Today’s episode is sponsored by Knit Dizzney 2014, hosted by us, the KnottyGirls Knitcast and Dizzy Blonde Studios. Knit Dizzney is set for September 7, 2014 at the Disneyland Resort. Keep listening for more details, including Knit Dizzney exclusives!

Catching Up: (00:47)

Jen got her wisdom teeth out and there are some complications, but she's healing. She watched a lot of television while recovering: The Legend of Korra, West Wing, Buffy, and Adventure Time. She has been spinning on her new Schacht Matchless. She is working on some Knitpicks Full Circle Roving in the Fawn Colorway. She wants to update her stash and WIPs on Ravelry.

Laura has been dyeing a lot: some mini skeins for the Slipped Stitch Studios cross-over club, Sunnydale Yarn Club, Mean Girls Yarn Club, the colorway for Camp CogKNITive, and the Knit Dizzney colorway. She and her family are still mourning Tony's uncle. She and her dogs survived 4th of July; a Thundershirt was a big help. She went shopping for fabric for the Knit Dizzney project bags. And she has been watching Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, and Buffy Season 2. And she finally saw Maleficent. We're both looking forward to the new Annie.

In the Knitting Bag: (18:48)

Jen has been working on her Ginny’s Cardigan by Mari Chiba from Unofficial Harry Potter Knits out of Wollmeise Pure in Chim Chim Chimney for Camp Loopy Month 2. The pattern is written for DK weight, but she is doing it in fingering. She knit two sizes larger than required and added four stitches to each front. It's a bottom up yoke sweater and she finished to body up to the armholes and is working on the sleeves. She's also working on her Heirloom Layette Set by Kerin Dimeler-Laurence for the new baby niece out of Cascade Heritage in Snow. She started with the blanket. And she is working on a Playful Stripes Cardigan by Alana Dakos for the new baby out of Cascade 220 Superwash Sport out of teals and pinks and greys.

Laura is working on the Down the Garden Path Shawl by Michele DuNaeir in Lambie Toes in Special Hell.  She is working on her Yggdrasil Afghan by Lisa Jacobs out of reclaimed Berroco Vintage Chunky in Chocolate.

Finished Objects: (27:08)

Neither of us has finished anything. But that's okay, Jen finished a sweater last episode, so there. Jen and Laura both definitely need to block their Leftie shawls, and Jen needs to block her Hitchhiker. Jen has discovered the wonders of using the spin cycle to get water out her sweaters and let them dry quicker. We talk about using salad spinners, tabletop spinners, and spin cycles to dry yarn and knitwear when blocking.

We talk a little bit about blocking resources, including the Craftsy class and TKGA classes.

Devil's Tower: (33:04)

Laura pulled out the Knitted Scale Mail Gloves by CraftyMutt. She is making the pair for her step-daughter first, because the scale pattern is easier than the pair her step-granddaughter wants. The mitts are in worsted weight yarn, so they'll go really quick.

Frog Pond: (34:27)

Jen can knit lace when she's on painkillers. She can't treadle when she's on painkillers. Or spin. Honestly, just don't try to practice new stuff when you're on drugs. Apparently practice matters with these things.

On Deck: (37:45)

Jen wants to make the Beulah Cardigan for Camp Loopy Month 3 out of Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in Dried Rose, the Dump Truck Cardigan from 60 Quick Baby Knits for her nephew, the Little Coffee Bean Cardigan for the new baby of indeterminate sex, and Rock Island by Jared Flood.

Laura wants to pick up her husband's mitts again (she found her pattern notes). She wants to make a Dreambird by Nadita Swings out of either Dizzy Blonde yarn as a booth sample, Ink by Hanna Maciejewska out of Dizzy Blonde Studios Superwash Sock. And she wants to make an Effortless Cardigan by Hannah Fettig out of Dizzy Blonde DK.

Knit Culture: (42:32)

June's Theme was Matriculation and we had a lot of great entries for it. The prize is two patterns–the beautiful InfiniTAM donated by the amazing Deborah Tomasello and the Tan House Brook Shawl donated by BostonJen of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast (which you should all listen to, because it’s awesome. The winner is hudgensf!

July's Theme is Music, so post your entries in the thread.

We answer a two-part question from Innagoddadonita.

A while back, I remember Laura saying that she was pulling the needles out of a project & trashing it because the yarn was falling apart (likely because it was acid burned). How can you tell if yarn is acid burned?

We both agree that it is more likely that yarn is being eaten by moths or beetles rather than acid burned. Determining if it's acid burned is more of a process of elimination. Acid burning will be localized to one single skein, and it usually not on a huge commercial yarn (acid-burning usually occurs with indie dyers). Unfortunately, critters are more likely. And we talk about damage control for critters. Freeze it, put it in the sun, and then freeze it again.

She also asks about stash storage. She stores hers in plastic storage tubs that are not air-tight, and wrapped in the tissue that the skeins were wrapped in by the shop/dyer. She had some trouble with some 100% cashmere she got on sale at 50% off at a festival. The yarn is falling apart. The dyer suggests that it wasn’t stored properly and that it is dry rotted from the plastic tubs, or that “off-gassing” from the plastic could have damaged it, and recommends storing in acid-free, archival boxes.

We both feel that this is a dubious claim at best (unless possibly the dyer used natural vegetable or plant dyes), but invite the expertise of any listeners with insight. We address how we store our own personal yarn. We recommend going through your stash at least once a year to look for damage (and also to destash yarn you don't love anymore). We want to hear about how you all store yours.

Geek Culture: (58:30)

We talk about a cool article about how to keep pets happy during the 4th of July.

We also share a cool article about how the final dance party on Orphan Black was filmed. And there is a mini version.

And there is a great Handmade Home article on how to make Weeping Angel Barbies.

And last but not least, we'd love to have a discussion about the topic of this article on the ethics of the Buffy universe and how they treat vampires.

And then, inspired by this article about high-tech yarn, we talk about unusual yarns. We mention the Yarn Sisters pearl yarn, the Habu metal core yarns, and this Knit Be Nimble article about biosynthetic yarns.

Events: (1:08:33)

We are both going to the CogKNITive retreat run by Dr. Gemma of the CogKNITive Podcast on July 25. There is an exclusive colorway you can pre-order in Dr. Gemma’s group.

KnitDizzney will be Sunday, September 7, 2014.  Save the date.  There will be exclusive colorways and T-shirts for purchase and we will have a meetup at the picnic spiral.

We will be at Yarnosphere on October 4th and 5th at the Expo Arts Center in Bixby Knolls in Long Beach.

And Jen and Laura will both be at the CogKNITive Fiber Retreat on October 11 in the La Quinta Inn in Tehachapi. Dizzy Blonde will be vending. Sign ups are open.

Our next milestone prize will be at 1000 members, so join the Ravelry Group. And don’t forget to post your finished July projects in the thread!  Keep stashing down!