Episode 28: Choose Your Own Adventure Sweater Knitting!

Thanks for listening to Episode 28 of the podcast! 

We started out today with some thank you program mentions to all of those (I think) who have donated supplies to my knitting classes at the Women's Recovery Center. 

Knitting Segments

Show Ready Knits

Bloccare Cap by Elizabeth Green Musselman, Dark Matter Knits

Yarn: Bijou Basin Llasa Wilderness in a dusty purple (Color #14) 

          Frabjous Fibers Mad Hatter Mini Skein Pack in the Mice in the Tea Colorway 

Needles: Signature Convertibles US size 4 for the body and 3 for the brim

Size: I made the large size, with the slouch

Knits in Rehearsal

Viajante by Martina Behm

Finally, actually cast this on instead of just talking about casting it on! 

Yarn: Miss Babs Kilimanjaro in the Believable color way

Needles: US Size 3 and US Size 4

Catnip Socks by Wendy D. Johnson

Yarn: One Twisted Tree Prime Sock in the HinkyPunk Colorway

Dyed by the wonderful Danie of the Prairie Girls Knit and Spin Podcast

Needles: US Size 1.5 Addi Turbo fixed circular needles

Vanilla Socks

Yarn: Wisdom Yarns Saki Bamboo in the Garnet Ridge colorway

Needles: US 1.5 Addi Lace fixed circular needles
Cast on 63 stitches using Judy's Magic Cast On 

Memory Blanket by Georgie Hallam

Yarn: Who knows??

Needles: US Size 2 Addi Turbo fixed circulars 

Auditioning Knits

Mill Wrap by Maria Yarley/Elegant Economy Knits

Sugar Maple by Carina Spencer

Cardinia Wrap by Ambah

Knittings News, Notes and Events

I visited a lovely LYS in Black Mountain, NC, called the Black Mountain Yarn Shop. I highly recommend you check it out if you are in the area! I purchased some Hedgehog Fibers Sock yarn in the Villain color way. 

I had a blast at the Carolina Fiber Frolic! 

Check out the bags made by Jan Smiley on Etsy! She does excellent work!
Here is my lovely bag!

I purchased 2 of the official Frolic Colorways by Sarah of The Copper Corgi Yarns.

I won a skein of Quaere Fibers Gradient Sock in the Raw Turquoise color way. 

I also purchased a mini-skein gradient kit by the lovely ladies of Kismet Fiber Works. What should I make??

I had the best roomies at the Frolic! Maria from Elegant Economy Knits and Faith of Faithfully Geeky Blog. Check out these ladies!

Fiberlicious Kickstarter Contest

We had 28 entries for the contest which closed on March 22. I drew a winner? Listen up to see if you won a skein of yarn and project bag from the ladies of Fiberlicious!

Rak-Along

The Rak-along is still going strong. We have only a few entries but still lots of time left to participate! 

The KAL will run through May 1. All of the rules and regulations are available in the thread on Ravelry. Make someone something, you'll make them smile and I bet you will smile too!

500 Member Giveaway

We still have the contest going through April 1st. Don't forget to enter! 

New to me Podcast: Teaching your Brain to Knit

New to me Video Podcast: Junkyarn

Knitting Talk Back
A special review of the new Amy Herzog book Knit, Wear Love. 

Non-Knitting

What a Crock

Creamy Mushroom Chicken Stew

Love it or Leave it

Love it: The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix

              The wedding I attended this weekend was super fun!

Leave it: Hurt feelings. Boo! Who needs it? 

Other News and Notes

Book Update

I finished reading Three Daughters by Consuelo Saah Baehr. I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads.

Still running...as much as I can manage with some calf pain. 10k is two weeks away. 

Thanks for joining me for episode 28. 

Episode 27: Knitting Resources

Thanks to everyone for listening, commenting on the episode threads on Ravelry and leaving me wonderful iTunes reviews. You make a girl feel special!

Knitting

Show Ready Knits

That Nice Stitch by Susan Ashcroft 

I love, love, love this knit! Too bad it's too warm to wear it currently. 

Yarn: Dragonfly Fibers Damsel in the Starry Night Colorway

Needles: Size 6 Chiaogoo Fixed Circular (Love them!)

Used up the whole skein, for 335 yards out of my stash! And I still have a skein left! What to do??

Knits in Rehearsal

Bloccare Cap by Elizabeth Green Musselman

I am obsessed with this knit! Saw it on the designer's podcast, Dark Matter Knits, and immediately shopped the stash for the right yarn. 

Yarn: Bijou Basin Llasa Wilderness in a dusty purple (Color #14) 

          Frabjous Fibers Mad Hatter Mini Skein Pack in the Mice in the Tea Colorway 

Needles: Signature Convertibles size 4

Size: I'm making the large size, with the slouch

Hope to start very soon: Mama Vertebrae by Kelly Brooker
I have swatched, so hopefully will be able to cast on this week.
Yarn: Malabrigo Arroyo in the Chispas colorway

Dapper Scarf by Terri Stockdreher
This will be my first RAKalong project, it's a scarf that will be donated to the Knit Your Bit Campaign sponsored by the WWII Museum.
Yarn: Unknown (I think it's Lion Brand)
Needles: Random size 10 bamboo circulars I have in my needle stash

*Actually, since recording, I have changed my mind about this pattern, because I didn't like the fabric I was getting, so I decided to just get a stitch pattern from a book and knit that up as a scarf, details on the next episode. 

Viajante by Martina Behm
Yarn: Miss Babs Kilimanjaro in the Believable Colorway
Needles: Size 3 Chiaogoo Fixed Circulars

Auditioning Knits

Sunny Stripes Hat by Gretchen Tracy

I also mentioned my recently finished cross stitch project, The Dude, from the Etsy shop Plastic Little Covers. 

Knitting News Notes and Events

#StashdownThrowdown

How are you doing with your StashDown Goals?

So far I am doing very well! I have knit 2482 yards since January and haven't purchased any yarn for myself (gifts don't count in my bizarre game!)

There are 35 posts tagged on Ravelry as of the recording of this episode, and it was time for another random winner of a downloadable pattern of your choice, $7.00 and under. You'll have to listen to see if you won! 

500 Member Giveaway

As of recording time we were at exactly 500 members in the Actually Knitting Podcast group on Ravelry. So, as promised, there is a special giveaway! You'll have to listen to see what it is, and don't forget to join the group if you haven't already. Thanks so much for all of your support!
I will open the giveaway thread and leave it until April 1, 2015.

Also, don't forget to check out my friend's 31 Gifts page if you are in need of some cute bags! 

Fiberlicious Kickstarter

Some listeners contacted me about a Kickstarter they are doing to open a yarn shop in Orange County, California. And, they have a special giveaway for you. All you have to do is go to their Kickstarter page, look at the rewards, and then come back to the Actually Knitting Podcast Group on Ravelry and post about your favorite reward in the giveaway thread. Easy Peasy! 

Rakalong

Don't forget the Random Act of Kindness Along which runs March 1 through May 1. All of the rules and regulations are available in the threads on Ravelry. Make someone something, you'll make them smile and I bet you will smile too!

Carolina Fiber Frolic

I will be making the trek to Sapphire, NC for the frolic very soon. Hope to see some of you there! 

Knitting TalkBack: Resources,

I was asked a question on the "What Would You Like to Hear About?" thread about my favorite knitting books, how do I organize them, etc. I had a nice time talking about my favorite knitting resource books, both real books an electronic ones. Don't forget to tell me about your favorites on the thread for Episode 27. 

I mentioned a few books, and here they are:

The Knitting Answer Book by Margaret Radcliffe (This is the first edition, I own it in book format) 

The Second Edition of the same book, which I recently purchased for my Kindle.

Up Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary by Wendy Bernard (There is only the book format, no ebook) 

The Knowledgeable Knitter by Margaret Radcliffe (I purchased this for my Kindle/iPad). 

Knit to Flatter by Amy Herzog (Available in ebook and traditional book format, but I just had to have the actual book)

Non-Knitting

What a Crock

Paula Deen's Taco Soup

Love it or Leave it

Love it: Parks and Rec Series Finale and Downton Abbey Season Finale

Leave it: Parks and Rec is over!!!

Other News and Notes

Book Challenge Update

A few friends and I are participating in this book challenge. Let me know if you are interested and we will start a thread on the Ravelry board for this challenge. I'm always on the lookout for a good book to try!

Finished reading:

The Shifting Fog by Kate Morton, I didn't enjoy it that much.

Currently reading: 

Written in my Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon

Three Daughters by Consuelo Baehr which I chose purely based on it's cover.

Running Updates:
Still running, though I had to slow down a bit this week due to a hamstring problem. Feeling better already though!

I am participating in my first 10k in April, and I'm nervous but hopeful! I'm contemplating a 1/2 marathon next year (yikes!).

Thanks for listening!