130 - Non-Negotiable Shoulder

David Tennant as Hamlet, Patrick Stewart as Claudius. 

Abby is joined this week by Guest Barista Susan Dolph, formerly of the Knitajourney podcast.

Latte: Susan is knitting Kelmscott by Carol Sunday out of Classic Elite Renaissance. Abby mentioned Carol Sunday’s Acorns Sweater, which she knitted a few years ago. Susan is also knitting a “tutti fruitti” colored hat, scarf and mittens. Susan is using a stitch pattern from the book Pop Knitting. Susan is planning to use braids as well as textured stitches. 

Abby is almost finished with the Lady Grey shrug and is also knitting her first “vanilla” socks, which will have a Fish Lips Kiss Heel.  Abby couldn’t remember the name of Lucy Neatby’s Cool Socks for Warm Feet. She’s thinking about knitting Sivia Harding’s Lady Tryamour Socks from The Knitter’s Book of Socks. 

Grande: Susan has finished two shrugs, since we last spoke. She has also finished Stretching, a pink crocheted sweater by Dora Orenstein. She also finished Garden, a cardigan with silk scarf addition, inspired by this pattern. 

Abby finished Brickless and totally loves it. 

Brewing: Susan talks about hats, braids and how to knit a flat disk.  Abby thinks she will solve her Clapotis problem by frogging and re-knitting it using the “rule of 5” or knitting a Martina Behm pattern, which allows one to knit until the yarn runs out. Alternatively, Miriam Felton’s book Twist & Knit is full of patterns that are written for as much yarn as one has on hand.  Abby’s also planning a Leftie, and she wants to use leftover yarn! 

Bitter Cup: Susan knit an unhappy sleeve cap from some thrift store harvested sweater yarn. Abby suggested knitting set-in top-down sleeves using Barbara Walker’s method in Knitting from the Top. 

Sofa: Abby reminds everyone that new Doctor Who episodes start on November 23rd. Susan is planning a Thanksgiving Day “Cars and Trucks” themed Movie Marathon featuring Car Wash, Cannonball Run, and Convoy. Abby notes that Alice Starmore’s Tudor Roses is about to be re-issued. You can order it here. This led to a bit of a detour into a discussion of stranded knitting, negative ease, sleeves and a rant against drop shoulder sweaters. Abby recommends  the BBC/Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Hamlet with David Tennant and Patrick Stewart.  Susan recommends (and reads from) A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra.