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!

Episode 70 Postcard from Elizabeth

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

Thank you to our sponsors for this episode!

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.

When you purchase from our sponsors please let them know that you listen to Knitting Pipeline!

Pipeliner Notes

There was a lot of mail this week and notes on the board in support of reading the letters from Elizabeth Zimmermann.  Thank you so much for your support.  I am overwhelmed. 

I won’t throw away all the knitted baby things.  It was a rash statement.  Wool blankets that cannot be machine washed are not so practical for today’s mothers although they do seem to have superhuman strength when I see them carrying those car safety seats. 

Nature Notes 

At dawn on Saturday December 10 I saw the lunar eclipse and then a terrible house fire.  I forgot to say on the show that no one died in the fire.  Even the pets were saved. 

After visiting with Charr and Bronwyn on Tuesday morning I saw a very sad event with squirrels.  I will never look at a squirrel in quite the same way again. 

Nature Poem

I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.

'We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,'
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December. - Oliver Herford, I Heard a Bird Sing

Needle Notes

 
My nephew Eric, turning a bowl in my dad's shop.

EZ Saddle Shoulder Sweater from Knitting Workshop by Elizabeth Zimmermann  Schoolhouse Press

My project notes are here.  Woodturner Pulley

Elizabeth percentage system=EPS

The spirals were inspired by woodturning.

Spiral Ribbing came from Knitting on the Edge by Nicki Epstein

 Microsoft excel is useful when planning cables and ribbing

In the Pipeline

We are currently watching: 

The Grand (watch instantly on Netflix)

Doc Martin   the movies

The Blethering Room

Finch from Quince & Co

100% American Wool
221 yd [202 m] / 50g  $7.25
9 sts /inch on size US 1 needles
7 sts / inch on size US 3 needles

Finch is a little sprite, a fingering-weight with the slightest of halos. It's soft to the touch, yet its neatly twisted plies give it a smooth, tailored finish that’s sturdy and hardwearing. It's perfectly balanced for an even stockinette stitch, and you’ll love how it shows off texture and lace patterns—perfect for Fair Isle, too.

 When blocking a piece with cables and texture do not block the cables. 

The Piping Circle 

Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums had a Christmas Party last Thursday night

Ben and Donna's home was featured in Country Sampler Magazine November 2011

Isn't this the most cozy corner?

Celtic Cross Friends

 I’ve been revamping my pipes.

Note from Elizabeth

 I read a postcard from Elizabeth Zimmermann that was written to me in February 1980.

Music

Coventry Carol  Magnatune Christmas.  www.magnatune.com

Haste ye back!