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.

Wristers, muffatees, and fingerless mitts are handcoverings that leave the fingers free. We explore a bit of the background of wristers and muffatees.  Finished projects this wee are Fetching by Cheryl Niamath and Those Mitts by Leslie Friend (3 pair).  I share some wrister patterns that are in the pipeline.  The winner of the Quince and Co. giveaway is announced.  Our new giveaway is 3 patterns of your choice from Stephen West of Westknits.  The show is sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business www.longaberger.com/paula.  Show notes are found at www.knittingpipeline.blogspot.com.

Pipeliners share ideas about shawls and I add a few of my own.  Leave a comment on the show blog www.knittingpipeline.blogspot.com to be in a drawing for a fantastic prize from Quince & Co.  I share two finished projects:  Schieffelin Point Shawl by Kate Gagnon Osborne/Kelbourne Woolens and Falling Water by Rose Beck.  Ideas on no-purl patterns are shared by Pipeliners. Also, Nature Notes, news from Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums and a Ravelry Tip. 

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.

Reviews of Norwegian Patterns for Knitting by Mette Handberg and Norwegian Handknits: Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum by Sue Flanders and Janine Kosel.  I finished Ruth's Cap from the Norwegian Handknits book.  We continue our garter stitch/no purl pattern suggestions with a prize from Rose Beck of RosyPosy Designs:  3 patterns of your choice.  Also use the code KP2010 to receive $1 off the purchase of two of her patterns through November 30 2010.  Show notes at www.knittingpipeline.blogspot.com. 

Review of Westknits Book One; my finished Hap Blanket by Ysolda Teague, correction to what I said last week about Alma Ella Shawl, and a WIP Pogona by Westknits.  We continue our November topic of garter stitch or stockinette in-the-round pattern suggestions.  A prize of 3 patterns of your choice is being donated by Rose Beck of RosyPosy Designs.  Also use the code KP2010 for $1 off any two patterns by Rose Beck until November 30, 2010.  Music by Dutch Pipes and Drums.   Shoals of Herring, Castle Dangerous, and Collins Cattle.

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.

This is the full episode of 36 minutes.  The original release cut off at 16 min.  I finished the Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn Clark, my Rip Van Winkle Project.  This pattern gets an A+!  On Saturday  I visited with knitters from the guild in Springfield IL and then spent the afternoon piping at Reformation Days.  I read Pipeliner notes on the ergonomic advantages of knitting the English method.  The episode ends with a tune, The Rose of Kelvingrove, by The Dutch Pipes and Drums.  Show notes at www.knittingpipeline.blogspot.com

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.

This letter from Elizabeth Zimmermann was written to me in Oct 1979.  It is written in her own hand.  View it on the show blog.  In Needle Notes I discuss my completed Merope by Rosemary Hill, made with Harmony Sock Yarn from The Woolen Rabbit.  This show is sponsored by my Longaberger Home Business.

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.

I read a letter from Elizabeth Zimmermann to me in August 1978.  Also, when to persevere and when to shift gears, nature notes, listener notes, turkey talk, Piecework review, a knitting tip, and a winner of the EZ Challenge.

Stitches Midwest 2010 Recap with Charr, my finished Maia Shoulderette by Rosemary Hill, A Piping Adventure, Nature Notes, and a letter from Elizabeth Zimmermann.  We continue our EZ Challenge of committing a technique to memory.  Enter on the show blog or on the Ravelry board.

This  episode includes listener notes, turkey talk, Summer Flies Shawl, Maia Shoulderette, news in the piping world, knitting tips, and  two letters from Elizabeth Zimmermann.

Letters from Elizabeth Zimmermann to me.  1977

Ready to become a better knitter?  Following EZ's advice and inspiration I am committing new techniques to memory.  Join me!

Also, listener notes, finished Brandywine, new Summer Flies Shawlette, and a bit of turkey talk.

Listener notes, butterflies are my business, more on using charts, the importance of perseverance, and the first piping music on the podcast.  Enter a drawing for skeins of laceweight yarn from Old Maiden Aunt.

More tips on knitting with charts, two favorites from the new First Fall Knitty 2010, a confession, and a song with lyrics by Robert Burns.  Plus 15% off your order from The Woolen Rabbit with promotion code from the show!

Build your knitting skills by personalizing charts and instructions.

An amorous wild turkey pays us a visit.  Vegemot hat, Kjaellingsjal, Multnomah, and Brandywine Shawl.

I introduce myself as a knitter and outline the plans I have for the show.