TwinSet Designs

In which we sound a little fuzzy.  I don't know why.  I spent extra time trying to level, equalize, invert and noise remove, but to no avail.  I think the issue is in our gain settings, but that can't be fixed till next go.  I finally decided I'd better just publish it or you would never get the chance to revel in the glory that is our wisdom laugh at us.  (Okay, it is only truly evident if you listen with quality headsets, from my iPod with marshmallow ear buds, it sounded fine.)

And also in which we discuss my Fiber Factor fail, flocks of birds, travels to NYC, Ellen's dull and uninteresting life, makeup and stash enhancement, prodigal knitters, a visit by Louise from Scotland, finding your niche, robotic farms, a possible triplet, frogging phobia, being bitten by a monkey, knitting phases as they wax and wane, found spinning time, multi-craftual (but not promiscuous) designers, self-effacing and debunked slick tricks, stitch marker swaps and future meetups.

In which we own our discussions about growlers, baked moths, ground hog seers, signs of spring, soon-to-be-geldings, barns to be built, tweeting alpaca, transforming errors into brilliant (if unexpected) design features, cross training for knitters, glittering galleries, design alongs and design challenges, a promising designer, a blending of batts and an invitation to swap.

In which we squee over Dr. Gemma's review, welcome baby Matilda, and chat about Shirley Paden's Design-A-Long, clever cats, alpaca roundups, giant cows, top shelf vodka, knitting satisfaction, lots of knitting on and off the needles, lots of knitting nibbles too, bulging bobbins and that's not everything, but it is about the grist, err, um, gist of it.

In which we hear many, many highlights from Madrona, consider the image of alpaca at the feeding trough, ponder whether the fact that we are knitters has caused us to make decisions differently,were thankful for finding knitting that once was lost, are illuminated by the wisdom that can come from a single gauge swatch (especially one that is garment sized), take a spin with Finn, consider what to do when massively bulky yarn is not really so bulky after all, and enjoy hearing from the greatest Dayne of all.

In which we talked about making sure our listeners could hear our podcast, Madrona, why alpaca are like kindergarteners, zumba, Nemo, Madrona, our perfect yarn shop, designing by starting with a concept and designing by starting with the yarn, Madrona, how easy patterns can still bite you, the History on Two Needles winner, Madrona, The Fiber Factor competition, Madrona, and Madrona.

In which we talk about new eggs and new alpaca, spring coming to Minnesota on owl's wings, fiber retreats for both of us, Master Knitter returns, shetland ponies in fair isle sweaters, yarn design for a bulky cowl, fulling and felting, a kindness of knitters, electric blankets for the car and emerald green.

In which we congratulate Erin of "The Anatomy of Knitting" on her two new baby boys, chat about the rewards of preventative medicine and Jan's adventures and misadventures at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, listen to an interview with alpaca princesses and a local youth fleece to shawl competition team, avoid the worst of Jan's flu experience, review knits on and off the needle, get into a disagreement over fulling and felting, offer some tips for finding fiber arts classes that will make you happy you took them, drool over edible roving, discuss how dye helps you find tippy tips of tippy fleeces, learn a tip to eliminate ladders in garter stitch knit on dpn's in the round and look forward to fiber retreats this weekend and next.

In which we discuss much holiday fun and frolic with family and lots of food, update each other on a miserly quantity of completed knitting, have zero actual spinning going on, chat about the gleener, note the trick to the Channel Island cast on, and offer up our intentions to have better resolution in 2013.

In which we discuss the Army-Navy football game (Go Navy!), hens who are not yet layers, preparations for visits from family, gift knitting and needlefelting, an almost finished Larch cardigan, the origin of the word "tocque", slivers, rovings and top, buffalo clouds, pretty things, contest winners and new contests, and review the new Annie Modesitt book, "History on Two Needles."

In which we discuss feasts, post holes, knitting on drugs, knitting in church, why worsted isn't the worst, remind listeners about the contests deadlines at the end of the month, and have a listen to the Abby Franquemont interview from Rhinebeck.