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

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

Friday, November 30, 2012

Episode 111 Elowen Shawl and the Gibbous Moon

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site for current and past episodes. Flash Player is not compatible with Internet Explorer's most recent version.

This episode is 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 and other fibers sourced from earth friendly suppliers.  You can view the beautiful yarns and designs at www.quinceandco.com and while you are there sign up for their free e-newsletter.

You can find my Longaberger Home Business at www.longaberger.com/paula.  If you wish to be on my email preferred customer list, please send me an email at paulaef@aol.com with your name, mailing address, and phone.

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. 

Pipeliner Notes

  • Thank you for the star ratings on iTunes and the lovely and encouraging written reviews by knitster59, sklnouye, irocknits, and JacquieKK.  You are all so kind.
  • I sorted out the situation on iTunes with the older episodes and all the episodes are posted now.
As always thanks for your feedback on the last show.  There is a lot of fodder for the show on knitting urban myths, rules and such but I have too much information today to deal with a myth so I’ll be getting back to that in upcoming episodes.  Keep the myths and rules coming!

Events:

Ellison Bay KAL will start on January 1 or thereabouts and I’ll be posting a schedule so you can complete the shawl in little bites.  This seemed to work well on the Hyla Brook KAL and makes the project manageable.  You will need 3 skeins of Quince & Co Chickadee or the equivalent in a sport weight yarn.
 

Knitting Pipeline Retreat  April 26-27, 2013 with optional loosely structured day on April 25th.  Signups will be announced in a few months.

Nature Notes

When Bronwyn was here last time we told you about the buck we saw at the edge of the woods.  I said he snorted at me…well, not really at me.  Apparently he was snorting at me.  I learned from a hunter that snorting is a warning signal.  The buck did see me and was letting me know he didn’t like it at all.  Had I not left his sight he probably would have run off.

Hav e you been out to look at the full moon in the early evening sky? Tonight, Nov 29th, it is actually a Waning Gibbous moon.  Don’t you love the word gibbous? The bright and gorgeous white gibbous Moon and Jupiter close to it behind the silhouette of the bare branches of the mighty oaks.  Also in this same area you can see the Pleides or the Seven Sisters on a clear winter night.

November 2012 Night Sky Sky Map Gallery

gibbous [ˈgɪbəs], gibbose [ˈgɪbəʊs] adj
1. (Astronomy) (of the moon or a planet) more than half but less than fully illuminated 2. having a hunchback; hunchbacked 3. bulging
[from Late Latin gibbōsus humpbacked, from Latin gibba hump] gibbously adv gibbousness n 


A Winter Walk by Henry David Thoreau

Needle Notes


How fitting that I planned to talk about the Elowen Shawl this week.  This pattern was actually gifted to me by Karrie/KnitPurlGurl.  As many of you know, Karrie was the host of a video cast, KnitPurlGurl, until she passed away quite suddenly and unexpectedly this past week.  She was an avid blogger and previously hosted an audio cast.  I actually had not watched her videocast yet and I think Karrie knew that but we did correspond now and then.  I knew her from her audiocast but even more from her online presence on Ravelry.  She was very active on Ravelry and had recently begun the Tuesday RAP movement or Random Act of Patterns.  If you can purchase one of Karrie’s patterns either for yourself or to gift to another person, then this is a way we can support Karrie’s family.  Friends ofKnitPurlGurl. 

One of my favorite of Zig Ziglar’s quotes made me think of Karrie.
If you go looking for a friend, you're going to find they're very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you'll find them everywhere.
Zig Ziglar



 

Slip stitch pattern makes this shawl work great for variegated yarn.  This slip stitch pattern is also used down the spine so you learn it when you are on the plain part of the shawl and then launch full steam later on.

I did the lace border and I think the lace contrasts nicely with the texture and sets off the shawl.  The only modification is that when doing the applied lace border I slipped the first stitch on the inside edge of the border, just after turning and I think this made a nice clean line for the join.

Doing the slip stitch pattern was a little fiddly for me…lacked rhythm but results are worth it. Love the texture, especially  with the semi-solid blue and dark red.  Really stunning combination.

Come into the Blethering Room for a bit

 
Sock Yarn Blanket by Shelley Kang. I’m calling it my Kindness of Knitters Blanket.  If you would like to donate to the cause 2-3 g (size of walnut)will make a square and 5 g (small plum sized)will make 2 to 3 squares.  Fingering weight/superwash wool or wool blends.  Pastels and neon colors don’t work as well but I will try to fit them in.

Knitting Pipeline
Box 549
Washington IL 61571

Sweater for My Nephew Andy.  Got the yarn.  Did the swatch.  Now I have to plan the sweater and get it started!


High Note

Pomegranates…where have you been all my life.

The exact number of seeds in a pomegranate can vary from 200 to about 1400 seeds, contrary to some beliefs that all pomegranates have exactly the same number of seeds.[6] Each seed has a surrounding water-laden pulp—the edible aril—ranging in color from white to deep red or purple. The seeds are embedded in a white, spongy, astringent pulp.[7]Ancient fruit from Persia,

Bowl and Water method is the best.
 

You can also cut it and then hit it with a pestle.

The pomegranate has it all.  Beauty, color, taste, mystery, history…and it is good for you too.

Book Notes

Mabel’s Closet by Hannah Fettig aka Knitbot
 

Highly recommended!

In the Piping Circle

Kirkin’ of the Tartan’s at St. Paul’s.
Veteran’s Day Events
Played for our piping instructor Glenn at the retirement home.
A Grace Family Christmas in Peoria IL at Grace Presbyterian Church.

Magnatune Relaxing Classical

Kummer- Duet Op 156 No 5- Allegretto (Phoebe Carrai and Tanya Tomkins)

www.magnatune.com

 

Friday, November 16, 2012

Episode 110 Our Crazy

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site for current and past episodes.  Flash Player does not work well in the new version of Internet Explorer and there isn't much I can do about that.

This episode is 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 and other fibers sourced from earth friendly suppliers.  You can view the beautiful yarns and designs at www.quinceandco.com and while you are there sign up for their free e-newsletter.

You can find my Longaberger Home Business at www.longaberger.com/paula.  If you wish to be on my email preferred customer list, please send me an email at paulaef@aol.com with your name, mailing address, and phone.
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.

Squares For Comfort Charity KAL –Hurricane Sandy Relief.  All the info for the KAL can be found on the KB boards here.

Sock Patterns from Lorna’s Laces : Four great sock patterns for $5 with ALL of the donation going to Feeding America for Hurricane Sandy relief.

Knitting Pipeline Retreat  April 26-27, 2013 with optional loosely structured day on April 25th.  Signups will be announced in a few months.

Pipeliner Notes

Last week’s myth was about the statement that socks are as much work as a sweater.  It isn’t true.  Some may argue that a size 13 foot takes a lot longer but a person with a foot this size usually has a body in proportion to it so a sweater for said person takes longer also.

Also I am talking about actual knitting time, not the perception of time.  Of course it seems that a pair of socks takes forever if it is your purse project and you only knit on them when stuck in traffic.  (In our area you would never finish a pair.)  Perception of time is a whole other issue and cannot be quantified.

Lee Bernstein wrote, I loved this podcast so much. I, too, have heard many a knitter say that knitting a pair of socks is more effort than a sweater, and all I can say is: I've knit many a pair of socks with little effort (except perhaps for the first pair), and every pair has fit perfectly.

Sweaters? Not so much. It takes more time, it takes a greater understanding of how to properly fit a garment, and it usually takes a much greater monetary investment, not to mention patience and prayer.

From FrancesWeyr: The needles are shorter, so you don’t shift them around quite as much. There is more to manipulate in a sweater, which can slow you down. I have almost finished a sock in an evening, but it was a simple pattern and I was in the mood.

Myth #2 came from Lynette:

If we’re talking about knitting superstitions and urban legends, what better place is there to start than the ‘sweater curse’? Is knitting a sweater for a boyfriend a sure fire way to kill the relationship?

Bronwyn and I discuss this.  We are going to ask for your input.  My thoughts are that most people date more people than they marry.  So the odds are that if you knit sweaters for the people you date then the superstition will prevail.  It also might be that a big commitment like a sweater might scare off a person who is afraid of commitment.

Nature Notes
Handsome buck.  He snorted 3 times!

Pretty doe.

Buck in our woods!  He snorted.

Needle Notes

Little Colonnade by Westknits

Why this is a good pattern for variegated yarn.  Ladder pattern barber pole effect.  Ladders are why lifelines are important.

Bronwyn finished:

Rustling Leaves Beret by Alana Dakos

Basic Mittens by Ann Budd

The Blethering Room

Paula’s Crazy Story

I’ve told the story about how Bob and I were married in Denmark and then traveled for two months by rail with backpacks and camping gear through Norway, Sweden, and down to Italy.  This wasn’t very crazy but the original plan was to bicycle camp!  It was Bob’s idea to ship our bicycles over to Denmark and outfit them with panniers for our gear.  We would happily cycle through the countryside and camp along the way. Given the mountainous geography of Norway, it was good that I convinced him to abandon this plan. We might still be in the mountains had I agreed to it.

I did knit 7 items for a baby shower in July.  That might have been a tad overboard.

New Crazy:

Sock Blankie by Shelly Kang
Some of my fingering/sock yarn waiting to be knit into mitred squares.

I plan on knitting a man-sized sweater for my nephew for Christmas.  He’s not puny either!

High Note Low Note

Low Note

Bronwyn: both cars needing to replaced at the same time.

Paula: Frequent software updates and especially the ones that take forever.

High Note
Bronwyn: Legos
Paula:   Dr. Russell Dohner in Rushville IL.  Amazing story about a true country doctor not far from us. 87 years old.  No appt.  First come first served.  $5 per visit.

Have a great week.  Haste ye back and hold your knitting close.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Episode 109 Debunking a Knitting Urban Myth

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site for current and past episodes.

Ellison Bay Shawlette
This episode is 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 and other fibers sourced from earth friendly suppliers.  You can view the beautiful yarns and designs at www.quinceandco.com and while you are there sign up for their free e-newsletter.
 

 

You can find my Longaberger Home Business at www.longaberger.com/paula.  If you wish to be on my email preferred customer list, please send me an email at paulaef@aol.com with your name, mailing address, and phone.

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.

Pipeliner Notes

My designs that are on Ravelry are now in the shopkeepers program through Ravelry so shops can sell the digital version.   Thanks to a listener/shopowner who gave me the nudge I needed to do that.

Knitting Pipeline Retreat  April 26-27, 2013 with optional loosely structured day on April 25th.  Signups will be announced in a few months.

Nature Notes

Set our clocks back on Sunday.  I like falling back better than springing forward.  I don’t spring forward very well at all. Sunrises are magnificent!  Like a gradient yarn from orange to pink to purple to gray.  I watched a hawk circling over the top of the woods.

Nobody loves a good rant about turkeys are much as Pipeliners.  There has not been a sighting of Franklin the Wild Turkey lately but I did read an interesting article about the comeback of wild turkeys.


The one red leaf, the last of its clan,
That dances as often as dance it can,
Hanging so light, and hanging so high,
On the topmost twig that looks up at the sky.
~Samuel Taylor Coleridge



Needle Notes

Little Colonnade by Westknits
Be sure to use lifelines!  The lace is very simple but fixing a mistake can be a nightmare.
 

 

I used Miss Babs Yummy in the Deep Sea Jellyfish colorway.

 

The Blethering Room

I have heard on several podcasts over the past 4 years or so that knitting a pair of socks as much knitting as a sweater.  I think the person who started this idea was probably was trying to make the point that socks are more work than people think; however, I think others took this literally and have repeated it.  It is not true.

I estimate that an average pair of socks has about 23,000 stitches (based on 64 st per row).

I estimate that an average sweater with a 40” circumference has 49,000 stitches.

Time factor:

Socks have little prep work. 

Sweaters do require gauge swatches, sometimes multiple swatches that should be washed and blocked.  In general more planning is required.

Socks have very little finishing work.  Usually just tail at the beginning to weave in and a tail at the end.  Sweaters often have a lot of finishing work.  Even a seamless sweater generally has multiple ends to weave in, kitchener stitch on the underarms.

Actual knitting time:

I can knit one sock in a day.  And these were not vanilla socks.  Can you knit half a sweater in a day?

I’ve done a man-sized sweater from start to finish between Thanksgiving and Christmas…a period of about 3 to 4 weeks but with other things going on.  Even if I worked exclusively on that project it would take at least 2 to 3 weeks.

I look forward to hearing your feedback but only if you agree with me!  ;)  Not really.

Are there other knitting urban myths out there?  We know that there are a lot of misunderstandings about knitting from non-knitters but I’m talking about myths perpetuated within the knitting community. 

In the Pipeline

Knitloon share that there is a PBS app for iPad and that I could watch Call the Midwife via the app. I downloaded the app but have not used it yet but it sounds great.

Why am I boycotting buying e-books from Barnes and Noble?  (no longer have a Kindle)

1. cost of books has escalated to a point that I can no longer justify the cost. 

2. Barnes and Noble use book lending as a selling point but only certain books are lendable.  These are usually the free or cheap books and have never been the ones I want to loan.  I have never had the option of loaning a book that I have paid $10 or more for.

Have a great week.  Haste ye back and Hold your knitting close.

Still Waters by Keri Newdigate

www.magnatune.com

Tune: Awakening

Music to soothe your soul, soothe your nerves, soothe your child... Music to help to you relax, unwind, meditate, go to sleep, recharge your batteries, refresh your inner self, rejuvenate your spirit, think, ponder, wander, meander, remember.

If your life is busy and you feel bombarded by noise, images or deadlines, Still Waters will help you unwind, de-stress, relax and find a peaceful sanctuary. Suitable for massage, reading, creating, work, quiet times, before bed or to calm your children. 

Friday, November 2, 2012

Episode 108 Double Trouble with Ruffles

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site for current and past episodes.

This episode is 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 and other fibers sourced from earth friendly suppliers.  You can view the beautiful yarns and designs at www.quinceandco.com and while you are there sign up for their free e-newsletter.

You can find my Longaberger Home Business at www.longaberger.com/paula.  If you wish to be on my email preferred customer list, please send me an email at paulaef@aol.com with your name, mailing address, and phone. 

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.

Pipeliner Notes

Thanks to everyone who was in touch with me in the past week.

Thank you for the star ratings and reviews on iTunes.

Our Ravelry Group has over 2,000 Pipeliners! 2,052 to be exact.

Giveaway Winner!

Cast On Bind Off: 211 Ways to Begin & End Your Knitting by Cap Sease. Donated by Cap Sease!

The winner is…  #40 Bikenknit who is Melinda.  Please contact me with your mailing information!  Congratulations!

 Vogue Knitting Live!  You didn’t miss me I missed it.


Knitting Pipeline Retreat  April 26-27, 2013 with optional loosely structured day on April 25th.  Signups will be announced in a few months.

Nature Notes

We have noticed increased activity at our bird feeders.  Bob commented that the platform feeder was drained in one day.  Yesterday I was sitting at the table in the sunroom and in the course of about two minutes I saw the following birds: Bluejay, Goldfinches, White breasted nuthatch, Black Capped Chickadee, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Red Bellied Woodpecker.  I went for a walk later in the day and when I walked into the kitchen I saw a Cooper’s Hawk sunning himself on our deck railing.  . I got a photograph and will post on the blog.  He kept yawning. Just a few minutes ago I saw that Cooper’s Hawk flying through the woods. He landed on the branches of a big oak tree.

 
Bob cut back the roses and buddleia last night.  He took out the zinnias that have been hosting the relatively small butterfly population this summer and fall.


I saw old Autumn in the misty morn stand shadowless like silence, listening to silence.
Thomas Hood

Needle Notes


Quaker Ridge Shawlette by Susan B Anderson


What is a shawlette?

Hyla Brook Shawl by Paula Emons-Fuessle

 
This is the shawl Georgiana that I talked about in last week's episode. Designed by Susanna IC.

 
Striped version in Quince & Co Tern Stonington and Buoy.  One skein of each. Photos to come...

TIP: Use 2 long needles for the ruffle.  Stoppers at end and use like long straight needles back and forth.

Ellison Bay KAL with Mskiknits of Singlehanded Knits.

The Blethering Room


In the Pipeline

Listening

Knit Spin Farm: the podcast about fiber and farming. by Joanna Spring

Wild Ideas…the Podcast.   www.wildernesscenter.org.   Wilmot OH.  (I guessed MO)

Reading



The Copper Beech by Maeve Binchy

Watching

Upstairs Downstairs Series 2.  Not as good as the original Upstairs Downstairs but we watch it anyway

Foyle’s War round 2 for us. 


Knitting

Monkey Socks by Cookie A

Blueberry Waffle Socks by Sandy Turner

I suspect another Stephen West shawl will be in the works real soon…probably Herbivore. Or maybe Elowen Shawl by Judy Marples…gift from Knit PurlGurl.   Thank you so much for that. 

The tune is Light from the collection Heartwood by Sora.  Available on Magnatune.com
 

Haste ye back!

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.