Episode 75 Casting on and Other Beginnings

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

This episode is sponsored by Quince & Co and Peddler’sWay Quilt Shop.

 If you are looking to support American goods, then you can start with Quince & Co with their beautiful and reasonably priced wools sourced in the US.  Check out Finch, their new fingering weight in colors inspired by nature.

Peddler’s Way Quilt Shop is a new sponsor of our show and our knitting Pipeline Retreat, March 2-3, 2012 in Washington IL.  The shop is located just about a mile from our retreat location just off the historic Washington Square.  Peddler’s Way Quilt Shop is practically at the back door of those of you staying at The Cornerstone Inn Bed and Breakfast.  On the second floor of this 6,000 sq ft store is a fiber section with an array of fine quality yarns, books, and needles.

  

Pipeliner Notes

 I read letters from Peg and Dana. 

Fundraiser for Autism Speaks: Erin of Mommy Needs Yarn has designed a sock pattern! No More Tears.  All of the proceeds from its $5 sale will go to Autism Speaks.  Erin is hosting a KAL/Knitalong in February. 

Knitting Pipeline Retreat!

  We still have room for you! 

March 2-3, 2012 (Friday night and all day Saturday)

Crossroads United Methodist Church, 1420 N Main St., Washington IL 61571

$50 for all or $40 for Sat only.  Includes Fri nite meal, light breakfast on Sat, and Saturday lunch.

Make check payable to Paula Emons-Fuessle

Mail to: Knitting Pipeline Retreat

PO Box 549

Washington IL 61571

Nature Notes

A Naturalist Buys an Old Farm by Edwin Way Teale c 1974.

 Trail Wood Landand house donated to Connecticut Audubon Society.

Every bit of this book is a gem, to be read slowly, as one might walk a favorite trail in the woods.

James Gates Percival  b 1795

Oddly enough, this man has fallen into near obscurity and it is now my personal mission to elevate his position.  Not really.

1835 accepted appt by Gov of CT to conduct a geological survey of the state of CT.

~James Gates Percival The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work.

Needle Notes

Sarah’s Make Up Yarn from Episode 74.  Kathy in Switzerland wrote to me about Schulana Wolle.

This is what Sarah made with the ball of Schulana...and it only took 35 minutes to knit. 

 "Twistin' the Night Away" by Susan Menashe  

Mildred Mitts is up on Ravelry as a free pattern. Test knitted by Mildred and some of the knitters in my class at The Blend. 

Fabric Labels for your knitting

Annabel Babe Cardigan and At First Sight by Laura Linnemann went to St.Louis to a baby shower.  I have this way of crashing baby showers.  I send gifts even when I am not invited.

The label is sewn inside near the bottom of the sweater.

The new mom is a knitter and knows her wool.

I stitched up a bag to send it off in!

I used Aizome’s method for labels.  Quick and easy!  I like the looks of it.  I used Calibri font in pt 12. 

FO:  Piper’s Journey #2 is finished.

Cost to knit this shawl in Quince & Co Chickadee is about $21  ($6.90 per 50 g skein)  Other yarn weights will work.  Bronwyn used fingering weight and reserved half the skein for the border.

Charr, Bronwyn, and Sarah in my kitchen.

Charr and Bronwyn wearing their Piper's Journey Shawls.  Charr's is in Quince & Co Chickadee in the Delft colorway.  Bronwyn's is in fingering weight.

My Piper’s Journey #2 is in Split Pea. photo coming later.

Do as I say not as I do.  On the edging do not slip first stitch on the outside of the border.  I thought I could get away with it even though I wrote the pattern and said not to do it. 

Piper’s Journey KAL will start as soon as the pattern is released.  Pipersjourneykal tag

In the Pipeline 

Ten Stitch Twist by Frankie Brown. 

Upcoming KALs:

Spectra by Stephen West hosted by 2 Knit Lit Chicks

Laura Linnemann’s Mystery Mitten KAL starts Feb 12^th

Listening to new podcasts: 

Lavender Bear’s Tea Time.  Video cast.  Just watched introductory episode so far. 

TVknittingpodcast by StitchMistress (audio) 

Knitting Brooklyn by Jessica jpeled (audio)

 The Blethering Room 

Knitting Classes coming along.  Students are excited about ribbing!

Tammy of The Proverbial Knitter has a tutorial on Long Tail Cast on in Rib.  Tammy is a fantastic teacher.  I am going to copy her way of explaining how to do the long tail cast-on. 

Review Notes

Iknit Needle Sizer  

.99  Not perfect but definitely useful and worth the price.

Knit Handy 

Knit Handy helps estimate how much yarn you need for a project.  Wonderful tool!  Definitely worth the price!  Easy to use.

One of the Last poems written by Robert Burns: 

Oh Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast

by Robert Burns
(1759-1796)  

Oh wert thou in the cauld blast,
On yonder lea, on yonder lea,
My plaidie to the angry airt,
I'd shelter thee, I'd shelter thee;
Or did misfortune's bitter storms
Around thee blaw, around thee blaw,
Thy bield should be my bosom,
To share it a', to share it a'.

Or were I in the wildest waste,
Sae black and bare, sae black and bare,
The desart were a paradise,
If thou wert there, if thou wert there.
Or were I monarch o' the globe,
Wi' thee to reign, wi' thee to reign,
The brightest jewel in my crown
Wad be my queen, wad be my queen.

Thanks for listening and haste ye back!

Episode 72 Black-Eyed Peas

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site.

Thank you to our show sponsors!

Quince & Co 

If you are looking to support American goods, then you can start with Quince & Co with their beautiful and reasonably priced wools sourced in the US.  Check out Finch, their new fingering weight in colors inspired by nature. www.quinceandco.com

Ewe-nique Yarns is a full-service yarn shop located at The Field Shopping Center in Morton IL.  Among the items they carry are a full line of Addi needles, Chiagoo, and Knit Picks.  They also stock Malabrigo, Madelinetosh, Frog Tree. Elsabeth Lavod, Debbie Bliss, Claudia Handpainted, Louisa Harding, Rown, Sublime and dozens more. Debbie and Jenny are happy to ship to Pipeliners.

Thank you to everyone who helped me find a copy of Knitting Triangles by Evelyn Clarke!    These Pipeliners also offered to send me a copy out of the sheer goodness of their hearts: Diane/Citronlady, Smurphy=Sarah, Nancy in Holland MI, Kimberly of the SockBunnyKnit andFit Podcast. I accepted the first offer from Diane. 

I read a Pipeliner Note from Mildred, age 13.  I hope to meet Mildred someday.

Nature Notes

Snowy Owl sightings in Illinois

Illinois Birdwatchers List Serve IBET

We are experiencing an irruption year in Illinois.  Irruption means "to increase irregularly."

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man." ~ Benjamin Franklin

Needle Notes

Piper’s Journey will be published by Quince & Co. at the end of January.  Piper's Journey is a crescent-shaped shawl with a not too lacy border.

Materials are 3 skeins of Quince & Co Chickadee.

I am looking for a few test knitters to try out this pattern right away.  I will email pattern to you.  Please contact me by email Paulaef@aol.com.  The first 5 to respond will be accepted.  You do not have to use the yarn that is recommended for the pattern.

Bitty Bump

Marcella’s e book by Gina Bonomo aka Skeincocaine  $20 for book.  $5 individual pattern.

Woodturner Pully

I forgot to put in short rows!  Woe is me.  This may haunt me forever.

I made a label with counted cross stitch fabric and embroidery floss.  Stitched to hem on inside.

Aizome explained how she makes labels for quilts.

Ravelry Tip:  You can favorite posts in discussion groups on Ravelry.  I like to save posts with good information that I might want to reference later.

My nephew produced a clever video featuring the bed he made and Woodturner Pully.  The house where this film was made was built by my dad in the 1960’s.  The watercolor paintings on the walls are by my dad.  Dad made the lamp and the small table.  And yes, that’s my little mom with my nephew!

In the Pipeline:

Knitting:

Hitchhiker by Martina Behm

10 Stitch Twist by Frankie Brown

Watching:

Island at War.  WWII in the Channel Islands (fictitious island for the film)

Downton Abbey

There is a group for Downton Abbey lovers on Ravelry.  And a Hat in an adult and baby version! Downton Abbey Hat

Listening to:

Yarngasm Podcast by Voolenvine

Books on the Nightstand

The Blethering Room

Cocoa Blocks from King Arthur Flour site.

Tip from Jacques Torres (Mr. Chocolate)

When making hot chocolate, bring milk to a boil first to melt the chocolate and then bring it to a second boil.  The second boil makes the chocolate extra rich and creamy.

Music of the Spheres  Matteis: Ground after the Scotch Humour.

www.magnatune.com

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
~Edgar Guest

Episode 69 A Letter from Elizabeth Zimmermann...with two n's

Listen here or use the Flash Player on the show blog.  Subscribe on iTunes!

This show is sponsored by Quince & CO  If you are looking to support American goods, then you can start with Quince & Co with their beautiful and reasonably priced wools sourced in the US.  Check out Finch, their new fingering weight in colors inspired by nature. www.quinceandco.com 

Thanks for the birthday wishes last week! 

Young deer that showed up during recording session for this episode.

Bereft by Robert Frost

Where had I heard this wind before
Change like this to a deeper roar?
What would it take my standing there for,
Holding open a restive door,
Looking down hill to a frothy shore?
Summer was past and the day was past.
Sombre clouds in the west were massed.
Out on the porch's sagging floor,
Leaves got up in a coil and hissed,
Blindly struck at my knee and missed.
Something sinister in the tone
Told me my secret must be known:
Word I was in the house alone
Somehow must have gotten abroad,
Word I was in my life alone,
Word I had no one left but God.

Needle Notes 

Baby Sweater on Two Needles by Elizabeth Zimmermann from Knitter’s Almanac.  It is better known as February Baby Sweater.  I used Knitter’s Brewing Company Fingering Weight sock yarn.

The February Lady Sweater (not by EZ) is actually more popular than the FBS. Projects on Ravelry: 6675 for Baby Sweater and 11,505 for FLS by Pamela Wynne 

Knitter’s Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmerman. Schoolhouse Press  (February) Some Babies Things.  Have knitted everything in this chapter but the bonnet with the flap over the shoulders. 

Leggings.  I have made at least two pair.  Red and white striped ones were the cutest.  Not the most practical garment for modern moms. 

Blanket knitted from center out.  Have done it with lace and also in a heavier yarn with texture pattern and colorwork. Was told that pioneer woman put a cream or white border on blankets so Baby would perceive this is a boundary.  Per my experience, did not work. 

Double knitting blanket was a carriage blanket.  I used Schoolhouse Press Sheepsdown and my own handspun.  May have steeked and put a zipper in it. 

Blethering Room 

Pete’s Socks…pulled off the colors! 

Handed Down Patterns.    Joy started a thread asking about knitting patterns that have been passed down.  Mother’s slipper/bootie pattern she called pods.  Under “Some Things Never Change…”   

In The Pipeline: EZ Saddle Shoulder Sweater 

Book Notes 

  $14.99 Interweave knits Holiday Gifts.  Holiday 2011  Some of my favorites are McHenry by Susan B Anderson, Hollyberry Bonnet and Cape by Kyoko Nakyoshi, and Handwork Mitts by Julie Turjoman.  Recommended.

High Note:  

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls/Cinnamon Raisin Bread.  Used the Best Whole Wheat Bread Recipe from www.urbanhomemaker.com.  Divided dough in half.  One half for a loaf of bread and the other half made two pans of cinnamon rolls.  Streusel:  ½ c brown sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon.  I use Penzey’s.  Roll out dough.  Spread with softened or melted butter.  Sprinkle topping on and roll up.  For the rolls I reserved a few Tbs topping.  Took rolls out after 20 min.  Brushed tops with butter and sprinkled on the streusel.  Baked another 5 min. 

I read a letter from Elizabeth Zimmermann from Jan 1980.  There are references to Moebius and her development of the concept.

 The musical selection today is The Moon of Wintertime by Lydia McCauley.  I appreciate each one of you.  Thanks for writing to me, thanks for participating in our Ravelry group, for leaving comments on the blog, and most of all for listening to the show. 

Knitting Pipeline Retreat

March 2-3, 2012

Washington IL  61571

$50 for Fri night and Sat or $40 for just Sat

Reserve your spot now!

Haste ye back!

Episode 68 Star Toe and Christmas Knitting

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site.

This episode is sponsored by our friends at Quince & CO.  If you are looking to support American goods, then you can start here with their beautiful and reasonably priced wools.

Annabel Babe Cardigan in Quince & Co Chickadee in Snap Pea and Glacier.
Cap is At First Sight by Laura Linneman in Quince & Co Lark.

Thanks to Charr and Bronwyndp for joining me on this episode!

Winners of Rip Van Winkle Challenge!

Prizes:  Thin Ice Shawl by Laura Linneman (1 to each winner)
Nubby Noro Mittens by Annie's Woolens (1 to each winner)

3 skeins Soft Touch Ultra from Shelridge Farm 100 % Wool Fingering weight. 185 yd each.  (from my stash)  to winner #1

Grand Prize Winner: #42 Elisann

#19 Teal--wins both patterns!

#2 jpeled--wins both patterns!

Congratulations and thank you to our prize donors!

Local knitter hot spots mentioned on the show:

The Blend.  Our local coffee shop and hang-out.
Ewe-nique Yarns.  Morton IL  a full-service yarn shop.  They carry a full line of yarns and tools including Malabrigo, Madelinetosh, Elsabeth Lavold, Noro, Debbie Bliss, Sublime, KnitPicks Needles, Addi, Chia Goo, Hiya Hiya....and the people are friendly!  What more can a knitter ask for?

Heart Hat by Elizabeth Zimmermann.  Picot BO is my own touch.

Seamless Yoked Baby Sweater by Carol Barenys with Heart Hat

Owl Puffs by Jenna Krupar

Can you see where the gauge changed when I switched to Kollage dpn's?

Smitten Mittens by Emily Ivey

Hitchhiker by Martine Behm
Textural Healing Shawl by Shannon Squire
Holly, Ivy, and Steve Three Christmas Hooligan Ornaments by Rebecca Danger
Nubby Noro Mittens by Annie's Woolens
Annabel Babe Cardigan by Carrie Bostick Hoge
Heart Hat by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Baby Sweater on Two Needles by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Seamless Yoke Baby Sweater by Carol Barenys
Smitten(A Holiday Garland) by Emily Ivey.  www.yarnmiracle.com
Big Snowy Owl by Purl Soho
The Bee Keeper's Quilt by Tiny Owl Knits aka "Hexipuffs"
Sock Blanket by Shelly Kang
Owl Puffs by Jenna Krupar
Irish Hiking Scarf by Adrian Bizilia
Palindrome: A Reversible Cable Scarf by Kristin Bellehumeur
Seamless Saddle Shoulder Pullover by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Bridge of Roses by Wendy Gaal.  The Knitters' Brewing Company

Star Toe for Socks

Set up as if you are doing a common wedge toe with even numbers of stitches on 4 dpns. 

• Round 1   Knit to last 2 stitches on needle.  Knit 2 tog.
• Round 2   Knit around

Repeat above until you have half the number of stitches you started with.  Then do the decrease row on all rounds until you have 8 stitches remaining.  Cut yarn and run through these 8 stitches. For a simple sock formula see:
Sock Tips from Have a Yarn

Charm on Charr's Shawl

Bronwyn's Handmade Christmas:

Pie in a Jar

For these recipes Bronwyn has experimented with recipes found online and has come up with her own versions.  Bronwyn's Disclaimer: I'm no expert! Try your own version and experiment. These are both fragrance free, but you can add essential or fragrance oils for scent. They also contain nut oils and butters, so be mindful when giving them as gifts.

Bronwyn's Solid Lotion Bar

2 oz beeswax pastilles

1 oz shea butter

1 oz kokum butter (or 1 oz cocoa butter)

2 oz sweet almond oil

(all measurements by weight)

Stir ingredients together in a double boiler until melted. Pour carefully into molds (soap or candy molds, recycled pudding or fruit cups, etc.). Cool for several hours. Pop out of molds and into tins for giving away. To use, rub the solid lotion bar on hands as you would soap, except with no water.

Yield depends on the size of your molds, of course.

Bronwyn's Sugar scrub

30 oz sugar

7.5 oz coconut oil

7.5 oz sweet almond oil

(all measurements by weight)

Stir ingredients together in a bowl until well combined. Pour into jars. To use, spoon a small amount of scrub into your hand and rub over palms and backs of your hands. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. Be careful not to introduce water to the jar to reduce bacteria growth. Yields about 12 half-pint wide-mouth jars. To make a smaller amount, a sugar to oil ratio of 2:1 is good.

Sources for oils and tins: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com, http://www.elementsbathandbody.com, or your local grocery or health food store, and, of course, www.amazon.com.

Podcasts/podcasters mentioned:

• Diane of Knitabulls
• Meghan of Stitch It! Podcast
• Susan of KnitaJourney
• Erin of MommyNeedsYarn
• Laura and Leslie of TheKnitGirllls

Knitting Pipeline Retreat

March 2-3, 2012 (Fri night and all day Sat)

$50 or $40 for Sat only

See information in sidebar.

Mail registration to Knitting Pipeline Retreat, PO Box 549, Washington IL 61571

Haste ye back!

Episode 65 Small Sweaters

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

This show is sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business www.longaberger.com/paula .  Sign up for my sale newsletters and special offers by sending an email to Paulaef@aol.com.  Please include your name, address, and phone. 

 Pipeliner Notes

 A correction in last week’s episode.  The site for rescuing macramé owls is www.macrameowl.com.  The link was correct in the show notes but I made it plural when I said it on the podcast.  My apologies to all macramé owls out there and their rescuers. 

 Deaf Smith, Laurel’s Kitchen, The Moosewood Cookbook were classic cookbooks in the 70's and 80's.

In my oven today:  Whole Wheat Bread, Homemade Granola, and

Baked Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Oatmeal from the food blog Perfecting the Pairing.  I substituted raisins for chocolate chips. 

Nature Notes

Satu mentioned that bats carry rabies and that is true. If you see a bat behaving strangely then beware. 

A hawk posed for me and I still had trouble identifying it.  A Cooper's Hawk is about the size of a crow and has a rounded tail.  The Sharp-shinned hawk is smaller and has a squared off tail.

3 Bird ID resources, 2 pair binoculars, and two cameras...and still not sure of the hawk.  Pathetic!

Can you see him?  Almost in the middle of the photo on the dead log with his back to me.  I could finally see that the tail was rounded.  (This was the following day.)

Sent to me by Goldybear:

Nature XXVII, Autumn

by Emily Dickinson

The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned, I'll put a trinket on.

Needle Notes

Nellie by Donna Higgins. Still lacking the crochet flowers and buttons.  I'm working on it.  Those shoes belonged to my grandmother when she was a toddler.  They are 110 years old.

Nellie by Donna Higgins 
Purchase pattern at Stitches Midwest 2010 and the yarn is Knit Picks Organic Cotton. 

Calls for Sublime Organic Cotton DK

The only difficult part of this sweater is the crocheted flower closure.  Difficult for me, that is.
My project page is here.

I did the crochet flowers by myself!  Charr is going to be proud of me!  I did it a little differently than the instructions indicated and will share on the next episode.

Seamless Yoked Baby Sweater by Carole Barenys
My project page is here.

Free Pattern. Top down raglan with running strands that make a pattern on the yoke, cuffs, and bottom. 

If I knit this pattern again I would probably add another button hole on the yoke and then not put buttons below that. 

Heart buttons are so cute!

 In The  Pipeline 

• Afterthought Heel Hiking Socks using pattern by Laura Linneman
• Nubby Noro Mittens, actually have finished.
• Crescent Shawl Left to my Own devices

The Blethering Room 

Knitting Pipeline Retreat!  Registrations are now open.

  See side bar for Registration page.

March 2-3, 2011 (Fri night and all day Sat)

Crossroads United Methodist Church, 1420 N Main, Washington IL  61571

$50 for both Fri and Sat/$40 for Sat only.
Send a check with your mailing information, email, phone, and whether you wish to stay overnight at the facility.  Your check will be held for a while so don't worry if it does not clear right away.

Knitting Pipeline Retreat

PO Box 549

Washington IL 61571

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.

A new thread on the Knitting Pipeline Podcast Group on Ravelry will open up November 15-Nov 30 for Prize Patrol.

Product Review 

The Knitter’s Book of Socks by Clara Parkes: the Yarn Lover’s Ultimate Guide to Creating Socks that fit well, Feel great, and last a lifetime.

Heartily recommended!

Music

Hint of Dawn from the album Hope by Kendra Spring.  www.magnatune.com