Fleece & Harmony Knitting Podcast Ep 5 - Steeking and Angora Rabbits!

[@sharonrego823]

Wonderful episode. Mabel and Paige are precious 😊🐰✨. All your videos are an absolute treat. Thank you. 🌞

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Thank You so much! They are lovely gals to have around!

[@sueking6543]

Another great episode!! thanks!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Sue Thank you! We are so glad you enjoyed it! It’s -25 here, we can’t wait to have our mittens!!!! 🥶

[@sueking6543]

Fleece & Harmony it’s ONLY -12 here next door in Whitney Pier, Cape Breton Island 🤣

[@evelynmorrell1842]

Love your bunnies. I love knitting wth angora. My daughter ordered 2 pairs of mittens last fall, but she ordered and angora and mailed to me. She is now the owner of 2 pair of angora mittens.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Evelyn Morrell angora Mittens would be amazing!!!

[@PatB101]

I love those colours also..I guess I will have to make a trip over :)

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Please do!

[@deniseengel1451]

Paige and Mabel are adorable. My what experiences they have had. I had an English angora for 7 years, Rosebud. Still have a lot of her to spin.

[@Barbbfly]

Totally . I knit a bottomup sweater and didnt like the bottom after it was finished so I stuck needles in the leg of st and cut it off and knit down a high low hem and am so happy with it .

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Barbara C always better to fix it if you can! Might as well try we say!

[@TrickyNight24]

Omg! Those bunnies are like giant pillows! And your brown farm spots ...still too funny!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

They are pretty fluffy!

[@StitchesandPrayersVlog-cast]

Also just found your podcast and I am living you guys! Binge watching!!!!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

So great to hear! Thank you!

[@karijames381]

you two are a hoot! love your special guests, i had no idea rabbits weren't nice to each other.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Kari James yes they are surprisingly aggressive for something so fluffy!!!

[@BlossomBlendFibres]

So glad Page and Maple are okay. I had Pearl and Breezy outside (free) one summer and Pearl went for Breezy’s neck even though I had no males. Very territorial! They were German angoras. I do miss them. I couldn’t bring them with me on our move back to BC.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

On a Quest For Fibre yup, everyone is good!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@thoughtsofawindowgirl2112]

Bunnies, bunnies and yes more bunnies. Gotta love therm. Spot on screen lol I got up from my bed and tried cleaning off my big screen tv lol.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

I know... that felt like kind of a cruel trick, but it was totally unintentional. It took us three episodes to figure out that it was in the lens of the phone.

[@gailweeks5442]

If you get a chance, I would love for you to tey on the poncho so we can see what it looks like as a finished object. It looks gorgeous but hard to tell how it fits when you didn't hold it up.....👧❤

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Gail Weeks definitely! We will bring it back for an upcoming episode, once it’s cooler!!

[@farmgirl9876]

Thank you for showing Paige and Mabel. Could you show brushing them ?

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Cheryl sure we can do that on a future episode! Thank you for watching!

[@susand8068]

I love your podcast and your yarn.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Susan thank you so much! And thank you for watching!

[@mjm3852]

I love knitting socks and getting to the heel flap means to me that I am halfway home! The heart hat pattern is terrific.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

MJ M yea! I love a good heel flap! So satisfying!!!

[@victoriacutler7052]

Loving these vids......All the processing of the yarn is fascinating......PLUS, thinking I need to move to PEI!!! Have spent a lot of time in Newfoundland, and think I could be very happy on your island. :) . Also, had a good chuckle over the bunny names.....Sent a pic to my daughter as her middle name is Paige, and her nickname is Mabel!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Victoria Cutler what a coincidence!!!! Re: bunny names!!

[@cynthiabroadbent3836]

Is it possible for you to show the blocking technique for the hat which is mentioned in this episode?? Thank you! I would love for you to do some tutorials :). I'm watching all of the episodes now so maybe you've already done this in a later episode. If not, thanks for considering this suggestion! I thoroughly LOVE your podcast and am going back to the very beginning to listen to all of them!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Thanks for watching and commenting Cynthia. I guess I will need to do a segment on blocking!

[@hollymullin7811]

I came home from work one day and couldn't find one of my cats. It was odd, she's quite bonded to me and doesn't tend to leave my side. I looked around and then settled in thinking she found a good place for a nap. After another hour I started to worry though. I searched everywhere. On my 3rd search of the basement I heard the tiniest "mew". I tried to figure out where it was coming from, then had a terrible idea. I lifted a ceiling tile, turned on the flashlight on my phone, and took a picture down into a column made for a plumbing pipe. When I looked at the photo there were two little glowing eyes. She had managed to climb shelving in my storage room, walk across the ceiling tiles in the rec room, and fell into the column! I had to cut a hole to get her out, but since it was a paneling I couldn't repair it so I covered it with a return air vent haha! Honey lost her curiosity about the storage room that day! She and Mabel may make good partners in crime haha

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Yes! Partners in crime. Glad you found her!

[@carolynmclaughlin8405]

Love the bunnies.....AND their stories. Always looking forward to the next episode .

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Thank you so much! We love them too!

[@julesp213]

Love your bunnies! I have angoras too

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Jules P they are fun! Cute little creatures!

[@janeolson-janeolsonart3755]

Love the bunny stories! so sweet.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Jane Thank you!!!! We’re accepting resumes for bunny brushers 😉

[@svance1041]

Such beautiful projects. Can't wait to try out your hat!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Thank you! We really appreciate you saying so!!

[@bead9609]

Thanks again for a wonderful podcast and a morning laugh, those fluffy babies are so adorable.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Bea thank you! They are adorable aren’t they?!

[@janetcox8985]

Another great podcast, missed two and three will look them up. You are both so relaxed, very enjoyable. Love those bunnies.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Janet Thanks! 🤗

[@lindadaley7469]

I did not see Page when I was up the other day. Does she still live in the shop?

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Linda Daley she was outside under the apple tree! ❤️

[@SunshineLeclair]

lol Hi again, I've been binge wathcing ;) I don't knit, only crochet ... but for I still love watching you gals ... so I subscribed ;) Donna from Ontario

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

SunshineLeclair great thank your for subscribing! Glad you are enjoying it!!

[@MultiKnitter]

Love watching the behind the scenes processing of the fibres and meeting the four-legged family members.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

MultiKnitter thank you so much for watching! We have a lot of characters around here! 😉

[@Barbbfly]

Well done !! plse what was the sock pattern , did i miss it ?

[@Barbbfly]

soo glad you love your stock/pets . mabel mabel !!! God cares about His creation

[@Barbbfly]

I would never buy angora cuz of abuses but now I might cuz of you. Well done !!!!!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Barbara C it is the Both Sides Now and Then pattern by Kate Atherley.

[@xxslyfoxhoundxx1]

So happy to see Paige looking so much better than when I saw her in the fall...love your podcasts. So much fun and very informative. Off to buy some kits and sock yarn!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Joni Yes, she healed up brilliantly! Thank you for the lovely comment and your email! SMART on the code! 😉

[@susanbossung9098]

I was also trying to get the spot off my screen ! Lol

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Ha! It still gives us a chuckle.

[@susanbossung9098]

Great to see the bunnies ! I’m watching past episodes, and this was a gem. Do you still have a bunny in the shop? How long do bunnies live?

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Paige has a two storey apartment all to herself in our barn. There is quite a lot of noise in the mill and shop, so we thought it would be more peaceful for her. I am not sure how long bunnies live. But we have had ours for 6 years and three of them were a couple of years old when we got them, so more than seven or eight apparently!

[@kathykeller3430]

Love your Podcast, your projects, your stories, your angora bunnies! I grew up a huge fan of the Anne of Green Gables books, they were charming and so are both of you! PEI is calling!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Kathy We’d love to have you!!! 💜

[@ruthlee2752]

Loved the show. Thanks for the talk on the bunnies. Will be waiting to see the fleece you will be making. Keep up doing the podcasts, really good content

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Ruth Lee Thank you for watching!!!

[@knittingallnight4018]

Oh, my gosh..."get rid of a couples table, we have 3 singles" ...that was so funny. And the bunnies are lovely. I think you gals have enough stories to write a book, I'd buy it. Love your podcast!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Margaret thank you! It’s not a Valentines I will ever forget!! 😂

[@lpmarketing3684]

hi, these are great!!. thank goodness you said something about the spot, i kept trying to wipe my screen!! here from northern florida

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

LP Marketing oh dear!! 🤣😂🤣 we apologize! A new iPhone is on the way! 💜❤️💜

[@fernie5128]

You two are just as delightful as you were on episode one! Dating? High school? What's that? Reminiscent of my own dating life. thank goodness I can laugh about it now!! And Agatha Christie couldn't have told a better mystery story about "The Case of the Missing Rabbit". But, please, the end of the mystery. How did Mabel get behind the wall in the first place? A number of years ago my sweet and petite cat was meowing somewhere in my house and I couldn't trace it. I checked all of her usual hiding spots, but to no avail. I could still hear the meowing coming from somewhere! Then as I walked past the return air duct in the living room, there she was behind the metal cover, looking right at me! Panic, my heart racing, what if she slips, does she fall into the furnace (I have no idea how return ducts work except they ultimately bring air back to the furnace. I ran to the kitchen and began tearing apart the junk drawer in the kitchen looking for the darn screwdriver, all the while telling her to stay where she was (as if she knew what I was saying), finally finding a screwdriver. Hands shaking, I removed the screws and gently removed the grate so as not to startle her (she got spooked easily). I slowly reached in and was able to gently pull her out. Of course she was none the worse for wear, jumped down from my arms, and slowly walked into the kitchen for a drink of water. How did she get there? Well, I was painting in another room, had removed the heating vent covers and she went on a walkabout! Anyway, I love your podcasts!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

fern lol!! The last few moments of the rescue are the most tense! We don’t know she got in there! She must have jumped really high and slipped in? It’s still a bit of a mystery! ❤️

[@fernie5128]

@@FleeceHarmonyPodcast those darn animals and their secret lives!

[@kiwijenniferknits]

Thanks for another enjoyable podcast! I loved the story about Mabel going missing - and being found!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Jennifer thank you! We are never sure if we should just “stick to our knitting” or tell these little stories from our farm life here, which is certainly never dull as far as we are concerned! ❤️

[@diannefitzmaurice9813]

Angora is 8x warmer than wool. It is not about weight . It has to do with the fineness of the fiber and that angora is a thermal fiber meaning it is hollow. It is the only fiber that is fully hollow with this thermal quality. This makes it incredibly warm , so much so it will alleviate pain . Angora fibers are considered to be thermal meaning it has is hollow. Other animal fibers like wool, mohair and alpaca are insulating fibers meaning it will trap air between the fibers. Mohair is 4x warmer than wool , Alpaca and llama are 6x warmer than wool and these fibers also have some thermal properties but not to the extent of angora. You should never brush angora - always comb it. And harvest it regularly every 13 weeks . Also don't muss it so much when holding them ie moving the fiber around as this will matt it easily. If you must pet them move the fiber in one direction only --pat it it in the direction it grows --so from the root to the tips and head to tail. While it feels lovely to put your hands in and muss it like that you are, that will create matts . There is absolutely no fiber that can beat angora for warmth and comfort and can alleviate pain like angora. . It increases blood flow so is great also for circulation. . It is an insulating fiber. Some angora like Satin angora is even even finer than qiviut . (Qiviut is an insulting fiber so while it is very warm it does not have the same kind of thermal qualities.) It is a total joy to spin and to wear especially 100% for our Canadian climate. Glad to hear the eye healed up ok. Usually a human antibiotic eye drop is all that is needed and it will heal up well on its own as long as infection is prevented. Would love it if you would say more about the yarn you are using for your projects with more info about the fibers and processing . .Especially for sock yarns and if you produce a sock yarn without polymide or anything acrylic added ..

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Thanks for all of the information Dianne. We have learned a few things since this episode was made. When we say we brushed the bunnies we are actually combing them - so at least we got that part right even if we didn't really know much when we got the rabbits! LOL

[@brendasolanki8424]

First, thank you for the very fast delivery of my yarn. Socks are on the needles; mittens maybe tomorrow. Also thank you for explaining the spots that I kept trying to wipe away! Love your bunny stories. I certainly never knew they could be such a handful. I also love the hat and am curious to see the Ramea sweater when finished. Thanks for such a laughter filled podcast. My criteria for who I watch is "Would I enjoy sitting down to have a cup of tea with them in person?" Both of you certainly meet that! HUgs

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Brenda thank you so much! Your comments warm our hearts! Our sense of humour often gets us through this crazy farm life.

[@brendasolanki8424]

@@FleeceHarmonyPodcast I've realized that a good sense of humour can get anyone through any kind of craziness in life. I've certainly had lots of practice; took a while to realize that laughter, at myself not others, was a great solution. Have a wonderful day!

[@lillylane2457]

I am really enjoying your podcasts!! Thank you for all the work you do! I’m not sure about English Angoras, but I’ve been raising French Angoras and harvesting their wool for about 10 years. I comb for maintenance but I also harvest for spinning by clipping. The amount of time to grow in a new coat varies, but is usually around the 13 week mark. Just wanted to let you know in case you wanted to use more wool. It also helps to prevent wool block. I measure their food out each day and they seem to slow their eating right around clipping time. They will also have trails of loose wool. I am really looking forward to seeing your spun Angora! I’ve always wondered if you could use an Angora single or lace weight held with another yarn like people do with mohair? The halo of Angora is beautiful! Looking forward to your next podcast!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Lilly Thank you for all this! The yarn turned out lovely and sold out right away! We can’t wait to make more!!

[@lauraabrunhosa4196]

Hi, Kim and Jennifer. Your podcast is so funny and easy to watch! Well done! I was watching this particular episode and got very curious about your bunnies. As far as I am concerned, rabbits reproduce a lot. Is not something that happens with Angora ones? Because I've learned that you have them all sharing the same space, right?

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Absolutely they will! But ours have all been neutered. 🐰

[@adalai7649]

You two are wonderful! I'm binging on all the episodes now to catch up to your current episode. I really like the interplay between you both. I love your discussions of your WIPs and FOs and the patterns and yarns. Loved the bunnies!! And your stories were hysterical! And thank you for mentioning the spot... been driving me nuts, but I had faith that you'd eventually hear about it. 😄

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Ada Lai ha ha ha! The dreaded spot plagued us for months!! 🤣

[@amandall3633]

Lol, I've been trying to wipe the spot off the screen, with spit, a wipe and my finger nail for the whole podcast, which was extremely good I must hasten to add 🙄🤔 I was beginning to think maybe I've damaged my screen and a new phone might be in order, I've never liked this phone 🤣. The rabbits look so placid, they must be so therapeutic to stroke. Thankyou ladies for a lovely podcast again, I'm binge watching them 😊💕

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Amanda leahy ha ha! Silly spot!!!

[@heatherpagefiberfreak4230]

Oh my gosh, me too...I was just thinking it was my screen because it wouldn't wipe off. I finally just checked the comments and found out what was up.

[@janiceparks5758]

That is supposed to say utube

[@emmaursula]

Love the bunnies :-)

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Ruth Thank you! They are a delight aren’t they?!

[@Savannahleecrafts]

Just found your channel and am really enjoying watching a Canadian show :) I'm in ON but have always loved the island. Gorgeous bunnies! I raise rabbits but a different breed..I don't think I could handle the grooming care angoras would need, lol. And I agree, rabbits are definitely not always the cute little floof sweeties that people think...my rabbits are all housed separately because does can be really territorial! If you ever breed yours, be careful to not introduce a buck into the doe's home space lol. I've been raising rabbits for just under a year and have had lots of interesting and unexpected situations come up already, right from the start haha. I'm binging my way through your episodes and looking forward to new ones!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Savannah Nice to meet you! We definitely don’t need more bunnies, so no breeding allowed!! 😂 We hope you enjoy the other episodes!

[@StitchesandPrayersVlog-cast]

Scared to death to steek!!!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Noooo! It’s easy!

[@janiceparks5758]

Sad that all your prize drawing are.from ravelry a lot of us that watch you are only on iTunes. Janice

[@janiceparks5758]

That was supposed to say tube

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Janice Parks hi Janice, that is something to keep in mind going forward! Thank you!

[@meskwaki54]

I got divorced on Feb. 14th.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Poetic justice! Was it? ♥️

[@meskwaki54]

@@FleeceHarmonyPodcast I did send him a "Thank-you" card. Was that too polite?

[@esthervangorder3983]

Laugh-out-loud entertaining and informative as always. Love the photo of Hat, Man & Dog. Irish Wolf Hound? He or she needs some more screen time. ;-)

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Esther thank you! Yes that is my (Jen) wolfhound Hannah. She will have some screen time when she can sit still for more than 2 minutes. Lol. She’s just a pup still at 2. 😘

[@eileencashin7585]

Hi Ladies, I have watched almost all of your episodes and I just love them. I was wondering how you could make contact with The Grocery Girls and their podcast, they could discuss your yarn and mill and also being from Canada maybe you could have some kind of chat. I just went to your website and saw all your beautiful yarns, oh my oh my.....I hope to be putting an order in for your yarn, the Waiting for Rain has been on my list of shawls to do and your yarn may be just what I need to make it. Thank you again for a wonderful time sitting with you . Looking forward to more podcasts. Eileen Cashin. (nualasmom on Ravelry and @chessanip3 on Instagram)...

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Eileen thank you so much! We are so glad you are enjoying it! You should definitely make Waiting for Rain, it was such an enjoyable project! We were just considering another in Amethyst Brooch last night! 😁