All links to Ravelry are labelled as such. I try to include links to outside websites as much as possible. At this time, I am not including links for purchasing yarns, needles, etc. If I do, they will also be appropriately labelled. As a quick reminder: I am not affiliated with any businesses. If you’d like to show your support of the podcast, please rate and review on your listening device, follow me on instagram, and / or join the ravelry discussion group (ravelry link) if it is safe for you to do so.
Unboxing – 01:52
The Blue Brick is an independent yarn dyer in Canada. I have waited for years for their yarn to be available, and not immediately sold out. My time came at last and I was delighted to share the unboxing of these beautiful yarns with you.
Deathwish Coffee: Not a sponsor, Just a need – 08:49
Open Throttle – 09:04
First up in Open Throttle this episode, were the ‘Koi Pond Socks’. The first swatch for the socks is completely blocked. The yarn for these is from Kim Dyes Yarn, and was purchased as a kit for ‘The Koi Pond Shawl‘ (ravelry link) by Anne Podlesak. The kit was originally called ‘Ultimate Koi Pond’ and is viewable in my ravelry stash here (ravelry link). The ‘Koi Pond Socks’ are my version of the ‘Meta‘ (ravelry link) socks by Kino Knits, and the fourth pattern of Operation Sock Drawer (raverly link) by The Knitmore Girls.
A second version of ‘Jack’s Wings‘ (ravelry link) became necessary. These were worked on 3.75 mm / US 5 aluminum needles. The yarn was the same as the previous shawl. The techniques used at the end of the shawl changed slightly to eliminate bunching of stitches, and are detailed on the project page linked above.
When a break was needed from the above, I continued to spin on the rambouillet fleece. Some 699 grams have been plyed into big, beautiful, bouncy 3 ply yarn.
Fiber Fuckery: You Decide. – 15:09
Stalled – 15:28
Due to the limits of space-time, the laws of physics, and my own hubris, the Stalled section of this episode focuses on the plying progress of the rambouillet fleece. Or lack there of. In Episode 13: Commitments, I mentioned that my bobbins for my spinning wheel held about 4 oz of fiber. That was of single ply. When plying the singles together, I was reminded of the mathematics of volume, and the physical limitations of space. In short: the entire lengths, when plyed together, were too thick to fit onto a single bobbin. And I had only one bobbin left to ply onto.
The issue was solved by cutting the plys, and painstakingly winding the yarn onto a swift to free up the bobbin.
Sunshine: Making yarn gremlins of all of us. – 18:24
Scenic Route – 18:41
I am delighted to bring you more updates from the great outdoors. Some broccoli seeds had sprouted very nicely, and are holding up healthy and well despite being set upon by some voracious caterpillars.
I lost the last of the Canby Raspberries to the heat. Which truly was a shame.
Both the ‘Brigadoon’ and ‘Flamenco’ roses have bounced back from extreme heat beautifully. The ‘Brigadoon’ has been re-potted, and the ‘Flamenco’ has even begun to bloom a second time.
Spinning on 2 Wheels 