TwinSet Designs (Knitting, Spinning, Designing)

In which Ellen spends almost 15 minutes talking about how her knitting bit her.  It really is impressive.  Just saying.


In which we are joyful about the arrival of Andrew and prattle on about many things.

Direct download: Episode_66_--_Delayed_by_Baby.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 10:43pm EDT

In which we discuss a fun new craft-a-long with Mastering the Knits, how California's drought is really all of ours, anniversaries (36 for Jan and 35 for Ellen),  crazy highjinx at minor league baseball games (did I mention cowboy monkeys?), boondoggles to Lake Tahoe for frozen toes, some fun finished objects, a review of "A Knitter's Gallery of Mitred Squares - 45 Unique Designs in color, Texture, and Lace" by Jill Begelow Suttell and Jane Bigelow, and Jan's new pattern and at the begining of which Jan gets to congratulate the Knitmores on new baby Rex!

Direct download: Episode_63_--_Still_Crazy_After_All_These_Years.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 4:33pm EDT

In which we decide to surprise you with an episode even though we said we were taking a break till after summer camp!

Direct download: Episode_61_--_Surprise.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 3:02pm EDT

In which we take forever to actually start the show, are visited by two delightful guests, and discuss new babies, knitting for new babies, surprise father's day visits on the farm, snack foods and cat discipline.

 

Direct download: Episode_60_--_Fathers_Day_Surprise_Visits.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 12:50am EDT

In which we discuss filling up our bellies at Thanksgiving, podcast endings and podcaster beginnings, cabbages and kings (well, not kings), fine dining in NYC and nights on the town in DC, visitors and the proper pie ratio, new members of the farm family and a bit of farm animal photography!

Direct download: Episode_49_--_Full_Bellies.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 1:51pm EDT

In which we offer condolences to the "Car Talk family", start a new contest for a Boston Jen design, congratulate Wilson for his "Top 100" chess status, Marie's debut in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade*, Gale Woods Farm, Jan's new job, Buddhist housekeeping, NYC visits to daughter's restaurants (well, restaurants at which daughters play key roles) knitting retreats that bring healing, new playwrites and playing in parks, Dr. Yarn's anger management techniques, Spinzilla and designing for flow, and try to catch up on many other aspects of life!

*Update!  Marie will not be a Christmas tree -- instead she will be a pirate, a treasure chest or a shark devouring a person as one of the wire walkers for the "Pirate's Booty" balloon.  She hopes she gets to be a shark!

Direct download: Episode_48_--_Catch_Me_Up_If_You_Can.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 2:34pm EDT

In which we discuss trips to the ball game, trips to Sweden, trips to France, trips to the state fair, trips up north and trips to DC and we get plenty tripped up trying to explain an improvement on last episode's slick trick.  Much other merriment ensues.

Direct download: Episode_46_--_They_Say_Were_Crazy.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 7:46pm EDT

In which we thank our camp supporters, have a great time chatting about the success that was TwinSet Summer Camp, discuss making play out of work on the Snake River, being surprised by San Antonio yarn shops, shared birthdays and harmonious gifts, taking daughters to birthday dinners, welcoming Heidi back from the trail, various knitting bites (including a real doozy for Ellen and the recurring theme of ignoring pattern instructions), spinning many yards of yarn and using many wheel ratios, inspiration from Abby Franquemont, the Lost Geek Challenge Along and some other stuff.  

 

Yes, it's a LONG episode -- enough for 3 half hour runs or for Louise to clean all the toilets in Mey.

Direct download: Episode_44_--_Back_at_It_Final.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 5:56pm EDT

Episode 35 -- Show Notes to Follow

In which we discuss business trips with drive by yarn shop stops, discover we are both connected to an Indie dyer, alpaca barn parties, yet more snow, class with Abby Franquemont, cranking and spinning, cabled yarns, spinning wheel maintenance, a bit of outside work for Jan and a trip to the MN Closed Chess Championship for Wilson.  (Congrats, Wilson!)

Direct download: Episode_35_--_Show_Notes_to_Follow.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 10:07pm EDT

In which we discuss our recent experiences at retreats (Ellen at the Knitajourney Mid-Winter Retreat in Duluth, MN and Jan at Tina's Fiber Retreat in York, PA), farm medical procedures from which several of the animals would have like to retreat, the dangers of knitting lace after the drams, the value of The Knitting Guild of America Master Knitter classes, the whimsical and classic designs of Ann Kelly, plying yards and yards of Corriedale Cross a slick trick and some other stuff -- to include a new spinner!

Direct download: Episode_33_--_Retreat.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 1:46pm EDT

In which for some unknown reason we sound muffled. (I did have a stuffy nose and sinuses, but Ellen was healthy so that's not the reason and I processed the file in the same manner, so that's not the reason.  Urgh! Sometimes this podcasting stuff is hard!  Well, you can still understand us, so you're getting it as it is.)  And in which we discuss the cold (maybe that's it, we were wrapped in scarves and mufflers?), haunted barns (maybe a ghost is choking us?), idea weekends with ideas that Ellen can't share or she'd have to kill us (maybe she was smothering us with pillows?, but why would she smother herself?), a trip to DC with a stop at a new to me yarn shop (maybe I'm buried in yarn and fiber?), spinning and handling alpaca at the PA Farm Show (maybe an alpaca is sitting on us?), grilled cheese and tomato soup (maybe our mouths are full?), and Susan B. Anderson's new e-book, "Mary, Millie and Morgan" (that's it, those dolls are so cute you want to gobble them up...our mouths ARE full!).

Direct download: Episode_32_--_A_Living_Doll_Final.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 12:47pm EDT

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 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 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 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 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 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

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."

Direct download: Episode_7_Fiber_Friends.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 4:29pm EDT

Episode 3 is available!  In which we chat about the wedding, the setting, the bride's beauty, the folks who helped make it happen, and our very special guests who grazed their way through the ceremony.  We also chatted about Noro Kureyon, various knitting accomplishments, a hat for Wilson and our anticipation of attending the Duchess County Sheep and Wool Festival (aka Rhinebeck!).

Direct download: Episode_3_Final.mp3
Category:Knitting, Spinning, Designing -- posted at: 12:55pm EDT

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