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.  

Ep 101: With Author and Sheep Shearer Stephany Wilkes

Who are we and why are we podcasting? We are Kelly and Marsha.  We came at yarn and fiber from different directions, but we both love it. Marsha is an accomplished knitter, learning to dye yarn.  Kelly is a spinner who knits and weaves.  Fiber is one of the many interests we share after over 30 years of friendship.

Hobbies

Games & Hobbies

crafts

Leisure

Lots of project updates and project planning in this episode. Plus join our Out-of-Hibernation-Along. Look in those closets and pull out long forgotten projects. Let’s finish ‘em, frog ‘em, or toss ‘em! 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 Marsha’s Projects Alpaca Shawl: Finished. I learned so much about weaving on this project. I had so many broken warp threads that I've gotten really good at repairing them. Camella Hat: by Katie Pomper. Using Meeker Street Olive’s Outerwear DK in the colorway Dragon’s Breath.  Nanny Meier Tea Cozy: Inspired by Lily Pulitzer colors. Using Cascade 220 in hot pink and lime green. Cast on the second side. Fine Sand: by Heidi Kirrmaier. Using  West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious. Finished the second sleeve but I don’t really like the sweater. Bringing to California for Kelly to give me her thoughts.  Socks: The Artful Ewe Clackamas. Starting toe of first sock. Baby Surprise Jacket: by Elizabeth Zimmerman. Went to buy yarn at Fiber Gallery to use my gift cards but they have moved and not yet reopened the store.  Mountain High Combo Spin #3: Cast on and about halfway done with the yoke.  Combo Spin #4: I needed something a bit mindless at the beach so I started my fourth combo spin in red.  Bloedel Reserve Churchmouse Yarns Kelly’s Projects The Trailer bedroom curtains were finished and installed in time for our trip. The cord at the bottom worked great. I’m going to wash in hot water and dry in the dryer one more time, then I might just rehem them a little shorter so they will hug tighter to the window.  Almost finished with The Drifter by Tamy Gore, Narrow Path Designs. I probably have about 30 rows left in the pattern.  For Out of Hibernation I’ve been spinning the batts of Corriedale x Merino x Targhee that I washed, dyed, and carded last summer. The blue is now finished and I’m working on the red-orange. Also for the Out of Hibernation Along, I finally got all the Spin-In prizes sent out! I started another Classic Knitted Ripple baby blanket using the Red Heart from my mom. There were two grays, black, white and a partial skein of red. I decided I needed to use the white and the pink. The blanket is wider than a typical baby blanket and will take more yarn.    I started a sock out of another skein of Comfort and Joy Enjoy. This one is also an Oopsie colorway. I’m thinking of it as Wine and Cheddar or maybe Wine and Mustard. I’m finished with the cuff and debating about what patterning to use on the leg.  Chicken Mania Are you knitting an Emotional Support Chicken by Annette Corsino? We are thinking about joining in the chicken mania!  Ravelry Tips and Tricks Sarah Salpal1 says:  It’s not a secret, but the Ravelry tip that helps me the most is the ? Button next to “preview” on the posts. It tells how to do all kinds of formatting things, which is very helpful. She showed (for example) how to make a spoiler alert so that your text will be hidden unless someone clicks on it.  Out-of-Hibernation Along  February 1 - June 1. Have you started? Find something that has been in hibernation and get it out and do something. Back to active status, frogging and reclaiming yarn, giving away, throwing away, composting–this is spring cleaning for your project list. Check in with your progress in the Ravelry thread.  Winter-Weave-Along  Ended!  Prize Drawing Next Episode. Seattle Opera Production of Barber of Seville Friday, May 17th 20% discount on tickets with the code KNITTER20 Seattle Opera is having a Relaxed Performance of our production of The Barber of Seville. While there will be no changes to the performance, the experience for the audience will have some alterations including: • Lights being dimmed in the theater instead of fully dark • A relaxed atmosphere allowing patrons to talk and vocalize as they wish • Being able to leave and re-enter the theater as needed • Special areas designated as a technology use area …and much more. These adaptations are designed for a multitude of people and as a knitter myself, I couldn’t help but think this would be great for groups of fiber artists to attend and craft throughout the show! While I can knit a basic pair of socks during a performance, having the lights up alone will make it easier to find any dropped stitches or check a pattern. More information about the production can be found at www.seattleopera.org/barber. More information about what a relaxed performance entails can be found at www.seattleopera.org/themenights. Meg Stoltz Associate Director of Marketing and Knitter Thank you Meg for offering listeners a discount on tickets. It should be a fun event.

Chicken Mania!

Oh that Sockhead Slouch hat! Find out just how ridiculous Kelly's is! Our Winter-Weave-Along ends soon and our Out-of-Hibernation-Along is underway. 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 Welcome to our first new patron of 2024, Jill P! Thank you for your support of the show and our community. Marsha’s Projects Camella Hat: by Katie Pomper. Using Meeker Street Olive’s Outerwear DK in the colorway Dragon’s Breath.  Nanny Meier Tea Cozy: Inspired by Lily Pulitzer colors. Using Cascade 220 in hot pink and lime green. Cast on the second side. Fine Sand: by Heidi Kirrmaier. Using West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious. Finished first sleeve and almost done with second. Alpaca Shawl: I’ve woven 36”. I thought I would keep alternating twill patterns but I was really struggling getting any kind of rhythm throwing the shuttle. Decided to make larger sections tabby and smaller sections (1-1.5”) twills. Going much better! Socks: The Artful Ewe Clackamas. Halfway down the foot of the first sock. Baby Surprise Jacket: by Elizabeth Zimmerman. This morning I ordered her digital book that has modifications. 30,000+ projects means it must be a great pattern! I’d like to make a hooded jacket modification.  Combo Spin #3: Made a swatch of my green combo spin. Trying to decide on a pattern to knit. Combo Spin #4: I needed something a bit mindless at the beach so I started my fourth combo spin in red.  Water’s Edge Fiber and Dye: taught by Kathleen Adams Olsen. We dye with indigo. Class held in Kathleen’s home in Seabrook, WA. Her website is under construction but you can subscribe to her newsletter to be notified of events. I messaged her via Instagram (watersedgefiberanddye) or Facebook (Kathleen Adams Olsen). Kelly’s Projects I finished my Ultra Slouch Sockhead Hat with Punk Rock Unicorn Dirty Neon. Ridiculously slouchy hat with a cozy folded brim that can be a double or even triple layer for my ears. I finished the weaving for the Trailer bedroom curtain project.  I bought the cord to go through the bottom casing. Now Robertt needs to install the hooks and attach the cord so I can measure one last time and then sew the two rod casings in the curtain fabric. I’ve stalled a little with The Drifter by Tamy Gore, Narrow Path Designs. I’m on the decreasing end of the long triangle. Dozens of Little Squares I now have five strips sewn together and it’s about 17” wide. I’ve slowed down on this because I started two new projects. For Out of Hibernation I’ve been spinning the batts of Corriedale x Merino x Targhee that I washed, dyed, and carded last summer. It was half a fleece from Black Sheep Gathering in 2017 (about two pounds). During the summer I spun up a violet and a blue-green 3-ply yarn. I've now spun up the red-purple and I’m currently spinning a bright blue. The final color is a red orange. Between the two colors I have about 12 ounces left to spin.  I started another Classic Knitted Ripple baby blanket using the Red Heart from my mom. There were two grays, black, white and a partial skein of red. There are also two different pinks, but I don’t think I’ll use them.   A book recommendation from Kelly–Never Alone: A Solo Arctic Survival Journey, by Woniya Dawn Thibeaut. The author describes a lot of fiber arts in preparation for her time on the reality TV show.  Ravelry Tips and Tricks Do listeners have any tricks to share? Out-of-Hibernation Along  February 1 - June 1. Have you started? Find something that has been in hibernation and get it out and do something. Back to active status, frogging and reclaiming yarn, giving away, throwing away, composting–this is spring cleaning for your project list. Check in with your progress in the Ravelry thread.  Winter-Weave-Along  Ends March 31. Join the fun in our Ravelry group! Seattle Opera Production of Barber of Seville Friday, May 17th 20% discount on tickets with the code KNITTER20 Seattle Opera is having a Relaxed Performance of our production of The Barber of Seville. While there will be no changes to the performance, the experience for the audience will have some alterations including:  Lights being dimmed in the theater instead of fully dark • A relaxed atmosphere allowing patrons to talk and vocalize as they wish • Being able to leave and re-enter the theater as needed • Special areas designated as a technology use area  …and much more. These adaptations are designed for a multitude of people and as a knitter myself, I couldn’t help but think this would be great for groups of fiber artists to attend and craft throughout the show! While I can knit a basic pair of socks during a performance, having the lights up alone will make it easier to find any dropped stitches or check a pattern. More information about the production can be found at www.seattleopera.org/barber. More information about what a relaxed performance entails can be found at www.seattleopera.org/themenights. Meg Stoltz Associate Director of Marketing and Knitter Thank you Meg for offering listeners a discount on tickets. It should be a fun event.  

A Ridiculous Amount of Slouch

Our Out of Hibernation Along is underway so join us and bring your hibernating projects into the sunlight. We have one more month of the Winter Weave Along so there's still time to start or finish a weaving project.  Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android  Mount Everest Garbage article. Marsha’s Projects Camella Hat: by Katie Pomper. Using Meeker Street Olive’s Outerwear DK in the colorway Dragon’s Breath.  Nanny Meier Tea Cozy: Inspired by Lily Pulitzer colors. Using Cascade 220 in hot pink and lime green. Finished first side. Fine Sand: by Heidi Kirrmaier. Using  West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious in the colorway Claret. Blocked a second time and it fits great. Picked up and started the first sleeve. Alpaca Shawl: I’ve woven 36”. I thought I would keep alternating twill patterns but I was really struggling getting any kind of rhythm throwing the shuttle. Decided to make larger sections tabby and smaller sections (1-1.5”) twills. Going much better!  Socks: The Artful Ewe Clackamas. Halfway down the foot of the first sock. Baby Surprise Jacket: by Elizabeth Zimmerman. This morning I ordered her digital book that has modifications. 30,000+ projects means it must be a great pattern! I’d like to make a hooded jacket modification.  Kelly’s Projects Dozens of Little Squares  have four strips sewn together.  Continuing on the Sockhead Hat with Punk Rock Unicorn Dirty Neon.  More than halfway done with The Drifter by Tamy Gore, Narrow Path Designs  I’m using Invictus Yarns, Master of My Feet in New Jeans along with Stitch Stuff Yarns Plumpy Stuff in Off the Grid.  Trailer bedroom curtain project is still in the threading process but I fixed the mistake that first derailed me and I’m continuing to thread reed and heddles. Usually I thread the whole reed first and then thread all the heddles, but because I knew I had a mistake, I wanted to start threading heddles where I could better see the error before I threaded all the dents in the reed and then had to take them back out due to errors.  Ravelry Tips and Tricks Advanced search for people. Hold down the Advanced Search tab at the top and then select people from the choices that pop up. If you have put in your location in your profile you can select a radius of miles and see all the Ravelers within that radius, e.g. within 10 miles.  Out-of-Hibernation Along  February 1 - June 1. Have you started? Find something that has been in hibernation and get it out and do something. Back to active status, frogging and reclaiming yarn, giving away, throwing away, composting–this is spring cleaning for your project list. Check in with your progress in the Ravelry thread.  Events  Winter Weave Along starts October 1 and goes through March 31. Join the fun in our Ravelry group!

Anything to Avoid the Gym

Progress on the woven square blanket, some trip knitting, a couple new sweater patterns in the queue, adventures in weaving, and we leave you with a cliffhanger.  Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android Marsha’s Projects  Malabrigo Nube Merino Braids: Finished! Colorway 855 which is a blue green. Approximately lace weight and 1,036 yards. Camella Hat: by Katie Pomper. Using Meeker Street Olive’s Outerwear DK in the colorway Dragon’s Breath.  Nanny Meier Tea Cozy: Inspired by Lily Pulitzer colors. Using Cascade 220 in hot pink and lime green. Finished first side. Fine Sand: by Heidi Kirrmaier. Using  West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious in the colorway Claret.  Alpaca Shawl: I found four errors in my threading. Had a discussion with Kelly. Couldn’t find any information on treadling for a Rosepath warp. All this led to my decision to remove Rosepath threading and rethread with straight draw. I’m getting back on track.  Socks: The Artful Ewe Clackamas. I don’t know the name of the colorway but it's red…again. randomstripes.com Kelly’s Projects All the squares are sewed into 20 strips of 14 squares.  So Dozens of Little Squares is actually 280 squares.  Four strips sewn together already and it’s going quickly.  Continuing on the Sockhead Hat with Punk Rock Unicorn Dirty Neon. PRU is a German company. I badly need trip knitting ready to go since I leave on Sunday for an all day flight to Florida! I’ve had The Drifter by Tamy Gore, Narrow Path Designs in my library for a while waiting to use two particular yarns.  I’m using Invictus Yarns, Master of My Feet in New Jeans along with Stitch Stuff Yarns Plumpy Stuff in Off the Grid. The Stitch Stuff was a gift related to the conference I’m going to, so it seemed perfect to use it now.  Other designs in Tamy Gore’s portfolio are calling to me. London Dusk is a unique take on the colorwork yoke. My attention was also caught by Trelawny, a short sleeve sweater with the wider neckline I like. In both of them I prefer the low contrast versions.  Ravelry Tips and Tricks Yarn Shop Directory (1 shop within 10 miles of my hotel in Orlando) and Road Trip Planner (57 yarn shops between Salinas and Seattle, all within 5 miles of the main route).  Out-of-Hibernation Along  February 1 - June 1. Have you started? Find something that has been in hibernation and get it out and do something. Back to active status, frogging and reclaiming yarn, giving away, throwing away, composting–this is spring cleaning for your project list. Check in with your progress in the Ravelry thread.  Events  Winter Weave Along starts October 1 and goes through March 31. Join the fun in our Ravelry group!  

Weaving or Taxes? What Will She Do?

Join us as we go down the weaving rabbit hole with a discussion on surrendering to the creative process and bucking the rules. Plus, project updates and we announce an “Out of Hibernation Along”. Listen and join the fun. Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android Marsha’s Projects Socks: Finished! Used  Knitterly Things Vesper Sock Yarn in the colorway Sum-Sum-Summertime with Dream in Color Mini Smooshy in the colorway Bermuda Teal for the heels and toes.   Malabrigo Nube Merino Braids: Have two braids in the color way 855 which is a blue green. Halfway through spinning the second braid. Camella Hat: by Katie Pomper. Using Meeker Street Olive’s Outerwear DK in the colorway Dragon’s Breath.  Nanny Meier Tea Cozy: Inspired by Lily Pulitzer colors. Using Cascade 220 in hot pink and lime green. Finished first side. Fine Sand: by Heidi Kirrmaier. Using  West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious in the colorway Claret.  Alpaca Shawl: Rosepath and tabby warp. I put the warp on the loom but discovered an error that I need to fix.  Socks: The Artful Ewe Clackamas. I don’t know the name of the colorway but it's red…again. Kelly’s Projects I got a whole basket full of yarn scraps for my Dozens of Little Squares. Shout out and huge thank you to Alene, who tracked me down at school to deliver the gift. She had placed the scraps in a basket that she made from quilting fabric. I’ve already made and washed over 30 squares.  Yarn construction discussion..plied, cabled, singles, how many plies, how tightly twisted. All of these yarn structures in the sock yarn scraps. It is interesting to see them all and to see how they weave up. I think these little squares could be a great beginner project to learn about yarn, but then again, maybe the differences wouldn't be obvious or interesting to a yarn novice.  Continuing on the Sockhead Hat with Punk Rock Unicorn Dirty Neon. Ravelry Tips and Tricks Need yarn? Want to pretend you are just helping your Ravelry friends destash? Under the community tab you can click friends and see the recently posted photos of projects your friends are making. On that same page you can click “Search friends’ stash” and see what they have stashed in Ravelry. And you can filter to get the “for sale or trade” and go shopping! Other Stuff My Subversive Cross Stitch Calendar 2024 “You’re the Worst. In the best way.”  Events  Out-of-Hibernation Along, February 1 - June 1:  Thank you Shoedweller for the idea. Pat’s in and so are Marsha and I. Spring cleaning for your project page! WIPs or hibernating projects that have been hanging around.  Winter Weave Along starts October 1 and goes through March 31. Join the fun in our Ravelry group!  

Ep 101: With Author and Sheep Shearer Stephany Wilkes

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