Posted By Leslie on July 26, 2010

We happily present Episode 18 for your viewing pleasure.  We are using a different uploader (blip.tv) so you might see a short commercial before or after the episode, but the quality is MUCH better and I don’t have to split it into segments, so I consider it a win/win. Let me know what you guys think of the new format.

Shownotes will be up soon!

You can find your own wax mustaches here.  How can you go wrong with a box of wax mustaches.

Laura is knitting…

2 pairs of toe-up socks with gussets.  The first is out of Blue Ridge Footprints sock yarn and the second is out of Harry Potter series of Opal yarn in the Tonks colorway.

Leslie is knitting…

A pair of toe-up socks out of Regia Hand-dye Effect from StringtownYarn.

Laura is done with…

Toe-up socks with gusset out of Ashabee Fiber Oasis in her bamboo/merino/nylon base.  The colorway name is Eclipse.

Log Cabin is done!  All 20 skeins were mostly used up.

Stashdown is now down to 7 skeins and a week to go!

Leslie is done with….

A Lady Betram shawl out of handspun Vesper fiber given to her by Fibernymph (Lisa).

Soon on the needles…

Perhaps a Stacy Shawl (sorry the pattern is currently unavailable) for Leslie and a featherweight cardi race for Laura (I’m watching you Jessica).

Spinning…

Not a whole ton for either of us here.  You can find more info about the 4 oz Challenge here and Schact’s ratios here.

Favorite Things:

Laura got an awesome FOP square package from Dryactivebeast.  Thanks Jen!

Perfect Day Yarns has updated and she has lots of goodies!

Mom and Wheezy brought Laura back goodies from Maine in the form of Tess Designer Yarns.

We ponder size issues with Bamboo Blend sock yarns and hope that Soak wash can solve any issue.

CraftyPancakes is very sweet and gave us stuff including stuff to give away (you should watch the episode to learn how to enter to win it).  We love you Megan!

Interweave Knits review for the fall issue.  We’re both disappointed with the articles (with a Barbara Walker exception) and the patterns (to be honest, it might be the styling of the sweaters more than the patterns themselves).  I think this is the ball winder that Leslie likes.  We like the photo index.

Category: Podcasts | 33 Comments »
Tags: podcast, theknitgirllls, wax moustache

Posted By Leslie on July 19, 2010

We had such an amazing weekend that we gabbed on for nearly an hour about it! I hope you enjoy!

Shownotes by LaLa

It’s episode 17!  I was shocked to realize that we’ve been doing this for over 3 months now.

Also, we had way too much fun at Tempted Estates.  Thank you again Bob, Stacy, and Emily for having us.

Laura WIPs:

New pair of toe up socks with gusset heel out of Ashabee Fiber Oasis in her bamboo/merino/nylon base.  The colorway name is Eclipse and I bought it in 2007 as one of my first etsy purchases.  I also got lots of cool stuff from Fearless Fibers and Dyeabolical Yarns back then (I really need to knit that stuff up and buy more of their wonderful yarns).

Log Cabin out of Cotton Classic (it’s even boring me at this point).

Soon on the needles will be the Featherweight Cardi (it’s a race Jessica!)

Leslie’s WIP’s

1×1 rib scarf out of hanspun Yarn Love  Marianne Roving in the Maiden colorway

Leslie’s FOs:

Secret knitting is done!

Knit, Purl, & RIP-it Socks by Deby Lake out of Wollmeise “Sabrina” and Claudia’s Handpainted“Mint.”

Laura’s FOs:

Vertizag Socks (they are at home being blocked!)

Noro Socks (plain from the top down with Eye of the Partridge heel)

Laura is currently into a Steampunk as a genre and likes Soulless.  I’m also interested in this when it comes out.

Laura is spinning:

Category: Podcasts | 5 Comments »
Tags: charlaineharris, helloyarn, knitting, spinning, tempted, temptedyarns, theknitgirllls

Posted By Leslie on July 13, 2010

It’s been a busy week here in Mississippi.  So much so that I decided to catch y’all up!
First – I took a sewing class with my friend Tracee last Saturday.  I’ve had a sewing machine for a couple of years but could never get my threading tension to work for me.  Incredibly frustrating, and I had no idea why.  Well, if you watched Episode 16, then (no doubt to your amusement), you know that my whole issue was that no one ever told me to put the presser foot down after threading the machine.

I’d been trying to sew with the presser foot in the up position.  For somewhere around 3 years (though very sporadically).  When the lady teaching the class explained that I needed to put that down, it was like a light bulb going off in my head, and wham!  I was off.  I managed to sew a few straight lines on a piece of scrap fabric and decided I was going to be a master seamstress!  Watch out world!

Unfortunately, the store was closing as the class ended, so I didn’t get to browse to my heart’s content.  I did go back the next day, and picked up a “Domestic Diva” apron kit (not this exact one, but I can’t find the one I got online):

It’s all the different fabrics (main, accent pocket cutouts, etc) all preprinted on a one yard piece of cotton.  Here’s a photo of the whole thing, freshly unwrapped:

That afternoon, I set to cutting!  I got all the pieces cut and pinned in the appropriate spots.  I did the zigzag thing over the edges to prevent fraying and did the seaming thingie.  (very technical words today)  Photographic proof even that I was the one doing the sewing:

I also learned that making straps is a giant PITA.  Turning those things inside out after sewing 3 of 4 ends closed was a huge hassle and I might have busted the seam in a couple of spots and just re-sewed it on the outside (but I’m not telling!) because really, who’s going to criticize the sewing on a cupcake apron?  Right.

Finally after a few hours of work, I was done!  Mr. Awesome was gracious enough to pose wearing my FIRST SEWED THING and I’m very proud of it!

So YAY I have finished a sewing project!  It’s not even a little bit perfect, but it’s a start!  I’d love to dive into something else, but I’m not sure what yet.  Any ideas for the sewing beginner?  I am not much into skirts but might try one later.  What other types of projects are beginner friendly?

Category: Daily Ramblings | 9 Comments »
Tags: happiness, sewing, theknitgirllls

Posted By Leslie on July 11, 2010

In this episode, Leslie pretty much calls everything by the wrong name (knitpicks instead of signature, cast on instead of spin, needle instead of flyer, etc) and neither of us have any real knitting progress to show you. Some weeks are like that, I guess.

Shownotes coming soon!

Laura’s WIPs:

Norwegian Rose socks out of Dream in Color Smooshy (you didn’t see them because they are the same).

LogCabin Blanket by the lovely ladies at Mason Dixon.  My blanket is out of Cotton Classic.

Vertizags by Megan Wright (LaughLovenKnit on Ravelry) out of Koigu (KPPPM).

We talk about Knitpicks needles versus Signatures.  Laura wants to try out Blacktorn DPNs

Category: Podcasts | 7 Comments »
Tags: knitting, podcast, spinning, theknitgirllls, tour de fleece, videocast

Posted By Leslie on July 7, 2010

Our dear friend, Lynn, is trying to raise money for the Make A Wish program. Please watch the video and if you can, donate. There are so many fantastic prizes you can win, including hand-dyed yarn by Laura or hand-knit socks by Leslie!

Check out Lynn’s blog for details!

Category: Uncategorized | 6 Comments »
Tags: knitting, knittingtriathlete, makeawish, theknitgirllls

Posted By Leslie on July 5, 2010

I thought Laura & Becky’s podcast deserved their own entry – so here it is! Not sure why the video is smaller, but it is.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Becky had me rolling laughing!

Becky is knitting on:

Ugly Socks out of Opal (mystery colorway) in the Mad Colorweave pattern.

Laura is knitting on:

Nine to Five Socks out of Yarn Love in the Shipwreck colorway.

Beck has finished:

Victorine shawlette in a mystery sock.

A secret project

Spinning:

Beck and Laura went to Ewe to You (they don’t have a website) and bought some Abstract Fiber roving

Favorite Things:

Ads by Beck.  She works for yarn.

Beck wants to knit on this sweater out of Tempted

Laura loves her family.

Beck likes Legos.  Laura like American Girl Dolls.

Washington PA has some awesome guilds (if you live in that area, you should check them out).

LynnZimm is having an awesome contest over on her blog.

Thanks for watching!  You can find more Beck on plurk and ravelry as lemonhalf or on her blog, Peanut Butter Bagels.

Category: Podcasts | 4 Comments »
Tags: becky, knitting, lala, laura, lemonhalf, podcast, theknitgirllls

Posted By Leslie on July 5, 2010

I really can’t think of a snazzy title for this one – maybe Laura will edit it later with something funnier.

Videos below - shownotes to follow. I hope y’all enjoy!

Laura is back from Michigan!

Laura’s WIPs:

Nine to Five Socks out of Yarn Love in the Shipwreck colorway.

Norwegian Rose socks out of Dream in Color Smooshy.

LogCabin Blanket by the lovely ladies at Mason Dixon.  My blanket is out of Cotton Classic.

Vertizags by Megan Wright (LaughLovenKnit on Ravelry) out of Koigu (KPPPM).

Category: Podcasts | 7 Comments »
Tags: FO's, knit, knitting, podcast, spinning, theknitgirllls, tour de fleece, wip

Posted By LaLa on June 28, 2010

I know some of you have stated that you wish I would share a little more about my time at TNNA with y’all. It was a blur of activity with lots of great people (which isn’t very descriptive, I know). I did want to share with y’all some video I took at the Ravelry Ice Cream party.  The person that gave the piece sign to the camera is the lovely Sheri from The Loopy Ewe.  I know it’s not the best video in the world, but I hope you enjoy!

Ice Cream Ravelry Party

PS You can use the video to play a knitter’s version of Where’s Waldo.  Can you spot Annie Modesitt or Cookie?  Anne Hanson is there too!  Sheri may appear again as well.  How many famous knitters can you spot?

Category: Travel | No Comments »
Tags: TNNA

Posted By Leslie on June 27, 2010

We happily share with you Episode 14 of TheKnitGirllls!

Thank you guys so much for watching, shownotes to follow!

Shownotes by LaLa:

Welcome all you new peeps and welcome back everyone else!

Laura’s WIPs:

LogCabin Blanket by the lovely ladies at Mason Dixon.  My blanket is out of Cotton Classic.  20 skeins towards the 50 skein stashdown

Vertizags by Megan Wright (LaughLovenKnit on Ravelry) out of Koigu (KPPPM) given to me by Becca aka Woolpierogi whom I adore.

Norwegian Rose socks out of Dream in Color Smooshy.

Leslie’s WIPs:

Knit, Purl, & RIP-it Socks by Deby Lake out of Wollmeise “Sabrina” and Claudia’s Handpainted “Mint”

Leslie’s FOs:

Crochet potholder.  The pattern is actually called Potholder (I have no idea why that amuses me, but it does).

Loopy Ewe Swap Person, Go away!

Persephone’s Return by Laura Linneman out of Wollmeise Rittersporen.

Plain toe-up socks out of Perfect Day Yarn’s Sonnet Sport in Lucinda’s Love Song.

Norwegian Rose Socks out of Numma Numma in Toasty Red Raspberry Jam and Dragonfly fibers Djinni in blue spruce.

Laura’s FOs:

Fish Hat (Dead or Alive) for Papa Wheezy out of Nashua Creative Focus Worsted and Cascade 220 (2 more skeins down).

Shawl out of my handspun (Creatively Dyed Seacell is the original fiber).  I may write down the pattern, we’ll see… (2 skeins towards the stashdown)

Laura is spinning:

Sherbet colorway of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Sheep to Shoe kit.  She is full of fail.  You should learn from her failure and change your hook often or get a woolee winder (which you can get in high speed for Schacht).

Leslie is spinning:

Magic Stix Fibers.  She is done and got an awesome 3-ply!

Favorite Things:

Laura’s least favorite thing is getting carpets re-stretched while Leslie loves it because she got lots of free stuff from Mama Linneman (including Kitten yarn).

Laura loves the TV show Bones while Leslie is working her way through Buffy and Angel

Tour de Fleece is coming soon!  We’re counting fiber prep and reading about spinning as part of it.

Hi Anna and Eli!

Cupcakes are yummy!

Thanks for watching y’all!!!!

Category: Podcasts | 13 Comments »
Tags: knitting, randomness, spinning, theknitgirllls

Posted By LaLa on June 26, 2010

We’re having our carpets restretched at Chez LaLa this week which means that everything had to be moved out of the rooms with carpet.  The knitting room happens to have carpet as does my bedroom.  Nothing makes me grumpier than having to move stuff.  At least now the stash is reorganized and as Leslie mentioned, we got some of mom’s fiber destash as well.   I also got a chance around a week ago (before the great fiber move) to take some pictures of my Vesper socks and Oliver socks that I finished in May.

I LOVE these socks:

I’m wearing them today and they may be my favorite socks ever.  Not only are they super comfy and look awesome but they remind me of two of my favorite people, Sarah of Perfect Day Yarns and Craftypancakes.

I also love these Vesper socks in the Muddy Waters colorway.  The pattern is the awesome Wendyknit’s toe up socks with a gusset (I think I’ve made this pattern at least a dozen times and it never gets old).

Maybe tomorrow I an get back in the blogging frame of mind and show you some other stuff I’ve been working on a little more recently.

Category: Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
Tags: