Math4Knitters

Transition

2010-01-19T07:47:00.000-08:00

We had a few bumps with iTunes, but it seems to be working well now. So, if you have been disappointed in the last few weeks with the feed, I invite you to try again. Thanks for listening! I will have a big, big show this Sunday, featuring an interview with a Big Deal Knitter.

Moving Day

2010-01-03T09:24:00.000-08:00

I have moved to http://www.journalgazette.net/craftyliving and, barring major catastrophe, will be putting out a new show every Sunday! Come visit the blog in-between shows to see what else is going on in the crafty universe and in our neck of the woods.

Watch This Space...Or That Space, anyway

2009-12-21T11:08:00.000-08:00

I'm going to be relaunching Math4Knitters as Math4Knitters: Crafty Living to go with the Crafty Living blog and column at the Journal Gazette and http://www.journalgazette.net/ in January of 2010. I will probably do another post with the exact link to the blog when it starts, but I'm told that the link will be http://www.journalgazette.net/craftyliving.

I will be aiming for a weekly schedule and the content will loosely match up with the content of the Crafty Living blog/Sunday column. Hopefully, there will be a new podcast up every Sunday. There will be an RSS feed from the blog/podcast, but I don't know how long it will take me to get it on iTunes.

As always, any questions or comments are appreciated! You can still find me on Ravelry as math4knitters, and I may cross-post major updates for the podcast to this site. Old shows will still be available for download as long as I remember to pay the bill for the hosting...

Big Doin's Afoot

2009-12-04T05:38:00.001-08:00

Watch this space - big changes and much more frequent updates coming in 2010!

Settling In

2009-11-25T08:21:00.000-08:00

Once again, I have NOT podfaded, but life has a way of laughing at my plans to podcast. I moved for a new job and am very excited about everything here. That means that my computers/microphone/etc. are still scattered around my apartment. So, bear with me. I promise I will have something coming up, just in time to be too late for Christmas (just like everything else I am doing this year).

Alternative to Knitted Objects for Presents:

-1 big ol' mug, ideally from thrift store, maybe with ironic or cute design
-packet of dry "mix" from recipe below - just mix the flour, sugar and cocoa together
-5-Minute Mug Cake Recipe

4 Tablespoons flour
4 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons cocoa
1 Egg
3 Tablespoons milk
3 Tablespoons oil
splash of vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons chocolate chips

Instructions:

Mix flour, sugar and cocoa, or dump in contents of packet, if using mix.

Add egg, stir well.

Pour in milk, oil and vanilla, mix well.

Add chocolate chips.

Cook in microwave for 3 minutes on high. (The cake may rise above the mug, but don't worry.)

Allow to cool a little, tip out onto a plate, and enjoy!

Moving...

2009-10-20T05:55:00.000-07:00

Of course, I promise you something, and then I get a job interview, and then a new job...and now I'm packing to move. But, I have my equipment in a labeled box, so hopefully once things settle down I will be able to podcast.

Distracted, but not Gone

2009-09-30T10:06:00.001-07:00

I was going to try to podcast today over my lunch hour, but now both cats are awake and want to sit on my lap. It's very distracting. I have show notes and everything all ready, so maybe next week. Thank you for your patience!

Vacation

2009-08-10T10:39:00.000-07:00

I think we can safely say that I tend to take the summer off - but that doesn't mean I've faded. I will return in September. Cross my heart and hope to lose all of my dpn's.

Episode 44: A Mix

2009-05-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

On today's show I talk about getting paid in yarn, sock toes, designing for short and round people, and substituting yarn/changing gauge/WIP HIM. I also annoy everyone by having to stop and google for Annie Modesitt's site. I mentioned Modesitt and White Lies Designs as being especially good for girls with curves and Big Girl Knits and its sequel, More Big Girl Knits.

Download Episode 44.

Really, it's coming soon

2009-05-13T18:48:00.001-07:00

My mic is back on the stand and I have a whole week (next week) off from work. So, watch this space for math4knitters goodness.

Long Time No See

2009-04-24T03:55:00.003-07:00

It has been two months since my last podcast, but I swear I have not faded. This time of year just kicks my butt. Hopefully, I will be able to do another show soon. I have a stack of ideas!

Episode 43: Measuring, Weighing and Super-Easy Square

2009-02-24T08:59:00.000-08:00

Just to start, here is the fabulous site on The Brioche Stitch.

In this show, I cover listener questions and theorize about a square you could start with a gauge swatch and finish up whatever size you like (assuming it is larger than the original swatch).

Here are some design ideas for two colors with this method. The different patterns are all made from the same type of square, rotated.

Download Episode 43.

I'm Shameless

2009-02-02T16:17:00.001-08:00

I made a cute little Flash animation for a Valentine's Day present. Feel free to send a link to your sweetie! For $5, I'll change the message to whatever you want and email you the file. :)

Episode 42: Sizing and Squares

2009-01-19T14:18:00.000-08:00

In this episode, I talk about resizing sleeves, resizing in general and making squares (or diamonds) with and without a gauge swatch.

Download Episode 42.

(Photo to come)

Episode 41

2008-12-10T08:52:00.000-08:00

In this show I rehash things that I have already covered on the blog, for those of you who don't check in here as much.
-Remainder post links are here.
-My hat recipe is here.
-How many stitches are in a sweater. Please, please, don't do this!

Download Episode 41.

Shameless Shill

2008-12-05T07:05:00.000-08:00

I started a small shop on Etsy today. I'm open to suggestions!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6428333

Hat Recipe and A Plea

2008-11-29T15:42:00.000-08:00

I typed up a recipe for a simple hat and put it here.

If you, say, married into a LARGE family and suddenly have to double your holiday knitting list, a hat is hard to beat for a quick, fun knit. You can always plan to add a matching scarf next year, when you are more used to your new obligation level.

Someone asked me how to tell how many stitches are in a sweater. She wanted to figure that out and then figure out how many stitches you need to knit per day to get finished for gift-giving. I would like to have it on record that I do not recommend this. If you really knew how many stitches you would need to make, I doubt any of us would really start any sweater.

But, you could, and it would be pretty easy to get a good estimate. Conventionally, the "top" of a sweater (from the neck to the underarm) is about 1/3 of the knitting. The sleeves, together, are another 1/3. Then, the body, that is the underarm to the bottom of the sweater, is about 1/3. You could take the number of stitches around the body (ignore waist shaping) and multiply by the number of rows or rounds in between the underarm and the bottom hem of the sweater. Then, multiply this number by 3. You will undoubtedly run in fear and, I hope, burn the offending document.

Episode 40: Graft

2008-10-27T08:43:00.000-07:00

Download Episode 40.

Ok. Here is a quick run-down on my method of grafting. I used to follow written instructions that had me obsessed with knit-wise and purl-wise. I would face my work that looked like this:

I'm not going to lie. I would usually panic a little. Then, I become braver or more desperate and I took the work off the needles.

When I did this, the stitches turned to face me and it was all a lot easier.

This is the back, when finished:

The trick, as always, is not to panic, and to remember that you can do it over, if you need it. It is very, very important not to pull the darning yarn too tight. If you have a lot of stitches to graft, remember that you can use more than on length of yarn - otherwise you can get tangled up. If you need a little more security, or are using s slippery yarn, you can always run a length of dental floss through your live stitches.

The sock book I mention on the show is here.

Yet Another Way to Look At It

2008-09-27T14:53:00.000-07:00

You could also see the original math problem turning up 6.5 as a solution, not a problem.

If you think of it as not 1 stitch being increased among 6.5, but 2 stitches increased among 13, you could do this:

x x x x x x x x x x x x O x O x x x x x x x x x x x x O x O...

By grouping your increases (or decreases) into groups of two, you allow the math to come out and I think it would look pretty nice, too.

I think this idea can scale, but you will need to figure out a few things:
1) How big do I want to make my groups?
2) How many stitches will go between groups?

If you want to keep 1-stitch divisions between increases (or decreases), you need to take the number of increases (or decreases) in your group (let's call this g) and subtract one. You can see the reason for this by holding out one of your hands. If you have five fingers, you will have 4 spaces in-between your fingers.

Revisiting the questions:
Multiply your increase factor (your original # / the # you want to increase by) by whole, prime numbers until your result equals a whole number (which I will call n). A good list of primes is here. The number you have to multiply by is the number of increases or decreases in your group (g). N is the number of stitches you have, total, in a given set of stitches for your increases or decreases. In the first example, above, n = 13 and the prime needed is 2. That makes g = 2.

To find out what you really need to do to make it work, you have one more step. To find out how many stitches should go in-between your groups of increases or decreases, take n - (g - 1). In the first example, that would be 13 - (2 - 1) = 12.

This seems complex and wordy, although it's really not, so I might make a worksheet for it. What do you think?

Yaay! Comments!

2008-09-27T08:38:00.000-07:00

Comments make this little blogger very happy.

Response to one: Sarah-Marie's Klein Bottle is here. She even has a klein bottle as a hat, and a photo of someone wearing it. Neat!

To sum up from my last post: what we were ultimately dealing with was a remainder. You don't have to break out in hives to deal with having last heard (or read) that word in the third grade. Just divide, say, 13 by 4 to find 3.25. Now, find that 3 * 4 = 12, so 13 = (3 * 4) + 1. Your remainder is 1. If you were increasing (or decreasing) by 4 stitches across 13, you would add or subtract stitches every 3 stitches and have on "extra" stitch to deal with however your heart desires. Numbers can be bigger or smaller, but they can all be tackled in this general way:

x = original number of stitches
y = number of stitches that need to be increased or decreased
r = remainder = "extra" stitches that need to be dealt with

x / y = either whole number or number in the form of a.bbbb. There could be many b's or not.

No b's? That means you have a whole number. On your way. Your math work is done. Simply increase or decrease every a number of stitches. Remember that, if you are decreasing, you will have to take into account the fact that the decreases use some of the a stitches. For example, if you need to decrease by 4 over 12 stitches, your a = 3. You will actually work 1 stitch then ssk or k2t four times, rather than work 3 and then k2t, because both a ssk and a k2t require two stitches to be worked.

If fraction, use x - (y * a) = r to find remainder.

Sticky Problem and a Super-Math-Rich Post

2008-09-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

I just moderated a comment from a listener that said she had to put 41 yarn-overs into 267 stitches evenly. She fudged it. I'm going to say she would have to - it averages to one yarn-over about every 6.5 stitches. This is nearly impossible, really. If I were working some other increase, say, a lifted increase, I would say, just do an *increase, work 6 stitches, increase, work 7 stitches* repeat, and it should even out. I think that would drive me nuts when making eyelets, since my switching between 6 and 7 stitches apart would be obvious, to me, at least.

A possible solution: factor your numbers out and look for common factors. The major issue of this is that 41 is a prime number, which means that we would have to add or subtract somewhere to make this work.

267 is not a prime number, so we can take it apart and see what we have. Unfortunately, we don't have far to go.

267 = 89 * 3

89 is a prime number. Luckily, 3 * 14 = 42. So, we could round 41 to 42 by deciding that one more increase in the mix is better than the crazy-making idea above.

We can mentally, and with stitch markers, divide our work by three - so we're facing putting 14 eyelets into 89 stitches. 14 * 6 = 84, which leaves us with 5 extra stitches for each "wedge" of 89, if we increase every six stitches.

Speaking of which, to increase every six stitches *really* evenly, we would do this:
(x = stitch, o = increase)
(stitch marker) xxx o xxxxxx o xxxxxx o xxxxxx o xxxxxx o xxx...

I'm not going to do it 14 times, but you get the idea.

What do we do about those extra 5 stitches? We could put them in-between wedges, so that at some point, our work will look like this:
o xxxxxx o xxxxxx o xxxxxxxx(stitch marker)xxx o xxxxxx o xxxxxx

Which is to say, that, around our stitch markers, we would have 5 + 6 = 11 stitches as spacers. You could, and I would, decide that this is a design feature and only have to decide where they should lie - it doesn't even have to be 100% evenly, but I would probably put two of them under the arms of a sweater and the third in the middle of the back or front.

Design Feature Solution #2:
Break the set of 42 increases into 3 sets of 14 stitches.

267 / 14 = just over 19.
So, the first set of eyelets will be an increase every 19 stitches.
Total stitches = 281

281 / 14 = just over 20.
The second set could be every 20 stitches.
Total stitches = 295 stitches

295 / 14 = just over 21
The second set could be every 21 stitches.
Total stitches = 309 stitches

So, by adding one total stitch, and I'm not going to try to draw it for you, you could have a perfectly neat little leaning line of yarn-overs, in either 3 rows or 6, depending on how you do it. You could even stagger them by as much as you like, by making your first increase sooner than you would, and letting the stitches fall where they will.

I recorded my show on grafting, but have not knit, grafted, or photographed it, so it is still in the works, so to speak. I may talk about the above math in my next show, because I don't think a lot of you read this blog. Am I wrong? Leave me a comment to prove it. :)

Episode 39

2008-08-17T07:58:00.001-07:00

Download Episode 39.

I had the idea for these shows because I made a golf-club cover for someone a while ago (not my dad, he actually framed the covers I gave him because he's afraid of messing them up) and he said it sprung holes almost right away. It could have been a split stitch, I guess, but it really looks like an act of a cat to me.

When darning, first stabilize the patient. I like to use small needles and/or dental floss to thread through the live stitches, starting with the lowest row that has a loose stitch. The dental floss is more flexible, but, to me, the small needles make it easier to hold the structure. On the other hand, a whole lot of dental floss can fit in your knitting bag and it's much cheaper than having extra needles around all of the time.

If that loose stitch has ladders over it (stitches that have slipped in the same way as if you dropped a stitch off the needle), I pull the stitches up with a crochet hook.

Now, I have brought up the loose stitch and isolated the lowest place in the knitting that is a full row without a hole in it. So, I take my darning needle and some matching yarn and a start a row of darning two stitches from the edge of my hole (leaving a tail to be darned in, too, in its time).

The stripes in this example are a good thing for us. It makes it easier to see that, while it looks like I'm actually darning one row up from where I should (or that I'm too close to the row of black) you have to remember that the "loose" stitches are a row, so be sure that you are working the correct row. If you're not, you can always jump rows when you get to the live stitches. So, I only have to darn one row of gold before I get to black.

You can see, above, that I screwed up. I accidentally darned in the wrong direction and made a purl stitch instead of a knit stitch. This is ok, because if you're paying attention, you can notice that, simply undo it, and learn more about how to do it properly.

So, we see that this hole can be fixed with one row of darning, although it seemed much worse before, because of a dropped stitch. So, it probably was just a single stitch that went south. Just goes to show - one stitch can sometimes cost nine darn photos.

This is the same idea, in two rows of white:

Now, a little bit of slight-of-hand. I darned this hole, but then found a mistake in one of the stitches - I had twisted it when I made the darn. Instead of picking it out, I darned over it again, strengthening my join and hiding my mistake.

Rerun of Episode 30: The MD Sheep and Wool Festival Trip, 2007

2008-08-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

I'm just running Episode 30 over again without a new podcast attached, because it is already almost an hour long.

The original notes from the show are above, and if you want to see where we shopped and vendors we talked about, scroll down a bit, it is on the same page.

I don't normally listen to myself in old podcasts, but I listened today, because I love hearing my sister talk and I miss living nearer to her. I love you, sisser.

I am not slacking, I swear

2008-08-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

I'm not able to podcast this week because I'm using my mic for actual work. At my job. Now my intern, who is on her last week with us, is using it, too. It's way, way too much fun.

Duplicate Stitch on Ribbing

2008-07-07T14:54:00.001-07:00

Duplicate Stitch on Garter Stitch

2008-07-07T14:46:00.000-07:00

Duplicate Stitch on Stockinette

2008-07-07T14:39:00.001-07:00

Episode 38: Part 1 of 3 (darn that hole)

2008-07-07T14:10:00.000-07:00

Today, I talk about swiss darning, otherwise known as duplicate stitch, and how it lays the path for darning holes and grafting or kitchener-stitching live stitches.

The rerun for this show is episode 29. Notes for that show are here.

There are a LOT of photos for this, so I'm going to break it into three posts: stockinette, garter stitch and ribbing.

Download Episode 38.

Darn That Hole

2008-07-04T09:48:00.000-07:00

This isn't really about math, but I'm working on my next show about darning holes. This is something a lot of knitters avoid, but the skills involved can also be used to seamlessly complete garments using kitchener stitch, which is basically one long row of darning, or add color details by darning on top of existing knit fabric (sometimes called swiss darning or duplicate stitch). If you want to follow along, dig up or create a gauge swatch that includes garter stitch, ribbing and stockinette stitch and have a good darning needle (I prefer curved ones) and yarn of the same weight, but different color, handy.

Things I've Been Doing @ Work Lately

2008-05-27T17:44:00.000-07:00

Work has been crazy, to say the least. So, no podcast recently. But, soon, I hope.

New Episodes problem

2008-05-22T04:59:00.000-07:00

Some people have told me (and not told me, I suppose) that they are having trouble with my feed in iTunes.

I think we have found a solution.

Just unsubscribing and re-subscribing doesn't seem to work.

"What worked in the end was actually deleting the feeds in iTunes and then subscribing with the link you provided, easy and quick."
-M. Wergeland of Matthew's Thread Work

The link is: http://www.laraneel.com/podcast/Math4Knitters.xml

I hope it works. Let me know. The problem on my end is, no matter how many computers I try, I can't get the problem to happen to me. It's possible this is because I am working with machines that are starting from scratch and something is going on with the old feed. Or maybe the other old feed. Who knows?

I am cooking up a new show. I'm just waiting for my work schedule to cool down a bit. Things have been strange and busy around here, to say the least.

Episode 37: Gauge Swatches and Experiments

2008-05-07T04:53:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Zimmerman called it "unventing", I call it "experimenting". I think she didn't like the image of the white lab coat, but I always loved knitting in my white lab coat. You know, back when I was a scientist, getting chalk dust on my knitting.

On this week's show, I answer questions from two Ravelry users who have messaged me. I really appreciate their questions, because otherwise I would just blather on about my sweaters and my cats. That's all well and good, but sometimes I have to talk about other things.

I didn't do a podcast last week because I lost my voice. Nearly a 100% loss. This has never happened to me before. I think it was a combination of teaching at a conference/workshop for three days, then talking with an old friend for about 6 hours straight. During hour 5, I was already feeling a bit croaky. By that night, I was down for the count, voice-wise. It has taken a while to recover and my spring allergies are still keeping me a little rough.

The rerun this week is episode 28. We are almost through them all. I considered running Episode 30 this week to go with the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, but I thought that would confuse things. The original notes for that show are here.

Download Episode 37.

NOT podfading

2008-04-28T19:40:00.000-07:00

I am not fading out, I just have a very sore throat and can't really talk right now. I expect a full recovery and another show out soon.

Episode 36: Notes and Mistakes

2008-04-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

Today, I talk about my latest "design feature", we get another visit from my co-host, Boomer, so I hope you like cat hair, and I talk about Black Purl Magazine and Knitting Step by Step.

The rerun with this show is episode 27. The original notes for that show are here.

Download Episode 36.

Episode 35: Letting Go

2008-03-25T11:11:00.000-07:00

After all of my yammering about taking control of your knitting, I decide it's ok to let go a little sometimes.

I also talk, way way too fast, about my current sweater and the sweater I made a year ago.

The yarn I'm using is from Brooks Farm Yarn. The label says Macero Mas-Acero and it's gold heathered with black.

My two design "bibles" are Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns and Barbara Walker's Knitting From the Top.

Today's rerun is Episode 26. The notes for that show are here.

Download Episode 35.

Episode 34: Overcoming Fear

2008-03-17T06:45:00.000-07:00

This week I talk about overcoming fear in knitting.

I started (and finished) 10 copies of the same project - Wreath Earrings (although I'm not using them for earrings) from Twist and Loop by Annie Modesitt.

There is also a great article about knitting with wire from The Anticraft.

Download Episode 34.

The rerun is episode 25. The original notes for that show are here.

Episode 33: All Praise the Gauge Swatch

2008-03-01T09:42:00.001-08:00

This week, I ramble about gauge swatches, yarn, and my cats.

I also play a promo for a new, prolific podcaster. Do I mention her just because she mentions me and Elizabeth Zimmerman in the same breath? Perish the thought!

And, a rerun of episode 24.

The original notes for that show are here.

The book I am talking about is Favorite Mittens.

I also just started a group on Ravelry for people who listen to the show. So, come visit if you want to send along show ideas, questions or stash-busting tips.

Download Episode 33.

I was going to podcast today...

2008-02-18T11:06:00.000-08:00

But I have discovered something about ravelry. I put some stash up for sale/trade over a week ago. Nothing, except for a book that got snapped up in hours. Today, I uploaded some photos of the yarn and BAM, instant interest.

So, I may spend some time rollicking around ravelry today, instead of podcasting. Maybe I will do it in the morning.

Episode 32 and rerun: Episode 23

2008-02-11T10:51:00.000-08:00

Download Episode 32

Many, many files seem to be missing from iTunes. Specifially, shows 23 through 30. So, for the next eight shows, I'm going to do a new show and then add the old show onto it. That way, those of you who have already heard it can move on and the others can hear a blast from the past.

The notes for show 23 are here.

In today's show, I use a hat resizing as an example of the Height in Measurements part of my WIP HIM resizing concept. In this case, you change the gauge used in a pattern, but keep in mind that you want to keep control over the depth of the hat, while using the larger yarn and/or needles to make your hat wider to fit.

Here is the math I did today on the show:

original gauge of hat: 6 sts/in
original size of hat: 15 inches (newborn)
original row gauge of hat: 8.5 rows/inch
original depth of hat before shaping: 51 rows => 51 rows/8.5 rows/inch = 6 inches

new size of hat: 18 inches
=> 15 inches * 6 sts/in = 90 sts
90 sts/18 inches = 5 sts/inch = new gauge
row gauge for that yarn = 7 rows/inch

If you knit the hat as directed, in the new gauge, you will have a hat that is the proper width. But, how deep will it be?

51 rows/7 rows/inch = 7.28 inches

If that seems good to you, go ahead. Otherwise, use the hat pattern to determine your cast-on number and shaping (all width components) and use measurements to determine depth, or height.

Somehow, to me, Stitches in Percentages, Depth in Measurements, just doesn't have the same ring to it as Width in Percentages, Height in Measurements. Am I wrong?

iTunes

2008-02-03T09:03:00.001-08:00

For reasons I don't understand, iTunes actually comes up with two versions of my feed. If you search the podcast directory for Math4Knitters, you should subscribe to the feed marked "visual arts" as the category. That is the one that is working properly, except for some reason, the publication date is coming up wrong. The safest way to get the show is to go to Advanced>subscribe to podcast in iTunes and paste in http://www.laraneel.com/podcast/Math4Knitters.xml

I hope that works. I don't know why the show from May, with my lovely sister, isn't really showing up. It might be because of my hard drive wipe out, but I don't know.

At Last!

2008-02-02T07:47:00.000-08:00

A new episode.

Remember:
Width
in
Percentages

Height
in
Measurements

Download Episode 31

Laura, this is for you.

2007-10-08T19:10:00.000-07:00

Send me your problem in more detail and I will do a show about it. :) Everyone else can follow along.

You are all so sweet

2007-09-20T21:46:00.001-07:00

I just moderated another comment asking me to come back. I have NOT podfaded. Another episode is in the works, it just keeps getting put off. I won't make any promises but I really do hope to speak to you all soon.

sigh

2007-08-09T12:24:00.000-07:00

One of my kitties, who liked to purr very loudly and lick my nose while I was sleeping, passed away last week. The other two are fine. Just a reminder to hug your little ones every day.

Sweet Comments!

2007-07-29T08:08:00.001-07:00

Thank you for the sweet comments! I swear I am not out of the game, I am starting to itch I want to talk to you all so much, but I still haven't finished re-loading my computer and I"m afraid of screwing it up.

Also, I'm madly in love, and have given up housekeeping, weeding (which I never did anyway) and garlic. Well, sort of on the garlic, and I do still vacuum when I get grossed out by my carpet. How bad is it that I really, truly, want to replace my carpet with hard floors so that I can just chase the cat hair with a broom instead?

I Promise

2007-07-17T21:37:00.000-07:00

I have not podfaded and I appreciate your patience. My life is still working on settling down to a dull roar. I should tell you, though, that I am very, very happy even in the midst of this tumult and I am cooking up some really good things to day to you all.

Computer Fixed, but still no podcast

2007-06-14T10:12:00.001-07:00

Let it be a lesson - back up thy hard drive!

The computer is resurrected. It may still be a bit before my next show.

All Harddrives Die

2007-06-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

I know this. Yet, have I backed up? Not in a while. My poor laptop is in the shop. :( So, no podcast for now.

Not Math, but Kind of for Knitters

2007-05-22T15:27:00.001-07:00

Dear people who don't call me back,

When you don't return my calls, and later act like I never even called you, it makes me INSANE. Just a note to let you know.

-Insane Girl Over Here

Episode 30: MD Sheep and Wool

2007-05-16T06:26:00.001-07:00

Download Episode 30

Where you get a glass washboard

2007-05-12T21:04:00.001-07:00

http://www.columbuswashboard.com/

There may be other sources, but I know this supports a great local economy in Ohio.

While I'm Babbling Anyway

2007-05-12T20:51:00.000-07:00

I really want to quote Franklin:

"I admit that installing an electronic man in my bedroom is slightly pathetic; but I've just about had it with the Genuine Article. They should all come with off-switches."

Some Links

2007-05-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

These are some of the booths my sister and I talked about at MD Sheep & Wool - and some we should have talked about.

Don't ask me which of us is talking at any time - my sister or I. I really can't tell most of the time.

Journey Wheel, fine tools for spinners on the go. Jonathan and Sheila Bosworth.

Plum Cottage Crafts, where you can get a circular knitting machine or a restored sock knitting machine. I really want one of these.

Barneswallow Farm doesn't seem to have a website, but they are in Dewittville, NY.

Helen 'Halla' Fleischer, a fantasy spindle artist who my sister knows IRL.

Carolina Handspun is where I bought my silk yarn from Blue Moon Spinnery. It's lovely.

I bought some great sock yarn from Spirit Trail Fiberworks.

And some yarn that came all the way from Texas so I could buy it from Brooks Farm Yarn.

The Bee Folks is where Lisa bought some honey on Sunday.

On Sunday, I also interviewed an innocent bystander about The Red Scarf Project.

Lisa and I seem to argue a lot about what is a sheep and what is a goat. My fave piece of evidence is "look at his face".

KnitWit mentions the Barefoot Spinner.

It also becomes clear that I feel the use of "dude" is now somehow ok, because the Yarn Harlot says it, at least on her blog.

New Show In the Works

2007-05-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

To get the audio off of the recorder I use, I have to play it back. So, I'm starting with the recordings of my sister and I touring the sheep area at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. I say really intelligent things like, "they have furry faces." I'm sure it will be an informative podcast for you all.

PREPARE!!

If you listen to this episode, be ready for some repetition, silliness and the KnitWit.

Maryland Sheep & Wool

2007-05-03T21:22:00.000-07:00

I am planning on being there on Saturday, and going to the blogger meetup. I'll be the one with the twin sister and the microphone. :)

I'm mostly posting this so that I won't forget

2007-04-24T20:56:00.000-07:00

There is a great bookstore here.

Here is some info about why you should shop there, if you want, that is, even if you don't live in Chicago:

"Our History and Purpose:
Women & Children First began in a modest storefront in 1979. Over the years we've moved twice and recently expanded in our current location into an adjoining storefront. We're in a northside Chicago neighborhood known for its diversity, lesbian-friendliness, women-owned businesses and community spirit. Our staffers include teachers, graduate students, professional writers and storytellers, political activists, board members, and poets. Each of us is a reader, a feminist, and a bookseller. Our purpose in beginning the store 20 years ago was to promote the work of women writers and to create a place in which all women would find books reflecting their lives and interests. We strive to do this in an atmosphere in which all are respected, valued, and well-served. That is our purpose still, online as well as in the store.

We are one of the largest feminist bookstores in the country, stocking more than 30,000 books by and about women, children's books for all ages, and the best of lesbian and gay fiction and non-fiction. Anything we don't have in stock we can usually get in a few days' time, even if it's a title outside our specialty. We also carry music, videos, magazines and pride products."

**

If that isn't enough, they have nearly 1,000 hits when you put "knit" in the search box, including many books on pre-order and a lot of titles that aren't out yet and I hadn't even heard of.

There aren't as many feminist bookstores as there used to be. I, for one, want to spend my $$ with people I like. So, when I have a book I can't get at my LYS, I will head on over to this site.

First question

2007-04-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

" Alice said...

Lara,
Thanks for lovely podcasts - I listen while weaving - and thanks also for instructions for the Dragon Skin Sweater, which is gorgeous. The one part I don't understand is: __picking up 8 stitches from the edge of the piece I had just made (the little ear near where the right shoulder-seam would normally be.___ I can't visualize this. Is it at the corner of the saddle shoulder ??? "

The ear is the edge of the 12 rows of knitting you just created, by making the first part of the front, or the back, depending. Basically, you have just made a rectangle (with a piece missing for the front of the neck), and you are picking up around it to continue down with the sweater. So, it is to the right (or left) of the saddle shoulder, and your knitting will continue in the same direction, from this part, as the live stitches from the saddle shoulder.

Bring them on! I want many questions so I can make this as clear as possible without having taken pictures. Even though I am a photographer, I was so entralled in my sweater, I took a grand total of 0 before blocking.

Shout Out

2007-04-15T21:28:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Christine!

If you do manage to make one...

2007-04-15T21:22:00.000-07:00

Please let me know so I can link to your blog! That would be so great, a little army of dragon skins running around.

Dragon Skin Sweater

2007-04-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

The stitch pattern is on page 136 of Barbara Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns.

Pick your yarn. I used Galway Highland Heather in a lovely grey. It's a worsted weight, 100 grams = 210 yards.

I cast on 36 stitches and swatched with #5 needles in moss stitch for 8 rows, then switched to #7 for the stitch pattern with 5 sts of moss stitch on each side of the swatch until the stitch pattern section was roughly square, then did 8 more rows of moss stitch with the smaller needles.

I blocked the swatch by soaking it, carefully pressing water out of it, then blocking it out with tig welding wires on a towel, safe from the teeth of my kitty cats (one of who has a personal vandetta against wool of all sorts).

After the swatch was dry, I unpinned and unwired it, gave it a good shake, then laid it out flat and measured the gauge.

My gauge was 5" for 26 stitches (or one pattern repeat) and 4" in 30 rows.

I then measured my back, from shoulder bone to shoulder bone, and saw that it is 15". That is three pattern repeats, luckily. This is a good-luck sweater, and you'll see more of why later.

So, I knew I would need 78 sts for the back of the neck. I wrote this down and launched into the small saddle-shoulders.

If you look closely at the pattern stitch, you will see that it is made up of two 13-stitch sections, facing each other as in a mirror. So, the very very narrowest piece of knitting you an make without completely rewriting the stitch pattern is 13 stitches across. I cast on 15 stitches, as I wanted two selvedge stitches I could slip at the beginning of each row to make a neat edge, and they won't make it very much wider at all.

I measured from where I wanted the neck of the sweater to begin on the side of my neck and the shoulder-bone. It is 5" or about 36 rows. So, I made two little strips of knitting, in pattern, 15 sts wide and 36 rows long. I cast them on temporarily and left the live stitches on stitch holders. You'll see why in a minute.

I then considered the front and back of the sweater. Coming straight down from the shoulder, I would need three complete repeats of the pattern, 78 stitches. I realized that making the pattern line up properly when the sweater was closed would mean splitting the pattern in half, visually, and being careful to work the right half on the right part of the front and the left...well, you know.

I would need 5 (moss stitch edge) + 13 (half a repeat) + 26 (a whole repeat) for the left front of the sweater. 36 of these I could pick up from the edge stitches of the saddle shoulder, right? Wrong. Because these stitches were slipped, the most I could manage was 20 (but don't ask me how, it should have been 18). So, I picked up 20 along these edges and then increased by six in the next row (that's after every fourth stitch, plus one at the beginning).

I wanted a square neck, so I picked up the 20 left-front stitches, increased to 26, then worked 12 rows in pattern. I did the same for the other side. Then I started the back by picking up 20, temporarily casting on 26 for the center back (those 5" again), and picking up 20. I increased those 20s to 26s and worked 12 rows. I made sure the next row was a wrong-side (purl only) row.

Next, I put it all together by temporarily casting on 18 sts, working the right-front stitches, picking up 8 stitches from the edge of the piece I had just made (the little ear near where the right shoulder-seam would normally be, working the saddle shoulder stitches from a holder, picking up again from the edge of the back, working the back stitches, picking up from the other side of the back, working the other saddle shoulder stitches, picking up from the next edge, working the live stitches from the left front, then casting on 18 more stitches. Whew. Now, the makings of a square neck, with a very rectangular top to the sweater. I placed markers where the sleeves were, and that included the picked-up stitches.

I increased once at each of the markers on pattern rows, leaving stitches, when there were less than 13, all alone in stockinette stitch. This is the same rate of increase you would use in a raglan sweater, if the body didn't have increases.

If you look closely, you'll see that I have the shaped areas of the sweater, like the tops of the sleeves and the waist, as stockinette. This did two things. 1) Kept me from going bonkers. 2) Gave me a little more leeway on my fit. Stockinette has a larger gauge than the stitch pattern, at least for me, so having 10 stitches in stockinette was larger than the same 10 stitches in pattern. This can be good for those of us who like to design skin-tight sweaters but don't like to wear them that way.

I worked 36 rows after this pick-up row, just increasing for the sleeves and leaving the body alone. Then, I began increasing the body stitches at the same rate, five times. Then I divided for the underarm, adding 16 stitches under the arms for ease. (Barbara, in her Knitting from the Top Down, said I could add up to 3" of stitches here. I took her at her word).

I arrived at this rate of increase by running a ruler down the length of the blue sweater I made last year, which is in a similar yarn, but is a set-in sleeve from the bottom, ala Elizabeth Zimmerman. I pretty much copied the rate of shaping.

My exact notes from this section of the sweater:

"work body straight until 6.5", begin increasing on RS rows until length is 7.5". Divide for underarm, casting on 3" of ease. Width here = 40". 40-6-30 = 4, need 2" in front to increase to an armhole - 10sts in about 8 rows, make it ten rows, increase by 2 every RS row".

Now you can see why I failed when I tried to interpret my notes on the fly in my podcast. Remember that you have to take into account half of the width of the saddle shoulder when figuring how long the sweater is at any given point. Also notice that I often say width when I should say circumference.

Anyway, what's next?

Divided at underarm, I took on waist shaping, which is that 4" below the underarm, the sweater should be 36" - in this case that means decreasing 10 sts in 30 rows. That's five sets of decreases about every 6th row - every third right-side row. It also happens to be every 1/2 of the pattern repeat, which happens to be very easy to spot in this sweater. So, no stitch markers for me, on the body anyway. See, lucky sweater.

Repeat, in reverse, to round out for hips.

Work 2 more inches straight, divide for "vents" on the side, work vents for 4", BO.

Sleeves - 14" to shape, 3" straight at end, top is about 14" around, bottom is 12", so about 2" or 10 sts in 105 rows. That's five groups of two decreases (again!) or one set of decreases every 20 rows. Then 20 rows straight, then 7 rounds moss stitch on #5 needles.

At the end, or halfway through, I picked up for the neck on #5s (remember all of those temp cast ons) and worked moss stitch, with decreases at the corners to make it lie flat for 6 rows, BO.

This is all for me and will vary with the knitter/yarn/size. Please comment if you have questions and I will do my best to help.

Tagged

2007-04-09T05:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, today I might have time to write out a recipe, which I will do instead of podcasting, unless one of the other 9 or so things on my ABSOLUTELY MUST DO TODAY list take longer than five minutes, which is entirely possible.

But I'm still stopping to answer this tag from plainsfeminist.

A- Available or Single
Single.

B- Best Friend
I'm lucky enough to have about a dozen really good friends. It means so much to me and it's a big part of why I love living here.

C- Cake or Pie
Pie, but only if my grandmother or sister made it. Otherwise, cake, because I don't like to be dissapointed by other people's pie.

D- Drink of Choice
COffee, although it's not really a choice anymore, to be honest.

E- Essential Item
Knitting.

F- Favorite Color
Red, hands down, even though I have a tendency to match my red shirt if I get hot/winded.

G- Gummi Bears or Worms
Bears. We used to get them as a reward in German class.

H- Hometown
Tulsa, OK

I- Indulgence
Massages twice a month.

J- January or February
February, it's my birth-month!

K- Kids
Three kitties who I treat like little, furry children. They listen about as well, too.

L- Life is incomplete without
Chocolate, good conversation, dancing, and laughter. - I'm just going to copy from Plainsfeminist, because I agree 100%.

M- Marriage Date
No, Thank God.

N- Number of Siblings?
Two.

O- Oranges or Apples?
Both.

P- Phobias/Fears
Spiders, barking dogs, illness.

Q- Favorite Quote
"The secret of our success is that we never, never give up." - Wilma Mankiller.

R- Reasons to smile
My oldest kitty snores in his sleep.

S- Season
Winter, when it's not too bitter. I love cold fingers in warm woolen mittens.

T- Tag Three People
No.

U- Unknown Fact About Me
In High School, I was a long-distance swimmer. You'd never know it now!

W- Worst Habit
I am a bit of a control freak and I also say the wrong thing...and talk too much.

Y- Your Favorite Foods
Chicken Dumpling Soup, Nana's Rolls and mashed potatoes.

Z- Zodiac
Aquarius.

Episode 29: How I Started

2007-04-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

Today I ramble for a while about how I learned to knit, and then learned again.

I talk about Vintage Styles for Today. I could not find errata for the book, but if you go to the Lion Brand website, you can search for the errata on any given pattern. This is the one for the Wrap Star.

I also try, without success, to interpret my sweater notes on the fly. It doesn't work. I will write it up someday, if the idea to do it doesn't get lost in the bottom of my knitting bag along with a baby sweater, hat and golf club covers.

Download Episode 29

My e-mail address

2007-04-03T20:19:00.000-07:00

Predictably, it is
lara
at
laraneel
dot
com

Feel free to send scans of magazines!

Knit It Magazine

2007-04-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

I cannot find a copy for love or money, but in the comments...

comette said...

Hi Laura: Hey! this might be 'old' news, but I thought I would mention it. I saw a "shoutout" in print for your podcast in the current issue of Knit It! by BH&G's Creative Collection magazine Spring 2007, see page 14! You GO GIRL! ~ Christine, Las Vegas.

Does anyone have a copy of this? Could you either scan it or leave a comment with what it says?

Do you want the recipe?

2007-03-30T08:26:00.000-07:00

I will not actually write a pattern for this sweater, but I could write a customize-it-yourself recipe, if anyone says they want it.

The Stitch Pattern for the Sweater

2007-03-29T19:10:00.000-07:00

It's called Dragon Skin and it's in Barbara Walker's second treasury of patterns, I believe, the one with the red cover.

Episode 28: Finishing and Blocking

2007-03-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

This week I talk about tig welding wires and why you might want them, my GORGEOUS GREY SWEATER and why I stuck wires through it (but those will come out), some of my scattered design process and how I carefully avoid sewn seams.

I also mentioned:

My Local Yarn Shop

Film and Fiber - A great new podcast with a podcaster who is taking a tenny break because of her morning sickness. Everyone go tell her it gets better (I've been told, I don't know).

Greetings from Knit Cafe

If you look, you may notice that the link to the book is a UK site I heard about on Sticks and String. I have not tried this shop, but it looks like a good alternative to Amazon, if you want to try it.

and then I went online and looked for corrections for the above book.

It's a great book and I don't think I've reviewed it yet, but it's in the pile.

Download Episode 28

And now, my dragontooth sweater:

The Promised Meg Swanson Interview

2007-03-24T19:50:00.000-07:00

Ok, well, first of all, everyone who is commenting is awesome and I'm really psyched to do my next show soon (even though I don't know when). I should confess...

Meg and I did record another interview. It still wasn't stitch-by-stitch perfect, so I haven't used it. I am considering chopping little tidbits out of it, but I haven't yet. I am bound and determined to get a good interview with her someday, somehow, I just don't know how or when.

Sigh.

Oh, and thanks for the heads up. My show was mentioned in a magazine and I didn't even know it. Yaay!

My Goodness

2007-03-19T21:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, you know how things sometimes get worse before they get better? That's happening to me right now. Suffice to say I'm stretched a little thin. I still love you all and I am still simmering away a great show for you, but it may still be just a little bit.

And, thanks for all of your support and expressions of loving the show. It means a lot to me.

Confession

2007-03-08T20:48:00.000-08:00

My last show brought a torrent of comments and I think it's wonderful. I'm glad that other people have seen how knitting or other hand-work brings out courage and problem-solving. Also, letting go of relationships that are bad for us.

I must now confess why I haven't podcasted recently.

You, see, something is keeping me up late at night, I almost don't want to eat because I can't tear myself away....

I am knitting a sweater of my own design and I already love it so much I just can't put it down. It's from the top down with little saddle shoulders in a pattern called Dragon Skin.

It's grey and I love it love it love it.

I hope you will all understand. I will resurface when it is finished. Soon, I hope.

That New Floor Smell

2007-03-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

I couldn't podcast on Friday because there were men in my basement laying a fake-hardwood floor (I've had the supplies to do it since October). The project came in ahead of schedule and under budget, just the way I like it. This is yet another Big Step in my life forward. Some women (like Crazy Aunt Purl, who I love) used to put their finances in the hands of the men in their lives. I have allowed any home management that doesn't include sweeping, dusting and such to be ruled by men. That's why I was so excited when I changed that outlet without killing myself. Was it fiddly? Yes. Did it take longer than I thought? Yes. But did I do it and do it well? Yes. Are the people at Home Depot really nice to the girl who doesn't know what anything's called? Yes. So, I'm making myself do the things that don't involve saws, like scraping wallpaper, switching out the thermostat, and, one day, painting, which I hear is mostly just taping and a little dull but not hard. For saws, I hire people. Also, drywall. Because that's just plain messy.

Before, I paid in so many more ways and SO much more. Now I know what I'm getting and I can trust the work will be right.

I also want to point out that it isn't just that I am afraid of saws. I could get over that. The dang things just cost so much. By the time I buy the saw, I could have paid the guy to bring his own saw. Yeah, that it....

Episode 27: Another FSS solution, a romantic book and courage in knitting form

2007-02-19T18:39:00.000-08:00

This week I talk about how knitting has built my confidence in other arenas, like not zapping myself, Romantic Style and another solution for First Scarf Syndrome. Also, taking good notes to keep track of what you're doing, especially with Elizabeth Zimmerman patterns.

There is a KAL for Romantic Knits here.

The publisher's website had no corrections for this book (although it did for others, which is a good sign).

Download Episode 27

Finished

2007-02-16T20:20:00.000-08:00

My first "real" lace project, Icarus, is blocking on my guest bed. Boy that sucker is big and pretty. I'll hopefully take pictures tomorrow or Sunday.

On the next show, I plan to talk about a different solution to the First Scarf Syndrome, a Romantic book, and keeping track of your EZ shoulder shaping.

Oops

2007-02-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

I have fixed the problem. Thank you for letting me know that you couldn't download, Barbro.

Episode 26: Magknits, Yarn Subs and First Scarf Syndrome

2007-02-10T09:54:00.000-08:00

This week I talk about why I don't do longer shows anymore (sort 0f), the new MagKnits, how Knitters Review can help you choose substitute yarns, and First Scarf Syndrome (and how to deal with it).

Just in case you couldn't follow my little ditty about how I figure when I need to decrease, here is a graphical representation.

To decrease every fourth row three times, I write out
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12

I cross off the rows as I go and know that, at the end of each line of writing, that is the row that I decrease.

Download Episode 26

Episode 25: Fox, Geese and Thank Yous

2007-01-12T13:52:00.001-08:00

This show features a thank you, an attempt to explain how to change the size of a hat and a new book.

The Book of the Week:
Favorite Mittens by Robin Hansen.
This is the description from School House Press
"Two long out-of-print books, Fox and Geese and Fences and Flying Geese and Partridge Feet, have now been combined into Favorite Mittens, which, after considerable delay, has finally appeared. The patterns are The-Best-Of from those two wonderful old books. and, as anticipated, it has been worth the wait. The new title contains dozens of historic mittens from 'Up North and Down East'. Softcover."
In my opinion, it's worth it just to look at it, but it's also rich with the history of mittens and traditional techniques that you could glean from somewhere else, but they're very well described and illustrated here.

Download Episode 25

Handywoman

2007-01-05T13:13:00.000-08:00

I am not a handy woman. In fact, you pretty much have to say "saw" or "ladder" to get me completely off of doing any given household project. I don't love to dust or vacuum (although I seem to have, belatedly, latched on to a fomer lover's extreme joy in putting objects in boxes to go to Goodwill), but I will do them since I'd rather not live in filth.

So, the long and the short of it is that I, just now, really do want to fix up my house. I also lack any skilled, free labor. So, I have to take my big, over-educated brain and apply it to actually doing things that involve ladders (I will probably pay someone to do the sawing).

Does anyone out there know any good blogs or podcasts about overcoming fears/ignorance like mine?

I'm already madly in love with the Toolbelt Diva, but I don't think she's coming to help me.

About the name post...

2007-01-03T19:36:00.000-08:00

I should point out that I did try out an extremely unusual last name of a friend of mine and it wasn't even in the database. So, he should stop being so cranky when people can't spell it.

I'll make no promises

2007-01-03T18:52:00.000-08:00

about when I will do the next show. I am going through a large personal upheaval.

But, I did just find this on the internet.

HowManyOfMe.com

There is:
1
person with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

It's nice to feel unique.

Hello Everyone

2006-12-19T07:42:00.000-08:00

I'm still not all of the way better. For the record, this is the sickest I've ever been, except for mono in HS and chicken pox when I was a kid. And, by far, the grossest illness I've ever had. If you're reading the comments, you'll notice that Plain(s)Feminist lives about 200 feet away from my house and is a very good friend. She dropped off my Christmas present, although I couldn't give her hers for fear of spreading this thing, so it will sit in my gift closet for another ten days or so until I see her again.

I'm flying away to see my family on Friday, so there won't be any podcast this week or next week. See you in the new year!

Meanwhile, my extra-cool Miss Violet's Pink Ribbon came, much faster than I thought. It's beautiful. I was going to do the sideways baby sweater from Greetings from Knit Cafe, but now I'm thinking an Elizabeth Zimmerman baby surprise and maybe some baby leggings if I have enough left over. This is great because I really needed some plane knitting and knitting I could do around my sister without ruining her birthday surprise. I've been feeling too sick to knit (ok, I am just tired of putting it down every 15 minutes and sprinting across the house), but maybe I'm just too sick to knit lace or finish in ends. I really should finish the ends, though, on the last piece of Christmas knitting I'm doing this year. You heard me. I'm DONE. Even nearly a week of incapacity couldn't stop me.

What I get

2006-12-16T08:32:00.000-08:00

Ok. so I was feeling all better Friday morning and then bam - awful, horrible no good stomach flu that had me up all night, not doing anything at all fun. I'm now sipping gatorade and enjoying my cat's loving attention, but I'm not up to the microphone. Sorry, folks.

Run, don't walk and buy this yarn

2006-12-13T21:34:00.000-08:00

http://www.limenviolet.blogspot.com/

In response to Miss Violet finding a lump in her breast, the great and very cool Lisa Souza created a new colorway of her fantastic yarn.

This is what she said about it on her blog:
"This time it is different. When Lime & Violet asked me a few months ago, if I could create a sock color to help them to raise funds to keep the lights on, I was flattered and wondering exactly who these two young women were. Then, with the birthday I-pod, I got to know their voices and just fell into the fun and entertaining ways that they have about them. Along the way, Miss Violet has had some tough days and this week has brought her full on into the scary world of women who find a lump. How an insurance company can tell a person that there is a 1K deductible to be met before any help kicks in is more than a person with this stress should be able to endure. Once again I have been asked and have created Violet's Pink Ribbon, to help to generate funds to defray the costs of finding out what comes next. It will be a self striping colorway with the pink ribbon swirling with the party that is Lime & Violet...effervescent and full of life. No matter what happens, this colorway will be earmarked for Breast Cancer, with an emphasis on Life and the pursuit of happiness."

The sock yarn is here http://www.lisaknit.com/yarn/animalfibers/sock.html

The merino sock yarn is here http://www.lisaknit.com/yarn/animalfibers/sock-merino.html

The superfine, superwash sport yarn is here http://www.lisaknit.com/yarn/animalfibers/superwash-sport.htm

There's something there for everybody. I know it's the holidays and money is tight for many folks, but if you can scrounge together something I would be so grateful. No one should have to go through something like this feeling alone and this is a chance for us all to put our arms around a knitter we may not have met, but love just the same.

For just $6, you can also get this fantastic pattern
http://www.lisaknit.com/patterns/bp/twist-lace.htm
which uses just one skein of the yarn, and gives you short-row and lace chops to boot.

No podcast this week

2006-12-11T07:57:00.000-08:00

I'm ill. I thought I'd be better enough to podcast today, but now I'm coughing and I don't want to edit those out. So, see you next week, folks.

Oopsie

2006-12-10T09:44:00.000-08:00

Someone pointed out that the mp3 file in my last post was for the week before's show. I fixed it now. :)

Episode 24: shawls, scarves and spiral socks

2006-12-04T16:12:00.000-08:00

This week I talk about a few new podcasts that I forgot to mention last time and you should really check out:

Unwound, with a relaxed, sweet-voiced host who asks questions she wants you to answer.

Beneath the Fiber Moon makes me blush, but in a good way.

Sticks and String makes me want to move to Australia, and not because I had a very bad day.

The Book of the Week:
Stahman's Shawls and Scarves makes lace make sense, and lace shawls look super-easy (I don't think they are, but they are achievable, with this book in my hot little hands). Also, an ideal way to work when you have limited or unknown amounts of yarn, as the shawls and scarves in question are all knit from the top down, in a way. Very thorough technique, well-drawn charts, clear instructions and diagrams and, best of all, an author who doesn't mind if people e-mail her with questions and includes her e-mail address on her copyright page.

Lara's Recipe for toe-up spiral socks:
CO 4 stitches
K in the front and back of each stitch, join.
Knit one round, divide stitches onto 4 double-pointed needles (it will be akward at first)
On every other round, increase either at the beginning or end of each needle until you have enough stitches to fit around your foot. (eyeball, measure or guess, but for goodness sake, if you want to try it on, move it to waste yarn first)
When you have enough stitches to fit around your foot, switch to 4 x 4 spiral ribbing:
work four rounds 4x4 rib; shift pattern by one stitch (p1, [k4, p4] around to last 3, p3) for four rounds; (p2, [k4, p4] around to last 2, p2)...savvy?

And so on until you run out of yarn or go mad or just decide you're done. I then worked about 5" in 2x2 rib to help hold the top up.

Download Episode 24

PS - until someone tells me a good reason to keep up the other feed, I will not. :)

Both Feeds

2006-11-27T18:51:00.000-08:00

Both the old and the new feeds are available on iTunes now. The new one has a freaky-looking, non-blue interpretation of my little knit ipod logo. Don't forget, the old feed will still have all of my new episodes on it. The new one is still catching up and has limited space, so episodes may cycle in and out, in order.

Episode 23: All Grown Up

2006-11-26T15:25:00.000-08:00

In this episode I talk about website and download issues, a new website, and a book: Knitting Vintage Socks. Also, if you check out the knitpicks website, you can see what one of the socks looks like in a Knitpicks yarn. As always, I encourage you to go to your local yarn shop and check out their book selection before you buy online.

Here are the corrections for that book.

I forgot to mention three fabulous new podcasts I found recently: Sticks and String, Unwound and Beneath the Fiber Moon. Please look them up and I will actually talk about them in the next show.

I sat down and did a shortrow toe demo for you!

Work to where you want to put your next turn.

Move yarn to other side of needle.

Slip unwrapped stitch to rh needle.

Turn work.

Move yarn to other side of work (working side for the row you will work).

Slip that wrapped stitch (see the wrap? It looks like a purl bump).

Observe pretty wrap, get ready to work to next turn.

When you are finished making short rows, work to first wrapped stitch (as you are working, in other words, the most recently-wrapped stitch).

Knit (or purl) the wrap and the stitch it wrapped.

Toe of sock after short-rows are completed.

Pick up stitches from cast on to make toe of sock.

For heel, the principle is the same, make your short rows and then continue merrily along with your sock.

Download Episode 23

Ok, for now...

2006-11-24T19:48:00.000-08:00

The new supermac way of doing the podcast does not have a lot of storage space (about half a gig), so today I'm publishing all of the old episodes that will fit on that space. Then I will leave them up for one month. Then I will clear them off and put up the next set. Those of you who can get it to work (I've already heard from someone who can't) will enjoy the fact that I should be able to put in chapter markers and nifty art to display as you're listening to the podcast. If I don't hear from anyone who can make it work, I will stop messing with it after today.

My to-do list today:
-put up old episodes
-clean house
-do the books/pay the bills
-bake bread (in bread machine)
-make baking mix for biscuits
-finish making turkey soup
-go to bellydancing class at 6

Whoo hoo.

Now I Don't Know What to Do

2006-11-24T09:29:00.000-08:00

I just heard from a listener that they did manage to get my old episodes off iTunes, but I do like the new software's ease of use, although I'm not crazy about the format the blog comes up in.

I will keep this site open with a link to the new site if I bail for the newer software. My only concern about the new website is that it has a fairly low storage limit.

I may do the next show both ways. Please let me know if you prefer one over the other, or one works better for you. I want this podcast to be as easy to get as possible.

Starting Over

2006-11-23T09:57:00.000-08:00

I have commandeered another computer (there are as many in my home as cats and cars, now that I think of it). I am trying out mac's new snazzy iWeb software, which builds a total website including the RSS feed.

The new site is here.

Please someone let me know if it doesn't work absolutely perfectly for them. If someone who has been having problems says that it works, I will re-publish every darn one of the episodes.

Downloading Woes

2006-11-21T19:39:00.000-08:00

My laptop, as far as I can tell, stroked out and died for no reason on Monday. I ended up crying in my basement (because my shower was still backed up after I poured nasty chemicals in it and, well, I was at the end of my rope). So, my promise for a better, very cool software for my podcast has ended for now, until I can get my lovely tibook into the shop and hopefully get it fixed.

However, I did download a new version of the software that I have been using and updated a few settings. Would someone who is having download woes please try to download the very most recent podcast and let me know if it still doesn't work? If it doesn't, I will try something underhanded, which may make everything better.

Holy Mohair!

2006-11-19T20:31:00.000-08:00

I just logged into my hotmail account all blase and down about not having time to podcast this week, when I saw this message:

"Greetings from the Amazon Honor System.

We wanted to let you know that we have initiated transfer of the
balance of your Amazon Honor System account to your checking account.
It may take your bank several business days to record the transfer.

$48.25"

That brings the Math 4 Knitters Buy More Books balance to $52.80!

I know at least one super-duper lace book that I'll have to mosey down and snag this week.

Thank you all for supporting my show and the book section of my local yarn store.

I'd Rather Be Podcasting

2006-11-19T20:29:00.000-08:00

:( Hopefully soon.

Knitting the Edging

2006-11-12T14:36:00.000-08:00

I'm knitting an edging right now - literally and figuratively. The edging is for my grandma's sweater (the yarn finally came!!). The figurative edging is the final touches/production/burning DVDs on my graduate project/thesis. If I get it all wrapped up and mailed out on Monday, I'll be able to do a show. Otherwise, it may still be a little bit. Sorry for the podgap, but I can't help it. :) I do want to thank each and every one of you, because I have really honed my audio skills which gave me the confidence to finish this project which has been hanging over my head for two years. Couldn't have done it without you.

Slight Tweak

2006-11-07T22:10:00.000-08:00

I did a slight tweak of the XML code today. Would someone who has downloading woes please try again?

Episode 22: Lucky and Unlucky

2006-11-07T11:47:00.000-08:00

Not any math this week, just me rambling about my bad and good luck. I am cooking up a cool pattern that I will hopefully have ready for the next show.

Meanwhile, I found this page about spit-splicing. A good skill to have.

Also, a listener told me that magic loop is one of the methods taught on knittinghelp.com. Maybe I'll try it soon. If you haven't it's under the advanced techniques tab.

Download Episode 22

Episode 21: Magic Eight

2006-10-30T09:41:00.000-08:00

In this show I talk about how the number eight simplifies your knitting life, at least when you are making hats, shawls and other round things you want to lie flat.

Scroll down to episode 20's notes to see the photos of my temporary cast-on.

The yarn amounts leaflet last week is printed by Interweave Press. You can find the leaflet here, or, I hope, at your LYS.

Download Episode 21.

Downloading Woes

2006-10-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

I've gotten another comment about downloading troubles. I just bought the new mac software for podcasting, I hope to start using it either with my next show or the one after that. Hopefully, that will fix the problem. I'm so sorry to anyone who is having these problems.

PS I'm not answering comments directly as much now because the moderation thing really slows me down. But I do really, really appreciate them and read every one.

Episode Twenty: Fibo Five

2006-10-23T18:06:00.000-07:00

After almost a whole month, I dust off my microphone to bring you a longer-than-usual show.

- I review Knitting From the Top by Barbara Walker, a must-buy made possible by a listener's donation.

- Temporary Cast-On in Five Photographs (why 3 steps, in my mind, and 5 photos? No idea.)

This is the starting position for me when I do this.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

um, step 3.5 is taking your left thumb and swinging its yarn back over the top of the needle, bringing everything into place.

- I talk about this pattern, which I wrote in 2001 for a gift for my sister.

- I point out this awesome website, where a lovely helpful lady explains how to figure out exactly how much yarn you need, anyway. Don't be intimidated, her site is written for spinners, but will work for commercial yarns as well.

- I tell you about Warm Woolies which will take extra wool yarn off of your hands (if you send it to them).

Enjoy. Things should settle down here soon. Have I said that before? Is that doom sneaking up on me or is it just the cat?

Download episode 20.

Another donation!

2006-10-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

The current fundage for the Math4Knitters Buy More Books fund is $4.55. (Amazon keeps a little bit) Thank you, whoever you are. Does anyone want to vote on what book I should get?

Math4Knitters

Transition

Moving Day

Watch This Space...Or That Space, anyway

Big Doin's Afoot

Settling In

Moving...

Distracted, but not Gone

Vacation

Episode 44: A Mix

Really, it's coming soon

Long Time No See

Episode 43: Measuring, Weighing and Super-Easy Square

I'm Shameless

Episode 42: Sizing and Squares

Episode 41

Shameless Shill

Hat Recipe and A Plea

Episode 40: Graft

Yet Another Way to Look At It

Yaay! Comments!

Sticky Problem and a Super-Math-Rich Post

Episode 39

Rerun of Episode 30: The MD Sheep and Wool Festival Trip, 2007

I am not slacking, I swear

Duplicate Stitch on Ribbing

Duplicate Stitch on Garter Stitch

Duplicate Stitch on Stockinette

Episode 38: Part 1 of 3 (darn that hole)

Darn That Hole

Things I've Been Doing @ Work Lately

New Episodes problem

Episode 37: Gauge Swatches and Experiments

NOT podfading

Episode 36: Notes and Mistakes

Episode 35: Letting Go

Episode 34: Overcoming Fear

Episode 33: All Praise the Gauge Swatch

I was going to podcast today...

Episode 32 and rerun: Episode 23

iTunes

At Last!

Laura, this is for you.

You are all so sweet

*sigh*

Sweet Comments!

I Promise

Computer Fixed, but still no podcast

All Harddrives Die

Not Math, but Kind of for Knitters

Episode 30: MD Sheep and Wool

Where you get a glass washboard

While I'm Babbling Anyway

Some Links

New Show In the Works

Maryland Sheep & Wool

I'm mostly posting this so that I won't forget

First question

Shout Out

If you do manage to make one...

Dragon Skin Sweater

Tagged

Episode 29: How I Started

My e-mail address

Knit It Magazine

Do you want the recipe?

The Stitch Pattern for the Sweater

Episode 28: Finishing and Blocking

The Promised Meg Swanson Interview

My Goodness

Confession

That New Floor Smell

Episode 27: Another FSS solution, a romantic book and courage in knitting form

Finished

Oops

Episode 26: Magknits, Yarn Subs and First Scarf Syndrome

Episode 25: Fox, Geese and Thank Yous

Handywoman

About the name post...

I'll make no promises

sigh