By The Fibreside

In which I take the year off from knitted Christmas presents (no, really, I mean it), try to not feel guilty about Level 3 homework, talk about the problems I had with the blend-for-characteristics exercise for Level 2, finish a shawl in three weeks and get a lot done on the legwarmers, and do a […] more...

In which I make an effort to remind myself of the good things about winter, try to spin 8 TPI skeins twice, review woolen spinning and rolags for Level 2, finish the Op Art blanket and promptly reward myself with some knitting and spinning, chat with Donna Druchunas about her new project, Stories in Stitches, […] more...

In which I reflect on how I learned to fail, relearn how to spin cotton and promptly not have time to do anything else, spin some Gecko Shetland, talk about fibre characteristics and the ‘rules’ for preparation choice, make some project progress, announce the Side Bet winners, beg for recipe ideas, and don’t make any […] more...

In which I absolutely must do something with my hands all the time, forget way too much of what I learned in Level 3, talk about wool grades and why they drive me insane, give my opinion on the Fibre Week date changes, make some project progress, and OMG TAPESTRY PROGRESS! Thanks for listening! Don’t […] more...

In which I remind myself why depriving one’s self can sometimes be a good thing, don’t do much for Level 3 homework except think about what my final project will be, finish a scarf by doing some reverse engineering, crochet a dragon, get half-finished a sock in two weeks, start the Episode 20 contest, and […] more...

In which I figure out exactly how long it takes me to knit a sock, get my Level 2 homework back, make and spin some silk mawata, drop Knitmonton’s veil of anonymity briefly, start and restart a scarf, design a mini-sock, spend WWSIP Day with the Edmonton Weavers’ Guild, and write a brief letter to […] more...

In which I consider the arrival of fall, finish my month off of homework, make hats and flowers and plans, get spindle-whispered by Caroline Sommerfeld, and don’t mess up on the horse in the Tapestry. Thanks for listening! Shownotes: Theme music: leaves by airtone at ccmixter.org / CC BY-NC 3.0 Fibre Week Master Spinner Program […] more...

In which I track all kinds of life information, spin cotton and Corriedale, have a whole bunch of knitting projects that are in various stages of being on the back burner, talk cotton with Jill Holbrook, and feel like I’m actually getting work done on the Tapestry. Thanks for listening! Shownotes: Theme music: leaves by […] more...

In which I contemplate the passage of time, finish Level 2 and look forward to a month “off,” finish and block a shawl and take scissors to a sweater, review blocking wires and a spinning magazine, and finish the letters on the Tapestry. Thanks for listening! Shownotes: Theme music: leaves by airtone at ccmixter.org / […] more...

In which I try to decide if I’m a product or process fibre artist, discover that I’m not as done Level 2 as I thought I was, almost finish two projects and cast on another, talk with Lonna Cunningham of Flannelberry Creek about her Batt Bar, and feel guilty about the Tapestry. Thanks for listening! […] more...

In which I think about different skills and how we all have different ones, talk about my paltry progress on homework during Tour de Fleece, accidentally cast on a new project, run out of yarn on another, and bring you up to date (such as it is) on the Tapestry. Thanks for listening! Shownotes: Theme […] more...

In which I give a random review of Fibre Week events and experiences, talk about three Master Spinner levels in one episode, chat with my dad about his first Fibre Week, talk about the little bit I got done on other projects, bring you a Fibreside Chat with Otto Pahl, and bring you up to […] more...

In which I talk about give voice to the angel on the one shoulder and the devil on the other, bounce up and down in my seat with excitement about Fibre Week, give an update on where I’m at in Level 2, extoll the virtues of wool, celebrate finishing the Sweater, talk about a shawl […] more...

In which I talk about living positively, give an update on where I’m at in Level 2, finally bring you the Breeds Book for Level 1, give updates on long-languishing projects, announce the winner of last episode’s contest, bring you some fibre art links that have inspired me in the last few weeks, and bring […] more...

In which I talk about not waiting for a little bit of free time to live your life, give a brief update on Level 2 essay writing, extoll the magic of twist, relate how (if you can do it) project monogamy rocks, bring you an interview with Lonna Cunningham about supported spindling and her new […] more...

In which I talk about how fibre arts connect us to the past, discuss the plethora of resources I’ve been finding for Level 2, contemplate the importance of a common set of terms in fibre arts, talk about how project monogamy didn’t work for me this week, read two of the spinning poems/songs I found, […] more...

In which I talk about self-definition and change, cheer the finishing of the book reports and talk about my decision to take an extension on my Level 2 homework, extoll the virtues of spindles, wonder at the knitted things I finished in the last two weeks, review three children’s books related to knitting, and bring […] more...

In which I talk about family, make a whole bunch of excuses, talk about nature dying, list my very easy current projects, and bring you up to date on the Bayeux tapestry project. It’s a short one this time! Thanks for listening! Shownotes: Theme music: leaves by airtone at ccmixter.org / CC BY-NC 3.0 Fibre […] more...

In which I yearn for a tangle, talk about how satisfying flick carding is and how to spin flick carded and teased wool, wonder where the last two weeks went and contemplate my plan for homework the next two weeks, talk about my current knitting/crocheting projects, review two spinning books, announce the winners of last […] more...

In which I shake my fist at Mother Nature, talk about woolen and worsted yarns in the context of Master Spinner, update listeners on Wave Maiden and Spats and Knitmonton, bring you up to date on the Bayeux tapestry project, and launch a contest! Thanks for listening! Shownotes: Theme music: leaves by airtone at ccmixter.org […] more...