Episode 76 Save Our Socks!

Tips for long lasting knits

This episode is sponsored by Quince & Co and The Fiber Universe.

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 combined efforts to create a line of thoughtfully conceived yarns spun from American wool or sourced from overseas suppliers who grow plants, raise animals, or manufacture a yarn in as earth- and labor-friendly a way as possible. Find them at www.quinceandco.comand while you are there, sign up for their free e-newsletter.

The Fiber Universe provides quality products, service and instruction for fiber enthusiasts. They stock yarn from Cascade, Plymouth, Skacel, Three Irish Girls, Kauni, Jojoland, Claudia Handpaints, and more. Fibers for spinning and felting are available from local farms. The Fiber Universe accepts orders over the phone and offers free shipping on orders over $50. Check out their website, www.thefiberuniverse.com or give them a call today at 309.673.5659.

Our retreat! We still have room for you!   March 2-3, 2012 (Friday night and all day Saturday)

$50 for all or $40 for Sat only. Includes Fri nite meal, light breakfast on Sat, and Saturday lunch.

Details on show blog www.knittingpipeline.com.

Nature Notes

Stitch Markers from Kim Ogle. www.ogledesign.etsy.com

Karin says that Bertie the Bat is back!

I’m still on the watch for the snowy owl. Thanks to everyone who has sent me information. There was a clip on the NBC evening news onWed Feb 1. 

Needle Notes

I’ve been proactive about my sock knitting lately.

1. Choose yarn that will wear well. What are your favorite hard wearing sock yarns?
2. Knit to a tight gauge
3. Close fit (negative ease)
4. Smooth skin (bring on the lotion!)
5. Pre-darning

Tips from Clara Parkes in Vogue:

1. Look at your socks. See what areas are wearing out. When you come to these areas in your knitting go down a needle size.
2. Turn socks inside out. Thread a blunt needle with your sock yarn and run it through the purl bumps on the wrong side. I took this a step further by making horizontal rows with mohair-silk blend.

Crafting with Carpal Tunnel Group

First thread is sticky. Do this one thing for your wrist pain.

Joshua Tucker specializes in the elimination of carpal tunnel pain and symptoms.

The Blethering Room

Piper’s Journey KAL

We will start as soon as the pattern is released by Quince& Co. I hope this will be in the next week!

In the Pipeline

Designed a cowl in 2 yarn weights and going for a 3rd. I enjoy wearing it.

On the Home Stretch on Ten Stitch Twist by Frankie Brown.

Spectra by Stephen West with 2 Knit Lit Chicks Podcast.

I bought bulky yarn to make Lee Bernstein’s OhSo Hat

Downtown Abbey! Now has its own thread on our Knitting Pipeline Ravelry Group

My Life So Far  Filmed on location in Scotland (Argyll), kilts, kilt hose, Scottish Country Dancing, pipe music, a knitted shawl, Fair Isle Vests, and Colin Firth!

The Paris Wife by Paula McClain

Zombies Don’t Cry: Book One in a Living Dead Love Story. By Rusty Fischer Yes, my first zombie teen fiction.

The February sunshine steeps your boughs and tints the buds and swells the leaves within. William C. Bryant

I didn't have time to get music on the show this week. I am looking for snowy owls!

Haste ye back!