Ep. 39 - You're In a Safe Place!

After  computer mishaps we are back!  Hopefully Ep. 38 will come out after this one!


Finished projects:
Michele finished her Gather hat by Tin Can Knits.
Jill finished the Tartelette by Lisa Chemery out of Bumblebirch Forage in Cranberry.  This was her first project for the Indie Designer Gift-a-Long.  Her Rav page is here.

Our Current Fix:
Michele is chugging along on her Garter Squish blanket by Stephen West, using Vanna's Choice and Berroco Vintage Bulky.
Jill is working on the Mina hat by Ela Torrente using Knit Picks Chroma Worsted in Parakeet, also for the gift-a-long.  She pretty much finished it while recording.  Her Rav page is here.  She also made it partway through her first Mother Bear for the Mother Bear Project.

What We're Jonesing For:
Michele has been looking at baby blankets again.  She is thinking about making a giant Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth.  She is into all of the crocheted blankets by BabyLove Brand, including the Desert Bloom, Wildflower Blanket, Modern Patchwork, Painted Hexagon, Trellis & Chevron and Threaded Colors Chevron.
Jill is making plans for the rest of the gift-a-long.  She will be starting the Delta Mitts by Ella Austin, the Aumangea Pullover by Francoise Danoy (using Cloudborn Worsted Twist from Craftsy), Shark Bite socks by Lara Smoot and the Starry Dream Hanging Ornament by Tatiana Kupryianchyk (Lilla Bjorn Crochet).  She also bought the Sizzle Pop shawl by Lesley Anne Robinson but won't cast it on until next year.

Uppers, Downers and Miscellaneous Links:
Chess Pie
Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream
2KnitLitChicks podcast
Hedwig and the Angry Inch with Darren Criss
The Rain Room at LACMA
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
Manson: The Life & Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Guinn
UNHhhh youtube channel
RuPaul's Drag Race 
Seu Jorge in The Life Aquatic - youtube link

Ep. 37 - Not Hyping Up Autumn

Finished Projects:
Jill made The Clincher by Ash Kearns out of Knitted Wit Victory Fingering in Supernova and Sweetgeorgia Tough Love Sock in an aqua color.  Her Rav page is here.

Our Current Fix:
Jill had some project attempts that didn't turn out.  Including the Mesmeric Cardigan by Katy Banks and Becky's Preemie Fruit Orchard Hat by Rebecca Craig from Bev's Country Cottage.  She is also working on On the Spice Market by Melanie Berg for the Big Bad Berg-a-Long.  She is using Leading Men Fiber Arts Showcase in Barbie's Nighty, a Woolbearers Gradient set in gold and Frabjous Fibers Cheshire Cat in Tulgey Wood.  Her Rav page is here.
Michele is working on the smocked hat, Gather by tincanknits in Red Heart with Love.

What We're Jonesing For:
Michele is into the Altastratus shawl by Alla Saenko, the Cicada Shawl by Toby Roxane Barna and Aggregate by Jimenez Joseph.  Michele can't get the Baby Bubble Blanket by Pamela Spath out of her head.  She might have to make another Windschief by Steven West.

Jill likes the Fangorn Forest by Svetlana Gordon, the Stag Head Pullover by Norah Gaughan and the Emerald Shawl by Bernadette Ambergen.  There are some free patterns that she likes: I'm With Her by yellowcosmo, Songbird by Sara Elizabeth Kellner, Blair Road by Magdalene Lee and the Bikini Dishcloth by Lily/Sugar n Cream.

Wolle's Color Changing Cotton - Lifesaver Medley


Uppers, Downers and Miscellaneous Links:
Celebrate Forsythe at the Music Center
Twist, Yarns of Intrigue
The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (Classics Reimagined version)
The Monster at the End of this Book (Sesame Street)
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
Dead Wake by Erik Larson
You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero
Think Better, Live Better by Joel Osteen
It's Not Okay: Turning Heartbreak into Happily Never After by Andi Dorfman
Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi
Empathy Exams: Essays by Leslie Jamison
The Girls: A Novel by Emma Cline
The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - not the cover I was envisioning!
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
American Horror Story: Roanoke
Insecure - Issa Rae
Westworld
Lena Dunham - Women of the Hour

Ep. 36 - About that Bonnet Life

Episode 36 is up!

Finished Items:
Michele finished a couple hats for her friend: the Bubble Hat by Malsen og Mor out of Vanna's Choice in Fern and Kelly Green.  Her Rav page here.  She also made a hat using the Super Soft Merino Hats for Everyone pattern by Purl Soho in Lion Brand Woolspun in Peacock and Moss Mix.  Her Rav page here.

Jill finished her Imagine When by Joji Locatelli in gnarledpaw Boffo BFL in Smash Box.  Her Rav page here.  This is for the Joji Fall Knit-a-Long.  She finally is done with her Banded Lace Pullover by Traci Bunkers in Cascade Avalon.  Her pictureless page is here.  And finally, she made the Beeswax Hat by Amy van de Laar using Anzula Cricket in Toffee. Hers is here.  She is submitting this for the Harvest Hat-a-Long from the Twisted Stitches Podcast and Killtocraft podcast.

Our Current Fix:
Michele is working on the Gather hat by tincanknits out of Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in Magenta.  Mad Color is the most recent Tin Can Knits collection.
Jill is finishing up the Alyx Bonnet by Caryn Pronty in Berroco Vintage.  She is getting back to work on her Sophie's Universe using Knit Picks Brava Worsted.  Rav page here.

FIFO CAL!:
Finally take the time to knit a project that you've been wanting to do for a long time.  First-In-First-Out!  Items are eligible if you're started them after September 15, 2016.  The Craft-a-long will continue through November.  Tell us why your item counts!  We'd prefer if the yarn or pattern has been in "the queue" since before January 2016.
Jill has plans to make the Mesmeric Cardigan by Katy Banks using Knit Picks Palette using colors inspired by the sweater that Keira Knightley wears in Imitation Game.
Michele has been wanting to make the Lune shawl by Miriam Felton for years and might do it for the CAL.

What We're Jonesing For:
Michele is loving the bonnets by Balls to the Wall/ Gretchen Tracy, including the Iris Bloom Bonnet, She's a Betty Bonnet, and the Floral Mesh Bonnet (all free patterns!).  She also mentions the Mendia Hat by Ambah O'Brien.
Jill planning on knitting On the Spice Market by Melanie Berg during her vacation.  She loves the new shawl Boon Lay by Asa Tricosa.  She likes the Rain, Rain, Go Away by Laura Reinbach and the Laurel Cardigan by Amy Christoffers from the newest Knitty, Deep Fall 2016.  For all those crazy variegated skeins in your stash, there is the One & Done shawl by casapinka.  She also likes the crochet shawl Heavenly Lemon by Elena Madsen.

Uppers, Downers and Misc. Links:
LA County Fair
La Creme Cafe on Melrose
Twisted Stitches Podcast
Petite Weaver Crafts podcast
Double Knit podcast
Sand and Sea Knitting Guild
Lily Chin
You're a Bad Ass by Jen Sincero
The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (Classics Reimagined)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
The Black Hole by Charles Burns
Book Riot
Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix
Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
gnarledpaw yarns

Ep. 35 - Bring on the Christmas Carols

We need to get back on a regular schedule!  We had lots to talk about!

Finished Projects:
Michele finished and blocked her Clincher shawl out of Spun Right Round sock yarn in Trainyard and KP Stroll Brights in Pucker.  She also bound off her Rikke hat in Marigold Jen DK, Pascal colorway.
Jill finished her Ravellenic project!  It is the Amille shawl by Emily Ross in Tosh Lace Oceana. Her Rav page is here (needs finished pictures!)

Our Current Fix:
Michele doesn't have anything on the needles!  She is going to find a hat pattern using Lion Brand Lion's Pride Woolspun.
Jill recommends that Michele join the Twisted Stitches Podcast Harvest Hat-a-Long.

Jill is working on the last sleeve of her Banded Lace Pullover by Traci Bunkers in Cascade Avalon.  She is knitting the Imagine When shawl by Joji Locatelli in gnarledpaw Boffo yarn in the Smash Box colorway for the Joji Fall KAL.  Her Rav page here.


What We're Jonesing For:
Michele likes the Silver Screen Hat & Scarf (mainly just the hat) by Paton's.  She likes the Hogwarts House Scarf Bookmarks by Five Little Monsters.  (Jill can't find the exact one, but here's a search of scarf/bookmarks.)  She's into the I'm Lichen This Hat by Gretchen Tracy.

Jill likes the (rascist?) Senor Taco by the DMC Design Team.  Listener Gen (dimsumdumpling) published her first pattern: the Holiday Gifting Minis.  Jill has also favorited a couple shawls: Spotlight by Janina Kallio and Ramble by Andrea Mowry.  She likes the Stranger Things cowl by Mary Annarella.  She's also into the Shusui Shrug by Susanne Sommer (famous for the Hoodie Shawl Cardigan) out of Qing Fiber.

Uppers, Downers and Misc. Links:
Hope hummus - Kale Pesto
Pacific Opera Project - Abduction from the Seraglio.

Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art by Gene Wilder
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosch
Dead Wake by Erik Larson
With Malice by Eileen Cook
salt. by nayyirah waheed
the princess saves herself in this one by Amanda Lovelace
Hard Edge by Tess Oliver
So That Happened by Jon Cryer
What If: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Monroe
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
Bucking F-ing Dent by David Duchovny
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession by Susan Orlean
Adaptation (2002) 
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer
Bosch on Amazon Prime
Jackie Brown (1997)
Point Break (2015)
Swedish Fish flavored creme Oreos

Ep. 34 - Welcome Back...

It's a long one today.  We apologize for all the background noise.  We'll have to close the windows next time around!


Our Current Fix:
Michele is trying to wrestle her Rikke hat WiP out of Marigold Jen DK.
Jill finished her Inara Wrap by Ambah O'Brien in Artyarns Milano Fade.  She also finished her BB-8 amigurumi, using BB-8 inspired by Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Casey Barnes out of Red Heart Super Saver in White, Grey Heather and Cascade 220 in orange.  She did a few rows on her Banded Lace Pullover by Traci Bunkers.  She is frantically working on her Amille shawl by Emily Ross in Tosh Lace Oceana for the Ravellenic Games. Her project page here.

What We're Jonesing For:
Michele has rediscovered the Pterotactyl shawl by Marc Smollin.  She likes the Welcome Back Garter stole by Casapinka.  She found an edging modification to the Half Granny Square Shawl by Anastacia Zittel that made her want to make another one (can't find the mod to link!).  A similar pattern is the Wearever Wrap by Heather Walpole.
Jill is looking through her Joji Locatelli patterns for the Joji Fall KAL starting August 15.  She could knit Recoleta, Imagine When or Fine Tune.  She has a couple new favorite shawl patterns: the Rookwood by Mindy Wilkes and the Good Vibes shawl by Nadia Cretin-Lechenne.  There's a cute, giant, free scrubby pattern, the School of Fish Scrubbies by Michele Wilcox.

Re-ups:
Bee Mice Elf BFL gradient set in Beachcomber and SW Merino/Merino/Silk gradient set in Wine Mixer.
Malabrigo Mechita in Lotus
Woolfolk Sno in No.01+02
Bumblebirch Forage in Cranberry
The Knitting Tree, LA

Uppers, Downers and Miscellaneous Links:
Trader Joe's Baby Bananas
Soak Unleash Ravelry
Petite Weaver Crafts videocast
The Book Depository
Persuasion by Jane Austen
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)
Soppy: A Love Story by Philippa Rice
I Murdered My Library by Linda Grant
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
Blue is the Warmest Color by Julie Maroh
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
With Malice by Eileen Cook
Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art by Gene Wilder
Jason Bourne
Stranger Things
Goosebumps book series by R.L. Stine
Penny Dreadful
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
Keanu (2013)

Ep. 33 - Cinnamon Roll of Love

Ep. 33 - Cinnamon Roll of Love
You can find us on Ravelry as photospice (Michele) and nodice (Jill).  Or on Instagram as photospice75 and nodice11.  And join our Ravelry group at Skein Enable Podcast!


Our Current Fix:
Michele is enjoying working on her Rikke hat out of Marigold Jen DK Pascal.
Jill is working on her Inara Wrap still by Ambah O'Brien out of Artyarns Milano Fade in Malachite and Hematite.  She also started a crochet BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens using the BB-8 Crochet Pattern by Casey Barnes.  She's using stash Red Heart Super Saver and Cascade 220.

What We're Jonesing For:
Michele wants to make blankets!  She loves the Baby Chalice Blanket by Karen S. Lauger  She's also looking at the Virus Blanket by Jonna Martinez and Bubble Stitch Blanket by Pamela Spath.  She's also into the Noro Topper by Brian Smith.
Jill loves the Owen's Opossum by Sara Elizabeth Kellner.  She's into the asymmetrical shawlette, Latticework, by Rosemary (Romi) Hill.  She also likes the older hat, Konglelua by Ingvall Freland.

The Ravellenic Games is upon us!  Chat in our group, or join us in Team Sasquatch!  Michele is going to do WIP Wrestling.  Jill plans on making the Amille shawl by Emily Ross with Madeline Tosh Lace in Oceana.  The Games begin August 5 in your timezone!

Uppers, Downers and Misc. Links:
I Love This Yarn by Hobby Lobby

Lionel Richie leggings and other items

Hello by Lionel Richie
Every Breath You Take by The Police
Sitting Outside Your Door by Me'shell N'degeocello
Hitchhiker by Martina Behm
Troublemaker by Leah Remini
BookTube - (a beginner's guide)
Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Michele mentioned too many books for Jill to link to!
Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Persopolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Star Trek Beyond
Anton Yelchin
Straight Outta Compton
Terminator Genisys
Mr. Robot
Hokkaido Melon Kit Kats
Tokyo Banana Cake
Farrell's Ice Cream Parlors

Ep. 32 - Talk Gooey to Me

Our Current Fix:
Michele has started her Rikke hat in MarigoldJen DK Weight BFL (her Rav page here). Michele used a video from Knittables (Knitabulls?) about garter stitch in the round.  Jill couldn't find it to link here, so here's a different tutorial.
Jill finished her newborn Aviatrix hat by Justine Turner in Nerd Girl Yarns Clever (her project page here).  She is still working on the #15 Banded Lace Pullover by Traci Bunkers from Vogue Spring/Summer 2016 in Cascade Avalon.  She is 30% through her Inara Wrap by Ambah O'Brien out of two Artyarns Milano Fade gradients in Hematite Fade and Malachite Fade.

What We're Jonesing For:
Michele is into the 3-in-1 sweater and  the Stripes with a Twist pattern, both by atelier alfa.  Michele also likes the Gunmetal Shawlette by Mam'zelle Flo (which reminds Jill of patterns by busylittlemonkey) and A Little of This, a Little of That crocheted shawl by Teri DiLibero.
Jill has bought some Ysolda Teague patterns: Wee Carson and the Rhinebeck Sweater book.  She wants to make Pumpkin Ale, Aunt Fred and Jenny at the Fair.  She also like the Manatee pattern by Rachel Borello Carroll.  Also check out her other Yarnigans patterns, including the Dutch Rabbits and Marisol the Knitted Mouse.

Uppers, Downers and Misc. Links:
The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes
Beauty Con in LA
Carol's Daughter makeup
Kelly Rowland
Nyx cosmetics
Mahogany Curls youtube
Lime Crime
Milani cosmetics
Audible
Star Wars Little Golden Books
You by Caroline Kepes
Why Not Me by Mindy Kaling
Manatea tea ball
Gwen Bortner classes
The City Museum in St. Louis
Ted Drewes frozen custard
Imo's pizza
Gooey Butter Cake - here's a link to the history plus fancy recipe.  The cheater recipe Jill uses is similar to this one.
Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago
O.J.: Made in America on ESPN 30 for 30