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

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

Friday, September 24, 2010

Episode 14 The Stealth Approach to Socks

Click here to listen.

Correction:  Shelridge Farm Yarns is based in Ontario.


Nature Notes


I read a letter from Ursula about crow providing "cable tv" watching for her cats. I warned Ursula that crows do not forget and we should not cross them. That started me thinking about my crow prejudice.  I can say I appreciate them more, but I am still not fond of them.  Crows are intelligent.  The crow in the video is a type of crow found on a Pacific island, not the crows we have here in the Midwestern U.S.

Crow adapting a tool video.

On the Intelligence of Crows

Ravelry Notes
There are going to be some quick tips once in a while on Ravelry features. I talk about benefits of having Ravelry "Friends".  Feel free to add me as a friend.  By adding friends you can keep track of friends' blog postings and what they are putting into their queues, favorites, and stashes.  You can also personalize your Friend Activity so you only see one or more categories.  Check out your "neighbors" to find others who share your patterns and finished projects.

Check out a new podcast The Ramblin' Ambler.

In the Piping Circle
We had a visit from our Australian piper and honorary band member, Mervyn.

Needle Notes
Finished Project:  Hurdy Gurdy Cardigan by Lynda Gemmell from the book Baby "V' Top Down v Neck Cardigans for Preemie to 18 Months.  ISBN 978-0-9735657-2-0




The Blethering Room
Two listeners, Paula and Diane, independently help me develop the Double S method to approach sock knitting:  Sport Weight and Stealth.  Stealth means knitting just a few rows at a time, at stolen moments.  Eventually a sock will be finished.  Knitting in sport weight yarn will be easier on the hands with my loose gauge.  I have not made any promises on when I will start this program

Wendy Johnson's Pattern for Sport Weight Toe-Up Socks with Gusset Heel

Pipeliner Stephanie wrote a delicious letter to Sock Knitting!  So funny and clever.  Thank you!



Music Bonus
Dutch Pipes and Drums In Harmony CD available for purchase.  This is one of my favorite tracks on the CD.
The Sands of Kuwait--Track 2







A Perfect Basket for your Knitting!
This Wednesday (9/29) our online special is an amazing deal!  $92  now $49!  Handwoven in the U.S.A.  Currently not able to ship overseas. Available only from noon to midnight on my website




Monday, September 20, 2010

Episode 13 Elizabeth Writes from the Airport

I read a letter that Elizabeth Zimmermann wrote to me on October 4, 1979. She was writing as they awaited their flight from the Marshfield airport to Iceland, France, and Germany. This note is written in her own hand and is very special to me. I'm glad I waited and did not read a letter last week. My intuition was spot on! Not only did I uncover this letter, which I must have known existed, but it actually fits in chronologically. Imagine that!

Schoolhouse Press



Elizabeth Zimmermann wrote this letter to me on Oct 4, 1979 while she and Arnold Zimmermann (A.Z. in the letter) were starting on a 4 week trip to Iceland, France, and Germany.




 
I finished my Merope, the second shawl in Rosemary Hill's Seven Small Shawls to Knit. My Ravelry notes are here.  The color is Chiquita in Harmony Sock Yarn from The Woolen Rabbit.

A suggestion if you are knitting a shawl with an edging that is knitted as you go (as opposed to knitted on after the body of the shawl is completed) is to knit a swatch of the edging before starting on the shawl.  Concentrating on the edging alone will help you understand more quickly what is happening with the lace.


 


 
 
 
 
The High Note this week is locally grown peaches that are juicy, fragrant, and delicious!


Listen at the end of the podcast (after the theme music) to Dutch Pipes and Drums, Tilburg, The Netherlands
CD: In Harmony
Track 5  Sally Wilson, Wings, Loch Ruan, Lord Lovat's Lament
Purchase it here.
Thank you to Dutch Pipes and Drums for granting permission to play their wonderful music on the podcast!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Episode 12 Each One Teach One

Simple Fall Pleasures!  Pumpkins!  I did not photograph the Apple Cider Doughnuts.
Paula's Public Service Announcement about Butterflies
Support butterflies by joining the North American Butterfly Association.  Membership starts at $30 per year and includes subscriptions to North American Butterflies and Butterfly Gardening.
 The following two practices are not acceptable:
1) releasing butterflies at weddings or other public events
2) capturing butterflies, killing them, and pinning them...for ANY reason.  The only butterflies that should be pinned are ones that are found dead, but I personally would not want to do that either.

Fiber Weekend with Emily, Cecelia, and Lauren
See photos on my other blog...
  • We used the Learn to Knit Coin Purse Kit from Pick Up Sticks to make felted coin purses for the first project.
  • Tooley Owl is a good beginner project.  Pattern is by Amanda Berry for $2.99 on Ravelry.
  • Share your ideas on teaching knitting on the Knitting Pipeline Podcast Ravelry Board.
  • Bamboo Circular Needles in various lengths from Karen Poulakos Fiber Arts Studio, Springfield IL(217) 787-6589  or karen@ArtOfSpinning.com  The ones I bought at Stitches were about $2 each!  Very nice for teaching beginners or for anyone who likes bamboo.

More Easy Shawl Patterns
Boneyard by Stephen West  (Free)
Flourish: A Knitted Triangle by Rose Beck (DK Weight)
Tuscany Shawl from No Sheep for You
Cedar Leaf Shawlette by Alana Dakos  (also DK weight)
198 Yards of Heaven by Christy Verity (Free)

In the Piping Circle
September 18 Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums will be performing all day at the Celtic Highland Games in Davenport IA, Centennial Park.

Knitting Tips
  • Use a music stand to hold your chart or pattern
  • Thoughts on merging markers and lifelines.

Do you know the term "myndbyrn"?  If so, please illuminate.  It is probably Old Norse.


Friday, September 3, 2010

Episode 11 Elizabeth Writes On

Have you ever thought of starting your own online business. Sign up for your own Longaberger website for free!  Ask me for details.


Emptyknitster's turkeys with a visitor.  Hilarious blog post!

The main topic is when to persevere with knitting and when to shift gears.  See my Ravelry Projects Pages for links to patterms.  I am also starting a thread on Knitting Pipeline Podcast group on Ravelry so you can leave your suggestions.
Easy lace shawls for beginners:
  • Elizabeth Zimmermann's Pi Shawl
  • Elizabeth Zimmermann's Stonington Shawl
  • Summer Flies by Donna Griffin (Free Pattern)
  • Multnomah by Kate Flagg  (Free Pattern)
  • Truly Tasha by Nancy Bush  (Free Pattern)  Truly for beginners.
  • Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl by Cheryl Oberle
  • Wool Peddler's Shawl by Cheryl Oberle.  One of my favorites! 
Shawl patterns but not lacey
  • Mara
  • Wool Weaver's Mini Shawl
  • Fernwood Farm  (Paula's recipe)

Cindy's knitting tip was to use the plastic closures that come on bread bags to anchor your cast on tail.  This will keep you from accidentally knitting with it.  I suggest using an old pair of scissors to trim off the rough edges (the photo shows just how rough mine were.)
The plastic clip also works great as a bobbin for crochet cotton for life lines.
It takes up a lot less room in your knitting bag than a big ball of crochet cotton.
 I reviewed the Sept/Oct issue of Piecework Magazine.

The EZ Challenge for the month of August was that we set a goal to memorize a knitting technique that would improve our knitting.  The prize is a Longaberger tote in Botanical Fields. Among the techniques were:
  • Weaving/Kitchener Stitch (4)
  • Knitting backwards(2)
  • Continental Knitting
  • Knitted i-cord
  • Sock heel technique
  • Seaming (2)
  • Charts
  • Sewn bind-off (2)
  • Russian Bind off
  • Mattress Stitch
  • Steeking
  • Spindle spinning
  • Colorwork
  • Provisional crochet cast on
 The winner, chosen by Random Number Generator, is Pearlsgrand!  Please contact me with your mailing information.  Congratulations!

Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums will be performing at the Celtic Highland Games in Davenport IA on September 18th in Centennial Park.

"Let me warn you that a genuine interest in knitting can keep you fascinated, eagerly pursuing it, and never satisfied through a lifetime."  Rose Wilder Lane.

About Me

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