Ep.64 Finished Haust Cardigan & Spring Knitting // Knitting With Cat Hair Podcast

[@knitannknit]

Thanks for a, as usual, very nice company this morning. Like you, I haven't had the energy to watch so much knitting channels lately. I hope you feel better soon and have more energy for what you want to do. Slowing down and letting things take their time is nice and good for the soul. Ann wishes you all the best.

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks dear Ann for your kind words 🤗 Hoping you also find more energy to do the things you enjoy 💕

[@emilionstyle]

Hello beautiful Nikki❤ So glad to see you here again🥰 I do exactly like you when I'm not feeling well or my head isn't in the right place. I think is a good thing to do actually🌸. Although I get stuck in a lot of farm vlogs, quite stupid when you have a farm yourself. But soon the husband will probably have softened and I will have my cows😂😂🙈. I really love your projects Nikki😍. Your sweater from Jennifer Beale will be so nice and your cardigan is just too wonderful🥰. Your blankets will be absolutely fantastic😍😍. I'm really happy to see you back here❤ and if something is too difficult, you know where to find me if you need to talk❤❤

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thank-you so very much sweet Emilia for your kind words and your thoughtfulness ❤️ I hope your cow wish comes true 🤞😂

[@TheThoughtfulKnitter]

Welcome back Nikki! I’ve been noticing your absence, missing your company and thinking of you ❤ I’m glad you took the time you needed to though, life can be hard going at times. All your makes were absolutely beautiful, as always x

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thank-you so much dear Ailie 🤗 I can't wait to catch up with you and all your lovely makes as well ❤️

[@dianathorpe2280]

I love all your knits so much. You really inspire me!! I especially love the two pairs of socks you are knitting. I always have a pair of socks on the go too. So glad to see you back. I missed you, but always take time for yourself.

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks so much for your kind words Diana 🤗 Socks are such great little projects to cart around or pick up and knit a few rounds on in between tasks 😊 Happy Making 💕

[@daveterryprehara576]

I’m happy to see you back! Your Samphrey sweater is gorgeous, perfect colours too! Take good care. Terry

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks so much Terry 🤗💕

[@Juleslovesknitting]

Lovely to see you back Nikki and your projects are looking beautiful. Take care of yourself x

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks so much Jules 🤗💕

[@mywonderfulknittinglife]

So glad to see you back Nikki! I am sorry that things have been tough for you lately. 💗Your Battenburg blanket has me wanting to start one with my scraps. It is super cute. Enjoyed this episode very much. Thank you for taking the time to share your makes with us!🥰PS-I am also a big Kristin Hannah fan and can't wait to listen to her latest book.

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks very much Margaret 🤗 I didn't realize Kristin Hannah had a new book out--definitely adding it to my queue!! Looking forwaed to catching up with you and your latest makes 💕

[@melissaf3409]

Happy to see you back Nikki! Your projects are gorgeous as always.❤

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks sweet Meliss 🤗💕

[@littlebigknits]

So nice to see you again Nikki 😘😘😘 I think egg hunts will happen here for many years! 17 and 20 year olds still get them 😂

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks sweet Selma 🤗 Glad to hear the Easter-egg fun may continue for a few years yet 😂💕

[@lorrainewalker9426]

Love the sweater you are wearing today, thanks for sharing your makes 🧶💕

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks for the kind words 💕

[@mindfulmelbournemaker]

Your Samphrey is so beautiful Nikki - amazing knitting!

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks so much Kath 🤗

[@theknittystew]

Hi Nikki, lovely to see you and your beautiful projects. Your podcast is very informative and calming too. I really love everything you’ve been working on! Your Stephenville Crossing is blowing my mind. Thank you for sharing what has been bringing you joy and peace. The pranks are hilarious! If I think of a good one before nexr April I’ll let you know! Currently working on Soft Focus by Samantha Geurin, a shawl designed with Manchelopi unspun. BIG FAN of Sarah of Fibretrek… a treasure.

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks sweet Leanne 🤗 Your shawl is already looking gorgeous 😍 Happy Making 💕

[@workinghandsfibrearts]

A feast of colour and texture! I so enjoy your podcast, Nikki! Thank you for sharing your creative stories. Take good care of yourself beautiful human! 🌷🌸🌼

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thank-you dear Venessa 🤗 Happy Making 💕

[@CraftyTeaLife]

Thank you for another great episode, Nikki! I also enjoy quiet vlog-style podcasts. One that I really enjoy on KZbin is Kiko Sabi. I’m thinking of taking a social media break for the month of July this year. At the same time, I get so much inspiration and positive vibes from the knitters that I follow, that I wonder if I want a break. Your partner’s cardigan is beautiful, as are all of your makes 😊 Take care of yourself and enjoy lots of healing moments with your birds and squirrels! 🩷🌸

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks dear Candace 🤗 Thank-you as well for the podcast recommendation--I will definitely check it out! Happy Making 💕

[@margaretgerth1067]

So good to see you again! Love all your projects. I loved Lilac Girls and everything by Kristin Hannah. I am currently listening to her newest novel called “The Women” and it is excellent. The narrators very good too. Hope the spring brings you joy! Margaret in B.C.

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks so much Margaret 🤗 I will definitely be adding Kristin's newest book to my queue! Happy Making 💕

[@Ceylon.55]

So lovely to see you again Nikki, take care of yourself. We all go through difficult times and sometimes need to take a step back. Love all your projects and enjoy your podcasts very much . I am knitting the Millie cardigan by Irene Lin and a cropped Minimalist cardigan by Carina Spencer. Both to wear over summer dresses or with skirts. I have also been sewing linen dresses which i have really enjoyed. Look forward to seeing you again soon and remember to look after yourself x .

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thank-you so much for your kind words 🤗 Milly is such a darling cardigan! And you can never go wrong with a Minimalist 😊 Thanks for taking time to share what you're working on. Happy Making 💕

[@ajanetreiber5773]

It was so good to see you back here with all your lovely knitting and crochet. Spring weather is so wonderful for healing the soul. Take care.

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks dear Alex 🤗 Happy Making 💕

[@thewoollycloset]

Good to see you again! ❤

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks Gwen 🤗

[@katherinelinkletter4880]

If you enjoy Kristin Hannah you will love her new book "The Women". A very well told story. Might be my favourite book this year.

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks Katherine! I just put a hold on it at my library...and will be enjoying it in about 9 months time 🤣

[@Lolly849]

Hello Nikki so nice to see you again. I am loving your summer makes and especially the mohair boho top...I think that will look fabulous on you. Your April fools tricks on your girls make me laugh...how about saran wrap the doorway? Hoping your life woes are all behind you and I too believe a break or change in routine can help improve your mindset. Lovely to see your beautiful smile again. Looking forward to seeing you all soon xox

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks Mom ❤️ We've done the scotch tape across the doorway but I think saran wrap would work even better! I'll be sure to credit you next April Fool's 😂 Love and miss you and can't wait to see you in a few days!! 💕

[@carlafawcett6494]

Your colours! Always right up my alley. Don’t think I’ve seen a crochet blanket I like more than your sonder yarns one. Wow. Always love your projects. Your style is great

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks so much for your kind words Carla 🤗💕

[@LATHEANDLOOMPODCAST]

So happy to see you post today Nikki. Love the Faust- it will be an amazing outerwear piece for year to come. congratulations on your first steek, it’s quite liberating isn’t it? Great to see the Stephenville Crossing progress, sounds like a fine knit. I have the latest pattern, Loudes planned in my queue. Hoping I can use some milk and hand spun soft Shetland I have in stash from Whispering Pines. Take care, Cher🧶

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks so much for sharing Cher 🤗 Happy Making 💕

[@janinekenyon9057]

❤❤❤ so nice to catch up! I do like the Fiber Track podcast as well, especially when life is hectic! I am knitting on my Gem Sweater right now, in a more summer yarn than pattern recommends but I think this way, I will get a lot of wear out of it. Also grabbed my oldest WIP from last summer - the Rockit TShirt - to finish off soon 🤞

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks sweet Janine 🤗 And thank-you for taking time to share what you're working on. Happy Making 💕

[@bernadettemensen7562]

Just finished reading The Women by Kirstin Hannah, highly recommend it, agree with you love her books .Also Fiber Trek is a wonderful podcast.Good to see you again.

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks so much Bern 🤗 I hadn't realized Kristin Hannah had a new book out so now I know what I'll be adding to my book queue! Happy Making 💕

[@Judithgoulding9999]

Hey Nikki! Great to see you here again!! Just wanted to mention about your partner's Alafosslopi sweater, the feeling of the wool on your fingertips, as you fondle the sweater, is much different than the feeling on your body... Icelandic wool needs to warm up to your body temperature and in fact I have often worn it straight next to my skin (especially for walking around the wilds of Iceland in the damp and cold) and when the wool warms to your body temperature inside, then that prickly feeling that you notice with your fingertips, seems to really dissapate (for me anyway, and it's what is mentioned by many about wearing Icelandic wool). So I wanted to mention that, don't let the finger feel be his final decision about if he is comfy with the wearability... on body and with a little skin warm up time, really does make a difference. So ask him to wear it for a little while before he decides the comfort factor. ❤ Love your current projects - I still haven't started a Jennifer Beale sweater, been doing a number of test knits for Beth MacDonald Stone, and I've just finished the most recent test, and am back to my own knitting now and catch-up on projects I put to the side to do the test knits... your crocuses are so pretty - so wonderful to see Spring coming up in the garden! Anyway, Cheers, talk later, Judith 💜

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks so much Judith 💕 I'm sure John will wear his cardigan, he's super knitworthy and I'll be sure to pass along your Icelandic wool knowledge 🤗 Thanks for sharing what you've been working on and hope you're having a lovely start to Spring 🌸

[@sisterstephanie2557]

You are tempting me to learn to crochet.

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Highly recommend 😊

[@alexandrah535]

Funny story about colorwork gauge: I’m knitting the Amaryllis by Marie Wallin right now, which calls for different gauges but the same needles for the colorwork vs the stockinette! I have the same gauge in colorwork vs stockinette, so I have to change needles down in the colorwork to get the smaller gauge 😊

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Haha that's so interesting Alexandra! We truly are ALL so different when it comes to our gauges 🤗

[@julieknitsinthewoods2987]

Thanks Nikki❤ continue to put yourself first. I’m generally a sweater and shawl knitter… but those socks! Wow love your Beatrix socks. I need a pair 🎉 take care. Forgot to mention my current wips… Ozetta’s new pattern #opalsweater just cam off my needles as a test knitter. I LOVE it! I’m also finishing the button band on Thea Colman’s Dolin Cardigan knit in local farm yarn - @flyingfibers Craley Worsted - Shetland & Alpaca mix yarn that looks and feels wonderful in cables and lace.

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks sweet Julie 🤗 And thank-you for sharing what you're currently working on. They both sound divine 😍 I've been wanting to make one of Thea's infamous cable patterns for some time now. Maybe this autumn 🤞 Happy Making 💕

[@luciaevangelho4593]

Thank you for the book recommendation, I also enjoy reading Kristin Hannah's books. Enjoyed the episode, I am currently working on the Flex vest and the Manis top

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks so much for sharing and Happy Making 🤗💕

[@knittysixx5106]

I love thé April fools prank!😂

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Hahaha thanks! Don't think our daughter was quite as amused as we were 🤣

[@edinacole6382]

Hello! Thank you for the lovely video. Regarding the socks with holes in the heels, perhaps you can cut both feet off and knit new heels and feet for both socks with yarn that has been reinforced with nylon or mohair then they dont have to just be house socks.

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks for the suggestion Edina. Unfortunately the soles have also gotten holes from wear. It's just not a durable enough yarn for socks in my opinion. Perhaps if it's knit at a tighter gauge, that might help. Or paired with silk-mohair for strength. It really is a lovely yarn 😍

[@edinacole6382]

@@KnittingWithCatHair Yes, that is why I am suggesting you save the ANKLE part only then knitting down to the toe in different yarn.

[@genier7829]

The red socks will be great. I have made one pair of socks but color work sort of intimidates me in a sock because of the stretch issue. I am stuck on a sweater now, haven't knit for a couple of weeks waiting for new glasses. I do have yarn for a Jennifer Beale pattern, I hope to start once the laggard project is completed.

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks Genie 🤗 And yes, colourwork socks can certainly be tricky but well worth the trial and error, in my opinion 😊 I hope your glasses arrive soon so you can get back to knitting! 💕

[@leslienero7884]

Nice to see you again, glad you're feeling a little better. I was wondering how you would wash a non-superwash wool blanket. I also prefer non-superwash, but wondered about the care of it considering the size of a blanket. I did get so see a little kitty action behind you, just going up and down the stairs, but I like to see the kitties (I only have 3).

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

Thanks Leslie 🤗 A few years ago I crocheted a hexagon blanket out of all 100% non-superwash wools and have had to wash it quite frequently due to grubby cats and kids 😂 Initially I would use my top loading washing machine, filling it with cold water and placing the blanket in with some Eucalan or Soak wool wash to soak for about 30 minutes or so with the lid up so the washer wouldn't go into actual "washing mode". I would then switch to the "drain & spin" cycle and it usually comes out just barely damp. Hang outside to finish drying (when weather permits) or sometimes I just throw it over the back of our couch. More recently I run it through the wash cycle, making extra-sure the wash AND rinse are both set to cold water and the blanket has never felted on me as my understanding is that you require both heat AND friction to felt something. Hope this helps and best of luck! 💕

[@leslienero7884]

@@KnittingWithCatHair Thanks! This is info for the future where I imagine my retired self knitting blankets (and spinning).

[@hbknits]

My ‘kids’ are in their late 20s, early 30s- and I am still doing an Easter egg hunt😂 some people never grow up!!!

[@KnittingWithCatHair]

😂 Glad to hear it! Happy Making 💕