Pipeliners chime in on the wearing of ponchos and whether men can wear shawls.  A winner is announced for the prize of 3 patterns from Stephen West of Westknits.  The American Bald Eagle is the topic in nature notes.  In Needle Notes I share my finished Citron, a pattern by Hilary Smith Callis, with a crocheted beaded edging from the book Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting by Lorna Miser.  I also review the book by Lorna Miser and announce a new drawing for a signed copy of the book, donated by the author.  Leave a comment in the show blog to enter.  In the Blethering Room I share more "No Purl Designs" suggested by our listeners.  Finally, some ideas about the Norwegian KAL which will start in a few weeks.

Show notes are at www.knittingpipeline.blogspot.com. It is the winter solstice as view nature from my window. Pipeliner emails ask me about males wearing shawls and the definition of shawl and scarf.  Another Pipeliner asked me whether she should knit a poncho...are ponchos in or out?  Also a few comments on Holiday 2010 Vogue Knitting, more no-purl patterns, needle notes that include a finished Shizuku scarf by Angela Tong and more Those Mitts by Leslie Friend, and the announcement of a new knitting podcast, Clothed in the Lamb by Janeen.  Plus a good chuckle provided by a good friend.  Merry Christmas and thank you to everyone who has supported the podcast in the first 6 months!  Check the show blog for a wonderful pipe, drum, and Highland Dance greeting from our friends, The Dutch Pipes and Drums.

www.knittingpipeline.blogspot.com Inspired by a listener email, I talk about wearing shawls and storing shawls.  In nature notes, it is COLD here and deer are moving through the woods.  Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums is performing in A Grace Family Christmas.  A review of new wool from Quince & Co.  Quince & Co has donated a prize of a scarf of your choice and the wool to make it!  Leave a note in the comment section on the show blog www.knittingpipeline.blogspot.com to get your name in the drawing on December 16th!  A winner is announced for the prize from Rose Beck of Rosy Posy Designs.  A holiday carol from Magnatune Christmas:  James Edwards Sans Day Carol, Sussex Carol, and Deck the Halls.

New garter stitch patterns to share include Schieffelin Point Shawl by Kate Gagnon Osborn, Alma Ella Shawl by RobinLynn, and Elektra by Rosemary Hill.  New to share about Franklin, Knit, and Purl who seem to have flown the coop and information about avian pox, a highly contagious bird flu.  I finished by Flourish Shawl, a pattern by Rose Beck and love it!  A tip from a Pipeliner, SpinningLil, on using a crochet hook to lasso those nupps.  A tune, Downstream, by Shira Kammen from the CD Music of Waters.

I read a long letter hand-written in green ink, with a dried piece of spaghetti, dated Dec 1, 1979 from Elizabeth Zimmermann.  Plus advantages of learning to knit both Continental and English/American and the answer to the question, "Does knowing the EZ method spoil you for using other patterns?"  The musical selection is a Welsh harp piece, The Ash Grove, by Cheryl Ann Fulton from her album, The Airs of Wales, in honor of Elizabeth Zimmermann's Welsh heritage.  Be sure to check out the show blog to see photos of the actual letter and the dried spaghetti.  www.knittingpipeline.blogspot.com

Is Flo the Elephant a knitting conspiracy?  You decide.   I started on my Rip Van Winkle Project, The Lovely Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark.  I muse on the Clapotis and why it is the most knitted design on Ravelry.  Nature notes about a Great Blue Heron, goldfinches, and "golden autumn".   A Ravelry tip on sharing projects, stash, and blog posts with groups. 

Knitting Tip from Pipeliner Shirley to use a music stand as a skein holder/swift.  Ravelry tip on groups and forums. Finished projects:  Kaellingsjal and Cabled Raglan Baby Cardigan.  New project: Citron by Hillary Smith Callis.  High Notes:  Cranford, Return to Cranford, and Lark Rise to Candleford.  Music:  Scotch Tune by Mr. Solomon Eckles (Eccles) performed by Da Camera on their CD A Celtic Celebration, available for download from Magnatune.

Were you asleep when other knitters were busy with a popular design?  Let's go through our pipelines to find those projects and move them UP to the top.  I'll be giving away a Longaberger basket, handwoven in Ohio, U.S.A. to the winner whose name will be drawn from the entries.  Leave your name on the thread in the Knitting Pipeline group on Ravelry or in the comments on the show blog.  I finished the Cedar Leaf Shawlette by Alana Dakos.  We add more patterns to our  list of easy lace shawl patterns, tips from listeners, and end with Heyken's Serenade from The Dutch Pipes and Drums CD In Harmony.

Approaching sock knitting with a double S strategy:  sport and stealth.  Pipeliner Stephanie wrote a letter to sock knitting.  I read a letter from Ursula about her crows and then try to talk myself into appreciating crows more than I do.  Piping Circle news about a friend from Australia, Mervyn.  And top it all off with one of my favorite tracks from In Harmony by The Dutch Pipes and Drums:  The Sands of Kuwait.

A Fiber Weekend results in 3 new energetic knitters!  Thoughts on teaching knitting and first projects. More easy lace patterns for beginners, Pipeliner Notes, Knitting Tips, and Butterfly awareness.