Irie Knits: Episode 15

Listen to Episode 15!

Reasons to listen:
- Irie rejects authority by not following instructions, patterns or recipes... and ends up with wonky socks!
- Irie goes above and beyond the call of duty for her beloved Raux Fussian Stole... er, that's Faux Russian Stole.
- Irie makes a bad pun as she dips a few strands in the dye pots.

Irie Recommendations:
- Christa Knits podcast
- Socks in the City podcast

Music Credits:
The Sugar Beets - The Dancers
The Sugar Beets - If the Heat Don't Go
The Sugar Beets - A Little Bit Broken

Irie Knits: Episode 14

Listen to the long awaited Episode 14!

First Segment:
- Irie's making another podcast. Whee! Ignore the interruptions...
- Irie is slowly working on an endless Irish Hiking Scarf, and a pair of Standard Default Socks (an original pattern) using Opal self-striping sock yarn for mindless numbing fun!

Irie Vibe:
Irie relaxes your neck and your mind...

The stash box:
- Irie shares her plans to knit the Knitting Pure and Simple Neckdown V Neck Shaped Cardigan using some denim blue Berroco Ultra Alpaca.

Motherly advice:
- Set your stash free!

Music Credits:
Aswad - Irie Woman (intro music)
The Warheads - Dipped in Ghee (relaxation segment)
Irie - Black is the Color (outtakes)

Irie Knits: Episode 13

Listen to Episode 13!

First Segment:
- Irie's new favorite knitting spot
- Irie's Monday night knitting group
- Irie's latest design, the Oregon Hiking Scarf, inspired by the popular Irish Hiking Scarf
- Irie's latest pair of socks-on-the-needles, using Sock Hop from Crown Mountain Farms

Irie Vibe:
Irie chills things out by opening your heart chakra to the beat of some smooth tunes.

The stash box:
- Soft Horizons in Eugene, Oregon
- a future project, Fiber Trends Baby Poncho in Plymouth Encore
- latest from Sundara's Petals Collection

Motherly advice:
- when knitting socks using two circular needles, use a smaller needle size for the sole of the foot to make a firmer, more durable fabric.
- cut out the corners of your ziploc bag and thread yarn through each hole for a simple "yarn dispenser"
- be mindful of your gauge; Irie explains coffee, normal, and wine gauge
- Irie shares a few more techniques for needle storage (courtesy of all those listeners out there!), including the homemade circular needle holder.

Music Credits:
Aswad - Irie Woman (intro music)
The Warheads - Broken Spell (relaxation segment)
Black Dillinger - Big Trouble

Irie Knits: Episode 12

Listen to Episode 12, sock sock!

First Segment:
Irie talks about the onset of fall, the socks she is working on, and road trips.

The stash box:
Irie talks about the blind yarn auction at Silver Falls Knitting Retreat.

Irie asks for advice about what to do with one lonely skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock - not quite enough yarn for a pair of decently large socks. What would you knit?

Irie shares her other recent sock yarn acquisitions, Sock Hop and the latest from Sundara's Petals Collection.

Motherly advice:
Irie shares a tip to create a tighter, stronger fabric for the sole of the foot.

Music Credits:
Aswad - Irie Woman (intro music)
Cofield Mundi - River
Cofield Mundi - Forgive Me
Irie - Tandem Bike (outtakes)

Irie Knits: Episode 11

Listen to Episode 11, adventures in lace!

First Segment:
Irie talks about her progress on the Celtic Tiger II socks and introduces a new lace project: Faux Russian Stole from Gathering of Lace.

Irie vibe:
Irie reads an excerpt from the Tao Te Ching.

The stash box:
Irie talks about her latest acquisition, some old ("antique") French alpaca/wool blend from the deepest darkest corner of her mother's closet...

Patterns:
Leaf Lace Shawl from Fiber Trends
Form-Fitted-Arch Stockings from Sept '96 issue of Wool Gathering newsletter (see Grumperina's version!)

Books:
Knitting on the Road
The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques

Motherly advice:
Irie shares some tips for thrifty knitters and talks about a free online knitting book from Studio Knits.

Please share your needle-storage secrets by leaving a comment or sending Irie an email!

Music Credits:
Aswad - Irie Woman (intro music)
satya - Paradise on Earth (relaxation)
George Fletcher/Bourbon Renewal - Ain't The Worst That You Could Find
F11 - F11 (outtakes)

Irie Knits: Episode 10

Listen to Episode 10!

Featured musician:
Kate Mann is a musician from Portland, Oregon. One reviewer writes, "Alternately playful, dark, moody, introspective, poignant, intense, thought-provoking, haunting, quirky . . . Kate Mann is always engaging. Her voice can be husky or girlish. Her lyrics are always unforgettable, combining the provocative power of P. J. Harvey, the poetic sensibilities of Natalie Merchant and the homespun grace of Gillian Welch."

Irie saw Kate performing at a restaurant/bar in Eugene, Oregon. Kate immediately gave Irie permission to share her music with the listeners of Irie Knits! Sweet!

First Segment:
Finished projects: Red Teddy, those ol' Koigu Jaywalker Socks, and a pair of Celtic Tiger striped socks - knit two at a time, toe up, with a short row heel and a fair isle ribbed cuff.
On the needles: A second pair of Celtic Tiger socks, using The Square Toe cast-on, and the toe-up gusset increase/heel flap design of the Widdershins pattern from Knitty Summer '06.

The stash box:
Irie shares the yarn she bought at the Black Sheep Gathering, a sheep & wool festival in Eugene, Oregon: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Sock Candy, Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock, and some forest green alpaca yarn from Pacific Meadows Alpacas.

More Stash Box:
Irie's mother says that sock yarn does not count as "stash", so if you decide to reduce your yarn intake, well, sock yarn doesn't count... Irie shares her first shipment of Sundara Yarns Petals Collection sock club, Calla Lily.

Last segment:
Irie has (finally!) published the Grapevine Sock pattern! Yay!

Music Credits:
Aswad - Irie Woman (intro music)
Kate Mann - Orange Dress
Kate Mann - Good Girl
Irie - Tandem Bike (outtakes)