Episode 80 The Owl That Might Have Been

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This show by sponsored by Quince & Co, Peddler’s Way Quilt Co, and The Blend Cafe.

The folks at Quince & Co believe that businesses can be good citizens—should be good citizens—without making too much a fuss about it. So, they have created a line of thoughtfully conceived yarns spun from American wool or sourced from earth friendly overseas. Find them at www.quinceandco.com and while you are there, sign up for their free e-newsletter.

Peddler’s Way Quilt Shop is a 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 corner with an array of fine quality yarns, books, and needles.  http://www.peddlersway.com 

The Blend Café is an independent coffee shop in Washington IL  The Blend's slogan, “Where coffee and community come together,” is more than just a catchy phrase to us - It is our passion! Our desire is to provide a comfortable place for those in our community to gather together and enjoy good company along with GREAT coffee.  If the front parking lot is full there is additional parking in the Russell’s Cycling and Fitness Center parking lot, just behind The Blend. www.theblendcoffee.com

I enjoy your feedback, comments on the blog, and questions.  Feel free to write to me at Paulaef@aol.com or on Ravelry as PrairiePiper.

Pipeliner Notes

We did buy that first house we looked at because I fell in love with the front door. I could not have goats there.

I made a mistake when I told you last week about the way I do the selvedges instead of slipping the first stitch.  See directions in the sidebar on this site.

Last week’s episode brought out the goat lovers and back to the landers.  If anyone does send me a goat I will give it to one of you.

I read a note from SpringPeeper about her fondness for goats. 

Asta wrote about gjetost.  It is eaten in very thin slices and not combined with meat or much else other than perhaps a dab of lingonberry jam.

Nature Notes

Saturday morning I went on a Snowy Owl Expedition by myself.  A snowy owl had been seen at Illinois Central College.  This seemed to be the perfect moment for a snowy owl appearance as I was listening to David Tolk (see In The Pipeline), but I did not see one.

I took a walk later that day about sunset and I was looking up into the sky in a moment of complete reverie when I saw a white bird flapping its wings WAY UP HIGH.  I am 90% certain it was a Snowy Owl but can’t be sure.

Alone and warming his five wits, the white owl in the belfry sits.
- Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Needle Notes

Spectra by Stephen West

Began Gyllis by Stephen West but I frogged it.  The way the pattern was written was too frustrating.

OhSo Hat by Lee Bernstein

Well-written pattern and wonderful for beginners. Photos show female models but really is unisex and my husband likes it. 

Piper’s Journey KAL

Wave 2 starts March 5.  We started a new thread on March 1^st because the other thread is getting quite long and that can be discouraging if you are just getting into it. Seasoned PJ knitters can jump in to help.

Piper's Journeys from left to right by Charr, Bronwyn, and Paula

In The Pipeline

Knitting
New shawl design called Hyla Brook and socks for retreat.

Considering casting on one of the other designs in Scarves, Etc.  Not sure which one.

Watching

Downtown Abbey is not a soap Opera.  Soap operas do not make a lasting impression, they do not have costumes like this or film in castles, and they do not have Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville.  You might say that soaps have come a long way since I last saw one in 1968 but they have not evolved that much.

Reading

Finished Birds of a Feather #2 in Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear. 

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonsen  Random House 2010  Love, love, love this book!    Helen Simonsen’s first novel and may she write many more. The writing reminds me so much of Alexander McCall Smith.

Listening

Since finishing The Paris Wife by Paula McClain I am catching up on podcasts.  Thank you to Louise of Caithness Craft Collective Podcast for her shout out for Piper’s Journey.

David Tolk.  In Reverence.  Title song of CD which I have purchased on iTunes.  Beautiful.

The Blethering Room

I tell a story about meeting Hazel Carter, lace knitter and designer, about 2000.  I asked her how to pronounce “Mma” and “Rra”.

Travel safely to the Knitting Pipeline Retreat.  Yikes! It starts tomorrow!

Have a great week.  Haste ye back.  Hold your knitting close.

Episode 79 Capricious Slips

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

This episode is sponsored by Quince & Co, The Blend Cafe, and Knit4Together.  Thank you!

The folks at Quince & Co believe that businesses can be good citizens—should be good citizens—without making too much a fuss about it. So, they have created a line of thoughtfully conceived yarns spun from American wool or sourced from overseas suppliers who grow plants, raise animals, or manufacture a yarn in as earth- and labor-friendly a way as possible. Find them at www.quinceandco.com and while you are there, sign up for their free e-newsletter.

The Blend Café is an independent coffee shop in Washington IL  The Blend's slogan, “Where coffee and community come together,” is more than just a catchy phrase to them - It is their passion! Our desire is to provide a comfortable place for those in our community to gather together and enjoy good company along with GREAT coffee. If coffee is not YET your beverage of choice, come anyway - we serve wonderful teas, smoothies, and ice cream drinks to go along with our fresh baked goods, desserts, and sandwiches.  I would like to congratulate Yvonne and all The Blend employess as they were recently awarded the 2012 Outstanding Business Award from the Washington Chamber of Commerce! 

Knit 4 Together is an knitting and fiber shop in Dunlap IL just north of Peoria IL.  Knit 4 Together Yanr Company specializes in a fine variety of fibers to meet a variety of budgets.  Co-owned and run by five ladies who love to knit--and love to teach--there is a chair wiating for you.  Just bring your needles...we're certain you'll find som crumptious yarn for your next project.  www.knit4together.com or call 309.243.9499

I enjoy your feedback, comments on the blog, and questions.  Feel free to write to me at Paulaef@aol.com or on Ravelry as PrairiePiper.

Charity Notes

Jessica of Knitting Brooklyn podcast is hosting a charity KAL.  Preemie hats will be donated in memory of Remy who was born premature. 

 

Prize Drawing and Pipeliner Notes

The prize is a skein of yarn from Roman Hills either Dowager Countess or Lady Sybil

The winner is #40!

Congratulations Sarah aka smurphy2!  Please contact me with your mailing information.

Nature Notes

Another Pipeliner has seen the Snowy  Owl!  Martha/aka Goldybear.

February is a month of light.  In the Northern Hemisphere our mornings and evening are filled with more hours of daylight.  We are moving away from the short dark days of the Winter Solstice. It is that first hint that winter will be leaving us…but not yet.  Bob and I both noticed independently that the birds are singing more in the mornings.  The chickadees and cardinals are staking out nesting territories.  Birds have different sounds for different situations. These calls seem to say, “This place is mine!  Here I am.”  Despite the warm winter don’t worry too much about the birds.  They have been around for a long time and their nesting, migratory, and mating patterns are more related to light than temperature.  They won’t accidentally lay eggs in February just because it is warmer than normal.  Today I saw the red-wing blackbirds lined up along the fences that line the farm fields.  I was looking for snowy owls.  I saw red-wings.  And that is good too, especially the first red wings of the season.

Thanks to Alisonc I just read the most fascinating book.  Goat Song: A Seasonal Life. A short history of Herding and the art of making cheese by Brad Kessler.  Highly recommended!

Needle Notes

Piper’s Journey KAL.  Wave 2 starts on March 5, 2012.

Note that the shawl will grow considerably since you are knitting at a looser gauge than recommended for a tighter fabric.

Slipping Stitches make a cleaner edge but there are times when this is not advised.  Slipping the first stitch of a row will tighten the edge, which is sometimes not what you want to do.

If a pattern says to slip a stitch and the pattern does not specify then you should slip as if to purl.

In general

• You slip as if to purl if the stitch is not going to be worked at that time.
• You slip as if to knit if the stitch is going to be worked.

The Blethering Room

I blether about a house we looked at when we first moved to this area, Norwegian Gjetost, and a few more tips on things to take to a retreat.  A notebook is a good idea.

About those Autumn Glory Apples…our local market will probably be sold out by the time of our retreat.  I didn’t want to be greedy and buy up the whole bin.

In the Pipeline

Knitting:  Spectra by Stephen West.  2 Knit Lit Chicks KAL  60 wedges done and 25 to go!

I need to figure out my retreat knitting.

Watching:

Downtown Abbey is over.  It is sad.  Thankfully there is another season to look forward to.  And to those of you who do not have television, I applaud you! 

Listening:

Finished The Paris Wife by Paula MacClain.

This Birding Life/Bird Watcher’s Digest Bill Thompson III  Snowy Owl Invasion

Music by Lydia McCauley.  Apples on the Tree.  www.magnatune.com

Haste ye back!

Episode 76 Save our Socks!

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

This episode is sponsored by Quince & Co and The Fiber Universe.

The folks at Quince & Co believe that businesses can be good citizens—should be good citizens—without making too much a fuss about it. So, they have combined efforts to create a line of thoughtfully conceived yarns spun from American wool or sourced from overseas suppliers who grow plants, raise animals, or manufacture a yarn in as earth- and labor-friendly a way as possible. Find them at www.quinceandco.com and while you are there, sign up for their free e-newsletter.

The Fiber Universe provides quality products, service and instruction for fiber enthusiasts. They stock yarn from Cascade, Plymouth, Skacel, Three Irish Girls, Kauni, Jojoland, Claudia Handpaints, and more.  Fibers for spinning and felting are available from local farms.  The Fiber Universe accepts orders over the phone and offers free shipping on orders over $50.  Check out their website, www.thefiberuniverse.com or give them a call today at 309.673.5659.

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

Pipeliner Notes

I read a letter from Dorothy about her wonderful mother and how she knitted until her recent death.

Nature Notes

Stitch Markers from Kim Ogle.  www.ogledesign.etsy.com

Karin says that Bertie the Bat is back!

I’m still on the watch for the snowy owl.  Thanks to everyone who has sent me information.  There was a clip on the NBC evening news onWed Feb 1. 

Tomorrow I may be going on a snowy owl expedition to Emiquon.  I think time is running out.

Needle Notes

I’ve been proactive about my sock knitting lately.

1. Choose yarn that will wear well.  What are your favorite hard wearing sock yarns?
2. Knit to a tight gauge
3. Close fit (negative ease)
4. Smooth skin (bring on the lotion!)
5. Pre-darning

Tips from Clara Parkes in Vogue:

1. Look at your socks.  See what areas are wearing out.  When you come to these areas in your knitting go down a needle size.
2. Turn socks inside out. Thread a blunt needle with your sock yarn and run it through the purl bumps on the wrong side.  I took this a step further by making horizontal rows with mohair-silk blend.

Inside of sock showing pre-darned area.

Crafting with Carpal Tunnel Group

First thread is sticky.  Do this one thing for your wrist pain.

Joshua Tucker specializes in the elimination of carpal tunnel pain and symptoms.   

The Blethering Room

Piper’s Journey KAL

We will start as soon as the pattern is released by Quince & Co.  I hope this will be in the next week!

In the Pipeline

Designed a cowl in 2 yarn weights and going for a 3^rd.  I enjoy wearing it.

On the Home Stretch on Ten Stitch Twist by Frankie Brown.

Spectra by Stephen West with 2 Knit Lit Chicks Podcast.

I bought bulky yarn to make Lee Bernstein’s OhSo Hat

Watching:

Downtown Abbey!  Now has its own thread on our Knitting Pipeline Ravelry Group

My Life So Far

Filmed on location in Scotland (Argyll), kilts, kilt hose, Scottish Country Dancing, pipe music, a knitted shawl, Fair Isle Vests, and Colin Firth!

Listening

The Paris Wife by Paula McClain  

Reading

Zombies Don’t Cry: Book One in a Living Dead Love Story.  By Rusty Fischer  Yes, my first zombie teen fiction. 

The February sunshine steeps your boughs and tints the buds and swells the leaves within.  William C. Bryant

I didn't have time to get music on the show this week. I am looking for snowy owls!

Haste ye back!

Episode 73 A Gift for Georgia

Listen here or use the Flash Player in the side bar for current and past episodes.

This show is sponsored by my Longaberger Home business,  Quince & Co and Ewe-nique Yarns in Morton IL.  Thank you to our sponsors!

 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 Lavold, Debbie Bliss, Claudia Handpainted, Louisa Harding, Rown, Sublime and dozens more.  Debbie and Jenny are happy to ship to Pipeliners.

Ravelry Tip 

“Earburning” another Raveler is highlighting their Ravelry name so that it links to their profile.  The person who is earburned will also get a message in their box that basically says, “Psst, we’re over here saying good things about you”. 

A BIG THANK you to all the volunteers for test knitting my first to-be published design, Piper’s Journey.  Thank you so very much EVERYONE for your support for the design. 

 Another video by my nephew, Eric.

Nature Notes 

I haven’t seen any snowy owls but have seen a lot of white plastic bags that pretend to be. 

We nearly broke a record for the most days without 1” of snowfall!  The record is 330 in 1918.   

Naturalist and writer Edwin Way Teale born Joliet IL 1899

Wandering Through Winter was first nature book to win a Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction. 

“Our minds, as well as our bodies, have need of the out-of-doors. Our spirits, too, need simple things, elemental things, the sun and the wind and the rain, moonlight and starlight, sunrise and mist and mossy forest trails, the perfumes of dawn and the smell of fresh-turned earth and the ancient music of wind among the trees.”
― Edwin Way Teale

 Needle Notes 

Maine Morning Mitts by Clara Parkes made for Georgia.   

Reprinted from The Knitter’s Book of Yarn by Clara Parkes.  Now a free pattern. 

Only mod is that I did simple backward loop instead of M1 R and M1 L in the thumb gusset.  Noro and ribbing hide every flaw.

In the Pipeline

Hitchhiker by Martina Behm is almost done! 

Ten Stitch Twist Blanket by Frankie Brown is more fun than ever! 

Finished reading on my Nook.  Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear.

Recommend reading in order.  Book 2 is Birds of a Feather. 

Currently reading (actual paper book)  Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton. Cooking memoir.  Raw, honest, well-written.  Not for the faint of heart. 

Watching Downton Abbey Season 2.  Did not disappoint! 

The Blethering Room

 Knitting Classes at The Blend, our local coffee shop and hang-out.

Susan Dolph of the Knitajourney Podcast mentioned that a piece of garter stitch knitting could be sewn on the seam and turned into wristers.  I've written up instructions for such and Mildred is going to test knit it along with the students in the class. 

White whole-wheat flour is flour milled from hard white spring wheat,^[2] rather than traditional red wheat. 

Recycling Sweaters into pillows and other things.

Knitting Pipeline Retreat

March 2-3 (Friday night and all day Sat)

Washington IL 61571

$50 or $40 for Sat only

Registration form available on show blog in the side bar. 

Make check payable to Paula Emons-Fuessle and mail to:

Knitting Retreat

PO Box 549

Washington IL 61571

 Thine Am I by Robert Burns 

Thine am I, my faithful Fair,
Thine, my lovely Nancy;
Ev'ry pulse along my veins,
Ev'ry roving fancy.
To thy bosom lay my heart,
There to throb and languish;
Tho' despair had wrung its core,
That would heal its anguish.

Take away those rosy lips,
Rich with balmy treasure;
Turn away thine eyes of love,
Lest I die with pleasure!
What is life when wanting Love?
Night without a morning:
Love's the cloudless summer sun,
Nature gay adorning.

 A Celebration of Robert Burns by Shira Kammen.  www.magnatune.com 

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 71 Handmade Holidays

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

This show is sponsored by my Longaberger home Business  and 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

Needle Notes

Love the shoulder detail.  Front of sweater.

Back of Saddle Shoulder Sweater

Paula’s Projects:  Woodturner’sPully.  Elizabeth Zimmermann’s SaddleShoulder Sweater.  After washing and blocking it measures out perfectly!  Photos with nephew wearing it coming after Christmas!

Label for sweater.  I tried a wool label, first ironing onto freezer paper to stiffen the fabric.  Bronwyn suggested printing oncomputer.  I may try backstitching on counted cross stitch fabric.  Ecological Wool makes a very light but warm sweater.

Big Snowy Owl

·         Free Pattern by Purl Soho

·         My original estimate was about $80 and then I backed off and said it was an exaggeration.  It wasn’t.

·         Mine cost $10.    Pronto by Sandnes was $5 per ball.

·         Charted the texture pattern.

Bronwyn on Ravelry

• Pinterest…ask one of us if you want an invitation.
• Bbknits   
• Nubby Noro Mittens and Fingerless version 
• Palindrome
• Little Turtle Knits Braided Cap by Theresa Belville 

Sarah on Ravelry  aka MotherEarthKnits

• Those Mitts by Leslie Friend 
• Christmas Tree Hat and Elfin Socks 
• Textural Healing Shawl by Shannon Squire
• Incognito (Mustache Cowl)  by Mercedes Tarosovich-Clark  

Handmade Holidays

Our Ravelry Thread

Just some of the great ideas:

• Hot Chocolate on a Stick/Cocoa Blocks
• Santa Hat Brownies 

Sarah's Homemade Granola 

• Bronwyn’s Sugar Scrub and Lotion Bars  (Episode 68)

• Summertime Neck Chillers 

Paula:  Whole WheatCinnamon Rolls. Partially bake them, freeze, and recipients bake them for a yummy breakfast.  I used this technique from King Arthur Flour.  Sarah and Bronwyn are trying them out.

Feel Free to copy and paste my instructions to include with the gift.  I printed on card stock.

Paula’s Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Rolls

Night before: Take buns out of the freezer and  put in the refrigerator. (See note below.)

In the morning: Take them out of the refrigerator. Let them warm a bit as you preheat your oven to 350°F. 

Bake for about 10 minutes, until they're a very light golden brown. Remove from the oven, brush with butter. Add streusel topping and bake another 5 min.

Enjoy!

Paula

You can also take them out of the freezer in the morning and just bake them a little longer.  (They are partially baked).

In the Pipeline

Per last week’s episode, the Doc Martin second movie wasn’t good.  Two stars.

Enjoyed The Pit Pony.  Has piping in it.

Downton Abbey Season 1 watching again. New season Jan 8.

2KnitLitChicks

High Note Low Note

High Notes:

• Paula: The Week Between Christmas and New Years
• Sarah: Christmas Cards
• Bronwyn: Fondue

Low Notes

• Paula: Stickiness
• Sarah: Accidental Felting
• Bronwyn: Poorly tied skeins of yarn

Knitting Pipeline Retreat

March 2-3 2012

(Friday evening and all day Saturday)

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

$50 or $40 for Sat only

Mail check to Knitting Pipeline, PO Box 549, Washington IL 61571

Merry Christmas!  Haste ye back!