My Never Ending Affection….For Color Affection

Knitting Segments

Show-Ready Knits

Zigzagular Socks By Susie White

And the Hiya Hiya Interchangeable Needles that I used to complete these socks. 

Sock Yarn Square by Shannon Geddes

I mentioned this digital row counter that I purchased at my LYS, Charlotte Yarn 

Color Affection by Veera Valimaki

Tutorial for carrying the yarn up the side of the project.

Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-off tutorial

Knits in Rehearsal

The Dude by Andrea Rangel 

Auditioning Knits

Last week I had talked about making either Declan's Hat  or Astronomer for my nephew. 

But he vetoed both of those, so I'm making him the Quick Ribs Hat by Rachel Plafchan using Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick  in the Barley color. 

Also auditioning Socks on a Plane by Laura Linneman. I am making these for my mom and I'm still debating whether to use the Cherry Tree Hill Fingerpaints in Summer Sweet or Knit Picks Stroll Handpainted in the Wine Tonal color.  

Knitting News, Notes and Events 

SAFF is October 24-26, 2014 

Carolina Fiber Frolic is November 7-9, 2014

Stiches Midwest is August 7-9, and I'm super jealous of everyone who is going!! 

Palkal2014 is rocking and rolling! 

Rules: Knit or crochet an item that is either designed by a podcaster or the yarn is dyed by a podcaster. 

Cast on: July 1, 2014

Bind-off: October 1, 2014

Enter as many times as you like! Each Finished Object is 1 entry in the contest, so be sure to post each FO in a separate post in the Non-chatter thread on the Actually Knitting Podcast Group on Ravelry.

You must be a member of the group to win! See the first post in the non-chatter thread for the prize information and more details. 

Congratulations to all those members who have finished objects already! 

Don't forget to head over to the Multicraftual Etsy Shop and use the coupon code mentioned in the episode for a 1$ discount on patterns. 

Non-Knitting Segments

What a Crock

Crock Pot Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

Love it or Leave it

Love it: The Newsroom and Veep on HBO

Leave it: I'm losing my classroom and being moved into a Mobil Unit (read: trailer)

Theatrical News and Notes

My show, Things you Shouldn't Say Past Midnight, opened to a sell-out weekend and great reviews! 

Here is a review, and another, if you are interested. 

Other News and Notes/Catching Up

I am now running PAIN FREE!!!!

Ordered some sewing supplies so I can take full advantage of my Craftsy Class, Sewing Studio. 

Episode 12: An EPIC Show-Ready Knit! 

Program Notes:
Big thanks to Jill953, Sandyknits88 and Eannrn for their iTunes reviews! It means a lot!

Knitting Segments

Show-Ready Knits: 

Toujours by Joji Locatelli   IT'S FINALLY FINISHED!!

The link above is to the project page, I hope to get some pics taken this weekend of my sweater. 

Knits in Rehearsal: 

Zigzagular Socks by Susie White

Susie is one of the hosts of The Prairie Girls Knit and Spin podcast. Check it out! 

Color Affection by Veera Valimaki

If you don't know this pattern, where have you been???

I'm using Knitting Notions Classic Merino Bamboo in the colors Atlantic, Saffron and Ironstone. 

Of course, this picture doesn't really capture the true colors of the yarn. 

Auditioning Knits: 

Declan's Hat by Samantha Kirby

Astronomer by Veronia O'Neill

Excelsior by Allyson Dykhulzen

Knitting News and Notes: 

Participated in a Virtual Knit Night (VKN) with some of my favorite podcasters: 

Danie from the The Prairie Girls Knit and Spin 

(Don't worry, Susie was invited but she couldn't make it!)

Boston Jen from the Down Cellar Studio Podcast

Sarah and Kristi from In a sKnit Video Podcast

Emily from Knitting Butterflies

So much fun! Google Hangouts are super easy to do, give it a try and have a VKN of your own! 

PalKal

Podcast-along/Knitalong

We are chugging right along on the PalKal (#palkal2014). Official dates are July 1-October 1

Enter as many times as you like: each project is one entry 

Either the pattern designer or yarn dyer must be a podcaster

Have fun! Details are in the Actually Knitting Podcast Group on Ravelry

Thanks to Estella, OneMoreRowPlease on Ravelry, for her generous donation of 2 patterns as prizes for the PalKal.

The Reviews are In: 

Knitscene Accessories Summer 2014

Non-Knitting: 

What a Crock!

Slow-Cooker Lemon Chicken 

Love it or Leave it

Love it: Nutribullet

I'm having smoothies everyday! 

Leave it: Injuries

I'm getting old! I pulled a muscle making my bed! What????

Theatrical/Other News and Notes:

I'm doing a show! 

Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight 

Queen City Theatre Company

**For Mature Audiences**

Running is back on pause again due to pulled muscle in my back. Blerg! 

If I can run my 5k (no walking, no stopping) in August, I will allow myself to get on the waiting list for some Dyakcraft Needles! 

Episode 11: 

Cool People Make the Rules

Thanks to everyone who has left an iTunes review! 

Knitting Segments: 

Show Ready Knits: 

Liesl by CocoKnits

Bias Bind Off Tutorial

Soak Wash 

Monkey by Cookie A

Entered my Monkey Socks into the Summer of Socks KAL with the Tapgurl on the Go Podcast

Speedy Cabled Beret

Knits in Rehearsal: 

Toujours by Joji Locatelli

I'm making some progress on this one, knitting in Malabrigos Arroyo in Chispas Colorway 

Auditioning Knits: 

Open Eye Tunic By Deborah Heimke

Morning Breeze by Christiane Burkhard

Pixelated Pullover by Jennifer Beaumont

Knitting News and Notes: 

I attended the Friends and Fiberworks Retreat in Candler NC, 

Here are some fangirl pictures of me with Franklin Habit and then Miss Babs. 

 

Spring Forward Kal: 

Manda-Jane, contact me via Ravelry to discuss getting your prize for the KAL! 

PAL KAL

This officially started July 1st, The Podcast-Along, Knit-along

For this KAL, we are knitting projects where either the pattern designer or yarn dyer is a podcaster. 

THIS JUST IN: I decided to go ahead and extend the date until October 1, 2014, because there are so many wonderful designs and yarns out there that I want to use and I know you all do as well. 

Please use the tag PALKAL2014 on Ravelry and #PALKAL2014 on Instagram. 

Very generously, Jessie, cohost of the Multicraftual Video Podcast has an Etsy Shop  and she has generously offered a coupon code. Listen to this episode to get the coupon code for her shop to get 1$ off a pattern! 

Special thanks to Mel from Single Handed Knits who offered a coupon code for a few days. She announced this on the thread for the PALKAL chatter. 

Prizes so far: 

Knit Collage Pixie Dust Mini and Stargazer Silk and Sequin

Hasegawa Luxury Silk 

If you have any interest in donating a prize for this KAL, please email me or PM me on Ravelry. 

Knitting Talk Back: Cool People Make the Rules

What rules have you/do you make for yourself for knitting? Do they help or hinder you? 

Are you on a stash-down or yarn diet? Are there any exceptions? 

Do you make yourself finish something before you start something new? 

What goals did you set for yourself this year and how are you doing so far? 

Non-Knitting Segments: 

What a Crock: 

Slow-Cooker Sesame Chicken

Here's a picture of my version of this recipe: 

YUMMY!! 

Love it or Leave it: 

Love it: Designing Women Reruns 

Here is a Youtube Video of some of the best Julia Sugarbaker Moments

And, some of Anthony's best moments, actor Meshach Taylor passed recently: 

Leave it: It's so Hot and Humid here!! YUCK

She's Crafty: 

I've been trying some sewing again! 

Open Wide Zippered Pouch

No Guts Boxie Pouch

Other News and Notes: 

Running: I'm injured. Boo. Hiss

Read this Book: Tell the Wolves I'm Home 

I started Written in my Own Heart's Blood, the 8th novel in the Outlander series

Happy Independence Day in the US this week! Hope your celebrations are fun-filled and safe!