{show notes ~ episode one oh six} Still waiting on baby!  On today's show I talk about the fleece auction I went to last weekend, my finished POP Blanket, Spinzilla 2015, some test spinning I'm doing for my next woolen spinning project, as well as a whole bunch of handspun I've had waiting in the wings for months. Spunky Eclectic September 2015 Fiber Club Spun Up It's a little bit of a longer show today, but I very likely won't be recording for a few weeks, so hopefully it makes up for that.   {works in progress} Autumn On The Go Socks - plain vanilla and perfect for fall! {finished objects}  My POP Blanket from Tin Can Knits (you can find the big tutorial on all you need to know about knitting the POP Blanket right here).  I used the Twin Stitch Knit and Twin Stitch Purl short rows, which are the same wrapping methods as found in the Fish Lips Kiss Heel by Sox Therapist. The videos linked are of the pattern author demonstrating the techniques. Waving Lace Socks by Evelyn A. Clark, from the Interweave Press book, Favorite Socks (the digital version is currently on sale - I'm not affiliated, but thought I'd mention it)! Here's the info on yarn overs in different situations as promised.  An interesting read if you're struggling to keep your yarn over eyelets the same size in different situations. {events} Last weekend I attended the Lower Mainland Sheep Producer's Association annual public event, the Wool 'n Ewe A-Fair, which was held at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds in Surrey, BC.  They don't currently have the 2016 dates listed yet.  I share some footage of this event, and talk a little bit about one of my favourite local vendors.  {hand spinning} Spinzilla has wrapped up for 2015!  I ended up spinning 'rogue' this year, after giving up my spot on Team Sweet Georgia when it looked like I'd only be able to spin for 2 days of that week.  I ended up being able to spin the whole time, but my yardage was not nearly what it was last year. I spun up some beautifully prepped and dyed corriedale from Spunky Eclectic, which I had just received as part of the September 2015 Fiber Club.  I only managed to spin the one braid of fiber, and plyed it up the day after Spinzilla ended (no plying credit for me on this one). My final Spinzilla 2015 stats: 576 yards of 3-ply (I chain plyed / Navajo plyed it up), which gave me a total Spinzilla yardage of 1,728 yards (just shy of 1 mile).  Doesn't seem like much in comparison to my almost 7,000 yards last year, but I think I actually enjoyed the process much more this year. Currently I'm working on spinning up some white Shetland roving from Custom Woolen Mills in Alberta.  I'm using my Hansen Mini Spinner with the WooLee Winder flyer and finding that with the proper tweaks to take-up and speed, it really sings for spinning long draw.   {tunes} "Pamgaea" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) "Life of Riley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ {watch}

{show notes ~ episode one oh five} Happy Thanksgiving!!  We're hosting a small Thanksgiving dinner at our house tomorrow night, and I can't tell you how immensely I'm looking forward to turkey and stuffing.  It has been a couple of weeks, but I wanted to put out one last show before I (hopefully) go into labour (due in 3 days).  I am toying with a once-a-month schedule until things normalize a bit more and I can get back to my normal weekly schedule - so I guess you can consider this October's show! I attended a couple of knitting and spinning events, plus update you on my Spinzilla progress.  I have a new WIP I've been working on like a madwoman (almost done!!), as well as updates on a couple of projects from last time.  Please know that the responses I received after releasing the last show really warmed my heart (I have just been very terribly slow (or more like completely remiss) in responding to them).   {works in progress} POP Blanket by Tin Can Knits! Here's a link to my POP Blanket Ravelry page in case you are curious about colour numbers, etc. I would highly recommend the POP Blanket tutorial from Tin Can Knits. It will walk you through techniques you may not be familiar with, such as the pinhole cast on and assembly via slip stitch crochet.Storytime Scholar is almost done. Just needs the buttons sewn on.Waving Lace Socks. They've taken a bit of a backseat to the POP Blanket over the last week! POP Blanket by Tin Can Knits {finished objects} Sadly lacking this week.  I came so close with the Storytime Scholar Cardigan, but I just didn't get those buttons sewn on! Knit City 2015 - Entering the Marketplace just after 9:00am Saturday {events} Knit City 2015.Spinzilla 2015.The Lower Mainland Sheep Producer's Association had their annual Wool 'n Ewe A-Fair this past weekend. I'll talk about it more on the next show, since I ran out of time on this one. {hand spinning} It's the last day of Spinzilla 2015!! My spinning amount was shameful in comparison to last year, but I ended up spinning 'rogue' so my sucky yardage doesn't impact anyone but me. Spunky Eclectic Fiber Club - September 2015 - Squash Blossom on Corriedale However, I am very pleased with what I chose to spin! I have been in the Spunky Eclectic Fiber Club for a full year now, and I have put each and every bump of fiber into my stash, so this is the first time I've ever spun Spunky fiber!  It was prepped and dyed so nicely, a real pleasure to spin. I opted to split the bump of fiber vertically into 15 thinner strips and spun each strip from end to end (after a very light pre-draft).  I used a short forward draw, but didn't strangle all of the air out of the fiber as I smoothed it back down with my drafting hand. Between not smoothing out all the air, and jumbling up the fibers a little bit with pulling it into strips, I have a more airy single than I would have if I had not stripped the fiber down and smoothed out all the air.  I also expect the corriedale to 'poof' a little bit, so hopefully I'll end up with a sock yarn on the softer, fluffier side of things. I used my Hansen Mini-Spinner with the Lace Flyer, and will ply using the Woolee Winder flyer.  I will be chain plying this single and making a pair of socks.  I'm hoping to get them knit up a little later this month for Socktoberfest 2015! {tunes} "Pamgaea" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ {watch}

{show notes ~ episode one oh four} It's been a month and a half since we last talked!  Yikes! Where has the time gone?  On the bright side, I have a tonne of finished objects and works in progress to show you! I've opted to give a quicker than usual run-through of my projects this time, so if you have any questions about any of them, please send me a message on Ravelry, and I'll do my best to answer any questions on the next show! Baby #2 is due to arrive at any time now, so the next show will be dependent on when she arrives, but fear not, I will record again as soon as possible!  {works in progress} Summertide Mystery Shawl KAL by Helen StewartAutumn Themed 'On The Go' SocksWaving Lace Socks from Favorite SocksStorytime Scholar Toddler Cardi {finished objects} Fireflies Rising Shawlette, pattern by Helen Stewart. I used Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (TML) in Modern Fair Isle. Fireflies Rising by Helen Stewart, Madelinetosh TML in Modern Fair Isle Another pair of Fish Lips Kiss Heel Socks, this time knit from Opal Cotton Premium from 88 Stitches in Langley, BC. Toe Up Socks (FLK Heel), Opal Cotton Premium (#8892) {hand spinning} Looking at Low Twist Handspun by Hilltop Cloud. I highly recommend checking out this blog post if you're at all curious about the effects of twist in your yarn on knitted lace. Really interesting to see the comparison pictures! I wish I had a subscription to Ply Magazine so I could read the rest of the article! It's just not particularly accessible in Canada yet (between the high shipping rates and the plummeting Canadian dollar). Any word on a digital version? {tunes} "Pamgaea" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This week we finally get to catch up with each other!  I share several works in progress (including a new pair of socks and a baby sweater), some spinning and future spinning projects, a few purchases I made over the last month, and a reminder that the Spinzilla signups are coming up at the beginning of September.    Click for details. WIPs - Toe Up Socks, using the fish lips kiss heel and Turtle Purl Striped Turtle Toes in In My Element. Also showed City Girl colourway. Turtle Purl Striped Turtle Toes - In My Element I'm making a second Storytime Scholar Cardigan, pattern by Lisa Chemery, in the 2T-3T size, using Cascade Ecological Wool. I also showed the Tin Can Knits Rocky Joggers I'm making out of some Smith & Ewe sparkle yarn. Going to frog to make a better size, but loving the pattern! FOs - Recorded on a whim this week and all my FOs are upstairs! Will talk about them next show. Look forward to 2 shawls, 1 hat, and a pair of socks next time! Acquisitions - Yarn in the Dreamboat colourway from Sweet Georgia Yarns, on the Tough Love base, which I plan on using to make another pair of Waving Lace Socks by Evelyn A. Clark, from Favorite Socks (Interweave Press, 2007). Fiber for the Completely Twisted and Arbitrary July-Sept 2015 SAL from Into the Whirled. CTA SAL Fiber, July - September 2015, dyed by Into The Whirled We briefly look at the July 2015 Club Shipment from Skein Yarn, followed by a more in depth look at the August 2015 Fiber Club from Sweet Georgia (ps. the October, November, December 2015 club session is available to order now!), a summery merino/tencel blend. Misc -  Spinzilla runs from Oct 5-11, 2015. Check out their website for sign up details. Soundtrack - "Pamgaea" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 101 - On The Round BFL on the Lendrum No real show notes this week. Finished Pebble Beach Shawl Points of interest - Curious Handmade Podcast with Helen Stewart Fireflies Rising by Helen Stewart Pebble Beach Shawl by Helen Stewart This is the largest size of the Pebble Beach Shawl pattern and it's huge! Spinning -  Tour de Fleece - July 4-26. I've joined team Lendrum, Hansen and Completely Twisted and Arbitrary Spinning Group. I mentioned 'ply day' which takes place in the Sweets Off The Wheel group. Soundtrack - "Pamgaea" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 100 Show Notes - Week In Review - I've been obsessively listening to the Curious Handmade Podcast with Helen Stewart, designer extraordinaire!  I also signed up for her newsletter and was surprised with a coupon for her patterns.  I didn't need much more encouragement than a 30% off coupon for 2 or more patterns, and I bought the Odessa Shawl, Fireflies Rising Shawlette, Candlelit Shawl, and the Sunburst Shawl. I've been thinking a lot about hand pulled roving... I know many of you are spinners and do some level of fiber prep, but I thought I'd include a link to some info on the different fiber preps.  There's even more info here from Abby Franquemont, one of my favourite spinning authorities.  WIPs - Lots of new cast ons and works in progress this week! sitting in the window FOs - Quynn by Woolly Wormhead. Using a handspun sample I spun up last summer. Fiber is Sweet Georgia BFL in the Stella colourway. My sample is a worsted spun 2 ply and measured 13 - 14 wraps per inch (WPI), which is DK weight territory and weighed 32 grams. I used a 4mm (US6) needle and cast on for the 16" size, which gave me a finished size somewhere between the smallest and second smallest sizes. I also worked the plain round during the decrease section only until round 20, then decreased every round, in order to make the hat a little less pointy on the top. Spinning - Still working my way through the Sweet Georgia 85% Polwarth / 15% Silk in the Grouse colourway. I've spun up 31 grams of a total of 223 grams so far. Spinning this worsted and aiming for a fingering/light fingering 3 ply finished yarn. I bought some raw fleece from Ranching Tradition in Montana. I snagged this beautiful gray Border Leicester (75%) / Romney (25%) fleece (all 8lbs of it!) - and also Petunia's lovely Rambouillet/Targhee/Suffolk Cross fleece - Here's a pic of a bit more of this massive 9lb fleece! - Both fleeces are on their way to Morro Fleece Works to be processed into pin drafted roving. I also picked up my braid of SW BFL from Sweet Georgia in the Stella colourway - one of my all time favourite colourways! I'm going to make myself a pair of socks with this eventually. Thinking it'll be part of my Tour de Fleece goal! Soundtrack - "Pamgaea" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 99 Show Notes - WIPs - I'm working on the Pebble Beach Shawl by Helen Stewart out of Habu Textiles Tsumugi in colour #48 (100% silk). Pebble Beach Shawl by Helen Stewart Check out Helen's podcast, Curious Handmade. I'm also working on Brickless by Martina Behm and some Fish Lips Kiss socks for Jack. FOs - Nothing this week. Spinning - Sweet Georgia Polwarth Silk in Grouse. Sweet Georgia Polwarth/Silk in Grouse Finished spinning the Sweet Georgia Panda in Shipwreck, now I just need to ply it up! Received my May 2015 Spunky Eclectic Club fiber! I also talked about my Rav Power battery, details here if you're interested. Fun at the Park! Soundtrack - "Pamgaea" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Add caption

Episode 98 Show Notes - The Knitting Pipeline podcast is having a Pebble Beach Shawl KAL in the Knitting Pipeline group on Ravelry - details here (including 30% off coupon code [KPKAL30] valid until May 31, 2015). WIPs - I'm working on the Pebble Beach Shawl by Helen Stewart out of Habu Textiles Tsumugi in colour #48 (100% silk) - Progress...15% It's so well written and a real pleasure to knit, I already have more planned for my future! I talked about possibly using ShiBui Heichi (worsted weight) or ShiBui Pebble (light fingering weight) for my next shawls.   Do you have a favourite rustic feeling silk or silk blend yarn? I'm finding it to be such a great material to work with now that our weather is getting warmer! FOs - This week became all about finishing up! I finished two pairs of socks. I tried to make the most of my lunch break this week - Lunch time knitting by the pond. While working on Turtlepurl Yarns Striped Turtle Toes in 'Air Force One'. Here's a link to my Ravelry project page for all the deets. Finished: Opal Sweet & Spicy 2 socks. I also finished the socks from Opal Sweet & Spicy 2 in the Sprinkles colourway. Here's the Ravelry project page with all the details. Spinning - I spun a TON this week! Spinning WIP: Sweet Georgia Panda in Shipwrek on the Hansen with Lace Flyer. I'm a little more than 2/3rds of the way through the braid of Sweet Georgia Yarns Panda (merino/bamboo/nylon)in the Shipwreck colourway. I'm using my Hansen mini spinner with the lace flyer. The specs on the singles are 64 wraps per inch (WPI) and approx 17 twists per inch (TPI), although this was really hard to measure because the single is so fine. This is destined to be a 3-ply either for a shawl or a pair of socks. Either way, I'm going for a fingering to light fingering weight. I had a great coffee this morning with my friend Rachel, aka Welford Purls. Check out her Etsy shop, The Wool n' Spinning Shop. She has AMAZING punis!! - Rachel's gorgeous punis! Rachel also hosts a monthly videocast. Catch her latest {Videopurl} here. She is a really fantastic spinner - just wait until you see her latest handspun WIP! I also talk about Tour de Fleece 2015, which runs from July 4, 2015 to July 26, 2015. Oh and of course I'm going to participate in Spinzilla in October of this year, because clearly I'm crazy! It ends 3 days before my due date with baby #2! I hope you have a wonderful week filled with joy, happiness and fiber!! Fun at the park! Soundtrack - "Pamgaea" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 97 Show Notes News - The Knitting Pipeline Podcast is one of my favourite audio shows out there, and Paula is having a Pebble Beach Shawl KAL in the Knitting Pipeline group on Ravelry - details here. The KAL runs from May 5, 2015 to July 5, 2015 and allows you to knit any one of Helen Stewart's patterns (and she's offering a 30% discount with the code found in Paula's group until May 31!). You may recall I just finished knitting Helen's free knitting pattern, Glitz at the Ritz, published on Knitty. Here's a pic - Designer Melanie Berg is having an 'Any Shawl KAL' in her Ravelry group, Mairlynd. Details on the KAL can be found here. If you've ever wanted to knit one of her shawls, now is the time! Her KAL runs from May 8, 2015 to June 12, 2015. I must admit, Oceanbound is tempting me... WIPs- Brickless by Martina Behm. Pebble Beach Shawlette by Helen Stewart. Opal Sweet and Spicy 2 "Sprinkles" Fish Lips Kiss Heel Socks. FOs- Wee Envelope by Ysolda Teague. All my WIPs and FOs are in my Ravelry projects if you are looking for more details. Spinning - Spun Right Round March 2015 Club "Flock Together" in Rambouillet is done. 526 yards, 107 grams. Here's a link to the specs. Sampling Sweet Georgia Polwarth/Silk in Grouse - ...and pondering starting to spin Sweet Georgia Panda in Stormchaser - I guess I should decide pretty soon!! Sewing - I used the Noodle Head tutorial found here. I made the smallest and largest sizes. Soundtrack - "Pamgaea" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 96 Show Notes - Misc -  Interested in the unofficial Regia Arnie & Carlos KAL?  Use hashtag #acregiakal. WIPs - Wee Envelope by Ysolda Teague, in the 3-6 month size, using Malabrigo Arroyo in Escorias (054). Wee Envelope Sprinkles, my fourth pair of Fish Lips Kiss Heel socks! This time, I'm using Opal Sweet & Spicy in the Sprinkles colourway (more officially, #8613, Zuckerstreusel). Opal Sweet & Spicy 2 in the Sprinkles colourway The socks I'm affectionately calling Monkey Sparkles saw a bit more progress this week. The yarn is Smith & Ewe Sparkle Sock in the "Your Majesty" colourway. FOs - Sadly, nothing is quite done this week... Spinning WIP - Still enjoying my Hansen Mini Spinner immensely - March 2015 Spun Right Round Club on the Hansen Mini Spinner I'm still working on the Spun Right Round Club colourway from March 2015. A beautifully prepped Rambouillet. So close to being finished this one! I played with the colour placement by spinning a modified fractal spin. More details on Episode 94 as well as this episode. The Hansen is Seeing Much More Love These Days... I can't wait to try out my new Hansen Lace Flyer!! Enhancing the Stash - April's Spunky Eclectic Club arrived, and I'm loving both the colour (it reminds me of some handspun socks I made years ago), and the fiber! Gales Art Stencilled Sock Blanks. Noro Kureopatora in colour #1001. This Week's Review - This week, I take an in-depth look at one of Craftsy's newer classes, Drafting From Woolen to Worsted, by Jacey Boggs-Faulkner, which I give 2 big thumbs up!  I was not compensated for this review, and the opinions are my own. I am a Craftsy affiliate, so if you click the link above to sign up after seeing my review (or any of the Craftsy links on this site), a little bit of cash goes into my change jar, which I will pass back to my listeners with prize draws. There's going to be a biggie coming up in June! Stay tuned! Soundtrack - "Pamgaea" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/