Starting Point Wrap – (mis)adventures in knitting

Ep 004–Misadventures with Vacation Knitting

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What we are Working On

Tara completed the 1650 yard Joji Locatelli mKAL, the Starting Point Wrap, using Madeline Tosh Light, Madeline Tosh Sock, and Zen Yarn Garden. The picture below was taken while on vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. She is pleased with the result and highly recommends the pattern!

Tara finished the Diplodocus Sweater by Kate Oates of Tot Toppers. She used Neighborhood Fiber Company Studio Worsted for the main color and five different colors of Jill Draper Hudson for the ribbing, yoke and stripes. She knitted the size 24 month and it is modeled here on a 4 1/2 year old. This sweater is kid-approved!

Finally, Tara surprised Ashley with two other finished sweaters! (Wow, lots of knitting here!) Tara knitted matching Christmas in July sweaters by Tanis Lavallee of Tanis Fiber Arts for her sons Leo and River. She used Tanis Fiber Arts Blue Label Fingering Weight in a variety of colors.

Ashley blocked the Find Your Fade Shawl, making it slightly over 10 feet long! It is now tucked away and waiting for cooler temperatures.

Ashley reblocked the Kevin McCallister’s Moose Hat. She knitted this hat for her son, William.

Ashley worked on the Confluence Shawl by Sivia Harding with the Fibre Company Meadow yarn. She wants to add a repeat or two to make it slightly larger.

Ashley picked up a blanket she began crocheting last summer, the Brighton Plaid by Eclectic Gipsyland. She is using Madeline Tosh Light Unicorn Tails and two skeins of Neighborhood Fiber Company Rustic Fingering.

Vacation Knitting

Ashley went to Atlantic City, NJ and Tara went to Rehoboth Beach, DE! They discussed what they like to knit while on vacation with their families.

Tara mentions visiting local yarn stores. She visited the Kitschy Stitch in Rehoboth and will visit Adirondack Yarns in Lake Placid later this summer. (*Note, Adirondack Yarns has their own yarn line called Spirited Fibers.)

Imaginary Knitting

Tara is obsessed with everything by the designer Caitlin Hunter on Ravelry.

Ashley really likes Ann Weaver’s Braid O-Rama and Twinkie Chan’s Pizza Scarf. Also catching Ashley’s eye is he Horse Beanie by Reynolds Knitting.

Tara also mentions the Wonder Woman Wrap by Carissa Browning.

Misadventures

Ashley’s BIG misadventure is starting a yarn diet! She is competing in the 5 K Stash Dash challenge with the KnitGirllls! She also wishes she participated in the Tour de France but she missed the start date.

Tara’s misadventure was buying 6 patterns by Caitlin Hunter! Eek!

Where Do You Hide Your Stash?

Join our Ravelry group and tell us where you hide your stash! We will share your secrets during upcoming podcasts. We look forward to hearing from you!

Ep 003–Stash Hiding and Other (mis)Adventures

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Stash Hiding!

We want to know, where do you hide your stash? Please send us an email or leave a comment on our page! We will read your secret hiding place aloud during future introductions! Tara recently found 5 skeins of yarn in the glove compartment of her car.

What We are Working On

Ashley finished the Find Your Fade Shawl by Andrea Mowry! It took a long time but was well worth it.

Isn’t it beautiful! Ends need to be woven in and the shawl needs to be blocked.

Ashley also finished the Kevin McCallister’s Moose Hat by VR Knits. The hat was inspired by the movie, “Home Alone”. She used Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok in the colorways Highland Sheep and Red Rocks. Some modifications were made. She shortened the colorwork pattern to fit her son’s head and she made a double sided brim.

Tara completed some super-secret test knits. Shhhh! She is also working on the Starting Point Mystery Knit Along by Joji Locatelli. She has enjoyed this knit so much that she would even do it all over again!

Ashley asked Tara about repeating knitting projects. Tara has repeated the Quadri Hat by Michelle Wang and the Griffin Vest by Georgie Nicolson three times. Ashley is usually “one and done” but she has knit the Clover Honey Shawlette by Hannah Six several times.

Book Review

For their first book review, Ashley and Tara chose the Kids’ Knitting Workshop by Susan B. Anderson. They chose this book because they greatly admire Susan B. Anderson plus some listeners may be looking for a knitting related activity to do with children this summer. Both Ashley and Tara found the book to be a great resource for any child who wants to learn to knit!

Misadventures

Tara bought five skeins of Madeline Tosh Vintage in the Glazed Pecan colorway! Eeek!

Ashley is having some misadventures with home improvements! She also feels that her two-handed fair isle needs more practice.

Tara had a second misadventure with Caitlin Hunter’s Ohra Shawl. It was love at first sight. She purchased the pattern the day it was released!

Ep 002- How the (Mis)Adventures Began

Ep 002 – How the (Mis)Adventures Began

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What we are Working On:

Tara finished the All Ways Cowl by Laura Nelkin, which was the September shipment for the Lola’s Choice Club. Yarn is Mrs. Crosby Train Case in the Toucan Colorway.

Ashley finished the Susan B. Anderson Smooth Operator Socks for her husband. She used Regia 4-ply Arne and Carlos 03760.

Tara is working on the Joji Locatelli Mystery Wrap/Starting Point Wrap. She is nervously playing a game of yarn chicken with colorway #3! If you want to see pictures of the work-in-progress, click here.

Tara is also working on the Diplodocus sweater by Kate Oates of Tot Toppers with Neighborhood Fiber Company Studio Worsted and Jill Draper Hudson.

Ashley is working on the ever-popular Find Your Fade by Andrea Mowry.

Ashley is also working on the Confluence Shawlette by Sivia Harding using Fibre Company Meadow, one of Ashley’s favorite yarns of all time. She is adding Toho size 6 beads from Koala Beads on Etsy.

Imaginary Knitting:

Tara is lusting after the Creatrix by Laura Nelkin. She purchased Fibre Company Meadow from Woolworks and copper Miyuki beads from Lovelyarns.

Ashley wants to do a series of fingering weight brioche hats as Christmas gifts. She is also loving the look of Lee Meredith’s Holm and Barry hats. Ashley wants to knit the Pink Poodle Scarves by Morehouse Designs for her nieces. She also likes Carol Sunday’s Milano, which she could knit with yarn from stash.

Misadventures:

Tara is knitting so much that she punctured a small hole on her pointer finger! She is too lazy to get a bandaid. She also dealt with yarn b-a-r-f when knitting the Joji Mystery Wrap and channeled Ashley while re-winding it.

Ashley had to redo the kitchener on her Smooth Operator Sock. She also knit one leg 1/4 inch longer than the other!

Ashley cast on the Mix Tape Sock by Abbi Grasso. She is struggling with the gauge and had to reknit many times. Yarn can be found on Abbi’s Etsy Site. Ashley made a beautiful pair of Christmas Socks with Abbi’s yarn a few years ago.

What We are Wearing:

For several days in a row, Tara wore the Lisbon Pullover by Misa Erder, also known as Craftivore on Ravelry. She also wore the Recoleta by Joji Locatelli.

Ashley wore the Hedera Socks by Cookie A. She also wore 5 by Ann Weaver.

How it All Began: How did we learn to knit?

How Ashley Began (in her words):

I tried to learn how to knit in HS, but it really didn’t stick. I had great plans of knitting myself a cozy scarf for an upcoming trip to Minnesota. Well, I just made a swatch.

Fast forward 5 years later, to 2001: I was really ready to learn! I had just graduated college and wanted to learn a practical skill set, after studying art so intensely. I took several group classes at my LYS, A Good Yarn, which has since closed. I learnt German Continental and didn’t completely fall in love with the craft until 2008, right before my son was born. (When I discovered I liked wool yarn, especially hand dyed.)

My mother helped me finish a sweater (Sunnyside Up Hoody– a free pattern from Lion Brand) for my son that I started the day before he was born! I was in full on NESTING mode. She could read a pattern better than I could!

The first REAL project that I completed was a hat (Amy’s Basket Weave hat) for my son. I used Koigu from my LYS, Woolworks. I came in with my child and my friend. One of the owners, Amy, helped me choose yarn and needles. I was reassured I had the skills to make this hat.

How Tara Began (in her words):

*Handwork on both sides of the family. Mother always crocheted chevron blankets. Father had a wood shop in the basement where he made furniture, canoes, and musical instruments, such as guitars. Maternal grandmother always knit—made me a grey raglan pullover with a big red heart in the middle. School colors.

*Late 90s, learned to crochet in college while watching the early days of the Daily Show and Strangers with Candy. Made a huge double crochet blanket with red heart yarn.

*While finishing up college, signed up for an Intro to Tapestry weaving in a fit of senioritis with a group of friends. Ended up really enjoying the class and made a Navajo style bag on a lap loom. Instructor was passionate about yarns and weaving, my first introduction to the fiber world. We all thought he was crazy to travel to Maryland for some sort of yarn festival.

*2012, husband said I needed a hobby and purchased a Groupon for Lovelyarns. Took a class with Mary, who was an excellent teacher. The rest is history!

Upcoming Events:

Knit in Public Day: Saturday, June 10th

Stash Dash: May 26th-August 20th, hosted by the KnitGirllls

Tour de Fleece: Begins July 6th

Wrap-Up:

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