Recorded on February 3, 2016

Book Talk Starts at 32:00

Are you ready for the 2 Knit Lit Chicks VEST KAL/CAL?  Well, hurry up and gather your materials, because we start on February 15th!

Any adult-sized vest or short-sleeve sweater, open-front or pullover, may be entered for the KAL.  You must be a member of our  Ravelry Group to enter.

We already have a very active Chatter Thread and a rapidly growing Bundle of vest patterns to start the planning!  Once we get started, we’ll put up an FOs where you can post your garments to be entered to win.  The KAL will end on May 15.

Our first 2 Knit Lit Chicks Swap is on!  The deadline has passed for you to join, but if you are participating, chatter away here.  Thank you to SandraMaz, the proprietress of the SweetSerendipity37 shop on Easy and friend to our podcast, for organizing the swap!

A Message from Sox Therapist – creator of the Fish Lips Kiss Heel:

CHECK YOUR GIRLS! I’m going through my Stage 3B cancer journey right now. Wasn’t due for a mammogram, but found sore nodes and got diagnosed on the 3rd anniversary of my sweet Mom’s death from cancer. It’s a very tough journey, but I’m doing it, and plan to get more active on Ravelry soon, and publish more $1.00 patterns, so I can earn enough to gather our kids and their families from around the country for a “Mom’s gonna beat cancer” reunion. CHECK YOUR GIRLS!

Stay tuned to the end of this podcast to find out who won our Modern Lopi ebook giveaway

Tracie and Barb will be at Stitches West  - February 18-21, 2016 in Santa Clara, California.  Come join us in the bar on Saturday afternoon for our meet-up with the Yarniacs and lots of other fun people!  Also - Knit some Knockers and turn them in at the Knitted Knockers booth!  They have a goal to collect 1,000 Knockers at Stitches this year!

2015 - The Chicks Year in Review

Barb knit a total of 64 projects:

6 sweaters

4 cowls

5 scarves

11 hats

5 mitts

10 socks

2 vests

2 shawls

17 bears

2 other

While Tracie knit 56 items total, including:

17 Mother Bears

10 hats

7 cowls

6 sweaters

5 pairs of socks

3 pairs of mitts

2 Bakery Bears

1 scarf

1 poncho

1 top

1 shawl

1 Earbud Pouch

and 1 dress for the runway at Paris Fashion Week

Barb read 73 books in  2015, and Tracie read 74.

Barb has finished:

Grandpa Cardigan by Joji Locatelli, using Cascade Cash Vero DK (a cashmere, (a merino, microfiber, and cashmere blend) in a royal blue colorway (a $6.50 pattern).  

Winter Wander Shawl by Helen Stewart, using Invictus Yarns Victorious in the Exotic colorway and Knit Picks Aloft in the Carbon Colorway. (photo)

Barley Hat by TinCanKnits using leftover Universal Yarns Classic Shades - free

Luuk Hat by Annis Jones, using leftover Universal Yarns Classic Shades - free

Kindling Hat by Helen Stewart using leftover King Cole Riot DK (part of the Knitvent 2015 collection)

Mother Bear #69

Knitted Knockers

Tracie has finished:

Posy’s Little Black Sweater - Dog-o-matic by Angela Kreutzer (in Stitch’n’Bitch Superstar Knitting) in Universal Yarns Classic Worsted Holiday (black).  No idea why this was a UFO for 3 years!

The Starshower cowl by Hilary Smith Callis, using La Bien Aimee MCN Light in the Jon Snow colorway.

The Meditate cowl by Elizabeth Doherty, using Redfish Dyeworks Silk Sock.

Lacy Boot Toppers ($1 on Ravelry) by Jillian Mellan in  Frog Tree Pediboo Sock in Tan

Barb is currently working on:

Vanilla Socks using Fishknits Warm Heart 2-ply in the Cadillac colorway

Never Not Knitting Mystery Shawl KAL, using Berroco Vintage in colorway 5194.

And has cast on:

Silverthorne Hat by Becky Kelly,  using Plymouth Galway in the Dark Coral Rose colorway.  $4

More Knitted Knockers

Poppy Poncho by Cathy Donnabello, using Mrs. Crosby Loves to Play Satchel in the Port Vintage colorway.

Tracie has cast on the Yipes Stripes Cowl by Ann Weaver in  5 colors of Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Worsted (kit purchased at Stitches)

She is working on:

Rodeo Drive Poncho by Stacy Perry in Fonty BB Merino in Brun Scooby Doo

Vanilla socks with a Fish-Lips-Kiss Heel, using Knit Picks Felici in the Baker Street colorway.

The Longstreet shawl by Nancy Totten using Abstract Fibers Temptation in The Gorge colorway.

And she gave up and frogged her Shalom Cardigan by Meghan McFarlane in Araucania Tepa (bulky, wool/mohair/silk).  This yarn + this pattern + Tracie = no bueno!

Barb’s finished books:

Salem’s Lot by Stephen King

The Wild Inside by Christine Carbo

The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R. Carey (photo)

The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon

Tracie did not finish

The Bone House by Brian Freeman

Tracie finished reading: 

Bellweather Rhapsody by Kate Racculia

September Sacrifice by Mark Horner

Mrs. Budley Falls From Grace by M.C. Beaton

Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer

Barb is reading:

Exposed:  The Secret Life of Jodi Arias by Jane Velez Mitchell

The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith

Tracie is reading:

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

Thumbs Up – Grease Live!