Book Talk starts at 38:27

This episode was recorded on December 19, 2014.

The Sweater KAL is ongoing!  Get your sweaters finished and post your FO picture here to be eligible to win one of three great prize packages.

Our Next KAL – the Alana-Along!  You can knit any accessory or garment pattern by Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting, starting February 1, 2015 and finishing by April 1 (we may extend the deadline if we have lots of people knitting sweaters).  You can knit multiple NNK designs, but we will be allowing only one entry per knitter for this KAL.  Start thinking about what you’d like to make, and gathering your materials!

Barb recommends the Stitch Party Podcast (audio), with host flyingmuse.

She also recommends the video podcast The Knitting Den with Denise.

Events:

Barb will be attending the South Bay Knitting Retreat January 2-4, 2015 in San Juan Bautista.

Stitches West 2015, in Santa Clara California February 19 - 22, 2015.

The Northern California Knitting Retreat, in San Juan Bautista, California April 17 - 19, 2015.  We still have 1 spot open!  Email Tracie at [email protected] for a registration form.

For those of you attending The Northern California Knitting Retreat, please join the NorCal Knitting Retreat Ravelry Group to stay up-to-date on all the information.

KNITTING

Barb has finished:

Tracie has finished:

                Subversive Socks from Cooperative Press

                Fornicating Deer Chart by Ann Rutten

                And The Horse You Rode In On fingerless mittens by Karin Aida

                Beer Lovers’ Mitts by Natalia Moreva

Tracie is currently working on:

Tracie has cast on:

Brenda Castiel's Hanging Gauge Swatch tutorial 

Barb is currently knitting:

Barb has cast-on:

Barb will be frogging her Custom-Fit Featherweight cardigan.

BOOKS

Barb has finished:

Apple Tree Yard by Louisa Doughty.  She heartily recommends this book!

Barb is reading:

Tracie is reading:

You can see the bladder-related commercials that Tracie talked about in her "Thumbs Down" section here:

Book Talk starts at 48:00

Our Next KAL – the Alana-Along!  You can knit any accessory or garment pattern by Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting, starting February 1, 2015 and finishing by April 1 (we may extend the deadline if we have lots of people knitting sweaters).  You can knit multiple NNK designs, but we will be allowing only one entry per knitter for this KAL.  Start thinking about what you’d like to make, and gathering your materials!

Can’t get enough of the Serial podcast?  Check out Slate’s Serial Spoilers Specials – a podcast about a podcast!

The Yarnit – coming soon to the Leading Men Fiber Arts store

Barb has finished

·      The Irish Hiking Scarf by Adrian Bizilla using Cascade 220 worsted in a dark gray colorway

·      Malabrigo Hand Thingies by Anne Sahakian, using leftover Malabrigo Rios in the lotus colorway – a free pattern on Ravelry.  Theses were supposed to be for her granddaughter Rachel, but they came out very small so she gave them to her manicurist instead.

·      Fast & Easy Fingerless Mitts by Lisa Beamer, using Malabrigo Rios in the Lotus colorway –a free pattern on Ravelry.  These are for Rachel, but Barb likes them so much that she plans to make a pair for herself!

·      A Raspberry hat, using the 0-966 Sweet Pumpkin by DROPS design

Tracie has finished her Shalom Cardigan by Meghan McFarlane, made from Araucania Tepa in the 1788 colorway.  It fit perfectly, but then it grew!  So she will have to frog and reknit it in the original small/medium size.

Barb cast on a pair of socks using Fishknits MCN Opulence in the Weathered colorway.

She continues to work on:

·      Rivercat Socks by Brenda Patipa in some really old yarn that I won at the first CFR I went to – Knit Fit Knitting Jazzy in a Sea Blue colorway.

·      CustomFit Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig, using Must Stash Yarns Helluva Skein (750 – 822 yards) light fingering in the Pauo’le colorway.

·      Jet Set Cowl by Paulina Popiolek using Miss Babs Yummy 2-ply in the Deep Sea Jellyfish colorway. 

·      Eilonwy Junior by Carol Feller using Berroco Weekend DK in 2 colors – a light blue and a pink.  $5.95 download on Rav.

Tracie has cast on:

Two pairs of socks, using Fish Lips Kiss Heel by Sox Therapist for both

For her friend Sue’s birthday, in Color Notes Claremont Sock in the Green stone colorway.  One sock done!

For niece Lexi, who requested a pair of pink sparkly socks, in Knit Picks Stroll Glimmer in the  Runway colorway.  One sock almost done.

Alewives Cowl by Elizabeth Doherty in Ella Rae Silkience in brown

She continues to work on:

For her brother-in-law’s Christmas gift, a set of 4 Garter Coaster Beer Cozies by Jessica Landers with help from

Subversive Socks from Cooperative Press

Fornicating Deer Chart by Ann Rutten

And The Horse You Rode In On fingerless mittens by Karin Aida

Beer Lovers’ Mitts by Natalia Moreva

She is using Knitting Rose Yarns Blossom Sock in the Girl on Fire colorway and Knit Picks Chroma in Grey, both leftover from other projects.  Three of four beer cozies completed!

and

Canyonlands Shawl by verybusymonkey/Blue Heron Rayon Metallic in the Deep Blue Sea colorway

Knitvent 2014 by Helen Stewart

4 patterns in the ebook, available on Ravelry for 9.80 GBP (about $15). 

Enter to win a copy here

Tracie liked

The Position by Meg Wolitzer

and

The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness or Murder by  Charles Graber

but did not finish

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

She is currently listening to

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

and reading

What Matters In Jane Austen?  Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved by John Mullan

Barb highly recommends In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

She has finished

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCrieght

The Harrowing by Alexandra Sokoloff

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

She is currently reading

Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

The Last Life by Claire Messud

A Life in Stitches:  Knitting My Way through Love, Loss, and Laughter by Rachael Herron

Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty

Book Talk starts at 36:45

This episode was recorded on November 20, 2014

Barb and Tracie were guests on the Yarn Thing with Marly Bird podcast on November 20th.

Our Sweater KAL/CAL is ongoing until January 15, 2015.  We currently have over 30 sweaters completely in our Sweater KAL FO thread.  Come on in and join us!

Thank you for your iTunes Reviews!

Win an autographed copy of The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell.  Enter to win via this thread on our Ravelry Forum.  Contest ends on December 1st.  Thank you to JanaNav for this donated prize!

Win this project bag, generously donated by Daisy50 of the Art Institchtute of Chicago etsy shop.  Be sure to check out her shop now for her Halloween/ Day of the Dead project bag sale!

Go to our blog to enter.  This contest will end on December 1, 2014.

Barb recommends 3 podcasts:

1.  The Minerva Turkey video podcast, hosted by minervaturkey (Shannon).  Available on YouTube and iTunes

2.  The Two Ewes Fiber Adventures audio podcast, hosted by 1hundredprojects (Kelly) and mfuesel (Marsha).

3.  The Serial Podcast.

Events:

Barb and Tracie will be attending:

Stitches West 2015, in Santa Clara California February 19 - 22, 2015.

The Northern California Knitting Retreat, in San Juan Bautista, California April 17 - 19, 2015.  We still have 1 spot open!  Email Tracie at [email protected] for a registration form.

KNITTING

Barb has finished:

1.  Woobie Giraffe #2, using different colors of Knit Picks Brava Sport in various colors.  This pattern is from the Woobie Pattern Collection, Series 1 by Kris Carlson.

2.  Brooke's Column of Leaves scarf by Brooke Nelson, using Cascade 220 Worsted in the Mystic Purple colorway.

3.  Bootstrap Socks by Lara Neel (from the Sock Architecture book) using GnomeAcres House Gnome in the Betelgeuse colorway.  Barb does not recommend using such a highly variegated yarn for this pattern as it doesn't let the pattern shine...

Tracie has finished:

1.  Her 2nd Ethan the Aviator hat, by Gabrielle Danskknit using Cascade Yarns Bentley.  How cute is baby Dominic in this hat?!!

2.  Cleito by Susan Mills, using Mirasol Yarns Ilaris in a plum color way, and Nashua Handkints Creative Focus Cotton DK in a yellow colorway.

3.  The Doodie hat by Woolly Wormed using Ella Pompe in a pink colorway.

4.  Opposite socks (Tracie's own pattern) using Anzula Nebula in the Kale colorway and Unwind Yarn Company Twinkle Sock in Laborite.  It took Tracie less than 2 weeks to knit up these socks!

5.  Basic Peanut Body by Rebecca Danger (from 50 Yards of Fun by Rebecca Danger.

Barb is working on:

1.  Rivercat Socks by Brenda Patipa, using Knit Fit Knitting Jazzy in the Sea Blue Colorway

2.  CustomFit Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fetig, using Must Stash Yarn Helluva Skein in the Pauo'le colorway.

Barb has cast-on:

1.  Jet Set Cowl by Paulina Popiolek, using Miss Babs Yummy 2-ply in the Deep Sea Jellyfish colorway.

2. Eilonwy Junior cardigan by Carol Feller, using Berroco Weekend DK in a light blue and a pink colorway.

3.  Irish Hiking Scarf by Adrian Bizilla, using Cascade 220 Worsted in a dark gray colorway.

Tracie is working on:

1.  Shalom Cardigan by Meghan McFarlane, using Araucania Tepa in the 1788 colorway.

2.  Canyonlands Shawl by verybusymonkey, using Blue Heron Rayon Mettalic in the Deep Blue Sea colorway.

Tracie has cast-on:

1.  A set of 4 or 6 cozies using the  Garter Coaster Beer Cozy pattern by Jessica Landers for her BIL.  She is color working rude sayings onto the cozies with help from:

     *  Subversive Socks from Cooperative Press

     *  Fornicating Deer Chart by Ann Rutten

     *  And the Horse You Rode in on by Karin Aida

     *  Beer Lovers' Mitts by Natalia Moreva

All using leftover yarns!

BOOKS

Barb has finished:

1.  Don't Look Now: and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier - Barb recommends this short story collection.

2.  Night Film by Marisha Pessl - Barb recommends this book with reservations - don't expect a horror story...

Tracie has finished:

1.  Bitch in a Bonnet: Reclaiming Jane Austen From the Stiffs, the Snobs, the Simps and the Saps, Volume 2 by Robert Rodi - Tracie recommends this for any reader who is a Jane Austen enthusiast!

2.  The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh - Tracie recommends this book

Tracie and Barb have both finished and enthusiastically recommend:  The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell.  Two THUMBS UP!

Barb is currently reading:

1.  Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

2.  In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson

Tracie is currently reading:

1.  The Position by Meg Wolitzer

2.  Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Book Talk begins at 35:05

Recorded on October 27, 2014

Our Sweater KAL/CAL is ongoing until January 15, 2015.  Information can be found here.  You can post pictures of your finished sweater here.

Lambtown vendors that were mentioned:

Invictus Yarns

Fishknits

DurenDyeWorks

Barb and Tracie have been asked to be on The Yarn Thing Podcast with Marly Bird on November 20, 2014.  If you listen live (9 am Mountain Time 11/20/14) you can participate in a live give-away!

New Contest!  We are giving away a signed copy of the book, The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell.  Please go to our Ravelry Group and answer the question in the contest thread. 

Thank you to JanaNav for donating this book to the podcast!

Barb recommends the video podcast Undead Yarn with KnittyGirl (Heidi).

Barb also recommends the audio podcast Kitchen Stitches, with Someryarns (Somer).

Upcoming Events:

Stitches West, February19 - 22, 2015 in Santa Clara, CA.  We will be hosting an informal meetup in the Lobby Bar, on Saturday, February 21 from 2-5 p.m.  Come join us if you can!

Northern California Knitting Retreat (NoCKrs), April 17 - 19, 2015 in San Juan Bautista, CA.

KNITTING

Tracie has finished:

Ethan the Aviator hat by Gabrielle Danskknit, using Cascade Bentley yarn

Mystik Spiral Socks by Josh Ryks, using Invictus Yarns Master of My Feet in the Aradia Self-Striping colorway.

Barb has finished:

The Hitofude cardigan by Hiroku Fukatsu, using Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in the Jasper colorway.

Tracie has Cast-On:

The Doodie hat by Woolly Wormhead, using Ella Rae Pompe in the pink color way.  Check out this yarn - it's pretty wild!

Tracie continues to work on:

The Shalom Cardigan by Medgan McFarlan, using araucania Tepa in the 1788 colorway.

Canyonlands Shawl by verybusymonkey, using Blue Heron Rayon Metallic in the Deep Blue Sea colorway.

The Cleito by Susan Mills, using Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Cotton DK in yellow, and Mirasol Yan Illaris in 111 (plum).  She is happy to report that this project is almost done!

Barb has Cast-On:

Rivercat Socks by Brenda Patipa, using VERY OLD STASH yarn, Knit Fit Knitting Jazzy in the Sea Blue colorway.

The Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig, which is now available using Amy Herzog's CustomFit program!  She is using Must Stash yarns Helluva Skein in the Pauo'le colorway.

Barb is continuing to work on:

Brooke's Column of Leaves Scarf by Brooke Nelson, using Cascade 220 Worsted in the Mystic Purple colorway.

Bootstrap Socks by Lara Neel (from the Sock Architecture book), using GnomeAcres House Gnome in the Betelguise colorway.

BOOKS

Barb mentions the discussion on book groups on the  Books on the Nightstand podcast, Episode 301.

Tracie has finished:

600 Hours of Edward by Craig Lancaster - she gives it an enthusiastic thumbs up!

The Birth Order Book: Why You Are the Way You Are by Kevin Lehman

Barb has finished:

The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon by Alexander McCall Smith

He's Gone by Deb Caletti

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Tracie has given up on, and will not finish These Things Hidden by Heather Dudenkauf

Tracie is currently reading:

Bitch in a Bonnet: Recaliming Jane Austen From the Stiffs, the Snobs, the Simps and the Saps, Volume 2 by Robert Rodi

Barb and Tracie are both currently reading:

The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell and are both really enjoying it!

Barb is currently reading:

Don't Look Now and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Tracie would like your help in figuring out some kind of a knit gift for her brother-in law.  It must be 1. Obnoxious and/or sarcastic, and 2.  quick to knit!

Book Talk begins at 25:42

Our Sweater KAL/CAL is continuing until January 15, 2015, so get busy!  Please check out the chatter thread for all the information you need to participate, and post your finished sweaters in our FOs thread for a chance to win one of our prize packages!

The Northern California Knitting Retreat (NoCKRs!) will be held April 17 - 19, 2015 in San Juan Bautista, CA.  If you are interested in attending, please go here for all the information. $265 per person.  

Tracie has finished: 

Mother Bear #50 - crocheted

Propeller by Woolly Wormhead for her niece Lauren

Her second Vitamin D by Heidi Kirrmaier

Tracie has cast on:

Ethan The Aviator by Gabrielle Danskknit in Cascade Bentley for little cousin Isaac

Shalom Cardigan by Meghan McFarlane in Araucania Tepa in the 1788 colorway, a beautiful sky blue/green variegated

She continues to work on:

Canyonlands Shawl by verybusymonkey using Blue Heron Rayon Metallic in the Deep Blue Sea colorway

Cleito sleeveless top by Susan Mills, using Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Cotton DK in yellow, and Mirasol Yarn Illaris in 111 (plum)

And has been giving no love to:

Mystik Spiral Socks by Josh Ryks, using Invictus Yarns Master of My Feet in the Aradia Self-striping colorway.

Far East of Eden bag by Myra Wood, using way too many yarns to list!

Barb has finished:

Mini-Landing Cardi by Vera Sanon, using Knit Picks Stroll Tonal in the Summer Blooms colorway for her granddaughter Jayla, who is turning 6!

Upstairs/Downstairs: A Cowl in Three Sizes by Paula Emons-Fuseli, using Dizzy Blonde Studios Dirty Blonde DK in the Nichole colorway.

Mystik Spiral Socks by Josh Ryks, using Desert Vista Dyeworks Viso in the Dia de los Muertos colorway.  She has Halloween socks in time for Halloween!

She has been working on:

Brooke's Column of Leaves scarf by Brooke Nelson, using Cascade Yarns 220 Worsted in the Mystic Purple color way.

Barb is continuing to knit:

The Hitofude cardigan by Hiroku Fakatsu, using Madelinietosh Tosh Merino Light in the Jasper colorway.

Bootstrap Socks from Sock Architecture by Lara Neel, using GnomeAcres House Gnome in the Betelguese colorway.

Tracie does not recommend A Choir of Ill Children by Tom Piccirilli, and thought The Shining by Stephen King what good in spite of an ending she did not find scary.

She is reading:

The Birth Order Book: Why You Are the Way You Are by Kevin Leman, 

Bitch In a Bonnet: Reclaiming Jane Austen From the Stiffs, the Snobs, the Simps and the Saps, Volume 2 by Robert Rodi (she loved Volume 1), 

and 600 Hours of Edward by Craig Lancaster, a novel about a Montana man who has severe OCD and Asperger’s Syndrome that she is finding delightful.

Barb finished and highly recommends both The Farm by Tom Rob Smith and Stoner by John Edward Williams

She is currently reading a trio of chillers: 

Don’t Look Now and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier

He’s Gone by Deb Caletti

and Night Film by Marisha Pessl, which she is reading in book-book form because of the cool, creepy visuals included.

Barb gives King of Siam Restaurant in Tehachapi, CA a thumbs-up, and Tracie seconds!  The Chicks have enjoyed Thai food  at King of Siam every year that they have attended the Cogknitive Fiber Retreat!

EBOLA: A CASE IN INEQUALITY 

“As the spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa shows, the importance of reducing inequality could not be more clear. The battle against the virus is a fight on many fronts -- human lives and health foremost among them. But the fight against Ebola is also a fight against inequality. The knowledge and infrastructure to treat the sick and contain the virus exists in high- and middle-income countries. However, over many years, we have failed to make these things accessible to low-income people in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. So now thousands of people in these countries are dying because, in the lottery of birth, they were born in the wrong place.”

Book Talk starts at 33:55

This episode was recorded on September 30, 2014.

The Northern California Knitting Retreat (NoCKRs!) will be held April 17 - 19, 2015 in San Juan Bautista, CA.  If you are interested in attending, please go here for all the information.

Our Mother Bear KAL/CAL is over and all the prizes have been claimed.

Our Sweater KAL/CAL is continuing until January 15, 2015, so get busy!  Please check out the chatter thread for all the information you need to participate.

The winner of the Hallowe'en project bag from the Art Institchtute etsy shop is announced at the end of this podcast.

You have until October 15th to enter the drawing for the ebook Sock Architecture by Lara Neel.  Go here to enter.

Barb highly recommends the Badass Survivors Podcast hosted by Melanie.  This is a podcast about dealing with breast cancer.  Melanie hopes to make it a gathering place for women with breast cancer, survivors of the disease, and those with loved ones going through the process.   Check out Melanie's blog for more information on dealing with breast cancer.  Warning:  Language!

Upcoming events:

Lambtown - October 4 & 5, 2015 in Dixon, CA.

The CogKNITive Fiber Retreat in Tehachapi, CA, October 11.

Stitches West in Santa Clara, CA, February 19-22, 2015.

KNITTING

Barb has finished:

Mother Bear #49

Rose Garden Shawl by Vera Sanon, using Cascade Yarn Ultra Pima in a teal colorway

Tracie has finished:

Mother Bear #49

Impunity Hat by Amana Schwabe, using Gnome Acres House Gnome in the Hulk Smash color way.

Barb has cast on:

Brooke's Column of Leaves scarf by Brooke Nelson, using Cascade Yarns 220 Worsted in the Mystic Purple color way.

Barb is continuing to knit:

The Hitofude cardigan by Hiroku Fakatsu, using Madelinietosh Tosh Merino Light in the Jasper colorway.

Mini-Landing Cardi by Vera Sanon, using Knit Picks Stroll Tonal in the Summer Blooms colorway.

Upstairs/Downstairs: A Cowl in Three Sizes by Paula Emons-Fuseli, using Dizzy Blonde Studios Dirty Blonde DK in the Nichole colorway.

Mystik Spiral Socks by Josh Ryks, using Desert Vista Dyeworks Viso in the Dia de los Muertos colorway.

Tracie has cast on:

Canyonlands Shawl by verybusymonkey using Blue Heron Rayon Metallic in the Deep Blue Sea colorway.

The Propeller hat by Woolly Wormhead, using The Yarns of Rhichard Devrieze 100% Merino Worsted Superwash in the Kimberley colorway.

Tracie is still working on:

A second Vitamin D cardigan by Heidi Kirrmaier, using Knitting Rose Blossom Sock in the Girl on Fire colorway.

Mystik Spiral Socks by Josh Ryks, using Invictus Yarns Master of My Feet in the Aradia Self-striping colorway.

BOOKS

Barb has finished:

A Place at the Table by Susan Rebecca White

The Qualities of Wood by Mary Vensel White

Tracie has finished:

Reality Boy by A.S. King

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty

Barb is currently reading:

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Don't Look Now and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier

Stoner by John Edward Williams

Tracie is currently reading:

The Birth Order Book: Why You are the Way You Are by Kevin Lehman

Tracie also mentions the Stuff Mom Never Told You Episode, Middle Child Syndrome

A Choir of Ill Children by Tom Piccirilli

The Shining by Stephen King

Tracie mentions the website IMDB for all things trivia related to The Shining film.  She also recommends Room 237, an exploration of various interpretations of the movie, The Shining.

Barb mentions the current IRS Phone Scam.  Please go here to the IRS page on how to deal with these pervasive phone scams.

Book Talk Starts at 41:20

OUR BIG NEWS! The Northern California Knitting Retreat will take place Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19, 2015 at the St. Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista, California. The retreat is organized by a committee of friends brought together by their love of fiber craft and knitting from Northern California and by The 2 Knit Lit Chicks and The Yarniacs podcasts.

Cost of the retreat is $265 per person.  This includes sleeping accommodations in a double (shared) room for the nights of Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18, six meals, and use of common rooms and facilities.  Please note that all rooms are shared.  Special dietary needs can be accommodated.

SPACE IS LIMITED, and it is our desire to make things as fair as is humanly possible.   If you would like to attend:

Email Tracie Bezerra at [email protected] to obtain the application. 

Mail the application with your payment beginning October 15, 2015.  Please note: No applications with a postmark date before October 15, 2015 will be accepted.

If you would like to attend and room with a friend, please send your applications and payments together in one envelope.  No more than two applications per envelope, please.

If more applications are received than retreat spaces are available, attendees will be chosen by lottery.  If your application is not chosen in the lottery, you will have the option to either be placed on a waiting list or have your check shredded.  We will hold the checks sent by those on the waiting list until it is determined whether they have a space at the retreat.

Our Sweater KAL/CAL has begun!  It will run from September 15 to January 15, and it must be an adult-sized sweater with some kind of sleeves to qualify for the prize drawing.  If you’ve never knit a sweater before, this is the time to give it a try!  We will have a list of some patterns that would work well for beginners on our Sweater KAL Chat thread.

Daisy, who sells everything from cool fabric to vintage ties to wonderful project bags in her Artinstitchtute etsy shop, will be sending this Alexander Henry fabric project bag (a $32 value) to one lucky winner!  Go over to our Ravelry group to enter to win.  And take a look at Daisy's shop; you can get a 20% discount using the coupon code endofsummer2014.

Mean Girls Yarn Club from Dizzy Blonde Studios

Barb and Tracie will both be attending the following events:
Lambtown in Dixon, CA, October 4 & 5.  We will be attending on Sunday, the 4th.
CogKNITive Fiber Retreat in Tehachapi, CA, October 11.
Stitches West in Santa Clara, CA, February 19 - 22, 2015.

Northern California Knitting Retreat – April 17-19, 2015 in San Juan Bautista, CA

Barb has Finished:

Mother Bear #48

Cabled Hot Water BottleCover by Vivianne Kacal, using Plymouth Encore in the Hunter Green colorway

Tracie Has Finished:

Mother Bears 47 and 48

Autumn Whirlpool Hat with Earflaps by Natalie Pelykh/ Gnome Acres Fingering Sock in the Hulk Smash colorway

Ripples by Annelie Wallbom/Becoming Art Cielo Fingering in the True Love colorway. 

She lined her 2nd Infamous Hobo Bag

Barb is working on:

Hitofude cardigan by Hirolu Fulatsu, using Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in the Jasper color way

Rose Garden Shawl by Vera Sanon, using Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima in a teal colorway

Mini-Landing Cardi, by Vera Sanon, using Knit Picks Stroll Tonal in the Summer Blooms colorway.

Upstairs Downstairs Cowl by Paula Emons-Fuesli in the Small, using Dizzy Blonde Studios Dirty Blonde DKin the Nichole colorway.

Mystik Spiral Socks by Josh Ryks using Desert Vista Dyeworks Viso in the Dia de los Muertos colorway.

Tracie is working on:

A second Vitamin D by Heidi Kirrmaier in Knitting Rose Yarns Blossom Sock in the Girl on Fire colorway.  

Mystic Spiral Socks by Josh Ryks in Invictus Yarns Master of my Feet in the Aradia Self Striping colorway.  

Review: Sock Architectureby Lara Neel

Enter to win a copy here

BOOKS:

As She Left It by Catriona McPherson

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Prayers for the Dying by Suzanne Jenkins

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty

Here’s the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice by Maureen McCormick

Still Life by Louise Penny

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

A Place at the Table by Susan Rebecca White

The Qualities of Wood by Mary Vensel White

Reality Boy by A.S. King

If you haven't yet heard "Weird Al" Yancovic's brilliant "Word Crimes" song, here is the video:

Thank you to our listeners for their patience during the last several weeks as we changed to a new hosting site and required everyone to un-subscribe and re-subscribe (information and directions are here).  You may have noticed old episodes popping up looking like "new" episodes…this is because we are uploading all of our previous episodes to Libsyn and iTunes.  Information on that is here!

Our Mother Bear KAL/CAL is over!  We drew for prizes, and the winners are listed at the bottom of this post.  Thanks to all of you who generously knitted and crocheted bears for this wonderful organization.

You knit and crocheted 125 bears this year.  Thank you so much to tmkr who is donating $1 per bear to the Mother Bear Organization!

Be sure and mail your completed bears (along with $3 per bear to cover shipping to their final destination!) to the Mother Bear Organization to this address:

Mother Bear Organization

P.O. Box 62188

Minneapolis, MN 55426

Our upcoming Sweater KAL/CAL will be starting September 15, 2014 and will run until January 15, 2015.  Start thinking about what you want to knit!

New Giveaway!

Daisy, who sells everything from cool fabric to vintage ties to wonderful project bags in her Artinstitchtute etsy shop, will be sending this Alexander Henry fabric project bag (a $32 value) to one lucky winner!  Go over to our Ravelry group to enter to win.  And take a look at Daisy's shop; you can get a 15% discount using the coupon code endofsummer2014.

Barb recommends the new video podcast, Yarnder Woman, available on YouTube here!

Barb and Tracie will both be attending the following events:

Lambtown in Dixon, CA, October 4 & 5.  We will be attending on Sunday, the 4th.

CogKNITive Fiber Retreat in Tehachapi, CA, October 11.

Stitches West in Santa Clara, CA, February 19 - 22, 2015.

Barb and Tracie are both on Instagram now!  Barb is KnittyBarb, and Tracie is alittleposy.  Come follow us!

KNITTING

Barb has finished:

* Another Autumn Whirlpool with Earflaps Hat by Pelykh Natalie, using Knit Picks Stroll Tonal Fingering in the Summer Blooms color way

* HGV (High Speed Knitting) shawl by Susan Ashcroft, using FishKnits Divine in the Tea Rose Hybrid Full Gradient color way

* Mother Bear #47

* Vanilla Ragg Socks, using Patons Kroy in the Blue Stripe Ragg colorway

*Vonica cardigan by Bonne Marie Burns, using Highland Handmades Butternut DK, in the charcoal colorway.

Tracie has finished:

* Mother Bears 45 & 46

Tracie has cast-on:

* Autumn Whirlpool with Earflaps Hat by Pelykh Natalie, using GnomeAcres House Gnome in the Hulk Smash colorway

Tracie is still working on:

* Her second Vitamin D cardigan by Heidi Kirrmaier, using Knitting Rose Blossom Sock in the Girl on Fire colorway

* Mystik Spiral socks, using Invictus Yarns Master of My Feet in he Aradia Self-Striping colorway

* Ripples shawl by Annelie Wallbom, using Becoming Art Cielo Fingering in the True Love colorway

* Cleito sleeveless top by Susan Mills, using Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Cotton DK in yellow, and Mirasol Yarn Illaris in 111 (plum)

* Far East of Eden bag by Myra Wood, using way too many yarns to list!

Barb has cast-on:

* Hitofude cardigan by Hirolu Fulatsu, using Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in the Jasper colorway

* Rose Garden Shawl by Vera Sanon, using Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima in a teal colorway

* Cabled Hot Water Bottle Cover/Cozy by Vivianne Kacal, using Plymouth Encore in the Hunter Green colorway

BOOKS

Barb has finished:

* Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead

* The Absence of Mercy by John Burley

* The Magpies by John Burley

Tracie has finished:

*Endless Love by Scott Spencer

*Court TV Presents: Murder in Room 103 by Harriet Ryan

*Tilt-a-Whirl by Chris Grabenstein

Download the Akinator app, a 20-questions style game that is fun

for the whole family.  Unfortunately, Tracie was completely wrong - it is not free :-(

Here is what the CDC has to say about preventing mosquito bites and therefore avoiding the West Nile Virus

We still have some unclaimed prizes from our Prize-A-Palooza giveaway (to celebrate 2000 members in our Ravelry Group).  Please check our Episode 66 Blogpost to see if you won.

Our Mother Bear KAL/CAL will officially begin July 1.  You will have until August 31 to post pictures of any bears completed in 2014 to our FO thread to be eligible to win some great prizes.  Please go to the Mother Bear Website to purchase your knitted or crocheted bear pattern.

You have until June 15th to enter to win this skein of Dream in Color Jilly.  You can enter here.
















Tracie will be attending Spinning at the Winery at the Retzlaff Winery in Livermore, CA on June 7th.  Rumor has it that DH Ryan will be attending this event with her.

KNITTING

Barb's FO's
Afternoon Tea shawl by Helen Stewart, using Dream in Color Jilly in the Shy colorway

Stitch Surfers #1 by Louise Roberts, using Becoming Art Cielo Fingering in the Midnight Mountain colorway and  Becoming Art Jolie Sport in the Looking Glass colorway.













Simple Skyp Socks #2 by Adrianne Ku, using Lana Grossa Meilenweit 100 Fantasy Sock Yarn.
Mother Bear #36
Knitted Knockers #2 & #3

Tracie's FO's

Flash Air Tote (the Plein Air Tote by Amanda Schuezger), using Newton's Yarn Country Flash in the Green colorway















Jilly Millrace by Elizabeth Doherty, using Dream in Color Jilly in the Cloudy colorway

Barb is working on:
Foolproof cowl by Louise Zass Bangham, using Forbidden Woolery Wrath in the Lump of Coal color way and Forbidden Woolery Pride in the Darkest Emerald colorway
Rhombi Cardigan by Terri Kruse, using Neighborhood Fiber Company's Studio Sport in the Columbus Circle colorway
Socks on a Plane by Laura Linneman, using Gnome Acres House Gnome in the Tonto colorway

Tracie is working on:
Twisted Rib Neck Warmer by Michelle Johnstone, using Anzula Nebula in the Kale colorway
Coachella by Fathom Harvill, using Microfiber Ribbon by Tess Designer Yarns
Spring Showers by Joji Locatelli, using DK Superwash Merino/Nylon by Newton's Yarn Country
Victorian Birdcage Socks by Cat Bordhi, using Plymouth Yarn Happy Feet
Symbiotic Cowl by Hanna Maciejewska, using Baa! Sonoma in the Mystique and Blue Sapphire colorways

Tracie is setting aside the Knitting Rose Blossom Sock yarn in the Girl on Fire colorway until she decides for sure which cardigan she wants to knit!

Tracie is stalking the Hitofude Cardigan - she wants to make it in a silvery-gray color as a summer cardigan.  Coincidentally, Barb is also planning to knit this cardigan out of Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light that she has in stash.

BOOKS

Barb has finished:
Criminal Damage by Margaret York
Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan (Barb was very lukewarm about this book)

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon (LOVED this book!)

















Tracie has finished:
Little Girl Lost by Brian McGilloway
Coming Clean by Kimberly Rae Miller
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (a big thank you to Pinneguri for the link to the YouTube narration!)

Barb is currently reading:
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill
A Good and Useful Hurt by Aric Davis

Tracie is currently reading:
Kind of Cruel by Sophie Hannah

I'm Down by Mishna Wolff
















Two Sisters by Mary Hogan