The Elevenses Backpack, Rhinebeck, Knitting & A New Name

Well, I finally did it. I’ve long been contemplating a name change as my vlog has shifted and changed over the past few years. I explain the name and its origins which has a call back to my beloved Orkney but theres also some Tolkien thrown in there too. No surprise! I also chat about my elevenses progress as well as Rhinebeck plans. There’s a little bit of knitting…but more to come in the studio vlog forthcoming. I hope this finds you well and in good spirits.

If you’d like to support my creative project you can find me on: Patreon or Ko-Fi

Or you can shop the Woolly Thistle through my affiliate link

Financial support helps to offset administrative, travel, and equipment costs associated with production as well as time dedicated to editing, filming and creating.Thank you for your support

As always thank you for your support and encouragement. Many fond wishes, Sarah

Elevenses Backpack by Sew Liberated

Reliquary by Sara Bauer on ravelry in fingering yarn (Tidal for this example)

Ornithography by Jessica Roux

Adabrock Weaving

Owl stamp from Noolibird on Etsy

Music:

Epidemic Sound-link to my favorites

Encaustic Experiments, Sweater Finish, & New Projects

I hope this finds you well and in good spirits.

If you’d like to support my creative project you can find me on: Patreon or Ko-Fi

Or you can shop the Woolly Thistle through my affiliate link

Financial support helps to offset administrative, travel, and equipment costs associated with production as well as time dedicated to editing, filming and creating.Thank you for your support

As always thank you for your support and encouragement. Many fond wishes, Sarah

Resources:

Sheri Replogle Wax on Wednesdays

R&F Encaustic Paints

Dreyma by Jennifer Steingass in Lettlopi: Stormy Seas &. Light Beige Heather

Aal Ower Toorie by Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers and Dyers in Gathered Sheep Yarns, J & S unknown, Biches et Buches Petite Lambswool

Mellow Vest by Sharon Maninger ( on Etsy and Ravelry)

Reliquary by Sara Baur in Tidal Yarns Fingering.

Wind in the Willow Felt Friends by Cynthia Treen

Olde School Fiber & Craft Shop Gorham, Maine

Elevenses Backpack by Sew Liberated

Fabrics are from Art Gallery

Cyanotypes, Spinning Haunui Wool & New Yarn


I’m embracing the cool fall weather and getting inspired by my wool spinning stash. The Haunui wool I received as a gift is an absolute delight and there’s a few new skeins of spindrift too. 😉

I hope this finds you well and in good spirits.

If you’d like to support my creative project you can find me on: Patreon or Ko-Fi

Or you can shop the Woolly Thistle through my affiliate link

Financial support helps to offset administrative, travel, and equipment costs associated with production as well as time dedicated to editing, filming and creating.Thank you for your support

As always thank you for your support and encouragement. Many fond wishes, Sarah

Resources:

Haunui Wool

A L’air Artifacts

School Press

Dreyma by Jennifer Steingass in Lopi

Yell by Maire Wallin in Spindift

Agnes Kofte by Wiola Designs in Rauma Finullgarn

A Beginner’s Guide to Cyanotype by Kim Tiller

Cyanotypes on Fabric by Ruth Brown

Sea Faerdy Vest & Audrey in Unst Vest by Gudrun Johnston

Music: Epidemic Sound

Episode 172~Epic Sweater Fail,Botanical Gel Prints & The Turkuaz Kitchen

Well, I’m back to school and the summer is officially over for me. Of course, it feels good tome back to routine and reconnect with work friends but I had more to do! We’ll see if I can invigorate myself on the weekends to get organized and get an indigo pot done before it turns cold.

I hope this finds you well and in good spirits.

If you’d like to support my creative project you can find me on: Patreon or Ko-Fi

Or you can shop the Woolly Thistle through my affiliate link

Financial support helps to offset administrative, travel, and equipment costs associated with production as well as time dedicated to editing, filming and creating.Thank you for your support

As always thank you for your support and encouragement. Many fond wishes, Sarah

Resources:

Gel Plate Printing for Mixed Media Art by Robyn McClendon

Turkuaz Kitchen: Traditional and Modern Dough Recipes for Sweet and Savory Bakes: A Baking Book by Betül Tunç

Yell by Maire Wallin in Spindrift

Dreyma by Jennifer Steingass in Lettlopi

Episode 171~EcoPrinting with a Heat Press

Phew! I’ve been busy hosting family and not always finding the time to film or edit. I have been knitting but this episode features an eco printing stint I did and am quite happy with the outcomes. More botanical printing to come!

If you’d like to support my creative project you can find me on: Patreon or Ko-Fi

Or you can shop the Woolly Thistle through my affiliate link

Financial support helps to offset administrative, travel, and equipment costs associated with production as well as time dedicated to editing, filming and creating.Thank you for your support

As always thank you for your support and encouragement. Many fond wishes, Sarah

Resources:

Jane Dunnewold on YouTube my previous Eco-Printing video

EcoDyed Art Journals by Susan Brooks

Episode 170~Maine Cabin Vlog, Art Journaling & Knitting

If you’d like to support my creative project you can find me on: Patreon or Ko-Fi

Or you can shop the Woolly Thistle through my affiliate link

Financial support helps to offset administrative, travel, and equipment costs associated with production as well as time dedicated to editing, filming and creating.Thank you for your support

As always thank you for your support and encouragement. Many fond wishes, Sarah

Resources:

Rippling Star Quilt by Debbie Maddy in William Morris Fabrics

The Weaver’s Oracle by Caroline Hillyer

The Lost Spells by Robert McFarlene and Jackie Morris

The Unwinding by Jackie Morris

Anam Cara by John O’Donohue

Deep Deep Light Watercolors (Mother Earth Grey)

Natasha Newton on YouTube

Music: Epidemic Sound

A Tribute to Sara Bauer, the Fiber Arts & Other Post Apocalyptic Skills|Riddari Sweater & Quilt Coat

As some of you may know my dear friend Sara Bauer passed away in June. She created the Yarns at Yin Hoo podcast and along with Emily of Fibretown we’ve been traveling a path together for 10 years now. She’s been a huge part of not only my daily life but also my creative journey and felt necessary to include a celebration of her work and spirit here on the vlog. In this episode I do my best to honor her with a short montage of her work and our time together set against the poignant song The Lost Words Blessing created as a collaboration between several musicians.

The Lost Words Blessing by Spell Songs, by kind permission of Folk by the Oak Festival and Spell Songs, the musical companion to The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, featuring Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter, Kerry Andrew and Jim Molyneux.

I am so grateful to have been given permission to use this song in my video.

The Lost Words

In this episode I also touch on some sewing and knitting. I appreciate you sharing in this celebration with me. Sara contributed so much to the textile community and I’m thankful to share a moment of honor with you all.

Yarns at Yin Hoo Podcast

The Coast Coat by Larae Handmade

Riddari by Védís Jónsdóttir for Ístex (free download from Istex) in Fjallalopi

Baskerlue by Kristin Wiola Ødegård in Biches et Buches Petite Lambswool and Mohair

Dreyma by Jennifer Steingass in Lettlopi

Yell by Marie Wallin in Jaimeson’s Spindrift

Dori Sander’s Best No Churn Fresh Lemon Ice cream

Mustikkapiirakka (Finnish Blueberry Pie) – I used spelt flour-

(Finnish blueberry pie)

450 g fresh blueberries

CRUST

  • 113g (1/2c) softened butter
  • 100g (1/2c) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 210g (1 1/2c) all purpose flour
  • 70g (1/2c) whole wheat, spelt, rye flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp kosher salt

FILLING

  • 227g (3/4c) sour cream
  • 100g (1/2c) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Freshly grated rind one lemon
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 1/2 tsp ground cardamom

Oven 350

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg.

Add sifted dry ingredients and beat to form sticky dough.

Scrape dough into tart pan and press up sides.

Scatter half blueberries across crust.

Whisk together all batter ingredients. Pour over crust.

Scatter remaining blueberries over top.

Bake 25-30 minutes.

Cool completely. Keep refrigerated.

Episode 168~ Icelandic Wool, Spinning & Knitting

No surprises in this episode. I’m leaning in to all the Icelandic fleece in this one. I hope this finds you well and in good spirits!

Sarah

If you’d like to support my creative project you can find me on: Patreon or Ko-Fi

Or you can shop the Woolly Thistle through my affiliate link

Financial support helps to offset administrative, travel, and equipment costs associated with production as well as time dedicated to editing, filming and creating.Thank you for your support

As always thank you for your support and encouragement. Many fond wishes, Sarah

Resources:

Riddari by Vedis Jonsdottir in Fjallalopi

Pagan Sky by Zanate Knits in Plotolopi

Lout Mini Combs

Viking Combs-dealer on Etsy

Fiber Frolic 5/31-6/1 (2025) Windsor Fairgrounds

Music: Epidemic Sound

Episode 167~Float Control, Ladder Back Jacquard & Wool Patchwork

One of the most exciting things I brought back from my trip abroad was learning a new technique. I’m not sure how long this technique has been around but it’s revolutionary to me and I’ve been knitting a long time. Ladder back Jacquard…it will change your knitting skills. It really shifted the way I was feeling about my Pagan Sky…we’re going to chat about that in this episode.

Also, a wool patchwork project, thank you very much Kate from the Last Homely House ❤️

If you’d like to support my creative project you can find me on: Patreon or Ko-Fi

Or you can shop the Woolly Thistle through my affiliate link

Financial support helps to offset administrative, travel, and equipment costs associated with production as well as time dedicated to editing, filming and creating.Thank you for your support

As always thank you for your support and encouragement. Many fond wishes, Sarah

Resources:

Beyond Measure-Wool Tweed Bundles

The Hobbit Vest by Thread & Yarn

The Coast Coat by LaRae Handmade

Pagan Sky by Zanete Knits in Ploto Lopi

The Last Homely House

The Shetland Trader Sea Faerdy Vest & Audrey in Unst by Gudrun Johnston

Music:

Epidemic Sound

Freshly Fallen Snow by Chris Hagen

Episode 166~Deep Deep Light Water Colors, New Lopi Designs & The Lost Words Project is Done

Wow! It’s been an editing marathon! I’m still knitting away on all the old projects 😉 I’ve completed the color work portion of the sleeve on the Pagan Sky and I’ve put some rounds on my Agnes sweater.

On this episode I’m working with some new watercolor paints from Deep Deep Light. I also put some time in to my crochet blanket. But the big news is I finally finished my Lost Words project started so many years ago.

If you’d like to support my creative project you can find me on: Patreon or Ko-Fi

Or you can shop the Woolly Thistle through my affiliate link

Financial support helps to offset administrative, travel, and equipment costs associated with production as well as time dedicated to editing, filming and creating.Thank you for your support

As always thank you for your support and encouragement. Many fond wishes, Sarah

Deep Deep Light

The Lost Words by Robert McFarlane & Illustrated by Jackie Morris

Moire Wool Thread

The Geometry of Handsewing by Natalie Chanin

Wintertime by Vedis Jònsdottier