Knittingfool

Hunting for an email address, are you?

2011-10-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

I don't make my email address readily available on knittingfool.com. The reason is that there are malicious programs that scour web sites looking for valid domain email addresses that they can use to send out great, ugly globs of spam. The last time I had an email address easily available on knittingfool, one of those malicious programs picked it up and used it to advertise everything from exotic mail-order romance to little blue pills.

Then I tried using a email utility that requires the user to view an image of a word and then enter that word before the email could be forwarded to me. That resulted in complaints from handicapped persons. I did find it ironic that they were able to get the silly thing to work well enough to unload complaint emails through it.

Have you picked up on my cynicism about making an email address available?

So, now, if you want to send me an email, you have to be a little bit clever. Most websites that have their own domain name (knittingfool.com is a domain name) set up a webmaster mail account at the domain. If you string together webmaster with that symbol above the number 2 on your keyboard and follow all that with the domain name knittingfool.com, you will be able to construct an address that will reach me.

Paused the Goal

2010-11-14T17:59:00.000-08:00

For the last several years one of my goals has been to work a new swatch every day and add its picture to the KnittingFool web site. There have been times when I fell off the goal, like last year when my Dad died. And this week when my daughter asked me to make a sweater for her; a particular sweater she saw at Knitter's Midwest last August. She remembered that it was announced during the runway fashion show that the pattern would be in the Knitter's 100th issue. So when that issue came recently she found the pattern for the Celebrate Tunic and wanted me to make it.

I ordered the yarn, Cascade 220 Superwash, from YarnCountry.com on Saturday 11/13/2010. They had almost all of the 11 rainbow colors; we found close substitutes for a couple colors. The yarn arrived the following Monday. I wasn't expecting it that fast. I worked my guage swatch Monday evening and started the front of the sweater that evening. It is now the following Sunday and I just finished the second sleeve -- all the knitting is done. I'm going to take a break for a couple days before I block and finish the sweater.

My daughter should have made the sweater because the pattern is so simple -- all garter stitch and simple shaping. But the yarn was a bit more expensive than what she is accustomed to working with, and she does not have a good completion record, so she was intimidated by it.

I understand how that is. I made my first sweater at about her age. I made it out of Red Heart wool in a varigated shade of olive greens. I had to use the varigated yarn because my Mom would not front the money to buy all the yarn at one time -- varigated yarn reduced the risk of having a mixed dye lot. My weekly allowance was enough to buy two skeins. It took about six weeks to get all the yarn, two skeins at a time. It was a great sweater, a pattern from a woman's magazine (McCall's or Good Housekeeping), long cardigan, simple 7 stitch cables all over (with the purl stitch down the middle) and set in pockets. Fairly challenging for a first time sweater but I was so determined to show my Mom that I was not a bad bet. She was a little easier about financing my early projects after that.

So for a week I have not added any swatch pictures to KnittingFool. I will try to catch it up a bit over the Thanksgiving weekend. Hope you understand.

Knitting the Lorenz Manifold

2010-10-24T17:30:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I came across a pattern to crochet the Lorenz Manifold. The crochet pattern was not like any others I had seen, perhaps because it was created by someone who had their mind way into math. Just a sample:

"rnd 4: 60 dtr 0 3 4 7 8 11 12 15 16 19 20 23 24 27 28 31 32 35 36 39 (gd 12.75)"

The short intrepretation: You will end round 3 with 60 dtr (double triple) crochets on the round. you will achieve this be working two dtr in each stitch of the previous row shown in the list. That means that starting with the 0 stitch (the first stitch to a non-mathematician) you will work two dtr in the first stitch, one dtr in each of the 2nd and 3rd stitches, two dtr in each of the 4th and 5th stitches (on the list as 3 and 4) and so on. The gd 12.75 is a measurement of geodesic distance. According to the pattern the gd is given for "orientation and motivation" -- yeah, right, motivation.

One other little note: dtr is double triple crochet. But the pattern is from the UK where double triple crochet means the same as triple crochet in the US.

It took me a while to convert this into a knit pattern. And what I have is still a draft. I am working through it for the second time. The first time I used knitting worsted. I did all the increases as "work two stitches in one stitch." Because of the bulk of the knitting worsted the result was heavy and difficult to mount on a frame. This time I am working all the increases as yarn overs and I am using lace weight yarn

Abbreviations:
K = knit a stitch
YO=yarn over
K2 = knit the next two stitches
Kn = knit the next n stitches
M= make one; knit into the front and back of the stitch. This is an increase of one stitch.
D=decrease one stitch
DM=knit two stitches together and before removing the loops from the needle, K1-b in the same two stitches.
Work even the same as knit around.

Cast on 5 stitches. Join into a ring being careful not to twist the stitches.

Row 1. M in each stitch. (total of 10 stitches)
Row 2. M in each stitch. (total of 20 stitches)
Row 3 work even
Row 4. M in each stitch. (total of 40 stitches)
Row 5 work even
Row 6 work even
Row 7. YO, k1, [K2, (YO, k1) twice] 9 times, K2, YO, k1. (total of 60 stitches)
Row 8 work even
Row 9 work even
Row 10 YO, k1, [K4, (YO, k1) twice] 9 times, K4, YO, k1. (total of 80 stitches
Row 11 work even
Row 12 work even
Row 13. K3, [(YO, k1) twice, K6] 9 times, (YO, k1) twice, K3. (total of 100 stitches)
Row 14 work even
Row 15 work even
Row 16. YO, k1, [K8, (YO, k1) twice] 9 times, K8, YO, k1. (total of 120 stitches)
Row 17 work even
Row 18 work even
Row 19. K111, YO, K5, YO, K4. (total of 122 stitches)
Row 20 work even
Row 21 work even
Row 22. YO, K3, YO, K5, YO, K3, (YO, k1) twice, K2, YO, K5, YO, k1, [K6, YO, K5, YO, k1] 6 times, K2, (YO, k1) twice, K2, YO, K5, YO, K3, (YO, k1) twice, K12, YO, k1. (total of 148 stitches)
Row 23 work even
Row 24 work even
Row 25. K7, (YO, k1) twice, K21, [(YO, k1) twice, K12] 5 times, (YO, k1) twice, K6, YO, K15, (YO, k1) twice, K10, YO, K3, (YO, k1) 4times, K2, YO, k4. (total of 171 stitches)
Row 26 work even
Row 27 work even
Row 28. K3, YO, K3, YO, K19, [(YO, k1) twice, K14] 6 times, YO, K16, YO, K5, YO, K3, YO, k26. (total of 189 stitches)
Row 29 work even
Row 30. K13, YO, K3, YO, k2 132, YO, k40. (total of 192 stitches)
Row 31 work even
Row 32. YO, K25, YO, K3, YO, K5, YO, K3, YO, K10, YO, K5, YO, K67, YO, K5, YO, K10, YO, K3, YO, K5, YO, K3, YO, K23, YO, k2, (YO, k1) twice, K, YO, K3, (YO, k1) twice, K8, YO, K4, YO, k2, YO, k1 (total of 214 stitches).
Row 33 work even
Row 34. K3, YO, k45, YO, K13, (YO, K7, YO, K3, YO, K5, YO, K3) 3 times, YO, K7, YO, K13, YO, K64, (YO, k1) twice, K5, YO, k8. (total of 234 stitches)
Row 35 work even
Row 36. K23, (YO, k1) twice, K152, (YO, k1) twice, K14, YO, K11, YO, K9, YO, k2, YO, K7, YO, k12. (total of 243 stitches)
Row 37 work even
Row 38 K47, (YO, k1) twice, K20, (YO, k1) twice, K64, (YO, k1) twice, K20, (YO, k1) twice, K40, YO, K5, YO, K9, (YO, k1) twice, K6, YO, K7, (YO, k1) twice, K6, (YO, k1) twice, K2, YO, k3. (total of 261 stitches)
Row 39 work even
Row 40 K7, (YO, k1) twice, K86, (YO, k1) twice, K20, (YO, k1) twice, K97, (YO, k1) twice, K43. (total of 269 stitches)
Row 41 work even
Row 42 YO, k2, YO, k196, (YO, K4) twice, (YO, k1) twice, K7, (YO, k1) twice, K13, YO, K5, YO, k2, (YO, k1) twice, K16, YO, K13, YO, k1 (total of 283 stitches)
Row 43 work even
Row 44 K16, (YO, k1) twice, K3, YO, K4, YO, K7, YO, K17, YO, K7, YO, K113, YO, K7, YO, K17, YO, K23, YO, K9, (YO, k1) twice, K2, YO, K5, YO, K3, YO, K9, YO, K12, (YO, k1) twice, K9, YO, k2, YO, K5, (YO, k1) twice, K2, YO, k3. (total of 307 stitches)
Row 45 work even
Row 46 K2, YO, K5, (YO, k1) twice, K71, (YO, K7, YO, K17) 3 times, YO, K7, YO, k1, K108, (YO, k1) twice, K2, YO, k2, YO, K5, YO, K6, YO, K5, YO, k17. (total of 325 stitches)
Row 47 work even
Row 48 K7, YO, K9, YO, K28, YO, k1, K155, YO, K9, YO, K16, YO, K10, YO, K16, YO, K10, (YO, k1) twice, K4, YO, K16, (YO, k1) twice, K2, YO, K10, (YO, k1) twice, K, YO, K14, YO, k11 (total of 343 stitches)
Row 49 work even
Row 50 YO, K6, YO, K24, YO, K26, (YO, K17, YO, K9) 5 times, YO, K23, YO, K25, YO, K9, (YO, K3) times, YO, K11, YO, K4, (YO, k1) twice, K13, (YO, k1) 3 times, K28, YO, K18, (YO, k1) three times, K6, (YO, k1) twice, K3, YO, k1 (total of 375 stitches)
Row 51 work even
Row 52 K54, (YO, k1) twice, K209, YO, K7, YO, K42, YO, K27, YO, k34 (total of 381 stitches)
Row 53 work even
Row 54 K5, YO, k1, YO, k78, (YO, k1) twice, [K26, (YO, k1) twice] 4 times, K26, YO, K8, YO, K7, (YO, k1) twice, K13, YO, K15, YO, K3, (YO, k1) three times, K2, YO, K3, YO, K22, YO, K9, YO, K17, YO, K7, (YO, k1) twice, K15, YO, K26, YO, k3. (total of 411 stitches)
Row 55 work even
Row 56 K2, YO, K21, (YO, k1) twice, K8, YO, K11, (YO, k1) twice, K6, YO, K250, (YO, k1) twice, K6, YO, k2, YO, K5, YO, K25, YO, K5, YO, K7, (YO, K3) twice, YO, K39, YO, K3, YO, K5, (YO, k1) twice, K4. (total of 432 stitches)
Row 57 work even
Row 58 K4, (YO, k1) twice, K12, YO, K54, YO, k150, YO, K15, YO, K39, YO, K37, YO, K16, YO, K26, YO, K7, (YO, k1) twice, K, YO, K3, YO, K4, (YO, k1) twice, K2, (YO, k1) twice, K27, YO, k27 (total of 451 stitches)
Row 59 work even
Row 60 YO, K16, YO, K8, YO, K11, YO, K48, (YO, k1) twice, K6, YO, K15, YO, K7, (YO, k1) twice, K6, YO, K15, YO, K7, (YO, k1) twice, K6, YO, K15, YO, K7, (YO, k1) twice, K6, YO, K15, YO, K7, (YO, k1) twice, K6, YO, K23, (YO, k1) twice, K35, YO, K4, YO, K13, YO, K7, YO, K32, YO, K16, YO, K17, YO, K3, YO, K13, YO, K4, YO, K3, YO, K36, YO, K16, (YO, k1) twice, K13, YO, k1 (total of 491 stitches)
Row 61 work even
Row 62 K13, YO, K38, YO, k1, K237, YO, K11, YO, K14, YO, K18, YO, K8, YO, K21, (YO, k1) twice, K40, (YO, k1) twice, K8, YO, K3, (YO, k1) twice, K2, (YO, k1) twice, (K14, YO) twice, K19, YO, K12, YO, k10 (total of 511 stitches)
Row 63 work even
Row 64 K2, YO, K15, YO, K5, YO, K3, (YO, k1) twice, K21, (YO, k1) twice, K10, YO, K9, YO, K9, YO, k1, K194, YO, K9, YO, K57, YO, K9, YO, K12, YO, K15, YO, K10, YO, K42, YO, K5, (YO, k1) twice, K21, YO, K20, YO, K22, YO, k1, K14 (total of 534 stitches)
Row 65 work even
Row 66 K5, YO, K5, YO, K3, YO, K3, (YO, k1) twice, K4, YO, K24, YO, K67, YO, K136, YO, K9, YO, K81, (YO, K3) 3 times, YO, K7, (YO, k1) 4 times, K10, YO, K3, YO, K43, YO, K24, (YO, k1) twice, K5, YO, K8, YO, K4, YO, K34, YO, K37, YO, k2, YO, k4 (total of 563 stitches)
Row 67 work even
Row 68 YO, K4, YO, K6, YO, K3, YO, K16, YO, K18, (YO, k1) twice, K55, YO, K26, YO, K25, YO, K68, YO, K9, YO, K45, YO, K7, YO, K25, YO, K23, YO, K27, YO, K8, (YO, k1) twice, K12, YO, K2, YO, K31, YO, K11, YO, K41, YO, K5, (YO, k1) 3 times, K14, YO, K76 (total of 591 stitches)
Row 69 work even
Row 70 K9, (YO, k1) twice, K7, YO, K27, YO, K41, YO, K33, YO, K29, YO, K7, YO, K19, YO, K9, YO, K7, YO, K9, YO, K9, YO, K9, YO, K7, YO, K29, YO, K7, YO, K65, YO, K35, YO, K2, (YO, k1) twice, K7, YO, K6, YO, K28, YO, K9, YO, K25, YO, K31, YO, K17, (YO, k1) twice, K3, YO, K9, YO, K3, YO, K3, (YO, k1) 3 times, K2, (YO, k1) 3 times, K8, YO, K12, YO, K41, (YO, k1) twice, K2, YO, K3, YO, K3, YO, K4, YO, K2 (total of 637 stitches)
Row 71 work even
Row 72 K2, YO, K11, YO, K1, K75, YO, K305, YO, K26, YO, K5, YO, K6, YO, K3, YO, K72, YO, K3, YO, K11, YO, K3, YO, K10, (YO, k1) twice, K2, YO, K26, YO, K10, YO, K24, YO, K41 (total of 655 stitches)
Row 73 work even
Row 74 K5, YO, K64, YO, K46, YO, K207, YO, K61, YO, K5, YO, K20, YO, K15, YO, K3, YO, K10, YO, K14, YO, K63, YO, K25, (YO, k1) twice, K2, YO, K114 (total of 670 stitches)
Row 75 work even
Row 76 K4, YO, K6, YO, K17, YO, K92, YO, K16, YO, K189, YO, K56, YO, K18, YO, K18, YO, K7, (YO, k1) twice, K3, YO, K1, K106, YO, K5, (YO, k1) twice, K3, YO, K3, YO, K6, (YO, k1) twice, K2, YO, K7, YO, K10, YO, K71, YO, K12, YO, K9, YO, K4 (total of 695 stitches)
Row 77 work even
Row 78 YO, K8, YO, K13, YO, K17, YO, K100, YO, K23, YO, K17, YO, K97, YO, K17, YO, K21, (YO, k1) twice, K30, YO, K25, YO, K10, YO, K58, YO, K3, YO, K88, YO, K11, (YO, k1) twice, K10, YO, K14, YO, K23, YO, K2, (YO, k1) twice, K87, YO, K16 (total of 720 stitches)
Row 79 work even
Row 80 K12, YO, K10, YO, K28, YO, K61, YO, K57, YO, K15, YO, K23, (YO, k1) twice, K14, (YO, k1) twice, K20, (YO, k1) twice, K14, (YO, k1) twice, K22, YO, K15, YO, K52, YO, K24, (YO, k1) twice, K, YO, K57, YO, K15, (YO, k1) twice, K12, YO, K50, DM, K47, YO, K5, YO, K14, YO, K20, (YO, k1) twice, K4, YO, K11, YO, K41, DM, K5, DM, K, DM, K29, YO, K13, YO, K5, YO, K2 (total of 754 stitches)
Row 81 work even
Row 82 K11, YO, K5, YO, K17, YO, K9, YO, K51, YO, K2, (YO, k1) twice, K23, YO, K270, YO, K18, YO, K45, YO, K10, (YO, k1) twice, K, YO, K18, YO, K5, (YO, k1) twice, K3, YO, K8, YO, K21, DM, K7, DM, K, D, K5, DM, K14, DM, K43, YO, K2, YO, K11, (YO, k1) twice, K6, YO, K3, YO, K7, YO, K8, YO, K62, DM, K8, DM, K26, YO, K6, YO, K7 (total of 782 stitches)
Row 83 work even
Row 84 K2, YO, K2, YO, K4, YO, K13, YO, K8, YO, K2, YO, K33, YO, K3, YO, K5, YO, K21, YO, K12, YO, K1, K273, YO, K7, YO, K48, YO, K24, YO, K14, YO, K6, YO, K19, YO, K3, YO, K63, D, K42, (YO, k1) twice, K4, (YO, k1) twice, K12, YO, K21, YO, K4, YO, K21, YO, K34, D, K, D, K8, D, K11, D, K48 (total of 804 stitches)
Row 85 work even
Row 86 K4, YO, K3, YO, K15, (YO, k1) twice, K2, YO, K19, YO, K2, (YO, k1) twice, K79, YO, K3, YO, K45, YO, K1, K167, YO, K5, YO, K33, YO, K13, YO, K12, YO, K16, YO, K10, YO, K13, YO, K19, YO, K9, YO, K6, YO, K9, YO, K23, YO, K15, YO, K5, YO, K26, DM, K7, D, K3, D, K5, DM, K3, DM, K5, D, K47, YO, K6, YO, K8, YO, K12, (YO, k1) twice, K15, YO, K4, YO, K14, YO, K5, YO, K7, YO, K1, K, YO, K1, K, YO, K12, DM, K21, DM, K48, YO, K4 (total of 840 stitches)
Row 87 work even
Row88 YO, K11, YO, K10, YO, K12, YO, K7, YO, K3, YO, K26, YO, K16, YO, K15, YO, K45, (YO, k1) twice, K20, (YO, k1) twice, K23, YO, K18, YO, K19, YO, K5, YO, K37, YO, K5, YO, K37, YO, K5, YO, K18, (YO, k1) twice, K42, (YO, k1) twice, K17, YO, K60, YO, K22, YO, K42, YO, K8, YO, K6, YO, K7, YO, K10, YO, K1, K90, YO, K8, YO, K13, YO, K15, YO, K8, (YO, k1) twice, K4, (YO, k1) twice, K22, YO, K15, YO, K5, (YO, k1) twice, K11, YO, K19, DM, K56, YO, K12 (total of 887 stitches)
Row 89 work even
Row 90 K11, YO, K5, YO, K18, K34, YO, K13, YO, K5, YO, K25, YO, K8, YO, K12, YO, K23, YO, K24, YO, K3, YO, K38, (YO, k1) twice, K22, YO, K43, (YO, k1) twice, K42, (YO, k1) twice, K66, (YO, k1) twice, K6, YO, K40, YO, K97, YO, K8, YO, K16, YO, K9, YO, K5, YO, K8, YO, K38, D, K9, D, K20, D, K8, D, K41, YO, K16, YO, K7, YO, K12, (YO, k1) twice, K6, YO, K19, YO, K9, (YO, k1) twice, K19, YO, K64, D, K32, YO, K2 (total of 921 stitches)
Row 91 work even
Row 92 K2, YO, K35, YO, K24, YO, K5, YO, K10, YO, K8, YO, K122, YO, K17, YO, K31, YO, K7, (YO, k1) twice, K6, YO, K31, YO, K7, (YO, k1) twice, K6, YO, K31, YO, K7, (YO, k1) twice, K6, YO, K31, YO, K41, YO, K76, YO, K50, YO, K29, (YO, k1) twice, K23, YO, K70, DM, K57, YO, K6, YO, K2, (YO, k1) twice, K10, YO, K16, (YO, k1) twice, K14, YO, K45, YO, K29, YO, K35, YO, K11, (YO, k1) twice, K6 (total of 958 stitches)
Row 93 work even
Row 94 K5, YO, K4, YO, K11, YO, K3, YO, K2, YO, K19, YO, K10, YO, K5, YO, K23, YO, K10, (YO, k1) twice, K41, YO, K54, YO, K15, YO, K23, YO, K200, YO, K12, YO, K89, YO, K23, YO, K10, YO, K43, (YO, k1) twice, K1, YO, K20, YO, K4, (YO, k1) twice, K64, YO, K43, YO, K47, YO, K3, (YO, k1) 4 times, K9, YO, K2, YO, K39, YO, K6, YO, K21, DM, K42, DM, K8, D, K32 (total of 994 stitches)
Row 95 work even
Row 96 K4, YO, K3, YO, K2, YO, K10, YO, K6, YO, K8, YO, K15, YO, K65, YO, K117, YO, K24, YO, K165, YO, K12, YO, K80, YO, K25, YO, K7, YO, K35, YO, K4, YO, K2, YO, K5, YO, K33, YO, K23, YO, K2, YO, K12, YO, K70, D, K9, D, K37, (YO, k1) twice, K2, YO, K8, YO, K12, YO, K8, YO, K3, YO, K15, (YO, k1) twice, K2, YO, K30, YO, K96, D, K34 (total of 1025 stitches)
Row 97 work even
Row 98 YO, K10, YO, K5, YO, K18, YO, K84, YO, K10, YO, K18, YO, K135, YO, K12, YO, K11, YO, K12, YO, K15, YO, K12, YO, K11, YO, K12, YO, K15, YO, K12, YO, K11, YO, K12, YO, K132, YO, K33, (YO, k1) twice, K9, YO, K19, YO, K27, YO, K12, YO, K13, YO, K6, YO, K7, YO, K11, YO, K17, D, K, DM, K4, DM, K2, DM, K53, YO, K9, YO, K34, YO, K27, YO, K5, (YO, k1) 8 times, K2, (YO, k1) twice, K4, YO, K12, YO, K13, YO, K136, YO, K4 (total of 1072 stitches)
Row 99 work even
Row 100 K31, YO, K63, YO, K4, YO, K6, YO, K13, YO, K19, (YO, k1) twice, K39, YO, K358, YO, K73, YO, K45, (YO, k1) twice, K3, YO, K10, YO, K21, YO, K2, YO, K8, YO, K5, (YO, k1) twice, K33, DM, K20, YO, K16, YO, K9, D, K41, YO, K13, YO, K29, YO, K23, (YO, k1) twice, K10, YO, K23, YO, K5, YO, K10, YO, K64, YO, K9, YO, K5, YO, K51 (total of 1104 stitches)
Row 101 work even.

Not Knitting - Just an Economic Screech

2010-06-13T07:24:00.000-07:00

There are two ways to get rich. You can either acquire a lot of money or not spend a lot of money. The first method is the most difficult, either through the degree of effort it takes to work hard enough to get a lot of compensation; or by the risk via either luck (I won the lottery) or via less ethical means (I robbed a bank) to acquire a large amount of wealth.

That takes us to the second method, ordinary or extraordinary frugality. My Uncle Paul is a living example of this. He is the millionaire-next-door. Any superficial examination of his condition would lead you to believe he is all but a pauper. He does own some farm land, but most of what he farms is rented land. The small-holding of land he owns is his only visible asset.

He drives a 20 year old car. It is no longer possible to determine the original color of the car. The surface is worn and rusted away. He probably has dropped a different engine in it somewhere along the line. From the sound of it, that engine may have come from a derelict lawnmower. Paul's house has the look of an unfinished hovel. The floors are unfinished plywood. In many places the wall treatment is not finished drywall; it's insulation that has been stapled to the wall. Paul spends money only when either his life or the risk of spending more money depends on it.

He has no modern farm equipment. He uses old combines that don't even have a cab over the driver's seat. I don't think that style has been made for the last 40 years; farmers don't want to sit out in the elements anymore. Long ago Paul bought up a lot of old junk farm equipment, for cheap, to use for spare parts. And he is real crafty about machining his own spare parts when he can't find what he needs on one of the old wrecks.

Many years ago, a coal mining company came through our neck of the woods and bought mineral right for coal from most of the farmers. Actually, all the farmers excepts Paul. He did not want any sinks on his land because it would affect the value of his land. The man from the coal company fairly pleaded with him to sell the rights. The coal company representative even came to talk with my mother about her brother. It was pretty funny because the coal-guy assumed Paul was poor as Joe's turkey and was in desperate need of money. He could not comprehend why Paul would not jump at the opportunity. When my mother told him that Paul did not need any money because he already had more money in the bank than most of the other farmers in the area, the coal-guy was incredulous. Then Mom let him in on the two ways to get rich and how Paul was so into the not-spending habit that he fooled everyone. From the look on the guy's face, I don't think he quite understood.

Right now, we could use a more of Uncle Paul's type of thinking in our government spending. The over-spending that is currently going on will result in true poverty for many. The two methods of getting rich can also be applied as two methods of getting out of debt. The government has only a few ways to make money:
(1) taxes that reduce the wealth of the taxed that in turns reduces their ability to produce anything that can be taxed in the future, (2) borrowing that increases the debt that you were trying to reduce, and (3) inflation that is actually a tax on everyone, especially a tax on the poor. Just like in getting rich, the ways available for government to acquire money to pay off debt have a lot of problems.

That leads us to the alternative, to not spend the tax money in the first place. Government is ripe with opportunity for cutting spending. Cutting the government work force is the most obvious. Government employees do not add to the net wealth of a nation. Most of them could be in the private sector producing something that someone actually wants. Instead they are in the government sector churning regulations that rarely are efficient at yielding any benefit. They even have to have unions to convince themselves that they are indispensable. There was a time when unions were needed. Unions probably still make sense in some parts of the world where the government has not co-opted the purposes of the union. But in the United States, unions have little valid purpose unless we close down OSHA, EEOC and a few other dubious government functions. In this country today, if you need a union to protect your job, there is a strong possibility that you are overpaid, under worked or your job is just unnecessary.

PDF version of Simple Set-in Sleeve Cardigan fixed

2010-05-01T19:04:00.000-07:00

In another post comment, Marilee noted that, on the member-site, there was no PDF version of the Simple, Set-in Sleeve Calculated by the Percentage Method.

I can take a hint. So I worked on it this evening. Earlier, variables were added for calculating the placement of buttonholes. But I had not correctly managed those variables on the PDF version. Then I forgot about the incomplete work. That deficiency has now been corrected.

Thanks Marilee, I needed the reminder about the unfinished work.

Moving the blog

2010-04-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

My ISP host (hosting.com) sent an email about a week ago advising me of changes in their relationship with the blog host site. Bottom line, I have to move my (much neglected) blog. The export/import tool that was recommended to me did not work as advertised. Rather than spend a lot of time complaining to hosting.com. I have elected to just move it manually. That is the advantage of having a much neglected blog -- there isn't that much to move.

Standardizing Knitting Documentation

2009-03-06T23:14:00.000-08:00

There are so many ’styles’ in knitting symbols. The Japanese have perhaps the most comprehensive collection of symbols. More important, the Japanese have been the most consistent in usage of symbols by all the designers published in that language. However, the symbols used in the Japanese system for the simple knit and purl stitches make my eyes crawl. If you are unfamiliar with the Japanese symbols, the symbols for knit and purl are and respectively. In isolation, they don’t look so bad, but wait till you have a 20 x 20 pattern that switches from knit to purl all over it. You will start to be confused and if you have any vision issues the and combination will only amplify your problems. I prefer the symbols for knit and purl used by Barbara Walker, and respectively.

Is there a ’standards board’ that develops and promulgates standards for how knitting patterns are documented? I see bits and pieces of this type of thinking spontaneously arising in several sources. But it is still all over the place. I would like to see a body of learned knitters come together to fill this gap . We need a standard, used by all nationalities regardless of language, to which we could hold all future knitting documentation. If this was established, it would also form a standard for documenting the updating of historical knitting documentation. And it would assist in the consistent translation of knitting documentation from one language to another.

Swatchercise

2008-09-06T22:07:00.000-07:00

I have been doing swatches to illustrated my index of knitting stitches for almost two years. Up until the first 1000 stitch patterns had been illustrated, I admit, the selection of a stitch to work was biased toward the easy patterns just to pump up the numbers.

Now that I have a passed the 1000 milestone and now that I have a firm grasp on the ‘50% of documented patterns are illustrated’ milestone, I have adopted a different attitude toward picking patterns to swatch. I want to focus on working the the biggest, most difficult stitches first. And being the database wonk I created a database view to help me. The algorithm is very simple: list the stitches in descending order by the product of the (number of stitches) x (number of rows). One side effect of this is that the number of illustrated stitches does not increase as fast. The other side effect is that more ‘high quality’ stitches are swatched.

Anguish and Old Lace

2008-09-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

I acquired a very old needlework book, Fancy Work Recreations by Eva Marie Niles published in 1884. Approximately 1/3 of the book is about knitting. It has some very interesting lace patterns. However, they are not written in modern terminology. For example:

Openwork Lace

Cast on 32 stitches, knit across plain.

1st Row - Slip 1, 2 plain, t over 2, seam 2 together, 1 plain, (t over 2, narrow) 4 times, 6 plain t over 2 seam 2 together, 1 plain, (t over 2, narrow) 3 times, 1 plain, t over 2, narrow.

2nd Row - t over 2, seam 2 together, 3 plain, seam 1, (2 plain, seam 1) twice, 1 plain, t over 2, seam 2 together, 15 plain, t over 2, seam 2 together, 3 plain.

. . . and so on for 16 rows.

First problem: what’s ‘plain?’ what’s ’seam?’ what’s ‘t over 2?’ Narrow????

Fortunately there was a page that gave some help there. Plain is knit. Seam is purl and t over 2 is yarn over twice. Narrow is a knitted decrease.

Now you think you have it whipped. Not so fast. See those double yarn overs. They present a problem on the following row. Are they to be treated as a single stitch or as a double stitch. Turns out in this pattern some are treated as single stitches and others are treated as two stitches. But the pattern does not spell that out. And that knitted decrease — narrow — that could lean to the left or right, but the pattern doesn’t say which. I can’t exactly contact the author for guidance. She and her corset have been dust for some time now.

I got out an Excel spread sheet and by reading the instructions for each row from the right edge to the left edge and back again several times I was able to make some sense out of the pattern. Just to show you how bad it got, I am attaching the Excel spread sheet. That spreadsheet is just a draft; I think it could be done better. It was enough for me to make the first draft of a translation of the pattern. For example, the above rows translate to the following:

Row 1: Sl 1, k2, yo twice, p2-tog, k1, (yo twice, k2-tog) 4 times, k6, yo twice, p2-tog, k1, (yo twice, k2-tog) 3 times, k1, yo twice, k2-tog

Row 2: yo twice, p2-tog (the k2-tog and the double yarn over of the previous row), ssk, (k1, p1 in the double yarn over of the previous row), [k1, (k1, p1 in the double yarn over of the previous row)] twice, k1, yo twice, p2-tog (the p2-tog and the double yarn over of the previous row), k8, [k1 in double yarn over of the previous row, k1] 4 times, yo twice, p2-tog (the p2-tog and the double yarn over of the previous row), k3

. . . and so on for 16 rows.

That translation is good enough to work from, but it can be better. The p2-tog stitches that work together a previous p2-tog with a double yarn over occur many times in the pattern. Describing each one makes it too chatty. So in the next draft of the pattern, I will find a name or abbreviation for that particular decrease stitch. That new term will become part of the Legend I add to the stitch description. The use of a single term for the special decrease stitch will make the pattern more compact and easier to read.

But before I replace the chatty phrase with an abbreviation, I will try to work the pattern. There’s no point in trying to make the pattern look cute if it doesn’t work. If it works you will see a picture of it in the Knittingfool website’s stitch collection. If you don’t see a picture there, you will know that I’m still slugging it out with this knitting puzzle.

What I did not say about Stitches 2007

2008-08-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

I’m getting ready to go to Stitches in Schaumberg this month. I went for the first time last year (much overdue). I intended to write about it last year, but I had one of those experiences that evoked feelings that can only be described by that old saying, “A goose just walked over my grave.” I ran into someone that I had not seen since my first year at college. A chance meeting that gave me the chills.

I showed up for a Stitches class in the morning, early like I always am. My father believed that if you weren’t 15 minutes early you were late. He enforced that fiercely; being early is like a disease with me. A woman came in a few minutes later. She kept making nervous chit chat. The phrases she used were annoyingly familiar; excessively polite; and scripted, as if she was reading from a Miss Manners textbook. It took a few minutes and then things rushed together. I couldn’t see her name tag clearly, so I tried to judge the shape of the name, the contour of the letters. The shape fit the name I had in mind. And then the memory of the face came back. She had not changed much. Older, heavier, but very like she had been. And when I was almost sure I asked, “Were you in Carbondale in 1973?” The look on her face answered the question even before her words came, “Yes, how did you know?” “I was there.” “Forgive me, I don’t recognize you. Who are you?” “Elaine.” And then she remembered me. And I knew for sure it was Valerie Jane [last name withheld].

She came over to sit next to me. She asked all the polite questions and we exchanged the abbreviated versions of our life stories. I had completed college; she had not. I married and had kids; she had not. It was not just her appearance that had not change much. Her whole life had change only superficially.

The only shocker was her current profession. She was an insurance salesman. Shocker? Just wait. She sold insurance to a niche market: adult entertainment. I had to hold back a laugh although it must have showed on my face because she launched into a justification that boiled down to “They need insurance too.” Yeah sure, Tony Soprano needs insurance, too. What a hoot. That explains a lot about insurance rates.

I could almost write a book about Valerie Jane. She could have been a psychology case study. Usually, she was Valerie, the overly officious, tedious, mistress of idle, polite chit-chat with her mother pushing all her remote control buttons. But sometimes she was Jane. Jane was more normal, a regular 18 year old looking to enjoy life and get laid. She would even refer to herself by the two names in the third person. I more than once witnessed an argument between the two. That was creepy. I don’t know if she had a true multiple personality, but she sure had something going on. Perhaps Valerie stays home to knit and Jane goes out to strip joints to sell insurance. That presents an image.

There were 5 or 6 girls thrown together by chance in a college dorm in the summer of 1973. I have so many memories of the troubles caused by Valerie and Jane trying to manipulate the events of that summer. Until finally the rest of us figured out what was going on (sort of). The story is far too long and complex to tell here.

Just to be catish: She borrowed a copy of the winter craft issue of a magazine that had a favorite afghan stitch cape pattern in it and she never gave it back. I’m still miffed about that. Maybe I’m the crazy one! Thirty-five years later and I’m still not letting go of that grievance.

I tried to explain to my husband how badly running into Valerie Jane had shaken me. I even left Stitches early, missing one of the classes I had paid for. I know it sounds paranoid, but she scares me a little. I wanted to put the distance back between us. I still can’t put it all in words. However, I am going back to Stitches. She may be there again because it is not so far from where she lives. It’s just a risk. Fortunately, the place is big enough to hide in. But if I do run into her, I won’t miss the chance to ask where that cape pattern is.

2008-02-24T02:09:00.000-08:00

Just found your blog b/c I’m trying to trace a pattern.

Have you seen this pattern at masondixonknitting archives “mysterylace”? It is in the Jan 13, 2008 blog posting. It is a picture of a friend’s curtain. Beautiful. I hope to knit this and am trying to figure it out…

I know what happens, just not how to accomplish it:

-pattern is garter, they say,

-repeat is only four stitches long,

-repeat is nine rows deep,

-every other column is plain knit stitch,

-the other columns are the same pattern, but offset by 4 rows. This pattern consists of a plain stitch for 5 rows. On the 6th row, the 5 previous rows are knit into/under/deep-stitched/ pulled up so that a flower is formed. On the next row, the stitch directly above the loop holding up the flower is twisted. The row above that one is plain knit stitch, and then the pattern starts again.

_so, the chart would be :

columns 1 and 3: knit all stitches

columns 2 and 4: knit a pattern of 5 plain rows, pull up all the stitches into one stitch, twist the stitch in the next row above it, knit a plain stitch in the row above that, and then begin the repeat again.

How could I do this w/o having all the stitches fall off my needles???

any ideas?

Enjoy!

Meredith

Response from 1knittingfool:
This pattern has similarities to the North Star pattern. It employs a ‘dip’ stitch in which you knit into a stitch 3 rows below the current row. The stitches in the 2nd and 1st row below the current row are not altogether dropped, rather, those strands are ‘cradled up’ with the knitting of the stitch 3 rows below. I think if the North Star pattern was worked all in one color on large needles with lace weight yarn the effect would be very much like that seen in the above pictured “Mystery Lace.”

Response from Meredith:
Thank you for your response. Yes, this does look like North Star. Your collection of stitch patterns is very inspiring. Meredith

Increasing before and after markers on circular needles

2008-02-04T16:58:00.000-08:00

I have a raglan sweater pattern that I am knitting from the top down ( sweater pattern generator)

I have knitted the collar but it says at each side of marker, increase 1 st by knitting into the front and back of the st..

I have 4 markers - one for the sleeves, one for the back, one for the other sleeve and one for the front, so by increasing into the back and front of each st. that would make an increase of 8 sts..

Does it matter which marker you start to increase at?

Awaiting your reply,

June

Response from 1knittingfool

No. It is immaterial which point you choose as a starting point.

Abbreviations and Symbols

2007-09-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

From Angie, Seattle (9/19/2007 2:59 pm)

Hi, You have the most comprehensive list of knitting symbols I’ve been able to find. However, I’m stuck on a pattern and can’t find a key for the symbol anywhere. I’m writing to you on the off chance that maybe you’ve seen this symbol before. The symbol is a circle with a slanted line thru it — one slants to the left, the other to the right. Any ideas?? Thanks, Angie

Response from 1knittingfool:
I found the forward slash in a circle symbol in an Italian lace knitting magazine. The instruction in Italian is 1 dir. crociato. The abbreviation dir. means diritto and that translates to knit stitch. Crociato means cross. In total, it is the instruction to twist a stitch, that is, to knit in the back loop. This causes the loop of the knit stitch to be crossed.

The backward slash in a circle is in Italian 1 rov. crociato. The abbreviation rov. means rovescio or in English purl stitch. Therefore, it is also to twist a stitch, in this case by purling in the back loop to yield a purl loop that is crossed.

I am going crazy tyring to find this stitch!

2007-08-22T19:14:00.000-07:00

Hi, I bought a hand knitted scarf in New Zealand at a Saturday Market and it had a very unusal stitch. I ask the lady what it was and she said it was knit the purls and purl the knits…well that’s a seed stitch (didn’t know that at the time), so I thought simple enough…brought it home and it’s not that stitch. I have taken this scarf to all of the yarn stores in my city, one of which is a master knitter and we can’t figure this out. It has ribbing on one side but the other side is totally different. It kinda looks like a Brioche stitch where you knit in the row below, but then it doesn’t come out ribbed on the other side. I am really stumped on this one. If you have a way I can email you pictures of the scarf and the stitches, I would love to do that and would appreciate any help I can find!!

Oh I just realized I can post pictures on here I think…when I get home today I will try that….

Thanks so much, Alaskakatz

Comment from aprilmagic (8/27/2007 2L07 am)

Can you scan the scarf and send it. I’ll see if I can figure it out. Lucinda

Comment from nanawoolf (11/1/2007 7:23 am):

Hi, as you describe it it sounds like a ‘fake brioche’ I know and have used in a sweater.

You switch between knit1 and purl1 on the wrong side rows, and only knit on the right side rows.

One of my german knitting books calls it ’sand pattern’, and it appears like ribs on one side, and has a kind of bumpy appearance on the the other side.

It is a very warm stitch and I could thnk it works fine for a scarf. Maybe you tell me where to see a picture of it and I can see if I am totally of track.

Comment from arguchik (12/11/2007 1:13 pm)

hi–as nanawoolf describes it, this stitch sounds like what i know as english rib, which i recently used in a pullover for my boyfriend. the way i worked it was K1P1 on right side rows, and purl on wrong side rows. this is one type of what’s called “garter stitch rib” or “beaded rib,” which basically means it’s a ribbing pattern consisting of stockinette stitch in the “peaks” and garter stitch (rather than reverse stockinette stitch) in the “valleys.”

Sorting the Stitch Catalog

2007-07-12T21:36:00.000-07:00

This evening I added a new menu item that allows you to sort the stitch patterns in the stitch catalog by the number of stitches in a pattern repeat. I’m not sure how useful this will be to the average knitter.

I use this view of the stitch patterns when I am selecting patterns to work into swatches for the illustrations on the web site. I usually work three different patterns in sequence on one swatch. When I select the patterns to work in the swatch, it is just naturally easier if they all have the same number of stitches in a pattern repeat. I work three patterns consecutively because (1) it reduces the overhead spent on casting on and casting off and (2) three patterns is about what I can expect to get done in a evening.

Another limiting factor in selecting the number of patterns to work on a single swatch is the limits of my scanner bed. Rarely can I fit more than three patterns on the scanner at one time. And the scanner is my cheap, easy way of taking a picture of the swatch. I pin the swatch with dissecting pins on a piece of felt (supported by a block of styrofoam). A few moments on the scanner, a few moments in Photoshop to trim the edges of the image to the desired size, upload the file via FTP and another stitch pattern (or perhaps 2 or 3) have been illustrated on the web site.

I also take into account the category of stitches that I select to work in a swatch. I have found, for instance, that lace patterns do not work up well in the same swatch with twist stitch patterns. One category has a tendency to spread and another has a tendency to draw in. It is better if the patterns in the swatch all ‘behave’ the same.

Books in My Library

2007-07-03T18:53:00.000-07:00

From Lethe, Topanga Canyon

Your site has been one of my favorites for quite a while, not only because of the wealth of very useful information and the stitch library, but also because of your wit. It is becoming dangerous however, as I go through your library I keep discovering books I need to get too. I spent birthday money on some rare costly out-of-print books that I am absolutely delighted with. Now today I just noticed those Ida Rose Vintage Reproductions, too dangerous. A quick question: is there some way to see just what are your most recent additions to your library ? One of my current favorites is not on your list. It is a compendium of reprints from Weldon’s late 1800s, a few hundred patterns and a glimpse into the past for only $25. _Knitting from 19th Century Sources_ by Kliot. Amazon lists only the out of print first edition, but it is readily available from other vendors like B&N, etc.

Response from 1knittingfool:
I don’t think I have that title yet. There are still about 100 books in my library that I have not yet listed on-line. I work on the whatever is in reach principle. If the floor gets so cluttered with yarn that I can’t roll my desk chair over to the book case, well, stuff just don’t happen. And then I have been working steadily to make sample swatches of the stitch patterns. What a job; but it is fun also. So much to knit, so little time.

Comment from Christina, Delta (4/7/2007 10:20 am)
Just started exploring your site yesterday and have been enjoying the adventure. Today I started looking over your library. Wow! What a dreamy collection. I’m still pretty new at knitting and am taking a leap at trying to design triangular lace shawls. I love the one you designed for your friend and would like to know if that pattern is available? Thanks, I really enjoy your hobby.

Response from 1knittingfool:
The pattern can be found at www.theknitter.com.

Comment from suzuSD (3/16/2008 8:18 pm)
Hey there
This is a great site for knitting noobs like me. Thanks so much for the stitch dictionary with all the photos… it’s so much easier to see if I am doing the stitch right if I have a photo of it to compare to.
Anyway. In your “books in my library” list, you have a book on page three of the H’s, a Japanese book you have titled “how to knit”. Actually, your translation is not too far off; the title reads “wakari yasui teami no kiso to kotsu” which translates to something like “easy to understand handknitting fundamentals”
cheers
linda

Speed Knitting Question

2007-07-03T18:49:00.000-07:00

A question came up about how fast someone can hand knit. I found documentation that the record is 255 stitches per 3 minutes.

Comment from Christina, Delta (4/7/2007 2:12 pm):
I have a silly question. Silly because knitting is fun, soothing, and meets my compulsive, obsessive, yet creative side and should just be enjoyed; yet something I wonder anyways. I find myself counting and figuring how many stitches I do per minute, therefore … I come up with a quesstimate as to how long a project will take me to complete. So, what is an average stitches per minute for a knitter anyways? I hope to improve my technique and speed and just wonder where I’m at. Thanks for indulging my silliness.

Doily Patterns

2007-07-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

The doily patterns on the Knittingfool site are an attempt to capture knitted lace doily patterns in a data base form. The diagrams of the doily patterns are generated demand from instructions in my database. I have tried to present the patterns both as diagrams and in a more traditional written instruction.

Comment from Marley, Winlock, WA (4/25/2007 6:50 pm)
Thank you for providing such a wealth of information and projects.
One question; on several of your doilies the charts say “Begin round by slipping one stitch from the left needle to the right needle.” However, the written instructions do not say this. Why?
Thank you again for a life-changing website.

Response from 1knittingfool:
All the instructions are coming out several different data elements in a set of database tables. The programming for the graphic includes the data element that contains the “slip one stitch . . .” instruction. The programming for the written instructions does not read that data element (yet). All of the above is the long way to say, “I have a bug in my programming.”

2007-07-03T18:28:00.000-07:00

I have closed the old Guestbook in favor of using the Knittingfool Blog for the similar purpose. This will offer the guests the opportunity to comment on posts left by other guests. That was not a feature I could easily offer before.
I will move most of the existing guestbook entires into the blog.

Comment from Marlys, full time traveler, TX right now (1/14/2007 9:14 pm):
Great site!! It eliminates several of my how-to books thus lightening the weight we carry in our traveling home. Wish I had found this site long ago. Keep up the good work!!

Comment from Patty, Upper Darby, PA (1/29/2007 8:41 am)
LOVE this site. It is so helpful with much information all on one site. Thanks you so much for sharing.

Comment from regina, spain (2/11/2007 3:40 am)
congratulations this web is wonderful

Comment from Julia, Seattle WA (2/20/2007 4:57 pm)
There are so many knitting sites on the web. This is by far the most useful I have EVER visited! I have knitted for over 40 years and been on the internet since it started. It is so rare to find a site this helpful. THANKS!!!!!

Comment from Shari, Michigan (2/21/2007 12:39 pm)
Your site is the BEST. Along with all the knitting patterns you added the xtras to get your brain working Hummmm can I do this… I sure will try.. THANKS!!!

Comment from Lisa aka Windsonsidhe, Monticello, KY (2/26/2007 9:05 pm)
Very nice site! Very informative. Thank you for providing such valuable information!

Comment from sandra, uk (3/1/2007 12:05 pm)
thank you for this excellent resource, your abbreviation table has just saved my sanity!! It explained succinctly what I needed to know

Comment from Judy, Pleasanton, CA (3/3/2007 8:46 pm)
What a great site, you’re on my favorites now. Thanks so much

Comment from Beverly, Alberta, Canada (3/9/2007 3:10 pm)
Thank you so much for incorporating some edging patterns. They are beautiful. All your work is phenomenal and I really appreciate your efforts.
I also read your diary entry regarding your Dad and late Mother. Just to let you know I had the same thoughts when my Mom passed away.

Comment from Shirley, CT (3/31/2007 6:23)
Your site is just amazing. I am a come-back knitter and am agog over all the new yarns and patterns. It is nice to find the familiar and basics, plus common sense techniques on your site. Thank you so much, will tell all my friends.

Comment from Debbie W., Westport, Ontario, Canada (4/25/2007 12:49 pm)
Very cool website. I can’t believe the number of stitches you have listed. Your sweater wheels are fabulous–an early version of today’s knitting software.

Comment from Laura, Pulaski, Virginia (5/8/2007 10:25 am):
I just came across this site today… wow! As both a programmer and knitter, I appreciate the amount of work that has gone into this site. You have done a wonderful job, and I appreciate such a well-organized list of patterns. And to think- I was debating buying yet another stitch pattern book… now I’ll never need another one!

Response from 1knittingfool: Don’t stop buying the books. That’s much of how I have been financing this site, through the links and ads for books on Amazon!

Comment from Mercedes r. Waukegan, IL (5/10/2007 10:45 am)
What a great site. I just found the site yesterday and can’t tear myself away. I am a semi-beginner and am very curious about everything knitting so your website is very informative. You are definately on my favorites. Thank you so much for such a wealth of information.

Comment from Grace, Arizona (5/24/2007 6:24 am):
Found you by accident..a great site and now in my favorites. So much valuable info! I supervise a LYS in AZ and you will be a great reference for me….thank you

Comment from resellerhosting (1/21/2010 9:01)
I have visited your website so many times but only just noticed you have a guestbook!

Sweater Wheels

2007-07-01T23:37:00.000-07:00

Dear KF,
Thank you for the information on Sweater Wheels! I bought mine about ten years ago in a rummage sale and have found it incredibly useful. I have had several of my knitting friends tell me they would also like to buy one of these. If anyone has additional information on where my friends might buy one of these I would greatly appreciate it. Also, thank you for all of the patterns!
Just another Knitting Fool!
Donna Ryans

Comment by Debra, Mews Jersey, NJ (2/4/2007 1:15 pm)
Fabulous site! I recently acquired a Sweater Wheel from a friend’s mother. As I’ve never seen anything like it before, I searched for it on the web and found your site. You have so much information that everyone can use, I’ll be back quite often!

Comment by Susan Nottingham, NH (6/7/2007 1:22 pm)
Oh My Gosh- I have worn out my sweater wheel. I have gotten my mothers, that she never used. I hate to let people use it. But it works up so nice I have got to have made a least 100 sweaters from them. I took mine apart and laminated it so it would last longer. I have been looking for a new one, and know at least 10 people who would buy one if I could find it.

Stitch Catalog progress

2007-07-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

As of today, I shall have been working on knitting sample swatches for the stitch pattern catalog for about 7 months. I have completed swatches for 573 of the 1656 patterns that I have documented. That puts me at 34.6% of the patterns having swatch pictures to illustrate them. However, as my husband enjoys pointing out, I am my own worst enemy on this. I keep adding new patterns almost faster than I knit new swatches. I have been averaging between 2-3 swatches per day. Even if I added no more patterns, just to work through the ones I have now would take more than a year. I am sure that I have source material for about 2000-3000 more patterns. This could all go on for years. Someday, I will be in the nursing home with oatmeat drying on my chin wondering how many more patterns I have to do and what row am I on.

Comment from Jennifer, Amite, Louisiana (2/2/2007 11:18 pm)
Hello, I have just discovered your website and I absolutely love it. Although I haven’t explored everything yet, it is the first place I will refer to when I have a question or need an interesting pattern. I see that you don’t have pictures for all of the stitch patterns. Are you working on them yourself or would you like help. I will gladly work some and send you pictures if you would like. It would make the whole site complete! Let me know and keep up the great work!

Response from 1knittingfool:
From the webmaster:I would gladly accept contributed pictures. I cannot pay for them. I may not be able to use each one; I will have to evaluate each. My current database structure and web page coding allows no more than two pictures for each stitch. I can enter a caption under each picture to give credit to the contributor. If you have some pictures in .jpg , .gif or .bmp formats, you may send them to webmaster@knittingfool.comI have been working most of them myself; it has been a personal challenge. However since I think I can expect the collection to grow to about 4000 entries, it is a bit daunting. The advantage of working them myself is that I can correct errors. I find not only errors in my typing but also errors in the original texts. If you choose to work some of these patterns, I strongly suggest that you have the original book available to help control errors.Also because I can sort the entries in my database, I am able to find patterns that are different in name only. Someone who does not have the database would have a harder time finding these similarities.Thank you!

Comment from Beverly, Alberta, Canada (2/23/2007 3:23 pm)
I would be very interested in some edging patterns. Have you any plans on transcribing those in the future? I love all the work you have thus far completed.

Response from 1knittingfool:
Edgings are on my radar but I don’t have a schedule. I have a lot of source material for edgings. I will take your request into consideration.

Comment from Desire, Bloemfontein, South Africa (5/29/2007 5:19 am)
I have been surfing a LONG time for knitting patterns, and now you have given me millions that I can design. Thankx and keep up this excellent site.

Twin Trees

2007-06-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

I have been looking for a written pattern of Twin Trees. It is a cable motif or panel of two trees intertwining and it has large roots . Quite pretty. I’ve seen it on a sweater but am unable to find a written pattern. Do you have anything like that? I love this site and have gotten so many ideas from your patterns. You’re work on this site is phenomenal. Thanks for your efforts!

Response from 1knittingfool:
There are a couple patterns in Barbara Walker’s Charted Knitting Designs that match your description of intertwined trees.

Stitch'n'Bitch Calendar

2007-06-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I was surprised when I went to check my standings on the Google Ad Sense page. It said $14.44. I said. “What!?!” You see, during the summer months my revenue from the Google ads had cooled off to less than $2.00 per day. This is OK because it costs about $1.00 per day to rent the space on the HostMySite ISP. So a few dollars in and a few dollars out, it all works fine. But $14.44??? What happened? Then I checked my web traffic statistics; they had all doubled!
It took a little while, but now I know that the Stitch’n Bitch calendar featured Knittingfool.com on June 20. I have the Stitch’n Bitch calendar, but I treat it as a book rather than a calendar; a book that I had not yet read. As a result, I was not aware of June 20th being anything special to me. Thanks Stitch’n Bitch — let’s do this again next year!

Knitting Array

2007-06-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

A stitch pattern is a two dimensional array. The first dimension is the list of stitches in the row. The second dimension is the list of rows making up the pattern. It should be possible to mathematically describe a stitch pattern. And it should be possible to mathmatically compare stitch patterns for degrees of similarity

Adapting Sweater Patterns for Children

2007-02-28T17:19:00.000-08:00

From Stephani G, Marion, Massachusetts, USA (2/28/2007 5:18 pm)
Thank you for being here. I needed a pattern for an ordinary sweater made with ordinary knitting worsted and there you were! No gimmicks, no trendy patterns, just good basic instructions with the appropriate options. Thanks so much.

Comment from Cherrie, Anchorage, Alaska (3/30/2007 4:48 am)
Hi. I located your site a few weeks ago. What a wealth of information. I am semi-beginner and am interested in knitting the top down sweater that you have listed. I have 4 grandkids ages 4mth, 3yrs, 6yrs, and 8yrs and need to make some sweaters as they are moving from Phoenix to Minniapolis. I think I can do the sweater but since there is an addition from a reader regarding the neck being too small, can you give me inforamtion on how to adjust it to fit kids? Thanks. Cherrie

Response from 1knittingfool:
You should measure around the child’s head; multiply that number of inches by the number of stitches per inch in your gauge sample; then cast on with that number of stitches. When making the increases from the neck down to the chest, you will decrease the frequency of the increases so that you still end up with the number of stitches recommended by the pattern generator. You will also need to measure the arm lengths on each child and adjust the length of the sleeves as needed.

Knitting Languages

2007-02-20T02:20:00.000-08:00

From Mimi, Lancashire, England (2/20/2007 2:20 am):
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou! What a fantastic & inspiring site you have created. It has helped me so much, in a wide variety of projects. This season it was getting the right shaping for my rather gangly twin teen lads & they are just over the moon with their new Winter sweaters. I just couldn’t of done it without you & your Math genius! You are the top of my knitting bookmark list! I do have one quick query do you know what the word ‘Baumwolle’ means and its translation into English is please? Best and Warmest Wishes to you from a very happy handknit fan

Response from 1knittingfool:
‘Baumwolle’ is German for ‘cotton.’

2007-01-30T18:05:00.000-08:00

From Ocean Breeze, Austin, TX (1/30/2007 6:05 pm):
Haven’t done exploring your whole site yet (there is so much!!), but just wanted to let you know (you are very likely to know this) that you are an amazing writer! One of the first thing I did, I went to you Diary Page to learn a little more about the person who created this wonderful site and found not just your normal diary entry, but a collection of short stories! I enjoyed them so much that I had to print them and bring them home to share with my partner. We had a blast reading them together last night. Please update us with what’s been happening in your life in the last couple of years - or days. I see that you’ve completed your Yarn Calculator All the best to you!