Thursday, October 28, 2010

It's Halloween -- and Episode 13!

Listen here!

Don't forget about our donation incentive! Donate a dollar or more by Election Day and you'll be entered to win High Whorling and some fabulous fiber!

Ghoul-latte: Ben is working on a vest of his own design. He's almost finished and is employing a "partial steek" technique. Abby's is making great progress on both the Tree of Life socks and the Knitmore KAL CeCe.



Chai-Day the 13th: Abby tells a spooky story about her failed attempts to felt (full) a knitted project.

Tip Jar: Abby recommends getting a tape measure and using it! Ben extols the joys and benefits of spit splicing.

Brewing: Ben wants to knit a tie. Abby dissuaded him from lining it. Abby's working on a new sock pattern (it's a secret!).

Stir: Ben is checking his mailbox for his Jenkins Turkish Delight and we hope for a spinning section from him soon. Abby's still spinning the superwash merino from Becoming Art.

Taste: Ben was amazed and thrilled when he finally watched The Nightmare Before Christmas, and both Ben and Abby love Tim Burton's films!

Extra: Dalya crocheted a Pikachu hat for Halloween! Check it out:
Come visit our ravelry group or feel free to leave a comment here!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Long Episode with a Funny Finish Ep. 12

This is what happens when Ben and I don't speak to each other for a week! Listen here.
Ben knits like the wind! He finished his Devon in a week and a half.

Latte:
Ben has a vest of his own design on the needles. Abby started several projects and frogged almost as many. She couldn't stop herself from casting on CeCe for the next Knitmore KAL.
Abby is also working on a surprise for Dalya, as well as the Tree of Life socks by Janel Laidman from The Enchanted Sole. Abby is also itching to cast on the Vine Yoke Cardigan by Ysolde Teague.

Grande:
Ben finished Devon! See above. Abby finally finished the Ada Lovelace socks. You can see them here.
Chai:
Rhinebeck, of course! It was chaotic, it was fabulous. The weather was superb and Abby managed some well-planned stash enhancement.
This fabulous haul includes luxurious, yummy Free Range yarn from Sanguine Gryphon, acid green super saturated sock yarn from Fiber Optic and three skeins of fingering weight from the incredible Creatively Dyed. Abby also purchased a beautiful Turkish Delight Jenkins Spindle for Ben from Morgaine at Carolina Homespun.
Abby also had fun meeting and seeing lots of knitters and podcasters! Here are just a few photos:






Stir: 
Abby didn't spin this week, but she went a long way towards enabling Ben to start spinning - see above.

Taste:
We talk a bit about Debbie Stoller in general, and review her new book, Stitch 'n Bitch Superstar Knitting: Go Beyond the Basics. Abby is a big fan of Debbie's magazine, Bust. We also mention two classic knitting books which anyone who wants to design his or her own knitwear should own at some point: Knitting in the Old Way and Sweater Design in Plain English.

Bite:
We want to talk about yarn! What do you like, what don't you like? Which are your favorite yarns and for what purpose? We want this to be an ongoing investigation, so please let us know, either here, or on the ravelry group!

Finally, don't forget our donation incentive! Just click on the donate button, donate any amount, and you will be entered to win our fabulous prize package: High Whorling book and some tasty fiber!




Thursday, October 14, 2010

Do Yiddish Cops Run in Doc Martens? Episode 11


Listen here!
Wow, we did a lot of talking this week! Here are the links for everything we talked about.

Latte: Ben is knitting Devon by Norah Gaughan, with modifications. He's devised a spreadsheet which allows him to see everything that is happening "at the same time". You can see -- and download -- the spreadsheet here. Ben says: "the chart attached applies only to size XS, but the same format could easily be used for any other size. Sleeve increases of -2 are to be placed at either side of the sleeve. No stitches are bound off in this version of the pattern. Ones set aside are to be placed on stitch holders, spare needles, or waste yarn. They will either be grafted later or used to start the collar."

Brewing: Abby is getting ready for the Knitmore Girls new knitalong: CeCe by Chicknits. It gives her something to shop for at Rhinebeck. She's also getting ready to cast on the Serpentine Socks from her handspun Sunshine of Your Love.

Demi Tasse: We discussed various strategies for breaking in Dr Martens shoes. Ben recommends Overunder Lacing to make things a bit easier. You can find a tutorial here.

Stir: Abby has started spinning some yummy fiber from Becoming Art in the colorway Firefly. The shop still shows up on etsy, but it looks like they haven't offered anything for sale this month yet. 

Bite: We review The Yiddish Policemen's Union and mention The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay, both by Michael Chabon. We've heard that the Coen brothers are making a movie of The Yiddish Policemen's Union, but have no solid information about it.

The Barista reminds you that our October donation incentive is still happening! If you donate any amount $1.00 or more towards our production costs, you will be entered to win High Whorling along with some cool fiber! Just click on the Donation button at the top right of this page.

Last but not least, if you are at Rhinebeck on Sunday, please come to the Podcasters' Grip and Grin meetup! It's at noon, right next to the Ravelry meetup. Here's the ravelry map:
If you have any questions or comments, you can leave them here, or on our ravelry board. Have a yummy week!

Friday, October 8, 2010

Abby has a Super Power and Ben has Ennui

Listen here!
Latte: Abby and Ben continue to work on their socks, but Abby has finished Acorns! (Well, except for the button band). 

Brewing: Ben's having a little knitting ennui - he can't decide exactly what to knit next. Feel free to send recommendations! Abby's ready for another sweater, or she might just pick up her partly finished Kingscot.

Abby and Dalya took the yarn bus to the Flying Fingers Yarn Shop in Tarrytown, New York. We highly recommend it! Tarrytown is right next to Sleepy Hollow, so if you're up for a Halloween, Headless Horseman type outing, this might just be perfect.


Abby bought some sock yarn, some mystery gift yarn and some mohair for Dalya. She also scored these fantastic buttons:



If you're coming to Rhinebeck, don't forget our Podcaster "Grip and Grin" at noon on Sunday. Abby will be there with Kari from the High Fiber Diet, SavvyGirls Deborah and Melanie, Sydney from Knaked Knits, and others!

We love to hear from you, so please feel free to comment here, on our ravelry group, or PM Abby (Abbyknitz) or Ben (Numbersandnoise) on ravelry.

Have a delicious week! Knit, knit!

For those who asked: here's a picture of the "mouse repellant" shoes (which have not repelled any mice).