January 2025

Tea time in the studio- Drinking Earl Greyer tea from Republic of Tea in my Maryland Sheep & Wool mug On the loom -Planning my first weaving project of 2025. Stair runner?? On the wheel – Wet finished the Gotland for my new friend Angela. Discovered the tension knob is missing from my Hansen cherry Classic – great customer service though! A new one is on the way. Spinning currently on the EEW 6.0 and super excited about the Kickstarter for the new EEW Fold. On the needles – Still working on the test knit cast of a new design by Thea Colman of Baby Cocktails in my Ross Farm Ashen Wensleydale that will launch in March. Trying to finish a microfiber ribbon scarf from Tess’s Designer Yarns that I started a zillion years ago. Planning a few new samples for the booth this Spring too. Technique Time – I’ve been binding several quilts and my plan this week is to make a few shorts/reels on my binding technique. Perfect mitered corners every time! Sheep & Wool School – This month’s breed is Cheviot. Today, we’re talking about working with it. It’s one of my favorite types of wool because of its resistance to felting and hard-wearing nature. I literally can’t say enough about it! You can experience the wool for yourself with one of our Cheviot products, or from a local purveyor near you! Check out Ross Farm Funky, Ross Farm Big Boy, our Cheviot roving, our quilt batts or even our socks! I’ve been blocking the Lollygag Cowl and working on increasing the

On the loom – Loom has been excavated from its layers of nonsense and I’m hoping to warp it by the end of the month. On the wheel – I’ve been reorganizing my fiber stash and I found some delightful fibers that I’m really excited to start spinning! I’ve got some DEEP STASH from no-longer-dyeing folks like Hobbledehoy and Classy Squid and some really squee-inducing things like the complete box set collection from HipStrings that Scooter got for me every time a new one came out. It started with their Maine box, which was their first, because that’s where we honeymooned. Also located was my stash of hand-dyed Cheviot from two of my favorite vendors: Two Guys Yarn Company and Into the Whirled. On the needles – Still working on the test knit cast on of a new design by Thea Colman of Baby Cocktails in my Ross Farm Ashen Wensleydale that will launch in March. Technique Time – I’m wondering if you’d like to see any of my techniques for sewing, quilting, spinning or knitting? Let me know in the comments! Sheep & Wool School – This month’s breed is Cheviot. Today, we’re talking about the FIBER. It’s one of my favorite types of wool because of its resistance to felting and hard-wearing nature. I literally can’t say enough about it! You can experience the wool for yourself with one of our Cheviot products, or from a local purveyor near you! Check out Ross Farm Funky, Ross Farm Big Boy, our Cheviot roving, our quilt batts or even our socks! Don’t forget to comment

Tea time in the studio- Drinking Blackberry Sage tea from Republic of Tea in my Missouri Star Quilt Company mug On the wheel – I’ve been plying some Gotland on my Schacht Reeves that I combed and spun last fall. I just got my Daedalus Martin set up to start spinning some of the fiber in my World of Wool Advent Box as soon as I finish the Cheviot I’m currently spinning. On the needles – Just finished the Lollygag Cowl in Ross Farm Funky and Ross Farm Kevin. It’s a FREE pattern on Ravelry. Getting excited about the test knit cast on of a new design by Thea Colman of Baby Cocktails in my Ross Farm Ashen Wensleydale that will launch in March. Sheep & Wool School – This month’s breed is Cheviot. There are 5 main segments of the breed; North Country (Park and Hill types), Border Cheviot, Brecknock Cheviot, Western Hilly and Wicklow Cheviot. Finish it or Frog It – 4 projects pulled from a random UFO pile Sewing Stuff – I’m binding a Christmas themed bench pillow from Riley Blake Designs and working on a log cabin tree skirt from approximately 1998 for my 2025 UFO Challenge with the Polka Dot Pincushion. On Down the Road – Prepping this week for the Rustbelt Fibershed Symposium on January 25th and Nash Yarn Fest in March. Working on the 2025 schedule.. Details coming!