So far we’ve been talking about what Elizabeth was doing . . . what avenues she was pursuing and how she was developing the channels she had for communicating to her readers, listeners, and viewers. In this episode, we look at the other side of that conversation — the response of those knitters who were reading, watching and knitting along with Elizabeth. It’s the fan mail episode, full of delightful examples from Dr. Lilly’s several weeks spent combing through the archives of Schoolhouse Press.

Amy Jumpsuit by Closet Core patterns (hack to dress), Glynn sweater, “ted talk” by Jenny Zhang, link to Distelfink hat pattern on Meghan’s website, about Mulberry Hill Farm, link to Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival vendors, link to the Night Sky punchneedle kit and many other craft & knitting kits…

This episode centers on discussion of Elizabeth Zimmermann’s newsletters — how they evolved over time from a sales list to the biennial publication Wool Gathering; how they became a means for EZ to share knitting designs and variations in template form; and most importantly,  how the newsletters helped to make a growing knitting …

A stripe-y cowl for spring in Birch Hollow Fibers’ yarn, McCall’s M7969, seriously awesome sock yarn from KnitSpinFarm, and “Windchime” by Tony Hoagland.

This episode is focused primarily on Zimmermann’s early work with industry and how she managed a parallel track between developing her own mail order yarn and design publication business with her increasingly critical work within industry spaces and practices.  Dr. Lilly Marsh shares some gems from her research, including excerpts from local newspaper articles, and snippets from “the lost document” that reveal her deepest desires for fostering a knitting community.

In this episode, I catch you up on my recent projects.  There’s lots of sewing, including this darling clothespin bag, a dress with voluminous sleeves, and more mending for Mom.  I’ve begun knitting a cowl in spring colors with yarn from Robin of Birch Hollow Fibers, and I have some poems that are perfect for spring, plus a new-to-me recipe that I encourage you to try!

In the third part of  an eight-part series with Dr. Lilly Marsh, we learn how Elizabeth Zimmermann’s desire for quality materials evolved into a business opportunity. We also hear about her participation in the Wisconsin State Fair and her ongoing (and ever-shifting) membership in the Wisconsin Designer Craftsman organization.