Episode 24: A Star Shines Upon Us

Episode 24 begins with a remembrance of one of the brightest stars in our community, KnitPurlGurl. Out ‘o the Bag shares leg warmers made from a pattern in the book I reviewed Crochet Boutique and the completion of my participation in the Operation Gratitude scarf campaign. In My Crochet Bag includes information about snowflake ornaments and In My Knitting Bag includes an impromptu scarf with a beautiful stash yarn.

The Threaded Needle wraps up an ornament swap with Caithness Craft Collective and dives into a new Christmas Tree Skirt project using an Amy Butler pattern. In My Stash has details of my attempt at purchasing MadTosh DK in Molly Ringwald but alas, to no avail. Fit n’ Stitchy includes a new idea for staying toned with a little help from my youth. Prattle includes news about an upcoming Fiber retreat in Denton, Texas hosted by Fancy Fibers Farm and Knitting Fairy. Join me!

Feel free to contact me at shortyssutures@gmail.com, on Ravelry in the ShortysSutures Group, where this podcast is hosted at shortyssutures.libsyn.com, on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or in the comments section below. Thanks so much for joining me today and I hope you’ll join me again next time. Until then, keep those hands stitchin’![gallery columns="2" orderby="title"]

Episode 23: Double Trouble

Welcome to Episode 23! Another Operation Gratitude Scarf in Charcoal Grey using Lion Brand Superwash Merino Cashmere is complete along with a Honey Cowl using Madelinetosh Tosh DK in Tomato. In my knitting bag is the Knit Stripe Baby Blanket which is almost finished! I share my notes on working with Corntastic yarn and a great tip from Ledman on Ravelry about tightening up the cables on Harmony Needles.

In The Threaded Needle segment I talk about a (supposed to be) quick floor quilt for my brother who's expecting his first baby. Everything was going great until I got to the binding. I should've referred to an excellent tutorial form Old Red Barn first. I had to hand stitch the back side of the binding in such a way that the quilt looks reversible; the front doesn't look like it has a binding but the back shows it prominently. I also made some placemats using some oil cloth fabric and binding tape, as well as some Day of the Dead placemats that I had to buy more fabric for so I can complete a set.

I catch up on what's in my ears and fit n' stitchy, and share something new: The Dyer's Notebook. I'm not usually a fan of video casts, but I really like Laura. She's from my neck of the woods and is sharing with her viewers the in's and out's of dyeing yarn. She has a blog at gynx.blogspot.com and an easy shop where she sells her hand dyed yarns which are 100% merino.

Thanks so much for joining me today and for putting up with the technical difficulties and my new approach at how best to produce this podcast. I'm still working out how best to share show notes and pictures, but I'm confident I'll have a new system in place shortly. You can find more of Shorty's Sutures on Ravelry, Twitter and Facebook. And feel free to reach out to me via email at shortyssutures at gmail dot com. Until next time, keep those hands stitchin'!

Episode 22: A Delectable Discovery

Welcome to Episode 22!

In this episode I talk about finishing up the Piper's Journey Shawl and the Little Sister Baby Cap. In my crochet bag I have another Operation Gratitude Scarf and the neglected Glittery Shrug shrug. In my knitting bag I have the Knit Stripe Baby Blanket and I share with you some discoveries about my Harmony Interchangeables and my thoughts on utilizing life lines while knitting. During The Threaded Needle segment I talk about sewing more Scout patches and patching up some favorite jeans that needed a bit of mending.

During the What's in my Ears segment I share listening to Knit 1 Geek 2, DC Unraveled and Knitting Pipeline. There's lots to share about original content for blogging, podcasting and pattern design. And, I talk about a new crochet book, Crochet Boutique by Rachel Ogelsby, that's really got me thinking about lots of new things to stitch up.

Fit n' Stitchy includes a bit of information about what's keeping me moving along with how to avoid a sneaky but scary ingredient in lots of foods and drinks. Also, have you considered gift stitching? It can be more healthy and rewarding than you might think.

Thanks so much for listening! You can find more of Shorty's Sutures on Ravelry, Twitter and Facebook. Feel free to also reach out to me via email at shortyssutures at gmail dot com.

Until next time, keep those hands stitchin'!

A New Home for Shorty's Sutures

Hello again, Everyone! I'm in the process of moving my podcast episodes to a new home. Please update your RSS feed by clicking here.

I'll begin adding content this week so please stay tuned. And, until the next episode... keep those hands stitchin'!

Missing Podcast & Blog Post Data

Hello everyone, I'm sorry for all of the missing content, but I'm having some technical difficulties with the site. I'm working to get all of the podcasts back online and will let you know as soon everything is available again.

Thanks for your patience,

Kelly

Episode 21: August 13, 2012

Episode 21 catches up on all the stitchy progress over at Shorty’s Sutures. Out ‘o the Bag includes details about Operation Gratitude Scarf #2 aka my Ravellenic Games Scarf Hockey entry, as well as the Little Sister Baby Cap. There is a Glittery Shrug CAL In My Crochet Bag and In My Knitting Bag there are the Piper’s Journey Shawl and the Knit Stripe Baby Blanket.
The Threaded Needle includes details about a Scout project. In My Ears includes information about 2KnitLitChicks, BroBanter and TSP. In My Stash reviews additions of Lion Brand Yarn in Wool Ease, Cotton Ease and Superwash Merino Cashmere.
Fit n’ Stitchy includes elements of beer, chocolate, walking and Olympic-inspired leg exercises. And there was a Main Dish Pasta Salad recipe that was inadvertently left out of Episode 20. Prattle sends a special thanks to KnittyBarb for listening, back to school mumblings, improvements in shooting and the misfortune of meeting a red wasp.
Feel free to contact me at shortyssutures@gmail.com, on Ravelry in the ShortysSutures Group, where this podcast is hosted at shortyssutures.libsyn.com, on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or in the comments section below. Thanks so much for joining me today and I hope you’ll join me again next time. Until then keep those hands stitchin’!

Episode 20: July 8, 2012

Episode 22 catches up on all the stitchy progress over at Shorty’s Sutures and the winner of the book Custom Crocheted Sweaters is announced! Out ‘o the Bag includes details about Operation Gratitude Scarf #1. In My Crochet Bag includes information about the Glittery Shrug CAL and In My Knitting Bag are the One Skein Shrug and Piper’s Journey Shawl with the help of knitting lessons and some friendly advice. The Threaded Needle includes details about a Tea Towel Swap with Caithness Craft Collective and a Scout patch project. In My Ears shares information about Yarniacs and Jane & Jen Kit Funny. In My Library reviews additions of a Pixie Hat pattern and Seasons 1 & 2 of Downton Abbey! I also share a great interview I found on the internet that will give some insight to Highclere Castle, the home of Downton Abbey. In My Stash has details of my recent trip to Art Fibers in San Francisco and the wonderful help from Barbara for picking out Air Kiss (undyed). Fit n’ Stitchy notes morning walks with my pup, some physical therapy exercises and situps, along with watching what I eat and monitoring ingredient labels. There’s news about an excellent knitting class I participated in at Knitting Fairy, and a follow up on the washcloths I’ve made and have been putting through the ringer. Prattle includes a Lo Lo Bar sampling, a minor investment in American Apparel men’s t-shirts, some tips on safety awareness when traveling and a reminder to water your yards & trees during the extreme heat of the summer. Feel free to contact me at shortyssutures@gmail.com, on Ravelry in the ShortysSutures Group, where this podcast is hosted at shortyssutures.libsyn.com, on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or in the comments section below. Thanks so much for joining me today and I hope you’ll join me again next time. Until then, keep those hands stitchin’!

Episode 19

Show Notes will be added soon!

Episode 18

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Episode 17

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Episode 16

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Episode 15

Show notes will be added soon!

Starting Over: A New Cap

This weekend I had the guilties. I felt guilty for not feeling well, I felt guilty for laying around all day Saturday, and I felt guilty for spending all my stitchy time with knitting and not mixing in some time for crochet.

By the time Sunday rolled around I was feeling much better, and I wanted to make a replacement beanie for my son. You may recall that I shrunk the last one. This time I began with machine-wash-friendly yarn so I was confident there would be no shrinkage opportunities in this beanie's future. I also used a different pattern, which I found recently on Yarn Dharma's blog, called the Surface Braid hat. Once I got the hang of the stitch it worked up nice and fast.

[caption id="attachment_208" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Replacement Beanie"][/caption]

The yarn I used was Perfection by Kraemer and it's made from 70% acrylic and 30% superwash merino. I had two shades of brown leftover from previous projects, so I just started making the beanie without asking if he wanted a brown one. I figured it would probably be awhile before I found and bought any more Frog Tree Meriboo yarn like what the original beanie was made from, so it was probably best if I knocked the project out with something that was readily available. Plus, he's a fair-colored kid so brown is a complimentary color for him.

The Little Guy claimed to like it and was appreciative of the effort. I think I made it a bit big for his head, even with having him try it on periodically as I stitched it, but I'm not a good judge of how much stretch hats have in them until I get too far into the project. Maybe more experience with hats will help me to become a better judge of this.

It felt so good to crochet something again. I've been diligently working to finish the Orange Sharf project I started over the summer, and I'm determined to complete it before the weather warms up this spring. It's growing but just not as fast as I would like to report.

[caption id="attachment_209" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="The Infamous Orange Sharf"][/caption]

 

I'm excited that today I'm supposed to have a few deliveries on my door step when I get home! I'll share all the details with you in the next podcast episode, so stay tuned!

The Incredible Shrinking Beanie

I told myself it would never happen. I thought that I was too conscious of treasured handmade pieces that there was no way I could shrink or felt something by accident. But, alas the words in my mouth have been replaced with crow. Or my foot. Or whatever should happen when someone says they'll "never" do something then they go and do it.

[caption id="attachment_200" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Beanie made from Merino & Bamboo Yarn"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_203" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Shrunken Beanie"][/caption]

This is what happened when I was rushing to get my son's laundry done after we got back to town from our family trip. I washed and dried the beanie with the rest of his clothing, and even though the dryer was on a lower temperature, this is proof that a merino bamboo blend will definitely shrink and felt a bit.

I had to hang my head as I handed the beanie back to him and promise to make him a new one. Of course, I don't have enough yarn in these colors on hand to create an exact replica, but I guess this means a yarn purchase is in my future!

 

Episode 14: New Things for the New Year

The first episode of 2012 includes details of what's new so far in 2012 and what's yet to come.

I'm excited to share with you that I've added my yarn stash to Ravelry, which includes lovely yarn I was gifted over the Christmas holiday by my sister.

[caption id="attachment_199" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Araucania Budi yarn from Sissy"][/caption]

What's in my bag?

• Orange Sharf (with notes about my Addi Turbo needles)
  
  [caption id="attachment_202" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Orange Sharf In Progress"][/caption]


• One Skein Shrug

What's in my ears?

• [amazon_enhanced asin="B003VE4V3Y" /]


• Caithness Craft Collective


• High Fiber Diet

What's in my library?

• [amazon_link id="030758674X" target="_blank" ]Burda Style Sewing Handbook[/amazon_link]

Looking forward to:

• Sewing project bags


• Crocheting more Operation Gratitude Scarves


• Using my new Yarn Swift


• Purchasing new podcasting microphone, resources for my library and interchangeable needle sets

 

 

 

Food, Fun and Snow

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and your new year is off to a great start! I'm really excited about the month of January this year because I have lots of positive changes in store for me and my family. I'll share more details as things come to fruition.

Until then, here are some pictures of me with some of my family members as we enjoyed our holiday break together. You can see our camouflage stockings adorning the hearth, my husband working his magic on our turkey preparations and a day in the snow with my son and my sister while we were visiting family in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

We had an amazing Christmas and New Year's celebration this year. So many good memories were made that it will make future holiday gatherings hard to beat.

[gallery columns="2" orderby="rand"]

Best wishes to you as you get this new year started! And, don't forget to keep those hands stitchin'!