Saturday, August 21, 2010

What's in a name? Apparently, quite a bit!

Listen here!
This week, Ben had nothing to say, but Abby really ran off at the mouth! In Grande, I found that Louisa turned out very grande indeed! 


I was refreshed without any calorie intake at Chocolate Bar, where I enjoyed iced fair trade Black Coconut tea. 


I'm experiencing severe startitis, between the new Norah Gaughan book, Rowan magazine and some delicious patterns in the new Twist Collective: Hallett's Ledge, Hawthorne, Acorns, and Coventry. I'm also pretty excited about Rosemary Hill's Seven Small Shawls to Knit book.


In Stir, I contemplate serious swatching and sampling of my Superwash Merino & Tencel from Susan's Spinning Bunny.


Taste brings us Abby's review of Socks A La Carte 2 - Toes Up, and she throws down the gauntlet to Ben for his take on the book.


For Bite, I'm asking listeners to weigh in on questions about introversion and extroversion, as well as seamed versus seamless knits. Finally, if you have a favorite espresso maker or other great coffee maker, let us know!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

A Trip to Soho and an Ethical Dilemma

Listen here.
This week Abby is joined by her son Ben for the first (?) mother-son knitting podcast! 


In the Grande segment, Ben has finished two kippot out of Tahki Cotton Classic; Abby has finished ----- nothing!

In Latte (on the needles) Ben talks about his Mojo socks. Abby complains at length about her trials and tribulations with Louisa but she was finally saved by some great photos and helpful notes posted on ravelry by globaltraveler here.

This week's Taste comes from Ben, who reviews Jane Ellison's Queensland #9, and the pattern "Tom" in particular. He raises this week's ethical dilemma after having perused Jane Ellison's Noro:Men  Book at Canvasworks in Olympia, WA. He was especially taken with the pattern Montaro but asks how far inspiration can be taken.

Our Chai segment this week takes us on a trip to Soho and the East Village. We visited the amazing Purl Soho with our friend Urbanheart from ravelry. The store looks quite a bit like the website! Abby ogled the Japanese  and Chinese collectible sewing kits, the fabric and other exotic offerings. Ben purchased some Farmhouse Fannie's Fingering Weight in Bramble. Abby, meanwhile, was seduced by Anzula's "Squishy" sock yarn which she compared to the Sanguine Gryphon's Bugga. Both of these are apparently hard to come by, but Purl has lots of Squishy in stock. Abby was enchanted by the magazine selvedge and is almost ready to ditch New York for the British countryside -- well, not quite.

Finally, we had a fabulous meal in the East Village at Caravan of Dreams which features organic, live, vegan food -- and it's Kosher, too! Live music and friendly service helped us cool off from a steamy New York City shopping trip.

Our itunes feed is working for us now, so you can subscribe and get your podcasts automatically. Thanks to Jasmin of the Knitmore Girls, we have a ravelry group as well, so come on over and talk to us. As usual, our theme music is by Jeff Wahl from "12 String" on magnatune.  We look forward to seeing you next week; don't forget to bring your coffee, tea or whatever quenches your thirst.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Slightly R-rated, and a Holmes is not a House

I continue to work on my Louisa sweater, despite frogging a day's knitting. I've selected the Mason-Dixon Outside the Lines  Mitered Hanging Towel as my go-to subway knitting.


The Citron is finished, but not yet blocked, and a lesson is learned about gauge.


Ben and I took a trip to Downtown Yarns in the East Village, and were thoroughly charmed by this intimate and homey shop in the middle of New York City! Abby bought Norah Gaughan Volume 7 and learned a little about why some sweaters are knit in pieces.


My Tour de Fleece singles are plied and set. It was shocking to see how much dirt came out in the soaking! I need to play with it a bit to figure out what gauge this yarn wants to be; maybe it will turn into the Coraline sweater, but may be not. I'm looking forward to playing around with my new Phat Fiber box of goodies.


Hair sticks are my latest accessory for keeping comfortable in the city summer heat, and Dimrs are my latest "r-rated" secret.


Finally, we hear a bit about the lastest British creation from David Moffat of Doctor Who fame!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Episode 2: The sky, I mean the ceiling's falling!




Listen to Episode 2 here.

This week my bathroom ceiling caved in, and there was a reported tornado in the Bronx! There's always something dramatic happening in New York City.


I started a new sweater, Louisa from French Girl Knits, a really fabulous book by Kristeen Griffith Grimes, that contains almost exclusively seamless patterns.

Meanwhile, the Tour de Fleece has ended in success. I got all my singles spun, which is what I was aiming for. After the singles get a chance to rest, I'll ply up the BFL I've spun. I am really, really ready to spin some bright colors now!

If you want to see some amazingly stylish individuals, check out Advanced Style. You will be, I think, both surprised and inspired.

I've been having a really fun time with my new Kuchulu Turkish Spindle from Jenkins Woodworking. Go have a look at the beautiful and exotic woods that Ed Jenkins uses, even if you don't intend to buy.

Finally, a detailed review of Rowan Magazine #48, which is full of beauty and inspiration. There's a reason many refer to the Rowan Magazine as "knitting porn".