Millcast Clara Parkes 

Thanks for the interview!! I was one of the “members” of Clara’s Great Bale project when it started and looked forward to her newsletters each step of the way for that bale. One of my favorites was when she encountered the difficulty of opening up the bale after it was scoured - similar to your same situation a few weeks’ back! The whole journey opened my wool eyes and made me take a big interest in where all our textiles come from. In fact, it inspired me to lead my local knitters guild to take our own journey with a CVM fleece from a local farm, from sheep to skein, opening up many more individual’s eyes to all the touch-points of wool’s journey. No one blinked at the price of a skein after that! :) Thanks again!

Such a good book! And if you listen to Clara read it in the audiobook, it’s even better.

Loved the interview. That cowl you were wearing, is gorgeous. What is it called and is there a pattern available.

🧶 Great interview. Right now I’m knitting JFM Making Tracks while listening to Vanishing Fleece which for me is an extension of the Millcast. Thanks to you, I’m now following The Wool Channel. 😊 🙏

O that was sweet! Clara is the Wool Guru . Knitters review was great. She has the Daily respite. And yes the Wool channel. Fabulous for us who love all things woolly. Thank you ladies.

If anyone missed the vanishing fleece bundle, like me, you can get the audiobook for free if you have an Amazon account. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the book in Clara's own voice. Of course, I would rather have had the signed hardcopy and the bundle!

What a great and informative podcast!! Thank you

Thanks for keeping spreading your knowledge about wool !❤❤❤

Thank you so much, enjoyed the podcast with Peggy and Clara am so encouraged by all the young people ( i am 76 😊) buying yarn opening yarn shops but also the designers that are young. I am trying to embrace this wonderful world of wool and I never would have thought at my age that smelling wool would be such a pleasure someone needs to make candle that smells like wool 😊. Good luck amanda with your baby when it arrives and Peggy keep the home fires burning.

I think New Englanders r the best at KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). I luv ur mill pods. I'm so excited that women like y'all run a wool mill. Running a business is not for Sissy's. Been there. If I was younger and not disabled I would luv this discipline. I drool when I see yarn but it is cost prohibitive due to med $. I bought the fixings for making socks, sweaters etc. and my health still prohibits my knitting projects. Ugh! But I'm so into y'all story. God bless y'all for continued growth and mission. PS when I buy yarn I will be sure to contribute my small help to sustain JFM. Thanks for sharing

I really enjoyed the interview with Clara. It was very interesting. Thank you for another great episode.

So great to see Clara! I have all her books and learned so much about fleece and production of yarn in the USA with Vanishing Fleece. When l found your channel, l wondered if you all had connected with Clara. Well, yes you did. Thank you! 🐑🐏🧶

Really interesting interview. I'm fascinated by all the potential of wool production and wool products. Can't wait to read the book and I'm signing up for The Wool Channel today.

What a great interview! Vanishing fleece is a very interesting book and I happen to be listening to it as audiobook on Hoopla right these days. The wool Channel is always informative and i find new products and by products...Thank you Peg for interviewing Clara!

An interesting interview with Clara Parkes. I’m an avid knitter for many years and I’ve always loved wool. An interesting comment about LLBeans for sure. I have vegan relatives who would always send some pretty disturbing videos. They have finally realized when keeping warm wool is where it’s at. Of course this happened after one of the teens got frostbite on his ear from a winter hike in Maine. I’m sure they are responsible for buying up all the great wool sweaters from thrift shops. After having a disastrous experience with moths who ate into my stash of sweaters I knit for my husband and children I’m Squeemish a little bit. I love wool and have a few beautiful sweaters that I watch over vigilantly. I went into a short period of using acrylic yarn until I recognized they make me sweat and wool doesn’t. I’m interested in any suggestions regarding the moths. Thank you.

Thank you so much for this interview ! Personally I am doing a bit of a venture into trying to purchase “for the most part “ wool that is from sheep that are a meat breed as well as having an acceptable fleece for knitting my sweaters . I love my extra fine merino for the few next to skin garments ( t shirts ) I wear … (most of my next to skin stuff is cotton . I wear zero clothes that are not wool or cotton . …) But, it is my understanding that the merino sheep breeders bred Merinos ( playing genetics ) to produce copious fleece ( more than what they need ) … Which to me is not right … we now have a responsibility to sheer those sheep . I figure lamb meat ( I hate the industrial farming so only buy local lamb the few times I get it ) but lamb is likely here to stay as a food source … so if I buy wool off of a meat and fleece breed maybe I am doing my part ? It’s forcing me to learn about the breeds which is a “good thing” . I have been knitting almost 50 years and only now am taking the time to do a breed study. Oh I so agree with Clara about the petroleum based garments ! The entire garment industry ( which has ALWAYS been a vicious industry ) has really really hit a new low. Between changes in sizing, cut and now content .. ugh ! Now when you shop on line you actually have to be careful because they are manipulating the definition of leather and wool and even cotton now ! Definitions ( basically a “standard “) like most standards are being ignored .

Very interesting episode. I knit my Bernies in Icelandic lettlopi.

What a wonderful interview and looking forward to receiving my copy and reading her journey😊. As a new knitter, that has only known the “finished yarn” starting with watching you both on the Millcast and all that work that goes into the finished project - it has been such a wonderful eye opener.💕

What an interesting interview! Great job Peg. !!! Hope maternity leave is going well Amanda.

Love this episode! I read Vanishing Fleece a few years ago and am thrilled I can now own a signed copy. I start everyday with Clara’s Daily Respite email.

Silvo pasture is the phrase you were looking for 😊. Raising animals in a pasture with trees. Great for carbon sequestration. Great interview.

Fansicating episode. The book is really informative and I enjoyed reading it. 🇬🇧

So glad to find this in my feed - I look forward to Clara's Wool Channel reports so much! Thank you!

Those cards are gorgeous. I am just a so so knitter. but I love the sheepiness. I was always partial to Peace Fleece when Peter was there, due to the history. but I can't wait to try your yarn and some of the local wool to you.. Amanda...enjoy your family and time together.

speaking of things you can purchase that are made from wool, did you know you can be buried in a wool coffin?!

I’m a new knitter and learning more and more about wool. Thank you for the insightful interview.

Lovely interview. And while I look forward to every Wool Channel episode, Clara, I really love your daily respite email.

Another fantastic interview! I do not know if you realize how much your content contributes to the education of the fiber industry. Thank you❤

What an awesome interview! It got me so pumped up about wool and working with it, and hearing more about wool’s great attributes.

Great episode, I'm digging out my copy to reread and recommit, thank you enjoy your time off!

Wow, what a fantastic interview! I learned so much and want to learn more! Thank you!

Well that was just the coolest episode, thank you for all your hard work to bring us the best content!

Really great interview. Informative, inspiring, and wool-forward! And I LOVE knitting with Junction Fiber Mill yarn.

Great episode. I listened to the book in 2023. Clara narrates and has a lovely voice.

Hi Amanda and Peggy, Thanks for another enjoyable episode! It was such a great and inspiring interview with Clara Parkes! I could listen to you both talk all day !!! Reading "Vanishing Fleece " now! Enjoy your time off awaiting the arrival of your bundle of joy Amanda! Happy Knitting ! 🧶 ❤

what a terrific interview!

Thanks ladies for the interview with Clara Parkes. I’m a reader of her Wool Channel and she always has such interesting articles. Go wool!

You always enlighten us. Thank you…