Two Ewes Fiber Adventures

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

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

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 seriesPart 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!

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.

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.

Knitting and weaving, plus Alaska, sock recipes, and fresh starts in this longer-than-usual episode. For full show notes, including all pictures and links visit the Two Ewes Fiber Adventures website.

Kelly has finished almost all her works in progress (WIPs) and is contemplating a clean slate on her Ravelry project page. She finished the woven blankets, using over 4400 meters of yarn in the process. She also finished the Sockhead Cowl that she had been working on last episode. She still has one Sockhead Cowl on the needles and plans to finish it by the end of the weekend before classes start on Monday. The yarn is Tassie Merino from Handmade Travels and it is so nice to knit with.

Kelly plans to rip out the socks she's making from a sock blank and give that yarn a chance to be something that will better show off the long gradient. She also contemplates ripping out the small start she has on the Coloresque Wrap. But that will have to wait until she can find it. The yarn for that project has gone AWOL, perhaps because it really wants to be something else! The pattern is still intriguing, but she'll plan it with a different yarn combination.

Marsha finished her Summer Fjord T-shirt by Trin-Annelie knit with Fibra Natura Flax. The top fit beautifully and the 100% linen is cool and comfortable.

Marsha started a new cardigan, Iba by Bonne Marie Burns. She is using the textured Raucus Rambouillet yarn from the Two Ewes Fiber Adventures shop and loves knitting with it.

If you'd like to support the show make a contribution at our Patreon page or purchase something from our shop. Thanks so much for listening and supporting the show!

Sweater fit, math for pattern modifications, and a way to help sheep farmers impacted by California wildfires add to the usual project updates in this episode. Join the Ewes for all this and more! For full show notes with links and pictures, go to twoewesfiberadventures.com

Marsha's projects are her combo spin and a linen tee. The combo spin is almost finished and the yarn is really beautiful. She has selected a simple cardigan pattern and will talk more about that when she is ready to cast on. The yarn has a significant amount of silk in it and the feel is really luscious.

The Summer Fjord linen tee is being bound off during the show. It is knit from Fibra Natura 100% linen yarn. Marsha had a mistake that she repaired by dropping about 5-6 stitches back a few inches and then reknitting only those stitches from the row. She has photos of the repair process on her project page in Ravelry.

Kelly has three finished projects, including the Bobble Sheep pillow that she finished awhile ago, but forgot to talk about.

A more recently finished pillow is the Clover, Bee, and Revery pattern. It has a fabric backing sewn on and two wooden bee buttons as a pillow back closure. This pillow has inspired her to make the Such is the Quality of Bees blanket out of the same yarn and using a doubleknit technique so that the front and back of the blanket both have the bee and rabbit pattern on them.

Kelly also finished another pair of argyle socks. The yarn is sport weight, but knit up at the same stitch gauge as the socks she made from fingering weight yarn before.

Marsha discusses a listener question about the math required to change a pattern when using a different gauge yarn. Another listener recommended Ann Budd's book, The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns and The Knitter's Handy Book of Top Down Sweaters. Marsha also recommended the Craftsy class by Amy Herzog, Sweater Modifications for a Custom Fit. There are additional Craftsy classes on yarn substitution and sweater fit by Kellie Nuss and Sally Melville that look interesting. Marsha is also interested in taking a class called Sizing Knitwear Patterns by Faina Golberstein, who is also a math professor.

Kelly discussed the impact of the California wildfires on sheep farmers and ranchers. One farm in particular--owned by Sally Fox, creator of Foxfibre colored cotton--was threatened by the County Fire. Her property escaped damage, but she shared the story of evacuation on Instagram and that made Kelly think about the financial impact even when the property is spared. Sally's company is Vreseis and it is dedicated to sustainable cotton production. She sells cotton yarn and fiber, merino yarn and fiber, cloth, and wheat flour--all from her farm. With a purchase from her shop or a click of her donation button you can assist with the additional expenses of the recent fire threat and do your part for World Fleece! Take some time to look at her website and read the story of her cotton-growing journey.

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The Two Ewes are back home after a fun weekend at The Black Sheep Gathering. This year the festival was held in Albany, Oregon June 29th - July 1st. Kelly and Marsha discuss the highlights of festival.

Marsha had twelve hours of knitting on the round-trip train ride from Seattle plus knitting time the festival. She is almost ready to start the ribbing and short row shaping on her Summer Fjord tee by Trin-Annelie.

At the BSG Marsha fed her addiction with more braids for a combo spin in, this time in red. She also bought two braids to go with a white, grey, and yellow braid she bought a year ago. She is not sure how she plans to spin these braids. Will it be her Combo Spin 5?

Marsha gave into temptation and bought a beautiful Corriedale x Romeldale fleece in steel gray. Kelly also bought a Corriedale x Romeldale fleece, this one is white. And she succumbed to a beautiful steel gray Romney fleece that was for sale in the non-judged market. Her purchases at the BSG were restrained because after the Gathering she picked up a Great Wheel style wheel that she was buying from a fellow adventurer. The wheel was made by Bill Wyatt in 2001.

In addition to exciting additions to the spinning wheel flock, Kelly was able to make great progress on two projects. The Argyle socks are coming along nicely and the Clover, Bee, and Revery Pillow is almost done! For full show notes, including pictures and all the links, go to

https://twoewesfiberadventures.com/blogs/podcast

Spinning and weaving projects are working down Kelly's stash, while Marsha finished a cardigan. The Ewes also discuss linen, based on a listener question. They're also in planning mode, thinking ahead to the trip to Black Sheep Gathering and projects that will work for that trip.

Contact Marsha and Kelly here if you have a topic you'd like discussed, if you're interested in the Black Sheep Gathering Meet-up, or to provide feedback.

Marsha has finished her Little Wave cardigan by Gudrun Johnson. She knit it using Neighborhood Fiber Company yarn that she got at Stitches West in February. She made some sleeve modifications that are detailed in her project page.

Now she's working on Summer Fjord using a Fibra Natura Linen. Her yarn is in a heavier weight than called for in the pattern so there has been some adjusting of the pattern.

Kelly and Marsha have both been wearing their Wool and Wire Jewelry from Never Not Knitting shop in Atascadero, California. Kelly has also discovered, that like her bees, she rarely travels outside of a 5 mile radius. Find out if you travel outside a radius by using the Radius Around a Point mapping tool.

All the staying at home has led Kelly to use lots of yardage already this summer. She finished many yards of plying, spun a braid of fiber into a nice 3-ply skein, has a blanket weaving project on the loom, and has started her colorwork bee pillow. The pillow is a pattern by Mona Zillah called Clover, Bee, and Revery. There is a matching blanket that is also in Kelly's distant future plans.

Speaking of blankets, the Karoo Vintage Mystery Crochet Along caught Kelly's eye. She has the pattern at the top of her queue and is thinking about yarn choices. Two pattern clues are out so far and more will be released between now and the end of summer. The project will be a SloCro according to the designer, Jen Tyler, and is meant to be crocheted over the long term. She has additional information on her Hooks 'n' Tales website.

A listener asked about the biasing that occurs when knitting with linen. Marsha and Kelly talk about knitting with linen and share some information they gathered. Here are some links

Linen and Hemp Lovers group on Ravelry

Microscopic photos of different fibers

Kelly and Marsha will be attending the Black Sheep Gathering held in Albany, Oregon on June 29 - July 1. We will have an Open House meet up on June 30 around 4:30 p.m. at Kelly's SF Giants themed trailer. Stop by and say hi!

The combo spin discussion last week prompted some great discussion about color, design, knitting, and spinning. So after the project updates, the Ewes talk about some of the ideas shared by listeners and the inspiration they provided. For full show notes with pictures visit our show notes blog.

Kelly has done a lot of finishing! Not saving the best for last, she finished the Lime Green and Pink Argyle socks. They are so much fun that she's already cast on for the next pair of Argyles. The pattern she uses is adapted from this vintage sock pattern on freevintageknitting.com

She also finished two summer tops. The first is Summer Fjord by Trin-Annelie and is really happy with the results. The second is Sommer Sleeveless Top by Mari Chiba. These will make a great summer tops if the weather on the coast ever warms up!

Kelly also urges all California shepherds to enter fleeces into the Monterey County Fair Fleece Show and Auction. Entries are due July 31 and entry instructions can be found here on the Monterey County Fair website. The fleece judging is on August 11 by Shelia January and the auction will be held on September 3. For more information you can contact Kelly: twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com

Marsha is almost done with her Little Wave cardigan by Gudrun Johnston but discovered the sleeves are too big and too long. She has unraveled the first sleeve and is knitting it again adding more decreases. Check out her project page for an explanation of the math she used.

The pattern modifications continue with Marsha's Summer Fjord T-shirt and there is a discussion of changing the straight body to an A-line.

In our last episode The Ewes answered a listener's question about Combo Spin yarn. Several listeners posted pictures of their combo spin techniques and finished projects.

"Infryq" had very different fibers she was working with and decided to card six pieces together and and then spin the rolags. Check our her finished yarn on her project page . Gorgeous!

"StaciDSL" wove with her combo spin. "Meemacox" made two different sweaters with one combo spin project.

Just a reminder that Kelly and Marsha will be attending the Black Sheep Gathering held in Albany, Oregon on June 29 - July 1. We will again have a meet up around 4:30 p.m. at Kelly's trailer. Stop by and say hi!

The knitting has been naughty, but the Ewes have plenty to say about potential new projects and combo spinning. For photos of the Combo Spin sweaters that Marsha has made, check out our full show notes with pictures here.

Marsha has been working on her Little Wave cardigan and is almost finished. The pattern is by Gudrun Johnston. Although Marsha has known how to read for a long time, (and has a degree in Literature) her reading skills failed her at times on this pattern. Who hasn't had that problem!

Marsha's other active project, a Summer Fjord in DK weight, is requiring calculations and modifications since the original pattern calls for fingering weight yarn. So this project spent some time in the knitting bag due to complications.

Kelly is making a Summer Fjord, too (in lace weight). She has finished the bottom ribbing. Now its at the point of picking up sleeves--not the most relaxing part of the project so it also sits in its bag. The pattern is by Trin-Annelie.

The Argyle socks have also been naughty. The criss-cross lines aren't matching up with the corners and centers of the diamonds. They will have to be ripped back to a point where they can be fixed. Meanwhile, the Two at a Time socks aren't much fun, and a LOT of conference and travel knitting time left Kelly feeling tired of knitting on the Sommer Sleeveless Top. GASP!!

All this knitting misbehavior has led to thoughts of new projects. Kelly is planning a sweater and talks about Melaine by Julie Partie, Bloom by Anne B. Hanssen, and the Koru Cardigan by Francoise Danoy.

Nevertheless, the Ewes find plenty to talk about with a listener question from Leona on Combo Spinning. Marsha is working on her third combo spin yarn and Kelly is in the process of preparing some Lincoln roving for a combo spin.

There is a lot of information about Combo Spinning and some great pictures in the Spin-Off Ravelry discussion group. There was a Spin-Along-Knit-Along in 2017 that was kicked off by an article by Debbie Held in the winter 2017 Spin Off magazine. The Passioknit Spinners Podcast also has some great information about Combo Spinning and an informative discussion on the her Ravelry group.

The Ewes are back to regular episodes with prize drawings, weaving, a couple stories and, of course, our knitting.

The weave along ended with some prizes. One of the prizes is a Sweetheart Loom from Hazel Rose Looms. The Sheep Thrills KAL prize was also drawn in this episode.

Marsha made good progress on her Little Wave cardigan by Gudrun Johnston. She has knit the body up to the armholes and has finished the first sleeve. When the second sleeve is completed both will be attached to the body and the yoke and saddle shoulders worked. This is the first sweater Marsha has made with this technique.

Marsha cast on for the Summer Fjord by Trin-Annelie. This is the same Tee Kelly is making and like Kelly, Masha is using a different weight of yarn. She is going up to DK with Fibra Natura Flax (100% linen) and Kelly is going down with lace weight Sincere Sheep Linen. Lots of swatching, washing, measuring, and math went into the decision of sizes to make. There was pronounced biasing on Marsha's swatch so the Summer Fjord seemed a good choice with the different stitch patterns breaking up the stockinette. Kelly's Summer Fjord has the body finished and is waiting for some work on the neckline and sleeve caps to be finished.

Kelly has been a little slow on her projects, although she did finish the Christmas dishtowels that she recently put on the LeClerc floor loom. The towels are all variations of Swiss Twill from the Marguerite P. Davison weaving book.

Kelly has also cast on the Sommer tank by Mari Chiba. The yarn is some of her oldest stash, purchased in 2007 for a tank top shown in a magazine in May of that year. That sweater never got made and the yarn has narrowly escaped destash for a few years. Once again some math and pattern adjustment was required since the gauge of the pattern isn't the gauge Kelly got in her swatch. She is "test knitting" this for a friend who might also want to make it.

Marsha's has completed three skeins of her Combo Spin #3. Kelly and Marsha have a discussion on the math required to determine the final percentages of fiber in the finished yarn from the various fibers that were used.

Marsha was unusually restrained in the destash room at the NoCKRs retreat in April with the exception of a large "friend" that drove home with Marsha. Kelly and Marsha tell the story of "Blithe Spirit" and her impact when was discovered napping at the NoCKRs retreat.

Marsha tells the story of a very strange coincidence. Her son's girlfriend needed a bookcase so Ben and her dad went to the ReStore to look for recycled materials to build a bookcase. They came back with a chest that unbelievably had belonged to Marsha's mother Podie! The chest had been left in the house by the previous owners and Podie had used it in her sewing room for notions for over 50 years. They added the bookcase to the top, painted it green, and added the bead board to the back. Marsha had given the chest to the Goodwill over a year ago and the universe sent it back for Ben's girlfriend!

Events on the horizon:

Spinning at the Winery, Retzlaff Winery in Livermore, May 19 from 10-4

Black Sheep Gathering in Albany Oregon, June 29-July 1. Listener meet-up on Saturday, June 30.

Monterey County Fair Fleece Judging, August 11 at 9 am with meet-up event after (Wool show information on page 58 of link)

Lots of knitting to talk about and then we're off to the NoCKRs retreat. An unedited episode to catch you all up on our adventures before we rush off to another fun time.

Visit our Two Ewes Fiber Adventures shop.

The intrepid fiber adventurers have filed a few more foreign correspondent dispatches. And this time there's yarn! Also whisky, department store gin, interesting food, sheep, and castles. Join Marsha and Kim on this yarn lover's journey.

Kelly answers a few listener questions about the Argyle socks and then there are two dispatches from our foreign correspondent Marsha and her partner in travel, Kim. They see the sights, drink great Whisky, and eat wonderful food. And the Yarn Fest hasn't even begun!

Here is a link to Kelly's Argyle chart for a 72 stitch sock. If you have a Stitch Fiddle account you should be able to download and edit your own version of this chart.

Here is the link to the free vintage knitting patterns. http://freevintageknitting.com/

No show notes this time. We talk about what we finished to wear at Stitches West and then we talk about our fun weekend. Since this is late getting out to listeners, we are dispensing with show notes to just get this episode out!

A little knitting and a lot of planning for upcoming events on today's show. Plus a couple of knitting tips, the perfect spirit buttons, and some bee talk. To see these show notes with photos, go to our website.

Marsha's Projects

Marsha started her second combo spin sweater so she'd have something going when the Opteka is finished. She is quite close to finishing Opteka.

Kelly's Projects

Kelly continues to work on the Indigo Frost poncho. Another careless moment led to a mistake. Instead of ripping back 8 rows of over 300 stitches, she attempted to rip out and re-knit only the section of 66 stitches that contained the mistake. It worked really well and the poncho is back on track.

Since the poncho had a mistake that needed to be repaired in a quiet time period, Kelly pulled the linen Summer Fjord top back out and put about an inch on it. It has a few inches to go before the bottom ribbing and will be finished in time for warmer weather.

Kelly also found the perfect buttons for her Curious Cardigan. They are buttons from Marsha's mother's button tin and they'll be perfect!

Bee Update

Kelly and Marsha talk about the bees. Kelly did some honey harvesting since the bees aren't going to need their honey for the quickly retreating California winter. Kelly also suggested that people who want to plant for the bees consider trees, or at least shrubs for their concentrated volume of nectar or pollen. Xerces society has plant lists for different areas of the country if you are interested.

Knitting and spinning are so therapeutic for the difficult times in life. They also bring joy and a community that enhances the good times. Join the Ewes in this episode that includes a little of each. Plus, they talk about the Two Ewes Shop and some of their learning experiences with this labor of love connecting local shepherds, mills, and small-batch yarns to knitters and crocheters.

If you read these show notes on your podcast app and want to see pictures, go to our complete show notes here.

Kelly has two finished projects. She finished the Aztec Cupcake socks made with beautiful Duren Dyeworks yarn using the Slip and Swirl Socks pattern by Kristi of the In a Sknit podcast. The pattern and yarn are a perfect pairing and created this great design.

She also finished the black Molly hat for her sister using spirit yarn from Marsha's stash. That leaves her with only one active knitting project, the Indigo Frost poncho.

Marsha is also down to one active project. She's almost finished with her Opteka sweater. This is a pattern by Isabell Kraemer and it has an interesting hem detail that was fun to knit.

The odd line in the photo is the demarcation between the part that was washed and blocked and the new knitting that has been done since then. Marsha washed and blocked the partially completed sweater to double check that she was getting the same gauge as her washed swatch.

Both Marsha and Kelly are thinking about next projects. Kelly is swatching with some deep stash to see if it will work for the Knit it Down sweater. Marsha is thinking about either Vintersol or Snowflower for her next sweater knit.

The Ewes are excited about some upcoming events. They will both be at Stitches West, Feb 22-25. Kelly is taking an Argyle class and they will both be spending plenty of time in the market. They will be attending the meet-up in the lobby of the Hyatt (conference center hotel) on Saturday starting at about 2 pm.

Marsha is visiting Scotland for the Edinburgh Yarn Festival March 15-17, plus some "fringe events" on Sunday, March 18. There is a podcaster lounge and she'll spend some time there as well as with the enticing vendor exhibits.

In April Marsha will return to California for the annual Northern California Knitting Retreat, hosted by the two podcasts the Yarniacs and The 2 Knit Lit Chicks.

This weaving lesson episode is audio. Winter Weave Along 3 will be an accompanying pdf. If your podcast app doesn't deliver the pdf, visit the Weave Along thread in the Two Ewes Fiber Adventures Group on Ravelry.

The episode was recorded "on location" in Marsha's weaving studio (aka dining room) in Seattle. The Ewes talk about Marsha's first weaving project from start to finish. As a beginner, Marsha asks questions and provides insights into the experience.

The Two Ewes are both in Seattle! Assembling spinning wheels, meeting listeners, weaving, knitting, and comparing notes on sweaters are just some of the activities from their fun week.

Project Updates

Marsha is knitting a new project since the last episode. The pattern is Opteka by Isabell Kraemer and the yarn is Imperial Yarn Tracie Too. This is Marsha's second long-sleeved pullover. She is wearing her Combo Spin sweater so much she decided to make another sweater with similar characteristics.

Marsha has also finished a project already this year. In fact, it was finished in two days! Her first weaving project was a huge success. There will be more information about this in the next Winter Weave Along episode.

Kelly is almost exclusively working on the Indigo Frost by Isabell Kraemer. The Ewes are definitely enjoying her patterns these days! Kelly's version is a vivid spring green cormo yarn from Sincere Sheep in the Virid colorway. The color work portion is being done with handspun left over from her Funky Grandpa cardigan. This will guarantee that she will stand out in a crowd!

She also has weaving as her first finished project of 2018. The woven pouch is finished, sporting one of her favorite buttons from the button stash. The directions for the woven pouch can be found in the first Winter Weave Along lesson.

Fiber Adventures

Marsha's new/old Ashford Traditional got a good spin at the Spin-In. Many interesting wheels were there, including an interesting Dutch Moswalt wheel and an antique Norwegian Wheel with matching spinning chair that was for sale.

The Ewes also made fiber purchases from a variety of fun vendors. Huckleberry Knits, Fleebers Farm, Sauked In Farm, and Homestead Hobbyist all got added to the stash.

Fiber in the Wild

Kelly was delighted to find that a new mill with spinning capability has opened in California. Valley Oak Wool and Fiber Mill in Yolo County is now the only mill in the state that spins yarn. This article details the story of the mill's owner and its recent opening. Stay tuned for more about this exciting development!

Marsha shares a video in which Fairy Little knits a sweater in one day using time lapse video. Amazing!

Kelly looks back over the year 2017 and shares her best projects, the most popular podcast episodes, and interesting facts about the listener base. Marsha has a bad cold with a cough, not a good mix with podcasting.

The shop is back open after a short break for the Christmas holiday.

Upcoming Events January 6, 2018: The St. Distaff Day Spin-In at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, from 10 am until 4 pm.

January 7, 2018: Seattle Crafternoon starting at 1 pm. Contact us on Ravelry or email us here for location information.

February 22-25: Stitches West in Santa Clara. On Saturday afternoon the Yarniacs and 2 Knit Lit Chicks meet-up will be in the hotel lobby of the conference hotel.

March 15-18: Edinburgh Yarn Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Marsha will be attending and is hoping to meet some of our UK listeners!

Kelly's project year ended up with 23 finished projects and 5 of them are adult sweaters! A 6th should be finished by the time we ring in the new year. The Handspun Cowichan was finished in time for the camping trip and it was so nice and warm--the perfect camp sweater. This was The Orca Run by Beth Brown-Reinsel. Kelly's camping trip knitting was the blue crochet cardigan that she stalled out on some time ago. The pattern is The Curious Case of the Crazy-Stitch Cardigan by Michele DuNaier . She made great progress and hopes to have a finished sweater by New Year's Day. Other camping knitting included a charity hat out of some alpaca spirit yarn. It will be really warm. Happy New Year everyone!

Two finished projects and an almost finished project are the big knitting topics this week. Marsha continues to combo spin and Kelly starts a weaving project. Thanks to all who visited the Two Ewes Shop during the Shop Small sale and supported the making of this podcast!

Marsha's Projects

Marsha has finished her second Among the Shadows Shawl by Kelene Kinnersly. The yarn is Stonehedge Fiber Mill Crazy, made from mill ends.

Marsha has also finished her Beeline Compost Spin pullover using the Beeline pattern by Heidi Kirrmaier.

Marsha's second combo spin is underway. She thinks the skeins look similar to her last one even though her color planning was very different. These skeins will have a variety of fibers, including silk, and the yarn is quite lustrous.

Kelly's Projects

Kelly is almost finished with her Handspun Cowichan sweater. It is the Orca Run by Beth Brown-Reinsel. She is adding an applied i-cord edging to the fronts to give the sweater a little more room, provide a neat zipper placket, and give the whale snouts a little more room.

Winter Weave Along

Marsha has her yarn ready to go, but realized there is no reed in her loom. She'll be using worsted weight yarn so a 10-dent reed is the best choice. Kelly will be visiting soon and the Ewes will get Marsha started on her weaving. Meanwhile Kelly has wound warp for green and red dishtowels.

Kelly has found a Ravelry Group that does a year-long weave along using the Marguerite P. Davidson book, A Handweaver's Pattern Book. The group chooses chapters from the book and then within each chapter, weave structures to experiment with.

Meet the Ewes!

Marsha and Kelly will be attending the St. Distaff Day Spin-In on January 6, 2918, at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, Washington from 10 am until 4 pm. Here is a link with further information.

On the next day, Sunday January 7, The Ewes will be holding a Crafternoon starting at 1 pm. Refreshments, a spirit yarn table, and other surprises will make for a fun afternoon! Bring your knitting, crochet, or spinning and join the adventure. Contact us on Ravelry (1hundredprojects or betterinmotion) or email us at twoewes@twoewesfiberadventures.com for location information.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah everyone!

Monogamous sweater knitting, a little yarn dyeing for the Two Ewes Shop, and some weaving homework for Marsha are all featured this episode. Click here for complete show notes with photos.

Marsha's projects

Marsha is now obsessed with knitting with her combo spin yarn. She is knitting Beeline by Heidi Kirrmaier. She has renamed the project Compost Spin after listener GloriaMcC from Michigan reported that she had been hearing this project as the Compost Bin project. Combo Spin... Compost Bin. Guess it's a good thing we have show notes so people can see what we're saying!

Kelly's projects

Kelly is back to working on the Handspun Cowichan sweater. She has the body done and is ready to work the sleeves and collar. Like Marsha, she has been focused only on this knitting project over the last two weeks.

Kelly has also been doing some dyeing. Right after Thanksgiving new colors were added to the shop and new items for spinners are coming in the upcoming week. The shopsmall2017 discount code is good for free shipping until December 10. One of our listeners has created a beautiful shawl from our textured Raucous Rambouillet yarn. It's a great example of pattern and yarn pairing. She used the the Among the Shadows pattern that Marsha has used twice now and created the Blueberry & Cream Shawl.

Weaving

Kelly and Marsha talk a little about how Marsha can prepare for her Winter Weave Along project. Marsha will be selecting yarns that she wants to use to make a sampler on her 4-harness table loom.

Announcements

If you are in the Seattle area, save the date for the Two Ewes Seattle Crafternoon on January 6, 2018.

One of our spinning friends from the Spinning With Friends Ravelry Group, Eileen aka Leprkon on Ravelry, had a severe stroke in September and her community is having a fundraiser. If you'd like to contribute, check out the flyer in our show notes for this episode.

Visit the Two Ewes Shop, twoewesfiberadventures.com between November 24 and December 10. Use the promo code shopsmall2017 to get free shipping on all orders of $20 or more. The shop will be updated throughout the promotional period with additional items.

The Ewes are busy and so are the bees! Knitting with yarn from the Two Ewes Shop, combo-spin mania continues, charity hats, camping trips and a host of other topics make for a bonus-sized episode.

Marsha finished her Recoleta by Joji Locatelli made with Neighborhood Fiber Company Studio Worsted. Marsha loves this sweater!

After testing several hat patterns for our Single Shot contest, in the end Marsha made up her own hat pattern using Two Ewes Raucous Rambouillet from the shop.

Marsha is obsessed with combo spinning. She cast on Beeline by Heidi Kirrmaier with her first combo spin. She is loving knitting with her yarn and seeing the colors change.

Marsha started her second combo spin with rovings she bought from vendors at Fiber Fusion Northwest. At Fiber Fusion she also bought a breed study sampler pack of 32 fibers from Fleeber Fibers.

Kelly has been knitting charity hats and cowls. So far five hats are finished, all using very old spirit yarn. Another hat and cowl are in progress. A fun long weekend camping trip was the place for three hats to be finished.An upcoming conference will allow for finishing the cowl.

Kelly has some sweater plans. One is an old pattern from a 2007 magazine. She got rid of old knitting magazines, but did save some of the patterns that she had marked as potential so long ago. Knit it Down is one of those patterns. An Elizabeth Doherty pattern also caught her eye as a MUST KNIT! The pattern is Bodie, a textured cardigan with a long, almost coat-like, silhouette.

The Handspun Cowichan sweater is moving quickly but hasn't been worked on in almost two weeks. The colorwork is giving Kelly a challenge (3 strands, 2 hands!), so she is being selective about when to work on it.

Bee update:

What's happening with bees in November? One the California Central Coast they're still busy as bees! Bringing in pollen and nectar and going strong. Well, two of the hives are still going strong at least. There have been late summer/early fall losses.

Wishing all the US listeners a Happy Thanksgiving! We're thankful for all of our listeners. You have been so supportive and we're happy to you join us each episode for knitting, spinning, and fiber talk. Thank You!

Marsha and Kelly have been off the airwaves for about a month. Marsha was cleaning house when we last recorded and Kelly did some housecleaning instead of editing this episode. Thus the two week time warp. Wait, what? Cleaning house? Instead of podcasting? Who are these podcasters and what have you done with our regular hosts?????

No further show notes this time since it is just time to GET THIS PUBLISHED! Join us on Instagram @1hundredprojects and @betterinmotion and chat on our Ravelry Group to hear more about our current projects.

To get some of our Two Ewes Fiber Adventures yarn, go to the Two Ewes Fiber Adventures shop.

Combo-spin mania has overtaken Marsha and meanwhile, Kelly is weaving again. There's also some knitting. In the pet arena, Marsha and Enzo have earned their Canine Good Citizen Award and Kelly has a stray cat that seems to have adopted her family.

Marsha's Projects

Marsha continues working on the Recoleta by Joji Locateli and she is having no difficulty following the pattern. It isn't social knitting, but it isn't as hard as she first thought.

Her Among the Shadows by Kelene Kinnersley continues to get a little work as well, but most of her time is being taken up by Combo Spin Mania! She has completed two skeins of 3-ply yarn and is beginning a third.

The Two Ewes talk about all the variations on the theme of the combo-spin, including using only warm colors or only cool colors, or randomly selecting not only colors, but different fibers.

This reminds Kelly of an artist, Amanda Salm, who wove many different variations of horsehair baskets while they were in weaving class together. Amanda's work explored seemingly endless variations in the types of vessels possible with horse mane and tail hair as the medium. Here is a link to her work.

Kelly's Projects

Kelly has a mistake in the Summer Fjord by Trin-Annelie that has to be ripped back before she can go any further.

Meanwhile she has finished some woven dishtowels in preparation for the Winter Weave Along. It is so fun in weaving that a change in weft yarn will make a big difference in the finished projects.

Kelly also gushes about the Leg Warmers/ Boot Toppers that she's making with the Shetland yarn available in the Two Ewes Fiber Adventures shop. They are 2x2 rib tubes that will be folded down to make cozy cuffs to go with her red/orange boots. The yarn is silky and softer than she thought. This project is a quick one for the Single Shot KAL that is going on for the month of October. There is a thread in the Ravelry Group where listeners can chat and participate and a winner will be drawn on November 1 from that thread.

Aunt Betty is also making a Single Shot project from yarn in the Two Ewes Fiber Adventures shop. She chose the merino and it is a beautiful, soft yarn in gray and pink. She made a cowl and has almost half the skein left.

Besides the Single Shot KAL, the Two Ewes also have a long-term Winter Weave Along. The weave along will be a 6 month experience that will include pdf lessons that will be delivered via the podcast app if you are subscribed, or by clicking the direct download link in the Winter Weave Along episodes on the show's libsyn website. Last week's lesson included weaving vocabulary and instructions for weaving a pouch on a cardboard loom. Next week's lesson will have more vocabulary and discuss yarn selection for weaving projects. There is a Ravelry thread for the weave along where participants can chat, ask questions and show off their projects. There will be a Finished Object thread from which the Two Ewes will select winners. The Weave Along goes from October 1 through March 31.

Our first pdf lesson has vocabulary for beginning weavers. It also contains instructions for making a cardboard loom and weaving a pouch with it.