Podcast Spotlight: 2 Knit Lit Chicks

I've been catching up on some podcasts that I kind of let go for a bit recently. Any podcast about knitting and books is pretty going to be on my iPod and the 2 Knit Lit Chicks is one I started listening to after CraftLit.

This is another mother/daughter podcast and it's full of content: from knitting to contests to books to everything else. Most of the episodes come in about an hour, which seems a pretty decent time to just sit and relax, craft and listen.

Their shownotes (linked above) are chokeful of links to pretty much everything they talk about. They have a book talk section and I'm at a loss how these 2 women read SO much (and I thought I was a big reader!) but they are heavy on audiobooks as well. So far, I have to admit that their book tastes really do not mesh with mine but I love listening to the very honest reviews - if they don't like a book, they do not like a book.

They are joining some other podcasters to put on a knitting retreat in California and, just based on listening to the podcast, I would love to go and meet these ladies!

They often have contests in their group on Ravelry and also host several KALs (knit-a-longs). The Mother Bear Project seems to be their pet project and I have since bought the pattern to start my own bears for the KALs.

Give these ladies a listen!

Welcome back!

So I have been gone for a bit. It's been a rough few months but I'm really trying to get on an upswing. I had a get together at my house in memory of my friend, Becky, who passed away in July. There ended up about 15 or so people, enjoying good food, beverages and the most perfect weather we could have hoped for. I think Becky had something to do with the weather, considering it was terribly hot and humid for weeks and cold and rainy the day before the party. I'm still struggling a bit with her not being here but someday I know I won't look back on her with such sadness.

The day after the party, I messed up my back (again) helping my dog get up the ramp to the SUV. I ended up missing 3 days of work, barely able to move and sick as a dog because I managed to give myself a bowel obstruction as well (long story - lots of abdominal surgeries). I'm somewhat mobile now and back to caring to knit and read again. I don't like being forced down like that so I'm hoping to get through it soon.

Onwards!

On The Needles
So a lot of what is on the needles will be acting as Christmas presents so I can't quite say much about them now. I can say that I had Voolenvine yarns custom dye some yarn for presents for my mother and sister. I can also say I've ripped out 3 projects that I started knitting with it, not because of the yarn or colors because they are beautiful, but because the patterns weren't showcasing the colors. I finally went back to an old favorite and got about 3 inches knit up and I think I'm happy now. The colors are the focal point and that's what I wanted.

I dug up some Noro from my stash and started a scarf for a special person. Not really for Christmas per se, just because I felt the need to give this person something beautiful. I've not knit with Noro before, although Becky and I enabled each other to buy quite a bit of it and she did make a scarf out of hers, so I'm really happy to see how it's working. The color changes are very potato chip knitting, I keep wanting to knit to get to the next color! I love how the pattern (Waterfall scarf) is working out as well. I also know of other yarn in my stash that needs to become this scarf.

Noro!

I'm working on another Dichotomy for my massage therapist for Christmas. I showed her my Game of Thrones one and she loved it so I decided to make her one. I found some really cool yarn in my stash that I got in North Carolina at Charlotte Yarn. It reminds me of a campfire, the way it runs from tans to grays to yellow to orange. It's from Classic Shades in Natural Glow. I think this will be amazing when it's done.

I still have a pair of vanilla socks on the needles for me in Gnomeacres Smell My Feet. I have a feeling they won't be done for Halloween. Ah well. I want to buy her new fall colors but I must stay on a yarn diet!

FO Party!
Truly?!?! I got another project done!  I made my mom a Gaptastic cowl because she really wanted one after seeing the one I made for my sister and for me. Mom knits but I don't think she's as enthusiastic about it as I am, so I bought some Knit Picks Full Circle bulky yarn in Tomatillo. It's wool and made from recycled fiber. I love it and went back and got some blue for myself. The only thing about making this cowl in a solid color is boy, you can see the mistakes in the seed stitch.

In Your Ear
I've been trying to catch up on podcasts and failing so I went back to Craftlit and am trying to finish Little Women. My book club for it is long over but now it's a mission to get that book done. It's not really my type of book but I'm halfway through so I will be getting it done :)

For Your Eyes Only
Finally finished up Season 4 of Haven and ready to begin actively watching Season 5. Also working through Outlander on Starz and am really enjoying it. I'm being slow watching that because I'm still reading the book. I think Voolenvine is doing some Outlander colorways which might damage my yarn diet. Darn it!

Quenching Your Thirst
A friend and I went to a new (to us) winery in Fishers. Harmony Winery is a cute little place that actually offers up a lot more than you would expect. You can make your own wine there using all of their equipment (no investment!) and you can even have custom labels printed for your wine. They had a huge selection of wine with about 10-15 on their actual tasting menu. For $5 you could taste 10 wines. I like fruit wines to an extent (and no one does them better than Butler Winery in Bloomington) but Harmony takes regular wine and adds the fruit to it, instead of making wine from fruit. I enjoyed pretty much everything I tasted! One of my favorites was Ghost Berry - a white cranberry wine.

Dog is intrigued... or wants a treat

If you are in the area, it's worth checking out. I'm wanting to try the wine and yoga night myself. What could go wrong with that?!?!

Podcast Spotlight: Stuff You Missed In History Class

This podcast has so much good content I get slightly overwhelmed sometimes.

Stuff you missed in History class is part of the Stuff Network and it covers the gamut of, literally, things not taught in history class. I had a seriously good history teacher (Mr. Wallace at Pendleton Heights, thank you!) and I'm learning things in this podcast that I haven't heard before.

The most current episodes are a mini-series on Chinese history - starting with Chairman Mao's plan to revolutionize agriculture in China. I just got done listening to a two-parter about The Great Locomotive Chase during the Civil War as well as learning about The Heathen School (failure) and the Tulsa race riot. All stuff I've never heard of before.

The episodes are usually kept about 30 minutes in length which is good, but understand that the history will be a bit abbreviated. Which is a good excuse to go read up on the subjects that interest you (and they provide book links and resources!).

Keep learnin'!

Yarn Clubber

I joined a yarn club last year, just one, to get a taste and see if it would be something that I like to do. Turns out... this could be an expensive hobby. Eeps.

Tempted Yarns had a Pin Up Beauties yarn club last year, and while I can't remember how I heard about it, I signed up immediately. Stacy let us do a payment plan, which also helped the temptation. Her yarn was beautiful and the little goodies that came with it were equally great. I'm still part of the Ravelry group and would still buy her yarn.

This year, I was pretty excited to be picked to be in the Sunnydale Yarn Club. I frickin' LOVE Buffy and I think I would have been upset not to get in to this one. This one is by Dizzy Blonde Studios and I heard about it on the Knotty Girls Knit Cast. So this time around is the 2nd patrol aka the second season. The blog (linked above) isn't completely caught up but take a look at the first yarn shipment they show. It's based on the Halloween episode where everyone changes into their costumes. I have no idea what to do with the yarn yet, because I think I don't want to hide it in a pair of shoes. Must search Ravelry!

I also joined the Golden Skein yarn club which is overseas. Kinda crazy, I know. But I heard about it on a UK podcast (which I can't for the life of me remember - if I do, I'll edit and post!). I joined The Slimmer's Club. Less expensive (but with a payment installment deal too) and I get 1 skein at a time. Basically the indie dyer's get photos for inspiration and they dye up yarn to go with the photo. The yarn arrives in a golden envelope. Quite beautiful!

Click to embiggen

I'm pretty happy with these 2 clubs for this year. I almost, almost joined Voolenvine's Art Nouveau club but held back.

At this point, even I have to admit, I need a yarn diet. So, I am now on one. *sigh*

Tribute to a Knitter

Things have been so topsy-turvy since I got back from vacation. I've still not processed everything but I know there is a definite loss in my life.

My friend, Becky, was diagnosed with breast cancer while I was in Florida. The chemo cap I was making was the first in a bunch made just for her. When I washed and blocked it, I was a little unhappy with it so I washed and blocked it again. I then took it to work and laid on her desk.

Becky's chemo cap

She had her first chemo treatment a week prior and was feeling poorly so she was home. We texted and confirmed our plans for the state fair $2 Food Tuesday the next week. We try and hit the fair each year, especially when deep-fried fair food is $2. Last year, we waddled back to the car, groaning. But it was worth it!

The next day, she was gone.

My dear friend had a heart attack, possibly due to the chemo.

Becky and I had worked together for 11 years and were friends for almost all of those years. She went along with my harebrained schemes (Let's ride a pedal pub in 100 degree weather! Let's take a brewery tour of Indianapolis in a snow storm!) and we did an awful lot together outside of work. She was my fellow knitter - someone who I could show my work to and get advice. Someone who went yarn shopping just to squeeze new arrivals of Malabrigo. I often knit things for her for Christmas, because I knew full well she wouldn't knit stuff for herself, choosing instead to knit for her great nieces. I even bought her squishy sock yarn, needles and a sock pattern for her birthday last year - asking her to make something nice for herself. I don't think she did, but the girls were getting legwarmers.

I did not get to say good-bye. My last words were "Take a nap. See you tomorrow."

Her absence left a very large hole in my life. I hope she is feeling wonderful, knitting up a storm (for herself!) and at peace.

Handlebar in scorching weather

At Oliver Winery

At Upland Brewery with Susan

At Anderson Brewfest

FOs Party!!!

I finally have a set of Finished Objects!!! Color me stupid excited!

Firstly, I had some Candy Cane yarn that an ex-coworker gifted me. Handspun from Stockannette in Indianapolis. Very cute yarn, 90 yards and it was just sitting there. He got the yarn at the Handspun Christmas marketplace last year (I know because I went too and bought another skein of yarn). So I found the Mile-A-Minute scarf and casted on. This literally only took me an evening to complete.

Taking up my entire Seats-6-table plus a box added to the end

Up close - slipped stitch pattern

It took about 3-4 soakings in the sink to get the red to stop leaking out. About the 4th round, the water ran clear and my kitchen smells like wet sheep. Which isn't a bad thing.

Next!

My friend's socks are DONE and DELIVERED!

M. Tosh yarn... purty

My Dichotomy shawl is DONE! I got this 90% done on the trip to Florida...car knitting and all. It's lovely with one mistake that I missed. A friend offered to use crochet to fix the hole so it will be a lovely shawl to wear in the winter. It's my Game of Thrones shawl as it's made with Lorna's Laces in Winter is Coming. Beautiful. I want another one.

Squee!

I have a chemo cap that will be done this weekend. Just finishing the decreases. It's a pretty lace pattern, so I hope my friend likes it.

To leave you... here's the cap with a happy happy dog in the background watching me.

Children's knitting books that I want to keep!

My friend's twins (age almost-7) are learning to knit so for their birthday, I got 2 very cute knitting books. So cute, I kind of want to keep them for myself!

Extra Yarn

This is such a cute book about a little girl who finds a box of yarn and always has leftover yarn, no matter how much she knits. The illustrations are amazingly good, with the distinct knit pattern making up the actual knitting.

Annie and the Swiss Cheese Scarf

Alana Dakos has a lot of patterns out on Ravelry that I love so I thought her book about a little girl learning to knit would be good for the twins. It's wordier than Extra Yarn but it's an entertaining book complete with how to knit instructions in the back.

I hope the kids like them! (I did!)