Our Mother Bear KAL/CAL ends in just a few days. We have almost 300 bears! 

Next KAL?  Fall Sweater 2015 KAL!   This will run September 15 – January 15.  To enter to win, you must knit or crochet an adult-sized sweater with sleeves (even if they are short).  We will have some suggestions for beginner sweater knitters in our chatter thread.

Barb and Tracie will be at the CogKnitive Fiber Retreat – Oct 10, 2015 – at the La Quinta Inn in Tehachapi, California

Barb finished:

Kitty Whiskers socks using Fishknits Strong Heart yarn in the Kitty Whiskers colorway

Nordic Trail Vest by Elizabeth Smith, using Cascade Ecological Wool in a brownish/gray colorway

Tracie finished

5 Mother Bears 63, 64, 65, 66 & 67

Vanilla socks in Lisa Souza Dyeworks Deluxe Sock in Flahriddah

Barb continues to work on:

The Crackerjack cowl by Stacy Simpson Duke, using 4 colors of Plymouth yarn DK Merino Superwash.

The Last Frost scarf by Julia Trice, using Bee Mice Elf Sock in the Apple a Day colorway.

Barb cast on

Wild Goose  Shawlette by Paula Emmons-Fuesle, using GnomeAcres Fancy Gnome (MCN blend) in the Aurora Gnomealis colorway.

Her second Dodgson by the Berroco Design Team, using Berroco Boboli in the Strawberry Jam colorway.

Perpendicular Cowl by Brenda Castiel, using Knit Picks Swish Worsted in 2 colors – Orange and Coal

Tracie continues to work on:

The Persimmon cowl by Jane Cochran, using Desert Vista Dyeworks Voir in the 2 Knit Lit Chicks Teal colorway.

The Longstreet shawl by Nancy Totten, using Abstract Fiber Temptation in The Gorge color way.

The Endearment cardigan by Hanna Majiejewska, using Jill Draper Makes Stuff Esopus in the Sapphire color way.

The Wanda Estelle poncho by Debbi Stone, using Kollage Yarns Fantastic in Slate Green.

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sender

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg

The Last Bookstore in America by Amy Stewart

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler

 Tracie and Barb DO NOT recommend Because She Loves Me by Mark Edwards

Bitter Almonds: The True Story of Mothers, Daughters, and the Seattle Cyanide Murders by Gregg Olsen

Jacob I Have Loved by Katherine Paterson

CivilWarLand in Bad Decline by George Saunders

Cicada Spring by Christian Galacar

Faith by Jennifer Haigh

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosch

Before He Finds Her by Michael Kardos

Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen

Book Talk starts at 30:55

 

Recorded on August 5, 2015

 

Our Cardi/Tank or Tee KAL has ended.  Be sure to listen until the end of the podcast to hear the winners named.

 

Our Mother Bear KAL/CAL is going strong!  We have over 240 bears so far.  Barb reminded everyone to send their bears into the Mother Bear Organization in Minneaplis, MN (including $3 per bear for shipping).  Please let either Tracie or Barb know if you would like to donate a prize.

 

Barb talked about how much she is enjoying the baby birds (House Finches) on her front porch.  They will be leaving the nest soon, and she will miss them.

 

Events

Both Barb and Tracie will be attending the CogKNITive Fiber Retreat October 10, 2015.

 

Barb talked about how much she is enjoying the Serial Podcast, the Undisclosed Podcast, and the Serial Dynasty Podcast.

 

 

KNITTING

 

Tracie has finished:

 

Mother Bears #60, #61 & #62.  Pictured at left - the Beach Bears!

 

A pair of vanilla socks for her son, Will, using Berroco Sox, aptly called Boy Sox.

 

Se[ven]circle by Kristen Johnstone using Universal Yarn Classic Shades Sequins Lite

 

Barb has finished:

 

 Her Woodfords Cardigan, by Elizabeth Doherty, using Cascade Yarns Heritage Sock in the Camel color way.

 

Her Rose City Rollers socks by Mara Catherine Bryner, using Undead Yarn Vamphri in the Autism Awareness color way.

 

Mother Bear #67

 

Her #21 Classic Cardigan by Sandy Prosser, using Noro Maiko.  A dismal failure...way too big, way too boxy.  She will not frog it, because of the mohair in the yarn.

 

Tracie is working on:

 

The Longstreet shawl by Nancy Totten, using Abstract Fiber Temptation in The Gorge color way.

 

The Endearment cardigan by Hanna Majiejewska, using Jill Draper Makes Stuff Esopus in the Sapphire color way.

 

The Wanda Estelle poncho by Debbi Stone, using Kollage Yarns Fantastic in Slate Green.

 

Vanilla socks, using Lisa Souza Deluxe Sock! in the Flahrida colorway.

 

Tracie has cast-on:

 

The Persimmon cowl by Jane Cochran, using Desert Vista Dyeworks Voir in the 2 Knit Lit Chicks Teal colorway.

 

Barb is working on:

 

The Crackerjack cowl by Stacy Simpson Duke, using 4 colors of Plymouth yarn DK Merino Superwash.

 

A pair of vanilla socks, using Fishknits Strong Heart in the Kitty Whiskers colorway.

 

The Last Frost scarf by Julia Trice, using Bee Mice Elf Sock in the Apple a Day colorway.

 

BOOKS

 

Barb has finished:

A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow - she recommends it.

 

Trail of Broken Wings by Sejal Badani - recommended

 

 

Tracie has finished:

So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson - recommended

 

Norman Bray, In the Performance of His Life by Trevor Cole - highly recommended (but might be hard to find)

 

Tracie did not finish:

The Neighbors by Ania Ahlborn - she does not recommend this book

 

 

Barb is currently reading:

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

 

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sender

 

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg

 

 

Tracie is currently reading:

Bitter Almonds: The True Story of Mothers, Daughters, and the Seattle Cyanide Murders by Gregg Olsen

 

Jacob I Have Loved by Katherine Paterson

 

Because She Loves Me by Mark Edwards