Hello friends! Welcome to my fiber arts podcast. This is where I discuss my knitting, crochet, and spinning projects with any fellow fiber artists who are keen to listen. The handmade life is a wonderful life, isn't it?
The fiber arts have been a part of my life in one form or another since I was a young girl. My grandmother taught me how to crochet (and knit, although that one didn't exactly stick at the time) when I was around the age of eight. Fortunately, I am blessed enough to even have a few of her handmade items that I have tucked away for safe keeping.
My family and I live in the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania. We love the beautiful outdoors that surround us and spend a lot of time enjoying the landscape. However, I spend the majority of my free time with yarn and needles in hand. Knitting soothes my mind while at the same time feeding my need to create.
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I love all the summer tops you made. I am also making the Fireside Blanket and first saw it on Little Bobbins podcast also.
Hi Amber: Your tops are beautiful! Well done. The darker colors…the black and strawberry are very flattering on. The coral color does not have the same impact. So curious, since it is one of your favorite colors. Anyway, you have some beautiful knits.
@stephaniefroelich267 hahaha. How ironic! It's so funny how that happens. I love that coral color so much even if it isn't in my color palette for my skin and hair. And many people have said that the charcoal colored shirt looks good on me, and I don't see that at all when I look at myself wearing it. I'm in a weird place right now because I'm stubbornly refusing to accept my grey hair, and so I dye it, and it's been creeping into a very red tone. I've always had red undertones, but it's been more pronounced lately. Maybe the sun has something to do with it! Anyway, thanks so much for watching, Stephanie!
@@alovelyyarn Amber: I have recently embraced my white hair that I used to dye every two weeks. Now my hair is white in the front and gray in the back. It is very curly. People have come up to me and complimented me on my hair. Because my hair color has changed, I felt like I did not know what color pallet looked good on me. So, I paid for a color analysis from Curate Your Style. I am a Dark Winter. I think it has helped a lot to know this. I’m sure as an artist you are more confident about your color choices than I am. What a ramble! Enjoy your knitting and your garden. I’m going to start making a Leela top based on your recommendation.😊
Thank you! ❤
@@robyn3349 thank you for watching!
Interesting that you mentioned the poor zinnia production this year in your garden. The few zinnias I have cut have not behaved at all like previous years. They are dying really quickly and not looking all that good at any point.
hm, I am not sure if the little formula works with anything but inches. (I do find it's not exact enough, though. I rather go with my number of stitches per 4'', then divide that number by 4.)
True. You do lose some accuracy when you divide! I agree.
The reason for the name barber cords is because the woman who thought of them was a barber and wanted other income so that she could retire.
Ha! I had no idea!
Your granny squares look stunning Amber. Can't wait to see the finished blanket.
Thanks!
Hi Amber: Thanks for another awesome, inspiring podcast! Love all your projects. Yes, this year is another bummer garden year. Even my small volunteered Rose of Sharon is suffering and not blooming much flowers. The heat and drought is causing my fig trees to produce not good looking fruits too! I do organic gardening, too. I hear that another podcaster’s garden was a total disaster as well, unfortunately! Wishing you and your family a restful, relaxing, and joyous rest of summer! Happy knitting and crocheting! ❤
I'm hearing tales of garden woe from lots of people this year!
@@alovelyyarn Unfortunately, I hear it will be the norm going forward because of climate change!
It's very nice to listen to and watch you, and I'm not bored with your video at all 🙂🙃🫠 I could watch you more often 😚
You're so sweet! Thanks so much!
I’m always so excited to see when you have posted a video, Amber! The Fireside Blanket is beautiful. I believe Sarah from It is a Sarah podcast is making one too. That kit is around $59 US, which still isn’t bad for all that yarn and such a detailed pattern. I’ll have to bat my eyes at hubby a few times! 😉 I love how you can adjust patterns to fit your size so well. The black does look really good on you but I also love all of the colors of your WIPs that you’ve shown. I hope your heart issue is being resolved. 🌼🌸🌻
Hi Catherine! Yes, I love Sarah's version of the blanket! I noticed that the price was higher than what I quoted on the video. It's still a pretty good price for all of that yarn. I'm wondering if it maybe went up in price? I can't remember it being that high when I bought it.
You are one of my favorite podcasters and I’m always looking for your notifications. I love the top you’re wearing, however, I couldn’t wear it. My arms are not as lovely as yours. I hope you enjoy your day out with your daughter.
You are so sweet, Pam! Thank you!
❤❤❤
All the different types of barbercord smell like that
The pieces that I cut early last week do not smell much anymore, but, boy, was the chemical smell strong at first!
The tank top is great on you. I just started a Yume top in a cotton and silk sport weight yarn. My first circular yoke knit top, wish me luck. Thanks for the info on the app for figuring increases/decreases. I’m just starting to knit garments and hope to learn how to make them fit me.
Hello! I'm so excited for you! Be patient with yourself! It's so fun to be able to make clothes for ourselves!
I too learned to crochet very young, among the first projects was granny squares! I learned that I didn't like ends (even though I was taught how to crochet them into my work) & seaming!! Absolutely can't stand seaming!! Avoid it at all costs to this day!! 🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Yes, the charcoal looks great on you!!!
Hey Patti! I'm with you on the seaming!!! This join-as-you-go method is so convenient!
Love, love the Granny Square blanket.. socks and sweaters are pretty as well..
Thank you!
Love your socks too. Your granny square blanket is going to be beautiful.
Thank you so much!
I love the shell you are wearing and also the Seaborn Stroll. You are not alone, I rarely gauge swatch. I just start the project and then check it. Love the color of the Yume you are making. I’ve wanted to make this tee. You are correct, the benefit of knitting our garments is to adjust them to fit how we need them to. Love the color of your Leela too.
Thank you, Amber for taking the time to share with us! I always look forward to hearing from you and I appreciate your honesty about gauge swatches. 😂 Im sorry about your garden. I live in Virginia and we have had a hard time keeping things alive here with the heat and dry weather.
Oh my word, Lily graduated! Wow, time definitely flies, I think kids just highlight that fact even more. I love your blanket, I so want to learn to crochet, I just don’t know if I have the brain capacity or time to learn anything new right now, not my season 😅
Yep! Last kid to graduate! I feel slightly lost in what to do next! Lol. It will work out though!
I have done that formula for my knitting as well.
Your top reads as charcoal to me.
Yes, it's definitely a charcoal color.
Please note that the pattern is named Seashore (not born) Stroll. You also knit the yoke patterns in a different order. This might be part of why you had such a struggle. I fight gauge every time. A 4x4 swatch is never helpful for me. Now I cast on the # of sts for bust measurement and do abt 10 or more rounds and measure. Then I am assured as I knit the garment yoke that I am doing the correct size for me.
Hello! You are right! I didn't even notice that I said that while editing. I wrote it correctly in the description link, but I was mixing two pattern names when I was speaking! I knit a top called the Seaborn Tee last summer, and I combined the two. I did knit the yoke in order. I just didn't knit the yoke motifs past the wheat pattern. The problem was my gauge was bigger than the pattern gauge. Thank you so much for watching, and for the info on gauge. That's pretty much how I do it now too if I measure my gauge at all.
@@alovelyyarn my picture for this pattern shows the wheat comes before what you knit as second. Just fyi
LOVE the fireside blanket!
@diblust53 oh, that's strange! In the pattern and the pattern photo it is an eyelet section, a pennant section, another eyelet section, and then the wheat section. I left off the last three sections which were an eyelet section, another pennant section, and another eyelet. So the wheat section is right in the middle. How strange that your photo is different!
I'm always happy to see when you've uploaded a new video! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much, Tami!
Hello from Swansea, Illinois.
Hi Janet!
Sage tea helped me immensely with hot flashes xx
Oh, really? I've not heard of using sage for that! Thanks! I'm starting to get desperate. It's slightly embarrassing to break out into a complete sweat and have your glasses fog out while out in public! Lol.
If you search it you will see that it is recognised as effective + it’s widely available so worth a try! I highly recommend it, Amber + wish you all the very best of health + happiness xx
Beautiful pieces, and lots of good info! Another enjoyable episode. 👍🏻😊 I am now also a non-swatcher. With experience I've learned that I can tell pretty early on if a piece is going to fit, or not. I also exclusively knit garments that I can try on as I go along. I suppose I'd find gauge swatches more essential if I were knitting a garment in pieces.
I agree! I think that's why I feel more comfortable now without swatching, and also why I prefer top down garments!
I hope you and lily have a great experience and shopping trip today. I am bummed with my seed germination the last few years. I feel better that it is not just me, unfortunately.
No, Tina, it's not just you. I've had horrible luck with my seeds this year!
Thank you for your knitting helpers and recommendations)
You are so welcome!
Thanks Amber. I agree with the people before me. You are always one of the podcasters I can't wait to watch. You bring sunshine to my life. Thank you. Loved your new knits.
That is so kind, Sue, and really makes me happy! Thank you so very much for your kindness!
❤❤so nice to catch up ,,amber🎉 Missed you ,,, Love that top on you ,,,and ur other tops for summer,,, Wow,,,love that drops fabel ,,,will order it next time I order,, Have fun with Lily,,,,❤❤ ELAINE 🏠💗 Love granny squares ,,too ,have a giant granny square in the go ,holding two fingering sock yarns together,,,really random ,,but love it,,,
Hi Elaine! Oh, I bet that giant granny square blanket is going to be gorgeous! I have a giant granny square blanket that I made several years ago, and it's one of my faves!
Ah! What a lovely surprise mention at the end, thanks so much for sharing my podcast, Amber! I look forward to your videos as well, haha, I immediately pressed play once I saw you uploaded.💛 Btw, LOVE how your Seashore Stroll Top came out (and all the mods you shared to make it work for you). As always, love the projects and info you share! Happy making + hopefully happy gardening!
Hi Mariel! You are a ray of sunshine on the Internet and also make a lot of really nice things! :) Thanks for watching!
You talk about being excited when certain podcasters put out a new video. I know what you mean. I always look forward to your podcast episodes. Thanks for taking the time to do them.
You're the sweetest! Thank you!
I was going to write the same! It’s a joy to watch your podcasts.
@@Mieke256 thank you so much 💓
I’m a Pittsburgh new knitter and I really enjoy your channel. I actually started a channel of my own..as a new knitter. Crazy! It’s under Adventurer Knits. I’m so excited to know about the Pgh Center for Creative reuse. I’m going to visit with my daughter as well!
Hello to a fellow Pitt knitter! We had fun at the reuse center. Be ready to dig around in bins and find all kinds of things! They had some yarn, but I really don't need more of that! I did get some cross stitch fabric and some snaps.
I want to knit the Thea top and I love it in the yarn that you chose. When I was running hot, I wore a lot of tanks with cardigans. I also basically quit knitting sweaters. I'm back to knitting sweaters with lighter weight yarns. I'm knitting a lot of t-shirts and tanks. The Yume was one. The Leela top is in the queue but I still need to find yarn.
So there is hope? In being able to wear pullovers again? Lol. I definitely need to make the transition to tanks with cardis as you did even though I prefer pullovers!
Love your top especially the Ume top and all your wips and that wonderful granny square blanket. Thanks for the inspiration!! Have a blessed week!!
Thank you so much!
Try reading anything by Jan Karon. They are an ocean of wisdom and pleasure. I am 58 and those are the books I love most from all I read throughout my life.
I picked up a bunch of her books at a thrift store last year!
Im working on a lace baptismal gown and am dreaming of knitting such pretty blouses for myself instead 😅
Oh wow! That must be a very tedious and intricate knit!
Just what I needed! Thank you
Just finished a Hinterland (my 2nd) and love it! I love “It is a Sarah” podcast too. As far as the pattern goes - stick the printed pattern together and then you can see the sizing lines. I use tissue paper to trace the size I need and then the original can be used by several people. The directions for the Hinterland were pretty good so they should be good on the estuary as well. Take your time and give yourself grace while learning a new skill. Good luck!
Thanks for the tips!
Just enjoyed Christmas in July here in hot and humid Iowa! Thanks for the knitting entertainment while I hid away in our cool basement. ❤
Thanks for watching!
I had a very low germination from my seeds this year in upstate ny
Me too, Cathy!
The Seashore Stroll will be beautiful in the terra cotta yarn! I have made a few tops in Remix Light and love that yarn (check out the Derecho by Alison Green and Breezeway by Laura Aylor.) I definitely want to knit more garments with Remix; I like your idea about lightweight sweaters for the fall and winter, and I've also been thinking about a cardigan in the regular Remix (not Light.) Also, I love Isabel Kraemer patterns - I've had great success with several of her cardigan patterns as well as the Yume top. Thanks for your inspiration!
That's an easy pick: Amess Tee by Pacific Knot <3
I would make the Tolsta tee.
Knitty Natty (podcaster) did a store tour of Paper crane yarns that you may be interested in.
Thanks for letting me know!
Sock yarn shouldn't be splity. Oh dear. I don't think they are going to last. Sock yarn should be high twist.
Berocco Remix Light… I knitted my first sweater after picking up knitting again in 2017 out of this yarn and I love it! It has held up nicely and I love to wear it on cold nights in the winter (I live in MN) over my pajamas while watching TV or reading. I do have the same problem with getting too hot in merino wool ever since I went through menopause . So I have been looking for yarn in a merino cotton mix which I find way more comfortable to wear most of the time.
After making 3 Ranunculus tops, they stipulate short rows here and there, I have never bothered with short rows and I don’t think they of my knitting friends have noticed, so just don’t worry about it…Anix🍓
Sorry those not they 🙈
I’ve been reading Jane Harper. She’s an Australian author and I’ve enjoyed her books.
Congratulations on your channel monetization. You've been so persistent that someone finally cooperated😂 That's a bummer about your zinnias. We've had such unusual weather this year (probably the wettest spring/summer I can remember) it's possible that impacted germination. Enjoy the contribution you made to your children's success. I have no doubt that you will find more creative endeavors to try with your extra free time. Mary Kay Andrews is an author you might like to try. She sets quite a few of her books in sC & Georgia. I just finished a recent one set on Tybee Island.