Episode 8 Elizabeth Zimmermann Notes

In this episode The Blethering Room is turned into The Blethering Zimmer.  I read several letters that Elizabeth Zimmermann wrote to me in 1977.  More to come in future episodes...

The fictitious character I refer to is Precious Ramotswe, daughter of the late Obed Ramotswe, and the owner and founder of The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency.  The author of the series of books that begin with The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency is Alexander McCall Smith.

The Danish knitting book, Hoensestrik  (the o actually has a slash through it and no "e" but I don't know how to type that letter on the blog.) by Kirsten Hofstatter.  ISBN 87-980272-0-4  1974

That famous signature.

Episode 7 An EZ Challenge

I am committing new techniques to memory and no longer using videos and You Tube as a crutch.  In June I practiced Judy Becker's Magic Cast On until I could do it in my sleep.  Well, almost.  This month it is one of Lucy Neatby's Provisional Cast-on methods.  If you cannot weave (aka Kitchener Stitch/grafting) without thinking about it then I suggest you work on this technique this month, following Elizabeth Zimmermann's advice in A Knitter's Almanac:  Chapter: Mystery Blanket: Weaving available from Schoolhouse Press.  You will be so glad you did!  There is a little prize drawing for everyone who enters the challenge either here on on the blog.

Check out Erica's fundraiser for pancreatic cancer on her site http://www.fiddleknits.com/ . Erica is donating 50% of pattern sales to pancreatic cancer research.

I finished my second Brandywine Shawl by Rosemary Hill. This one is in Knit Picks Tonal Stroll in Gypsy.

Row 37.  Added YO, SSK to make top point of diamond

My only mod is on Row 37 on the center stitch.  I added YO, SSK to make a hole at the top of the diamond.  I like this better.

My first Brandywine Shawl.  Knitted as written (both chart and line by line agree.)

When you are inserting a lifeline into your knitting, do not run it through your stitch markers.

Summer Flies Shawlette by Holly Griffin-Weidner and Donna Griffin.

Old Maiden Aunt Giveaway.  (1) Moody (2) Bracken (3) Rose

The giveaway continues for 3 skeins of Old Maiden Aunt Laceweight (very fine) from Scotland.

Franklin, the tom turkey, is still pecking on the window. Joyce suggested the names Knit and Purl for the two hens that accompany Franklin to our woods.  Note that he is good at killing grass.  Clever turkey!

Episode 5 & 6 Perseverance is Key

Butterfly Blether

 

Here are a few sites with information about butterflies and their host plants.  Plants and butterfly species will vary by geographic region so you might want to do your own search.

 

The Butterfly Site

 

The Butterfly Website

 

Black Swallowtail "Fat Guys"...soon headed for pupation stage.

 

Parsley plant after being eaten by Black Swallowtail larvae.  They rarely kill a plant.  It has already started to recover.

Dutch Pipes and Drums, Tilburg, The Netherlands
Track 5 of In Harmony: The Bells of Dunblane by PM Robert Mathieson

 

Crochet Thread #10 is great for lifelines!  Anchor by tying a stitch marker on each end.

Franklin's Harem need names.

 

Leave a message here or on the Ravelry Board if you are interested in the skeins of laceweight wool from Old Maiden Aunt in West Kilbride, Scotland.  I will leave this open for 2 weeks to give everyone a chance to enter the drawing.  List your color preferences.

• Moody (blue)
• Bracken (light green) 
• Rose  (This one is already wound into a ball)

Episode 3 Ravelry Highlights and a Review

The Woolen Rabbit  15% off your order through July 31st!  Code KP10

Ravelry Highlights

Pogona by Stephen West

Eiffel Tower by Natalie Servant

Summer Flies by Donna Griffin

22.5 Degrees by Martina Behm

Tooley Owl by Amanda Berry

Finished Project

City Mouse Toy by Lion Brand

Piecework Magazine by Interweave Press

Magnatune  My theme music is Rising of the Lark by Cheryl Ann Fulton from the album The Airs of Wales.  Listening is free! Downloading is just $15 per month.

Episode 2 Charting Your Way

I explain how I prepare a chart for knitting.

I finished Brandywine in the "Ribbit" colorway from The Woolen Rabbit.

Shalom (free pattern by Meghan McFarlane) was finished once, maybe twice, then frogged. I coin a new word for knitters:  Frufo.  A finished project that has been frogged.  (Frogged + UFO)
Cascade Ecological Wool is a bargain.
Schoolhouse Press has a nice large chart keeper.
McCallum Bagpipes...my pipes!
Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums

Recipe for Salmon
The Rub: 1 tsp sugar and 1 tsp paprika

The Sauce:
1 Stick butter, softened
3 to 4 TBSP fresh basil, chopped
3 to 4 TBSP chopped green onion
freshly squeezed lime juice to taste.  I use about 2 TBSP

This is way more butter than you need but it is good leftover on sandwiches.  Easily halved.

Episode 1 Vegemot, Multnomah, Kjaellingsjal, and Brandywine Shawl

A wild male turkey pays us amorous visits.

I talk about finished projects:

Vegemot published in the blog Hespetre.

Multnomah by Kate Flagg

And current projects:

Kjaellingsjal in the blog Knit Forwards..Understand Backwards.. by Mette Roerbech

Brandywine Shawl by Rosemary Hill

Woolen Rabbit Harmony Sock Yarn

I talk about how to make your own sprouts for healthful eating.

Product Review: Portable Mini Spin Dryer

by The Laundry Alternative.

Episode 00--Denmark is my Knitting Home

I've been knitting and learning steadily since 1974.  I think I have some things to share with the knitting world out there.  I hope you join me in this podcasting journey.  Your feedback is welcome.

I've been thinking about producing a podcast ever since I started listening to them about 2 and a half years ago.  On May 26 a catalyst of some kind must have blown through here.  I knew it was time to start learning all I could about podcasting.