Knitting Pipeline is sponsored by my Longaberger home businessn and Quince & Co.

Knitting Pipeline is sponsored by Quince & Co. and Knitcircus Yarns

Showing posts with label lace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lace. Show all posts

Friday, November 11, 2011

Episode 66 Afterthoughts

Listen here or use the Flash Player in the sidebar.  Subscribe on iTunes! 
Link to episode should work on 11.11.11. by 8 PM.
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.

My Annual Open House is Sunday, November 20th.  Contact me for details or visit www.longaberger.com/paula

Thanks to you...

Knitting Pipeline has had over 200,000 downloads since July 2010!  There are over 300 star ratings on iTunes.  Thanks to each one of you for listening, sharing, and being a part of the Knitting Pipeline Community.
Pipeliner Notes

 I read a note from Karin ("miterwriter" on Ravelry).  A little brown bat, nicknamed "Bertie", has been living on a light fixture in their garage for almost 15 years!  A wonderful story of wild animals and humans coexisting peacefully. 

Note on last week’s Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal:  it is a good idea to refrigerate any leftovers.

Winners of J-Knit apps

JKnit HD for iPad--Moz aka enquery, Peggie aka BleedingHeart, and Marsha aka Teal

JKnit--Barbara aka blb, Monique aka georgiedean, and Sally aka svjanis

Knit Evenly--Lynne aka knittensmitten, Ròs aka scarhandpiper, and Lu aka LuciaKnits

 Thank you, Bronwyn, for contacting the winners!

 Nature Notes
Flying Fox (Bat).  photo by Tim Jannech, husband of Kayak on Ravelry.

Thanks to Prairiegl (Leah) in OK for asking about cleaning bird feeders.
Bob joins me for Nature Notes, but only for a short time because he was grading papers.
Tips for Clean Birdfeeders
Non-Toxic Bird Feeder Cleaning


The one red leaf, the last of its clan,
That dances as often as dance it can,
Hanging so light, and hanging so high,
On the topmost twig that looks up at the sky.
~Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Needle Notes

Nellie by Donna Higgins

Update on the Crochet flower closure. Directions are a bit sketchy.
I watched You Tube videos and managed to crochet the flowers by myself!  (Charr was out of town.)
I attached one side of the button with flower and the other side serves as a button closure.




Finished Projects

Piper’s Fancy
Celtic Cross wears ancient red flashes.  Our tartan, The Flower of Scotland, has a stripe of the ancient red in it.  I like my ancient red Piper's Fancy Shawl with the uniform.




Piper in the woods.
It works when I look like a normal person, too.

I needed a project that was completely mindless.  This crescent shawl that has increases at the beginning of every row so it doesn’t have a wrong side.

Afterthought here is that I did not plan the border beforehand.  I swatched a lot!

Nubby Noro Mittens by Annie’s Woolens



Has an afterthought thumb.
My pattern notes are here.
Love the pattern as the texture adds interest without being too fussy.  Every other round is a plain round so it is easy to see where you are in the pattern.
Afterthought Heel Socks by Laura Linneman
Knit Picks Felici Sport Weight
With this type of heel how do you prevent getting “ears” on the corners where you begin and end the Kitchener Stitch?  I might try decreasing at corners just before doing Kitchener.
What I did learn.  Sometimes you do need to power through.
 In The  Pipeline
A Ravelry Note
A new feature on Ravelry is that if you have your yarn stashed and you use stash yarn for a project then a little thumbnail photo of the yarn will appear in your project notes.  It’s tiny but it is there!

The Blethering Room
Registration is in progress for the Knitting Pipeline Retreat!
March 2-3, 2012 Washington IL
$50 for Fri night and all day Sat.  $40 for Sat only
Registration information is in the sidebar.

My first afterthought insertion of any kind was an afterthought pocket in my Three in One Sweater by Elizabeth Zimmermann.
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.

There will be a separate thread to enter for prizes.  November 15-30.
High Note
Better Homes and Gardens is kicking it up a notch! Not as traditional as it used to be.  Inexpensive subscription and you get free digital editions with paid subscription!  More knitting magazines should do this because knitting from a magazine is for me, very tedious.

Stockinette Zombies is a new video cast that I enjoy.  Check it out!
Music
Have a great week, haste ye back, and hold your knitting close.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Episode 62 Happy Mitten Day!

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

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 --


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!)

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!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Episode 61 Let the Shaelyn KAL Begin!

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site.
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 DrumsIn Harmony.  Track 8 
Salute to Royal Fendersmith, Corkhill, The Banjo Breakdown.
Thank you to our friends from Dutch Pipes and Drums!

Haste ye back!

Sign up for my Longaberger e-news!  www.longaberger.com/paula
or Paulaef@aol.com
If you missed this special then sign up for my newsletter so you will be the first to know of all the great sales!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Episode 55 Leafprints Shawlette & Westknits Mystery KAL

Listen here or use the Flash Player in the side bar on this site. 

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 KollageCreamy 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 25th and 26th.  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!


In the Piping Circle

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


Haste ye back!

Friday, May 20, 2011

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! 

Friday, November 12, 2010

Episode 21 Westknits Book One Review and My Finished Hap Blanket

Listen here or use Flash Player in side bar.


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 TeagueWhimsical 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!


 

Friday, November 5, 2010

Episode 20 Garter Stitch, Anyone?

Listen Here or Click on the Flash Player in the Side Bar.

Events

Sunday Brunch
Longaberger Open House
November 21
11 AM to 3 PM
contact me for details  Paulaef@aol.com

Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums Upcoming Performances


Nature Notes

Franklin, Knit, and Purl have flown the coop.  They may be vacationing somewhere warm.  I hope.
Avian Pox at Forest Park Nature Center

Rip van Winkle Challenge!
We have a winner:  Knitwish!  Please contact me.  If I don't hear from you in a week I will contact you!  A Longaberger basket is coming your way!

Knitting Tip from a Pipeliner
SpinningLil suggested using a crochet hook when working on the back side of nupps.  Love this tip! 

Finished Project
I finished Flourish by Rose Beck
Madeleine Tosh DK in colorway "Tern"
My Ravelry notes are here.  This knits up so quickly.  One week from start to finish!




Video of The Yarn Harlot demonstrating Irish Cottage Knitting.  From The Knitmore Girls.


November Challenge

What are your favorite Garter Stitch (or stockinette in the round) patterns?

I found a few new ones to try:
My current project is Ysolda Teague's Hap Blanket.

Music Bonus from Magnatune
Shira Kammen's CD Music of Waters  Track 2  "Downstream

About Me

My photo
I play the Great Highland Pipes, knit, observe nature, and read. My name on Ravelry is PrairiePiper. Find me on Instagram as KnittingPipeline.