Knitting Pipeline is sponsored by my Longaberger home businessn and Quince & Co.

Knitting Pipeline is sponsored by Quince & Co. and Knitcircus Yarns

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Episode 26 Winter Solstice

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I became very excited when I saw the Danish greeting!  Be sure to enlarge this on your screen to enjoy the full effect of the band and dancers.  From The Dutch Pipes and Drums.
Cardinalis cardinalis
The Northern Cardinal is a brilliant bird in our winter landscape.

Are ponchos in or out?  Probably out but ask me next week.  The fashion tends to come and go.

A new podcast that I've listened to:  Clothed in the Lamb by Janeen.

"Those Mitts" by Leslie Friend.  A total of 5 pair.  The gold ones are "Carrie's Yellow" in the Chickadee (sport weight) by Quince & Co.

Aren't they pretty?
Shizuku by Angela Tong.  Yarn requirements: 2 skeins of Noro.  I used Farmhouse Chunky.

  • Tang by Wendy Bernard and others in Custom Knits
  • Cadence Pullover by Jordana Page
  • Wonderful Wallaby by Carol Anderson/Cottage Creations
  • Oh Baby! Baby Bootie
  • Ribwarmer by Elizabeth Zimmermann
  • Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann
  • Retro Baby Smock
  • Woodsmoke by Jared Flood in Brave New Knits
  • Elektra by Rosemary Hill
  • Schieffelin Point Shawl
  • Catenary by Kiersten Brandt
  • Martha Stewart's Knitted Neck Scarf
I enjoyed the article by Carol Sulcoski.   This gave me a new perspective on choosing yarns for a project.


High Note

Baked Sweet Potato
Cover a baking sheet with non-stick aluminum foil (I use Reynold's Brand).  Otherwise you will have a lot of sticky goo to clean off your pan.  If you don't mind that, just oil the pan a little.  Wash whole potatoes and brush with olive oil.  Bake in 350 to 375 degree oven until potatoes start to ooze (about 1.5 hours).  Then they are done.  Even the skins taste good!  And they are good for you, too!  Serve with a big lettuce salad for a great, healthful meal.

Star of Bethlehem

I tell a story about my war on the Star of Bethlehem in the garden at our old house.  Do not plant this bulb.  It is so invasive!  My friend Joan played a little joke on me.

Westknits Giveaway!
Everyone who leaves a comment here will be in a drawing for 3 patterns, compliments of Stephen West!


Thanks to everyone for your support in the first 6 months of the podcast!  If you are able to leave a positive 5 star review on iTunes, please know that will help others find the podcast.  Have a wonderful holiday!

Friday, December 17, 2010

Episode 25 Wristers and Muffatees

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A Winner!

Thanks to everyone who left comments on the blog!
If you order from Quince & Co please mention the podcast. Thank you!



The winner of the giveaway from Quince & Co is Sabra!  Sabra, please contact me as I do not have your contact information.  Congratulations!

Leave a comment below to enter the new giveaway for 3 patterns of your choice from Stephen West of Westknits!

These are vintage patterns that I meant to talk about on the show but forgot!
Muffatee Pattern from the Swaledale Museum, Yorkshire, U.K.

Vintage Patterns from 1843.  Muffatees and Wristers

Robin Hansen.  Fox, Geese, and Fences.   Down East Books.  1983
Robin Hansen and Janetta Dexter  Flying Geese and Partidge Feet.  Down East Books.  1986.

Patterns mentioned in this podcast
The first two patterns were published in Knitty.

Fetching in Cascade 220.
These 3 patterns were published on Leslie's Blog A Friend to Knit With


3 pair of Those Mitts by Leslie Friend.  Two pair have the Baby Cable Rib and one pair is as the pattern is written (far right).
I added Baby Cable Rib to my version of Those Mitts.  Directions are on one of the pages in the sidebar.  I believe it is the same as Mock Cable Rib.  No cable needle necessary!


Baby Cable Rib
The music is from the Eastern European Vocal Ensemble, Kitka.  The song is Shen Khar Venakhi ("You are a vineyard, just blossoming") from the Magnatune Christmas CD. 


Please contact me at PaulasBasketNews@aol.com if you wish to sign up for my Longaberger e-newsletter.  You will receive all the latest information and sales news.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Episode 24 More Shawl Style

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Quince & Co. is giving away a scarf pattern and the yarn to make it (your choice) to one lucky listener of Knitting Pipeline.  Leave a comment below or on Episode 23 and your name will be entered into the drawing.  The winner will be announced on Episode 25!  Be sure to leave a way for me to reach you, either your blog or Ravelry name!

Here are some new photos of my recent Quince Stash.


Chickadee (Sport Weight) in the color Bird's Egg.  Oh, the possibilities!

A luscious skein of Pomegranate.

Finished Projects

Schieffelin Point Shawl by Kate Gagnon Osborn.  A free pattern from Kelbourne Woolens.


Blocking on the guest bed.  The best photo for showing the shape of the shawl.


The color is Snap Pea in the Chickadee line from Quince & Co.

Lace detail
Falling Water Shawl by Rose Beck/Rosy Posy Designs.




Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums performed at Grace Family Christmas last weekend.  The show was fabulous!  I will let you know when this program will air on television in the U.S.

The "No-Purl Experiment" of One
For the past month or so I have been doing as little purling as possible because I had been experiencing some discomfort in my hands after knitting for a while.  I have concluded (quite scientifically, of course) that purling was the culprit.  Bad purl!

No-Purl Patterns Submitted by Pipeliners
Most of these are linked on the Knitting Pipeline Podcast Group on Ravelry
  • Round the Bend Jacket by Meg Swansen
  • 22.5 degrees by Martina Behm
  • Baktus by Strikkelisa
  • Eyelet Shawl by Vickie Harding (not garter stitch but could possibly be converted)
  • Brandywine Shawl by Rosemary Hill
  • Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf by Karen Baumer
  • Milkweed Shawl by Laura Chau
  • Confluence Shawlette by Sivia Harding
  • Clockwork by Stephen West
  • Einstein Jacket by Sally Melville
  • Wavy Scarf by Handmaiden
  • Sea Lettuce Scarf by Lucy Neatby
  • Super Easy Baby Blanket by Whitney Van Nes
  • Easy top Down Raglan by Susan B. Anderson
I'm going to Camp KIP!  Are you?  Jackie of KIPing it Real Podcast is organizing a fantastic retreat at Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton IL April 6-9.  Read about it and register here

The tune is from Magnatune's Christmas Album.  Gloucestershire Wassail-Wassail Song by James Edwards.




Friday, December 3, 2010

Episode 23 Shawl Style

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We have a winner from November's No-Purl Contest!  Nancy McCarroll!  Congratulations!  Nancy has won 3 patterns of her choice from Rose Beck at Rosy Posy Designs.


Nature Notes
It is cold here (22 degrees F.)  The deer are moving through the woods. 

Shawl Style

Shawls mentioned in this segment are Pi Shawl by Elizabeth Zimmermann, Stonington Shawl by Elizabeth Zimmermann, and a pattern from Knitting World Magazine, Oak Leaf and Acorn Shawl by Linda Carlson.

Susan is the model for the shawl photos.


Susan models The Swallowtail.  Point over the shoulder.  Tied loosely.

Ishbel with point of shawl in front and tails wrapped around back and to the front.

When shawls have long tails, you can tie a loose knot in the front.


Brandywine Shawl with point on the side and secured with a shawl pin.


Small shawls and scarves hanging in my closet.
Wool from Quince & Co!

Product Notes

Quince & Co produces yarn from U.S. raised sheep.  The wool is spun in an historic mill.  There is currently only one retail store, Knitwit in Portland ME. 

Enter the Quince and Co. Knitting Pipeline giveaway by leaving a comment here!  The prize is a scarf pattern from their site (your choice) and the wool to make the scarf!  The winner will be announced on December 17th, 2010.  Please leave an email, Ravelry ID, or blog name where I can reach you.
The music is from this album from Magnatune.  The tune is a collection of traditional carols:  Sans Day Carol, Sussex Carol, and Deck the Halls.  Performed by James Edwards.
All Performances are sold out.

In fact, it is time for me to start thinking about getting ready for tonight's performance!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Episode 22 Norwegian Knitting Book Reviews and A Finished Norwegian Cap

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Norwegian Patterns for Knitting
Classic Sweaters, Hats, Vests, and Mittens by Mette Handberg
Trafalger Press 2010  $24.95


Purpose:  To reawaken interest in Norwegian knittting and push the boundaries of these traditional designs.
Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in colorwork and traditional Nordic knitting.
Favorites patterns in this book:  Wilderness (p 38), Women's Long Jacket (p 69), Man's Jacket (p 72)

Norwegian Handknits:  Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum
Sue Flanders and Janine Kosel
Voyageur Press, 2009

Purpose:  Make the historical pieces in the Vesterheim Museum available for knitters today.
One of my best knitting purchases in the past 10 20 years.  Beautiful layout with bits about Norwegian culture and the immigrant experience in the U.S.  A whopping 34 patterns with large charts and plenty of white space on the page so not to make me crazy.  Many new and interesting techniques explained clearly.  Charming vintage photos from late 19th century to early 20th century of Norwegian people both in Norway and in the U.S.


Ruth's Cap.  Pompom, tassel, or leave as it is?

I knitted Ruth's Cap and found an error.  The sample cap shows a picot edge on the hem but the pattern will produce a straight purled edge.  Beware because the instructions for Ruth's Blanket will produce the same effect.  The pattern instructions should produce the sample.  Hopefully this type of error will be corrected in future printings.  And yes, I have notified the publisher.  Erratta are here but this is not yet listed.  The publisher wrote that corrections are being made to the second edition.


Our Honeymoon Backpacking Trip
After camping through Norway (mostly in the rain) we were happy to arrive in Kjelbotn to cousin Elisabeth and her husband Magnus. 

Elisabeth Ingebritsen (cousin to my MIL), Paula, and Bob.  Our honeymoon is the only time Bob has had a beard.  Although it was late June, the weather was chilly so Elisabeth loaned me one of her handknit sweaters.  This photo was taken about 10:00 PM.  We were way above the Arctic Circle so it never got dark while we were there.  They didn't sleep much either.

Voss, Norway.  June 1975

Looking grave in the Ursin family graveyard at Lille Grosnaes, north or Tromsoe in northern Norway.

Elisabeth and sheep.

Leaving Elisabeth and Magnus at the train station in Narvik.  On our way to northern Sweden!  One more month of traveling to go before we travel home to the U.S.

See that little red dot way up high on the map where it says "Hammerfest"?  Below that is Tromso.  We were just north of Tromso.  From Trondheim on up the traveling was pretty slow because the train ended in Bodo (not shown) so we had to travel by bus and ferry.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Episode 21 Westknits Book One Review and My Finished Hap Blanket

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Sunday Brunch Longaberger Open House
November 21, 2010
11 AM to 4 PM
at my home
contact me for details at Paulaef@aol.com


Rose Beck of Rosy Posy Designs has donated a prize for the November Drawing:  choose any 3 of her patterns!  I will choose the winner from comments on this blog or in the thread on Ravelry.

Also, until November 30, 2010 you may take $1 off the purchase of any two patterns by using the code KP2010 at checkout.

Patterns I mentioned by Rose Beck:
  • Flourish
  • Simply Pretty Shawls
  • Falling Water

Westknits Book One by Stephen West
8 patterns, all scarves and hats.  Very architectural in design.  Well done.  Would appreciate more readable font which means black ink and a bit larger typeset.

I ask for advice on my Pogona by Stephen West, a pattern I purchased before the book was published (it is also in Westknits Book One).  A good pattern but not a good yarn choice.  I knew it was risky.

Should this go to the FROG pond?
I finished by Hap Blanket by Ysolda TeagueWhimsical Little Knits.  A quick and easy project.  I used heavy worsted yarn instead of bulky weight and added about 30% more stitches.  It measures 43", which is perfect for a lap blanket or small wrap.

Used the crochet provisional cast on so I would have live stitches on both ends when picking up stitches for the border.


A one week project, mostly garter stitch.



Correction on Alma Ella Shawl by Robin Lynn that I mentioned last week.  It is not garter stitch, but rather, stockinette.  I believe you could do garter instead of stockinette and if I knit this design, that is what I will do.  I substituted garter stitch for stockinette in Ysolda Teague's Ishbel (did it both ways) and the result was great.  Ishbel #1 and Ishbel #2.
 
Thank you to all those who served our country, or their own country.
 
Music by The Dutch Pipes and Drums, Tilburg, The Netherlands.  CD In Harmony.  Tunes:  The Shoals of Herring, Castle Dangerous, and Collin's Cattle.
 
This Wednesday, November 17, only!  on my website.  Exclusive Basket at a great price!


 

Friday, November 5, 2010

Episode 20 Garter Stitch, Anyone?

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Events

Sunday Brunch
Longaberger Open House
November 21
11 AM to 3 PM
contact me for details  Paulaef@aol.com

Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums Upcoming Performances


Nature Notes

Franklin, Knit, and Purl have flown the coop.  They may be vacationing somewhere warm.  I hope.
Avian Pox at Forest Park Nature Center

Rip van Winkle Challenge!
We have a winner:  Knitwish!  Please contact me.  If I don't hear from you in a week I will contact you!  A Longaberger basket is coming your way!

Knitting Tip from a Pipeliner
SpinningLil suggested using a crochet hook when working on the back side of nupps.  Love this tip! 

Finished Project
I finished Flourish by Rose Beck
Madeleine Tosh DK in colorway "Tern"
My Ravelry notes are here.  This knits up so quickly.  One week from start to finish!




Video of The Yarn Harlot demonstrating Irish Cottage Knitting.  From The Knitmore Girls.


November Challenge

What are your favorite Garter Stitch (or stockinette in the round) patterns?

I found a few new ones to try:
My current project is Ysolda Teague's Hap Blanket.

Music Bonus from Magnatune
Shira Kammen's CD Music of Waters  Track 2  "Downstream

Friday, October 29, 2010

Episode 19 Pipeliner Post and The Swallowtail Shawl

Download here or listen from Flash Player in sidebar.

You are invited!
 My annual Longaberger Holiday Open House.
November 21st 11 AM to 3 PM at my home.  Brunch will be served.  contact me for details.



I visited with knitters from the guild in Springfield IL when they held their retreat at the Cornerstone Inn on The Square last weekend.  Great group of ladies!
Then I spent the afternoon piping at Reformation Days for Providence Church


With several of the lovely ladies from Reformation Faire Days.  I wore one of my old shawls, a woolen triangular shawl designed by Linda Carlson.  It is about 30 years old now.  It is total coincidence that it looks good with the band tartan.


My Swallowtail Shawl is finished! My project notes are here. Materials are Pearl in Chimney Sweep from The Woolen Rabbit. (merino and bamboo blend).  The Swallowtail Shawl is a pattern by Evelyn A Clark.


Swallowtail Shawl Blocking




If you see any suspect nupps here, please report to the Knitting Police.
 

 Tune at the end of the podcast is The Rose of Kelvingrove.  Dutch Pipes and Drums.  In Harmony CD
available here.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Episode 18 A Long Letter from Elizabeth Zimmermann

Another Elizabeth Zimmermann treasure!  The letter is dated December 1, 1979.  It is written in green ink on hotel stationary from Elizabeth and Arnold's 4 week trip to Iceland, France, and Germany.



The dried spaghetti complete with a little sauce.


Diagram of oblong Sheep to Shawl concept
 Visit School House Press, the business started by Elizabeth and now run by Meg Swansen and her family.

Topics relating to Elizabeth Zimmermann and discussed in the show:
  • The advantages of knowing how to knit both Continental and English/American styles.
  • How to learn "the other method".
  • Does knowing Elizabeth Zimmermann's EPS and reading her books "spoil" knitting more conventional designs?

My friend, Eleanor Webster.  Knitter and extraordinary person!  We were attending our P.E.O. Convention, wearing hats for some kind of identification. 

The musical selection if from The Airs of Wales by Cheryl Ann Fulton.  Tune:  The Ash Grove.  Available from Magnatune.  You can play this album from the button in the sidebar at right.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Episode 17 A Knitting Conspiracy Exposed

The show is sponsored by my Longaberger home business.  www.longaberger.com/paula

Listen here or click on the Flash Player at right where all episodes are available.  Click in the lower left corner of the Flash Player screen for the menu.

Nature Notes
Goldfinches are in the winter dress.  I saw a Great Blue Heron on our creek.  This was a case of synchronicity since I had been telling our arborist about such a sighting that had happened 3 and a half years ago and not since that time.



Thank you to Meghan of The Stitch It Podcast for talking about my show on her show.

Needle Notes





Flo the Elephant  by Franklin Habit First Fall Knitty 2010
Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A Clark.

The Blethering Room

We continue our Rip Van Winkle Challenge. (see entries for Oct 1 and Oct 8 2010)  Several Pipeliners have been on the fence about The Clapotis, a pattern by Kate Gilbert that took the knitting world by storm in 2004.   What is it about this pattern that has charmed so many knitters?

Musical Selection

Swedish Folk Musicians Anna Rynefors and Erik Ask Upmark.  Valltrall from album Dram.  Available on Magnatune.

About Me

My photo
I play the Great Highland Pipes, knit, observe nature, and read. My name on Ravelry is PrairiePiper. Find me on Instagram as KnittingPipeline.