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

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

Friday, August 27, 2010

Stitches! and a Letter from Elizabeth Zimmermann

Paula and Char at The Stitches Market!

Shadow Knitting Class with Maureen Mason-Jamieson
Viv and Victoria--really fun people!
Stitches Midwest 2010 was my first big knitting event.  Wow!

Maia
I finished Maia by Rosemary Hill.  I love this shawl!  It is my first knitting projects with beads.  I used size 6 seed beads.  The shiny ones looked the best.  The yarn is Kashmir in the color Oh Ruby from The Woolen Rabbit.


Close up of part of Char's Nuno Felted Scarf.  It's beautiful! 

Char's project from Stitches Midwest.  A Nuno Felted Scarf taught by Judy Pascale.


Last week I talked about the death of Bill Millin, the piper who played on the beach at Normandy on D-Day.  He may have played "Blue Bells over the Border" or "Highland Laddie" or both.  Not that you were losing sleep over that.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Part 2 Elizabeth Zimmermann Notes

Three winners!  Please contact me with your addresses so I can post the beautiful wool prizes!

The Winners!
  1. efbg won "Moody", the blue skein
  2. Stringplay
  3. Chris

I read two letters from Elizabeth Zimmermann written in 1977 and 1978.


Franklin, the wild turkey, created a little bit of drama this week.


In the Piping Circle
Bill Millin, the piper who played Highland Laddie, on the beach of Normandy on D-Day, died at age 88 on August 18, 2010.
Tribute to Piper Bill Millin

On August 14th 2010 the World Pipe Band Championship was held on Glasgow Green.  St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band won the competition.  It is the 100th anniversary of this well-known band from Dublin, Ireland.

Celtic Festival in Davenport IA  Sept 18 in Centennial Park.

Projects
Summer Flies
Summer Flies, modeled by our lovely daughter-in-law.


Maia Shoulderette by Rosemary (Romi) Hill
Photos next week!

Common Buckeye.  It's a great year for Buckeyes!
My 3 Cup Measuring Cup with ball of wool for Summer Flies Shawl.
This one is our Horizon of Hope Pink.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Episode 8 Elizabeth Zimmermann Notes

In this episode The Blethering Room is turned into The Blethering Zimmer.  I read several letters that Elizabeth Zimmermann wrote to me in 1977.  More to come in future episodes...

The fictitious character I refer to is Precious Ramotswe, daughter of the late Obed Ramotswe, and the owner and founder of The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency.  The author of the series of books that begin with The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency is Alexander McCall Smith.

The Danish knitting book, Hoensestrik  (the o actually has a slash through it and no "e" but I don't know how to type that letter on the blog.) by Kirsten Hofstatter.  ISBN 87-980272-0-4  1974
That famous signature.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Episode 7 An EZ Challenge

I am committing new techniques to memory and no longer using videos and You Tube as a crutch.  In June I practiced Judy Becker's Magic Cast On until I could do it in my sleep.  Well, almost.  This month it is one of Lucy Neatby's Provisional Cast-on methods.  If you cannot weave (aka Kitchener Stitch/grafting) without thinking about it then I suggest you work on this technique this month, following Elizabeth Zimmermann's advice in A Knitter's Almanac:  Chapter: Mystery Blanket: Weaving available from Schoolhouse Press.  You will be so glad you did!  There is a little prize drawing for everyone who enters the challenge either here on on the blog.

Check out Erica's fundraiser for pancreatic cancer on her site http://www.fiddleknits.com/ . Erica is donating 50% of pattern sales to pancreatic cancer research.

I finished my second Brandywine Shawl by Rosemary Hill. This one is in Knit Picks Tonal Stroll in Gypsy.


Row 37.  Added YO, SSK to make top point of diamond
My only mod is on Row 37 on the center stitch.  I added YO, SSK to make a hole at the top of the diamond.  I like this better.


My first Brandywine Shawl.  Knitted as written (both chart and line by line agree.)

When you are inserting a lifeline into your knitting, do not run it through your stitch markers.

Summer Flies Shawlette by Holly Griffin-Weidner and Donna Griffin.

Old Maiden Aunt Giveaway.  (1) Moody (2) Bracken (3) Rose
The giveaway continues for 3 skeins of Old Maiden Aunt Laceweight (very fine) from Scotland.

Franklin, the tom turkey, is still pecking on the window. Joyce suggested the names Knit and Purl for the two hens that accompany Franklin to our woods.  Note that he is good at killing grass.  Clever turkey!

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.