Pointy Sticks

Yeah! Another Knit Chat episode with Staci of VeryPink! But before we get into the chat, I talk about my cat being sick. Seriously, if you notice a lump on your pet, take them to the vet. Although his was so far advanced, the end result of a minor procedure might have been the same to take care of it. (Ewwww.) Seems that this happens when one cat scratches another, and Murphy has a way of doing sneak attacks on our other older cat, Mona. She probably nailed him in self-defense.

I also talked about Zabet’s stickers! I bought mine at ReBelle Girls in Lexington, Kentucky - but you can now buy them online! (She mentioned something about me being a bully. Hey, I was just trying to be helpful!) Pick up some of her stickers - they are truly amusing.

(There are going to be photos and links here later on. A sick cat is crying for me right now, so that trumps everything else. Plus there is an art show tomorrow, and I have prints that must be ready!)

Staci & I chatted about a whole variety of things. It started off with the Big President Heads (photo will be inserted here later) and Glenwood Cemetary (again, photo). I had taken photographs earlier in the day of Staci with the big boys and my loverboy, Lou. My giant camera was used to take those shots, with the cranberry relish bowl on top (you’re waiting for more photos here).

We talked about upcoming events, including how the Yarnharlot has herself again underestimated the knitters. (It is still wrong of everyone else to be so dismissive of the power of the knitters, but she is allowed to underestimate.) You can go to New York City at the end of March to see her. You can also come to Hill Country Weavers in Austin, Texas on March 11th (during SxSWi) to meet the bloggers. I’ll be there - will you? The Dallas/Fort Worth Fiber Festival is also coming up in April, and how could you possibly resist anything that has both fiber & festival in the name? If you want to go to the big show, you might want to consider making it out to Maryland Sheep & Wool. I’m working out plans to go with Mac if the airlines are willing to sell me a ticket to Philly at a really good price. Hey! Vet bills are expensive! The fiber diet is helping though, so I might be able to swing it. Normally, Mac has gone with the bus from Rosie’s Yarn Cellar.

We moved on to talking about yarn, projects, and other various goodies. There is the Wrap Style capelet that I resisted buying yarn for - Katy Blogless is making one, and our friend Ann wears hers all the time. It was hard to resist. I was unable to completely give up my Collinette Jitterbug, exchanging the Toscana instead of returning it, and coming home with a skein of the Bright Charcoal Jitterbug instead. I really need to think about this though, as the sock stash really is huge (another photo!)

Staci & I have had some overlap lately in addition to the Jitterbug purchase. She is already making the Chevron Scarf using two skeins of Koigu that really don’t go together at all normally. They make a lovely scarf, and we were both inspired by other knitters who have made them. I’m planning on starting mine soon. We also both have a set of the Sox Stix now, which I adore but am afraid of at the same time. I think I’m going to have to buy some short Addi Turbo DPNs from Nancy Bush so I don’t have to worry about breaking them.

Staci knit an adorable Baby Ski Sweater for her future niece or nephew. (I still think neice.) Now she is working on the most boring knit ever, Baby Ski Pants. (Since we recorded the show she has taken a break from the pants to make the first mitten.) It is a Dale of Norway pattern, and she is using Dale of Norway Baby Ull to knit it. I love that yarn. I am still working on the Cambridge Jacket from Interweave Knits and have started working on the P-sock again out of Koigu. Mike has finished his first hat, and he is really happy with it! The pattern came from Never Knit Your Man a Sweater (Unless You Have the Ring).

If you are in Houston and you want to be bitchy with us, we try to show up at the Central Houston Stitch & Bitch. Ok, we’re not really bitchy. We would love to meet you though. I am also usually at Twisted Yarns on Fridays from 11-2:30 or so. If I’m lucky, Staci will design a allergy mask cover for me at SnB sometime. Wouldn’t that be fashionable?

I’m planning on getting a back from 2CheekyMonkeys made from a Monkees album. Ha! I didn’t catch that before now! How funny - a Monkees bag from 2CheekyMonkeys! Ha! Ok, ok, focus… (I’ll share a photo of the album that I bought.) Staci has nicely organized DPNs thanks to the Organized Knitter. The bags are really well made, and I highly recommend them!

At the end of the very long show (sorry about that!), I talked about Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave. Originally, I didn’t think I wanted this book. I have the majority of patterns in separate magazines. Now? I’m really glad I got this book. I love having the patterns all in one place. As a bonus, they are having a Knit-along! You can join the Interweave School of Socks! I am all about advancing in a master study of sock knitting. You can learn more about it on their site if you haven’t signed up already.

A first in Pointy Sticks history, there is no closing music. The show was long enough as it was! The opening song, Poke You in the Eye, is by the Flying Fish Sailors and they have generously allowed me to use it for this show. Support the artists that support the podcast and buy their CDs!

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