey, improvise, right??? Anyway, the gauges were similar enough that it worked out just fine.

Choose one of your colors (it doesn't matter which one) and follow the directions for the scarf as outlined above. On this particular scarf (since the yarn wasn't very fluffy), I had to crochet 3 rows instead of two to get the desired width. And I think I used a size L crochet hook. Once you finish one side of the scarf, bind off. Then take your second color of yarn and on the other side of the original chain (of 150 stitches) do the same thing all over again (2DC in each chain across, etc. until desired width). Your scarf will spiral on its own in the alternating colors. Kinda cool, huh? Oh, and dig the matching crocheted Panta she's wearing too. Too bad it hasn't gotten below 70 degrees here this winter :-(

Tip: Keep in mind that making a two-tone spiral scarf takes twice as long to make a single colored one, and that adding a third row to your width will take 4 times as long as your first row did. For instance, if you chained 150 to begin with, then you will have 300 stitches at the end of your first row. By the end of row 2, you will be up to 600 stitches. And by the end of row 3 you will have 1200 stitches! This can make a big difference if you're making a two-toned scarf.

Questions? Email me.

CrochetCast Promo

yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com (Jeanie Gist) — Sun, 5 Mar 2006 16:58:00 -0800

CrochetCast Promo (click to listen)

I think I might be getting the hang of this!

Introducing CrochetCast!

yarnaholic1963@yahoo.com (Jeanie Gist) — Sat, 4 Mar 2006 21:47:00 -0800

CrochetCast - An Introduction ( click to listen)

Oh my gosh. Well, I guess I've gone and done it again -- jumped in and started a new venture. Pretty much spur of the moment (so what else is new?), I've decided to start a crochet podcast since there seem to be none out there (according to Brenda Dayne's most recent episode of Cast-On). And well, we just can't have that.

Since I really have no idea what I'm doing with the techie side of podcasting, I pray you'll forgive me for being the amatuer that I am and for all audio imperfections. I promise to try to learn the software associated with audio editing and the like prior to the next episode.

Please let me know what you'd like to hear in this podcast. Music? Yes or no? And if so, what kind? What kind of "stuff" do you want to hear while you crochet? Do you like interviews? Essays? Knock-knock jokes? Do tell!

Here are the show notes for episode 1 CrochetCast:

Cast On - www.cast-on.com
Pointy Sticks Podcast - www.PointySticks.org
My personal blog - www.DancesWithYarn.com
Sexy Knitters Club - www.SexyKnittersClub.com
KnitCast - http://scifiville.typepad.com/knitcast/
Debbie Stoller's The Happy Hooker
Threadteds - www.threadteds.com
Monster Crochet - www.MonsterCrochet.com

Crocheted Spiral Scarf

Some of my crocheted felted bags

Some of my threadbears (to see more click here)

Please let me know if I've left any links that I mentioned in the podcast out of the show notes, and thanks for checking out CrochetCast.