Episode 292: Is She all Green and Fuzzy and Mossy?

Recorded Thursday, September 12, 2024 Book talk begins at 30:30   Our annual Mother Bear KAL has ended, and we will announce the prize winners at the end of this episode.  Our Fall Sweater KAL is starting!  You have until January 15 to finish an adult-sized sweater with some kind of sleeves.  WIPs less than 50% complete are fine.  Come join our sweater discussion thread, and check out our pattern bundles. Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom   Tracie is teaching a class on making knitted toys at Rumpelstiltskin in Sacramento, and it has been rescheduled to September 28 and November 2.  See the class listing here for details!   Events - We will be at Lambtown at the Dixon May Fairgrounds in Dixon, California on Saturday, October 5.   KNITTING Barb finished: Mother Bears #299 - 301 Water is Life hat by Lavanya Patricella, using Mary Maxim worsted Bankhead hat #31 by Susie Gorley Spinwheel Beanie by Benjamin Matthews using 2 colors of Plymouth Encore   Tracie finished: Mother Bears 331 and 332 Digital Citizens stuffed toys Dawning Top by Ainur Berkimbayeva in Sea Change Fibers by The Dye Project Bayshore Fingering in Pink Frock Scraps Chaps Cat #2 by Barbara Prime in Malabrigo Rios in  Tubey by Woolly Wormhead in Red Heart for Addie Doodie by Woolly Wormhead in Lion Brand Mandala Ombre for Harrison Karina Headband by marianna mel in blue and yellow for Ellie   Barb is still working on: Peony Top by Minimi Knit Design in Berroco Remix Light in Peony   And has cast on: Ribbed Beanie #4 by Vanessa Ewing using Western Sky Knits Biggie Yume by Isabel Kraemer, using Indigo Dragonfly Sport ROU in the Is She all Green and Fuzzy and Mossy colorway     Tracie has cast on: 42-6 Dream in Blue Cardigan #3 by DROPS design in Universal Uptown DK mint green and lavender (no need to) Panic Sweater by Casapinka in Jody Long Summer Delight in the Tomato colorway   And continues to work on: Just Float by Stephanie Lotven (TellyBean Knits) in Apple Fiber Studio Sparkling Cider in Malachite and Life in the Long Grass Silk/Merino Sock in Autumn Fiddly Bits cowl #11 by Jana Pihota   BOOKS Barb read: When the Night Comes Falling: a Requiem for the Idaho Student Murders by Howard Blum - 5 stars The Good Wife: The Shocking Betrayal and Brutal Murder of a Godly Woman in Texas - 4 stars None of This is True by Lisa Jewell - 5 stars   Tracie read: Things Aren’t Right: The Disappearance of the Yuba County Five by Tony Wright - 4 stars.  Not well written and gets into the weeds, but so interesting Holly by Stephen King - 4.5 stars Shiner by Amy Jo Burns - 3.5 stars Toxic Rage: A Tale of Murder in Tucson by AJ Flick - 3.5 stars   Barb recommends the podcast The Idaho Massacre    Tracie recommends the following shows to stream: Homicide: Life on the Street on Peacock Blue Lights on Britbox Dublin Murders on Starz  Troppo on Prime Video

Friday, August 16, 2024 Book talk starts at 10:10 Studio 49 Retreat - October 18-20, 2024 at Tuolomne Trails outside Groveland, CA.  Enrollment is still open! This episode is NOT brought to you by Alaska Airlines, but we are all big fans. Knitting  Eileen is working on the Habitation Throw by Helen Stewart in scrap yarn and is getting back into her Zephyr Mark II by Celia McAdam Cahill in Quince & Co. Chickadee Shelley is working on the Misurina tee by Caitlin Hunter in two different silk yarns Susan is working on a Luminos Tee from a kit from Yarn Snob for her niece  Barb finished her Gardengate by Jennifer Steingass and is working on a  Mother Bear, a new tee, and a hat Tracie finished turtles needlepoint project after 15 years!  She continues to slog through her Dawning Top by Ainur Berkimbayeva in Sea Change Fibers by The Dye Project Bayshore Fingering in Pink Frock Books Barb read Internal Combustion: The True Story of a Marriage and a Murder by Joyce Maynard Eileen is reading Alfie and Me: What Owls Know, What Humans Believe by Carl Safina and Broken Harbor by Tana French, and catching up on some favorite series by Jacqueline Winspear, Dana Stabenow, CJ Box and Tony Hillerman Tracie read Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel - 4 stars Shelley is looking forward to reading Becoming Little Shell: A Landless Indian’s Journey Home by Chris La Tray Susan recommends Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes

Recorded July 22, 2024 Book talk begins at 30:19 Our annual Mother Bear KAL has begun and will run until August 31.  To find out all about this wonderful charity, please go to the Mother Bear Project website.  Talk bears with us in the Mother Bear Chatter thread and post your finished bears in the FOs thread.  Any bears you have knit in 2024 are eligible!   Every Saturday at noon Pacific time - Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom Tracie is teaching a class on making knitted toys at Rumpelstiltskin in Sacramento, and it has been rescheduled to September 28 and November 2 .  See the class listing here for details!   KNITTING Barb finished: Mother Bear #296 - 298   Tracie finished: Mother Bears 328, 329 and one that I sent to my uncle Davis #4 by Pam Allen in Knit Picks Snuggle Puff in Hatchling (pale mint green) Scraps Chaps by Barbara Prime: Rabbit in Sea Change Fibers by The Dye Project Ecola Worsted in Mushroom Hunter Cat in Plymouth Yarn Worsted Merino Superwash Solids in Caraway Heather   Barb continues to work on: Gardengate by Jennifer Steingass, using Cloudborn Merino Superwash Sock Twist in the Graphite Heather colorway and Cloudborn Fibers Highland Fingering in the Petal colorway   And has cast on: Mother Bear #299 Spinwheel Beanie by Benjamin Matthews, using a mystery gray yarn   Tracie cast on: 42-6 Dream in Blue Cardigan by DROPS design in Universal Uptown DK in Baby Blue and Paintbox Yarns Simply DK in Banana Cream Dawning Top by Ainur Berkimbayeva in Sea Change Fibers by The Dye Project Bayshore Fingering in Pink Frock   And continues to work on: Just Float by Stephanie Lotven (TellyBean Knits) in Apple Fiber Studio Sparkling Cider in Malachite and Life in the Long Grass Silk/Merino Sock in Autumn Fiddly Bits cowl #11 by Jana Pihota Digital Citizens stuffed toys   BOOKS Barb read: Cook County ICU: 30 Years of Unforgettable Patients and Odd Cases - 3 stars.   Written in 2016 - he headed the ICU 1970s thru the 1990s Bitter Blood: a True Story of Southern Family Pride, Madness, and Multiple Murder by Jerry Bledsoe - 5 stars.  Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach - 4 stars In Cold Blood by Truman Capote - 5 stars   Tracie read: Inside Out by Demi Moore - 4.5 stars Before He Wakes by Jerry Bledsoe - 4.5 stars The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles - 3 stars Blind Rage: A True Story of Sin, Sex, and Murder in a Small Arkansas Town by Anita Paddock - 2.5 stars

Recorded Wednesday, June 26, 2024 Book talk begins at 18:28 Our annual Mother Bear KAL has begun and will run until August 31.  To find out all about this wonderful charity, please go to Mother Bear Project website.  Talk bears with us in the Mother Bear Chatter thread and post your finished bears in the FOs thread.  Any bears you have knit in 2024 are eligible - post photos on the FO Thread Every Saturday at noon Pacific time - Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom Tracie is teaching a class on making knitted toys at Rumpelstiltskin in Sacramento on July 13 and August 3.  See the class listing here for details!   KNITTING Barb finished: Mother Bear #295 Stashbusting Helix Hat #10 by Jessica Rose    Tracie finished: Mother Bear 325 - 327 Staycation pullover by Susanne Sommer, using Zealana Performa KIWI fingering in the Rococo colorway   Barb is working on: Gardengate by Jennifer Steingass, using Cloudborn Merino Superwash Sock Twist in the Graphite Heather colorway and Cloudborn Fibers Highland Fingering in the Petal colorway   Barb has cast On: Mother Bear #296 Tracie has cast on: Just Float by Stephanie Lotven (TellyBean Knits) in Apple Fiber Studio Sparkling Cider in Malachite and Life in the Long Grass Silk/Merino Sock in Autumn Davis by Pam Allen, using Knit Picks Snuggle Puff in the Hatchling colorway   She continues to work on: toys - Scraps Chaps for class and Digital Citizens  Fiddly Bits cowl #11 by Jana Pihota   BOOKS Barb read: Things I Learned from Falling by Claire Nelson - 4 stars Alien by Alan Dean Foster - 4.5 stars Aliens by Alan Dean Foster - 4.5 stars Stranded by Sarah Goodwin - 4 stars   Tracie read: Virgins by Carol Rivers - 4 stars.  Tracie does not recommend the audio version The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - 4-5 stars Smoke Screen (Alexander Blix & Emma Ramm #2) - 3.75 stars    

Recorded Wednesday, June 12, 2024 Book talk begins at 16:04   Our Summer Top KAL is has ended.  Thank you so much to everyone who participated, and please listen to the end of the episode to hear our list of prize-winners.   Our annual Mother Bear KAL has begun and will run until August 31. To find out all about this wonderful charity, please go to Mother Bear Project website.  Talk bears with us in the Mother Bear Chatter thread and post your finished bears in the FOs thread.  Any bears you have knit in 2024 are eligible. Every Saturday at noon Pacific time - Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom Tracie is teaching a class on making knitted toys at Rumpelstiltskin in Sacramento on July 13 and August 3.  See the class listing here for details!   KNITTING Barb finished: Mother Bear #294 Bankhead hat #30   Tracie finished: Mother Bear 324 Elisenberg Jacket by Guri Pedersen in Paintbox Yarns Simply DK in Spearmint Green and Blush Pink   Barb is working on: Gardengate by Jennifer Steingass, using Cloudborn Merino Superwash Sock Twist in the Graphite Heather colorway and Cloudborn Fibers Highland Fingering in the Petal colorway   Barb has cast On: Mother Bear #295 Stashbusting Helix Hat by Jessica Rose #10   Tracie is casting on: Just Float by Stephanie Lotven (TellyBean Knits) in Apple Fiber Studio Sparkling Cider in Malachite and Life in the Long Grass Silk/Merino Sock in Autumn   She continues to work on: Staycation pullover by Susanne Sommer, using Zealana Performa KIWI fingering in the Rococo colorway Fiddly Bits cowl #11 by Jana Pihota toys - Scraps Chaps for class and Digital Citizens    BOOKS Barb read: Woman 99 by Greer Macallister - 4 stars American Girl by Wendy Walker - 3.5 stars Any Other Family by Eleanor Brown - 3.5 stars Oh, William! by Elizabeth Strout - 4 stars   Tracie read: Death on Ocean Boulevard: Inside the Coronado Mansion Case by Caitlin Rother - 3.5 stars Last Night at the Viper Room: River Phoenix and the Hollywood He Left Behind by Gavin Edwards - 3.5 stars   Tracie recommends watching River Phoenix in:  Running on Empty (1988) - available to rent on YouTube and Prime Video Dogfight (1990) - available to rent on YouTube and Prime Video

Listen Recorded on May 28, 2024 Book talk begins at 22:55 ANNOUNCEMENTS and NEWS: Our Summer Tops KAL is almost over, going until to June 1, 2024.  Prizes winners will be announced in Episode 288! Our next KAL will be our annual Mother Bear KAL.   DATES:  6/1/24 - 8/31/24 To find out all about this wonderful charity, please go to Mother Bear Project website.  Talk bears with us in the Mother Bear Chatter thread and post your finished bears in the FOs thread.   Tracie and Barb had a discussion about the excellent YouTube video that Susan B. Anderson made showing how she embroiders faces on toys: " />  Every Saturday at noon Pacific time - Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom   EVENTS Tracie will be at: Treadles to Threads Spinning Guild's Fiber Frolic - June 1 at the Soul Food Farm outside Vacaville, CA   KNITTING Barb Finished: Mother Bears # 292 & #293 Bankhead Hats #28 & #29 Tracie finished: Mother Bears #321 - 323 Dream in Blue Cardigan by Drops Design in pink and mint acrylic scraps Elorie by Elizabeth Doherty, using Berroco ReMix in the Artichoke colorway  Barb is working on: Gardengate by Jennifer Steingass, using Cloudborn Merino Superwash Sock Twist in the Graphite Heather colorway and Cloudborn Fibers Highland Fingering in the Petal colorway Barb has cast On: Bankhead hat #30 by Susie Gourlay using Knit Picks City Tweed HW in the Marsh Colorway Tracie continues to work on: Fiddly Bits cowl #11 by Jana Pihota Tracie has cast on: Staycation pullover by Susanne Sommer, using Zealana Performa KIWI fingering in the Rococo colorway Eisinberg Jacket by Guri Pederson in Paintbox Yarns Simply DK in the Spearmint Green and Blush Pink color ways BOOKS Barb read: The Rip by Holly Craig - 3 stars The Light of Farallon Island by Jen Wheeler - 4 stars   Tracie read: The Harbor by Katrine Engberg - 3.5 stars Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - 4.5 stars The Vanishing Class of 3B by Jackie Kabler - 3.5 stars Saint Maybe by Anne Tyler - 5 stars   Tracie recommends these two videos about what organizing is NOT: Jordan Theresa: The Cult of Organisation & The Celebrity Kitchen Complex Hannah Alonzo: The unhinged consumerism of “restock” influencers, so unrealistic!    

Recorded May 9, 2024 Our Summer Tops KAL has begun and goes until to June 1, 2024.  To enter your  top in our prize thread, it must be an adult-sized top that you consider to be appropriate for use in the summer, and we will leave the parameters of that to you!  Come chat with us about summer tops on our KAL thread, and check out our Summer Tops bundle for pattern ideas! Every Saturday at noon Pacific time - Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom EVENTS Tracie and Barb will be at: Treadles to Threads Spinning Guild's Fiber Frolic - June 1 at the Soul Food Farm outside Vacaville, CA   KNITTING Barb Finished: 2 Knockers Rock It Tee #2 by Tanis Lavalee, using Knit Picks Lindy Chain, in the colors Clarity, Rouge, and U Blue Mother Bear #291   Tracie finished: Knitted Knockers - 10 f0r 2024 3 Mother Bears Posie Doll by Manon Lemaire in worsted weight from stash Scraps Chaps Pig by Barbara Prime in Plymouth Encore in Peach Rachel #3 by Josée Paquin in white Juniper Moon Farms Zooey and other assorted bits of cotton/linen/silk   Barb working on: Knitted Knockers Pinnacles Hat by Nancy Bates, from the Knitting the National Parks by Nancy Bates, using a kit   Barb has frogged:   Tresoro Cardigan by Isabel Kraemer, using Knit Picks Hawthorne in the Bare colorway   Barb has cast On: Gardengate by Jennifer Steingass, using Cloudborn Merino Superwash Sock Twist in the Graphite Heather colorway and Cloudborn Fibers Highland Fingering in the Petal colorway Bankhead hat #28 by Susie Gourley Tracie continues to work on: Fiddly Bits cowl #11 by Jana Pihota Elorie by Elizabeth Doherty in Berroco Remix in Artichoke     BOOKS Barb read: The Last Dive: A Father and Son’s Fatal Descent into the Ocean’s Depths by Bernie Chowdury - 5 stars Red Zone: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of the San Francisco Dog Mauling by Aphrodite Jones - 4 stars Calypso by David Sedaris - 5 stars   Tracie read: Butcher on the Moor by Ric Brady - 3 stars Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Iggie’s House by Judy Blume - 4 stars Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson - 4 stars Ms. Demeanor by Elinor Lipman - 4 stars While She Slept: A Husband, A Wife, A Brutal Murder by Marion Collins - 4 stars

Recorded on April 15, 2024 Book talk starts at 25:36 Our Summer Tops KAL has begun and goes until to June 1, 2024.  It needs to be an adult-sized top that you consider to be appropriate for use in the summer, and we will leave the parameters of that to you!  Come chat with us about summer tops on our KAL thread, and check out our Summer Tops bundle for pattern ideas! Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom   EVENTS Tracie and Barb will  NoCKRs - April 25-28, 2024 at the St Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista, CA  The 2024 retreat is full, but please contact Tracie at [email protected] to be informed about registration for the 2025 event when registration begins in the fall Fiber Frolic - June 1 at the Soul Food Farm outside Vacaville, CA   Tracie and Barb talked about the new swifts availabile from Alpenglow Yarn!  Barb has one and Tracie has ordered one also.   KNITTING Tracie finished: 2 Knitted Knockers PSL Mitts by Susanna Curtis by Canon Hand Dyes William Merino Fingering in the Waterworld colorway Barb Finished: 2 Knitted Knockers   Tracie is continuing to work on: Fiddly Bits cowl #11 by Jana Pihota Knitted Knockers Elorie by Elizabeth Doherty in Berroco Remix in Artichoke Tracie has frogged: Dawning Top by Ainur Berkimbayeva in Zealana Performa KIWI Fingering Barb is working on: Rock It Tee #2 by Tanis Lavallee, using Knit Picks Lindy Chain, in the colors Clarity, Rouge, and U Blue Knitted Knockers Pinnacles Beanie by Nancy Bates, from the Knitting the National Parks by Nancy Bates, using a kit BOOKS Tracie read: Forever Home by Graham Norton - 4 starsBecoming Clark Rockefeller: Murder, Love, Decpetion, and the Con Man Behind it All by Frank C. Girardot Jr. - 2 stars Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William Mckinley and Me, Elizabeth - 3 stars Barb read: A Mother Would Know by Amber Garza - 3 stars Watching You by Lisa Jewell - 3 stars The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjialian - 4 stars The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager - 2.5 stars     Tracie also recommends: The Supet Inflatable Dog Cone Collar Alternative.  Sally agrees with this recommendation The Man Enough Podcast explores what it means to be a man today and how rigid gender roles have affected all people. The show creates a safe environment for a range of perspectives to meet and stay at the table, exploring how the messages of masculinity show up in relationships, body image, privilege, fatherhood, sex, success, mental health and so much more. Instead of polarizing and demonizing men and masculinity, it invites all humans to participate and thrive in the world. This Webby-nominated podcast is hosted by filmmaker, actor & author Justin Baldoni, author & journalist Liz Plank, and President of Wayfarer Studios & award winning music producer Jamey Heath. It’s currently in Season 2 and is in the top 1% of most followed and shared podcasts on Spotify, beloved by men, women and people of all genders.  

Listen Recorded on Saturday, March 30, 2024 Book talk starts at 20:45 Our Summer Tops KAL has begun and goes until to June 1, 2024.  It needs to be an adult-sized top that you consider to be appropriate for use in the summer, and we will leave the parameters of that to you!  Come chat with us about summer tops on our KAL thread, and check out our Summer Tops bundle for pattern ideas!   Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom   EVENTS   Tracie and Barb will  NoCKRs - April 25-28, 2024 at the St Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista, CA.  The retreat is full, but please contact Tracie at [email protected] to be informed about registration for the 2025 event when registration begins in the fall Fiber Frolic - June 1 at the Soul Food Farm outside Vacaville, CA   KNITTING   Tracie finished: 3 Knitted Knockers Bee Beautiful tee by Pia Trans in Carpool Cotton Bamboo in Copper Scraps Chaps puppy by Barbara Prime in Plymouth Encore - this is the pattern I will be teaching in a making knitted toys class this summer at Rumpelstiltskin   Barb Finished: 2 Knitted Knockers CAPROCK tee by Yamagara using Araucania Ollagua Emotional Support Chicken by Annette Corsino, using leftover worsted weight colors from my stash.     Out of hibernation: Dawning Top by Ainur Berkimbayeva in Zealana Performa KIWI Fingering   Cast on: Elorie by Elizabeth Doherty in Berroco Remix in Artichoke   Working On: Fiddly Bits cowl #11 by Jana Pihota Knitted Knockers   Barb is working on: Knitted Knockers Rock It Tee #2 by Tanis Lavallee, using Knit Picks Lindy Chain, in the colors Clarity, Rouge, and U Blue Pinnacles Beanie by Nancy Bates, from the Knitting the National Parks by Nancy Bates, using a kit   BOOKS   Tracie read: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid - 5 stars Where Monsters Hide: Sex, Murder and Madness in the Midwest by M. William Phelps - 3 stars Happy People Are Annoying by Josh Peck - 3.5 stars California Golden by Melanie Benjamin - 3 stars   Barb read: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano - 3.5 stars Blood Test by Jonathan Kellerman - 3 stars   Tracie and Barb both recommend the documentary Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV with the warning to be aware that it discusses sexual abuse and is just generally pretty grim.

Recorded on March 14, 2024 Book talk begins at 21:00 Our Summer Tops KAL has begun and goes until to June 1, 2024.  It needs to be an adult-sized top that you consider to be appropriate for use in the summer, and we will leave the parameters of that to you!  Come chat with us about summer tops on our KAL thread, and check out our Summer Tops bundle for pattern ideas!   Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom   EVENTS Tracie and Barb will  NoCKRs - April 25-28, 2024 at the St Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista, CA Fiber Frolic - June 1 at the Soul Food Farm outside Vacaville, CA KNITTING Barb Finished: 2 Knitted Knockers   Tracie finished: Tracie's Fresh Favorite Tee by Christen Clement Designs in Queen City Yarn Coleman in the Maple colorway Tracie's Pixie Dust  by Dani Sunshine in Berroco Vintage Handpaintsin a light blue/pale green/purple colorway 1 Knitted Knocker Tracie's Emotional Support Chicken by Annette Corsino, using Hayfield Spirit Chunky Barb is working on: CAPROCK tee by Yamagata using Araucania Ollagua Knitted Knockers Rock It Tee #2 by Tanis Lavallee, using Knit Picks Lindy Chain, in the colors Clarity, Rouge, and U Blue Pinnacles Beanie by Nancy Bates, from the Knitting the National Parks by Nancy Bates, using a kit Barb has cast on: Barb's Emotional Support Chicken by Annette Corsino, using worsted weight leftovers Tracie cast on: Bee Beautiful Tee by Pia Trans in  in Carpool Cotton Bamboo in the Copper colorway She continues to work on: Fiddly Bits Cowl by Jana Pihota using fingering scraps   If you would like to make Knitted Knockers, here is some useful info - From the Knitted Knockers.org website: “Knitted Knockers are special handmade breast prostheses for women who have had breast cancer and undergone mastectomy or lumpectomy. Traditional breast prosthetics can be hot, heavy and sticky. They typically require special bras or camisoles with pockets and can’t be worn for weeks after surgery. Knitted Knockers are soft, comfortable, beautiful and when placed in a regular bra they take the shape and feel of a real breast. They are adjustable, washable and can even be worn while swimming. Our special volunteer knitters provide these FREE to those requesting them” Please visit the Knitted Knockers website, Knitted Knockers Homepage for all the information that you need.   This webpage is especially helpful for information on approved yarns and color information: Yarns and colors Very Important: Please note that neutral colors are preferred.  If you want, you can use bright colors on the bottom of your knocker, but the top of it needs to be in a neutral color.  Patterns: So many choices!  Please go to this section to pick and download your (free) pattern: Knitted Knockers Patterns.  Hint:  The Bottoms Up Knocker for Double Point Needles pattern works great with magic loop too…and has the easiest “start” to your knocker!   BOOKS Barb  read: If It Bleeds by Stephen King - 5 stars The Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid #2) - 3 stars Tracie read:  Forever... by Judy Blume - 4 stars I'll Take Care of You by Caitlin Rother - 4.5 stars The Bone Jar by S.W. Kane - 3 stars   Info from Tracie's "Thumbs Up" about the sweater shaver: The Substack article about pilling is here The excellent sweater shaver can be purchased here