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

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

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Episode 95 Pete Answers Questions about his Hike

Listen here or use the Flash Player for this episode and archived episodes, including Episode 93 when Pete talked about his trip.

Thank you for all your messages of support!
Pete started his hike on June 26. 2012.  I am updating for family and friends on my personal blog, A Piper Knits.  Feel free to follow us there.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Episode 94 Summer Solstice Knits

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 as the original Sparrow.  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 to everyone for your wonderfully supportive comments about the last show with my son Pete!  Pete recorded answers to your questions before he left and I will try to edit and get that audio up next week before I leave for SSK.

Bob, Pete, Nils, Paula

Pipeliner Notes
I read Pipeliner Notes from Faith the Vampire Slayer, Melinda, Nicole, Diane, and Larry.
Question from Diane/Citronlady
With all the topdown sweaters i've knitted (not many (3)) i always have trouble with the back being shorter than the front- If i put short rows in, where should i do it? On the back or when i pick up and do the collar/front band? Would i do the short rows consecutively or 3 or 4 rows apart?
I use Elizabeth Zimmermann’s method of placing the short rows about an inch apart up the back of the sweater.  You want about an extra inch to an inch and a half in the back to keep the back from riding up.

Nicole has had success with owl boxes and says they are to face east to keep them cooler in the afternoons.
Wisconsin Magazine of History Winter 2011-2012  Thank you, Larry!
Tip for interchangeable needles.  Use a 2” square of rubber gripper fabric (as in jar openers) to secure the join and to remove it.
Nature Notes
Summer in full swing and we just passed the summer solstice. The wild turkeys kept their distance when Pete’s dog was here and for about a week after the dog left. Red headed woodpeckers and rose breasted grosbeaks this summer at feeder. I saw a Cecropia moth.
Whenever the pressure of our complex city life thins my blood and numbs my brain, I seek relief in the trail; and when I hear the coyote wailing to the yellow dawn, my cares fall from me - I am happy.
Hamlin Garland

Needle Notes
My nephew who was married last October and his wife are expecting their first baby in October 2012 and our family is very excited!  This is the first baby in our family in nearly 30 years!
Trying to mark patterns in my books and then put them in my Ravelry queue so I don’t forget I have them or why I bought the book.



Sweater can be worn front to back or back to front. Pattern clear and nice schematic with measurements. Finished with 3 needle bind off so there is a seam but no seaming.
Honeycomb Stitch too bulky so I changed to garter in some places.
Dawna Rego Designs
Cute hat with an old world look to it.

In the Pipeline
Knitting
Summer Solstice Mystery KAL by Wendy D Johnson. 
Ribbed Baby Jacket by Debbie Bliss
My First Finch Cardigan.  I’m using EZ’s Percentage System. Saddle Shoulder.
In the Frogpond: Lily of the Valley Stole
Listening
Down Cellar Studio Podcast with BostonJen  (8 episodes out currently)
Great voice and a natural at podcasting.  Lots of knitting content.  My favorite segment is Life in Focus when she talks about photography.
Watching
Sittin’ and Knittin’ Podcast by Dianna who is Hishandmaid on Ravelry
Singlehandedknits by Melissa
Lives in Hawaii and most are shot outdoors so you can take a little virtual beach vacation.  Charming lady and absolutely amazing.  An accident damaged her dominant arm over a year ago and she has taught herself to knit with one hand.  I get to meet her at SSK next week!  Piper’s Journey Shawl was her first (episode 3 maybe). Put a stripe in it which gave it a contemporary look. Now doing a Piper’s Journey KAL in her group. 
The Blethering Room
I blether about pocket neighborhoods and what I would call streets if I developed a residential area.  I would use the breeds of sheep. You can visit me on Scottish Blackface Lane.
I know way more about wool and spinning now that I did back in the 70’s when I got a spinning wheel I had no idea what kind of wool I got.  I don’t think most people did.  We were just so thrilled to find wool that could be spun that you could call it whatever you wanted.
Book Notes
Greetings from Knit Café by Suzan Mischer
Visiting my brother in West Hollywood with my parents and we visited the shop.  Next year it was closed because rents had gotten so high.

Haste ye back!

Friday, June 8, 2012

Episode 93 A Visit with Pete

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. Check out the new colors of  Sparrow, 100% organic linen, grown in Belgium.  Still the same lovely hand and drape as the original Sparrow.  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
Today’s show is totally different from previous episodes.  I will warn you up front that there is no knitting content.  Our youngest son is visiting us and I took this opportunity to let him share his upcoming adventure with all of you.  Also, since I want to maximize time with him there will not be an episode next week and then I will resume the following week.  

Pete is going to hike The Colorado Trail (Denver to Durango) starting in late June. He is staying here with us for a few weeks as he makes final preparations for his 485 solo journey.
Studying the map to finalize re-supply points.

Pete's shelter weights 5.5 oz.


We admire Pete's shelter for the trip.  No floor or sides!
Our set up for weighing and packaging supply boxes.

More photos will be on my personal blog. www.apiperknits.com

This is a video of Pete showing his ultralight gear to family friends.

These beautiful days must enrich all my life.  They do not exist as mere pictures, maps hung upon the walls of memory to brighten at times when touched by association or will, only to sink again like a landscape in the dark; but they saturate themselves into every part of the body and live always.
--John Muir

Thanks for listening and haste ye back!

Friday, June 1, 2012

Episode 92 M-O-T-H...an Herbal

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. Check out the new colors of  Sparrow, 100% organic linen, grown in Belgium.  Still the same lovely hand and drape as the original Sparrow.  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
Bronwyn Update: Last week Bronwyn shared that she was having a serious surgery on Wed May 30th and I am so happy to tell you that the surgery went better than anticipated. 
Bronwyn’s Surprise: To participate, please send me an email for more information.
I want to say something about the kindness of knitters which was the last episode.  Madmum wrote on our board.
Just thinking about the title of this thread and reading all the lovely heartfelt comments for Bronwyn - I think the title should be “A Kindness of Knitters” .This would make a great collective noun for a group of knitters, in the same way as you have a ‘Pride of Lions’ or a ‘Mischief of Mice’.
I received an email from one of our Camp KIP friends, Kathy, who is Woolyeyes on Ravelry:
What a great idea! And definitely what she will need. maybe meals as well? Use the money however you see fit. As knitters, we know how so many single stitches end up completing a huge project.  And we are all the single stitches.  And when trouble comes, we all say we are there to help, but what can we do?
Nature Notes

Question from Vicky:
Maybe the mama turkey had her babies nearby and was trying distract the fox. Do you really think the fox would take on a full grown turkey? We have turkeys in our yard and my dog (the size of a fox) was chased all the way around the circumference of our house by one of the big birds!
Answer: It is a good thing that Franklin is still wary of both birds and people.
A male turkey has 3500 feathers!  Franklin enjoys showing his off.  Every single one.

Here's Franklin, in all his feathery glory!

Needle Notes
For the record, I am NOT losing my knitting mojo!  I am just as enthusiastic as ever!
Bronwyn got me started on two socks at a time on Magic Loop. was a terrible tangle for a while.  I've actually not progressed much beyond what you see in this photo.

Started on an EZ sweater in Quince & Co Finch. Oh, glorious Finch! 

Natural Moth Repellants
A Wool-lover's Herbal

The editor at Knitters told me this was the first poem they published...and maybe the last.

I have been busy washing my woollies and putting them away for the summer. 

In the 1980's I read everything I could get my hands on about herbs and in particular, ways to use them to protect woolens. I grew tansy, costmary, santolina, southernwood, mint, wormwood, rosemary, feverfew, lemon verbena, pennyroyal, sweet woodruff, and more...and yes, all at the same time!
Knitters Spring1988 Issue 10  A Wool-Lover’s Herbal by Paula Emons-Fuessle
Rita Buchanan Spin Off June 1986
Lavendula officianlis

In the Piping Circle
Competition on Saturday in Milwaukee at Hart Park.  Milwaukee Highland Games.  June 2, 2012
Music:Lydia McCauley: Entrances  It seems the words to this song were appropriate after the outpouring of support for Bronwyn.
"Traveling Moorland," is a unity song ("we all come from different places, but we are the same") with a Scottish Blessing:

 "safe and whole may you return home".

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.