Loose Ends, Complex Cables, and Northern Lights // Casual Friday S7E26

[@RosyPosy1970]

Your story about finishing the shawl for the local knitter was so touching; your care and attention to detail, and the time you were willing to put into doing something for someone whom you'd only recently met, was such a positive life lesson, especially at a time of year when many of us are focused more on what we need to do for ourselves and our immediate family. Thank you ❤

[@cindyweldon5647]

Thank you for sharing your Loose Ends project/experience. Each story is unique and incredible. I had the fortune of completing a project last year in St. Paul. It was two pairs of mittens, one with a poem done in colorwork. When I asked the family is they knew the significance of the poem, they did a little family research and found the poem was written by a 10-year old girl the knitter had been mentoring. They were able to contact the girl, now a 35-year old woman, and we passed the mittens on to her. I am honored to have had a role in this story. And I get choked up every time I tell the story, just as you did when telling yours.

[@karinberryman2009]

What a gorgeous episode!

[@MissHoyden]

“I had to figure out my way into…” You’ve described how I’d work my way into solving problems- code, knitting, cooking, exercise- anything really. I have to translate someone else’s thought into my own.

[@deepspacenibby]

I am so touched by your story with loose ends, Roxanne! ugh! You're so awesome. 😊

[@genier7829]

I have done one quilt project for loose ends, very nice experience. My mother, who I care for, was in hospice at the time and I told the social worker about Loose Ends. She was very interested. Spread the word to your local hospice organization, where this service could be appreciated, as it is not well known outside of the crafting community.

[@knitgirl.7676]

That is the most beautiful rolag that I have ever seen. Breathtaking! You are a very kind person to take on that loose end project. I am not at all surprised that you put your whole heart into it.

[@Ami5Jo]

You're such an inspirational Lady ❤️ I just need to thank you for sharing your time and expertise as well as your little mishap 😉

[@shariwalcott9139]

Searching Ravelry projects by "most helpful" is something I never thought of! Genius - thank you!

[@danbev8542]

Wow…what a wonderful video! I always love hearing about your process when solving problems! I need to find a way to map things out with my own graphics or language. I do it all the time with recipes! BOTH of your sweaters are breathtaking! The colors, the patterns…just gorgeous. The hat is wonderful too! Lucky husband - and it’s wonderful that he hunts for patterns he likes.

[@douglasfisher1474]

Hello, Roxanne. Thank you for all of the invaluable information that you provide. Shireen at Blue Brick is wonderful. Not only does she create the most stunning gradient colorways dyed onto luxurious yarn bases, she is a gem of a person. I’m glad that you reached out to her and I’m sure that she will help you to finish the Wingspan project.

[@happygoatknits]

re sleeve cap thread- feel the exasperation from here, but then you'll go back with patience and get it completed. Satisfyingly done!

[@jillyb9995]

Love the hat pattern, Roxanne. Good luck with the loose ends project. What a lovely thing to do. That lady is going to be thrilled to see the finished item 🥰

[@alisongummery3767]

That hat is stunning. I saw a fruity knitting podcast a while ago featuring Lucy Hague and her Celtic cable inspirations and found it fascinating. I haven’t knitted anything by her but I also loved her style. Maybe I should give the hat a try. Thanks for another lovey video.

[@mimiywan]

You deserve a medal for that Wingspan effort. I would be a recipient of some Loose End projects but I'm sure there are other people with greater needs. Thank you for your tubular cast on video, I watched the crochet cast on video over and over. Detailed and super helpful, my original tubular cast on had to redone like 7 times before I found your video.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

There are about 10x the number of people willing to finish items than there are items to finish, so there's no harm in submitting a request for things you've acquired from family who left behind UFOs.

[@Russqua]

wow, i remember the wingspan - i knitted it for my sister and the pattern drove me insane. i had to break up the blocks for me and completely rewrite it. plus i inserted beads. oh and did i mention i only ever knitted stockinette scarfs before? 😂 but after a few repeats i got the hang of it and really enjoyed the project! it turned out beautiful and went straight to the closet because my sister never wore it 🤪

[@penwald8782]

The Targat Hat is intriguing! Your description of the cables reminded me of the art of Mc Escher. Fun😊

[@juliaturney7017]

Both the sweater you’re wearing and Drift are gorgeous!

[@kathrynrogers4079]

Thank you so much for sharing your successes and the not quite perfect outcomes. You’ve also encouraged me to seek help from other knitters. Your Loose Ends story was an eye opener. I think of my self as a problem solver but I haven’t applied my skills to my knitting projects by reaching out for ideas or suggestions. Braver now.

[@SusieQ3]

I recently got a bossy batt from Trish! It is so soft and beautiful. It's exactly what I was wanting, and getting to watch her card it up was auch a fun experience. I can't wait to get done with Christmas gifts so I can spin it up. If anyone else is looking to have a custom batt made, I can't recommend it enough!

[@cathiapizetta4957]

I love Trish too! Unfortunately I missed the one she made these rollags. Sometimes she makes those lives in a time of the day I can’t watch. It’s going to be gorgeous no matter what you’re going to end up making. Thank you so much for sharing all this. Love to watch you!❤

[@categ50]

Thanks Roxanne. Great pod. I started knitting in the 1960's and then in the early 70's stopped. I just picked it up again during the pandemic and have been challenging myself since. I am LOVING cables, and I am going to get the Turbot pattern. I am piecing a cardigan right now for my husband. I'm in NYS and it's cold here too🥶.

[@alisonsmith376]

Holy crap Roxanne, your Loose Ends project sounds amazing! It really does take a village. So interesting, especially that the original knitter lives so close to you. You will be giving her such a precious gift. Maybe, one day, my name will rise to the top of the list for a project to be finished near me. 😊

[@fiddleandfiber]

Thanks for sharing your screwup, Roxanne!!!😂 I’m sure we can all relate. It’s refreshing to hear from a knitter of your caliber about this kind of thing.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

I make mistakes all the time! Sometimes the mistakes I make are really huge (I don't even notice the small mistakes, because I can usually catch them and fix them immediately). The way to get good at fixing mistakes is by making a lot of mistakes! :-)

[@carolmelancon]

I try to always take the time to mark Ravelry project notes "helpful" and highlight the relevant information if I found the answer to an issue, or a great tip. I'm glad to learn about the advanced search filter; hopefully my few seconds of effort will help someone else find information.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Finding those projects that many people have found helpful is such a great way to avoid a lot of tearing out of the hair!

[@andreamiller6200]

What happened on this stunning eggplant sweater would be a heart attack for someone else and could even cause them to swear off knitting. You are so intrepid and analytical, it calms me so much to hear that you will have an approach to fixing this that will result in a satisfactory outcome and that there was no reason for project-ending anguish. I feel like I can be brave to fix my own errors, too, thanks to you. I wish you the enormous joy of eventually wearing this and thank you for that shot of courage as I now go to fix a bit of twisted rib knitting that I dropped a stitch on!

[@myraaar]

This was such a fun episode because I could see you were buzzing with excitement about the knitting challenges you took on! Love hearing about your process because I learn so much from you ❤ cheers from Canada

[@SusanSorabella]

Such an amazing story of loose ends. Serendipity.

[@musingmaker]

Thank you for turning me on to Fiber Love Diary’s channel! And I also signed up for Loose Ends a while ago, and was wondering why I never heard from them again, so thank you for clearing up that particular mystery. 🙂 Your learning process & attention to detail is always an inspiration!

[@theastewart6721]

Hi Roxanne. Very interesting podcast. That Northern Lights bat or yarn, whatever it’s called, is stunning. I can’t wait to see what it looks like after you spin it. What a wonderful mission the Loose Ends is. I’ve never heard of it before. It seems like everything is falling nicely into place. Your search on how to get the yarn or dye your own was fascinating to listen to. Hey we all make mistakes. You’re allowed, lol. Happy Holidays to you and your family. Thank you for another great podcast. 😊😊

[@Chrisesparkle]

Love the colour and style of your cardigan you are wearing and your enthusiasm for projects is so inspiring. Thank you for sharing. I’ve just finished a cowl from Magic Motifs by Carla Meissen (which you mentioned some time ago)using my name in Morse Code. It’s a fun, easy knit and very warm to wear😀

[@notmyname327]

I just watched that Northern Lights video, so mesmerizing! I know nothing about the process but I hope we get to see you spin some of that fiber

[@SuzanneTheme]

Bless your ❤. 😊

[@ms89012]

OH wingspan is so beautiful. Its something I have on my to do list except I don't know if I'd actually wear it, haha

[@jeffreyaltman9994]

Roxanne, You're just amazing! I just started the master knitter program and you will be one of my first resources

[@robynwaymouth2219]

Love those rolags!!!

[@steverobb5360]

Love the hat, just grabbed the pattern for my library. 🙂

[@aroundtheworldfibers]

I love the hat. I love cables too. I remember the shawl you are doing for Loose Ends. Challenging yes. I love how you go beyond to find a solution for this woman who just wanted something for herself. Stupid mistakes - yes, we all make those. I've put sleeves in on the wrong side. Both cardigans are beautiful. Love the colors.

[@jodimeadows]

Oh gosh, Wingspan! I knit a ton of those back when it came out. I definitely noticed that the designer and I had very different gauges, so I got pretty good at tracking how much each section took. It's such a clever design, honestly.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

The only gauge information in the pattern is for the linen stitch, which the original knitter and I both matched, but which is used for a only a very small part of the project. Stockinette gauge information would have been helpful to nail down the necessary needle size, but regardless, I needed to match the original knitter's gauge.

[@AnneluvsKatz]

The Loose Ends project is very cool. Maybe in the near future…. So glad you’re able to help her!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Oh thank you so much!! I wondered how you got that set of rolags so far. I barely hit save and it was gone! I hope you have fun with them!!

[@Sequoya]

Great episode!

[@jjperry164]

No way - I added Wingspan to my queue 3 days ago!! I don't even wear shawls but it's SO GORGEOUS

[@debraraymer3386]

That is lovely. Congratulations

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

So many interesting knits, the "Tarbat" by Lucy Hague looks like a great challenge. The "Wingspan" by Kyle Vey is also quite a deisign piece, I am so looking forward to see how it turns out in the original yarn. I am also looking forward to see how you spin the Northen Lights fiber and what you'll knit with it.

[@mariehansen2534]

Hi there, thank you for your visit and all the mischief that you have been up to. The hat that you made is beautiful. I am trying to get as many Barbara Walker Mosiac Knitting books plus the Treasury of Stitch series as well. She is such a clever lady and I am pleased that she shared her knowledge too. Your Drift Cardigan is beautiful and looks to be very warm. Anyway I am going to make our Christmas Cake today, I get a quarter and the rest to my Brother's family. Go well and I'm looking forward to your next visit.

[@kaylemoine1571]

This has been so interesting. I hope you will let us see the finished project.

[@nancyborgeson440]

This wasn’t part of the Loose Ends project, but I finished a knitted baby blanket that my mother had been working on when she died. At first I just sat with the partly done blanket on my lap, then slowly motivation bubbled up and I finished it. It was very satisfying and cathartic.

[@nicolekougiou]

Very nice episode! Thank you!

[@dianelakata1308]

No idea about any of this?? I only knit (well maybe a little crochet !!). However I found all this info very interesting and illuminating. I now know all (or some) of the “behind-the-scene” stuff. Makes knitting projects much more enjoyable and satisfying. Even though I will probably never dye.

[@keturahspencer]

I view woolen and worsted as two bookends of the spinning spectrum and most spinning as in between. Can’t wait to see what you do with that fiber.

[@marjoriebahm9239]

You are amazing!

[@candygrubisic]

I don't know if I would have the patience for that hat. That's funny, I didn't know you bought that batt lol. I'm not great at making chunky yarn anymore. I keep trying because there's a hat my daughter likes and it needs chunky lol. If you have her do a gradient, you can pull it apart in such a way that it's like a continuous roving from right to left or left to right. 2 block away, funny and cool.

[@lorireed6798]

I made Wingspan! It was tedious but the end result was beautiful.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

I've seen several comments in Ravelry projects that others thought it was tedious. I'm not finding that to be the case, thank goodness! There's a nice rhythm to it, and the double increase placements keep me on my toes.

[@carischellenberg9936]

Canada Post has been legislated back to work today, and they should start delivering mail next week. So you should be able to get that yarn sent to you soon.

[@leagaillard755]

If you're looking for patterns that keep you warm, especially around the neck and mouth, there are plenty of those popping up these days! Patterns of hoods (with and without scarves attached to them, but I'm pretty sure you'd manage to add one yourself 😁) are super en vogue these days, so I'm sure you'd be able to find one you like

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Yeah, I've been thinking about some kind of balaclava thing!

[@leagaillard755]

@RoxanneRichardson Me too! There are so many good ones it's almost impossible to choose

[@notmyname327]

Oh and that last cardigan is beautiful, too bad the male version isn't free, I'd love to knit something similar for myself

[@sonjanordahl3158]

I'm not laughing at you; I'm laughing with you. I can't count the number of times I have been working on a project, heading for the finish line, my attention wanders for just a second, and "Bam," I've made a mistake. You take a deep breath, smile manically, put the project down, and walk away to have a cup of tea.

[@jilliankonig2759]

You actually don't have to take the time to make buttonholes in the placket if you never unbutton a cardigan. Just finish your placket and sew the button through both layers.

[@xbaczewska4197]

I'll bet that idea would not please Roxanne! It would not please me either. I would feel like I had left out an important part of the sweater-as-object--as if I had decided not to knit the second sleeve!

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Yeah, that has been suggested to me almost every time I mention that I don't unbutton my cardis, but I always want to leave the opportunity available to do so! :-)

[@GabiO-r4h]

Dear Roxanne, why don't you just ask people on Ravelry, if they would like tho sell you the yarn you need, when they do have it? Even if the yarn is not labelled ad "to sell" - I never think about actively selling my yarn - not even the leftover-yarn, when a project is finished. Not, because I am really needing it, but simply because I am not in the yarn-selling-business. I just wouldn't think about, which yarn I really do need for a project with different leftover yarns. If I have no plans with it and someone would need it, it is highly probable that I would sell it on demand. - I wish you a wonderful advent- and Christmas time. With greetings from Germany - Gabi

[@audreyh3809]

Great episode!