Episode 140 Hen for Short

Listen here or use the Flash Player on this site for current and past episodes. Flash Player is not compatible with Internet Explorer.  Try a different browser like Safari.  Or jaunt on over to iTunes to find the show there.

This episode is sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business and Quince & Co.

Chickadee is a little darling—soft, plump, springy, and eager to loop into intricate color patterns or delicate textures. Its three plies, spun from softest American wool, are twisted together firmly enough
to be sturdy, yet gently enough to be soft and cushiony.  41 beautiful colors to choose from and at just a little over $7 per 181 yd/50g skeins…you will find Chickadee a great value for your sport weight knitting.

 Find Chickadee and the other Quince fibers at www.quinceandco.com.

Pipeliner Notes

Knitting Pipeline Retreats Group!

Point of View Vest from Knitbot Linen by Hannah Fettig

Sparrow by Quince & Co in Nannyberry colorway

While the linen is still wet “whap” it hard lengthwise. Let it dry to damp, then iron while pulling lengthwise.

Reporting that Whapping works!  Restored vest to original size.  Thank you Carolyn.

Events and Announcements

Maine Retreat

Cornerstone Inn/Washington IL Fall Color Retreat

October 23-26, 2013 Wed late afternoon to Sat morning

Cornerstone Inn Bed and Breakfast/111 Washington Square, Washington IL 61571

Arrive Wednesday October 23, 2013 (check in time 3 to 5 PM)

Check out by 11 am Saturday October 26, 2013

·        3 nights lodging, breakfast at your hotel and two dinners in the Washington Room on historic Washington Square.  (All lunches and one dinner are on your own.)

·        Outings to local yarn shops

·        Mini-workshops

·        Porch Time at Paula’s house

·        Space is limited to 20 so register ASAP.

·        Of course there will be a few surprises along the way!

Cost between $430 and $300 depending upon whether you choose double or single occupancy and whether you are at the B and B or Sleep In.

      

Lullaby Rain by Paula Emons-Fuessle

Ends August 21^st so winners will be announced on the next show.

Nature Notes

From JRochelle:

Thanks for another great podcast! I was wondering if you would to tell us a little more about how to attract butterflies. I know that bright vibrant flowers in the yard help but would love some extra tips and tricks. You also mentioned that you have a butterfly bush. What kind of butterflies does it attract? Is it hard to maintain?

I have yet to see a monarch in our backyard this year which is pretty disappointing. You mentioned that this is a rough year for butterflies and it is visibly noticeable:(

Buddleia

Buddleia pronounciation: Bud-LEE-a

A perfectly manicured green lawn with no weeds in sight is a desert for butterflies.  Generally speaking, grass is not helpful to butterflies or wildlife so if you can convert grass to garden then you will be able to attract more wildlife.

Check out plants for your area.  Host plants and nectar/adult food plants vary widely from region to region. See if there are butterfly gardens in your area.  Talk to people who have gardens and ask what works for them.

Books in my library:

The Butterfly Book by Don and Lillian Stokes: The Complete Guide to Butterfly Gardening, Identification, and Behavior.  1991

Attracting Butterflies and Hummingbirds to your Backyard by Sally Roth. Rodale 2001.

How to Spot Butterflies by Patricia Sutton.  1999.  Great chapter on butterfly gardens.

Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. Henry James

Needle Notes

Henslowe by Beth Kling

This is a terrific pattern. The body of the shawl is perfect travel knitting.

Hen #1 I used Miss Babs Yummy Superwash Sock & Baby Yarn - 2 ply  (400 yd)

 

I had 90 grams of a 100 gram skein and thought that would be enough but I ran out way before finishing the border. None of my other gray fingering weight yarns could pull off the finish so I decided to bind off with a crochet beaded bind off.  This is why I call it Hen instead of Henslow.

Crochet Beaded Bind off.  String beads on your yarn ahead of time.  Estimate how many beads by figuring out how many stitches are eliminated by each bead repeat and dividing number of stitches by that number.

Hen #2 (almost Henslowe) The Woolen Rabbit Harmony Sock in Scottish Heather (400 yds) also some partial balls and swatches. US 3 - 3.25 mm

 

Still ran out so unraveled some swatches and estimated I used about 530 yds

Missed part of pattern so still isn’t right but looks good anyway.

Suspended Bind Off is stretchy and has a nice clean edge. Here is a video tutorial on the Suspended Bind Off.

 

The Blethering Room

Stitches Midwest!

 

Hot item at Stitches might have been Wingspan by maylin Tri'Coterie Designs.  As of July 20^th now a pay for pattern.

 

Stitches purchases

Newton’s Yarn Country.  Pagewood Farms. Merino Laceweight in natural.  500 yd sk.  $5 each.  4 for $20. 

Denise of Lost City Knits

Southern Yarns: www.SouthernYarns.com.  Love sheep, not wool.  Baby Soft Blanket from Appalachian Baby Design.  Organic Cotton. Natural

One circular needle Knitter’s Pride Dreamz for my Point of View Vest

Buttons!  Nifty Thrifty Dry Goods: collections of unique and vintage notions   www.niftythriftydrygoods.com  (based in RI)

In the Piping Circle

World Pipe Band Championships August 17 and 18^th.  Watch live stream Sat and Sunday!

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