Christmas in July days 30 and 31

For these last 2 days, I have thoughts of electronics.  Most people have portable devices of one kind or another.  To wind down on a simple note, offer a little fun, and a chance to try out something new, I have this idea.

Get some wool yarn.  Yes I know we are heading into the dog days of summer.  Save this for later if you like or find an air conditioned place to sit.  Grab a hook or pair of needles that will match your yarn to give you a little larger gauge.  For this I mean that if your ball band recommends a size H hook or size 7 needles to get the suggested gauge, go up 2 sizes.  If you already have to change your hooks or needles, go up 2 sizes from that.  Now grab a copy of a stitch dictionary and pick a bunch of stitch patterns you want to try.

My idea is this.  felted sleeves for portable electronics.  Measure your intended appliance, add 30% more stitches  (3 more stitches for every 10 needed to get the desired measurement).  Then knit or crochet the stitch pattern you chose.  Seam it.  Wash it to felt it either a little or a lot, but only until it matches your needed size.  Let air dry.

Let us use this example:  I have a portable device measuring 2 inches wide by 4 inches tall and is less than 1/2 inch thick.  My yarn suggests a size H hook or 7 needle to get 16 stitches to 4 inches.and 19 rows to 4 inches.  I know that means that I will need to chain or cast on for 11 stitches.  My math is this:  16 stitches divide by 2 is 8 plus 3 for the 30% (I rounded up).  19 rows is 4 inches but I know that felting also pulls vertically more than horizontally so I will add up to 40% more rows to counter this.  So 19 x 40% is 7.6 rows more, round it up to 8 rows.

I know that my pattern has to have space for 11 stitches wide and 27 rows for one side.  Small patterns for small devices allow for more repeats.  Cables require even more stitches for width.  I would add another 20% (2 for every 10 of original number.  Then add the felting 30% ).  So if I choose cables, I would start with 8 stitches plus 2 for cable plus 3 for felting to give me 13 stitches.

I could even choose 2 different patterns for front and back.  I would not choose laces for felting though.  The felting is there to offer some protection from the daily bumps and drops some things get.  The felting will also offer scratch protection.

If you've never intentionally felted anything, have no fear.  It's easy.  Once the Pieces are done and sewn together (I find it easier to sew before felting,).  A bucket of hot water with some soap and a long handled wood spoon are all you need to get started.  The hot water is one felting agent.  The soap provides lubrication for the fibers to slide together.  The spoon provides the agitation, another felting agent.  Do this outside under a shady tree if possible.  It will get you wet.  The idea is to viciously stir the bucket with the soapy water and one or two small objects for felting.  You will need to remove them from time to time to see if the felting is done far enough but not too far that you can't get your final object in.

Once felting is achieved, let air dry.  You can then add a zipper to the open edge or ties or a clasp of some kind.  Have fun and thanks for this journey through July with me.

Yarn and How Much Do I Need?

As an ongoing part of the series of questions I get frequently asked, How much yarn do I need for X? tops the list right at the same number of times as What kind of needles should I use?

Yarn choices are amazing.  There are so many new things out there on the market to try.  But this post is to deal with How much not fiber content.  Although fiber content can make a difference, weight does make a difference in how much to purchase.

There are generalities I can point to for a quick answer but that doesn't begin to get an accurate number for how much do I need?  yarn yardage requirements is a quick link to Lion Brand Company's chart for very basic information for both knit and crochet.

You need to know your gauge with a specific yarn.  You need to know how big your project needs to be.  You need to know what kind of drape you want your project to have.  An example is you don't want a floppy drape-y fiber like alpaca would give you if you are doing a tailored jacket that needs to hold its shape.  You also don't want a crisp yarn when your project should be molding to your curves or cuddling baby.  All of these have to be taken into account.  You should also wash your swatch.  Your fiber choice could relax into an ocean sized puddle when gotten wet or shrivel like a prune.  Wouldn't it be better to have that happen to a swatch than an afghan or sweater?

But, you say, I'm using acrylic/polyester/super wash wool!  Even those fibers can react to water or even just knitting or crocheting in unexpected ways.  Please don't ever wash synthetic fibers in hot, hot water and then dry in a hot dryer.  You can kill the spring in the fiber.  

More will be posted on this topic in the future.  This is just to get you thinking.  If you have questions, post a comment.  It will be addressed.

simple work

Why would anyone ever work the plain garter stitch xxx?  Why would anyone just make a simple crochet block all the same?  There is nothing wrong with plain and simple.  For beginners it is all about practicing the new and that is great.  We all need to practice the new.  It's how we get better at what we are learning.

It also holds the power to soothe a troubled person.  Recently, my family had a minor tragedy occur.  Everyone is fine as in not in a hospital. Everyone is not fine in the respect that we carry on as before.  We see this all the time when major tragedy hit our country in 2001, when loved ones are lost, when tragedies strike whole communities.

Simple garter stitch, plain granny squares, double crochet squares, garter and ribbed slippers, all these are quick to craft but more importantly, they hold the rhythm that lulls us into not feeling overwhelmed, kind of like a rocking chair for some, back rubs for others.  They give the rest we sometimes need and can't get watching television or cleaning or any of the things we have to do to get through our days.

What has helped me?  Garter stitch dish cloths.  I now have quite a few and these don't wear out nearly as fast as those I bought.

Here is the pattern I prefer to use.  I don't have to think for any of it.

Materials needed:  worsted weight cotton yarn.  I use Lily Sugar & Cream and Peaches & Creme.  They are affordable and easily found in my area on store shelves.  Mid sized needles, with my favorites being US size 6 - 8.  Use whatever size gets you the density you desire.  When I'm stressed, I have been known to go up to size 11 or 13 to get a gauge that doesn't result in cardboard.

Cast on 3.
Row 1: knit1, yo, knit 1, yo, knit 1.  (5 stitches now.  This will increase by 1 stitch every row)
Row 2 - 35 -50:  knit 2, yo, knit to the end of the row.  
Next Row:  knit 2, yo, knit 2 together, knit 2 together, knit to the end of the row.  (The yarn over keeps the pattern the same on the decrease side.   The first knit 2 together keeps the stitch count the same.  The second decreases by 1.  This row will decrease you back down to about 4 or 5 stitches.)
You decide when it's big enough.  Want a blanket instead?  Keep increasing.  Then continue down the other side.  For a blanket I would use something soft and easy to use that doesn't have a lot of "stuff" for me to think about.  But that is just me.  On better times, I might use a novelty yarn with an easy pattern.  I'm on familiar ground but still get something that looks different and unique.