Episode 33 of Knitting Pipeline is Of Lice and Men

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Show notes and photos are on the show blog.  http://www.knittingpipeline.com/

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Scroll Lace Scarf

When visiting my friend in Scotland last April I bought yarn at Old Maiden Aunt in West Kilbride. The color seen here was designed by Ysolda Teague and is called (you guessed it!) "Ysolda". It was a limited edition color and designed also for this project, The Scroll Lace Scarf. Note that the photos do not do the yarn justice. It is handpainted and has a lot more subtle tone variations. The pattern is the last one in Ysolda's latest book, Whimsical Little Knits 2.

The constructions method makes for very easy knitting. This was a 4 day project for me knitted Dec 22-Dec 25.

First you knit the lace border which is a simple pattern, one that I memorized quite quickly. Then you pick up the stitches along the top edge of the border and knit the stockinette part back and forth using short rows to shape it. The picot bind off adds a nice finishing touch. I do plan to knit this again but I'm going to use garter stitch instead of stockinette. That predictable roll of stockinette never rests, does it?

Just for Now

How could a basket filled with luscious skeins of soft wool not make a person smile?

And how could knitting on a sunny porch while gazing at birds and treetops not be the best place in the world at the moment?

What is better than knitting one's first Ishbel? It could be knitting the second Ishbel while wearing Damson. I bought the wool in Scotland in West Kilbride at Old Maiden Aunt. The color is called "bracken". Knitting with it evokes memories of the glens and mossy vales of Scotland. Bliss.

And how could a pair of red shoes not make the world a little brighter, too?

A Wee Bit of Scotland and Piping

We just returned from our annual Door County WI trip but before posting about that I want to share one more Scotland photo. This final photo is one that I really love because I have seen this view many times on my visits.

This is the pastoral scene as one looks out from the back of Marsie's house. She lives on the edge of an estate (subdivision in the US.)

The following photos are from the Springfield IL St. Andrews Highland Games on May 16. In the first photo Pipe Major Kevin Nickerson is tuning my pipes. In the second photo, Scott McCauley from Chicago Midlothian Scottish Pipe Band is helping our pipers tune.

It takes a while to tune a pipe band and tuning never really ends. The chanters need to be tuned, note to note, and then the three drones on each set of pipes. All have to be in tune with the other pipes in the band. We are tuning right up until we march into the competition circle. In the last photo we are in the competition circle playing our medley: Stornaway Bay, High Road to Gairloch, Teribus, and The Sweet Maid of Glendaruel.

Our next competition is this Saturday, June 6, in Milwaukee WI. We have a big practice lined up for Thursday night.

Tea, Wool, and Friends

After saying goodbye to charming Culross we stopped to visit Marsie's mum and dad in their home outside of Glasgow. They are an amazing couple, well into their 90's and still living on their own. As is our custom on my visits we enjoyed tea and biscuits in their home.

Wool has eluded me on my previous trips to Scotland. All those sheep grazing on the fells were surely tempting reminders. Shortly before this trip I met Tigerlilith on Ravelry. She has an online shop Old Maiden Aunt Yarns as well as a storefront in the small village of West Kilbride on the west coast of Scotland. Marsie graciously drove me to West Kilbride where we managed to find both the shop and Lilith. She was just leaving for the day and spied me in my shawl from across the street. What lovely colors and blends she has! She has a special Homecoming Collection (250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns). I was proud of myself for making a quick decision in the midst of color overload. Even the names such as "Bracken" and "Ae Fond Kiss" conjur up romantic thoughts. Sigh. I did quite well with my 3 laceweight skeins, one sock weight, and one special skein in a color designed by the young Scottish designer Ysolda Teague. I can't wait to see what Ysolda designs for this wool! Lilith carefully wrapped my parcel in tissue paper. She is camera shy but I promised she would not have to pose. She looks lovely, doesn't she?

Later that evening we met Marsie's friends for dinner at The Coffee Club in Kilmarnock. I would say we had quite a full day!

More Culross Scotland Photos

After breakfast in Culross we walked up the cobblestone street hill to the Abbey Ruins. We were fortunate that the garden was open that day. No ticket necessary, just a box for donations.

I'm always attracted to stones with moss, lichens, and succulents. Look at the color here!

The view to the sea was stunning with this gorgeous array of spring greenery in the foreground.

Windows, Doors, and Pathways

After a good sleep we walked to a local cafe for breakfast. Then strolled through the town of Culross and up the hill to the Abbey ruins.

Mossy stones and walls always attract my eye.

I could live in a wee cottage like this.

Binnie's Vennel and other Paths in Culross

We walked down "Binnie's Vennel" to reach the walking path by the firth. I am guessing that "vennel" is a sort of alleyway. Anyway, I love saying that name and had to take a photo. It was a bonus that the nameplate was on a stone wall, but then, there are stone walls everywhere in Culross.

After our walk we found Judy, the proprietor of St. Mungo's, a lovely Bed and Breakfast just down the road. Judy's bright and beautiful kitchen has windows that showcase the emerging spring garden out back. Judy was the keeper of the key to our lodging for the night.

Back at Robin's house we were able to go through the house to the back garden which is very private. Eley House has thick walls which means beautiful and functional deep window sills, each of which frames a calming view.

Inside the house we found sweet pressies and a welcome note from Robin. I had knitted a few dishcloths for her. See the cloth on the table? The colors in the two dishcloths at left were amazingly close.

Later on we walked the block or so down the quaint street, Lower Causeway, for dinner at The Red Lion, which I believe is the only place in the village where one can eat an evening meal. We had a wonderful day and looked forward to more exploration in the morning.

Our Trip to Lovely Culross

On Maunday Thursday we drove to Culross, stopping first at McCallum Bagpipes, between Troon and Kilmarnock. Then on to a lovely lunch before continuing our journey.

We stopped to take this photo as we drove into the town of Culross, which lies on the Firth of Forth.

The atmosphere of this village can take your breath away. I seem to take a lot of photos of doorways and windows. The cobblestone streets are a bit tricky for walking but you don't think about that much since there is so much beauty here.

This is Robin's house, where we were staying. She and her family were away for the Easter holidays and she graciously left the key at a friend's B and B just down the road.

Eley House has a lovely garden out front and a stone wall with gaily painted gate to border the front garden.

Flowers of the Borders

There were undulating stands of wild yellow gorse everywhere. Note the mounds of it on the hills in the distance. Up close, it is rather prickly. We also saw many sheep grazing in the meadows and lots of cuddly lambs but it never seemed to be convenient to get their photos.

Daffodils were bountiful, even in the car parks. There were also beds of tulips, primroses, and pansies.

View looking beyond to the Galloway Hills (I think). It was beginning to rain so I'm glad I took the photos before we spent time in the Ice Cream Factory/Amusement Park.