Math4Knitters: February 2015

Friday, February 27, 2015

Knit On, Indeed

I have two of these bags and they are still my favorite knitting bags (for anything bigger than a sock), ever. They're from Schoolhouse Press.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Some Clarifications - X, S and what the heck is A1?

I recently received an email from a knitter who seemed pretty frustrated by some aspects of Sock Architecture, so I want to try to answer her questions here, in case there are others out there who agree with her. (I also answered her email, so don't worry!)

The beginning of the book has a lot of calculations for the heels and toes. This is so that you can "plug in" your own numbers and make those heel or toe shapes with any number of stitches you like. If you want, you can use these instructions to make up your own socks from scratch or just alter an existing pattern to suit you.

The patterns in the back of the book are a little more spelled-out in a stitch-by-stitch way. If you are using one of the sizes in the pattern, you can just follow the pattern, so your knitting experience will be a lot like using any other knitting book. In other words, you can pretty much not do any calculations at all, if you have the same row and stitch gauge the pattern calls for and you want to end up with the exact size that I have written.

Some patterns combine the best of both worlds (in my mind). They include an adjustable size, where you plug in your own S (total number of stitches), X (half of S) and sometimes a few more calculations, so that you can customize that pattern just for you. Those patterns have the term "adjustable size" in their sizing notes.

Ok, this next bit is only for people who are looking at page 12:

A1, A2 and A3 aren't always computed, but they are related to each other.

When you are working from the toe up, you should work A1 and use the information from the toe-up section of the book to calculate A3. Then, subract A3 from the desired length of your sock's foot to see how long you should make A2 before you start the heel (and gusset, if any) shaping (which is A3).

When you are working from the top down, you should work A3 and use the information from the top-down section of the book to calculate A1. Then, subtract A1 from the desired length of your sock's foot to see how long you should make A2 before you start the toe shaping (which is A1).

I hope this helps and I'm sorry if I just gave everyone who didn't like high school algebra hives!

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

All I See Is Blue

This is another swatch, plus my hat, wrap and coat. It's COLD! What are you casting on this week?

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Weird Bits and Pieces

Does anyone else ever end up knitting weird bits and pieces of socks, just to see if they work (or prove that they do)?

Monday, February 23, 2015

Cat In a Box

I know it looks silly, but it's an option that keeps him off my keyboard and my lap!

Friday, February 20, 2015

A Doorway In Minneapolis

:) I love it! I can see sideways heart-ish motifs marching up a sock!

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Yes, People Do Like Sriracha Sauce That Much

Let your freak flag fly, coworker!

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

All The World's A Stage

"All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts..."

I've always wanted to do a feminist, knit-centric version of this Shakespeare classic, but I haven't done it, yet...

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

I Just Like This Photo

I took this at a sales conference a few weeks ago. Clearly, not at home!

Monday, February 16, 2015

Flowers, And Color

One tip I've heard for coaxing yourself out of a color rut: find a piece of art that you like and use colors from it to inspire yourself.

I think the same can be said of a lovely grouping of flowers. I'm not always a fan of yellow, but I love it grouped with the green, pink and white tones, here. My Nana loved yellow, and was a little sad about not wearing it all of the time in her later years. She felt white was a more dignified color for an older lady to wear.

I hope she's not too hard on me, if she can observe me, when I'm older. I intend to not cut off my hair and wear whatever color I love that the moment - choices that I know wouldn't fit with her sense of what a proper mature woman does!

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Math4Knitters: Episode 11

Show notes and more at math4knitters.blogspot.com.

Download/Listen to Episode 11.

The original show notes for episode 11. - Guys! This is the first glimmer of my Total Sock Obsession.

Math4Knitters: Episode 10

Show notes and more at math4knitters.blogspot.com.

Download/Listen to Episode 10.

The original show notes for episode 10.

Math4Knitters: Episode 9

Show notes and more at math4knitters.blogspot.com.

Download/Listen to Episode 9.

The original show notes for episode 9.

Math4Knitters: Episode 8

Show notes and more at math4knitters.blogspot.com.

Download/Listen to Episode 8, which was the first time Meg Swansen was kind enough to appear on my show.

The original show notes for episode 8.

Math4Knitters: Episode 7

Show notes and more at math4knitters.blogspot.com.

Download/Listen to Episode 7.

The original show notes for episode 7.

(The photos have been lost, unfortunately.)

Math4Knitters: Episode 6

Show notes and more at math4knitters.blogspot.com.

Download/Listen to Episode 6.

The original show notes for episode 6.

Math4Knitters: Episode 5

Show notes and more at math4knitters.blogspot.com.

Episode 5 originally aired in May of 2006. If it were a person, it would be in the third grade. Freaky.

Download/Listen to Episode 5.

The original show notes for episode 5.

Friday, February 13, 2015

Happy Valentine's Day to Me!

It looks sold out, now, so I'm super-happy that I snagged a Simply Sock Yarn Company tote while they were still around! (Three guesses as to which color of sock yarn I bought, and the first two don't count, as my dad says.)

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Candy!

One of my nice St. Louis Park students gave me candy for our last class last night! Which reminds me - I'm starting that class up again on April 28. Tuesday nights for 4 weeks!

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

"The Last Sock Book You May Ever Need"

Truly, truly kind words by Pamela MacKenzie of myCentralJersey.com! It's so interesting to watch different people react to my book. She almost wishes she had the book 50 years ago, to help her mom knit socks for her dad. How charming!

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

The Library Journal Reviewed Sock Architecture

This is for those of you that don't receive a copy of Library Journal every month. :) I'm absolutely thrilled that they love it!

Monday, February 09, 2015

Share the Cooperative Press Love - And Join for a Chance to Win!

I've been derelict in my duty in sharing love for my fellow indie designers. But, you can still get in on it. Join the mailing list here, for a chance to win!!

Also, just look out for the #shareCPlove hashtag on social media, for other ways to win.

Wednesday, February 04, 2015

Confidence At The Grocery Store

Who knows what product is THIS confident about their online reputation?

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