Update to the Masters

At long last, I am finished with my swatches.  I am finished with the written portions.

I had sent in the whole portfolio.  My first reviews came back.  There were a few that needed redoing.  There were many that needed the finishing redone.  I had taken finishing techniques from various decades of books in my library of books.  What was considered acceptable in one time period isn't in the next.  It's amazing how many different ways there have been in the last hundred years to weave ends, seam, even work the stitches.  On a working vacation I redid all that were required to be redone.   The newest way to finish is to make the ends disappear.

I sent in the corrections.  There is one overlying theme that I discovered about my crocheting.  It has become a problem as I get older.  Perhaps it is also one for you.  I have trouble following a written pattern when the lines of text are close together.  My eyes jump over lines.  They are perhaps helped along by the bifocals I wear.

There are several methods I can use to fix this.  If I don't fix it, none of my patterns will be right.

1.  I can (and do) rewrite each row in larger letters and spaced further apart.
2.  I can read aloud each row as I execute.
3.  I can chart on graph paper the written directions.
4.  I can use 1 line width highlighter tape and put it every other row.
5.  I can use a chart keeper of some sort to underline each line of text in the row.
6.  I can and do compare my work with the picture of the object.  Most have a finished object picture.
7.  I can count my stitches and for the few patterns that have a final stitch count per row, compare mine to the pattern.

March 20 ~~ Sweater Day ~~Did You Hear of This?

I've never heard of this day.  You would think that a knitter would know about sweater day.   Wear a Sweater Day is March 20.  It's a day to wear your favorite sweater.

Why am I telling you about this?   Better still where did I find out about it?   What is this day about?

Recently my husband and I were watching a cartoon on PBS, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, while waiting for the show we wanted to watch to come on.  We commented back and forth as married couples do in those little half sentences how this cartoon reminded us of Mr. Rogers and his long running show for kids.

Being the more curious of the two,  I hopped on Google and zoomed in on Wikipedia.   I had known he died of cancer.  But his wiki page had much more information about this amazing man.  My husband was amazed he was a Pennsylvania native.  But we both agreed he did pretty great things for preschool kids and wondered if there was a memorial to him.  There is.  It's in Pittsburgh.

Wikipedia has this to say:  Picture of the Fred Rogers Memorial Statue located near Heinz Field on the North Shore in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 8, 2009. 

Mr. Rogers production company planned and hosted several events to commemorate what would have been his 80th birthday.   Wear a Sweater Day is one.  It is still celebrated.  The date of March 20 is Mr. Rogers birthday.

As you might be able to tell,  I'm a big fan of his.  He offered something special to children, beyond a calm interlude in the fast paved world children are living in these days.  My sister and I watched his show as little girls.   My children watched him when they were little.

At least some of the reasoning behind the day is Mrs. Rogers, Fred Rogers mom.  She knit all the sweaters he wore on the show.  She did an amazing job with the zipper installations, not a wrinkle to be seen if memory serves.   Wearing a sweater knit or crocheted by a loved one is like receiving a hug from that person even if they are far away.

So remember March 20 and wear a sweater.  

Ribbing:: Let's see the various ways to create it

Ribbings::  So easy.  So many ways to create ribbing.  Let's explore.

Once upon a time, when I was younger, the Flintstone's was an after school cartoon.  There was knitting in one episode.  Wilma was expecting a baby.  She sat in a chair knitting away for her new baby on a pair of baby booties while talking to Betty.  I can still hear her to this day, knit one, purl two, knit one, purl two.  Now I realize the cartoons back in the day were not terribly detailed but there was no ribbing to be seen.

Knit one, purl two is a three stitch repeat of ribbing.  It is more decorative than stretchy.  It is also not really balanced.  That's obvious when looking at it.  But I'm talking about working it.  Knit, purl, knit, purl, knit, purl.... This is a balanced stitch pattern.  It offers maximum stretch.  It offers an easy rhythm to knit to.  This is the same with knit two, purl two.

Ribbing of a sort can also be had from garter stitch.  When knitting every stitch on every row and turning at the end of the row creates a corrugated fabric very similar to knit one, purl one.  Double garter stitch (knit 1 row, purl 2 rows, knit 1 row and repeat these 4 rows) can almost substitute for knit 2, purl 2 ribbing.  I say almost because they aren't quite as stretchy but close.

Ribbing can also be had in a number of ways from crochet.

Ribbing can be done using just single crochet.  Now when you turn work only in the back loop and single crochet across the stitches.  Turn and again work in the back loop while single crocheting across.  Keep doing this and you will see how it has an accordion effect.  This is a very stretchy ribbing.  However, it can lose its stretch and cause over stretched loops.  To a certain extent this can be corrected by giving a vigorous tug from the sides, not the chain edge, evenly spaced across the entire ribbed section.

Ribbing with crochet can also be achieved by using post stitches.  Start with the chain and work double crochet across.  Chain 3 and turn.  Now work a front post double crochet around the second stitch.  Work a back post double crochet around the third stitch.  Repeat the front post and back post stitches across.  Chain 3 and turn.  Now make sure you work a front post double crochet on the stitches that protrude towards you and back post double crochet on the stitches that are trying to get away from you.  As you can see after a few rows, the stitches are very pronounced in their protrusions.  This won't stretch out like the above ribbing can do.

Which variant do you like and why?  I find specific uses for each rather than a favorite.

Merry Christmas

To all a very Merry Christmas!

Did you give special hand crafted gifts?   Tell me about them in the comments.  Did you intend to and not get done in time?  Tell me about these in the comments too.

Let me tell you about my gift giving fails/wins.  It's all in how you spin things sometimes.  I planned to crochet cardigans for my 7 year old twin granddaughters.  I planned to knit or crochet stuffed animals for my 9 month old granddaughter.  I planned to knit pullover sweaters for my two grandsons, aged 6 and 2.

Those were the plans.  Here's what actually happened.

I actually did start in time to accomplish this all.  I started in October.  I started with the crochet sweaters first, because 1) they need to be mailed to the other side of the country, 2) they are larger to make, 3) I was designing them both.  They were not the same sweater done in different colors.  I learned a few things.  I need to start earlier still.  Don't get derailed by tragedies.  Don't do multiple granny squares and motif squares with multiple colors.  The weaving in of ends is murder.

Here is a look at the front and the back of them.

They love their sweaters.

This is as far as I got.  These were not even sent until January 4.  I got them done the 4th.  I made it to the mailing station 10 minutes before the delivery truck left to take my box of goodies away.  These were feast of the 3 kings gifts.  They got presents on Christmas day.  

The stuffed toys and knit pullovers?  They didn't happen.  Yet.  Presents were purchased for these grandkids.  Their birthdays are coming up soon and I will make these happen for the birthdays.

The blue sweater is Caron Simply Soft in teal zeal.  The pink sweater is 2 different hot pinks from Red Heart and Caron Simply Soft as well as a soft pink and a geranium pink from a long defunct yarn company.  The blocks were inspired by or actual patterns found on pinterest.  The back 6 are 8x8 inches.  The sleeves are different.  There are half square triangles, whole squares, jumbo squares.  Each jumbo holds 4 whole squares, 2 over 2. 

This year will be different.  I'm starting in June.

Happy New Year to you all.

Charity Knitting/Crocheting Month is January

This is charity knitting and crocheting month.  We have spent untold months doing projects for gift giving.  Now is our chance to do something for those who aren't in our family.

I kind of disagree with this though.  I kind of understand it, but disagree.  Let me explain.

In spring we are preparing for vacations that might be upcoming.  We are planning our gardens and getting the beds ready for planting.  We are cleaning up from winter.  We might even be preparing for a late snowstorm or early deluge.

Come summer, kids are getting out of school which changes our schedules.  We are in full swing with gardening.  We are going on vacations.  It's hot.  I can understand why there is little knitting or crocheting in summer.  In late summer, we have the go back to school shopping to do.  We have the back to school flurry of activities.

In October, the northern reaches of the northern hemisphere are hitting cold temps and need the things we work so diligently to make.  October is also thanksgiving for Canada.  Not knowing how much prep work there is for a Canadian thanksgiving, I will assume it's the same as for the US thanksgiving in November.  Some of us do a lot.  Some of us not so much.  We all have our family's own traditions.

November brings colder temps lower in the landmasses of the northern hemisphere.  Bitter cold in the mountainous regions comes along now.  November is also the time when people start ramping up for Christmas.

December brings us Christmas.  There are parties to attend.  There is a myriad of decorating to do.  Special dishes and special baking done only at this time of year are making claims on our time.  There are concerts, pageants and plays to attend if we have children in school or grandchildren for that matter.  Gift creation has to finish up to be ready to go in the mail or under the tree.

So really I can see why January was chosen.  BUT, I still disagree with it.  The weather is cold for most of the northern hemisphere, whatever that means to your locale.  I understand California considers 40s and 50s cold.  This is not a knock on California.  They consider temperatures hotter than I can stand to be normal.  Most of the celebrations are over.  Football is done.  Basketball hasn't quite gotten into the time of the season when it "really matters", just like football in August and September.

But here are some links for things that can be used for charity.  Remember to use the fibers called for by your chosen charity.  If you don't, they won't take your contribution and you are left with things you might not want.

http://warmupamerica.org/  Knit and Crochet patterns suitable for a blanket
http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns, http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns are just two locations to find patterns for anything.  If you can imagine it, someone probably needs it.
http://www.warmupamerica.org/current-needs
https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities.html

Hurricane relief, help for the poorest of the poor, preemie needs, earthquake relief, Warm up America receives requests, as does the Red Cross.  Check with your local clothing bank, homeless shelter, police department, fire department, elementary school, middle school, humane society.  Blankets, hats, mittens, scarves all in neutral colors or whatever is popular in your location as well as darker colors for men are always in need.

So truly I can see why January was picked, but I want to relax in January and be a little selfish with my talents.  I will continue sneaking in blanket squares and small things all year long.

Enjoy the links above.  Take time to explore.  Most are simple patterns that can be easily memorized and take little time to complete.

Swatches Swatches Swatches More ideas

After a lot of swatching and a lot of new techniques, the swatches have been piling up.  Here's some more ideas for you.

A use for 5 more swatches is a plant hanger.  Create just like the beanie, join 4 into a ring and put the 5th on a side to close it in.  Now add 4 straps, set at the juncture of 2 squares, keeping the open side of the block facing up.  The straps need to be the same length.  Tie a knot or otherwise fasten them together at the loose ends to allow it to be hung.  Sew around a large ring at this end to facilitate hanging.  The straps can be small 2 round granny squares joined into a long line, macramé, or heavy twisted cording.

A use for another dozen or so is a tea cozy.  Pick some of the larger swatches for the outside and smaller ones for the inside.  Outside first:  Starting with the larger swatches.  Seam 5 together into a ring.  Seam another 3 together into a ring.  Now seam the two rings together to create a type of open cone shape.  Put a single swatch on the small end of the cone.  Now repeat this with smaller swatches for the inside without the single swatch on the small end of the cone.  Instead run a line of stitching around the small end of the cone and pull tight.  Line with quilting batt or fiberfil thickly and seam the bottom edges together.

Another use for some is to create dresser scarves.  This is dependent more on the size you want and the size of the piece of furniture.  For those who don't understand, think placemat, except larger.  I might hesitate to put this on my fine wood furniture if I'm using coarse yarn.  But this is a great way to hide the scars on a well loved chest or dresser.  This might be an old fashioned idea but it can come in handy.  Perhaps this is not one of the greatest ideas for those swatches with a lot of high profile texture.  Things can tip over on bobbles.

As you can see, the uses are limitless and not just for afghans.  The key to keeping it from looking like a paint display exploded is color choice.  To a lesser extent the choice of patterns is also important.  By this I mean, choose 1 to 3 colors that coordinate by sitting next to each other on the color wheel or are the same color just a shade darker or a hue lighter.  I might also pair laces with laces, textures that are all close in the amount of "lumpiness", cables with cables.

November is National Alzheimer's month

National Alzheimer's disease month.  We all know someone who is affected by this disease. In the early stages,  it gets passed off as general forgetfulness,  things like I forgot to mark my calendar.

When it reaches the end stages,  the people probably won't recognize family members or be able to live safely at home even with round the clock supervision. 

No matter how far down the line this disease has progressed,  people have tactile memories.  Smell is one of the first things to go as we get older with or without Alzheimer's, as is the sense of taste.  These go hand in hand.  Sight may go.  Hearing may go.  We don't know completely how the brain interprets these senses as the disease progresses.  One thing that doesn't change much is the sense of feel.   This can show itself as fidgeting, a love for touch or a fear of human touch.  It depends on how the individual's brain interprets these and what latent memories from earliest life are available.  Others lose their sense of touch in places.  They lose the ability to feel pain, to feel hunger, to feel thirst.  In many cases the victims of Alzheimer's will lose the muscle memory for swallowing as the disease enters its end stage.

A way to help these people to stay safe instead of up and wandering around to get lost or to fall is to create a fidget cloth.  Before I knew about these and could make one for my maternal grandmother, she would shred a box of facial tissues a day, one tissue at a time.  However, a fidget cloth is something like a lap robe or smaller like the size of a napkin.  It uses texture instead of color to create interest.  It uses pockets, ties, zippers, buttons and other things to create tactile interest.

Crochet textures can include front post and back post stitches, lace stitches, cables, heavy seams on patch pockets, beaded strings to feel and fiddle with, crochet chains for tying or wrapping around fingers and unwrapping, buttons to do and undo, snaps to feel snapping, zippers to zip.  Be sure to make these embellishments stay firmly attached.  Choking is not something we want.