Yarns from the Plain


A podcast for knitters, crocheters and anyone else who loves playing with yarn!

Episodes can be downloaded from iTunes, directly from http://yarnsfromtheplain.podbean.com or streamed using the widget below.

Sunday 14 August 2011

Episode 28: Normal Service

Oops! Sorry, thought I'd published these on Monday 15th August when I'd actually saved to draft!

Hello from a cool and breezy Cheshire Plain. In this episode I talk listener stats, review UFOs and succomb to the electronic.

We have a listeners' map! Please go on over to pop in a pin - I'd love to see where you all are!

On The Needles: I finished my Sideways Beanie with a moss stitch band in the end.

sideways hat 1

I also listened to your advice and cast on the second Poshman Mitten and I've reached the decreases.

Review:Knitty Issue 36, First Fall 2011

Something I really like: My Kindle

Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune.

Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.podbean.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain@googlemail.com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!).




TTFN, Nic

Friday 5 August 2011

Episode 27: Catching Up

Hello AGAIN from the Cheshire Plain! This is the last episode in this marathon catching up session, honest!

We have a listeners' map! Please go on over to pop in a pin - I'd love to see where you all are!

In this episode I talked about various events linked to the Cheshire Spinning Guild (the Ravelry Group for the Guild is here), including the Exhibition at Dunham Massey and the trip to Woolfest. I also mentioned the Wool Experience and the gorgeous ice cream at Blaze Farm.

Here is the Great Wheel in use at Blaze Farm:




I also attended a Woolly Wormhead sideways hat workshop at Fibre & Clay, based on her book Going Straight. My hat needs maybe an hour's more work before it's finished.

And talking of finishing... which of these should I finish first?

1.Posh Yarn Featherweight cardigan
2. Poshman Mittens
3. Stripy Noro Messenger Bag
4. Modern Quilt Wrap
5. Tank Top in Noro Kuryon Sock Yarn
6. Lizard Ridge Afghan
7. Olympic Medal Socks (I'll probably take these on holiday anyway)
8. Pondemonium child's stranded sweater
9. Best of Both Whirls Cushion
10. Double Vision Cushion
11. Hipknits Silk Aran Fair Isle Cardigan

So leave me a message here, drop me an email or post in the Ravelry forum!

And finally.... which is THE yarn shop to visit in San Francisco?

Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune.

Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.podbean.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain@googlemail.com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!).




TTFN, Nic

Thursday 4 August 2011

Episode 26: Best In Show?

Hello from a wet Cheshire Plain. OK, it's raining, but after the heatwave I've experienced over the last week, I'm enjoying feeling cooler! Sadly I'm still arguing with the new mic, so I've used the hand-held again.

We have a listeners' map! Please go on over to pop in a pin - I'd love to see where you all are!

This episode is sub-titled the ME, ME, ME show (thanks Louise!) and features a detailed run down of the items I entered in the Oxfordshire County and Thame Show at the weekend.

Firstly for the Knitting Class, I submitted my Mint Choc Chip scarf, which is the Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.



In the Baby Knitting, I made this sweater, the February Baby Sweater from the Knitter's Almanac. I found meleliza's Ravelry notes very helpful.



For the Crochet Class, I made the Circles Scarf by Linda Permann (details of my project here).



For the Embroidered Picture, I finished this that has been lurking in my embroidery UFO bin for a very long time. The motifs are based on those in Jo Verso's World of Cross Stitch, and the composition inspired by one of hers, but the final design is mine.



For the Beadwork Class, I entered my first ever piece of beadwork (other than simply threading beads onto a string), which I learnt on a course at The Bead Trail at Blakemere Craft Centre, Sandiway.



In the Item made from Recycled Materials, I entered a gift bag made from the Financial Times.



For the Three Handmade Cards Class I entered two Lacé designs (the Golden Wedding and Birthday cards) and one iris folding design (New Baby).



The entry into the Cushion Class involved some "teach yourself" skills, namely wet felting and needle felting. The main fabric was made from two shades of grey carded Gotland fleece from Eden Gotland Sheep, with the creamy white curls from May Hill Gotlands (gotland_mayhill@yahoo.com) in the Forest of Dean and the dark curls from Diesel from the Pedwardine Gotland flock in South Lincolnshire needlefelted onto the finished cushion.



Finally I entered 98g/382 yds of 2ply handspun made from Yummy Yarns UK carded batts (merino, bamboo, silk, firestar and mohair threads) in the Duchess of Cambridge colourway.

Day 23 - July 24th

I also entered these photos, too:

"Stick Dressing, Northumberland County Show" for "Country Life"

Stick Dressing, Northumberland Show



"Elmer in the Garden, Eating Lupins" for "My Pet"

Elmer In The Garden Eating Lupins

And here is the Thame Show Trophy, for the most points in the Handicrafts Section. Don't get over-awed, it's only six inches high!






Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune.

Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.podbean.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain@googlemail.com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!).



TTFN, Nic

Wednesday 3 August 2011

Episode 25.2: Do-over

Hello from a sunny Cheshire Plain. Apologies for the long delay in re-recording this. Even now, I haven't quite worked out the new mic as I needed to swap to the hand-held recorder for the last part.
We have a listeners' map! Please go on over to pop in a pin - I'd love to see where you all are!

On my needles and spinning wheel: Between Episode 24 and the beginning of May, I finished two bears for the Mother Bear Project. I also plied more of the the Picperfec singles into a 4 ply with a view to making a Liesl.



Otto

Otto

Coco

Coco




Review: Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders, edited by Judith Durant, published by Storey Publishing.

Agricultural Shows: I'm gearing up for the Oxfordshire County and Thame Show on the 30th July. I also mention the following shows:

Wigtown Show: 3rd August
Bakewell Show: 3rd&4th August
Fishguard Show: 5th August
Cranleigh Show: 7th August
Sedgefield Show: 14th August
Gillingham & Shaftsbury Show: 17th August
Hawkshead Show: 23rd August
Poynton Show: 27th August
Bucks County Show: 1st September

A full events calendar can be found on the website of the Association of Agricultural Organisations.



Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune.

Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.podbean.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain@googlemail.com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!).





TTFN, Nic