The Knitty Gritty on Steeking - Ep 160 Fleece and Harmony Woolcast

[@esthervangorder3983]

I'm echoing the joy in watching your Woolcast as I knit a pair of Hannukah socks with sparkly blue yarn and can smile and be distracted from the reality of a 13-yr old, terminally ill kitty asleep beside me. Your videos of the Bras d'or Lakes are so beautiful. It's been years since we've been there and it's time to go back. The incredible beauty so close to home makes me wonder why we ever even think about getting on a plane to go anywhere else. ❤

[@mongrain8934]

I just love the harmonious and humorous way the three of you discuss about your knitting projects and life. ❤❤❤

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Aww - thanks!

[@karenlarsen1128]

I just love spending time with the three of you! ❤️ Thank you!

[@Wynona-Anderson]

Such a blessing to be able to “escape” into your wool cast! The Harmony part certainly gave me moments of solace and peace. Thank you all!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

I am glad we could offer you a moment of peace!

[@karenjordan1822]

Another great episode, ladies!! I am inspired, educated, tempted and touched wholeheartedly. 💜

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Thank you for watching and commenting Karen!

[@Susan-mx6ot]

Ladies, thank you so much for your time, great conversations, and humor! Always look forward to the next one. Happy Holidays

[@suemitchell2215]

hands down the best Podcast.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Thanks!

[@EvieO1950]

Always tickled when a video from you girls pops up!! My kind of gang! Beautiful, beautiful knits you’re wearing today!! The steeking discussion was great, it just scares me and this helped. Take care!

[@catnapper3923]

You are three busy people! You look so great, wearing beautiful knitting and showing your works in progress. Thank you so much for all of it. Xx

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

You are very welcome!

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

Wow ! Betsy , your scarf is wonderful, I love your colors ! The sheep sweater is also coming along so well, I am amazed at you are willing to just knit without a pattern, This is quite inspiring. Simone, lovely color choice as well for your : "Jethro" by Tanis Lavallée. Thanks Kim for the Harmony part.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Thank you so much! I am glad you are enjoying the show!

[@betsycampbell7370]

Thank you. I like to be adventurous, you just have to be willing to fail and then making things up is not so scary. LOL

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

@@betsycampbell7370 🥰

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

@@betsycampbell7370 🥰 You sure are inspiring, I am now mixing two patterns to make a ski mask for my grandson. The family lives in a very windy part and his cheeks become quite dry and red. So I am mixing the "January Ski Mask" by Agnese Iskrova with the "Baby Bear Balaclava" by Pernille Larsen, which has a perfectly fitting cowl.

[@CathConnolly]

Thanks for great episode love the sweaters your both wearing and the Martin shawl . Happy Thanksgiving hope you feel better Betsy

[@elaineenstone6834]

A fun episode. Hope Betsy recovery is now complete. 🇬🇧

[@betsycampbell7370]

I’m so close! Thank you for the good vibes.

[@gailthompson4102]

I think Simone's crocheted project looks better than the pattern picture. Love your colour choices!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

I agree completely!

[@lsdev4229]

Beddeck is one of my favourite places Kim, thanks for the pictures. Me and my Husband stayed at the Inverary Inn before the fire...probably 30 yrs ago now. We stayed in the smallest room in the attic (cheapest). You had to walk in the middle of the room so you didn't hit your head on the slanted ceiling on each side but it had the most amazing black and white tiled bathroom.😂 Great episode. Hope you feel better soon Betsy!❤🥰🇨🇦Sharon.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

I love that. I wanted to stay in the old inn. I forgot that it burned. That was sad! The rooms are kind of non-descript now, but the views are stunning!

[@dawntorpe5100]

I dared myself to try steeking and have down it twice with great success. The first time was on the Alice Starmore Cats & Mice Blanket, for my grandson, using her Hibridean 2 ply. What a revelation, no need to stabilize with machine stitches before cutting the steek - just go for it. The stickiness of the wool did all the work. My second attempt was Kristin Deysdale’s Marit sweater and I used your lovely Eldon Lace. This time I pulled out my sewing machine to stabilize things before cutting the steeks for the sleeves and the front of the cardigan. Each project worked out exactly as I hoped - the key is working with the fabric you have created and trusting in the process.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

It is an amazing thing

[@HennyPennyrobinson56]

Thank you for the inspiration ladies!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

You are so welcome!

[@suemitchell2215]

Love the colours of Simones crochet jacket.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

They are gorgeous!

[@sandrastefanek695]

Love your Podcasts!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Thank you for watching!

[@nancycox6548]

Betsy: I also use a marker every 10 stitches and mark the chart that way. Especially when you are knitting stranded flat it is beyond helpful. Another great episode!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

I will really need to try it. I don't know why I make myself suffer through things??? LOL

[@betsycampbell7370]

I know. So, so much easier. I am forever using this method.

[@sylvieboulanger8155]

I purl the first and last stich of each row of the steek so it folds in easily.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

I haven't tried that. Maybe on my next steeking project...

[@bigblackdogfiberarts]

For the record, if I were the customer, I’d want to see the pictures. Lol I have barred, great horned, and barn owls in my woods. I also have a boatload of coys that come running through taking down deer. The NOISE when they are on the hunt is insane!

[@jane8760]

OMG I just burst out laughing over the description of the Costco sweater…Totally flammable! 😂😂😂 Whenever I see fabrics that are polyester I say “don’t light a match near that” 😂

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Yes, but surprisingly it doesn't feel like acrylic. It feels very close to the new fabric I am knitting with the Cotton Cashmere and Alpaca Classic.

[@katestyles7252]

Betsy I love the colours in your Snowflower scarf - so bright and joyful . I am doing the Snowflower KAL but only a half width size 80sts round and a provisional cast on. I am going to do about 10-12 sections - whatever works to get it to loop twice around my neck nicely. Will graft the provisional cast on and the end row of stitches together to make a cowl. My version is a mixture of Rowan felted tweed, some Rowan Valley tweed left over from another project and a couple of cone yarns - it is all blending together nicely but definitely want to do another one all in felted tweed ! Hope you feel better soon

[@betsycampbell7370]

Thank you on all fronts. I am definitely feeling better. And there is something special about that felted tweed squish. I am considering making a different set of motifs, but the same idea for another more scarf like rendition myself.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Oh great! That sounds lovely and the provisional cast on is a great idea!

[@marilynharlow8720]

Thanks for sharing about your dropped stitches Kim I’ve done that more than once 😂

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Yeah - not so fun!

[@mongrain8934]

Could there be a part 2 of the Knitty Gritty on steeks? I was wondering what the stitches along the edge of the button band looks like on the private (wrong) side.

[@katehosford2657]

I am relieved that Simone had the good sense to tell us that Chicken Bones is candy! I did not know that. Is it an Atlantic Canada thing? Katie from Maine US😄

[@sueking6543]

Yes! Ganong Chicken bones are a Christmas fave….. I think there are now other brands. Cinnamon-y in the middle.

[@caroldoherty6656]

Chicken bones are made by Robertson Candy in Nova Scotia. I saw them yesterday at Sobeys for $11.95 a bag. They are a hard candy with a hard cinnamon shell filled with chocolate. They are also made by Ganong.

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

They are really popular here.

[@Azure565]

I live in Edmonton and they have become so urbanized, they walk around in our neighborhoods!!

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Oh dear. I wouldn't like that.

[@cynthiabroadbent3836]

Thanks for another great episode! I don't think I'll finish my pair of socks in time to post in the KAL.. but I'm making good progress :). I wonder if you can host a Christmas Balls / ornaments KAL in December :). I have quite a few of those to finish and would love to see what everyone else has done! Enjoyed catching up with you 3 again this week and look forward to the next podcast!

[@betsycampbell7370]

I am certainly itching to make something for the Christmas season….

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

That's a good idea Cynthia. It would be nice to see what folks are doing for their decorating!

[@hbknits]

Enjoyed the steeking segment. I have decided that 2025 is the year I’m going to try it😂 Simone- do you reserve this technique for stranded projects or do you also use it on single colour knitting so that you can knit in the round and avoid back and forth knitting?

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Kim here - You could totally do it for a plain cardigan - to knit it in the round. For a pullover, you just convert the pattern to knitting in the round. However, sometimes the seams in sweaters add structure to the garment or a super stretchy fabric. In that case you might want to keep the back and forth knitting to preserve the seams.

[@hbknits]

@ Thank you!

[@barbaraamping5659]

Usually owls like to eat voles 👍

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Yes. Great Horned Owls will eat a lot of things though - depending on what they have access to. Here on the Island, snowshoe hares are a favourite and they will also eat skunks - which we have a lot of around here. Apparently the owls sense of smell is not that great, so they can handle the skunk perfume! LOL

[@SuzanneTheme]

Ya’ll are getting to be REAL country girls😅😅😅

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Yes by now, we are pretty country! LOL

[@peggyisme]

I am from Arizona, our coyotes can jump a 7 foot fence with a cat in their mouth

[@FleeceHarmonyPodcast]

Oh dear! We have smaller coyotes here on the Island. There are much larger ones in the rest of Canada. The larger ones are suspected to be a coyote-wolf hybrid of some sort. They are much larger and more aggressive. But the ones here can definetly take down a sheep if they are motivated and hungry.

[@peggyisme]

@@FleeceHarmonyPodcast Coyotes are about 3.5 - 4 feet long including the tail. Adult males are larger than females, weighing on average about 21 and 17.5 pounds, respectively. A very large male may attain a weight of 35 pounds.