Episode 77 Short Rows and Spirals

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site.

Be sure to leave a comment below to enter the drawing for a skein of Dowager Countess from Roman Hills.  If you have problems leaving a comment try being "anonymous" but be sure to leave contact information of some kind!

This show is sponsored by Quince & Co, Peddler’s Way Quilt 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 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.

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. 

The Fiber Universe in Peoria IL  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.

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.

Knitting Pipeline Retreat!

Bronwyn the Brave is keeping a list of those registered for the retreat.  The list is posted on our Knitting Pipeline Group on Ravelry.

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

Dorothy’s letter last week struck a chord with many listeners. 

Chris left a message about her sighting of a barn owl.

Karebot has a great conversation starter.  What would you do during a zombie apocalypse? 

A correction from last week’s show: (Thank you spinsjal!)  Joshua Tucker is a massage therapist, NOT a physical therapist.  Read Wendy’s note on our board with another side to the issue.

Nature Notes

Last Friday we awoke to dense fog which was not an auspicious beginning to our Snowy Owl Expedition.  Well, maybe it was.  We made it to the Emiquon Wetland Preserve and saw quite a few American Bald Eagles.  We also saw Snow Geese!  There were thousands of them flying in ribbons as far as we could see down the waterway.

Funky and Aizome did see Snowy Owls in Minnesota!  I have not given up yet and there is always next year.

Featured Nature writer: John Madson Where the Sky Began: Land of the Tallgrass Prairie. 1982

Poem found in the front of John Madson's book...

To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,

 One clover, and a bee,

And revery.

The revery alone will do

 If bees are few.

Emily Dickinson

Needle Notes

Yarn recommendations for socks (that will wear well).

Traci (4 girls) Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, Woolen Rabbit Harmony, Opal

Prairiepoet:  Blue Moon Fiber Lightweight Socks that Rock

For the record, I have tried duplicate stitch (Swiss Darning) and do not like it for the tight gauge of socks.

I read a letter from JudyBee who is knitting Kevlar into her bullet proof socks!  Even Charlene Schurch was impressed!

Ten Stitch Twist by Frankie Brown took a little over a month to knit using stash yarn.

May I say how much I love my joins?

Spirals are soothing and relaxing even when there are short rows involved. Project notes are here.

Blanket measures 42” across and I figure it is about a sweater’s worth of worsted weight yarn.

The Blethering Room

Article about Pam Allen 

Piper’s Journey KAL begins!  The pattern is available at Quince & Co. in the Scarves, etc.  The whole collection is stunning!  Tag your Piper's Journey shawls for the KAL as pipersjourneykal.  Thank you for your support of my first published design!

In the Pipeline

Oops from last week!  I have done more cowls than I thought.  Kilkenny Cowl by Pam Allen is one of Emily’s favorites. 

Spectra by Stephen West.  2 Knit Lit Chicks KAL

Watching…

Downtown Abbey…we have a giveaway from Roman Hills!  They have a stunning and very clever Downton Abbey Line with colorways named for the characters.  Leave a comment below to be entered into a drawing for a skein of the Dowager Countess.  What is a weekend?  Thank you, Roman Hills!  You have until Feb 21 to leave a comment.

Listening:

The Paris Wife by Paula MacClain.  I’m falling behind in podcast listening.

Reading:

Finished Zombies Don’t Cry: Book One in a Living Dead Love Story.  By Rusty Fischer  Last week I said it was funny.  Right after that it was not so funny.  It was sad.

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

Goat Song: A Seasonal Life, A  Short History of Herding, and the Art of Making Cheese.  Recommended by Alisonc.

Bob Dylan was inspired by the Robert Burns tune featured at the end of this episode.  It is sung by Shira Kammen from A Celebration of Robert Burns.  www.magnatune.com

O my Luve's like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve's like the melodie
That’s sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry:

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun:
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee well, my only Luve
And fare thee well, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.

Thanks for listening!  Haste ye back! Remember to leave contact information (Ravelry name, email, blog) in your comment so you are eligible for the drawing of the Dowager Countess from Roman Hills!

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 75 Casting on and Other Beginnings

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

This episode is sponsored by Quince & Co and Peddler’sWay Quilt Shop.

 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.

Peddler’s Way Quilt Shop is a new 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 section with an array of fine quality yarns, books, and needles.

  

Pipeliner Notes

 I read letters from Peg and Dana. 

Fundraiser for Autism Speaks: Erin of Mommy Needs Yarn has designed a sock pattern! No More Tears.  All of the proceeds from its $5 sale will go to Autism Speaks.  Erin is hosting a KAL/Knitalong in February. 

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

Nature Notes

A Naturalist Buys an Old Farm by Edwin Way Teale c 1974.

 Trail Wood Landand house donated to Connecticut Audubon Society.

Every bit of this book is a gem, to be read slowly, as one might walk a favorite trail in the woods.

James Gates Percival  b 1795

Oddly enough, this man has fallen into near obscurity and it is now my personal mission to elevate his position.  Not really.

1835 accepted appt by Gov of CT to conduct a geological survey of the state of CT.

~James Gates Percival The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work.

Needle Notes

Sarah’s Make Up Yarn from Episode 74.  Kathy in Switzerland wrote to me about Schulana Wolle.

This is what Sarah made with the ball of Schulana...and it only took 35 minutes to knit. 

 "Twistin' the Night Away" by Susan Menashe  

Mildred Mitts is up on Ravelry as a free pattern. Test knitted by Mildred and some of the knitters in my class at The Blend. 

Fabric Labels for your knitting

Annabel Babe Cardigan and At First Sight by Laura Linnemann went to St.Louis to a baby shower.  I have this way of crashing baby showers.  I send gifts even when I am not invited.

The label is sewn inside near the bottom of the sweater.

The new mom is a knitter and knows her wool.

I stitched up a bag to send it off in!

I used Aizome’s method for labels.  Quick and easy!  I like the looks of it.  I used Calibri font in pt 12. 

FO:  Piper’s Journey #2 is finished.

Cost to knit this shawl in Quince & Co Chickadee is about $21  ($6.90 per 50 g skein)  Other yarn weights will work.  Bronwyn used fingering weight and reserved half the skein for the border.

Charr, Bronwyn, and Sarah in my kitchen.

Charr and Bronwyn wearing their Piper's Journey Shawls.  Charr's is in Quince & Co Chickadee in the Delft colorway.  Bronwyn's is in fingering weight.

My Piper’s Journey #2 is in Split Pea. photo coming later.

Do as I say not as I do.  On the edging do not slip first stitch on the outside of the border.  I thought I could get away with it even though I wrote the pattern and said not to do it. 

Piper’s Journey KAL will start as soon as the pattern is released.  Pipersjourneykal tag

In the Pipeline 

Ten Stitch Twist by Frankie Brown. 

Upcoming KALs:

Spectra by Stephen West hosted by 2 Knit Lit Chicks

Laura Linnemann’s Mystery Mitten KAL starts Feb 12^th

Listening to new podcasts: 

Lavender Bear’s Tea Time.  Video cast.  Just watched introductory episode so far. 

TVknittingpodcast by StitchMistress (audio) 

Knitting Brooklyn by Jessica jpeled (audio)

 The Blethering Room 

Knitting Classes coming along.  Students are excited about ribbing!

Tammy of The Proverbial Knitter has a tutorial on Long Tail Cast on in Rib.  Tammy is a fantastic teacher.  I am going to copy her way of explaining how to do the long tail cast-on. 

Review Notes

Iknit Needle Sizer  

.99  Not perfect but definitely useful and worth the price.

Knit Handy 

Knit Handy helps estimate how much yarn you need for a project.  Wonderful tool!  Definitely worth the price!  Easy to use.

One of the Last poems written by Robert Burns: 

Oh Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast

by Robert Burns
(1759-1796)  

Oh wert thou in the cauld blast,
On yonder lea, on yonder lea,
My plaidie to the angry airt,
I'd shelter thee, I'd shelter thee;
Or did misfortune's bitter storms
Around thee blaw, around thee blaw,
Thy bield should be my bosom,
To share it a', to share it a'.

Or were I in the wildest waste,
Sae black and bare, sae black and bare,
The desart were a paradise,
If thou wert there, if thou wert there.
Or were I monarch o' the globe,
Wi' thee to reign, wi' thee to reign,
The brightest jewel in my crown
Wad be my queen, wad be my queen.

Thanks for listening and haste ye back!

Episode 74 Hitchhiking Out of the Dog House

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

This show is sponsored by Quince & Co, Ewe-nique Yarns in Morton IL, and The Fiber Universe.

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

The Fiber Universe in downtown Peoria is the newest sponsor for our Knitting Pipeline Retreat and the show. Located in the Contemporary Arts Center on Water St, The Fiber Universe is part of the revitalization of the riverfront.  The Fiber Universe offers spinning wheels, carders and equipment from Ashford! In addition to a selection of yarns from Cascade, Plymouth, Universal, Skacel, Kauni, Pagewood Farms, Claudia Hand Painted Yarns, Jojoland, and Three Irish Girls The Fiber Universe is proud to offer local fibers and products.  Visit their home page at www.thefiberuniverse.com

My knitting friends Bronwyn (Bronwyndp) and Sarah (MotherEarthKnits) join me in today's episode.   

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.

Corrections from last week’s show:

• I bought my Kindle2 in 2010 not 2009
• Maine Morning Mitts has k2 p1 ribbing

Needle Notes and In the Pipeline

Bronwyn

FO: Maluka by Bea Schmidt 

FO: Tea Bags Basket by  Knitvana 

FO: Touch Phone Mitts 

Play Ball! by Dagny Heidig

We mention The Knit Knit Café Podcast and Abby knitting conductive thread into her mitts.

Bronwyn is test knitting Piper’s Journey.  It should be published by Quince & Co around the end of January or so.  And yes, we are doing a KAL on our Board!   Details will be on the Knitting Pipeline Group on Ravelry.

Sarah

FO: Textural Healing Shawl by Shannon Squire 

Flying Geese Blanket from Mason-Dixon Knitting

Paula

Emily wearing her Kilkenny Cowl as a shrug.

FO: Hitchhiker by Martine Behm

Ten Stitch Twist Blanket by Frankie Brown

Rebecca Danger The Big Book of Knitted Monsters

OhSo Hat: Easy, Warm, Double-Brimmed by Lee Bernstein
Shaw Hill by Alicia Plummer
The Knitting Experience Book 1 The Knit Stitch by Sally Melville

The Blethering Room

Sarah tells the story of a Make Up Skein of Yarn.

Schulana
We suggest Sarah do a Ravelry Advanced Search to find ideas for using her new ball of bulky yarn.
We answer a question from a listener, k4charlotte.  When is a beginner knitter no longer a beginner?  How do you know when you are an intermediate knitter or when you should back away from a pattern because you'd be in too deep?
Sarah answers part of this question with a quote from the Mason-Dixon Knitting Book.

High Notes

Bronwyn:  Music Together (music classes for babies and toddlers)

Sarah: Sledding

Paula: DVR’s and the freedom of watching a show when you want to!

Low Notes

Bronwyn: Laptop power sources (failures)

Paula: when you think you have recorded a show and you haven’t

A BIG HIGH NOTE is Our retreat!  We still have room for you! 

Knitting Pipeline Retreat

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.

Just let us know if you plan to camp out at the church with head camp counselor Bronwyn. (Friday night only)

Make check payable to Paula Emons-Fuessle

Mail to:
Knitting Pipeline Retreat
PO Box 549
Washington IL 61571

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