Episode 75 Casting on and Other Beginnings

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This episode is sponsored by Quince & Co and Peddler’sWay Quilt Shop.

 If you are looking to support American goods, then you can start with Quince & Co with their beautiful and reasonably priced wools sourced in the US.  Check out Finch, their new fingering weight in colors inspired by nature.

Peddler’s Way Quilt Shop is a new sponsor of our show and our knitting Pipeline Retreat, March 2-3, 2012 in Washington IL.  The shop is located just about a mile from our retreat location just off the historic Washington Square.  Peddler’s Way Quilt Shop is practically at the back door of those of you staying at The Cornerstone Inn Bed and Breakfast.  On the second floor of this 6,000 sq ft store is a fiber section with an array of fine quality yarns, books, and needles.

  

Pipeliner Notes

 I read letters from Peg and Dana. 

Fundraiser for Autism Speaks: Erin of Mommy Needs Yarn has designed a sock pattern! No More Tears.  All of the proceeds from its $5 sale will go to Autism Speaks.  Erin is hosting a KAL/Knitalong in February. 

Knitting Pipeline Retreat!

  We still have room for you! 

March 2-3, 2012 (Friday night and all day Saturday)

Crossroads United Methodist Church, 1420 N Main St., Washington IL 61571

$50 for all or $40 for Sat only.  Includes Fri nite meal, light breakfast on Sat, and Saturday lunch.

Make check payable to Paula Emons-Fuessle

Mail to: Knitting Pipeline Retreat

PO Box 549

Washington IL 61571

Nature Notes

A Naturalist Buys an Old Farm by Edwin Way Teale c 1974.

 Trail Wood Landand house donated to Connecticut Audubon Society.

Every bit of this book is a gem, to be read slowly, as one might walk a favorite trail in the woods.

James Gates Percival  b 1795

Oddly enough, this man has fallen into near obscurity and it is now my personal mission to elevate his position.  Not really.

1835 accepted appt by Gov of CT to conduct a geological survey of the state of CT.

~James Gates Percival The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work.

Needle Notes

Sarah’s Make Up Yarn from Episode 74.  Kathy in Switzerland wrote to me about Schulana Wolle.

This is what Sarah made with the ball of Schulana...and it only took 35 minutes to knit. 

 "Twistin' the Night Away" by Susan Menashe  

Mildred Mitts is up on Ravelry as a free pattern. Test knitted by Mildred and some of the knitters in my class at The Blend. 

Fabric Labels for your knitting

Annabel Babe Cardigan and At First Sight by Laura Linnemann went to St.Louis to a baby shower.  I have this way of crashing baby showers.  I send gifts even when I am not invited.

The label is sewn inside near the bottom of the sweater.

The new mom is a knitter and knows her wool.

I stitched up a bag to send it off in!

I used Aizome’s method for labels.  Quick and easy!  I like the looks of it.  I used Calibri font in pt 12. 

FO:  Piper’s Journey #2 is finished.

Cost to knit this shawl in Quince & Co Chickadee is about $21  ($6.90 per 50 g skein)  Other yarn weights will work.  Bronwyn used fingering weight and reserved half the skein for the border.

Charr, Bronwyn, and Sarah in my kitchen.

Charr and Bronwyn wearing their Piper's Journey Shawls.  Charr's is in Quince & Co Chickadee in the Delft colorway.  Bronwyn's is in fingering weight.

My Piper’s Journey #2 is in Split Pea. photo coming later.

Do as I say not as I do.  On the edging do not slip first stitch on the outside of the border.  I thought I could get away with it even though I wrote the pattern and said not to do it. 

Piper’s Journey KAL will start as soon as the pattern is released.  Pipersjourneykal tag

In the Pipeline 

Ten Stitch Twist by Frankie Brown. 

Upcoming KALs:

Spectra by Stephen West hosted by 2 Knit Lit Chicks

Laura Linnemann’s Mystery Mitten KAL starts Feb 12^th

Listening to new podcasts: 

Lavender Bear’s Tea Time.  Video cast.  Just watched introductory episode so far. 

TVknittingpodcast by StitchMistress (audio) 

Knitting Brooklyn by Jessica jpeled (audio)

 The Blethering Room 

Knitting Classes coming along.  Students are excited about ribbing!

Tammy of The Proverbial Knitter has a tutorial on Long Tail Cast on in Rib.  Tammy is a fantastic teacher.  I am going to copy her way of explaining how to do the long tail cast-on. 

Review Notes

Iknit Needle Sizer  

.99  Not perfect but definitely useful and worth the price.

Knit Handy 

Knit Handy helps estimate how much yarn you need for a project.  Wonderful tool!  Definitely worth the price!  Easy to use.

One of the Last poems written by Robert Burns: 

Oh Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast

by Robert Burns
(1759-1796)  

Oh wert thou in the cauld blast,
On yonder lea, on yonder lea,
My plaidie to the angry airt,
I'd shelter thee, I'd shelter thee;
Or did misfortune's bitter storms
Around thee blaw, around thee blaw,
Thy bield should be my bosom,
To share it a', to share it a'.

Or were I in the wildest waste,
Sae black and bare, sae black and bare,
The desart were a paradise,
If thou wert there, if thou wert there.
Or were I monarch o' the globe,
Wi' thee to reign, wi' thee to reign,
The brightest jewel in my crown
Wad be my queen, wad be my queen.

Thanks for listening and haste ye back!

Episode 33 Of Lice and Men

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Quince & Co is a sponsor of Knitting Pipeline.  Visit them to find beautiful, natural fiber yarns from American sheep and responsible non-domestic sources.
Thank you for your prayers and greetings for my mom and her recovery.  Her arm is healing and it looks as if she will not need surgery. 

Imagine!  An entire podcast episode revolving around the lowly and despised louse.  Crazy as it sounds  I will link Traditional Norwegian Knitting, a Scottish Poet, and an American Poet.

I give a short background on the Norwegian Setesdal Sweater, also known as Luskofte, literally "Lice Jacket".  The sweater tradition started about 1860 in Setesdal, a region in southern Norway.  The Luskofte is somewhat of a Norwegian national costume and the hallmark of Norwegian knitting.

To a Louse by Robert Burns is read by Alan Wood, friend of Louise Hunt of the Caithness Craft Collective Podcast.  You can find Louise's delightful podcast on iTunes or Podbean.  Thank you, Louise and Alan.

If you want to read more about the poem, check it out here.
To a Louse Interpretation

Robert Frost (1874-1963) was an American Poet with Scottish and English ancestry.  This is one of his lesser known poems.

A Considerable Speck by Robert Frost

My Book Recommendations for Norwegian Knitting

If you want to knit a Norwegian Drop Shoulder Sweater you can get the design information and charts from Elizabeth's Zimmermann's Knitting Without Tears, Knitting Workshop, or Knitting Around.  All are available from Schoolhouse Press and other booksellers.  Any one of these books will give you all the information you need.

For more background in Scandinavian Knitting I recommend Sheila McGregor's The Complete Book of Scandinavian Knitting.  The reprint by Dover is called Traditional Scandinavian Knitting.

Norwegian Knitting Designs by Annichen Sibbern Bohn is no longer in print.  If you can get your hands  on a copy, it is a little gem of a book.

The newest addition to my Scandinavian knitting book library is, Setesdal Sweaters: The History of the Norwegian Lice Pattern by Annemor Sundbo.  Torridal Tweed.  2001.  Available from Schoolhouse Press.

I found some photos of my first Norwegian Drop Shoulder Sweaters and other Elizabeth Zimmermann designs.

Our Family at home in 1984 with everyone wearing my handknits.  Bob is wearing EZ's Hand to Hand.  I am wearing a Norwegian Luskofte.  Torben is wearing an Aran Vest.  Nils and Peter are wearing raglan sweaters with a texture pattern in the yoke, made using the EPS. (Elizabeth Zimmermann Percentage System.)

In front of our old house where we lived for 25 years.  (Sniff.)

Torben age 9 in his Norwegian Lus Vest. 1987



Torben age 10 in another Norwegian Style Drop Shoulder Sweater. 1988



Stranded Knitting Tutorial

Needle Notes

My finished project turned out lousy (groan).  These are the felted Baby Slippers from Knitting at Home by Leanne Prouse, a book that was reviewed in Episode 29.  Bronwyn helped me with the Bickford method of sewing the pieces together.  They should probably go through the washing machine again but nothing is really going to help that colorwork. Felting is really not my thing but I'm going to attempt the French Press Slippers before throwing in the towel.

After Mom fell my Norwegian Sweater went into hibernation for a week.  I started on a new project (shawl) which I will share next week.  I also picked up a pair of socks that had been in hibernation since June.

In the Piping Circle

Bruce Gandy, World Champion Piper, plays a set from his album My Father's Son.  Order the CD from Bruce's website.  Thank you, Bruce Gandy!

Thank you for listening to the podcast and for visiting the blog!

Episode 29 A New Favorite Bind Off

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My New Favorite Bind Off

This is similar to the bind off on the Ishbel Shawl but not in purl.  This is the bind off used in Pogona by Stephen West/Westknits.

Designs mentioned in this episode
Ishbel by Ysolda Teague  (bind off is similar to the one above only in purl)
Boneyard by Stephen West (free)
Daybreak by Stephen West (currently on my needles)
Simple Yet Effective Shawl by Laura Chau (free)
Baby Sophisticate by Linden Down  (free)
Simple Things by Mary-Heather Cogar
Knitted Cap Patterns for patients undergoing treatment.  Thank you, Mandikat!
Knots of Love

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions for cap patterns for chemo patients!

Nature Notes

I saw a Common Redpoll at the feeder on 1/20/11.  We've been hearing the drumming of the Pileated Woodpecker, which is our largest woodpecker.  They are shy birds but are occasionally seen near the house. 

On Netflix Instand Watch:  John James Audubon 55 min documentary from PBS American Masters Series.

Needle Notes

This is the Lacey Ladies Cap I gave to my friend.  Another one is in the works.

News Flash on Friday!  It fits her!

Simple Things

A Pogona Pose
This was one of "pensive poses" that made me laugh so hard I could barely take the photo without shaking the camera.

Another pair of "Those Mitts".  #7 I think.

Pogona as it was blocking on the guest bed.  I need blocking wires.  The pins don't work here.

No-Purl or Garter Stitch Patterns suggested by Pipeliners on Ravelry. 

Addabootees by Elizabeth Zimmermann  $1.00
Felted Clog by Bev Galeskas  $7.95
Bear Claw Blanket by Veronik Avery
Mothed by Mags Kandis (free)
Chocolate, Vanilla, Swirl Baby Blanket by JamieKnits (Free)
Ten Stitch Twist Blanket by Frankie Brown  (free with a suggested charity donation)
Johanna Maria Shawl by Elsa Maria Baerentsen
Pimpelliese by Christine Ebers (free)
Favorite Garter Cardi  by Anne Lecrivain-Cozzoli  Creative Knitting 2010
Garter Diamonds Shawl by Lois S. Young Creative Knitting Nov 2010

In the Piping Circle
The Burns Supper 2011

Robert Burns was born on Janury 25, 1759 in Alloway, Scotland.  People all over the world celebrate his birth each year with a dinner and an evening of ceremony.

George in his Baby Sophisticate Sweater.



Meat Pie, Neeps, Haggis, Peas, Tatties



Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums.  Burns Supper 2011

These are Those Mitts made for me by Charr.  Don't they work great with our Flower of Scotland Tartan?

Norwegian Sweater Knit Along

Twila is going to use Cully's Norwegian Sweater, child size, to make a sweater for charity.
I ordered from Quince & Co. for a man's large 44" (tall) sweater

Chickadee (sport weight)

• 12 (50 g) balls Crow (black)  Probably only need 10
• 7 (50 g) balls Egret (natural White)  probably only need 5

Leave your name in the comment section to be in the drawing for an autographed copy of Faith Hope Love Knitting by Lorna Miser.

Book Notes

Knitting at Home: 60 Classics from Ella Rae Designs by Leanne Prouse.  2010

The book sets  relaxed mood and has a wide array of patterns.  Instructions assume some knitting intelligence, which is refreshing.  All projects use Ella Rae yarn but substitutions are easy, especially because most of the designs are not fitted.  While I do not consider this a "must have" for my library, it would be a welcome addition. Recommended.

Music

"Ye Banks and Braes O' Bonnie Doon"

Lyrics by Robert Burns

Sung by Shira Kammen from A Celebration of Robert Burns.  Magnatune.

Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon

How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair?

How can ye chaunt, ye little birds

And I sae weary full o' care?

Ye'll break my heart, ye warbling bird

That wantons thro' the flow'ry thorn

Ye mind o' departed joys

Departed never to return.

Oft hae I roved by bonnie Doon

To see the rose and woodbine twine

And ilka bird sang o' its love

And fondly sae did I o' mine

Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose

Full sweet upon its thorny tree

And my fause lover stole my rose

But ah! he left the thorn wi' me.