Episode 5 - All the yarnz...

Episode 5 – All the yarnz…
co-hosted with Dug the Dog

Find me on: 
Ravelry
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
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Join the Jenn Sheelen Ravelry Group

Podcasts referenced:
Knits and Beads, Lorelei
Boston Mama Knits, Lori
The Yarniacs Podcast, Gayle & Sharlene

Yarn Cow – LYS Jacksonville, FL
Ewe Rock Homespun

*** Handspun Giveaway WINNER!! ***
Cindy (cozycouch) Congratulations!  You won -
Spunky Eclectic – “Aurora Borealis” Falkland dark (blues)

Workin’ on Now / Selfish Knitting:
New favorite stitch dictionary book:
Up, Down, All Around by Wendy Bernard

Beverage of Choice / What I’m Stylin’:
Greenhead IPA by NBPT Brewing, Co. Newburyport, MA
A Loom With a View – LYS Newburyport, MA
Yarn: Amano and Madelinetosh
The Grog – pub Newburtyport, MA\

Tips & Tricks:
Eucalyn “no rinse” Woolwash

Showin’ off:
Minds Eye Yarns – LYS Cambridge, MA
Yarn:
Stitched by JessaLu
Dirty Water Dye Works
Toil and Trouble
Done Roving Yarns
Malabrigo
Fleece Artist

Random thoughts…
Where is the weirdest place you’ve ever knit?!
Me?  A break between training with our local police and fire departments…

Giveaways!:
NorCal Knitting Retreat
Winners of my patterns!
Jan (unraveled1) – Happiness in Threes Mitts
Karen (klwcislo) – Flutterby Dreams

Surprise for Erika and Jonathan! 
Uli of Creations by Uli
Thank you Yarniacs!

What’s up with my patterns?:
Dream Whisperer – released! Also on Ravelry.
Pixie Petals – released! Also on Ravelry.

NEW Design!  “Starlight Blooms”
Enchanted Knoll “Fairy Dust” Sock Yarn
Woolen Rabbit – Chimney Sweep colorway, “Lucent” sock yarn

Episode 4 – Pttoooeeee!

Episode 4 – Pttoooeeee!
co-hosted with Dug the Dog

Find me on: 
Ravelry
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Tumblr

Join the Jenn Sheelen Ravelry Group

Podcasts referenced: Shinybees , Shinybees Ravelry Group
Down Cellar Studio Podcast & Ravelry Group
Jenn Sheelen prize referenced for the “12 Months of Christmas KAL” in Episode 87: Victorian Yuletide Ornaments Pattern

Spinnin’ Right Round:
Bakewell Hearts Instagram/ etsy store
Hugz the Spinning Chair
by Colleen of Whimsical Handy Crafts

*** Handspun Giveaway!! ***
Savvy Skeins – “Caribbean Gold” Merino & Tussah Silk (teal/yellow/white)
Spunky Eclectic – “Aurora Borealis” Falkland dark (blues)
Bohemia Fibers – “Petunia” Superwash Merino & Tencel (pinks & purples)

Workin’ on Now / Selfish Knitting:
Reknitting the small jars for two of my patterns.  
Sock Yarn Blanket
Fiona Pullover by Pam Allen

Beverage of Choice:
Gonzo Imperial Porter by Flying Dog Brewery, Maryland

What I’m Stylin’:
Flutterby Dreams by Jenn Sheelen
Malabrigo Sock

Tips & Tricks:
Spit splicing
Must be 100% animal fiber!

Showin’ off:
Stitched by JessaLu
Walking Dead Bags
Harry Potter Bags
Cupcake Bag

Knit Stuffed Animal Demo Part 1:
Knit the “Fuzzy Mitten Lamb” by Barbara Prime (free pattern on Ravelry)
Thread in my Ravelry Group to discuss, share, ask questions!
Plan to discuss construction in Episode 6.  

What’s up with my patterns?:
Dream Whisperer needs photos and it’s done!  It’ll be released in the next few days…
Pixie Petals is finally in test mode!

Note: Jenn Sheelen patterns referenced are also available Ravelry !

Chronic Pain reference: The Spoon Theory

Episode 3 - Just an afterthought...

Episode 3 – Just an afterthought…

Find me on: 
Ravelry
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Tumblr

Join the Jenn Sheelen Ravelry Group

Podcast referenced: Kino Knits Podcast , Kino Knits Ravelry Group

Spinnin’ Right Round:
Bakewell Hearts Instagram/ etsy store
Iron Horse in Natick, MA
Shadow Cable Baby Blanket  by Bernat Design Studio

Dug the Dog – was sleeping on the job…

Workin’ on Now: 
Sock Yarn Blanket
Local yarn referenced: Done Roving Yarns “Frolicking Feet” sock yarn

Beverage of Choice:
Blackout Stout by Great Lakes Brewing Co, Ohio

Other beverages referenced:
Two Roads Brewing, CT
Down the Road Brewery, MA
Spiked Seltzer, CT

Selfish Knitting:
Fiona Pullover by Pam Allen
Quince & Co. “Puffin”

What I’m Stylin’:
Tan House Brook Shawl – by Jen Lassonde
Down Cellar Studio Podcast & Ravelry Group
Bohemia Fibers – “Little Red Riding Hood”
Cheap Date Jewelry

Tips & Tricks:
Afterthought Heel Socks by LaLa’s Knits, Laura Linneman of the Knit Girllls Podcast & Ravelry Group

My handspun Afterthought Heel Socks – fiber by Port Fiber

The right way to do the afterthought heel! Tutorial.


“How much for the Cheetos and water?” clip from Magic Mike XXL (explicit language and only mildly inappropriate!)
Joe Mangniello
Channing Tatum

What’s up with my patterns?:
Americana Jar Cover Pattern is now available!
Dream Whisperer is in test mode…
Pixie Petals is just shy of test mode… figuring out the stubborn large jar pattern now!

Who is interested in a “build a stuffed toy” demo?  Comment in my Ravelry Group in the Episode 3 thread! 

Episode 2 - What's up with the name?

Episode 2 – What’s up with the name?

Find me on:
Ravelry
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Join the Jenn Sheelen Ravelry Group

Spinnin’ Right Round:
Ginny Wheel – Ashford Traditional (built in the 60’s-70’s)
Upgraded to a double treadle from a single treadle

Port Fiber website / etsy store 
Port Fiber Shawl – (baby camel/silk) Budding Shawlette by Joyce Yu
Siobhan Crafts etsy store - Peacock Rolags

Dug the Dog – My co-host today!

Workin’ on Now:
Americana Jar Cover Pattern (to be released this week after pictures are done!)
Thank you Amanda - Yarn Enabler and Christina - The Cozy Knitter of the Dye Another Day Podcast

2 New Jars
Dream Whisperer & Pixie Petals, Patterns Coming Soon!
Thank you Colleen Sheelen of Whimsical Handy Crafts
Ornament Pattern referenced: Victorian Yuletide
Yarn referenced for ornaments: Knit Picks Bare Stroll Glimmer

Bear & Snake for the kids
Polar Bear by Fuzzy Mitten
Striped Snake by Sarah Ann Thompson

Beverage of Choice:
The Poet by New Holland Brewing, Michigan
Oatmeal Stout

Selfish Knitting:
Handspun mixed BFL top from Iron Horse in Natick, MA
Pattern referenced: $5 in Paris by Anna Maliszewski

What I’m Stylin’:
Jenn Sheelen “Hug a Knitter… They Give you Warm Fuzzies” t-shirt
Knitting Bag referenced: Jenn Sheelen Bag

Show off:
Project bag by Cindy, cozycouch on Ravelry.  Thank you Cindy! 
Yarniacs Podcast and Ravelry group.  Thank you Gayle & Sharlene!
Erika’s mom Uli - Creationsbyuli & mommyknits on Ravelry
Podcast referenced: Boston Mama Knits Podcast by BostonMama3 on Ravelry

Finishing Touch:
Thank you to:

My editor Sigrun Jones, sproutsnknits
My test knitter Jesika, jesi840
My friend/cousin/muse Colleen Sheelen of Whimsical Handy Crafts
My hubby Frank Sheelen

Episode 1 - Niddy Noddy No Nonsense

Episode 1 !!! 

Now officially a Podcast?!

Beverage of Choice:
Two Roads Brewery – Double IPA “Road to Ruin”

What I’m Stylin’
My “New Horizons” Infinity Scarf
Knit with 2 ½ more repeats and with Fingering Weight Yarn held double
Yarn: MountainTop Vail by Classic Elite Yarns

Tips & Tricks
The Niddy Noddy!
Ashford Niddy Noddy = 1.5 METERS per wrap, not yards!
1.64 yards = 1.5 meters

This tool isn’t only for spinners, it’s for knitters too!  Random balls of yarn laying around, perfect for a project but don’t know how many yards you have?  BOOM.  Use the Niddy Noddy!

Sale! Giveaway!
My “Basket of Sunshine” Jar Cover pattern is FREE for this weekend only.  Saturday March 19- Sunday March 20, 2016!

Use the code JSFREE0316 on my website jennsheelen.com or find it in my Jenn Sheelen Ravelry store, no code necessary.

Yarn referenced - The Cozy Knitter – “Bliss” Self Striping Sock Yarn in colorway “Iris”

What I’m Workin’ on Now
I’ve been working on a fussy new jar cover pattern (2 of them actually) but hope to have that behaving soon!

I cast on a sock yarn blanket (finally)! 
Pattern “Zoeknitgirl's version of the Sock Yarn Blanket”

Thank you so much for tuning in!  

Latest on Patterns

Here I talk about my latest designs… the “New Horizons Infinity Scarf” and my “Americana Jar.”

The “New Horizons Infinity Scarf” will be published within the next few days!  Knit with approx. 370-400 yards of DK weight yarn.   The grey in the video was knit out of 3 skeins of Knit Picks Capra DK in “Platinum.”  The multi-colored scarf was made out of approx. 1,120 yards of MountainTop Vail by Classic Elite Yarns in “Chesnut, Camel, Adobe, Steel, and Parchment.”

The “Americana Jar” is almost to the editing process!  Knit with approx. 50-60 yards of Fingering weight yarn.  The one in the video was made from a self-striping yarn kit in “Patriot” coordinated with The Cozy Knitter of thecozyknitter.com (or thecozyknittershop.etsy.com). 

The beer mentioned in the video is by Flying Dog Brewery and is called “The Gourd Standard,” a Pumpkin IPA.

More jar patterns and ornaments coming soon as well as other ideas!

Thank you!
Jenn

Pickin Yarnz...

I noticed a trend with a lot of my patterns.  I tend to use inexpensive, easy to find, yarn.  I tend to default to KnitPicks.  It’s easy to find online for yarn info, not too expensive, durable (so it can take multiple rip outs of a design), and decent yarn.  When I go to test a pattern design, I don’t want to use crazy expensive yarn.  My design doesn’t always work out on the first… second… etc. try.  (arrrg)  So ripping out expensive yarn isn’t something I want to do.  It can ruin the yarn and who wants to do that when you splurged and bought that merino/cashmere/silk blend that you just had to have?  Right?? 

So when you see that my designs reference KnitPicks and wonder if I do splurge on the more expensive stuff, know that why yes, yes I do.  My yarn stash has some pretty pricey lovelies in there.  So expensive in fact that I’m afraid to knit with it.  Because then it will be gone from my stash and it’s meant to be there to be MINE MINE MINE forever.  I love that any knitter reading this will completely understand where I’m coming from and not think I’m a lunatic yarn hoarder.  We all are.

I am a major yarn snob.  I love soft, shiny, cloudy, squishy, yummy yarnz.  My best pair of socks is made out of a merino/cashmere/nylon blend.  Once I put those on my feet it ruined all of my other socks for me!  Ok, not ruined.  Let’s not be dramatic.  But it certainly took them down a notch.  Unfortunately, this favorite pair of socks now has to be darned.  The pads of my feet like to wear my socks down.  They aren’t worn through so I can save them with some duplicate stitching, thank goodness I caught it in time.  But it makes me sad… meaning I should go get more of the yarn.  Note: This is an excuse to buy more yarn.  Duh.

Speaking of the yummy favorite sock yarn, it’s Woolen Rabbit’s “Lucent.”  I made one of my Flutterby Dreams shawls out of it in the “Lady Slipper” colorway too.  It’s so soft and lovely and I want to wear it and my socks ALL OF THE TIME.  Lovely dreamy yarn…

You can catch a glimpse of “Lady Slipper” towards the back.

Back to designing with more affordable yarn.  So, this is a good tip to any new designers out there.  I’d recommend something that can take a bit of a beating and still look and feel nice in the end.  Yarn with a bit of backbone that you’d want to have your back in a bar fight.  THAT kind of yarn.  It’s going to stick by you and help you through the rough times along with the good times. 

You want yarn that’ll hang in there and in the end, when you finally have the design where you want it, it’ll shine. 

My first video...

Please bear with me as this is my very first video!  I discovered that, yes, you can in fact get stage fright with only yourself present. 

However, I persevered and TADA!  I wanted to do a little hello and introduction.  And talk about my latest design(s) Nature's Magic.  So why NOT do that in a video right?  

Here you go - please note the lighting isn't great but I am taking steps to do this better in the future.  This was an impromptu "why not" completely off the cuff thing.   

Enjoy!