Episode 78: Sweater Smackdown!

Vacation
Nicole went on vacation and all she brought you was this travelogue.

American Visionary Art Museum
Women's Industrial Exchange
Brooklyn General Store
Purl
Spud & Chloe
Barn Raising Quilt
Stitch DC

Sweater Smackdown!
Jenny's back to knitting and we are both knitting sweaters like tomorrow is the first day of winter!

Amelia
Madeline Tosh Worsted
Leisl by Ysolda Teague
Brooks Farm Riata
Lake of Woods
Moch Cardi (Nicole's version) by Gudrun Johnson/The Shetland Trader
Mirasol Tupa
Nicole's Moch Cardi (rav link)
28Thirty by ZephyrStyle
Shibui Merino Worsted
Nicole's 28Thirty (rav link)
Japanese Vest and Another Japanese Vest (rav link)

Winner of the Crochet books: AmyP and Prairie Poppins!

Music
U-dot, Continental
Heartbeat, Nneka

Episode 77: Multi-Crafting

Crochet away
When we were at Stitches earlier this year we talked to crochet maven, Edie Eckman, about her awesome crochet motifs book. We ramble a bit and talk some about Berroco's spring yarns.

Edie Eckman
Beyond-the-Square Crochet Motifs
Cool Wool by Lana Grossa (rav link)
Knitalong by Larissa Brown
Fannie's Fingering Weight
Carolina Homespun
Sock Summit
Moch Cardigan by Gudrun Johnston
Ishbel by Ysolda Teague
Norwegian Woods by Sivia Harding
Alchemy Haiku
Kid Silk Haze
Berroco Pure Pima
Berroco Naturlin
Berroco Latitude
Berroco Mica

Sew Distracting
We have been spending some time at our sewing machines these days. Here are some of the links that have been inspiring us:

Purl Bee
Sew Mama Sew
Spring Ruffle Top
5-Minute Skirt
Jenny's sewing links
Nicole's sewing links

We will be gone for a little while, in the meantime enter to win your own copy of Beyond-the-Square Crochet Motifs and give a listen to Craftsanity.

Episode 76: The East Bay Way

The Yarn Boutique
Zuma bag (scroll down)
Bob's Entwined Cables Pullover
Stone Mountain & Daughters
Superwash Merino Fingering No. 9
AVFKW Merino/Yak in Queen of Hearts
Artfibers Yarntasting
Elizabeth's photos
Moch Cardigan (also available via Ravelry!)
JMS (on Ravelry)
Alice Cooper (on Ravelry)
Judy Greer (on Ravelry)

Music:
U-Dot, Continental
Dance Dance Dance, Lykke Li

Episode 75: Summer Patterns

This week we talk about summer patterns, deliberate over what Nicole should knit with her new yarn, and talk about Jenny's awesome dive into weaving.

Interweave Knits Summer 2005 (Rav link)
Interweave Knits Summer 2009 (Rav link)
Vogue Knits Summer 2009 (Rav link)
Knotions Summer 2009
Target Practice
Mirasol Tupa (Imagiknit and Yarn Boutique)
Dress Nicole is making
Viennese Shrug
Little Peacock
Dawn
Plath Cropped Cardigan
Jenny's weaving: Baby mat and Noro Silk Garden Sock Scarf
Hands on Heddle Weaving by Betty Davenport
Ashford Rigid Heddle Book
Sonora Fiber Retreat
Knitting in the Sun

Closing Music:
Coast of Carolina, Telekinesis

Episode 74: Make it work

This week we talk about making a pattern work for you in a number of ways, then we say a few words about what we're up to and why.

Working a pattern

You have a pattern that you love and a yarn that you love, but they don't match! How can you make it work?

• Scrap the match. In this case, you can just start from scratch. Browse Ravelry for patterns that match the yarn or if you are in a spending mood find a yarn that matches the pattern.
• If you really like the pattern there is probably another pattern similar but in your gauge. Ravelry is fantastic for that--use the advanced pattern search function and you will find something.
• Do some math. For some patterns this is easier to do than for others. If you are making a scarf (see Nicole's Alhambra) then the gauge is not essential, but if you are making a sweater that's a different story.
  • For a scarf a simple algebraic equation should work. If the original scarf was knit at 24st/4 inches with a cast on of 48st, but your gauge is 20st/4 inches then you can use this formula: your gauge/original gauge=your cast on/original cast on. In this case 20/24=x/48 or 24x=960, giving you x=40 st cast on
  • You can do this with a sweater and the equation is the same, you just need to do it more often for the various cast-ons, increases, and decreases.
• Start from scratch. 
  • Custom Knits
  • Handy Book of Sweater Patterns
  • Big Girl Knits
  • Knitting from the Top Down
• Some work arounds
  • Play with your gauge
  • Take out a few stitches
  • Add ribbing at the sides

Poutine
Jeff Lemire
Mesilla
Schacht Flip Loom

Winners
Knitting sampler: ErinAmelia
Spinning sampler: Adrienne

Music
U-Dot, Continental
Learn to Surf (acoustic demo), Superchunk

Episode 73: Review-o-Rama

On this week's episode we take a random journey from reviews of patterns, magazines, and fiber clubs to yoga & the Wii Fit, then back around to more reviews and then a dip into current obsessions. We wander, don't say we didn't warn you.

Winner: Sue from New Hampshire
Brenda Patipa's Twist and Lace
Mustavilla Scarf/Baktus
Knit Circus
Phat Fiber
Whimsical Little Knits
Pioneer
Rigid Heddle Looms

Music:
U-Dot, Continental
People Got A Lotta Nerve, Neko Case

Episode 72: Knit in Color

This week we talk about cowls, Stitches yarn reprised, the joys and woes of goals, and knitting in color.

Cowl Crazy
We talk about our latest adventures in knitting. Jenny knits cowls for days, Nicole sees the light at the end of the Dad sweater tunnel!

Thermis (Jenny's; Nicole's)
Dad's Sweater (all done, but for the zipper!)
Stripe-y Vest (also since finished)
Darkside Cowl (rav link)(Jenny's)
Handspun by Nomads Cowl
Dolores Park Cowl (Jenny's)
Handspun kerchief
Ishbel
Bourne sweater

Color Knitting Essentials
We talk about an amazing color knitting reference work and then talk to Elise Duvekot, author of Knit One Below, a cool color knitting technique.

The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques by Margaret Radcliffe
Knit One Below by Elise Duvekot

Thank you!
Phat Fiber Club
Knit Circus
XRX
Elise Duvekot
Storey Publishing

Music
u-dot: Continental
Oscar Wilde: Company of Thieves

Episode 71: Stitch it Up

Nicole with Buffy Taylor of Shelridge Farms

Jenny with Michelle Camacho and Carl of Toots LeBlanc

Liesl in her February Lady Sweater in SeeJKnits, Karalee in her Charlotte Stole, June in Cascade 220 sweater (above l-r)
Blue Moon Fiber Arts
A Verb for Keeping Warm
Jonathan, CaliforniaTarheel, his awesome vest in Jamison Shetland Yarn (no rav page)
Wildfibers
Karyn
Debi aka Jim's W
Open-front vest
Ericah64
RChrispy
Joanne from Baywood Yarns
Lixolux
Adrienne
KiraK
Jenny's Japanese vest in Vaa
Scarf in Udon (find Nicole!)

Jenny got:

• Toots LeBlanc Grey Bulky Jacobs/Alpaca
• Lisa Souza handspun: blue, oranges, Fat Bunny
• Miss Babs Yowsa Whatta Skein in Terracotta
• Pigeon Roof Studios Siren 2 in Bianca
• Snicklefritz Henigen in Matrix
• Earlight
• Spun Monkey yarn from Urban Fauna (Sorry we forgot to mention this one!)

Nicole got:

• Toots LeBlanc Black (aka Dark Brown) Bulky Jacobs/Alpaca
• Miss Babs Yowsa Whatta Skein in Hemlock
• DK merino from Pigeon Roof Studios in Olive Leaf
• Snicklefritz Henigen in Matrix
• Earlight

Music
"udot" by continental
"You can't steal a gift" by El Perro del Mar

Episode 70: Knitting Japanese

This week we talk about our love of Japanese pattern books, offer some insight on how to read Japanese patterns, and point you to some online resources. We gear up for Stitches

Japanese pattern reading

• Schematic with numbers: stitches to cast on, intended width, length, even the increases and decreases can be found on the schematic.

• How to read a schematic
• In the written instructions you can find gauge, needle size, some information about the yarn although the weights and amounts do not necessarily translate to yarns you know.
• The Basics
• Needle sizes are different (see the Basics article)
  
• Symbols
• Patterns are written in one size, you will need to rechart to fit you if you do not fit the specific pattern. You can find lessons on recharting here.
• Japanese Knitting & Crochet Group on Ravelry
• Finding patterns: On Ravelry I went to project search and searched the tag “Japanese” from there I could find the original pattern and the book it came from.
• Where to find books Kinokuniya, Yes! Asia, Amazon.jp.
  
• You can also find photos on the Japanese Knitting Patterns blog and Crafting Japanese.

Stitches

We will be there on Friday! Please say hi if you see us!

• Toots LeBlanc
• Miss Babs
• Brooks Farm
  

Australian Bushfires
How you can help

• Red Cross
  

• Oz Bushfire Appeal on Etsy
• Packages Down Under on Ravelry
• Raffle at Serendipity blog
  
• Re-stash a Crafter
  
• Handmade Help
  

Music

• U-Dot, Continental
• The Monster Song, Psapp

Episode 69: Honor Thy Artfibers

This week Jenny ruminates on her Artfibers stash and we talk about the next phase of the Artifbers business. Nicole goes to the closing party and talks customers and the geniuses behind the Artfibers palette. The photo above is of Valina Cutler's free-form Artfibers multi-stranded sweater.

Kush (Rav link)
Amalia
Lap Blanket (Rav link)
Duvet
Gypsy (Rav link)
Babette progress
Kyoto
Boa (Rav link)
Slyph
Scupltured Knits
Lutea Lace-Shoulder Shell
Ming
Chanteuse
Rox's Enchanted Cape
Tantra
NireKnit
Casanova

Music
Continental, "udot"
Menomena, "Wet and Rusting"

Episode 68: See My Vest!

This week we talk about knitting vests in February and what happens to our stashes when we go to Stitches.

In-Vest-ed
Smart listener Prairie Poppins (rav link) started a group devoted to knitting vests in February. Knit a sweater without sleeves during the shortest month. Here are some ideas for you:

Vestuary (rav link)
Veste Everest (scroll down)
Vest for Robyn
Vest for Sarah
Machine striped vest
Peace Fleece Buffalo Brownski (it looks like this color may have been discontinued)
Estes Vest
Honeycomb
Tweedy Vest
Skye Tweed Vest
Back-to-School U-Neck
Aran Accent Vest
Staghorn Cabled Tunic
Veronik Avery's Argyle Vest (rav link)
Deep V-neck Argyle
Drunken Argyle
Nederland Vest
Fyne Vest
Geek Chic
Kaino
Nicole
Provincial Waistcoat

Stitches Knitdown
Listener ValleyGrrl (rav link) has issued a challenge to festival go-ers to knit down their purchases before their next trek to Stitches (or Maryland Sheep & Wool or Rhinebeck or Black Sheep Gathering).

Northampton
Nordic Memories
Snugs
A Verb for Keeping Warm Silk/Merino
Amelia
Lake of the Woods
Brooks Farm Riata
Toots le Blanc
Notre Dame de Grace
Mainline

Music:
U-dot, Continental
Lost in Bessemer, Yo La Tengo

Episode 67: It's a Brand New Year!

We are back from our holiday break. This week we talk about what was on our needles while we were off the air, some of our favorite things from 2008, and plans for 2009.

What we knit over break
Hats on! We love us some hats this winter. Accessories are the name of the game.

Eggplant beret
Foliage (Nicole's; Jenny's)
Toasty Topper
Habitat
Gretel (Nicole's in Cash Iroha and Jenny's in Invernal)
Bella Mittens
#12 Cabled Scarf from Vogue (rav link)
Cuff
Elmo sweater
Megan's Ruffled Neckwarmer (rav link)

Tubular cast-on a la Knitty Daily TV

Best of 2008
What we liked from last year's world of knitting

Japanese knitting books (Let's Knit Cable-y Goodness and Scandinavian Jacquard Caps)
A Fine Fleece
Gusanito (rav link)
Dream in Color
Alchemy Haiku
Cocoon
Terra
Norwegian Woods, a.k.a. wedding shawl
Lush and Lacy (Nicole's version)
Dulcavina (Jenny's version)
Iceland (Jenny's version)
Rose Red
Heroine
Honeycomb (rav link)

What's up for 2009?
Looking at the year ahead. They are not resolutions, they are just something we need to get through life.

NaKniSweMoDo (rav link)
Year Long Gift-a-long (YLGAL)  (rav link) is back and 100% Ravelicious

Music:
U-dot, Continental
Dark End of the Street, Eels

Episode 66: A Cornucopia of Patterns

Patterns abound
We talk about the release of lots of patterns in the last few weeks.

New Interweave Knits
Puppycam
Green Gable
Rogue
Venezia Pullover (the sweater we could not remember)
Enid Cardigan
Twist Collective, we liked these patterns:

• Heroine
• Stormsvale
• Vivian
• Sweet Pea Coat
• Gytha
• Lotus Leaf Mittens
• Postwar Mittens
• Broderie
• Jadis

Huntington Castle Pullover
Lativian Mittens Book
Knotions, we liked these patterns:

• Fence vest
• Tailored Tweed (knit dress)
• Mrs. Whatit's Neckerfuffle
• Sharkey's Crossover Scarf
• Texturize Hat
• Wave cowls

101 Luxury One-Skein Wonders
Boutique Knits

We Buy Yarn!
Jenny & I confess our latest yarn purchases.

Malabrigo sock yarn in Turner
Dream in Color Classy in Deep Sea Flower
Toasty Topper
Malabrigo sock yarn in Persia
Dos (not Duo, is a two ply sport-weight yarn) and Merino Cashmere Lace Weight: here
Gusanito
Luminosity Project on Pigeon Roof Studios
Print o' the wave
Dale of Norway Baby Ull
Malabrigo Angora
Malabrigo Aquerella
Elizabeth's Design: Angora yarn

Thank you, Erica H! She traded me her copy of Harmony Volume 2! If you are looking for this book, it can be found at Velona Needle Arts. They have a few copies left!

Music:
Udot- Continental
Days of Elaine- The Decemberists

Thanks for listening and your support!

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/iwriteplays/2923383533/

Episode 65: Sweater Weather

NaKniSweMo!
Here are some sweaters we think you could knit in a month.

Trellis Shawl Sweater from Runway Knits
Organic Guernsey
February Lady Sweater
Shalom Sweater (pattern in the sidebar)
Bridgman Pottery's Shalom Sweater
Manon
Cropped Cardi from Blue Sky Alpaca
Liesl
Loppem
Hey Teach!
Martha from Rowan Studio 2 (scroll down)
Kurt's Martha (since finished and sent to his mom!)
Sideways Cardigan by Deborah Newton (Rav link)
Asymmetrical Cardigan by Yahaira
Sideways Spencer
Cosima
Good Bias Shrug
Honeycomb by Kate Jackson
Wicked
Gathered Pullover
Hourglass Sweater
Cobblestone
Notre Dame de Grace (scroll down)
Lush & Lacy
Lace Leaf Pullover (Rav link)
Caberet Pullover
Knitting Pure & Simple patterns
Aija's Wisteria Sweater

Music:
Continental: U-dot
Bon Iver: For Emma

Episode 64: Socktober Surprise

This week we announce winners from the 7Long drawing, discuss our Socktober progress (or lack thereof), and look towards November's Nakniswemo!

7Long Winners

We have 11 winners for 11 prizes! Thank you to everyone who knit for this project! Thank you to everyone who donated prizes for this contest! You are the best!!!

Socktober Surprise
The surprise is DAMN you all can knit socks fast. And DANG we can't. Nicole has knit two socks, frogged one, and has two cuffs ready to go. Jenny is nearly done with her second sock and has knit a pair of felted clogs towards the warm feet effort.

• Wonky Jules
• Finished Jules
• Knitpicks 32" needles are Nic's favorites
• Little Pumpkin socks
• Jenny knit some Felted Clogs
• Lion Brand Sock Ease
• Shibui Sock Yarn in Tweed
• Anastasia Knee Highs by Ceylan
• Elin's gorgeous socks

Knitters are smart! Here are some tips that we have gleaned from sock-knitting listeners:

• Knitting from the toe up negates the swatch as you can adjust as you go (Commenter Beverly)
• Judy's Magic Cast On
• Use Kid Silk Haze as a reinforcing thread (Kizmet on Ravelry)

For voluptuous calves, try the following:

• Knit toe up (Nepenthe on Ravelry)
• Go up a whole needle size on the cuff (Nepenthe on Ravelry)
• Use the tubular cast off (Nepenthe on Ravelry)
• Magic Loop helps for trying on the socks as you go (Fruitychick on Ravelry)
• Use a needle two or three sizes bigger for the bind-off (Sydneyknits on Ravelry)
• For cuff down, cast on over two needles (LizK on Ravelry)
• For more elasticity in your cuffs, try a tubular cast off like this:
  • work the cuff in 2/2 ribs
  • before starting the tubular cast-off, work one round adding 1/3 of the number of stitches by way of k1,m1,k1,p1,m1,p1 = you end up with a 1/1 rib pattern to start the tubular cast-off (Knitchy on Ravelry)
• Check out Ewephoric's Pomatomus legwarmers (Rav link)
• Ceylangul has some amazing knee-highs (Rav link)
• Cast on over two needles (long tail) knit the cuff plus whatever portion of the leg equals 3” on a needle one size up from “gauge” and at that point switch to the “gauge” needle and continue on. If you have a thicker ankle, try making the heel flap 2.5 inches long. This gives some extra room in the ankle but still preserves the stitch count for the foot. (Jess/ItchyFingers)

Sock Knitters Reference Shelf
We talk about a few good books for sock knitting reference.

Sensational Knitted Socks
Get Started Knitting Socks
Simple Socks Plain & Fancy

Socktober leads to Nakniswemo
To wrap up the Socktober Challenge Nicole will post a new thread in the Ravelry group for you to report your totals. The thread will open on October 28 and close November 3. Get your totals in!

For November, there will be a challenge for Nakniswemo! Nicole will start a thread in the Ravelry group for your goals soon. Join the sweater knitting fun!

Hey, if you are not on our Ravelry group, join us! It's a mellow, but fun group with friendly, helpful people.

If you like our music, it is because Harold is a genius! Thank you & Happy Birthday to Harold!

Thanks for listening!

Music
U Dot - Continental
Lights and Music - Cut Copy

Episode 63: It's Socktober!

In this episode, Jenny has just got up from two days of night shifts and Nicole is coming down with a cold, but they persevere to talk about socks. Jenny is a natural sock-knitter and Nicole is determined to become proficient. Two books are reviewed: 2-at-a-Time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes and Vogue Knitting The Ultimate Sock Book. More show notes to follow soon!

7Long: You people are amazing!

You all sent in so many hats and squares and additional prizes that Jenny couldn't input them in time. We are overwhelmed and moved. Thank you!! Prizes to be announced on the next episode.

Socktober is Upon Us

• Jenny's Thuja socks knit in Pigeonroof Studios are above!
• Men's Fancy Socks
• Nicole is knitting Jules in Lisa Souza Sock in WildThings!
• Jenny is knitting some stockinette socks in Mountain Colors Bearfoot
• Trekking ProNatura
• Trekking XXL
• BMFA Seduction
• Merino Lace Socks by Anne Woodbury (Rav link)
• Squoosh!
• Little Pumpkins socks (Rav link)
• Retro Rib Socks
• Fire on the Fairgrounds
• Gentlemen's Sock with Lozenge pattern (Rav link)
  
• Squoosh!
• Garter Toes pattern (.pdf link)
• Earl Grey socks
• Treads from Son of Stitch-n-Bitch (Rav link)
• Embossed Leaves socks (Rav link)
• Child's First Sock (Rav link)
• Knitting Vintage Socks

Socklit

2-at-a-Time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes
Vogue Knitting Ultimate Sock Book

K-nitting Update

• Jenny finished the shawl!
• Nicole finished her sweater fronts for her dad's sweater. She now just needs to extend the back.

Music
U Dot- Continental
Have Love, Will Travel- The Black Keys

Episode 62: Lace Panic (42:00)

This week we talk about Jenny's race to the finish on the Dulcavina, what Nicole is knitting (shhh . . .), prizes for 7Long, and Jenny's NYC shopping odyssey (more links to come!).

What we're knitting (furiously!)

Dulcavina
Kid Silk Haze
Merino Frappe
Anne Shirley Scarf
Anne of Green Gables
Megan Follows played Anne
Never Not Knitting
OmlyKnits
Felted Clogs
Hilary's blog
Yarn Boutique

7Long Prizes

1. 2 skeins of Pemaquid & 1 skein of Artesenal
2. 3 skeins of Donegal Cashmere
3. 1 cone of Alphabeto & scarf pattern
4. Itty Bitty Hats & Itty Bitty Nursery courtesy of author Susan B. Anderson and a gift certificate courtesy of Nicole's mom
5. 3 patterns of your choice courtesy of KiraK
6. Hand-thrown plying bowl by Bethsu
7. Gift certificate courtesy of listener Minh

Helping Kids at Hopkins
Jekyll
Viking Hat

Jenny shopped in New York

Cashmere/Merino/Angora Blend from School Products
Koigu from Purl
Sheep Shop

Music:
U-Dot: Continental
DJ Lobsterdust: Same Old Uniform (Four Tops vs. Block Party)

Episode 61: SSS (50:45)

This week we gush about fabulous gifts from YOU! We talk about hats good for Single Skein September, how we are using Ravelry, and how sometimes the knits you abandoned are really good projects.

Upfront: Thank you!

Thank you, Ravelers, for such a wonderful gift! If the gushing embarrasses you, you can skip to minute 8. Thanks to Goldiegirl for orchestrating this amazing present. Thank you Roxanne from Artfibers!

Single Skein September

• Jenny searched through 89 pages of free patterns and added them to her favorites.
• Ravelry now has Boolean searching
• Nicole's favorites
• Spring Cap by Woolly Wormhead
• Lauren by Ann Weaver
• Jenny's cool Center Square
• The hat above is the Unoriginal Hat

We talk about so many hats that you should just check out our favorites to see what we are loving on Ravelry these days!

Hat tips: girls like colors!!

How we are using Ravelry

• Wow! Where'd you get that cardigan thread
• Search forums before asking a question because the answer might already be out there
• Netflix group
• Knitting Nurses group
• Norah Gaughan group
• Groups are great support!
• Pattern search
• Friend activity ROCKS!
• KismetKnits Nantucket
• Habitat is now for sale

Guess who's coming back to the needles? It's Nicole's dad's sweater!

• Linden
• Dad's sweater
• It's a keeper! It's handsome and toasty.
• I want to add pockets
• How can I add width? Perhaps a gusset, thereby making it into a modified drop shoulder.
• Inspired by hcarey's Paul's Hooded Cardi
• I could also steek the back piece and make a cable panel up the back!

Music:

• Udot: Continental
• Thao with the Get Down Stay Down: Bag of Hammers
• Lightspeed: Champion Drylips

Episode 60: Lace Deadline Knitting (44:18)

First up: Thank yous!

Nittany Knits made hats and blanket squares
Jen G (Just Ducky) made an Odessa
Stitch It! Podcast West Coast Charity Knitting made a blanket and sent a hat
Susan Anderson sent copies of Itty Bitty Hats and Itty Bitty Nursery as prizes
DebbieKnitter sent a cone of Alphabeto and a pattern as a prize
Sasha/KnitNutt sent us some lovely Australian Organic Merino

Don't forget Single Skein September is right around the corner--just in time for hats!

Lace Knitting
Jenny & Nicole talk shawls: Norwegian Woods and various patterns.

Norwegian Woods
Sivia Harding
Alchemy Haiku
Jessica Rose's Shawl Calculator (on the side bar)
Variation on a Frill
Cambodian Rock Band: Dengue Fever
Moonlight Sonata
Sea Silk
Hanami
A Verb for Keeping Warm's Kristine's Hanami
Ming
Funky Carolina/Veda Bliss
Lamanaria
Matilda
Knitspot
Seascape Stole
Skater top (overtop)

Music:
U-Dot, Continental
Seeing Hands, Dengue Fever

Remember to contact us if you are interested in the 7 Long Project!