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The ladies from Creative Warehouse and their Kuku knitted dolls Many thanks to Jan Anderson super yarn rep of “All About Yarn” for inviting me to NENA. She is a gracious host and very proud of the yarn companies that she reps. Also, many thanks to the folks at Blue Heron for giving me a table and hanging out with me during the day. Thanks to those of you who sat down with me at NENA, including: Monica from Stix and Stitches from Montclair, NJ (the better Montclair) Helen from Mt. Laurel Yarn Boutique in Sturbridge, MA Cynthia from Knitting Central in Westport, CT Janet from Country Village Yarn shop in Groton, MA Laura from Creative Fibers in Windsor, CT Elissa from Creative Warehouse in Needham, MA Other stuff I talked about during the show: Knit out 2008 in Lexington on October 5th from Noon to 5pm Y Knit Podcast has a great episode about the Men’s Spring Knitting Retreat Finally: Franklin Habit is speaking at the first Common Cod Fiber Guild meeting on September 12th

Here is what WWKIP 2008 looked like in Boston: Behold, David Sedaris’s willy warmer This is swatchy Watch out for these guys when knitting in public Check out the birds dirty work Finally, I saw this later that day at Foxwoods and had to share: Here are some links from the show: Boston Hand Made Sarah Mac Band Wendy’s Modest Dress

Today’s show is all about the Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Show. My three Guest will be participating in the event which happens over memorial day weekend in Cummington, MA. It’s a great show and if you are in the new england or New York area it is a great way to spend the day. My punkin and I had such a great time last year that I offered to help promote the show this year. I am glad I did, it has made for a great chance to meet some new people and catch up with friends. I hope you enjoy the podcast and come out to Cummington to check out the sheep show. In this episode I speak with Gale Zucker one of the authors of Shear Spirit. She has traveled to many farms and has brought back the stories and photos of people living their passions. She will be signing books on Sunday morning at the Botanical Shades booth. My second guest, Andrea Colyer, is one of the owners of Greenwood Hill Farm. You may remember Andrea from episode 33. We catch up a little and talk about the MA Sheep show. I also gush about how much I love the Merino yarn that she makes on her farm. My final guest, Louise Walsh, of Evergreen Farm shares her stories about being in the small and fuzzy business. She is a crafty and powerful force in the bunny business and has a lot to tell us about how wonderful the community at the MA sheep and wool is. Thanks to all the vendors who were willing to be on the show. I hope that we get to visit in the future in person.

First, many thanks to my special guest/co-host Susan B. Anderson. She is the wonderful author of Itty Bitty Hats and Itty Bitty Nursery. She is also one of the first people in the knitting world to trust me with a book review, even after listening to the show. I love her books and can’t get enough of them. Susan joins me via phone/skype and Alasdair mans the sound board for me. (My apologize for the sound, but I tried my best…) Alasdair also is the voice of the chat room who joined durring the live… live… live… recording. Other things that came up during the show: Viking Chicken Hat Lucinda Guy Roo Designs Debbie Bliss Elizabeth Zimmerman Susan’s Booties Saartje Booties Candi Jensen Erika Knight The Knitted Farmyard World of Knitted toys Finally I would also like to thank Hapto for turning me onto her sister’s new CD, go and check it out. I played The Bird Song and C’est Noye from her new album Chameleon by Victoria Vox, Hapto’s sister. one more thing… I am going to start a summer hope chest knit a long, I will put up some notes on this in the coming weeks

On today’s show I sit down with Annissa at Stitch House Dorchester. Her store is the newest kid on the block in Boston. It’s a great space and a lot closer than I thought. The song I played is Don’t Loose Touch by Against Me. Finally, I am working with others on starting a Friday night knitting guild in Boston and we need space… if you work at a local college or large corporation near a T stop and can provide some space, please email me at podcast at itsapurlman dot com.

This episode is about Google Maps and Marthaâ€s Vineyard Fiber Farm. Susan, from Marthaâ€s Vineyard Fiber Farm, explains how a sheep CSA works and tells us about the vibrant agricultural community on the Vineyard. Also, Go to the Inaugural: Marthaâ€s Vineyard Fiber Fest April 19, 2008 at the New Ag Hall in W. Tisbury The event will run from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you are doing a day trip from Boston or other points in Massachusetts my friend Alanna is organizing a trip. There is also a weekend package if you are interested that can be found on the fiber festival website. I am still collecting entries for the 50 episode drawing which will now include fun toys donated by my friend Hapto, some books, and some fiber…. To add yourself to the entries please comment on this episode letting me know when you have added a review to Google Maps for your LYS (I will believe you because fiber people are an honorable sort, right). If you would like to learn more about how to do the Google map edit thing please check out the Google Tutorial(it’s not as cool as my demo, but it will do). Finally, if you would like to record an intro for my 50th episode, or record your version of the purl man song I would be happy to play it on the 50th episode. Please send it to me at podcast[at]itsapurlman[dot]com. oh yeah… LIVE…LIVE…LIVE EPISODE 50 APRIL 20TH 11:00AM EST http://live.yahoo.com/itsapurlman SUPER SPECIAL SECRET GUEST (VIA PHONE) There will be a live drawing for some good stuff that was not included in the big drawing.

Todays episode is a little bit of rambling on my part about Pawsox stitch and pitch and wecansolveit.org. Tink and Wink sit down to talk about there shop Yarn’s in the Farms. Music today was provided by Dust Rhinos (Jedi Drinking Test) more show notes later.

  My special guest Sarah (Haptotope) joins me for a little two year gittyness. I have been working really hard to get this out, I have also been working really hard to get some much needed excercise in so I don’t get mcuh time at night to work on this and need to get some sleep. I will update the show notes tomorrow night. also… there is a drawing for lot’s of good stuff please listen to the show for information about the drawing. also… there are lots of fun people at the end of the show who I would like to thank… Kat at Let’s knit 2gether has some video of the show being put together. Intro Music Please send in what you want tree knitting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33gMlGkw1xY   http://www.haptotrope.com/crafty/foliose/Page1.html bike gang http://www.scul.org etsy/flickr/ravelry: haptotrope.etsy.com (check sold items) www.flickr.com/haptotrope www.ravelry.com/haptotrope Pluckyfluff/ INtertwined: Pluckyfluff.com   http://www.amazon.com/Intertwined-Handspun-Patterns-Creative-Revolution/dp/1592533744 Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band www.ensmb.com www.myspace.com/ensmb

Jackie at Wild and WoollyOn todays show I feature an interview with Jackie of Wild and Woolly. Today’s show was broadcast live and it was a lot of fun, I hope that people join me as I try this again next Saturday, time is going to be TBD. Yarn-a-lot z of znits podcast Sherril of belle of ball podcast Cath of Anglesey UK, emailed me and asked that I share he blog with the group www.knitterscarlet.blog.co.uk News Stuff Luflic “In the round” Chair, felted or stitched Upcoming events MARCH 29 The Official Boston Yarn Party Stash Swap – 11-4 at the Somerville Public Library (main branch on higland) survey Flickr APRIL 19 Martha’s Vineay 26 Gore Place in Waltham MAY 3-4 Maryland Sheep and Wool 4-5 New England Needle Arts Trade Show (like TNNA only here) 10-11 Newhampshire Sheep and Wool 16-18 Men’s spring knitting retreat 24-25 MA Sheep and Wool JUNE 14 World Wide Knit in Public Day ?? JULY 7 Stitch and Pitch Lowell spinners email jhealy@lowellspinners.com MUSIC Cheers To You by Dust Rhinos

On today’s show: I yarn-a-lot about my current projects and 2008. I play a recording by Queer Joe and share info about the Men’s Knitting Retreat. Then I sit down and talk with Betsy of A Loom With A View in Newburyport, MA. Finally I rant a little about my Fat Nano and stuff. Here is the Powerful weaved bag that Betsy talks about on the show, love the colorway. Here is a link to the Hemlock Ring Blanket project and the KAL at WEBS. Here is a link to the Mostly Merino site where I made the Very Simple Shawl project. This was a great first shawl project, so fast, so easy, so pretty… I have a new. simpler email address for you to send me your thought, podcast@itsapurlman.com. I have also updated my flikr account.

This episode concludes the interview with Allison of Circles Knitting Salon. This episode continues to explore her knitting store dream and what has become of it since she started the store. The annual Bazaar Bizarre is Dec. 9th. Nicole the Geek has started a group for It’s a Purl Man listeners on Ravelry Pam of Lick My Sticks is holding court at Eva’s Yarn Shop in Fairhaven, MA on Dec. 9th at 10am. It’s a Ravelry brunch, but even if you are not a member yet I am sure that you are welcome to join the knitting mayhem. (oh yeah, this is episode 43 not 42 as I say in the show. What can I say… at 6:00am I can’t count)

This episode is the first half of a story told by Allison about her knitting store dreams. Alison is a pillar of knitting in the Boston area. She runs Circles, teaches knitting at her store and during the knit-outs, is a mother of a fantastic and funny little girl, and is always a welcome presence at any knitting circle. Her story echos the hopes and desires of many knitting folk. Basically, she wanted a place to knit with others without having to say a word… really what more do any of us want… (except then to blab on about everything…)

Hey all… I have a new show… Alasdair joins me on the show to talk a little about Double Knitting and I flub my way through a wrap up of the last couple months. MUSIC End of the world is by The Crabs Lost my way is by Matthew Ebel UPDATED NOTES: Alasdair is working on a Dragon Shawl which his girlfriend has dubbed Trogdor Ewan (who I met at PodCampBoston2)recommends Hector & Russell for purchasing a Sporran. Tom Bihn is the place to get the Swift knitting bag, the StuffIt: Yarn Stuff Sack, ClearlyOrganized: Clear Organizer Pouch (so much better than zip lock). I am running a drawing until Dec 7th for a StuffIt bag,post or send me your thoughts about lightness or heaviness of knitting and how that plays out in your life (listen to the show for more details). Alasdair tells me a bit about Double knitting, his Ravelry DK group, suasage hats and more. I forget the word trivet and my love for the Interweave Style Series.

Patience, by lovely friend who is on team chuppah… joins me in a little literary episode(live from her yarn den). We review Cast On, Bet’s Off and Casts Off by the Yarn Harlot. The rest of the show goes real political. We ponder what the election holds for us Knitters and what we, as knitters, should expect from our candidates (free the hemp and don’t let foreign yarns get too expensive). Check out this entry by the Subway Knitter also thinking about the upcoming election and the link to the Slate article. Let me know what you think about the upcoming knitting election. Does anyone know if there is a knitting reflief group for Peru… How can I help? This week’s drawing is about knitting literature. Please comment about how you think knitting could be incorporated into a book. Can it be a part of good literature, do you have a favorite? other: Loom With A View(Newbury) (saw some fair trade yarn goodness there)(need a link) Rhinebeck (get on the bus) Yes Dear!! Mostly Merino (simple shawl for my pumkin) Yes Dear!!

In todays episode I hang out with Julia and do a little catching up. After my usual rambling we talk about her upcoming event, The Fiber Revival. It’s a event that is going to happen next week!!! Go check it out. The winner of the Charmed Knits Book is Phyllis. Music: How The Wind Must Feel by Amy Kuney