Our Home-A-Long is underway. Join us as we create home items for ourselves or someone else's home. We have finished objects and updates on our projects. Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android. Listener Caroline recommended the movie Alive and Kicking. Here is a link to the movie on YouTube. Marsha’s Projects Elinya by Ambah O’Brien: Finished! I started this shawl in March 2018. I was about ¾ done with the picot bind off when I stopped and I have no idea why. I used Hazel Knits IArtisan Sock in the color way Sassafras and Jorstad Creek Cornwall in the colorway Flamingo. Simple Shawl by Jane Hunter: Finished! Used Michael’s CWD in colorway San Francisco Fog. Again, no idea why I stopped. The shawl was finished except for washing and blocking. I started the shawl in March 2018 and finished the knitting in August 2021. Socks: Using Red Heart Heart and Sole in colorway Black Jack. Finished first sock and knitting on leg of the second sock. Mountain High: Heidi Kirrmaier. Using my handspun Flowers From My Garden. About to start the garter stitch edge with measures about 3.25”. Managing color when I change balls. Deer Scarf: Ben and his roommates rescued a concrete deer lawn ornaments. I am making a red scarf for the deer to wear this holiday. Added fringe to beginning edge. I have knit about 8 feet. Sheridan Flats Spinning: Purchased 24 oz of 80/15/6 if wool*/mohair/silk roving in the colorway Kaleidoscope. The owner said to spin at a worsted weight for best results. The mill is Olympic Yarn & Fiber located in Cosmopolis, WA. Weaving Studio: It’s a work in progress. Kelly’s Projects Moose Hat for Moose It was a fun, one week project that I started on his birthday and finished a week later. The pattern would also make a good pillow. Cathy suggested to decrease faster than the pattern calls for so the hat wouldn’t be pointed. I used that suggestion and got a traditional beanie/toque shape. Natural Dyeing Experiments Elderberry leaves gave me a very light yellowy tan. I was hoping for green. I may have heated the dye pot too quickly. I simmered and then soaked a dyepot of walnut shells and hulls for about a week and then dyed with it. Heating and cooling the pot twice over the course of a day. Then I left the wool in to soak for a couple days. I got a darker brown than with the leaves, but not as dark as I thought I would get. Sort of a medium brown. Next up is loquat leaves. Spirit Yarn Hat #7 is finished using mostly a white skein of acrylic DK. A small amount of striping with a purple leaning brown and a pink. Hat #8 is at the crown. It is a bright pink. Wound the warp and dressed the loom for the chenille rug project. This project was inspired by Kelli who made one for her travel van. Instructions are in Summer 2024 Handwoven. Swatched with handspun from Jazzman, “Judith says perfect fleece.” Haven’t decided on the vest I’ll make, but I’ve done a search with my gauge to find the patterns that might work. Home-A-Long October 1st to December 31st Make a home decor item in your craft of choice…knitting, crocheting, weaving, or any way “you can think of to play with string.” Some ideas for projects could be pillows, afghans, rugs, towels, teapot or mug cozies, potholders, dishcloths, bags,..... Winter Weave-A-Long Now through March 31
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1:10:05
Our Home-A-Long Is Here!
Join us in our all new Home-A-Long starting October 1st. Details are in the show notes. Plus, in this episode we have a big finish, travel adventures, and our usual project updates. Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android. Marsha’s Projects I attended the 2KnitLitChicks Podcast Get Together in Lake Tahoe, NV from September 18-21. I learned the lake is divided by the california nevada border and we were on the Nevada side. About 20 attendees. We stayed at the retreat center Zephyr Pointe. Really fun event and very well organized for a first time event. I can only imagine how much work was involved. At the retreat Deb (meedah1) taught us how to make Japanese Short Rows. So easy! This is going to be my go to short row technique from now one Socks: Using Red Heart Heart and Sole in colorway Black Jack. Finished first sock and knitting on leg of the second sock. Mountain High: Heidi Kirrmaier. Using my handspun Flowers From My Garden. Cast on before heading to retreat but made a mistake. Suppose to cast on with larger needle, switch to smaller needle for nine rows of garter stitch, and then switch back to larger needle. I knit it all with the larger needle. Then got to the retreat and tried to do short rows. Oh boy, what a mistake. My counts were way off. Came home and unraveled the whole project and started over. Deer Scarf: Ben and his roommates rescued a concrete deer lawn ornaments. I am making a red scarf for the deer to wear this holiday. Added fringe to beginning edge and knit about 48 inches. Weaving Studio: It’s a work in progress. Kelly’s Projects Izzy Bears are finished and dropped off at school! Weaving in ends on the Lace and Fade Boxy by Joji Locatelli. Using a merino silk handspun along with a skein of Sincere Sheep Vernal (silk/linen). Love the sweater, love the fit. Finished Combing the remaining CVM. I’ve brought it in for fall spinning. Natural Dyeing Experiments Toyon gave me yellow and orange depending on how long I soaked the leaves. Dried tan oak leaves from a long ago camping trip and walnut leaves from the backyard gave me light brown so I’m letting it continue to soak this week. Lambtown Festival Lambtown is October 4-5 (workshops start Oct 2) in Dixon, CA. Home-A-Long October 1st to December 31st We haven’t had a contest for knitters or crocheters in a really long time. It’s time to make that right with a Home-a-Long. Make a home decor item in your craft of choice…knitting, crocheting, weaving, or any way “you can think of to play with string.” Some ideas for projects could be pillows, afghans, rugs, towels, teapot or mug cozies, potholders, dishcloths, bags. The sky’s the limit!
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1:00:55
Came Home with Only Good Memories
Our Summer Spin In has finished and, oh boy, did we all have fun! So many great projects were entered. We announce the winners here and Kelly reports on her visit to the wool auction. Plus, Marsha has a big finish. Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android. Prue Hill recommended the BBC’s Food Programme on butter that aired last month. Shout out to Littletownknitter–Tracy who is recovering from surgery. Bailey finished her Companion Dog (CD) title. Marsha’s Projects Rag Rugs: Finished! Planned on two 24”x36” rugs. Final size 28”x32”. Such a fun project! Socks: Finished! Paton Kroy in colorway Rag Rug. Socks: Using Red Heart Heart and Sole in colorway Black Jack. Working on foot of the first sock. Mountain High: Heidi Kirrmaier. Using my handspun Flowers From My Garden. Deer Scarf: Ben and his roommates rescued a concrete deer lawn ornaments. I am making a red scarf for the deer to wear this holiday. Weaving Studio: It’s a work in progress. Spent some time cleaning the studio after the rag rug weaving. Weaving creates lots of dust, threads, and pieces of fabric. Cleaned desk and set up sewing machine which I think will work well for sewing. I’m trying not to buy anything for the studio but find what I have around the house and make it work. Kelly’s Projects Started and finished spirit yarn hat #6. Took it to the college free table even though it was muggy and 70-ish this week. More Izzy Bears have ears! Still almost finished with Lace and Fade Boxy by Joji Locatelli. Using a merino silk handspun along with a skein of Sincere Sheep Vernal (silk/linen). I’m on the ribbing and using a 1x1 broken rib based on Marsha’s suggestion. Fireweed Socks are finished and have been worn. Love the color! Continued Combing the remaining CVM. Debating washing the stickiest leftovers of this fleece or consigning them to the compost and calling the combing done. Washing and Processing Ernest (2017 fleece) Still carding the first batch this fleece with silk. Still have to finish washing the last couple batches. Natural Dyeing Experiments I dyed three small white skeins from spirit wool (about 150 g) with fig leaves. I pre-mordanted the wool with alum, rinsed it and let it dry. Then I put it in a dyepot that had simmered for many hours. The result is a greenish gold. Future natural dyes from my yard—toyon leaves/twigs, ceanothus leaves/twigs. Also have some dried tan oak leaves from a long ago camping trip. Another possibility is to vary the water I use. I may experiment with ocean water. My tap water is quite hard so playing with the pH of my water is another possibility. Summer Spin In Prizes Listen to hear if you won! Lambtown Festival Lambtown is October 4-5 (workshops start Oct 2) in Dixon, CA. 2KnitLitChicks Podcast Get Together Lake Tahoe, CA, September 18-21
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1:20:33
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1:20:33
Control My Impulses
There is still time to finish projects before our Summer Spin In ends on September 1st. We have a few finished projects and lots of fiber prep to discuss. Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android. Marsha’s Projects Simple Shawl by Jane Hunter. Finished! Used my Into the Whirled handspun. Socks: Using Patons Kroy sock in the colorway Blue Striped Ragg. Turned heel and finished gusset of second sock. Spacetime 18: Heidi Kirrmaier. Using my handspun Flowers From My Garden. On hold. Rag Rugs: Finished threading the reed plan to start weaving today. I’m making two 24”x36” rugs. Deer Scarf: Ben and his roommates rescued a concrete deer lawn ornaments. I am making a red scarf for the deer to wear this holiday. Weaving Studio: It’s a work in progress. I brought two prints to the framer yesterday that will go in the studio. Kelly’s Projects Almost finished with Lace and Fade Boxy by Joji Locatelli. I’m using a merino silk handspun along with a skein of Sincere Sheep Vernal (silk/linen). I had a mistake in the lace pattern somehow because my stitch counts got off so I ripped back about 4 inches and am back on track. Fireweed Sock sock two is on the second foot. A definite candidate for finishing during the two PD days at school before students start. Continued Combing the remaining CVM. I have two-pitch wool combs from Red Barn Farm from long ago. I had about 1.5 lbs left of the fleece that I plan to comb. So far I have about 150 g of combed top. With about 50% waste I figure this is about half done. The remainder of the fleece is very sticky and needs another wash. Washing and Processing Ernest (2017 fleece) I’ve rewashed two more batches of about a pound each. These batches are less matted and will be easier to pick. I also started carding the first batch. All have been through the carder once. I decided to add silk to the second round of carding in this batch. My plan is to prep this so that I have a fall/winter spinning project. Natural Dyeing Pelargonium leaves–orange leaning beige on CA Red fleece and barely beige on BL cross fleece. Purpleleaf plum leaves–pink leaning beige on Tunis yarn and Shetland from suint bath experiment. On both I mordanted the yarn with alum. Future plans from my yard—fig leaves, toyon leaves/twigs, ceanothus leaves/twigs. Also plan to try some dried tan oak leaves from a long ago camping trip. Summer Spin In Now until September 1. All spinning and making with handspun yarn counts. Preparing fleeces also counts. We’re close to the end! Monterey County Fair Wool Show See page 31 of the exhibitor handbook for these details. Wool Auction: Labor Day, Monday, September 1. At the Community Stage rather than the Livestock pole barn. Auction goers get into the fairgrounds before the fair opens to the public. Enter at Gate 3, auction starts about 11:30 but there is open viewing time for at least an hour or so prior. I think I arrived about 9 am last year. Lambtown Festival Lambtown is October 4-5 (workshops start Oct 2) in Dixon, CA. 2KnitLitChicks Podcast Get Together Lake Tahoe, CA September 18-21
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1:07:20
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1:07:20
Less Wool to Put in My Will
Kelly has finished a monumental spinning project. We have lots to discuss about our projects, dog shows, summer house projects, and general summer fun. Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android. Marsha’s Projects Spinning: Finished! Another combo spin, this time with fiber from Pat Eisner that she put in the destash room at NoCKRs. About 1,000 yards of 3-ply worsted weight yarn. Cheviot Top: Finished! 8 oz braid of Cheviot Top in hot pink. Have 572 yards of 2-ply fingering weight. Socks: Using Patons Kroy sock in the colorway Blue Striped Ragg. Finished first sock and halfway down leg of second. Spacetime 18: Heidi Kirrmaier. Using my handspun Flowers From My Garden. On hold. Simple Shawl by Jane Hunter. Using my Into the Whirled handspun. Rag Rugs: I put the warp on the loom and threaded the heddles. Now I need to thread the reed, and sew fabric strips together. I plan to make two 24”x36” rugs. Deer Scarf: Ben and his roommates rescued a concrete deer lawn ornaments. I am making a red scarf for the deer to wear this holiday. Brought on an overnight trip and had my friend Sue knit on the scarf. Weaving Studio: It’s a work in progress. Kelly’s Projects Fireweed Sock sock two is still in the leg. Worked on it while the handspun sweater was in a time out! I am back to working on the Lace and Fade Boxy by Joji Locatelli. I’m using a merino silk handspun along with a skein of Sincere Sheep Vernal (silk/linen). I had a mistake in the lace pattern somehow because my stitch counts got off so I ripped back about 4 inches and am back on track. Finished spinning the 2018 CVM that I’ve been carding since November. Total yardage isn’t calculated, but I spun almost 700 g (1.5 lbs) of yarn. I have three colors. Dark and medium blue-green and then a red-purple. They were all dyed with the same dyes and the colors were blended in the batts. Combing the remaining CVM. I have two-pitch wool combs from Red Barn Farm from long ago. I had about 1.5 lbs left of the fleece that I plan to comb. So far I have about 120 g of combed top. I timed myself to see how long it took to comb an ounce (28 g) of fiber. It took about 45 minutes and I got 4 balls (about 14 g) of combed top. Slow process with lots of waste. But the fiber is really nice! Washing Ernest. First time processing merino. Very greasy. Six 1 lb batches. Overnight cold soak of the whole fleece. Two very hot washes in a pot on a burner using Dawn. Two very hot rinses. Still greasy. Two batches got an extra wash and seem a little felted. International Tour de Fleece YouTube binge: Mijn Wolden: Jente spins and dyes mostly local Belgian wool. She does all the fiber crafts with her handspun. Etienne is somewhere in Québec. He spins on a Canadian production wheel. Also watched Knitting with Ève (Montreal) and Piiamt (Estonia) Tour de Fleece content. Summer Spin In Now until September 1. All spinning and making with handspun yarn counts. Preparing fleeces also counts. Let’s go! Monterey County Fair Wool Show See page 31 of the exhibitor handbook for these details. Fleece Judging: Saturday, August 9, 9 am at the Fairgrounds. In person at the Fairgrounds in the wool room and on Zoom. Message me if you want the Zoom link. Sheila January is judging. Handspun and handcrafted judging is usually the next day, same time and location. Wool Auction: Labor Day, Monday, September 1. At the Community Stage rather than the Livestock pole barn. Auction goers get into the fairgrounds before the fair opens to the public. Enter at Gate 3, auction starts about 11:30 but there is open viewing time for at least an hour or so prior. I think I arrived about 9 am last year. Lambtown Festival Lambtown is October 4-5 (workshops start Oct 2) in Dixon, CA. 2KnitLitChicks Podcast Get Together September 18-21 at Lake Tahoe, CA
Who are we and why are we podcasting? We are Kelly and Marsha. We came at yarn and fiber from different directions, but we both love it. Marsha is an accomplished knitter, learning to dye yarn. Kelly is a spinner who knits and weaves. Fiber is one of the many interests we share after over 30 years of friendship.
Netherlands