Thanks for tuning in to Episode 57. Today’s segments included:

• Off the Needles
• On the Needles
• Brainstorming
• From the Armchair
• Events
• Contests, News & Notes
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

Off the Needles

• Elephant for Riley
  • Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash (from stash)
  • Needles: US 5 (3.75mm)
  • Pattern: Savannah Chaps $3.99 US
  • Modifications: in the round. Judy’s Magic Cast on for arms worked way to the top, stuffed, bound off sewed on.
• Conjunction Cowl
  • Pattern by Susie White– Prairie Girl Susie from Prairie Girls Knit & Spin Podcast
  • Yarn: Miss Babs Kawaeh DK
  • Needles: US 7 (4.5mm) 40 inch. Nova Cubics Platina (first time using these needles)
  • Modifications: only cast on 112 sts- fewer than called for. Decreased to 96. Didn’t make it as high as called for, because its for my 10 year old niece.

On the Needles

• Dark Side of the Moon Socks
  • Yarn: Self Striping from Stacie of Must Stash Yarn– grays with dark gray rainbow stripes! Love colors
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel socks by Megan Williams
  • Knit on these at the Patriots Game after I figured out how to smuggle them past security (I know, I’m a rebel)

(This is how I got the project into the game. Ball of yarn (50g cake) in one mitten), WIP with washi tape on the ends of the needles in the other mitten. Voila!)

• My 1st Christmas Socks
  • Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight- Mill End
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel socks by Megan Williams
• Autumnal Mitts
  • Pattern by Jo Bangles- free
  • Needles: US 6
  • Simple fingerless mitt pattern that only calls for 110-130 yard of DK. I’ve made before and love my pair. Simple cable and eyelet pattern that repeats. Goes quickly.
  • Yarn: Bijou Basin Ranch- Himalayan Trail (75% Yak down 25% merino) in the 49 Dinna fash colorway
• Fingerless mitts (for my niece to go with the Conjunction Cowl)
  • No pattern
• Yarn: Miss Babs Kawaeh DK (Ginko= green & Perfectly Wreckless= variegated + pink – Floyd)
• Needles: US 7 (4.5mm) 40 inch. Nova Cubics Platina

Brainstorming

From the Armchair

Tune in to hear my review of the Stashbot App by Hannah Fettig. You can also check out the website about StashBot & a blog post about it. For questions or to chat, visit Hannah’s Ravelry Forum.  I really like this and think its a great addition to your knitter’s toolkit! Check it out!

I also reviewed project bags from The Etsy Shop Bags by Awesome Grannie. I have the Large bag and notions pouch in the Giraffe in the Garden fabric! The bag is plenty large for 3-5 skeins of yarn and your project. I love that this is a bigger than usual notions pouch (I used mine for elephant poly-fill). Her prices are great for the quality workmanship put into these bags! Definitely check it out!

Events

Thanks for tuning in to Episode 56!

This week’s segments included:

• Off the Needles
• On the Needles
• Brainstorming
• Events
• In My Travels
• Contests, News & Notes
• On a Happy Note

September Socks

This week I talked about gift knitting. For more, check out these two blog posts:

• How to tell if someone is knitworthy
• Gift Knitting: Factors to Consider

In My Travels: RhinebeckLeft on Friday for NY with three of my friends, Ryan, Nicole and Beverly. Stopped at a cute little restaurant in Danbury CT- Market Place. I enjoyed a yummy local IPA- Blue Point Brewing Company.

Went to dinner at Coppola’s on 9 in Poughkseepie. Kind of a weird environment but the food was delicious. I am picky about tomato sauce and it was good!

Saturday:

Some new friends showing me their beautiful Tan House Brook Shawls!

Saturday Night Dinner at Market St. Restaurant. Great Burnt Venetian Martini.

Check out the Kickstarter then come over to the Down Cellar Studio Ravelry Group and tell us which color way is your favorite. The winner will be drawn after 10/31. The prize is a one-of-a-kind skein of Twist Fiber Studio Arden Bulky in the “Faded Indigo” colorway. It’s a bulky weight Merino yarn, 140 yards – 100 grams.

News:

• Maria Yarley designer behind eleganteconomyknits.com. Has a new pattern called the Graceful Pullover- Ravelry here. Donating post paypal & printing fees to a friend Bekah, a fellow knitter who recently lost her husband and needs financial support for she and her 4 children.
• Wendy, sillyfru, host of the Sassy Pants Knitter Podcast has been diagnosed with hairy cell  leukemia. Here’s a link to her podcast group on Ravelry where you can find more information about how you can help support Wendy- or tune into this episode to hear from Wendy! Here’s a link to her Go Fund Me Page. Sending happy, healthy wishes your way, Wendy!!!

Coloring Book Yarn Socks

• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
• Yarn: Coloring Book Yarns- Colorway: September. Base- 80% merino/ 20% nylon
• Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
• Finished first sock.
• Really like OMG heel! Excited to have these finished.
• Cast on second and will be one of my take along projects for Rhinebeck

Dark Side of the Moon Socks

• I have Cascade 220 super wash from my stash all kitted up to make the elephant that’s part of the Savannah Chaps pattern I talked about last time.

From the Armchair

• Tune in to hear my review of Knitters Pride Nova Platina 
  • I tried the US size 7 fixed circulars with the 40 inch cord
  • I really enjoyed these details- listen in to hear the details.
• Minerva Turkey, Shannon Gleason has a new video podcast you should check out! You can find it on her website, through her Ravelry Group  on iTunes 

Events

I’ve released my second design, the Aila Grace Shawl. Check it out on Ravelry.

This shawl was inspired by niece, Aila (pronounced “a-la”), a fiery red-head who packs a lot of personality into a very small package while always letting her class and beauty shine through.

The result is an easy, top down, elongated, triangular shawl that will add a punch of personality into your wardrobe while still looking classic. A great project for that single skein of fingering weight yarn you just had to buy but aren’t quite sure what to do with.

I hope you’ll check it out!

Rhinebeck- NY Sheep and Wool: is this coming weekend, October 18 & 19, at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds

• Come say hello at the Podcaster Meet up Saturday 1p. Location: on the hill to the left just inside the Main Entrance
• For Fiber Event Tips- Check out this post from earlier this year,

Fall Shawl Style

• Show us your shawls and post to Instagram using wearing #fallshawl style
• This week I chose a random winner who will receive a pattern of her choice from Lisa Mutch’s self published patterns. She has beautiful shawls. Be sure to check her out.

Pigskin Party KAL

• Tune in to Episode 52 if you haven’t already to hear all of the details about this KAL

Goodreader Class for Knitters

• I’m teaching at The Stitch House in Dorchester, MA on Sunday November 10 from 10a-12p. If you’re local I’d love to teach you how to use this amazing iPad app to keep track of all of your knitting patterns.

Contests

 Twist Fiber Studio Kickstarter

• Check out the Kickstarter then come over to the Down Cellar Studio Ravelry Group and tell us which color way is your favorite. The winner will be drawn after 10/31. The prize is a one-of-a-kind skein of Twist Fiber Studio Arden Bulky in the “Faded Indigo” colorway.

Tune in to see if you’re the winner of the Kung Fu Knits by Elizabeth Green Musselman provided to us by the Cooperative Press.

Infinite Twist Contest

• Infinite Twist has created a custom Down Cellar Studio Gradient (see below)
• This yarn works with two Infinite Twist patterns: the Log Cabin II (smaller version of the Log Cabin Shawl) which is due out in November or the Gradient Carousel shawl
• To be entered to win: go to Thread in the DCS Ravelry to check out the photo of the yarn and answer the prompt about what kind of bases you like (weight + fiber content) and what color in the Infinite Twist Helix color card you like best.

As a reminder, I’m an affiliate of Infinite Twist. If you choose to buy something from her excellent selection, please note that you were referred by Down Cellar Studio on the website- you’ll receive a little bonus gift and I receive a small percentage of the sale.

On a Happy Note

• Making applesauce
• Fall foliage
• Starting to feel a bit better after this nasty cold

Quote of the Week

“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.”

Nathaniel Hawthorne

 Thanks for listening!