Episode 174 Sock Surfing

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This episode is sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business and Quince & Co.  I am also a Craftsy Affiliate.

Quince & Company Kestrel is a new take on a simple linen yarn. We took the same Belgium-grown organic linen that we use in our little Sparrow and spun it this time in a ribbon structure. Kestrel knits up quickly at 3 ½ to 4 stitches to the inch. Its flat surface adds a slight texture to simple knit and purl stitches. But we think the best thing about it is its incredible drape. Like all things linen, woven or knitted, Kestrel only gets better as you wash and wear it. Find Kestrel and the other Quince fibers at www.quinceandco.com.

You can find my Longaberger Home Business at www.longaberger.com/paula.  Please send me a personal message or visit my web site to sign up for my customer email list.

You can also find me here:

Ravelry: PrairiePiper Feel free to include me in your friends.

Instagram: knittingpipeline

Twitter: knittingline

Pinterest: Paula Emons-Fuessle

Ravelry Group

Knitting Pipeline Retreats Group.

Pipeliner Notes

From FarfromHarmFarm:

And thanks for your great podcast. Would you take it as a compliment that you are the one I listen to last thing at night to help me drift off to sleep after a busy day with my kids? I hope so as its intended as such. I also want to ask you if you know anything about hummingbird behavior. We had a hummingbird show up on Sunday and he stayed all day perched on top a branch of our pin cherry tree. He sits for ages and then flies off and back throughout the day. He’s been with us for 4 days now. Always on the same branch facing the same direction. We are wondering if he’s waiting for his mate to arrive. Best wishes, Claire

I’m not an expert, Clair, but from my reading on hummingbirds I would say that the male hummingbird was probably defending his territory.  Hummingbirds are very territorial. Everything that birds do is related to either mating/territory/feeding/survival. Birds don’t sing because they are happy.  They don’t fly for the fun of it. At our feeders hummingbirds push other hummingbirds away from the portals although there is plenty of room for several to be getting nectar at the same time. I did see two at the feeder once this week and that is unusual.  Some species are more territorial than others.

Birds and Blooms latest issue is mostly on hummingbirds.

From Fun4Tracey

Tell SundanceFunpants to start with Itty bitty Hats by Susan B Anderson to learn knitting in the round. The instructions at the beginning of that book for knitting in the round are so clear and reassuring.

And the first little beanie hat in the book is instant gratification.

I can’t imagine starting with a sock if you’ve never previously knitted in the round at all.

I also love the idea of the Simple Knits Collection. (TinCanKnits)

Paula, I loved your approach to comparing these two projects. Very informative and fun to listen to!

From Florida Kelly:

In regard to first knitting project, I am a big believer in knitting what you love. I personally love cables so my first project was St Ciaran by Alice Starmore. I had learned how to cable by following her tutorials in the front of one of her books, set up an excel spreadsheet to set up my pattern so I could keep track of where I was in each cable repeat and went to town. It wasn’t until I finished and asked how to weave in ends at my LYS that they knew it was my first project.
So I am not sure I would try for a sweater or a sock if you have to adjust for size ( i have big feet) but I say anything goes! Even a simple lace shawl isnt bad if you pick a pattern without grafted edges (any of Paula’s are great!)
Have fun, pick good yarn that you love, and enjoy!! 

Elizabeth Zimmermann and I-cord from AnneC

I use i-cord to seam the shoulders of the Baby Surprise Jacket, then run it around all the edges--makes a nice finish!

From Linnekat:

Thanks so much for the i-cord information. I finished my sock yarn leftovers blanket earlier this year and was trying to do an i-cord border and just couldn’t make it work. But I took your advice and am knitting on the wrong side -- it looks so much better. And I had just checked out “Principles of Knitting” from the library, so I read what she had to say. Her note about gauge was very helpful. I went up two needle sizes and now it is laying nice and flat. I’m about half way around and so pleased with how it looks!

Think Like a Quilter Episode:

From KnittingMama82

Really enjoyed this episode. What is your next long-range project? Love the “Think Like a Quilter” philosophy.

Short Row Afghan by Sarah Bradberry

Linnakat’s Scrap Yarn Short Row Afghan

Episode 171 Blethering With Sarah and Bronwyn

From JCEllison:

I had the pleasure of getting up on podcasts yesterday as DD took an extra long nap. I always love the high notes/low notes part because I can relate to them so well. I laughed when I heard the one about people showing up early. I am with you on that one. However, there was one time when I was guilty of being painfully early myself, but it was on accident. I was doing my pharmacy residency in Memphis and was invited to the senior medical resident’s house for a party at the end of my month on the general medicine floor. It was on the Sunday of daylight’s saving time during Spring and I was living alone at the time so I had no one to remind me to change my clocks. I also left early because I wanted to make sure that I found the house. When I arrived over an hour early, my host gave me the strangest look! It wasn’t until I got inside and saw one of his clocks that I realized my mistake. I felt like a complete moron.

Craftsy KAL

From Marsha/Teal:

Bronwyn, I thought this as well but just learned differently in the Craftsy forum. You can download to your PC using the following process.

When you go to the Craftsy site, scroll down to Terms of Use, click on it, scroll down to #3 Accessing Your Purchased Content.  Then click on ”visit this link” at the end of the paragraph, log in, then right click on each lecture and you can save to your computer. I tested with one of my classes and it worked.

From Windybrookspins: (one of most active Craftsy students)

I just finished watching Professional Family Portraits with Kirk Tuck. Great free class.

Working on Perfect Pizza at Home now. Awesome teacher. I don’t know why I felt like I needed to get my free classes out of the way before I could focus on my purchased ones, but this is my last free class I am enrolled in and I plan to buckle down and do the purchased ones next. My favorite free class has been Complete Knife Skills. I didn’t really know anything about proper knife use before and I have watched parts of that class multiple times.

Events

Craftsy Kal

SSK July 16-20

Stitches Midwest 2014

Stash Dash 2014 TheKnitGirllls

StashDash Thread

SupaSteph’s Stash Dash Project

Nature Notes

17 year Cicadas

Periodical Cicadas/Magicicada  (they are not locusts, as locusts are in the grasshopper family)

Peoria Journal Star Article Listen Up It’s the 17 year Cicada

Memorial Day…Owl outside our window

Last Thursday about 10:30 AM there was a bang on the window and a scuffle on the deck.  I saw a Barred Owl chasing a House Finch. The finch escaped. The owl only stayed for a few seconds in a tree outside the porch before flying through the woods.

I’m watching a Red Bellied Woodpecker at the feeder right now.  Recently I was able to get a photo of the Red-Bellied Woodpecker that shows how this bird gets its name.  At first glance the red belly isn’t usually visible.  In my photo you can see what looks like a brush stroke of a watercolor brush, in a faint orange red on the lower belly.  The Red Bellied Woodpecker is a common visitor at our feeders and on the trees at the edge of the woods.

Can you see the blush of red on his belly?

We are so happy that the House Wrens did settle in at least one of our bird houses and the male sings all day long.  I remember a few years ago when our youngest son threw a bachelor party for his brother.  Someone plodded upstairs with a bit of a greenish tinge asking, “What is that bird that sings ALL THE TIME?”  It is just a few minutes before 8 PM right now and the House Wren is singing loudly right outside my window.

What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade. ~Gertrude Jekyll

Needle Notes

Stitch Surfer by Louise Robert from Knitty, Deep Fall 2012

Prairie Piper’s Stitch Surfers

Knitabulls Tutorials

Stitch Surfer Trunk Show at Knitting Pipeline Retreat by Diane and Stephen.

Earth and Sky by Westknits (my first Mystery KAL 2011)

PrairiePipers Earth and Sky

 The Blethering Room

On Project 333:

ClickClarke wrote: Loved hearing about Project 333 and I’m going to try it, at least as a guideline/goal as I switch out winter to summer clothes. Found myself chuckling trying to remember, Paula, how many shawls you once told us you have? Maybe we could have a knitter’s version of Project 333. Depending on our proclivities, we could have 33 shawls or 33 hats or 33 scarves, for example. We could have a 333-along where we try to get our stash down to 33 and give away the rest to a good cause. We could keep our Ravelry favorites or queue to a manageable 33. Who says knitters can’t embrace the simple life?? As always, a delightful show!

LouiseTilbrook wrote:

I’ll admit to being intruiged by the project 333 idea and it’s definitely something I’ll be checking out. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed by clutter right now and I like the idea of being able to simplify things a little.

I need a 333 for kids toys I think - 33 items that they actually play with for 3 months. With the rest in storage somewhere as opposed to being under my feet - lol

Just to report back, I have done a bit of reading about the 333 project and really love the idea. I set about my wardrobe with a vengeance yesterday and now have 33 items (Inc shoes). Everything else is packed away in the loft. It’s quite scary but at the same time, so lovely to be able to reach in and select an item without worrying about causing an avalanche :)

Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums at Good Neighbor Days last Friday night

In The Piping Circle

70^th Anniversary of D Day.  Bill Millin, Piper

Milwaukee Highland Games Saturday June 7 in Wauwatosa WI.

I'm convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they're stones that don't matter. As long as you're breathing, it's never too late to do some good.

Maya Angelou 

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