Episode 63 O' Hushed October

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This episode is sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business.  Always at home in your home.  www.longaberger.com/paula  Sign up for my newsletter for sales and specials by sending an email to Paulaef@aol.com. 

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Our Woods today

Nature Notes

October

By Robert Frost 1874–1963

 

O hushed October morning mild,

Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;

Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,

Should waste them all.

The crows above the forest call;

Tomorrow they may form and go.

O hushed October morning mild,

Begin the hours of this day slow.

Make the day seem to us less brief.

Hearts not averse to being beguiled,

Beguile us in the way you know.

Release one leaf at break of day;

At noon release another leaf;

One from our trees, one far away.

Retard the sun with gentle mist;

Enchant the land with amethyst.

Slow, slow!

For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,

Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,

Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—

For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

Tip from Pipeliner

Cat suggested using teflon tape for interchangeable needles that tend to come unscrewed.  Use a very small amount on the threaded part of the join.

Needle Notes

Radiance Shawl by Helen Stewart  760 stitches with Picot Purgatory

My project notes on Ravelry are here.

Semi circular shawl in laceweight.

Double in size with blocking.

Easy knit with panels of stockinette, garter, mesh, and spiral lace.  Lace patterns very easy and increases are at the end/beginning of each section so within the section you don’t have to deal with increases.

One of the best written patterns!  Includes a checklist.

At First Sight by Laura Linneman

My project notes are here.

Laura has donated 3 copies of the pattern to Pipeliners! Leave a comment below to enter the drawing.  Please include contact information...email address or Ravelry ID.  Thanks!

Magrathea...I finally took better photos.  If it isn't wrapped properly I could trip on it!

 In The  Pipeline

• Afterthought Heel Socks using pattern by Laura Linneman
• Nellie by Donna Higgins  (Rip Van Winkle Challenge for both yarn and pattern)
• Seamless Yoked Baby Sweater by Carole Barenys  (Rip Van Winkle Challenge for both yarn and pattern)

Shaelyn KAL (Knitalong) continues in The Pipeline.

Piecework Magazine Sept/October 2011  Literary issue.  8 literary inspired projects. Knit Hans Brinker’s Mittens.  Rowan Pure Wool DK  adult medium.

Did you knit an Estelle Cardigan?  We are making a photo collage! Email a photo of you in your Estelle to marthajhealy@gmail.com

Rip Van Winkle Challenge  October 1 through November 30th

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. 

KA Needle Promo from Pinkfeatherknitting!

$4 off shipping for all orders.  Shipping is normally $4 for U.S./Canada and $9 International so that means Free for some of us and $5 for others.  The offer is through October 31, 2011.  Use the promo code piper at checkout.  All lower case.  

 Product Review

Sock it To Me  available at Knit Picks

Music

www.magnatune.com

Waiting by Benji Goodrich.  Track 2 Oceans Apart.

Remember to leave contact information with your comment to enter the drawing!  The winners will be chosen when I do the podcast the last week of October,

If you send me an email to sign up for my Longaberger customer e-list please include name, address, and phone for my records.  Thanks!  The system likes to have this information with your name.  Your information will not be shared.  Thanks.  Send request to Paulaef at aol dot com 

Haste ye back!

View from my window today.  October 20, 2011.

Episode 62 Happy Mitten Day!

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Quince & Co

Nature Notes Video

According to the book Norwegian Handknits: Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum October 14th is Mitten Day!

Charr and Bronwyn joined me today to discuss Mitten Day, Rip Van Winkle Challenge, our Fawl Shawl KAWL for AWL (Shaelyn), Ravelry tips, and oh my, we did laugh a LOT!  There is a blooper clip after the show's theme music if you want to hear our contagious laughter.  Every time I listen to it I start laughing all over again.  You can find them on Ravelry as Charr and Bronwyndp, and of course the are both active on our Knitting Pipeline Group on Ravelry.

Giveaway!  There will be 9 winners!

Leave a comment below with your preference for one of the apps...please also list the devices you have.

JKnit Knitting Project Assistant app for iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad --

JKnit HD Knitting Project Assistant for iPad --

Knit Evenly Calculator for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

Patterns, Projects, and Links

Our Fawl Shawl KAWL for Awl continues!  Wave 2 starts on or around October 15th.  Bronwyn and Charr are still knitting Shaelyn and others are just beginning so feel free to join the fun!

I finished my Shaelyn by Leila Raabe.  I used 2 skeins of  Quince &  Co Chickadee in the colorway Carrie's Yellow.  Main Modification was that I doubled the length of the bottom lace border and added one garter ridge at the bottom of the lace.  I also used a simple backward loop instead of M1's.

Correction on TwinsetJan's tip for lifelines from last podcast.  Use a circular needle size 0000 or thereabouts.  Also, Jan says she threads the needle through the row below after knitting back.  Thanks, Jan.  I may try it again after I find a needle in this teeny tiny size!
Ocean City Shawlette by Nancy Whitman

Bronwyn on the sunporch...wearing Ocean City Shawlette and knitting Shaelyn.

A Better Bucket by Amy Swenson

Greta by Cheri Christian

Kelley Petkun's Mitten Class  (we forgot to talk about it, but check it out for mitten basics!)

Ravelry Guided Tips

Magrathea by Martina Behm.   Intriguing pattern.  Thanks to MicheleStitches for her help!  My Magrathea Project page.

Magrathea being blocked.  Outside edge is 11 feet!

Magrathea Lace detail

Arwen Keyhole Scarf by Tabitha's Heart Design

Nubby Noro Mittens by Annie's Woolens

Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig ( I said  I had knitted this one but it really was Whisper Cardigan)

Whisper Cardigan by Hannah Fettig

Radiance Shawl by Helen Stewart

Hitchhiker by Martina Behm

Norwegian Mittens by Elizabeth Zimmermann

Leafy Mittens by Arnhild Hillesland

Victorian Inspired Mittens by Beth Morimoto

Newfoundland Mitts by Traditional Design  (Free)  This is a wonderful mitten pattern.

Newfoundland Mitts.  Cozy and warm.

Leafy Mittens by Arnhild Hillesland

Leafy Mitten detail

Victorian Inspired Mittens by Beth Morimoto

October 15 is Wear Your Estelle Day.  (Estelle KAL)

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

Goldybear is going to put the collage together.  Thank you, Martha! Email your photos to marthajhealy@gmail.com

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

Rip Van Winkle Challenge  through November 30, 2011 

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. 

KA Needle Promo from Pinkfeatherknitting!

$4 off shipping for all orders.  Shipping is normally $4 for U.S./Canada and $9 International so that means Free for some of us and $5 for others.  The offer is through October 31, 2011.  Use the promo code piper at checkout.  All lower case. 

KA Needles at Pink Feather Knitting

Visit my Longaberger site to view beautiful and practical products for your home.  If your order is more than $150 be sure to place your order through me rather than the web site because you will receive an item of your choice at 1/2 price!

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 57 Twist, Steek, and Shout!

I apologize to those who have had trouble leaving comments on the blog.  I did some research and have changed the comment form which is supposed to help.  This is a glitch on Blogger and I have also reported it.

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site for current and past episodes.

Quince & Co offers a line of thoughtfully conceived yarns spun from American wool.  Sign up for their free e-newsletter.  Thank you to Quince & Co for sponsored this episode.

From our friends at Green Mountain Spinnery:
Spinnery will be donating the profits from our shop and on-line retail sales made from September 3 to September 11, 2011. Proceeds will go the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund. Expenditures from the fund will be used 100% for the unmet long term needs of survivors from the Irene disaster.

If you do not need to add to your yarn and pattern collection at this time but still would like to help
Here are two places to donate:

American Red Cross – Vermont and New Hampshire Valley Chapter
To donate online visit
http://www.vermontredcross.org/

The Vermont Disaster Relief Fund to donate online, go to http://www.vermont211.org/

It's all in The Blethering Room!

  Susan from Knitajourney Podcast visits me, along with my friend, Bronwyn. 

Paula, Susan, and Bronwyn

• My Kollage Circular Needle broke at the cable join.  There is a one year warranty and I just bought it at Sock Summit.  I just wanted to let you know because I still do prefer Kollage double points over most other brands but I am now cautious about the circulars.  I am going to contact Kollage so stay tuned.  Also, there will be wooden needles reviewed soon.

Stitches Recap.  One of the highlights for me was spending time with Meghan of the Stitch It! Podcast.  I also had the pleasure of meeting a good number of Pipeliners. 

Wild Card Purchase.  Noro at $10/skein

Miss Babbs Yummy

Bronwyn reviews a knitting app JKnit Knitting Project Assistant  (same source as Knit Evenly App)  Bronwyn recommends.  There is also a JKnit Ravelry Group.

We discuss the question of when does a modified design become its own?  An example is the February Lady Sweater which was inspired by Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Sweater on Two Needles in Knitter's Almanac.  Feel free to leave your comments.

Twist, Steek, and Shout

Before steeking The Classic Lines Cardigan...It is a like a Straight Jacket.  Bronwyn does not look happy, does she?  (This was not staged.)

It worked!  Bronwyn is a Happy Steeker!  And the sweater fits!

(We had to reduce the file to upload to You Tube and it is not very good quality.)

Disclaimer:  We do not recommend twisting your sweater but if it happens and you are 9 inches into the sweater before figuring that out (Go, Bronwyn!) then know that IT CAN BE DONE!

Textural Healing Shawling being blocked.

I used A Verb for Keeping Warm/Annapurna.  The color is Filigree.  One skein.

Fall Shawl KAL

Shaelyn by Leila Raabe is the #1 pick for the KAL.  If you would rather do Simply Pretty, then go right ahead.  It is not that different.

Here are a few Shaelyns from Pipeliners.  Wow!  I think we could go crazy with this shawl.  It is going to be difficult to hold off until October 1!

Puffygriffinclaw has knitted 2 already but will join us for #3!  This is a DK weight.

 Puffygriffinclaw's project page

Isn't it stunning in laceweight?  Knitted by generous-gardener on Ravelry.

Andrea's Amber Shaelyn

Remember to leave a comment on the show blog to enter the drawing.  3 copies of Shaelyn will be given away, compliments of the designer, Leila Raabe!

Haste ye back!

Episode 45 The Felted Join

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Thank you to Quince & Co for sponsoring Knitting Pipeline.

Luscious Quince wool.

Pipeliner Specials!

10% off your order at Quince & Co (min $25) from June 1 through June 15

Promo Code KP62011

Three Bags Full still has FREE Shipping through May 31, 2011.  Promo code "piper".

The Winners!

Thanks to designers Brenna Kotar (Hoot Cardigan) and Rose Beck for two copies of the wonderful  Be Mine Collection of Shawlettes.

The winners are:
Judiuni for both Hoot Cardigan and Be Mine
Redsknits for Be Mine

Congratulations!  Please contact me!

Pipeliner Notes

More owl info:  Getting Wise to the Owl article from NYT. Shared by Jaykay.

Nature Notes

Recent sightings in our woods are Indigo Buntings and Scarlet Tanagers. The Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, which are indeed in the sparrow family, are still visiting the feeder.  We hope they are nesting in our woods.  House wrens are raising a brood in one of our birdhouses.  I love waking up in the morning to the house wren's bubbly song. 

To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment. 

--Jane Austen.

Needle Notes

Estelle Cardigan by Melissa LaBarre. Despite my prediction that the sleeves on my Estelle would be smooth sailing, I have had a few challenges.  They were a little tight in the upper arms and then I overcompensated and I made them too large.  One sleeve is finished but may be a little short.  See my project notes here.  I felt it necessary to take a little break from Estelle so I cast on for And So Are You, a crescent-shaped shawl from the Be Mine Collection by Rose Beck.  I am using Opulence (silk and wool) from The Woolen Rabbit.

The Felted Join

I have been using The Felted Join in Estelle and the Norwegian Setesdal Sweater.  To be more civilized I  have refined the name and the technique.  This is often referred to as "the Spit Join".  Instead of using your own saliva (which still works in a pinch) I use boiling water and then make myself a cup of tea to drink while I admire my handiwork. 

Advantages of the Felted Join are that the ends are dealt with while knitting so there is less finishing work; the joins are practically indetectable; and if you frog (unravel) your project then you will have one giant ball of yarn.  You must use wool or another feltable fiber (on your own here.)

Video Tutorial of The Felted Join

The Blethering Room

A couple of questions about e-readers were addressed. 

I answered Judiuni's question about using lifelines.

I am joining The Knit Girllls in the Stash Dash 5K!  The goal is to knit 5K (5,468 yd) of your stash between May 27 and August 15, 2011.  Cheating is allowed.  Projects that you started prior to May 27 count if you finish knitting them during the time frame.  You may add to your stash during this event (remember that nice offer from Quince & CO for 10% off?)

How to unravel your knitting and get the stitches back on the needles

Book  Notes

Charts Made Simple: Understanding Knitting Charts Visually by J.C. Briar.  Glass Iris Publications. 

 c 2010.  $17.95

J.C. Briar's website is here.

In the Piping Circle

Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums competed in the St. Andrew's Highland Games in Chatham IL on May 21. 

Kevin and Paula at the Celtic Cross "camp".  Kevin is the big voice you hear at the beginning of the podcast.

Visit my Longaberger shop for special offers through Monday May 30th.  There are always specials and sales!

Coming soon!
Video Tutorial on Meghan's method of picking up stitches after unraveling your work.

Music

All Shall be Well  from the album Sabbath Day's Journey by Lydia McCauley.
http://www.magnatune.com/

Haste ye back!

Episode 44 Fans and Feathers

Listen here or use the Flash Player to listen directly from this site.  All past episodes are available on the Flash Player.

Thank you to Quince & Co for sponsoring the podcast!  Sign up for their free e-newsletter at http://www.quinceandco.com/.

A Winner!

The giveaway for Episode 43 was donated by designer Susan B. Anderson:  Hoot Hat and newly released pattern Owl Babies.  Visit Susan's blog to keep up with her amazing designs!

Owl Baby by Susan B. Anderson. 

The winner is Chris!  Chris was the 51st comment left on May 18, 2011 at 11:29 a.m.  Chris, please contact me with your information so Susan can get your new patterns to you!

Two Winners Next Week!

This week's Giveaway is a copy of Hoot Cardigan by Brenna Kotar and 2 copies of Be Mine by Rose Beck.  Winner #1 will receive the cardigan pattern and the shawl book and Winner #2 will receive the Be Mine Shawl Collection!  Please remember to  leave your contact information (blog link, Ravelry name, email) along with your comment below. 

Pipeliner Notes

Aquilterknits shared the IBird Explorer App for $9.99.  There is a free lite version.

Stringplay reminded me of a favorite poem from my childhood, Song of Hiawathea by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  This excerpt is from Chapter 3, Hiawatha's Childhood.  I read from the book  Favorite Poems Old and New.  edited for boys and girls by Helen Ferris. c. 1957  received from my grandparents for my birthday.

When he heard the owls at midnight,

Hooting, laughing in the forest,
'What is that?" he cried in terror,
"What is that," he said, "Nokomis?"
And the good Nokomis answered:
"That is but the owl and owlet,

Talking in their native language,

Talking, scolding at each other."

Then the little Hiawatha
Learned of every bird its language,
Learned their names and all their secrets,
How they built their nests in Summer,
Where they hid themselves in Winter,
Talked with them whene'er he met them,
Called them "Hiawatha's Chickens."

More Owl Patterns

Barn Owl by Cassidy Clark aka Doodlenoodle
Who's Hungry Bib by Bronwyn Hahn

Needle Notes

I continue knitting on my Estelle for the Estelle KAL.  I am finished with the body and working on the first sleeve.  It seems like duck soup from here on out.

Tips for working Feather and Fan or other lace projects

Estelle Cardigan Progress

• Markers will help you learn to read your lace.  Reading your lace means that you can see what needs to be done next.
• Put markers between each repeat set.  Learn to notice the "line" where the sets of decreases meet in Feather and Fan.  I prefer yarn markers so I do not waste time slipping from one needle to the other.  The end of the marker can move up each row with the bottom part still in the lower rows.  The yarn markers will help train your eye to read your knitting.
• Count!  On the return row, or after doing a section of the lace row, count between the markers to make sure you have the required number for each repeat.  Occasionally lace rows will not have the same number of stitches per row but usually the pattern will tell you this.

The Blethering Room

A tip I learned from Meghan on the Stitch It Podcast on taking your knitting back to a mistake and getting it back on the needles.  Brilliant!

Book Notes

I have a Kindle and a Nook so I compare them and also tell why I enjoy having an e-reader.  Both the Kindle and the Nook are great e-readers.   I prefer the buttons on The Kindle over the touchy touch screen of The Nook.  The reason I bought The Nook was the night screen which enables me in read in bed and other low-light situations.

Music is All in a Garden Green from the album Dolce Musica by Healing Muses.  http://www.magnatune.com/

Haste ye back!