Projects of the Moment: WIPs Reports and Finished Objects
RS – Cast on the first pairs of socks for her History of Magic OWL using the Sherman Toe and Heel Method. She also went outside and tried a little landscape portrait art knitting.
TK’s has made some anti-static devices to protect oneself form the static electric shock of one’s car. She is crocheting a doily and re-sewing a bag for dad.
Hyperventilate
RS has been playing the PS2 game Legend of Mana and having a dandy time.
I Spy
TK saw an ensatina (from the salamander family).
Ear Party
TK is listening to Metric’s “Help, I’m Alive” and “Black Sheep.”
RS – Finished Hitchhiker shawl in Socks that Rock Lightweight for TK and made four dryer balls. Turned Hitchhiker in to detention and has yet to turn in the dryer balls. RS has proposed a History of Magic OWL, making three pairs of socks using the Sherman Toe and Heel Method. You can see her History of Magic OWL proposal here.
TK’s has chosen these three WIPs to work on for detention for the term: her pink cabled scarf, Miss Jane’s Hat, and her simple socks. Class plans include a doily, a Slytherin scarf or cowl, and the Catherine Wheel Headband. She is going to propose the Roselein Hat for an Order Mission project. See post 6 in the Mission Thread about the difference between Brawny and Fiddly projects.
Brainy Moments
Using silicon pad for hot glue gun base.
Shiny
Pill Shaver from Daiso.
Hyperventilate
TK has been watching “Ask a Mortician” videos on YouTube.
(We are working on a new place to store our audio. We won’t update in iTunes until we resolve this. Your patience is requested! Also, if this is a feature you use, please let us know; your feedback is important.)
Sorry for the sound of wind! TK forgot to turn the fan off! -_-;
Projects of the Moment: WIPs Report
TinyKiwi has almost finished a scrubby washcloth–she’s keeping the ends to weave in for detention next month, or it’d already be done. It’s based on a nubby flower block out of 75 Floral Blocks to Crochet by Betty Barnden.
She also works on Miss Jane’s Hat by Heide Petroski. Almost there with the cabled band (hopefully!)
TK works on another rosary, this time with slightly better beads!
RambunctiouSky rips out Terri’s (new) socks and re-casts on in a smaller size.
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Finished Objects!
RambunctiouSky is a fount of finished objects, but most importantly she’s finished her Evenstar Shawl! Huzzah!
RS also made vases out of regular food jars and canning jars by hot gluing a strip of ribbon around the rim with a button accent. She made colorful votive candle holders by gently scuffing the candle holders with sand paper, wrapping in rubber bands, spray painting, and then taking off the rubber bands. Pretty!
Tip! Spray paint is much cheaper at home-improvement stores than at the craft stores–only problem is color selection is isn’t always as extensive.
Brainy Moments (17:32)
RS talks getting the kink out of frogged (re-used) yarn.
TK shows how she makes “master-keys” out of eye-pins so she can cut wire to the same length every time while she’s beading.
Hyperventilate (24:50)
RS’s partner is playing through Zelda without a sword. We also talk about how we enjoy watching people play video games while we craft.
Shiny (26:54)
TK goes on a crazy bead buying spree–so much cuteness. She ponders making an H.R. Giger Alien-head necklace. Anyone got a spare Alien head?
TK also showcases her “don’t-tell-the-boyfriend-how-much-I-spent” shiny: new skates from SureGrip! Atom wheels! Avenger plates!
RS got new T-pins to block the shawl and a curling iron to make pretty hair.
I Spy (39:28)
RS visits a botanic garden, enjoys a docent lead tour and learns about how hummingbirds always have food throughout the year, as there is always something red blooming. Also, bumblebees! She’s also is going camping later today and expects to have something good to report next week.
TK sees (and loves) Turkey Vultures. Hawk of some sort. Agave? *sigh*
Books to Stick Your Nose In (42:52)
RS has had no time for reading due to above wedding crafting, but is going to re-read Slow River by Nicola Griffith. She bought it off of Better World Books, a good alternative to Amazon, that participates in humanitarian efforts. Check ’em out!
RS also buys new bowls and plates (extra belated shiny!)
TK borrows a book by Nicky Epstein called Knitted Embellishments and talks about all the unexpected fun she’s learned you can have with I-cord. She’s particularly interested in the Celtic knots made of I-cord…
Ear Party (47:42)
TK again enumerates the joys of pop-artist Sia.
Walks in the Urban Wilderness (49:40)
RS has been wedding-focused, so everything took a back burner to that, except the one walk in the botanic garden.
TK walks and gardens and skates (sorta) but has back-slid a little herself.
dafont.com has the Mathilde Font that everyone thought was hand-written by RS!
We are also planning a KNIT ALONG! Care of Magical Creatures Bracelet #1 by TinyOwlKnits, so feel free to join us. We’re hoping to start the 1st of September. Hopefully? Yes! No hoping, it’s happening!
The sound and video are sometimes mal-synced again as we’ve been having some persistent technical issues. We’re working on it, so thanks for bearing with us! ❤ We’re hoping to have it all ironed out by next episode.
Projects of the Moment: WIPS Progress Report
Tiny Kiwi has made no progress on her OWL shawl or BROOM hat+socks. It’s shameful! The Fibonerdy Shawl by Kourtney Robinson is based on Fibonacci’s number(s), so extra mathematical geek points if TK ever gets to it.
TK clarifies her Miss Jane’s Hat is not Jayne’s Hat, but hopes you’ll love her anyway. She’s still plugging away at it! Made with Malabrigo Arroyo in Vaa, if you haven’t been listening in previously. It’s a dream to work with! ❤
This is also the part where we plug the Harry Potter Knit/Crochet House Cup group on Ravelry! Fantastic group, fantastic people, and great for motivation. Check ’em out. The references to OWLs, BROOMs/Missions/Phoenix’s, homework/classwork, and detention are all about that group.
As TK is a beginning knitter, she loves her Cast On, Bind Off book by Leslie Ann Bestor
Rambunctious Sky is still working on her Gemini pullover, pattern free through Knitty. She practices knitting in the dark so she can knit through her opera class during the movies parts.
She’s also eschewed more swatching and has finally cast on her Sashiko Sweater by Ellen Gill.
We talk about how it’s good to imagine how you’re going to finish a project, before you begin it. RS learned this tidbit through knitter’s “finishing school”, TK learned this from her poor beleaguered metalsmithing teacher. (So sorry, Ms. B!)
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane–It’s FOs! (11:34)
TK has cranked out the Catesby Three Hour Cowl for Quidditch’s Speed Trials, which actually took her about 5 hours, but she’s not complaining since it came out so swell. It’s a crochet pattern where you crochet through the back of the stitch only to make the raised pattern. She used Ton of Wool by Ms. Gusset, and feels that it just flies the the fingers! Love the pattern & love the yarn!
Things to Hyperventilate Over (19:53)
RS has been addicted to playing Badland (a for-pay app for iPad) which has a cute little fluffy guy you’ve got to navigate through some beautiful environments while you keep ’em from all sorts of assorted doom. By Frogmind an indie developer, so check ’em out! We totally don’t make any money from these endorsements, this really is just stuff we like (and are addicted to.)
(22:28) TK talks nail art, and expounds about the new things she’s found while on the quest for the perfect Slytherin nails (and the prefect green!)
Sinful Colors nail polish in Calypso (1181) is a lovely deep, deep green (almost green-blue) and is holding up well on TK’s toes. Only one coat needed, but TK slathers it on thick the first time! 🙂
TK also tries “i ❤ Nail Art” pen in fine Pearly White (360) color, by Sally Hansen, and likes it, but it produces thicker lines than she’d hoped for. Might be great for doing french tips easier though, and unlike markers it uses real nail polish. Holds up ok, but has worn away quicker than the Sinful colors.
Photo colors aren’t true, so I tried to get the block behind the text to be the same color, but who knows if it worked?! Computer colors drive me batty anyway.
We talk about the tiny crochet polar bear going around, made by Kim Lapsley. It’s sooo tiny and adorable, so check out her Pinterest page that we’ve linked to find the bear and others of her work.
We also talk about Tiny Owl Knits’s small knit charm bracelet patterns. They are also super cute! Her website is here.
Lastly, TK geeks out about a new flavor of tea she’s found from Lupicia Fresh Tea, (link is to the U.S. store) called Tsugaru Green. Delicious! The taste of apple is a refreshing addition to the green tea, and the aroma is sweet and inviting.
TK confesses to breaking out in song with little provocation. Is she perhaps convinced that her life is secretly a musical?!? Time will tell.
In which TK extols the virtues of new (used) boots for a myriad of costuming options.
Brainy Moments–How To: Tips and Tricks (36:03)
RS discusses the increases in Gemini…she doubted, but then was reassured by her housemates. She also made an adjustment by casting on 4 extra stitches underneath the arms. It worked!
TK shares a tip for the (digital) industrial driers at the laundromat…Hold down the power button at the same time that you hold down the temperature setting button, and the temperature of the drier will display! Let us know if it works for you!
TK asks RS what she uses to wash her delicate knitwear–she uses Soak (Aquae), so TK may get some as she’s finally making a few not-machine-washable things and needs a solution. (Cue the highhat.)
I Spy: Nature lover’s segment (45:40)
RS sees her first snake in the wild! SO exciting! TK squees, but that’s ’cause she loves snakes. TK recommends the coffee-table book of snakes called Serpentine by Mark Laita, as it contains beautiful photographs.
TK tries once more in vain to catch her fly-by hummingbird, but no success. She also bemoans the fact that all the animals think winter is over and have begun their mating routines, including the Mourning Doves and Mockingbirds. She wants more “winter.” People who have real winter must surely mock her, but she stands firm.
Musical Menagerie (51:56)
RS demonstrates the free app called The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, very useful for music teachers (or those wishing to enhance their child’s musical knowledge.)
TK begs RS for fabric strips to make the zoori’s we talked about in a previous episode, but is denied since RS is planning a scrap rug! Send me your tired, your forlorn, I mean your scraps.
We discuss joining something like the Weasley Sisters’ Cardio Knitting Challenge or starting up our own “Walks in the Urban Wilderness” fitness section, so we chat about what we could do, since we both need to get moving more. Right now the goal for both of us is to get out and walk twice a week, so we’ll check back in next week. We’re low-impact kinda gals!
Also, you can hop on over to the Weasley Sister’s Rav Group to follow along with their Cardio Knitting challenge, if you’d like to set fitness goals with the motivation of possibly winning sock yarn to spur you on. ❤
Our sound is a little bit mal-synced from our video, so if you’re watching along, sorry!
Projects of the Moment–WIPs Progress Report
Tiny Kiwi is hating Crocodile stitch phone cosy in Disney Princess color, so she’s sending it to Rambunctious Sky
Jane hat progress!
Horribly long tab beginning on Fibonerdy OWL=tedium! Advice is to not do it in black, if you’d like to actually pick up the stitches properly. Learn from TK’s mistakes!
RS shows off her Berroco Linsey linen & cotton yarn in a suspiciously tweedy color. It’s multiple-colored plys though! Don’t get any tweedy ideas.
We talk scientific endeavor–washing linen–Does it really make it softer? Inquiring minds refuse to take word of mouth and must find out for themselves, apparently. (TK tries to connive RS into giving her the yarn instead, as is her way.)
RS us using this yarn to make the Gemini pullover pattern (free on Knitty). It’s a top down raglan style t-shirt.
TK’s mission debacle news…TK goes for adding on crochet socks to her mission proposal (footy knit socks as a backup!)
RS’s OWL news: She shows off a swatch, learns DK weight yarn is not Aran, (don’t get so excited about pretty yarn you’re buying online that you forget to check the weight!) so she has to pick a different pattern.
RS finally makes gauge on a tiny inch of swatch so TK advises, “You need to make a bigger swatch, Madam!” Maths ensue~! So much maths!
IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S FO’S! (13:30)
TK’s magical Candy Mug cosy
Strange noises? RS’s partner is rollerblading in the kitchen!
RS’s swatch into hat got done! Sadly, it won’t be for detention points, but at least it’s done. Yey for getting WIPs done!
Things to Hyperventilate Over (18:30)
RS talks about her opera appreciation class. (No homework!)
We discuss how everyone in RS’s class is a senior citizen, as is usual for most of our hobbies.
Adventures in Editing! When we talk face to face, we are often talking a mile-a-minute and finish each other’s sentences as we’re so often on the same page. It tends to freak people out a little, and is harder to do on Skype. We’re working on it! Ha ha!
TK shows off the Nautilus shell earrings she got at the artist’s co-op on Molokai, Hawaii. If you happen to go to Molokai, check ’em out! Help support independent artists, and art in the schools. 🙂
RS ties the nautilus shells into her Sashiko pattern, as it reminds her of fractals in tree branches
TK discusses her fear of RS’s yarn being too 80s
Books ta stick your nose in!
TK starts and finishes the Annotated Northanger Abbey discussed in last week’s podcast. TK discusses her love of Jane Austen, Mr. Tilney, and historical writing. But mostly Mr. Tilney.
RS admits that she might not have as much Jane Austen street cred as TK, and TK admits she’s a a pretty big fan of JA.
TK rants about authors who write Austen sequels poorly, but still solicits information on any sequels that can properly capture the tone of the times.
TK also talks about Patricia Briggs’ “Mercy Thompson” series of were-coyote brain-fluff, if you like supernatural novels that are quick reads.
RS cries over reading Bridges of Madison County, but still recommends it. It’s so realistic that National Geographic apparently gets inquiries about the imaginary man who worked for them. Spoiler alert! He’s a man of fiction! Sigh! All the good men are.
TK re-reads To Kill A Mockingbird, and dislikes it all over again. It’s a good book, but sad and TK isn’t into sad books.
RS’s new blue yarn/thread intended for making snowflake ornaments. From Daiso.
The Creative Reuse place provides crochet hooks…only 50 cents a piece! No takesy backsies!
TK suggests Stainless Steel welding rods instead of blocking wires, but hasn’t tried yet. It’s **supposed** to be cheaper! RS says she’s used beading wire previously
RS talks using the snowflakes for homework projects, especially for next month.
More OWL talk! A corkscrew of misery!
Brainy Moments–How To, tips & tricks (46:50)
We talk tensioning yarn, and changes we’ve made to lessen pain and hand problems, while increasing tension, without excessive wraps that get stuck on our sweaty hands!
Hand problems are serious! Try different things! You can teach yourself new ways, even if it takes brain power to get there! Take care of your hands. ❤
Hand stretches are great! Do em! ❤ Tangental sisters strike again~!
“NEXT SEGMENT~!”
I Spy: Nature Lovers’ Segment
Slightly Off Topic: Mariachi music training from Jose Hernandez Mariachi Sol de Mexico, who trained them for two days in Mariachi music…
…so RS got to see a natural garden outside a school, where she saw a hummingbird
TK isn’t taken in by supposedly a “cute” hummingbird. She reminds people they are vicious and go for the jugular. They’re cute to get away with their viciousness! (It should be noted that TK isn’t a professional.)
RS also sees one small mystery bird…perhaps a phoebe?
TK hears two birds, but can’t spot them–a Hummingbird, and a Mockingbird, and reminisces about when Mockingbirds didn’t sound like car alarms (when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.)
RS talks about Bill Robinson in the children’s book Rap a Tap Tap
Bill Robinson/Bo Jangles=best tap dancer ever?!?
He was in the movie Stormy weather, with a song by a New Orleans minstrel band which gets stuck in RS’s head after the 6th viewing.
Sisters Of The Holy Fiber 