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
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55:38
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55:38
Dogs, Chickens, and Rag Rugs
In this episode we talk about dogs, chickens, projects, and have a pop-up prize drawing for our 250th episode. Our Summer Spin In is underway and the Finished Object thread is now live. 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 Socks: Using Patons Kroy sock in the colorway Blue Striped Ragg. Finished first sock and cast on second Spinning: Another combo spin, this time with fiber from Pat Eisner that she put in the destash room at NoCKRs. Have spun two skeins of worsted weight yarn about 660 yards. I have refilled three bobbins and am about to ply into a 3-ply. Spacetime 18: Heidi Kirrmaier. I plan to use my handspun Flowers From My Garden, but the project is on hold. Simple Shawl by Jane Hunter. Using my Into the Whirled handspun. Rag Rugs: Bought self-healing mat and cutting tool and cut three queen sheets into 1” strips. I’ve wound the warp. I plan to make two 24”x36” rugs. Deer Scarf: Ben and his roommates rescued a concrete deer lawn ornament. I am making a red scarf for the deer to wear this holiday. Weaving Studio: It’s a work in progress. If you have Netflix I recommend The Quilters. Kelly’s Projects Finished the armband for dog shows that I was making using tablet weaving I have warped to make and name plates for each dog’s crate. But I only have about an inch of plain one color weaving on the band. I’m using 3/2 perle cotton spirit yarn in black and gray. I'm using Linda Henrickson’s pattern from my Handwoven library. The pattern can also be found on her website here and then click “free instructions.” Fireweed Sock sock two is still in the leg. I love the way the colors are striping. Still spinning the 2018 CVM that I’ve been carding since November. Finished three skeins (162 grams) and have two full bobbins of plied yarn from the second round of plying. I still have about 100 grams of blue to top up the bobbins. I have another batch (240 g) with more red to spin when the blue is done. I started 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’m on the second band of the lace pattern. 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.
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1:17:05
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1:17:05
Tell Us How You Really Feel!
Lots of project updates and lots of opinions in this episode. Plus, our Summer Spin In is in progress and information about the Monterey County Fair Wool Show. 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 The Weekender: by Andrea Mowry. Finished. Used Cascade 220 in colorway Wine. Socks: Using Patons Kroy sock in the colorway Blue Striped Ragg. Finished first sock and cast on second Spinning: Another combo spin, this time with fiber from Pat Eisner that she put in the destash room at NoCKRs. Have spun two skeins of worsted weight yarn about 660 yards. Filled two more bobbins with a third to go before plying more. Spacetime 18: Heidi Kirrmaier. Using my handspun Flowers From My Garden. Now nervous about casting on with my handspun. Maybe I should just make a shawl where fit is less of an issue. Considering Simple Shawl by Jane Hunter and using my Into the Whirled handspun. Weaving Studio: It’s a work in progress. Rag Rug Handbook by Janet Meany and Paula Pfaff. Interweave Press 1996 Kelly’s Projects Izzy doll bears progress: Four finished bears have gone to school. Creating the faces was fun. I haven’t been back to check the table and see if they are gone. The flat bears are still flat and I still have one on the needles that hasn’t been touched. Too much spinning! New Projects: Tablet weaving to make an armband for dog shows and name plates for each dog’s crate. I finished the dog paws–two bands with seven paws on each band. Each one is about 12 inches long. I made a prototype of the armband with some leftover ribbon and plastic from a sheet container. I'm using Linda Henrickson’s pattern from my Handwoven library. Pattern can also be found on her website here and then click “free instructions.” Fireweed Sock number one is done. Sock two is past the ribbing and into the very simple patterning on the leg. I love the way the colors are striping. Spinning the 2018 CVM that I’ve been carding since November. Finished three skeins (162 grams) and I’m on round two of filling the three bobbins. Almost finished refilling the second bobbin. Love the dyed-in-the-wool look of the overdyed gray! Started washing the rest of that CVM fleece with an all day and overnight cold soak. I have plans to comb at least some of what is left. Locks are long enoughIt’s a really nice fleece, especially for $8.50/lb but there are some second cuts and tender sun bleached tips causing some neps. This fleece was purchased in 2018 so it is one of my oldest. Swatching for the Lace and Fade Boxy by Joji Locatelli. I’m planning to use a merino silk handspun MPD in Color group 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 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.
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1:20:27
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1:20:27
The Double Episode
Oh boy, do we have a lot to catch up on! It's been almost a month since we last recorded so we have a very long episode this time. So long it wasn't edited, just put up as is. Lots of finished projects and new projects 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 The Weekender: by Andrea Mowry. Using Cascade 220 in colorway Wine. Finished the sleeves and still have to finish the sewn bind off on the back neckline. I need some solitude to do this but there has been none available this past month. Socks: Wisdom Yarns Wacki Saki Finished. Spinning: Into the Whirled roving in colorways Welcome to Litchfield and The Traveler. Finished! 573 yards. About finger weight. Socks: Using Patons Kroy sock in the colorway Blue Striped Ragg. I discovered the balls are only 160 yards. Adding red heels and toes with Cloudborn Fibers Superwash Sock Twist from Craftsy. Was a giveaway at Stitches a few years ago. Halfway done on the foot of the first sock. Spinning: Started spinning another combo spin. Fiber from Pat Eisner that she put in the destash room at NoCKRs. Have spun two skeins of yarn, 660 yards total and about worsted weight. Kelly’s Projects Izzy doll bears progress: I continue to make the tubes and have stuffed four of them. I have two others finished but unstuffed, and a fourth on the needles. Sidewalk loom progress: Cloth apron is on and the rods are secured with texsolv. The back beam has five texsolv cords and I’m thinking I need a couple more. I finally cleaned up the reed and put it into the beater. I’ve washed and will reuse the texsolv cords used to tie up the treadles. I think I will cut a few more for spares and while I am at it I should cut some for the LeClerc tie up, too. The sticking point is going to be stabilizing the right side of the loom between the castle and the back beam, but I hope to have this loom ready to warp soon! Finished the skein of Wensleydale x Cormo x Merino with the silk spun into it. I started this at the NoCKRs retreat in April with some leftover fiber I found from a previous project. I will use it for an accent color when I knit with the original project yarn. New Projects: Tablet weaving to make an armband for dog shows and name plates for each dog’s crate. I’m using a makeshift warp weighted set up using clamps to hold my work in place and a variety of things attached to the warp to hold my tension as the warp hangs over something handy. I have one part of the armband completed, need to make another one of those and then do the names. Pattern has only lower case letters so I may need to do a little drafting to get the capital B for the dog names. Using Linda Henrickson’s pattern from my Handwoven library. Pattern can also be found on her website here and then click “free instructions.” Fireweed Sock number one is almost done. I am ready to start the toe of the sock. I love the way the colors are striping. Spinning the 2018 CVM that I’ve been carding since November. I have two bobbins and I’m about to start the third. I’ll card more of that fiber before I start the third bobbin so I can continue with the mostly blue-green fiber. Summer Spin In Now until September 1. All spinning and making with handspun yarn counts. Preparing fleeces also counts. Let’s go!
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.
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