Saturday, August 15, 2015

Episode 37: The Steeking was the Easy Part!

Knitting Segments


Show Ready Knits

Afterthought Heel Vanilla Socks 
Yarn: Berry Colorful Yarnings Saturated Sock in the Shades of Grey colorway
Needles: Size 1 Addi Turbo circular needles

I used several resources to help me do my first Afterthought Heel Socks:

Dragonfly Soars

The Yarn Harlot

I also mentioned having used this tutorial from The Knit Girllls to do a waste yarn afterthought heel in the past.

Knits in Rehearsal 


Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes
Needles: Size 4 Clover Bamboo Double Pointed Needles (Gasp!)

Yarn: Shibui Knits Staccato in Velvet, Mineral and Pollen
Needles: Size 2 Addi Turbos

Auditioning Knits


Virgie Clay by Sarah Stevens

Sarah is one of the lovely ladies behind Oh Loops Yarn and the Fiber by Design Podcast

I got the yarn for this project at Stitches Midwest! 


Knitting News, Notes and Events

Pal Kal Updates

You still have until September 1 to finish up the knitting on your PalKal Projects.

Thanks so much to all of our sponsors! We still have active coupon codes from the following sponsors:

Alana Dakos from Never Not Knitting, use PALKAL for 25% off of any PDF pattern (not books)


Elizabeth Green Musselman from Dark Matter Knits, use the code PalKal15 for 20% off of any of her self-published patterns, through September 1st.


Daniela from Caffeinated Knitting Video Podcast, use the code ACTUALLYCAFFEINATED for 50% off her patterns through September 1. 
Angela from the Revelations of a Delusional Knitter Podcast, use the code PALKAL2015 for 25% off of her patterns.

Christina from A Knitter's Life Video Podcast, use the code PALKAL2015 for 1$ off of her patterns, through September 1.

Gina from Brownie Knits Podcast, use the code palkal25 for 25% off your entire order.

Thanks also for the generous (now expired) coupon codes from:
Jennifer Lassonde from Down Cellar Studio
Emily from Fibertown Knits
Anne from the Carolina Fiber Girls
Allie from Caffeinated Knitting
Dianne from Suburban Stitcher
Megan from the Stockinette Zombies
Sarah from In a Sknit

Prizes: 

Jan B. Smiley
1 project bag

Suburban Stitcher/Dianne
1 sock size draw string bag of winner's choice from her Etsy Shop.

Danie from The Prarie Girls Knit and Spin podcast and One Twisted Tree
1 skein of her Prime Sock Yarn in the Hinky Punk colorway

Mel from With Mel Video Podcast
3 patterns from her Ravelry Store

Stacie/Must Stash Yarns and Video Podcast
1 skein of her Extended Play Version of Darkside of the Moon

Emily/Fibretown
1 skein of yarn

Megan Williams/Stockinette Zombies
Sock Pattern kit that includes yarn, pattern and a bag

Anne/Carolina Fiber Girls
1 sock pattern

Estela/One More Row Please (blog/designer)
2 patterns from her Ravelry Store

Laura/Gynx Yarns
1 skein of yarn

Brenda Castiel/designer
3 patterns from her Ravelry store

Maria/Stitched in Sweden
A pattern from her Ravelry Store

Jennifer from the Down Cellar Studio Podcast,
Trickle Shawl Kit from Infinite Twist


Stitches Midwest Recap

I hope you enjoy hearing about my adventures at Stitches Midwest!

I mentioned making purchases from the following vendors at Stitches.

White Birch Fiber Arts

Kitchen Counter Crafter

Gnome Acres

Fiberstory

Sun Valley Fibers

I didn't purchase, but I did drool over Miss Babs yarn.



SAFF is October 31 through November 2 in Fletcher, NC.


Non-Knitting


Stage Craft

I have been doing a little bit of sewing, including taking a class. I made a lovely project bag and I have plans to continue my lessons. 



Love it or Leave it!

Love: Stitches Midwest, that has to be my love of the last two weeks!

Leave: School starts soon. Vacation is over!

Other News and Notes


Running is continuing. I am staying injury free and I'm glad!

I've recently started reading Landline by Rainbow Rowell.


Theatrical Updates

I will be singing in a Cabaret on August 21 at Theatre Charlotte. It is all country-western type musical numbers, and I'm thrilled to be doing some Patsy Cline.

I will also be performing in a show in September called The Money Shot with the Queen City Theatre Company. 




Saturday, August 1, 2015

Episode 36: A Knitter Can't Live Off of Yarn Alone.

Knitting Segments


Show Ready Knits


Viajante by Martina Behm
It's finally finished! Listen up to hear all about it!

Yarn: Miss Babs Kilimanjaro in the Believable color way
Needles: US Size 3 and US Size 4 Signature Convertibles

Knits in Rehearsal

I've been working on a homework assignment for the class I'm taking next week at Stitches Midwest!
I'll be taking a class with Franklin Habit on steeks and zippers.

I mentioned I'm using Wool of the Andes for this homework project.


Whiz Bang Socks by Sarah Shoo
Sarah is half of the lovely duo behind the In a Sknit Video Podcast
Yarn: Yarn Ink Sparkle Fingering in Oblivion
Needles: Size 1 Karbonz Fixed Circulars

Vanilla Socks
Yarn: Berry Colorful Yarnings Saturated Sock in the Shades of Grey colorway
Needles: Size 1 Addi Turbo circular needles

Auditioning Knits

I've been looking for some knitting patterns to solve a common knitting problem. 





I also may have to knit a toy in the near future: 


Egg to Owl Reversible Toy by Susan B Anderson

Knitting News, Notes and Events


Stash Dash is still going strong! Check out The Knit Girlls for more information.

The Around Your Neck Kal is happening with Dianne of the Suburban Stitcher Video Podcast and Stacy of Must Stash Yarns and Podcast.

Stitches Midwest is August 6-9. I'll be there, will you?


PalKal 2015

This is the biggest KAL of the year for Actually Knitting! 
Here are the rules:
Cast on: June 1
Bind off: September 1
The basic idea is to support a podcaster you listen to or watch by knitting one of their patterns and/or using their yarns for your project. You can also use a project bag by a podcaster!
  1. The design, yarn/fiber and/or project bag must be from a knitting/crochet/fiber podcaster. (Not all 3, just one of those to qualify)
  2. Use the chatter thread for discussion. Make suggestions. There are TONS of podcasts out there and almost no one knows about all of them, so if you know of a podcaster designer/yarnie/bag maker, feel free to share with us!
  3. You are encouraged to take advantage of the coupon codes offered by our sponsors, but you are not limited to those podcasters for the KAL. Sponsors and coupon codes will be announced in an upcoming episode.
  4. Please post finished objects in the non-chatter thread and include a link to the podcaster you are supporting.
  5. Enter as many projects as you like. Each project gets a separate post in the non-chatter thread.
  6. A note about project bags: a project bag may only be entered into the contest one time for an entry. (You can’t just keep using a podcaster project bag over and over and entering the contest that way).
  7. You must be a member of the Actually Knitting Podcast Group to win.
  8. Have fun supporting a podcaster designer or yarnie!
  9. Please do not chatter in the non-chatter thread. It makes it more difficult to draw a winner!
  10. Use the tag PALKAL2015 on Ravelry and #palkal2015 on Instagram
In addition, I've decided that you can use WIPS for this KAL. Yay! 

We have some great sponsors and wonderful prizes that I can’t wait to share with you all! Let’s make some plans for summer knitting! 

The coupon codes will be listed on the podcast and are available here as well:


Alana Dakos from Never Not Knitting, use PALKAL for 25% off of any PDF pattern (not books)

Megan from Stockinette Zombies, use ActuallyKnittingPalKal for 30% off through the end of July


Elizabeth Green Musselman from Dark Matter Knits, use the code PalKal15 for 20% off of any of her self-published patterns, through September 1st.


Daniela from Caffeinated Knitting Video Podcast, use the code ACTUALLYCAFFEINATED for 50% off her patterns through September 1. 
Angela from the Revelations of a Delusional Knitter Podcast, use the code PALKAL2015 for 25% off of her patterns.

Sarah Shoo from In a Sknit is offering her new pattern, Whiz Bang Socks, for $1.50 with the code ActuallyKnitting15

Christina from A Knitter's Life Video Podcast, use the code PALKAL2015 for 1$ off of her patterns, through September 1.

Gina from Brownie Knits Podcast, use the code palkal25 for 25% off your entire order.

Thanks also for the generous (now expired) coupon codes from:
Jennifer Lassonde from Down Cellar Studio
Emily from Fibertown Knits
Anne from the Carolina Fiber Girls
Allie from Caffeinated Knitting
Dianne from Suburban Stitcher



Prizes: 

Jan B. Smiley
1 project bag

Suburban Stitcher/Dianne
1 sock size draw string bag of winner's choice from her Etsy Shop.

Danie from The Prarie Girls Knit and Spin podcast and One Twisted Tree
1 skein of her Prime Sock Yarn in the Hinky Punk colorway

Mel from With Mel Video Podcast
3 patterns from her Ravelry Store

Stacie/Must Stash Yarns and Video Podcast
1 skein of her Extended Play Version of Darkside of the Moon

Emily/Fibretown
1 skein of yarn

Megan Williams/Stockinette Zombies
Sock Pattern kit that includes yarn, pattern and a bag

Anne/Carolina Fiber Girls
1 sock pattern

Estela/One More Row Please (blog/designer)
2 patterns from her Ravelry Store

Laura/Gynx Yarns
1 skein of yarn

Brenda Castiel/designer
3 patterns from her Ravelry store

Maria/Stitched in Sweden
A pattern from her Ravelry Store

Jennifer from the Down Cellar Studio Podcast,
Trickle Shawl Kit from Infinite Twist

Knitting Talkback: Festival Prep


I went into what I do personally to get ready to go to a yarn festival or retreat, touching on the following topics:

Budget

Patterns/Project Shopping List

Snacks

Water Bottle 

Clothing/Knitwear to pack and wear

Knitting Projects to pack to work on. 

What do you do when preparing to attend something like that? 

Non-Knitting Segments

What a Crock



Love it or Leave it

Love it: New Yarn Storage! 

Here is where you can find the fabric bins

Leave it: Cooking Injuries
Being a cooking goddess is most definitely not in my future! 

Other News and Notes

I've started week 8 of my 1/2 marathon training program. I ran 6 miles on the day I recorded and I can't believe how far I've come in just over a year!

I finished reading Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella. It was just...ok.