Episode 83 Captivating Cats

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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 longaberger.com/paula

Thank you to everyone who left 5 star reviews on iTunes, commented on the show blog, participated in the Knitting Pipeline Group on Ravelry, and send good vibes my way.  Our group on Ravelry is very friendly and I invite you to join us.  We have over 1586 members!

Pipeliner Notes

I read a note from Nancy.  Her husband is going to build owl houses.  Does anyone have experience with these?  Please let me know.

Nature Notes

Pileated woodpecker, spring peepers, and a fox runs past as I record the show.

Spring Beauty  Claytonia virginica

Native Americans ate the bulbs of this plant.  Euell Gibbons called it Fairy Spuds.

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke

Needle Notes

Follow up on Purl Tension.  Cat Bordhi.  Video shared by offherneedles.  How to tighten your purl stitches.

The next two cats are Greta theCaptivating Cat by Rebecca Danger.  Inspired by Diane of Knitabulls.

Greta The First wanted a bow.  I used Malabrigo.

3 needle bind off was used to close the top.  Getting it turned inside out was painful.  I felt sorry for the cat.

Greta the Second I used kitchener stitch at the top of the head.  Had added stitches to the opening but still very small.

Greta the Second did not want a bow.  I used Jojoland Melody.

 

I use DMC Cotton Perle for the facial features.  You have to get it right or all the knitting is for naught.

Stuffing:  Always takes more than you think it will.

Piper’s Journey KAL

Not much to say about this KAL and I guess that is a good thing. 

Lorix5 has a lovely Piper's Journey!  I loved her photos and asked whether I might post them here for you to see.

The Blethering Room

I explain where The Blethering Room originated, with a group of friends who met online and met face to face in Virginia in 1999. “Blether” is the Scottish word for blather.

Book Notes

The Knitter’s Life List by Gwen W. Steege. Highly recommended.

In the Piping Circle

St. Patrick's Day Recap

I did a little yarn shop visit during the pub crawl.  I visited with Erin and Melinda at The Fiber Universe.  I wanted to stay and knit but the piping must go on!  I am wearing our special Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums St. Patrick's Day shirts.

Paula and Erin St. Patrick's Day 2012

Kevin and Heather with Bishop Daniel Jenky of the Peoria Diocese.

Music from Musica Pacifica.  Kid on the Mountain and Mountain Rose. www.magnatune.com
Haste ye back!

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 17 A Knitting Conspiracy Exposed

The show is sponsored by my Longaberger home business.  www.longaberger.com/paula

Listen here or click on the Flash Player at right where all episodes are available.  Click in the lower left corner of the Flash Player screen for the menu.

Nature Notes

Goldfinches are in the winter dress.  I saw a Great Blue Heron on our creek.  This was a case of synchronicity since I had been telling our arborist about such a sighting that had happened 3 and a half years ago and not since that time.

Thank you to Meghan of The Stitch It Podcast for talking about my show on her show.

Needle Notes

Flo the Elephant  by Franklin Habit First Fall Knitty 2010
Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A Clark.

The Blethering Room

We continue our Rip Van Winkle Challenge. (see entries for Oct 1 and Oct 8 2010)  Several Pipeliners have been on the fence about The Clapotis, a pattern by Kate Gilbert that took the knitting world by storm in 2004.   What is it about this pattern that has charmed so many knitters?

Musical Selection

Swedish Folk Musicians Anna Rynefors and Erik Ask Upmark.  Valltrall from album Dram.  Available on Magnatune.