Book Review, Lace Yarn Studio by Carol J Sulcoski, published by LarkCrafts.com

Book Review, Lace Yarn Studio by Carol J Sulcoski, published by LarkCrafts.com

Today, I'm reviewing, Lace Yarn Studio by Carol J Sulcoski, published by LarkCrafts.com. You can find Carol Sulcoski at her website, in Ravelry and on Facebook

This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. Please pardon my appearance, this was done while at work (My Monday!) and I've been suffering allergies, also just back from a camptrip where I got toasted (not the good way).

You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits

Book Review, Designer Crochet and Crochet So Lovely

Today, I'm reviewing Designer Crochet: 52 Patterns to Elevate Your Style, Sizes Small to 5X by Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby with photography and illustrations by Jason Mullett-Bowlsby, together they are Shibaguyz Designs, and Crochet So Lovely, by Kristin Omdahl of Styled by Kristin.

You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits

Book Review, Splendid Apparel by Anna Zilboorg

Thank you for accepting my invitation to view this new post.

Today, I have a brief Book Review of Splendid Apparel: A Handbook of Embroidered Knits, by Anna Zilboorg, published by XRX books as of May 1st, according to Amazon.

Here is a picture of myself with Anna Zilboorg and her daughter at Stitches West 2015 where we were all so excited about the book, we sold out of all the copies the first day.

As a after thought note, I am seriously considering taking Marly Bird's pattern Simona (link from Ravelry pattern store) and applying Anna's techniques, so stay tuned!

You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits

Podcast recently heard.

There are three types of entertainment on the internet for knitters: blogs like mine and podcasts of the audio kind and video.

A lot of blogs and podcasts are a way for an opinionated knitter to voice their opinions. Saying that, I'm not saying its a negative thing as we sometimes think opinions are, but a way of posting the things learned with anecdotal experience. NONE of this is, as with most of what's on the internet, is scientific proof. There are no absolute truths in blog posts or podcasts except that these are the things we have learned and the desire to share.

I listen to a LOT of podcasts while I'm working in the office. I often compare them to having a knitting radio station to listen to or a channel on tv to watch. I recently purchased an iPad and went through iTunes subscribing to every knitting/fiber podcast I can find, I think there are about 80 subscribed to right now. Here is a list of what I've been listening to lately. (Links are provided to those I can find, for the specific episode I heard and any memorable notes.)

• Curious Handmade, have listened to couple of the last few episodes.
• Knit British, part 2: EYF (Ediburgh Yarn Fest)
• Woolful, #17. Very educational, I learn a LOT about fiber farming...
• Prairie Girls Knit and Spin, #65
• Yarniacs, #84
• Fat Squirrel Speaks, (video, have watched in the past) #142. LOVED Battlesheep!
• Knitting in Circles, #157, video. husband and wife. LOVED this, I will be back.
• Equal Opportunity Crafter, video
• Knit Theory, #36, video. She had a great segment of podcaster trivia that I loved.
• Fiber Trek, video
• Hudson Valley knits, video
• Southern Girls Knit, #21 video
• Yarngasm, #143, Video, from Voolenvine Yarns
• Fiberista Files, #170, video
• Sassypants Knitter, #130, video
• Knitworthy, video, another mother/daughter, absolutely LOVELY
• Knitting Go, #54, video
• We Are Yarn, #117, video
• Susan B Anderson, #13, video, this one included her vacation on white sand beaches, beautiful.
• A Playful Day, ep, 'Tag, You're It!', audio, included interview with Robin Houghton
• Yarns from the Plains, #94, from the UK, in Audio
• Doubleknit, #104, have heard in the past
• Twinset Designs, #55
• Commuter Knitter, #91
• Anatomy of Knitting, #64. video, an American in Ireland!
• Fluffy Fibers, #26, video from France (in English), she sounds like Kiera Knightly, a joy to hear.
• Knit Circus, LOVE LOVE LOVE! have heard the last two or three episodes.

At this point in the list, I want to mention that I am a faithful listener to the following (including because I've listened to recent episodes):

• Knitting Pipeline, #203
• Craftlit. we're reading classic books here, currently Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility.
• Dark Matter Knits, #28 video.
• Knotty Girls Knitcast, #45, audio, perfect mix of nerdy and knitting. (Did you hear when they interviewed me?)
• Knitting Rose Yarns, #182, Knitting Rose is an indie dyer of yarns also, usually husband and wife, audio.
• Knitmore Girls, mother/daughter podcast in audio.
• 2 Knit Lit Chicks, mother/daughter podcast in audio, with books!

Also have to say, Yarn Thing with Marly Bird, for which I am Social Media assistant. Airs twice weekly, airs LIVE originally, unique that way and because it's not about her and what she's working on, but invites a guest. There's been a couple of occasions lately that I've been on the program to help out....

_____________________________

So, a few notes about listening/watching podcasts in general FOR ME! 

From what I've been hearing, people have been saying they download the podcasts and listen while walking the dogs or jogging. It wasn't until just recently that I used a device (laptop or iPad) with hearing attachment, I've had earbuds from an old Kindle that I wasn't using, and a gamers headset from recording Fiber Hooligans (had a microphone). I picked them up recently because there is construction going on across the street, and have found that the constant pounding and beeping of the backing up construction vehicles are comfortably drowned out.

Which changes everything. Without earphones or earbuds, some of the podcasts are very hard to hear through the laptop speakers and impossible with the iPad. I tried to listen to a pair of ladies on a podcast not listed here, the one was not sitting up to the microphone even with my earphones on, I couldn't hear her and lost interest in their conversation, did not finish the one episode. 

This list has changed a lot since the last one I've posted. Some of those podcasts are now defunct, some for good reasons like constant bullying or just a change in a path made in the lives the podcasters and they've decided to move on. My tastes are changing, too. You'll see in this list there are a LOT of video podcasts now where, for a while, I'd completely given them up, because I don't WATCH and there was consistent difficulty loading. I've noticed there are some I don't have to watch to get, so I'm picking them back up again. Some are such quality, I've no interest in and maybe I won't ever pick them back up. I know I'm getting that way about a lot of the current ones I hear. I find I am losing interest in the solo ones who focus on what they are doing only, don't share what they are finding or reading.

Some of the podcasts that I'm following I think have these qualities that keep me coming back and probably will NEVER be dropped from my subscription list:

1. They've continued to pursue better sound quality, whether simply wearing a microphone on or near their mouth or sitting up to the one on the computer, perhaps investing in better equipment. 
2. Usually a duo, easier to follow a conversation. Some of these are over an hour long, maybe 90 minutes, pair (or more) of people speaking keeps my attention.
3. Talk about other things beside what's in their hands (as I said earlier), interviews or has a guest on, shares books or what they've heard elsewhere. MANY podcasters share what they've heard on other podcasts, so the list is ever changing of who you find to listen too.

The really, truly generous podcaster also shares other podcasts they listen to. The Knitmore Girls recently mentioned Revenge of the Knits, Knitting Butterfly and Down Cellar Studios, Prairie Girls Knit and Spin mentioned Suburban Stitcher, Stockinette Zombies mentioned Marly Bird (OK, not for the Yarn Thing podcast but for her designs they'd picked up from Bijou Basin Ranch) and Curious Handmade crossed the pond for the Knitting Pipeline Georgia Retreat and created a special episode with sound bites of the group sing-a-longs... My point is you'll constantly find MORE podcasts to listen to or watch.

I usually posts what I've been listening to in my Facebook Group, PURSUIT OF HAPPY KNITS. I try to think of that group as a place to find the comical and otherwise entertaining side of fiber. If that sounds like fun, it is a public group, you can request to be included. I do try to confirm that you are interested in fiber by your public profile, just a side note, if you're not approved right away, you can private message me. (I've had a few spam accounts requesting to be included, trying to avoid issues.)

Socks: New kind of heel, and new kind of needles

A few months ago, Marly Bird had Deborah Norville on the Yarn Thing Podcast. THE Deborah Norville. Don't believe me, CLICK HERE to listen. That wasn't the first time, but to get on with my story.

So. Ms. Norville shared all about her Serenity Sock Yarn, made by Premier Yarns. It's a surprisingly higher quality sock yarn, of 50% merino, 25% bamboo and 25% nylon, found generally in the bigger box stores of the craft variety. I happen to find it at a little out of the way store about 2.5 hours from home that I can visit when on adventure to Portland... Knitkabob, in Union, Oregon, population 250 or so. When I found this yarn in the shop there, I selected two pairs of socks worth and brought them home.

I took one pairs worth with me to STITCHES East to look for sock needles, those size 0 and 1 that I'm having a hard time finding. I had a hard time finding them there, too, ended up with Kollage Squares. It took a while to get use to them, not so much because they are square (maybe at that size, my fingers don't register the unique shape much) but the points I would consider lethal.

I would not recommend these to someone with animals or small children that tend want to cuddle while you knit, DO NOT LEAVE THEM OUT, and I would think twice about using them while riding in the car. Now that I'm almost done with the pair, I poked myself really good when I set them down beside me in the dark. Otherwise, I appreciate the preciseness of the points when working with finer sock yarn, greatly reduced the number of dropped stitches or partially knit stitches that had to be fixed when they were found several rows later.

I started the socks on the plane ride home. It was darker than this on the plane, the light in my seat wasn't working during the first leg of the trip and when the guy across the aisle put out his light I had to put them away. On the second leg, I considered poking the kid in the seat in front of me, who whapped me in the face with the zipper of his hoodie about three times.

These are a vanilla sock pattern, memorized. I don't always start at the toe, but generally just carry them along whenever I need a little project in my pocket or purse. The skeins aligned themselves to match this closely. It took very little effort to make the stripes match. If that is Premier Yarns product standard, another point for them.

The thing I did differently on this pair was an afterthought heel. I have read about them in magazines and other blogs and heard about them on several podcasts. (In fact, today I listened to Susan B. Anderson, describe doing a different type of afterthought heel for the simple joy of having uninterrupted flow of the color changes, with the self-stripping variety of sock yarn.)

From what I understand the principles of an afterthought heel are: knit a tube sock, decide where the heel goes, either lifeline or pick up the stitches the row above and the row below the one row selected for the placement, snip one stitch in the middle and carefully pick out those stitches. I generally work a short-row heel, so that working the heel itself seemed very doable.

I really like this method, but I think the next time I do this heel the sock will be from top-down, as then the heel and the toe will exactly match.

A little kitchener stitching and the heel is done.

I have one picture left to post, of the finished pair, which are very nearly done, except for kitchenering the second heel, weaving all the ends and blocking.

I am posting this and working on another post to cover my sadness at not being at STITCHES South this weekend, taking place in Nashville, Tennessee. I have been following the pictures and comments as much as possible, I know I'm missing out.

Happy Knitting, everyone!

(Earlier posts about socks: from 2011)

#STITCHESWest photo recap

I spend most of my time in the Market place during Stitches. Most of these pictures are from my recent acquisition of an iPad. There were just a couple of pictures on my cell phone I can't post here.

Judy is my booth buddy. I probably spend the most time at the Stitches Events with her. She has always treated me kindly, never made me feel small and laughs at my silly jokes. She makes the days go by joyfully.

Here she is wearing the Chelsea's Cowl, one of a set of four that were modeled in the Student Fashion Show by FOUR of the ladies I work with.

Some how, the magic ladies of A Darn Good Yarn got a fun cut-out image of Benjamin Levisay. They had a contest for the most fun selfies posted with him. I miss the time I spent with Benjamin on the Fiber Hooligan podcast. I miss his laugh, most.

Marly Bird and Stephen West. Marly is tall, I think Stephen must have been wearing stilts!

Kismet Andrews of Bar-maids and Marly Bird, the first opportunity they had to meet in person was on the market floor. Bar-maids is a new sponsor of the Yarn Thing Podcast with Marly Bird. 

Wilhelmine Peers designed the piece on the cover of the most recent issue of Knitter's Magazine.

The next bunch of pictures are from the Pajama Party. This event has a great turn-out, as it starts at 10pm, AFTER the fashion show and banquet. They are a bunch of troopers, but also know fun!

Pam Haschke posed with Sharks fans, in her Shark hat. Pam is president of Halos of Hope, little more about that later...

 

Lindsey Martin, of Erin Lane Bags, is also a brand-new sponsor of the Yarn Thing podcast. The two of them together have moves and a huge spirit of fun, you'll only see at the party, so don't miss out on the opportunity when you have it! 

There's always cool prizes to be one at the Pajama Party!

Me and Marly. 

We were ALL singing 'YMCA', because THAT'S how we Pajama Party. 

COSTUME CONTEST!: 

Star Trek! 

Thing 1 and Thing 2, read a knitting poem in the style of Dr. Suess to Judge Stephen West:
Would you knit in a car? Would you knit in a bar? Why, yes, Sam I am.

Stephen's fan, came with a fan.

Stephen sang the Batman theme song, 'Nananananannanananana BATMAN!'

The winner of the contest wore knitted pantaloons.

Second runner up, wore Minnie Mouse ears and a Stephen West design shawl.

Footwear contest, judged by Lorna Misner. She had her work cut out for her.

The market is OPEN!

Anne Berk and I had coffee before the festivities began one morning.
She's way too perky or I haven't had enough coffee yet!

Gwen Bortner author of Entree to Entrelac

Betsy Hershberg, author of Besty's Beads was named Halos of Hope, Woman of the Year.

Kyle Kunnecke (aka Kyle William) I think has become a knitsib
(to borrow the term from Brenda Dayne), this was the first time we met. 

Patty proudly had to show her prizes to me! Marly Bird's pattern of
Outlander inspiration and the Bijou Basin Ranch Yarn to go with!

She knit the scarf from the recent Knitter's Magazine, which I think was an beautiful version!

Deborah Jarchow teaches WEAVING! 

Ginger Luters is also an author, of Module Magic

I think this is my favorite picture of the whole event. Anna Zilboorg is AMAZING, and as much as I overuse that word, there is no other to discribe her. I got to spend PRECIOUS time with her, she was in the booth for a book signing and (maybe because we'd sold out of her Splendid Apparel book two days before) no body showed up. So, I was blessed to VISIT with her and her daughter. She's a cheerful soul and seeing that smile make her giggle replay in my head. What a gift!

Adam Hurst writes and plays beautiful music in the Portland airport (where I've met him now, twice) to soothe the savage traveler. He's using his gypsy cello today, notice the carved head where the typical scroll would be. http://www.worldcello.com/

I met Portlandia in the airport. In this form, she is part of a giant wood carved cuckoo clock that was commissioned by the visitors bureau to tour the Pacific Northwest. I wondered if Portlandia and Medusa would get along but she declined my fries on the grounds that they would ruin her Amazonian figure, It was not for me to argue with her. Besides, Generally, she's a difficult woman to chat with, as she has been cast in bronze and resides on a building where she's best seen in winter when the trees below her can't interfere in the chat. 

The skirt is part of my stash enhancements, from Darn Good Yarn who traveled to California from the EAST coast. There's lots more, but the other photos won't load.

Knotty Girls KnitCast

Just to keep you updated, I was invited by Laura & Jen of the Knotty Girls KnitCast to appear and be interviewed on their podcast.

They were very kind to invite me, it was a genuine thrill for me as I have been listening to their program ever since they began, as you will probably figure out from listening.

Here is the link, I do recommend their podcast as it's FUN, full of knitting and yarn, of course, but movies, tv shows and other geeky stuff. If, for some reason I can't begin to imagine, you're not interested in all the other and only in hearing me, (SERIOUSLY? Have you not had enough?) you could skip ahead to minute 30, and we talk about all kinds of stuff I love for about 30 minutes.

One thing that was mentioned, that I would point out to you, is a GROUP on Facebook, where I try to share all kinds of fun things, comics or cool things from different companies, called PURSUIT OF HAPPY KNITS. (Deliberately all caps, because the happier I am, the louder I get.) Please consider yourself invited to ask to be included.