Episode 35 of Knitting Pipeline is about Comfort Knitting

Show notes are at Knitting Pipeline.

Looking for water fowl at Banner Marsh.  The sweater Bob is wearing was a Stash Buster, Norwegian Style, that I made several years ago.

Snow Geese at Lake Springfield from Dave Heinzel on Vimeo.

In the Sunday edition of The Peoria Journal Star there was an article about snow geese migrating through our area. After church Bob and I ate a quick lunch, gathered our binoculars, and drove down to Emiquon to witness this phenomenom.  We are so glad we did.   Although the video  I have posted is actually from Springfield IL, it does capture the wonder of what we saw.

Episode 24 of Knitting Pipeline has more about Shawls!

Listen here or find all episodes on Flash Player.

The show notes can be found on the show blog, Knitting Pipeline.

Be sure to enter your name in the drawing from Quince & Co. by leaving a comment on the show blog!

These are the deer that were walking through the woods before we got snow.  I talked about them on Episode 23.

We have since had 6 inches of snow so it looks a lot different out there now.



There are deer in this photo.  Can you find them?  Their coloring is the perfect camouflage for the fall woods.



Episode 20 Garter Stitch, Anyone?

Show notes are on the show blog.   Download by clicking on the episode title or listen from the Flash Player.

Topics in this Episode

• Find out the latest about the turkeys Franklin, Knit, and Purl.
• A knitting tip for nupps
• My finished shawl Flourish by Rose Beck
• I ask for suggestions for garter stitch patterns.
• More on Continental knitting and English Knitting methods

...and more, of course. 

Flourish by Rose Beck.  A very fun and easy pattern!

Cedar Leaf Shawlette

The Cedar Leaf Shawlette:  finished a few days late for my daughter-in-law's birthday but hopefully in time for her to take on their trip to Spain in a few days. I blocked it and sent it off after taking some quick photos. I wish I could take photos of her modeling it.

I'll be talking about the Cedar Leaf Shawlette by Alana Dakos (pattern gifted to me by one of my wonderful podcast listeners) on the next episode of Knitting Pipeline.

The pattern calls for DK weight but I used fingering weight/sock yarn from The Woolen Rabbit. The color is called Chimney Sweep. I love this color. It is a deep gray semi-solid with blue overtones. Fortunately, I have one whole skein plus a bit of the second leftover for a future project.

I'm Back with Shawls

Just before vacation I started on Kjaellingesjal by Mette Rorbech. Mette researched and reproduced a shawl in the Vensyssel Museum in Denmark. Thanks to her generosity, it is written down as a pattern and translated from the Danish. The name means "old hag shawl" but I have more pleasant images of Old Denmark.

Although the patterns calls for DK weight I am using the lovely fingering weight yarn from The Woolen Rabbit, in the color Scottish Heather. I bought two skeins of this yarn several months ago and was waiting for the perfect project. I probably don't have enough yardage and hope I can order more from Kim. This colorway is so beautiful! There are bits of a muted green, lavendar, periwinkle, and loads of interesting undertones. When the bright periwinkle bits show up I am unreasonably and ridiculously thrilled. During our time at the cabin I knit the bottom lace border and picked up along the edge for the body of the shawl. My shawl will not be authentic because instead of a half-double crochet pick up, I just picked up with knit stitches. I didn't have a crochet hook with me at the cabin. But hey, people were resourceful back in 1897, weren't they? At first I did an inch or so of Bird's Eye Lace, but it didn't look right. So plain garter stitch it is! There are some bands of stockinette in the body of the shawl also and Mette says these bands help keep the shawl stay around the shoulders. Knitting this shawl makes me feel connected to a country I love so much. I am in no hurry to finish it.

I visited my friend Gresha a few weeks ago and she gave me some samples from her collection of Tazo teas. Although the color isn't as true in the photos, I thought the packages were inspiration for a knitting project. We shall see.

The Fernwood Farm Shawl started with a pattern but I deviated so quickly and so much that it bears little resemblance to the original. I have written the instructions down, which is more of a recipe than anything else. Send me an email if you are interested.

The yarn is wool/acrylic blend: Plymouth Encore (worsted weight) in the denim color.

The meadow is calling me right now. I wish I could walk through it! I'm sure there are butterflies and a cool breeze.

I intend to give Fernwood Farm Shawl away when the Holy Spirit leads me.

Summit Stole

Summit is the teaser that I posted about a few weeks ago. It was a gift for my little mom for Mother's Day. When Dad opened the package and showed it to her, they both gasped. Isn't that just the reaction we knitters are looking for?

Summit is a free pattern from Knitty.com. I used an alpaca/silk blend that was left over from a shawl I made. My version is only 9 columns wide so it is considerably less wide than the original. Once the intial set-up rows are established, the pattern is easily memorized. Next time I'm going to try garter stitch as the reverse side reminds me of calamari. There are more notes on my Ravelry page.

Yesterday the knitters from my Prayer Shawl group came over a Porch Morning. We sat in the sunroom with steaming mugs of coffee and tea, watching the busy birds flitting back and forth from the feeders. I suppose a little knitting was done also. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have been migrating through and were constantly at the feeders and in the nearby trees all day. This morning I am watching them as I sit at my laptop. How could one not be impressed by such a display? These birds (the males, of course) seem to be aware of their magnificence and love to show it off. I would love to watch these birds all summer but I know we are just a stop on their way to northern breeding grounds.

Weavers Wool Mini Shawl

Knitting this shawl was pure mindless pleasure. The pattern is a free one by Peggy Pignato. Knit Picks City Tweed is a very soft blend of merino and alpaca. I used the color Romance for the body of the sweater and edged it with Orca. (The 2nd and 3rd photos show the color most accurately. )I like the rustic, folksy aura of this shawl. It is very cozy and the shape keeps it on the shoulders.

I started the shawl in a different way than the pattern recommended. Basically I knit a long garter stitch strip and picked up stitches along the bottom edge and one side. Specific notes are on my Ravelry Projects page.

This weekend I'm going to try to finish the Fair Isle Vest!

Mara, a Simple, Elegant Shawl

"Mara" is a simple triangular shawl, knit from the top down. It is a free pattern from Madelinetosh. The simplicity of the pleated border is the hallmark of this shawl. Though simple to knit, it is not for the faint of heart. I started the k1 p1 part of the border when I was 1/2 way through the yarn supply . Yes, that means the border is half the shawl. I did add some increasing on the side corners to make them longer and more fitting to the shoulders. Knit Picks Options needle points, one on each end of a long cable, were lifesavers. When I reached the k2 p2 part of the border, there were 550 stitches per row. "Wait until I finish this row," takes on a whole new meaning at this point.

There are more details on my Ravelry projects page. The colorway held my interest in this garter stitch extravaganza. This shawl will go in my shawl stash to be given away when someone needs it.

The photo of the completed shawl was taken in an unblocked state during one of the rare bits of sunshine we have had in recent months. Since the yarn is not 100% wool I probably won't block it. The only part that seemed a little lumpy was on the ends of the tails. A gentle burst of steam and a pat down might calm them a bit. I envision this shawl knitted in a tweedy gray or brown, similar to the shawls worn by the ladies of Cranford and Lark Rise. If you are fans of BBC productions, you know exactly what I am talking about. Cranford, Return to Cranford, and Lark Rise to Candleford (not related to the first two series mentioned) are high on my list of Netflix recommendations.

Another Ishbel

It only took 6 days from start to finish on Ishbel in Old Maiden Aunt, Bracken (green).


I have laid the smaller red Ishbel on top of the larger one to show the size difference. The only difference is that I knit one more repeat of the charts A and B. As you can see there there is a considerable overall size difference with just this small change.

This is the amount of wool left after I bound off my second Ishbel. Whew! That was a close one. I was sweating it out on that last row. Needless to say, I can't run to Scotland for more wool. Or can I?

The lace detail is so pretty especially with this particular yarn. While it was on the guest bed in the blocking phase I kept going down there to admire it.

What I learned about Ishbel:

(1) Follow charts and ignore the written directions. On my first Ishbel I followed the charts but my stitch count was off so I tried to check it with the written directions. That only made things worse. The second time I stayed with the charts and had no problems.

(2) The pattern repeat is 8 stitches. Stitch markers don't work because the repeat shifts. At the center point, or before that point when the rows got very long, I counted the pattern repeats. The double decrease always lines up. That is important to note. Usually when I got off on the pattern it was because I forgot one of the YO's at the beginning and end of each row or forgot to psso on the double decrease.

(3) If you love garter stitch, as I do, it works fine to do the center portion in garter stitch. Make absolutely sure your stitch count is correct before starting on the lace.

(4) Pay particular attention to Chart C line 5. There is where you stop making the YO's in the center of the shawl.

(5) If you are accustomed to slipping the first stitch of each row, do not slip on Ishbel. The border is more flexible when this stitch is knitted loosely rather than slipped.

Proper photos will be coming shortly.

A Lovely Ishbel Shawl

Although Ishbel gave me fits for a while I believe it was due to my choice of yarn, or rather the color of the yarn. There is a strong contrast in the reds and purples which camouflaged the lace pattern. Araucania Sock isn't as soft as Malabrigo Sock but is still lovely and I do love the colorway. Since I bought two skeins of it back in June at A Sow's Ear in Verona WI, there is plenty left to make Damson or perhaps Aestlight by Gudrun Johnston. It is fantastic that designers are coming out with patterns for small shawls that can be knit with one skein of sock yarn. While I have knit my fair share of socks I do not consider myself a sock knitter. To me a Sock Knitter is one who always has a pair of socks on the needles and maybe even knits socks exclusively.

During these cool fall days a light wool scarf about one's shoulders takes off the chill, both indoors and out. We had our first frost last night. The woolens are coming out.

I enjoy wearing the shawl with the point on the side (top photo) or as Ysolda usually does, in the front.

To avoid a peasant or granny look (although I am old enough to be a granny), do your best to keep the point from aiming toward your backside. Since Ishbel has shaping to curve around the neck a shawl pin is not necessary to keep it in place.

I LOVE Ishbel and will soon post my tips for Ishbel along with photos of Ishbel #2 which is currently pinned on the guest bed.

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?

Blessings

This morning the prayer shawl knitters from my church met at our local coffeehouse, The Blend. This shawl, which I have been knitting off and on since July, was blocked and ready to go. I had a faint idea of the intended recipient, but was not certain. While we were having our hot drinks (it is cold here today!) we found out that one of our fellow knitters is still not well after a fall she had several weeks ago. Right then I knew this shawl was for her. It is made of luxury yarn, Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk, so it could not go to a sick household where it could be tossed in a machine. We laid our hands on the shawl and prayed for our friend. Immediately following our gathering I took the shawl to her. She exclaimed, "It is my favorite color!" as I put it around her shoulders. She looked beautiful! It was indeed her color. I knew right then that the Holy Spirit had guided us to the right place.

The pattern is Cheryl Oberle's Feather and Fan
Triangle Shawl from her book Folk Shawls. One feature I especially like are the long tails, made by extra increases on each of the side points of the triangle. These long tails make the shawl wrap nicely about the shoulders and neck.
Of course there was all that blissful garter stitch, too!

I only put about 5 repeats of Feather and Fan on the border of the shawl and it still is a fairly ample covering.

It makes me happy knowing this shawl has found its way home.

A Finished Damson...Plum Dandy!

Just for laughs, this is me trying to look like Ysolda Teague, the young Scottish designer who created Damson, Ishbel, Liesl, and other clever designs. I am holding the camera out with one hand here. Ysolda has a winsome, wistful look in many of her photos and I just look plain ol' silly. And the worst part (or best) is that this was one of the better photos. Just so you know.

I am so in love with Damson that I wore it on Monday when the temperature was over 80 degrees.

There is not a single thing I would change in making this shawl. Well, I did do the edges slightly differently, a technique I have already mentioned in this blog. Instead of knitting or slipping the first stitch do as follows: Knit to last stitch. Bring yarn forward and leave it there. Slip the last stitch. Turn work. Knit into the back of the first stitch. Makes a lovely, tidy edge.

I feel like starting another Damson right away but I have been invited to two baby (girl) showers in the next two weeks so bring on the pink!

A Little Bit about Damson and Piping, Too

It's been a long time since I've update my blog. I've been busy with the pipe band on the weekends. We went to the Quad Cities for their Highland Games two weeks ago. Were were one of 3 bands that played throughout the day in small groups, solo, and then together in a "Battle of the Bands". The small groups were fun as it was like being wandering minstrel's/pipers. Between our gigs we roamed around the fairgrounds and sat in our little encampment, trying to stay out of the sun. It was a beautiful day with perfect temperatures in the low 70's but most of us ended up with a suntan line across our foreheads where our Glengarry (hats) end. The Glengarry is great for staying on the head during a stiff wind (Scotland) but not so great for keeping the summer sun out of the face (Illinois).

Last weekend I played a charity benefit for an off-duty policeman who was killed while helping a stranded motorist. I piped a color guard in at a golf course and then played Amazing Grace.

This weekend (Saturday) the band traveled to Waukesha Wisconsin to compete in the Highland Games. This competition was the last of the season. We placed 2ND (again) but it is probably the best we've played in competition this year. The 3 bands at our level were fairly closely matched. And aren't these two little guys adorable in their kilts. They are so happy to be just like their papa, who is a piper in our band. We hope they will be pipers in our band someday. Somewhere between these two piping events I hosted a bus of folks to Chicago to meeting Tami Longaberger and Bernie Kosar. Yes, I've been busy.

Today I've been preparing for the Official Visit for my P.E.O. Chapter. This event happens periodically when a state officer comes to observe our chapter and make sure we know what we are doing. Our visit is going to be September 14 but I have a lot going on in the days prior so I have to get everything done ahead of time. This afternoon I finished all the paperwork and weeded out our files. Now all I have to do is prepare an agenda, which is what I normally do for a meeting. So I feel pretty good about getting all that done.

A few days ago I couldn't resist casting on another project. Ysolda Teague's Damson Shawl is #1 on the Ravelry pattern list of new patterns and it is practically irresistible. It uses one skein of sock yarn and I just happened to have the exact yarn called for in the pattern, Malabrigo Sock. That happens so rarely that it seemed destined. At first I wasn't sure how the variegated wool would look in the shawl but it is turning out beautifully. Ysolda is such a talented young designer and she is cranking out the patterns faster than I can knit them. There is always something in a pattern that I have not seen before. In Damson the clever way of starting the shawl is a method totally new to me. If she came up with this idea, all I have to say is one word: GENIUS. If she didn't invent it then, kudos to whoever did. I can see myself making several Damsons for gifts and for myself. Put in your order now, Fam.

One caveat if you knit Damson: Pay close attention to the stitch count in the garter section. That may seem obvious to many; however, I didn't look closely enough at what was coming up. (Reading the pattern completely is a concept I apparently have not grasped in 35 years of knitting.) The chart of rows/stitch counts is very handy but only if you use it. When I finished the garter stitch section I was sadly off by several stitches and never did figure out where to put them in properly. It took me the better part of Sunday afternoon to get the stockinette section started correctly, after a bit of number fudging.

I am trying a new recipe for Oatmeal Raisin Cookies out of The New Best Recipe Cookbook. There will be a report on these after my Official Cookie Tester returns home from teaching tonight about 9 PM. Yes, at this university classes are in session on Labor Day, and that includes evening classes. I'm sure he'll be happy to do a little more grading when he gets home and it might take several tries before he can make a decision as to whether this recipe gets an A or a B. I can tell you it won't be any lower than that!

California Bound!

Last Friday on the way to the airport I snapped a photo of my dad wearing the Ribbed Cap I made for his birthday in September. Isn't he the fashion maven? I like the jauntiness of the way he wears it. I think he will start a new trend. You read it here!

As we were waiting for the limo to the airport Mom saw that I was wearing a blue lace shawl from "way back". All I remember from making it is that the designer was Linda Carlson, pattern in Knitting World, and the border is called Oak Leaf and Acorn. The shawl draws compliments wherever I go. Anyway, not to be outdone, Mom whipped out a simple shawl in a royal blue cotton/maybe silk blend I had made for her years ago. Honestly, I don't remember it at all! Here she is stepping out in the street at LAX looking for my brother's car. Doesn't she look great? A lady at the airport said she thought the shawl probably had come from an expensive boutique.