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

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

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Episode 247 Sans Serif

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site for current and past episodes. Flash Player is not compatible with Internet Explorer. Try a different browser like Safari. Or jaunt on over to iTunes to find the show there.

This episode is sponsored by Quince & Co and Knitcircus Yarns.

At Quince & Co all of our wool yarns are 100% grown, processed, spun, dyed, twisted, and labeled here in the USA. Our yarns are springy, they’re soft, and you’ll love knitting with them. For summer knitting check out our organic linen and cleaner cotton yarns and designs for them.  www.quinceandco.com.

Knitcircus celebrates fun, a passion for knitting, and the delight of beautiful yarn. Have you seen our Alice in Wonderland Collection with gradients such as Curiouser and Curiouser, Drink Me, and Off with Their Heads? Add in a set of Mad Hatter Stitch Markers while you’re at it. Find us at www.knitcircus.com.

Knitting Pipeline is a Craftsy Affiliate. I enjoy taking Craftsy classes and have learned so much while taking them at my own pace. If you visit my blog prior to purchasing a class or supplies I receive credit for it. Thank you!

You can also find me here:

Ravelry: PrairiePiper Feel free to include me in your friends.

Instagram: knittingpipeline

Twitter: knittingline




Pipeliner Notes

There is a new iTunes Review this week by Bedesisters. Thank you so much.

Events

Friday April 29, 2016
10:00 AM to ?
You are invited to join Sarah, Bronwyn, and Paula at
·        Ph: 309-319-7692
·        Address: 1206 Towanda Ave,Ste 1
·        Bloomington, IL 61701
Knitting Pipeline Maine and Cornerstone Retreats will be opening up as soon as I can manage. Subscribe to the show or the blog or the groups on Ravelry for information. Thanks!
Announcing Geeky Puffin Knit Palooza

C.C. and Dami Almon (Geeky Girls Knit) and I (KnitRunDig) are hosting our second retreat in the UK - Geeky Puffin Knit Palooza. It will be from 10-13 November 2016 in Farnham, Surrey. We have some amazing teachers including Rachel Brown of Porpoise Fur, Joeli of Joeli Creates, Louise Tillbrook of Louise Tillbrook Designs and Tara Swiger of Taraswiger.com. We also have some fantastic vendors signed up.

More details and application forms can be found at geekypuffinknitpalooza.com

Thank you very much,
Sam

Nature Notes

Today, April 26, is the day our woods filled in to the point that we cannot see to the other side of the ridge. We are always excited and surprised how quickly this happens. Last week when I talked to you there was barely any green on the trees and already, a week later, it is so different.

Today I had a first. About 10 AM I saw a blue bird outside and my initial reaction was that it was an Indigo Bunting which we see quite frequently. Upon closer observation I saw that the bird was larger (though skinnier), had a different beak, and also had rust colored wings. It was a Blue Grosbeak! I’ve never seen one before as they are unusual here but it was unmistakable. I had been trying to identify a bird song deep in the woods the past couple of days and I thought I might have solved that riddle but it wasn’t.  The distribution map on the Cornell site shows that we are way north of the summer breeding territory.

Sunday I was sitting out on the deck and I observing some courtship behavior of the Black Capped Chickadee.

Guide to Bird Behavior by Don and Lillian Stokes.

We’ve just celebrated another Earth Day. Take Pride in Washington. This is a selfie my husband took with his long arm.
Selfie taken with my husband's extra long arms. 

Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find resources of strength that will endure as long as life lasts
--Rachel Carson

Needle Notes

Sans Serif by Elizabeth Doherty


Quince & Co Lark Color: Dogwood. I used 9 skeins.



Sans Serif by Elizabeth Doherty


See, it fits!




Button detail



Button Sewing Tutorial is here.



Rowing out is the term knitters sometimes use to describe when a row of knit or purl is unequal in size to its counterpart.

Elizabeth’s video is here https://vimeo.com/83384586

Elizabeth Doherty’s blogpost is here. Wrong Side Tracks


In The Pipeline

Quince’s How To Knit Kit isnow available. The kit contains everything needed for one's first foray into knitting! Packaged in a lovely wooden presentation box, the kit includes a copy of Knit: First Stitch/First Scarf, 2 skeins of our Aran weight Osprey yarn (in choice of 5 colors), a pair of straight wooden knitting needles in size US 10 (6 mm), and a tapestry needle.

Share the gift of knitting—
shop for our new book and kit today.

Quince & Co Phoebe
My sweater's worth of Phoebe in the color way Mercury

Phoebe comes in a tonal-dyed palette of nine colors, with just a touch of variegation. We named the colors after the planets in our own solar system, because knitting with Phoebe is an otherworldly experience. More info

Reading

A Homesteader’s Year on Deer Isle by Anneli Carter-Sundqvist


The Portable Veblen by Elizabeth McKenzie (Jan 2016)*****

Haste ye back!

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Episode 246 Cumbria, Hill Top Shawl, and EYF2016

More photos of the retreat and EYF in this post

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site for current and past episodes. Flash Player is not compatible with Internet Explorer. Try a different browser like Safari. Or jaunt on over to iTunes to find the show there.

This episode is sponsored by Quince & Co and Knitcircus Yarns.

At Quince & Co all of our wool yarns are 100% grown, processed, spun, dyed, twisted, and labeled here in the USA. Our yarns are springy, they’re soft, and you’ll love knitting with them. For summer knitting check out our organic linen and cleaner cotton yarns and designs for them.

Knitcircus celebrates fun, a passion for knitting, and the delight of beautiful yarn. Have you seen our Alice in Wonderland Collection with gradients such as Curiouser and Curiouser, Drink Me, and Off with Their Heads? Add in a set of Mad Hatter Stitch Markers while you’re at it. Find us at www.knitcircus.com.

Knitting Pipeline is a Craftsy Affiliate. I enjoy taking Craftsy classes and have learned so much while taking them at my own pace. If you click on the link in the sidebar here before purchasing a class or supplies I receive credit for it. Thank you!

You can also find me here:

Ravelry: PrairiePiper Feel free to include me in your friends.

Instagram: knittingpipeline

Twitter: knittingline







Events


You are invited to join Sarah, Bronwyn, and Paula at



Friday April 29, 2016

10:00 AM to ?



·        Ph: 309-319-7692

·        Address: 1206 Towanda Ave, Bloomington, IL 61701

Nature Notes

When I visited Scotland, the weather was quite similar to what we had at home. Bulbs were just starting to bloom in a few places. As I rode on the train south to Cumbria I could definitely see a difference  in that there was a lot more green and more flowering bulbs. In the little village where Helen hosted the retreat we were able to take walks along the roads, seeing sheep and other farm animals.

Several weeks later, here at home, we can finally say that spring is here as the temperatures are higher. This is definitely one of the coldest springs I can remember but it seems we have turned the corner. Yesterday, April 18, I heard one of my most favorite birds singing—the House Wren. Last year our wrens nested very late in the season and I guess they are making up for it as this is the earliest I can ever remember seeing a house wren. The bubbling trill of a house wren can be heard throughout the day. They are the first birds to settle down in the late afternoon and among the first to sing in the morning. In placing a wren house I read a long time ago that the ideal location is about 8 ft high in an apple tree. We don’t all have such an ideal spot so between 6 to 8 feet in an area with vegetation but space around the house is attractive. Wrens are known to nest in old boots, hanging flower baskets, and other unusual objects. They like it a little rough. Keep your wren house unpainted and weathered.

We do believe we have bluebirds nesting in our bluebird house that we put up last spring. Bob bought mealworms (dried) and has been putting them out near the bluebird house. I practiced my pipes today by walking in the woods. Spring Beauties cover the woods floor. Among the flowers that herald spring for me, daffodils and spring beauties are right at the top of the list. There are also trillium, violet, May Apples and Sweet William although the latter two aren’t blooming yet. Spring Beauties, Claytonia virginica, are a small flower that looks white from a distance but when you get closer there are quite a few that have pink stripes and some that are mostly pink. The little pistils are also pink. I’ve read that the tubers are edible and taste a bit like sweet radishes. I have not tested them out and probably won’t although we have enough spring beauties out there to fill a large salad bowl.http://d.adroll.com/cm/f/outhttp://d.adroll.com/cm/b/outhttp://d.adroll.com/cm/w/outhttp://d.adroll.com/cm/x/outhttp://d.adroll.com/cm/l/outhttp://d.adroll.com/cm/o/outhttp://d.adroll.com/cm/g/out?google_nid=adroll5http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/0/?label=null&guid=ON&script=0&ord=6900673630844407http://ib.adnxs.com/seg?add=2695194&t=2http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/0/?label=null&guid=ON&script=0&ord=6900673630844407
Spring Beauty

Everything new and pure in the very prime of the spring when Nature’s pulses were beating highest, and mysteriously keeping time with our own! John Muir Atlantic Monthly Dec 1912.
Spring Beauty

May Apple

Trillium about to bloom

Needle Notes

Correction on last episode from Maddigram: Blue Socks that Rock River Rocked colorway (100% merino) It is Superwash but has no nylon.

Hill Top Shawl by Helen Stewart


Hill Top Shawl by Helen Stewart


In The Blethering Room

Curioushandmade Country House Retreat


Edinburgh Yarn Festival

See photos in previous post.


In The Pipeline



The Wool Barn Smooth Sock colorway Succulents


Eden Cottage Harewood 4 ply Antique Rose and Steel

Aisling by Justyna Lorkowska

Holyrood by Justyna Lorkowska




Snail Yarn Merino Twist (Italy) Neptune Colorway
Haste ye back!


Cumbria and Edinburgh Yarn Festival Photos

I am posting photos of the Curioushandmade Country House Retreat and Edinburgh Yarn Festival here separately so the show entry isn't too loaded for those who have slower downloads.



Walk along the lane near Melmerby Hall



Helen, Mette, Ingrid, and Susan on our walk




Melmerby Hall

Along the way to the pub



On the grounds of Melmerby were some very large oak trees and stands of snowdrops.


Snowdrops
Narrow gate to Melmerby Hall


Nearby churchyard in the early morning

church portal

Gate to church








Paula, Helen, Mina, and Danie


Mette and others making Magic Cakes


Our big table where we sat for knitting and eating breakfast and lunch.

Parlor with fireplace



Shepherd's Inn must have been named for us.


Pub o'clock was Fun o'clock




Pub flowers. Yes, they are fresh.




Sheep in front of the hall on the last morning.  They came right up to the door.




Eden Cottage Yarn


Eden Cottage Yarn

Eden Cottage Yarn


Stephen West sighting. Easy peasy.

Paula, Claire from NHKnits, and Helen

Paula, Zelia, and Louise of Caithness Craft Collective


Our flat mates at the ceilidh.

Amy, my dancing partner, and me at the ceilidh




Ella and Paula at the Podcaster Lounge

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.