Episode 35: Letting Go

After all of my yammering about taking control of your knitting, I decide it's ok to let go a little sometimes.

I also talk, way way too fast, about my current sweater and the sweater I made a year ago.

The yarn I'm using is from Brooks Farm Yarn. The label says Macero Mas-Acero and it's gold heathered with black.

My two design "bibles" are Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns and Barbara Walker's Knitting From the Top.

Today's rerun is Episode 26. The notes for that show are here.

Download Episode 35.

Episode 34: Overcoming Fear

This week I talk about overcoming fear in knitting.

I started (and finished) 10 copies of the same project - Wreath Earrings (although I'm not using them for earrings) from Twist and Loop by Annie Modesitt.

There is also a great article about knitting with wire from The Anticraft.

Download Episode 34.

The rerun is episode 25. The original notes for that show are here.

Episode 33: All Praise the Gauge Swatch

This week, I ramble about gauge swatches, yarn, and my cats.

I also play a promo for a new, prolific podcaster. Do I mention her just because she mentions me and Elizabeth Zimmermann in the same breath? Perish the thought!

And, a rerun of episode 24.

The original notes for that show are here.

The book I am talking about is Favorite Mittens.

I also just started a group on Ravelry for people who listen to the show. So, come visit if you want to send along show ideas, questions or stash-busting tips.

Download Episode 33.

I was going to podcast today...

But I have discovered something about ravelry. I put some stash up for sale/trade over a week ago. Nothing, except for a book that got snapped up in hours. Today, I uploaded some photos of the yarn and BAM, instant interest.

So, I may spend some time rollicking around ravelry today, instead of podcasting. Maybe I will do it in the morning.

Episode 32 and rerun: Episode 23

Download Episode 32

Many, many files seem to be missing from iTunes. Specifially, shows 23 through 30. So, for the next eight shows, I'm going to do a new show and then add the old show onto it. That way, those of you who have already heard it can move on and the others can hear a blast from the past.

The notes for show 23 are here.

In today's show, I use a hat resizing as an example of the Height in Measurements part of my WIP HIM resizing concept. In this case, you change the gauge used in a pattern, but keep in mind that you want to keep control over the depth of the hat, while using the larger yarn and/or needles to make your hat wider to fit.

Here is the math I did today on the show:

original gauge of hat: 6 sts/in
original size of hat: 15 inches (newborn)
original row gauge of hat: 8.5 rows/inch
original depth of hat before shaping: 51 rows => 51 rows/8.5 rows/inch = 6 inches

new size of hat: 18 inches
=> 15 inches * 6 sts/in = 90 sts
90 sts/18 inches = 5 sts/inch = new gauge
row gauge for that yarn = 7 rows/inch

If you knit the hat as directed, in the new gauge, you will have a hat that is the proper width. But, how deep will it be?

51 rows/7 rows/inch = 7.28 inches

If that seems good to you, go ahead. Otherwise, use the hat pattern to determine your cast-on number and shaping (all width components) and use measurements to determine depth, or height.

Somehow, to me, Stitches in Percentages, Depth in Measurements, just doesn't have the same ring to it as Width in Percentages, Height in Measurements. Am I wrong?

iTunes

For reasons I don't understand, iTunes actually comes up with two versions of my feed. If you search the podcast directory for Math4Knitters, you should subscribe to the feed marked "visual arts" as the category. That is the one that is working properly, except for some reason, the publication date is coming up wrong. The safest way to get the show is to go to Advanced>subscribe to podcast in iTunes and paste in http://www.laraneel.com/podcast/Math4Knitters.xml

I hope that works. I don't know why the show from May, with my lovely sister, isn't really showing up. It might be because of my hard drive wipe out, but I don't know.

At Last!

A new episode.

Remember:
Width
in
Percentages

Height
in
Measurements

Download Episode 31

Laura, this is for you.

Send me your problem in more detail and I will do a show about it. :) Everyone else can follow along.

You are all so sweet

I just moderated another comment asking me to come back. I have NOT podfaded. Another episode is in the works, it just keeps getting put off. I won't make any promises but I really do hope to speak to you all soon.

*sigh*

One of my kitties, who liked to purr very loudly and lick my nose while I was sleeping, passed away last week. The other two are fine. Just a reminder to hug your little ones every day.

Sweet Comments!

Thank you for the sweet comments! I swear I am not out of the game, I am starting to itch I want to talk to you all so much, but I still haven't finished re-loading my computer and I"m afraid of screwing it up.

Also, I'm madly in love, and have given up housekeeping, weeding (which I never did anyway) and garlic. Well, sort of on the garlic, and I do still vacuum when I get grossed out by my carpet. How bad is it that I really, truly, want to replace my carpet with hard floors so that I can just chase the cat hair with a broom instead?

I Promise

I have not podfaded and I appreciate your patience. My life is still working on settling down to a dull roar. I should tell you, though, that I am very, very happy even in the midst of this tumult and I am cooking up some really good things to day to you all.

Computer Fixed, but still no podcast

Let it be a lesson - back up thy hard drive!

The computer is resurrected. It may still be a bit before my next show.

All Harddrives Die

I know this. Yet, have I backed up? Not in a while. My poor laptop is in the shop. :( So, no podcast for now.

Not Math, but Kind of for Knitters

Dear people who don't call me back,

When you don't return my calls, and later act like I never even called you, it makes me INSANE. Just a note to let you know.

-Insane Girl Over Here

Episode 30: MD Sheep and Wool

Download Episode 30

Where you get a glass washboard

http://www.columbuswashboard.com/

There may be other sources, but I know this supports a great local economy in Ohio.

While I'm Babbling Anyway

I really want to quote Franklin:

"I admit that installing an electronic man in my bedroom is slightly pathetic; but I've just about had it with the Genuine Article. They should all come with off-switches."

Some Links

These are some of the booths my sister and I talked about at MD Sheep & Wool - and some we should have talked about.

Don't ask me which of us is talking at any time - my sister or I. I really can't tell most of the time.

Journey Wheel, fine tools for spinners on the go. Jonathan and Sheila Bosworth.

Plum Cottage Crafts, where you can get a circular knitting machine or a restored sock knitting machine. I really want one of these.

Barneswallow Farm doesn't seem to have a website, but they are in Dewittville, NY.

Helen 'Halla' Fleischer, a fantasy spindle artist who my sister knows IRL.

Carolina Handspun is where I bought my silk yarn from Blue Moon Spinnery. It's lovely.

I bought some great sock yarn from Spirit Trail Fiberworks.

And some yarn that came all the way from Texas so I could buy it from Brooks Farm Yarn.

The Bee Folks is where Lisa bought some honey on Sunday.

On Sunday, I also interviewed an innocent bystander about The Red Scarf Project.

Lisa and I seem to argue a lot about what is a sheep and what is a goat. My fave piece of evidence is "look at his face".

KnitWit mentions the Barefoot Spinner.

It also becomes clear that I feel the use of "dude" is now somehow ok, because the Yarn Harlot says it, at least on her blog.

New Show In the Works

To get the audio off of the recorder I use, I have to play it back. So, I'm starting with the recordings of my sister and I touring the sheep area at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. I say really intelligent things like, "they have furry faces." I'm sure it will be an informative podcast for you all.

PREPARE!!

If you listen to this episode, be ready for some repetition, silliness and the KnitWit.