Second Episode of Knitting News Cast Available

I recorded and uploaded the second episode of Knitting News Cast on the Knit Stitch on Sunday.

Knitting News Cast - Episode Two - The Knit Stitch

It took much longer to record this episode then the first one. I typed out everything I wanted to say for this episode so it sounds less loose then the first one. Next episode I'll just have talking point like the first one and it should sound less stilted.

Also, Brian has agreed to come up with some kind of intro music that I can use at the beginning and end of the podcast. He is also going to come up with some transition music I can use between segments of the show. Thanks little bro!

I finished Amy's felted journal bag today. Had to really steam iron it to get all the bumps out of it. Then I sewed on the closure I found at JoAnn's. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. I was worried at first. But I think she will like it. It is purple (her favorite color) after all!!


Felted Journal Bag in two colors of purple Cascade 220


Front Flap of Felted Journal Bag


Closure for Felted Journal Bag

Response To Podcast

Wow! I've been getting a great response to my podcast. I've already had over 20 downloads and one person has signed up on the mailing list to be notified of new podcasts.

Too cool!

I also got an e-mail from a report from the local weekly independent newspaper, The Austin Chronicle, about a write up in her column. Unfortunately, the column is about TV and she must have thought it was a video podcast, so she may mention or not.

I hope to do the next episode on Sunday. I've already written up some show notes. The theme is going to be on the Knit stitch.

My New Knitting Podcast

I've started a knitting podcast. You can read all about it and hear the first episode at:

Knitting News Cast - http://www.KnittingNewsCast.com

I'll be covering the latest knitting news along with reviews of knitting websites, books, patterns, yarns, stitches, and more!

Check it out!!

Gifts Given

This evening I gave four of my scarfs away to some of my friends. Carol, Evelyn, Donna, Valerie, and I met for dinner at Magnolia's and exchanged gifts.

Every seemed to really like their scarfs. Everyone thought they were beautiful and very soft.

Donna gave me a lovely silver wire bracelet with green beads at the clasp that one of her friends made.

Valerie gave me a nice smelling Christmas candle and a cute Hello Kitty ornament.

So glad everyone like the scarfs!!!

New Knitting Podcast Coming

I've been listing to Knit-Cast and Cast-On podcast plus others and I've been inspired to start my own podcast on knitting.

I'm thinking it will be knitting news related and include pattern of the week, artist of the week, website of the week, yarn of the week, etc. I'll let listeners make suggestions.

Also, I'll include a segment entitled "What's On the Needles" about what I'm currently knitting.

And other knitting madness!!!

Just what I need... Another project!!!

Anyway the site for the podcast will be at:

Knitting News Cast (http://www.KnittingNewsCast.com) hosted by Rhonda Bell. A weekly commentary on the latest in knitting news. Coming soon!

Strap Saved

I was able to cut the strap apart on the bag I knitted for Amy for Yule. I then used a 3 needle bind-off to knitting it back together. It isn't as nice as I had hoped but I think I was better off doing it before the felting process rather then after.

I felted the bag in a pillow case with towels. Big mistake!!! The pillow case opened and lots of lint from the towels got embedded on the bag. I spent 30 minutes pulling the lint off. Ugh! I got most of it but there is still some that needs to come off.

I've got the bag hiding in my office on the floor behind some boxes under my art table so it can dry. I stuffed it with some plastic bags to give it some shape. The strap kinda rolls in. I did it in stocknette. (Note to self: strap probably should have been done in garter). I'm going to try to steam iron it flat once it is dry.

Overall, I'm pleased with the bag. The two purples I chose worked well together. I think Amy will like it. And she'll be able to hold her knitting or whatever in it.

Works In Progress

I have several projects on needles or stitch holders:



Another Ribbed For Her Pleasure Scarf From Stitch and Bitch but with a Key Hole



A Cardigan I'm Doing In Yarn Bee Luscious Yarn (yes it is fun fur but I like it!!)



I've started this sock three time. First on DPNS and then on long circulars for magic loop and then back to the DPNS. I hope to get back to these after the holidays. It is self striping yarn from Knit Picks. The color is called Sweet Tart.




A saw a skirt out of this yarn in the latest Vogue Knitting. It is ggh Coco. It takes 10 balls and at $13 a ball that just seemed to high. But I love this yarn and want to make something with it. I bought 2 balls. Looking for just the right thing. Maybe a One Skein Wonder Shrug? I don't want to make another scarf although this yarn would look lovely as a scarf.

Finished Objects

I pulled out all my finished scarfs and hats that I have been working over the last few months for holiday gifts. Funny how some of them that I thought were so great at the time don't seem so now. And damn, I knitted a lot more then I thought.

Let the fashion show begin:



Blue Hat and Scarf With Ribbon Yarn



Brown Varigated Yarn Scarf and Hat. The scarf pattern is Ribbed For Her Pleasure from Stitch and Bitch.



Various Hats (done in the round with circular needles and then DPNs when decreasing at the top)



Blue-Green Boluce Scarf done in Garter Stitch



Pink and Blue Scarf done in Yarn Bee Luscious Yarn



One of My First Knitted Projects - Orange Ribbon Yarn and Eyelash Yarn Scarf

Can The Strap Be Save?

Amy is off to Austin with her folks to deliver some of our extra furniture to her boss who is moving this weekend and needs some furniture. So I can finally pull out her bag again and try to figure out how to save the strap.

I'm thinking I'll try to salvage it before I felt it. I think if I run yarn through two rows that are a couple rows apart and then cut between them, I may be able to do a three needle bindoff. Going to knit up a test swatch and see if I can make this work. Otherwise, I'll go ahead and felt it and cut and sew the strap later.

Oh and my camera is back from the repair shop so I want to take pictures of some of my WIPs and FOs. Will be trying to post those today too.

Lining A Felted Bat

Someone posted this link on how to line a felted bag on one of my knitting lists:

http://freddyknits.blogspot.com/2005/03/every-bag-has-purple-lining.html

Twisted Strap

Aaaaargh!!!! After spending all afternoon sewing the gusset/strap to the front and back of Amy's bag, I realized that it is very twisted!!!!

But instead of undoing all my sewing I'm going to felt it that way. Once it is felted I'll cut the strap and re-sew it. Drat! I had hoped to avoid having a seam in the strap!!!

Mood: Frustrated!!

Thawing Out

Yeah! The sun came out and the tempature is above freezing at 33 degrees. I went outside and got under the house to check the pipes and I didn't see any cracking or dripping.

And the cold water is now flowing to all the faucets in the house!!! Good thing because tonight it is supposed to be clear and down into the teens.

Have gotten through sewing the back of Amy's bag to the strap/gusset. Listened to all the episode of Cast-on except the Halloween episode. That one is finally downloaded to my computer so I'll be listening to it this afternoon while I finish up the front of Amy's bag and after I do some chores.

Pachelbel and I walked up to the front gate to check the mail and get the community newspaper. I'm hoping to find a knitting group that meets regularly to knit out here in Marble Falls. I enjoy the SNB group in Austin but don't always want to stay so late in town when I have to work the next day. If I can't find one here, I just might start one myself. I'll have to check with the local coffee house to see if we can gather there.

Knitting Podcasts

Amy got me an iPod for Yule and of course since she wanted to start using the Rumba I got for her, she had me open my last night when they arrived from Amazon.

I've been downloading podcasts all morning waiting for the tempature to get above freezing. Right now it is 24 degrees. And I'm not sure if it will get over freezing today.

The cold and hot water to the master bathroom shower isn't flowing and the hot water is only flowing in the extra bath. I'm really hoping we don't get any busted pipes from this! So I'm waiting it out to see.

Anyway, I've been listening to some knitting podcast this morning. They include Knit Cast, which is a podcast about knitting by Marie Irshad. I've also downloaded some episodes from Cast-On and Secret Knitting but haven't listened to them yet.

Now that Amy has gone off to work, I think I'll seam up her bag. That way I can felt it with the Booga Bags for Kelly and for me. I've got the bottom knitted on my bag and will get back to knitting it after I finish Amy's bag's seams.

What could be greater then knitting and listening to knitting podcasts while it is below freezing outside?

Stitch and Bitch

Went to the SNB meeting at Book People last night. It made it a late night for with the commute to Marble Falls and all, but it was fun.

I just love seeing what everyone is working on and getting to touch their WIPs and yarn. Such fun!!

I'm finishing up a Booga Bag for my SIL out of Noro color 134. I'm working on the i-cord which seems to be taking as long as the bag to knit up!! Anyway I hope to felt it this weekend along with another bag I've started and a gift for Amy. But Amy's bag needs to be seamed and I can't get to it with her in the house!!! Secret knitting is hard!!