Book Talk starts at: 30:46

Recorded on January 21, 2015

Our Next KAL – the Alana-Along – starts in less than 2 week! February 1-April 1. 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.   Please go here to participate on the chatter thread.

Our Sweater KAL is over!  There were 107 completed sweaters - congratulations to all who participated.  The winners of the 3 prize packages are announced at the end of the podcast. 

Read-Along of Persuasion by Jane Austen – A number of people have expressed interest so we will go ahead with it.  The dates will be announced later.

Alice's Embrace:  Barb discussed a charity seeking volunteers to knit and crochet prayer shawls and lap blankets for those suffering from Alheimer's Disease.  You can find more information about it here.

Events:

EVENTS:

Tracie and Barb will be at:

Stitches West – February 19-22 – Santa Clara, CA

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

Knitting

Tracie has finished:

* Mushishi Ruffled Scarf from Plymouth Yarns/Plymouth Mushishi in Stained Glass

* Modicum Mitts by Rachel Roden/Sock Yarns from Invictus Yarns and Fishknits plus Knitted Wit Shine and KnitPicks Chroma

Barb has finished:

* 135-31 DROPS Tristen Hat, using Becoming Art DK weight in the Warm Spice Colorway

*  Mother Bear #51

Tracie is still working on:

*  Cloud Bay by Justina Lorkowska/Ella Rae Silkience in brown

 * Alewives Cowl by Elizabeth Sock Yarn Blanket in Blue Heron Cotton Rayon Flax Metallic in Sage

Barb is still working on:

* Top-Down Icelandic Sweater by Ragga Eriksdotter, using Isex Lett-Lopi in the Glacial Blue Heather, White and Sun Yellow colorways. 

* Sock Yarn Blanket by Shelley Kang.

* The Radiance Shawl by Helen Stewart, using Highland Handmades Mountain Laurel Lace in the White Brook colorwway.

* Snicket Socks by Sabine Riefer, using Invictus Yarns Unafraid in the Tranquility colorway.

 Tracie has cast-on:

*Fish Lips Kiss Heel Socks by Sox Therapist, using Dizzy Blonde Studios Lambie Toes.

*Mrs. Bakery Bear by Kay F. Jones, using scrap yarn from her stash.  She is currently working on the body and completely enjoying herself!

 * Wee Wildflower Cardigan by Alana Dakos using Knit Picks Brava Sport 

Barb has cast-on:

 * a pair of vanilla socks with the Fish Lips Kiss Heel, using Plymouth Yarn Neon Now in a green/pink/blue colorway.

TRACIE'S KNITTING 2014 YEAR IN REVIEW: 

17 Mother Bears

13 hats

9 shawls and scarves

7 pairs of socks

6 sweaters

4 pairs of fingerless mitts

3 cowls

2 bags

BARB'S KNITTING 2014 YEAR IN REVIEW:

Total of 80 projects completed in 2014. 15.2 miles knitted.

a.     8 sweaters

b.     19 pair of socks

c.      6 shawls

d.     3 toys

e.     6 cowls

f.      5 mitts

g.     1 mittens

h.     1 poncho

i.       10 hats

j.       3 scarves

k.     2 other

l.       19 Mother Bears

m.   4 preemie hats

BOOKS:

Tracie has finished:

* The Irresistible Henry House by Lisa Grunwald.  She recommends it with reservations.

* My Sister’s Grave by Robert Dugoni

* Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit

Barb has finished:

* Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon

* We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas.  Barb gives it a very enthusiastic thumbs up!

Tracie is currently reading:

* Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell

* Night Film by Marisha Pessl

* Deadly Little Secrets: The Minister, His Mistress and a Heartless Texas Murder by Kathryn Casey

* The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty

Barb is currently reading:

* Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, through the CraftLit podcast.

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

* Section 132 by Helga Zeiner

* Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Tracie read 66 books in 2014...Barb read 80 books in 2014.