Episode 128 To Knit Knots or to Not Knit Knots

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This episode is sponsored by my Quince & Co, Peddler’s Way Quilt Co, and The Blend.

Owl is the newest addition to the Quince and Co family. Squishy, lofty, plump, little Owl is made from a blend of American alpaca and wool. It is spun and dyed in New England and knits up between 4 ½ to 5 stitches per inch, the perfect weight for just about everything. Find it and the other Quince fibers at www.quinceandco.com. See all 7 colors of Little Owl at the Knitting Pipeline Retreat along with the other Quince colors.

Peddler’s Way Quilt Co is a sponsor of our show and our knitting Pipeline Retreat.  The shop is located just about a mile from our retreat location just off the historic Washington Square.  Peddler’s Way Quilt Co 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.  http://www.peddlersway.com

The Blend Café is an independent coffee shop in Washington IL  The Blend's slogan, “Where coffee and community come together,” is more than just a catchy phrase to us - It is our passion! Our desire is to provide a comfortable place for those in our community to gather together and enjoy good company along with GREAT coffee. If coffee is not YET your beverage of choice, come anyway - we serve wonderful teas, smoothies, and ice cream drinks to go along with our fresh baked goods, desserts, and sandwiches. http://www.blendbeans.com/

Pipeliner Notes

Thank you so much for the star ratings and reviews on iTunes.  There was a new review by MNmtneedle.  Thank you so much for both the written reviews and star ratings.

This Piperliner Note made me laugh out loud!

Hi Paula,

A friend on Ravelry recommended your podcast, and I just wanted to say how much I’m enjoying it.
I’ve been working my way through from the beginning, and loving it all. Like many people I started by listening to the episodes with EZ in the titles.
A story you might appreciate: my husband took my car to go to the shops the other day. He came home and said, ‘The knitters are taking over! The whole time I was out the radio was playing a woman talking about Estonian Lace and nupps!’ I had to explain that I’d left my phone in the car, connected to the stereo, and that it was you, and not the radio :)

Thank you so much - I’m really looking forward to listening more.

Rachel

PS - I LOVE Bob’s math bits

Events:

Retreat Tip: Please refrain from wearing perfumes or any kind of fragrance as there are usually people with allergies in a group like this.

When we recorded last week Bronwyn, Sarah, and I did not know that the Illinois River was expected to reach flood stage and not only that, our own Fiber Universe had to vacate their shop with all their inventory due to rising floodwaters.  This is a record flood, the highest since 1943.  We will keep you retreat attendees posted as best we can about The Fiber Universe whether they have a temporary location next week or what the situation is. I’m sure we will all support them wherever they are.  UPDATE:  The shop is not open for the Yarn Crawl.  Shop from the Fiber Universe at the retreat!

 Twitter #kpretreat

I’m actually trying to tweet at least a photo every day for this month.

Current Retreat Sponsors

Quince & Co

Ewe-nique Yarns Morton IL

The Fiber Universe in Peoria IL

Klose Knit in Urbana IL

Peddler’s Way Quilt Co in Washington IL

Knit4Together Yarn Company in Dunlap IL

The Blend Cafe in Washington IL

Last week for Gill’s Rock KAL

Gill’s Rock by Paula Emons-Fuessle

Gill’s Rock KAL  March 9 through April 9.

Dianne of Knitabulls March 8^th through April 30^th. 

Nature Notes

It is now April 18^th and we are seeing a tint of green in the woods.  We’ve just had 24 hours of rain and storms which has not stopped yet.  Oak Creek has picked up its pace with the waters muddy and swirling in the ravine below.  The banks have overflowed and are still high.  I didn’t think I had much to say about the birds today.  I came downstairs to write my nature notes about 2 PM and I heard the unusual call of the Pileated Woodpecker.  I made it to the window just in time to see its white and black wings outspread, flying through the woods, that bright flash of a red crest so fine and bright.  This is the first pileated sighting of the year.  Usually we see them pecking on the woodpile or on the snags not far from the house.  Our goldfinches are hopping about on the wet ground.  Their feathers, now vivid yellow after their late winter moult, are a bright contrast against their own black markings and the fresh green grass. It is no wonder that these birds are often called wild canaries and are favorites among many backyard birders.

 

 

How does a big healthy fat earthworm make it onto the carpet in our basement and halfway down the hall?  I ask you.  I nearly stepped on him because I thought it was a scrap of yarn.  Oh well.  That does not happen often.  I’m not afraid of earthworms but do not welcome them into the home.  I carried him outside and laid him in the grass.  Please stay outside, Worm.

April 20^th.  The skies have cleared and although it is cold we have sunshine.  Yesterday, April 19^th, we actually had snow flurries which was astounding for April in central Illinois.  This afternoon I was sitting on the sunporch and listened to my favorite of all bird sounds, the song of the white throated sparrow.  The call can be described as “Old Sam Peabody Peabody Peabody” or my favorite “Pure Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada. 

White Throated Sparrow

April 22  Happy Earth Day!  On Saturday a group of friends from Crossroads joined in Take Pride in Washington Day. 

This morning a Great Blue Heron helped me celebrate Earth Day by spreading his massive wings and settling down on the muddy banks of the creek.  He was too obscured by trees and branches, and a bit too far away, for a decent photo.  I put on my rubber boots and quietly walked down the hill in the woods with my eyes scanning the creek bed.  Suddenly the Great Blue rose up in a flash of gray blue and white, said goodbye, and flew downstream.

Needle Notes

Blue Moon Socks that Rock.  I did not realize that this yarn does not have any nylon in it so we will see how it wears.  From all reports it should be excellent.

3 in one rib; Classic heel, extended slip stitch onto the bottom of the foot for better wear, Star toe

Twinkle Twinkle Blanket by Helen Stewart

My first baby blankets were constructed in this manner back in the 70’s.  EZ tradition.  Knitter’s Almanac.  I’ve done many variations and this felt like coming home. I like the lace border and that it is a little fancy but still suitable for a boy.

Only modification is that I used Judy’s Magic CO to start it.

 

There is a bit of a bubble in the middle.  Knitted in wool this would probably work itself out a little better.  Improved after going through the washer and dryer.  Doesn’t really bother me as babies are little lumps themselves so it is not going to matter much.

Cradle Cardigan by Hannah Fettig Collection Mabel’s Closet.  3+ skeins 156g.  only 10 g left from both projects.  Less than 2% of total weight.

 

Back onto my Peerie Flooers by Kate Davies.  Moving up one needle size on the ribbing and two sizes on the body.  May start with provisional cast on and will do the ribbing after and I could fudge a bit with the colors.

Myth or Truth

From Cori/Irocnits

How about the “myth,” never, ever use knots in your knitting. I was taught this adamently by my knitting mentor years ago and then ran across a prominent knitter at a large knitting convention who said - sometimes it is just better to tie and knot and move on. Comments from others please!

Did I teach you to knit, Cori?  Seriously, I have said this many times to beginner knitters and I believe the great EZ herself taught it to me.  I thought this would be an easy myth to answer but it is not. I’ve been doing extensive knot research in my knot laboratory and what I have found is…I honestly never thought I would be saying this… I like knots. If I cannot use a felted join then it is a knot. To say that my conversion to knots was a Damascus Road experience would be an overstatement but only because it happened gradually and with a lot of skepticism.!

With that said, I do not trust a knot that is found in the yarn.  It might not be strong enough.  Test it.  I would cut it and reknot it myself.

I’ve been using the Double Knot as taught by Jane Richmond in a You Tube video.  No ends to weave in. Practically invisible.  There is also a weaver’s knot but I haven’t gotten the hang of that one yet.

 

Tested on Kindness of Knitters blanket, Acer Cardigan, aforementioned Twinkle Twinkle Blanket, and the cradle Cardigan. 

Twinkle Twinkle Blanket really sold me on the knot.  There was no good way to hide ends in that blanket.  Could not felt join.  Russian join would have been more obvious. You cannot see where the knots are.  I had at least 7 joins and you cannot see them.  I can’t even find them.

Have you ever had to join in a new thread on a bind off?  I did.  You cannot see it!

June Hemmons-Hiatt The Principles of Knitting p 594

Conclusion:  As long as you really know how to do a proper knot it is a good way to join in a new strand of yarn. 

Ravelry Note

From Carey Babyboxermom

I’m putting pictures of my yarn in my stash. I’ve notices that some of my yarn is “all used up” so I’m thinkin if I don’t have any more of it why keep a record of it in my stash. Thoughts?

There is a way to keep the record but take it out of your current stash. If you use the drop down menu to edit there is “all used up” as an option. Click on this and it will sort the yarn into a tab, taking it out of “in stash”.

Tabs are In Stash, Used Up, Trade or Sell, Handspun, Traded/Sold/Gifted

The Blethering Room with Bronwyn and Sarah

·        McCallum Bagpipes.  They actually gave me the blowstick stock.

·        Louise’s sewing group in Caithness.  The Great Tapestry of Scotland.  Brainchild of author Alexander McCall Smith. 150 panels depicting over 12,000 years of Scottish history.

Tapestry detail

 

Sewing ladies in Wick

Daisy

·        Robin Smith.  Diaries of an Adventure Queen: an American in Scotland.  Kindle 1.99.

·        Bronwyn’s super hot coffee mug! Zojirushi SM-KA48BA 16-Ounce/0.48-Liter Stainless Mug, Black

 

Have a great week, haste ye back, and hold your knitting close.

 

www.magnatune.com