Thank you so much to all of the donors for january and february. Elisha is the lucky winner of the handspun yarn!

For the month of March, Ellenspn has graciously donated 2 fabulously new AND autographed books!
The Enchanted Sole by Janel Laidmen (with so many beautiful socks, i don’t even know what to do with myself!)
and
Respect the Spindle by Abby Franquemont (a whole book on spindles, types, function, history, AND how to use them! glorious!)
Donate to the podcast during the month of march, and YOU could win these books!

Townhomesteading:
-raised beds this year: buying corners online
-lettuce baskets
-Bountiful Container

-yogurt maker

Babble:
-Disney
-imagination grows (rocket, fishing, monorail)
-4 years old!
-new schedule

Fibery goodness:
-reunited with my wheel
-crown mountain fiber superwash “locomotive breath”
-crocheted steek tutorial
-the cardigans
-kingscot.…minus 6″…=Katrina Rib?

Favorite thing:
Treadle sewing machine!!
(photo soon!)

You have a few options when doing a steek.
1. you can machine stitch the sweater on either side before you cut
2. hand sew the sweater on either side before you cut
3. crochet the sweater on either side before you cut.

i’m a big fan of #3. i can do it while sitting on my couch, i don’t have to lug out the sewing machine or find a needle, and i love how neat and tidy the edge is when i make the cut. i know my stitches aren’t going anywhere, and i know that when i’m done, i’ll have a very nice clean line.

you don’t need to really know how to crochet, but if you have some yarn and a crochet hook, you too can become a crocheted steek master!

i couldn’t find any video tutorials of how to do a crocheted steek, so this last time i did a cardigan, i decided to film it and share that exhilarating snip with the world. i walk you through how to do the crochet, how to cut, and where to pick up stitches.
with all this knowledge, you now can go forth and knit anything you’d like in the round!

Ry and Littleman riding the monorail

Littleman and Minnie Mouse

SO, i wanted to give you guys a heads up that i have planned some activity on here!
first off, remember that contest i ran a couple months ago? well, i will FINALLY get names drawn and announce this afternoon.
remember how i said i was going to do the video of how to use handcards? well i’m going to finally get that recorded.
remember how i said i recorded the video tutorial of how to do a crocheted steek? well that video is mixing down RIGHT NOW and will be uploaded shortly to youtube for your viewing pleasure!
how about that for customer service?!

also, i’m hoping to start moving some things around on the shownotes page here to make things a little easier to navigate. like being able to search the site, and less clutter and whatnot.
any suggestions?

so, stay tuned! crochet steek tutorial coming up shortly!

episode 99: “Hiatus vs Sabbatical”

Winners! Maybe soon…sorry!

Townhomesteading:
-seed catalogs=panic
-silverware sort=win!!
chicken tortilla soup recipe
1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 can whole kernal corn
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilis
1 box chicken broth
6oz enchilada sauce
4 frozen chicken breasts
1tbls minced garlic
chopped onions (if you’d like)
1tbls cumin
sour cream
shredded cheddar cheese
tortilla chips

1. put first 10 ingredients into the crock pot in the morning. set on low and cook for 8 hours
2. take out chicken breasts and shred or chop, put back into the soup
3. serve topped with a dab of sour cream, some cheese, and some crushed tortilla chips finish it.
yummers!
freezes well. makes a ton. tastes even better the second day!

-freezer books find and inherited books/vacuum sealer

Babble:
-playdate
-bob update
-preparing for Disney

Fibery goodness:
-fiber in the forest retreat
-cardigan sweater progress
-bulky flyer and spinning wheel drama aka. I love Schacht

KnitCents Podcast

hi⋅a⋅tus  [hahy-ey-tuhs]
–noun, plural -tus⋅es, -tus.
1. a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc.

Sab⋅bat⋅i⋅cal  [suh-bat-i-kuhl]
–noun
4. (lowercase) sabbatical year.
5. (lowercase) any extended period of leave from one’s customary work, esp. for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc.

Favorite thing:
Spinning wheel broach

thanks to knittingfairy.com for sponsoring december!
podcast donation incentive winner for the month of december was Vivian. Thank you so much for your donations!

This month, I’m offering up some of my handspun! 155 yards of a 2 ply barber pole. hand dyed merino and corriedale, plyed together to create a one of a kind yarn.

now YOU TOO can feel what knitting with handspun is like!

Resolutions:
-drink more water
-slow down and focus on ME (life, projects, when and what I say, etc)
-return to my music
-3 handspun sweaters
-fairisle/colorwork

2 year Contest prizes!!
Reflection hat pattern from Cosymakes, Regia sock yarns, Noro, and more!!! check your email to see if YOU won! thank you again for all of the fabulous submissions!

Babble:
-Conversations with Meghan on Knitajourney Podcast
-time off with littleman

first snowman
-potty training
-holiday recap

Fibery goodness:
-Knittingfool.com has great sweater calculators
-littlemans sweater: gauge, calculations, too big, tearing out, steek video

-moving the fiber room

-playing with the drumcarder

-owls reborn!
-gooseberry cardigan

Favorite thing:

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

December’s Donation Incentive
Shoulder Bling Kit

Shoulder Bling is a 60” shawl, the kit would be the pattern, # 6 circular needles, beads and two skeins of Sterling Silk and Silver yarn in “White Veil” (which could be done as is or dyed, it takes dye beautifully!)
donated by knittingfairy.com

winters past:
-singing in holiday concert wearing paperbag Xmas tree vest, falling off bleachers
-ice skating, car accidents, and tennis courts
-chipped tail bones
-sledding on poo hill
-christmas eve parties
-candy mountain platters
-sheets and Christmas lights
-early to bed early to rise
-flooding on new years eve
-blizzard, full moon, neighborhood walk

Babble:
-video with Santa portablenorthpole.tv
-littleman singing “who” song around Christmas tree
-birthday festivities(dinner for breakfast/breakfast for dinner)
-Birthday serenade from the knitmoregirls

Fibery goodness:
-ryans hat

-mitten extentions
-pixie hood

-started Owens cardigan
-Spinning loft goodies!!
-Socks from the Toe Up: Essential Techniques and Patterns from Wendy Knits
-Toe-Up! Patterns and Worksheets to Whip Your Sock Knitting Into Shape

-spinning red motherfiber for team Sasquatch and ravelympics

Favorite thing:

Sleigh Ride!

Townhomesteading:
-seed catalog browsing and seed swaps
-saving egg cartons
-baking for gifts (shortbread cookies, ornaments, pinecone bird feeders, pie in a jar, etc)
-last year’s sweets recipes
doh! looks like i shared the buckeye recipe last year too! dang….i should have checked shownotes…sorry! well, they’re still just as tasty!

Babble:
-missed family party
-2 baths in one day thanks new toy
-bday breakfast party and bday plans
-signing up for yoga classes, for real!
-bikram yoga

Celebrating 2 years Contest:
-listen, think, and comment! Drawing will happen 1/1!

Fibery goodness:
-knitting mittens continued

-new helloyarn squirrel mitten pattern
-knitting ryans hat
-casting on a pixie hat by cosymakes with handspun!

-rhinebeck wool arrived!


-love for the longdraw
-abby franquemont drafting: the long and short of it DVD review

-playing with colors

-different types of sheeps in a single breed
-plying off of my swift

Favorite thing:
Family traditions- cookies, music, Christmas lights, waiting for lights before going downstairs

November’s incentive winners:
Theresa won the Hornshaw Woodworks Swift
and
Annmarie won the Made By Loumms gardening apron or grow your own soup kit.

December’s Donation Incentive
Shoulder Bling Kit

Shoulder Bling is a 60” shawl, the kit would be the pattern, # 6 circular needles, beads and two skeins of Sterling Silk and Silver yarn in “White Veil” (which could be done as is or dyed, it takes dye beautifully!)
donated by knittingfairy.com

Townhomesteading:
-Christmas tree is up!
-bread machine
-freezer diving and creative meals

Babble:
-I like it butter” & jingle bells
-snow
-parent teacher conference
-return to henna

Fibery goodness:
-team Sasquatch for the Ravelympics
-fiber room set up!

-fiber in the forest retreat again in march!
-mittens. Again. And again. And again.
-colorwork 2010

Favorite thing:

Words with friends

November’s podcast incentive!
One person will be drawn and can choose either a Garden Apron or a Grow Your Own Soup Kit from Made By Loumms:

garden apron

Grow Your Own Soup Kit

a second name will be drawn and will win an handmade oak swift by Hornshaw Woodworks

handmade oak swift

Townhomesteading:

-Basement progress, new light, curtains, and the big thanksgiving push

Babble:
-Tumblebugs take 2 and cut!
-I love Garbage

-Decision for gifts

Fibery goodness:
-Owls reborn
-#77 Vine Lace Top Down Cardigan
-Planning Owens cardi, based on the cobblestone
-Swedish hearts for christmas

-Spinning red mother fiber from Bundaflicka aka Maggie’s Farm

-long draw and watching Drafting: The Long and the Short of it

Favorite thing:

Hersheys holiday dark chocolate mint truffle