CH 158: KALs, Challenges, and Growth in February

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Today I’m chatting about the WIPs, KALs, and challenges I’m tackling in February, and introducing my theme for this new month!

Show Sponsors:

Meadow Yarn

Meadow Yarn is an inviting online retailer selling yarn, needles and notions. It’s a small, family business based in rural Suffolk in the UK. Meadow Yarn was born out of a passion for beautiful yarn and knitting accessories and aims to bring you a range of great products. Yarns stocked include Northbound Knitting, Eden Cottage Yarn, the Fibre Co and many more.

Show Links:

Stitching the High Notes

Instagram Yarn Love Challenge from the Ravelry team #yarnlovechallenge

Curious Handmade KAL News:

I drew winners for our two recently finished Curious Handmade KALs. Here are their Ravelry names:

For the Vintage Fairy Lights KAL:

meghan2 has won a precious skein of the much-coveted limited edition Hedgerow Yarns colourway created for the Christmas Eve Cast-On Kits!

For the Knitvent 2016 FO KAL:

nextdoorknitter and muddancer have each won a special surprise skein from my stash!

The Snowmelt MKAL has begun!

The first clue was released yesterday, and speedy knitters are already zooming through. There are spoiler threads set up in our Curious Handmade Ravelry Group, so if you’re still on the fence and want to take a peek, you’re very welcome!

I also put together some helpful videos for anyone getting started. You can watch them here.

If you aren’t a part of the MKAL but have FOMO, it’s not too late! You can buy the pattern here and join in! There will be lots of time to catch up, since we’re running until March.

The Not Seen Before MKAL is running now:

This MKAL is to benefit the Sight is Life project, which raises money for sight-saving operations in Congo. I spoke to Kristina Vilimaite about the project on the podcast not long ago. The MKAL features clues from 7 designers, including me!

You can buy the pattern on its own but you can also get it by purchasing the Sight is Life eBook. Learn more in the Sight is Life Ravelry Group

What’s in the WIP:

I’m still obsessed with socks and sock KALs.

Vanilla socks in hand dyed yarn by Suffolk Socks in the Ted base

I’ve just finished my January socks for the Box O’ Sox KAL, hosted by the Yarngasm Podcast and the Sock Bash KAL hosted by the Grocery Girls Podcast.

Hermione’s Everyday Socks in hand dyed yarn by Cast on Cast Off

These will be my February socks! You can see the gorgeous skein on my instagram post, here.

I was inspired to maybe double dip in the Harry Potter KAL hosted by Inside Number 23

Vintage Fairy Light Socks in Circus Tonic Handmade

These are from the Christmas Eve Cast On! I’ve just finished the first sock but I had to put them down to make my January KAL deadline.

Through The Loop Mystery Sock MKAL

Just beginning this and it’s very interesting to be on the other side of an MKAL!

Super Secret New Design

I’ve been working on a new design for the next Curious Handmade. I can’t give much away, but thanks to The Fibre Company, who is sponsoring the retreat again this year I can mention that it’s being made from the amazing new yarn they just launched this week. Have a look at the gorgeous Luma DK yarn.

Giveaway:

Renée Callahan of East London Knit (you’ll remember her from the wonderful patterns she contributed to Knitvent 2016) has offered us a special giveaway! She’s teaching a new class on Machine Knitting Sweater Basics and one lucky listener will win a free copy of the class!

In Machine Knitting; Sweater Basics, you will learn everything you need to know to knit a sweater on the machine: from basic machine maintenance, how to cast on, making fabric you love, to seaming, blocking and everything in between. The class includes my Sweater Blank
— a worksheet that will lead you through making your sweater in any gauge or fabric you want and making it easy to customize.

If you don’t win but would like to take the class for half price (or any other Craftsy class for 25% off) you can find Renée’s special link here. (You can also see an introductory clip there!)

That’s the notes for this week. Thank you for listening and happy knitting!

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