Episode 60 Rip Van Winkle Resurrected

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Many thanks to Quince & Co for sponsoring this episode of Knitting Pipeline.

Thank you to everyone who was in touch with me this past week.  I heard from new Pipeliners

Becky, Sheryl, Tara, Dianna, Louise, Jessica, Elsbeth, Cat, Kristen, Eloise, Kristine, Torran from Argyll, Fran, Mandy, Cian, and Lea from Shell Lake WI where I first met Elizabeth Zimmermann herself—and Meg Swansen too.

There was a glorious flurry of 5 star reviews up on iTunes this week from Carolyn Zick, Gumbygoogoo, riverknitter, Michiele, Karen E, and Hishandmaid. Thank you!

Pipeliner Notes

Thanks to Meghan of the Stitch It! Podcast for recording with me last week.  

KA Needle Promo from Pinkfeatherknitting! (reviewed last week)

$4 off shipping for all orders.  Shipping is normally $4 for U.S./Canada and $9 International so that means Free for some of us and $5 for others.  The offer is through October 31, 2011.  Use the promo code piper at checkout.  If the promo code doesn't work for you please send a message to Diane.

KA Needles

Pink Feather Knitting

 Tip

Diane from Pinkfeatherknitting advises to treat your bamboo needles with household wax to keep them in good working condition.

 I read a Pipeliner note from PrairiePoppins:

As I listened to the last podcast and you read your nature quote, one of my favourites leaped to mind:

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. ~~George Eliot

Isn’t that something? I, too, would travel the globe for a year’s worth of crisp mornings warming to golden afternoons, for the urge to run beside the scattering leaves, for the chance to welcome while also saying farewell.  Sarah aka PrairiePoppins

New podcasts I am listening to:

2 KnitLitChicks

SockBunny Knit and Fit Videocast

  

Nature Notes

Cardinal vine is a magnet for hummingbirds.  We first found this plant Heck’s Family Tree Farm in Galesburg IL a nursery that specializes in heirloom varieties.  We bought it in a pot.  Not really knowing much about it we watched it grow up the side of the garage at our old house.  I could literally notice where the vine was in the morning and by evening it would have added inches to its length.  When the bright red flowers start blooming, usually in July, we watched hummingbirds traveling up and down the vine.  The flowers close at night and open in the morning.

Cardinal Vine Flower and Foliage

  

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

--Robert Frost 1923

Our woods, just beginning to turn yellow and gold.

Zinnias in our garden.

In my Pipeline

• Radiance Shawl by Helen Stewart
• Magrathea by Martina Behm
• I thought both of these  would be a quick knit that I would finish well before our Shaelyn KAL starts on October 1.   I was wrong.
• Afterthought Heel Hiking Socks using pattern by Laura Linneman

I am not sure I can get away with this yarn even for hiking socks.

My menfolk do not care for yellow.  Yellow is the kiss of death.

Needle Notes

Fawl Shawl KAWL for AWL update

Tag for your project:  knittingpipelinekal2011 

Name of Project  Fawl Shawl KAWL for Awl  or Fall Shawl KAL for All 

Shaelyn by Leila Raabe 

Yardage:  At least 330 yd sportweight 

October 1, 2011  Let the KAWL begin!

We have a family threesome knitting along with us.  AJ and Hannah are married and Hannah’s mother Elsbeth is also knitting along.

Provisional Cast on and Garter Tab beginning for shawls

 Garter Tab start is popular because it looks good and is simple to do.

The Shaelyn pattern starts with a provisional crochet cast on of 2 stitches.  That is your clue that the border is going to be two stitches.  Using waste yarn crochet a chain with a few extra stitches knit into the bump on the back of the chain to make your stitches.  Later you will pick out this thread…or not. 

You can eliminate the Provisional Cast On if you like and it doesn’t make much difference.

This is my video tutorial for the Garter Tab Beginning for Shawls

Westknits has a Garter Tab Tutorial.

I usually knit an extra ridge than the pattern calls for to make picking up along the edge easier.

If you enjoy the Garter Tab start then you can actually convert a pattern that has a traditional long tail cast on to a garter tab.  It isn’t too hard.  Note how many stitches are in the border, let’s say 3.  Then look at the directions and see how many stitches are needed when you are placing in stitches markers.  Let’s say 9.  That means you would need to pick up 3 stitches along the side and with the 3 on each end you would have 9.  Cheryl Oberle’s Wool Peddler’s Shawl is one that I converted to a garter tab start.

The Blethering Room

More on how to avoid or get out of stalled projects/UFO’s 

Use a marker that shows where you started that day such as safety pin or pieced of scrap wool.  When you see progress it encourages you to keep going

 Estelle Cardigan KAL Update

October 15 is Wear Your Estelle Day.

Take a photo of yourself in your own town, workplace, home, etc. wearing your Estelle. 

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Knitting Pipeline Retreat

March 2-3

Crossroads United Methodist Church

1420 N Main St., Washington IL 61571

Friday evening and all day Saturday (ends 4 PM)

(Washington IL is just east of Peoria off I-74)

 We are still in the planning stages but there are some eager beavers out there who want to make overnight reservations. It is too early to actually register for the retreat but you can reserve your room if you need overnight accommodations.  The registration fee will be no more than $50.

The overnight facilities are located about the same distance from Crossroads, only one is in the center of town and one is closer to Peoria.

Cornerstone Inn Bed and Breakfast  101 Washington Square, Washington IL 61571

(Denhart Baking Company and Restaurant) 

This is a historic building. Located on historic Washington Square next to shops and about a mile from the facility.

All the rooms are unique, furnished with antiques.

• God's World, Psalms and Garden are $125 plus tax
• Presidents is $120 plus tax
• Seasons, Heaven and Noah's Ark are all $90 plus tax

Annah is the Innkeeper

309.242.5678 

or book online

Sleep Inn 309-481-0450 

1101 N Cummings Ln, Washington IL 61571 

block of rooms that have 2 Queen beds in each room $74.99

Bronwyn reminded me of the Super 8 which I have not contacted.  It is probably a little cheaper but maybe not as nice as Sleep Inn.  I know people who have stayed at the Sleep Inn and can vouch for it.

Rip Van Winkle Challenge Resurrected

We started this last year on October 1 so I thought it might as well be an annual event.

 Rip Van Winkle is part of American folklore.  Basically he fell asleep and woke up in a lot later. 

Go through your Ravelry queue to find a project that has been asleep for a long time.  Or maybe you have been asleep while others have been knitting this project. 
Do you want an additional challenge? Go to your stash and try to find your oldest yarn and match it to a pattern in your queue.

Product Review

The Knitters Companion Deluxe Edition by Vicki Square.  Interweave Knits. 

With two DVD’s 

ISBN  978-1-59668 

Spiral bound hardcover.  Small book that can be tucked in a knitting bag.  Can prop up easel style. 

DVD’s follow the Table of Contents and are divided so you can look up the topic.  

Good Illustrations, explanations, teaching and comprehensive scope. 

The only criticisms are that the audio on the DVD is not edited so you do hear lip smacks and “ums” and sometimes they choose a weird camera angle while she is demonstrating a technique, but only for a short time.

This is a good reference book for knitters of all levels.  It's handy size makes it a useful tool. The price is right at $24.95 (on sale on Amazon and currently at Knit Picks for about $15.00) and that includes 2 DVDs.  Recommended. 

Music

I am enamored with Lydia McCauley’s  ForeignLander which is inspired by the music of the Appalachian people that had roots in The British Isles. The tune is Pretty Saro.  You can purchase at www.magnatune.com

Haste ye back!