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.

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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 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!

Episode 21 Westknits Book One Review and My Finished Hap Blanket

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Sunday Brunch Longaberger Open House

November 21, 2010

11 AM to 4 PM

at my home

contact me for details at Paulaef@aol.com

Rose Beck of Rosy Posy Designs has donated a prize for the November Drawing:  choose any 3 of her patterns!  I will choose the winner from comments on this blog or in the thread on Ravelry.

Also, until November 30, 2010 you may take $1 off the purchase of any two patterns by using the code KP2010 at checkout.

Patterns I mentioned by Rose Beck:

• Flourish
• Simply Pretty Shawls
• Falling Water

Westknits Book One by Stephen West
8 patterns, all scarves and hats.  Very architectural in design.  Well done.  Would appreciate more readable font which means black ink and a bit larger typeset.

I ask for advice on my Pogona by Stephen West, a pattern I purchased before the book was published (it is also in Westknits Book One).  A good pattern but not a good yarn choice.  I knew it was risky.

Should this go to the FROG pond?

I finished by Hap Blanket by Ysolda Teague.  Whimsical Little Knits.  A quick and easy project.  I used heavy worsted yarn instead of bulky weight and added about 30% more stitches.  It measures 43", which is perfect for a lap blanket or small wrap.

Used the crochet provisional cast on so I would have live stitches on both ends when picking up stitches for the border.



A one week project, mostly garter stitch.



Correction on Alma Ella Shawl by Robin Lynn that I mentioned last week.  It is not garter stitch, but rather, stockinette.  I believe you could do garter instead of stockinette and if I knit this design, that is what I will do.  I substituted garter stitch for stockinette in Ysolda Teague's Ishbel (did it both ways) and the result was great.  Ishbel #1 and Ishbel #2.
 
Thank you to all those who served our country, or their own country.
 
Music by The Dutch Pipes and Drums, Tilburg, The Netherlands.  CD In Harmony.  Tunes:  The Shoals of Herring, Castle Dangerous, and Collin's Cattle.
 
This Wednesday, November 17, only!  on my website.  Exclusive Basket at a great price!