Sweaters through the decades: progress in a long-term project // Casual Friday 4-49

[@KellyVaughnDocumentGeek]

Thank you so much Roxanne for sharing about Number Knitting g with your viewers! I’ve been working on this project for six years and just yesterday found something in the end of the book that I’d never noticed before. It was a discovery by one of Bellamy’s correspondence students, who was able to take the technique even further than Bellamy. Number Knitting is truly a gem of a book. If people want to learn more about the book, I’m posting videos on my KZbin channel explaining the techniques. I started with reading the entire introduction to the book, so people can know what Bellamy had in mind, and her it in her own words. Introduction To Number Knitting in the Author's Own Words kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6rUm2aajc95aKc

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Ah, that's great, Kelly! I didn't know you had a YT channel, as well.

[@KellyVaughnDocumentGeek]

I was thinking a great topic for an episode would be a discussion on vintage yarn types. I have about a half dozen mid century knitting books and most of them list about 80 different yarns scotch floss, wool floss, germantown, etc. It’s tough to know what those correspond to in modern yarn weights. And sometimes, the gauge isn’t listed in the patterns. So knowing neither the yarn weight nor the gauge can make it very tricky for the knitter. Some sort of a guide corresponding old yarn names to modern yarn weights would be amazing!

[@karenstewart8818]

RE: Tidbit #6: I live in Hollidaysburg, PA and there is a small farm (Underhill Farms) who raise sheep (Leicester Longwool) and Angora Goats to produce wool locally. They do not spin it locally, but do wash and hand dye it for sale. I have two skeins and the labels include all the names of the sheep and goats who provided the wool. I just love 'knowing' the sheep who have me such lovely wool to produce hand knits. I hope you and your family have/had a lovely Christmas.

[@daliamcclintock1491]

Working on a cowl (Cat Bordhi pattern) with wool from Gulf Coast sheep raised @ Middleton Place, a national historical landmark for its formal gardens. I also happen to work there! The sheep roam our greensward so I try to guess which one donated their fleece to my project. I believe it was shorn on site, perhaps spun and dyed as well (rose madder). I was so happy to find in their market! Next project uses Portuguese wool to make outfits for an expected grandchild who will be 25% Portuguese. Can’t wait to read the book about sheep!

[@debracisneroshhp2827]

Wow! Lot's of stuff__great podcast! Lot's of links to check out, too! Thanks for all the research you do and share with us. On another note, the photos of your daughter and her partner were fun to see. The balaclava looks great on her and the loooong cowl looks great on Sam__he resembles "Teddy" Roosevelt in the last shot! 😹 Looking forward to seeing your '60's sweater finished, and your new collaboration project on it's way, as well. BTW, it's always nice to hear (a) husband's appreciation and 'input'(participation) in your passion for knitting, etc.__I guess he's a keeper!😹 💖🙌🙌🙌😺

[@debbieconrad6616]

Your daughter is a beauty!! Thanks for all that you share. You are such a wealth of knowledge and so down-to-earth. Merry Christmas!

[@christybradley4]

Greetings from Atlanta! I love delving into the Why behind things and it’s fantastic to have your curated finds for us every week. Thank you for your curious mind the effort you put into seeking out all kinds of interesting information. Re: Tidbit #6 - I found a LYS in Oakland, CA when visiting my aunt who lives there named A Verb for Keeping Warm. They have a number of in-house-produced yarns that they made by collaborating with individual farmers, so there is a pretty granular view of where the yarn came from. They also have a complimentary podcast for many of their yarns where they interview individuals who own part of the process in producing that yarn. The podcast is named Reverberate. In relation to the granular specificity of information you have about each hank of yarn, they also include what ingredients were used to dye the yarn which they do in-house too.

[@thestitchcafe8295]

Maybe a good topic would be vintage Christmas stocking patterns. I saw in the Facebook group "what the heel" some were knitting vintage patterns of those. :) on a side note, I truly enjoy your casual Friday videos and all the projects you are always working on.

[@cindymitchell6525]

The bounce of the yarn.

[@bridgetchristianson8706]

What a wonderful and fully packed episode. I always find the information you share fascinating as well. Thanks for another great year of podcasts! I’m looking forward to following you on your next endeavor and to finish it February.

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

Happy holiday season ! Thanks for your podcasts all year long. I love the yarn from Fleece & Harmony in Prince Edward Island Canada, They have their own sheep, their mini mill and they do all the processing, from sheep to shipping

[@CarrieMtn]

You are always so interesting. I adore your podcast. I’m also in love with the blue skies of northern New Mexico. Thanks for keeping me company this morning.

[@barbarasmith6436]

Thanks for a really interesting episode - I didn't expect to find one on Christmas Eve! I had heard of Virginia Woods Bellamy and Number Knitting before from Susan Strawn, who gave a talk on the subject at the In The Loop conference in Winchester (UK) in 2018. There's also an article by Ann Braaten and Susan Strawn in the November-December 2019 issue of Piecework, with photos of wonderful garments designed by Virginia Woods Bellamy using the Number Knitting method.

[@BlackPixelDustt]

I believe the first crochet hooks made of steel were actually needles. I have antique steel crochet hooks that are extremely sharp, like a sewing needle, and the hook is only the bent and flattened end of the needle. I believe there are images out there that show the antique technique of each stage of how the needle is formed. So... I believe sewing needle machines were modified to produce crochet 'needles'. It is likely that this happened after the rise of irish crochet and fine crochet lace occurred. (I collect vintage and antique crochet hooks. I have... dozens.) Some of the hooks I have don't have handles, and the handle is made from the hook cover. I'm guessing that people that have a community tradition of antique crochet are more likely to call crochet hooks "crochet needles".

[@noodlebeeful]

I was thinking of you & Finish It February the other night as I was going thru my bins. I've had a couple of UFO sweaters that I had tucked away. I like the yarn but not the way it worked in the sweaters so I spent the evening frogging & rewinding the yarn. My mother is always horrified when I mention frogging but I find it strangely satisfying to get the project / yarn out of limbo. My reward was to look for patterns (especially smaller projects) that use the yarn.

[@Loyal-cat]

Stone Wool is another American yarn company based in Maine. They have single breed yarn from farms in the US. I have purchased two breeds- Coumo and Delaine merino. Stone Wool spins the yarn using a different technique.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

What do you mean by "a different technique"? Is it a woolen spun yarn, rather than a worsted spun?

[@JoshBombFiberArts]

Brooklyn Tweed includes the city or county where the wool is sourced, the city where it is spun, and the city where it is dyed. In some of their yarns, it even tells you where the yarn is scoured. These all happen at vastly different areas, but all within the United States. I actually really love working with their shelter yarn; the woolen spun targhee-columbia wool.

[@paulagrnsy]

I can't wait to follow some of your links!

[@melindaloustalot6975]

Pretty much after the Yarns at Yin Hoo series, every book mentioned experienced a huge jump in price.

[@karendiesner5008]

Dear Roxanne, thank you so much for all the hard work you put in to your wonderful podcasts. I watch every one with great enjoyment and I find out loads of interesting stuff that is going on in my home country (England) that I would otherwise not have known about! You have continued to give me technique things to think about over the years as well, even though I have been knitting for a very long time. As a fellow spinner also, I am enjoying watching you explore the possibilities of spinning your own yarn - a very interesting journey, I can promise you, with pitfalls as well as triumphs! So I’d like to wish you a very Happy Christmas and all the very best for the New Year, 2022.

[@carblarson8868]

Happy Holidays.

[@cindymitchell6525]

Thx. I have seen some of your yarn videos. I totally forgot about yarn sub. I found my answer and was relieved and surprised.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Wonderful!

[@renatehaeckler9843]

You were talking about the crochet "needles" and I started thinking that a crochet hook on an interchangeable needle set would be so fantastic for picking up stitches, especially for steeked projects where you want to pick up stitches before you cut it open by pulling the thread through from the opposite side to create the stitches. So I looked it up and there's a style of crochet called "Tunisian Crochet" that uses a crochet hook with a flexible cable attached to the other end, so then I wondered if anyone made crochet hook tips for interchangeable needle sets that fit the cables we may already have, so you can pick up stitches with the crochet hook then replace it with your knitting needle tip to knit the next row, and Knit Picks has them for around $5 and they fit the interchangeable needle sets that most of us already have.

[@anncarinben-halvorsen5259]

Knit pro has Needles and hooks that interchange whit cabels

[@NatsAstrea]

Hi - just a quick FYI - "Follow the Flock" is available through interlibrary loan at my local library, and it may be available at yours! Support your local library!

[@Fionac203]

I just checked out the ebook version of this publication from my local library, so it seems to be readily available. It's very enjoyable and informative so far. Thanks for the tip, Roxanne!

[@maryannc7223]

What an extra treat! I thought there was no Casual Friday this week. I am looking forward to Finish It February. Last year I had a lot of multi-color blankets with ends that needed to be woven in, but this year I have some projects that still require some knitting. More than that, I need to go through the FIF sorting process. Thanks to you, Roxanne, I have made a lot of progress in my knitting skills this year and my confidence about more difficult projects - like large things have have to FIT!. I recently completed my first adult sweater and working on another. They are pretty easy as sweaters go (no button band) but it’s progress! I hope you have had a happy holiday season!

[@gabriellespanke]

We need to have Just Evaluate It January as the precursor to Finish It February.

[@candygrubisic]

Now that was quite the unusual sweater and looks it would have taken forever.

[@gailstringer1158]

Love that 1890s sweater! Looks like a boatload of yarn!

[@aggierowe9574]

Happy New Year Roxanne! Another great and informative video.

[@sonjanordahl3158]

Thank you for the Christmas Eve Casual Friday pod cast. I recently came across a new sock heel construction method I thought you might be interested in. Elaine's Happy Heel, it is in Ravelry and looks interesting. I have not knitted it yet. I'm currently working on perfecting my afterthought heel construction. But I think I will try this one next. Happy Holidays.

[@distaff2935]

Fascinating. Looking at the breed specific yarns you linked. I used to work on an organic farm in Louden County VA. Currently living in NM. Small world. Love the piece you knitted for your daughter - very chic!

[@SewRunKnit]

As always you fed me wholesome fiber facts. I’m very interested in the February KAL. I’m going to see if I can find more details from your past episodes so I can prepare mentally before 2021 ends. Some of my goals have to be in writing before 2022 begins. Cheers!

[@beepbopboop3221]

Yeah, Solitude Wool is local Va Wool. 👍

[@lydiadaugherty5171]

Happy Winter Holidays!!

[@Loyal-cat]

Thank you for such a nice review and great show. Merry Christmas 🎁

[@eileen5631]

Hope your feeling better. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[@kidakido6041]

I am very interested in your series. That's what I really wanted to know. It's just sad that my English isn't fluent.

[@karenb136]

So many interesting tidbits! Loved the pics of your family modeling their garments you made. Have a Merry Christmas Roxanne! Looking forward to the new year watching your videos. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge.

[@cindymitchell6525]

I wonder if u have a video on the bounce or lack of it for diff different projects. I always appreciate your videos. Thx.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Are you asking about the elasticity of yarn? I do have a playlist on Yarn that talks about various yarn constructions and their qualities. There is some information about general elasticity.

[@connieorenstein2965]

Looking forward to doing Finish it February in 2022 - will be my first time. I'm afraid that I may have too much to finish in one month, but it will good to tackle the pile with purpose.

[@Neeena.beeena]

Great photos from Santa Fe

[@debracubitt6191]

Hope you are feeling better Roxanne

[@mirandaflores5247]

Gracias por tan estupenda información

[@smallishkae]

Re: biscuit art I follow a sculpture artist named Tina Yu who has recently been expanding her practice into the realms of confectionary. She has a very whimsical aesthetic that translates beautifully as intricately decorated sugar-cookies, moon cakes and cupcakes.

[@quiltnana116]

Hello from westernColorado! I just discovered you on KZbin, and have been binge watching past episodes. You put such a variety of interesting content in your podcast! I do have a couple of questions that I would live to hear more about. You briefly mentioned dealing with arthritis in your hands in an episode from a couple of years ago. If you have any advice or recommendations for helping with this, I’d live to hear it. Second, you’ve mentioned your charting software. I’d like to know which one you have, and more detail on how you use it. I rarely knit a pattern as it’s written, and I’m wondering if this could help me when I’m having to recalculate due to size or gauge issues, or when I’ve just decided to change something. Thank you so much!

[@RoamingwithRover]

I love the idea of finish it Friday rather than putting my UFOs off til I finish other items. Thanks!

[@enacrt]

Can knitting run Doom?

[@6WaysFromNextWed]

Roxanne: ". . . something that started 70 years ago--" My brain: "Huh. She didn't mention anything about the '20s. Wait. 70 years ago would've been the '30s. But she said something about the 1950s--OH MY GOD." My body: "Let's talk about this 'menopause' thing you've been avoiding."