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Since receiving my stenciled fabric from FiberTrek Sarah, I’ve been in a stitch trance. In this episode, I talk about starting my first Alabama Chanin-inspired garment.  There’s a bit of knitting, a recommendation for a tile-placement game, and poems by Nobel prize winner Louise Glück.

Savory Dishes with Apples

• Chicken Normande
• Waldorf Salad
• Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

I’ve been enjoying the work on this sock blank from Maria (ninjachickens) and knitting on my Blackthorn dpns.

Here is Amy jumpsuit #2, drip drying after another dip in the walnut dye bath.  I’m trying to correct some streaking that occurred on the left front panel, right at the crotch area.  It seems that the problem may be caused by an imperfection or inconsistency in the fabric.

LINK to Cascadia on Kickstarter

This product has been fully funded and the fundraising targets are making it better and better.  Plus, there’s a single-player game to try online!

Nobel Prize in Literature Awarded to Louise Glück

• article in The Atlantic
• “October“
• “Visitors from Abroad“

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We went apple picking near Kerhonkson, NY.  Determined to remember what we picked, I asked Samuel to photograph apples with their markers.  The Cox Orange Pippin was new to me and a tremendous find, with sweet and tart in each bite and a very nice texture for eating out of hand.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month.  Use your social media platform to share healthy messages, amplify the posts of others, or make a contribution by taking meaningful action.

THE BACK PORCH

After quite a bit of un-doing and re-knitting, I got a good fit on the Tokonatsu sweater (RAVELRY LINK) designed by Bernice Lim.  I love wearing it with this very special shisha necklace.

THE FRONT PORCH

This eco-printed sock blank dyed by ninjachickens has been sitting in my stash for a few years.  It’s the first time I’ve knit from a sock blank and I took out my Blackthorn dpns for the task.  I’m enjoying the colors — like knitting the clear blue sky with colorful leaves falling in the breeze.

EVER-EXPANDING SKILL SET

• Sheet Pan Dinner with chicken, apples and Brussels sprouts

AND SEW FORTH

I finished the Moon Phases Cloth Book I’ve been working on all summer, and dyed up some linen in a walnut bath — destined to become a second Amy Jumpsuit.

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It was an adventurous weekend, with crafting ups and downs, and a new pattern release.  Thank you so much for joining me. Pictured here is my first piece of shisha embroidery, thanks to the teaching of Shanaz Khan and her online course at Tatter!

NEWS & EVENTS

• Deep in the Forest cowl — NOW AVAILABLE! (Ravelry link)
• Tatter online courses
• Yoga classes with @meldurga

ON THE PORCH

• Tokanatsu by Bernice Lim

AND SEW FORTH

• Amy Jumpsuit by Closet Core Patterns

OFF THE SHELF

• “The Mothers at Seventy” by Sandra M. Gilbert

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NEW DESIGN — COMING SEPTEMBER 20th!

Deep in the Forest, a cowl in fingering OR worsted weight yarn, will be released with tiered pricing.  This is your final chance to purchase the first design in my Women Who Run with the Wolves collection, Taking Back the River socks (RAVELRY LINK), at tiered pricing.  Thank you for your purchases and your support of the podcast.

NEWS & EVENTS

• Creative Advocacy & Networking Retreat – September 18-20
• Farm to Fiber Tour in NY and VT – October 3 & 4, 10 & 11
• Tatter: BLUE Textile Library Virtual Classes & Lectures

ON THE PORCH

• socks with mushroom motif (RAVELRY LINK)
• Tokonatsu by Bernice Lim (RAVELRY LINK)

OFF THE SHELF

• Naomi Shihab Nye & Simon Shaheen in concert and conversation at the Arab American Museum in Dearborn, Michigan  — make a donation to get the link — September 18th
• “Different Ways to Pray“

“To counteract negative images conveyed by blazing headlines, writers must steadily transmit simple stories closer to heart and common to everyday life.  Then we will be doing our job.”  — Nye in an interview with Children’s Literature Review

AND SEW FORTH

• Mississippi Avenue Dress from Sew House Seven
• Amy Jumpsuit from Closet Core Patterns
• heather01851
  • Esme Tunic from Lotta Jansdotter
  • Washi (now Trillium) dress from Made by Rae
• hamiltonhousehomestead
  • Calendar Dress from Frankie & Ray
• momdiggityknits
  • Endless Summer Tunic from A Verb for Keeping Warm
  • Cabot Dress from By Hand Look Book No. 9
• judyinthedyes
  • Scout Tee from Grainline Studio
  • Robbie Pants from Tessuti

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In anticipation of the hungry ghost moon, here is Episode 255 for your listening enjoyment.  I talk about knitting projects, and some stitching.  I also share a poem and provide an overview of the CAN Retreat.

Events

Creative Advocacy & Networking ONLINE Retreat

September 18 – 20  Online Retreat — REGISTRATION

The CAN Retreat is a professional development event focused on promoting the success of businesses owned by racial and ethnic minority artists in our community. The retreat is organized and lead by BIPOC fiber workers, and is designed specifically for members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups who work or want to work in the fiber industry; those who are focused on wool work, handcrafts, and the teaching of these disciplines. The CAN Retreat is: a connection point, an empowerment center, a starting point, a safe space, an access point.

Featuring presentations from Anne Choi, Marceline Smith, Sylvia Watts-Cherry, Karida Collins and Nancy Ricci, and special guest sessions with: Stephen & Penelope, La Bien Aimee, Taproot Magazine, Stitches Enterprises, and many others.

On the Porch

• Tokonatsu by Bernice Lim (RAV LINK) in Oysters & Purls cotton/wool blend in SUMMER
• toe-up socks in West Yorkshire Spinners yarn

Off the Shelf

“Poetry is democratic. It encourages good will and disinterestedness, the flow and recoil of feeling, the search for quality and value.”

• “Summer of the Ladybirds” by Vivian Smith
• Dialogue with Australian poet Vivian Smith
• National Geographic video of intricate ladybug wings

And Sew Forth

• Mississippi Avenue Dress by Sew House Seven in ice-dyed fabric from Tilliegirlstudio

• Progress on the Moon Phase Cloth Book designed by Caitlin Betsy Bell, from the GRAIN issue of Taproot magazine.

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PODIVERSARY!

Seven years ago, I recorded Episode 1 of the Yarns at Yin Hoo podcast.  Since then, I’ve been fortunate to make friends, learn new crafts, and up my knitting game as a result.  Thank you for listening, whether it’s been a long time or you’re just tuning in.

The Back Porch

• Rift Tee (RAV LINK) by Jacqueline Cieslak in my 3-ply handspun yarn

The Front Porch

• socks in Opal wool/cotton/nylon yarn
• Tokonatsu (RAV LINK) by Bernice Lin in Oysters & Purls cotton/wool blend

#powerpantry

• Mark Bittman makes a clafoutis in his iconic series The Minimalist
• Julia Moskin’s updated recipe from NYTimes, which originated with Julia Child (Step 3 is completely unnecessary)
• This version from The Kitchn is made in a cast iron skillet — incredibly reminiscent of a Dutch baby

Off the Shelf

• Recommended Reading: 15 Creative Women for Our Time
• Link to Sonya Clark’s profile in NYTimes STYLE magazine
• Artist’s Talk lecture by Sonya Clark (PBS)

And Sew Forth

Some elbow grease and sewing know-how took these charming folding chairs from hell, no to oooh, I’d be delighted.  I’m so pleased with how these turned out and thrilled to use up more of the leftover fabric from sewing our shower curtain last September.

The Mississippi Avenue Dress from Sew House Seven is my new favorite dress.  This one is sewn from deadstock rayon challis. I love the silhouette, the mostly elastic waist, the V-neckline and the spaghetti strap ties.  This version has been lengthened by 1.5 inches above the waist (which means altering THREE pattern pieces).  I like the longer length and look forward to one in ice-dyed fabric and another in a sumptuous black fabric with lots and lots of drape.

Ice-dyed to perfection by Jean Holmes of Tilliegirlstudio, this version of the Strata Top is so colorful, so comfy, and so perfect for the high temperatures and humid weather we’ve been experiencing.