Episode #15 Show Notes: Cast On

Cape Cod Roundup:
The Best Sale Section Ever: Ladybug Knitting Shop in Dennis
Best Sock Yarn Selection: Blue Heron Yarn in Barnstable
Best "Serious" Yarns: Adventures in Knitting in Harwichport

New to my stash:
Socks that Rock

Hill Country Yarns

Austermann Step

Opal

And some sweatery stuff you wouldn't be interested in. Oh, you were?

Have you seen the new Knitpicks Harmony needles? Yeah, I found them the night before the email splash. Cha-ching! Anyone wanna give me a full set? They're preeeetyyy.
Jury's out on the Addi Lace, though.

Some shops:
Feather Falls Fiber is a listener-run new shop with some looovely colorways and great prices.
Thank Ewe: I've bought from there before and loved their customer service. They used to focus on soft pastely colors, but their newer yarns are deeper and FAB!

In the news:

The second round of the Hill Country Yarn Contest launched on 9/1. Full entry info can be found here, but in essence, you buy a skein of yarn and can enter in. I just got my first skein, and can wholeheartedly recommend it! And $15 is beyond affordable for luxury sock yarn. Winners can win up to $100 worth of Hill Country Yarns, and the winning patterns will go to the members of the second round of the Sock Club. Entries are due 12/31/07, and the signups for the second 3 month round of the Sock Club open 12/1/07.

The New Sock Knitter Series:

Kimmie decides what stitch pattern, how many stitches to use and whether to go toe-up or top down.

Resources:
for top-down:
Tubular Cast On
Casting on over two needles
Two socks on two circs casting on and setting them up
Or, a magic loop variation
Or, another one

For toe-up:
Judy's Magic Cast On
Cat Bordhi demonstrates Judy's Magic Cast On (video)
And a similar technique here
Twisted German Cast-On (video)
Turkish cast on (also, two socks on two circs)
Square toe cast on
Here is a neat one: Emily Ocker's Circular cast on

I know I have some other ones around here somewhere... From memory, Meg Swansen shows a few in the DVD Knitting Glossary. Try casting one on and then yarn over. Knit the cast-ons and purl the yarnovers (for 1x1 ribbing)

Episode #14 Show Notes

Announcing Potter's Covers!
I'm opening it up to another 25 potential members due to its popularity. Signups will close with the September shipment.

Speaking of, there are some other fun Harry Potter yarns out there--Tyler Macek has a series with some lovely color depth. I know her from the Ravelry yarnies group.

I was reminded that the Loopy Ewe has a referral program that gives the refer-er $5 when a refer-ee signs up and makes their first purchase. If you heard of and started shopping at TLE, please drop Sheri a line or I will for you. 100% of the proceeds will go to yarn for my stash on-show review and listener giveaways.

Listener Questions:

Back to the tidy decreases for the gussets, I have found an alternative to the SSK that is very nice and doesn't require as many steps. I insert the needle in the first stitch as if to knit, and then swing around and insert the needle into the second stitch's back loop--then pulling one stitch through. Tidy and notably quicker for me. Cat Bordhi also has a YouTube video on tidy SSK's. And many other videos I am just exploring. She is a Goddess.

I misspoke when I was describing my new favorite ssk: you insert your needle knitwise into the first stich, then swing around to insert it into the back loop of the second stitch, finally wrapping your yarn to pull through and enact the decrease.

Socks for Soldiers: This group is about sending gifts of love to our soldiers in the Middle East. Since an army travels not on its stomach, but on its feet, please help us take care of them.

Vegan Sock KAL ummm, self explanatory!

Campanula for the cure KAL This is a group of folks knitting in support of a cure for breast cancer and also collecting donations here.

Kimmie picks yarn out for her first socks. We talk about many considerations in choosing a yarn for your toes.

Here's what she settled on: White Willow in Avalanche

Episode #13 Show Notes

Err...just swag, actually.

Misty Mountain Farms


Interlacement Tiny Toes


Colinette Jitterbug


the Knittery Merino/Cashmeeeeeeeerrrrreeee


Lorna's Laces