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

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

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Episode 91 Kindness of Knitters

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site for current and past episodes.
This show by sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business and Quince & Co.
The folks at Quince &  Co have created a line of thoughtfully conceived yarns spun from American wool or sourced from earth friendly overseas suppliers.  Their newest addition are colors in Sparrow, 100% organic linen, grown in Belgium.  Still the same lovely hand and drape.  Perfect in all Sparrow patterns.  See Sparrow and all the beautiful Quince yarns at www.quinceandco.com
I enjoy your feedback, comments on the blog, and questions.  Feel free to write to me at Paulaef@aol.com or on Ravelry as PrairiePiper.  My business site is www.longaberger.com/paula
Thanks for your iTunes reviews and star ratings!  We might catch up with the beer brewers and gamers yet!
I appreciate all the ways that you participate in the Knitting Pipeline Community whether it is leaving a comment on the show blog, participating in the Knitting Pipeline group on Ravelry, or just downloading and enjoying the show.  Show notes will be found at knittingpipeline.com 
Giveaway Winner!

The winner of a copy of KnitBot Essentials by Hannah Fettig, signed by Hannah Fettig and Pam Allen is
Heather, Knitinmom25 on Ravelry! 
 Please contact me by email or on Ravelry and I will mail out your book.  Congratulations!

There is an outtake on today’s show after the theme music for those who like a little extra laughter and chatter.

 Announcements
Bronwyn is having surgery. Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation--overview of what they are
If you want to participate in a surprise for Bronwyn send an email to me at Paulaef at aol dot com.
If you want to cheer Bronwyn up you can sent cards to her via my PO box:   Bronwyn c/o Knitting Pipeline, Box 549, Washington IL 61571
Bronwyn received a beautiful comfort shawl, knitted by friends at Camp KIP.
Comfort Shawl knitted by friends at Camp KIP
The Comfort Shawl is in Bronwyn's favorite shades of blue.  It has ribbons woven through it!

Pipeliner Notes
Prairiegl: Hiya Hiya has some free patterns on their site --- according to the package my bamboo interchangeable tips came in (I’m just buying a few tips as I have a full set of interchangeables of another brand). I noticed in the cable package I have, a sock pattern is included.
Needle Notes
Last week…Koigu Beaded Beret.  Not completely fair review since I substituted the yarn for the project.
My finished object is a new crescent shawl design. Stay tuned!
Bronwyn FO’s: Woobie Puppy  and Lotus Scarf
Crinkle squares and Gratitude Shawl were Bronwyn's own concoctions.
Crinkle Squares for baby gifts

We want to rename Amy Beth of The Fat Squirrel Speaks.  To us she is now The Foxy Squirrel.
Memphisholli  responded to my challenge of finding a suitable design for the yarn from Camp KIP.
A couple of suggestions for you Gnome Sweet Gnome would be the Leyburn sock or the Harvest Dew sock. I recently knit the Leyburn in very colorful yarn after several false starts. I haven’t knit plain socks in a long time and find I have a hard time convincing myself I want to knit it.
I also have a question about the yarn. Is it variegated or self-striping? In a broader sense perhaps you could talk about different colored yarns and how you know how to describe the color, variegated, gradient, self-striping, etc. and things to look for in a pattern to handle those color variations.
We use the term variegated for any multi-colored yarn.  Within this wide category are many smaller subsets.  The Knitter’s Guide to Hand-Dyed and Variegated Yarn by Lorna Miser.

The Blethering Room

Yep, that's my grand-dog on this card from a well-known card company.  Isn't he cute?

Bronwyn got a cute card, possibly for dog walkers and dog sitters, from her son.

In the Piping Circle
Springfield Games Report.  Summer Neck Chillers were a hit!  (from our Handmade Christmas Episode Dec 2011)
Product Notes
We discuss some of the glitches that happen now and then with iTunes.
Podcatcher apps
Podcaster (Brownyn uses) .99
Downcast is $1.99 Downcast has great features.  Easier to add podcasts to your subscribe list.
Instacast was recommended by Clumberknits/Ann Kingman on Books on the Nightstand.  It used to be a great app but has not worked well since they updated it.  I was happy with it until the upgrade and have now deleted it and switched to Downcast.
Kensington KeyFolio Pro 2 Removable Keyboard, Case and Stand for iPad 2 and New iPad (K39512US) $67.99 (was $59.99)  Case and keyboard combo.  Great value since cases alone run at least $40.
Bluetooth, Long battery life, Nice touch to the keys
Could have a better manual but we both highly recommend getting this for your iPad.
High Note/Low Note
Paula
Low Note: June Bugs
High Note: Frequent Flyer Miles
Bronwyn
Low Note: Poor customer service.
High Note: Support of friends and family.

Haste ye back!

Friday, May 18, 2012

Episode 90 New Rule for Buying Yarn

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site for current and past episodes.
This show by sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business and Quince & Co.
The folks at Quince &  Co have created a line of thoughtfully conceived yarns spun from American wool or sourced from earth friendly overseas suppliers.  Their newest addition are colors in Sparrow, 100% organic linen, grown in Belgium.  In addition to the original Sparrow in its silver/brown glory sparrow now comes in six colors.
Their names come from flora you'd find on a forest trail: Juniper, Birch, Nannyberry, Blue Spruce, Little Fern, and Butternut.  Still the same lovely hand and drape. Perfect in all Sparrow patterns.  See Sparrow and all the beautiful Quince yarns at www.quinceandco.com
Giveaway of Knitbot Essentials

Leave a comment on the show blog under Episode 89 or 90 by May 23 to be in a chance to win a copy of Knitbot Essentials, signed by designer Hannah Fettig and Quince owner and renown knitter/designer Pam Allen.  KnitBot Essentials by Hannah Fettig  

Please be sure to leave a way to contact you in case you do not hear your name on the air.  If you have problems leaving a comment then send me an email and I will include your name but please try the blog first. 

I enjoy your feedback, comments on the blog, and questions.  Feel free to write to me at Paulaef@aol.com or on Ravelry as PrairiePiper.  My business site is www.longaberger.com/paula
Thank you for your iTunes reviews and star ratings! A wonderful review showed up this week from desertflower105.  Thank you so much for your encouragement.
I appreciate all the ways that you participate in the Knitting Pipeline Community whether it is leaving a comment on the show blog, participating in the Knitting Pipeline group on Ravelry, or just downloading and enjoying the show.  Show notes will be found at knittingpipeline.com 
Thank you to everyone who was in touch with me this week. If I missed you please let me know. I do have new Pipeliners wannabelle100, miaandme, knitzjazz, knitpicky199, xanthey, and Treefinder.  Thank you so much for writing and introducing yourselves.  If you are a first time writer please let me know in your note so I can recognize you on the show.
I must put out a plea and apology to the person who wrote to me about meeting at the Chicago Highland Games in Itasca later in june.  Inadvertently deleted your post before responding and I cannot find you.  I feel terrible about that so I hope you hear this and resend your message.  I think your name is Debbie.
Pipeliner Notes
Thanks for the wonderful tips!
From Margaret/knitwish I learned to use the Russian Join when I knit a Dr. Who scarf for my son - 8 feet of striped garter stitch , but no ends to weave in at the end. I found a tutorial on the Dr. Who rav group that showed how to place the join exactly at the edge of the stripe. (knitwish on Ravelry, if you want to see the scarf).
from Treefinder new pipeliner and also a piper: Now, to the Russian Join. I find that it blends in better with my work when I pull the loops as small as I can. I do a lot of work on fine yarn and when the loops are pulled fairly tight, they never show as lumps.
From Pergola: Thanks for the video on the Russian Join. I had been doing it from written directions and have been sort of sewing in and out with the needle instead of going through the middle. It makes more sense now that I’ve watched the video and think I will have better results. I have to confess, I’m currently working on a cardigan with the same yarn and have been doing a felted join with no problem. I don’t think the silk content affects the felting that much. I hope not anyway!
From Finnsmydog: I have a little trick for the russian join the will help in snugging up the second join against the first one….Once the first yarn is “joined”, I weave the needle through the yarn first, making sure that the eye is as close to the point where the second yarn is going through the eye of the first yarn (I think this is clear if you’ve ever done a russian join). Thread the needle at this point and pull the yarn through. The two interlocking loops will be really close to each other this way.
From Pinneguri: I am a great fan of Russian join too, but unlike you I find that I do not need the needle, I just open the thread with my fingers and put the join in there. I don't cut the ends either, just leave them be.
And I knit in all other ends so in the end there is only the last end again to sew in. I am not sure if it saves me any time though, but it is nice to don't have to spend a lot of time at the end on boring stuff.

Nature Notes
Last week I mentioned that I made a bit of a spectacle of myself at a baby shower when instead of taking photos of the baby I ran into the back yard to photograph the black squirrels.  Lots of you wrote on the board and on the show blog about your sightings of black squirrels which appear to have populations scattered across the country.  They are a variant of the gray squirrel so they behave the same way.
A marauding band of four teen male turkeys attacked our windows.
Bird Watcher’s Digest May-June 2012: Ten Junes on the Prairie Julie Zickafoose
10th Annual Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival:  The Chieftain Hotel and Conference Center  June 13-17 Carrington ND  Fly into Fargo or Bismarck or and easy hop from Mpls (2 hours).  Bill Thompson, Julie Zickafoose and other expert guides.  Visit www.birdingdrives.com
Martha/Goldybear wrote on the board that experts think it will be a good year for butterflies.  We are not experts but judging from what we have seen so far this year we have made the same observation.  During our Sunday hike in Forest Park Nature Preserve we saw Red Admirals (lots!), Eastern Comma, Mourning Cloaks, Spring Azures, and random Skippers. 
Medieval European Folk Ballad, sometimes called Song of the Unicorn
I stood in the Maytime Meadows
By roses circled round
Where many a fragile blossom
Was bright upon the ground;
And as though the roses called them
And their wild hearts understood
The little birds were singing
In the shadows of the wood.
The nightingale among them
Sang sweet and loud and long
Until a greater voice than hers
Rang out above her song
For suddenly between the crags
Along a narrow vale
The echoes of a hunting horn
Came clear along the gale.
The hunter stood beside me
Who blew that mighty horn
I saw that he was hunting
The noble unicorn.
  
Needle Notes
Note from Leaaline:    I have big plans to knit featherweight and love the looks of Hannah's designs. I have not used Quince and Co. But I really want to try it. Paula- what is your FAVORITE quince and co. Yarn?
Answer: I love them all but have a special fondness for Chickadee and Tern because I more often knit with lighter weight yarns.
Hyla Brook will be released in June.  Calls for 2 skeins of Quince & Co Tern which is a fingering weight wool/silk blend.  442 yds fingering weight.  This shawl is completely reversible and has no purl stitches!
Sarah wearing Hyla Brook. Quince & Co Tern in Buoy colorway. This is the woods in early March.

I tried to start another pair of socks with Fleur de Fiber Gnome Sweet Gnome with the pattern Lil Bit by Laura Linneman.  The cables were totally lost in the color. Will Hyla Brook work with it?

Koigu Beaded Beret by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas
Should have been a clue when there were a lot of projects on Ravelry that were modified. 
I am not thrilled with the end result but I had a ball knitting it!
Beret ove a pie plate. Believe me, it looks better on a pie plate than it does on me.

The Blethering Room
A new rule for buying yarn: sweaters worth or one more skein than first impulse.
If I don’t like the yarn enough to commit to more than one or two skeins then maybe I don’t like it enough to buy it.  (please feel free to quote me on this, especially if you see me buying yarn somewhere!)
Vodka Lemonade by Thea Colman/Baby Cocktails
Stockinette Zombies.  Megan and Amy
Product Notes
Signature Needle update.  After using Signature Circular Needles for nearly a year I do find that these are my first choice for a project.
HiyaHiya Size 5 16” circular had a card for knitting a hat in sizes from baby to adult large. 
Chiagoo Red Lace Circular Needles.  I buy HiyaHiya and Chiagoo at Ewe-nique Yarns in Morton IL.  They are happy to ship your order.  309.266.9398
Knit Picks new catalog with new colors of Stroll Tonal
High Note
Talking to the Sun: An Illustrated Anthology of Poems for Young People
Metropolitan Museum of Art c. 1985
Used copies available from .01
Shira Kammen Wild Mountain Thyme Music of Waters  www.magnatune.com
Haste ye back!

Friday, May 11, 2012

Episode 89 The Russian Join

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site for current and past episodes.
This show by sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business and Quince & Co.
Giveaway compliments of Hannah Fettig and Quince and Co! 
KnitBot Essentials by Hannah Fettig  We are giving away a copy of the book signed by Hannah Fettig and Pam Allen! 

 

 

To enter the giveaway leave a comment below. I would love to hear if you have knitted with Quince, plan to knit with Quince, or have knitted any of Hannah Fettig's designs.  Please be sure to leave a way to contact you in case you do not hear your name on the air.  If you have problems leaving a comment then send me an email and I will include your name but please try the blog first.   I forgot to announce an ending date. Please leave a comment by May 23, 2012.

The folks at Quince &  Co have created a line of thoughtfully conceived yarns spun from American wool or sourced from earth friendly overseas suppliers.  Their newest addition are colors in Sparrow, 100% organic linen, grown in Belgium.   Still the same lovely hand and drape.  Perfect in all Sparrow patterns.  See Sparrow and all the beautiful Quince yarns at www.quinceandco.com
 
I enjoy your feedback, comments on the blog, and questions.  Feel free to write to me at Paulaef@aol.com or on Ravelry as PrairiePiper.  My business site is www.longaberger.com/paula
Nature Notes
Last week I mentioned that the Rose breasted Grosbeaks are back and also the White Throated Sparrow!  The song of the White Throated Sparrow is so fleeting.  These must migrate through here all at the same time.  The Grosbeaks are still here but less frequent at the feeder.  The males are so striking and then there are the subtle…I won’t say homely, females who look like sparrows on steroids.  
Franklin the Wild Turkey update:  We have erected a barricade ala Les Mis Act II that keeps his pecking down to a tolerable level.  One of the female turkeys had an encounter with a fox this week.  She was rattled but fine.
Franklin, in all his glory, pecking at the window.

 
Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.
~George Cooper
 
 

 
Needle Notes
Finished: Breezy by Hannah Fettig Quince & Co Tern Boothbay Blue. The key to sweaters for me is to use a lighter weight yarn.  LOVE LOVE LOVE this sweater! April 15th finished May 8 from start to finish.
Breezy by Hannah Fettig.  A GREAT Sweater!

Ribbing Detail.  My only modification

 
What I learned on Breezy:
1) Corraling sweater while knitting sleeve…used project bag.  “Thank you, Thing.”  The Addams Family.  Only 2 seasons!  64 episodes. 1964-1966  Now I know there is a movie version also.
"Thank you, Thing."

2) Top down sweater often have holes where the sleeves join the body. Used Charlene Schurch’s sock gusset trick, one of the most useful tips ever and quite possibly the reason I now enjoy knitting socks.  Who would think you could use this on a sweater?  Little Box of Socks by Charlene Schurch. Now in e-book format!

3) The Russian Join is a way of joining two skeins of yarn so that you don’t have to weave in the ends later.  Thank you, Jessica, of Knitting Brooklyn Podcast, for piquing my interest in this technique.

 
Pros:
  • Most of your ends are dealt with as you knit rather than as part of the finishing.
  • Can use with unfeltable fibers, including superwash.
  • Finished product looks very tidy.
  • Do it anytime you foresee a new skein coming up.
Cons:
  • Slight thickening where you overlap strands
  • Need a sewing needle to do it
  • Takes a little time and you might not want to stop knitting.

 
Skyp Ribbed Socks by Adrienne Ku 
I used the heel slip stitch pattern on the bottom of the foot for reinforcement.

 

 
The Blethering Room

 
Baby Shower:  Knock it out of the ballpark with McHenry Puppy and McHenry Hat by Susan B Anderson Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2011 and $5.50 individual pattern.  e-mag is $7.49 from Interweave.

 
Black Squirrels!  More on this next week. Olney IL is the Home of the White Squirrel
Black Squirrel!

Cute baby!  Love those arms and cheeks!  And how about that hair!

Falling back in Love with Whisper: My Whisper
Summer 2009

  
I am thinking of doing Featherweight by Hannah Fettig in Quince & Co Sparrow  100% Organic Linen/168 yds [155m] / 50g/ 6 sts /inch on size US 3 needles
 
Sparrow is a plain little yarn, beautiful in its simplicity. Its clean, smooth hand is crisp as you knit it. But after washing and wearing it becomes handkerchief soft.
Spun from organic linen grown in Belgium.   $8.90 / skein
 In the Piping Circle
Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums
Competition Season starts May 19 at the St.  Andrew’s Highland Games in Springfield/Chatham IL
We have new bag covers and cords for our pipes. 
Romanesca  Cheryl Ann Fulton  The Once and Future Harp  www.magnatune.com

Please remember to leave your contact information such as email, Ravelry name when you leave a comment for the drawing for Knitbot Essentials. If you have trouble leaving a comment with an identity, try being "anonymous".

 Thanks for listening!  Haste ye back.

 

Friday, May 4, 2012

Episode 88 Camp KIP Memories

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site for current and past episodes.
This show by sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business and Quince & Co.
The folks at Quince & Co believe that businesses can be good citizens—should be good citizens—without making too much a fuss about it. So, they have created a line of thoughtfully conceived yarns spun from American wool or sourced from earth friendly overseas suppliers. Find them at www.quinceandco.com and while you are there, sign up for their free e-newsletter.  Wool 3 has just been released with gorgeous new designs!
Diane, Julia, and Becky look over Quince colors in The Manor House at Cedar Creek Conference Center
A special welcome to new listeners from A Playful Day Podcast.  Thank you Green Triangle Girl for the interview and for sending new listeners my way.
Please excuse our faulty brain synapses due to Camp KIP Decompression, hissing noise from microphone being too close to laptop, and the emergency siren!

Nature Notes
Franklin the wild turkey from nearly two years ago is back, along with Knit and Purl.  He is in rare form with his window fighting.
Grosbeaks are back and also the White Throated Sparrow!
Needle Notes
Piper’s Journey KAL  Still going but I removed the sticky thread.
Camp KIP April 23-28 2012 at Cedar Creek Conference Center
Organized by Jackie of the Positively Overcommitted Podcast
On the way we stopped for lunch at Cowan's in Washington MO and then to Bah! Yarns

Good Reader $4.99 app Thank you, Dorothy, for the tutorial! 
Brenda Castiel aka "Goodstuff" on Ravelry gave a free tutorial on designing tips.

Paula’s projects at Camp:
Breezy by Hannah Fettig Quince & Co Tern Boothbay Blue
KnitBot Essentials by Hannah Fettig  (We are giving away a copy of the book signed by Hannah Fettig and Pam Allen…details coming soon!)
Skyp Ribbed Socks by Adrienne Ku
McHenry Hat by Susan B Anderson Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2011 and $5.50 individual pattern.  KathieR very nicely told me that the patterns are separate $5.50 each or the e-mag is $7.49 from Interweave.
Paula inspired by 
Effortless Cardigan knitted by Astrid Purls (link to Angela’s project page)
See how it works if you wear Effortless effortlessly as Astrid is doing?
Wingspan by maylin Tri'Coterie Designs
Beaded PiShawl by Karen aka Woolen Warrior and Mary/KnitAdmin’s Pi Shawl (linked below)

Liesl by Ysolda Teague.  I’ve knitted two of these but I liked Allison’s version in longer length with long sleeves. 
Koigu Beaded Beret by Church Mouse Yarns and Teas knitted and worn by Angela of Fleur de Fiber.  Great way to use left-over sock yarn is it calls for 175 yds.

Haruni by Emily Ross
Bronwyn’s Projects at Camp
In Pursuit of an Illusion by Woolly Thoughts
Gratitude Shawl by me.  KAL with The Fat Squirrel Speaks Podcast
Bronwyn’s Camp Inspiration
Glenda Wrapped in Stars by Mary aka KnitAdmin
Royale by Glenna C. worn by Gretchen aka maplemom
Charr’s Projects at Camp
Piper’s Journey by Paula Emons-Fuessle
Simple Skyp Socks by Adrienne Ku
Charr’s door prize fiber was from The Thylacine and the spindle is unmarked (no wonder she couldn’t remember the name!) so we assume it is from them also.
Charr's inspiration
Sock Yarn Blanket by Shelley Kang
Capitol Knits by Tanis Gray share by Colleen of the DC Unraveled Podcast

Tips and Techniques
We talk about organizing your queue on Ravelry.  Thank you, Thumperina/Tracy!
Meghan, Charr, and Thea under the Knitting Tree at Camp KIP
Goodie Bag contents minus cup and maybe a few other things.

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.