Peace

Across time, around the world there is one word that is always talked about but never reached. Peace. So this Thanksgiving, no blog, just one word, one thought, one struggle, Peace. As we sit down and we eat, or watch Football and parades, take a moment and be Thankful for what we have and pray for Peace.

Freedom from Want by Norman Rockwell

Time Check...

I was unpacking boxes from my move and I found something interesting. Well I found a lot of interesting things but something not only grabbed my attention but it also made me laugh. It was a USA Today newspaper from Monday November 28, 1983 that was wrapping some of my grandma's glasses. That is over 30 years ago, I wasn’t born, I wasn’t even a thought, my parents may have been engaged but definitely not married yet and other then yellowing and the date didn’t look much different from today's. See that is the thing I love about the past we think we are so far removed from things going on but we really aren’t.

Yea technologies change, (the Internet didn’t really exit in 1983), and locations of war change, (we were at the end of the Cold War and the War on Terror was not even beginning), Clothing styles are always changing but moments in life those don’t change We get mad, we get sick and things happen. We fight the daily tasks, work to keep a roof over our head, put food on our table, heat our homes and keep water flowing. Some of these things are easy, some not so and some have changed a lot through history. I think that is sort of why I laughed as I looked at the paper. One look and I wasn’t quite sure what year it was written.

Why? Well let me tell you what the three topics on that day’s page on 4D. “Teens have mixed views toward homosexuality”, “Corn my hold clue to wheat allergy cure”, and “Winter: Season of discontent for diabetes”. In recent months these topics have just as page 4D topics as they were. The first one opened that people felt homosexuality was a choice, and then went on to statistics on how people felt about it. Glad to say those statistics. The second was a South Carolina scientist who was looking at if the fact there wasn’t as many carbohydrates as corn did and if that was why wheat caused a bad reaction. Glad to say or sad to say this was confirmed true. The final one was looking at how 70 percent of all new cases of insulin-dependent diabetes strike the young between November and March and warned that the symptoms of diabetes could be confused with the flu or gastroenteritis and so hospital should be careful to make sure to check for diabetes because untreated a “victim” could go into a diabetic coma and perhaps die. One I have never thought my diabetic family members as victims and two untreated anything can kill you.

The page in question. 

So there you have it time moves forward but not always topics in the newspapers. 

Read the labels...

So you have taken up knitting and now you are very confused trying to read the label try to figure out what yarn is best for your project. Let us start with the weight.

Sometime on the label it will say the weight and sometimes it will be a number. From 1-6 it goes from fine to supper bulky each with its own uses. 1 is fine or finger weight, good for sock, mittens, lace, baby things and if you are crazy very fine sweaters. Knitting using size 000-3 needles or higher if you are making lace. 2 is sport good for thicker socks, mittens, baby things, hats and if you want it sweaters. You tend to use needles size 2-5 when working with this. 3 is light worsted excellent for think socks, sweaters, scarfs, hats and just about anything else. This yarn tends to be 4-8 in needle sizes depending on what you are working on. 4 is worsted perfect for Aran (cabling work), afghans, thick warm hats, mittens and house socks. Needles that work best are 5-10 but you can go down to 4 if needed or up to 12. This is what most people knit with on a daily basis. 5 is bulky good when making thick things, sweaters, blankets, rag rugs and work best with size 8 to 15 needles. Finally there is 6 or super bulky. Thick yarn with large needles equals quick knitting and warm and fluffy things.

Then there will be a small section sometimes that will tell you the gage. A small square, with a number of rows, stiches equaling how big of a square that will make, with little needle or crochet hook inside will tell you the gage. Of course you can change the needle and I recommend it. You can test the gage beforehand if you like too as well, but if you like to live dangerously I say have fun and don’t. Go till you feel it is right, turns out it isn’t take it apart and try again. Experimentation is fun.

Of course there is also direction care. This doesn’t differ from the images on your clothing.

Have fun knitting.

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Knitting without needles?

So in the ever expanding adventure of being a knitter I have struck out and created the most epic of all of my knitting projects. Well the start of an epic project. A few years ago I bought a kit to make a Tudor era (1485-1603) knitted waist coat (basically a sweater by todays standards) at Plimoth Plantation. I came up with the idea more recently to knit it the way they would have this means no pin needles (1800s) and no circulars (1940s).

The first problem I have come across with this idea, is that the average needle you purchase today is well 7 inches, you can find longer but they were either 10 inches (still too short for a sweater) or I couldn’t find how many inches it was supposed to be. I found some on amazon but the description was not enough to make me consider risking a purchase so what to do I need needles around 15 inches. Time for the Old Yankee in me to make an appearance, Need something you can’t buy, make it.  

Pick a sharp knife

I started with dowels from Jo-Ann's (you can get them at any arts and craft store or hard ware store.) Remember to bring your needle gage reader so you have the right size that you need. I needed size 8. I tried a few dowels in my needle gage till I found the right size. Now needles when working with double pointed always seem to be worked in 5s. Four needles hold the project and one rotates. Although needless (sewing or knitting) haven’t survived as far as I know all painting and logic show that if you knit you would at least buy a set of 5. This meant I needed to buy 3 dowels. Three dowels cut in half would give me 5 needles and one extra in case I messed up.

Mark and cut...

So first I measured, this is where the old phrase measure twice cut once come into play. I measured more than twice and my cuttings were still a little screwy. I cut each dowel in half or sort of in half give or take a 1/8th of an inch. Hey I take after my grandmothers not my grandfathers, I knit I don’t build. However, they were enough to make me happy. Then I took out my jackknife, (Alright I took out my jackknives and checked the blades to find the sharpest one) and started wildling the tips down. If you are going to do this yourself make sure the knife is sharp, a dull knife is far more dangerous then a sharp one. Another hint for this mark where you want the decrees in needle to start and work from the tip back. I had to keep reminding myself to go slow and I had a few mishaps but I was happy with the outcomes.

Widdle slowly

End result five long double each a little bit of a different size than the others but other than some wood dust on my floor and a few miscalculations I am happy. Hey any time where I work with a knife and I don’t draw blood is a victory in my book. Now to start on my Grass (Green) Tudor Knitted Waist coat…. after Christmas.

Finished product... with a machine Made one.