Slice of Pie Square Knit Along

Each month I put a quick square knit along in the Karma Knitting newsletter.  The response has been good, so I thought I'd add it to the blog.  I write it out because many of our knitters dislike knitting from charts. I'll post a picture when I finish a full-sized version of the finished product.  If you make this, please let me know.  Send pictures!  Enjoy!

Cast on 38 stitches on size 7 needles with worsted, or 5's with DK.  Worsted finished size is approximately 8x8 inches.

Rows 1-5: K across

6-12:K3, P32, K3 even rows, K across odd rows

13:K11, P21, K6

14:K3, P8, K2, (p1, K1) 9x, K1, P3, K3

15:K6,(P1, K1) 10x, P2, K10

16: K3, P7, (K1, P1) 11x, K1, P2, K3

17: K5, P1, (P1, K1) 10x, P3, K9

18:K3, P6, K1, (K1, P1) 11x, K1, P2, K3 

19:K6, (P1, K1), P2, K8

20:K3, P5, (K1, P1) 11x, K2, P3, K3

21:K5, P1, (P1, K1) 11x, P2, K9

22:K3, P4, K2, (P1, K1) 12x, P2, K3

23:K5, P2, (K1, P1) 5x, K3, P2, K2, P8, K6

24:K3, P1, K3, P1, K1, P5, K2, P2, K6, P4, K5, P2, K3

25:K6, P2, K2, P4, K14, P1, K4, P1, K5

26:K3, P2, K1, P3, K1, P19, K2, P4, K3

27:K8, P1, K18, P1, K1, P1, K2, P1, K5

28:K3, P3, K2, P2, K1, P11, K2, P4, K1, P6, K3

29:K10, P1, K5, P3, K7, P1, K4, P1, K6

30:K3, P3, K1, P4, K1, P5, K2, P7, K1, P8,  K3

31:K12, P1, K12, P1, K4, P1, K7

32:K3, P4, K1, P2, K1, P2, K1, P10, K1, P10, K3

33:K14, P1, K9, P1, K3, P2, K8

34:K3, P5, K1, P5, K1, P7, K1, P12, K3

35:K16, P1, K5, P1, K5, P1, K9

36:K3, P7,K1, P2, K1, P2, K5, P14, K3

37:K21, P1, K3, P2, K11

38:K3, P9, K1, P2, K1, P19, K3

39:K22, P1, K1, P1, K13

40:K3, P11, K1, P20, K3

41-46:K3, P32, K3 odd rows, K across even rows

47-50:K across

Bind off. Weave in ends.  If pattern is not clear on square, block item.

Month End

Halloween is fast approaching, and so is the end of the month.  The newsletter is due out, the new classes need to be finalized, and the changes at the shop are about to begin.  I'm still studying my brains out and being a mom, and I'm a little frazzeled.  Sorry for the lack of news in the last few days.  I'll be back in the saddle soon.

Late For School

This morning I  awoke to a knocking at my bedroom door.  My teenage daughter stood there, frustrated that her school bus hadn't come.  This has been an intermittent problem this year.  She wanted me to give her a ride.  The steps were cold on my bare feet as I came donwstairs to assess the situation.  The clock read 7:08.  She could easily make it if she walked.  Her response to this suggestion was that it was too cold.  It was 52 degrees. 

"Dont you have a warmer coat?"

"They're at Daddy's."

"A hat or mittens?" I thought this was really a stretch, but if she's cold, she's cold.

"Nope."

I have knit this child several hats, multiple mittens, a  few scarves, and more.  Her father has purchased several from the store.  She has more winter accessories than most people have socks.  I heaved a sigh of frustration and mild sleepiness.  Then I dug in the closet and gave her a pair of my fair isle mittens.  She went off to walk to school, and I immediately started to wonder whether my handmade mittens would end up in the same black hole as all her other missing accessories.  It's frustrating.  After school today she'll be digging out all her "missing" knitwear so she won't have to borrow from me anymore.  I should photograph it just to prove to myself that it exists, and that I didn't hallucinate it all.  I can give her the picture the next time she tells me she doesn't have any hats or mittens. 

By the way, I talked to the school.  She was late today.  AAAAAARGH!

Color Confidence

Sometimes when I want to make a colorwork pattern I have a hard time deciding what colors to put together.  A two color fair isle sweater looks great in black and white, or most any color and white.  What if I don't want white? What if the yarn I like doesn't come in the colors suggested in the pattern?  What if the colors I choose are great, but the garment doesn't go with anything I already own?

Different colorwork patterns require different color relationships.  A two color geometric might need contrast, but an intarsia flower may do well in more similar color values.  Maybe you need funky colors, maybe traditional.  One thing that helps me is to use colors from something I own.  A bookcover may have a terrific two-color contrast, a teacup may have a nice group of colors; even furniture upholstery works beautifully.  Or, just break out the crayons.  Really! They're portable, so find the colors you like and take them with you to the shop.

The yarn store staff is usually happy to help.  Ask if you can return or exchange any unused skeins if you change your mind.  Color is one of the great joys of  knitting.  Go get some!

Changes Afoot

A great day at the knit shop yesterday.  Most importantly, Paula gave me a loaf of her amazing Amish bread!  Very little will soothe the troubled soul or delight the happy like this bread.  Usually she just brings a loaf for the shop.  The world seems like a better place today with that bread in my tummy...

The LYS owner and I had a good visit yesterday and solidified some of the changes we want to make in the shop for the holiday season.  (We'll make the changes on Sunday and Monday, and re-open on Tuesday.)  It'll be a long couple of days of work, but it'll be worth it.  Furniture's moving, paint is changing, inventory is changing, hours are changing, staff is changing, and more.  Woo Hoo!  It's so cool when someone you love gets a makeover, even when it's a yarn shop.  :)

Great Free Slipper Pattern

I got up this morning to discover that my dog had eaten one of my favorite pairs of shoes.  I hate shopping for anything but yarn, so I am deeply bummed that I need to replace these!  Since I don't know how to knit shoes, the shopping seems inevitable.

There is one bit of bright side here, though.  It got me to thinking seriously about what makes a good slipper.  (It's a footwear thought process...)  First, it would be one my dog would never be tempted to eat.  Second, it would be really comfy but durable.  Third, I would be able to knit it from my stash.  This pattern from Crystal Palace yarns for Perky Puffin Slippers almost escaped my notice because I thought it would look like the bird puffin.  Thankfully it does not.  These slipper sox are lovely, and suitable for man or woman depending on the color used.  I think if I make them I'll put a vinyl sole on them.  Leather seems a little too tempting to my four-legged friend...

What's Next

I'm trying to figure out what classes to offer next.  Things that have been popular in the past?  Something new?  Advanced techniques or something simpler?  A specific project or a skill with a wide application?  Seasonal for today, or something for next season?  Yeesh!  So many possibilities!

What if I offer cables?  Do I choose a pattern with cables in it?  Or do I teach the principles of cables and leave the pattern choice to the students?  Basic cables or reversible cables or cables that make intricate knots and weaves?  Usually when I teach a class the students leave with a swatch made in class that contains all of the techniques needed for the project.  Other teachers will offer multiple classes, and say "For homework, work until you start the decrease for the armhole.  We'll pick it up there next week."  Decisions, decisions.

Since the next several classes will be free, price won't be a factor.  What kind of class do you like?  What would you like to learn next?  I'd love to hear from you!

Mr. Socks

He never did take them off, so I had to photograph them on his feet. Maybe I can wash them while he's sleeping...

Anniversary

Yesterday was my 3rd wedding anniversary, and it was lovely. I aced an exam, hung out with my knitting, and had a beautiful romantic dinner with the Mr. to top it all off. Was it made better because Mr. was wearing the socks I knitted for him? Let's just say it didn't hurt.

I finished cabled mitt number 1 for my daughter, and continue to love both the pattern and the yarn. Cascade Greenland really rocks for garments you need to be durable. This isn't a super soft yarn, but it's totally not itchy, really high twist with nice loft, and gorgeous stitch definition.  The new mitt is on the top, my old one is on the bottom, both in Greenland.
I'm a bit behind where I want to be on the holiday knitting front, mostly because I keep adding things to the list (like cabled mitts for my daughter). And that I'm not a really fast knitter. And that two knitting hours a day is maybe less than I need. And I mostly want to make things with a zillion stitches, like socks. I need to sleep less or plan better. Plan better. Karma is biting my gift-giving butt!

Ripping Out the Mistakes

Last night I finished the socks for the Mr.. I put off the Kitchner stitch for as long as I could stand, but eventually got the peace and quiet to focus and do it. An hour later, they were on his feet. If he ever takes them off I'll try to get a photo. (Since he's a pro photographer I always feel silly taking my own pics. His are so much better!) Somehow shooting knitting stuff isn't on the top of his list, so I'll get to it myself.

I then knit my daughter's cabled mitts for a while. I reversed a cable by accident and had to rip out and re-knit the rows affected. It got me to thinking that this is one of the many cool things about knitting - you can fix your mistakes and make them invisible really easily (assuming the yarn quality is good enough that reworking it won't show.) It's another Karmic step, I suppose, to recognize your errors and strive to correct them, but in most of life they're still detectable in some way. I like the fact that a finished piece of knitting always represents lessons learned, and it isn't obvious how recently they were learned. If I'm feeling too cocky there's always the next pattern waiting to see if I'm paying attention, and I'll trip myself up if I'm not. I just keep trying to pay attention...