125 The Game's Afoot!

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Welcome back Guest Barista Susan Dolph, formerly host of the Knitajourney Podcast!

Latte: Susan is knitting fingerless gloves out of Lamb's Pride Worsted. She's also working on two brown sweaters for herself. Her "famous" pink crocheted sweater is almost done! Abby is working on Color Affection, Narcissa socks - out of Mountain Colors Crazyfoot, and Lady Grey, a shrug by Rachel Erin, out of Wollmeise. 

Brewing/Taste: Abby's been watching What Not To Wear, now in its final season, and she is still thinking mightily about the issue of fit, both in relation to all clothing, but especially with regard to socks. Along those lines, she's acquired two new resources: Fish Lips Kiss Heel from Sox Therapist Designs, and Big Foot Knits by Andi Smith. Abby mentioned that the socks are photographed in John Fluevog shoes, after which she has lusted for many years. 

I highly recommend Big Foot Knits (Cooperative Press, from $16.95) and I'm very excited about diving into both of these resources. Also, see Cat Bordhi's sock books, where you will learn that a gusset is not always necessary, and that instep increases can be placed pretty much anywhere with the same effect.

Chai: Susan talks about a wee knitting retreat wherein everyone felt comfortable being fully themselves! 

Caffeinated: Abby is excited about Farmers Markets. Get yourself to one! Abby mentioned Ayers Creek Farm and The Smokery. 

Sofa: Susan is enjoying the music of Arthur Lee, which you can sample here, and  then Susan reads a children's book by Dave Pilkey. called God Bless the Gargoyles. Abby mentioned Far From the Tree, a very different book with some similar themes.

Tip Jar: Abby and Susan both encourage you to take good care of your feet! A product Abby loves is Glytone Ultra Heel and Elbow Cream.  

124 - Grok the Sock

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Latte: I cast on another try at Color Affection. This time, I'm using Malabrigo Baby Silkpaca lace. 

Brewing: I am trying to get a handle on how to precisely fit a sock. I've referred to several sources, among them: Clara Parkes's The Knitter's Book of Socks, Techknitting, and Knitty.com's Foot Sizing Survey Results. I mention that the word "grok" comes from Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land, (and by the way, if you haven't read it, you should!). 

Bite: Verlyn Klinkenborg wrote a short column for The New York Times on Sunday, August 11th called Books to Have and to Hold. [Disclaimer: I was not familiar with this author and I think I mistakendly thought he was a woman. Sorry!] The question for you is: what is the difference for you between a paper book and an ebook? Corollary: what if your knitting projects simply disappeared when you finished them? Would you feel differently about knitting? In this segment, I mention Stephen King's 11/22/63. 

Taste: Review of The Unofficial Harry Potter Knits published by interweave/knittingdaily.com. 

Sofa: My new photo obsession is taking pictures inside of a kaleidoscope. I talk about the new season of Dexter, and the podcast Chop Bard.

Special thanks: DebC, for supporting me through a difficult change in my eating habits! If you want to learn about "Paleo-ish", one place to start is here.

123 - Domino Effect

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Bitter Cup: Vanessa Antiopa socks crashed and burned. I tried five times, and failed. 

Brewing: Two parts: first, I talk about knitting malaise, cumulative stress and what might be wrong with my knitting. Part Two: Ben talks to Denise about her fear of knitting. 

Taste: I review The Knitted Slipper Book: Slippers and House Shoes for the Entire Family by Katie Startzman. I mentioned Amazon's dynamic pricing, which you can read about here. 

Chai: I visited a new (to me) yarn shop, Twisted. I love this place! Nice people, nice yarn, cool space. I purchased Hiya Hiya circular needles and like them almost as much as Chaiogoos. 

Sofa: Project Runway is back and better than ever! Also, check out a Netflix exclusive, Orange is the New Black.

Wired: Swell is an app that finds you interesting things to listen to, from news to podcasts to TED talks and more. It is currently only available for iOS, but the creators are reportedly working on an Android version.

Events: I'm going to Oregon Flock and Fiber. Are you? 

122 Coming in for a Landing

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Welcome Guest Barista Karen! (CallmeK2 on ravelry) Karen didn't say this on the podcast but she is a masterful knitter and spinner, not to mention a wonderful friend.

Latte: Karen and Abby are both knitting the Vanessa Antiopa socks. Karen is using Wollmeise and Abby is using Cascade Heritage. Our socks look quite different and we theorize about why. Karen is also knitting Ysolda Teague's Vivian, but the knitting is stalled at the moment. Karen mentioned Mary Scott Huff's class at Madrona, Planning Ahead for Happy Endings.  Sounds like good advice!

Grande: Karen finished an eye-searingly bright pair of  "Unapologetically Electrical" pink socks; well, sort of. The toe of one sock needs to be shortened by a couple of rows. 

Chai: When I was in San Francisco, I had the pleasure of visiting Princess Animal, a wonderful knitting "nook" in the back of Serendipity. Kathy (mancall on ravelry), the owner, has a well-curated selection of yarn and knitting and sewing books. It's definitely worth your time and your support! 

Brewing: We discuss selecting and packing knitting for international travel. We both are thinking of casting on Elizabeth Doherty's Alewives cowl, and other projects. We talk a bit about hot weather knitting, and how to pick a project when you want to knit everything. 

Stir: The Tour de Fleece continues. Abby's touring, Karen is not. Karen's Matchless is making a sound, most likely due to dry leather footmen. Stay tuned for the cure, which might involve a visit to the horse tack store. 

Home made from a repurposed sheep wagon.

Sofa: Abby is still deep into The West Wing. Karen has been watching, and loving the British show Sherlock and also talks about You Live in What? which has featured a converted sheep wagon community, among other unusual dwellings. 

121 Of Shetlands and (more) Shrugs

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Latte: On the Dressy socks, I'm getting close to being done! I love the pattern - it's not boring!

Grande: I finished the knitting on the TNG sweater for Miss Kalendar's imminent baby, but my blocking equipment was packed, so I can't finish it yet. I tried, unsuccessfully to "unvent" a shrug, but without my library of books, I fell short. I did knit a Shoulder Cozy out of Rowan Summer Tweed and Kidsilk Haze but again, it needs blocking. 

Chai: I am in Portland! I have much to tell you about my last days in the Bay Area but it will have to wait until another episode. Suffice it to say, there is a lot of knitting going on here! There are multiple knitting groups each week, and I am amazed. I am looking forward to moving into my apartment and decorating and furnishing  for the first time in a very long time. (Part 2 of Chai follows Stir)

Stir: It's Tour de Fleece time! I started late, and I gave myself a very different goal this year: spin every day. I'm spinning Abstract Fiber Merino/Merino/Silk in the color Gypsy: Teal, blue, purple and grey. It will be a two ply lace weight for a shawl.  

Segue into: Chai: Eugene, Oregon for the Black Sheep Gathering.  I bought fiber from Klaus/Crown Mountain Farms, bought some lovely Angora Fiber from Thedoza's Angoras, Merino Silk from Abstract Fiber and Jacob Roving from Shaggy Bear Farms (no website, sorry!). The highlight was watching Judith judging the Shetland and other fleeces. I share some of Judith's wisdom in this segment.

I was reading about Jacob sheep prior to spinning the Jacob roving I purchased at Black Sheep, and learned that some of them suffer from Tay Sachs disease, a horrible genetic disease that affects humans as well. It is possible that these afflicted sheep may someday provide clues to a cure. That's  another good reason to preserve these less "popular" breeds. 

At work this week, I was lucky enough to meet Rojo the therapy llama!!!!

Sofa: I've been binge watching The West Wing; it's funny, smart and fast. Also: Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing: delightful!

120a - Shrugs, Dishcloths and Courage

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We once again welcome Guest Barista Susan, formerly of the Knitajourney Podcast. 

Latte: Susan is making shrugs and dishcloths; Abby started Romi Hill's Asterope and is making a Star Trek: The Next Generation sweater for Miss Kalendar's baby.

Grande: Susan finished a shrug from Berroco Floret, a yarn that is new to her, and unknown to Abby. 

Bitter Cup: Susan's planned argyle knee socks for her husband are in time out, but while she thinks about them, she's decided to knit the legs flat rather than in the round. Susan also related a sewing bitter cup about a marathon fabric cutting session that resulted in pieces that really didn't make the garments they were meant to make. 

Brewing: Abby feels like she is very skilled at matching yarn to a sock pattern she wants to knit, but she has some hand spun sock yarn she wants to use and finds it's harder to match a pattern to yarn than the other way around. What to do? Susan suggests a short, lacy leg. Abby thinks she might knit another pair of Brenda Petipa's Uptown Girl socks, or perhaps she'll design something simple. On the subject of knitting with hand spun, Abby mentioned Miriam Felton's Twist and Knit collection of patterns that can be knit for as long as your hand spun lasts in each project. 

We segued into a brief conversation about packing and decision fatigue. You can read more about decision fatigue here and here.

Sofa: Susan has discovered the YA (Young Adult) books of Kate Seredy and recommends them, especially The Good Master. Abby mentioned Norman Juster's The Phantom Toll Booth for anyone who loves language. Susan also sings the praises of Edie Eckman's crocheting books. Abby is not enjoying the last two seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer but will persevere to the end. Susan recommends the show Saving Grace with Holly Hunter. 

Tip Jar: Before giving her tip, Susan embarrasses Abby. Susan's tip is to take advantage of the wonderful places to go that are local to you. 

120 Spin Cycle

3 Ply sock yarn from Crown Mountain Farms "Touch Me"

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Latte: I am trying to finish the Clapotis, from Creatively Dyed Yarn. I'm still working on the Vanessa Antiopia socks and the Dressy socks, for which I learned the purled long tail cast on. 

Grande: I made a quick preemie hat from leftover sock yarn. I cast on 64 stitches, knit some ribbing, and then added the "Long Swinging Cable (page 90)  pattern from Barbara G. Walker's Charted Knitting Designs: a Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns. I also blocked Catkin and am loving it. 

Impromptu Preemie Hat

Stir: Lots of spinning this week! I finished a three-ply sock yarn from Crown Mountain Farms super wash merino in the color Touch Me. I also attended Spinning at the Winery at the Retzlaff Winery in Livermore, CA. There, I saw lots of friends, made some new ones. I also purchased my first supported spindle, by KCL Woods. Thanks to Miss Kalendar for showing me her supported spindle, and to Deebz for giving me a quick lesson. Playing around with this new spindle reminds me how much I enjoy spindle spinning. Bonus! You can see Deebz demonstrating Lever Knitting here. 

Brewing: I am "suffering" from Startitis and it seems to be my nature to have "too many" projects on the needles. I'm mostly being drawn to shawls, and I'm trying to choose among: Derecho, Faberge, Calliope's Odyssey, Carson, Taygete, Zephyr Cove, Rockefeller and Dreambird. I might cast on several!

I'm also thinking about sweaters, especially Lilium, Floriston, Brynna, Twigs & Willows, Buds and Blooms and the Askew Cardigan. 

Bite: Since I will soon be leaving the Bay Area, I want to spend a few days exploring San Francisco. Where do you think I should go? What are the "don't miss" places and things to see?

Sofa: Arrested Development. Season Four has arrived on Netflix. Do yourself a favor and if you aren't a fan, watch it from the beginning!

Wired: I talk about three apps: Springpad, Swiss Army Knife and Google Now. Are you using Google Now? If so, how do you like it?