Podcaster Throwdown (0:38)

Hat Tallies are updated in the Running Tally thread in the Podcaster Throwdown Group.

There is virtual way to participate. You can now donate for your favorite team. Click here and choose your team. $5 is equal to one hat for your team! Each $5 lets Halos of Hope to ship 16 hats to cancer centers and hospitals around the country. The board is all volunteer, so all the money goes to shipping.

Check out Episode 8.5 for Throwdown information.

Check out the Podcaster Throwdown group in Ravelry. There will be prizes for participating in the Throwdown group on Ravelry, courtesy of XRX. Check out the Halos of Hope website and Ben’s interview with Pam Haschke on Fiber Hooligans.

Designer Brenda Castiel has all of her hat patterns and hat/mitt set patterns at a discount until February 28th, just use coupon code HALOS. Also, thank you to Brenda for her generous donation to the podcast.

The February incentive pattern is Tenderfoot. Post in the February Thread in the KnottyGirls Group.

There are some some awesome prizes for participating for Team KnottyGirls.  Check out Episodes 10, 11, 12, and 13, as well as the Prize Page for prize listings.

XRX has some overall prizes:

An Almost the Works Package for any Stitches events in 2014 or 2015 for the person who makes the most hats (no matter what their team is).

An Almost the Works Package for the person who makes the most hats on the winning team.

A Second Patrol membership to the Dizzy Color Sunnydale Yarn Color. This is for the person who sends in the most hats (team captains are exempt).

Team Captains for the winning team will receive fashion show tickets to any Stitches fashion show in 2014 to 2015.

Each team captain will receive a two year subscription to Knitters Magazine to distribute to the person that they decide is their team's MVP.

Send your hats to Purlescence Yarns, tagged for Team Knotty. Shipping information is here.

Purlescence Address:

Purlescence Yarns
your name & the name of your team
564 South Murphy Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94086

Shoutout to El Segundo Slipt Stitchers. We also mention Fiber Hooligan Podcast.

Catching Up: (9:26)

Jen has been working. Her parents came to visit and they had a nice time. She saw a rough cut of a documentary about The Found Theatre and its founder Cynthia Galles, who died from breast cancer. She saw Inside Llewyn Davis, which had some fantastic sweaters in it.

Laura finished Season 3 of Downton Abbey and she is upset about it. (Spoilery discussion ensues). She is working on Nerd Wars stuff for her final tournament (for a while). One of her projects will be part of a bereavement blanket for someone who passed away suddenly. And she has been trying to learn to crochet right-handed.

In the Knitting Bag: (20:00)

Jen is working on her Sweetheart of the Rodeo sweater (her own design) out of Wollmeise DK in So Long Kitty (pink), Shalimar Breathless DK in Snopea (green), and Dream in Color Smooshy in Butterpeeps (yellow). She is also working on a Twistygoo hat by Lisa M. Beamer in yellow Plymouth Encore Yarn and Knitpicks Brava in Blush.  She is working on Barley hat by tincanknits out of Peter Pan Wendy Yarn in Milk Chocolate. And a secret cowl.

Laura is working on a Scallop Hat by JT Creations. She is also working on an Assquack in Berroco Comfort in Licorice.

We also mention the Olivia's Butterfly Hat.

Finished Objects: (26:04)

Jen finished a Twistygoo in Knitpicks Brava in Wine. And she finished a preemie hat out of Baah La Jolla in My Sweet Valentine.

Laura finished a striped hat out of remnants of worsted acrylic. She also finished a preemie hat all in seed stitch out of Berroco Vintage.

We mention the Knitmore Girls Podcast and their preemie hat collection for their local hospital.

Devil's Tower: (30:44)

Laura is taking a break from her Follow Your Arrow MKAL. She didn't choose the right yarn, doesn't have the bandwidth for it, and she will revisit it.

Frog Pond: (32:19)

Laura had to frog her entire 22 Leaves Shawlette by Lankakomero.  Her yarn was acid burned and kept breaking.

On Deck: (35:56)

Jen will be knitting lots of hats and a shawl of her own design for the Ravellenics.

Laura will be doing Down the Garden Path by Michele DuNaier out of Lambie Toes for the Ravellenics. And more hats. And a secret project.

Knit Culture: (39:49)

We talk about the final challenge of the Fibre Factor. Lauren is leading a knitalong of her Owl in One pattern.

We review Cascadia by Amanda Milne and Fiona McLean sent to us by Cooperative Press. We highly recommend this book. It is lovely.

We talk about the Stashdown. February's Theme is Love. Post your finished "Love-themed" object in the thread and you might win a copy of Cascadia courtesy of Cooperative Press. Laura amends her stashdown goal. We announce the winners for January. lasolou13 wins the Stripe it Up Challenge. She will win a collection of our favorite stripey patterns. tygherknits wins a copy of Doomsday Knits for her entry in the Flash Challenge.

We talk about the Ravellenic Games and Team Sasquatch. It's not too late to join.

Geek Culture: (1:06:22)

We talk about the Twelfth Doctor's new look. We both approve.

Flags Made with Traditional Foods.

There is a new Firefly comic out.

Laura is really excited about the new trailer for Maleficent movie. Jen is somewhat underwhelmed, but open-minded. We mention Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman.

Events: (1:15:11)

We will be at Stitches West, which is February 20-23 in Santa Clara, CA at the Convention Center.

You can use the coupon code W20 to get $2 off a marketplace ticket.

Dizzy Blonde Studios and Skeindalous Yarns are sharing a booth (booth 906 and 908). The Dizzy Blonde booth is a collection point for Halos of Hope hats for Team KnottyGirls (the final collection point!). With prizes! Shout out to the Purlescence Girls (who have the booth across from us) and we are right next to Halos of Hope (Booth 904) and across from Purlescence.

We will be doing a meet and greet Saturday 12:00-1:00 at the Dizzy Blonde Booth.

At the Dizzy Blonde Booth there will be products from:
*Dizzy Blonde Studio
*Skeindalous Yarns
*Hiya Hiya
*5elementknitr
*RKs Mom
*Jamie's Metalworks
*Jelby
*Cards By Erika

Follow KnottyLa on Twitter and/or Dizzy Blonde Studios on Facebook for Flash sales.

There is a podcaster meetup on Saturday from 4:30 to 6:00 in the Hyatt bar or a nearby meeting room. Come join us!

Games to play at Stitches West:

*Stitches West Passport Game
*Stitch Marker Swap (Laura and Jen are both participating)
*Yarny Poker Run

Our next milestone prize will be at 1000 members, so join the Ravelry group! And don’t forget to knit hats and donate.