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

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

Friday, February 8, 2013

Episode 120 Ribbing Ramblings


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This episode is sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business, Quince & Co, and The Fiber Universe.
Finch lined up for Aranumi
 
The folks at Quince & Co produce a line of thoughtfully conceived yarns in their historic spinnery in New England.  Their wool comes from domestic sheep and other fibers come from earth friendly suppliers.  You will find that Quince & Co 100% wool is a living fiber, beautiful, practical, sustainable, and affordable. Find them at www.quinceandco.com
Cardinals outside our window,
 
 
The Fiber Universe provides quality products, service and instruction for fiber enthusiasts. They stock yarn from Cascade, Plymouth, Skacel, Three Irish Girls, Kauni, Jojoland, Claudia Handpaints, and more. Fibers for spinning and felting are available from local farms.

The Fiber Universe accepts orders over the phone and offers free shipping on orders over $50. Check out their website, www.thefiberuniverse.com or give them a call today at 309-673-5659.
 

You can find my Longaberger Home Business at www.longaberger.com/paula.  Please contact me if you would like to be on my preferred customer email list.


Pipeliner Notes
JulieRoseSews

Thank you so much for the star ratings and reviews on iTunes.  There were new reviews by eliseann and Galacticcat.
I read a note that was posted on our board by Madmum.

Events:
Jessica of Knitting Brooklyn and Tracey (tbmccarthy) are teaming up once again for Remembering Remy. This year we will be knitting and crocheting preemie hats from Feb. 23 to May 29th. All of the information can be found at http://knittingbrooklyn.blogspot.com/2013/01/remembering-...

Knitting Pipeline Retreat  April 26-27, 2013 with Yarn Crawl Fun Day on April 25th.  We have about 70 registered now but there is room for more.

Nature Notes

Guide to Bird Behavior Vol 1 by Don Stokes.  I’m trying to learn about Bird Behavior.

Time-not-Cash who is Allison in Scotland is our guest reader for Robert Burn’s poem My Love is like a Red Red Rose.  Thank you, Allison and Malcolm!  Allison’s fiancé, Malcolm, reads Ae Fond Kiss at the end of the show.

Needle Notes


Wrapping up next week, February 15th is the deadline.  We have quite a few finished Ellison Bays and each one is lovely.
  • Prizes will be Quince & Co yarn in your choice of color.
  • Giftable pattern of your choice.


Myth or Truth

Today’s topic of Ribbing is compliments of DJDee

I have a suggestion for a knitting myth. I was told 1x1 ribbing has the most stretch. I was listening to a podcast and she said 2x2 has the most stretch. I have heard other variations of this as well. Would love to hear your take on this debate.

Ribbing will lie flat on a fabric that will roll such as stockinette or stockinette based patterns  Garter stitch does not curl and it too can be used as a border on stockinette.  Rolled brims on hats, sweaters with rolled collars or hems are all using this characteristic of stockinette to curl.

In vertical ribbing the knit stitches protrude and the purl stitches recede, making columns of stitches that have elasticity.  Moving the yarn front to back between these stitches uses more yarn and creates the stretchiness.  So with this in mind it makes sense that the more often you move back and forth between these columns the stretchier the ribbing.  It isn’t quite that easy.

Elizabeth Zimmermann liked 2 x 2 ribbing.

The Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons Hiatt

  • Single Rib or 1x1 vertical ribbing is 30% narrower than stockinette.
  • Double Rib or 2 x 2 ribbing is 40% narrower than stockinette and 20% narrower than Single Rib…but only when it is first made.  Stretches out and flattens over time.

I pulled out several sweaters I’ve knit for my husband and the evidence bore this out.  I was shocked to find that I apparently have not used a 2 x 2 ribbing since the mid or late 80’s at least on his sweaters. The ribbings are mostly 1 x 1.  The stretchiest is the mock cable ribbing on a sweater that a lengthened for him.  The firmest is the corrugated ribbing on his Fair Isle Vest. Corrugated ribbings are known to be firm and inflexible.  They can get away with it because they make up for it in beauty.
EZ's Hand to Hand Sweater with 2 x 2 rib is on the bottom of the stack, far right.
Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmermann


The Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons Hiatt


My conclusions:
  1. The type of ribbing is perhaps not as important as some of the other factors. The size of the needle might be the most important factor.
  2. # of stitches compared to rest of garment
  3. Depth.  I like at least 3 inches on a man’s sweater and have been known to go a bit longer for good measure.

Lately I’ve been using more unconventional ribbings on sweaters.  Nicky Epstein’s Knitting On the Edge

On Andy’s sweater I used Farrow Rib which is my new current favorite. The Harmony Guide to Knitting Stitches. 1983.

Works on multiples of three plus one stitches.

RS Row one: *K2, p1* to the last stitch, knit one.

Row two:  P1, *k2, p1* to end.

Farrow Rib~easy, handsome, and elastic.  What more can you ask for?  Oh, and reversible too!
Having fun with model poses.
Product Notes

  • Now 9.99 for 3
  • Keep your yarn clean and protect from unraveling.
  • Works with center or side pull.

 
My most favorite Burns poem of all is Ae Fond Kiss.  This is one of the most beautiful love poems or songs written of all time.  The poem is read by Allison’s (Time-not-Cash) fiancé, Malcolm.

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;

Ae fareweel, alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.
Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
While the star of hope she leaves him?
Me,

nae cheerful twinkle lights me;

Dark despair around benights me.
 
I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy,
 

Naething could resist my Nancy:

But to see her was to love her;
Love

but her, and love for ever.

Had we never lov'd sae kindly,
Had we never lov'd

sae blindly,

Never met-or never parted,
We had ne'er been broken-hearted.
 
Fare-thee-weel, thou first and fairest!
Fare-thee-weel, thou best and dearest!
Thine be ilka joy and treasure,
Peace, Enjoyment, Love and Pleasure!
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!
 

Ae fareweel alas, for ever!

Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.

 

After the show’s theme music is the musical rendition by Kev Thompson who has kindly given permission for me to share this with you.  You can find Kev Thompson’s music on iTunes.  His website is http://www.burns250.co.uk/

The tune is Ae Fond Kiss from the collection Love and Liberty (Songs of Burns) featuring Kevin Thompson and Ross Hunter.  Available on iTunes. 

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

1 comment:

Nancy/Aizome said...

What a sweet photo of your cardinals! We thoroughly enjoyed this episode here. FWIW, I gravitate to K2, P1 ribbing on socks. Swooning over your sweater collection photo!

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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.