Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Episode 7 - Sweet Fiber Dreams

Thanks for stopping by the 'Nest!  For some reason I am no longer able to embed my podcast into my page from my podcast host - Podbean.  Grrrrr.........   I am trying to get this resolved but I think I may need to switch hosts.  In the meantime you can download my podcast at iTunes or you can go to www.podbean.com and find me there.  Or you can go to my facebook page - Robinznest Knits and find an embeddable player right under the cover picture.  I'm so sorry for any inconvenience this causes and I hope to get it fixed soon.

Here are some of the things I talked about this week:

Squares for Comfort Charity KAL
My second pair of One Skein Boot Toppers
Robin Hood Hat

I have completed my first spinning project:

Brennan Cowl
Socks on a Farm
Judy's Magic Cast On
Rotation
Quince & Co Tern
Toothless
Playful Stripes Cardigan  (I accidentally called this Playful Day Cardigan in my podcast - sorry!)
Rocky Coast Cardigan
Judith Mackenzies DVD's
Sheepish Sweater restored!!

Podcasts I am currently listening to:
Yarniacs
Blooming Knitter
2 Knit Lit Chicks

New great yarn!
Hannah from Loop

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Ravelry:  Robinznest
Facebook:  Robinznest Knits
Email:  robinznest.knits@gmail.com
ETSY:  Robinznest Knits

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Shownotes - Episode 6 - The Voice, and I Don't Mean the TV Show

Hi Everyone-
I hope you find yourselves enjoying these autumn days and that your knitting is going well.  Thanks for joining me for Episode 6.  Here are the links for the things we talked about this week:

Thank you M.Gracie for the very nice iTunes review!

I have received so many compliments about my voice, which is really odd because I am used to hearing all the compliments about my husbands voice!  Meet my husband, Chuck, as he shares his great voice with you. 

Off My Needles:

Robin Hood
Queensland Kathmandu

On My Needles:
Socks on a Farm
One Skein Boot Toppers - pair #2
Malabrigo Worsted

Qued Up:
Rocky Coast Cardigan
Cascade 220 superwash


Tangles and Knots: 
Sheepish Sweater

Spinning:
Respect the Spindle
Spinning is going spinningly...

Sew Fun:
my project bags




My Etsy store:  Robinznest Knits

On the Farm:
Chickens and sheep are growing and thriving.
Last Saturday morning was so beautiful in the barnyard - it felt like a sanctuary.







My Favorite Things:
Annie and the Swiss Cheese Scarf

My prayers go to the people affected by Hurricane Sandy.

I'm on Facebook now as Robinznest Knits - stop by and "like" my page!

Thanks for stopping by.  You can contact me on Ravelry as Robinznest or email me at robinznest.knits@gmail.com  


Friday, October 19, 2012

Episode 5 - Trailing of the Sheep


Out and About
I attended my first fiber festival ever - The Trailing of the Sheep in beautiful Sun Valley, Idaho.  I truly enjoyed every thing we did.  I found a great blogger and a kindred spirit in Junelle.  We ate lots of great lamb dishes, learned much about wool, and I bought my first drop spindle!  Practice makes perfect, right?

Off My Needles:

Cambrian Cowl from Coastal Knits

Vanilla Socks are done - even though technically I knit 5 socks to get this pair :\

On My Needles - 

Socks on a Farm by Lala of the Knitgirlls
Low Tide Cardigan otherwise known as Hawaii 2013 on my Ravelry project page.
Robin Hood Hat KAL with Mel from Singlehanded Knits.
Rotation by Cookie A

Tangles and Knots:
Ugh.  Andrea's Wispy Cardi is in time out.
The aforementioned vanilla socks gave me plenty of headache but they are done!

New segment:  You know your a knitter when......

On the Farm:
Chicken house has been winterized.  We lost another chicken in the horse trough.  Any ideas how to remedy this?
Sheep are easy keepers.  Seriously.

Technique:  A new and improved way of doing a simple SSK.

My Favorite Things:  Reading glasses from the Target dollar bin.  Yay!!!

In My Sewing Studio:  I'm creating some project bags for my knitting and having a blast doing it.  Here is my first prototype:






Calendar of Hope

Big thank yous to the most kind podcasters who have given me great shoutouts on their podcasts:
Jen of Down Cellar Studios
Barb and Tracy of 2 Knit Lit Chicks
Dawn of Wolfe Farms
Jessica from Knitting Brooklyn

Thank you to all who have left such sweet comments and reviews on iTunes.  You all make me feel so happy!

Join my group, Robinznest, on Ravelry!!


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Episode 4 - Happy Autumn!

You can link to episode 4 over in the sidebar,  or you can download at iTunes at Robinznest. 

So maybe recording a podcast at 4:45 A.M. isn't the best idea after all - my voice sounds really tired and I completely forgot to add the On The Farm jingle.  Oh well, it is what it is.


Big thank you's to all the sweet comments left at Ravelry, iTunes, and here at the blog.  Your words have really made me feel great about doing this podcast.

Contest Winner:  karenswb (Ravelry name) is the winner of the Knitting desk calendar.  Congratulations Karen!

Off My Needles:   Sweetheart Skirt, Flower Cardigan and Hat, and One Skein Boot Toppers

On My Needles:  Vanilla Sock, Wispy Cardi, and Low Tide

Qued Up:  Rotation by Cookie A.  BEAUTIFUL sweater!

On the Farm:  We have a newly hatched baby chick!  Who knew chicks REALLY hatched out of eggs!  And for those who don't know, this is what a silkie chicken looks like.

My Favorite Things:  Ravulous and Ravelry Photo Uploader have made maintaining my stash on Ravelry very do-able!  Check it out to see if it works for you.  County Plus also works through Ravelry to make tracking your rows and stitches so very easy.

Out and About - So excited to be attending the Trailing of the Sheep Festival in Hailey, ID  October 11-14.

My Happy Place:  Miss Babs yarn has the BEST package presentation ever!  I felt like I was opening a very special gift.  And the yarn - Oh. My. Goodness.  It is to die for!

Check it Out:  Toe Up 2 at a Time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes.  I give it 5 Cast On's - my highest recommendation!  I also review The Sock Knitters Handbook by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott.  This book also gets 5 Cast On's.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Episode 3 - Naked Chickens

Listen to Episode 3 here:

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Thanks for coming back!  A big thank you to my listeners for the kind and sweet words you have left me.  I have found podcasting to be very welcoming and very fun!

In this episode I discuss my knitting, the plight of my poor naked chickens, and my first ever podcast contest!!!

Off My Needles:
I have finished the Sothia, using Madeline Tosh Merino Light.  I love the pattern and encourge all shawl knitters to give it 5 cast on's.  Five cast on's is the highest recommendation!

I also finished  two quilt squares using the leftover Noro Silk Garden from my Silk Crescent Moon Shawl for the Knit A Square charity.  If you don't already do charitable knitting, or are looking for another outlet I really hope you check this worthy charity out. 

On My Needles:
I am excited to say that I am no longer a monogomous knitter!  I have several projects going:
I am still plugging away on the Sweetheart Skirt for my sweet Ava Claire.  It is nice, mindless knitting.

Working on the Flowered Cardigan and Hat set from Itty Bitty Nursery.  Working with Manos Cotton Stria yarn which has wonderful color but no stretch, making it a difficult yarn to knit with.  Still, it is unfortunate that it has been discontinued.  I used it to make this and the brightness and depth of color is unbelievable.

I promised to not be defeated by the sock, so I cast on a vanilla sock using Juno Fiber Co. yarn called Buffy in the Sky Speckle colorway.  So far, so good.

Technique:
This week I discussed swatching - before and after washing.

On The Farm:
My poor naked chickens are beginning to feather out - yay to free ranging!  My sheep smell really good.  And I'm trying to figure out what kind of spinning wheel to purchase.  Ashcroft or Schacht?
My Happy Place:
Loving the fall season and all the happy knitting time provided by the return of Parenthood, all the political news shows, and COLLEGE FOOTBALL!

I WORE A SHAWL!!!!  NOT ONCE - BUT TWICE THIS WEEK!  This is huge folks.  Huge! You may need to refer to Episode Two to get this.  I now feel justified to buy the yarn to knit the Color Affection Shawl.  Let the yarn shopping commence!

My First Contest: Being a new podcaster, I am realizing how special it is to receive comments and notes of encouragement.  So here is my contest:  leave me a comment either here on my blog, my ravelry group - Robinznest, or by email.  If you leave a comment on iTunes you will get two entries into the drawing.  The winner will receive a really great 2013 desk calendar called Knitting.  It is a very pretty calendar with over 100 knitting patterns included.  Can you imagine?  Knitting inspiration every, single day!  I also encourage you to leave comments with all the podcasts you listen to - it really, really, really makes a podcasters heart smile!

Thanks for stopping by the Nest.  Until next time!

You can contact me at:

here on the Robinznest Knits blog
robinznest.knits@gmail.com
on Ravelry as Robinznest

 

Episode Two - Confessions


Shownotes - Episode Two - Confessions

Listen to Episode Two HERE: 
       

     


This episode seems to have a couple of knitting confessions!

Off the Needles:
Lamb  by Susan B. Anderson

First Confession:
My Ravellennics project, Sheep Run Socks,  were an epic failure.  Sad, but true.  However, I will not be defeated by the sock.
  I am thinking about casting on either this sock or this sock.

On the Needles:I'm still working on the Sothia.  This is where the second knitting confession came in! I have shawl issues!  I have made all these and have yet to wear even one :(
Shipwreck Shawl

Is there a Color Affection in my future?

I am also working on the Sweetheart Skirt for my little 3 year old granddaughter.

Qued Up:
A cardigan for my daughter
A Baby gift.  Either this or this.
 Both from Itty Bitty Nursery

On the Farm:
Check up on the latest happenings with the calf, the chickens and the sheep.
 I discuss whether to coat or not to coat the sheep.

A Few of My Favorite Things:
The difference between Fair Isle and Intarsia
Contact Me:

My blog: www.robinznestknits.blogspot.com
At Ravelry:  Robinznest
by email:  robinznest.knits@gmail.com

See you next time!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Episode Two - Confessions


Shownotes - Episode Two - Confessions

This episode seems to have a couple of knitting confessions!

Off the Needles:
Lamb  by Susan B. Anderson

First Confession:
My Ravellennics project, Sheep Run Socks,  were an epic failure.  Sad, but true.  However, I will not be defeated by the sock.
  I am thinking about casting on either this sock or this sock.

On the Needles:I'm still working on the Sothia.  This is where the second knitting confession came in! I have shawl issues!  I have made all these and have yet to wear even one :(
Shipwreck Shawl

Is there a Color Affection in my future?

I am also working on the Sweetheart Skirt for my little 3 year old granddaughter.

Qued Up:
A cardigan for my daughter
A Baby gift.  Either this or this.
 Both from Itty Bitty Nursery

On the Farm:
Check up on the latest happenings with the calf, the chickens and the sheep.
 I discuss whether to coat or not to coat the sheep.

A Few of My Favorite Things:
The difference between Fair Isle and Intarsia
Contact Me:

My blog: www.robinznestknits.blogspot.com
At Ravelry:  Robinznest
by email:  robinznest.knits@gmail.com

See you next time!

Episode One - An Introduction


Exciting things are happening at "the Nest"!  Creating a podcast is something I have thought of doing for quite some time now.  And since I had a few days off this week I decided to just go for it. In my first episode I talk about my knitting, my farm, how I am growing my sheep into sweaters and of course my sweet grandbabies.  I hope to be able to embed an audio player in my posts in the future, but I am a very slow techie person and it is going to take me some time to figure it all out.  In the meantime, if you care to listen, go to iTunes and search in the podcasts for Robinznest.  If you listen, please be sure to leave a comment on iTunes, it helps move my podcast up in the search engine.  I truly hope you enjoy it!

SHOWNOTES for Episode 1 - An Introduction
www.knitpicks.com -  the first knitting website I discovered

http://www.knitpicks.com/cfpatterns/pattern_display.cfm?ID=75002220 - this is the pattern to the infamous Mr. Foster.  Give him a try - he is an education in himself!


http://www.knitpicks.com/cfBlog/author.cfm/Knit%20Picks%20Podcast - This is the first knitting podcast I discovered.

http://nevernotknitting.blogspot.com/p/podcast.html - This is a great website/podcast to follow.


http://knitmoregirls.blogspot.com/ -I have learned so much about wool and knitting on this site.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sothia - The shawl I am currently working on.

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Robinznest/lamb - In the podcast I said this pattern was called Sheep. My bad, it's really called Lamb.

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Robinznest/sheep-run-socks -  This is my project for the Ravellenics! Wish me luck!

 http://blogidaho.biz/earthlink/sheepshed.htm - The most awesome sheep/wool/spinning resource ever!
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GfRZnN2rL4Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> -The world's fastest knitter - whew!&nbsp; She makes me tired just watching her!

Contact me at:

my blog:  www.robinznestknits.blogspot.com
at ravelry:  Robinznest
my email:  robinznest.knits@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by the nest!  See you next time!