TwinSet Designs

In which show notes will come later!

In which Jan continues on her journey towards life clarity and shares news of a baby shower, a birthday, a sleepover, swatches, and aligning her actions with what is actually important to her.

In which The Fulton Theater copes with Covid, Milo copes with veterinary care, Jan moves closer to clarity with regard to the roles she plays, and landsharks and bathsharks abound.

In which Jan explains that, although this is the 108th podcast episode recorded, it will be referred to as episode 107 since 107 seems to have been missed.  It's fitting because it's also the episode in which we hear about Bailey, the cat who went missing in episode 106, and some of what else you've been missing from her in the last 22 months! Links to mentioned patterns are in the episode thread in the TwinSet Designs Ravelry forum.

In which Jan comes back to the microphone.  Sure, we've heard that before!!

In which we (yes, we...[twinsetellen](/people/twinsetellen) joins me for much of the episode!) discuss, personal agency, making protective face masks, the SSK Swap to help fiber community vendors losing revenue due to festival cancellations, what's happening in the patterns of Ellen's life, a generous offer from Infinite Twist (you put $10 into the fiber economy and get free stuff from Cate in return), a meditation of the impact of social distancing and Covid-19, and possibilities for future gatherings.

In which I give you a very wave top view of the things that have happened in the last year as well as the things I've knit and the things I'm knitting, introduce a new design segment called Design Modifications (asking you to contribute your ideas and information to share with other listeners to modify the pattern of the podcast and help me produce episodes more frequently), and provide results from last year's UNKAL, and a heads up on TwinSet Summer Retreat 2020 and our plans to make it to Rhinebeck this year.

In which Jan shares her travels away from the farm and visitors to the farm, and in which Jan and Ellen relive the fun they had at the last Madrona.  

In which Jan shares about signs of coming lambing, hermaphroditic sheep, a complete doggy update, her grandson's name, some design principles for color selection in stranded knitting, a 5-minute interview by Ellen of Eric Allness of Reywa Fibers, some details on the UNKAL, and a lengthy Fashion Forecast.

In which Jan provides a wrap-up of happenings from the last year...very incomplete, but sufficient to bring us up to date...and in which she makes a call to Ellen to hear about her knitting shenanigans. Note that the call audio is different, and not to my standard. We're playing with new technology and if we can't get it right in the next episode or two, we'll go back to the old way.

In which I catch you up on five months of patterns of my life, talk about an i-cord edging experiment, get started on Stash Fit, and open up the registration for TwinSet Summer Retreat 2018!! Find the link for the retreat here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OTh5-0nJdmgFQ_vpxFicXwuJcMpWbXoX Visit Infinite Twist at https://www.infinitetwist.com/ Find Modeknit yarns at: http://www.modeknityarn.com/ Knitspot (Anne Hanson and Bare Naked Wool) is here: https://www.barenakedwools.com/

In which I give you a quick reboot and suggest you visit http://www.infinitetwist.com to purchase Stash Fit! with the code twinset for a $3.00 discount!

In which we review listener memories of the last 100 episodes, share the fun we had spending Christmas together, recollect that it was before Thanksgiving when we recorded the last episode, and forecast a cold winter in Minnesota as well as predicting the top 10 phrases you won't hear Ellen say in 2018...at least not on the podcast.

In which it took me three weeks to edit, but in the meantime I did finish the paper to which I refer in the opening minutes.  Also, we do talk about knitting, and about our lives, and about things that we object to and things that we support...pretty much as usual.  Enjoy!

In which it took almost as long to edit as it did to get around to recording and in which we catch each other up on the patterns of our lives, all the knitting that's been going on, new contests and old, and whine on about how we both missed Rhinebeck.

In which we are back from hiatus and we chat about what's been going on -- Jan hosted the TwinSet Summer Retreat 2017 and made a trip to China, and Ellen played around at Cedar Point with her clan and then travelled to Oregon for the eclipse where Jan's Grand Nephew gave her a total eclipse of the heart.

In which we accomplish a quick catch up, hear Ellen's Kefir, think about the #metricrevolution, acknowledge our birthday, get a little creepy, and announce the winner of the Summer Shawl contest!

In which we catch up on life's joys and sorrows, and get cheered up by Dr. Yarn and our grandsons.  And in which we talk about plowing back and forth, the perfect yarn for when you're Friesian, how sweet Jan is, and how incapable we both are at correct counts during cast ons.

In which we catch up after several months.  Jan became a grandma, Ellen went to Scotland, and we both had other adventures.  Thanks for your patience while we were gone and while Jan was trying to get the episode edited...just under the wire to have an episode out in June!

In which Jan give some details about the coming TwinSet Summer Retreat -- a few spots remain at time of publication!

Okay, I'm getting this sucker published -- maybe Ellen will take some time to tell you what's in it, but I just want to be done with it...almost two weeks after we recorded!!!!

In which we discuss the upcoming March for Science (which is in April, not March, but I digress), synthetic, man-made, natural, organic, inorganic and other fiber related terms, advice for washing your fleece, and highlight contests and new lambs!

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

Whew!  Many tasks kept me from editing this very quickly, but here it is...   In which we discuss Groundhog Day (are you surprised?), Ellen's commitment to acquire more skeins than she knits...err, rather knit more skeins than she acquires, Jan's experience at the Women's March on DC, Ellen's experiences at Ding Dong Darling National Wildlife Refuge (they involve birds -- and key lime pie), an epic knitting bite, and craftivism.  And we have a few words from Dr. Yarn!!   Listen here:  Episode 90 -- Ground Hog Day

In which we chat about our holidays -- and Jan goes on and on about her holiday trip to Japan -- and in which we highlight a few other entrepreneurs in which you might be interested, hear from the founder of June cashmere, put out a few knitting and life objectives for the new year, and reconnect after our winter hiatus.  (Note, the outtakes refer to a bit of food poisoning Jan and family experienced in Japan -- not caused by the Kobe beef, but coincidental to that meal...we do not want to cause anyone to miss out on trying Kobe beef because of these comments!)

In which we get ready for the holidays...Jan finishes up her current academic term, Ellen discovers walk-in closets, we both get ready for some fun with family over the holidays, and we include a reprise of the knitter's version of "Santa Baby!"

In which we discuss our four Thanksgivings, knitting going to the dogs, a new give away from Infinite Twist, and lots of weiners!!

In which we take a deep breath and move on from the election, talk about how adorable our husbands are, brag a bit on ourselves, and hear about Ellen's fun at Vogue Knitting Live - Minneapolis.

In which Jan shares great news, and we both talk about Rhinebeck, Drop Dead Easy Knits, training chickadees and trading rams.

In which we continue to be challenged by technology, but are very excited to be going to Rhinebeck!  No outtakes this time -- we were lucky to get the body of the episode!

In which we get you all caught up -- whether you want to be or not.

At last...after gaining access to a different computer (the old one is likely a total loss -- thank goodness for Carbonite!) and in which we discuss visits to Minnesota, new chickens, hoping for a break in the heat, the Marie Kon-Don't Method, and the difference between Scotch tension and double drive spinning.

In which we acknowledge some farm sadness, but then press on to discuss DIY light boxes and cigar box electric guitars, crazy catch up after summer camp, winning prizes in yarn crawls, how much respect you gain for designers by designing, seeing family on business trips, playing in the pool at the Downcellar Studio's Splashpad Party, technology inspired and enabled knitting, and television for the velocity impaired. Listen here: Episode 81 -- Absolutely Slowly

In which we recall the fun we had at TwinSet Summer Camp!

In which we hear a big confession, enjoy reports of retirement festivities, celebrate pride, think of podcaster with whom to dine, hear a negative space essay from Ellen, learn about Devon sheep and their cousins, the brick sheep...aka Devon Closewool.

In which we talk about great fun had at Zombie Knitpocalypse and The National Needlearts Association Summer Convention, farm stuff, not much knitting, super powers and all the winners from phase one of the UNKAL!!

In which we discuss some sad farm news and some better farm news, business travels and ball games, Memorial Day remembrances, and the fact that Ellen is running out of work days rather rapidly!!

In which we discuss trips all over the place, many projects, winning endeavors, buffalo garbanzoes, cowichan sweaters, Nancy Totten Designs and prize winning farm animals plus lots of other stuff.

In which we discuss aberrant spring weather, a trip to see Andrew, the wiggle dance, bottle supplemented lambs, naked alpaca and fowl play.

In which we discuss White House M&Ms, Lindt Chocolate Bunnies, Big balls of string, more new lambs, pacemaker museums, and running in slippers.

In which we discuss rams and lambs and many hats off to Minnesota, a monumental knitting bite, a book review of Free Spirit Knits and several wiener opportunities.

For which I took almost two weeks to edit and in which we discuss retreats, Stitches West, meeting long lost family and new and old friends, sunning in company of alligators and sharks, the amazining Anna Zilboorg, new contests, and TwinSet Summer Camp -- now with more Caithness Craft!  SO many things!!!

In which we discuss dealing with Winter Storm Jonas, travel to see Jan's grand newphew, the Knit a Journey Midwinter Retreat, Legally Blonde - the Musical!, CVM, and being bold.

In which we discuss very little in the patterns of our lives, but in which we do discuss getting our spin back on, full time working for part time people, bonus sheds, horny sheep, and, yes, exploding kittens.

In which we reflect on 2015 and set our intentions for 2016, talk about all the hijinx from December, and reinvigorate the TwinSet Rare Sheep Challenge.

In which we catch up from being on hiatus.  Not only do we get back to work on the podcast, but we both got back to work at our paying jobs.  However, twinsetellen  has returned in a part time status, much to her pleasure!  And in which we discuss caring for my grand nephew, my trip to Peru, Finnsheep getting ready for a busy spring, getting pneumonia vaccinations, and cleaning off the needles.!

In which Jan and Ellen chat briefly before Ellen sends Jan to bed to get over her pneumonia so she can go to Peru. Lisa (AKA Turbogal) then joins Ellen to provide you with a complete episode chock full of listening pleasure! Note -- there was a technical glitch with Ellen and Lisa's chat, so you may note a bit of a jog in the conversation at one point. I promise you're not missing anything though! Listen here: Episode 67 -- Lisa (AKA Turbogal) Picks Up the Slack

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

In which we discuss how short was the interval between this and the last episode (and yet in which we manage to create almost an hour of audio), jumping the broom, work interfering with knitting, and the fact that Squishy the Squid truly is a squid (and not what others have intimated).  Plus, we have another visit from Dr. Yarn!

In which we discuss Ellen's travels to Sweden for World Water Week (there was no wave pool or water slides), apple trees, quick visits with New York daughters, winning state fair entries, squid knitting, and have a short visit with Dr. Yarn and an essay on "Why We Farm." 

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!