Fiber Nation

Latest Episodes:

The Mystery of Gunnister Man Jun 25, 2020

Show notes

1n 1951, near Gunnister, Shetland, two men discovered a body in a shallow grave. They called the police, who quickly determined there was something very strange about this burial.

The body wasn’t actually a body; it was a full set of woolen clothing that had once contained a body. And that clothing was almost 300 years old.

Who was Gunnister Man? How had he come to be in such a remote spot, and what exactly had happened to him there?

Read the show notes! https://www.interweave.com/fiber-nation/gunnister-man-mystery

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The Socks that Won WWI May 25, 2020

Show notes

The First World War was the first truly “modern” war, with its wireless communication, tanks, and poison-gas attacks. In the trenches of Belgium and France, however, one of the most important items in a soldier's kit—right up there with a rifle and a gas mask—was a pair of hand-knit, woolen socks.

*** SHOW NOTES*** https://www.interweave.com/fiber-nation/episode-9-world-war-socks/

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Fabric Fails & Textile Triumphs Apr 30, 2020

Show notes

When it comes to history, wars and plagues and art and science are the exciting stuff. Linen bed sheets are not. But fiber—fabric— is an integral part of human progress. From Neanderthal caves to Egyptian pyramids, from Viking ships to spaceships, we journey through almost 40,000 years of human advancement. And humble cloth is the springboard.

View the show notes: https://www.interweave.com/fiber-nation/episode-8-textile-history/

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A Handmaid's Knit - Introducing the Knitting Nerdcast Apr 15, 2020

Show notes

We're hard at work on our next episode of Fiber Nation. In the meantime, we wanted to feature a new podcast called the Knitting Nerdcast, where host Hannah Baker goes deep into her random knitting obsessions with friends. In this first episode, Hannah and Andrea Lotz nerd out about knitwear they've been noticing in various prestige television shows, including the Hulu show A Handmaid’s Tale. Enjoy!

SUBSCRIBE to the Knitting Nerdcast - https://megaphone.link/GPM2560551780

Show notes and photos for A Handmaid's Knit - https://www.interweave.com/knitting-nerdcast/handmaids-tale-knit/

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The Deadliest Dyes: A Colorful History Apr 03, 2020

Show notes

As knitters and makers, we understand the siren song of color all too well. But did you know that some colors come at a price? And throughout history, people—not just knitters—have been willing to pay it. From poison dresses to a dye that helped destroy an empire, this episode of Fiber Nation explores our fatal fascination with hues throughout history.

Show notes: https://www.interweave.com/fiber-nation/deadly-dyes/

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The Black Sheep of Wyoming Wool Mar 03, 2020

Show notes

When Karen Hostetler’s children started school, she thought about starting a small business. A gift shop, maybe, selling Wyoming souvenirs to tourists on their way to Yellowstone or Montana. But when she discovered that you can't buy Wyoming wool in Wyoming, her desire to sell wool bunnies and blankets took a sideways turn into something much bigger—the largest wool mill in the American West. In this episode, we share the story of how Karen upended her life and started spinning wool, in an attempt to save the struggling Wyoming sheep ranchers and historic Basque shepherding culture of her home state.

See our show notes here: https://www.interweave.com/fiber-nation/black-sheep-wyoming-wool/

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The Half-Knit Stocking: A True-Crime Tale Feb 04, 2020

Show notes

In this episode we look at the darker side of fiber history, with a surprising twist. Because in Victorian England, newspapers were filled with stories of murder victims, suspicious deaths, and tragic ends. And we’ll learn why, at the heart of so many of those lurid stories, was a woman knitting.

Learn more about these stories and our guest Penelope Lister Hemingway on our show notes page: www.interweave.com/article/knitting/new-season-of-fiber-nation-podcast/

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Coming Soon - A New Season! Jan 30, 2020

Show notes

Stay tuned! Fresh episodes featuring tales of textiles, craft and culture are coming soon with the new season of Fiber Nation.

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The Donner Party and the Doll Aug 27, 2019

Show notes

In 1846 an 8-year-old girl named Patty Reed headed west on the Oregon Trail, along with her family. Among Patty’s few toys was a tiny wooden doll. This doll is maybe 4 inches in height, and there is nothing particularly remarkable about her. Except for one thing: The wagon train that Dolly and Patty Reed were traveling in became known as the Donner Party.

Show notes: www.interweave.com/fiber-nation/fiber-nation-podcast-donner-party-doll/

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Fiber Nation Podcast: From Russia with Love May 22, 2019

Show notes

Hello Fiber Nation listeners! We're re-publishing this episode to celebrate Galina Khmeleva joining us for Yarn Fest Loveland, 2023. Learn more and sign up for classes with Galina at https://www.interweave.com/yarnfest/loveland/

Hand-drawn knitting charts are not normally the target of armed robbery. When you are starting a business in 1990's Russia, however, anything goes. In this episode, we meet Galina Khmeleva and hear a dual story: one about a 300 year-old knitting tradition, and another about the remarkable woman who helped preserve it.

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