Ep 149: New Projects, Plans, and Pens

We each have new cast-ons and Marsha has a new appreciation for her spirit yarn.Plus there are new project plans, and even a new nonfiber interest. And what the heck is going on in Marsha’s yard?

Thank you to  3GreenSisters Etsy shop for providing prizes for the Summer Spin In.  Use  the code TWOEWES to get 15% off and free US shipping until December 31, 2020. 

Marsha’s Projects

Finished the first of a pair of socks for myself using Tilli Tomas Artisan Sock in Coconut Grove. Knit about 6” of the second sock.

In our last episode I talked about possibly returning my spirit yarn to the universe. As I looked at it again I got inspired to make tea cozies. I have the book, Tea Cozies 3 by Sian Brown, Alison Howard and Vanessa Mooncie and have made the Pineapple and knitting Devon Violets.

Holey Comfort cardigan by Hinterm Stein using Elemental Effects Cormo. Haven’t knit a stitch in two weeks. But I’ll get back to it. I just have a little thinking to do about alternating the skeins on the sleeves for the two different dye lots. 

Kelly’s Projects 

I’m making progress on my With Friends Pullover. I’m using two patterns:  Rachel by Josée Paquin, Fresh by Josée Paquin. To view the changes that I made to the striping sequence, see my project page. I’ve made a mistake in the dots section so I have to rip out about 10 rows. 

I finished a solid blue charity hat using Cloudborn worsted and started another using two sock yarns held double. Both yarns are the second ball of Drops Fabel from our very first yarn crawl in San Luis Obispo. They are 50 gram balls and I bought two each for making socks. I made short socks with one and the paving mitts with the one ball of the other. The leftovers were perfect for a marled hat. 

I completed a dishcloth using my favorite stitch pattern, the Triple L Tweed from the Purl Soho Slip Stitch Dishtowels pattern. I make it smaller so it is a dishcloth rather than a towel, but I use the same stitch pattern and casting on a multiple of 3 stitches +1. It’s usually 34 or 37 stitches because I like a compact dishcloth. I cast on at the beginning of the camping trip and bound off on the ride home. 

I decided to make a crochet blanket for my grand niece and made a yarn purchase. The pattern I’ll be using is Persian Tile Blanket. But instead of making every square the same, I’ll be doing something more like Jenasauruswake’s Persian Tile Blanket. I got a huge box of yarn in a wide variety of colors from Knit Picks. I’ll be using Brava worsted. 

A New/Old interest: Fountain Pens

Kelly has used a fountain pen off and on since college and got a new one for Christmas last year. Meanwhile, a young colleague talked about discovering the fountain pen hobby and that made Kelly start thinking. Could she get her old pen repaired? Yes! Was there a podcast? Yes indeed! There is The Pen Addict blog and podcast.  From there she started looking online and found Peyton Street Pens, an online vintage pen store based in Santa Cruz. A vintage pen and some ink were ordered! What a rabbit hole!

Winter Weave Along

Or Summer Weave Along if you’re in the southern hemisphere! Starts November 1. It will go through March 31. We will have prizes, including a class generously donated by Erica at Weavolution. Check out this great website for weavers with projects, discussion, classes, and lots of resources. The website has a handy Weaving Calculator that you can use for project planning. 

For Rigid Heddle Looms, check out Amy D. McKnight.  She has a blog and free resources. 

Liz Gipson, the Yarnworker also has lots of online resources for rigid heddle weaving. 

Blazing Shuttles has pre-wound warps and from there I found the Friendship Towels pattern at Schact. 

Gist Yarn has some beautifully subtle kits and also has supplies.

Jane Stafford Textiles has kits, supplies and the Online guild.