Episode 86 Skyp Sock Wave

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

This show by sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business and Quince& Co.

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 suppliers. Find them at www.quinceandco.com and while you are there, sign up for their free e-newsletter.

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.  My business site is www.longaberger.com/paula

Pipeliner Notes

I share notes from Judiuni and Lasknits2.

Nature Notes

Garlic Mustard Day.  Take a few hours each year to pull up these plants on your property so you can keep it in control. 

Common Violet  Viola sororia sororia State Flower of Illinois since 1908 Possible host plant for a number of butterflies, especially fritillaries. Flowers are edible but have little flavor.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream  Act 2 Scene 1  William Shakespeare

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:
There sleeps Titania sometime of the night,
Lull'd in these flowers with dances and delight;
And there the snake throws her enamell'd skin,
Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in:
And with the juice of this I'll streak her eyes,
And make her full of hateful fantasies.
Take thou some of it, and seek through this grove:
A sweet Athenian lady is in love
With a disdainful youth: anoint his eyes;
But do it when the next thing he espies
May be the lady: thou shalt know the man
By the Athenian garments he hath on.
Effect it with some care, that he may prove
More fond on her than she upon her love:
And look thou meet me ere the first cock crow.

Needle Notes

Main Needle Choices for Socks or other small items in the round:

1.      Double Points  4 or 5

2.      Very Short Circular 9 to 12”

3.      2 circulars, usually 24”

4.      One long circular also called Magic Loop, 32” or longer

Both of these somewhat dependent upon newer and more flexible cables than were available prior to 2000 or so.

Socks Soar on 2 Circular Needles by Cat Bordhi  2001

The Magic Loop by Bev Galeskas January 2002 

I attempted 2 at a time socks on Magic Loop.  Took Judiuni’s email to heart and divided up my Austermann Step into two equal balls of 21 g each.  What a mess!  Would work better with toe-up using Judy’s Magic Cast On.

KarenE1969 started the Simple Skyp Sock Wave at the Knitting Pipeline Retreat.  Thank you, Karen!  This is my new favorite sock pattern.

Simple Skyp Socks by Adrienne Ku   Written for sport weight but I didn’t realize that until today when I started on the show notes.  Stitch count seemed right for fingering weight and mine fit perfectly.

Cakewalk Yarns Stash  colorway Vernon  80/10/10

Reasons to Love Simple Skype Socks by Adrienne Ku

1.      6 + 2 rib is super stretchy so the sock fits well.

2.      Easy to memorize, only 2 rows and one is simple rib.  Skyp comes from the main stitch Slip one, knit 1 YO, PSSO

3.      Wonderful for variegated yarns.  Pop of color and texture. 

4.      Unisex-usually a YO in a man’s sock is the death knoll but it works here because of the pass over.

Piper’s Journey KAL

Welcome to newbies who are joining the KAL!

The Blethering Room

I tell the story of how a Snowy Owl was in our town for two days and I didn’t know about it.  Sigh.  Shed a few tears.

In the Pipeline

Lookbook KnitBot Essentials

KnitBot Essentials by Hannah Fettig

Print and e-Book $24

e-book only $20

Slipped Stitch Patterns

Interrupting Cow Socks by Laura Linnemann  $4.00 Ravelry Download

Blue Monday Set a free design by Thea Colman www.spudandchloe.com  Beewing linked to it on our board.  Hat and mitten pattern with stranded slip stitch colorwork. 

Lorna Miser Blue Ray Socks from The Knitter’s Guide to Hand-Dyed and Variegated Yarn.  

Skyp Ribbed Socks by Adrienne Ku

Claire by Adrienne Ku top down, unisex, ribbed  $5

If I like a free pattern by a designer then I try to purchase one of her patterns as a thank you.

Joy in the Congo.  60 minutes April 8, 2012   Amazing Story!

Book Notes

Sock Knitting Master Class: Innovative Techniques and Patterns from Top Designers by Ann Budd. 

17 designs by 15 designers so that is a great value even if you just consider the patterns in the book.  Although the font is a rather small I recommend this book if you enjoy sock knitting.  Font is a bit small.  Highly recommended.

Haste ye back!

Episode 85 Sock Songs

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

This show by sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business and Quince & Co.

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 suppliers. Find them at www.quinceandco.com and while you are there, sign up for their free e-newsletter.

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.

Thank you to everyone who left 5 star reviews on iTunes

Pipeliner Notes

Thanks for the feedback on last week’s show.  Several of you enjoyed the story that Lois sent in about Alexander McCall Smith.  Musings on the Slip Stitch brought in comments.  Karebot said she is going to honor the Slip Stitch in April.  That came off the cuff more or less in jest but in reality I have actually been appreciating slipped stitches more.  Funny thing.

Nature Notes

We’ve gone from very hot weather to much cooler, which I am enjoying.

A Eastern Phoebe, or pair of phoebes, is building a nest on our gutter outside the bedroom window.  Phoebes are in the flycatcher family so you will see them doing some gymnastics as they fly and catch insects.  They have a tail that bobs up and down.  Their call is a raspy and short Phoebe rather than the clear Phoebe or Sweetie of the Black capped chickadee.

May Apples and Sweet William are adding to the color of the woodland floor.  The Spring Beauties are still in full bloom and the leaves are really beginning to come out on the trees.  We are still hearing the spring peepers although they were quiet last night as the temperature was below 50 when we went to bed.  Fifty degrees seems to be the cut off point for the peeper song. 

Every spring is the only spring - a perpetual astonishment. ~~Ellis Peters

Needle Notes

Low Note: Proactive Star Toe Socks:  Pico Accuardi Dyeworks.  Accidental Felting despite not going into dryer. 

Plain Ol' Socks

Used Austermann Step with Aloe and Jojoba. Two knots in skein.  Great yardage.  A little on the thin side.

Listening back to an Episode and I heard myself say that I didn’t like having two pair of socks going at the same time.  Why?

Erin of MommyNeedsYarn No MoreTears for Autism Speaks.  Started project on March 23, Finished April 1, 2012.

BBknits Butter Pecan  Size 1 32” Harmony Needle

Learned:

1.      I will not collapse if I have more than one pair of socks in progress
2.      Magic Loop…getting into the groove. 
3.      Had a gutter where the loop came out.  First stitch on each needle was a purl stitch. See Episode 84 Cat Bordhi video with alternative way to purl.  At this point my head was beginning to spin but I decided to
4.      Cable without a needle.  Knittinghelp.com  (see below)
5.      Short Row Heel  First do a series of decreasing short rows with wrapped stitches and then a series of increasing short rows with wrapped stitches
6.      New way of concealing wraps  Cat Bordhi video

Cabling without a Cable Needle

Piper’s Journey KAL

Will probably unsticky the thread at the end of the month

Upcoming Pattern: Hyla Brook

Will use 2 skeins of Quince & Co Tern (wool/silk blend)

In the Pipeline

Knitting

McHenry by Susan B Anderson

Simple Skyp Socks by Adrienne Ku

Watching

The Fat Squirrel Speaks by Amy Beth.  Fantastic video cast!  Go watch it!

Reading

At Home by Bill Bryson

Listening

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Bird Decals from Duncraft 

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 67 Donkey Ears and Pig Eyes

Listen here or use the Flash Player on the show blog. 

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.

Nature Notes 

My Life as a Turkey on PBS 

For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Afterthought Heel Socks by Laura Linneman 

Ginger from Mississippi found the solution for those pesky donkey ears on the corners of heels and toes that have been grafted (Kitchener) in:

Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles by Cat Bordhi

Donkey ears are for donkeys, not sock toes: To avoid those little boxy corners on your grafted toes, slip the outermost stitch on each end on each needle over its nearest neighbor, eliminating four stitches which might have gone boxy on you. Now graft.

Ginger adds:

This works great on DPNs or two circs but if you’re using magic loop the stitches should be transferred to DPNs first. I slip the first two stitches on the left needle to the right needle, then pass the first slipped stitch over as if binding off, then move the remaining stitch back to the left needle. Another way to do this is use a crochet hook to pull the second stitch on the left needle through the first stitch (dropping the first stitch) and then putting that second stitch back on the needle. 

Cat Bordhi's web site and blog 

Little Box of Socks by Charlene Shurch and Beth Parrott

Vogue Knitting featured Martha Stewart and her new line of yarn from LionBrand.

I have a new favorite whole wheat bread recipe.  You can throw away the other one.

Before baking.  These are the bread pans I bought from The Urban Homemaker.

Cooling after baking.  I put a clean tea towel over the loaves, but of course, I had to take it off for the photo.

Ready to slice!

The Urban Homemaker

Best Bread Recipe

Rip Van Winkle Challenge

Enter for the prizes on our Ravelry board on the thread Prize Entries for Rip Van Winkel

The prize thread will close on Dec 1, 2011.

Nubby Noro Mittens Pattern by Annie's Woolens

Shawl Pattern by Laura Linneman  Thin Ice 

3 skeins Soft Touch Ultra from Shelridge Farm  100 % Wool Fingering weight.  185 yd each. 

Product Review

The Best of Knitscene: a Collection of Simple, Stylish, and Spirited Knits.

by Lisa Shroyer
Highly Recommended.

High Note

Meghan of Stitch It!! Podcast introduced me to:

Good Earth Original Caffeine Free Tea

(I see their packaging has changed from what I have.)

 Music 

Diana Rowan.  Panta Rhei.  Track 07 The Sea Set. www.magnatune.com 

You can find me on Ravelry as PrairiePiper 

Knitting Pipeline Retreat March 2-3, 2012

(Friday evening and all day Sat) in Washington IL

  information on overnight accommodations is in the side bar, along with registration information.

 

Episode 59 A Visit from Meghan

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Quince & Co Chickadee in Bird's Egg

Thank you to Quince & Co for sponsoring Knitting Pipeline.  Visit them at www.quinceandco.com

Meghan of Stitch It! Podcast came for a visit!  We baked whole wheat bread, ate soup, knitted, and did a podcast episode together.  We also had a Knitting on the Porch morning with Charr and Bronwyn.

Charr, Bronwyn, Paula, and honored guest, Meghan.  Knitting (and spinning) on the Porch Day.

Thank you to everyone who was in touch with me this past week.  I heard from new Pipeliners Simple Quiet Wisdom, Andrea, Gloria, PamelaJean, Liz, Ginger, Becky, and Sheryl.

There is a new review up on iTunes from KnitsLiketheWind.   Thank you, knitslikethewind, so much for your 5 star review.

Winners of Drawings 

The winners of the drawing for the Shaelyn pattern were announced last week and we actually had two people with the same name win.  Designer Leila Raabe graciously donated a fourth pattern so no one would be disappointed.   I will try to remember in the future to remind you to put your Ravelry name, email, or blog link in your post for the prizes so we don’t have any confusion.  Thank you, Leila.

Fawl Shawl KAWL for AWL update 

Shaelyn by Leila Raabe 

What is a KAL/Knit Along?  Sometimes you will see KAL/CAL (Crochet along)

Details vary but basically:

1. Choose a pattern or theme.
2. Set a date to start.  Sometimes have an ending date.
3. Share excitement, photos, questions, tips.

Our Fawl Shawl Kawl for Awl starts on October 1, 2011!

Estelle Cardigan Update

October 15 is Wear Your Estelle Day.

Take a photo of yourself in your own town, workplace, home, etc.  We’re going to make a photo collage!

Tip

Tip for frogging mohair or mohair blends from Lala/Laura of The Knit Girllls.

Put in freezer for a few days beforehand.  That will make the fibers less grabby and wanting to stick together.

Needle Notes 

In the pipeline:

Meghan is knitting Vivian by Ysolda Teague.  She's having some issues with the pattern.

I am knitting:

 Radiance Shawl by Helen Stewart
Magrathea by Martina Behm

Listen to the new audio podcast! 2KnitLitChicks… Barb and Tracey 

A Shawl Like Kate's 

My Reading Chair with new Reading Shawl.

• Milk Run Shawl by Cat Wong
• Free pattern
• Triangular, garter stitch with center spine and bell ruffle
• Quince & Co Chickadee in Birds Egg  7 skeins.  181 yds per skein  1,267 yds.  Ruffle took 400 yds.

Simplified ruffle by using simple M1.

Tip for counting stitches.  This is what I often do when I have a lot of stitches on the needle.

• I was aiming for 193 x 2 (two sides of triangle.) 
• On one side I marked off 150 stitches.  (both sides are the same so I only did a rough count on one.)
• There were no increases in this marked area of 150 since the increases were only on the edges and the middle.
• There were 4 stitches added on every right side row so I made a count down list.  (Photo is actually one from another shawl but you get the idea.)  This way I don't have to count all of the stitches; only the ones on either side of the marked set of 150. 

The Blethering Room

How do you get faster at knitting?

• It comes with practice.
• Try different methods and study knitters who are fast.
• Don’t worry about it too much.

How do you get past the stalled areas of uncompleted projects?

• Know your limits for WIP’s .  How many can you comfortable juggle at a time?
• Have safe/relief knitting when you are working on a more complicated project.
• Know your limits for keeping projects going.
• What is the reason for stalling in the first place?  Should this be frogged?

For an analytical approach visit the blog of Executive Knitter.

ExecutiveKnitting : Project Management One WIP at a time

Product Review: KA Needles (Bamboo)

Pink Feather Knitting

What a clever business card!  Diane gave these out at Sock Summit.  The wee needles can be used as a shawl pin.

• Made in Japan
• Very smooth.  Feels as if they are already broken in.
• Fixed, interchangeable, Straight, double points
• Swivel cable
• Affordable! Fixed Circular 36” is $10 

From the pinkfeatherknitting web site:

KA or Kinki Amibari premium bamboo knitting needles are made in Nara, Japan. More than 500 kinds of bamboo grows in Japan. KA uses only two of the finest, aged bamboo, that are superior in density, flexibility, color and gloss. Pinkfeather Knitting offers the full line of KA interchangeable knitting needles. Tips as small as US size 0 and as short as 2 inches. KA SWITCH system offers the widest range of options of any interchangeable...

These are the best bamboo/wooden circulars I have found so far. Meghan and I give them a 5 star rating!

Meghan likes Crystal Palace double points.  She has not tried Crystal Palace Circulars.

I like Clover double points but am not impressed with the circulars.

This just in (and not on the podcast!)

Special for Knitting Pipeline Listeners at www.pinkfeatherknitting.com :  Use promo code "piper" at checkout for $4 off shipping.  (That means FREE shipping in the U.S. and Canada).   International is usually $9 so would be $5!

Thanks to Meghan for visiting and co-hosting this episode!

Haste ye back!

 

Episode 52 Kilkenny Cowl and Stripe Study Shawl

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site.

Thank you to Quince& Co for sponsoring this episode.  Do you love beautiful colors and soft wool with a nice spring to it?  Sign up for the weekly e-newsletter at www.quinceandco.com.

KnittyBarb was the first one to respond that my nephew's fiancee resembles Susan B. Anderson!

A special welcome to new pipeliners who sent me emails or private messages last week: Mimi, Lisa, Hannah, and Peggy. 

We also had some lovely 5 star reviews on iTunes.  Thank you so much: Luciaknits, Luvmylabs, Hoversew, Joan/FugueStateKnits,  LeaAline, and Prairie Poet.   

Pipeliner Tip 

Last week mentioned that it is sometimes difficult to photocopy and enlarge charts and instructions from books when the text and charts are too close to the binding.  Julia who is Choosejoy on Ravelry gave a great tip for this on our knitting Pipeline board.  Julia wrote that she takes some of her books to a copy place and has them spiral bound.  This costs about $5.  Thank you, Julia, for a fantastic idea.

Nature Notes

Bob joins me to answer an email from a Pipeliner about keeping Redwing Blackbirds off her feeders.  Bob and I share information about American Goldfinches and their nesting habits with thistle.  I mention www.enature.com 

There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before.

~Robert Lynd, The Blue Lion and Other Essays

  

Needle Notes 

I finished the Chambered Nautilus Tam by Elizabeth Zimmermann from Knit One Knit All.  It turned out a bit small but it is sassy. 

It will take guts to wear this cap, don't you agree?

 The Kilkenny Cowl by Pam Allen.  This is a purchase pattern that calls for 4 skeins of Quince & Co Chickadee.  I used the clay colorway.  It is an unusual color and the name describes it perfectly.l  I made this for Emily, my future daughter-in-law.  Emily designed the new logo for the podcast so Kilkenny is a little token of appreciation.  Better photos coming soon when temperatures are reasonable!

Things I learned from this project:
A cowl isn't necessarily a weekend project.   This cowl is a beautiful contrast of cables and lace.  Well worth the time spent on it.  A fun and challenging knit, but not too difficult. 

Stripe Study Shawl by Veera Valimaki 

This pattern is really making the rounds on Ravelry.  It is an asymmetrical triangle.  There is a spine in it that runs from top to the bottom of the point but it is not in the middle of the triangle.  It’s all garter stitch.  Calls for 880 yd/440 of each color.

I chose Quince & Co Tern in Stonington and Oyster.  2 skeins of each.  Size 5 needle 

Better not knit this shawl if you have any tendency toward vertigo.

Modifications:

• Did a simple backward loop instead of M1 L and M1 R.
• Tapered the bottom point by eliminating the central increases on the last inch or so.
• Bound off in iCord.  I have nicknamed this BO  The Two State Bind off because I started binding off in  Indiana and finished in the middle of Ohio.

The I cord Bind off looks different on each side.  Decide which side you like best.  I cast off on the right side but a lot of people like to cast off on the wrong side.  

At the beginning/end of the row cast on two or 3 stitches by knitted cast on (I did 2).  Knit two stitches.  Slip the next stitch on the left needle knit wise.  Knit the next stitch. PSSO.  Slip these 3 needles back to left needle.  Continue with knit 2, slip one, PSSO, slip 3 back to left needle. 

The Blethering Room

 Yesterday we had a visitor.  Franklin, our resident wild turkey, and one of the ladies.  To those who are new to the podcast, Franklin is a wild turkey who lived in our woods last summer and competed with his own reflection in our windows for several months.  His lady friends were named Knit and Purl by one of our Pipeliners.  I have to admit that it was a bit of a relief when they moved on for a while but I had to smile when he suddenly appeared in his usual place, all puffed up and proud, while Knit or Purl stood coyly off in the woods preening herself.  Maybe this was just a cameo appearance.  We shall see.

If you are going to Sock Summit there is a Podcaster Meet and Greet on Saturday July 30^th from 12 noon to 1:30 PM at the Bar Maids Booth #400.  I will be there!  Feel free to check with me on Twitter @ knittingline to see what we are up to so you can join us.  Charr and I are arriving on Tuesday so we do have time for individual meet ups.

My business site is Longaberger.com/paula.  To be on my business newsletter list just send an email to me with information.  My email address is Paulaef@aol.com.  I'll keep you posted on the weekly sales and monthly features. 

Music

Dutch Pipes and Drums.  In Concert.  Track 3 Atholl Highlanders, Bonnie Dundee, Steam Boat.  available on www.dutchpipesanddrums.nl. Thank you, Dutch Pipes and Drums!

Haste ye back!

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