Episode 36: Captain's Log

A Playful Day is kindly sponsored by Superknits, now with a super new website. Please show your support for our playful friend by clicking on the link above- go on, spoil yourself!!!.

A Playful Day is also kindly sponsored by NorthboundKnitting, uniquely hand dyed yarn, spinning fibre and modern knitting designs. Please show your support for our playful friend by clicking on the link above.

A Playful Day is proudly sponsored by Candy Skein, hand dyed yarns sweet enough to eat! Please support our playful friend by supporting the banner above.

Show notes:

There will be podcast over the next 2 weeks but check the playul group thread for whether or not it'll be on time as I have no internet! Thank you to the many well wishes and plenty of chatter that kept me sane whenever I could log in.

The Gifted Athletes along is happening and there's great prizes to be won from Gynx Yarns, Brenda Castiel, Circes, Super Knits, Melanie Gall and pom pom Magazine.

We welcome new blog sponsor pom pom magazine!

The winner of 'The Market Vegan' by Laura Gesin is: CindyMen (10th commentator on the blog).  Please drop me an email st the usual address to claim your prize!

Off the Needles 
Round Head in a Square Hat by Elstetto using sock scraps and Super Knits Mary, Queen of Socks in the Bob Marley colourway. .
Eris by Lisa Mutch using Tactile Fibre Arts Bolinas Sock in the Pomegranate colourway, Tactile Fibre Arts Temecula Sock in the Wild Crafted Colourway and a hand dyed skein of silk merino fingering weight.

On the Needles

Annular by Woolly Wormhead using Artist's Palette Merino Cashmere DK.
Cozy Little Toes by Judy Kaethler from left over sock yarn.

Songs:

Fly, Fly, Fly by Adrina Thorpe, available on Music Alley
TwentySomething by Jamie Cullum.

Contact me at: aplayfulday@gmail.com
RSS Feed

To Monteray, With Love

I have blogged on more than one occassion about my best knit friend. She's adorable, she's a rock and she absolutely makes me smile all the time. I think that qualifies her as damn knit worthy but as I've blogged before, I always hesitate about what on earth to knit her.

This time I was determined that on her birthday, I was going to give her the perfect wrap. I'd yet to knit her a shawl or something similar and we discussed that we were bored of small triangular shawls for a while. She was leaning towards big and luxurious and possibly in strong neutral colours whenever we chatted about recent designs we liked. The challenge was set and I secretly started plotting. 

There were a few options but I went straight to my favourite designer and of course, returned there after looking around and realising that if you want classic, stylish and simple designs, you go to Lisa Mutch. Lisa is behind Northbound Knitting, a sponsor and adored friend. I think she's fab and what I like about her designs is her ability to think about long lines, pleasing contrasts and the soft unending appeal of garter stitch. I chose Eris and I think I got it right. 

Eris is a long, asymmetric shape that provides blocks of colours. I was convinced and I set about shopping in my stash to see what I could find. Three colours are tricky, especially when you're trying to match another friend's colouring. I chose two easily but the third? I hope I got it right: gun metal grey, a soft beige/ natural and a pop of red. 

I'll be reviewing the yarns in the next podcast but for now just wanted to share how much I enjoyed working on this pattern. I really hope it's worthy of my lovely friend.

New Sponsors

I made the decision to take on blog sponsors a few months ago as a way to support competitions, prizes, postage and packaging etc etc and I promised myself that I would think very carefully about who I invited to join the playful family. There's lots of great talent out there and I love the response I get from listeners and readers so I wanted to add a diverse bunch of indies that would appeal. 

This month I'm welcoming pom pom quarterly magazine to the fold and I'm so excited for them. pom pom is a quarterly publication based in London, UK for smart, creative types who like knitting patterns with a modern aesthetic, great photography, and interesting writing. They're also into lots of other types of crafts and music, fashion, art, food, and just generally making the world a little more beautiful with the things we make. That's something I can get behind.

Issue 2 has just been published ready for Fall and it's a goodie. Packed with beautiful colours, inspiration and fun, I was really taken with the smooth way they've handle the tricky 'follow up' that often comes after a stellar first hit like their premier issue. They nailed it quite frankly and I can't wait to see what the future holds for this pair. I'm sure you'll show your support to help keep the lights on here and enjoy a real fresh new way of presenting crafting. I love it.

I Do as I'm Asked

It was recently observed that the blog has been low on George pics of late. Well, far be it for me to disappoint his adoring fans. 

Here's a few snaps of what happens when you share the back seat of the car with a George creature. First he becomes uncontrollably wild with excitement to be that close to his humans. 

Then he flakes out, exhausted.

It's hard being a loved pup.

Episode 35: Just Keep Swimming

A Playful Day is kindly sponsored by Superknits, now with a super new website. Please show your support for our playful friend by clicking on the link above- go on, spoil yourself!!!.

A Playful Day is also kindly sponsored by NorthboundKnitting, uniquely hand dyed yarn, spinning fibre and modern knitting designs. Please show your support for our playful friend by clicking on the link above.

A Playful Day is proudly sponsored by Candy Skein, hand dyed yarns sweet enough to eat! Please support our playful friend by supporting the banner above.

Show notes:

There will be podcast over the next 2 weeks but check the playul group thread for whether or not it'll be on time as I have no internet!

The Gifted Athletes along is happening and there's great prizes to be won from Gynx Yarns, Brenda Castiel, Circes, Super Knits, Melanie Gall and pom pom Magazine.

There is a special offer on patterns currently in Brenda Castiel’s pattern store. To honor her sister, who is battling ovarian cancer, she is donating all proceeds from pattern sales for the month of Aug 2012 to the Cancer Society. In addition you can get 20% off with coupon code AUG20.

Off the Needles 
Double Bump Dishcloth by Missy Anguswith Rico Design Creative Cotton.


On the Needles
Round Head in a Square Hat by Elstetto using sock scraps and Super Knits Mary, Queen of Socks in the Bob Marley colourway.
Annular by Woolly Wormhead using Artist's Palette Merino Cashmere DK.

Munch, Burp Schlurp
I review Laura Gesin's ebook 'The Market Vegan'. To win a copy, please leave a comment here in the shownotes or pop me a message on Ravelry by 5th September 2012. Good Luck!

Songs:

Fly, Fly, Fly by Adrina Thorpe, available on Music Alley
Devil May Care by Deanna Rueben available on Music Alley.

Contact me at: aplayfulday@gmail.com
RSS Feed