In this episode we talk about dogs, chickens, projects, and have a pop-up prize drawing for our 250th episode. Our Summer Spin In is underway and the Finished Object thread is now live. 

Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

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Socks: Using Patons Kroy sock in the colorway Blue Striped Ragg. Finished first sock and cast on second

Spinning: Another combo spin, this time with fiber from Pat Eisner that she put in the destash room at NoCKRs. Have spun two skeins of worsted weight yarn about 660 yards. I have refilled three bobbins and am about to ply into a 3-ply.

Spacetime 18: Heidi Kirrmaier. I plan to use my handspun Flowers From My Garden, but the project is on hold.

Simple Shawl by Jane Hunter. Using my Into the Whirled handspun.

Rag Rugs: Bought self-healing mat and cutting tool and cut three queen sheets into 1” strips. I’ve wound the warp. I plan to make two 24”x36” rugs.

Deer Scarf: Ben and his roommates rescued a concrete deer lawn ornament. I am making a red scarf for the deer to wear this holiday.

Weaving Studio: It’s a work in progress. 

If you have Netflix I recommend The Quilters.

Finished the armband for dog shows that I was making using tablet weaving I have warped to make and name plates for each dog’s crate. But I only have about an inch of plain one color weaving on the band. I’m using 3/2 perle cotton spirit yarn in black and gray. I'm using Linda Henrickson’s pattern from my Handwoven library. The pattern can also be found on her website here and then click “free instructions.” 

Fireweed Sock sock two is still in the leg. I love the way the colors are striping. 

Still spinning the 2018 CVM that I’ve been carding since November. Finished three skeins (162 grams) and have two full bobbins of plied yarn from the second round of plying. I still have about 100 grams of blue to top up the bobbins. I have another batch (240 g) with more red to spin when the blue is done. 

I started the Lace and Fade Boxy by Joji Locatelli. I’m using a merino silk handspun along with a skein of Sincere Sheep Vernal (silk/linen). I’m on the second band of the lace pattern. 

Now until September 1. All spinning and making with handspun yarn counts. Preparing fleeces also counts. Let’s go!

See page 31 of the exhibitor handbook for these details.

Fleece Judging: Saturday, August 9, 9 am at the Fairgrounds. In person at the Fairgrounds in the wool room and on Zoom. Message me if you want the Zoom link. Sheila January is judging. Handspun and handcrafted judging is usually the next day, same time and location.

Wool Auction: Labor Day, Monday, September 1. At the Community Stage rather than the Livestock pole barn. Auction goers get into the fairgrounds before the fair opens to the public. Enter at Gate 3, auction starts about 11:30 but there is open viewing time for at least an hour or so prior. I think I arrived about 9 am last year. 

Lots of project updates and lots of opinions in this episode. Plus, our Summer Spin In is in progress and information about the Monterey County Fair Wool Show. 

Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android.

The Weekender: by Andrea Mowry. Finished. Used Cascade 220 in colorway Wine. 

Socks: Using Patons Kroy sock in the colorway Blue Striped Ragg. Finished first sock and cast on second

Spinning: Another combo spin, this time with fiber from Pat Eisner that she put in the destash room at NoCKRs. Have spun two skeins of worsted weight yarn about 660 yards. Filled two more bobbins with a third to go before plying more.

Spacetime 18: Heidi Kirrmaier. Using my handspun Flowers From My Garden. 

Now nervous about casting on with my handspun. Maybe I should just make a shawl where fit is less of an issue. Considering Simple Shawl by Jane Hunter and using my Into the Whirled handspun.

Weaving Studio: It’s a work in progress.

Rag Rug Handbook by Janet Meany and Paula Pfaff. Interweave Press 1996 

Izzy doll bears progress: Four finished bears have gone to school. Creating the faces was fun. I haven’t been back to check the table and see if they are gone. The flat bears are still flat and I still have one on the needles that hasn’t been touched. Too much spinning!

New Projects:

Tablet weaving to make an armband for dog shows and name plates for each dog’s crate. I finished the dog paws–two bands with seven paws on each band. Each one is about 12 inches long. I made a prototype of the armband with some leftover ribbon and plastic from a sheet container. 

I'm using Linda Henrickson’s pattern from my Handwoven library. Pattern can also be found on her website here and then click “free instructions.” 

Fireweed Sock number one is done. Sock two is past the ribbing and into the very simple patterning on the leg. I love the way the colors are striping. 

Spinning the 2018 CVM that I’ve been carding since November. Finished three skeins (162 grams) and I’m on round two of filling the three bobbins. Almost finished refilling the second bobbin. Love the dyed-in-the-wool look of the overdyed gray! 

Started washing the rest of that CVM fleece with an all day and overnight cold soak. I have plans to comb at least some of what is left. Locks are long enoughIt’s a really nice fleece, especially for $8.50/lb but there are some second cuts and tender sun bleached tips causing some neps. This fleece was purchased in 2018 so it is one of my oldest. 

Swatching for the Lace and Fade Boxy by Joji Locatelli. I’m planning to use a merino silk handspun 

MPD in Color group 

Now until September 1. All spinning and making with handspun yarn counts. Preparing fleeces also counts. Let’s go!

See page 31 for these details.

Fleece Judging: Saturday, August 9, 9 am at the Fairgrounds. In person at the Fairgrounds in the wool room and on Zoom. Message me if you want the Zoom link. Sheila January is judging. Handspun and handcrafted judging is usually the next day, same time and location.

Wool Auction: Labor Day, Monday, September 1. At the Community Stage rather than the Livestock pole barn. Auction goers get into the fairgrounds before the fair opens to the public. Enter at Gate 3, auction starts about 11:30 but there is open viewing time for at least an hour or so prior. I think I arrived about 9 am last year. 

Oh boy, do we have a lot to catch up on! It's been almost a month since we last recorded so we have a very long episode this time. So long it wasn't edited, just put up as is. Lots of finished projects and new projects to discuss.

Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android.

The Weekender: by Andrea Mowry. Using Cascade 220 in colorway Wine. Finished the sleeves and still have to finish the sewn bind off on the back neckline. I need some solitude to do this but there has been none available this past month.

Socks: Wisdom Yarns Wacki Saki Finished.

Spinning: Into the Whirled roving in colorways Welcome to Litchfield and The Traveler. Finished! 573 yards. About finger weight.

Socks: Using Patons Kroy sock in the colorway Blue Striped Ragg. I discovered the balls are only 160 yards. Adding red heels and toes with Cloudborn Fibers Superwash Sock Twist from Craftsy. Was a giveaway at Stitches a few years ago. Halfway done on the foot of the first sock.

Spinning: Started spinning another combo spin. Fiber from Pat Eisner that she put in the destash room at NoCKRs. Have spun two skeins of yarn, 660 yards total and about worsted weight.

Izzy doll bears progress: I continue to make the tubes and have stuffed four of them. I have two others finished but unstuffed, and a fourth on the needles. 

Sidewalk loom progress: Cloth apron is on and the rods are secured with texsolv. The back beam has five texsolv cords and I’m thinking I need a couple more. I finally cleaned up the reed and put it into the beater. I’ve washed and will reuse the texsolv cords used to tie up the treadles. I think I will cut a few more for spares and while I am at it I should cut some for the LeClerc tie up, too. The sticking point is going to be stabilizing the right side of the loom between the castle and the back beam, but I hope to have this loom ready to warp soon!

Finished the skein of Wensleydale x Cormo x Merino with the silk spun into it. I started this at the NoCKRs retreat in April with some leftover fiber I found from a previous project. I will use it for an accent color when I knit with the original project yarn. 

New Projects:

Tablet weaving to make an armband for dog shows and name plates for each dog’s crate. I’m using a makeshift warp weighted set up using clamps to hold my work in place and a variety of things attached to the warp to hold my tension as the warp hangs over something handy. I have one part of the armband completed, need to make another one of those and then do the names. Pattern has only lower case letters so I may need to do a little drafting to get the capital B for the dog names. Using Linda Henrickson’s pattern from my Handwoven library. Pattern can also be found on her website here and then click “free instructions.” 

Fireweed Sock number one is almost done. I am ready to start the toe of the sock. I love the way the colors are striping. 

Spinning the 2018 CVM that I’ve been carding since November. I have two bobbins and I’m about to start the third. I’ll card more of that fiber before I start the third bobbin so I can continue with the mostly blue-green fiber. 

Now until September 1. All spinning and making with handspun yarn counts. Preparing fleeces also counts. Let’s go!

Oh no, Marsha's garage is back on the show! Plus, an upcoming graduation, a trip to the beach, lots of talk about chenille rugs, planning for the Summer Spin In, and the usual highjinks! 

Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android.

The Weekender: by Andrea Mowry. Using Cascade 220 in colorway Wine. I haven’t picked it up since I got home from the retreat. Lost my motivation after all the discussion at NoCKRs. Plus I listened to the latest episode of Yarniacs where they discussed Sharlene’s Weekender. Didn’t inspire me. 

Socks: Wisdom Yarns Wacki Saki in the colorway Batty Berlin. Almost done with the leg of the second sock.

Spinning: Into the Whirled roving in colorways Welcome to Litchfield and The Traveler. I’ve finished the two singles and have plied one bobbin. Have a little over 300 yards. Started plying second bobbin.

Weaving Studio: It’s a work in progress. I think I have finally fixed the problem with the brake band falling off. 

Two more hats (both using a turquoise DK) went to the free table at school. I haven’t checked back to see if they are gone, but the day after I put them there it was in the high 70s. So I switched to Izzy doll bears for my next skein of retreat spirit yarn. It’s a taupe brown color. 

Started another chenille rug warp for making the chenille “caterpillar strips.” As I was about half done I looked in the trunk and found some other spirit yarn I had intended to use for the strips. I used some, but I might have yet another warp of strips to make. I have a lot of weaving spirit yarn. 

Finished a third bobbin of spirit roving from Pat. Still need to ply it to get the wheels empty and ready for the spin in. Gray Corriedale x Merino fiber that is beautifully prepared (Morro Fleeceworks). Shari is still processing fleeces. She is selling the mill but it hasn’t sold yet. Also there is a new fiber mill opening. 

News from Knitadmin Mary is that there is a new small-batch custom wool and fiber mill coming soon to Northern California, Siren Song Fleeceworks. Meredith will be accepting fleeces for custom processing at Fiber Frolic in Vacaville on June 7th. She will also be vending at Lambtown the first weekend in October.

The WWAL has ended. In the thread we had 55 projects linked, 184 pictures, 881 posts, 37 voices, 152 readers.

We announced prizes for six lucky weavers. 

Now until September 1. All spinning and making with handspun yarn counts. Preparing fleeces also counts. Let’s go!

We have both been busy with non-fiber activities, but we still managed to finish some projects, including some cheeky ones.

Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android.

Quilting the National Parks: 20 Original Designs Inspired by the Beauty of Our National Park by Stephanie Forster

Hedgehog: Finished! Pattern by PurlSoho. In the destash room at the NoCKRs retreat I found a ball of Louisa Harding Luzia and thought it was the perfect yarn to make a hedgehog.

The Weekender: by Andrea Mowry. Using Cascade 220 in colorway Wine. I haven’t picked it up since I got home from the retreat. Lost my motivation after all the discussion at NoCKRs.

Socks: Wisdom Yarns Wacki Saki in the colorway Batty Berlin. About to start toe decreases of first sock

Spinning: Into the Whirled roving in colorways Welcome to Litchfield and The Traveler. BostonJen messaged me that she used the same braids, plied them the same way, and made a hat. What a coincidence!

Weaving Studio: It’s a work in progress. I think I have finally fixed the problem with the brake band falling off. 

Spirit Yarn charity hat (gray wool/acrylic blend) started at the retreat This hat is done and I’ve also completed a second out of a tweedy moss green that was cotton and modal but felt a lot like Berocco Remix. It was great yarn! Both hats were gone in less than a day. 

Potholders from the potholder loom. I’m a 63 year old woman making my mom a potholder for Mother’s Day. I’ve made two for myself. 

Almost finished with the second bobbin of spirit roving from Pat. Gray Corriedale x Merino fiber that is beautifully prepared (Morro Fleeceworks). Fiber Frolic, Duren Dyeworks

Spring Buckens and Owls (Ms and Os): Woven, washed, pressed and waiting for hems. Another successful batch of dishtowels! 

Chenille rug project: The weaving of the chenille strips has begun.

Prizes drawn next episode.

Memorial Day - Labor Day

May 31 - September 1 

We’re together in this episode and we have lots to discuss. Lots of finished projects, the NoCKRs retreat, spirit yarn, weaving, and more.

Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android.

An interesting article about the closing of Vidalia Mills, the last weaver of denim in the U.S. 

https://sourcingjournal.com/denim/denim-business/vidalia-mills-auction-preserve-american-heritage-looms-1234740849/ 

Ames Beanie: Stephanie Larson. Finished! Used Purls Before Swine Hometown Worsted in colorway Seaglass.

Socks: Finished! Used Knit Picks Felici in the colorway Hawaiian Shirt. 

Morgan’s Pinwheels & Checks: Finished! 

The Weekender: by Andrea Mowry. Using Cascade 220 in colorway Wine. Finished first sleeve and picked up for second sleeve.

Socks: Cast on with Wisdom Yarns Wacki Saki in the colorway Batty Berlin.

Spinning: Into the Whirled roving in colorways Welcome to Litchfield and The Traveler.

Weaving Studio: It’s a work in progress. 

Graphito Done and worn! The fit is great! 

Sewing with handwoven: All curtains done and hung!

Spirit Yarn charity hat (gray wool/acrylic blend) started at the retreat.

About a half dozen dishcloths from spirit yarn–royal blue and a sunny yellow and orange variegated cotton yarn. Using Triple L Tweed stitch. Some have been given away, some will stay with me. Almost finished with them. 

Spun on two different projects at the retreat. Using  up the last of the Wensleydale x Cormo x Merino from last summer. I had forgotten I still had a box of batts so I brought them to the retreat to spin with some purple silk held along with the fiber. The other project was spinning some gray Corriedale/Merino roving. One bobbin into the first project, two bobbins into the second project. 

Loom refurbishing project. Front apron has arrived from The Woolery. Not yet installed

Spring Buckens and Owls (Ms and Os): One towel to go! Maybe a second small one depending on how much loom waste I have.

We’ll draw prizes next episode when Marsha is back home. 

A trip to the desert, a chicken update, and a big increase in active projects. Kelly makes Marsha record the morning after she gets home from a trip, but we have to squeeze it in between her travels.  Join in the fun and hear about our knitting, spinning, and weaving projects. No photos this week, but lots of links to all our projects. 

Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android.

Ames Beanie: Stephanie Larson. Using Purls Before Swine Hometown Worsted in colorway Seaglass. I was about to start the decreases when I noticed I had crossed one of the cables the wrong way. I’ve ripped it back and corrected my mistake.

Socks: Using Knit Picks Felici in the colorway Hawaiian Shirt. Knitting on foot of first sock.

Morgan’s Pinwheels & Checks: Finished the third of four towels. I had hoped to be finished by this episode, but alas, life seldom goes as planned. 

The Weekender: by Andrea Mowry. Using Cascade 220 in colorway Wine. Finished the body, split for the armholes, and finished the front. Now working on the back.

Graphito sleeves are in progress. Started with double points but did a full search of circular needles and found a short cabled one. Used a needle gauge from Invictus Yarns with multiple gauge holes for size US 2 and US 3 needles due to the varying mm that don’t track completely with US sizes.  

Finished a two ply skein of tunis. 

Sewing with handwoven: All curtains zigzagged, cut, and hemmed. Next up is to put in the rod casings but before I do that I think I may have to cut some of them down. So probably more zigzagging and cutting. And of course, before that, another measuring session with the panels inside the trailer. 

Loom refurbishing project. Took out heddles and metal flat stock that they were hanging on and cleaned in vinegar with a scrubby. Didn’t finish all the flat stock “heddle racks.” So this is still in progress. Decisions about cords vs apron and how to attach cords had been made in favor of cords on the back beam, apron on the front beam. Thanks to Mary and Cathy who showed me how this looks on their looms.

Spring Buckens and Owls (Ms and Os) I've threaded the reed and heddles and ready to wind on so I can start weaving this last project of the Winter Weave Along. Probably won't quite finish by the end of March, but maybe! The colors are like Easter to me so I'm eager to finish them at least by Easter weekend. 

Last push for the Winter Weave along with less than a month until the end. Show us your projects in the Ravelry thread. If you aren’t on Ravelry consider joining just so you can talk with us about your weaving!

Answering listeners' questions, doing a little podcast housekeeping, and catching up on project progress. Marsha has lost track of time and Kelly is losing track of broken rib stitches. You know, the usual antics!  

Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android.

Socks: Finished! Use Regia 4-fadig by Arne & Carlos in colorway 03760. I got this yarn from the NoCKRs destash room. A big thank you to the knitter who donated it as I love the colors and pattern.

Ames Beanie: Stephanie Larson. Using Purls Before Swine Hometown Worsted in colorway Seaglass. I ripped back to correct a mistake in one of the cables.

Morgan’s Pinwheels & Checks: Started the fourth towel. 

The Weekender: by Andrea Mowry. Using Cascade 220 in colorway Wine. Did not get gauge with the suggested #9 needles. Went down to #8 and still off by ½ stitch. I think the fabric would be too dense going down to #7. Decided to make size #2 which, if the math is correct, will give me the suggested 10” of positive ease. Fingers crossed! I have knit 15” of the body and about to spit for armholes.

Weaving Studio: It’s a work in progress. I met with a weaver who answered my want ad in the Seattle Weavers Guild newsletter. She sold me a LeClerc loom bench which is working great. Plus five shuttles for making rag rugs.

Eugene Textile Center

PlaidMaker.com

Finishing the ribbing on the body of Graphito and ready to pick up for the sleeves. 

Bought the pattern for Solomon Poncho. It’s been in my queue since 2023. 

Also interested in a new Thea Colman vest coming this week named The Last Word.

Last push for the Winter Weave along with less than a month until the end. Show us your projects in the Ravelry thread. If you aren’t on Ravelry consider joining just so you can talk with us about your weaving!

Finished projects! Also weaving, the loom restoration project, aging, and our usual chit chat. 

Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android.

Graphito: by Heidemarie Kaizer. Finished! Used Purls Before Swine Robusta in colorways Good Jeans (blue) and Toxic (pink).

Ames Beanie: Stephanie Larson. Using Purls Before Swine Hometown Worsted in colorway Seaglass. I was about to start the decreases when I noticed I had crossed one of the cables the wrong way. I need to rip back.

Socks: Using Regia 4-fadig by Arne & Carlos in colorway 03760. Finished first sock. Finished gusset and knitting foot of the second sock.

Morgan’s Pinwheels & Checks: Finished the third of four towels. I had hoped to be finished by this episode, but alas, life seldom goes as planned. 

The Weekender: by Andrea Mowry. Using Cascade 220 in colorway Wine. Did not get gauge with the suggested #9 needles. Went down to #8 and still off by ½ stitch. I think the fabric would be too dense going down to #7. Decided to make size #2 which, if the math is correct, will give me the suggested 10” of positive ease. Fingers crossed!

Weaving Studio: It’s a work in progress. I met with a weaver who answered my want ad in the Seattle Weavers Guild newsletter. She sold me a LeClerc loom bench which is working great. Plus five shuttles for making rag rugs.

Done with weaving on the fifth warp for the trailer curtains! Still need to wash, cut, and sew.

Started back on Graphito. Still knitting on the body for about 3 more inches.  

Winding a new, spring colored warp for dishtowels.

Are you creating any challenges for yourself for 2025? If so you can share them here. 

Going until March 31. Show us your projects in the Ravelry thread. If you aren’t on Ravelry consider joining just so you can talk with us about your weaving!

At least one of us is sometimes a careless knitter. And by the way, do you swatch for socks? We discuss all of this plus our weaving adventures. 

Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android.

Graphito: by Heidemarie Kaizer. Using Purls Before Swine Robusta in colorways Good Jeans (blue) and Toxic (pink). I’ve finished the first sleeve and about 4” from starting ribbing on the second sleeve.

Ames Beanie: Stephanie Larson. Using Purls Before Swine Hometown Worsted in colorway Seaglass. I was about to start the decreases when I noticed I had crossed one of the cables the wrong way. I need to rip back.

Socks: Using Regia 4-fadig by Arne & Carlos in colorway 03760. Finished first sock. Finished gusset and knitting foot of the second sock.

Morgan’s Pinwheels & Checks: Finished first towel and almost done with second towel. Doing pretty well. My selvages look good.

The Weekender: Andrea Mowry. Will use Cascade 220 in colorway Wine.

Weaving Studio: It’s a work in progress. 

About half done with weaving on the fifth warp for the trailer curtains.

Started back on Graphito. Long story which includes dropped stitches. 

The February Challenge is a failure so far.

Are you creating any challenges for yourself for 2025? If so you can share them here. 

Going until March 31. Show us your projects in the Ravelry thread. If you aren’t on Ravelry consider joining just so you can talk with us about your weaving!