The Yarniacs: A Knitting Podcast

What are we wearing?
Confetti by Veera Valimaki
Sharlene's Confetti 2
Slade by Michele Wang
Gayle's Slade
Elton by Joji Locatelli
Gayle's Elton

What are we stalking?
Rambling Rose Sweater by Asita Krebs
Teroldego  by Caitlin Hunter
Fading Point by Joji Locatelli
Polyhedra by Emma Welford
Rewilding by Helen Stuart
Lilt by Sarah Pope
Tecumseh by Caitlin Hunter

Thank-you Infinite Twist for sponsoring this episode!

What are we knitting?
Washed Out by Joji Locatelli
Beachcomber's Cowl by Melissa Thomson

What are we wearing?
Latitude by Elizabeth Doherty
Sharlene's Latitude
Ease by Alicia Plummer
Gayle's Ease

What are we stalking?
Journey Home by Afifa
The Throwback by Andrea Mowry
Ninilchik Swoncho by Caitlin Hunter
Nerissa by Elizabeth Smith

Thank you Plum Deluxe tea for sponsoring this episode!

What are we wearing?
Wishes Cardigan by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's Wishes Cardigan
Latitude by Elizabeth Doherty
Gayle's Latitude

What are we stalking?
Counting Sheep Shawl by Lisa Hannan Fox
Counting Sheep Blanket by Lisa Hannan Fox
Blütenmeer - sea of blossom by Kral Veronika

Crazy Stripes Tee by alfa knits


Thank-you Plum Deluxe tea for sponsoring this episode!

What are we knitting?

What are we wearing?
Donner by Elizabeth Donner
Sharlene's Donner
Gayle's Log Cabin blanket
Gayle's Donner
Outing Shawl

What are we stalking?
SS&A by Natsuko Iida
Acoma by Casapinka
Local Yarn Shawl by Casapinka
Cherry by Midori Hirose
Ninilchik Swoncho by Caitlin Hunter

Thank you Infinite Twist for sponsoring this episode!

In this episode, Gayle and I talk about a task that some knitters seem to have a fear of taking on... winding their yarn! Why the fear? I am not sure, but working in a yarn store, I meet many knitters who tell me they aren't smart or patient enough to wind their own yarn. Hmm. I don't think winding yarn takes superhero brain powers or a large dose of patience. I think it does take a bit of practice, and a familiarity with the tools you have at your disposal. Whether you are winding by hand from the back of a chair or winding yarn on a well crafted wooden ball winder, winding your yarn affords the opportunity for the knitter to learn something about their yarn. This is a good thing! You have the chance to learn if you like the way the yarn feels as it slips through your fingers; you will learn if perhaps this blend dries out your skin; you'll find out if this particular skein has a knot five yards from the end. All good things.

Of course there will always be times when you don't want or can't wind your own yarn; or perhaps you have an injury or physical limitations. But it behooves us all as masters of our craft to at least know how to perform this function, and to know how best to utilize the tools we have at our disposal. Wind on, my knitters!
- Sharlene


What are we wearing?
Donner by Elizabeth Doherty
Sharlene's Donner
Free Your Fade by Andrea Mowry
Gayle's Fade

What are we stalking?
Hinagiku by Eri
Tinos by Hilary Smith Callis
Slow Curves by Joji Locatelli
Pom Pom Quarterly Autumn 2018
Baby Sweater on Two Needles by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Kiss Me Romper by Kate Oates
Rocky by tincanknits
Gramps Cardigan by Tot Toppers
Gramps Cardigan (adult) by Kate Oates
Weekender by Andrea Mowry

What are we knitting?
Jessica Jones by Sminé
Winterfell Cardigan by Katrin Schneider
Bits and Bobs by Kay Jones
Latitude by Elizabeth Doherty

What have we finished?
Wonder Woman Wrap by Carissa Browning
Sharlene's Wonder Woman Wrap

Thank-you Infinite Twist for sponsoring this episode!

What are we wearing?
The Easy One by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's Easy One
Confetti by Veera Valimaki
Gayle's Confetti

What are we stalking?
Baby Sophisticate by Linden Down
Easy Baby Cardigan by Diane Soucy
Marettimo by Caitlin Hunter
Slow Curves by Joji Locatelli
Rocky by tincanknits

Thank you Infinite Twist for sponsoring this episode!

What are we wearing?
Little Bird by Veera Valimaki
Sharlene's Little Bird
Jujuy by Joji Locatelli
Gayle's Jujuy

What are we stalking?
Washed Out by Joji Locatelli
Clara by Karin Vestergaard Mathiesen
Simple newborn hat with a touch of lace by Ginny Sheller


Thank-you Dragonfly Fibers for sponsoring this episode!

What are we knitting?
Jessica Jones by Sminé
Latitude by Elizabeth Doherty
Slade by Michele Wang
Viajante by Martina Behm
Baby Sweater on Two Needles by Elizabeth Zimmermann

What have we finished?
The Easy One by Joji Locatelli
Westbound by Elizabeth Doherty
Sharlene's Westbound

What are we wearing?
Divvy by JumperCables
Sharlene's Divvy
Gayle's Divvy

What are we stalking?
Picnic Point Beanie by Fairlight Fibers
Little Scallops by Maria Carlander
Beekeeper Cardigan by Marie Green
Wool & Honey by Andrea Mowry

Thank you Dragonfly Fibers for sponsoring this episode!

You know that feeling when all the patterns start to look the same? Maybe you can't bear to look at one more garter stitch striped shawl? It happens to all of us. I call it "pattern fatigue." One of the great things about the robust pattern database on Ravelry is that we are exposed to so many fantastic patterns. One of the reasons we experience pattern fatigue is that robust pattern database on Ravelry.  It works both ways. In this episode we talk a little bit about experiencing pattern fatigue, vacation planning and knitting, and of course, all our usual segments. Enjoy!
- Sharlene

What are we wearing?
Divvy by JumperCables
Sharlene's Divvy
Calyx by Elizabeth Doherty
Sharlene's Calyx
Light Rain by Joji Locatelli
Gayle's Light Rain
Clio by Elizabeth Doherty
Gayle's Clio
Annulaire by Hilary Smith Callis
Gayle's Annulaire
Alewives Cowl by Elizabeth Doherty

What are we stalking?
Linen Top by Samantha Stadter
Deschain by Leila Raabe
Rose Quartz by Veera Valimaki
Yana Lite by Isabel Kraemer
Clio by Elizabeth Doherty
Hinsdale Vest by Amy Herzog
Sanderling by Asami Kawa
Modern Tunic by Lori Versaci


Thank-you Candy Skein for sponsoring this episode!

What are we knitting?
Sea Anemone Scrubbie
The Easy One by Joji Locatelli
Slade by Michele Wang
Viajante by Martina Behm
Jujuy by Joji Locatelli

What have we finished?
Divvy by JumperCables
Sharlene's Divvy
Light Rain by Joji Locatelli
Gayle's Light Rain

What are we wearing?
February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne
February Fitted Pullover by Amy Herzog
Fading Point by Joji Locatelli
Gayle's Fading Point

Thank you Candy Skein for sponsoring this episode!

What are we stalking?
Like a Cloud by Joji Locatelli
Latitude by Elizabeth Doherty
Alice by Hiroko Fukatsu
Bride by the Sea by Jenn Sheelen

What are we knitting?
Divvy by Jumper Cables
The Easy One by Joji Locatelli
Slade by Michele Wang

What have we finished?
Sharlene's kitchen scrubbie
Fading Point by Joji Locatelli
Violet Waffles by Halldora J

Where are they now?
Whisper Cardigan by Hannah Fettig
Sharlene's Whisper
Emelien by Ariane Caron-Lacoste
Gayle's Emelien
Laika by Ysolda Teague
Gayle's Laika
Sharlene's Laika

Though I don't consider myself to be fashion forward in what I choose to wear--you will usually find me in jeans and t-shirts--I do have fun watching fashion trends and fashion designers and their work. I also love color, and the Pantone fashion colors and colors of the year are always fascinating. Sometimes they are right on, sometimes not so. But I often find the colors readily available as ready-to-wear clothing and in yarn palettes from the major dyers. With this in mind, we start our annual Colors-of-Fall Knit-A-Long. In this episode, we introduce the colors, and talk about some fashion trends we've spotted online. Enjoy! #yarniacsCOF2018 #yarniacs #yarniacspodcast
- Sharlene

What are we wearing?
Newsom by Bristol Ivy
Djinni Sock from Dragonfly Fibers
Waits by Bristol Ivy
Yoga Shawl by Andrea Mowry

What are we stalking?
A Girl's Best Friend by Isabel Kraemer
Pabaigh by Kate Davies
Kettle Valley Poncho by Marsha Ibuki


Thank-you Fix-A-Stitch for sponsoring this episode!

What are we wearing?
Flaum by Justyna Lorkowska
Sharlene's Flaum
Björkö Shawl by Anna Friberg
Gayle's Bjorko

What are we stalking?
Fisherman's Cloud by Katrin Schneider
Holst Garn Coast
Goldfish Memory by Casapinka
Nilla the Unicorn by Rachel Borello Carroll
Little Coffee Bean by Elizabeth Smith
Viajante by Martina Behm

"Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either." 
- Elizabeth Zimmermann, Knitting Without Tears

 

We recorded at the harbor again, sitting in the car. Apologies for some ambient noises from seagulls, motor vehicles, and people!

What are we wearing?
Flaum by Justyna Lorkowska
Sharlene's Flaum
Ravenscliffe by Annie Hamilton
Gayle's Ravenscliffe

What are we stalking?
Sharlene's Svalbard
Asagi by Bristol Ivy
O'Keeffe by Bristol Ivy
Herbarium by Nadia Crétin-Léchenne
Bride by the Sea Shawl by Jenn Sheelen


Thank-you to Plum Deluxe for sponsoring this episode!


What are we knitting?
Calyx by Elizabeth Doherty
Jessica Jones by Sminé
Light Rain by Joji Locatelli
RYC Cashcotton 4-Ply from Rowan
Fading Point by Joji Locatelli
Violet Waffles by Halldora J

What have we finished?
Flaum by Justyna Lorkowska
Sharlene's Flaum
Ravenscliffe by Annie Hamilton
Gayle's Ravenscliffe
I Was a Teenage Mutant by Alex Tinsley
Malabrigo Waffles Scarf by Sarah Florent

What can you learn from the #yarniacssweaterchallenge ?
Pick your 5 most worn sweaters and evaluate for
1 - color
2 - yarn weight
3 - fiber
4 - design elements
5 - construction
6 - ease

You might be surprised to learn what you really wear. What you wear may not be what you like or choose to knit. If you find a pattern in what you really wear, you can use that information when picking yarns and projects. You can extend this exercise to do for example, summer sweaters, shawls, or any other particular situation you like.

What are we wearing?
Free Your Fade by Andrea Mowry
Shellseeker by Heidi Kirrmaier

What are we stalking?
OpArt by Melissa Dominguez
Fading Point by Joji Locatelli
Ujo by Ankestrick
Felicitas by Lisa Hannes
Reine by Alexis Winslow
Malabrigo Waffles Scarf by Sarah Florent

Thank you to Plum Deluxe for sponsoring this episode!

What are we knitting?
Calyx by Elizabeth Doherty
Twig from Shibui
Reed from Shibui
Flaum by Justyna Lorkowska
Jessica Jones by Sminé
Light Rain by Joji Locatelli
Ravenscliffe by Annie Hamilton
Birds of a Feather by Andrea Mowry

What have we finished?
Calyx by Elizabeth Doherty
Coast from Holst Garn
Tides from Holst Garn
Kitten hat
Shellseeker by Heidi Kirrmaier
Viewpoint by Anne Ginger
Gayle's Viewpoint

Here are some of the swatches knit by attendees in a fabulous swatching experiment led by our in-house designer Elizabeth Doherty. We all knit the same swatch with the same number of stitches, rows, same yarn and needle size. Each swatch was unique!

What are we wearing?
Grace by Jane Richmond
Archer by Elizabeth Doherty
Gayle's Archer (tunic length)

What are we stalking?
Winterfell Cardigan by Katrin Schneider
Every day of summer by Anne B. Hanssen
The Weekender by Andrea Mowry
Slade by Michele Wang
Light Rain by Joji Locatelli
Violet Waffles by Halldora J

What are we knitting?
Flaum by Justyna Lorkowska
Jessica Jones by Sminé
Calyx by Elizabeth Doherty
Smoke in the City by Greg Cohoon
Viewpoint by Anne Ginger

What have we finished?
Sharlene's Kitten hat
Pei by Michele Wang
Shellseeker by Heidi Kirrmaier
Gayle's Shellseeker

Of note: It actually looks like the 2018 Pantone Colors of Fall have already been released. If you'd like to start your planning, you can see all the colors here.

It was a bit of a creature fest when we recorded this week.  Cats and birds making appearances. Partway through the podcast, my bird makes herself known by ringing her bell. And ringing again. I didn't realize the microphone would pick it up as clearly as it did, so for a couple of minutes, please imagine there is a little bird ringing her bell in the room with you. :) She's a happy bird. But never fear, there is lots of knitting content coming your way. Enjoy!

What are we wearing?
Dragonflies Jumper by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's Dragonflies Jumper
Viajante by Martina Behm
Gayle's Viajante

What are we stalking?
Hasukai by Hiroku Fokatsu
Gayle's Laar cardigan
Jujuy by Joji Locatelli
Tiny Tassels by Karin Fernandes
Carbeth Cardigan by Kate Davies

What are we knitting?
Jessica Jones by Sminé
Flaum by Justyna Lorkowska
Viewpoint by Anne Ginger
Shellseeker by Heidi Kirrmeier

Thank you to Yarn Love for sponsoring this episode!


What have we finished?
Inner Peace by Joji Locatelli
On The Porch by Fifty Four Ten Studio
Chevron Baby Blanket by Espace Tricot
Itty Bitty Bear Cubs by Carolyn Ingram
Free Your Fade by Andrea Mowry
Clio by Elizabeth Doherty
Jessica Jones by Sminé

Note: This guy joined us for recording, but stayed silent throughout!

This year we recorded little snippets each morning at Stitches West. It was a fun way to recap what we saw and share what we were stalking each day. There aren't many links, but there are a couple of fun stories about our adventures, followed by a discussion on sweater maintenance. Changing seasons  and changing clothes seasonally gives us a chance to wash, inspect, and maintain or pare down our sweater cache. And as you will hear, paring down the sweater cache is necessary, if you keep bringing new and pretty yarns into your yarn stash!

Dragonfly Fibers
Western Sky Knits

What are we stalking? - Day 1
White Pine by Amy Christophers
Calyx by Elizabeth Doherty
Polyhedra by Emma Welford

What are we stalking? - Day 2
Clio by Elizabeth Doherty
Cullen by Elizabeth Doherty

What are we stalking? - Day 3
All Points South by Casapinka

Sweater maintenance
We love using Eucalan wool wash!

Thank-you to Yarn Love for sponsoring this episode!

This week I share my knitting triumph. What is a knitting triumph? If I were writing a novel it would be the denouement. The what-what you say? The denouement is the "final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved." (Thank-you Google dictionary.) Doesn't that sound perfect for a sweater? Especially one that has been in the planning for a year, with yarn purchased and pattern ready to go. My strands are all drawn together, my ends woven in, and I have something lovely to wear and share. I am really proud of this accomplishment. I am sure you all have your own triumphs as well. Sometimes a knitting triumph isn't a long-awaited sweater, sometimes a knitting triumph is something as simple as finishing a hat for a friend, or pulling those needles out of a long dormant project and freeing them for something new. What is your knitting triumph? Join us on Ravelry and share in the episode thread!
- Sharlene

What are we wearing?
Confetti by Veera Valimaki
Sharlene's Confetti
Jessica Jones by Sminé
Sharlene Jessica cowl
Minthe by Anne Ginger
Gayle's Minthe

What are we stalking?
Liv Light by Carrie Bostick Hoge
Lovella by Ambah O'Brien
Also the designer of Lilli Pilli
Pei by Michele Wang
Jessica Jones by Sminé

Thanks to Dragonfly Fibers for sponsoring this episode!

What are we knitting?
Free Your Fade by Andrea Mowry
Inner Peace by Joji Locatelli
Gayle's old Cassis sweater
The blanket Sharlene started is this:
On the Porch by Fifty Four Ten Studio
Sockhead Slouch Hat by Kelly McClure
Clio by Elizabeth Doherty

What have we finished?
Clio by Elizabeth Doherty
Sharlene's Clio
Mud Season by Elizabeth Smith
Gayle's Max Sweater
Pei by Michele Wang
Gayle's Pei
Breakaway by Elizabeth Doherty
Marlene's Mittens by Alaina Privette
Of Grace and Beauty by Jenn Sheelen

What are we wearing?
Boxy by Joji Locatelli
Sharlene's Boxy
Veronika by Coco Knits
Gayle's Veronika

What are we stalking?
StitchesWest vendor list
Baby blanket patterns
Fatty Lumpkin the Brave African Flower Pony by Heidi Bears
Happypotamus The Happy Hippo by Heidi Bears
Of Grace and Beauty Hat by Jenn Sheelen

What are we knitting?
Clio by Elizabeth Doherty
Sharlene's Clio
Free Your Fade by Andrea Mowry
Inner Peace by Joji Locatelli
Mud Season by Elizabeth Smith
Max's Sweater
Juicy Worsted from Candy Skien
Gayle's Clio
Mayfield Mitts by Erika Heusser

What have we finished?
Beloved Berlin by Isabel Kraemer
Sharlene's Beloved Berlin
Jessica Jones by Sminé
Sharlene's Jessica cowl
Tinsel Mitts by Andrea Mowry
Tasty DK from Candy Skein
Björkö Shawl by Anna Friberg

Thanks to Dragonfly Fibers for sponsoring this episode!

Wayne's World!
Wayne's World!

Thanks to Western Sky Knits for sponsoring this episode!