Beat Your Children Up

Listen to Episode 20 Here!

FEBRUARY LADY SWEATER KNIT-A-LONG:

It is strongly suggested that you make a garter stitch swatch with the yarn you are using and that you collect a boatload of stitch markers for this project.  We cast on February 1st.

OFF THE NEEDLES:

First Zipper Sock is COMPLETE!   

And will be offered up to the Surrogate Sock Knitters Group on Ravelry.  Any takers?

My There And Back Again (formerly Hong Kong Garden) Sweater is as done as it can be.  Alas, I have run out of yarn and since it's handspun from an unknown source, I am at a loss.  Anyone know of any yarn/fiber that resembles either the yoke or the body of this sweater?

I can't show you a picture of the current sweater because it's gone MISSING!!!  I fear t his sweater was never meant to be. :(

Larger Than Life Bag is awaiting final piecing.  Panels are pieced, side and bottom band need to be sewn on and lining and strap made.  Since the crocheting is complete, I am listing this as OFF MY HOOK!

ON MY FUTURE NEEDLES:

I found the beautiful Vinelle sweater pattern and I'm pretty sure this is what I will be knitting with my Christmas Malabrigo.

Several of you gave great suggestions for ease of working with charts.
Here are a few:
1. Enlarge the chart for ease of reading
2. When there are large blocks of knit or purl stitches on the chart, count them up ahead of time and pencil the number in so you don't have to count them as you go.
3. Color code your symbols with different color highlighter pens.  It's much easier for  your brain to link a color with a stitch type than to have to interpret the symbol every time.
4. Use a magnetic chart keeper/holder moving the magnetic strip along each line as you complete it. OR Use highlighter tape which can be picked up and moved to the next working row.
5. When using an enlarged pattern, a cookie sheet and a magnetic strip work great for keeping track of your pattern rows.

TRADING POST:

We are still taking trades for the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socs That Rock 100% Superwash Merino Lightweight 360 yds.  Mill Ends (no apparent flaws)

So far we have recieved trade offers of:
1. A Crochet Kitty (8-10" high) with his Fishy Friend (3" long)
2. A collectible Indiana Jones Figurine
3. A lovely felted purse in rich dk. blue with purple fun fur at the top.  Measures 9" W and 7" H.
4. Hand painted artwork titled "Earth hugger" plus 2 skeins of Caron Rainbow Tones yarn in the Country Rose color.
(If anyone wishes to see pics of these items, please contact me.)

IN OUR WINEGLASS:

Bogle Chardonnay 2009 got mixed reviews.  A thumb up from "the Wit" and a thumb down from "the Knit"

You decide!

Thank you to all our faithful listeners and to everyone who has donated to the show.  The support is greatly appreciated.

Inspector Clousseau And The Bink Banter

Listen to Episode 19 Here!

Congratulations Susanne9 for being the 1000th member of our Knit Wits Ravelry group!  And thank you for the Knit Picks Gift Certificate!  We are so grateful!!

IN OUR WINE GLASS:

Durigutti Malbec 2008  We gave it two thumbs up!  After we stopped giggling.

OFF MY NEEDLES:

Brandywine beaded shawl.  So much fun to knit!

I put the buttons on my February Lady Sweater!

ON MY NEEDLES:

There And Back Again Sweater is testing my patience.  May need a yarn miracle again.

Zipper Sock is taking so long but is still awesome!  Can't wait to wear these.

ON MY HOOK:

Larger Than Life Bag

TRADING POST:
What do you have to trade for a skein of Blue Moon Fiber Arts - Socks That Rock
360 yds.

Check out the Tuesday Morning near you.  See what cool yarn you can find.  If you happen to find any Queensland Collection Merino Spray in Lime (01) and don't want it for yourself, please send it to me and I'll reimburse you!  If you find it in another color, let me know, I liked striped sweaters too! :)  Here's a pic!

Thank you to all our listeners and an extra thank you to all our contributors.  Your comments and support make this all worth it.

Ted Williams Was Here!

Listen to Episode 18 Here!

Village Spinning and Weaving in Solvang, CA is a full service spinning and weaving store and is more than accommodating to those wishing to try out different wheels.

Woolly Designs is, in my opinion, the BEST place to purchase Majacraft products! Thanks Tracy!

As a co-founder of the Broward Ferret Rescue & Referral, I found animal rescue and adoption fascinating.

UFO's to be finished this year.

1. Asymmetrical Cable and Lace Cropped Cardigan by Annie Modesitt.  AKA Karis
2. Mint Frosting AKA Pink Frosting by Elissa Sugishita
3. Bird In Hand Mitten by Kate Gilbert
4. Larger Than Life Bag by Cecily Keim
5. Fuzzy Ferret by Planet June

OFF MY NEEDLES:
6. Doodles Sweater from Knitters Magazine Fall 2006.  This turned out so cute and it was such a joy to knit!

I made the sleeves extra long so she could wear it again next winter.  Unfortunately, it meant the pattern wouldn't match with the body.  Oh, well, it's a small price to pay.   This was such a fun knit.

February Lady Sweater - Finished!

I just need to add the buttons!


Here is the yarn I ordered for my next FLS.

Lark from Quince & Co. in the Delft colorway.


ON MY NEEDLES:

Brandywine Shawl pattern by Romi
(pictures on next shows notes)

TRADING POST:
We traded the red child's sweater for a skein of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock

What would you trade for this awesome skein of sock yarn?!

IN OUR WINEGLASS:
Mirassou Chardonnay 2008
Offering crisp flavors of peach, apricot and green apple with hints of tropical fruit and vanilla.  Mirassou Chardonnay is a unique expression of CA cool climates.  This wine pairs beautifully with roasted poultry or gilled fish and embodies the optimistic spirit passed down through six generations of America's oldest winemaking family.  Enjoy!

Merry Meals, Much Mayhem and Mega Moths!

Listen to Episode 17 Here!

Thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes! And I hope your Christmas and New Year celebrations were as blessed as mine.

I finished the Zephyr Shawl for my mother.  What a sight to behold!

For those of you who are closet Scotch tape sniffing addicts like me, there's a group for us.

One of my Christmas gifts included a Majacraft Skeiner which will arrive in February.  Another was a sweater's worth of Malabrigo...oh, let me pause and catch my breath!

And finally I was able to cash in some gifts and put my money on CampKIP!  We'll be taking over Pere Marquette in Grafton, IL on April 6-9, 2011!  It looks like so much fun!  I hope you can join me!

We also hope to attend Stitches South April 14-17, 2011 in Atlanta, GA.

My little Christmas Gnome ornament gave me so much pleasure in the making.  I hope that it will give the recipient, Fiona Duthie, just as much pleasure.

This is the little toy I modeled it from.

I spun and plied the yarn,

and gathered a donation from Petunia, my French Angora for his beard and hair.

So much fun!

If you are in the Southern California area, Fiona will be giving classes in Costa Mesa January 10 and 11, 2011.  Please check out her website for her workshop descriptions.

I was also able to crank out 2 Special Olympics Scarves on my Bond Incredible Sweater Machine!  The red and white is for GA and the blue and turquoise is for TN.

ON MY NEEDLES:

I would love to post a picture of my February Lady Sweater but it is so close to completion now, I am going to make you wait for the "reveal".

TRADING POST:

Up for trade is a Child's approx. size 5-6 hand-knit sweater knit in Northamptons Bulky.

All that is left to finish is the collar and some seaming.  Please present your trades to us via theknitwits@comcast.net or on Ravelry to Thriftyknitter.

IN OUR WINEGLASS:

Layer Cake Shiraz 2009 :  We both gave this two thumbs up.  One thumb for how it tastes and one for how well it goes with chocolate!  And speaking of chocolate, here is the link for Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Co. Nashville's own!

Thank you to everyone who has donated!  And we are always grateful for all our listeners!  We love having you along!!