Making

It’s always inspiring to receive emails from young fiber folks finding their way in this fiber world, hearing their story and being inspired as I continue to on my own fiber journey. Avril Freeman is one such person, having found herself in Alaska working with Muskox and Reindeer at the Large Animal Research Station (LARS). Her involvement in the Fairbanks fiber community spans from collecting Qiviut fiber from the Muskox, helping organize the Fairbanks Fiber Festival and making fiber goods for the Large Animal Research Station’s shop. And with her new adventures in motherhood, she has en exciting future ahead of her. You can find Avril at muskoxuaf.org and on Instagram @avrilcultural.

I love meeting people in this the fiber industry that surprise you with their story, and Saremy is one of those people. From fashion school to farm life, articulation pattern drafting and now Chicken Boots, her life has been full of adventure and a lot of hard work. It’s inspiring to watch someone who is so dedicated to domestic production, working for themselves and creating a high quality product. You can find Saremy at chickenbootsusa.com and on Instagram @chickenbootsusa.

    Sponsor: Taproot Magazine, is a quarterly print magazine full of delightful stories and photos written by and for people living fuller and digging deeper. Each issue is created around a subtle theme, featuring amazing recipes, crafts, and tales, all with the intention of inspiring people who are interested in deepening their connections to their families, communities, and themselves as they strive to live locally and closer to the ground. The content in each issue consistently blows me away. It is fulfilling and inspiring. The most recent issue PRESERVE features a collection of wonderful finds as we step in Summer. With lessons in arm knitting, preserved lemon and infusion recipes, stories in farming and woolworking, and a collection of preserving how-tos. There is so much goodness in each issue. You can visit Taproot Magazine online at Taprootmag.com and on Instagram @taprootmag. Fiber folk: It’s no secret that Maine is one of the epicenters of this fiber world, with its designers and yarn companies, but a lesser known but just as vital part of this community are the shops, more specifically PortFiber, a special fiber, spinning, dyeing and weaving oasis in Portland, Maine. Casey Ryder, the owner of PortFiber found herself on a path that’s lead her to finding further fulfillment in making and building part of this fiber community. You can find Casey at portfiber.com and on Instagram @portfiber.     Sponsor: I want to thank Taproot Magazine again for sponsoring this week’s episode. With the natural, easygoing and heartfelt focus of each issue, I find myself continuing to go back to it throughout the quarter, gaining a little something each time and looking forward to the upcoming issue. Just recently I pulled out the archive issue BREAD, with plans to build a cob oven in our backyard. I’m looking forward to getting started. I highly recommend you visit Taprootmag.com and subscribe.  In Residence: I’m excited to share a new weekly addition to the Woolful podcast, In Residence. Each quarter we’ll be joined by a farmer, designer, entrepreneur and artist in residence…discussing topics and questions asked by you the listeners. In Residence features the best of the best in business, farming, knitwear design and fiber arts and this is your opportunity to ask and learn from these incredible folks.  This Summer quarter we welcome Entrepreneur in residence Veronika Jobe of YOTH, Farmer in residence Tamara White of Wing and a Prayer Farm, Photographer in residence Kathy Cadigan and Designer in residence Mary Jane Mucklestone.  So now it’s up to you, these wonderful women are ready to answer your questions and discuss your areas of interest. Do you have a question or topic regarding farming, knitwear design, fiber business or photography that you’ve always wanted to know more about? Email them to hello@woolful.com and later this month tune in to hear their answers.  Event: Mark your calendars for a special event happening at Elaine and Mike’s farm, Old Homestead Alpacas. On June 18th they’ll be hosting their second annual open barn event,

When I first met Elaine and heard a bit of her story, I knew it went much deeper, and I wanted to hear her full story…about life and fiber. This conversation left me in tears, touched by the intense journey Elaine and her husband Mike have been on and how it’s led them to a very special farm in Walla Walla, Washington. You can find Elaine on Facebook at Old Homestead Alpacas and on Instagram @oldhomesteadalpacas.

Just a few miles from Portland Maine and a short ferry ride away is Peaks Island. Here is where natural dyer, fiber artist and mother Rachel Bingham Kessler makes her home and business and explores the intricacies of natures relationship in dyeing and spinning. Rachel shares her journey with such love and thoughtfulness, and I hope you enjoy learning more about this Maine fiber maven as much as I have. You can find Rachel at 44clovers.blogspots.com and at her Etsy shop, 44 Clovers. And follow Rachel on Instagram @44clovers.

I had a great time visiting spinsters Rachel Price & Kate Burge in their cozy studio in downtown Bellingham earlier this year. Coincidentally, the very building that their studio resides in is where I met my husband 11 years ago. It was great to be in these old haunts with new friends and to hear their personal journeys and story, from meeting and working together at the Bellingham food coop to starting a hand dyed and handspun yarn company, Spincycle Yarns. These two special ladies have created something quite amazing, and I hope you enjoy getting to know them as much as I have. You can find the spinsters at spincycleyarns.com and on Instagram @spincycle_yarns.

Romi Hill first caught my attention on Instagram a few years ago when I came across of photo of her cowboy boots paired with some beautiful yarn. As time went on became more and more fascinated with this seemingly extensive cowboy boots collection and even more so with her incredible knack for composition and color theory and of course, knitwear designs. Lace knitting has always appeared intimidating to me, but seeing Romi’s designs come to life has been an increasing temptation and getting to know her more, and her sweet spirit has only been even more encouraging. I hope you enjoy getting to know this amazing woman and the story behind all she does, as much as I have. You can find Romi at designsbyromi.com, her latest book “New Lace Knitting” and patterns on Ravelry and on Instagram @romidesigns.

Every year there is a special place, on a lake in New Hampshire, where people gather to explore their creativity, healing and community. This place is called Squam. Behind this goodness is one remarkable woman by the name of Elizabeth Duvivier, someone who’s sought out to find her path and enlightenment in this creative world, bringing souls together and taking just as much away from each experience as those who attend. The next Squam art workshop is this June, and if there’s any way you can find to make it, I know you’ll come away from it just as inspired as you will from this conversation. You can find Elizabeth at squamartworkshops.com and on Instagram @squamlove.

In a digital world, it seems print is ephemeral…but ask Zinzi Edmundson and Gigi Jack of Knit Wit Magazine and that’s what made the most sense…with their history in the print editorial world and desire for the tactile experience. Together they’ve created one of the most compelling textile and lifestyle publications, garnering some of the most interesting folks in the industry and helping share their stories and creativity. If you haven’t already experienced Knit Wit, I highly suggest you do. You can find Zinzi and Gigi at knitwitmag.com and on instagram @knitwitknitwit.

I’ve met very few people in life that match the passion, enthusiasm and joy of Anna Dianich and her infectious energy emanates from everything that surrounds her, including her shop, Tolt Yarn and Wool. It’s easy to forget though, that amazing women like Anna, have someone equally amazing beside them, cheering them on and supporting them through their endless ideas and gumption. Anna’s someone is her lovable and encouraging husband Greg. Together they’ve built a community, centered around this charming little yarn shop in the Pacific Northwest town of Carnation, Washington. You can find Anna and Greg and their super crew at toltyarnandwool.com and on Instagram @toltyarnandwool.

For a long time I’ve been enchanted by the designs of Helga Isager. A few years ago I bought one of her books that was in Danish, and I began translating it so I could knit my favorites. Since then her books and patterns have been released in English, and they are some of the most beautiful designs I’ve ever seen, truly. Her work is a large part of what inspired me to take the leap and finally knit my first sweater a couple years ago, because I wanted so badly to work up the courage to eventually knit one of Helga’s designs. From her delightful Danish voice, lineage and her exquisite taste in fashion, photography and styling, Helga is a benchmark in this industry and if you haven’t already become familiar with her work, I highly suggest you do. You can find Helga at amimono.dk and on Instagram @helgaisager

Sponsor: It’s the one year anniversary of Home & Away: Knits for Everyday Adventures, a terrific book written and published by Hannah Fettig of Knitbot. And she’s hosting an Instagram fashion show, to celebrate all the beautiful and wearable knits you’ve made since the release last Spring. Hannah strives to design wearable knitwear for the modern knitter and her most recent book Home & Away features 9 wearable designs plus education, support and inspiration to help you grow as a knitter. Now through April 10th you can enter her Home & Away hashtag fashion show on Instagram. Show off how you style your finished knits by posting to Instagram with the hashtag #wewearknitbot and be eligible to win some great prizes! Hannah’s offering a $3 off the print or digital copy of Home & Away, so use the promo code wewearknitbot on her site and on Ravelry. You can find all the details and list of at knitbot.com and you can find Hannah on Instagram @knitbot Fiber folk: Aesthetics plays a huge part in a fiber enthusiast’s making, naturally…and there are some certain folks who bring a special beauty to this world, channeled through their delightful shops and welcoming perspective in color, composition and atmosphere. One such person is the lovely Susan Cropper and her fiber emporium, Loop London. I wish I could transport myself to the streets of London and spend a day in this magical place, if you’re familiar with Loop’s books, patterns and Instagram account, you know exactly what I mean. With passion, exquisite taste and color, and a whole lot of love, Susan has built something we all should take a moment to experience. You can find Susan at loopknitting.com and on Instagram @looplondonloves   Sponsor: MAINE Knits is a collaboration between the hand knitwear designers, yarn makers, dyers and wool-loving folk of Maine. The book includes patterns for 7 garments and 7 accessories, photographs and essays, with knitting designs by Carrie Bostick Hoge, Alicia Plummer, Bristol Ivy,Cecily Glowik Mcdonald, Mary Jane Mucklestone, Elizabeth Smith, Leah B. Thibault, Kristen TenDyke, Leila Raabe and Beatrice Perron Dahlen. And a foreward written by Pam Allen of Quince & Co. MAINE Knits was born of an idea from Beatrice Perron Dahlen, and is a project that comes straight from the depths of her heart. It’s a chance to honor the creative work that her and her fellow Maine folk are doing, joining talents to make something extraordinary to offer up to the rest of the hand knitting community.   Right now you can support this special project on Kickstarter to help fund the creation and publishing costs…so make sure to visit kickstarter.com and search for MAINE Knits and do what you can to s...

Mary Jane Mucklestone is a gem that shines bright in this community, and if you’ve had the pleasure of meeting her, then you know what I’m talking about. Her designs and footprint in color work has made her knowledge a staple in the fiber world. Her energy is infectious and her passion even more so. You can find Mary Jane at maryjanemucklestone.com and on Instagram @mjmucklestone and you can find more info about Mary and Gudrun's Shetland trips theshetlandtrader.com/shetland-trips

Print publications play an important part in this fiber community of ours, and a key player in this editorial and inspirational world is Amirisu…a Japanese knitting magazine founded by Meri and Tokuko, featuring patterns in both Japanese and English accompanied by beautifully written articles and photography. Meri left her career as a consultant to pursue this passion in fiber and never looked back. From Amirisu to Walnut, Amirisu's local yarn shop, Meri is a creative inspiration and fiber powerhouse. You can find Meri at amirisu.com and on Instagram @amirisushop.

Just listen to today’s episode and you’ll hear the spirit behind Courtney Kelley and Kate Gagnon Osborn and it makes complete sense how Kelbourne Woolens came to be…two great minds, inspiring design, gumption and of course the wonderful Fibre Company yarns. Sometimes you just need to take the leap, and you might just find you’re no longer floundering and have happened upon a fulfilling life in wool. You can find Courtney and Kelley at Kelbournewoolens.com and on Instagram @kelbournewoolens.