knitterly

Episode 14: Andrea Mowry and Shelli Westcott – Taking leaps, fiber awareness, local yarns and the love of knitting

March 10, 2015

I’m very excited to share the 14th episode of the Woolful podcast. Today we get to meet two beautiful women who both bring something unique, both in personality, design and passion to this fiber community of ours, Shelli Westcott of Knitterly and Andrea Mowry of Dreareneeknits

Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Knitterly, a very special yarn shop created by Shelli Westcott, based in Petaluma California and online at shop.knitterly.net. I am always so amazed at the well curated selection of yarns, fibers and classes Shelli works so hard to provide all us fiber enthusiasts. Make sure to visit when in Petaluma and online at shop.knitterly.net

Fiber folk 1: I first met Andrea via Instagram and was amazed by her beautiful designs, sweet smile and genuine approach to making and sharing her knowledge. After getting to know her a bit more I realized what an inspiration she is to the fiber community and I know so many of you will resonate with her story. You can find Andrea on Ravelry at Dreareneeknits and on Instagram @dreareneeknits.

Man on the Street: For this week’s “Man on the Street” I’d actually love your input on what to ask the Man on the Street team for future episodes. Visit the Woolful Ravelry group and let me know what kinds of questions you’d like to hear the team answer.

Fiber folk 2: Our next guest, Shelli is a mother and grandmother, landscaper, designer, maker, vintage enthusiast and owner of one of my favorite yarn shops, Knitterly in Petaluma. Shelli’s passion for local farm yarns is what initially sparked my interest and was reinforced by her dedication to teaching and sharing through her wonderful shop and her love of knitting. You can find Shelli at knitterly.net and on Instagram @knitterlypetaluma.

Giveaway:The winner of last week’s giveaway, is Tonya from Plain and Joyful Living! You’ve won three skeins of Local yarn from O-Wool, to make the lovely Blue Bell Hill scarf pattern. Congratulations!

This week’s giveaway is sponsored by both our guests, Dreareneeknits and Knitterly. We’re giving away Andrea’s most recent Radius collection featuring 4 gorgeous patterns, including a hat, slippers, headband and cowl. We’re also giving away two skeins of Shelli’s Radius bulky yarn made from local farms fibers, which is the yarn that inspired Andrea’s collection. To enter this giveaway, leave a comment below.

Music by Jónsi.

Transcription coming soon!

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Knitting

March Knitalong: The Moto Vest

March 3, 2015

Each month we host a knitalong, something that can be completed in a month’s time and features a special small farm yarn.

I have been anticipating this knitalong for a couple months now and although I wanted to start early, I held off so I could knit it along with all of you. This pattern, the Moto Vest designed by Shelli Westcott, is the perfect layering piece, versatile in both design and material. I’ll be knitting mine with an alpaca blend from Radius Yarns, though I already have plans for another in a lighter weight yarn as well. When I was visiting Knitterly, the yarn shop that Shelli owns and operates in Petaluma, I kept eyeing different variations of this pattern and was surprised how simple it was to alter and knit up. I asked Shelli to share a little about this pattern, her Radius yarn and the alterations you can make to the pattern to fit your needs and likes. I hope you’ll join us! Visit our Ravelry group to share your progress and ask any questions…

I was inspired to design this pattern with the Radius Lopi bulky, a yarn I just fell in love with but felt it really was too big and too heavy to make a sweater out of that would work in the Bay Area climate. I wanted to create a project that would be simple and any level of knitter could make it…whether it be your second or fiftieth project. Because I was using this bulky weight, I wanted to keep it small. The bulky yarns have less yardage and are heavier, so again, something versatile was key. I designed the Moto Vest, the perfect layering companion, for under a jacket or over a flannel shirt. The collar can act as a scarf, keeping you warm, and lays outside of your jacket, but the body keeps your torso and spine warm, where you can lose a lot of heat. The pattern was really well received so I began using all thicknesses of yarns I found in the shop, from light worsted on a size 10.5 needle, to bulky on a size 13, and knit several different lengths, from your waist to below your front pockets. Of all the one’s knit, the long vests are the most popular. Another fun thing to do is adjust the number of stitches cast on for the scarf and the back, resulting in either a thicker or thinner scarf and back.

Here are some fun combinations we’ve made up, all with yarn you can get from shop.knitterly.com…

Radius Light Worsted
3 skeins – size 8-10 needle
Cast on 58 for scarf,
46″ long (scarf)
Cast on 30 for back,
11″ long (back)

Radius Bulky
3 skeins – size 13-15 needles
45″ long (scarf)
12″ wide (scarf)
12″ wide (back)

Woolfolk Far
5-6 skeins – 8 to 11 size needles
50″ long (scarf)
13″ wide (scarf)
13″ wide (back)

Plymouth Colca Canyon (nice thin alpaca)
5 skeins – size 15 needles
Cast on 30 for scarf,
58″ long (scarf)
Cast on 26 for back,
15″ long (back)

Twirl Petals (held double)
4 skeins – size 10-10.5 needles
Cast on 30 for scarf,
52″ long (scarf)
Cast on 20 for back,
20″ long (back)

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Making Podcast Woolful Podcast

Episode 13: Jocelyn Tunney and Sasha Duerr – Organic fiber, realizing dreams, regeneration and permaculture

March 3, 2015

I’m very excited to share the thirteenth episode of the Woolful podcast. Today we get to meet two amazing women who’ve focused their lives and businesses on sustainability and helping bring awareness to what you live and make with, Sasha Duerr of Permacouture and Jocelyn Tunney of O-Wool.

Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Fancy Tiger Crafts, a beautiful yarn shop based out of Denver, Colorado, who recently launched their online shop, fancytigercrafts.com. They have an amazing selection of fabrics and yarns, including their own Heirloom Romney Yarn, which is grown, milled and dyed here in the US. Make sure to visit Fancy Tiger Crafts in person when in Denver and online at fancytigercrafts.com.

Fiber folk 1: Jocelyn is a very special entrepreneur who’s had a unique fiber journey that led her to own and build O-Wool, a wonderful yarn company that focuses on sustainable and organic fibers, including a certified organically grown and processed, machine washable yarn. You can find Jocelyn at O-Wool.com and on Instagram @owool.

Man on the street: For this week’s “Man on the Street” I changed it up a bit and asked a handful of fiber enthusiasts to ask me a question and I’d answer one. Brienne Moody asked a great question about time management, how to make time for making, but also planning and reflecting on what you’re creating.

Fiber folk 2: Our next guest, Sasha Duerr has a background rich in permaculture, regenerative design and thoughtful making and consuming that has been a huge inspiration to me ever since I came across her “Seasonal Color Wheel” which is a beautifully painted color wheel poster which illustrates the palette of natural dyes available from seasonal plants common to the bay area, based on mordants used and time of year. You can find this color wheel for sale at interfaceartgallery.com. You can find Sasha at permacouture.org and on Instagram @sashaduerr.

Giveaway: The winner of last week’s giveaway, is Leslie Eaton! You’ve won a skein of Hole and Sons yarn and a pair of Brittany double point needles. Congratulations!

This week’s giveaway is sponsored by O-Wool, and we’re giving away three skeins of O-Wool’s Local, a gorgeous organic merino and alpaca blend yarn, so you can make Jocelyn’s Blue Bell Hill Scarf Pattern. To enter this giveaway, leave a comment below.

This week we’re beginning the March Woolful Knitalong. I have been waiting weeks to start on this and am so excited March is here! We’ll be knitting the Moto Vest, designed by Shelli Westcott, owner of Knitterly and creator of Radius Yarns. This vest is so simple and versatile in both design and materials and I can’t wait to see all the lovely vests you knit. Later today I’ll be posting all the details about this knit along on both the blog and Ravelry, so stay tuned for some words from Shelli and myself.