Spinning on 2 Wheels

Episode 7: All Over the Place

All links to Ravelry are labelled as such. I try to include links to outside websites as much as possible. At this time, I am not including links for purchasing yarns, needles, etc. If I do, they will also be appropriately labelled. As a quick reminder: I am not affiliated with any businesses. If you’d like to show your support of the podcast, please rate and review on your listening device, follow me on instagram, and / or join the ravelry discussion group (ravelry link) if it is safe for you to do so.

Life on the Road – 01:13

Audio Man has created the segment ‘Scenic Route’ for me to put all of my plant and garden related ramblings. He figured people tuning in for knitting would not necessarily be interested in half an hour of plant talk!

Fashionably Riding – 01:40

The hand knits have been put aside for spring, but I still find myself reaching for fiber festival garb from the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.

Mom’s Yarn Stash: omg – 02:19

Ongoing Projects – 02:42

The Chirfirsten Socks (ravelry link) are completely finished! Which means a bonus episode will be coming very very soon to introduce the next project from Operation Sock Drawer (what! what!). I have been spinning on a fleece purchased at MDSW in 2019. The breed in indeterminate until I find more information. I am hoping to spin enough fingering weight yarn for a vintage-inspired or vintage sweater. It’s about time I make myself a sweater too. Lastly, The Standing Stones Stockings (ravelry link) by Kalurah Hudson are continuing to grow… sort of.

Fiber Fuckery: You Decide – 05:49

Stalled – 06:08

The Standing Stones Stockings needed more room, again. So they were frogged back (rip it rip it rip it) about 20cm, again. More stitches were added to the stockinette panel at the back to the stockings, again. Also mentioned is the stalled progress on the MHK level 1. The non-knitting parts are just less fun to work on.

Sunshine: Making yarn gremlins of all of us. – 09:31

Scenic Route – 09:48

Two thornless raspberries are showing no signs of life, a shame that the number of those plants are significant for my anniversary that is coming up. All new rose bushes are showing new buds and even some leaves. One of those, is a present, so that is very very good news. The lilacs that Audio Man was a little nervous about helping me trim back are blooming and thriving! As are many of the vegetables that are in my Victory (over Covid) Garden.

From top left: Peas, climbing rose has more flower buds, the top most (and oldest) bud on the climbing rose, a lilac next to the victory garden (at the time of posting), multiple lilac blooms from when the episode was recorded, two lilac blooms from the time of recording

Episode 6: Procrasti-KNIT-ing

All links to Ravelry are labelled as such. I try to include links to outside websites as much as possible. At this time, I am not including links for purchasing yarns, needles, etc. If I do, they will also be appropriately labelled. As a quick reminder: I am not affiliated with any businesses. If you’d like to show your support of the podcast, please rate and review on your listening device, follow me on instagram, and join the ravelry discussion group (ravelry link) if it is safe for you to do so.

Dear Listeners, I took the title of this episode perhaps too much to heart and did not even touch the editing process until 8:30 AM the day of upload. However, much to my shame and consternation, all efforts I had put into it were lost in the transfer to my sister’s house, which I discovered about an hour prior to upload. As such, this episode is being presented almost entirely unedited. I’m sorry.

Audio Man

Sunshine! – Making Yarn Gremlins of All of Us – 34:03

Fashionably Riding – 34:24

Colors of Fall Cardi (ravelry link)! Originally made for The Yarniacs podcast Colors of Fall knit-a-long in 2017, and also submitted to the Fairs and Festivals contest hosted by Friends Of The Show Greg and Pam of the Unraveling podcast. The pattern is the Essential Cardigan (ravelry link) by Laura Grutzeck (ravelry link) and was published in Interweave Knits, Summer 2010. I used Knitpicks Wool of the Andes Worsted (ravelry link) in Dove and Mist.

Deathwish Coffee: Not a Sponsor, Just a Need – 38:50

Ongoing Projects – 39:04

All MHK swatches are made and blocked!

The Churfirsten Socks (ravelry link) by Sabrina Schumacher are almost finished.

The Vest (ravelry link) is finished, blocked, and awaiting more pictures.

The Standing Stones Stockings (ravelry link) are now being mades two-at-a-time on a longer circular needle.

Fiber Fuckery: You Decide – 42:15

Stalled – 42:37

The Standing Stones Stockings are designed as straight tubes, but my legs aren’t. Ripped about 20 cm to increase 8 stitches in the stockinette section the comprises the back of each stocking.

Episode 5 : Welcome to The MHK

We had the first listener shout out! If you would like a shout out too, introduce yourself in the Ravelry group here, or let me know via private message on Instagram @thekickassknitter.

Tune-Up – 01:25

Today’s Tune-Up covers the Master Handknitting Certification course offered by The Knitting Guild Association. For more information or to begin your own journey through the MHK, check out the TKGA website at tkga.org.

Fashionably Riding – 09:59

The Persephone Shell (ravelry link) by Lien Ngo was tried on and promptly removed due to fitting. Originally made in 2015 in Bernat Cotton-ish (ravelry link) yarn in Gun Powder gray and Patons North America Silk Bamboo (ravelry link) in Royal Blue.

Sunshine! – Making Yarn Gremlins of all of Us -13:00

Ongoing Projects – 13:17

All swatches for the MHK level 1 have been knit! The last batch needs blocking, and labeling. One swatch needs to be seamed after blocking.

Churfirsten Socks (ravelry link) in Knitologie Cozy Sock (ravelry link) in the Citris Squeeze colorway already have the heels turned.

The Vest (ravelry link) by David R. Castillo (ravelry link) is almost finished. The body is done, it just needs a collar, and sleeve borders. The colorwork sections went MUCH faster once they were being worked flat.

Cast-on for the Standing Stones Stockings (ravelry link) by Kalurah Hudson. Using Berroco Inca® Tweed in colorway 8907 Trigo. I used the Modern Knitting Daily method for making a toe-up heel flap, found here. Definitely read the instructions all the way through before starting. Maybe twice.

Also started some sewing! Envelope throw pillow cases vaguely based on this design. I am using all recycled materials.

DeathWish Coffee: Not a sponsor, just a need – 24:41

Stalled – 25:02

Stalled a little on the stockings, because the heel-flap technique requires quite a bit of concentration and math and I gave it neither. I miscalculated both the number of gusset increases and where to begin the gusset increases.

Mom’s Yarn Stash: omg – 26:49

Gear Check – 27:13

I have been using some hand carders that I borrowed from my older sister to re-fluff the synthetic fiber fill that I am recycling to make the new throw pillows. I am pleasantly surprised by how effective this method is.

Episode 4: Making an Ass of Myself

Introduction – 00:40

New discussion topic in the Ravelry group: Mechanics (ravelry link). Anything feedback you’d like to leave, that is the best place. Remember, your motorcycle won’t stop making the weird little noise, if you don’t tell anyone that there’s something wrong. It’s me. I am the motorcycle. Please let me know if I can improve your listening experience in any way.

Tune-up: The Knitting Guild Association – 04:20

The Knitting Guild Association, found here, is a 501 (c3) charitable organization dedicated to providing education and resources to knitters. Membership is $25 USD annually. They offer retreats, online courses, and certifications for a multitude of knitting related life style choices.

Fashionably Riding – 10:18

I have been fashionably riding in Rêveurs Socks (ravelry link). This was the only knitting I mentioned, but I swear it is not the only clothing I have been wearing. Because it has still been cold and a little snow-y here.

Deathwish Coffee: Not a sponsor, just a need. – 11:20

On-Going Projects – 11:34

Churfirsten (bless you) Socks (ravelry link) by Sebrina Schumacher (ravelry link) from Operation Sock Drawer (what!what!) project is on the needles. The lovely yarn is Cozy Sock (ravelry link) by Knitologie in the colorway Citrus Squeeze which is the embodiment of radioactive lemonade.

The Vest (ravelry link) continues to speed along due to the larger yarn weight.

Pigments of Inspiration: Drugs, Brain Injury or Excitement – does the why matter? – 20:36

Stalled – 21:04

The Vest stalls itself on a fairly regular basis, i.e. every row, because twisting and catching four active balls of yarn is a juggling feat in and of itself. I also hadn’t wound my hanks of handspun Jacobs wool into cakes at the beginning of the project because I was probably in a hurry and just wanted to cast on.

The Churfirsten socks occasionally need to be corrected as I knit along to fix minor little mistakes. Laddering in the heel sections were dealt with by separating the socks onto individual circular needles.

Sunshine: Making Yarn gremlins of all of us – 26:22

Gear Check – 26:41

This Gear Check is the Chiao Goo Red Lace Circular needles. They are an absolute delight, coated in nylon.

Episode 3: Socks! Socks! Socks! Socks!Socks! Socks! Everybody!

Introduction – 00:25

At the time of recording, there have been 16 downloads of Episode 1! I am both astounded and blown away! Thank you all very much. At Audio-Man’s instance, the recording schedule has been tweaked, so that the new episode will now be recorded as the previous episode is launched.

Major craft related activity of 2021: Mom’s craft room. It took two weeks, but we did it. Everybody give her a hand.

Fashionably Riding – 04:49

I have been fashionably riding through life in the Caledon Fall Sweater (ravelry link), made from a yarn lost to time and space. I also discovered a hole in one of the fingers of my Cable Detail Gloves (ravelry link) made from Patons Classic Wool in Heather Jade (ravely link). I made these gloves while in university, and they are the best. Kept my hands warm whilst directing traffic outdoors in a polar vortex.

Mom’s Yarn Stash: omg – 06:25

Ongoing Projects – 06:50

Swatches 13 and 14 for TKGA Master Hand Knitting program are complete but not yet on the blocking board. There will be a slight pause in swatch making, because the next several require additional planning.

Toe-box decreases of the Rêveur socks (ravelry link) have begun, were finished, and the socks are now complete.

Continuing the tradition of making my husband a new sweater every year, I have cast on The Vest (ravelry link). The pattern is called Schmidt (ravelry link) by David Castillo (ravelry link), and was first published in GoGoDavitron in 2010. I am using handspun Jacob wool, Shepherd’s Wool (ravelry link) in Hunter Green by Stonehenge Fiber Mill, and Pure Wool Entwine 8 ply (ravelry link) in the color #31 by 4 Seasons.

Broke Crafters of Central Maryland: Please. Think of the Crafters – 11:48

B.C.o.C.M is NOT a real charity. B.C.o.C.M. is NOT a real business. Pledges made at patreon.com/2WheelsPodcast go solely to support Spinning on 2 Wheels and its creators.

Stalled – 12:34

Staggered toe decreases on the Rêveur socks proved difficult and had to be restarted a couple times.

First cast on of The Vest was unsuccessful and ten stitches too small.

Dropped Bike – 14:43

The Vest was originally to be a Cable V-Neck Pullover (ravelry link), but I did not realize how much yarn the pattern called for. Because I didn’t check. I am determined to use this hand spun jacob, and I can’t make anymore.

Editor Peggy Note: In the episode, I quoted the amount of yarn called for in the pattern as ‘2000 yards of yarn’. This was due to a massive error in calculations, caught and corrected by Audio-Man. The pattern calls for 13 oz of a discontinued yarn. I thought the pattern called for 13 skeins. This means that the pattern required roughly 850 yards of yarn. Still more than I have. Chalk this one up to vintage patterns being vintage.

Episode 2: Public Knitters – The Best Cryptid

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Episode 2 becoming a reality

Introduction and Fashionable Riding – 00:25

Reminiscing on the before-times, when knitting in public was fun, and approaching strangers to talk about knitting was slightly more acceptable.

KnitCrate January 2021 unboxing – 05:17

Fashionable Riding – 08:48

Being fabulously fashionable this episode are several pair of vanilla socks. One ankle pair in Rita Mae Yarns (ravelry link) Sweet Pea Sock in the “Gingerbread” colorway. the second pair of vanilla socks are made from KnittyandColor (ravelry link) Acoustic Sock in the “Toothless the Night Fury” colorway first purchased in 2015 at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.

Beyond socks, there are two sweaters mentioned. The Caledon Fall (ravelry link) by the talented Shaulaine White. More of their work can be found here. This sweater was originally made as an entry into The Yarniacs Podcast colors of fall knit-a-long in 2018 for ‘Red Pear’ inspiration. Also mentioned is The Fog Sweater (ravelry link) by Tiennie (ravelry link) made in 2012 in KnitPicks Brava (ravelry link) in the “Dublin” colorway.

Sunshine: Making yarn gremlins of all of us. – 14:06

On-Going Projects – 14:22

Swatches 1-6 for TKGA Master Hand Knitting Program are blocked, labelled and complete. Swatches 1 and 3 had some set backs, but are done. Swatch 15, completed early for gauge measuring purposes, is blocked, but in need of a label and other submission specific requirements.

Swatches 7-12 were powered through in the span of two evenings. They are blocked but still in need of labels. Blocking these as a group was challenging due to the remarkable similarities between different decrease techniques.

The Rêveurs (ravelry link) socks from Operation Sock Drawer (what! what!) by The Knitmore Girls are almost at the toe decrease.

Jacobs wool from Boru Farms was spun up during 2020 and will be made into a vest for 2021. Pattern yet to be decided.

Fiber Fuckery: You Decide – 23:48

Stalled – 24:08

The fiber fuckery begins. Discussion of the frustrations of yarn breaks, remaking swatches and the futility of swatch differentiation.

‘Broke Crafters of Central Maryland’ – 32:55

B.C.o.C.M. is NOT a real charity. B.C.o.C.M. is NOT a real business. Pledges made at patreon.com/2WheelsPodcast go solely to support Spinning on 2 Wheels and its creators.

Gear Check – 33:42

The Ashford Kiwi II is a portable, quiet spinning wheel that is delightful to spin fiber on, even as it eats brake lines.

Episode 1: There Should Probably Be a Title Here

Introduction and Fashionable Riding – 00:14

Being fashionably worn are Hermione’s Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder.

Deathwish Coffee: Not a sponsor, just a need. – 5:53

On-Going Projects – 6:07

The Knitting Guild Association Master Hand Knitting Program can be found here. All knitting for the MHK is done in Patons Classic Wool in the Winter White colorway.

Operation Sock Drawer by The Knitmore Girls is the pattern book containing beautiful sock patterns. First up is Rêveurs by Cheryl Eaton. These socks are being made in Twin Mommy Creations‘ Enchantress.

Ferdinand the Frog by Elizabeth Ann Corbin is being made for a dear friend. He is almost ready to go to his forever home. All they need is a hand sewn tag from Ever Emblem.

‘Broke Crafters of Central Maryland’ – 14:35

B.C.o.C.M. is NOT a real charity. B.C.o.C.M. is NOT a real business. Pledges made at patreon.com/2WheelsPodcast go solely to support Spinning on 2 Wheels and its creators.

Stalled – 15:20

The fiber fuckery begins. Discussion of the difficulties of swatches, lace repeats and crochet.

Mom’s Yarn Stash: omg 20:48

Dropped Bike – 21:12

The Sweater From Hell is a Gunnislake Pullover by Meghan Babin. It is a reverse toasted-chili-cheese-and-chutney sandwich.

Sunshine: Making yarn gremlins of all of us. – 26:41

Gear check – 26:58

Multitudinous types of needles. How they come about and what gets used.