Knitting Pipeline with Paula Emmons-Fuessle was the featured guest on today’s for PODCASTER NOVEMBER, Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird.
Paula Emmons-Fuessle started knitting as a child, learning from her Grandmother, who was an avid knitter. Paula made a scarf and a hat and then put the craft aside until she went to Denmark to go to school abroad. On the train, she noticed everyone was knitting and so fast. They were all knitting continental (which her grandmother later admitted she purposely didn’t teach her because she worried it might be too hard). She said her Denmark ‘mother’ said everybody learned to knit in school, she took her to a yarn shop because she wanted to knit one of those beautiful chunky Lopi sweaters, that included steeking the armholes and colorwork. Talk about diving in! She progressed through socks, and made a sweater for her boyfriend (who became her husband ~ he doesn’t wear that sweater as he feels it’s precious), Norwegian Mittens… made her feel part Danish to knit with everyone else on the bus.
Paula (on the left) and Tammy at the Podcaster meet-up held at Stitches Midwest, August 2014.
When Paula came home, she taught her friend, Tina, to knit, she didn’t know any other knitters her age. Her friend found Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmerman book and they got excited because ‘she knits like we do and she cuts sweaters, too!’ They began corresponding with Elizabeth, Paula feels EZ mentored her. Grandma kept telling her there’s a Busy Knitter on tv and as Paula and her husband didn’t have a tv so she never got to see it. She attended Knitting Camp in 1978 with her 5 month old baby (She had told Elizabeth she wanted to come to camp but she had a baby and EZ said “bring baby along!”) Previously she received a Baby Surprise Jacket knitted by Elizabeth, she read the note during this episode. Imagine, what a treasure!
Paula attended many of the knitting camps except when she was too pregnant. At the time, it was quite novel to go to a knitting retreat/event unlike today where we have so many choices. Paula also viewed Elizabeth’s camp as HER source for materials, too, and her notebooks from camp were her only reference materials for things that she was learning. 
Paula started listening to podcasts after they moved to a more rural area and she used her iPod to listen to podcasts while she went for walks. She began to think what she could podcast about herself. She started thinking about her bagpipe music and sharing that, but worried about doing it alone. Rachel of the Knit Sense podcast made her think she could do it alone, she began by sharing the letters from Elizabeth Zimmerman and sharing bits about her piping. Her program includes ambient soundbites of birdsong from the backyard and visits with others who are around her to share their adventures and what they are working on. The episodes cultivates a community spirit by bringing people together or including listeners, engaging them with their letters and tips. The Knitting Pipeline can be found at this website: http://www.knittingpipeline.com/
She doesn’t consider herself a designer, but someone that occasionally comes up with a good idea. She began creating her own designs with a shawl that she created to knit in the car on a roadtrip, to keep busy but not get carsick. It became the beautiful Piper’s Journey and she humbly admits the adventure of working with Quince & Co, tech editing, etc.
Then, with her vast experience of the top of the line retreats, she began organizing affordable events herself. The Spring Retreat (at only $65) now fills to capacity at 150 people. (Paula is trying to keep it to two Spring and two Fall retreats.) She’s also had a fall Maine Retreat that Susan B Anderson came to teach near Quine & Co and working on one to Atlanta. The place to find them is the Ravelry Group.
If you didn’t get to listen live here is the link to where it aired originally and is archived: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2014/11/13/knitting-pipeline-podcast-with-paula-emmons
Dear Marly, I had so much fun today listening to the podcast today. So happy I got it right this time. I can relate to your extrovertedness. I love meeting and talking to people and making new friends. I attended my first Stitches East this year. My husband sweet man he is took me and two of our kids on Thursday to CT. He looked after them while I had a ball at Stitches East (Almost the Works). Made friends with two ladies from Australia. This is the part you have to hear. At Franklin Habit’s presentation I met a woman from England. Her husband’s late wife was from British Guiana (now Guyana, where I was born). She was from the same area where my mom grew up and was cousins with my mom’s stepsister. We are now in touch on Facebook. Oh and just love that Cardinal bird. If you ever decide to start your retreat please let me know. Would love to be there.
My cardinal rule of knitting is to always knit what you love! While listening to podcasts, of course!
What a great show. It was fun hearing my top 2 podcasters talking together. The fiber community has really brought the world closer together….amazing. And a cardinal bird is one of my favorites to see at the feeder during the winter.
I love hearing Paula talk about knitting and nature on her podcast. You never know when she might see a cardinal at the bird feeder.
No one knows cardinals like Paula! Loved hearing you both today.
I enjoyed listening to Marly and Paula. It was a great show! On another note, I love birds, especially the cardinal.
Lmecoll on Ravelry
Great show! Paula is so warm and welcoming. It was lovely to hear how she got started with knitting… such a cute story. One of my favorite segments of Paula’s show is when she does nature notes and talks about butterflies, flowers and cardinals. 🙂
Hugs… Kristebee
No one knows a cardinal like Paula! Loved hearing you both today!
This was a lovely show. Just as lovely as the cardinal in the logo for Knitting Pipeline. Keep up the good work ladies!
Fun show as always. Whenever I see a cardinal in my yard, I think of Paula and her podcast!
pmack17 on rav
I have just learned about Paula’s podcast. Paula, we must be close to the same age based on your remarks about college knitting, (my first project, a Lopi sweater with stripes), 3 children with the first born in the late 70s. I save letters, too. One of my CARDINAL rules is relationships mean everything! Wonderful interview, thanks, Marly!
EOTinKS on Ravelry
The show was great. It was so good to hear Paula on there. We typically look for Christmas cards with a Cardinal each year. They are always so pretty against the white snow. Thank you both for all that you do with your shows. Great entertainment.
I enjoyed listening to the podcast today with both you and Paula together. I love when Paula talks about seeing Cardinals in her backyard!
Really enjoyed the show. Had not heard of the podcast with the cardinal before, it’s now in my podcatcher lineup.
I love the podcaster shows you are doing this month! I will be checking out Knitting Pipeline soon. The cardinal in the Knitting Pipeline logo is very cute. Thanks for making my workday so much more fun…
Loved the show. Two of my favorite birds are a cardinal and a chicadee.
What another wonderful interview! Paula’s designs and podcast are great. I do a lot of knitting at my boys’ baseball games, and maybe this season the cardinal will be their team logo. In any event, I will probably be knitting one of Paula’s designs on the bleachers 🙂
Hey Marly, What a treat to listen to your podcast with Paula. I hope one day soon to go to a knitting retreat somewhere. Colorado is so beautiful. Do you see cardinals there? I actually like the subdued tones of the female. In winter they really stand out against the white snow. Have a great day! Barbara
I really enjoyed listening to your show today. Paula is one of my favorite podcasters. I love the cardinals, the birds and the baseball team! Paula’s retreats always sound like so much fun! Thanks so much!
Marly and Paula, just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the podcast. I particularly loved hearing Paula’s story’s about EZ. I’ve been a fan for decades and love to watch EZ DVDs while I knit. It’s so cool of you, Paula, to make your knitting camps affordable. One of these days I’d love to attend one. Keep Texas in mind for a local. I enjoy your Knitting Pipeline podcast. Your cardinal logo is too cute!!! Elaine
Thanks for another great interview, Marly. I am loving finding out about different podcasts. I listen to them while I am doing housework, it makes chores go by much faster. I will be checking out the Knitting Pipeline next. The cardinal with the knitting needles in his beak is so cute too!
Another great podcast! I’m really enjoying the podcaster interviews. Paula’s is one of my favorites. I’ve been listening since she first started her show. It makes me so happy when I see her logo with the little red Cardinal pops up on my podcast list with a new number on it. Always enjoy listening to her. Like a few others have mentioned, I’d love to see a Yarn a Thing retreat here in Colorado.
Paula’s was first podcast I listened to! Marleys was second! I follow Paula on Instagram , I especially like her photos of cardinals! I loved hearing about Elizabeth Zimmerman today. Marley, I got teary eyed at the same spot you did!
What a great interview with Paula of the Knitting Pipeline! I listen to her podcast every week and dream of one day going to one of her retreats! The cardinal and knitting needles is the perfect logo for the podcast.
Listening to you two was just wonderful as you both have a way of bringing people together. I had not realized that Paula’s Cardinal logo was designed by her daughter in law. It is a fitting image for the podcast.
Marly, I loved listening to Paula on your show. Her red cardinal logo is a permanent feature on my podcast feed! I’m one of those listeners who love to listen to Paula at night as I’m going to sleep! And yes, I catch up the next day to hear what I might have missed. Paula is such a wonderful podcaster and thanks for having her on your show.
It was so fun listening to the two of you discussing knitting, and how Paula started the journey to her wonderful podcast. I am hoping to come to the newest location in Atlanta, will have to see how the year finishes up. I loved learning that her dauy in law is the designer of the Cardinel logo for the show.
I am another listener who loves Paula’s nature notes, I always learn from Paula’s observations.
Rav id floridakelly
It was great to hear Paula on your podcast. i’ve had the privilege of test knitting a few of her patterns. I love Quince and Co yarn!
Paula also has gotten me more into birds and their care and feeding. I have so many cardinals as well as other birds here in NC.
Thanks to some of Paula’s info, I have many different birds coming each season.
So not only do I enjoy hearing about all her knitting but also the nurturing nature notes.
The cardinal is still one of my favorites still.
My husband is a (St. Louis) Cardinal fan! Not me! Great podcast as usual. You both are some of my favorite podcasters!
I grew up in Ohio and the state bird is the Cardinal. I see them here in Central Texas too. I love the podcast and finding out how people got started in knitting. I listen to Knitting Pipeline and never knew how Paula got started in the craft. Living in Denmark for a time must have been so interesting.
Loved listening today! I always enjoy listening to Paula’s podcast and hearing her talk about the cardinal.
I enjoyed the podcast with Paula as I listen to her podcasts and it was fun to hear about her background in knitting. The red Cardinal is a familiar sight in our area as well as on my I pad where it indicates Paula’s podcast.
When I lived in Ohio the Cardinals were always in our backyard. It warms my heart to heart Paula talk about all the birds in her backyard.
My cardinal rule is to knit every day – a day without knitting is like a day without sunshine. Loved the podcast with Paula and love her podcast as well.
I enjoyed listening to Paula today. I am about to start knitting my first Piper’s Journey. I love the bright red of the cardinal The bright pop of color makes me smile. .
A little birdie told me I’m going to be a winner. It was a cardinal! Thank you ladies for entertaining me today as I drove to see my grandkids.
Sitting here listening to the podcast for the first time. Watching for cardinals while I sip my tea and listen and knit. I’m the Chris from the Maine retreat that Carol mentioned when she called in. I had a great time getting together with Carol and Betty this past Friday (the day after the show was recorded). I will be returning to listen to more Marly Bird in the future!
Love this podcast, I don’t know other knitters so this is really great for me to listen and enjoy, live those cardinal birds also! Thank you.
It was sure fun listening to you and Paula chat. I didn’t know Paula had such a history with EZ. I grew up in the Midwest (hint: the state bird is the cardinal) at about the right time, and it has always been a regret of mine that I never crossed paths with Elizabeth. By the way, I have watched some of her public television broadcasts on video tape, available in my public library’s system – what fun! Keep up the good work, you two!
I saw the most beautiful cardinal in the snow yesterday, great choice for a logo! Loved to hear you talk about old friends, thanks for the podcast!
I enjoyed the podcast very much. I always listen to Paula on the Knitting Pipeline, I often learn new things. I’ve been luck enough to attend Paula’s Maine Retreat where I’ve gotten a Knitting Pipeline tote bag that bears the famous Knitting Pipeline logo complete with the little cardinal, Piper.
So enjoy listening to Paula discuss knitting and really enjoy the added plus of the nature notes section. Cardinals and needles; finches and stitches.
Oh Paula – I love the Pipeline & it’s little cardinal mascot. Just like my high school mascot! 🙂
This is the first time I have listened to Marly; I followed a link on one of the threads on Paula’s Ravelry group. I enjoyed the show a lot. We had our first snow yesterday, and a lovely red Cardinal came and sat in my bare Linden tree, which made me think of Paula.
Thanks to you both!
As a walker of two Great Danes our favorite destination is the mountain top just minutes away from home. We are so lucky to be able to enjoy this. Although we have never seen cardinals in Wyoming we frequently enjoy wild turkeys and grouses. The best are the Mountain Blue Jays. Such a vibrant color. I wish Paula was here so she could tell me all about them.
The cardinal is one of the many winter birds we enjoy. Thanks ladies!!
What a fantastic show. Loved hearing about Paula’s journey in knitting and about her wonderful retreats. I’m a bird watcher as well and would love to see a Cardinal someday. Thanks so much.
I have a cardinal ornament for my Christmas tree that I love. It was handed down from my great grandmother. Great show. Thanks
What a great interview with Paula. I recently found out about her knitting pipeline podcast with the cute Cardinal. Her retreat is on my wish list.
Cardinals brighten up the bare canvas of winter. Listening to Knitting Pipeline with Paula will brighten any day.
I loved to talk with Paula and like her I love to knit and watch the cardinals in the yard.
I missed the live broadcast of Paula’s show, I have to catch up! I am eager to hear about how the cardinal became her logo.
It was a great interview with Paula! Winter has already come where I live and, under all that snow, is It’s always nice to hear the cardinal chirping in my backyard.
Loved hearing Paula’s story of how she began knitting & also love her podcast. I’m from Indiana and our
state bird is the beautiful Cardinal.
I’m a big fan of Paula’s patterns and her podcast. I especially love hearing her talk about seeing a cardinal at her bird feeder or in the trees around her house.
Thanks for a fascinating interview, Marly!
The cardinal was a favorite of a special relative. I always think of her when I see one hanging around.
Soothing, grounded and connected. 3 great words to describe Paula’s podcast.
A cardinal has beautiful a color of red. Enjoyed listening to Paula and hope to one day get to a retreat. I listen to her podcast regularly and have been for a couple of years.
I never miss an episode of Knitting Pipeline. The nature segment is one of my favorite. I loved hearing about the eagle, cardinal, owl, etc. siteings each week.
I love the cardinal on your website. It reminds me of the state bird of Virginia where I live. We have bird feeders in our backyard that the cardinals love to come and enjoy the birdseed. so enjoyable to watch them. Marley…This podcast is the very first podcast I have listened to on blogtalkradio.com I absolutely LOVE your show! I love your laugh. I do crochet but now I would love to learn to knit because of Paula Emmons. Can’t wait to listen to the next show!
I love Knitting Pipeline and Paula and I’m loving listening to you too Marly. The cardinal in Paula’s logo makes me happy!
This was an interesting show. Now that I am seeing the cardinal on the pipeline logo I am thinking of my grandfather a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. Thanks for a great show and brining a great man to my mind.
Loved the interview! The April treat is on my bucket list. The day I get to come I’ll fly like a cardinal!!
Thanks for another great interview! It was interesting to hear about Paula’s relationship with EZ. I love her Piper’s shawl design. The cardinal with the knitting needles in his beak is cute too.
I so love hearing Paula’s nature notes on her podcast. She so reminds me of my grandfather who was a Naturalist by trade. The cardinal in her logo reminds me of both my grandparents. I would get grandma a cardinal of some sort for Christmas. It was one of those traditions. Like grandpa always wanted peanut brittle and my mom chocolate covered cherries and Tabu perfume…
I hope to make it to one of her IL retreats.
Thank you for such a wonderful interview!!!
Settling in to listen today. I am working in a Christmas gift of the hilly bean cowl in cardinal red. Great show. Thank you. RAD in NH
Great show, Marly! I love how you keep introducing us to new designers, products, techniques and podcasts! I’d never heard about Paula and so enjoyed learning about her. With this snow in Michigan, the cardinal stands out so well – just beautiful! And this weather is perfect for more knitting and crocheting! Thanks, Marly!
Wonderful show ! It was nice to hear about Paula’s early days with Elizabeth Zimmerman, and of course cardinals!
I’m so glad to have found you Marly! I am a fan of Paula’s and now I am a fan of yours. I was delighted to learn that she would be on your podcast, as she is such a great person….and now I see all of the other great folks that you have interviewed. I am a bird lover too, and one of our grandson’s first words was ‘cardinal’.