The Two Ewes report on their finished projects, new projects, and future projects. Plus, just a few more days of our Summer Spin In. 

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

Poppy Tee: by Jo Cottle. Finished! Used Rowan Purelife Revive in the colorway Loam. Picked up in the NoCKRs 2024 destash room. 

Socks: The Artful Ewe Clackamas. Finished first sock and about halfway through leg of second sock.

Emotional Support Chicken: by Annette Corsino. I've knitted a bit on my chicken. About to start the second stripe.

Pinot Noir Purchase Targhee: I've been spinning the giant (2.2 pound) ball of Targhee roving I bought from an attendee at last fall's Fort Worden Knitting Retreat. I have dyed four batches of fiber at 4 oz each. A little disappointed that the Spruce and Turquoise, and the burgundy and Hot Fuchsia look the same. May take a break and spin something smaller to get my mojo back. 

New Sweater! Started knitting Graphito by Heidemarie Kaiser. Calling it my NoCKRs Sweater since both yarns are the retreat yarns (2023 and 2024). Seismic Yarns Butter Silk and Invictus Yarns Seraphic–both fingering weight. 

Using my new election season project bag from Good Stuff Crafts, Brenda. Check out her store.

Still working on Desert Lavender socks out of Smirligan's yarn. Soft green, purple and natural white variegated yarn. One sock is finished and I'm on the second sock. Top down on birch double pointed needles, size 0.

Finished a 3-ply skein of BFL: School House Rock colorway from Greenwood Fiberworks

Started carding the washed Shetland for my Shetland Suint experiment. I have only about a good day's worth of work to get this carding project finished. I hope to finish the carding before September. I started with about 4 ounces each of washed and unwashed fiber from a suint bath process. 

Maple Vest

Bifurca Vest

Why Knot Tee

Started Memorial Day - Ends on Labor Day

May 27 - September 2

September 26-30

Purl 2 Walla Walla has closed but there will be a pop up shop the weekend we are there. No details but I'm on their newsletter list and will be notified. 

Monterey County Fairgrounds

We have lots of discussion about dogs and house projects, and yes, knitting and spinning. Our Summer Spin-In is underway for a few more weeks. 

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

Socks: The Artful Ewe Clackamas. Finished first sock and about halfway through leg of second sock.

Emotional Support Chicken: by Annette Corsino. I've knitted a bit on my chicken. About to start the second stripe.

Poppy Tee: by Jo Cottle. Using Rowan Purelife Revive in the colorway Loam. Picked up in the NoCKRs 2024 destash room. I've knit about 10" of 13" total for the body.

Pinot Noir Purchase Targhee: I've been spinning the giant (2.2 pound) ball of Targhee roving I bought from an attendee at last fall's Fort Worden Knitting Retreat. Last episode I talked about how the fiber made me sneeze. I removed the outer layer of roving and started spinning again with no sneezing.

Kelly suggested I dye some of the roving so I've dyed 4 oz each burgundy and green. The roving is very thin and delicate. I wound the roving on the knitty noddy and tied it in six places. I tied the roving more tightly than I would for yarn, but I wanted to be sure the weight of the water didn't felt or pull the roving apart. I plan to dye more colors.

Finished: 13.8 ounces of Jazzman (CVM x Merino x Columbia) 3-py. 

Use all the Spinning Tools Challenge: Wyatt Norwegian wheel is now spinning a Greenwood Fiber BFL braid. School House Rock colorway. It will be a three-ply fractal that I plan to use for socks. 

Also started: Desert Lavender socks out of Smirligan's yarn. Soft green, purple and natural white variegated yarn.

Rachel Illsley colorwork sweater patterns.

Started Memorial Day - Ends on Labor Day

May 27 - September 2

September 26-30

Purl 2 Walla Walla has closed so we will not have a meet up there. ☹️

Monterey County Fairgrounds

Our Out of Hibernation Along is underway so join us and bring your hibernating projects into the sunlight. We have one more month of the Winter Weave Along so there's still time to start or finish a weaving project. 

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

Mount Everest Garbage article.

Camella Hat: by Katie Pomper. Using Meeker Street Olive's Outerwear DK in the colorway Dragon's Breath. 

Nanny Meier Tea Cozy: Inspired by Lily Pulitzer colors. Using Cascade 220 in hot pink and lime green. Finished first side.

Fine Sand: by Heidi Kirrmaier. Using West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious in the colorway Claret. Blocked a second time and it fits great. Picked up and started the first sleeve.

Alpaca Shawl: I've woven 36". I thought I would keep alternating twill patterns but I was really struggling getting any kind of rhythm throwing the shuttle. Decided to make larger sections tabby and smaller sections (1-1.5") twills. Going much better!

Socks: The Artful Ewe Clackamas. Halfway down the foot of the first sock.

Baby Surprise Jacket: by Elizabeth Zimmerman. This morning I ordered her digital book that has modifications. 30,000+ projects means it must be a great pattern! I'd like to make a hooded jacket modification. 

Dozens of Little Squares  have four strips sewn together. 

Continuing on the Sockhead Hat with Punk Rock Unicorn Dirty Neon. 

More than halfway done with The Drifter by Tamy Gore, Narrow Path Designs  I'm using Invictus Yarns, Master of My Feet in New Jeans along with Stitch Stuff Yarns Plumpy Stuff in Off the Grid. 

Trailer bedroom curtain project is still in the threading process but I fixed the mistake that first derailed me and I'm continuing to thread reed and heddles. Usually I thread the whole reed first and then thread all the heddles, but because I knew I had a mistake, I wanted to start threading heddles where I could better see the error before I threaded all the dents in the reed and then had to take them back out due to errors. 

Advanced search for people. Hold down the Advanced Search tab at the top and then select people from the choices that pop up. If you have put in your location in your profile you can select a radius of miles and see all the Ravelers within that radius, e.g. within 10 miles. 

February 1 - June 1. Have you started? Find something that has been in hibernation and get it out and do something. Back to active status, frogging and reclaiming yarn, giving away, throwing away, composting–this is spring cleaning for your project list. Check in with your progress in the Ravelry thread. 

Winter Weave Along starts October 1 and goes through March 31. Join the fun in our Ravelry group!

Our first episode recorded while livestreaming! It takes a really long time to talk about nothing… Because we are recording live people will actually see how long it takes! 

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.

Marsha's Projects:

I've knit a bit on my Dusk Into Twilight Shawl by Rosemary Hill. I'm done with the short row shaping and on the last row of stripe before I start the final stripe of lace. I'm using Two Ewes Fiber Adventures Replenish Rambouillet fingering dyed by Kelly in three colors, Bourbon and Suede, Falling Leaves, and Aquamarine. 

No knitting on my John O Groats socks since we last recorded. Using Yarns From the Plain sock yarn.

Learned from a listener Sarah (salpal1) that the correct pronunciation of Isle au Haut is "eye la hoe". The pattern is by Beatrice Perron Dahlen. I'm using Imperial Yarn Columbia which is an aran weight in the color Juniper Green. We discussed in the last episode that the yarn has lots of knots. About 10-15 per skein. I learned from a listener, Sue, that the ranch no longer owns the yarn line. It's great to get listener feedback! Since the last episode I have finished both sleeves, attached them to the body and knit a little over half the yoke. I added eight stitches to the body for 4" of ease and I then had to remove those stitches in the yoke. The yoke has raglan shaping with a two stitch decrease at the four raglans which equals 8 eight stitches. Perfect! I did one extra row of decreases at the beginning of the raglan. Should be hidden there.

What Marsha is currently watching:

Arne and Carlos Daily Quarantine Knitting Podcast

Kelly's Projects:

I decided to keep going on the  Mariannes Cardigan after looking closely at the place where I am alternating skeins. It actually is under my arm when I try it on and it looks ok. It is a pattern by Trine Bertelsen that combines crochet and knitting. 

I've made great progress on the Cotswold Ruana and may even finish in time for the Winter Weave Along end (March 31). I have about 18 inches to go before it is ready to come off the loom for finishing. That will go fast since there are only about 8-10 picks per inch. Then I will hem it and wet finish it. I might not finish that part by the end of March.

I started another scrap hat using sock scraps. I'm down to very few tiny scrap balls. But I have some larger sock yarn leftovers.  I'm using the rest of the skein of Little Fish Stitches Seabrook Sunset yarn that I got at Seabrook and holding along with a cream colored sock yarn that I'm surprised I have in my stash.

Events

Cosmic Crisp yarn giveaway. Thread in Ravelry (finally!). Enter by April 12th.

Winter Weave Along--Started October 15 in the Two Ewes Ravelry Group. This weave along goes until March 31, so it ends in just a couple days. 

Marsha and Kelly are taking an online dog training class from Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. It starts on April 1. 

Yarn talk, pandemic talk, and an eye-opening airport security experience.  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.

Marsha's Projects:

I haven't touched my Dusk Into Twilight Shawl by Rosemary Hill since we last recorded. I'm using Two Ewes Fiber Adventures Replenish Rambouillet fingering dyed by Kelly in three colors, Bourbon and Suede, Falling Leaves, and Aquamarine. 

I'm knitting on my John O Groats socks as we record. Using Yarns From the Plain sock yarn.

We talked so much in the last episode I forgot to mention that I cast on a pullover called Isle au Haut by Beatrice Perron Dahlen. I'm using Imperial Yarn Columbia which is an aran weight in the color Juniper Green. The yarn has lots of knots. About 10-15 per skein. Really surprising that the company thought this was okay. Maybe this is why the yarn was on sale! My bust is 40" and the finished size choices were 42" or 46". I decided to cast on the smaller size but add eight stitches (2") to get 4" of positive ease. We'll see if my math works.

Kelly's Projects:

Finished the Dew Drop Shawl crochet shawl by Silke Terhorst.  My project used a gradient handspun that I made from a Loop Bump in teal, purple, and gray. 

While at Stitches I made great progress on the Mariannes Cardigan that I am making as a tee. It is a pattern by Trine Bertelsen that combines crochet and knitting. I've split for the sleeves and I'm several inches down the body. The pattern calls for no waist shaping and I'm thinking about whether to do a little bit of increasing for a slight A-Line. 

Events

Cosmic Crisp yarn giveaway. Thread in Ravelry (finally!). Enter by April 12th.

Winter Weave Along--Started October 15 in the Two Ewes Ravelry Group. This weave along goes until the end of March so get your projects into the FO thread this month. 

Silberman & Brown is the stationery store Marsha talks about where she bought her desk blotter.

An extra large episode about a trip to Stitches West and a lot of projects and news from Kelly. 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.

Marsha

I finished a pullover called Seven Sisters by Sarah Pope using Baa Ram Ewe Dovestone. Love the fit!

I made lots of progress on my Dusk Into Twilight Shawl by Rosemary Hill. I'm using Two Ewes Fiber Adventures Replenish Rambouillet fingering dyed by Kelly in three colors, Bourbon and Suede, Falling Leaves, and Aquamarine. I cast on the night before I left for Iceland and it was bus knitting. I am a little over halfway done. The shawl is going to be big using 1,500 yards.

Haven't knit a stitch on my John O'Groats socks. 

Kelly:

First, my  newest project: Bailey, a 1-year-old German Shepherd (possible German Shepherd mix). We adopted Bailey in January and we've had her a little over a month. She had a rough first 11 months with about half of them spent fostering in a boarding kennel after the first half of her life landed her in the shelter with no hope of being adoptable.  She is doing great and making remarkable progress. She is also a lot of work! But I'm ready to play dog games again and I'm looking forward to having a young dog in training. We've started doing some training, but we start class next week. 

She likes listening to the podcast! Thanks to whoever it was at Stitches who suggested it as a solution for her anxiety in the crate when the house is empty.

It's been a long time since I've reported in about my fiber adventures. I finished my Habitat Cardigan, a crochet cardigan by Jess Coppom that I made with Lion Brand Heartland. I finished it in time for the first day back for spring semester for professional development. I got more compliments on this sweater than I have on anything in a long time. I wore it belted and with boots. I've since also worn in around the house unbelted and to work with and without the belt. It's a great sweater! 

I also finished Never Have I Ever Socks--Fix or Nix project. I decided to Nix the socks I had started, but instead of destashing the gradient sock blank, I decided to cast on a bigger sock cuff (80 stitiches) and make them long socks. So I started with 80 stitches and decreased with a little calf shaping and they are now finished. I used almost all of the sock blank. What is left is going to be used to reknit the foot of Robert's SF Giants argyles from my argyle class at Stitches 2018. 

Since the last episode I was in I've started and finished a Hat for Walking out of a mini-skein set that I got as a door prize at the retreat. It's a sockhead hat using the full amount of slouch so I could use as much of the yarn as possible. It is replacing my old sockhead hat that is faded and developing holes from sun damage. 

While at Stitches I made great progress on the Mariannes Cardigan that I am making as a tee. It is a pattern by Trine Bertelsen that combines crochet and knitting. I've split for the sleeves and I'm several inches down the body. The pattern calls for no waist shaping and I'm thinking about whether to do a little bit of increasing for a slight A-Line. 

Stitches West 2020

On our way to Stitches, we stopped in San Jose to visit Fillory Yarns, owned by Andrea Haws, who was on Marsha's Iceland trip.

We had a great time! We met fiber adventurers and connected with friends from previous years.

We took a Tunisian crochet class taught by Cindy Craig. Here is a video about the technique.

The marketplace was great again this year. The vendors we spoke with said yellow and orange were the most purchased colors this year. Dusky burgundy continues to be popular.

Some of the booths we thought were interesting were:

Baltic Linen Designs and The Yarn Dynamic

Loop Fiber Studio

The Royal Bee Yarn Company

Red Fish Dyeworks - We both bought skeins of lace weight silk to make socks.

Saraba African Art - We both bought ikat fabric.

We also met Frank Jernigan of Phrancko Designs. He has designed a program to create a custom fit sweater pattern using a top down, seamless "set in" sleeves. On his website is a video explaining the process. There is also a video of Frank being interviewed by Suzanne Bryan.

Apple Fiber Studio  donated a skein of their Cosmic Crisp yarn. Participate in the prize drawing by going to the thread on Ravelry. We'll draw prizes during our first episode in April.  

The second in the Iceland Fiber Adventures series! Marsha and Kim finished their trip and some projects and then head for home.  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.

Kim (KMDesigns) and I had great plans to record every 2-3 days but time, and the need to sleep, meant that we ended up recording Dispatch #2 on the night before we headed home. Therefore, we only discussed what we did that was fiber related but below are links to everything we did.

Uppspinni Mini Mill

Haafell Goat and Sheep Farm

Ullaverkstaedi Wool Shop

Hespa Iceland Colors

Einar Jonsson Museum

Culture House

National Museum of Reykjavík

Thingvellir National Park

Fridhamer Tomato Greenhouses for tour, lunch and Icelandic horses.

Gulfoss Waterfall

Geysir

Farm House and Ice Cream

Lava Tunnel

Geothermal Plant

Selfoss Falls

Black Beach

The Settlement Museum

Glacier Lagoon

Diamond Beach

Djupivogur Fishing Village

Janine Bajus, Pattern Designer,  designed two patterns for us to knit, the Convivencia Cowl and Snowflower Hat. These patterns were free to us but I don't see them on Janine's page so you will need to contact her for the designs.

Winter Weave Along--Started October 15 in the Two Ewes Ravelry Group. This weave along goes until the end of March so you still have plenty of time for weaving projects. 

Stitches West is February 20-23 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. There is a podcaster meetup hosted by Yarniacs and 2 Knit Lit Chicks on Saturday the 22nd in the lobby bar area of the Hyatt (connected to the Convention Center). 

A dispatch from Iceland with Marsha and her travel buddy KimFull 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.

Their hotel was right near the large Church in Rekjavik-Hallgrimskirkja Church.

Rekjavik Food Adventures! Marsha and Kim recommend a food tour as a great way to orient yourself to the city and find out about restaurants you can go back to during your stay in Rekjavik. They visited a famouse Hot Dog stand in Rekjavik, had a fantastic Artic Char at Messin, ate Icelandic rye bread, Lava cake, ice cream, and frozen carmel corn. 

They bought yarn at a few places including the Handknitting Association of Iceland and FK Supermarket in Iceland. All grocery stores should stock yarn! Wouldn't that be great?  They went to more yarn stores, including Handprjon Yarn Shop, Litla Yarn Shop, and Alafoss Yarn Shop.  One of the yarns they saw was a Polish hand-dyed yarn called Martin's Lab Yarn.

The tour was originally planned with Cat Bordhi leading it but the tour leader was changed to Janine Bajus, Pattern Designer.  She designed some patterns that the group can knit along the way.

They visited Blue Lagoon Iceland and tried a few facial masks. 

The group spent a day at Salt Eldhus taking cooking classes while the wind howled outside. The view was beautiful and they were able to see the windstorm while they cooked lunch. 

Events

Winter Weave Along--Started October 15 in the Two Ewes Ravelry Group. This weave along goes until the end of March so you have plenty of time for weaving projects. 

Stitches West is February 20-23 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. There is a podcaster meetup hosted by Yarniacs and 2 Knit Lit Chicks on Saturday the 22nd in the lobby bar area of the Hyatt (connected to the Convention Center). 

Knitting, crochet and weaving are all in full swing! Also a frenzy of casting on for a trip to Iceland. 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.

Kelly's Projects

I'm close to finishing the crocheted sweater! It's the Habitat Cardigan, crochet cardigan by Jess Coppom. I'm making it with the Lion Brand Heartland that is called for in the pattern. The sleeves are on the hook right now and it should be done by the end of the weekend.

I'm still hooking along on the Dew Drop Shawl crochet shawl by Silke Terhorst.  My project is using a gradient handspun that I made from a Loop Bump in teal, purple, and gray. Once the sweater is finished I'll work on this more and get it finished. 

Stashbuster Weaving. Warp problems are fixed! Crowd-sourcing works!  Several listeners helped with this problem. The bottom line is that when warping multiple threads at the same time I need to make sure they don't twist as I put them on the warping board. Winding onto a warping reel rather than a warping board can somewhat alleviate this problem, it seems. That would explain why the warping process in the video didn't talk about this potential problem. I could also use a warping paddle as another potential solution. Or I could go back to warping with one or two threads at a time instead of 4. 

I finished my Christmas cast-on of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. It was from a fun kit that my mom found at her Joann store. The pattern is by Ann Franklin. 

Never Have I Ever Socks--Fix or Nix project: I have resurrected and fixed these instead of nixed. I am knitting them in tandem on dpns and making them longs socks using a larger stitch count to fit on my calves. So far I am really enjoying them. The double sock blank gradient from Invictus Yarns was too beautiful to nix and destash.

Marsha's Projects

I finished Shared Rib by Anne Hanson as a cowl and love it! The yarn,  Old Maiden Aunt fingering in the colorway Crimson Lips, is wonderfully soft. 

I finished the first sock of my John O Groats Socks and have knit about 2" on the second sock. I'm using Yarns From the Plains fingering weight in the colorway Cumbrian View. I bought the yarn from the dyer at the Caithness Craft Retreat in May. The pattern I'm using is the sock recipe from Nancy Lindberg, NL7 Knit to Fit Socks.

I'm getting ready for my Iceland trip from January 17 to February 3. I'm still mulling over what clothes to bring, but I have my projects ready to go!

I'll be bringing a sweater called Seven Sisters by Sarah Pope using Dovestone Baa Ram Ewe from my stash. Pattern starts with a tubular cast on and is straight stockinette until I stop, knit the sleeves and join them to body and begin the yoke pattern. Should be good airplane and talking knitting.

Also bringing a shawl, Dusk Into Twilight, by Rosemary (Romi) Hill. I'm using our Two Ewes Fiber Adventures Replenish Rambouillet in fingering weight. It's a  three color shawl and I'll use Falling Leaves (multi), Bourbon and Suede (Rust), and Aquamarine (aqua). I think the pattern will also be good for knitting and talking.

Because I was in the mood to cast on a sweater and use my stash, I cast on a second sweater called Isle au Haut Pullover by Beatrice Perron Dahlen. The stash yarn I'm using is Columbia from Imperial Yarns. It will be an unusual project for me: an aran weight pullover with a high collar. 

Daphne's Skull designed by Ellen Sibelius of Wooly Wonders hasn't been worked on at all since we last recorded. I thought I would set a goal to finish it by Stitches West the end of February. But that's unrealistic since I will be in Iceland. I will be lucky to get it done in time for the NoCKRs retreat. If I do, I can bring it to Kelly's and use her washer to felt it. 

Giveaway Winners!

Fix It or Nix It Winner won a pattern of her choice up to $12.00

Quarterly Patreon Drawing winner won yarn from Quintessential Knits: Intrepid Otter northwest dyer, Superwash merino sock yarn. Green with navy speckles. Colorway "12" referring to the Seattle Seahawks football team. 

Thank you to patrons who supported us in 2019. Thanks also to the newest patrons Nathalie and Martha. To support us on Patreon go to patreon.com/twoewes.

There are threads in the Ravelry discussion board if you have questions that you would like us to answer. Also, we are soliciting ideas for the kind of contests and "Alongs" that you would like to see in 2020.

Events

Winter Weave Along--Started October 15 in the Two Ewes Ravelry Group. This weave along goes until the end of March so you have plenty of time for weaving projects. 

Iceland January 17-February 3 Marsha and her friend Kim will be travelling to Iceland with Janine Bajus, who will be replacing Cat Bordhi as our guide and teacher on this trip.

Stitches West is February 20-23 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. There is a podcaster meetup hosted by Yarniacs and 2 Knit Lit Chicks on Saturday the 22nd in the lobby bar area of the Hyatt (connected to the Convention Center). 

Part two of the Mega Episode! Marsha's projects, an upcoming trip, and hopes for the New Year. If you haven't heard episode 126, please go back to get all the 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.

When last we heard from the Northwest heroine she had a dilemma. To rip back and use the correct needle size or keep going and bind off, leaving a mistake that probably no one would notice. What did she do? Read on and find out!

Marsha's Projects

Almost done with Shared Rib by Anne Hanson as a cowl.  Old Maiden Aunt fingering in the colorway Crimson Lips. I finished the six rows of ribbing and was about to bind off when I realized the ribbing was suppose to be worked with the smaller needles. Ripped back and knitted ribbing again.

Daphne's Skull designed by Ellen Sibelius of Wooly Wonders is not quite finished.I haven't picked it up since we last recorded. I've set a goal to finish it by Stitches West the end of February because KnittyBarb wants me to bring it to the show.

I'm about to start the toe decreases of the first sock of my John O Groats Socks using Yarns From the Plains fingering weight in the colorway Cumbrian View. I bought the yarn from the dyer at the Caithness Craft Retreat in May. The pattern I'm using is the sock recipe from Nancy Lindberg, NL7 Knit to Fit Socks.

Thinking about casting on a sweater either using New Lanark DK or Dovestone Baa Ram Ewe. Need a project for my trip to Iceland in January.

Fix it or Nix It   Ended the first of January. Neither Marsha nor Kelly got their button bands reinforced, but there were a few fixes for each and Kelly nixed a few pairs of half-finished socks. 

Events

Winter Weave Along--Started October 15 in the Two Ewes Ravelry Group. This weave along goes until the end of March so you have plenty of time for weaving projects. 

Stitches West is February 20-23 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. There is a podcaster meetup hosted by Yarniacs and 2 Knit Lit Chicks on Saturday the 22nd in the lobby bar area of the Hyatt (connected to the Convention Center). 

Fiber Goals--do you have them?

Kelly is interested in the tension between goals, challenges and to-do lists, and the idea that fiber crafts are a hobby that we do for fun. Do you have more fun when you have goals and challenges or when you have wide open choices?  We can discuss this on the Two Ewes Fiber Adventures Group on Ravelry. Come join the conversation!

Marsha's Hopes for 2020

• Health (weight, walking, core, knees, vitamins, attitude)

In this part of the conversation we talked a little about developing habits and the book The Power of Habit

• Fun (fibery stuff, travel, cooking, agility)
• Fiber (colorwork class, Mark's afghan, spinning, more projects for others)

Here Kelly said that she is looking for balance in her hobbies so that she is able to do all of them.

• Decreased governmental chaos

Marsha's distress and anxiety over the state of the country transcends political "sides"  and led Kelly to add the following resource.

Bryan Stevenson on Hope

To hear an excellent discussion on hop by Bryan Stevenson, jump to about 55:30 in this episode of the  Stay Tuned podcast.  Bryan Stevenson is a death penalty attorney who founded the Equal Justice Initiative. He is the author of the book Just Mercy (also being made into a movie). Kelly highly recommends listening to this short discussion on hope. 

Marsha was a Marvelous Hostess for the Holidays and Kelly is considering a career as a Gingerbread Architect! Holiday shenanigans meant the Ewes haven't talked in awhile. This was a MEGA episode but polling in the Ravelry Group led to us splitting this into two regular episodes. This is the first of the pair.  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.

We had lots of catching up to do so the fibery content starts late. Skip to about the 27:30 minute mark if you'd prefer to get right to the fiber adventures. In our conversation about Christmas I promised the Spruce Eats blog links to the gingerbread house recipes. Here they are:  

Structural Gingerbread

Royal Icing

Gingerbread House Tips

Kelly's Projects

My newest cast on is a knitted Nativity from a Kit that my mom got me for Christmas.

I'm close to finishing the crocheted sweater! It's the Habitat Cardigan crochet cardigan by Jess Coppom. I'm making it with the Lion Brand Heartland that is called for in the pattern. I'm doing the ribbing right now and I've made some modifications to the pattern due to my tight crocheting and maybe my choice of sweater size. I don't think that the positive ease is built into the pattern. 

I'm still hooking along on the Dew Drop Shawl crochet shawl by Silke Terhorst.  My project is using a gradient handspun that I made from a Loop Bump in teal, purple, and gray. The rows are getting bigger and bigger as I go so they are taking a long time. 

I finished four towels (out of a warp of six) of my  Stashbuster Weaving. These dishtowels have yellow/gold/orange/brown tones in warp, and I used mostly a cream/yellow cotton weft. My favorite of the four towels I alternated wefts. I used the pattern LDLLD with the cream as the light and a gold cotolin as the weft. I also used pebbleweave and another twill variation so each towel was a different weave structure. They were given as gifts for Christmas. I will have to straighten out my warp before I tie back on. I had some tangling starting to happen and I'm not sure what I did wrong. It's my first back to front warp and also my first time winding warp threads four at a time. Somehow in each bout of four there was twisting and tangling and it was ok until the end of the fourth towel. By that time the threads were so twisted it was affecting their ability to pull through the heddles as I advanced the warp. 

I've made two of the Mash it Up hats from the pattern Marsha talked about in a previous episode. I'm using sock yarn scraps that I had been saving for baby socks. I was tired of having so much and I wanted to deplete the jar. They will be charity hats. 

Marsha's Projects

I finished a Mash It Up hat for Ben's girlfriend using this free pattern by Babs Ausherman that uses sock yarn scraps. Great stash buster pattern. The first hat was too big so I knit a second (middle size) that fits great.

I also gave Ben and Bar each a skein of Shepherd's Wool worsted to knit them an 1898 Hat. I hope to finish Bar's before she leaves on January 9th.

I'm almost done with Shared Rib by Anne Hanson as a cowl.  Old Maiden Aunt fingering in the colorway Crimson Lips. Had a mistake and debated ripping back. Check the next episode to see how this ends!

The sequel to this cliff hanger episode will be published the weekend of January 4th!

Eggnog, Syllabub, and more. Talking holiday drink traditions with Kelly's husband, Robert. Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of  our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Come join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

The Uncle's Eggnog

When Robert's Uncle Phillip died, his dad gave him an envelope of family pictures that Uncle Phillip had. The eggnog recipe was in the envelope so presumably it was part of Uncle Phillip's things. Uncle Phillip and Uncle Jerry had lived together for some years before Uncle Jerry died so we call it The Uncle's Eggnog. We really don't know where it came from or how they used it.  I cut it down to a household size that makes about two quarts before you add in the eggwhites. After adding in the eggwhites it makes about 3 quarts, but if it sits in the refrigerator for a time before you give it away to friends the eggs will deflate and you can use the third quart to make the first two quart jars full again.

Syllabub

This recipe came from a story Robert heard on NPR in 2009 about making Syllabub at Colonial Williamsburg. We made this over the holiday season and were enchanted. It is pretty magical how it turns out.  I highly recommend this for dessert on New Year's Eve. If you wanted to bring a gift of syllabub you could make it in some glasses that you would give to the recipient filled with the finished dessert. Here are three different recipe versions from the Colonial Williamsburg website. 

Podie's Manhattans

The key is a 2:1 ratio of bourbon to vermouth. Another key part of this recipe is to keep the whiskey in the freezer so it doesn't get diluted by ice when mixing! Robert also keeps the glasses chilled when he is planning to make Manhattans. Podie taught him to use Maker's Mark, but he also uses Bulleit Bourbon to make them. The cherries that Robert uses are Tillen Farms Bada Bing cherries. 

Tree Trimming Drink for Kids of All Ages

When I was a child, our family tradition for tree decorating was a punchbowl full of 7-Up and lime sherbet.  Robert and I continued this tradition for years but it became more and more difficult to find lime sherbet. And, let's be honest, we found other drinks! But if you can find the sherbet, or if you want to make your own lime sherbet, put it into a punchbowl and pour cold 7-Up over the top. It's pretty and festive and makes an occasion out of tree decorating!

Thank you, Robert, for contributing to this bonus episode! 

Thank you all for the reviews on Apple Podcasts! It's so nice to hear from you!  Marsha and I will be back next week for a regular episode.

Crochet projects on the hooks and knitting projects on the needles! We're finally back but not with full technology just yet. 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.

Kelly's Projects

I finished two gnomes for my mom using the Oh Gnome You Didn't pattern by Sarah Schira.  I added beards to the gnomes instead of using a scarf. They are really cute with their hands in their pockets and tassels on their hats!

I started a new crocheted sweater! It's the Habitat Cardigan crochet cardigan by Jess Coppom. It's big and cozy and I'm making it with the Lion Brand Heartland that is called for in the pattern.

I've also started a crochet shawl. It's called the Dew Drop Shawl crochet shawl by Silke Terhorst.  My project is using a gradient handspun that I made from a Loop Bump in teal, purple, and gray. 

The Sonny Bono Jacket is once again on hold and in need of another skein of yarn. One sleeve is done,(twice because the first one was way too wide), but I don't think I have enough yarn for the second sleeve and the collar. 

I've also been doing some Stashbuster Weaving. These are dishtowels with yellow/gold/orange/brown tones in the warp, using cream/yellow cotton weft.

Marsha's Projects

I'm working on Shared Rib by Anne Hanson as a cowl.  Old Maiden Aunt fingering in the colorway Crimson Lips. About halfway done.

Daphne's Skull designed by Ellen Sibelius of Wooly Wonders is not quite finished. I finished the teeth on the bottom jaw. Need to knit 16 teeth for the upper jaw. Slow going. Using 000 needles.

Meanwhile, I started a new project! John O Groats Socks are a pair of socks using Yarns From the Plains fingering weight in the colorway Cumbrian View. I bought the yarn from the dyer at the Caithness Craft Retreat in May. The pattern I'm using is the sock recipe from Nancy Lindberg, NL7 Knit to Fit Socks.

Mash It Up is the newest pattern on my needles. Started a hat for Ben's girlfriend using this free pattern by Babs Ausherman that uses sock yarn scraps. Great stash buster pattern.

2019 in Review

We took a look at our Ravelry project pages using the advanced search button and then filtering by Year Finished.  It's a fun way to look at the data in your projects. 

Kelly's Year in Review--Finished in 2019

5 pair of socks (4 shorties, 1 regular, all for me)

9 charity hats from spirit yarn

2 sweaters

1 shawl, a pair of cowls, a shawlette

2 Gnomes, 1 bee, 1 tarantula,10 bears, 1 sugar skull

3 (K)Not Along projects--quilt top and 2 punch needle projects

No finished weaving, finished crochet projects are Bee, Tarantula, and most of the bears.

Almost zero spinning! That's what happens when you break your foot, I guess!

Marsha's Year in Review--Finished in 2019

4 Sweaters

2 Tees (So that's really 6 sweaters!!!!!)

4 hats

3 pair of socks

Events

Winter Weave Along--Started October 15 in the Two Ewes Ravelry Group. This weave along goes until the end of March so you have plenty of time for weaving projects. 

Fix it or Nix It--Starts November 1st and goes through January 1. Join the planning on the Ravelry group discussion board.

St. Distaff Day 2020 is Saturday, January 4th at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, Washington. It is put on by a Chapter of the Northwest Regional Spinners Association. 

Stitches West is February 20-23 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. There is a podcaster meetup hosted by Yarniacs and 2 Knit Lit Chicks on Saturday the 22nd in the lobby bar area of the Hyatt (connected to the Convention Center). 

Progress on the woven square blanket, some trip knitting, a couple new sweater patterns in the queue, adventures in weaving, and we leave you with a cliffhanger. 

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.

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Malabrigo Nube Merino Braids: Finished! Colorway 855 which is a blue green. Approximately lace weight and 1,036 yards.

Camella Hat: by Katie Pomper. Using Meeker Street Olive's Outerwear DK in the colorway Dragon's Breath. 

Nanny Meier Tea Cozy: Inspired by Lily Pulitzer colors. Using Cascade 220 in hot pink and lime green. Finished first side.

Fine Sand: by Heidi Kirrmaier. Using West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious in the colorway Claret. 

Alpaca Shawl: I found four errors in my threading. Had a discussion with Kelly. Couldn't find any information on treadling for a Rosepath warp. All this led to my decision to remove Rosepath threading and rethread with straight draw. I'm getting back on track.

Socks: The Artful Ewe Clackamas. I don't know the name of the colorway but it's red…again.

randomstripes.com

All the squares are sewed into 20 strips of 14 squares.  So Dozens of Little Squares is actually 280 squares.  Four strips sewn together already and it's going quickly. 

Continuing on the Sockhead Hat with Punk Rock Unicorn Dirty Neon. PRU is a German company.

I badly need trip knitting ready to go since I leave on Sunday for an all day flight to Florida! I've had The Drifter by Tamy Gore, Narrow Path Designs in my library for a while waiting to use two particular yarns.  I'm using Invictus Yarns, Master of My Feet in New Jeans along with Stitch Stuff Yarns Plumpy Stuff in Off the Grid. The Stitch Stuff was a gift related to the conference I'm going to, so it seemed perfect to use it now. 

Other designs in Tamy Gore's portfolio are calling to me. London Dusk is a unique take on the colorwork yoke. My attention was also caught by Trelawny, a short sleeve sweater with the wider neckline I like. In both of them I prefer the low contrast versions. 

Yarn Shop Directory (1 shop within 10 miles of my hotel in Orlando) and Road Trip Planner (57 yarn shops between Salinas and Seattle, all within 5 miles of the main route). 

February 1 - June 1. Have you started? Find something that has been in hibernation and get it out and do something. Back to active status, frogging and reclaiming yarn, giving away, throwing away, composting–this is spring cleaning for your project list. Check in with your progress in the Ravelry thread. 

Winter Weave Along starts October 1 and goes through March 31. Join the fun in our Ravelry group!

Technology troubles meant you almost didn't get to hear this episode. But here we are! Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of  our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Come join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

This episode was recorded back on October 29 and is just now getting published due to Kelly's ancient Macbook finally showing its age. Learning a new audio software on a different computer platform meant little editing and a long delay in getting this out to you. We know you'll forgive our recording imperfections so we wanted to get this out to you!

Marsha's Projects

I'm continuing on Shared Rib cowl by Anne Hanson .  Old Maiden Aunt fingering that in the colorway Crimson Lips that I bought at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival.

I'm also working on Daphne's Skull designed by Ellen Sibelius owner of Wooly Wonders. To hear more about her designs check out Episode 109. My progress has slowed way down because I got sick with a cold and the teeth have turned out to be very fiddly. It won't be finished in time for Halloween.

I'm thinking of my next sweater project:

Atlas by Jared Flood

Snow Flower Heidi Kirrmeier

Calder Pullover Rebecca Blair

A shawl using Two Ewes Replenish Rambouillet

Kelly's Projects

I finished Seabrook Socks out of Little Fish Stitches yarn in the Seabrook Sunset colorway.

I started Wooly Wonders Sugar Skull. (This has since been finished)

Sonny Bono Jacket is back in active status. I'm working on the sleeves. 

Events

Fibershed Wool and Fine Fiber Symposium, November 16th, 9-5 at Point Reyes Station

Winter Weave Along--Started October 15 in the Two Ewes Ravelry Group. This weave along goes until the end of March so you have plenty of time for weaving projects. 

Fix it or Nix It--Starts November 1st and goes through January 1. Join the planning on the Ravelry group discussion board. 

Troubleshooting a tricky pattern, productive struggle, and planning to Fix It or Nix It are the topics for this week. Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of  our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Come join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Marsha's Projects

I finished 1898 Hat by Kristine Byrnes with worsted weight.  Leading Men Fiber Arts Box Office Worsted in the colorway Wild Goose Chase. The pattern is available for free on the Seamen's Church Institute: Christmas at Sea website. 

I restarted Shared Rib by Anne Hanson as a cowl. I'm using Old Maiden Aunt fingering that in the colorway Crimson Lips that I bought at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival.

I also started Daphne's Skull designed by Ellen Sibelius owner of Wooly Wonders. To hear more about her designs check out Episode 109. Keep your fingers crossed I finished this by Halloween. ;-)

Kelly's Projects

My only project is the pair of Seabrook Socks out of Little Fish Stitches yarn in the Seabrook Sunset colorway exclusive to String Theory Yarn and Fiber. Using a pattern of traveling purl stitches inspired by Hermione's Everyday Sock pattern.

I moved the spinning wheel into the bedroom but still haven't done any spinning. 

Exciting Shop news

The Ewes have several new bases coming soon to the shop. Besides the fingering weight Replenish Rambouillet, the show will also have a sport weight and a worsted weight. In addition, there will be two small-batch yarns available--one Romney and another Corriedale x Romeldale. We'll keep you posted about a coming shop update. 

Events

Fibershed Wool and Fine Fiber Symposium, November 16th, 9-5 at Point Reyes Station

Winter Weave Along--Started October 15 in the Two Ewes Ravelry Group. This weave along goes until the end of March so you have plenty of time for weaving projects.

Fix it or Nix It--Starts November 1st and goes through January 1. Join the planning on teh Ravelry group discussion board. 

Reviewing the WA Coast Meetup, a fiber mill, inspirations to cure a knitting funk, weaving plans and patron appreciation prizes round out this episode. Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of  our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Come join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Thank you to Jean Chambers at  String Theory Yarn and Fiber for helping us put on the Washington Coast Meetup! We had a great time meeting new fiber friends who felt like old friends right away. The unexpected theme of the meetup was dogs! All the attendees were dog owners, the shop has a new puppy, Marsha brought Enzo, and two of the attendees also had their dogs with them. So a beach run with the dogs was a highlight of Saturday afternoon.

On our way to Seabrook we stopped by Olympic Yarn and Fiber Mill for a tour by the owner Lynn Lipski. She is also the creator of Lina Yarns. We toured her current mill and had a sneak peak at the new fiber spinning mill that she is opening in Cosmopolis, WA. Her operation is very impressive and her vision for providing a mill for local fiber and helping to build the fiber supply chain is definitely infectious. 

Marsha's Projects

I finished Lounging Top by Joji Locatelli. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Juliet. 

I also finished the first sock with  Schahenmayr Regia Design Line by Arne & Carlos. I'm using  Knitted Wit Smarties for the toes and heels. Note: 45-yard mini skein is enough for heel and toe of one sock.

I'm making another 1898 Hat by Kristine Byrnes with worsted weight. This time using Leading Men Fiber Arts Box Office Worsted in the colorway Wild Goose Chase. The pattern is available for free on the Seamen's Church Institute: Christmas at Sea website. 

Marsha's Plans

I started Shared Rib by Anne Hanson back in February. The pattern is for a scarf, cowl, or infinity cowl. I've knit about 4" of the scarf but think I'm going to rip out and knit the cowl instead. The yarn is from Old Maiden Aunt fingering that in the colorway Crimson Lips that I bought at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival.

Halloween is coming! I'm thinking about making the Daphne's Skull designed by Ellen Sibelius owner of Wooly Wonders. To hear more about her designs check out Episode 109.

Kelly's Projects

I'm participating in the Oh Gnome You Didn't MKAL by Sara Shira. I was keeping up with the clues until I went off to Washington for the meetup. The clue that week involved stuffing the gnome so I put the project on pause for the trip and I haven't picked it back up. The mystery KAL is now over so I know how the gnomes look and they're very cute. I'll finish my two in time for Christmas and add a couple more traditional looking gnomes to the bunch, but  right now I'm not in the mood for small pieces, stuffing or sewing. 

I did start a pair of socks at the meetup. They are out of Little Fish Stitches yarn in the Seabrook Sunset colorway that is exclusive to String Theory Yarn and Fiber. It's a very pretty orange and purple combination. 

Other than that, my knitting has hit a stall. I'm in a funk. Maybe that's for the best since it's almost time for the 19-20 Winter Weave Along! It will start on October 15th and go until March 15th. For handouts from the last two years, go to the pages section of our Ravelry Group.

Third Quarter Patron Appreciation drawing!

We so appreciate all of our generous patrons who support us with monthly contributions through our Two Ewes Patreon page. We have patron tiers starting at $3 per month. The money is used to help pay our hosting fees, as well as to pay for the purchase and shipping of podcast prizes. While we always appreciate prize donations, we also like to support makers and purchase their wares as prizes for our giveaways. Patron support contributes to our ability to do that. Thank you so much for your support! We announce two winners in the patron appreciation drawing! 

We also appreciate the support we receive from listeners in the form of podcast recommendations to others, prizes, donations, and participation in our community on Ravelry!

Kelly is making crochet charts and modifying a cardigan to a pullover. The (K)Not Along was a smashing success with beautiful projects and fun prizes. Hear some great listener feedback about non-gaping button bands. Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of  our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Come join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Save the Date for the Two Ewes Washington Coast Meet-up at  String Theory Yarn and Fiber in Seabrook, Washington, September 20-22.

Friday 9/20 late afternoon/evening wine and cheese.

Saturday 9/21 knitting and walking the beach. Shop opens at 10 am.

Sunday 9/22 morning knitting. Shop opens at 10 am.

Come for the day or knit the weekend away!  Here is an RSVP form so you can let us know if you're coming! We want to make sure we have enough goodie bags for all.

Find lodging for the weekend at Seabrook or in nearby Pacific Beach or Ocean Shores. Or join us for a day if you are nearby!

Seabrook, Washington

Thank you to Jean Chambers at  String Theory Yarn and Fiber for helping us put on this fun event!

Marsha's Projects

Working on socks with  Schahenmayr Regia Design Line by Arne & Carlos. I'm going to use Knitted Wit Smarties for the toes and heels.

I recently ripped out the Neskowin Shell by Kay Hopkins. I changed her pattern and it didn't work. Too heavy and too short. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Juliet and I am knitting the Lounging Top by Joji Locatelli. Finished the yoke and about to join for the body.

Almost finished with 1898 Hat by Kristine Byrnes with worsted weight  Hazel Knits Cadence in the colorway Woodland. The pattern is on the Seamen's Church Institute: Christmas at Sea. This seemed to be the perfect pattern for an adventurer and yarn is from Seattle.

Kelly's updates

I started crocheting the yoke for Mariannes cardigan by Trine Bertelsen. The pattern has a crochet yoke, button band, and sleeve edging. I will modify it to be a pullover. I'll be using Blue Heron Egyptian Mercerized Cotton spirit yarn from Tracy (littletownknitter). The yoke is my crochet swatch.  If the yoke isn't the right size I'll rip out and choose a different size.

(K)not Along

There were so many creative fiber related projects that were not kniting, not crochet, not weaving and not spinning.  From needle felting to nalbinding, from chair upholstery to sewing, the Fiber Adventurers didn't disappoint! We talk about the projects and pull prizes for three lucky winners. Take a look at all the projects on the (K)not Along Finished Object thread on Ravelry. 

Adventurer Feedback

The Fiber Adventurers also didn't disappoint with their feedback about sweater closures. There are some great photos and explanations about grosgrain ribbon and button bands and buttonhole bands in the Episode 119 thread on Ravelry. 

New puppies, cute babies on pattern photos, and LOTS of discussion and conjecture about button bands, zippers, and grosgrain ribbon. Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of  our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Come join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Save the Date for the Two Ewes Washington Coast Meet-up at  String Theory Yarn and Fiber in Seabrook, Washington, September 20-22.

Here is an RSVP form so you can let us know if you're coming! We want to make sure we have enough goodie bags for all.

Find lodging for the weekend at Seabrook or in nearby Pacific Beach or Ocean Shores. Or join us for a day if you are nearby!

Seabrook, Washington

Thank you to Jean at  String Theory Yarn and Fiber for helping us put on this fun event!

Marsha's Projects

I finished the Lace Market T-shirt by Marie Green using Schoppel-Wolle El Linio several weeks ago. The neckline was too big and yesterday I finally reknit it. Fits perfectly!

The Schoppel-Wolle Das Paar socks are finished and they match just as promised.

I also finished Fine Sand by Heidi Kirrmeier. Using Fibra Natura Unity. Fits great!

I also cast on another pair of vanilla socks for my brother. Using Schahenmayr Regia Design Line by Arne & Carlos. I'm going to use Knitted Wit Smarties for the toes and heels.

I recently ripped out the Neskowin Shell by Kay Hopkins. I changed her pattern and it didn't work. Too heavy and too short. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Juliet and I am about to cast on the Lounging Top by Joji Locatelli.

I'm making a hat for a friend that is going to be working in Antarctica. I plan to make 1898 Hat by Kristine Byrnes with worsted weight  Hazel Knits Cadence in the colorway Woodland. The pattern is on the Seamen's Church Institute: Christmas at Sea. This seemed to be the perfect pattern for an adventurer and yarn is from Seattle.

Kelly's updates

I swatched for Mariannes cardigan by Trine Bertelsen. The pattern has a crochet yoke, button band, and sleeve edging. I will modify it to be a pullover. I'll be using Blue Heron Egyptian Mercerized Cotton spirit yarn from Tracy (littletownknitter).

Also joined the Oh Gnome You Didn't mystery gnome knit along. Pattern updates start in early September.

Billions of baby socks!  Well, maybe not billions.  Six pairs are finished and I have another pair on the needles.

Method 1:  I often use the same sock formula that I use for my own socks and do them top down with a heel flap of half the stitches. I usually use size US 2 needles and 32 stitches. To turn the heel I go two stitches past the center do a decrease, do one more stitch and turn. Then slip one, go five stitches, do a decrease, do one more stitch and turn. Now every row I slip one, knit to the gap created by the decrease, do a decrease across the gap, knit one more stitch, and turn. Repeat until all stitches are used. Then I pick up for the gussets and keep knitting.  A pattern, if you want one is Better-Than-Booties Baby Socks 

Method 2: For the most recent socks I've been using a short row heel and it seems faster. I've been using Basically Perfect Baby Socks by Diana Burch as a guide for the short rows. 

Listener Questions

Yarngirl52 (Debbie) asked about adding a zipper, adding a shoulder button band for a toddler sweater, and finishing a button band. Should you use grosgrain ribbon or not; backer buttons or not.

There are two ways to add a zipper to a sweater that doesn't have one. One way is steeking to add a zipper to a sweater designed as a pullover, another is adding a zipper to a sweater instead of a button band.

Kelly responds: 

I haven't ever done a steeked sweater, but I steeked for the Clover, Bee, and Revery pillow. The pillow was knit in the round with an extra 5 or 7 stitches that were where it was cut and folded over to create the left and right edges of the pillow top.  I did a crocheted steek where I crocheted up each edge before cutting. If I ever made another Cowichan-style sweater I think I would do it in the round and then steek it to put in the zipper. That way you avoid colorwork while purling. 

I added a zipper instead of a button band to the Mielie vest that I made (pattern by Hilary Smith Callis). I made the button bands a little wider because I liked that look. I also changed the order of putting on the collar and button band so I could fold the collar down over the top edge of the zipper. I sewed the zipper in by hand and I actually just used yarn to do it. The zipper on the Orcas Run was sewn by hand with sewing thread. I pinned it on, zipped the zipper up to adjust the pinning if needed, then unzipped it again and made small stitches all around the edge of the zipper.

What about adding a shoulder button band to a toddler sweater that doesn't have one?  Bluebell Pullover doesn't have a shoulder button band but has the envelope neckline that onesies have. To put a button band on a bottom up sweater would be straightforward. Instead of joining at the shoulders, just bind off (to provide structure) and then pick up for the button bands. One will need to have button holes put into it. I think I'd make it the front one, but it doesn't really matter I don't think. Putting a button band on a top down toddler sweater would be more tricky and would really depend on the construction of the sweater. 

Another trick I like when I want to alter a pattern is to find a pattern with the thing I want to add and either make it first to figure out the construction, or read through it and see if I can visualize how to make the changes I want in the original sweater. For example Diggory from Berroco is an example. It has the neckline with button bands and could serve as a great model of what to do. Besides, the baby in the pattern photo couldn't be cuter. Go take a look--we promise it will make you smile!

Marsha found some resources about adding grosgrain ribbon to the button bands of a sweater. Neither of us have ever done this, but we spend a lot of time speculating and decide to experiment with the technique on two of our sweaters. 

Tips for adding ribbon to a sweater button band by Olive Knits. 

Adding a ribbon backing to your knit button band by Ms. Cleaver

Lots of travel knitting, a natural dye workshop with fiber friends and some listener questions about spinning and stash are the topics for this week. Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of  our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Come join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Save the Date for a Washington Coast Meet-up!

September 20-22.  We'll be meeting to knit and chat at String Theory Yarn and Fiber. Find lodging for the weekend in Seabrook, Washington or in nearby Pacific Beach or Ocean Shores. Or join us for a day if you are nearby! Click here to RSVP so we can reserve your goodie bag! Here is a link to the Ravelry thread about the meet-up.

We just spent a week together in Seattle! Kelly came up to join Marsha and some fiber friends for a natural dye workshop.  The dyes used were coreopsis, lichen, avocado, and cochineal. They were dyed on a variety of natural colored yarns using different strengths of dye. We also used an ammonia modifier to change the color of the dye. Very inspiring. 

Marsha's Projects:

I finished the Lace Market T-shirt by Marie Green using Schoppel-Wolle El Linio several weeks ago. The neck is too big and I had planned to re-knit picking up fewer stitches, small needles, and slightly less loose bind off. Where did the time go?

I turned heel and worked gusset of  Schoppel-Wolle Das Paar socks. About an inch of the foot is completed.  I also finished body and neck band of Fine Sand by Heidi Kirrmeier, using Fibra Natura Unity. 

Knot a long: Nothing!!!! But that doesn't mean you shouldn't enter. So far we have 38 FOs, our biggest along ever! Enter by August 31st. Remember, it's any fiber related item that is not knit,  crochet, spinning or weaving. We'll draw for prizes in our first September episode.

Kelly's Projects

The most significant FO for this week is my 5th metatarsal! Bone is 90% healed and the boot is off. Now on to the physical therapy!

I also finished Two cowls from Alchemy yarn 100% silk. The pattern is Simple Yet Effective from Tin Can Knits. I finished the first one on the road trip to Seattle and the second one I almost finished on the trip back home.  

The Silk Cardigan from Dragonfly Fibers Dance Rustic Silk is also finished. The pattern is Koru by Aroha Knits. I got some good wear out of it during the trip to Seattle. The fit is good and the armscye works ok with some of my short-sleeved tees. 

I also finished the Tarantula that I was making for my grand nephew. Did you know that Tarantulas have 8 eyes? Two larger eyes and 6 tiny ones. I tried to make this tarantula as realistic as possible. The grands are keeping the class tarantula for the summer, so they are a little tarantula-obsessed!

Finally, I finished the miniature punch needle rug. The kit by J. Conner Designs was a gift from Tori (wideanglemind). It was so fun and fast to do and turned out so cute.  I will definitely try more of this mini-punch work. The fabric is thin and flexible compared to the regular punch needle. It is more like embroidery and is often called punch needle embroidery. 

Questions from Listeners

PegofmyHeart (Peggy) asked about keeping her handspun yarn consistent. 

"When I returned to spinning I must have changed my gauge. Now I have a sleeve that needs to be ripped out. New fiber spun, hopefully at a better gauge, and knitted again. HELP!"

Suggestions: Take a piece of freshly spun singles off the bobbin and let it ply back on itself to be stablized. I hang this on my wheel so I can keep checking my spinning against this yarn. Unply it so you can see the single if you need to. You can also make a "Spinners Control Card" where you wrap both freshly spun singles and the plied-back-on-itself yarn around a stiff card and keep that with your spinning. This will help with consistency in spinning. Don't wrap it too tightly or it will seem thinner than it really is. 

Other tricks are:

Spin all the singles before plying and put them all on storage bobbins and ply them first bobbin to last bobbin, second bobbin to penultimate bobbin, etc.  This presumes that the most widely differing bobbins are first and last and plying them together will average out the inconsistencies. 

Spin all the yarn before starting the project and calculate the yards per pound or yards per gram. This will help you see inconsistencies in the skeins and allow you to use the most similar skeins where gauge is important. Any that are significantly different can be used where it matters less or maybe they won't be needed at all.

Cindy (CindyQ)  and Valerie29 (Valerie) asked about stash busting, and stash organizing.

Marsha suggests: I organize my wool stash by weight and store them in labelled plastic bins I pick up at the Goodwill. I have a separate bins for cotton and handspun. Braids for spinning are stored in those plastic covers that bedding comes in.

Yarn/fiber I buy at stores is listed in Ravelry. I tried posting yarn I pick up at thrift stores/destash rooms in Ravelry, but it honestly got to be too much.

As for using up the yarn, I made a scarf called Mini Mania using leftover sock yarn. I also made a Steven West afghan called Garter Squish that used up about 5,700 yards of worsted weight yarn. I made a shaw called Sunny Delight using yarn from the NoCKRs retreat destash room. Socks and hats are another great way to use up stash.

Here are some other patterns I have been looking at to use up leftovers.

Lily's Scrap Blanket

Vintage Crocheted Throw & Afghan

Briochevron Blanket  (not sure I can do that much brioche)

Stashbuster Blarf

Stashbuster Sweater

Kelly says: Right now I have yarn all over the place.  Larger weaving cones are on a shelf in the garage and the smaller cotton, linen, etc. cones are in boxes in the garage since my only available looms are out there.  Usually most of my knitting yarn is in baskets and bowls and sorted however I think looks nice. It varies.  Sometimes by color, sometimes by type, sometimes by weight. Because of the electrical work mess, some of my yarn is also in boxes/bags in the living room (where big piles of stuff are being stored). 

After using an already created warp from a destash, I've been thinking that winding warps and storing them as warps would be a great way to have weaving projects ready to go. When the inside studio is available again I've thought of a system for threading cones onto chains that drape across one of the walls. I like to see my yarn in different combinations to get inspiration. The downside of this system is that there could be sun damage to the yarn if I don't use it regularly. I'm also not quite sure of the system for getting yarn down easily without having the whole string of cones come down on my head!

My stashbuster projects for using leftovers are bears for the Mother Bear Project , charity hats, and baby socks. I also find that having yarn out on display gives me other ideas for combining yarns that weren't originally planned to go together. Another possible project for using up waste (thrums from weaving) and other leftovers are to make hot pads. One technique is to use multiple strands that are twisted and plied to create a square that is then sewn together and felted. Another technique is to wrap rope with yarn using a coil basketry technique to make a spiral the becomes a round hot pad. Both would be perfect projects for the (K)Not Along that is going until August 31).

Crochet critters, punch needle projects, finished sweaters, and listener questions are the topics for this episode. 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 email us with your thoughts at twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com

Finished Lace Market T-shirt by Marie Green using Schoppel-Wolle El Linio. The neck is too big. I intentionally didn't weave in ends because I thought this might be an issue. I'll reknit the neckline with smaller needles, picking up fewer stitches, and doing a slightly less loose bind off.

I finished first sock using Schoppel-Wolle Das Paar. Cast on for second and knit about 3 inches.

I cast on for a summer weight sweater, Fine Sand by (of course) Heidi Kirrmeier. The yarn is Fibra Natura Unity. The yoke and about 7" of body are finished. Nice yarn with some thick and thin sections that give it character. 

My Assam Cardigan is finished and I didn't run out of yarn! The seaming I used was mattress stitch and a variation of duplicate stitch since it was knit sideways. Pull the mattress stitch tight, but make sure the duplicate stitch has your seaming stitches the same size as your knit stitches so it shouldn't be pulled tight.

The Knot Along practice punch needle project is finished. I learned a lot. I used handspun rug yarn leftovers and it's a good example of different colors with the same value not really having enough contrast for color work. If you look at the piece in a black and white photo you can see that the colors don't have enough contrast in value.

I have several crochet projects finished! Beeyanka Honey pattern was put on my radar by a listener and I snapped it right up and made it during a camping trip. I also finished 8 Mother Bears (2 were knit, 6 orcheted).  

Actively in progress I have a crocheted tarantula for my nephew, the Koru Cardigan, and I'm getting ready to start a miniature punch needle project with a different kind of punch needle than the Oxford Punch Needle brand. I'll be using crewel weight yarn. It's a kit. 

Fiddlewitch (Joanna) asked about "how to get more out of ravelry and tricks on using the site." She also wanted "leads on who else is doing wonderful work out there. Who are your (who are our) favorite unsung designers? "

Kelly: One of my favorite Ravelry features is the advanced search. You can do an advanced search on almost anything--forum posts, projects, your own stash, patterns.  Just look for a link saying advanced search. 

For example, recently I've been using the advanced search to find patterns from lesser known designers, particularly designers of color. First I favorited some bundles that were created by others: Solidarity Swap Designers, POC Designers to Lift Up. Then I go to patterns and select " pattern browser and advanced search." Once there, the category My Notebook on the side has "favorite bundles" as one of the filters. I also like to use gauge as a filter in order to find a pattern that matches my swatch, rather than trying to make my swatch match a particular pattern.

Finding bundles to favorite in the first place is a little trickier. You can find bundles on a group's main page or in an individual's favorites. Ravelry VP of Operations MaryHeatherB has a great set of bundles on her favorites page. Once you favorite/heart a bundle, you can use it as a search filter. 

To support makers who are people of color, you can also follow @bipocinfiber and @bipocmakers on Instagram. Also @ladydyeyarns on Instagram has been posting independent dyers and other makers of color and who are not always as well known.. 

Seine1 (Kathleen) asked "I'd like to hear about some of the Rav groups you belong to."

Kelly: I belong to a lot of Ravelry Groups and you can see them all by looking at the side of my profile page. On the forum page of Ravelry you can organize your forums by clicking on the wrench on the upper right of the forums page. This allows you to adjust all kinds of settings to customize your forums page. In my forums I have the ones I'm most active in on the first tab, then I've divided the others into podcast groups, groups for techniques and topics, and the Ravelry main boards.

Save the Date for a Seabrook, WA Meetup at String Theory Yarn and Fiber, September 20-22.

Find lodging for the weekend at Seabrook or in nearby Pacific Beach or Ocean Shores. Or join us for a day if you are nearby!

Answers to your questions about finishing knits-weaving in ends, washing, blocking. There is no shame in not weaving in ends and you can be a little reckless with your washing. 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 email us: twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com or contact us on our website. 

This episode's topics come from questions in our community on Ravelry:

Finishing Knit and Crochet Projects

Marsha: Two quick stories.

1. In the 80/90's when Kaffe Fassett's colorwork was the rage, he wrote that he didn't bother weaving in any ends because they were on the inside.

2. Bought a shetland hat on Orkney and the woman who knit it just knotted the ends and left them. No weaving. She said after a good wash the ends stayed put. I'll report back after wearing the hat.

I always wash my finished project and lay it out on a towel on the spare bed in the shape of the pattern schematic. I then pin it in that share with T pins. If it is lace I block "aggressively" often beyond the size of the schematic.

Linen goes in dryer.

Here are some good videos by Suzanne Bryan. I met her at Stitches West two years ago. She is a master knitter and very informative. Here is her YouTube Channel

Here are some of her videos on this topic:

How to Block Knitting

Blocking a Sweater (knit in the round)

Blocking a Sweater (in pieces)

Weaving in Ends in Garter Stitch

Weaving in Ends in Stockinette 

On stockinette and garter stitch I weave in the end following the stitch on the wrong side. If it's very fine yarn I may un-ply the yarn and weave in the singles separately.

Kelly:

Russian Join Staci Perry, Very Pink Knits video

Clasped Weft Join Louise Tilbrooke video

On cotton and linen  garments I have the best luck if I weave a little and then leave a tail hanging on the inside.

Duplicate stitch is the way I weave in ends if I don't want them to show on front or back. If you don't want to do duplicate stitch after the fact this technique is like doing duplicate stitch weaving in as you knit:  Knit with two strands together for 4-5 stitches or more for very slippery yarns. This is good for lace and other patterns where duplicate stitch is difficult. Cut the tails on each strand.

Another way to secure ends is to use a sharp needle while weaving in ends and and split the yarn so the end is traveling inside of another yarn strand.

Another tip: Don't cut yarn cleanly--pull a little and rip the scissors blade across making a rough edge. Even with nonfelting yarn the fibers will be able to grip each other a little when this end is woven in.

Events

Save the Date for a Seabrook, WA Meetup

September 20-22

Find lodging for the weekend at Seabrook or in nearby Pacific Beach or Ocean Shores. Or join us for a day if you are nearby!

Seabrook, Washington

String Theory Yarn and Fiber

Castles and gardens share the spotlight with food and drink as Marsha and Kim wrap up their Scotland adventure on the East coast of Scotland. Marsha also fills us in on her project progress during the trip.  Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Come join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Marsha's Instagram feed

Forse of Nature

The Bay Owl

Gary Rhodes Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe

Dunbeath Castle Garden Tour

King Craig Fabrics

Dunrobin Castle

Kincraig Castle Hotel

Dovecot Studios and the Orla Kiely exhibit

GPO Cafe and Rooms

Be Inspired Fibres in Edinburgh

Neolithic sites, wool mills, and sticky toffee pudding are the highlights of the Orkneys part of Marsha and Kim's Scotland trip. Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of  our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Come join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin in Kirkwall

A Yarn from North Ronaldsay wool mill

North Ronaldsay lighthouse

See Orkney

Skaail house

Brough of Birsay Viking settlement

Brough of Gurness Viking settlement

Barony Mill  

Foveran restaurant

Join us as we go down the weaving rabbit hole with a discussion on surrendering to the creative process and bucking the rules. Plus, project updates and we announce an "Out of Hibernation Along". Listen and join the 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

Socks: Finished! Used Knitterly Things Vesper Sock Yarn in the colorway Sum-Sum-Summertime with Dream in Color Mini Smooshy in the colorway Bermuda Teal for the heels and toes. 

Malabrigo Nube Merino Braids: Have two braids in the color way 855 which is a blue green. Halfway through spinning the second braid.

Camella Hat: by Katie Pomper. Using Meeker Street Olive's Outerwear DK in the colorway Dragon's Breath. 

Nanny Meier Tea Cozy: Inspired by Lily Pulitzer colors. Using Cascade 220 in hot pink and lime green. Finished first side.

Fine Sand: by Heidi Kirrmaier. Using West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious in the colorway Claret. 

Alpaca Shawl: Rosepath and tabby warp. I put the warp on the loom but discovered an error that I need to fix.

Socks: The Artful Ewe Clackamas. I don't know the name of the colorway but it's red…again.

I got a whole basket full of yarn scraps for my Dozens of Little Squares. Shout out and huge thank you to Alene, who tracked me down at school to deliver the gift. She had placed the scraps in a basket that she made from quilting fabric. I've already made and washed over 30 squares. 

Yarn construction discussion..plied, cabled, singles, how many plies, how tightly twisted. All of these yarn structures in the sock yarn scraps. It is interesting to see them all and to see how they weave up. I think these little squares could be a great beginner project to learn about yarn, but then again, maybe the differences wouldn't be obvious or interesting to a yarn novice. 

Continuing on the Sockhead Hat with Punk Rock Unicorn Dirty Neon.

Need yarn? Want to pretend you are just helping your Ravelry friends destash? Under the community tab you can click friends and see the recently posted photos of projects your friends are making. On that same page you can click "Search friends' stash" and see what they have stashed in Ravelry. And you can filter to get the "for sale or trade" and go shopping!

My Subversive Cross Stitch Calendar 2024 "You're the Worst. In the best way." 

Events 

Out-of-Hibernation Along, February 1 - June 1:  Thank you Shoedweller for the idea. Pat's in and so are Marsha and I. Spring cleaning for your project page! WIPs or hibernating projects that have been hanging around. 

Winter Weave Along starts October 1 and goes through March 31. Join the fun in our Ravelry group!

Travel to John O'Groats and the Caithness Craft Retreat with Marsha and guest-host, Kim. Fiber, food, and drink adventures in the far north of Scotland! Kelly gives a (K)Not Along update and draws a prize winner from our patrons. Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of  our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Come join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Unlimited Color company in Ullapool

Caithness Craft Podcast

John O'Groats Natural Retreats

Castle of Mey

Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin in Kirkwall

St. Magnus Cathedral

Kelly has finished the quilt top she started in high school (maybe 1978?). It may be awhile before the backing and quilting part of the project begins, but she's determined to finish this memory quilt.

Food, drink, wool, and more in Inverness with Marsha and guest-host Kim as they travel in Scotland.

Visit  our shop: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com , join the community on Ravelry, or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Inverness Whisky Tours

Knockando wool mill

Video: Knockando Wool MIll- Our Story

Loch Ness Knitting shop and Loch Ness Knitting on Ravelry

Learning new things as adults can be challenging, but also fun. Besides the usual topics, Marsha learns how much fun driving can be. 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 email us at twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com or contact us on our website.

Marsha finished the pullover Cobblestone by Jared Flood for her brother. She washed and blocked it but he want the sleeves 1" shorter so some ripping back will have to be done.

She used New Lanark Mill DK she bought in Scotland last year. It is nice to knit with and and becomes more beautiful after washing.

She also made progress on her T-shirt, Lace Market by Marie Greene. She finished the yoke and joined the body. She is using a linen yarn call El Linio by Schoppel

Kelly has been working on the Assam by Laura Chau. She is using Sockotta held double.  It looks like she will have enough yarn. She also finished a pair of shortie socks.

Kelly had some sad news to report. She had to say good-bye to her almost 15-year old yellow lab, Ruedy. Anyone who has lost a pet knows how hard this is, but it was time.

While Marsha's car is in the shop she ended up with a Dodge Challenger as her rental car. Who knew driving a muscle car was so much fun!

(K)Not Along! The Two Ewes will be starting a challenge for fiber projects that are NOT knitting, crochet, spinning, or weaving. The NOT (or KNOT) Along will start on May 31 and goes through August 31.

Kelly is healing and Marsha is having fun with dog agility.  Oh,yeah! We're also playing with string! 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 email us with your thoughts at twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com or contact us on our website.

Project Updates

Kelly finished some shortie socks with her Bee Yarn (Sunflower colorway from Duren Dyeworks). She also finished the  The Double Trouble Reversible Beanie by Petite Knitter. Kelly is experimenting with color changes in her version. The inside layer has some tension issues, seeming to be a more loose gauge than the outside layer. More practice needed!

Kelly also started a side-to-side cardigan called Assam by Laura Chau.  She found this by doing an advanced pattern search for cardigans with the gauge from a swatch of Sockotta held double.  

Marsha has been working monogamously on the pullover Cobblestone by Jared Flood Two days ago she attached the sleeves to the body and has knit about 3" of the yoke. She is using the New Lanark Mill DK she bought in Scotland last year.

Events

Other ways to play with string...A (K)Not Along! The Two Ewes will be starting a challenge for fiber projects that are NOT knitting, crochet, spinning, or weaving. The NOT (or KNOT) Along will start on May 31 and goes through August 31, so think about what you want to be working on this summer that is (K)NOT knitting, crochet, or weaving.

Marsha plans to make some Beeswax wraps and to deconstruct some drapes so they can be remade to fit her windows. Kelly plans to do some punch needle rug hooking.

Recommendations

Kelly: Water for bees, bee hotel for native pollinators, plant trees for bees.

A fabulous knitting retreat contrasts with a horrible injury, but the fun outweighs the pain in this episode. 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 email us with your thoughts at twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com  or contact us on our website.

Project Updates

Kelly is plugging away at  Koru by Aroha Knits using the Dragonfly Fibers Dance Rustic Silk. It is in timeout due to a dropped stitch and will need to have about 4 to 5 rows ripped out and reknit.

Meanwhile Kelly started some shortie socks with her Bee Yarn (Sunflower colorway from Duren Dyeworks). She will finish them before the episode goes live.  She also is knitting a The Double Trouble Reversible Beanie by Petite Knitter. Kelly is experimenting with color changes in her version.

Marsha has made progress on the T-shirt called Lace Market by Marie Greene and she is using Schoppel El Linio (linen) in Indigo. She finished the body of the pullover Cobblestone by Jared Flood, finished the first sleeve and started the second sleeve. She is using the New Lanark Mill DK she bought in Scotland last year.

Other ways to play with string...A Not Along (or is it Knot Along?)

The Two Ewes will be starting a challenge for fiber projects that are NOT knitting, crochet, spinning, or weaving. The NOT (or KNOT) Along will start on May 31 and goes through August 31, so think about what you want to be working on this summer that is NOT knitting, crochet, or weaving.

Retreat Fun

We had a great time at the NoCKRs retreat. Lots of relaxing (at least when Marsha wasn't fetching ice, etc. for Kelly!) lots of good food, lots of friends, and some learning.  Monica (Kirbymo) taught us how to make Beeswax Wraps that are an alternative to plastic wrap. There are lots of YouTube tutorials, but this was a good one and included links to purchasing supplies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_bsxrqAF-s

There were some great designers in attendance at the . Do check out their patterns on Ravelry.

Celia McAdam Cahill

Brenda Castiel

Heddi Craft gave a demonstration on sock machine knitting. Her book is CSM: The Cookbook

Elizabeth Doherty gave a talk on short rows.

Recommendations

Kelly: Don't carry a bunch of crap when you walk up the stairs in the dark!

Marsha: Spicy Red Lentil Soup from The Splendid Table's How to Eat Weekends adapted by Nancy Leson food writer at the Seattle Times.

Celebrating member weaving projects and highlighting the work of designers who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. You'll definitely add patterns to your queue after this episode! Doing our part for World Fleece! 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 email us with your thoughts. Use email twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com or contact us on our website.

Project Updates

Kelly is plugging away at  Koru by Aroha Knits using the Dragonfly Fibers Dance Rustic Silk. The patterned sections have become almost routine and she is approaching the length where she will begin armholes.

Kelly also finished a small shawlette/cowl out of handspun.  The project was started and finished in one weekend trip to San Francisco to see the musical Hamilton.

Marsha has cast on two projects. The first is a T-shirt called Lace Market by Marie Greene and she is using Schoppel El Linio (linen) in Indigo. She also cast on for her brother the pullover Cobblestone by Jared Flood using the New Lanark Mill DK she bought in Scotland last year.

Celebrating Weaving

The Two Ewes celebrate weaving with a review of member weaving projects. Lots of members are weavers and participated in the recently finished Winter Weave Along. Besides looking at the finished object thread the Ewes went to the Ravelry advanced search, selected the "projects" tab at the top, selected "weaving" as the craft in the filter boxes on the left, and selected "Groups" from the very last filter box with additional characteristics.  This allows you to select a Ravelry Group, for example Two Ewes Fiber Adventure. Once you do that you see a page of all the weaving projects by group members. Gorgeous and inspiring!

A Diversity of Designers

The Ewes highlighted patterns from the Designers of Color Bundle that was created by the Solidarity Swap Ravelry Group. Some of the patterns are:

Lesedi Shrug by Noma Ndlovu,

Mermaid Top by Rebecca McKenzie,

Summertime Tee by Toni Lipsey (crochet)

Inseparable Cowl and Shawls by Tami Gore

And many, many others (over 70 pages of patterns!) The Two Ewes dare you to look at this bundle and not add to your project queue!

Other ways to play with string...A Not Along (or is it Knot Along?)

Group member Jill contacted Kelly about punch needle rug hooking. Kelly has been planning a project for awhile, but hasn't gotten started. Jill also wanted to do a punch needle project.  So the Two Ewes will be starting a challenge for fiber projects that are NOT knitting, crochet, or weaving. The NOT (or KNOT) Along will start on May 31, so think about what you want to be working on this summer that is NOT knitting, crochet, or weaving.

Recommendations

Kelly recommends  Fiber at the Speed of Life podcast by Erica (Weavolution) and Michele.  They just published their first episode.

The Ewes talk knitting and then have a discussion of dyeing techniques in answer to a listener question. A little Enzo and a little bee news round out the episode. 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 email us with your thoughts. twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com is our email address or you click contact us on our website.

Project Updates

Marsha finished Mountain High by Heidi Kirrmaier using The Croft Shetland Tweed by West Yorkshire Spinners that she bought at the The Yarn Cake in Glasgow. The sweater fits beautifully and she's happy with her modifications.

She is still looking for a pullover pattern for her brother using New Lanark Wool & Textiles DK that she bought at the mill in New Lanark, Scotland last March.

Kelly continues to work on Koru by Aroha Knits using the Dragonfly Fibers Dance Rustic Silk

She ripped out the mistake and is now making good progress. She also finished 5 hats from spirit yarn (destash yarn): Caron Simply soft Mardi Gray. Variegated gray with soft pink, yellow and green. Acrylic yarn, called Mardi Gray. It was a full bag of 4 balls, 150 yards in each ball.

Dyeing Techniques Discussion

The Ewes answer a dyeing questionMomdiggity/Jo Ann, who asked, "I would love to hear you talk about your fiber dying techniques."

Kelly and Marsha talk about choosing and blending colors, the different techniques they've tried over the years and in particular under-dyeing and over-dyeing.  Kelly tells about her natural dyeing experiments and Marsha found two dyeing classes on Craftsy (now Bluprint) that she thinks she may try. Both are taught by Sarah Eyre.

Professional Yarn Dyeing at Home: dyeing solids, semi-solids speckled, and variegated. Discusses yarns, dyes, mordants, safety, gear and studio set up.

Next Steps in Dyeing: gradients, sock blanks, self-striping, hand-painted, dyeing fibers.

Twenty Stitches Notecard Giveaway

The Two Ewes are having a giveaway for notecards that they received as a promotion from the  Twenty Stitches booth at Stitches West. Twenty Stitches has beautiful cards, tags, gift boxes, and kits to make them. Here is an description of the product from the website.

Clear instructions, pre-cut and perfectly spaced embroidery holes, a #20 Chenille needle, and all the necessary thread and adhesives are included in our kits, making it easy to create perfectly embroidered notecards, tags, and giftboxes.  Our book artsinspired samplers are a fun way to practice or learn twenty embroidery stitches.

Head over to the Giveaway Thread in the Ravelry Group to see how to enter. The giveaway thread will be open until May 8 when we will draw a winner for a pack of notecards to embroider.

Winter Weave Along ends March 31. Don't forget to enter your weaving projects in the FO thread. Next episode will be a celebration of weaving and a drawing for prizes.

Recommendations

Kelly: Xerces Society Pollinator friendly plant list

Whisky tasting, a trip to the Scottish Highlands, a knitting mishap, and podcasting in pajamas are some of the tangents this episode! 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 email us with your thoughts. twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com is our email address or you click contact us on our website.

Project Updates

Marsha has finished the body and one sleeve of a pullover Mountain High by Heidi Kirrmaier (again!) using The Croft Shetland Tweed by West Yorkshire Spinners that she bought at the The Yarn Cake in Glasgow.

She also swatched with New Lanark Wool & Textiles DK that she bought at the mill in New Lanark, Scotland last March. She is looking for a sweater pattern for her brother.

Kelly continues to work on Koru by Aroha Knits using the Dragonfly Fibers Dance Rustic Silk that she bought last year at Stitches. Somehow she began using the left chart on the right and the right chart on the left so there is about 2-3 inches that need to be ripped out.

The back and two fronts of the Sonny Bono jacket are done. Kelly will definitely need more yarn for the two sleeves and collar. There is about a skein and a half left and a call to Amazing Yarns is needed.

Gauntlet was thrown down by Heddicraft who finished a linen bath mitt from 2 retreats ago. So Kelly dug in her stash for NoCKRs spirit yarn with a goal to use something up before the retreat.  She is making hats from a variegated gray with soft pink, yellow and green. Acrylic yarn, called Mardi Gray. It was a full bag of 4 balls, 150 yards in each ball, so she plans at least 4 hats.

Thank You Patrons!

We have 21 Patrons at patreon.com/twoewes.  Patrons help us buy prizes, pay for podcast hosting, and ship prizes.  Patrons sign up for a support level starting at $3 per month. Our patrons help us make the show available for free to everyone. This month we're giving away two prize skeins of Studio Fingering from Neighborhood Fiber Company.           

Events

The Winter Weave Along is ending March 31. Come chat with us about weaving in the We Sley thread on Ravelry and don't forget to post your finished objects in the FO thread. Our first April episode will be a celebration of weaving!

Recommendations

Kelly recommends coming home from work and putting on your pajamas at 5:15! Also, she recommends two shows she has been watching on Amazon Prime video:

Unforgotten a British police drama about solving cold cases

Case Histories, also a crime drama. Based on stories by Kate Atkinson.

A Stitches recap with a Two Ewes twist.  We'll let the others tell you about the popular knits at Stitches West. We fell in love with skulls, knitted plants and animals, and furry jackets! Plus we met some great listeners. 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 email us with your thoughts. twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com is our email address or you click contact us on our website.

What did we wear on the Stitches West carpet?

Marsha wore her cardigan Cloud Cover and her handspun combo spin sweater made with Simple Summer Tweed pattern. Both patterns are by Heidi Kirrmaier.

Kelly wore the  Mystery Knit Along with Cozy Up Knits using the Two Ewes Replenish Rambouillet and the Running Water cardigan by Claudia Eisenkolb.

What did we work on at Stitches West?

Marsha exclusively worked on a pullover Mountain High by Heidi Kirrmaier (again!) using The Croft Shetland Tweed by West Yorkshire Spinners that she bought at the The Yarn Cake in Glasgow.

Marsha has a finished object her Slack Tide Scarf by Poststitch for her brother

Kelly worked on Koru by Aroha Knits using the Dragonfly Fibers Dance Rustic Silk that she bought last year at Stitches. However, with three traveling stitch charts, it wasn't the best choice for social knitting. Anticipating the need for a second project Kelly brought an in-progress Mother Bear and a kit of leftover yarns. She got one bear to the point of needing some stuffing and started a second bear.

What did we see at Stitches

Ellen's Wooly Wonders has fabulous patterns including Daphne's Skull

Amazing Yarns is where Kelly found her dream project. New cast on!

Lady Dye Yarns had great colors and her signature "BadA$$ Knitter," Sheep Fro, and other bags.

Neighborhood Fiber Company is full of beautiful yarns as always. It's one of our favorites.

At Bay Street Yarns, Anne, spent some time talking to us about her Fire Relief yarns.

Knitting on the Fringe had a wide variety of non-yarn products, including Fair Trade felted bags.

New friends from Stitches

The Two Ewes met some great new fiber friends including Rhonda Waipahu who came to Stitches all the way from Pennsylvania, Noelle in the double knit class who recognized Kelly's voice, Drummer Girl Creations aka Drummergirlmakes aka Patricia was at the show with her two boys. Later the Ewes met Marisa Quiltotaku who came with their friend Marianne, and Pamela who they met briefly last year but got to talk with more this year. She came with their friend Alissa. They tried to talk the Ewes into going to the pajama party, but the Ewes couldn't stay up that late!  They also met Sarah, Imagined Landscapes, gnome designer extraordinaire!

Madrona Fiber Arts

Marsha attended The Madrona Fiber Arts with her friend Kim. The show had a nice market. They stopped by the Brooklyn Tweed booth where Kim mentioned to Luigi Boccia that the sweater she made several years ago with Loft and developed holes. Luigi explained the company discovered the original Loft was too fragile and has reformulated yarn. He extended a discount to each of us to try the yarn again. So a huge thank you to Luigi for doing this and for those knitters and crocheters who may have had a similar experience, do give the yarn another try.

Recommendations

Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism by Safiya Umoja Noble. This book reads like a textbook and takes both concentration and familiarity with the academic language of social justice studies. Kelly is really enjoying this listen but has looked up words, used the repeat button, looked up phrases,, and bookmarked clips a lot!

Events

We will be having a Thank You Patrons episode in March with patron appreciation drawings. To become a Patron go to http://patreon.com/twoewes. We have several levels of support for those who are interested. Other ways to support the show: tell others, participate in the group, leave us feedback.

Despite the noises and interruptions the yarn talk continues! Through downpours, laundry, head shaving, a neighbor coming by and odd thumping in the background, the show goes on.  Hear the Ewes respond to the Fiberuary Challenge and Yarn Love Challenge prompts. 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 email us with your thoughts. twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com is our email address or click contact us on our website.

Project Updates

Marsha finished her cardigan Cloud Cover by Heidi Kirrmaier and loves it.

Marsha double checked the label on her fleece and it is Wensleydale x Cormo x Merino fleece.

After our last episode Marsha ordered another skein of worsted yarn from Thirteen Mile Lamb and Wool to have extra for dyeing for the colorwork pullover, Snowflower by Heidi Kirrmaier. She is still in the planning stage for dyeing the yarn. Plus she wants to take a colorwork class.

Marsha is almost done with Slack Tide Scarf by Poststitch that she is making for her brother and she cast on a scarf for herself called Shared Rib by Anne Hanson using Old Maiden Aunt Yarns fingering weight that she bought last March at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival.

She also cast on a pullover Mountain High by Heidi Kirrmaier (again!) using The Croft Shetland Tweed by West Yorkshire Spinners that she bought at the The Yarn Cake in Glasgow.

Kelly finished the  Mystery Knit Along with Cozy Up Knits using the Two Ewes Replenish Rambouillet.  It will be one of her Stitches garments if it gets blocked in time.

Kelly has started the Koru by Aroha Knits. She's using Dance Rustic Silk from Dragonfly Fibers.

News

The Solidarity Swap on Ravelry is a pattern and/or yarn swap celebrating designers and dyers who are people of color or from underrepresented groups. The group has a designer bundle listing a variety of designers and  Indie dyers that you might not have seen before. Another resource for finding designers, dyers, and other makers of color is Jeanette Sloan's site POC Designers and Crafters.

AllFreeKnitting has added the Two Ewes to its updated list of the top 10 knitting podcasts.

Upcoming Events

Stitches West

Northwest Regional Spinners Association

Whidbey Weavers Guild

Black Sheep Gathering

Marsha has an exciting addition to our fiber adventures. A new loom! Plus we have project updates and some listener comments. 

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 or Subscribe on Google Podcasts

Malabrigo Nube Merino Braids: Have two braids in the color way 855 which is a blue green. Finished the first braid and started second

Camella Hat: by Katie Pomper. Using Meeker Street Olive's Outerwear DK in the colorway Dragon's Breath. 

Nanny Meier Tea Cozy: Inspired by Lily Pulitzer colors. Using Cascade 220 in hot pink and lime green. Finished first side.

Socks: Using Knitterly Things Vesper Sock Yarn in the colorway Sum-Sum-Summertime. Heels and toes will be Dream in Color Mini Smooshy in the colorway Bermuda Teal. 

Fine Sand: by Heidi Kirrmaier. Using West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious in the colorway Claret. I washed and blocked the body. Seems okay but I would like it a bit roomier. I'm still thinking about what I want to do next. 

LeClerc Nilus Jack Loom: Pick it up January 8th from a weaver on Vashon Island. Have lots of lace weight alpaca that I plan to weave a shawl. Kelly walked me through the math with her Two Ewes Weaving Calculator and  Sample Weaving Calculation.

Finished the  Purple/Gray socks for Robert. The yarn is Comfort and Joy. I wasn't familiar with the dyer but it turns out to be a yarn particular to the Purls of Joy yarn shop in Healdsburg, California. I bought three skeins of their sock yarn at the very last Stitches event and I still have two to use.

Sewing together the Dozens of Little Squares. I am making strips of 14 squares each. I'll run out of squares and need more when I have 15 strips of 14. I'm currently on the 8th strip. 

Started a Sockhead Hat with Punk Rock Unicorn Dirty Neon.

Ravelry users seem to be back up. Numbers of users online are showing in the mid 4000s each time I log on. For a few years they have been in the 3000s at the highest. This number is on the main page. If you click on it you can see more user stats. For example, the most users online at the moment I clicked were from the US, followed by Germany, then Canada, and then the UK. There was one person from Antarctica online at the time that I clicked. There were over 600,000 active users in the last week. 

My Subversive Cross Stitch Calendar 2024 and how my year is going so far. 

Jill sent a message that Stephany Wilkes was interviewed on The Long Thread Podcast. We interviewed her in November of 2018 back in Episode 101 and it was a fun conversation. BTW, that's the same episode that Marsha started the Clare Garland Rabbit. 

Margaret (marginmirror on Ravelry): 

Maybe someday if you decide to venture north and east to Alberta you'll visit us up here at our fibre (that's how Canadians spell "fiber") festivals -- and sample our sturdy, wooly wool (Dorset/Suffolk and the like) and locally-raised alpaca -- and our imported (merino) indie-dyed wool. You'd LOVE "Fibre Week" in mid-June at Olds College (Olds, Alberta) -- though I think at least one of you might have scheduling conflicts. Check out Central Alberta Rural Spinners on Facebook...just because.

Winter Weave Along starts October 1 and goes through March 31. Join the fun in our Ravelry group! 

Florida conference, Orlando, 19th through 22nd (Orlando World Center Marriott)

A little knitting and a lot of permission to break spinning and knitting rules. Wait--there are no rules! The Ewes share anti-racism resources, plus, listener questions and feedback to round out the 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 email us with your thoughts. twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com is our email address or you click contact us on our website.

Project Updates

Marsha continues to work on her  Cloud Cover cardigan by Heidi Kirrmaier. She is almost done with the collar and then will weave in the ends and block.  She has been spinning her  Wensleydale x Cormo x Merino fleece. It has been slow but steady progress but Kelly gives her permission to break some rules!

Marsha is also planning her next project. She plans to use Imperial Ranch Columbia, a mulespun worsted weight yarn in the colorway Juniper Green. What is "mulespun"? Below are two links with for information:

https://www.marrhaven.com/faq.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinning_mule

She is also thinking about starting her Snowflower by Heidi Kirrmaier using worsted yarn from Thirteen Mile Lamb and Wool.

Kelly is continuing the  Mystery Knit Along with Cozy Up Knits using the Two Ewes Replenish Rambouillet.  She made only a little progress in the last two weeks but still plans to finish by the February 14th deadline. She is dreaming of her next sweater, perhaps the Koru by Aroha Knits.

The Ewes share some anti-racism resources recommended through the discussion about racism in the yarn community.  

• The Ravelry Thread Racism and Inclusion in the Fiber Community
• #diversknitty and other hashtags on Instagram where the discussion started and continues
• Me and White Supremacy, a workbook by Layla F. Saad
• White Fragility by Robin di Angelo
• Seeing White, a series on the podcast Scene on Radio

Although there was only a little knitting progress, listeners saved the day with some great questions and feedback. Momdiggity asked Marsha about how she splits braids for a combo spin so Marsha talks about that in the episode. The Ewes also had some feedback from the southern hemisphere. Leanne from South Africa shared with us about Knit-a-Square South Africa and the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day project. Aimee from New Zealand listens on her commute and was finishing up an epic project, her crocheted blanket.  Meanwhile, back on the California coast, Stella provided an interesting article by Jilian Moreno about how your knitting style affects your gauge.

Events

We will be having a Thank You Patrons episode in March.  We have reached a milestone and we'll have our second quarterly drawing, this time for two winners. Patreon terms of service don't allow us to advertise drawings for patron levels on our Patreon page so that information will be revised on the page.  However, we'll have quarterly Thank You episodes on the show and we can recognize our patrons there.

Other Events

• Northwest Regional Spinners Association
• Fleeber Farms
• Twisted Straight Fibers
• Whidbey Weavers Guild
• Stitches West
• Black Sheep Gathering

Scheming and dreaming about all the yarn and fleece projects for 2019. Did you know Marsha and Kelly both love the smell of fleece? Have you heard about the woven ruana and the sheep tea cozy a few too many times? What does it mean to raise your default level? It's all in this episode. 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 email us with your thoughts. Email us at twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com We'd love to hear your 2019 Dreams and Schemes!

Project Updates

Marsha continues to work on Cloud Cover by Heidi Kirrmaier. It has an unusual construction. Knit yoke, then sleeves, then body, then collar. Marsha is hoping she doesn't run out of yarn before that big shawl collar is done.

Marsha has carded a bunch of Wensleydale x Corriedale x Merino fleece and has been spinning it. This fleece is a gorgeous dark espresso color! More spinning is in Marsha's plans for 2019.

Kelly has also been mostly monogamous on the knit front with the Mystery Knit Along with Cozy Up Knits.  She's using the Two Ewes Replenish Rambouillet and loving the feel of the yarn.  The shawl pattern is interesting and will result in a 3 color shawl in 5 weeks. No pictures of the full project because it's a mystery!

2019 Dreams and Schemes

Kelly and Marsha are both training for distance walking this year.  Kelly will be walking the Big Sur 21-Miler in April with her Dad who will turn 79 in March. Marsha got a copy of her training schedule and plans to follow the training, but not do the event. Join in the Ravelry group discussion if you have a fitness goal for 2019 and want some structure and encouragement or want a place to brag!

Events

Northwest Regional Spinners Association

Fleeber Farms

Twisted Straight Fibers

Whidbey Weavers Guild

Stitches West

Black Sheep Gathering

Ringing in the New Year with lace knitting, a vegetable terrine, lots of project planning, and a geographic survey of our listeners. 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 email us with your thoughts. twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com is our email address.  We'd love to hear from you!

Project Updates

Marsha continues to work on Slack Tide by Poststitch and is making steady progress. The yarn is Concentric by Hikoo, which is singles that are not pied. It's very "splitty" and difficult to knit with especially on knit two together, but it's beautiful fabric.

Marsha is waiting for a day to herself to work uninterrupted on Rabbit by Claire Garland.  Marsha is also knitting Cloud Cover by Heidi Kirrmaier. It has an unusual construction. Knit yoke, then sleeves, then body, then collar. Marsha has finished first sleeve and started second.

She's still planning for SnowFlower by Heidi Kirrmaier  The natural yarn arrived and she's been thinking about colors. The "snowflower" will be the natural color but the CC can be anything!

Marsha has carded a bunch of Wensleydale x Corriedale x Merino cross and has been spinning it. This fleece is a gorgeous dark espresso color!

Kelly joined in the Mystery Knit Along with Cozy Up Knits.  She'll be using the Two Ewes Replenish Rambouillet for a 3 color shawl in 5 weeks. She is also participating in the 2019 Herbert Niebling KAL and the Yarniacs Self Indulgent Knit Along with some Niebling lace patterns.  Her Glocklein is finished and she is planning for two more of these fun lace patterns.

2018 Statistics of Interest

Kelly: 31 projects including 8 pair of socks (4 argyles, 3 slipper socks) and 3 weaving projects

Marsha: 13 projects including 5 sweaters and 3 pair of socks.

Most popular podcast episodes of 2018:

Fiber Adventures in Scotland

Ep 86: Events, Knitting Tips, and Bee Talk

Ep 92: Sweaters and Blankets in Summer

Ep 89: Spirit Dress Forms and Uncanny Coincidences

Bonus! Argyle Socks and Edinburgh Sights

Ep 85: A Two-Ply of Joy and Sorrow

Ep 91: Project, Color, and Design Ideas from Listeners

Ep 90: Naughty Knits and Combo Spinning

Ep 93: Gathering Together

Most popular episodes from previous years

Ep 83: One Ewe's Year in Rev-EWE (12/31/17)

Ep 20 a: Textiles on My Travels series
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Ep 1: Who Are Ewe and What Are Ewe Doing Here? (2014)

Geographic location of listeners--top ten countries

United States

Canada

United Kingdom

Australia

Sweden

Denmark

Netherlands

Germany

New Zealand

Other interesting and surprising locations!

The Two Ewes have listeners in places around the world, including the Isle of Man, Uzbekistan, Latvia, Peru, Jamaica, South Africa, and Singapore.

Events:

Author Stephany Wilkes has a book event at Books Inc. in Berkeley, California on January 8, 2019 at 7 pm.  In February she will be speaking at the Treadles to Threads guild meeting February 27 in Contra Costa.

Stitches West! Thursday, February 21 through Sunday, February 24. Marsha and Kelly will be attending the meet-up hosted by Yarniacs and 2 Knit Lit Chicks on Saturday afternoon in the lobby bar area.

Madrona Fiber Arts Thursday, February 14 through Sunday, February 17 in Tacoma Washington. Marsha will be there with Kim aka KMDesigns.

Lots of finished knitting, a fleece processing and spinning project, and a new warp are all on the show this week. We also pull two winners for Stephany Wilkes' book, Raw Material. Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com.  Join the community on Ravelry and discuss the episode, or contact us with your thoughts. twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com is our email address.  We'd love to hear from you.

Kelly finished the Unice Unicorn Hood for her grandniece.  She also finished a second pair of Jo's Perfect Slipper Socks. They are in one of the Western Sky Knits merino cashmere sport weight skeins that she has used for criss-cross colors in argyle socks.  This is a perfect gift knit!

The bulky-weight, 6-shaft weaving is finished, too.  It turned out a little too narrow to be a loom bench cushion so it is now out in the cat's house as a warm and comfy sleeping pad. It was a great way to sample bulky weaving and the 6-shaft draft and to get used to the Macomber loom.

The argyle socks are almost finished.  The knitting is done and now the ends need to be woven in and the back of the leg and sides of the foot need to be seamed.

Kelly wound warp to make a new weaving project for the 4-shaft table loom.  The yarns are fairly thin and the sett will be 24 ends per inch.  She plans to use this to warp back to front for the first time as part of the Winter Weave Along. Join in the weaving fun in our weaving discussion on Ravelry. She made a video (click here for part 1 and here for part 2) showing her stash and selection process.

Marsha hasn't made any progress on her scarf, Slack Tide -  Poststitch or her Rabbit - Claire Garland. But she has been busy working on her cardigan, Cloud Cover - Heidi Kirrmaier and her "vanilla" socks with Austerman Step with heels and toes in Knit Picks Stroll.

Marsha also pulled out a fleece she bought two years ago at the Black Sheep Gathering. It is a 6 pound Wensleydale x Corriedale x Merino cross she split with Kelly. The color is a beautiful dark chocolate espresso bean. Marsha talks about carding the fiber and using her diz for the first time.

Marsha also talks about her planning for her next sweater, SnowFlower, a pullover with colorwork and plans for dyeing the contrasting colors.

Kelly is planning to join in the Mystery Knit Along with Cozy Up Knits.  She'll be using the Two Ewes Replenish Rambouillet for a 3 color shawl in 5 weeks.

Stephany Wilkes has donated a copy of her book Raw Material: Working Wool in the West and the Ewes donated a second. We've chosen winners.  Check out the episode to see who won! Stephany has another book event at Books Inc. in Berkeley, California on January 8, 2019 at 7 pm.  In February she will be speaking at the Treadles to Threads guild meeting February 27 in Contra Costa.

The Learn Along has people doing everything from brioche socks to knitting with a Shetland knitting belt. Marsha talks about learning agility and piano and Kelly is getting close to the end of a semester of learning.

Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of  our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com.  Join the community on Ravelry and discuss the episode, or contact us with your thoughts at twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com

Kelly's Projects

Kelly finished the Running Water cardigan and has worn it three times.  The fit is great and it is so soft and warm.

Since the last episode she started and finished a pair of Jo's Perfect Slipper Socks. Two strands of fingering weight. From Cozy Up knits. Found out about it from the Cozy Up Knits youtube show. Four Canadian Prairie sisters who knit and design patterns.

Kelly has also started a gift knit. She's making the Unice Unicorn Hood for her grandniece.  The hood is done, she is now putting on the fringe that makes the mane.  She is making it as a horse and not putting on the unicorn horn.

Marsha's Projects

Marsha has made very little progress on her existing projects.

Slack Tide -  Poststitch

Rabbit - Claire Garland

Cloud Cover - Heidi Kirrmaier

She is getting "back on the horse" by knitting a pair of "vanilla" socks with Austerman Step with heels and toes in Knit Picks Stroll. Both are spirit yarns from the NoCKRs detash room.

Learn Along

Catherine Knuttson, (smallbirdworkshop on Ravelry) has donated patterns. Her website is smallbirdworkshop.com where she has yarn and patterns.  Her patterns are also available on Ravelry.  Marsha and I each were given a code for a pattern, too.  I'm looking hard at Blue Spruce, but haven't made a decision yet. She has a collection of patterns that are good for variegated yarns.  Check out her pattern page on Ravelry.

To see all the wonderful learning that people did during the Learn Along, visit the FO thread in our Ravelry group. Listen to the show to see who won the drawing!

Patron Drawing

We randomly selected a Daring Adventurer to win the drawing! If you'd like to become a patron, visit patreon.com/twoewes

One of our patrons contacted us about the Weavolution online weaving guild and website.  Kelly joined but hasn't had a chance to poke around on the website yet. They have groups and patterns and classes available for purchase.

Book Giveaway ends December 16.

Stephany Wilkes has donated a copy of her book Raw Material: Working Wool in the West.

Make a comment in the thread on our Two Ewes Ravelry Group to be entered. Stephany has another book event at Books Inc. in Berkeley, California on January 8, 2019 at 7 pm.  In February she will be speaking at the Treadles to Threads guild meeting February 27 in Contra Costa.

Marsha got to see Stephany in Seattle at the  Eileen Fisher Renew store for a reading of her book Raw Material: Working Wool in the West and a panel discussion.  Also on the panel was Kathy Hatori of Botanical Colors. Her dyes are used as overdyes for Renew. She has a studio located in Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. She sells natural dyes for designers and artists.

Eileen Fisher Renew  takes back clothes with a $5 credit. They repair, overdye, reconstruct and then resell the recycled clothing online and in stores.

Marsha also talked about the New York Times article about American Giant trying to make flannel in US.  The Annals of Flannel. And speaking of flannel and fabric. Kelly has sewing acquisitions! She purchased some Huston Textiles climate beneficial cloth (red), and some Vreseis brown cotton flannel.  She already has natural climate beneficial cloth.  A fabric stash is forming. Sally Fox, owner of Vreseis was recently interviewed on Yarn Stories Podcast  by Miriam Felton.  

Our email address is twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com   We'd love to hear from you!

Finished socks, an almost finished sweater and lots of knitting tips in this episode!  Full notes with photos and links are in the podcast section of our shop website:TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com.  Join the community on Ravelry and be part of the conversation!

Kelly has been working to finish the Running Water cardigan. The sleeves are almost finished and then it will be finished! She hopes to have it finished by the time this episode is published.

Kelly raves about the Sockhead Cowl she made out of Tassie Merino from Carrie at Handmade Travels. The scrumptiously soft yarn is sourced from White Gum Wool in Australia. It was made in summer but she just started wearing it.  Kelly  discovered she could twist the cowl in the middle and fold it into a hat!

Another rave is for the Mama Stamberg cranberry relish (with onion and horseradish) that Kelly will be making for Thanksgiving. It's been a staple on her Thanksgiving table for about 20 years.

Kelly has also joined the Jane Stafford Online Weaving Guild and is excited to get back to the loom.  The guild has an annual membership that gives weavers access to previous seasons of videos and also the current season of videos as they come out. At $75 Canadian it is a great value! The price will be increasing to $99 on December 7th so if you've been waffling about joining, now is the time!  The Weave podcast had a really interesting interview with Jane Stafford about the online guild and how it works.

Marsha finished the afterthought socks. She is not a fan of the method of afterthought everything, but they are done and she learned a lot.  She cast on a pair of her standard socks using destash Austermann Step yarn from the NoCKRs retreat.  

She also cast on Cloud Cover, an open front cardigan by Heidi Kirrmaier.

Marsha also talked about her new yarn from a local indie dyer Little Fish Stitches from Aberdeen, Washington.

Tips!  While talking about Cloud Cover, Marsha shares some tips for avoiding gauge issues between flat knitting and knitting in the round.  She also shares a tip for casting on in the round. Knit a few rows first, and then join in the round. Sew up the gap later. This helps to avoid twisting when joining and also alleviates some of the awkwardness of trying to join in the round with small needles and small stitches.  She's doing it with a sock she just started.

The Learn Along ends November 30.  Book Giveaway ends December 16.

There are now TWO Seattle book events for Raw Material: Working Wool in the West. Stephany will be at the Seward Park branch of Third Place Books for an author event on November 28 at 7 pm and on November 29 from 5-7 pm she will be at the Eileen Fisher Renew Store for a panel discussion and book signing  including Kathy Hattori of Botanical Colors. Kelly first heard about Kathy's work on the Weave podcast.

Join the conversation about this episode in our Ravelry Group, or contact us with your thoughts. Our email address is twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com.  We'd love to hear from you.

Joined by guest co-host Stephany Wilkes, sheep shearer, wool classer, and author of the fantastic new book Raw Material: Working Wool in the West.  Order it at your local bookstore or online.  Stephany is also president of the Northern California Fibershed Cooperative. She chats with the Ewes about her projects and then we discuss her book and her life as a shearer.  Stephany can be found on Instagram as @ladysheepshearer.

Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of  our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com.  Join the community on Ravelry where we will give away a copy of the book Raw Material: Working Wool in the West.

Kelly's Argyle adventure continues. The socks are roughly based on the pattern Men's Argyle socks #5710. She's not really using pattern that much, but she used it to create a Stitch Fiddle chart for the colorwork.

Also active this week are the Humble Bee socks. The pattern was a gift from Sara Bauer (sarapomegranate on Ravelry and host of the Yarns at Yin Hoo podcast).

Kelly has also joined the Jane Stafford Online Weaving Guild and is excited to get back to the loom.  The guild has an annual membership that gives weavers access to previous seasons of videos and also the current season of videos as they come out. At $75 Canadian it is a great value! The price will be increasing to $99 in December so check it out.

Stephany is just about to bind off yet another Purl Soho Boyfriend hat, a free pattern from Purl Soho, in Lani's Lana Rambouillet twist, a black and white wool twist, undyed. It makes the PERFECT marled hat. Highly recommend it for gift and travel knitting, a simple k1, p1 rib all the way around.

Yesterday, she cast on the Anna Vest by Karen Templer of Fringe Association, and she has about 3" of the back piece done. I'm knitting it up in a heavy worsted, black, Shetland and alpaca blend. Her thoughts on this pattern? "I love it. Easy pattern to memorize, and I know I will get a ton of wear out of this vest in our coastal climate."

Marsha continues to work on the afterthought socks. The long stockinette tube is finished and she is ready to do the steeking.  Meanwhile, she has started on Rabbit, a pattern by Claire Garland. The rabbit is beginning to take shape!

After project updates the three have a wide ranging conversation. Stephany shares her journey from a knitter looking for local yarn in a California yarn shop to the sheep shearing jobs she does across the state.  Topics include "urban hubris," imposter syndrome, and the value of agricultural work; carbon farming and its potential to combat climate change; and the overlooked job opportunities in the world of sheep. For those in the Seattle area, Stephany will be at the Seward Park branch of Third Place Books for an author event on November 28 at 7 pm.

Join the conversation about this episode in our Ravelry Group, or contact us with your thoughts. twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com is our email address.  We'd love to hear from you.

Creativity, productivity, and community are three big benefits we've gained from 4 years of podcasting.  In our 100th episode we have our usual project updates and then we spend some time reflecting on the experience of the last four years.  Come join the community on Ravelry!

Marsha's Update:

I have a lot to say about my Afterthought Socks! It's a looooooooong stockinette tube and I'll be putting on cuffs, toes, and heels. We had quite a discussion about how to measure the spot for the heel. I'm sure some of our listeners can set us straight. Leave a comment here or join in the discussion in our Ravelry group.

My other active project over the past two weeks is the Slacktide Scarf. It has a nice interesting stitch--the perfect antidote to a long, boring stockinette tube. I'm also planning for the Rabbit by Claire Garland and have ordered the yarn called for in the pattern.

Kelly's Update:

I'm running out of yarn on the Running Water cardigan. I'm almost done with the collar band and then will start the sleeves. Meanwhile, I've started two new pairs of socks. One pair is using the Humble Bee pattern by Sara Bauer of the Yarns at Yin Hoo podcast. The other pair is variegated argyle socks using the chart I created on Stitch Fiddle.  Start with row 71 to get 2 diamonds on the leg (one front and one back) and one diamond on the instep.  All three projects are right at a part where I have to pay attention so I'm not able to knit at all during this recording.

A HUGE thank you to all our listeners! We never would have arrived at Episode 100 without you. You're feedback, encouragement, compliments, and suggestions have been so important to us.  You have enabled us to create a wonderful community.

Visit the Two Ewes Shop featuring locally produced yarns, from soil to skein. Small-batch, overdyed Romney and Shetland yarns grown and processed on the west coast, and the climate beneficial Replenish Rambouillet from Bare Ranch, a northern California ranch using carbon farming practices. 

Lambtown Sheep and Wool Festival, two sweaters, some weaving, the Fibonacci sequence, and some dog talk round out the topics for this episode. All this knitting has left us wishing fiber crafts were more aerobic!  Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Come join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Marsha finished her Iba cardigan by Bonne Marie Burns, well sort of finished. She discovered after blocking the sleeves now need be shortened by about an inch. Marsha loves the cardigan! It fits well and the Rambouillet yarn is so soft, silky, and plump. Marsha is also working on the picot bind off of her Elinya shawl by Ambah O'Brien.

Marsha started a scarf named Slack Tide for her brother with Concentric by HiKoo by Skacel. She purchased the yarn at a great new shop in Seabrook, WA call String Theory Yarns and Fiber. The owner, Jean Chambers, is focusing on local yarns. Marsha also bought two skeins of Lina Fine Yarns and Textiles from Montesano, WA. Marsha also started her after thought heel socks as part of our Learn Along.

Kelly was at Lambtown over the weekend. Sheep shearing, sheepdog demos, sheep to shawl competition, fiber friends and a great marketplace made for a fantastic time. She also took a class on combing wool and spinning for luster from Stephenie Gaustad.

Her knitting continues to be monogamous, with all knitting energy going to the Running Water cardigan. She is using the Fibonacci sequence for the striping on the sweater.  The sweater has a tubular bind off at the hem.

The big loom has also been warped and Kelly is doing a long narrow sampler which will make a good loom bench cushion.

The Two Ewes Shop has small-batch Romney and Shetland yarns, and  the climate beneficial Replenish Rambouillet, with some new fall colors. Kelly's favorite is a color called "Just Say No to Pumpkin Spice Bourbon."

A nasty fall has Marsha under the weather, but the knits, crochet, and weaving talk goes on. Besides a sweater project for each, the Two Ewes talk about future fiber plans, the Learn Along, and some new fall colors in the shop.

No full show notes this week, but do check out The Small Bird Workshop pattern page on Ravelry.  Catherine has generously donated five patterns as prizes for the Learn Along. Her patterns are great. Take a look!

Keep on Learning!

Happy New Year! The Two Ewes recap their projects from 2023 and look forward to a productive and yarn-filled 2024.

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.

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Ames Beanie: by Stephanie Larson. Finished! Used Leading Men Fiber Arts Box Office (worsted) in colorway Spiced Apple Cider. Made for Mark. I bought the yarn at the much missed String Theory Yarns. 

Flowers from My Garden: Finished! Eight skeins and 1,758 yards. Finished yarn may be worsted or DK.

Malabrigo Nube Merino Braids: Have two braids in the color way 855 which is a blue green. The first braid I split into 10 individual rovings and the second braid I plan to split into half. I  will then ply the two singles together.

Camella Hat: by Katie Pomper. Using Meeker Street Olive's Outerwear DK in the colorway Dragon's Breath. 

Nanny Meier Tea Cozy: Inspired by Lily Pulitzer colors. Using Cascade 220 in hot pink and lime green. Finished first side.

Socks: Using Knitterly Things Vesper Sock Yarn in the colorway Sum-Sum-Summertime. Heels and toes will be Dream in Color Mini Smooshy in the colorway Bermuda Teal. I finished the first sock and am about half way down the leg of the second sock.

Fine Sand: by Heidi Kirrmaier. Using West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious in the colorway Claret. I washed and blocked the body. Seems okay but I would like it a bit roomier. I'm still thinking about what I want to do next. 

Continuing to work on Purple/Gray socks for Robert. These are the ones that I had to stop working on during the last episode because I forgot to turn the heel. I pulled the needles out and put them back in the bag to fix later. Later turned out to be a month later. I now can't remember what yarn this is. I got it at the very last Stitches West ever in 2022. 

Continuing to work on Dozens of Little Squares. I've washed 83 squares and have another large batch finished. So I'm at almost 200 squares so far. Time to start sewing them together!

Winter Weave Along starts October 1 and goes through March 31. Join the fun in our Ravelry group!

Kelly at a Florida conference, Orlando, 19th through 22nd.

Marsha's knitting project has some woes, but the Wool Auction and Shop News are a big WOW! There's a Two Ewes Shop update with an exciting new Replenish Rambouillet yarn, produced with climate beneficial practices. Support the podcast AND the planet with these new fingering weight yarns. 

Kelly has no knitting projects on the needles and she has finished her first Papel Picado in filet crochet. It still needs to be washed and blocked, but it turned out great! There will be at least a few more of these finished before Halloween this year.

Marsha had a set back with her cardigan Iba by Bonne Marie Burns. The skeins of yarn looked the same but when she started the sleeves she realized there was a difference. The hard lesson learned is this is what happens when you are so impatient to start knitting that you don't alternate skeins.  Remember, no one ever regretted alternating skeins.Marsha unravelled the entire sweater and has started over, making good progress.

The Monterey Fair and Wool Auction was a complete success and Kelly ended up with some nice fleeces. Six of them, in fact! Besides fleece and fair food, there was the most interesting chicken at the fair this year! See the full show notes.

Marsha is knitting, Kelly is swatching crochet techniques, and the Ewes are planning a Learn Along that will last through November. For full show notes with pictures, visit the Two Ewes website.

Marsha is working along on her Iba by Bonne Marie Burns.  She's using textured Rambouillet yarn from the same batch that is in the Two Ewes Shop.  She loves the feel of the wool and the fit of the pattern. 

She also has the Elinya shawl on the needles for social knitting. 

Kelly has no knitting or crochet in progress, but she is swatching and practicing filet crochet in order to make Papel Picado. The real papel picado is a traditional Mexican decoration for Dia de los Muertos.  Kelly found a pattern for a crochet lace version and has visions of making enough to string across an entire room. 

She is also looking for a sweater pattern for some coned cashmere fingering and some Chickadee sport weight to combine into one cardigan.  A listener suggested Brise, a cute sweater designed for linen yarn.  Another one the is in consideration is Running Water.  

One of Kelly's projects from last year was entered in the Monterey County Fair and won Best in Show!  If you are coming to the fair, August 30-September 3, look for the Cowichan Sweater in the Wool Room. 

The Two Ewes are starting a "School Days Learn Along" that will last until November 30. To join, just participate in the chat thread in the Two Ewes Ravelry group and post your finished objects in the FO thread. All finished objects should be things for which you had to learn something to complete them. For example, Kelly will be learning some crochet techniques for the papel picado and Marsha will be taking a colorwork class so she can make a tea cosy that isn't too tight to fit over her teapot! Knit, crochet, weave, spin--all of those are eligible!

Marsha ends the episode with a quote from Kyoko  Mori's book Yarn: Remembering the Way Home. 

A bonus episode with a sneak preview of 100 fleeces that will be at the 2018 Monterey County Fair Wool Auction on September 3.

Kelly talks about the auction, how it works and what to expect.  She also describes the beautiful fleeces, talks about the judge's comments, and shares which fleeces are her favorites.  

Here is an article from shearer Stephany Wilkes about canary staining.

Here is an article from Montana State that has a chart that compares the 3 grading systems.

Here is a website from Wildfibres that shows the grades of wool by breeds. 

The auction starts at 11:30 at the Livestock Pavillion near Gate 6 of the Monterey County Fairgrounds.  Viewing starts around 9 am and wool buyers can get into the fair for free with a copy of a flyer.  You can get a copy from me by emailing twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com or by going to the Two Ewes website and using the contact form.  Check out the Anne's Web Ravelry group.  The Anne's Web guild is the hosting guild for the wool show and auction.