Episode 14: Knitting the Natural Way

Episode 14: Knitting the Natural Way (36:46)

This week we completely unravel, explore organic cottons, read about alternative fibers, and you help us destash with knitting techniques. And no, we did not record this episode in the bathroom (we were trying out our new mic and will continue to work on it).

Unravelling thanks to Ravelry
We reassess our UFOs and bring our stashes up front.

• Ravelry, again. (We know Ravelry is not open for the masses yet, but Jess and Casey are signing more people up every day. Put your name on the list, and, eventually, you'll be on!)
• UFO evaluation
• Bye, bye Cleo
• More documentation of progress
• Everything's in the living room!
• Variation on a Frill
• Golem
• Giant scarf of doom
• BFL in Mars Quake
  

Organic Cottons
Different organic yarns for different uses

• Pakucho can be found here
• Elann
• It changes color in the wash! (acidity, sunlight)
• Corset Pullover
• February Sweater
• Ribbed cable cardigan
• Top-down raglan boatneck sweater
• Machine knit raglan sweater with leftovers
• Lion Organic Cotton
• Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton (and the dyed colors)
• Beware the ribbing!

Hit the books
Fiber knowledge is power!

• No Sheep for You
• Anatolia and Arietta
• Intoxicating sweater
• Sweet Maryjane cardigan
• Drunken Argyle (Holli Yeoh made a women's sweater version for the book)
• Fixation
• The Natural Knitter
• We love Norah Gaughan!

Destash Tip Corner
Stash-busting knitting techniques

• Nupps and bobbles
• Double your yarn!
• Girl on the rocks
• Needle felting
• Spiral Sophie (pattern found here)
• Knit more and faster!
• Make time for knitting (knitting meet ups, listen to podcasts)
• Magic loop knitting
• Scarves from sock yarn
• Fringe!
• Knit projects of many different levels so you always have a project appropriate for any activity you're doing.
• On the Media (Nicole's podcast obsession)
• Executive Bag

Thanks to you! Thanks again Jess and Casey. You rock!

Music
Dig Me Out: Sleater Kinney
10-9-8-7-6-5-4: Slumber Party
High Beam: Continental
+81: Deerhoof

Comments

[Elemmaciltur]

Yay! New episode! I'm listening to it right now. Don't worry about going on about Ravelry. I just can't get enough of it. Added both of you into my "friends".

[Emily]

Hey Jenny and Nicole -- I love the new episode, but when I hit the play button I only get half of it. Where is the rest?

[Steph]

I finished another UFO! Yay for all your support, and bringing me to realize how many there actually are!

I am now going to start the project that is going to eat up my life. My brother has asked for a naturally coloured hemp sweater in FINGERING WEIGHT!
I might be gone for a while! But I think you have a good thought about learning continental style - I'm doing the whole bloody thing in the round, so the purling hting wouldn't be a big deal . . .

Food for thought, eh?

Steph

[Nadia Lewis]

Another great episode!

Yeah, I totally know what you mean about Ravelry eating time. It's a good thing I'm unemployed right now, or I'd probably get fired anyway for being on there so much.

[Cristina (CrissyPo)]

I went to check out Ravelry after I listened to your last episode. I've been itching to get on there (I love to catalog my yarn) but alas it's just in Beta stage. Still, I'm enjoying listening to how you're both using it. Can't wait!

[karrie]

Thanks for mentioning my tip! Maybe I'll see you this weekend!

[pia]

Hello Ladies! De lurking to share random info... My bestest friend in the world works at UCSF, I think on a general pedi floor..though she's not a knitter. I just thought that was funny, I called to tell her how the internet makes it such a small world!
~Pia

[Jessica]

Just FYI, I don't think Dancing Fibers distributes Pakucho anymore. The shop where I work still carries it though (http://earthfriendlyyarns.com/organic_fp.htm).

Fun show. I was following the conversation through Ravelry. I love that thing.

[frecklegirl jess]

Yay! It is fun to hear about you guys using the site- I never get to just play on there but I will someday! :)

I gotta play this episode for Casey now.

You guys still do the best show notes- it is awesome. I am not saying that because you have me linked all over the place. I swear. ;)

[Erin KnittingRN]

Hello ladies! Thanks for the shout out about being a knitting RN on Ravelry! Love the podcast!!

[tini]

o.k. the internet ate my comment:
When I was refering to needle felting I thought of using an Embellisher ( a needle felting machine) which is A LOT faster and secures the layers very well, so you can embellish larger parts thus using more wool/batting/roving My friend owns one and you can see the WIP of one of her creations here
(in German but there are a lot of pics!)
http://www.hobbyschneiderin.net/portal/showthread.php?t=48718

[Jessica K.]

It seems so simple, but I just hadn't thought about "finishing as you go" before. I'm working on my first sweater ever right now (yay!) and the fact that you've "allowed" me to put down that final sleeve and go ahead and put the rest of the sweater together makes me feel like I am *so* much closer to the end. Thanks for passing that on.

[chris]

Here's what to do with that random ball of cascade fixation. Knit a thong!! I strated one as a joke for my daughter's birthday and it is actually quite cute, comfy and stretchy!.the pattern is from the stitch and bitch calendar ( feb 14)
One ball would make at least 2 if not 3 of these lovely things. I plan to embroider and embellish with flowers!

[Abigail]

I wanted to comment about Cascade Fixation. You mentioned it after the drunken argyle sweater from No Sheep. I have knit socks from it (you can see some in progress on my Ravelry projects unser the username abigailvr) and I would not want to knit an entire sweater out of it. You need to hold it at half tension, not too loose, not too tight. I think that would get old fast in sweater knitting. The yarn the sample in the book is knit from, however, is gorgeous to knit with (Sock Candy). My socks knit in it haven't held up to wear very well but a sweater wouldn't be worn as hard, I suspect.

Also, I live near several big box craft stores and I have yet to see Lion Brand organic cotton in any of them, or the new CottonEase for that matter. I find it very frustrating.

Just my two (okay, maybe four) cents. :)

[Ali]

Hi Girls
Another great show! I've been on the look out recently for organic fibre so thanks for the links. I think its so important to consider where our yarn comes from and how it is made. BTW I thought all American's learned to knit continental?

[Leonie]

Just dropping in to say that I love listening to your show. I'm looking forward to playing on Ravelry eventually....

[Stef]

Hey, I'm listening to the podcast right now and I needed to chime in on the Fixation. There are a few people out there who love Fixation, but it sticks to wooden needles. Like Abigail said, it's really hard to get a uniform tension. I probably won't knit with it again.

[Carla]

Hi Ladies,

I'm really enjoying the podcasts because I knit while listening. FYI. My local yarn shop, Wooly Bully in Tallahassee Florida, has Pakucho yarn. Here's the link to the shop. www.myspace.com/woolybullycrafts

Thanks for doing the podcast. You guys are great.

[Charity]

I love this episode, and my favourite moment was hearing Jenny talk about keeping her stash in her living area - I've been doing the same thing since January!

I had a tower of transluscent plastic crates in my dining room, to remind me that I had yarn to use before I needed to buy more! I just had family visiting, and had to put them away... I hope this doesn't spell disaster for my stash-busting!

[Hellen]

After discovering your podcast few weeks ago, I listened to all your past episodes and finished listening last night. I really loved listening to each and every episode. I keep checking my iTunes for a new episode. You guys are like crack! I posted some ways I destash and find time to knit more. I also have a cuter cover of Barbara Walker's 'Knitting from the Top" on yesterday's post. Hope you visit. Thanks for your compelling podcasts!

[jpt]

Okay, enablers, now you've got me all curious about cotton yarns. So far my only experience with 100% cotton is Butterfly 10, and joining such slippery yarn was a real challenge. Any tips? Even my Russian join felt like it might slip out of itself over time.

[La]

So, last week I discovered you, and all this week I've been trying to catch up on all your back episodes during my morning and evening commutes. But I gotta tell you, This episode has been my favorite so far. I especially liked your organic cotton recommendations and as soon as I'm done with my KFYS Challenge, I'm SO going to get some of that Blue Sky Alpaca Organic Cotton.

Now, if only I can get your theme song outta my head.

LOVE IT!

[Stephanie]

I can so relate with having trouble with knitting in the round with two circulars. I can't tell you how many times I picked up the wrong needles and ended up with all the stiches on one needle (almost). I totally magic loop now.

[Sally Villarreal]

What is the deal with Lion Brand? They've come out with some high end yarns like the organic cotton, and I've never seen them sold anywhere other than lionbrand.com. If I'm going to spend that much money, I'm not buying Lion Brand.

It is good to have a couple of projects going. I have one big (for home) and one small (for on the go) and/or one that requires thought and one that doesn't.

Someday I plan to learn magic loop, but I fear going over to the dark side. I do the opposite of what the listener described. I buy sets of 5 dpns and/or really long ones, and make entire hats with them.

Someday I need to find a way to tape my continental purling method. I do this weird thing with my thumb. It isn't "right," but it works.