Making Conversation

Hey there, fiber friends! This week on Making Conversation, I’m bringing you a chat that is full of color, creativity, and coastal charm. I sat down with Vanessa Fleming, the brilliant mind behind ōSHən Knits & Fibres, a one-of-a-kind yarn shop in Astoria, Oregon.

Vanessa is a marine biologist-turned-knitwear designer and yarn dyer, and her love for inclusivity, sustainability, and vibrant design shines through in everything she creates. We talk about her journey from knitting at sea (yes, really) to opening a shop that’s become a welcoming hub for all kinds of makers. From her hand-dyed yarns to her size- and shape-inclusive patterns, Vanessa is redefining what it means to build a truly inclusive craft community.

✨ In this episode:
 – A peek into the cozy world of ōSHən Knits & Fibres
 – Vanessa’s story of blending marine biology with fiber arts
 – A convo about community, representation, and colorful yarn magic

🎧 This episode was originally posted to our YouTube channel in January 2025, and I’m so excited to share it here on the audio feed! If you ever have a moment to watch, it really is like hanging out with fellow makers while you craft—smart TV, tablet, phone… WIP in hand, good vibes guaranteed.

Thanks so much for listening. I’m so glad you’re here. xoxo- Jen

🛍️ Check out Vanessa's work and shop online at https://oshenknits.com
📱 Follow Vanessa @oshenknits
📍 Visit ōSHən Knits & Fibres in Astoria, Oregon, obvi.
382 12th Street
Astoria, Oregon 97103

🌟 Support the Podcast🌟
🔔 Subscribe on YouTube – youtube.com/@making_co
☕ Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi – ko-fi.com/makingconversation
📢 Tell your maker friends – Spread the love!

If you'd like to give a shout-out, have a question that you'd like us to answer on the podcast, or are interested in sponsoring Making Conversation, email us at [email protected].

Music by Despatches.

In this special episode of Making Conversation—originally recorded and posted on our YouTube channel in late 2024—host Jen welcomes two brilliant voices in the fiber arts world: Brit of KnotBadBrit and Bea of WoolDreamers. This episode is all about building inclusive, authentic community within the crafting space, and it’s filled with warmth, wisdom, and a whole lot of yarn love.

Brit shares her journey to becoming a crochet designer and the founder of the Makers of Color Collective, and talks about the importance of visibility and representation in the maker world. Bea gives us a beautiful look into WoolDreamers, a Spanish-based wool company committed to sustainable practices, preserving traditional wool production, and supporting local shepherds.

Whether you're a knitter, crocheter, spinner, weaver, or just deeply into the fiber life, this conversation will leave you feeling inspired and connected.

Listen now—and don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube to watch full episodes and join our cozy, creative community. Share this one with your stitching crew!

🌟 Support the Podcast🌟
🔔 Subscribe on YouTube – youtube.com/@making_co
☕ Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi – ko-fi.com/makingconversation
📢 Tell your maker friends – Spread the love!

If you'd like to give a shout-out, have a question that you'd like us to answer on the podcast, or are interested in sponsoring Making Conversation, email us at [email protected].

Music by Despatches.

🌟 This episode was originally published on the Making Conversation YouTube channel on Nov 23, 2024. 🌟

Makers need snacks! We also need to take care of ourselves because if we do not, how will we take care of others? That part is so VERY important, especially right now. I popped into my kitchen to record with the WONDERFUL Chef Andreya Nightingale who shares two easy and oh-so-very delicious snacks with us. We also take the time to talk through some ways to cope with our feelings right now around that thing that just happened and some steps we can all take to ensure our community is cared for. 

Chef Andreya also gives us cooking tips plus ways of intuitively cooking with what you have in your cupboard/fridge. Learning this has helped me feel more confident in the kitchen and hopefully you will too!

By the end of the episode you'll have two delicious snacks to warm your bellies and heart and keep you happy during makers meetups or long crafting sessions. Feel free to watch and craft or watch and cook along with us! Ingredients you need are listed below.

You are cared for, dear maker!
xoxo- Jen

Where to find the wonderful Chef Andreya:
Mortar Pestle Cooking
Cookie Jar Substack

Shopping / dive-into-your-cupboard list
What we're making: Seasoned nuts & Winter Squash Dip. 

SO YUMMY and so simple, I promise you'll enjoy them both!

1- Nuts! Whatever you have but some options are walnuts, pecans, almonds, or cashew. (Roasted, if possible & best unsalted)
2- EVOO
3- salt
4- The spices that will bring you joy. Examples: chili powder, lime zest (or lemon or sumac), mint (fresh or dried), curry powder, Tajín (I used this and lime zest 🤤)
5- A squash! butternut, acorn, kabocha, whatever you have or can find and whatever squash makes your heart happy
6- 1-2 limes and/or lemons
7- Chili powder aka your favorite dried chili of choice Examples: cayenne, chipotle, aleppo (not the powder mixed w/ garlic, etc unless that' your favorite!)
8- Pickled ginger
9- Your favorite vessel for dip. This is reallllly versatile. I ate the dip with hearty crackers but also as a soup! 😉

Some recipes that Chef Andreya kindly shared with us that would go nicely with our snacks:
Grilled Flatbread
Focaccia

Apologies for the audio! I am always learning when in different recording spaces. :) 

🌟 Support the Podcast🌟
🔔 Subscribe on YouTube – youtube.com/@making_co
☕ Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi – ko-fi.com/makingconversation
📢 Tell your maker friends – Spread the love!

If you'd like to give a shout-out, have a question that you'd like us to answer on the podcast, or are interested in sponsoring Making Conversation, email us at [email protected].

Music by Despatches.

I jumped in the car and headed to Portland for Sacred Sheep—a vibrant maker festival brought to you by the team at Ritual Dyes! If you love yarn, fiber arts, pottery, handmade jewelry, inspiring classes, and creative community, this festival is for you.

In this episode of Making Conversation, I chat with some of the incredible makers who vended and attended Sacred Sheep (learn more here). From indie dyers to fiber artists, ceramicists, and beyond, this event celebrates the heart of the maker community.

I feel so lucky to share these stories, and I hope you enjoy getting to know these amazing artists as much as I did! Don't forget to subscribe for more fiber-filled conversations, and if you love what you hear, share this episode with a fellow maker! 🎙️🧶

🌟 This episode was originally published on the Making Conversation YouTube channel on Nov 16, 2024. 🌟

🌟 Support the Podcast🌟
🔔 Subscribe on YouTube – youtube.com/@making_co
☕ Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi – ko-fi.com/makingconversation
📢 Tell your maker friends – Spread the love!

If you'd like to give a shout-out, have a question that you'd like us to answer on the podcast, or are interested in sponsoring Making Conversation, email us at [email protected].

Music by Despatches.

In this special episode, I hit the road to Portland, OR, to sit down with Rachel, the creative mind behind Ritual Dyes and founder of Sacred Sheep, a festival dedicated to makers, especially those passionate about the fiber arts.

From discovering her love for knitting and hand-dyeing yarn to the creation of a highly curated, community-focused fiber arts festival that celebrates all things making, you'll love getting to know Rachel!

Grab your WIP and hit play! Psssst...tickets are still available so I hope to see you there. ;)

If you prefer to watch this episode, go here!

🌟 Support the Podcast🌟
🔔 Subscribe on YouTube – youtube.com/@making_co
☕ Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi – ko-fi.com/makingconversation
📢 Tell your maker friends – Spread the love!

If you'd like to give a shout-out, have a question that you'd like us to answer on the podcast, or are interested in sponsoring Making Conversation, email us at [email protected].

Music by Despatches.

The world of crafting and making should be a space where everyone feels welcome and empowered. However, there are barriers—both visible and invisible—that can exclude or marginalize makers with disabilities. In this episode I am joined by the super fabulous Beth Gorishek, The Adaptive Knitter & Kira Dulaney of Kirk K Designs and we chat about the ways in which ableism manifests in our community and, more importantly, how we can actively work to dismantle these barriers. If you prefer to watch this chat, pop over to our YouTube channel. xoxo

Beth Gorishek + The Adaptive Knitter
https://www.adaptiveknitter.com
https://www.instagram.com/adaptiveknitter

Kira Dulaney + Kira K Designs
https://kirakdesigns.com
https://www.instagram.com/kirakdesigns

🌟 Support the Podcast🌟
🔔 Subscribe on YouTube – youtube.com/@making_co
☕ Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi – ko-fi.com/makingconversation
📢 Tell your maker friends – Spread the love!

If you'd like to give a shout-out, have a question that you'd like us to answer on the podcast, or are interested in sponsoring Making Conversation, email us at [email protected].

Music by Despatches.

We're back with some wonderful Fall episodes to celebrate hunkering down with your current favorite WIP and enjoying an episode of the Making Conversation podcast. ;) Just a heads up, this episode is VERY visual. If you prefer to watch, pop over to our YouTube channel. xoxo

In this episode, I am so lucky to chat with Amy Swanson of June Cashmere and learn all about the special goats and farmers they work with to create their beautiful yarn.

We then get to learn about knitting a wedding dress with Rachel Carleton! Rachel dives into the process (of sometimes lack there of) of creating her own dress for the special day!

Amy Swanson + June  Cashmere
https://www.junecashmere.com 
https://www.instagram.com/junecashmere

Rachel Carleton + Zee Zee Textiles
https://zeezeetextiles.com
https://www.instagram.com/zeezeetextiles

🌟 Support the Podcast🌟
🔔 Subscribe on YouTube – youtube.com/@making_co
☕ Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi – ko-fi.com/makingconversation
📢 Tell your maker friends – Spread the love!

If you'd like to give a shout-out, have a question that you'd like us to answer on the podcast, or are interested in sponsoring Making Conversation, email us at [email protected].

Music by Despatches.

To know Jess is to love Jess and Jess' love of this special fiber arts community is very evident in everything she does. From in her yarn shop on Bainbridge Island, WA to Flock Fiber Festival, a yarn show in Seattle, WA, celebrating a love of all things wool, the fibers arts community is so very lucky to have these two spaces to come together and celebrate these things that we love and bring us the most joy!

Jen hopped on a ferry and headed out to Bainbridge to chat with Jess about La Mercerie and their new space (which... spoiler alert was the home of Churchmouse Yarns for years!) and also how Flock is growing in its second year and the things that she's doing to keep it so very special.

So grab your WIP and hit play and we hope to see you at Flock Fiber Festival!

Watch this episode.

Get your tickets to Flock!

Last year's episode w/ Jess

🌟 Support the Podcast🌟
🔔 Subscribe on YouTube – youtube.com/@making_co
☕ Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi – ko-fi.com/makingconversation
📢 Tell your maker friends – Spread the love!

If you'd like to give a shout-out, have a question that you'd like us to answer on the podcast, or are interested in sponsoring Making Conversation, email us at [email protected].

Music by Despatches.

The universe definitely brought this fabulous human to Making. Ashley chats with our crochet-loving engineer all about her journey in craft, her path to leadership and computer sciences, and how we were so lucky to have Abi join the team. To know Abi is to love Abi! Grab your WIP and hit play. :)

Abi's crochet website
If you're in Seattle, catch her at these markets:
Pride Market at Lifelong Thrift on June 15th
Cutiefest Pride on June 22

Find us on the Making app:
Abi @abisanti
Ashley @ashelyyousling
Jen @knitpurl

🌟 Support the Podcast🌟
🔔 Subscribe on YouTube – youtube.com/@making_co
☕ Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi – ko-fi.com/makingconversation
📢 Tell your maker friends – Spread the love!

If you'd like to give a shout-out, have a question that you'd like us to answer on the podcast, or are interested in sponsoring Making Conversation, email us at [email protected].

Music by Despatches.

Award winning embroidery artist, mother, teacher, author, and all around lovely human! If you don't know of Emily Botelho aka Salt Stitches, you're in for a treat! (If you do, you are too!)

Emily joins Jen and not only do they chat about her beautiful art, how her favorite places and values come through as inspiration but also her new book which is more than just a pattern book but a guide on how to release self-assigned boundaries of creativity that we can sometimes place upon ourselves.

Emily’s website
Buy Emily’s book: Abstract Embroidery

Prefer watching to your podcasts?

MKNG - Jen + Ashley's consulting advisory biz!

🌟 Support the Podcast🌟
🔔 Subscribe on YouTube – youtube.com/@making_co
☕ Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi – ko-fi.com/makingconversation
📢 Tell your maker friends – Spread the love!

If you'd like to give a shout-out, have a question that you'd like us to answer on the podcast, or are interested in sponsoring Making Conversation, email us at [email protected].

Music by Despatches.