A Christmas Quickie

Shortly after I filmed this episode, I found out that my dad had died, and I needed to run to Dallas to be with my family. The quilt I show that I made for my brother became extra meaningful when I gave it to him.

Thank you all for your condolences and prayers during this time.

All About the Toes

NOTE: I had not learned about the school shootings in CT when I recorded today. My thoughts are with the families.

Catching Up

No show notes this week, Dad is still in the hospital.

Thanksgiving

Show Notes:

News and Notes -

• Ok, it may not be Thanksgiving anymore, but I have so much to be thankful for, I had to spend some time telling you "thank you".
• Thank you to everyone here and on plurk for your love, prayers, and support.
• Thank you to jetgirl1313 for the gorgeous Hour Glass Cardigan pattern.
• Thank you to my fill-in podcasters: ShanthiDragon, Fifikins, lkmemphis, ekaterin4luv.
• Thank you for the RAPs: Jackie-Knits, franciscangypsy, mad79, BetsyK.
• Thank you to my knitting BFF, Dawn aka knittinwolf, for the wonderful hug in the form of a beautiful shawl. You know I love you!!
• Thank you to Amy (my SO) for the generous donation to the CAC for me to have the beautiful shawl by AnnetteK18. And thank you to Annette, and all of you who sent donations to the CAC. It was a huge success, and they had enough donations to have another event soon!
• Love and hugs to the family of knitpurlgurl. We love you and miss you, Karrie.

Finished Objects -

• Sunday BBQ socks
• Hat for Daddy - my own design

Works in Progress -

• Pink Sugarplums socks
• Boatneck sweater
• Swatches for knitting class homework
• Rocky Coast Cardigan (Crazy Zombie Squirrel KAL/Sweater KAL)
• Spectra by Stephen West for Mom
• Frog/Turtle (SSK KAL)

Acquisitions - 

• Desert Vista Dyeworks custom order in the M.I.C. sock yarn
• Bon Fiber in the London fog colorway - will be socks for Christen
• Keegan Lane  - My Beautiful Wickedness Fiber

All My Girlfriends (No Episode 38)

As you may have read on plurk or Ravelry, I am in Dallas with my family. My dad is still not doing well, so please continue to pray for him.

So…instead of a regular episode this week, which I am not up for, I thought it would be fun if all my girlfriends (and guy friends too) played podcaster this week! I would love to see your videos of what you are up to! Just record a short video and upload it to the Ravelry thread. Funny pics would also be greatly appreciated.

Warning! I have been crying all week so you better not make me cry or I will hunt you down!! Funny, people, funny!

Much love, your knitting girlfriend Carolyn!

Christmas Crazy

Show Notes:

News and Notes -

• A long episode where I am talking all about my crazy Christmas knitting plans! 2 sweaters, 3 socks, two toys, one huge shawl….crazy!!
• Thanks to Rowlesgirl for her gorgeous shawl for the CAC.
• SOCK-TOBER!! I got three pairs of socks finished. Give away yarn and buttons!

Finished Objects -

• Mystery Rainbow pencil roving is now a gorgeous single-ply fingering yarn using the new woolly winder, 
• sock hat for the CAC donations.

Works in Progress -

• Sunday BBQ socks
• Pink Sugarplums socks
• Boatneck sweater
• Swatches for knitting class homework
• Rocky Coast Cardigan (Crazy Zombie Squirrel KAL/Sweater KAL)
• Spectra
• Frog/Turtle (SSK KAL)

Fitness - 

• Weight-loss: lots of good food, and lots of walking at Rhinebeck. 
• Gym since Rhinebeck, need to get knee checked on. 
• Missed two WW meetings, I must attend meetings!! I am a food addict!

Rhinebeck Roundup

Show Notes:

News and Notes -

• It is a Rhinebeck Roundup - complete with video clips with guest stars Mom, aka SpunCotton, and Dad (he’s not on Ravelry…he is not a social media person)! 
• Yay for 500! give away. PM with your address if you are one of the winners. ;) 
• Goodies from The Knitting Garage at A.L. Stickle’s, which you can read more about here, for the Sock-tober giveaway next week. 
• I couldn’t remember the name of the prints on the podcast, but here is a link. Sheep Incognito.
• Podcaster meetup, where I met so many people! You will just have to watch to hear the list. It was that many people. 
• Wooly winder from the parental units for Christmas! YAY!

Works in Progress -

• knee-length vanilla socks (Christmas present), 
• a “Flying Geese” square for the KnitGirllls afghan square swap
• a hat for the Silent Auction for the Healing Hearts Child Advocacy Center. 

Heading to Rhinebeck

Show Notes:

News and Notes -

• Thank you for the sweet note from Kate who won the stitch markers.
• 500 members! Will draw for prizes next week.

Finished Objects -

• Stripy knee socks in Red Heart and Sole
• Weeba by Amy Spindler, out of Red Heart in Pink camp and leftover yarn from Gemini sweater. I modified the pattern to make a dress instead of a sweater. I gave the pattern to Amy.

Works in Progress - 

• Boatneck Sweater for Chelsie for Christmas
• Sunday BBQ socks out of Lorna's Lace's solemate in the Zombie BBQ colorway.

Fitness - 

• Lost one pound
• Color Run was awesome!

Stickers for Rhinebeck

Show Notes:

News and Notes -

• Ordered stickers for Rhinebeck instead of buttons, and they look great. The first ten to request a sticker in the Ravelry thread will be sent one.
• Sock-tober KAL
• Next week I am heading to Rhinebeck!

Finished Objects -

• Test knit for Megan - Bipartisan socks
• NEW crocheted premie blanket.

Works in Progress - 

• Stripy knee socks in Red Heart and Sole
• Boatneck Sweater for Chelsie for Christmas

Fitness - 

• Bad week for weight-loss
• WW meeting is tonight
• Color Run is Saturday morning! I am very nervous.

Socktober

Show Notes:

News and Notes -

• Ordered stickers for Rhinebeck instead of buttons
• Sock-tober KAL

Finished Objects -

• Socks for Stacy 

Works in Progress - 

• Test knit for Megan - Bipartisan socks
• Boatneck Sweater for Chelsie for Christmas
• NEW premie blanket. Dogs destroyed the first one, so this one is crocheted.

Fitness - 

• Next week is the Color Run! ShanthiDragon is running next week too.
• WW meeting was awesome. The leader was great, very diverse group.

Food Hangover

Show Notes:

News and Notes -

• Thank you so much to flanders for the amazing box of goodies. 
• Thank you, Charlotte for the surprise yarn bowl
• Drew prizes for the UFO KAL
• Ordered stickers for Rhinebeck.
• Several KAL's coming up - Whatcha Swatchin' Never Have I Ever, LoKAL with The Fat Squirrel Speaks.

No finished objects.

Works in Progress - 

• Socks for Stacy (I ripped out the violets. Colorwork is not for me yet.)
• Test knit for Megan - Bipartisan socks
• Boatneck Sweater for Chelsie for Christmas
• Premie blanket for the 3 stitches podcast blanket drive

Fitness -

• Food Hangover
• Second weight watchers meeting tonight

Prizes Interrupted

Show Notes:

News and Notes -

• Ok - this week's episode was full of interruptions, but I have hopefully got those edited out. Also, it took me until the second try to figure out to "flip" the camera so that the writing was correct when I showed a label on the screen! Oops! Next week will be better. At least I think this week's audio and video are in sync! Please let me know if they are not. Also, I am not sure what that funny background noise is. Sorry!
• Let's move back the UFO contest one week so I can give away prizes next week, too!! So if you haven't gotten those UFOs in, please post in the UFO thread.
• Drew prizes for the Color Affection KAL

Finished Objects - 

• Koi in blender socks for Veronika out of Tempted yarn
• Cat's in the Cradle pattern was published! The sample shown is in Bernat Baby Jaquards in Rosebud colorway on US 5.

Works in Progress - 

• Socks for Stacy (I ripped out the violets. Colorwork is not for me yet.)
• Test knit for Megan - Bipartisan socks
• Boatneck Sweater for Chelsie for Christmas

Cat's in the Cradle

Well, I have finally done it! I wrote up the pattern for the Cat's in the Cradle hat that I created last year. I knit up this adorable little hat out of really soft mystery wool that I had leftover from some project or another. I knit another sample as I was writing up the pattern, to check for errors. I hope that I caught them all, but as I did not send it out to test knitters, there may be some. Since it wasn't test knit, and it is one of my first patterns, I have published it on Ravelry. I hope all who knit this little gem enjoy it as much as I do. And please email me any errors that you find, and I will post the errata ASAP.

And here is some insider information - the gorgeous model is my niece, Elle. She is my brother's little girl, and I just want to eat her up she is so sweet! And I must say she is quite a talented hat model, too! Of course, she has grown considerably since she modeled my hat.

Still just as beautiful as ever, but a total handful now that she is mobile! 

Well, I have another pattern in the works that I hope to send to test knitters this week, so I better go get busy!

-Your knitting (designer) girlfriend!

Prizes in the mail

Show Notes:

News and Notes -

• Found out about big technical difficulties with several of the last few episodes. The audio and video are out of sync. I figured out this was an iMovie issue, and I am researching how to fix this issue for future episodes and how to correct the issue in the back episodes. I will put up a blog post with more details and update you there.
• Racing Hearts prizes were mailed out.
• Color Affection KAL ends next week.

Finished Objects -

• Abalone for Stockinette Zombie KAL out of Berroco Boboli.

The HOs have Landed

Show Notes:

No finished objects.

Works in Progress -

• Baby Sock Aciqua by Dawn Wolfe of Wolfe Farms. Fun fast project.
• Sunday BBQ socks
• KOI in blender socks for Veronika
• Long stripy socks
• Violets for Stacy
• Abalone for Stockinette Zombie KAL
• Baby Blanket for 3 stitches blanket drive

News and Notes -

• UFO contest. Random Drawing on Sept. 18.
• Color Affection KAL - two more weeks
• Lots of Racing Heart KAL goodness!!

I'm a Gemini Dragon

Show Notes:

Finished Objects - 

• Gemini for the Stockinette Zombies KAL

News and Notes -

• Eloise fleece was purchased from Blue Goose Farms just down the street for The Fat Squirrel LoKAL. Bought combs from Lois at Bountiful to process it myself.
• SSK sign-up
• Margaret Radcliff workshop with my local knitting guild in November.
• Color Affection shawl KAL wrap-up.
• Prizes for 500 member give-away

All the socks

Show Notes:

News and Notes -

• I am cheering for Amy Beth in the Sock the Vote contest. (Sorry to all the other podcasters. You are equally awesome, but I just love her campaigning!)
• Accreditation reports for work are wearing me out, but it is winding down, which makes me happy.
• Heading to Dallas soon for my nephew's birthday

Finished Objects -

•  TKGASS square 3 out of Berroco Vintage in the pea soup colorway. Dragon scales pattern

Works in Progress - 

• Koi in Blender socks for Veronika out of Tempted yarn in a "triangle" pattern
• Tall stripey socks out of Red Heart and Sole in the Spring stripes colorway

Spinning -

• Finished the Anzula corriedale fiber in the Fire colorway. Calling the skein "When there's smoke". Amy has claimed it for a hat but says I have to design it.

Acquisitions - 

• HO bag and Ravengers t-shirt from ACME/Stockinette Zombies
• Safety eyes and toggles
• Prize for Color Affection KAL - necklace from Rainlover Knits

Fitness - I haven't been working out this week. Too tired.

Laziness as Motivation

Show Notes:

Finished Objects -

•  Sewing actually, but project bags.

Works in Progress - 

• Socks for Stacy
• Plain vanilla socks
• Boogie Woogie Basil stuffy
• Gemini for the Stockinette Zombies KAL
• Sunday BBQ socks

Enabling - 

• Safety eyes and toggles
• More Wolfe Farms!
• Surprise for Color Affection KAL

News and Notes - 

• Review of this edition of Cast On magazine.
• Check out books by Molly Harper. Paranormal and hilarious! I am listening to the audiobooks.
• Thank you Suzanne for the pattern.

Party Like a Rock Star

Show Notes:

News and Notes -

• Please forgive the lighting issues with this week's episode. My fancy computer kept trying to color correct because of the bright spots. Sorry!!

Finished Objects - 

• Baby hats (Bernat in the BooBerries colorway)
• Wisteria Garden socks - my new pattern

Works in Progress - 

• Gemini
• TGKASS block three - Dragon scales in green
• Fields of Flowers for Stacy
• Boogie Woogie Basil stuffy

Enabling - 

• Monster kit from LYS auction

Fitness - 

• 2 more five-minute runs
• Color Run in 11 weeks!

Party Favors, yes please!

Show Notes:

News and Notes -

• Thank you to fransicangypsy for the pattern. Check out her podcast.
• Color Affection KAL
• Racing Hearts KAL

No finished objects.

Works in Progress - 

• Gemini - got needle Addi Turbo needle
• Abalone - is on hold right now because of the heat

Spinning - 

• Mountain Color fiber in the meadow colorway. Targee fiber

Fitness - 

• 2 days of workouts. 30 minutes each with 5 minutes of consecutive running. 
• Hope to get in 4 days this week

Enabling -

• Wolfe Farms soap
• Loop Batts!
• Goodies from the party at Hank of Yarn (my LYS)

But wait...there's more!

Show Notes:

Finished Objects -

• Color Affection shawl
• Zuzu's Petals - love this pattern. Used Froggy Monkey handspun yarn - fiber from Gnome Acres.
• Racing Hearts socks - prototype and out of the colorway yarn.

Works in Progress - 

• Gemini in Cascade Ultra Pima Cotton in a light pink for the Stockinette Zombies KAL.

Fitness - 

• Training for 5K not going well.

Moving Offices so Once again on Friday

Show Notes:

News and Notes -

• I have been moving offices. I will begin recording here during my lunch breaks.

No finished objects.

Works in Progress -

• C25K socks - Racing Hearts socks in Desert Vista Dyeworks colorway. Two options are available - Gray and Red
• Color Affection (KAL ends Sept. 18)
• Abalone cardigan by Hedgehog Fibers

Upcoming - 

• Zuzu's Petals knit in the Froggy Monkey colorway handspun from Gnome Acres. This was the pattern that won the viewer's vote.
• Gemini KAL with Stockinette Zombies. Knit in Cascade Ultra Pima in a light pink

Fitness -

• Joined a gym
• Using the Ease into 5K app for my workouts

New Job and New Pattern

Show Notes:

News and Notes - 

• Thank you all for the sweet notes about my mom and Richard being on the most recent episodes.
• Racing Heart Socks!
• The pattern is available here on Ravelry. Proceeds from the pattern will be donated to the American Heart Association.
• Check out PKJewerly's project page for her socks. She is the co-designer of this wonderful (if I say so myself) pattern.
• KAL for these socks starts on July 1 and will run through August 31. Knit along with us whether you are running a 5K with us this fall, or just cheering us on.
• The yarn for the socks is Desert Vista Dyeworks C2 5K themed colorway, in either red or grey. Check it out here!
• Prizes for the KAL include the awesome project bags from Ploverbird on Etsy. Thank you, thank you!
• Color Affection KAL!
• We have many beautiful FOs in the prize thread. You all are awesome!
• Runs through Sept. 18, so there is still plenty of time for you to hop in if you are interested.
• Showed off Truckergirl's WIP, my knitting BFF.

Works in Progress -

• Garden Basket Socks - a pattern I am designing and will post on Ravelry soon.

Fitness - 

• So hot! Must find ways to exercise inside because of the heat.
• Wanting to drink 4 1/2L bottles of water each day because it sounds like less than 8 glasses of water. LOL
• Will be returning to work, at a new position in the same institution, on Monday, and I am super excited about it. Hoping this will help me create a schedule for the day that promotes exercise, healthy eating, and wellness.

Knitting is for boys too

Show Notes:

News and Notes -

• Richard joins me this week as a guest co-host. He talks about his knitting and shows off the scarf he made for Pig (my dog) for Pig's birthday.

Finished Objects -

• TKGASS square 2 in Holiday Yarn Hanky Panky colorway

Works in Progress -

• Garden socks
• C25K socks - Racing Hearts socks in Desert Vista Dyeworks colorway. Two options are available - Gray and Red
• Color Affection (KAL ends Sept. 18)
• Abalone cardigan by Hedgehog Fibers

Spinning -

• Anzula fiber (Corriedale) in the Ocean colorway (finished up)
• Dancing in the Hall by Storied Yarns  - 200 yes plus a small chain-plyed mini-skein
• Mountain Color Fiber in the Meadow colorway
• Chain-plyed remainder of the Abalone from Unwind Yarn Company for a mini-skein

Happy Birthday to Me

Show Notes:

No finished objects this week.

Works in Progress -

• TKGASS square 3
• Garden socks
• C25K socks - Racing Hearts socks
• Color Affection

Spinning -

• Anzula fiber (Corriedale) in the Ocean colorway

Fitness - 

• No C25K training this week
• Walked way too much at the zoo!

Enabling - 

• Itty Bitty Toys book by Susan B. Anderson
• Mountain Fiber from the Woolie Ewe
• White Rock Weaving and Craft Center - awesome fiber, spinning wheel parts, and purple heart spindle

Something Blue is Finished

VIDEO NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Show Notes:

Finished Objects -

• Something Blue finished in time for Jenn's wedding. She loved it.

Works in Progress -

• Color Affection - KAL ends Sept. 18. 

Spinning - 

• Froggy Monkey colorway from Gnome Acres. 225 yards of a DK weight.

News and Notes - 

• I announce the winner of the Desert Vista Dyeworks colorway contest.

For the Heart project

Show Notes:

Finished Objects -

• 
  
  Spa Day washcloth out of Peaches and Cream for the Knitabulls May KAL.

Works in Progress -

• Color Affection KAL

News and Notes -

• C25K/ American Heart Association project. Check out last week's show notes or our Ravelry group for all the details!!
• Colorway Contest with Desert Vista Dyeworks ends Friday, May 25, so post your inspiration pics on Ravelry NOW!

What a Week - doing all the KALs and SALs

Show Notes:

No Finished Objects this week.

WIPs are the same as last week. Been doing some designing that I can't show you just yet.

Color Affection KAL -

• Started May 15 and will run through September 18. There is a prize thread up on the Ravelry group for FOs.
• Drawing for the patterns and yarn from Unwind Yarn Company!

Spinning - 

• Doing the Joint SAL FroggyMonkey/Knitabulls. I am spinning the FroggyMonkey colorway. Will begin in the next day or so.
• Also doing the Downton Abbey SAL with Storied Yarns. I got the "Dancing in the Hall" colorway, inspired by Matthew and Mary's troubled relationship.

C25K Project - 

• Begin your training now ladies!!
• Colorway contest sponsored by Desert Vista Dyeworks. (Thanks, Susan!) Post your color ideas to either my Ravelry group or Susan's. The winner of the contest wins a skein of the yarn. The contest runs through May 25. Pre-orders for the yarn will be posted on June 1.
• Pam (PKJewelry) and I are designing the "running sock". Pattern to be debuted soon.
• Yarn and Pattern will be a fundraiser for the American Heart Association.

Fitness Swap: It is still in the works, but will begin in a month or two, once the other two big things going on are underway.

Trying to Run

Show Notes:

Finished Objects -

• Basic Dude Socks for Hunter, pattern by Jolene Richardson. Used Sensations Kashmirs Yarn in Green Stripe on my Chiagoo US 6 (4.00 mm) needles, magic looped.

Works in Progress -

• Something Blue for Jenn's wedding. The Knit Hilton Lace Edging pattern by Nancie Wiseman. I switched it from a garter stitch pattern to a stockinette stitch pattern by purling all the rest rows instead of knitting them.

Color Affection KAL -

• Begins May 15
• Sign-up on Ravelry Group for entry in the prize drawing next week:
• 2 of the patterns
• 1 skein/braid/batt from Unwind Yarn Company. (Thanks, Dana!)
• Will continue throughout the summer.
• You may double-dip, or even join in with your WIP.
• I will be using Dream in Color Smooshy (said it wrong on the podcast) in Sundown Orchid, Amethyst Ink, and Happy Forrest.

C25K - 

• Still having to walk. Shins HURT!
• Check out the "Chubby Jones Podcast" It is cute, and has the intervals for the C25K plan. Thanks, nontoxicmoma, for recommending it.
• Julie (Joenjules) suggested a sock knit-a-long, designed by a "girlfriend" and proceeds from the pattern go to charity. Check out the Rav group to post your thoughts and/or ideas about this.

News and Notes -

• Fitness-Themed Swap: Go to the Rav group to post ideas/suggestions for a fitness-themed swap. We could begin in June, and send packages out in August.
• 200 members give away! I give away two prizes from our current member list. Did you win??? If so, send me a PM on Ravelry.