Sisters of the Holy Fiber -Episode 18- Be Kind, Rewind!

Sisters of the Holy Fiber Episode 18 <Click here to listen to audio only!

Projects of the Moment: WIPs Report

RambunctiouSky plugs away at her Evenstar Shawl

TinyKiwi makes only a smidgeon of progress on her knitted slouchy hat.

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Finished Objects!

Nothing this week!

Brainy Moments

In which we make more empty promises about buttonhole and tatting tutorials. We’ll get there~!

Shiny (4:23)

TK shows off her Slytherinish-colored fan.

RS shows off the second ball of color that she’s using for her Evenstar, and gives a quick brainy moment about blending in the color transition when switching between your gradient yarns.

Hyperventilate (10:16)

RS talks about Papercraft Dioramas by Davy and Kristin McGuire!

TK mentions the papercraft version of Howl’s Moving Castle, with a time-lapse video of the guy making it, and RS mentions a lifesize elephant origami made by artist Sipho Mabona.

RS looks forward to playing the old-school version of Zelda. Huzzah!

Books to Stick Your Nose In (14:50)

TK shows some thread crochet designs in the book:
( かぎ針で編む花レース ) トゥーオヤのアクセサリー

(Flower Lace Crochet) Turkish Oya Lace Accessories

RS ponders a trip to the Cliffs of Insanity, and thinks about beading the edge of her Evenstar.

I Spy (21:50)

RS sees dolphins! Pods and pods of dolphins and pelicans.  Apparently, there was a whale to see, but RS didn’t.

TK reports that her resident Mockingbird has picked up an agitated Blue Jay call to his car-alarm remix, and TK has also seen a Phoebe, but that’s all there is to report.

We squee over CuteOverload.com and talk about its ability to make a bad day better. ❤

Ear Party (27:03)

TK geeks out about Chromeo coming out with a new album White Women and listens to their single Jealous (I Ain’t With It)

RS talks about how Ani DiFranco’s Living In Clip album is good angry-girl music to clean the house to.

Walks in the Urban Wilderness (31:42)

RS plays bocci ball, but othewise misses her goals.
TK gets a long day of gardening one day, and gardens 2 extra times, but gets no walks in.

Princess Sweetie Cat appearance! We’re so humbled, Your Highness!

Random Remnants (34:24)

TK geeks out about Grumpy Cat and the Pout Pout Fish (her spirit animals.)

Fava beans! Who knew they were so difficult to find?! That and Pigeon Peas (guandu.) Thanks for the help produce guy! Falafel ensued! It’s TK’s (third) favorite food!

We (re-)geek out on TinyOwlKnits’ Care of Magical Creatures charm bracelets. Adorbs! Check em out, buy the patterns on Ravelry.

RS ponders making her own stitch markers.

Sisters of the Holy Fiber Podcast–Episode 3–Those Wily Montagu’s!

Sisters of the Holy Fiber -Episode3- Those Wily Montagu’s <Click to listen to audio only!

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.

Books ta stick your nose in (31:53)

The Life and Selected Letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
She’s so sassy!

Shiny! (34:59)

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 shares two very relaxing YouTube links that she likes:
11 Hours of Tranquil Birdsong
&
10 Hours of Rain on a Tin Roof

Random Remnants (55:12)

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. ❤

That’s it for this week.  Thanks for joining us!

Sisters of the Holy Fiber Podcast – Episode 002 – Mysterious pieces: No extra charge!

Sisters of the Holy Fiber – Episode 2 <Click here to listen to the show.

Show notes!

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.

Puccini’s Turandot and heartbreaking arias

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.

Shiny! New and new-to-us things to show off

RS gets an interchangeable set of needles (sizes 4-11) from KnitPicks…and loves them! Color is Caspian…aka GREEN! Green for SLYTHERIN! Comes with mysterious pieces, no extra charge!!

TK tries hard to convert RS to SLYTHERIN

Yarn! It’s not cotton candy, sadly. ;_;

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.)

Music of the Moment

TK’s been listening to Nina Simone, here’s a link to one song on YouTube: Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood

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.

Phew! Thanks for joining us~! See you next time!