TwinSet Designs

In which we discuss the return of the light (and the owls), ice lanterns, the great Weaver's Guild of Minnesota fiber estate sale, finally receiving processed fiber from the spring shearing, Christmas visits, what's in Ellen's pocketses, the best Christmas card ever,  seeing Santa Claus, publication of Ellen's pattern "Bitsy Baby Beanies", successful design modifications and a winner of the Swagger DALKAL, some knitting and spinning and Ellen endures Jan's singing.

Direct download: Episode_30_--_We_Believe.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 5:52pm EDT

In which we discuss* our Thanksgiving celebration, knitwear on fire, alpaca with trench-o-phobia, cold and snowy weather, planning to make the most of your knitting time, shades of colors, crispy duck skin and foregone conclusions for the outcome of the Army-Navy game.  (Navy will win, in case you are wondering!)

*And all in less than an hour!

Direct download: Episode_29_--_Hats_alot_of_Knitting.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:07pm EDT

In which we abandon our usual format to welcome a fellow podcaster to the microphone.  You'll have to listen to find out who it is!  And in which we discuss what's going on on both sides of the Atlantic, a bit more about ourselves, and of course, our knitting.

Direct download: Episode_28_--_Podcasting_Across_the_Pond.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 7:32pm EDT

In which we extend our thoughts and prayers to those affected by storms near and far, and in which we discuss nasty colds, prolonged podcasting absence, rapid Master Knitter responses and successes, the end of an era in which Solveig reigned in the world of Bohus, responsible use of GPS and liquor, Finnsheep, the Knitting Pipeline Maine Retreat, visiting with dear friends, Blacker Yarns, designing colorwork mitts and more!!

Direct download: Episode_27_--_Knock_Knock.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 11:37am EDT

In which we discuss the Cat Bordhi Fall knitting Retreat, Frog Tree Yarns, the impressive research of David Krag (who with the help of knitters will eliminate the need for chemotherapy for many cancer patients!!!), Yoda and Red Roosters, Master Knitter II Submission madness and wild and crazy chess players, aquaknitting, The House of Jerky, super food, dressing like twins, the designer Melinda VerMeer (she does not have a pearl earring) and how knitters can do great good in the world.  (More felfs!  Less Chemo!)

Listen here:  Episode 26 -- More Felfs, Less Chemo!!

Direct download: Episode_26_--_More_Felfs_Less_Chemo.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:34pm EDT

In which we discuss trips to Ohio, visits with siblings, fiber processing workshops, the secret to drum carding, poncho-mania, knitting and saunaing in the north woods, prize winning knitting, the size of Wilson's head, the size of Ellen's head, Jan's loss of brain cells, dizzes and punis, safety to dye for, and the good fortune to be heading to Cat Bordhi's Fall Retreat.

Direct download: Episode_25_--_Three__One__Five.mp3
Category:Hobbies -- posted at: 5:41pm EDT

In which we discuss the new Knitty, lakes that aren't lakes, really great spinning wheels, black...err...um...orange cats, more tomatoes, a Swagger KAL, the Ricefield Collective, lack of yarn, failure to read patterns, getting from design ideas to actual written patterns, a prize weiner and busy days ahead.

Direct download: Episode_24_--_Orange_is_the_New_Black.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 7:43pm EDT

In which we discuss our Seattle trip for the fabulous Bohus knitting workshop, the weather, fair food, prizes for knitting everywhere, camelid fiber grading workshops, capturing domestic and wild life, Bohus knitting and reknitting, share a negative space essay about returning home, and learn some more fiber jargon and another slick trick.

Direct download: Episode_23_--_Second_Sock_Syndrome.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:38pm EDT

In which we discuss zoological explorations, tomatoes coming out of our ears, pedicures for alpaca, holographic Kelly Clarkson, biking to work, state fair entries, making a sweater in 2 years, fiber preparations, yertles (fiber turtles), and a meetup in Seattle.

Direct download: Episode_22_--_Otter_Nonsense.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:32pm EDT

In which we discuss the birth of Violet...other stuff too, but really, Violet is what was important.  (Okay, we also discuss beach vacations, 90th birthday parties, chickens to the freezer, knitting polygamy, making iced tea more delicious, a few knitting nibbles, what to do with 80 yards of bulky handspun, roving, top, batt and sliver (oh, my!) and have a delightful visit by Dr. Yarn.)

Direct download: Episode_21_--_Hello_Violet.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:10pm EDT

In which we discuss population changes on the farm and in the backyard, barn raising, post pounding, fireworks on the Stone Arch Bridge, turkey escapees, awkward teenage birds, grizzlypig shenanigans, cherries for pie, vegetables for pickles, an expectant mother, good progress on many projects, how helpful it is to actually read directions, hiding decreases in ribbing, knitting cues, pitting tools and many, many contests.  And be sure to note the "summer25" discount code on Goodstuff's Ravelry downloads!

Direct download: Episode_20_--_Quickly_Recorded_Slowly_Published.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:26pm EDT

In which we discuss (at length! -- it's been 4 weeks after all!) knitting to the end of the skein, starting many projects, the big straw harvest of 2013, living through loss of internet and barely living through a knock out virus, animal population explosions at the farm, many visitors and visits to Rhode Island and DC, lots of contests, reinforced selvedges, motivational spinning with the tour de fleece and a featured designer.

Direct download: Episode_19_--_Knit_Everything.mp3
Category:Hobbies -- posted at: 9:59am EDT

In which we discuss bird spotting, the mechanics of making hay, exercise options (totally!), motivation for riding, garden prospects, possible new neighbors, grand-dog sitting, the wisdom of dyeing hair while engaged in fine hand knitting, two cases of startosis, knitting on the needles, no knitting off the needles, making batts and making yarn, a listener design challenge, design principles a la Annie Modesitt, Sarah Punderson's designs, reflections on Fiber Fest by some of our favorite knitterati, bags from swag, and a contest!

Direct download: Episdoe_18_--_Making_Hay_While_the_Sun_Shines.mp3
Category:Hobbies -- posted at: 4:15pm EDT

In which I wonder where Ellen spent the money she was given for singing lessons, Ellen delves into algebra to solve the classic math problem "Gigi's Socks", we discuss much (much, much, much) activity in the patterns of our lives (multiple fiber festivals included!!), trips to Minnesota and NYC, visits with daughters, fine dining, farm lessons and lessons learned (Sorry, Chicks!), the value of a good shearer and many knitting nibbles, and we chat with the mothers of Steven Berg and Stephen West.  Phew!!


In which Ellen sings and is repetitive and in which we discuss Yarnover and Fiber Fest, a great review from Jasmin & Gigi, Thunder Snow!, quick trips to Ohio, Spring springing...and not, farm stuff, mouse melons, love blankets, snow and the frozen north, blended colors and intarsia, when eagerness overwhelms instinct, yarn to dye for, figure irregularities, the magic bullet and Yarnover and Fiber Fest.

Cover Art by Martin Austermuhle

Direct download: Episode_16_--_Thundersnow_MP3.mp3
Category:Hobbies -- posted at: 1:36pm EDT

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.

Direct download: Episode_15_--_A_Little_Fuzzy.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 12:38pm EDT

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.

Direct download: Episode_14_--_OWN_IT.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 9:16pm EDT

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.

Direct download: Episode_13_--_How_Now_Giant_Cow.mp3
Category:Hobbies -- posted at: 6:17pm EDT

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.

Direct download: Episode_12_--_Gauging_Where_Youre_At.mp3
Category:Hobbies -- posted at: 9:03pm EDT

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.

Direct download: Designed_for_Your_Pleasure_-_Not_in_Stereo.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:19pm EDT

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.

Direct download: Episode_10_--_Fiber_Retreats_are_Real_Treats_Monaural.mp3
Category:Hobbies -- posted at: 4:40pm EDT

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.

Direct download: Episode_9_Top_Tips_for_Taking_Classes.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:55pm EDT

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.

Direct download: Episode_8_High_Resolution.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 4:08pm EDT

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