Media Link: Spinna Outta Carolina (44:44)

There's a million crafters in Fiber City and we've all got a yarn to spin.

This episode of Fiber Beat is underwritten by Bobbin's Nest Studio, from Santa Clara, CA. Bobbin's Nest is a fabric and yarn store specializing in: knitting, sewing, crochet, and hand embroidery. Now available in the store, be sure to check out the new Po Campo bicycle bags (which also make great knitting bags) as well as new yarns from Sweet Georgia!

What do Carolina Homespun, The Unique Sheep Yarns & Magnificent Mittens & Socks all have in common? They all have been influenced by the creative talent of Merike Saarnit. For this episode of Fiber Beat we visit with dyer, spinner, entrepreneur and teacher, Merike Saarnit. We talk about her first fiber business, the iconic Carolina Homespun, her dyed yarn kits for Anna Zilboorg's "Magnificent Mittens" and her work with Liisu Yarns which evolved and merged with the Unique Sheep. Merike also tours the US Stitches events teaching drop spindle spinning as well as leading fiber vacation groups to Estonia. In fact, she is so inspired by her Estonian heritage, she is working on a text for XRX about the history and designs of her native lands.

The following people, places and things were mentioned:

• Limestone College
• Louet Hollandia Loom
• Rita Buchanan
• Ashford Handicrafts & Spinning Tools
• Hands On Spinning by Lee Raven
• Raising Sheep the Modern Way by Paula Simmons
• Indigo, Madder, Marigold by Trudy Van Stralen
• Handpaint Country by Cheryl Potter
• Henry's Attic Yarns
• XRX & Stitches Events
• Folk Knitting in Estonia by Nancy Bush
• nupps demoed by Nancy Bush!
• patent or brioche stitch
• Janel Laidman
• Priscilla Gibson-Roberts
• Sock Summit 2009
• Lily Chin

YOUR turn to share!

How does your heritage or your family influence your crafting choices and designs? For me, it was my grandmother and her love of crochet and her generosity in sharing that passion. It established my love of fiber crafts when I was little boy and planted the seed that would blossom many years later into my current love of knitting and spinning. I'd love to know your stories!

You can leave your answer on fiberbeat.com or on the Fiber Beat Ravelry forum.

The winner of the Fiber Beat CONTEST for Episode No. 17 is Erin. Her signed copy of Magnificent Mittens is on its way to her home. Thank you to everyone who participated and congratulations to Erin.

A very special tänen or thank you in Estonian to Merike Saarniit for her passion for spindle spinning and her patience as a teacher. I'd like to give a shout out to sponsor extraordinaire Bobbin's Nest for their continued support. Finally, I want to thank you, our fantabulous listeners, for downloading and listening to our first TWENTY-FIVE episodes (audio/video) of Fiber Beat! If you like what we do, please consider leaving a review on iTunes.

We used snippets of all the songs below in this episode. As examples of the music of Estonia, we selected two different performances of "Lauliku Lapsepõli (The Singer's Childhood)" by Veljo Tormis, one of the most important composers of the 20th century in Estonia. Additionally, we found a gorgeous performance of "Mu Mano Tulge Latse (Come unto Me, Ye Children)" which is a traditional Christmas hymn. If you like the music, please support the artists (links provided for your convenience):

• "Fiber Beat theme" performed by Anthony Bonet from exclusive to Fiber Beat (2010)
• "Carolina In My Mind" performed by James Taylor from James Taylor: Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (Warner Brothers, 1988)
• "Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm ("My Fatherland, My Happiness and Joy") - Estonian National Anthem" performed by Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra from National Anthems of the World, Vol. 2: Cambodia - France (Marco-Polo, 1998)
• "You Really Got Me" performed by The Kinks from Kinks (Pye, 1964)
• "Baa Baa Black Sheep " performed by Lullaby Land from Lullabies for Baby - Music Box (Octagon Music, 2010)
• "Carolina in the Morning" performed by Bing Crosby from A Southern Memoir (Collector's Choice, 2011)
• "C'est Magnifique" performed by Bobby Short from The Cafe Carlyle Presents Bobby Short: You're The Top (Telarc, 2009)
• "Take My Breath Away" performed by Berlin from Count Three & Pray (Geffen, 1986)
• "Lauliku lapsepõli" performed by La Choraline, Benoît Giaux and Florence Huby from Babel - Around the World In 19 Songs (La Choraline, 2006)
• "Prologue - Tradition" performed by Gino Conforti from Fiddler On The Roof (1964 Original Broadway Cast) (RCA Victor, 1964)
• "Stone Soup" performed by Celia Evans from So Many Seasons (Celia Evans, 2006)
• "Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella" performed by The Andrews Sisters from ALBUM (Master Classics, 2009)
• "Lauliku Lapsepõli (The Singer's Childhood)" performed by Tõnu Kaljuste- Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir from Tormis/ Litany To Thunder (ECM, 1999)
• "Mu Mano Tulge Latse (Come unto Me, Ye Children)" performed by Josef-Stefan Kindler & Andreas Otto Grimminger from Carols For Christmas (K&K Verlagsanstalt, 2008)
• "Carolina in the Morning" performed by Judy Garland from Bing Crosby with Judy Garland & Al Jolson (Avid, 1997)

My name is WonderMike and I'll see YOU on the Fiber Beat!!