Welcome to the kickoff of our March Multiples Miniseries! To start, it's all about the one and on-lies, the singletons, and the truly unique in this episode. We swatched some single-ply yarns to test the strength and behavior of those glorious, energetic singles. We also talk about some bachelorette babes of mythology who strove to stay single with varying degrees of success. Warning: Not all of these ladies quite escaped their desirous suitors, and the attempted sexual assault is why we marked ...
Mar 03, 2021•1 hr 39 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In this episode, we cool things off with a fascinating exploration of the Yeti, Iceman, and Gunnister Man, all of whom have important connections to frigid temperatures and frozen extremes. Are you intrigued by Buddhist rituals, ancient stomach contents, or costume history? We've got you covered. We are so excited to share what we've learned about these old and even ancient clues from the frigid past. Hint: it involves knitwear! Tune in to hear about progress on blanket knitting, sweaters, spinn...
Feb 17, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Welcome to Season 2! We kick off February with a flaming hot episode on the Phoenix, the Firebird, and some fire-y fibers. Tune in to hear about progress on sweaters, socks STILL in timeout (argh), the benefits and drawbacks of circular needle sets, and Rumpel’s amazing release of her critters back into the wilds of Ravelry and Etsy! We dive into the colorful lore of mythical birds from Egypt to Eastern Europe and Russia. And of course, we have some fantastic stitching kits, patterns, and design...
Feb 03, 2021•59 min•Season 2Ep. 1
This week Rumpel and the Frog take a different approach and chat about some of their favorite fibery things from the past year and look forward to what they’d like to accomplish in 2021. Tune in to hear about some of their favorite fibers, techniques, and finished objects. They also offer some hints as to what you can expect from the podcast in the new year as they look to add some fluffy goodness to the folklore & fairytale side of things. Want to hear about Frog’s fibery New Year’s resolut...
Dec 30, 2020•58 min•Season 1Ep. 28
In this episode Rumpel and the Frog exchange good wishes, knitting gauge advice, and very special gifts! Tune in to hear what mysteries are uncovered in the special packages they dropped off for each other to celebrate the season. They also chat about the festivities and foods their families look forward to this year. Listen in to hear what tasty morsels they plan to make and enjoy this week! Cookies or cake? Plus they wish you, dear listeners, a very merry, safe, cozy, and fiber-tastic season. ...
Dec 23, 2020•45 min•Season 1Ep. 27
In this episode, Rumpel and the Frog discuss all things solstice-y! After a quick celebration of some recently finished objects, Rumpel shares what she's learned about Kachina dolls and the Soyal Solstice Ceremony of the indigenous peoples of the American Southwest. Next up, Frog shares some fun facts about the solar and lunar calendar, including some of the history and mythology surrounding our modern-day names for the days of the week and months of the year. Tune in to hear about the pagan Rom...
Dec 16, 2020•56 min•Season 1Ep. 26
In this episode, Rumpel and the Frog take a fibery spin on a common sight around the holiday season: leftovers! So, once you've enjoyed your cold turkey and cranberry sandwiches, come set your mind on a different sort of leftovers challenge. What creative endeavors can put your leftover yarn scraps and fibery bits and bobs to use? Maybe your cut ends are really just the beginning? Tune in to hear clever and creative ideas that will brighten rooms, warm hearts, and wow your friends. Rumpel and Fr...
Dec 09, 2020•48 min•Season 1Ep. 25
In this episode, Rumpel and the Frog establish some friendly rules for a handmade holiday gift exchange planned for later this month. Moving from nice to naughty, they then shed some new light on two well known Christmas connivers: Krampus and the Grinch. Tune in to learn the lighter side of Krampus--was he really all that bad as he sought to punish naughty children on a December night? And what about the real Grinch? Did you know that Boris Karloff, the famed voice of the 1966 Grinch, had south...
Dec 02, 2020•50 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Join Rumpel and the Frog for their first-ever Fiber Flight Unboxing. This past week Noël and Amy left mystery boxes on each other's porches containing a small sampling of yummy, fiber-related items to try and share. Just like beer, bourbon, or wine flights at your favorite tavern, these fiber-enthusiasts indulge in their own take on a fibery "tasting." Will it be patterns, books, yarns, or tools? Who knows? Tune in to find out what's in store as this special fiber-show-n-tell is unboxed for your...
Nov 25, 2020•51 min•Season 1Ep. 23
In this episode, Rumpel and Frog explore some local lore from the hills of their hometowns in Connecticut. Rumpel does some research on the Makiawisug (aka Little People). Meanwhile, Frog tells some local legends about a vagabond called Leather Man and the infamous Farmington resident (from back in the day) Will Warren. If you love hiking the local trails and exploring the many trap-rock dens that Connecticut River Valley has to offer, you will love hearing about these two unusual men who were s...
Nov 18, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Tune in to hear about our holiday stocking-along progress. Plus, Rumpel shares what she discovered about the tradition of hanging stockings. We also do a fun "show & tell" to celebrate another Handmade Monday of recording together. Plus, have you ever been on a strict yarn diet or cheated on one? We certainly have! Listen in to hear all about yarn-dieting attempts and recent cheating. We just had to buy more yarn for blanket projects and commissioned knits. We just can't resist yarn! Why die...
Nov 11, 2020•41 min•Season 1Ep. 21
In this episode, Rumpel and the Frog debrief their experiences knitting outdoors in the company of a local flock of Shetland sheep. Listen in to hear our fleecy friends chomping and wrestling down some pumpkin snacks in the hay! Rumpel and Frog also discuss in detail their works in progress, their plans for wintry knitting, and the patterns & yarns that will shine creative light on those dark winter nights! Plus, ever wonder why the black sheep of the flock is both revered and rejected in ce...
Nov 04, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Join Rumpel and the Frog as they sit and knit! In this episode, the promised holiday stockings are cast-on and we invite you to craft along with us. We describe our patterns, our inspiration, our materials, and the construction techniques we're using. Our chit-chat includes an informal review of Frog's only Rhinebeck purchase, her snazzy, new Indian Lake Artisans hexagonal needles. Meanwhile, Rumpel shares progress on some Halloween craftiness involving both hand and machining sewing an amazing ...
Oct 28, 2020•45 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Join us for the final part of our three-part mini-series on real-life giants! After debriefing our online New York Sheep and Wool 2020 experiences (aka Rhinebeck), we leave the virtual for the vampiric! We'll discuss the real Dracula's historical roots, Bram Stoker's source material for Dracula , and the surprisingly adorable habits and behaviors of the modern vampire bat. The Frog is super eager to share some wonderful literary tidbits with you about the themes, forms, and inspiration for Stoke...
Oct 21, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 18
In today’s mini-cast episode we explore all kinds of opportunities for fall knitting in communities across CT and beyond! Knit with some sheep this November, partake in the Fall Crawl in person or virtually, discover new-to-you yarn shops and celebrate the 40th anniversary of the New York Sheep and Wool Festival! Plus, we’ll remind you all about the upcoming Stocking-Along, share some special coupon codes and highlight happenings at yarn shops across CT!
Oct 14, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 17
The second in a three-part mini-series about real-life giants, in this episode we take a trip back in time to explore dire wolves. Where and when did these super-sized wolves live? How did they meet their extinction? How are they featured in pop culture (Game of Thrones, anyone?) today? Rumpel shares all the fascinating tidbits she’s learned about the remains of dire wolves found in the La Brae tar pits, and Frog has gone foraging for some excellent wolfish projects to stitch. One amazing projec...
Oct 07, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 16
What’s worse than a soggy stocking left hanging at the fireplace? NO STOCKING AT ALL! That’s why we decided to host a Stocking-along! Both of us coincidentally planned to make stockings this year for our girls and thought it’d be the perfect opportunity to invite you all to join us! Listen for details about our very first “craft-along” in this introductory mini-cast episode where we explain it all: how to find us, where to listen, what to make, when to make it, and--most importantly--how to shar...
Sep 30, 2020•35 min•Season 1Ep. 15
The first in a three-part mini-series about real-life giants, in this episode we take a deep dive to explore the Kraken. Is this sea monster of myth and lore real, imagined, or somewhere in between? Tune in to hear about Greco-Roman versions of this gargantuan creature, some Norse mythology, and of course, some recent scientific discoveries that turn make-believe into make-you-believe. We also have some finished objects to celebrate (three! go us!) as well as some squid, crab, and octopus-inspir...
Sep 23, 2020•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 14
Join Frog for a leap into her book pile (book pond?). In this mini cast, Frog shares five amazing books that seem to be living on her studio desk lately. Interested in references for knitwear design strategies, cast on and bind off techniques, or modern stitch patterns? Want a recommendation for a wonderful encyclopedia of fabric types, fibers, and their uses for all your sewing projects? How about a peek at a favorite Knit Picks collection for some holiday knitting fun? Come hear what is on Fro...
Sep 16, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Pencil toppers and knit chain maille, anyone? Yes please! It's back to school time and we're re-living our grade-school history lessons in this episode! Join us for a fun conversation about valorous knights and their magnificent steadfast steeds. When pitting virtues against vices, who do you think will win? In this episode, we explore a beautiful medieval manuscript illustration, which is dripping with Christian allegory and plentiful, wonderful Latin. Plus, ever wonder about a knight's horse (...
Sep 09, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Rumpel gives a wee-little peek into her home studio for this week’s Mirror, Mirror, Mini-Cast! Join her as she shares bits and pieces of what inspires her, the sorts of objects she enjoys making and a small glimpse of her work space.
Sep 02, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Rumpel and Frog chat about their WIPs, celebrate some finished objects, and discuss the amazing summer sun. We explore the solstice, Midsummer festivals, and the mythology of the movements of the heavens. Ever wonder which one is the Dog Star or why these sultry days are called the dog days of summer? Frog fills us in on these details! We're soaking up some summer lovin' too as we flip through PomPom Quarterly's latest issue "Summer Shapes" and share with you some heart-warming finds from Ravelr...
Aug 26, 2020•55 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Sure we love natural history & mythology, folklore & fairytales, but what we love to discuss even more are our WIPs (works in progress). Find out what projects are on our knitting needles, what's sitting in timeout, and what patterns we are shopping, swatching, and dyeing for. Do you love Andrea Mowry's "Weekender" or have a case of "second sock syndrome"? Want to hear about frogging lots of knitting and rumpeling those threads? Tune in as Rumpel encourages Frog to finish that second soc...
Aug 19, 2020•42 min•Season 1Ep. 9
It's all about pirates for this episode...and lions? Learn about pirate fashion, some Cape Cod lore, famous wrecks & ransoms and how a lion plays a role in pirate mythology! Plus, Rumpel and the Frog give updates on their works in progress as well as a few other pirate-y recommendations. Interested in amazing pirate art doll-making or a visit to a pirate museum containing real pirate treasure? Tune in to hear about pirates and what we love the most: YAAAAARRRRRN!
Aug 12, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this mini cast Frog & Rumpel take you on an underwater adventure to discover the wondrous sea bounties! Learn about some surprising and truly precious marine-derived fibers and dyes. From seaweed and mollusks to cephalopods and other mysteries of the deep, come explore the last frontier with us!
Aug 05, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 7
That’s right, we’re all about the mermaids this week, but not that mermaid. In this episode Frog & I serve up some fascinating tales about the possible origins of mermaids, creatures that you’re likely to see in the wild who’ve been mistaken for merfolk and a good helping of Japanese mere-lore. We’ve also got some knitting, crochet and dyeing adventures to share too! Interested in working up some mer-inspired projects? We’ve got you covered there! Oh, and we announce the winner of the Feza G...
Jul 29, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In this bonus episode, you'll meet Gail Callahan , also known as the Kangaroo Dyer . Gail is a lifetime fiber and textile artist, and most recently she served as the dyer for Webs America’s Yarn Store in Northampton, Massachusetts. The Frog and Kangaroo first met a few summers back when Frog took a weekend workshop on color theory with Kangaroo. That’s when Frog was first introduced to the Kangaroo’s amazing book Hand Dyeing Fleece and Yarn and her unique tool, The Original Color Grid. Listen in...
Jul 22, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In this episode you’ll hear about variations in Sleeping Beauty’s tale. How does one even prick herself on a spindle anyway? Splinter or spindle? You’ll find out about some logistical issues and some interesting thematic elements concerning this dreaming damsel. Tune in for some fiber-related history, etymology, the true cause of the Trojan War, and the true cause of Beauty’s long beauty-rest. We think we figured it out, and we also have lots of interesting tidbits about the craft of spinning. N...
Jul 15, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Mirror, mirror, on the wall… ohh, oops, wrong tale… Anyways, this Mirror, Mirror, Mini-Cast explores one version of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale as re-told by Rumpel. All ages can gather ‘round to listen to this re-telling of Briar Rose , originally from “ Household Stories Collected by The Brothers Grimm, Volume 1 ” . Some liberties were taken in Rumpel’s interpretation and delivery of this Sleeping Beauty tale, but it stays on track to the overall story. If you’d like to read the original tex...
Jul 08, 2020•17 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In our first full episode learn about charms, amulets, talismans, and the etymology of these magical words! We'll be discussing everything about luck--both the good kind and the bad kind-- including why people may carry a lucky rabbit's foot or why folks sometimes knock on wood. We will share what's in progress on our knitting needles and what we've proudly finished. Plus, we've included some great ideas for crocheted, knitted, beaded, or quilted projects connected to our theme of "lucky charms....
Jun 26, 2020•48 min•Season 1Ep. 2
