Listen
Book Talk starts at 27:50
Recorded on May 27, 2015
Come join us in the Cardi, Tank or Tee KAL/CAL! You have until July 1 to complete your project.
Barb recommends listening to Teaching Your Brain to Knit: Episode 16: Knitting and the Need for Novelty to find out more about why most of us have multiple projects on the needles at any one time and why we feel the need to switch projects.
Tracie will be attending Spinning at the Winery June 6, 2015 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
KNITTING
Barb has finished:
Her Alder Wrap by Kaffe Fassett using 12 colors of Rowan Kidsilk Haze.
Her Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig, using Must Stash Yarns Helluva Skein in the Pau'ole colorway.
Mother Bear #53
Tracie has finished her spinning her Redfish Dyeworks Fiber that she has had on the spindle for 2 years!
Barb is currently working on:
The Radiance Shawl by Helen Stewart, using Highland Handmades Mountain Laurel Lace in the White Brook colorway.
Crackerjack Cowl by Stacy Simpson Duke, using 4 colors of Plymouth Yarn DK Merino Superwash.
Yowza Weigh-It Shawl #1 by Susan B. Anderson, using 1 skein of Miss Babs Yowza - Whatta Skein! in the Believable color way.
Vanilla Socks using Undead Yarns Vamphyri in the Autism Awareness colorway.
Barb has frogged the Vesper Tee.
Tracie is currently working on:
Pause by Norah Gaughan, using Berroco Mixer.
The Gilda scarf by Twisted Sisters, using Fiesta Yarns Linnette in the Clematis colorway. She had to order more beads for this project and was very impressed with the customer service at Bead Biz!
Vanilla socks using Lisa Souza Dyeworks Deluxe Socks in the Flahrida color way.
The Soubrette cardigan by Mary Annarella, using Madelinetosh Lace in the Georgia O'Keefe colorway.
Vanilla Socks for Will using Berroco Sox.
The Wanda Estelle poncho using Kollage Yarns Fantastic.
Barb has cast-on:
The Woodfords cardigan by Elizabeth Doherty, using Cascade Yarns Heritage Sock in a camel colorway.
A Woobie Monkey by Kris Carlson, using Knit Picks Brava Sport in both brown and white colorways.
Tracie talked about a very special project that she is currently knitting for her friend Sacha Laurin's Kombucha Couture Collection, which she will be debuting at Paris Fashion Week this coming fall. You can contribute to her Indiegogo campaign here.
BOOKS
Barb has finished:
The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas. Barb does NOT recommend this book, unless you enjoy in-depth descriptions of male genetalia in your in-the-bedroom scenes.
Unintended Consequences by Marti Green - Barb recommends this as a good solid mystery read.
The Borden Tragedy: A Memoir of the Infamous Double Murder at Falls River, Mass by Rick Geary - this was Barb's first graphic novel and she enjoyed it!
Tracie has finished:
King Dork Approximately by Frank Portman - Tracie recommends the first book in this series, King Dork over this one.
Dark Rooms by Lili Anolik - Tracie does NOT recommend this book. Don't believe the hype.
And Then She Was Gone by Rosalind Noonan - Tracie felt this story was obviously based on the Jaycee Dugard case.
The Wives of Los Alamos by TaraShea Nexbit - Tracie recommends this book as a glimpse into a little-known portion of American history.
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz - Tracie recommends it!
Isabel Spellman's Guide to Etiquette: What is Wrong with you People? by Lisa Lutz - more of a short story...
Barb is currently reading:
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen through the Craftlit Podcast.
The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to DeClutter, Organize and Complify Your Life by Francine Joy
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Eric Larson
Second Glance by Jodi Piccolt
Tracie is currently reading:
Someone You Know: Part Three by Brian McGilloway
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
Friday, May 29, 2015
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Episode 91: BUT - Here's the Thing
Listen
Book Talk starts at: 51:20
Recorded on May 13, 2015
Come join the Cardi/Tank or Tee KAL/CAL! Knit any cardigan, tank or tee (adult or child size) between May 1 - July 1. If you have a project less than 50% done on May 1st, that will work too. See the FO thread for the prizes we have so far.
Win a pattern of your choice by Debbi Stone! Go to the contest thread on our Ravelry group and tell us which pattern you would like to win. We will pick the winner when we podcast Episode 92
Barb talked about and recommended 2 audio podcasts:
1. ACTUally KNITting podcast, hosted by ACTually KNITting (Michelle)
2. Teaching Your Brain to Knit, hosted by Margaret924 (Margaret) and MagicWombat (Catherine)
Tracie talked about The Yarnit. She and Barb both have one and really like this tool.
Events:
Tracie will be attending Spinning at the Winery, AKA Food, Fleeces and Fun! at the Retzlaff Winery in Livermore, CA. on June 6, 10 - 4 pm.
Barb will be going on a motorhome trip up through Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Yukon Territory and Alaska. She will be leaving 5/25 and will be gone about 6 weeks. She would love to meet up with anyone along the way - PM her on Ravelry!
Tracie talked about how much she is enjoying her bag from the Etsy shop, Silver Shed USA. Note the clear pocket in the front; it's an add-on you can custom pick at the time you order!
Here is the Silver Shed USA bag Barb ordered and absolutely love!
KNITTING
Tracie has finished:
Twigs and Willows Mitts by Alana Dakos, usiang Unwind Yarn Company Twinkle Sock in the Labordite colorway.
Tracie has Cast-On:
The Gilda scarf, using Fiesta Yarns Linnette in the Clematis colorway.
Tracie has frogged the Skew Socks by Lana Holden...she's just not feelin' it right now. She is re-purposing the Lisa Souza Dyeworks Delux Sock in a vanilla sock right now.
Tracie is continuing to work on:
* Red Fish Dyeworks fiber on her spindle
* The Soubrette cardigan. using Madelinietosh Lace in the Georgia O'Keefe colorway.
* The Wanda Estelle poncho, using Kollage Yarns Fantastic in the Slate Green colorway.
* Vanilla Socks for Will, using Berroco Sox.
Barb has finished:
* A pair of Vanilla Socks, using Zwerger Garn Opal Schafpate in the 8120 colorway.
* A Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf by Karen Baumer using Plymouth Yarn Gina in colorway 15.
Barb has Cast-On:
* A pair of Vanilla socks using Undead Yarn fingering weight in the Autism Awareness colorway.
* The Vesper tee by Heidi Kirrmaier, using Berroco Weekend DK in the 2972 (raspberry) colorway.
Barb is continuing to work on:
* The Crackerjack Cowl by Stacy Simpson Duke, using 4 colors (orange, black, grey and white) of Plymouth Yarn DK Merino Superwash. It is happily living in her SF Giants project bag, made by Front Range Bags!
* The Alder Wrap by Kaffe Fassett, using 12 colors of Rowan Kidsilk Haze.
* The Radiance Shawl by Helen Stewart, using Highland Handmades Mountain Laurel Lace in the White Brook colorway.
* The Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig, using Must Stash Yarns Helluva Skein in the Pauo'le colorway.
* The original Yowza Weigh-It Shawl by Susan B. Anderson, using Miss Babs Yowza- Whatta Skein in the Believable colorway.

Barb and Tracie discussed the recently- released scarf pattern, Last Frost by designer Julia Trice. They both want to knit this gorgeous pattern!
MAGAZINE REVIEW
Cooperative Press sent Barb and Tracie digital copies of Knit Edge Magazine, Issue 7 to review. Both of them found many quality articles and several favorite patterns in this issue.
You can win a digital copy of this issue - go to the Ravelry thread and answer the question to be entered. This contest will end when Episode 92 is recorded.
BOOKS
Tracie has finished:
* Me Again by Keith Cronin. She recommends this book.
* Wreckage by Emily Bleeker. She does NOT recommend this book.
Tracie is currently reading"
* King Dork Approximately by Frank Portman
* Dark Rooms by Lili Anolik
Barb has finished:
* As Far As You Can Go by Lesley Glaister. She doesn't recommend this book.
* The Killer Next Door by Alex Marwood. She recommends this book.
Barb is currently reading:
* Jurassic Park by Michael Crighton. She is competely enjoying this book!
* Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
* The Joy of Less, a Minimalist Living Guide: How to DeClutter, Organize and Simplify Your Life by Francine Joy
* The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
Book Talk starts at: 51:20
Recorded on May 13, 2015
Come join the Cardi/Tank or Tee KAL/CAL! Knit any cardigan, tank or tee (adult or child size) between May 1 - July 1. If you have a project less than 50% done on May 1st, that will work too. See the FO thread for the prizes we have so far.
Win a pattern of your choice by Debbi Stone! Go to the contest thread on our Ravelry group and tell us which pattern you would like to win. We will pick the winner when we podcast Episode 92
Barb talked about and recommended 2 audio podcasts:
1. ACTUally KNITting podcast, hosted by ACTually KNITting (Michelle)
2. Teaching Your Brain to Knit, hosted by Margaret924 (Margaret) and MagicWombat (Catherine)
Tracie talked about The Yarnit. She and Barb both have one and really like this tool.
Events:
Tracie will be attending Spinning at the Winery, AKA Food, Fleeces and Fun! at the Retzlaff Winery in Livermore, CA. on June 6, 10 - 4 pm.
Barb will be going on a motorhome trip up through Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Yukon Territory and Alaska. She will be leaving 5/25 and will be gone about 6 weeks. She would love to meet up with anyone along the way - PM her on Ravelry!
Tracie talked about how much she is enjoying her bag from the Etsy shop, Silver Shed USA. Note the clear pocket in the front; it's an add-on you can custom pick at the time you order!
Here is the Silver Shed USA bag Barb ordered and absolutely love!
KNITTING
Tracie has finished:
Twigs and Willows Mitts by Alana Dakos, usiang Unwind Yarn Company Twinkle Sock in the Labordite colorway.
Tracie has Cast-On:
The Gilda scarf, using Fiesta Yarns Linnette in the Clematis colorway.
Tracie has frogged the Skew Socks by Lana Holden...she's just not feelin' it right now. She is re-purposing the Lisa Souza Dyeworks Delux Sock in a vanilla sock right now.
Tracie is continuing to work on:
* Red Fish Dyeworks fiber on her spindle
* The Soubrette cardigan. using Madelinietosh Lace in the Georgia O'Keefe colorway.
* The Wanda Estelle poncho, using Kollage Yarns Fantastic in the Slate Green colorway.
* Vanilla Socks for Will, using Berroco Sox.
Barb has finished:
* A pair of Vanilla Socks, using Zwerger Garn Opal Schafpate in the 8120 colorway.
* A Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf by Karen Baumer using Plymouth Yarn Gina in colorway 15.
Barb has Cast-On:
* A pair of Vanilla socks using Undead Yarn fingering weight in the Autism Awareness colorway.
* The Vesper tee by Heidi Kirrmaier, using Berroco Weekend DK in the 2972 (raspberry) colorway.
Barb is continuing to work on:
* The Crackerjack Cowl by Stacy Simpson Duke, using 4 colors (orange, black, grey and white) of Plymouth Yarn DK Merino Superwash. It is happily living in her SF Giants project bag, made by Front Range Bags!
* The Alder Wrap by Kaffe Fassett, using 12 colors of Rowan Kidsilk Haze.
* The Radiance Shawl by Helen Stewart, using Highland Handmades Mountain Laurel Lace in the White Brook colorway.
* The Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig, using Must Stash Yarns Helluva Skein in the Pauo'le colorway.
* The original Yowza Weigh-It Shawl by Susan B. Anderson, using Miss Babs Yowza- Whatta Skein in the Believable colorway.

Barb and Tracie discussed the recently- released scarf pattern, Last Frost by designer Julia Trice. They both want to knit this gorgeous pattern!
MAGAZINE REVIEW
Cooperative Press sent Barb and Tracie digital copies of Knit Edge Magazine, Issue 7 to review. Both of them found many quality articles and several favorite patterns in this issue.
You can win a digital copy of this issue - go to the Ravelry thread and answer the question to be entered. This contest will end when Episode 92 is recorded.
BOOKS
Tracie has finished:
* Me Again by Keith Cronin. She recommends this book.
* Wreckage by Emily Bleeker. She does NOT recommend this book.
Tracie is currently reading"
* King Dork Approximately by Frank Portman
* Dark Rooms by Lili Anolik
Barb has finished:
* As Far As You Can Go by Lesley Glaister. She doesn't recommend this book.
* The Killer Next Door by Alex Marwood. She recommends this book.
Barb is currently reading:
* Jurassic Park by Michael Crighton. She is competely enjoying this book!
* Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
* The Joy of Less, a Minimalist Living Guide: How to DeClutter, Organize and Simplify Your Life by Francine Joy
* The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
Friday, May 1, 2015
Episode 90: Ain't Nobody Got Time for That
Our Alana-Along is a wrap
(or a sweater or a pair of mitts…)
If you entered, stay tuned till the end of the podcast to find out if
you won a prize! Thanks to all who
participated
Our new KAL has begun -
the Cardi, Tank or Tee-Along will run May 1-July 1
Robin Wiest raised $1489 for
Autism Speaks with her Sprig of Hope
pattern, and she helped her LYS, Twist Knitting
and Spinning, raise over $5000 at
their Third Annual Sheep to Shawl Benefit for Autism Speaks. Congratulations and many kudos to them
all!
Click for Kiley – Kiley is a high school
senior doing a project collecting hats for the Click for Babies project to help
inform new parents about crying and Shaken Baby Syndrome. If you’d like to help by making a
purple baby hat, visit Kiley’s
Ravelry page for details.
Tracie will be at:
Fleeces, Food & Fun –
Retzlaff Winery in Livermore California - June 6, 10-4pm
Barb finished:
1 Ear Bud Pouch
by Mary Keenen – and she’s planning to make another!
3
newborn hats for the Click for Kiley project Three
Textured Baby Hats by Heather Tucker
Tracie finished
1 Knitted
Knocker (for a total of four, which she turned in at NoCKRs)
and
the Sprig
of Hope shawl by Robin Wiest
Barb worked on:
Alder Wrap by Kaffe
Fassett using many different colors of Rowan Kidsilk
Haze.
Radiance Shawl
by Helen Stewart using Highland
Handmades Mountain Laurel Lace in the White Brook colorway.
Featherweight
Cardigan by Hannah Fettig using Must
Stash Yarns Helluva Skein in the Pauo’le colorway
Vanilla Socks using Opal
Shafpate in the 8120 colorway
Crackerjack Cowl
by Stacy Simpson Duke – using Plymouth
Select Merino DK in orange, black, white and gray.
Multidirectional
Diagonal Scarf by Karen Baumer, Using Plymouth Gina
in colorway 15
Yowza
Weigh-it Shawl #1 by Susan B. Anderson, using Miss
Babs Yowza in the Believable colorway.
Tracie worked on:
Soubrette by Mary
Annarella/madelinetosh
lace (discontinued) in Georgia O’Keeffe. Coming along…
Wanda Estelle
by Debbi Stone/Kollage
Yarns Fantastic in Slate Green
Twigs
& Willows Mitts by Alana Dakos/Unwind
Yarn Company Twinkle Sock in Laboradite. One done!
And cast-on:
Vanilla Socks with the Fish Lips
Kiss Heel/Berocco
Sox in colorway 1494
Barb highly recommends
The
Orphan Masters’ Son by Adam
Johnston
and
A
Thousand Splendid Suns by
Khaled Houseini
And found okay reads in
Aftershock:
A Thriller by Andrew Vachss
His
Other Life by Beth Thomas
She is currently reading:
Sense
and Sensibility by Jane Austen
As
Far As You Can Go by Lesley
Gaister
The
Killer Next Door by Alex
Marwood
Tracie Did Not Finish
Jumping
In Mud Puddles: A Memoir of a Hyper, Picky Big Fat Liar by Vickie Mendenhall
She recommends
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick
The audiobook has excellent narration by Noah Galvin
She did not care for
The
Carrier by Sophie Hannah (but if you’d
like to read one of Hannah’s good thrillers, check out Hurting
Distance, The
Other Half Lives, or Kind of Cruel
And she found solid reads in
Lady
Fortescue Steps Out by Marion
Chesney. First of the Poor Relations
series
Family
Blood: The True Story of the Yom Kippur Murders: One Family’s Greed, Love &
Rage by Marvin J. Wolf
She is currently listening to
King
Dork Approximately by Frank
Portman
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