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

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

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

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.