Episode 82 That Pesky Purl

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This show by sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business and Quince& Co.

The folks at Quince & Co believe that businesses can be good citizens—should be good citizens—without making too much a fuss about it. So, they have created a line of thoughtfully conceived yarns spun from American wool or sourced from earth friendly overseas suppliers. Find them at www.quinceandco.com and while you are there, sign up for their free e-newsletter.

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

BostenJen has a new podcast called Down Cellar StudioPodcast.

Erin, MommyNeedsYarn has video from the Knitting Pipeline Retreat on her show.  Episode 48 RetreatRecovery  Thank you, Erin! 

Pipeliner Notes

I read notes from Hybridgirl and Silverbell.

Bronwyn wrote on the group thread:

 I guess we’re all spun from the same sheep, knit from the same skein.

Nature Notes

80 degrees the past few days

Why a warm winter does not mean more insects in summer.

Spring Visitors:  Pileated Woodpecker

Franklin the Wild Turkey takes a few pecks at the window.

The peepers are back!

Flocks of blackbirds

Every day that is born into the world comes like a burst of music and rings the whole day through, and you make of it a dance, a dirge, or a life march, as you will.
Thomas Carlyle

Needle Notes

SpinunLady wrote about the Purl Stitch being larger, a question Charr posed last week.

Ysolda Teague Little Red in the City

The Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons Hiatt

The Principles of Private Detection by Clovis Andersen in Alexander McCall Smith’s #1 Ladies Detective Agency.  I read a short passage from Blue Shoes and Happiness.

Piper’s Journey KAL

Warm enough in March to sit on the deck and knit!

In The Pipeline

Listening this week:

CaithnessCraft Collective, Fiber Beat, Knit Knit Café, Knitting Brooklyn, Positively Overcommitted, and A Playful Day.   Thanks to A Playful Day for a mentioning Knitting Pipeline on her show.

Knitting:

Socks.  Austermannwool Step Classic had two knots, both of which landed on the heel and heel flap!

Hyla Brook final sample for Quince and Co.

Cardigan for me?   NantucketJacket by Norah Gaughn

 Paulie by Isabelle Kraemer 

The Lady Edith by Carrie Steinmetz

Susan B Anderson toys  McHenry and Fat Robin

Watching

Watched Anatomy of Knitting.  Erin is either switching to video or doing both.

Lie to Me  Tim Roth and Kelli Williams  

The Good Wife

Project Runway All Stars

Owl Cam: The Hidden World.  Ward and June Barred Owls.   2 hours.  Ward is getting frustrated, is worried,   Learned:  some owls are a lot busier during the day than you might think. 

The Blethering Room

A Visitor surprised me when I was playing my pipes by the creek.

In The Piping Circle

St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow!  I will tweet.

Music

Dutch Pipes and Drums

In Concert

Haste ye back!

Episode 61 Let the Shaelyn KAL Begin!

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Thank you to Quince & Co for sponsoring this podcast episode.

Two wound skeins of Quince & Co Chickadee Carrie's Yellow.  Ready for Shaelyn Cast on!

Nature Notes

 

Tracks & Trails Newsletter of Forest Park Nature Center in Peoria IL Fall Migration Challenge which gave me some things to think about. Here are some of the ways that we humans can help birds and other animals.

• Turn off outdoor lights when possible to avoid confusing the birds.
• Provide birdfeeders, birdbaths, and nestboxes.  Due to land development there are not as many natural sources for animals.  We starting feeding in all our feeders about a week ago despite the chipmunks.
• Plant native plants.
• Reduce litter.
• Reduce toxic pesticides and herbicides.
• Help birds avoid window collisions with stickers, decals, window birdfeeders, or curtains.

Whooping Cranes in Florida Class of 2011 Whooping Crane Chicklets will be making their first migration with the help of an ultralight.  Migration starts on October 8, 2011.

No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace

As I have seen in one autumnal face.

~John Donne

My path to the compost bin.  Isn't it lovely?

In my Pipeline

•  Radiance Shawl by Helen Stewart
• Magrathea by Martina Behm
• Afterthought Heel Hiking Socks using pattern by Laura Linneman
• Shaelyn by Leila Raabe

JanMarie suggested I overdye the socks with too much yellow, idea which had crossed my mind.

Needle Notes

 Fawl Shawl KAWL for AWL update

Tag for your project:  knittingpipelinekal2011

Name of Project  Fawl Shawl KAWL for Awl  or Fall Shawl KAL for All

Shaelyn by Leila Raabe 

Most successful KAL we’ve had so far.  It’s not too late to jump in.

330 yds IS enough sport weight.  My cost to knit Shaelyn in Quince & Co Chickadee is $14.00.  A bargain!

Beginning of Shaelyn.  Fun!  Color is Carrie's Yellow.  It is richer than the photos indicate.

Marker shows beginning of lace pattern.  I explained on the thread on the board how to read your lace so you know when to start another band of lace (without counting rows.)

I did a video tutorial of the garter tab cast on.  I forgot to mention in last week's episode on Garter Tab CO to use two double pointed needles.  This tip seemed to help a lot of knitters.

Lifeline Tip from Twinsetjan:

Instead of a thread for a lifeline use a long circular needle in a very small size.  Advantages are that if you have to frog (unravel) the stitches will already be on a needle.  Plus stitch markers do not get caught up in the lifeline.

I tried this method and I wasn't real fond of it (although I am fond of Twinsetjan!) but encourage you to try it for yourself!  I prefer using a blunt needle and fine crochet cotton for now.

The Blethering Room

 Wore my A Shawl Like Kate’s (Milk Run Shawl by Cat Wong) to the grocery store (Aldi).  Interesting experiences. 

Quince & Co has new colors.  Gray heathery colors called Iceland, kumlien’s gull, kittywake, sabine…in chickadee, lark, osprey, and lark.

Estelle Cardigan Update

October 15 is Wear Your Estelle Day.

Take a photo of yourself in your own town, workplace, home, etc.

We (Bronwyn) are going to make a photo collage.

For those of you who have not finished your Estelle please join us in the fun! Take a photo of yourself knitting on your Estelle and we will include it in the collage. 

Movie    The Big Year starring Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, Jack Black  release date Oct 14, 2011

Knitting Pipeline Retreat

March 2-3 Washington IL 

New development for the adventuresome knitters:  you may camp out at the facility!  Bring your own sleeping gear, towels, etc.  More info coming soon. 

October Rip Van Winkle Challenge 

Go through your Ravelry queue to find a project that has been asleep for a long time.  Or maybe you have been asleep while others have been knitting this project.  In your Ravelry queue you can see when you put projects in your queue.

Another mission for the overachievers out there:  go to your stash and try to find your oldest yarn and match it to an pattern in your queue. 

Product Review

Vogue Knitting Knitopedia: the Ultimate A to Z Guide

Sixth and Spring Books  2011  $34.95 US $41.95 CA

Comprehensive scope.  Oversize book.  Maybe not for every knitter's library but still an excellent book.

In the Piping Circle

Greg, Kevin, Paula

Paula, Kevin, Greg

Greg and Heather in foreground.  Tuning before the Walk.

Heather, Rob, Paula, Kevin in the tuning circle.

Music

Dutch Pipes and Drums.  In Harmony.  Track 8 

Salute to Royal Fendersmith, Corkhill, The Banjo Breakdown.

Thank you to our friends from Dutch Pipes and Drums!

Haste ye back!

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Episode 59 A Visit from Meghan

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Quince & Co Chickadee in Bird's Egg

Thank you to Quince & Co for sponsoring Knitting Pipeline.  Visit them at www.quinceandco.com

Meghan of Stitch It! Podcast came for a visit!  We baked whole wheat bread, ate soup, knitted, and did a podcast episode together.  We also had a Knitting on the Porch morning with Charr and Bronwyn.

Charr, Bronwyn, Paula, and honored guest, Meghan.  Knitting (and spinning) on the Porch Day.

Thank you to everyone who was in touch with me this past week.  I heard from new Pipeliners Simple Quiet Wisdom, Andrea, Gloria, PamelaJean, Liz, Ginger, Becky, and Sheryl.

There is a new review up on iTunes from KnitsLiketheWind.   Thank you, knitslikethewind, so much for your 5 star review.

Winners of Drawings 

The winners of the drawing for the Shaelyn pattern were announced last week and we actually had two people with the same name win.  Designer Leila Raabe graciously donated a fourth pattern so no one would be disappointed.   I will try to remember in the future to remind you to put your Ravelry name, email, or blog link in your post for the prizes so we don’t have any confusion.  Thank you, Leila.

Fawl Shawl KAWL for AWL update 

Shaelyn by Leila Raabe 

What is a KAL/Knit Along?  Sometimes you will see KAL/CAL (Crochet along)

Details vary but basically:

1. Choose a pattern or theme.
2. Set a date to start.  Sometimes have an ending date.
3. Share excitement, photos, questions, tips.

Our Fawl Shawl Kawl for Awl starts on October 1, 2011!

Estelle Cardigan Update

October 15 is Wear Your Estelle Day.

Take a photo of yourself in your own town, workplace, home, etc.  We’re going to make a photo collage!

Tip

Tip for frogging mohair or mohair blends from Lala/Laura of The Knit Girllls.

Put in freezer for a few days beforehand.  That will make the fibers less grabby and wanting to stick together.

Needle Notes 

In the pipeline:

Meghan is knitting Vivian by Ysolda Teague.  She's having some issues with the pattern.

I am knitting:

 Radiance Shawl by Helen Stewart
Magrathea by Martina Behm

Listen to the new audio podcast! 2KnitLitChicks… Barb and Tracey 

A Shawl Like Kate's 

My Reading Chair with new Reading Shawl.

• Milk Run Shawl by Cat Wong
• Free pattern
• Triangular, garter stitch with center spine and bell ruffle
• Quince & Co Chickadee in Birds Egg  7 skeins.  181 yds per skein  1,267 yds.  Ruffle took 400 yds.

Simplified ruffle by using simple M1.

Tip for counting stitches.  This is what I often do when I have a lot of stitches on the needle.

• I was aiming for 193 x 2 (two sides of triangle.) 
• On one side I marked off 150 stitches.  (both sides are the same so I only did a rough count on one.)
• There were no increases in this marked area of 150 since the increases were only on the edges and the middle.
• There were 4 stitches added on every right side row so I made a count down list.  (Photo is actually one from another shawl but you get the idea.)  This way I don't have to count all of the stitches; only the ones on either side of the marked set of 150. 

The Blethering Room

How do you get faster at knitting?

• It comes with practice.
• Try different methods and study knitters who are fast.
• Don’t worry about it too much.

How do you get past the stalled areas of uncompleted projects?

• Know your limits for WIP’s .  How many can you comfortable juggle at a time?
• Have safe/relief knitting when you are working on a more complicated project.
• Know your limits for keeping projects going.
• What is the reason for stalling in the first place?  Should this be frogged?

For an analytical approach visit the blog of Executive Knitter.

ExecutiveKnitting : Project Management One WIP at a time

Product Review: KA Needles (Bamboo)

Pink Feather Knitting

What a clever business card!  Diane gave these out at Sock Summit.  The wee needles can be used as a shawl pin.

• Made in Japan
• Very smooth.  Feels as if they are already broken in.
• Fixed, interchangeable, Straight, double points
• Swivel cable
• Affordable! Fixed Circular 36” is $10 

From the pinkfeatherknitting web site:

KA or Kinki Amibari premium bamboo knitting needles are made in Nara, Japan. More than 500 kinds of bamboo grows in Japan. KA uses only two of the finest, aged bamboo, that are superior in density, flexibility, color and gloss. Pinkfeather Knitting offers the full line of KA interchangeable knitting needles. Tips as small as US size 0 and as short as 2 inches. KA SWITCH system offers the widest range of options of any interchangeable...

These are the best bamboo/wooden circulars I have found so far. Meghan and I give them a 5 star rating!

Meghan likes Crystal Palace double points.  She has not tried Crystal Palace Circulars.

I like Clover double points but am not impressed with the circulars.

This just in (and not on the podcast!)

Special for Knitting Pipeline Listeners at www.pinkfeatherknitting.com :  Use promo code "piper" at checkout for $4 off shipping.  (That means FREE shipping in the U.S. and Canada).   International is usually $9 so would be $5!

Thanks to Meghan for visiting and co-hosting this episode!

Haste ye back!

 

Episode 58 Toasty Toes

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Thank you to Quince & Co for their continued support of this podcast.

Thank you to everyone who has friended me a second time.  There is a bug on Ravelry where people are randomly dropped off my friends list.  If you see that I have dropped off your list, please friend me again.

New Pipeliners!

Katie (rnmama), Jaja in Sweden, Tamara, Laura, Sharon, Katie (gumbygoogoo), Kate (sheepsymphony, Shannon, Camille, Rachel, Carol, and Karen from Denmark.  Karen lives in the town outside of Copenhagen where I learned to knit so I was thrilled to meet her on Ravelry. 

Thank you for the iTunes Reviews! Knitloon, storybookstory, PamelaJeanToo, and Mckkvi2476. 

The Winners of Shaelyn!

Congratulations!

Nancy=Aizome

Wendy7828

Louise 

Please contact me so Laila Raabe  (pronounced "Layla Rob", my apologies!) can send the pattern to you!
Letters from Kim and Scrappydoo shared the reason that Signature and other needles offer 4" tips!  Thank you!

Have a broken needle?  Check out the Jimmy Bean's Wool Broken Needle Exchange.
Jimmy Bean's Needle Exchange. Thank you, Joyceetta!

Nature Notes

Birds are migrating through.  We put up our tube feeder with safflower seeds, which the squirrels (and hopefully chipmunks) do not like. 

I share a favorite poem from my childhood.

Autumn Fires

Robert Louis Stevenson (from A Child’s Garden of Verses, 1885)

In the other gardens And all up the vale, From the autumn bonfires See the smoke trail! Pleasant summer over And all the summer flowers, The red fire blazes, The gray smoke towers. Sing a song of seasons! Something bright in all! Flowers in the summer, Fires in the fall!

Needle Notes

AfterThought Heel Socks by Laura Linneman

I used Knit Picks Felici Sportweight and incorporated Kid Seta (mohair/silk blend) in the toes for extra warmth.

Sock Surgery 101



Sock at left has toe reinforcement.  Sock on right does not.

Surgery begins on Not-as-warm Sock.

Toe is removed.

Both socks now have mohair/silk reinforcement for extra toasty toes.

The Truly Afterthought Heel Socks were made by snipping one stitch where the heel would be added.  I did not use waste yarn.  I knit the sock as a tube and finished the toe, then tried it on and marked where my ankle meets the top of my foot.  This is were I placed the heel.

It always feels good to use up left over yarn and come out with something useful.

I should have smoothed out the heel a bit before taking the photos.  See the slip stitch pattern?

I finally took photos of Textural Healing Shawl "in action". Model is Kelli Jo.

The Blethering Room

Our Fall Shawl KAL/Knit Along will start on October 1, 2011.  Feel free to join us whether you are an experienced knitter or a relative newbie!   If you have done some knitting but have not knitted a shawl or lace, this might be a good "first" for you. The pattern is Shaelyn by Leila Raabe. 

You will need:

• 330 or more yd Sportweight yarn and needles for a slightly loose gauge.  She recommends size 9 but I will probably use a 6.

A lighter yarn such as Fingering or a heavier yarn such as worsted will also work

If this is your first lace project then I highly recommend sport weight, dk or worsted WOOL.  Superwash is ok. 

There is a wide range of suitable yarns so feel free to go stash diving for this project!

I've decided to go ahead and use my Quince & Co Chickadee in Carrie's Yello, which is on the right side of the pile.  It is darker and richer than the photo shows.  

A few suggestions for sport weight:

Quince & Co Chickadee

Cascade 220 Sport

Madeline Tosh Pashmina

Knit Picks Stroll Sport or Telemark Sport

If you decide to go with a heavier wool you would theoretically need less yardage but not that much less so I would just go for the same amount.  In fingering/sock you will need more.

In the  Piping Circle

Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums competed at the Highland Games in Waukesha WI on Sept 3.  We improved!  We also played in Henry IL at a service to mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11.  Can you believe my own town had a 9/11 service and no one thought to call me?  They played recorded pipe music!  That is a shame when they could have had a REAL piper!  (I didn't put this in the podcast)

Music

 

When you left it was so quiet here.  We feel as we do when the swallows leave for the winter; that something beautiful and happy is now away from us.

 

---from a letter in 2002

 

Swallow's Return by Lydia McCauley from ForeignLander. www.magnatune.com

Haste ye back!

Episode 54 A Dishcloth Binge

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Thank you to Quince & Co for sponsoring this episode! www.quinceandco.com Sign up for their free e-newsletter.

Emily in The Kilkenny Cowl by Pam Allen.  Knitted in Chickadee in the Clay colorway.

Pipeliners

I heard from new pipeliners Carolyn and Jenn.   

There were two new 5 star reviews on iTunes.  Kitten Little and Lyn862.  Thank you so much for your kind reviews. 

Dilemma is the proper spelling.  Is "dilemna" a regional issue?  According to Common Errors in English Usage by Paul Brians "dilemna" with the "n" is clearly wrong!

Nature Notes

We finally have a break in the heat.  It was so wonderful to open up the house.   This morning it was in the 50’s when I went on my morning walk. It is noisy here with the grasshoppers and cicadas buzzing and chirping all day and most of the night.  I listened to the grasshoppers while knitting the Leafprints Shawl by Anne Hanson, and noted that the buzzing started up faintly at 8 AM and was quite a bit louder at 8:30 AM. 

On the Grasshopper and Cricket  

The poetry of earth is never dead:

When all the birds are faint with the hot sun,

And hide in cooling trees, a voice will run

From hedge to hedge about a new-mown mead;

That is the Grasshopper’s – he takes the lead

In summer luxury, - he has never done

With his delights; for when tired out with fun

He rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed.

The poetry of earth is ceasing never:

On a lone winter evening, when the frost

Has wrought a silence, from the stove there shrills

The Cricket’s song, in warmth increasing ever,

And seems to one in drowsiness half lost,

The Grasshopper’s among some grassy hills.

--John Keats  1795-1821

Needle Notes

I have 3 patterns that I go to when I feel a dishcloth frenzy coming on.  I have no idea what propels me to stop what I am doing and knit up a pile of dishcloths.  It is a nesting instinct that hits me every two years or so.

Mason-Dixon Knitting by Ann Shayne and Kay Gardiner.  These ladies are hilarious. 

Petal Dishcloth by Hazel Schrock
Waffle Dishcloth from Debbie at Homespun Living Blog.  Visit the Firefly Farm Goods!
Eloomanators Diagonal Knit Dishcloth.  Variation of Grandmother's Favorite.

Petal Dishcloths

Waffle Stitch Dish Cloth from Homespun Living

Eloomanator's Dishcloth

New one I tried.  It is just ok.
Holes and Ridges Knitted Dishcloth Debra Proctor USU Extension Agent.

Holes and Ridges

Peaches and Cream site  Cotton yarn
Knit Picks Dishie
Lily Sugar and Cream carried by Michael's and Wal-mart in my area.

Events

Stitches Midwest.  Meet me in the Market in the Concession/Snack Area about 11 AM on Friday, August 26th, 2011.  I will be arriving Thursday morning and leaving after lunch on Friday.

Knitting Pipeline Retreat March 2-3.  Details will be announced in late September.  The place is reserved as well as some local accommodations.

Blethering Room

Bronwyn is going ahead with her cardigan with the twist in it.  She knitted up a baby version of the sweater with the twisted join.  I think she can pull it off!  Check it out on our board on Ravelry under Episode 53.

Franklin the Turkey has been banging on the window occasionally.  He flew to the rooftop when Bob walked around back with our son's two dogs on leads.  He knows that dogs are more dangerous than people. 

High Note

The New Best Recipe: All New Edition by Cooks' Illustrated  $35 but $21.47 on Amazon.
A hefty volume that would be even heftier if it had photos of the food.  I love food photos!  Reliable, extensively tested recipes.  A must for my kitchen.

Foolproof Hard-Cooked Eggs from Best Recipes.  (my abbreviated version)  Put 6 eggs in a pot with water at least one inch above eggs.  (You can cook more eggs as long as the water is 1" over the top of the eggs. )Bring to a boil over high heat.  Turn off heat.  Cover and let sit for 10 min.  Meanwhile, fill a bowl with water and a tray of ice cubes.  Put the eggs in the ice water for 5 minutes.  Peel eggs from the blunt end.  Perfect!

These instructions from Simply Recipes are quite similar. 
Martha Stewart has her egg say here.

In the Piping Circle 

Celtic Cross is preparing for a competition on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend Sept 3 in Waukesha WI.

Harry Potter Fans take note.  You can learn to play Quittich at the Waukesha Games.

BBC World Pipe band Championships  Live streaming begins at 9:00 BST on Saturday August 13 that would be about 3 AM for those of us in the Midwest.  Later on you can catch video of the highlights.

Visit my business site at www.longaberger.com/paula. 

Thanks for listening.  Haste ye back!

Haste ye back!

Episode 48 A Soothing Shawlette

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Thank you to Quince & Co for sponsoring this episode of Knitting Pipeline.  10% off your order ($20 min) with code KP62011 through June 30, 2011!

Welcome to New Pipeliners 

Sally from Cleveland, Susan, Beverly, Leislknits, Jeri, Arlene, MontanaSue, and Kathy Green! 

Thanks to knitstersusan for the Thumbs Up iTunes Reviews!

I found out that I need to change my country on iTunes to see reviews from outside the U.S.  A big thanks to Canadian Pipeliners: Djdee, Debbie, Clementine 22, and KnittingJane.

KnittingJane wrote in her review:  My dad was born in Edinburgh and the skirl of the pipes always sends a shiver down my spine. 

I wonder about the word skirl since it I have only heard it used in relation to bagpipes.  Do any other musical instruments have words that describe their sound exclusively?   That is a question for Martha and Grant of A Way with Words.  Check out this show/podcast!  It is fantastic!

 Pipeliner News

Joy (nitiram on Ravelry) started Kevin Fan Club on our board.  Kevin is our good friend and the announcer on the podcast.  I will get him on the show soon!

Anna Lena's Evenstar Shawl won a Blue Ribbon at the County Fair. Well done! (Pattern by Susan Pandorf)

I read notes from Pipeliners Maggie H and Shanna about going into Squirrel Mode when packing for a trip.  Patti/Wombat knitter links to podcasts on Facebook as she listens.  Great idea! I’m going to do that also.  JanMarie’s note was so clever.  She thinks that I’d better watch out since my husband suggested the ruffle on LaLa’s Simple Shawl…he might be turning into the next Stephen West.  I love reading your notes!

Ravelry Notes

Michele from the Quad Cities friended me today and I responded that I thought we already were friends. Lately I’ve been friended by people on Ravelry and I am fairly certain we were already friends.  Maybe we’ve just corresponded enough that I felt we were.  Michele wrote, “I’m curious how people use their “friends” on Ravelry.  I figure this is a work in progress.”

On an earlier episode I told you how I use the friends feature on Ravelry but what about you?  Share your ways of using the friends feature and I will share your tips on the show.

Giveaway Notes

This week’s giveaway is a skein of Simply Fine in your choice of color from Green Mountain Spinnery.  Many of you wrote that you loved the color I had and hope to get the same.  The color that I reviewed is "Variegated".

The winner is Jeri who is Patternwhisperer on Ravelry. Jeri, please contact me and I will let you know how to claim your beautiful skein of Simply Fine.

Nature Notes

After a big thunderstorm early one morning I encountered a baby robin on the sidewalk.  The nest was too high to reach and the mother bird was sitting on the nest.  The bird was close to death.  At moments like these I remind myself that nature does account for such accidents of nature.  It sounds a bit callous but there is consolation in knowing that a bird lays a sufficient number of eggs to ensure survival.  The main factor that nature cannot control is mankind.  We need to do what we can to minimize damage.

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time. 

 --J. Lubbock.  British Statesman 1834-1913

Needle Notes

I finished my second And So Are You Shawlette by Rose Beck of RosyPosy Designs.   I love this cuddly shawl.  Finished measurements are 15" deep, 50" across and an astounding 11 ft from tip to tip along the outside border edge.

I used 30% of the total yardage for the border, which is 2".  The yarn is delicious Opulence from The Woolen Rabbit.  Colorway: Iris.

Tip

Take a load off your circular needles when you have so many stitches.  I was using Knit Picks Options Needles so I turned the one circular needle into two very long needles with the purple stoppers at one end of each needle. If you do not have interchangeable needles try using two circular needles even if one is not exactly the same size. Twist a rubber band around the non-working end of the needle. For a border such as this a slight difference in needle size would not make much difference and would probably be indetectable.

I continue knitting Triangular Summer Shawl by Nancy Bush.  I am getting pretty good at nupps now!

I started Stripe Study Shawl by Veera Valimaki.  The yarn is Quince & Co Tern in Stonington and Oyster.  Tern is a blend of merino wool and tussah silk.  So soft and wonderful to work with. Garter stitch goodness and a stripes are a combination I can hardly resist!

Ready to begin a new project!

Quince & Co Tern in Stonington and Oyster

Yes, the design is assymetrical.

The Blethering Room

I'm moving along on the Stash Dash 5K with The Knit Girllls.  My total yardage is now 2,354.  I will post over there soon.
I do not recommend knitting laceweight yarn on a small needle to try to use up stash!

In the Piping Circle

Singing Happy Birthday to Jose.

Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums competed in the Chicago Highland Games.  We were fortunate to have The Pipe Major of Dutch Pipes and Drums, Willie McVean, and his wife Jose (Yo-say) with us.  It was Happy Birthday to Jose at our band tents!  I gave her the Merope Shawl from Romi's Seven Small Shawls knitted with Woolen Rabbit Harmony in the Chiquita colorway.

Massed Bands after a long day at the Games.

Aren't these little tenor drummers the cutest things ever?
The two on the left have curly red hair with a red ribbon braided through their plaits.

In Piping our lifelines are our fellow bandmates, the other pipers and drummers.  When one piper falters another will pick up the slack.  We play as a team, just as a team in sporting events.

Remember to share how you use the Friend Feature on Ravelry.  Do you "drive by" friend?   Do you group your friends?  Share with me and I'll share your tips on an upcoming episode.

The tune is Morgan's Magan by Turlough O'Carolan performed by Healing Muses on the CD Dolce Musica.  www.magnatune.com

Haste ye back!