Our son is going to hike The Colorado Trail.  I talk to him about his upcoming trip and preparations for it.

show notes and photos at www.knittingpipeline.com

Thank you to sponsor www.quinceandco.com  and my Longaberger Home Business.

Haste ye back!

Natural Moth Repellants, Care of Woolens

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

complete show notes at www.knittingpipeline.com

Rita Buchanan Spin Off June 1986

Competition on Saturday in Milwaukee at Hart Park.  Milwaukee Highland Games.  June 2, 2012

Lydia McCauley: Entrances

It seems the words to this song were appropriate after the outpouring of support for Bronwyn.

Traveling Moorland, is a unity song ("we all come from different places, but we are the same") with a Scottish Blessing:

"safe and whole may you return home".

Haste ye back!

Comfort Shawl, Variegated yarn terms

complete show notes are at www.knittingpipeline.com.

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

The winner of KnitBot Essentials by Hannah Fettig...and signed by Hannah Fettig and Pam Allen is announced! 

There is an outtake on today’s show after the theme music for those who like a little extra laughter and chatter.



Melanie Gall Knitting All the Day CD

Bronwyn is having surgery. Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation--overview of what they are.  If you want to participate in a surprise for Bronwyn send an email to me.  See show blog for address for cards.

Pipeliner Notes  Prairiegl: Hiya Hiya has some free patterns on their site

Needle Notes  Bronwyn FO’s Woobie Puppy and Lotus Scarf, Crinkle squares and Gratitude Shawl

We want to rename Amy Beth of The Fat Squirrel Speaks.  To us she is The Foxy Squirrel.

Memphisholli  responded to my challenge of finding a suitable design for the yarn from Camp KIP and asked a question Is it variegated or self-striping? In a broader sense perhaps you could talk about different colored yarns and how you know how to describe the color, variegated, gradient, self-striping, etc. and things to look for in a pattern to handle those color variations.

We use the term variegated for any multi-colored yarn.  Within this wide category are many smaller subsets.  The Knitter’s Guide to Hand-Dyed and Variegated Yarn by Lorna Miser.

Product Notes

Podcatcher apps

Podcaster (Brownyn uses) .99

Downcast is $1.99 Downcast has great features.  Easier to add podcasts to your subscribe list.

Instacast used to be a great app but has not worked well since they updated it.  I was happy with it until the upgrade and have now deleted it and switched to Downcast.

Kensington Keyfolio Pro

Kensington KeyFolio Pro 2 Removable Keyboard, Case and Stand for iPad 2 and New iPad (K39512US) $67.99 (was $59.99)  Case and keyboard combo.  Great value since cases alone run at least $40. Bluetooth, Long battery life, Nice touch to the keys.

Could have a better manual but we both highly recommend getting this for your iPad.

High Note/Low Note  Paula High Note:  Frequent Flyer Miles Low Note: June Bug

Bronwyn  Low Note: Poor customer service. High Note: Support of friends and family.

Haste ye back!

Pipeliner tips, Needle Review Update

show notes at www.knittingpipeline.com

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

Leave a comment on the show blog under Episode 89 or 90 by May 23 to be in a chance to win a copy of Knitbot Essentials, signed by designer Hannah Fettig and Quince owner and renown knitter/designer Pam Allen.  KnitBot Essentials by Hannah Fettig 

Thank you for your iTunes reviews and star ratings! A wonderful review showed up this week from desertflower105.  Thank you so much for your encouragement.

Pipeliner Notes  Thanks for the wonderful tips!  These are found on the show blog.

Nature Notes 

Many of you wrote about your sightings of black squirrels which appear to have populations scattered across the country.  They are a variant of the gray squirrel so they behave the same way. A marauding band of four teen male turkeys attacked our windows.

10^th Annual Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival:  The Chieftain Hotel and Conference Center  June 13-17 Carrington ND  Fly into Fargo or Bismarck or and easy hop from Mpls (2 hours).  Bill Thompson, Julie Zickafoose and other expert guides.  Visit www.birdingdrives.com

Martha/Goldybear wrote on the board that experts think it will be a good year for butterflies.  We are not experts but judging from what we have seen so far this year we have made the same observation.  During our Sunday hike in Forest Park Nature Preserve we saw Red Admirals (lots!), Eastern Comma, Mourning Cloaks, Spring Azures, and random Skippers.

Needle Notes  Leaaline asked, Paula, what is your FAVORITE quince and co. Yarn? Answer: I love them all but have a special fondness for Chickadee and Tern because I more often knit with lighter weight yarns.

Hyla Brook will be released in June.  Calls for 2 skeins of Quince & Co Tern which is a fingering weight wool/silk blend.  442 yds fingering weight.  This shawl is completely reversible and has no purl stitches!

Lil Bit by Laura Linneman.  

Koigu Beaded Beret by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas  I am not thrilled with the end result but I had a ball knitting it!



The Blethering Room A new rule for buying yarn: sweaters worth or one more skein than first impulse.

If I don’t like the yarn enough to commit to more than one or two skeins then maybe I don’t like it enough to buy it.  (please feel free to quote me on this, especially if you see me buying yarn somewhere!)

Vodka Lemonade by Thea Colman/Baby Cocktails

Stockinette Zombies

HiyaHiya Size 5 16” circular had a card for knitting a hat in sizes from baby to adult large. 

Chiagoo Red Lace Circular Needles.  I buy HiyaHiya and Chiagoo at Ewe-nique Yarns in Morton IL.  They are happy to ship your order.  309.266.9398

High Note Talking to the Sun: An Illustrated Anthology of Poems for Young People Metropolitan Museum of Art c. 1985

Shira Kammen Wild Mountain Thyme Music of Waters  www.magnatune.com

Haste ye back!

Breezy Cardigan, The Russian Join

Sponsored by Quince & Co and my Longaberger home business. 

complete show notes at www.knittingpipeline.com

To enter the giveaway for Knitbot Essentials, signed by Hannah Fettig and Pam Allen, please leave a comment on the show blog.

Organizing your queue, Charr and Bronwyn visit

This show by sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business and Quince & Co. Wool 3 has just been released with gorgeous new designs!

Show notes at www.knittingpipeline.com 

A special welcome to new listeners from A Playful Day Podcast.  Thank you Green Triangle Girl for the interview and for sending new listeners my way.

Charr and Bronwyn are joining me today in The Blethering Room.  We had some faulty brain synapses and we are blaming that on our Post Camp KIP Let Down.  Also I had the mic too close to the computer so there is some background noise today that I normally don’t have. 

Grosbeaks are back and also the White Throated Sparrow! Franklin the Wild Turkey is pecking on the windows.

Camp KIP organized by Jackie of the Positively Overcommitted Podcast

Good Reader $4.99 app Thank you, Dorothy, for the tutorial!

Brenda Castiel aka Goodstuff gave a talk on designing.

Paula’s projects at Camp:

Breezy by Hannah Fettig Quince & Co Tern Boothbay Blue. KnitBot Essentials by Hannah Fettig  (We are giving away a copy of the book signed by Hannah Fettig and Pam Allen…details coming soon!) Skyp Ribbed Socks by Adrienne Ku

McHenry Hat by Susan B Anderson Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2011 and $5.50 individual pattern.  KathieR very nicely told me that the patterns are separate $5.50 each or the e-mag is $7.49 from Interweave.

Paula inspired by Effortless Cardigan knitted by Astrid Purls (link to Angela’s project page); Wingspan by maylin Tri'Coterie Designs;

Beaded Pi Shawl by Karen Woolen Warrior and Mary/KnitAdmin’s Pi Shawl; Liesl by Ysolda Teague.  I’ve knitted two of these but I liked Allison’s version in longer length with long sleeves; Koigu Beaded Beret by Church Mouse Yarns and Teas knitted and worn by Angela of Fleur de Fiber.  Great way to use left-over sock yarn is it calls for 175 yds; Haruni by Emily Ross



Bronwyn’s Projects at Camp: In Pursuit of an Illusion by Woolly Thoughts; Gratitude Shawl by me.  KAL with The Fat Squirrel Speaks Podcast

Bronwyn’s Camp Inspiration: Glenda Wrapped in Stars by Mary aka KnitAdmin; Royale by Glenna C. worn by Gretchen aka maplemom 

Charr’s Projects at Camp: Piper’s Journey by Paula Emons-Fuessle; Simple Skyp Socks by Adrienne Ku

Charr’s door prize fiber was from The Thylacine and the spindle is unmarked (no wonder she couldn’t remember the name!) so we assume it is from them also.

Charr's inspiration: Sock Yarn Blanket by Shelley Kang, Capitol Knits by Tanis Gray

We talk about organizing your queue on Ravelry.  Thank you, Thumperina/Tracy!

McHenry, Skyp Ribbed Socks

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

complete show notes at www.knittingpipeline.com

Thank you for your iTunes reviews and star ratings! When I checked today there were exactly 400 star reviews.  That is a lot and I appreciate each one!

A Playful Day with Green Triangle Girl  4/15/2012  Thank you!

The Fat Squirrel Speaks with Amy Beth.  Thanks for the nice shout out and EZ love fest.

Nature Notes

Happy Earth Day April 22nd.  Spring Clean Up is in our town on Saturday.

My bench in the woods.  The view changes every day, but I change too. 

The Backyard Birds Newsletter by www.birdwatchersdigest.com

Backyard Notes  Diane Cooledge Porter  

Needle Notes

Reasons to Love Simple Skyp Socks  One more reason…I knit the first sock in 24 hours!

Skyp Ribbed Socks by Adrienne Ku  Knit Picks Stroll Tonal Springtime

 McHenry by Susan B Anderson  Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2011 and $5.50 individual pattern.

Tip:  Keeping track of rows with contrasting yarn. 

Piper’s Journey KAL

  At Home by Bill Bryson.  String aka yarn is a marvelous invention.

In the Pipeline  Camp KIP—no show next week as I will be gone.

Swing Knitting?

Effortless Cardigan  Quince & Co Tern Boothbay Blue  KnitBot Essentials by Hannah Fettig

McHenry Hats

After finishing At Home I am ready for some fiction.  Lots of good suggestions on our Good Reads thread started by Choosejoy.

Listening to The Hunger Games.  Almost done

Watching  Lilyhammer

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
Henry David Thoreau

Thanks for listening and haste ye back!

Skyp Socks, Slipped Stitch Patterns

Complete show notes at www.knittingpipeline.com

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

Nature Notes

Garlic Mustard Day



Woodland Flower is the Common Violet  Viola sororia sororia State Flower of Illinois since 1908

A Midsummer Night’s Dream  Act 2 Scene 1  William Shakespeare

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:
 Needle Notes

Main Needle Choices for Socks or other small items knitted in the round.

Socks Soar on 2 Circular Needles by Cat Bordhi

The Magic Loop by Bev Galeskas January 2002 

KarenE1969 started the SimpleSkyp Sock Wave at the Knitting Pipeline Retreat.  Simple Skyp Socks by Adrienne Ku

Cakewalk Yarns Stash  colorway Vernon  80/10/10

Reasons to Love Simple Skype Socks

1.      6 + 2 rib is super stretchy so the sock fits well.

2.      Easy to memorize, only 2 rows and one is simple rib.  Skyp comes from the main stitch Slip one, knit 1 YO, PSSO

3.      Wonderful for variegated yarns.  Pop of color and texture.

4.      Unisex-usually a YO in a man’s sock is the death knoll but it works here because of the pass over.

Piper’s Journey KAL  Welcome to newbies who are joining the KAL!

The Blethering Room I tell the story of how a Snowy Owl was in our town for two days and I didn’t know about it.

In the Pipeline   KnitBot Essentials by Hannah Fettig

Interrupting Cow Socks by Laura Linnemann  $4.00 Ravelry Download
Blue Monday Set a free design by Thea Colman www.spudandchloe.com  Beewing linked to it on our board.  Hat and mitten pattern with stranded slip stitch colorwork. 

Skyp Ribbed Socks by Adrienne Ku

Claire by Adrienne Ku top down, unisex, ribbed  $5

If I like a free pattern by a designer then I try to purchase one of her/his patterns as a thank you.

Joy in the Congo.  60 minutes April 8, 2012   Amazing Story

Sock Knitting Master Class: Innovative Techniques and Patterns from Top Designers by Ann Budd

Short Row Heel, Cabling, Magic Loop   This show by sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business and Quince & Co.  Show notes at www.knittingpipeline.com

The folks at Quince & Co believe that businesses can be good citizens—should be good citizens—without making too much a fuss about it. So, they have created a line of thoughtfully conceived yarns spun from American wool or sourced from earth friendly overseas suppliers. Find them at www.quinceandco.com and while you are there, sign up for their free e-newsletter.

Nature Notes  We’ve gone from very hot weather to much cooler, which I am enjoying.  An Eastern Phoebe, or pair of phoebes, is building a nest on our gutter outside the bedroom window. May Apples and Sweet William are adding to the color of the woodland floor. "Every spring is the only spring - a perpetual astonishment."-Ellis Peters

Needle Notes Low Note: Proactive Star Toe Socks: Pico Accuardi Dyeworks. Accidental Felting despite not going into dryer.

Plain Socks:   Used Austermann Step with Aloe and Jojoba. Two knots in skein. Great yardage. A little on the thin side.

Listening back to an Episode and I heard myself say that I didn’t like having two pair of socks going at the same time. Why? Erin of MommyNeedsYarn No MoreTears for Autism Speaks. Started project on March 23, Finished April 1, 2012. Learned:

1. I will not collapse if I have more than one pair of socks in progress 2. Magic Loop…getting into the groove.  3. Had a gutter where the loop came out. First stitch on each needle was a purl stitch. Cat Bordhi video with alternative way to purl. At this point my head was beginning to spin but I decided to 4. Cable without a needle. Knittinghelp.com  5. Short Row Heel First do a series of decreasing short rows with wrapped stitches and then a series of increasing short rows with wrapped stitches 6. New way of concealing wraps Cat Bordhi video

Piper’s Journey KAL: Will probably unsticky the thread at the end of the month

Upcoming Pattern: Hyla Brook Will use 2 skeins of Quince & Co Tern (wool/silk blend)

Knitting McHenry by Susan B Anderson, Simple Skyp Socks by Adrienne Ku

Watching: The Fat Squirrel Speaksby Amy Beth. Fantastic video cast! Go watch it!

Reading: At Home by Bill Bryson

Listening: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Bird Decals from Duncraft

Thanks for listening!

Slipped Stitches, Mystery Mittens, determining yarn weight

show notes at www.knittingpipeline.com

The folks at Quince & Co believe that businesses can be good citizens—should be good citizens—without making too much a fuss about it. So, they have created a line of thoughtfully conceived yarns spun from American wool or sourced from earth friendly overseas suppliers. Find them at www.quinceandco.com and while you are there, sign up for their free e-newsletter.

I enjoy your feedback, comments on the blog, and questions. Feel free to write to me at Paulaef@aol.com or on Ravelry as PrairiePiper. My business site is longaberger.com/paula

Nature Notes: Shepherd’s Purse is the flower/weed of the week. Botanical: Capsella bursa-pastoris

The Flowers by Robert Louis Stevenson

All the names I know from nurse:Gardener's garters, Shepherd's purse...

Needle Notes  Mystery Mittens for Me by Laura Linneman

Shetland wool fingering weight fromSchoolhouse Press.

Knit Stitch is like the good well behaved child. Purl is rather like the black sheep of the family, in some circles anyway. The Slip Stitch is like the forgotten wall flower or perhaps the one we wouldn’t miss until it was gone.

I talk about some of the ways that the slip stitch is used in knitting. Edges, SSK and other decreases, colorwork patterns, texture patterns, slipped stitch heel flap, brioche, and mosaic knitting are some of the occasions when slipped stitches are essential.  Barbara Walker is probably the Queen of Slipped Stitches with her invention of Mosaic Knitting. If you are doing stripes you can decide to slip a stitch at regular intervals and it looks a bit like stranded work. On the next round, try purling your slipped stitch for a completely different effect. It is fun to play around with color and slipped stitches.

The Blethering Room  Story about neglected wildflowers Bastard Toadflax and Hoary Puccoon

In the Pipeline  Watching  Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables

Reading Maisie Dobbs #3 and #4 Pardonable Lies and Messenger of Truth

Listening Louise Penny Still Life

Knitting Socks, Cardigan (in the planning stages)

Music Lydia McCauley, Hawthorn from Quieting  www.magnatune.com

Haste ye back!