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Knittingnews
November 1 Issue
In This Issue:
Free Knitting Pattern: Square Pattern # 5
History of Knitting
Free Knitting Pattern: Square Pattern # 6
Sites to Visit
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Hello everyone. The acorns are falling like hailstones this year. I think this means a long winter or a lot of fat, happy squirrels. The
chipmunks that we share our backyard with are working feverishly and so am I on a pair of socks. The fall is when a knitters mind turns to… holiday gifts. I have the lists started and I am gathering my
materials and sorting patterns. This year will be better than last year, I hope. I still have Hallmark visions in my head of a family gathered by a perfectly trimmed tree, the mom is setting out freshly
baked pies and cookies. The reality is, me alone the night before Christmas Eve, sloppily wrapping the last of the stuff up, then popping slice and bake cookies into the oven. Well a girl can still dream,
can't she? Each year I show a little improvement, so there is hope for me yet!
This September I sent my 5 year old, Elizabeth, and my 3 year old, Mickey, off to school. I have mixed feelings about letting my two oldest babies go
off in school buses. I feel much better knowing that they love school and jump up and down happily when the bus turns the corner. This leaves me with part of the day where I can concentrate on now 6month
old, Lauren. She has grown up so fast that I swear she grows another inch while she naps. She is such a joy! I am so lucky to have a happy, laughing baby! The only problem she has been having is
gastric reflux. In medical terms, this is where the valve between the stomach and the esophagus hasn't fully formed yet. In layman's terms, it means Lauren throws up about 6-8 times a day. It bothers
me more than her, so we just have to wait another month or two for her to outgrow it. This has not spoiled her sunny disposition in the least. I just have to carry a few outfits with me and do a lot of
laundry, so it's not a big deal. My mom has me a lot more worried. She is still a trooper with her lung cancer, but I wish she would slow down a little and enjoy the sights more. It is very hard to
balance what you want to do and what you have to do when there is a limit to your time. She is enjoying every minute she can with her three grandchildren, playing with them and spoiling them rotten. Thank
you all who have sent your best wishes to her.
Free Knitting Pattern:
5th Square in Series - Flying Star
This is part of the continuing pattern set for a quilt. The end product will yield a quilt about 4 feet by 5 feet. Please visit my previous newsletters starting with January 2001 for the first 4 squares.
There are going to be 12 squares in the series. But you don't have to make a quilt out of them, use your imagination. Make a square in cotton yarn for a great
washcloth. You could use 2 squares back-to-back and stuffed for a great throw pillow. I used a no dye lot acrylic yarn in two colors for these squares to match
my décor. You could make each one in a different color to use up your odds and ends or all in one color for a monochromatic look. Another great idea: In
cotton, make 3 squares in your favorite pattern to match a friend's bath. Sew two back-to-back on 3 sides to make a pouch. Add a ribbon handle to the opening. Place the third inside with soap
and bubble bath for a quick and very useful gift.
Note: a row counter or scrap of paper will come in handy.
CO = cast on, BO = bind off, K = knit, P = purl, * * RPT = repeat pattern between *'s, ST = stitch. Use size 8 US (4mm.) needle and worsted weight for a gauge of 4 STS to the inch in
stockinet (K the right side, P the wrong side)
Seed ST = *K1, P1 *, RPT to end, next and all other rows K all P STS, P all K STS.
CO 42 STS. Work in seed ST for 4 rows.
Next row and all following rows will have seed ST on 1st 3 and last 3 STS.
Row 1: P21, * K1, P1 * Rpt 5 times, K1, P4
Row 2: K5, * P1, K1 * Rpt 5 times, P1, K13, P1, K6
Row 3: P7, K1, P11, * K1, P1 * Rpt 5 times, K1, P6
Row 4: K7, * P1, K1 * Rpt 5 times, P1, K9, P1, K1, P1, K6
Row 5: P7, K1, P1, K1, P15, * K1, P1 * Rpt 2 times, K1, P6
Row 6: K7, P1, K1, P1, K15, * P1, K1 * Rpt 2 times, P1, K6
Row 7: P9, K1, P1, K1, P13, * K1, P1* RPT 5 times, K1
Row 8: K7, P1, K11, * P1, K1 * RPT 5 times, P1, K6
Row 9: P5, * K1, P1 * Rpt 5 times, K1, P13, K1, P6
Row 10: K21, * P1, K1 * Rpt 5 times, P1, K4
Row 11: P3, * K1, P1 * Rpt 5 times, K1, P22
Row 12: K11, P1, K11, * P1, K1 * Rpt 5 times, P1, K2
Row 13: * P1, K1 * Rpt 6 times, P13, K1, P10
Row 14: K9, P1, K1, P1, K13, * P1, K1 * Rpt 5 times, P1
Row 15: P7, * K1, P1 * Rpt 2 times, K1, P13, K1, P1, K1, P8
Row 16: K7, * P1, K1 * Rpt 2 times, P1, K13, P1, K1, P1, K8
Row 17: P7, * K1, P1, * RPT 5 times, K1, P9, K1, P1, K1, P6
Row 18: * K1, P1 * Rpt 6 times, K13, P1, K10
Row 19: P11, K1, P11, * K1, P1 * Rpt 5 times, K1, p2
Row 20: K3, * P1, K1 * Rpt 5 times, P1, K22
Repeat rows 1 to 20 (3 times), then rows 1 to 10 (1 time) for a total of 70 rows. Work another 4 rows of seed St then bind off all STS.
History of Knitting
Knitting has been around longer than most crafts. It has been found everywhere from Egyptian crypts to South American jungles. There have been many attempts to standardize needle sizes
and yarn weights over the past 200 years. As our friends from other countries see from this newsletter, we still have a long way to go. Long ago, Artisans carved wood or bone to make
knitting needles. Yarn was hand spun to the proper weight. The variances in size did not make a difference. The industrial revolution changed everything. Yarns and needles could be made in
massive amounts, cheaply. To be able to sell to various towns a sizing system was created. In America the needle sizes corresponded to wire gauges used to make them. Yarn followed suite
creating various weight classes. The only problem was that these systems were created with an ocean separating them. Thus two separate systems were formed. Europe moved on to the
metric system, the Americas stayed with their gauge system. Patterns had to be interpreted when people shared them.
Free Knitting Pattern:
6th Square in Series - Textured Boxes
 Note: Follow general instructions from square #5
Cast on 42 STS. Work 4 rows of seed ST. Then start pattern below, keeping the 1st 3 Sts and the last 3 STS in seed ST.
Note: a row counter or scrap of paper would be very helpful
Row 1: * K6, P6 * RPT to end
Row 2: * P6, K6 * RPT to end
Row 3 & 4: * P1, K5, P5, K1 * Rpt to end
Row 5 & 6: K1, P1, K4, P4, * K1, P1, K1, P1, K4, P4 * Rpt to last 2 STS, K1, P1
Row 7 & 8: P1, K1, P1, K3, P3, * K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K3, P3 * Rpt to last 3 STS, K1, P1, K1
Row 9 & 10: * K1, P1* 2 times, P2, K2, * P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2, K2 *, Rpt to last
4 STS, *P1, K1 * 2 Times
Row 11 & 12: * P1, K1 * Rpt to end
Row 13 & 14: * K1, P1 * Rpt to end
Row 15 & 16: * P1, K1 * 2 times, P2, K2, * P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2, K2 * RPT to last 4 STS, * P1, K1 * 2 times
Row 17 & 18: K1, P1, K1, P3, K3, * P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P3, K3 * RPT to last 3 STS, P1, K1, P1
Row 19 & 20: P1, K1, P4, K4 * P1, K1, P1, K1, P4, K4 * Rpt to last 2 STS,
P1, K1
Row 21 & 22: * K1, P5, K5, P1 * Rpt to end
Row 23 & 24: * P6, K6 * RPT to end
Row 25 & 26: * P5, K1, P1, K5 * RPT to end
Row 27 & 28: * P4, K1, P1, K1, P1, K4 *Rpt to end
Row 29 & 30: * P3, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K3 * Rpt to end
Row 31 & 32: * P2, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K2 * Rpt to end
Row 33 & 34: Same as row 11& 12
Row 35 & 36: Same as row 13 & 14
Row 37 & 38: * K2, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2 * Rpt to end
Row 39 & 40: * K3, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P3 * Rpt to end
Ro w 41& 42: * K4, P1, K1, P1, K1, P4 * Rpt to end
Row 43 & 44: * K5, P1, K1, P5 * Rpt to end
After working these 44 rows, repeat rows 1 to 12.
Work 4 rows of seed ST then bind off
Sites to Visit
For our knitting friends in other countries to assist you in the understanding of the terms and sizes:
Needle Sizing: www.knitting.about.com/library/blyarnweights.htm?once=true&
Yarn Equivalents:
www.knitting.about.com/libray/blneedleconv.htm?once=true&
Knitting Guide:
www.bhg.com/crafts/techniques/knittingbasics/bsaics/html
You will need real player to run the online video.
Well as this goes out to all our readers let me take some time to wish all of you a happy a healthy holiday season. We counted our blessings more than ever on September 11th. I was
not directly affected by the devastation. Our hearts go out to all who have lost loved ones by this terrorist act. May we all find true peace and happiness. To all our friends in Canada, I am
sending a happy belated Thanksgiving. To everyone, have a happy and safe Halloween. Lastly to our US friends, have a Happy Thanksgiving.
I try to answer all email individually. When I can't, I hopefully will try to address solutions or your post your ideas in this newsletter.
Please send all inquiries to: Kathleengallagher@ivillage.com
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