Spinning on 2 Wheels

Episode 62: Knitty News

All links to Ravelry are labelled as such. I try to include links to outside websites as much as possible. At this time, I am not including links for purchasing yarns, needles, etc. If I do, they will also be appropriately labelled. As a quick reminder: I am not affiliated with any businesses.

If you’d like to show your support of the podcast, please rate and review on your listening device, follow me on instagram, and / or join the ravelry discussion group (ravelry link) if it is safe for you to do so.

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Open Throttle – 01:24

The Mesmerizing Riddler Socks (ravelry link) are finished! Bonus episode with myself and Audio-Man selecting yarn for the next project in Operation Sock Drawer should be coming to your podcast feed soon!

Kiddo’s Shawl (ravelry link) is growing steadily – despite not being able to travel with this project.

Midroll – 06:56
June 1 to June 30
Any Craft
Any Project
All Month
Everywhere

Any aspect of your project must come from an LGBTQ+ creator or LGBTQ+ owned business. Then all you have to do is post. #PridePodMAL

PridePodMAL Ravelry group (ravelry link… somewhat obviously)

Dropped Bike – 09:12

I have to restart level 2 of the Master Hand Knitting certification. The last 2 years of effort and so forth was basically wasted. I wish I had more to say about this.

Scenic Route – 15:50

Houseplants are good¹ for² you!³

Ma, Jingni (2023). “Psychological Effects of Human-Nature Connection and the Effectiveness of Nature-based Interventions on Mental Health in Adults” University of Edinburgh. Doctoral Thesis.
Matsumura, J. L. (2016). Ecotheraphy as a Tool for Mental Wellness. The Vermont Connection, 37(1). https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/tvc/vol37/iss1/12
Han, Ke-Tsung, and Li-Wen Ruan. (2019). “Effects of Indoor Plants on Self-Reported Perceptions: A Systemic Review” Sustainability 11, no. 16: 4506. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11164506

Be kind to them by giving them conditions in which to thrive. Well-draining soil, and a pot only a little bigger than the root ball.

Monster Mash the *Monstera adansonii*. Also called a Swiss cheese plant.

Episode 61: Hanami of Yarn

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Life on the Road Update – 1:50

Reminder that the PridePodMAL is coming your way!

Deathwish Coffee: Not a sponsor, Just a need – 5:04

Open Throttle – 05:17

The ‘MHK Level 2 Vest‘ (ravelry link) is blocking so that I can properly and accurately pick up stitches for the collar. The evaluator that will be seeing this has some very exacting standards by which my vest will be measured against, and I want to exceed those expectations.

Operation Sock Drawer returns with progress on the ‘Mesmerizing Riddler‘ (ravelry link).

The ‘Kiddo’s Shawl‘ (ravelry link) project is introduced.

Gauge Rage: Scream into the Void – 16:37

Stalled – 16:47

Counting and the eye-searing combination of yarn colors on the ‘Mesmerizing Riddler’ Socks conspired against me and I had to re-do the heel of one sock.

I have to acquire and learn how to use a new beading tool to continue to make progress on ‘Kiddo’s Shawl’.

Sunshine: Making yarn gremlins of all of us. – 23:25

Scenic Route – 23:41

Cherry Blossoms represent renewal and the fleeting nature of life.¹ As such they are celebrated and viewed in a custom called hanami.¹ In this episode, I share some of my own hanami with you.

Info from The Smithsonian, and available here.

Episode 60: Foreshadowing

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Introducing the #PridePodMAL! More details soon, but this June is gonna be fun.

Deathwish Coffee: Not a sponsor, Just a need – 10:12

Open Throttle – 10:26

I finished the knitting for the main body of the MHK level 2 vest (ravelry link).*

* See Stalled segment

And I finished spinning and plying the rambouillet fleece. There are some funny outtakes for this part of the episode, so you should check that out on Substack. For 0 US dollars. I also get into how I used my Knittynoddy tool.

A close up of how I ACTUALLY kept count of the wraps on my knittynoddy!

Gauge Rage: Scream into the Void – 23:42

Stalled – 23:52

Two big confessions. Both involving the MHK level 2 vest. Rather than re-knit the areas that show some rowing out – I am just redistributing the excess yarn

Rowing out from the public side. The needle is pointing to the larger stitch.

And all of that may be futile anyway since the gauge of the body is off, and I may have to re-knit the whole thing anyway.

Standard Time: It’s about Time – 29:20

Scenic Route – 29:53

With no obvious signs of major problems in the garden, I am taking the win this week with the thriving Joseph’s Coat climbing roses

No blooms yet, but that baby rose is looking mighty good!

Episode 59: Distractions! They’re All in My Head!

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Life on the Road Update – 01:41

Something is coming for the show. It is not, however, a guest next episode.

Gauge Rage: Scream into the Void – 03:35

Open Throttle – 03:46

I was able to finish the front of the vest (ravelry link) that I am using for the Master Hand Knitting level 2. The designer of the vest is Jenny Watson (ravelry link). I am also about 60% of the way finished with the back of the vest.

The green marker on the left indicates progress at the time of recording this episode. Clearly, these photos have time traveled from the future.

The Spinning wheel has just been calling my name and I could no longer resist. I was pleasantly surprised by how much Sweetheart DIDN’T CARE about my spinning. The fleece I am working on was purchased at MDSW many years ago, and is a Rambouillet breed fleece. I expect I will continue to find more of it in the yarn room.

Pigments of Inspiration: Does the WHY Matter? – 14:51

Stalled – 15:16

Multiple breakages, like more than seem plausible, has cast suspicion that there may be unwanted lodgers in my yarn. Observations are on-going.

Wrong side of the front of the MHK vest. Two breakages, one skein change.

Scenic Route – 25:28

Since Sweetheart considers many things to be food when they are, in fact, not food potatoes are being kept outside. Drastic measures are being taken to ensure their survival here in zone 7b.

Removing the thermal blanket from potato babies. I have to open it up so it can dry from condensation most mornings. I believe I am frowning at the amount of water that was trapped in the blanket over night.

Episode 58: It’s a Short One

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Life on the Road Update – 04:24
Why I love new Orleans, and Interweave Knits Magazine is going away. I am dissapoint.

Mom’s Yarn Stash: OMG – 11:07

Open Throttle – 11:35

The MHK Vest is the sole thing on the needles. And while the back looks terrible because of broken yarns, those aren’t even set-backs at this point.

The back of the MHK level 2 vest, and the broken yarns.

Episode 57: I am Shocked.

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Open Throttle – 02:07

The MHK is BACK!!! I’m finally putting serious effort into the level 2 vest (ravelry link). This is one of three cap-stone pieces for the second level of the Master Hand Knitting Certification from The Knitting Guild Association – “a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education and resources to knitters to advance their mastery of the craft of knitting” (TKGA.org, 2024).

Coming along nicely, if I do say so myself.

The 2024 Sweater is also finished. And now there are pictures to prove it.

Besties: Making *~*Magic*~* Happen – 11:06

Stalled – 11:18

Leaving notes to yourself only works if there is enough detail in said said notes to understand what they mean. If the future version of yourself can’t figure out what was meant in the note – the note is useless. My notes were useless and I had to frog the latest attempt at the MHK vest.

I had been watching charity streams of video games, for the vibes, while working on the vest. And while re-working it. And finishing the 2024 sweater. Just anytime I need the good vibes really. More information on that charity event can be found here.
I would love to do some kind of Make-A-Long with it next year.

Scenic Route – 18:33

I have started some seeds. I hope that my preparation for my garden will be more effective than my preparation for my knitting.

Episode 56: Sweater Obsessed

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Life on the Road Update – 02:34

Thank you everyone who reached out after last episode. Your kindness knows no limits.

Deathwish Coffee: Not a sponsor, Just a need – 05:20

Open Throttle – 05:33

The ‘2024 Sweater‘ (ravelry link) for Mr. Kickass is the Dizen Sweater by Moira Engel in Miss Babs ‘Yowza’ in the colorway “River Severn”. It has been the sole knitting in my hands. My purpose. My obsession.

Close up of the cable designs! So pretty!

The sleeves. Each ortho band on the left marks the placement of a short-row turn.

Stalled – 10:54

The ‘2024 Sweater’ has also been my problem. Although, it seems more accurate to say that my hubris has been the source of all my problems. If I had paid attention to knitting wisdom of the ages by alternating hand dyed skeins of yarn and reading all of the instructions in a pattern, this entire section could have been avoided.

THEY EVEN TELL YOU! I HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT MYSELF!

My hubris in action. Even Mr. Kickass noticed immediately.

Episode 55: The 2024 Sweater – This Time It’s Personal

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Life on the Road Update – 1:45

This years sweater making bonanza was interrupted by another sweater making bonanza. Which itself has been interrupted by yarn chicken.

Gauge Rage: Scream into the Void – 10:08

Open Throttle – 10:21

Mr. Kickass has been happily wearing the sweaters I make him since 2012. Which is why he keeps getting more.

Close up of the progress markers that start at the CO edge.

This year he chose the “Dizen Sweater” (ravelry link) by Moira Engel. He prefers the fabric created by Miss Babs ‘Yowza‘ (ravelry link), and his god-daughter chose the colorway ‘River Severn‘ at the 2023 MDSW Festival. This sweater is being knit on 4.5 and 5mm circular, aluminum needles.

Stalled – 34:49

There have been several little stalls during the construction of the ‘2024 Sweater’ (ravelry link). These include, but aren’t limited to:

Seeded Rib being un-intuitive as F*^&

Incorrectly twisted cables, accidental decreases

And moderate joint pain

This photo is staged, but still a fairly accurate representation of my ice pack. I got the ducky from the UMD booth at the fair from Episode 50.

Episode 54: Holiday Hyperbole

You can also subscribe on Substack for outtakes, and other bonuses – all for free, sent directly to your inbox. This week there is NO outtake bonus content, so in order to give the substack subscribers a little extra, all of the photos are over there. It’s still all free.

Life on the Road Update – 02:13

A close brush with infectious disease is a reminder to get boosted!

Open Throttle – 07:28

The MHK level two vest is re-intorduced. and will remain the ‘Charlie‘ (ravelry link), but most of my time has been devoted to Mr. Kickass’ ‘2024 Sweater‘ (ravelry link).
Dear Listener, don’t do what I am doing – avoid the wrist/hand pain. Learn from my self-destructive tendencies.

Mom’s Yarn Stash: OMG – 23:42

Stalled – 24:06

The ‘Mesmerizing Riddler‘ (ravelry link) socks need some troubleshooting on the heel before they can be continued.

Episode 53: The Two-Year Sweater

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Fashionably Riding – 06:35

The ‘Magic Sweater‘ (ravelry link) is on my body like an excellent lover. Warm, perfectly fitted, and constant.

Deathwish Coffee: Not a sponsor, Just a need – 07:23

Open Throttle – 07:37

Operation Sock Drawer (what!what!) is happening with the ‘Mesmerizing Riddler‘ socks (ravelry link). It’s happening at sporting events. It’s happening at Sunday nerd nights. Everywhere deserves delightful, fanciful socks.

The ‘DNA Sweater‘ is over halfway completed. The front of the sweater is growing daily.

Fiber Fuckery: You Decide. – 13:20

Stalled – 13:40

Mr. Kickass’ ‘2023 Sweater‘ (ravelry link) caused some trouble when the cuffs appeared to be too small for adult human use. A gentle reworking of the cast-on had them expanding to full size.