cables & crewnecks

Episode 7: Up and Down the Rockies

noreply@blogger.com (Cables & Crewnecks) — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 20:34:00 +0000

On the Needles

Knitting Harvest from Quince & Co. in O-Wool Worsted in Feldspar - I definitely won't break into the third skein, actually! Knitting while watching Great British Bake Off. Not working on Winter Honey, but now I have a deadline. Going to knit night at The Lemonade Shop and she is local to me! I love the Fancy Tiger and Colorado Maker's Night knit nights, but they are hard to get to regularly.

Knitting Finds

Brooklyn Tweed has its own pin and I got one, and mentioned Dragonfly Fiber's MS&W colorway, Boardwalk Lights.

Knitting Travels

Camped at Rocky Mountain National Park - Aspenglen Campground. Not prepared for the cold! Wore the Bristol Hat by Amy Christoffers, BFF Cowl, and Under the Tree (I called them the Owl Fingerless Mitts).

Met up with Emily of Tightly Spun at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and she recommended I check out My Sister Knits. It is AMAZING. I picked up the Lykke Interchangeable Short Set. As such, I would like to donate my set of Kinki Amibari IC needles, to someone who really deserves them. Nominate via email, Instagram DM or Ravelry PM!

Events

Heading up to the Andrea Mowry talk and trunk show at Fancy Tiger Crafts in November. No Rhinebeck this year.

Thanks for joining me!
Watch here, and subscribe here.

This New House: Living Room Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Cables & Crewnecks) — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 16:58:00 +0000

It's been awhile since I actively blogged in this space! For those that are new here, welcome and please pop on over to the About Me page to learn more about me and my family as we explore Colorado.

Today I am sharing my living room; when Mel and I first moved out to Colorado, we pretty much had no idea that you could actually build a house. As in, anything from buying the land and hiring an architect, to going with a builder in a neighborhood, picking a floorplan and going from there.

Armchairs: Manhattan Clubchair in Brushed Saddle Leather, Pottery Barn | Coffee Table: Benchwright Large in Rustic Mahogany, Pottery Barn | Couch: Chesterfield in Navy Tweed Performance Fabric, Bassett Furniture - no longer in production but chesterfields are everywhere | Rug: Bohemian Rug Collection 7x10 in Promenade Ivory, Costco | Large ginger jars: Pier 1 | Small Ginger Jars and miscellaneous accessories: HomeGoods | Gallery Wall Frames: IKEA | Curtains: Pottery Barn (forgot the make and color, we got them for a steal | Blinds: Wooden Slat with Gray Grosgrain Ribbon, Graber via Costco | Toy bin: Elephant Toy Bin, Container Store | Boxwood topiaries: DIY via Michaels | Mirror: Facebook Marketplace | Pillows: cream crewel came with couch, all others are Pottery Barn pillow covers

In a perfect world, we would have done the whole thing from scratch, but the housing market in Colorado is really hot (as in, so many people are moving out here and the housing inventory is very small = high demand = high prices), and builders increase the base prices overtime. So we needed to move quickly, and lo and behold a brand new neighborhood was opening up in March 2016 which meant we could be within our budget and go as far out as we could (for all intents and purposes, this is our forever house. I will talk about our building story in a series in case anyone is interested and give some tips and tricks along the way in terms of what to do when building a house, especially with a builder).

But today, the living room. Or the great room as they are called these days. We have an open floor plan. Most new houses do. You can take it or leave it, but its kinda great when Mel is upstairs and I need something - I just shout pretty loudly and he can still hear me. Not so great when it's naptime, however; we just transitioned Julian from napping on the floor in the loft (he's a wierdo) to napping on the floor in his room (he KNOWS if I try to put him in his crib). I like it because with our floorplan our kitchen is set off slightly to the side (think of our house as an L shape with the garage tucked into the crook of the L), which meant that we didn't need to do the TV over the fireplace (still when we built it, we did out the media ports over the fireplace, because house value).

When it comes to decorating, Mel and I mostly agree on things - one of the major things was, if we could afford it, we save and we wait for sales (especially when Pottery Barn does the buy more, save more). This was our grown up house after living in a 480 sq foot apartment for almost 7 years and having IKEA furniture left over from college. It took two years to get this living room where it is now.

As for a particular "look," I am a wierdo - I love the beachy coastal look, a little bit of the glam that lucite and gold bamboo frames give you, but at the end of the day, I will happily go with an old-school preppy university look for adults. I call it "rustic/casual metropolitan" - like a university club, but with a bit of feminine touches here and there (see mantel and Kate Spade books).

At the end of the day, I share a house with a Guy Who Cares. There is some negotiating, and giving in (I picked the couch. Mel picked the armchairs).

So we saved and slowly acquired pieces and replaced things - our coffee table was our first big Pottery Barn piece, and that was because we didn't bring over our old IKEA coffee table - Adele chewed on it big time when teething.

I definitely go to the Pottery Barn catalogs and website for styling inspiration and some of my favorite bloggers as well; being on a budget for the accessories (that adds up! Especially when you have a naked house), I rely a lot on Home Goods and Michaels for the decorating pieces, like the basket tray here:

Flameless candles: Costco (they usually have them around Christmas) | Coffee Table Books: Kate Spade's "Places to go, People to See," "Things We Love," "All in Good Taste" | Artichoke and Basket: Home Goods | New York Ashtray: Pottery Barn - got it on clearance!

As you can see from the top photo, I pushed the basket to the left side of the coffee table; when Julian is downstairs, he pretty much roams and plays wherever (we got rid of the playpen after he turned one), so I figured if I give him a table space to play, he will leave the decorative things alone. And it has worked. So far.

The Benchwright table has two big drawers; one we fill with Julian's books so that he has a selection down here, and the other is filled with random stuff that doesn't really belong anywhere. On the bottom shelves, I put more coffee table books.

This is the "Asia Collection" - "Art of the Japanese Postcard" was a gift from a friend when I visited her in Boston | "Geisha" was also a gift | "The Chinese Garden" was actually a textbook for a class on Asian Gardens I took when I was going for my master's degree in Japanese Architectural History at University of Pennsylvania (it's a mouthful!).

This is what the ceramic piece on top looks like: we purchased it from a gallery in Santorini when we visited my family in 2014.

Finally, we have the "New York" books:

I have a wishlist of other books I want to add, since I like to swap out the books in the basket (so long as they fit!) every once in awhile.

If you have been following me on Instagram, you know I love to play with decorating the mantel. Partially it was I think in part that I was trying to find what I liked and what worked for us; here Mel didn't really care so much - I loved making the Christmas mantel but I think I am going to keep it this way for awhile. I love boxwood and blue and white porcelain (like everyone else, but hey it's a classic!) and I think I am going to take the lids off the larger ginger jars and put some faux flower stems in there for the fall.

Barring some seasonal accents, I think this is going to be it for mantel decorating (unless more blue and white comes my way!). The mirror was a facebook marketplace find that we painted black - Mel and I both love the Eagan Large Mirror from Pottery Barn, but when you move into a house from a tiny apartment, you need a couch more than a mirror.

I DIY-ed the boxwood topiaries, since they can get pretty expensive. I found the topiary in a little pot at Michaels, but it was pretty pathetic to say the least; a new potting plant, styrofoam to lift the topiary, a glue gun and some moss later, I made two of these for the price of 1 at Target or Pier 1. Still debating on painting the pot, or making it look more cement-like.

The fireplace is chevron marble; when I flew to Colorado 7 months pregnant for my official move, and had to go straight to the design studio when I landed (Mel came out the year before) to finalize the picks for the house.

Initially, the fireplace is defaulted to the stone that is on the outside of the house - I IMMEDIATELY put a stop to the proceedings and said, why can't we do tile? Apparently, that was the initial order and Mel and I didn't know that we could put tile - that may have been the one time I flew into a pregnancy-induced hormonal fit and told our consultant to call the builder and immediately change that. And then I insisted on the marble. We joke that the fireplace was my push present. I love how some of the marble is different colors (didn't like so much that they had to rip out the fireplace 4 times...).

This is the spot that sort of demarcates the invisible line between the living and dining room, imagine a wall right down the center line of the photos. We got the frames from IKEA and printed out the photos at Costco. The curtains were a Pottery Barn find in the clearance section, and when there was another promotion, I called back and got a price adjustment.

Top Row: Me in the Philippines, Maternity Photo at Bethesda Fountain (below the stairs), Mel in Montreal
Middle Row: Ollie, Julian's newborn photo shoot, Adele at Gantry Plaza State Park in NYC
Bottom Row: Our first Christmas in the house, Mel and I on our honeymoon in Venice, Julian's Christening

Hope you enjoyed the tour! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below. Next up will be the dining room - you see peeks of it because it is an open floor plan, especially in this photo here, but I have a few things I need to finish with it first.

Also, any feedback on the photography is appreciated - I took all the photos with my Nikon D5300 (the same I use for my video knitting podcasts) and edited in Lightroom - trying to learn how it all works, so getting in as much practice as I can.

If only the living room always looked like this - parent/kid tip: these covers are lifesavers and 99% of the time, they are on the chairs and couch. We also use this vacuum for carpets and rugs.

cables & crew necks episode 2: let's try this again

noreply@blogger.com (Cables & Crewnecks) — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 21:41:00 +0000

On the Needles

Stash Dash is happening and finally I truly have two months to knit since my new school has the August-May schedule. I plan to focus on WIPs, and finishing the Downton Abbey Cowl and Norie Hat, while also working on a very overdue baby blanket and sweater.

The yarn I got from Lux Adorna knits to make the Peerie Flooers hat got tangled during the move. My Outlander project back with my Outlander socks from Voolenvine Yarns is missing.

Knitting Finds

Plan to make the Kamari shawl from Kathleen Dames' Santorini Collection with Juniper Moon Farms out of the three skeins of Western Sky Knits that I got from Interweave Yarn Fest. Imerovigli is also a lovely pattern. Check out Knit Filament, which is a magazine that she also publishes.

Knitting Travels

Finally got myself on the highway because of Interweave Yarn Fest. Throwback to my visit to the amazing Woolyn yarn shop. Plan to go to knit night at Fabric Bliss once I get back to Colorado after my visit to NYC in June and school starts up again.

Review

Masterpiece Knits: The Modern Collection published by Dragonfly Fibers. I love their yarn - they have been one of my long time favorite indie dyers. Available via Ravelry download for $18, and its definitely well worth the price. Also check out their fundraiser with a limited edition yarn, Maryland Blue Crab; a portion of the proceeds go to benefit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and their summer yarn Beaches, will also go on sale June 4. The fundraiser ends June 4. I myself got a skein in Traveller!

This New House

I give a tour of "The Craft Office," and want to know if anyone has ideas for yarn storage that is pretty but also protects the yarn?

Thanks for watching!

Subscribe here and here.

Subway Knits Episode 82: Wannabe Oprah

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 11:53:00 +0000

On the Needles

Sharing my finished socks with White Birch Fiber Arts yarn, and they went through the washing machine with no problems at all.

My dad wants a sweater. He has a 45" chest. He chose Fort from BT Men Volume 1 out of the options I gave him. I also informed him that I will never knit a fingering weight sweater for him.

Self striping yarn from Gynx Yarns! Preppy Gothic Mermaid is a bit of an inside joke between Laura, Kristin and myself.

Maria's Favorite Things!

For the knitter with a sense of humor:

For the knitter with all the notions:

Stitch markers by Winemaker's Sister
Needle Gauges by Katrinkles

For the knitter who loves Jennie the Potter:

Review

Lithuanian Knitting: Continuing Traditions by Donna Druchunas and June Hall, $34.99 USD. Amazing and carefully thought out book.

Events
Knit Knosh hosted by the Knitting Actually Podcast 1/23 Longmont, CO (Denver/Boulder area).

Don't forget the #outlandeRKAL is going in the Ravelry group - the second quiz question is up! In the meantime, we have the first winner for the Lady of Lallybroch Socks by CC Almon of Geeky Girls Knit. This week's prize is a copy of the French Outlander Shawl by Tanya Marie of The Sampler Girl Podcast.

Here are the list of the other prize sponsors (specific prizes to be announced, as well as a fun grand prize for the KAL):

Bijou Basin Ranch: Allure Sampler Pack and 2 Pyramid Peak Hat Kits, color TBD by winner
The Sampler Girl - French Outlander Shawl
CC Almon - Lady of Lallybroch Socks
Lion Brand - Outlander Knitting kits - correction, just 1 each of the Return to Inverness Cowl and Transported to 1743 shawl. One of these will be part of the grand prize!
Caithness Craft - Tartan Project Bag - to be paired with a Lion Brand Outlander Kit as the KAL grand prize.
Dreams in Fiber - 2 Skeins of Outlander Yarn

Both of my Knitting in Japanese classes at Vogue Knitting LIVE! are now sold out but there are a ton of really other great classes too.

I am so excited to be teaching and seeing all of you. If you already registered, drop a line and say hi either here or anywhere else. I'm planning to pull a Clara Parkes (her Claramels look divine) and bring some treats to class. More details on whether there will be a meetup to come soon.

Thanks for watching!

Subscribe here and here.

Where I Knit with Indie Untangled

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 19:56:00 +0000

Image Credit: Indie Untangled

There is a great, new yarn club coming out with Indie Untangled with the theme of where people knit. I have thought about this alot in the past before, and wrote an article about it - my first foray into writing about knitting as you will (Parts 1, 2, and 3 here).

I have almost always knitted in public ever since I started knitting - as most of you know, I learned to knit in Japan, which is a place that is very short on private space, especially when you want to hang out with your friends. I did have brunches at my shoebox of a studio apartment in Kyoto, but it took a little bit of maneuvering and it was still quite cramped.

I recently started knitting in public at work, which was a pretty big accomplishment for me. Knitting is not frowned upon at work, but rather when I first started to try it, I was subject to a bit of teasing. People just don't get it, truly! I'd rather knit on my sock than play Candy Crush on my phone.

That being said, there is something to knitting outdoors where its peaceful. When I heard about this blog hop and yarn club, it reminded me of one time when I did document myself knitting in public - I was visiting a friend at Kyoto Sangyo University, which is in the northeast of Kyoto.

I got there early and was wandering around, when I came across a traditional Japanese garden in the middle of the campus. It was peaceful and I had time to kill, so the knitting came out (I was working on my 2x2 reindeer yarn fingering weight rib scarf on size 4 needles).

So much has changed since then!

Where do you knit now? These days, I knit in my parents' living room, but I am looking forward to when I knit while looking out over the Rocky Mountains.

Subway Knits Episode 81: The Backup

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 19:14:00 +0000

On the Needles

On a huge sock kick and I was knitting socks in front of my principal! Finished White Birch Fiber Arts "No One Says Screw You Like A Unicorn" (off camera - had to cut the cuff of the first sock, but all is well) and working on my "Outlander" socks for the #outlandeRKAL. Demonstrated how I avoid ladders when shifting from one DPN to the next.

The Aussie loves the socks I knit him (Fresh from the Cauldron MCN in Michael Corvin from 2009) and is requesting more.

My Hinoki was a bit of a disaster, but I did have a backup Rhinebeck sweater, thanks to Kristin. I am taking a break from Hinoki and plan to finish it and the pattern over Christmas.

I recieved the Buchaille Seven Skeins Club from Kate Davies, and I love it.

Spin Right Round

Back to spinning: working on Pigeonroof Studios July/August 2013 SAL Wine Tasting in Superwash Merino (it's SO soft) on my Bostworth Midi Purpleheart Spindle, and some Falkland fiber from Wild Hare in Natural Appeal on my new zebrawood and ebony spindle from Mill Point Emporium, which is a dream to spin with.

Knitting Travels - Rhinebeck Edition!

The Indie Untangled Trunk Show was a mega sensory overload, but it was alot of fun to see everyone who was part of this year's Road to Rhinebeck series. On Saturday, Laura, Kristing and I did the podcaster meetup, and I actually did not get any yarn - just the Wild Hare Fiber and the new spindle, as well as shearling earmuffs for me and a brushed alpaca scarf for my mom.

Events & Announcements

Here are the list of the other prize sponsors (specific prizes to be announced, as well as a fun grand prize for the KAL):

Bijou Basin Ranch
The Sampler Girl
CC Almon
Lion Brand
Caithness Craft
Dreams in Fiber

My Knitting in Japanese class at Vogue Knitting LIVE! sold out on the first day of general registration! I am so surprised and honored that so many people wanted to take the class - in fact I am teaching a second session from 9-12 on Saturday January 16, as the 2-5 pm session is already sold out.

Thanks for watching!

Subscribe here and here.

In the Conductor's Booth: An Interview With A Little Teapot Designs

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 02:01:00 +0000

See you guys at Rhinebeck! More detailed show notes to follow

Subway Knits Episode 80: Last Days of Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 23:14:00 +0000

Kick off Rhinebeck 2015 the indie way: Indie Untangled is holding its second annual pre-Sheep and Wool Festival trunk show on Friday, Oct. 16 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Best Western Plus, across the river from the fairgrounds in Kingston, N.Y. Browse hand-dyed yarn and fiber, handmade project bags, buttons, notions and garments from more than two dozen indie artisans. The first 100 shoppers will receive a goody bag filled with gifts and offers from our vendors and sponsors. For more information and a full list of vendors, visit Indie Untangled.

On the Needles
Cast on the test knit lace cowl by Maria Montzka of Stitched in Sweden. Working on Trillian at a pretty steady pace - my wrist is a bit "off" not because of knitting but actually because of sewing!

Knitting Travels
The day before I left for NYC I convinced The Aussie to drive up to The Loopy Ewe, which was a bit of an adventure.

Went to Voolenvine Yarn's trunk show at Gauge and Tension - in the downtime we tried on the GxT Cormo shawls that were on display and the yarn is so soft. Kristin and I had fun pretending to be knitwear models. She had alot of the good favorites on display and I fell in love with her Water Lily sweater knit. We also met Mina of the Knitting Expat podcast!

AMA
This week's question is from suddenexpression and we talk about how I go about picking fabric for my garments.

Reviews:
Pom Pom Quarterly Summer Edition - holding on to the last bits of summer, though their fall edition is amazing. We also have a giveaway - which pattern would you knit to help keep the last bits of summer alive for you?

Events and Announcements
Rhinebeck plans have changed again. Laura (The Dyer's Notebook) and Kristin (Yarngasm), and I will be at the Indie Untangled trunk show and there will be a meetup! Time TBD.

Congratulations to Helen of Curious Handmade and Jo from Shinybees who won in the Games & Hobbies and Most Engaged Audience categories of the UK Podcaster awards! They were well deserved wins.

I'm teaching Knitting in Japanese at Vogue Knitting LIVE! in NYC this January! The class is Saturday from 2-5pm.

Signups for the OutlandeRKAL are happening now.

Socktober with Carolina Fiber Girls Podcast.

Thanks for joining in!

Subscribe here and here (Stitcher still in the process of updating the new feed!)

In the Conductor's Booth: An Interview with Sweet Sheep Body Shoppe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 22:40:00 +0000

In our second-to-last episode (bit delayed due to back to school and a cold), we chat about all things lanolin from the Sweet Sheep Body Shoppe!

I enjoyed chatting with Alicia so much and definitely wanted to try out her products, so I was really busy perusing her shop during the interview. I scored the Lotion Bar in Down by the Bay, and her Goat Milk Soap Bar in Sea Moss.

Her product photography is lovely, and we discuss it further, especially trying to convey a scent through images. I think it's pretty successful.

If you are looking for something that is all natural and is gentle on your skin, definitely go check out Alicia's products. My oily, acne-prone skin is looking all the better especially since I have been using the lotion bar after a summer in dry, dry Colorado! My legs are thanking me for it.

PS. Don't forget, we have changed the podcast feed! Episodes are directly embedded into the shownotes - please refresh your iTunes and Stitcher Feeds.

How to Get Through Droughtlander - Again

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 21:30:00 +0000

Here's the thing.

All of us knitters are crazy about Outlander on STARZ. The problem is, Season 2 (which corresponds to my favorite book in the series, Dragonfly in Amber - I love the parts in France) is not coming out until April 2016.

Ugh.

So I thought, why not try and do something fun to help us get through "Droughtlander"? Not just a knit-along, but take it a step further with a read-along of book 1 as well.

Starting October 24, and ending one week before Season 2 premieres on Starz (date TBD), we will have a knit-along and a read-along in the Subway Knits Ravelry Group!

Here are the guidelines and rules for playing along:

There are two components: the Read-Along, and the Knit-Along. Participate in one, or both! There will be prizes for all.

For the Knit-Along:

Knit something in an Outlander Inspired pattern (either explicitly Outlander, like Claire's mitts, or inspired, so long as a connection is made and explained in the thread - check out some here, and an example of an inspired pattern is the Lucy Hat because it reminds me of the hat Claire wore in the beginning of "The Wedding"), or with an Outlander yarn (again, either explicit like yarns from Bijou Basin Ranch, or "Outlander" by Voolenvine Yarns, or inspired by with the explanation in the thread - for example: "this shade of purple reminds me of a Scottish thistle"). You can again do either the yarn or the pattern, or both for the KAL entry.
There can be more than one KAL entry, and you can double and triple dip into other KALs for the duration of this KAL. You must be a member of the group to participate.
To share your knits on social media, the hashtag is #outlandeRKAL. Entries must be made in the thread, where a winner at the end of the KAL will receive a Grand Prize via RNG.
The final deadline will be announced once we find out the premiere date (April/May 2016 is the estimate).

For the Read-Along:

Until we reach the end of the KAL, we will be doing a read-along of Book 1 with about 5 chapters every two weeks (though that may change once we find out the premiere date and adjust accordingly, since the intention is to finish book 1 just right before the premiere of Season 2). Each reading section will be announced in the discussion thread and the quiz thread.
Every two weeks (Fridays by 5PM EST, unless otherwise noted in the discussion thread for that chapter section), either a multiple choice or a short response a question will be posted in the quiz thread. Winners for both multiple choice/short response will be chosen by RNG, and the winner will receive a small prize. You must be a member of the group to participate.

So far, we have prizes from Bijou Basin, Caithness Craft, Tanya Marie Willis Anderson/The Sampler Girl and C.C. Almon/Geeky Girls Knit, with more prizes (and coupon codes) to come! Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the start of the RKAL and Season 2.

Spread the word! Here is an image for your blog, Ravatar, or instagram/other social media accounts. Just make sure to link back here.

Don't forget - if you're heading to Rhinebeck from October 16-18, check out the Indie Untangled Trunk Show, and booths like Bijou Basin to get planning for the KAL portion of the RKAL!

I look forward to reading and knitting along with all of you. If you have any questions, please email me, comment below, or ask in the discussion thread.

On the Road to the Midwest: Midwestern Knits Blog Tour and Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 00:26:00 +0000

One of the great equalizers and benefits that Ravelry and the internet have to offer to so many amazing knitwear designers these days is the ability to self-publish. Brooklyn Tweed has evolved into an amazing brand of its own, Alana Dakos and Hannah Fettig published Coastal Knits as well as their own individual patterns and books, and magazines like Pom Pom Quarterly and Amirisu.

Which brings me to Midwestern Knits: 13 Knitting Patterns Inspired by the American Midwest. Like everything mentioned previously, this is a self-published book edited by Allyson Dykhuizen and Carina Spencer, but with a twist: this book came about as the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign. Knitters are anything if not resourceful!

I have to admit, I know very little about the American Midwest (I thought Colorado was part of the Midwest, and was dutifully corrected), so I definitely relied on the patterns to teach me more about a region that I never have been to, other than a 2-day visit to University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. That definitely does not count. Neither does reading Little House on the Prairie.

The book is divided into three sections: Fall, Winter and Spring, so you know from the get-go that the patterns are not only inspired by the region, but by the season. Ostensibly this leaves summer out, but I can see why the authors chose to do so - "summer" knits have never been my favorite things to knit. Knitting means warm goodies to transition into and out of the colder seasons.

I am all about the cardigans. The first pattern in the book, Midtown is a lovely intarsia open sweater with an interesting story - and it is the stories behind the patterns that really make the book cohesive and unique. The pattern designers delve into their personal histories, and share tidbits about the region that only those who live there are privy to, which makes the stories all the more fascinating.

In addition to Allison and Carina, there are other designers featured as well which gives the book a wide berth for different types of styles and patterns, which means that there is definitely something to suit your own personal style. Blowing Snow Cardigan from the Winter Section (again with the sweaters) by Emily Ringleman, is another favorite and an example of that.

The photography in the book showcases various types of angles of the knitwear, which I think is key - not only do the pattern directions, schematics and charts need to be clear, but the photography is a big part of any book or pattern because it helps us as knitters visualize whether or not the patterns will work for us. And in this case you can see that the photography really aids in telling the story.

Moreover, there is a knit-along happening to coincide with the release of the book, and as you can see, there is a ton of variety and choice when it comes to casting on for your next project from this book.

Midwestern Knits is available in print ($25 + shipping) and in digital format ($18) on Ravelry.

In the Conductor's Booth: An Interview with Three Fates Yarns

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 16:25:00 +0000

We are back in NYC, and back with the Road to Rhinebeck series! Today we are taking a closer look at Three Fates Yarns. She creates lovely yarn and fiber, with a great inspirational connection to mythology, and talking about the start of Ravelry.

Gradients and Ombres Sock Blank Yarn Club. Source: Three Fates Yarns

Falkland Merino Roving. Source: Three Fates Yarns

Glitterati Sock Yarn. Source: Three Fates Yarns

Getting the Hang of My DSLR

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 17:32:00 +0000

In the beginning of August, the Aussie and I went to Steamboat Springs in an effort to explore more of Colorado besides what was in the Boulder-Denver-Colorado Springs Metro area. It was a tossup between Steamboat and Crested Butte, but for reasons I explain in the last episode, you all know why Steamboat Springs was truly an epic win.

Fishcreek Falls - short hike before it started raining.

I *think* I am getting the hang of this digital photography thing. I took the Basics of Digital Photography on Craftsy (which is having a big back to school sale now), and I did see a bit of improvement and more comprehension with my photos. All of the photos here are my own, unless they have The Aussie's watermark on it.

Colorado just keeps on surprising me with how much nature is both awe-inspiring and wild at the same time.

Stagecoach State Park - we went off-roading here and put the Subaru through its paces.

At first glance, it seems like it all looks the same, but when you take a step back, pause and really take a closer look, you see that everything is so different no matter where you go. And that just makes Colorado all the more exciting.

In the creek at Gondola Square. It was actually Adele's first time in a creek and she was a little shocked and confused at first, but then didn't want to leave.

When we got home, I played around with my camera a bit more after finished the Craftsy class. My mom actually thought the photo with the lotus flowers was taken by The Aussie, which to me was a big complement! I am also finishing up the Essential Guide to Lightroom to help me with photo editing and streamlining the process.

For a bit of comparison, here are my favorite photos that he took in Steamboat Springs (and on our way home - he now stops the car on the highway to take photos). He does have a year (and amazing lenses) in his bag of tricks, but everyone has to start somewhere.

Another reason why I am excited to head back west - to continue taking in the gorgeous scenery and documenting it.

Road to Rhinebeck: An Interview with Magpie Fibers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 16:50:00 +0000

Today we have an interview from Dami of Magpie Fibers! She has had a trunk show at Gauge and Tension before, and I hope to see more of her yarn in person in the future - I have my eye on a few of my new favorite colors, which I highlight after the interview and what I would make with them. She will have a pop-up booth with YOTH Yarns at the Indie Untangled Trunk Show!

1) How long have you been a knitter and how did you learn?

I am a very new knitter, I took a beginning knit class from Cathy Baucom, co-owner of The Knot House, in Frederick, MD, in Feb. 2014, just a few months after moving to Fredrick. I was completely obsessed from day one, in fact Cathy likes to tell all our new beginning knitters that I was in the shop every single day for those first few months... And it's true!

2) When did you start dyeing yarn? Why?

Swish Worsted. Source: Magpie Fibers

I decided to try my hand at dyeing last year. I have always loved working with color, so getting my hands dirty in the dye pots seemed like great fun. I started with a pile of what would become Swish Worsted and just played around. I got lots of helpful input from knitters at the shop and just kept at it. At some point I decided to focus on gradients and everything fell into place.

3) How was your company founded and what was the impetus behind it?

Once my palette came together, and I had figured out how to consistently reproduce my colors, while maintaining the quality, The Knot House offered to host a trunk show. The overwhelming success of that show made it clear Magpie Fibers had arrived.

4) Can you tell the listeners what types of yarns do you offer?

Magpie Fibers currently offers 8 bases. 100% SuperWash merino in worsted and bulky called Swish 80/10/10% SW merino/cashmere/nylon in sock, DK & worsted called Swanky 50/50% SW merino/silk in fingering & DK called Posh 70/20/10% SW merino/cashmere/nylon sock called de*lux The names to me are about luxurious yarns that don't take themselves too seriously!

5) From where do you draw inspiration when deciding colors for your yarn?

I started with a color wheel and just played around filling it in with my favorite versions of the different shades. A love of color is really the inspiration, whether I am creating a specific color for a certain project or stumble across something fabulous by accident.

6) What are some of your favorite colors from your collection? How do you decide to name them?

Right now I'm a little obsessed with the neutral gradients and the collection of Visual Texture colorways including Empty Night, Hell's Bells and Stars & Stones.

Empty Night: Source: Magpie Fibers

Hell's Bells. Source: Magpie Fibers

I like to have fun with the color names. Most are reference from songs or books or pop culture.

Stars and Stones. Source: Magpie Fibers

7) What have been some of your favorite dyeing techniques? Hardest? Why?

I really enjoy creating the variegated sock yarns, coming up with the color combos is really fun.

8) What have been some of the most rewarding things you have experienced by being an indie dyer? I have really enjoyed getting to meet so many wonderful knitters all over the country. There are so many fantastic people in this industry.

9) What was one of the most important things you have learned about dyeing yarn?

Keeping good notes and consistency!!

10) Any other yarn companies and designers that you love?

My dear friend Veronika Jobe from YOTH is a fabulous designer, her creative use of texture and technique really inspires me. She and Danny have created a beautiful range of yarns. Sandra Miracle from Duck Duck Wool has beautifully saturated colors and has been such a supporter of me and my yarn. My very first sweater project was Jane Richmond's Gemini top, I love her elegant simplicity. Shannon Cook is another favorite, my newest sample is her Bradway shawl. Stephen West's use of color and texture is always an inspiration Michelle Wang & Jared Flood feed my addiction to cables like no one else!!

11) What other fiber and textile crafts do you enjoy in addition to knitting?

I grew up sewing and was a Fashion Merchandising/Apparel Design major, I also used to quilt and do cross-stitch. I pretty much stick to knitting right now, just wish I had more hours in the day!

12) What are your plans for the future of Magpie Fibers?

There are a lot of exciting things coming up for Magpie! I will be at Stitches Texas in September as a pop-up shop inside the YOTH booth and at the Indie Untangled trunk show in Rhinebeck.

There are collaborations in the works with Veronika Jobe, Casapinka, Lynn D's Studio and Grist Creative.

I would like to continue to grow the online presence, (look for some fun accessories to make their way onto the website). I am also trying my hand at designing.

***

My favorites:

Blaze reminds me of the Shinto torii gates in Japan, the perfect vermilllion. I can see this in a gorgeous textured, cabled cardigan with a navy button-down and a sparkly necklace.

Blaze. Source: Magpie Fibers

I have a weak spot for turquoise-Caribbean colored yarn ever since I went to Turks & Caicos. This skein in Mermaid's Garden feeds that addition, and I would make a textured cowl with a pattern that makes it look handwoven, so it can pop against my camel winter coat.

Mermaid's Garden. Source: Magpie Fibers

To be quite honest, it was hard just picking the two! The colors are lovely and amazing. Definitely go check Magpie Fibers at Stitches Texas in the YOTH Booth, and Magpie Fibers at the Indie Untangled trunk show.

Subway Knits Episode 79: T-Minus 10 Months

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 02:06:00 +0000

Finished socks for The Aussie! Wise Hilda's Everyday Ribbed Socks in FFtc MCN Sock.

Another FO is the cashmere cowl from Pepperberry Knits - the pattern comes with the yarn kit.

Knitting Travels

Went to Steamboat Springs - stay tuned for a more detailed blog post, and there is a slideshow of my and The Aussie's photos at the end of the episode. But the important thing is that I found a Singer Featherweight!

Pins & Needles

Hacking Scout Tee by Grainline Studio right and left.

Made another Sailor Top, but the neckline was wonky.

Also sewed a top from Burda Style (6752), which was similar to a JCrew top.

Events & Announcements
Yarn Along the Rockies - went to Stash and Everything Alpaca in Castle Rock, Colorful Yarns in Centennial, A Knitted Peace in Littleton, and Fancy Tiger Crafts and Fabric Bliss in Denver.

I won The Lemonade Shop gift basket from Yarn Along the Rockies! I also recap the yarn I got from Knerd Shop, The Lemonade Shop and Bella Vita Ranch.

Rhinebeck is going to be only on Saturday for me this year.

We still have the 1000 member giveaway going. Only 20 more to go!

Thanks for joining in!

Watch here, and subscribe here and here.

Subway Knits Episode 78: Distractions

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 03:36:00 +0000

On the Needles

Almost done with the body of Hinoki - I am debating on whether to do waist increases later on down in the sweater, or incorporate that into the raglan yoke, or to do it right after I separate the sleeves. I intend to wear this sweater with a shirt layered underneath, and I like a loose, but tailored fit. I do not really like overly fitted sweaters (which I why I do not wear Cadence too much), so I might go with the last option so that the underarms aren't so baggy.

Frannie Cowl with Pepperberry Knits - nice and simple. Knitting it in the Long Johns Colorway.

Knitting Finds

Erin Lane is starting her own fabric line! Check it out and support it here.

There is a new knitting pattern collaboration and KAL between Andrea Mowry and Lesley Anne Robinson called Knit in Color. I love the patterns from both of these designers.

Mingo and Asho make gorgeous supported spindles with glass bottoms.

Pins and Needles
No spinning done for Tour de Fleece - been distracted by sewing!

Completed the Colette Sorbetto top and Sailor Top with help from the Fancy Tiger Crafts class. I'm trying to make 3 versions of the Scout Tee by Grainline Studios and finish my dress from my Mood Class (McCall's 6124) as well as make another Dress (Simplicity 1880) and Pajamas (New Look 6859).

Bias Tape is from So Biased.

Knitting Travels
Jackalope Art Fair and met with The Lemonade Shop, Sleep Season and Knerd Yarns! I got my "I'm a Knitter, Not a Quitter" hoop from The Beedle.

Review

Love + Leche Lotion bar in Citrus Rose - really like it! It's my first experience with a lotion bar and it's helped my skin deal with the drier air now that I am at a higher altitude.

Events and Announcements
Yarn Along the Rockies
Rhinebeck!
Catching up on giveaways, and mailing out some next week.

Vote for Shinybees and Curious Handmade in the UK Podcaster Awards!

Liking Stitched in Sweden and Knitting Expat.

The winner of The Bletchley Collection giveaway is post #8: zquilts! Please PM me with your mailing info to forward for your prize.

We still have the 1000 member giveaway going. Only 33 more to go!

Thanks for joining in!

Watch here, and subscribe here and here.

Work In Progress: My First Dress

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 18:24:00 +0000

Last fall, I registered for free sewing classes at Mood in New York City. That was the beginning of my journey into sewing, which fell flat for about 10 months. I got sick and was unable to make it to the final sessions, so the cut pattern pieces sat in a bag in my closet.

I am sewing version E.

As I mentioned previously, moving out to Denver meant that I had more space. After making a few basic pieces and then completing a shirt, I felt confident enough that I could tackle this dress, which is McCall's 6124.

I learned a few things in the process of making this dress: first, fabric shears definitely do make a difference. I cut this pattern out using regular scissors, and its evident that there are not any clean cuts on the edges of the fabric. I was gifted a pair of Gingher Left-Handed Fabric Shears for Christmas, and purchased a left-handed rotary cutter, and it has made my life so much easier.

Second: wash your fabric. I did not do this (mainly due to the laundry machine access issue which I discusses), and now I am compensating by changing the seam allowances on the body from 5/8" to 1/2" to give me a bit more room. This dress is a bit of an experiment - a wearable muslin, if you will - so I am hoping for the best.

In the Conductor's Booth: An Interview with Lisa of Indie Untangled

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 20:29:00 +0000

***

We are kicking off this year's Road to Rhinebeck series by talking with the brains behind the whole operation, Lisa from Indie Untangled! She reached out to me last year, and it was so fun to do the blog series that we are doing it again. We talk about why she created Indie Untangled and the Rhinebeck Trunk Show, and find out what really happened behind that Humans of New York photo.

The UK version of Etsy: Folksy

Glass-top spindles: Mingo and Asho

Lisa's Rhinebeck Sweater: Rhinecliff by Laura Aylor
Alpenglow Yarn: Interview

Astral Bath
That Clever Clementine: Interview
Skeinny Dipping: Interview

We still have the 1000 member giveaway going. Only 33 more to go!

Thanks for joining in!

Listen here, and subscribe here and here.

Hiking in Maxwell Falls

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 18:46:00 +0000

Our second hiking trip was last weekend to Maxwell Falls. The Aussie and I have discovered that there are waaaaaay too many options for hiking, and that leads to some difficulty in choosing what to do on the weekends.

I found Maxwell Falls through the site Day Hikes Near Denver; it's a great site because it categorizes everything. We were texting each other screengrabs of various Colorado-based Instagram accounts, and we noticed that some of the most glorious images are those with water and lakes. Maxwell Falls counted as a waterfall, so off we went.

As you can see, I am still learning how to use my camera - there is a pretty marked difference between mine and The Aussie's photos. I'm getting there slowly, like how I am getting used to hiking - we parked at the Lower Trailhead and walked till we reached the main loop and headed left. The creek you see here is after crossing a small bridge, and then head left again till you reach the falls.

While the waterfall wasn't much, the hike was quite interesting and a good step up from our previous hike at Garden of the Gods - a bit more technical, and a lot more up and downhills. There were lots of dogs on the trail too, and they loved going in the creeks.

Have to say, the view from 7,800 feet was gorgeous.

I'm Sew Fancy

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 16:32:00 +0000

Sewing has become quite addicting as of late. I have to admit, what really helps is that i just have so much more space now - I have a designated cutting area and a place to put my sewing machine and all my notions so that they are easy to get to. All I have to do is just move my sewing machine from the top of my two storage drawers to my desk, plug it in and I'm ready to go.

The other thing is that now I have an in-unit washer dryer. No more schlepping to the laundromat just to wash one piece of fabric! I never actually did that really, so sewing was pretty much limited to project bags.

Now I have lots of plans - I plan to get two dress pattern collections, maybe finish the one I started at Mood last fall, sew some tops for work, and I have a crazy idea to sew my own sleeping bag for when The Aussie and I go camping next month; I want something practical and warm, but doesn't scream "Got it from Cabela's."

Yes, I admit it - I toe the line between glamping and camping. All I'm asking for is a toilet and some kind of access to water to wash my hair (I'll even take the shower bag option in a stall).

Neverthless, I am very excited because I finished my first real garment! I made the Wearable Tunic from the Purl Bee first, but it doesn't suit my body so well, and it's quite annoying to wear as a dress, but it's good for the beach as a cover-up. So I am counting the Colette Sorbetto top as my first garment.

I purchased pre-made bias tape and the fabric from JoAnn's, which is a short bike ride away. If you do a bit of digging in the quilting cotton section, there is some nice fabric for tops, skirts and dresses. I found the most adorable print for pajamas for my sister and I, which is the next thing I am working on.

A few mods that I would make to this top when I make it again (because I so am!) is to make it about 2" longer, and to cut about 3/4" from the sides at the underarms. It ballooned out a bit under my arms, so I solved the problem with this version with a dart, and then sewed it down to prevent it from "popping" out. What I would do is just make that cut in the fabric from the beginning, especially since I was able to preserve the pattern by tracing it onto parchment paper.

This Thursday, I start my Sailor Top class at Fancy Tiger Crafts. Between Sorbetto, Sailor Top and another pattern I got (New Look S0447, but I plan to take out the pleats), I think I am pretty set for tops for the fall! That and I am knitting two sweaters, hopefully a third by October.

I started to follow along with the #yearofmaking challenge, and I am a little bit late to the Colette Pattern's Wardrobe Architect challenge, but I think I am going to use the last months of 2015 to practice and experiment - learn what works for my body, and really understand how to set up, read and alter patterns to make 2016 truly a year of making.

Anyone have advice and tips on how to source patterns and create your own wardrobe? Any sewing tips and recommendations for classes?

First Hike: Garden of the Gods

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Last weekend was my first hike ever, at Garden of the Gods park. A coworker recommended that I go, and when The Aussie and I were trying to figure out what would be a good, starter hike, I remembered this place.

Garden of the Gods was in a word, stunning. The Aussie had a grand old time as usual with his camera (he even got a special hiker's backpack designed for photography gear, its the LowePro Rover Pro 45L in case anyone is interested).

I was struggling a bit with my camera, so I just enjoyed the scenery and made sure I didn't trip over my feet when I was walking across uneven terrain. I was prepared: had boots, tech shorts and even a cute floppy hat for the sun, though thankfully, it wasn't that hot or sunny.

I could really just sit back and watch the scenery for days in this state. You really can't describe it, so I am just going to let the pictures do the talking.

The Road to Rhinebeck 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 15:29:00 +0000

It's back again - we are on the Road to Rhinebeck with Indie Untangled!

This year, the trunk show is going to be even bigger and better! The second annual Rhinebeck weekend kickoff hosted by Indie Untangled will feature even more vendors, and over here at Subway Knits, we are going to be featuring even more interviews, blog posts and giveaways! To get a sense of what it was like last year, check out the Road to Rhinebeck 2014.

There is even going to be a new Rhinebeck sweater this year - maybe 2? 3? There is a lot of plotting going on behind the scenes here. As you can see, I am making some headway on my own design, which I am calling Hinoki. Loving how YOTH Big Sister is knitting up! Those cables look lovely.

Are you planning to go to the kickoff? What do you think your Rhinebeck sweater will be?

Knitting in Japanese: Registration is Open!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 14:50:00 +0000

Registration is now open!

Ends July 26, 2015

Class begins on Monday, July 27, 2015

Class size is limited to 15 participants.

What the class will include:

Syllabus outlining the class week by week with topics and homework assignments.
Weekly "Class Notes" - PDF documents covering the class topic for the week as well as any other supplemental materials (patterns, vocabulary guide, etc.)
Weekly Class chat - done in the Ravelry group (or Google Hangout) at a designated time, where I will be available to discuss the previous week's class for one hour to answer questions and provide feedback and live support.
Email support in between classes.
Video to accompany the class notes.

Level: Intermediate
Cost: $75 (taxes inluded; payment through Paypal, Introductory price for first session)

Prerequisites:

Knit in the round
Determine your gauge from a gauge swatch; make necessary adjustments
Read knitting charts

I am looking forward to it!

Living Life a Mile High

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 15:48:00 +0000

Well it's certainly been awhile since my last regular post! Lost of things happening around here: to start, I was "half-dean" during my last few weeks of school because our dean broke her wrist. It took two of us to do her job and while it was definitely a change of pace, I learned that while I would like to be the dean one day, that day is definitely not now.

The other big thing is that I am currently in Colorado for the summer. I return to NYC at the end of the summer to finish my 5th year of teaching, and we are going to take it from there. In the meantime, I am getting to know the area and enjoying my time.

The Aussie and I spent 4th of July in Boulder, which is a cute little hippy/college town. We had great Mexican food and walked around the town a bit.

That's where we (especially The Aussie) got hit by the proverbial hiking bug; the scenery here in Colorado is all at once awe-inspiring, mesmerizing, and at times terrifying as well.

While we were at Kim's place waiting for the fireworks to start at Coors Field, we were treated to a fireworks show courtesy of Mother Nature.

This past weekend we completed our first hike around Garden of the Gods Park. It was a really great place for a hike; there was a sidewalk for those just meandering around the park, but then there were trails that The Aussie and I did go on to walk around a bit. We got proper gear and planning our next hike for the following weekend! I can get used to this.

More pictures from The Aussie's end forthcoming naturally. Just need to sit down and edit them.

Anyone live in the Denver area? What are some must-see things to eat, do and see? Share in the comments below!

Knitting in Japanese Summer 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 12:30:00 +0000

Some good news! Knitting in Japanese is out of pilot mode! Registration will begin next week.

This is what students from the Pilot class had to say about it:

"This was a great class! It gave me confidence to figure out Japanese knitting patterns, which is something I've wanted to do for quite awhile. The materials were clear and very helpful. I would recommend it to anyone!"
"This class is a great introduction to the total Japanese knitting pattern beginner. I love how clear the lessons were, and feel equipped to move forward with some basic tools and understanding of how to decipher Japanese knitting patterns."
"This pattern was provided with Subway Knits beta Japanese knitting class. Excellent class. Her materials were beautiful and well written. Clear and easy to understand."

Finished objects from the class:

Source: canaryknits

Source: doodle

Source: mimers

This class is an introduction on how to read Japanese knitting patterns, identify key information and using Japanese vocabulary to create a knitted accessory from a choice of patterns.

Other topics include gauge and sizing patterns for the best fit from a "one-size-fits-all" Japanese patterns, as well as resources for knitters to use in order to work on Japanese patterns after the completion of the class.

What the class will include:

Syllabus outlining the class week by week with topics and homework assignments.
Weekly "Class Notes" - PDF documents covering the class topic for the week as well as any other supplemental materials (patterns, vocabulary guide, etc.)
Weekly Class chat - done in the Ravelry group at a designated time, where I will be available to discuss the previous week's class for one hour to answer questions and provide feedback and live support.
Email support in between classes.
Video to accompany the class notes.

Level: Intermediate
Cost: $75 (through Paypal, Introductory price for first session)

Prerequisites:

Knit in the round
Determine your gauge from a gauge swatch; make necessary adjustments
Read knitting charts

Interested? Fill out the form here to be notified of when registration opens.