Episode 12 Each One Teach One

Simple Fall Pleasures!  Pumpkins!  I did not photograph the Apple Cider Doughnuts.

Paula's Public Service Announcement about Butterflies

Support butterflies by joining the North American Butterfly Association.  Membership starts at $30 per year and includes subscriptions to North American Butterflies and Butterfly Gardening.
 The following two practices are not acceptable:
1) releasing butterflies at weddings or other public events
2) capturing butterflies, killing them, and pinning them...for ANY reason.  The only butterflies that should be pinned are ones that are found dead, but I personally would not want to do that either.

Fiber Weekend with Emily, Cecelia, and Lauren
See photos on my other blog...

• We used the Learn to Knit Coin Purse Kit from Pick Up Sticks to make felted coin purses for the first project.
• Tooley Owl is a good beginner project.  Pattern is by Amanda Berry for $2.99 on Ravelry.
• Share your ideas on teaching knitting on the Knitting Pipeline Podcast Ravelry Board.

• Bamboo Circular Needles in various lengths from Karen Poulakos Fiber Arts Studio, Springfield IL(217) 787-6589  or karen@ArtOfSpinning.com  The ones I bought at Stitches were about $2 each!  Very nice for teaching beginners or for anyone who likes bamboo.

More Easy Shawl Patterns

Boneyard by Stephen West  (Free)
Flourish: A Knitted Triangle by Rose Beck (DK Weight)
Tuscany Shawl from No Sheep for You
Cedar Leaf Shawlette by Alana Dakos  (also DK weight)
198 Yards of Heaven by Christy Verity (Free)

In the Piping Circle

September 18 Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums will be performing all day at the Celtic Highland Games in Davenport IA, Centennial Park.

Knitting Tips

• Use a music stand to hold your chart or pattern
• Thoughts on merging markers and lifelines.

Do you know the term "myndbyrn"?  If so, please illuminate.  It is probably Old Norse.

Episode 11 Elizabeth Writes On

Have you ever thought of starting your own online business. Sign up for your own Longaberger website for free!  Ask me for details.

Emptyknitster's turkeys with a visitor.  Hilarious blog post!

The main topic is when to persevere with knitting and when to shift gears.  See my Ravelry Projects Pages for links to patterms.  I am also starting a thread on Knitting Pipeline Podcast group on Ravelry so you can leave your suggestions.

Easy lace shawls for beginners:

• Elizabeth Zimmermann's Pi Shawl
• Elizabeth Zimmermann's Stonington Shawl
• Summer Flies by Donna Griffin (Free Pattern)
• Multnomah by Kate Flagg  (Free Pattern)
• Truly Tasha by Nancy Bush  (Free Pattern)  Truly for beginners.
• Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl by Cheryl Oberle
• Wool Peddler's Shawl by Cheryl Oberle.  One of my favorites! 

Shawl patterns but not lacey

• Mara
• Wool Weaver's Mini Shawl
• Fernwood Farm  (Paula's recipe)

Cindy's knitting tip was to use the plastic closures that come on bread bags to anchor your cast on tail.  This will keep you from accidentally knitting with it.  I suggest using an old pair of scissors to trim off the rough edges (the photo shows just how rough mine were.)

The plastic clip also works great as a bobbin for crochet cotton for life lines.

It takes up a lot less room in your knitting bag than a big ball of crochet cotton.

 I reviewed the Sept/Oct issue of Piecework Magazine.

The EZ Challenge for the month of August was that we set a goal to memorize a knitting technique that would improve our knitting.  The prize is a Longaberger tote in Botanical Fields. Among the techniques were:

• Weaving/Kitchener Stitch (4)
• Knitting backwards(2)
• Continental Knitting
• Knitted i-cord
• Sock heel technique
• Seaming (2)
• Charts
• Sewn bind-off (2)
• Russian Bind off
• Mattress Stitch
• Steeking
• Spindle spinning
• Colorwork
• Provisional crochet cast on

 The winner, chosen by Random Number Generator, is Pearlsgrand!  Please contact me with your mailing information.  Congratulations!

Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums will be performing at the Celtic Highland Games in Davenport IA on September 18th in Centennial Park.

"Let me warn you that a genuine interest in knitting can keep you fascinated, eagerly pursuing it, and never satisfied through a lifetime."  Rose Wilder Lane.

Stitches! and a Letter from Elizabeth Zimmermann

Paula and Char at The Stitches Market!

Shadow Knitting Class with Maureen Mason-Jamieson

Viv and Victoria--really fun people!

Stitches Midwest 2010 was my first big knitting event.  Wow!

Maia

I finished Maia by Rosemary Hill.  I love this shawl!  It is my first knitting projects with beads.  I used size 6 seed beads.  The shiny ones looked the best.  The yarn is Kashmir in the color Oh Ruby from The Woolen Rabbit.

Close up of part of Char's Nuno Felted Scarf.  It's beautiful! 

Char's project from Stitches Midwest.  A Nuno Felted Scarf taught by Judy Pascale.

Last week I talked about the death of Bill Millin, the piper who played on the beach at Normandy on D-Day.  He may have played "Blue Bells over the Border" or "Highland Laddie" or both.  Not that you were losing sleep over that.

Part 2 Elizabeth Zimmermann Notes

Three winners!  Please contact me with your addresses so I can post the beautiful wool prizes!

The Winners!

1. efbg won "Moody", the blue skein
2. Stringplay
3. Chris

I read two letters from Elizabeth Zimmermann written in 1977 and 1978.

Franklin, the wild turkey, created a little bit of drama this week.

In the Piping Circle

Bill Millin, the piper who played Highland Laddie, on the beach of Normandy on D-Day, died at age 88 on August 18, 2010.
Tribute to Piper Bill Millin

On August 14th 2010 the World Pipe Band Championship was held on Glasgow Green.  St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band won the competition.  It is the 100th anniversary of this well-known band from Dublin, Ireland.

Celtic Festival in Davenport IA  Sept 18 in Centennial Park.

Projects

Summer Flies

Summer Flies, modeled by our lovely daughter-in-law.

Maia Shoulderette by Rosemary (Romi) Hill

Photos next week!

Common Buckeye.  It's a great year for Buckeyes!

My 3 Cup Measuring Cup with ball of wool for Summer Flies Shawl.
This one is our Horizon of Hope Pink.

Episode 8 Elizabeth Zimmermann Notes

In this episode The Blethering Room is turned into The Blethering Zimmer.  I read several letters that Elizabeth Zimmermann wrote to me in 1977.  More to come in future episodes...

The fictitious character I refer to is Precious Ramotswe, daughter of the late Obed Ramotswe, and the owner and founder of The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency.  The author of the series of books that begin with The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency is Alexander McCall Smith.

The Danish knitting book, Hoensestrik  (the o actually has a slash through it and no "e" but I don't know how to type that letter on the blog.) by Kirsten Hofstatter.  ISBN 87-980272-0-4  1974

That famous signature.