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 55 Leafprints Shawlette & Westknits Mystery KAL

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Thank you to Quince & Co for sponsoring this show.  Visit their web site and sign up for blog and pattern updates. 

I am taking a week off so the next podcast will be released after Stitches Midwest.

Pipeliner Notes

I heard from new pipeliners: Nancy in Alabama, AuntTea/Ellen, Abbysknits, Julia, MaggieGrl, Cheryl, and Helen.

New iTunes reviews from GuruNam and Listening in the Adirondacks made me happy!  Thank you.

Nature Notes 

The Barred Owls are very busy these days, or really these nights.  

Louise of the Caithness Craft Collective Podcast noticed that I talked a lot more about butterflies last year than I have this year.  She is absolutely correct.  It hasn’t been the best summer for butterflies. 

Needle Notes

Leafprints Shawlette by Anne Hanson. 

Review of Creamy by Kollage. Creamy is a blend of milk and cotton. 80/20 .  A little slippery but it is a lovely material.

Westknits Mystery KAL

Intarsia has not killed me....yet.

Quince & Co Tern in Barnacle, Driftwood, and Seagrass.

Don't worry if you are a few stitches off.  I don't think it will matter.
Intarsia has not killed me yet.  In fact, I'm enjoying it!  (But know better than to overdo it.)

Events 

Stitches Midwest is August 25-28.  I will be there on the 25^th and 26^th.  There will be a Pipeliner Meet and Greet on Friday August 26 starting at 11 AM in the Concession area of the Market.  I will be sitting there with my knitting and I hope you can join me. 

Betty Hay asked questions about attending big knitting events such as Sock Summit and Stitches.  Betty, I apologize for not answering sooner. 

The Market:

• Set a budget and perhaps some goals.  I try to think ahead of time what I am looking for.
• Take cash for the Market.
• If you are wavering on a purchase then think about it for a while.  Come back later.  Sometimes you have more perspective.  

I take easy project to work on so I can chat with people easily.

Take some business cards with your Ravelry information, your blog if you have one, to exchange with people you meet.

Keeping up energy among a lot of people:  Are you and introvert or an extrovert?  A definition is that an introvert gathers energy from being along and an extrovert gathers energy from being with others.

The Blethering Room

AJ 's favorite dishcloth is Chinese Waves by Margaret Radcliffe.  Join in our discussion on Episode 54 on dishcloths and natural cleaning.

I knitted two Chinese Waves Dishcloths.  I know, I thought I was done but I needed the palate cleanser of knitting.  Thanks, Angela!

Check out 1to1's Dishcloth Binge of over 100!

In the Piping Circle

Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band won The World Pipe Band Championship Games!   

BBC Scotland Coverage

Haste ye back!

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.