Commuter Knitter Podcast

This week I have some finished objects, check in with my 2015 goals, and add some prizes to the giveaway for the 3 year podiversary! You've Arrived At Your Destination Sorin  by  IrishGirlieKnits  in  Dragonfly Fibers Corgi Flax by TinCanKnits in Dream in Color Everlasting DK Cross Stitch pattern  for Carlos's Valentine's Day gift Drive King of the Forest Valentine Socks  in Must Stash Yarns Je T'aime Rainbow Vanilla Socks  in Quaere Fibre 10 Stripe Rainbow. Vanilla toe-up socks with Megan Williams' OMG Heel I mention the Suburban Stitcher Rainbow Along Rearview Mirror Checking in on my 2015 goals - so far so good! Road Maps Be sure to keep an eye on the blog for reviews and other posts coming out on a more regular basis. Earlier this week I reviewed Dream in Color Everlasting DK , which I knit up in Flax by TinCanKnits The Party Bus - complete with snow tires! Celebrating ...

For this week's edition of Road Map Mondays, I bring you a review of Dream in Color's line of Everlasting yarn.  The generous folks at Dream in Color sent me this yarn for review, but as always opinions are my own. The Everlasting base is made up of several plies of 100% super wash Australian merino wool spun and hand-dyed here in the U.S.  The DK version is a 12 ply yarn and the Sock  has 9 plies.  The multitude of plies adds to the durability of the yarn - hence the name, Everlasting.  The DK yarn has a put-up of 275 yards for 100 grams and knits at 5.5-6 stitches to the inch on US 5 or 6 needles.  On the other hand, Sock  comes with 420 yards in a 100 gram skein, knitting up at 7.5 to 9 stitches per inch on US 0 to US 2 sized needles.  A quick search of online retailers carrying the yarn shows that each sells for about $25-26 per skein. For purposes of this review, I knit up the skein of DK that I received in the Naked Shame color ...

This week I continue tallying the WIP count, review Silver Spun yarn and put snow tires on the Party Bus.  Enjoy! You've Arrived At Your Destination Monkey Socks for Me Halloween Socks for Carlos Drive Dad's Hat Sorin  by  IrishGirlieKnits  in  Dragonfly Fibers Corgi Sorin Fingerless Gloves King of the Forest Cross Stitch pattern  for Carlos's Valentine's Day gift Road Maps Be sure to keep an eye on the blog for reviews and other posts coming out on a more regular basis. During the Blizzard I posted a review of Feel Good Yarn Company's Silver Spun The Party Bus - complete with snow tires! Celebrating 3 years of podcasting with a month-long giveaway! Dragonfly Fibers Cooperative Press Aila Grace Shawl from Jennifer Lassonde Traffic Report Congrats to Ravelry for reaching 5 million registered users! I mention that I have been listening to the back catalogue of Cast On ...

The first episode of 2015 recorded from the comfort of my living room.  I mention that I am wearing my Dark & Stormy to keep warm You've Arrived At Your Destination Your Heart is Full of Unwashed Socks - You're a Mean One socks Spacious OMG Heel by Megan Williams from the Expanding CommuKnitty socks.  I couldn't find a free-standing pattern for this version of the OMG heel, but if there is one, please let me know. Judy's Magic Cast On Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off Drive Dad's Hat WIPs, WIPs, and more WIPs - #WIPcrackin15 and #WIPknitdown2015 I mention Sarah from In a sKnit and Amy from Stockinette Zombies Needle Inventory: Trip Planner King of the Forest Cross Stitch pattern for Carlos's Valentine's Day gift Commuter Knitter Finish-along - winners announced Wollmeise from my stash Cargo Annual Airing Out of the Stash: All put away: My Yarn Stash March 2007: Flash You...

As I am writing this post, winter has not quite set in her in New England (50*F on Christmas Eve!) but the calendar tells me it's coming. (There is some sort of Game of Thrones reference in there that goes over the head of this gal who doesn't watch the show…)  Eventually when those cold temperatures set in, wouldn't it be nice to dream of some place warm and sunny?**  Well A Good Yarn Sarasota has just the solution to those winter blues!  The yarn shop has teamed up with several yarn companies to create color ways exclusive to A Good Yarn inspired by the oceanfront lifestyle of western Florida.  I was fortunate enough to receive a lovely skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Grape Jelly from A Good Yarn for review.  As long-time listeners of the podcast and readers of the blog know, all opinions are my own. There are currently a dozen or so exclusive color ways available on the newly revamped shop site.  Reading those inspiration descriptions and see...

After a bit of a bumpy fall, I am glad to be back here on the blog to share with you another beautiful yarn that I was sent for review.  Today, I bring you Manos Lace, a 70% baby alpaca, 25% silk, 5% cashmere blend lace weight yarn from Manos del Uruguay .  How is that for decadence after the holidays?  I'd like to thank Manos' US Distributor,  Fairmount Fibers, LTD , for sending me this skein of yarn for review.  As always, opinions stated here are my own. Before I dive into the yarn itself, I wanted to tell you a bit more about Manos del Uruguay .  Whenever I receive a skein of yarn, needles, books, etc. from a company with which I have not worked before, I always like to dig deeper to find out more about that company - what is their story?   And Manos' story is quite the fascinating one.  The label gives you a bit of background, but I encourage you to read more about Manos (which means hands in Spanish) on their website as well as th...

As part of the Red Barn Yarn Name This Yarn Contest blog/podcast tour , I am excited to tell you about a new to-be-named yarn base.  Thank you to Red Barn Yarn and Stitchcraft Marketing for including the Commuter Knitter podcast on this tour and for providing a skein of this lovely yarn for me to check out. This is a 2-ply, worsted weight blend of 45% mountain merino, 40% alpaca and 15% mohair. The 225 yard skein I received is a vibrant Hot Pink, which let me tell you was a difficult color to capture on the camera! I scoured my Ravelry library for the perfect pattern to cast on for this yarn.  I knew that I wanted a hat and was immediately drawn to the Koolhaas pattern by Jared Flood from Interweave Holiday Gifts 2007.  Who doesn't love a good lattice cabled hat in bright pink, right? So far I am only into the ribbing of the hat, but I'm enjoying the knitting quite a bit.  I do not have a sensitivity to alpaca or mohair, so you will want to take th...

This week I chat about the right side to place buttons, test out a luxury yarn, and review Sock Architecture.  Enjoy! Drive Exploding Vanilla TARDIS  socks in  Little Mount Yarn Co Wanderer Sock Zigzagular Socks  by Susie White of the  Prairie Girls Knit and Spin  in a  One Twisted Tree bag  by Susie's co-host Danie.  I used Megan Williams' OMG heel Picked up stitches for Ginny's Cardigan button bands. Test knit - more to come when the pattern is released Test driving Zealana AIR Marle yarn in a pair of Fingerless Mitts .  Thank you to Zealana and Yarn Sisters for providing a ball of this luxury yarn for my review.  You can find a detailed review, with photos on the blog . Finish-Along until the end of 2014 - #ckfal2014 Road Maps In light of ALL the socks I have on the needles that I discussed last week, I thought it appropriate to review Sock Architecture by Lara Neel of Math4Knit...

I often talk about trying new things, stepping outside my comfort zone, going outside the box.  When presented with the opportunity to try Zealana's AIR Marle for review, I could not resist.  (Disclaimer - I received the ball of yarn for free for review. As always, opinions are my own.) This yarn, part of Zealana's   Luxuria series , consists of (are you ready for it?) 40% cashmere (yum!), 20% silk (also yum!), and 40% brushtail possum down (yu… what!?).  My thoughts exactly when I first heard about this yarn awhile back.  However, after learning a bit more about this invasive species and its impact on the environment in New Zealand, I was intrigued. AIR Marle is a double knit weight yarn, made up of three strands of the lace-weight AIR, which according to the label is pill-resistant, durable, and lighter & warmer than 100% cashmere.  As for the specifications, the yarn comes in 50 gram balls at 116 meters or 127 yards that knits up at 21-24 sti...

It's Sweater Weather (at least for now!) Drive Zigzagular Socks  by Susie White of the  Prairie Girls Knit and Spin  in a  One Twisted Tree bag  by Susie's co-host Danie.  I used Megan Williams' OMG heel Monkey Socks Two Lane Highway Rage  by  Sarah Stevens  of  Oh! Loops  yarn & Fiber By Design podcast in  Voolenvine Yarns  (and it's Blitzed Fingering, not Glitz - oops) by  Kristin  from  YarnGasm podcast Actually Knitting  PALKAL - the official dates are July 1 - October 1, 2014 Test knit - more to come when the pattern is released Finish-Along until the end of 2014 - #ckfal2014 I think I need to make some lists like I did for Stash Dash - one for this and one for the  Down Cellar Studio   PigSkinParty .  Thank you to cozycapecottage for posting about the FAL on her blog . Party Bus Exploding Vanilla TARDIS  socks i...

Drive Zigzagular Socks  by Susie White of the  Prairie Girls Knit and Spin  in a  One Twisted Tree bag  by Susie's co-host Danie.  I used Megan Williams' OMG heel Monkey Socks Down Cellar Studio PigSkinParty Two Lane Highway Rage by Sarah Stevens of Oh! Loops yarn & Fiber By Design podcast in Voolenvine Yarns (and it's Blitzed Fingering, not Glitz - oops) by Kristin from YarnGasm podcast Actually Knitting PALKAL - the official dates are July 1 - October 1, 2014 Party Bus Exploding Vanilla TARDIS socks in Little Mount Yarn Co Wanderer Sock Using 9"circs after hearing the Carolina Fiber Girls talk about them Check out the Ravelry group for a chance to win a skein of the yarn and a set of gnome stitch markers. There is also a coupon code for 15% off your entire purchase from the Little Mount Yarn Co. Etsy shop for Commuter Knitter listeners, but you'll have to tune into the episode...