Lets turn it around and share some MoJo with those in need.

For our half way there day.  July 2nd at noon.  We have mentioned doing something fun.  I thought lets make it fun and do some good!  One area often overlooked in assisting  people in need is a method of carrying supplies and groceries.  Yes, stores give bags but some are going over to charging for these handy items.  There are several types of bags that can be made.  I’d like everyone to participate and celebrate our half way there day by knitting a bag and donating it to a LOCAL charitable organization with some non-perishable goods inside.

Here are some suggestions for bag patterns:

There are also walker bag patterns out there on the net should you chose to go that direction.

Where to donate?  Most communities here in the U.S.  have food pantries that are always in need.   Your donation of non-perishable food will go quickly to a person or family in need.  Perhaps even someone you know but don’t know they are in need.  Maybe even a knitter who will appreciate your bag.  Wherever your work ends up it will be useful, particularly filled with nutritious foods.

I invite everyone to participate and on  or by July 2nd donate a bag filled with food for those in need.  We are blessed with enough or we wouldn’t have yarn and knitting machines.  Lets pass it on.

If you choose to do so discussion and picture sharing can be done below.  You can email your bag filled with goods photos to admin(AT)mkworldlive(DOT)com.  Fix that email address so the capitalized words and parens are replaced with their symbols.  I will add your picture to the comments section for this post.  I am a big fan of doing things anonymously and quietly.  So if you just want to share the bag and food pics but do so anonymously I am fine with that and won’t print your name.

In this podcast… Heather is once again joined by Lori Seeger, we had some serious sound issues toward the end.  Lori gets disconnected and comes back via cell phone.   Please keep your sound reasonable so this doesn’t suddenly overwhelm you inappropriately.  I didn’t edit the situation well… because knit happens!

We discuss 2 magazines Spinoff & Knit ‘n Style.  The general off roading occurs as a result running into spinning, ravel cord, double bed aspects (in more than one dimension) as well as current projects.  On MK World Live Chats we are working on Unfinished Objects (UFO’s) at the moment and Heather waxes somewhat non poetically on how, what and resolution for your UFOs.  A challenge is presented and all are welcome to join in.

VIA EMAIL PLEASE SUBMIT ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1) How many UFO’s do you think you have?

2) Will you finish them if a prize is offered?

4) Can you photograph your UFOs and ultimately a finished object?

5)Can you finish several objects?

Submit answers with photos to admin(at)mkworldlive(dot)com (replace the text in parentheses with the appropriate symbols.

There will be subsequent opportunities to enter the contest BUT… the contest will end May10th.  SO start taking pictures of your UFOs.  All of them or each of them.  More information will provided in subsequent posts.  Stay Tuned!  If you enter you will receive updates via email.

Comments & Questions are welcome on the blog as well as email and a voice mail option provided within the podcast.  Voice messages may be used as part of future podcasts.

STAY TUNED!!! MORE TO COME!

Lesley asked about calculating yarn needs for a project. We are going to calculate using math and a fictional project.  Tomorrow, I’ll share some links and places you can get your estimates without having to use a calculator or too much brain power.

** Update ** A PDF file with worksheets for exercise is being added to the Patterns Page.**

Some Math

You want to make an afghan for a twin bed.  You don’t want it to hang off, just a nice topper.   A standard US twin bed mattress measures 39 x 75 inches (or 99 x 190 cm).   This is how big your finished project will be.  I like having the option to work with metric measurements.  It is easier on my poor little math challenged brain.  For this event we’ll use the empirical system and challenge everyone.  Those that use the metric measurements can do these calculations in their heads.  It really does make things sooo much easier.

This is an example, lets use something everyone might have in their stash.  We are going to use Red Heart Super Saver as an example.  Besides RH is great for kids afghans and lasts forever.   Go get  a yarn band and have it handy.

We’ve knitted our Gauge Swatch.  Yes, you do have to swatch to get the best estimate.  and here is our gauge information:

18.8 stitches per 4 inches

29.1 rows per 4 inches

Swatch Details: LK 150 Stitch Dial 6 Mast Tension 5 *Weight Info: 3 claw weights & 1 section of cast on comb

Keep in mind though that if you are knitting a stash killer with scrap yarns that … different yarns are going to change things so really you’ll end up with a very loose estimate.

OK lets start with some math.  First, you need to know how many stitches and rows you can knit with X amount of yarn.  Remember that swatch you already did?  Before you finished it you measured the amount of rows needed to knit two rows.  Here is how I do this.

I am knitting my swatch but in the middle I stop and mark one edge of the yarn with a sharpie marker.  Then I knit 2 rows and mark the edge of the working yarn again.  Frog those two rows.  Measure the distance between the two marks.  Mine measured 63 3/4″  My swatch was 40 stitches by 20 rows.

SO, through the magic of math we can now find how many stitches and rows we can knit per yard.  Remember our 2 rows measured 63.75″

63.75 inches = 1.771 yards   36″=1 yard  Here is the math  63.75/36 = 1.7708333 simplified to 1.771

Now our project, based on our swatch requires 184 stitches and 546 rows.  All in stockinette for this example.  It will be a nice roll up afghan.  You’ll also need a super duper bond to accomplish it in one piece.  Wait you say?  How do I know that?

Our gauge is 18.8st/29.1 rows over 4″

We expect our project to be 39″ wide.

18.8st per 4″ = 4.7st per 1″

4.7 X 39 =183.3 simplified to 183 stitches BUT, I like to have an even # of stitches so I use 184 stitches.

We also expect our project to be 75″ long

29.1r per 4″ = 7.275r per 1″

7.275 X 75 = 545.625 simplified to 546 rows.

You need 2,224 yards to complete the project.  How did I get that number?  I used Knitware.  I do know how to get the number though.

The swatch was 40 stitches wide and we measured 2 rows.  The yarn needed to knit those two rows was 1.771 yards.

There were a total of 80 stitches in our measurement.  There are 100,464 stitches in the project.  You simply multiply stitches by rows to get the total stitches.  Not going to show that math.  Now we need to figure out the yardage…

Project stitches divided by swatch stitches multiplied by swatch yardage.

100464/80 = 1255.8 X 1.771 = 2224.0208 = 2,224 yards

Make sense?  Oh what?  So how many skeins of RH Super Saver do you need?  Grab your yarn bands.

Each skein (right now today the one I have in my hand) indicates it weighs 7oz and  measures 364 yards.

You need to divide your yarn requirement 2224 yards by the skein length of 364 yards.

2224/364= 6.109 skeins of RH Super Saver.  I honestly would want to have 7, you’ll want to add a border to cure the curl.

Weighty Issues

You will note that each skein measures 7oz. Lets look at this another way quickly.  You need 7 skeins but what you are looking at is a bunch of RH Super Save scraps.  You don’t have a clue how much is left in each ball, cake or skein!  What to do? Here is what to do!

Those 7 skeins weigh 49 ounces (Here is that math 7oz x 7 skeins = 49)

You need 3.0625  lbs of yarn.   (Math:  49/16 = 3.0625)

Get yourself a scale.  Digital is best.  Start piling your yarn stash on the scale.  When you hit the 3lb mark you should have sufficient yarn to complete the twin size bed topper.

I showed you my work… now you show me yours!   Links to other/better methods?  Questions?  Comments?  Leave them on the Blog.

I have had a couple of days of real knitting… swatches swatched waiting for them to sit then wash then dry… what to do? what to do ?!

swatches

I have a heck of a stash so Tuesday while I waited for my swatches I knit up a few pairs of booties and a couple hats. Kept thinking if I could have all the machines running I’d get through my stash faster.

Hats n Booties

What are all the swatches about? Well, I have a bunch of grand victims and I intend to make sure they each get a hoodie at Christmas. This year I am starting early. It’s October and I need to do 10 of them in a variety of sizes. I’ve decided to go youngest to oldest as the younger ones haven’t had a hoodie from Gramma yet. I started with Lana. She is getting a Pink and White Hoodie with picot edging. Here is a picture of her Hoodie this will be the only one I show because … my kids might see it and might share with the victims.

Lana is too young to worry about her first hoodie from gramma. She’s got diapies and burps to worry about busy busy…

There is another grandchild coming I did say that my kids will keep me in Grand Victims. So I’ll wrap up all the Hoodie knitting with a hooded cardi for the newborn.

I approached my machines yesterday wanting to knit up a quick yoga mat or kitchen rug because of a conversation seen on Ravelry that referred to rag rugs on the machine. I LOVE RAG RUGS!!! Unfortunately my machines were possessed. I’ll worry about exorcism today. Instead I started on a SECOND project. A pattern that my good friend Laurie in Washington suggested to me. It’s OSCAR!!! I think this is great and we should all wear one when we are in a mood.

To the point…

Patons Classic Wool in Chestnut Brown &  the varie is Rosewood knit on the Silver Reed Midgauge w/ Ribber.  The tie is fulled a little bit so that I can cut it to shorten.  I haven’t decided how long or short to leave them yet so … they are what they are.  Quick to knit and fits perfectly.

First off, I haven’t moved  far.  A total of about 5 hours from CNY to Leominster, MA.  However much is going into storage and remaining there until we have a permanent home again.  Our big old house with my ginormous Knit Zone going up on the market.  So we are moving into a smallish apartment. Luckily its just me and the Hubby. Can’t imagine having to do this with kids. Obviously my Knitting Machines would be lower on the totem pole.  But its time to pick the machines that will be in use for the next few months.  I know I am not alone in all this and hopefully my thoughts will help others!  Writing about it certainly helps me.

I am taking and setting up for immediate knitting:
1) Silver Reed Mid-Gauge Electronic w/ all its bells and whistles.

These items are being packed and kept in my Mini Knit Zone for not quite so immediate needs:
1) Singer 360 with Ribber but the ribber will be stored nearby.
1) Bond USM (Super Sized) Boxed for easy storage.
1) Storage Container of project yarn and works in progress
1) Bag of scraps and miscellaneous skeins for Charity and Xmas Knitting.

All of this will need to be contained in a small 4×6 (or less) area of our apartment.   Probably quite close to our designated office space.

I have several WIPs & Projects that I MUST knit.  1) Tutti Frutti – MAO Pattern that I had set aside due but want to finish badly. (Singer 360)  Happy to report that this machine is up and I started working on Tutti Frutti on November 19th!  I had to stop for the weekend and had some problems with yarn.  Its Monday 11/23 and I haven’t touched it today.

2) Portia – A Berocco Sweater Coat with lovely cables and ribbing.  (Mid-Gauge w/ Ribber)  This is the one that I’d really like some better tools for working with.

3) SOCKS – I have so much sock yarn! (Singer 360) and sock yarn doesn’t take up much room.  I also happen to have 2 single socks for my husband that were knit on the Mid-Gauge so I need to knit the mates because he really really enjoys wearing the Mid-Gauge Socks I’ve made.

3) Spending more time with DAK on the Silver Reed Mid-Gauge so I can utilize the full power of the  machines and this program.

Wait wait why am I taking the Bond?  For the extended Bed & an emergency Bulky bed.  I have in the back of my list of things to knit several wedding afghans.   Additionally, I am of a mind to addict others.  You never know who you will meet at the yarn shop right? 

 I thought I’d spend some time working on the Blog site.  Adding and updating  Machine Knit Blogs & Feeds.  If anyone has a Blog they think I am missing let me know?  While I recorded the Podcast I was working on these updates and found myself mired in a bit of a quandry over one of the sites I was going to add.  I guess this is the fun of recording “live” as it happens work on the Blog pages.

I did not re-record the videos on Rag Hem use yet.   I had a couple of ideas that will demonstrate even more clearly the ease of use of a rag hem on any machine.  I’ll get to those by the end of next week!

As promised the poll.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

I’ve been thinking about this and will solicit input from others on these book reviews as we go along.  Like I’ve been saying my opinion isn’t really that important.  Its the eye of the beholder.  So once we know what book its going to be I’ll be soliciting calls on the book and YOUR opinions too!

I don’t know if she’ll like the beads I picked out to decorate it but.. I’ll remake one more suited to her tastes. But here is the the one I made for now.

Orifice Hook for my Friend's Spinning Wheel

Mission Accomplished!

Without further ado…

I have to say. I love Mary Anne’s pattern which for those of you that do not know..the Take A Turn Sweater pattern is available for free. Its a great way to have a look inside Knitwords without the bucks. This is a fabulous pattern and I learned a great deal from my knitting (repeatedly due to lack of and or malfunction of yarn). Frankly…. if you machine knit Knitwords is a must have.

I’ll be honest. I lag behind and do not own every copy. I’d like to and am waiting for them all to be available in electronic files. Its just me I hate paper. My computer is far more organized than my knit zone.

OK so thats my February MK GAM KAL project. Unless I whip off a pair of socks (which I really really want to do) on Saturday.

Not Proud

Not Proud

This sweater rocks enough you need to see both sides at once!

the Front

The back

I cut my hair! All for a good cause. This… went to locks of love. I earned a couple of ribbons at the NYS Fair. Blue Ribbon / 1st Place for Machine Knitted Socks, 2nd Place for Adult Machine Knitted Garment and 2nd Place for Child’s Machine Knitted Garment. Also an Honorable Mention in an open Baby Blanket / Quilt Competition which was a charity opportunity with the blankets going to the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, NY.

OH nooo… do I stop there? No. Of course not. MK World Live is up and running. I am recruiting students and teachers. Hopefully, there will be an abundance of both coming.

^Right Click & Save Target as for the podcast!