tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91343345916980237542024-03-02T09:28:36.917-08:00Curious KnitterCurious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-76902989058497276772023-05-04T10:56:00.002-07:002023-05-04T15:20:36.583-07:00Singularity<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Singularity is my love letter to gradient yarn. 💘</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hu4AyojOPRGT_iFx6XZjDjjLxjUpbEuLfppQe8tAAzL6MI_a9LVcqcWKtxJfleeiRA8VifP2_acw8N5DZ7D3UkcFppqqSX6pjGCPsnTy2Lj4Gw0QZJiJd-OQ7GYF396wOcokWlKFYJ2aiC3JKooLGONyUdkw0bOPQsT9KsJHudE4TZ2rTUGQaTH4Ow/s2048/IMG_0898.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hu4AyojOPRGT_iFx6XZjDjjLxjUpbEuLfppQe8tAAzL6MI_a9LVcqcWKtxJfleeiRA8VifP2_acw8N5DZ7D3UkcFppqqSX6pjGCPsnTy2Lj4Gw0QZJiJd-OQ7GYF396wOcokWlKFYJ2aiC3JKooLGONyUdkw0bOPQsT9KsJHudE4TZ2rTUGQaTH4Ow/s320/IMG_0898.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pattern available on <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/singularity-2" target="_blank">Ravelry</a> and <a href="https://payhip.com/b/Fr8Dk" target="_blank">Payhip</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You know I love coming up with new solutions to vexing knitting problems. In this case the problem is that gradient yarn doesn't work so well for socks, because of the heel turn. A heel turn requires one to temporarily depart from the body of the sock. So if you're making socks with gradient yarn, either you work the heel in a separate strand, or you get a break in color right across the instep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbT-BOym8lCx4ocpB5FTDc8KFIcG0XHOlqao6p2HNCBZbGhSGknygwao5VTQEambhhQB_xpDirIeM65nNEEpUlc3e1D13YNgMIPw791z0I7rsVXixDKKbfgq8w3UEMCW_URTWqHVOccFmthcs_4fWZz3tdYjHeml29jdnYdi_eSUzvqcFT3nxDW5a2Q/s649/Syncopation2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="649" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbT-BOym8lCx4ocpB5FTDc8KFIcG0XHOlqao6p2HNCBZbGhSGknygwao5VTQEambhhQB_xpDirIeM65nNEEpUlc3e1D13YNgMIPw791z0I7rsVXixDKKbfgq8w3UEMCW_URTWqHVOccFmthcs_4fWZz3tdYjHeml29jdnYdi_eSUzvqcFT3nxDW5a2Q/s320/Syncopation2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But! By exploiting the properties of bias-knit fabric, it is possible to create a heel worked entirely in the round, <i>without a heel turn.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This concept has been with me for a long time because of a toy I played with as a kid. Starting with a straight form, you can create all kinds of shapes by cutting and rotating along diagonal axes. Most simply, you can create a 90-degree corner by making one diagonal cut and rotating one side. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WWxwHfeggmaQx1q2WN-iCK7-JaWVByyqd8JMyzal6a66Flc3GtD_sZMEq_SkWEr-LQATzBpceoMI_BZsJnnMxxHJGoXSM8XLPKuSkC6qIVHDm0NHCFI8N2x1IcjZY6kJTAH8jMpT726CSkn2UFyLSlqwIKrEQY2IxV8UVFWMDTK1KnvOq6Lv_AvO-g/s626/Snake.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="626" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WWxwHfeggmaQx1q2WN-iCK7-JaWVByyqd8JMyzal6a66Flc3GtD_sZMEq_SkWEr-LQATzBpceoMI_BZsJnnMxxHJGoXSM8XLPKuSkC6qIVHDm0NHCFI8N2x1IcjZY6kJTAH8jMpT726CSkn2UFyLSlqwIKrEQY2IxV8UVFWMDTK1KnvOq6Lv_AvO-g/s320/Snake.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For years I'd been mulling over this idea for a sock construction, but it wasn't until my friend Brenda (a.k.a. KBFF) was kvetching about the problem of [gradient yarn + socks] while making her <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Brenda/syncopation-socks" target="_blank">Syncopation Socks</a> (pictured above) that I had my a-ha moment. This construction would be the perfect solution!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope you'll check out the pattern. I am also working on other sock designs based on this principle. Because I love gradient yarn, and I love socks, combining these two loves makes me very happy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">BTW: You may have spotted <a href="https://knitty.com/ISSUEss23/PATTmiter/PATTmiter.php" target="_blank">Miter Joint</a> in the current issue of knitty (Spring & Summer 2023). I'm glad to see I'm not the only designer who is captivated by the marriage of gradient yarn and bias construction. This is another example of a sock that uses bias construction to sidestep the heel turn.</div><p></p>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-46681888526130123802022-12-14T10:55:00.017-08:002022-12-21T09:33:40.214-08:00Shredding the Envelope<p>My latest pattern, <a href="https://anzula.myshopify.com/products/soliton-wave-wrap-and-scarf-kit" target="_blank">Soliton Wave</a>, was released by Anzula on Dec 1. Here's my KBFF Brenda being the perfect model! </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FK_4uI6LS-JuE0NGyYcihW0hgc2yzLnGlupD05gAHitYgQ_lC4VcIGbFcAV0cLvj2xjeu10JXCIxmQCk6cgz-UFbwVkNGKisT63ZVGFnBW-vU4WkplzfjSfcKEvQ0-bspwkg_bOMobHhV_HYntj1IPF79JamQH9JKAgMzYXGRqbqzOen8OyEhPuQcQ/s2049/IMG_5211.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FK_4uI6LS-JuE0NGyYcihW0hgc2yzLnGlupD05gAHitYgQ_lC4VcIGbFcAV0cLvj2xjeu10JXCIxmQCk6cgz-UFbwVkNGKisT63ZVGFnBW-vU4WkplzfjSfcKEvQ0-bspwkg_bOMobHhV_HYntj1IPF79JamQH9JKAgMzYXGRqbqzOen8OyEhPuQcQ/w300-h400/IMG_5211.JPG" width="300" /></a></p><p>Brenda also hosts a long running podcast, <a href="https://www.brendadayne.co.uk/category/cast-on/" target="_blank">Cast On</a>. Her latest episode, <a href="https://www.brendadayne.co.uk/2022/12/17/185-knitting-adjacent/" target="_blank">#185, "Knitting Adjacent,"</a> features an interview with me about this pattern.</p><p>There's something important about this pattern that's not evident from pictures alone... the format that I used to communicate the detailed instructions is completely new. I created it especially for this pattern, because traditional formats just didn't cut it. Below is the story of how and why I came up with the instructional format I use in the pattern. For a bite-sized pattern featuring my new format, please check out my free pattern <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rosetta-stone-2" target="_blank">Rosetta Stone.</a></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Visual thinking</h3><p>When it comes to knitting instructions, I have long wished for more than just basic row-by-row instructions. Sometimes there's also a grid chart, but if there are any increases or decreases, a grid chart doesn't resemble what comes off the needles. </p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBm15_hWNFwXbojPo59n_mOEtc-YUXUvBt2SFgPmCkME4MsOXm8ytwHqA3CyUj27Sdn8gUaNVFyrLo5kDkHsioHeSBC2iNl56t_SZPezMxzp2qZ4NpWHaeqWWYHoD_wOjlJTu4D-5qza61GzrZCQJ3vpFmZWJsr0L8qXWm2XRB7Nylx3Jb3U-BjkR1jA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="602" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBm15_hWNFwXbojPo59n_mOEtc-YUXUvBt2SFgPmCkME4MsOXm8ytwHqA3CyUj27Sdn8gUaNVFyrLo5kDkHsioHeSBC2iNl56t_SZPezMxzp2qZ4NpWHaeqWWYHoD_wOjlJTu4D-5qza61GzrZCQJ3vpFmZWJsr0L8qXWm2XRB7Nylx3Jb3U-BjkR1jA" width="263" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Example of how a grid chart shows decreases... a lot of empty squares.</span></div><p></p><p>Knitting is a three dimensional creative experience, and a grid shows only two dimensions. I often find that well-crafted photographs of a knitted item give me more useful information than any detailed instructions, because my brain perceives most knitting instructions as noise.</p><p>Soliton Wave would not exist without my two primary design building tools: Excel, and <a href="https://stitch-maps.com/" target="_blank">Stitch Maps</a>. You've probably heard of Excel, but how about Stitch Maps? I got to know its creator, JC Briar, after she had finished the underlying science but before she had launched it. It is an incredible<i> </i>visualization tool, and a perfect complement to my strange brain. </p><p>The basic structural building blocks of Soliton Wave are increases and decreases, used as surface decoration, to create curving channels of purl stitches. My first design that featured this effect was <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tachyon" target="_blank">Tachyon</a>, a clocks sock worked from the toe up. In Tachyon, the curves are parallel, so the rhythm of working knits, purls, increases and decreases across any given row is relatively straightforward. </p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCkumwiOQklmtZbxZYyoyi7lRYljAHemig5oBiCvm-wXz86rLZZY3YeSbaz6uPRtkKyDkb2mayvTcVatkSL9KGVb0Co3aiECxSGKwpwmIQ6qQnBS6TKs4MLxi5BWs5Irfj5caujO5WvvnT3x5KuT09cw4D6txzw1MwrMcawwqzVXHBS4jFAIsAdoWUAg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="266" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCkumwiOQklmtZbxZYyoyi7lRYljAHemig5oBiCvm-wXz86rLZZY3YeSbaz6uPRtkKyDkb2mayvTcVatkSL9KGVb0Co3aiECxSGKwpwmIQ6qQnBS6TKs4MLxi5BWs5Irfj5caujO5WvvnT3x5KuT09cw4D6txzw1MwrMcawwqzVXHBS4jFAIsAdoWUAg" width="48" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Soliton Wave, however, takes those waves and staggers them longitudinally. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJaYH33vEomM8eq2G3SX1UY8cUwWlcFVNQSWGHFXb7I2OMw3QBjfDlbynGciogXwkCGL44przPDasW_ELvLAPE30kOaXx07W0qI4t1wkqPUrB2E5zdQQrJ3O3PcBoLrqPXp3mox9qtZZpeijqJO4IJNFZ36EF_1-UcFonVJEF5xHz3GIeTsPYEUYIa9g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1709" data-original-width="516" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJaYH33vEomM8eq2G3SX1UY8cUwWlcFVNQSWGHFXb7I2OMw3QBjfDlbynGciogXwkCGL44przPDasW_ELvLAPE30kOaXx07W0qI4t1wkqPUrB2E5zdQQrJ3O3PcBoLrqPXp3mox9qtZZpeijqJO4IJNFZ36EF_1-UcFonVJEF5xHz3GIeTsPYEUYIa9g" width="72" /></a></div><br />When the waves are staggered like this, the rhythm of movements across any individual row is harder to follow. Unfortunately, standard knitting instructional formats don't provide the visualization power that a pattern like this needs.<p></p><p>So, I came up with my own format.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Shred the Envelope</h3><p>In essence, my new format is an annotated Stitch Map. It is an outgrowth of how I design my patterns (build in Excel, render in Stitch Maps; then iterate, rinse and repeat.) I'll walk you through how I design, and how that led me to create the format for Soliton Wave. </p><p>Starting out in Excel, here is a sample single column that expands and contracts in size, based on placement of increases and decreases over a series of rounds. (This shows the RS view.) I've added some green and red shading to help show where the curve expands and contracts. Think of this as a building block of a larger design.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzrZ5r43cXII53OKqEnOHVviKRLGW53vVKuvlOopWZqRgfMQLBz6aLwcHeg9Fht4bzf0Qxgk6Ba0IPzD3qyHXESdr5g8D000rw0pgABG1SQ_cPonkEvZ47I8r3pgfJb_tEx-lBjMso0TsTaNqnxD1KIrGTqAcjxMlt1wQ8RNjEY68p40tRwej5Ekf7Q/s410/soliton-sample_1column.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="196" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzrZ5r43cXII53OKqEnOHVviKRLGW53vVKuvlOopWZqRgfMQLBz6aLwcHeg9Fht4bzf0Qxgk6Ba0IPzD3qyHXESdr5g8D000rw0pgABG1SQ_cPonkEvZ47I8r3pgfJb_tEx-lBjMso0TsTaNqnxD1KIrGTqAcjxMlt1wQ8RNjEY68p40tRwej5Ekf7Q/s320/soliton-sample_1column.png" width="153" /></a></div><br /><p>If I plug this into Stitch Maps, this is what I get.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBArnonTt_EobF1IoKH3QVisdencASGL-FW3gqj251EuHTLdDBzRzNPW1gs7U9DkkOPlslQ_W5QvXZACogJ3kvGm6rTvGjA3SRGuwH5DMHomnIlF9RKytHMVEYNVpUrg4NXM7EJMkCj0f5iL1PDS8YAVjR9qzZ2EsiSNz4BENaRSQjEV8F4apEFMkrwQ/s876/soliton-sample-1%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBArnonTt_EobF1IoKH3QVisdencASGL-FW3gqj251EuHTLdDBzRzNPW1gs7U9DkkOPlslQ_W5QvXZACogJ3kvGm6rTvGjA3SRGuwH5DMHomnIlF9RKytHMVEYNVpUrg4NXM7EJMkCj0f5iL1PDS8YAVjR9qzZ2EsiSNz4BENaRSQjEV8F4apEFMkrwQ/s320/soliton-sample-1%20(1).png" width="132" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Now I can add more columns in Excel, separated by purl channels, and stagger the vertical position of these columns. The cell with the border around it in each column is the base of each curve. Can you see the pattern? Each column is offset from its neighbor by 4 rounds.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggDS6D_3W2GKvNDq6Y7gfZJAGln2YZsX2AFuHIK1l5ZGiN7GCBjt2x9lcvUOQWHcbuk_EoxLLwDBl4Jm1v2-cf7x8NAMAkX3nLuQ8icpftBTIjSSFMUoik-uLn-A6GCQXkQYzLC7ees4ubonPBWGeB_wZNhYkXz1RHR1zhD962ZfDuSPeAoj3E3AQBpw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="512" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggDS6D_3W2GKvNDq6Y7gfZJAGln2YZsX2AFuHIK1l5ZGiN7GCBjt2x9lcvUOQWHcbuk_EoxLLwDBl4Jm1v2-cf7x8NAMAkX3nLuQ8icpftBTIjSSFMUoik-uLn-A6GCQXkQYzLC7ees4ubonPBWGeB_wZNhYkXz1RHR1zhD962ZfDuSPeAoj3E3AQBpw" width="301" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Plugging that into Stitch Maps, you get this:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8kzYaBUecuCxJVeEz-oqJ5GPNDq6d1yltXX7ZiJlCjeHPg0x2Qsu8lEbIsjNmOqYn_1o1jNKVcUFS7KRePK78zV96Z3KAdcDQ6v40Oi1D3nd74vZIi4LLR33zG2hsaPqePki5SVU-ffasQo11GZ8mENrC8E7cihv04MK2EYRxDi2V8nWUZyHfVo-WaA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="905" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8kzYaBUecuCxJVeEz-oqJ5GPNDq6d1yltXX7ZiJlCjeHPg0x2Qsu8lEbIsjNmOqYn_1o1jNKVcUFS7KRePK78zV96Z3KAdcDQ6v40Oi1D3nd74vZIi4LLR33zG2hsaPqePki5SVU-ffasQo11GZ8mENrC8E7cihv04MK2EYRxDi2V8nWUZyHfVo-WaA" width="250" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>If I were limited to using traditional formats for writing up this design, I would have to transform my excel table and stitch map into this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlQlfHOmRyApIEKcUNOZsMNE2EaS-5uiMU97elkRbcvzkouQpMBNm4SFINyZML1gV8C0mrOeJ3wbZCWOgjWWWXOE7PE66-3SF5NEpwSawMI8nEYnHvhyEsq_Ec_DdmL1QKMQoj3vn0RPdYBcq0WOy4t8RHScTsDKl1MLwzPAjcBvcoWQsT7gVt4mur5w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="1255" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlQlfHOmRyApIEKcUNOZsMNE2EaS-5uiMU97elkRbcvzkouQpMBNm4SFINyZML1gV8C0mrOeJ3wbZCWOgjWWWXOE7PE66-3SF5NEpwSawMI8nEYnHvhyEsq_Ec_DdmL1QKMQoj3vn0RPdYBcq0WOy4t8RHScTsDKl1MLwzPAjcBvcoWQsT7gVt4mur5w=w400-h161" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I don't know about you, but when I look at these traditional instructions I have a difficult time seeing any visual relationships, whereas they are so clear to me in Excel and Stitch Maps. And this is just a swatch; when scaled up to a full size scarf or wrap, it becomes <i>very </i>difficult to navigate instructions in either of these formats.</p><p>So, let's take my little Excel table and re-sort the columns and rows to line up with the stitch map. Like any chart, it starts at the bottom right corner. Columns are laid out from right to left, the direction in which we knit; instructions inside each cell read from left to right, the direction in which we read.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBZD1BzJyVbtnIcP77U82pbPbSl5tA9o-K7Q8-LTmDTFlcI4YgCZ8m3UbGDB478J20hfMCfoxuE6PPHj0IFxgD5bt16-V1073VfPIuT90k8XI4QyA8K7-8bbgGSmz8cTfMMWF0pNZjIGig26SDfiRAil2OOHJqGy_FEdyS5_PKYoroyWP_TrlvEBDckQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="449" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBZD1BzJyVbtnIcP77U82pbPbSl5tA9o-K7Q8-LTmDTFlcI4YgCZ8m3UbGDB478J20hfMCfoxuE6PPHj0IFxgD5bt16-V1073VfPIuT90k8XI4QyA8K7-8bbgGSmz8cTfMMWF0pNZjIGig26SDfiRAil2OOHJqGy_FEdyS5_PKYoroyWP_TrlvEBDckQ" width="258" /></a></div></div></div><p></p><p><i>Can I just take a moment here to kvetch about how terribly inconvenient it is for me as a knit designer, that we read in the opposite direction than we knit!</i></p><p>Just to make it a little easier to visualize the relationship between Excel and Stitch Maps, here's that stitch map again, this time indicating the same stitch that is boxed in the Excel chart.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAa-cUOg_WAwEmefCsK0TdgGbg1NrVwa7ukEGNPfOXR5DhwxfBmyKBWeTbUzlmqMsroAvVY1dck5NHJFNDDlnbMALcU6xnt2ndBOjnXhZePIOhpkVWGjVAE9axc_KvfYslU6ED2KJeNiXgHqxTTPhLEQ_Sm3FdFKWHxKGka0eu-0WEk3CnOa60C-r8sQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="905" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAa-cUOg_WAwEmefCsK0TdgGbg1NrVwa7ukEGNPfOXR5DhwxfBmyKBWeTbUzlmqMsroAvVY1dck5NHJFNDDlnbMALcU6xnt2ndBOjnXhZePIOhpkVWGjVAE9axc_KvfYslU6ED2KJeNiXgHqxTTPhLEQ_Sm3FdFKWHxKGka0eu-0WEk3CnOa60C-r8sQ" width="250" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>The problem I faced now was how to express the WS rows. When I'm building a design I always write it from the RS of the fabric. But if the fabric is worked back and forth, the instructions need to change the direction of the WS rows, and swap knits for purls. This is a pain to do, and it completely wrecks the visualization of the curves traveling longitudinally along the fabric. What a mess!</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEcspHMCtIVz-83bD9zNIaG8JdGk2B94qCYz7OTZcLzZYI0EyF7YNpFNaXatLUqlL-eVZmahhB2ShLcdPUXCS0dLyOC1qxmB--d8QDrHHoWnQRZNB9AXhcl5VKW71tbd_46q41wz_o8VetK4uvmC_eAxQfIFWYhWLd_Jz34LOw7GQxP6OYhLWfRp2cwg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="530" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEcspHMCtIVz-83bD9zNIaG8JdGk2B94qCYz7OTZcLzZYI0EyF7YNpFNaXatLUqlL-eVZmahhB2ShLcdPUXCS0dLyOC1qxmB--d8QDrHHoWnQRZNB9AXhcl5VKW71tbd_46q41wz_o8VetK4uvmC_eAxQfIFWYhWLd_Jz34LOw7GQxP6OYhLWfRp2cwg" width="312" /></a></div></div><br /><p></p><p>But there's a simple solution here. Since all the shaping happens on RS rows, I dropped all WS rows from my little chart, and added general instructions to work every WS row in pattern (knit the knits, purl the purls).</p><p>And now we have this. </p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4eUMr1XbxDsy5hX32ceu1zN4mChedBNX6Ujmkecb-Vb08xB8_ZwxEIGAgF8VL_EPpru7WtCu8u407Juu60bNxnGQ-vs8QJEDRgdCZZnXPnPLOxyYehrr6Max1J2_7pdwLK7H4lVc-wrSKNBi2t_hy5svyP_lbDheAr2YGROu_t2pj-5-RJ1QOiBBjCQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="505" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4eUMr1XbxDsy5hX32ceu1zN4mChedBNX6Ujmkecb-Vb08xB8_ZwxEIGAgF8VL_EPpru7WtCu8u407Juu60bNxnGQ-vs8QJEDRgdCZZnXPnPLOxyYehrr6Max1J2_7pdwLK7H4lVc-wrSKNBi2t_hy5svyP_lbDheAr2YGROu_t2pj-5-RJ1QOiBBjCQ" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEha1Qka0vVuB9IO-xI7ySH49eoTMdX5aKGoZsYDJawyvj2JSjglt9RVZMIknNpnsB2Dc40MtJb54fn3dEa5OA5fDHvDia0dNTw5CUQ_imjnYlQYQ0xm1E-bgowcL_xEPfYvyRJEkhGlz42tK0yio893Vu1HWahWhumNr3grKNev4OcZEqCBR4Cs3YpTwQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="905" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEha1Qka0vVuB9IO-xI7ySH49eoTMdX5aKGoZsYDJawyvj2JSjglt9RVZMIknNpnsB2Dc40MtJb54fn3dEa5OA5fDHvDia0dNTw5CUQ_imjnYlQYQ0xm1E-bgowcL_xEPfYvyRJEkhGlz42tK0yio893Vu1HWahWhumNr3grKNev4OcZEqCBR4Cs3YpTwQ" width="250" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p><p>Which is, I think, <i>so much better </i>than this:</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9_quk_wxA_jKAf0TzF2IBVv75AjDyf_njoGCCeaD6FwWi_FUC5JSV3vYtBHyjUAWQcN6SrKl1kxwK5uoM-yVtCxRe5Y3TgMYqCnrV8jM7qG62vGyZdRQmkLxzEJCM_C8QYVBch9PA3ArAmrajFXUwn8uogKqZ5CXJQjvZJ3m8YDM9rzseG7ZiUpxQjg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="518" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9_quk_wxA_jKAf0TzF2IBVv75AjDyf_njoGCCeaD6FwWi_FUC5JSV3vYtBHyjUAWQcN6SrKl1kxwK5uoM-yVtCxRe5Y3TgMYqCnrV8jM7qG62vGyZdRQmkLxzEJCM_C8QYVBch9PA3ArAmrajFXUwn8uogKqZ5CXJQjvZJ3m8YDM9rzseG7ZiUpxQjg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">If you build it, they will come.</h3><p>I know it's madness for me to come up with a completely new format. Knitters are accustomed and attached to the formats that they use, and my new format is completely unlike anything else out there. I have no idea how this will land. But <i>I needed to do this. </i>I'm sure I'm not the only knitter out there who struggles to visualize the end result from existing traditional formats. I needed to break out of that box and trust myself. I did this for me, but I hope it will help others. </p><p>💜</p><p><br /></p>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-72011126488270840452022-07-08T13:00:00.004-07:002022-07-08T13:22:55.938-07:00Tachyon: KAL Week 3<p> Hello knitters!</p><p>A few of you have contacted me with questions about where to start the heel. I realize that the starting point for the heel is probably a bit counter-intuitive, so here are some visuals.</p><p>If you are working a standard toe-up sock, this is probably the point where you would start working the gusset, and this is where you would start working the sole flap for JSPH. </p><p>The first picture shows where the sock would come to if <i>unstretched</i>. This is right at the top of the arch, where the foot circumference begins to increase. (Please forgive my black fingers... I'd just made myself a blueberry smoothie!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpOmTuYiCafKQrdFv_sI10M8LJBvzE7Sq01xK9BCM0fPFbUaHNCJKpgcZcP8dct2qSBa8-to7DObug4XcI1-1NP299VJqeqPuq0ILGroBfColXUOclZ9vXzgunCvDcs2-fWkgGOwC_hjBfPNKcrYaW1k3CSp0MztDoYYbgArh9G6RjI1wNEOksSaFdA/s4032/IMG_6620.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpOmTuYiCafKQrdFv_sI10M8LJBvzE7Sq01xK9BCM0fPFbUaHNCJKpgcZcP8dct2qSBa8-to7DObug4XcI1-1NP299VJqeqPuq0ILGroBfColXUOclZ9vXzgunCvDcs2-fWkgGOwC_hjBfPNKcrYaW1k3CSp0MztDoYYbgArh9G6RjI1wNEOksSaFdA/s320/IMG_6620.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The next picture shows where the sock should comfortably stretch to. This is about 1 inch of negative ease.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgS2XiM4ghCcrIcPgKcbFaLwqMLaVH-P0zir3zBSa4ry5-FJ9yfUSnRK60oeq0oMV-cPdEZN_y0uOf9VqIS0l8bXaMiEdSH4en9l4uiMb-EnwMBGrbfzstBcbNW2_iA6MObFPHFC99m-78MZaOIOI5s8riLXJ_wKoefW4detCG6nC8gi0R3h8GnxWoA/s4032/IMG_6621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgS2XiM4ghCcrIcPgKcbFaLwqMLaVH-P0zir3zBSa4ry5-FJ9yfUSnRK60oeq0oMV-cPdEZN_y0uOf9VqIS0l8bXaMiEdSH4en9l4uiMb-EnwMBGrbfzstBcbNW2_iA6MObFPHFC99m-78MZaOIOI5s8riLXJ_wKoefW4detCG6nC8gi0R3h8GnxWoA/s320/IMG_6621.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Here is a review shot, JSPH is on the right, standard square heel on the left. It might be hard to see the sole flap (blue) but the heel back (red) is right above it, so that shows you how long the sole flap is. See how, with JSPH, it reaches all the way to the middle of the arch. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_aFMvVtOVvNQow87bKsW0fvUkYA2lasGnADIYbesNgYkKKaBkFpi2Rj94X6D55zC0yJepocQDMMqvK7x4B7haUDYO0Lz3H-uVxlftNTfu6Ex9ma9h3I2V-opciVY6AIi92P56dQ2-U7F0AQuxEvrWJh7_TSI-B2EvM_j6LotY46_3PVUtkzlIzJsapg/s1836/IMG_5055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1377" data-original-width="1836" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_aFMvVtOVvNQow87bKsW0fvUkYA2lasGnADIYbesNgYkKKaBkFpi2Rj94X6D55zC0yJepocQDMMqvK7x4B7haUDYO0Lz3H-uVxlftNTfu6Ex9ma9h3I2V-opciVY6AIi92P56dQ2-U7F0AQuxEvrWJh7_TSI-B2EvM_j6LotY46_3PVUtkzlIzJsapg/s320/IMG_5055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For more specifics on JSPH, please visit the blog post <a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2022/04/jenys-square-peg-heel.html" target="_blank">here</a>: </div><br /><p><br /></p>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-34480690441460961032022-06-25T19:32:00.003-07:002022-06-25T19:34:11.244-07:00Tachyon: Collected errata<p>Howdy knitters!</p><p>Unless/until I send out new file updates, I'm keeping track of emerging errata here and also on the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tachyon" target="_blank">Ravelry Pattern page</a> (bottom of the Notes field.)</p><p><b>Latest errata found:</b></p><p>All sizes, in the Heel section, under Working the Heel turn, Row 4 (WS) reads "Sl 1 <b><span style="color: red;">p1</span></b> wyif..." Alas, that <b><span style="color: red;">p1</span></b> is supposed to be a <b><span style="color: #38761d;">pw</span></b>. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>New addition to the pattern!</b> </p><p>Earlier today I sent a pdf file with a table listing the detailed line by line instructions for working the asynchronous clocks. If you purchased the pattern via Ravelry you should have also received an update from them. The index file applies to all sizes.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Previous updates </b>to each size (v4 for sizes XS, S and M, v5 for size L) fixed the following errata and points of confusion:</p><p>- there were several numerical typos in the size Large.<br />- link to <a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2022/06/judys-magic-cast-on-my-way.html" target="_blank">Judy's Magic Cast On</a>, <br />- a little more detail about negative ease, and determining the right size, <br />- correct (!) page numbers</p><p><br /></p><p>I'll keep you posted of anything else that turns up. <br /> </p>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-81342761510997789062022-06-24T16:24:00.020-07:002022-06-25T13:25:38.570-07:00Tachyon KAL: Week 2<p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>UPDATED 6/25 a few hours after the KAL. An astute participant spotted that I had mixed up "Outside" and "Inside" in the instructions below. Gaah! Sorry about that. It's now fixed. Hopefully this wasn't up long enough to mess anybody up. Please feel free to email me (sockselkie@gmail.com) with any questions. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">Hello Tachyon knitters!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">I've received a few questions from folks who have reached the round in the left sock where the clocks patterns start, and are unsure how to proceed (this is round 15[18, 21, 24] for sizes XS[S, M, L] respectively). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">First of all, please bear in mind that it's hard to write a pattern that is intuitive for all learning styles. That's precisely why I'm available for questions. I'm glad that some of you are reaching out. Please do continue to do so. :) </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">Context: each ROUND of the sock includes a ROW of each of the clock patterns. Knowing this terminology may help you follow this post, and the pattern.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">The idea I'm trying to express with the table format in the pattern is that when you get to round 15[18, 21, 24], of the LEFT sock, you'll begin a rhythm in which you will always k13[15,
17, 19], then work a row of the the <i>Inside</i> clock, then k15[19, 23, 27], then work a row of the <i>Outside</i> clock, then k to end. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">LEFT SOCK<br /><i>Round 15[18, 21, 24]: </i><br />
K13[15, 17, 19], <i>{<b>Row 1 Outside:</b> M1R, k1, p1, k1, p1, ssk,
k3}</i>, <br /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">k15[19, 23, 27], </span><i style="font-family: Calibri;">{<b>Row 1 Inside:</b> K1, k2tog, p1, k1,
M1L}</i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, <br />k14[16, 18, 20]</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><i>Round 16[19, 22, 25]: <br />
</i>K13[15, 17, 19], <i>{<b>Row 2 Outside</b>: K2, p1, k1, p1, k4}</i>,
<br />k15[19, 23, 27], <i>{<b>Row 2 Inside</b>: K2, p1, k2}</i>, <br />k14[16, 18,
20]<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><i>Round 17[20, 23, 26]: <br />
</i>K13[15, 17, 19], <i>{<b>Row 3 Outside</b>: K1, M1R, k1, p1, k1, p1, ssk,
k2}</i>, <br />k15[19, 23, 27], <i>{<b>Row 3 Inside</b>: K2tog, p1, k1, M1L,
k1}</i>, <br />k14[16, 18, 20]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><i>Round 18[21, 24, 27]: <br />
</i>K[15, 17, 19], <i>{<b>Row 4 Outside</b>: K3, p1, k1, p1, k3},</i>
<br />k15[19, 23, 27], <i>{<b>Row 4 Inside</b>: K1, p1, k3}</i>, <br />k14[16, 18,
20]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From here, hopefully it makes sense that on the next round of the sock you will work the next row of the Inside and Outside clocks (in this case Row 5 of both), then the next, etc. until you reach the end of the Inside clock (because that's only 16 rows high as opposed to 24 rows for the Outside clock). </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After you finish Row 16 of the Inside clock, begin again on Row 1. The two clock hands are not synchronized so the Outside clock will not restart on Row 1 when you restart the Inside clock. It's important to find a way to keep track of where you are, and to be able to read your knitting so you can see how many rows down your last increases and decreases were. (Or, go offroad and synchronize the clocks. Whatever works! Remember, this is supposed to be fun for you.) </span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">JFYI: How I do it: <br />As a magic loop knitter, I'm accustomed to dividing whatever I'm working on into 2 parts. I personally find it easier to keep track of the asynchronous shaping if I shift over the start of my round so that the instep sts are one one needle and the sole sts are on the other. If you're wondering why the round didn't start this way in the first place: It's because the toe shaping is a little tricky as the clocks nudge upwards from the midline into the instep, and I think it's easier to keep track if I center the round in the middle of the sole. On round 13[16, 19, 22] the shaping has finished moving onto the instep, so after that is when I shift around my sts. </span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">After shifting over the start of my round, this is how I would work Round 15[18, 21, 24]:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Needle 1: </span></span><i style="font-family: Calibri;">{<b>Row 1 Outside:</b> M1R, k1, p1, k1, p1, ssk, k3}</i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, k15[19, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23, 27]</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><i style="font-family: Calibri;">{<b>Row </b></i><i style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>1 Inside:</b> K1, k2tog, p1, k1, M1L}</i><i style="font-family: Calibri;">;<br /></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Needle 2: K to end.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hopefully you get the idea. I can talk more about this in the KAL.</span></span></p>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-1888511588794627432022-06-19T08:26:00.003-07:002022-06-25T10:08:09.459-07:00Tachyon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGbKipKABeLWQkrMpCFb1-QPD63zNul53z8meW3EGZrG_gVqoNPkdiNqpaBgv0BqdXU_7b8F1wYoYFBipdYF21rNrv9_0U5ZGp5dWl9I-yaR7qCcJ6ahCiqkVhMkDH-y49dMuuTA6Fy03p-_aoQDLb9h74LqIGW7eyAv5oGHtkz0TpK9JsoFMtCcS3w/s3648/IMG_6811.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="3648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGbKipKABeLWQkrMpCFb1-QPD63zNul53z8meW3EGZrG_gVqoNPkdiNqpaBgv0BqdXU_7b8F1wYoYFBipdYF21rNrv9_0U5ZGp5dWl9I-yaR7qCcJ6ahCiqkVhMkDH-y49dMuuTA6Fy03p-_aoQDLb9h74LqIGW7eyAv5oGHtkz0TpK9JsoFMtCcS3w/s320/IMG_6811.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>My latest sock design, <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tachyon" target="_blank">Tachyon</a>, is now available on Ravelry. It's a clocks sock worked from the toe up, utilizing all three of the new sock techniques posted recently on this blog (<a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2022/04/my-edge.html" target="_blank">My Edge</a>, <a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2022/05/banditoe-banded-toe.html" target="_blank">Banditoe</a>, and <a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2022/04/jenys-square-peg-heel.html" target="_blank">Jeny's Square Peg Heel/JSPH</a>). </p><p>I published this design through <a href="https://madelinetosh.com/" target="_blank">Madeline Tosh</a>. I have been a fan of these guys for years and this is the first design I've developed for them (the first of many, I'm sure!) They have been AMAZING to work with. If you are not familiar with their yarns, you must go take a look. They have been incredibly supportive of me as a designer so they get major good karma points. </p><p>I'm currently leading a KAL through Tosh for their <a href="https://madelinetosh.com/collections/mtkits/products/mt-vacation-sock-club-sock-a-long?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=madelinetosh&utm_content=" target="_blank">vacation sock-a-long</a>, and as of this writing (6/19/2022) there are still three sessions left. I hope you will hop on board. Based on the questions from yesterday's session, I've put together a video demonstrating how to get started.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r24Fx-bWCdA" width="320" youtube-src-id="r24Fx-bWCdA"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div>If you are up to the heel, please visit this video, also available through the <a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2022/04/my-edge.html" target="_blank">My Edge</a> post. </div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">0:00 - Pick up and knit</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">4:23 - Pick up and purl</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">6:58 - Working decreases with picked up sts </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BWI3RkE0-q0" width="320" youtube-src-id="BWI3RkE0-q0"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /> Thanks and stay tuned!<p></p>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-10573841252160689582022-06-19T08:08:00.005-07:002022-06-19T08:08:57.688-07:00Judy's Magic Cast On, My Way (video)<p>Follow up to <a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2011/02/judys-magic-cast-on-la-jeny.html" target="_blank">this post</a> from 2011 in which I illustrate my method of executing Judy's Magic Cast On (JMCO). Here is a video!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jEVaNn3vGe8" width="320" youtube-src-id="jEVaNn3vGe8"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-82399477271754762172022-05-23T21:21:00.012-07:002022-08-14T14:19:53.623-07:00Banditoe (The Banded Toe)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhakjp0In-0q2Cmx8wmWVU7gAIIn-2_BUrUletyiOCa8VOjP3ujTNW8_dWVEM7ey9x4lkD9wEpb19TZgzcXKY-M-t9v1yCR_Ip53WKaSUT6SxlbtboGocyDqs-y5ZoQo9J_2nKwjPdRladKJZK-UiTLR74jZ59tnfzOt8vC3H3GoVPDZIp2HT_ajLkSMw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="792" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhakjp0In-0q2Cmx8wmWVU7gAIIn-2_BUrUletyiOCa8VOjP3ujTNW8_dWVEM7ey9x4lkD9wEpb19TZgzcXKY-M-t9v1yCR_Ip53WKaSUT6SxlbtboGocyDqs-y5ZoQo9J_2nKwjPdRladKJZK-UiTLR74jZ59tnfzOt8vC3H3GoVPDZIp2HT_ajLkSMw=w400-h260" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Banditoe is a variation on the classic wedge heel, in which the sides of the wedge go all the way across the foot, in a band. <br /><br />Yes I realize it has a funny name. It's an ode to the humor of incorrect autocorrects. The story: I came up with this toe configuration with the help of my friend Brenda Dayne. We text each other a lot, and at the time I was calling this the "banded toe." But my phone kept autocorrecting it to "Bandit Toe." So we decided to just go with it, and named it Banditoe!</div><p></p><p><br />The method consists of <b>three basic steps. </b>If you're working toe up:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">1. Cast on sts provisionally. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">2. Work a small tab back and forth.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">3. Shift to working in the round; pick up and knit sts along each
side of the tab, then continue working regular increase rounds until you
reach the target stitch count for the foot.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Instructions</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Instructions are written for an 8-stitch band in fingering weight
yarn, 8 or 9 st/inch, but Banditoe can be
worked in whatever width band you choose, and worked to any size, any desired final stitch count. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1. Cast on 16 sts using JMCO (8 sts on each needle), rotate 180<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">°</span>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2. Starting and ending with a knit row, work 7 rows back and forth in
stockinette stitch, slipping the first st pw at the beginning of each. (9 rows total)</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHEc637a0PcNd8LD_RvfQFeRiZBCICsbndCHJJUCvXXb0I4ZCvFM08XubfGN-PyiP4vY9AFZHKkvcWqywiJq3oQexZ4aDw101QjG9Yvqk6LfD3--bodiNQyGS1n1JDB48UNInowmT1ZyKlTyg2SuwsSES2kXdyEaRTD79B07i0UlmJ8Xj1H0RwCT4scA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHEc637a0PcNd8LD_RvfQFeRiZBCICsbndCHJJUCvXXb0I4ZCvFM08XubfGN-PyiP4vY9AFZHKkvcWqywiJq3oQexZ4aDw101QjG9Yvqk6LfD3--bodiNQyGS1n1JDB48UNInowmT1ZyKlTyg2SuwsSES2kXdyEaRTD79B07i0UlmJ8Xj1H0RwCT4scA=w263-h320" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">3. Shift to working in the round, and continue with toe shaping. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal">This involves picking up and knitting edge sts using the <a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2022/04/my-edge.html" target="_blank">My Edge</a>
method. Using My Edge is important with Banditoe because the traditional method
leaves a seam on the inside, and especially at the toes I find this is
uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">- Pick up and k tbl 4 sts along the edge. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">4 edge stitches viewed from the WS.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5ROWj37PJNLJo3zviLmE9YhS4UaKiQVGISIlOo_ewJvnAhlF1EbbS4jc3dMojbH-LONU1Xm24avol8dmBvLYfVihX60uI0Jaav4w81YRj8FGNsDUUKHY0cancoF345oHlx258Ec6M7O2sFRysT-Gde6zKnruCHSZR0_tOB5C2kibkl0Jl_TtJvhn3Jw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5ROWj37PJNLJo3zviLmE9YhS4UaKiQVGISIlOo_ewJvnAhlF1EbbS4jc3dMojbH-LONU1Xm24avol8dmBvLYfVihX60uI0Jaav4w81YRj8FGNsDUUKHY0cancoF345oHlx258Ec6M7O2sFRysT-Gde6zKnruCHSZR0_tOB5C2kibkl0Jl_TtJvhn3Jw" width="320" /></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here the outer legs have been picked up but not
yet worked.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-slJkPlM1JZsQi4dQH5vrg0HWPN4a-_UYNy_H2Xe92INKW_9jIch16o3Xsf47WSOtm9qZQMoTOS1AKp1e9tIc_fD0q89D9IbeiuKhYFxHeHggb1BghNCcAdSSIhv2Dn5BsfRoE4BPRO70ENm1lM1YiPa0tO2wjeVGhnNjDxEMEpsJbssOSowvR1zOcA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-slJkPlM1JZsQi4dQH5vrg0HWPN4a-_UYNy_H2Xe92INKW_9jIch16o3Xsf47WSOtm9qZQMoTOS1AKp1e9tIc_fD0q89D9IbeiuKhYFxHeHggb1BghNCcAdSSIhv2Dn5BsfRoE4BPRO70ENm1lM1YiPa0tO2wjeVGhnNjDxEMEpsJbssOSowvR1zOcA" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4 edge stitches picked up and each worked tbl.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8NnwdubzgRMhpVLAK7CZ1_bLnGCRSRyeKzwJyfNyEl6dz-7Npyn-qnxxyeHdLIPf-iwfKTccpOSwWmnZO50iSc2a7oobQEI3_ZQEQD_kgNPEeLfbep9GTXxnOva7z9af6IFevxmh18W0UMt6mD8N6ErS9OH9eFHb0XgZzvONsOm4CEY1VUt0VQpt1_A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="450" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8NnwdubzgRMhpVLAK7CZ1_bLnGCRSRyeKzwJyfNyEl6dz-7Npyn-qnxxyeHdLIPf-iwfKTccpOSwWmnZO50iSc2a7oobQEI3_ZQEQD_kgNPEeLfbep9GTXxnOva7z9af6IFevxmh18W0UMt6mD8N6ErS9OH9eFHb0XgZzvONsOm4CEY1VUt0VQpt1_A=w320-h276" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">- Now k8 to the other side of the band, pick up and k tbl 4 sts along other edge in the same way. 24 sts.</div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><i>- </i>Once you
have picked up sts along both edges, k22, stop; this leaves the last 2 sts in
the round unworked. Group them with the next 10 sts on one side; 12 st remain
on the other side. The band is now in the middle on each side. Image shows the sts ready for being worked on a magic loop.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp4ry9qMHY9QC6PARozNikZD1S0PhQQ0HQjyx3C9Pd47IxjkjSpO6LHkde2y_GWeg-5Ys027N940hIP3b9gh7GF0lLgL9NwLqsu1rDyFpKEgemkio75r24RVcJVC2r3yuGqSr7wHBwvGQ-VGdny8gfzUJcQ00HKQjzHGgFdKgKx9bnaZELaYOs5NhlQQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="874" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp4ry9qMHY9QC6PARozNikZD1S0PhQQ0HQjyx3C9Pd47IxjkjSpO6LHkde2y_GWeg-5Ys027N940hIP3b9gh7GF0lLgL9NwLqsu1rDyFpKEgemkio75r24RVcJVC2r3yuGqSr7wHBwvGQ-VGdny8gfzUJcQ00HKQjzHGgFdKgKx9bnaZELaYOs5NhlQQ" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Now simply follow the chart below. You may choose whatever increase pattern that works for you; I like to work the first 4 increase rounds consecutively, then the next 5 alternating with a non-shaping round.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJILoYAUwDtir_WhQQsNBdXph8R3Opjag6X4hfB7QlFQQQ2NSnpjKVMmLtA3brxorvzN9XIn5MeZtSNXxxO0oOKmdj5G5nC3wqselAQrjR4r30E_ndSKwhzinvsyL25g9byAi_uhaq6wtOwbxlodeuu8We0MPLZngbVv5fZ7aVNTS-zefioRI19Ayw0w/s651/banditoe-plain.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="651" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJILoYAUwDtir_WhQQsNBdXph8R3Opjag6X4hfB7QlFQQQ2NSnpjKVMmLtA3brxorvzN9XIn5MeZtSNXxxO0oOKmdj5G5nC3wqselAQrjR4r30E_ndSKwhzinvsyL25g9byAi_uhaq6wtOwbxlodeuu8We0MPLZngbVv5fZ7aVNTS-zefioRI19Ayw0w/w400-h196/banditoe-plain.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Banditoe can also be worked top down. I don’t have a tutorial yet
for working in this direction, but conceptually it’s the opposite of the three
steps for working toe up:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">1. Work regular shaping (decrease) rounds until you are almost at
the tip of the toe. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">2. Work a band back and forth a few times, decreasing on each side
(like turning a heel).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">3. Graft.<o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-71119579626150217402022-05-18T20:59:00.009-07:002022-05-24T06:48:30.354-07:00My Square Heel (toe up!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Tg7jWSiGUoF0hLEdXuBgyIAVR8sOwBiaMOJ6Vi4PqiKLitacAdAlUhHpwJzPiQVELBe6BVep_wxAKbmc6ZcODtle3v5DD-h8Kb7Ncyb6rInpKp7jDm9ZFVo9GEvtVjZaTavMb72gY4HYbGv0AWGyVTgaEc16fbCVrqd9zcSzuRccmqCYIuMuhUC3FA/s2596/IMG_5063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2596" data-original-width="1947" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Tg7jWSiGUoF0hLEdXuBgyIAVR8sOwBiaMOJ6Vi4PqiKLitacAdAlUhHpwJzPiQVELBe6BVep_wxAKbmc6ZcODtle3v5DD-h8Kb7Ncyb6rInpKp7jDm9ZFVo9GEvtVjZaTavMb72gY4HYbGv0AWGyVTgaEc16fbCVrqd9zcSzuRccmqCYIuMuhUC3FA/s320/IMG_5063.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Flap & turn heels don't have to be worked cuff down! </p><p>When working a square heel using the traditional cuff down method, first you work a flap, and then you turn it at the base. Hence the name "flap & turn." Then you pick up sts along the sides of the flap and work gusset decreases in the round. </p><p>Toe up, you simply work in the opposite order:</p><p>1. Increase by the number of desired gusset sts.<br />2. Work the sole <i>as a flap</i>.<br />3. Pick up the edge sts around the sole flap, then work back-and-forth across the heel back, working the last stitch on each side with a gusset stitch on each turn. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is why I want to avoid using the term "heel flap." It's used to describe the flap worked at the back of the heel. However, when you work toe up, the <i>sole</i> is the flap, and the <i>heel back </i>is the turn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div>The traditional proportions for the Dutch/square heel are 1/2 of total stitches for the back of the heel, and 1/3 of those stitches for the sole. This creates a small gusset and a narrow band at the sole, like this. <br /><br /></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJemPj_pyuyC3jgHXZmoqR6LPnQJcRpz6XIhs6Cwee-qcBr30Lx9nOvzxrdh6Wgygn2gS-ZYHuf-rlH79OvZijJG5xXtj1opl7oy53ApVFivzQ_X3qKVmTj8LuwG9BRvMTpw-SMU3H2XuZiebRxDBYnB5kqcA5MZ1uluc4o9Ub6EX67UxsgQYrcs9qg/s812/IMG_5034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="812" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJemPj_pyuyC3jgHXZmoqR6LPnQJcRpz6XIhs6Cwee-qcBr30Lx9nOvzxrdh6Wgygn2gS-ZYHuf-rlH79OvZijJG5xXtj1opl7oy53ApVFivzQ_X3qKVmTj8LuwG9BRvMTpw-SMU3H2XuZiebRxDBYnB5kqcA5MZ1uluc4o9Ub6EX67UxsgQYrcs9qg/s320/IMG_5034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Source: <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Folk-Socks-Knitting-Nancy-Bush/dp/B0057DB9D2" target="_blank">Folk Socks</a></u>, Nancy Bush (Interweave Press, 1994). </i></div><br /><div><b>I personally prefer to work my sole over 2/3 of the heel back.</b> This simple change improves the fit greatly IMO; the sole (blue) is now the same width as the weight-bearing part of my heel, and it leaves more room in the gusset.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YnkfI4qSymCA1D13_AQxxnKg-ystL6gNrTGWwCM8Wt2qVCtpBYnXyAuGvqQAZ1SCDbEsGLZrpHBweK5jO4P1SvVCtczeFwY14ycVjI_alwqYCjosSe3uFuNbSKrAaRef9VJJ36KTlBY62nPRphDel8OOVhFmMFc-NoAkUnqSLSWSpkQG10j7YK8Ojg/s2159/IMG_5029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2159" data-original-width="1906" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YnkfI4qSymCA1D13_AQxxnKg-ystL6gNrTGWwCM8Wt2qVCtpBYnXyAuGvqQAZ1SCDbEsGLZrpHBweK5jO4P1SvVCtczeFwY14ycVjI_alwqYCjosSe3uFuNbSKrAaRef9VJJ36KTlBY62nPRphDel8OOVhFmMFc-NoAkUnqSLSWSpkQG10j7YK8Ojg/s320/IMG_5029.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you work a flap & turn heel from the toe up, you have to know how many stitches and rows you'll need in the different parts of the heel before you knit it. So I’ve put together a chart with the numbers you'll need. <i>(Note this is not a custom fit worksheet. For custom fit socks, <a href="https://kateatherley.com/" target="_blank">Kate Atherley</a> is your guru.)</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Click on the chart to see a larger image.</div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6nYmnNrReuHsBTv8HZa-8spnZv51M0DvXFhh4oBQ-hE5JJDzvbCljB12GOM4pA8R1fHFmDL6XX7w73VqjqVOlW5eGJeLN3cJJSKznB9C6weFnFyPv6HCLjGRRYymQ8-ivoimdU_14rSkY3Z1F5EvQOwdI0io2Wr3vzrOPQ9v5wbt230P3c1uojcxMkA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="648" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6nYmnNrReuHsBTv8HZa-8spnZv51M0DvXFhh4oBQ-hE5JJDzvbCljB12GOM4pA8R1fHFmDL6XX7w73VqjqVOlW5eGJeLN3cJJSKznB9C6weFnFyPv6HCLjGRRYymQ8-ivoimdU_14rSkY3Z1F5EvQOwdI0io2Wr3vzrOPQ9v5wbt230P3c1uojcxMkA=w400-h145" width="400" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p><b>Detailed instructions </b></p><p>1. <u>Work the gusset increases</u>. </p></div></div><div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobCHfKvK1zySqnR9gtGfvI1TsOOUvcz1dwl_ff-aBNGfZO9BvEDDxYhvY4GPMYYBLkelW77wpc7tLuznLdXal2Z0bf5-gCzHOpdroziw2_tF3xfNcbglPMl5jcW3BvMpxwdUsSmv-0PliQzwYHjzeNIPt3PaFqRTAGpRINVhAPHUgzQoahRvKYnveUQ/s1422/S1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1422" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobCHfKvK1zySqnR9gtGfvI1TsOOUvcz1dwl_ff-aBNGfZO9BvEDDxYhvY4GPMYYBLkelW77wpc7tLuznLdXal2Z0bf5-gCzHOpdroziw2_tF3xfNcbglPMl5jcW3BvMpxwdUsSmv-0PliQzwYHjzeNIPt3PaFqRTAGpRINVhAPHUgzQoahRvKYnveUQ/w111-h104/S1.jpg" width="111" /></a></p><p>It's up to you to determine where to begin your gusset increases. I start mine at about the middle of my arch.</p><p>Starting with 48[56, 64, 72, 80] sts, increase by 2 sts every other round until you have increased by 9[10, 11, 12, 13] sts on each side of the sock. <br /><br /></p></div><div><p>2. <u>Work the sole as a flap</u>.</p></div><div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbc12UYFc7O8b9bpV69R0HHHyVmmRgYbjsyoIDJOaxgAgbH576fL1asHdrTl7Doqj_NRbF5a-ZiRyE6uNot79IygyadzOah9l4lSZBhWyDw_e7xWcxGHUow1DJye9EtTo4WgUYj-2hgmCufB32cao0egttiYR1_EkmiLIUnzQfF2gbjrLIDXFzChALUw/s1422/S2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1422" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbc12UYFc7O8b9bpV69R0HHHyVmmRgYbjsyoIDJOaxgAgbH576fL1asHdrTl7Doqj_NRbF5a-ZiRyE6uNot79IygyadzOah9l4lSZBhWyDw_e7xWcxGHUow1DJye9EtTo4WgUYj-2hgmCufB32cao0egttiYR1_EkmiLIUnzQfF2gbjrLIDXFzChALUw/w114-h107/S2.jpg" width="114" /></a></p><p>Select the desired location for the sole of the foot. From the center of this location, k 8[9, 10, 11, 12] sts, turn. Sl 1 pw, p 15[17, 19, 21, 23] sts, turn. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaek1cj8IzxQolORzuRfGIk8IQYSCVkBlT7caWjuvYMjDtL6HItxP8LwLYsMD-5-nE_RwMSszElyFkIhhdk6hquQEzqjgJ9rOL5-JDNHWgceosnHkn8V8yYQDAU7vPv2c6m9NP9YJqJtqU-cOrvPdC_t3qfWvfUZzmdOkPX8dDiF4y8S6e_KfouKvB_Q/s1773/IMG_5002.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="1773" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaek1cj8IzxQolORzuRfGIk8IQYSCVkBlT7caWjuvYMjDtL6HItxP8LwLYsMD-5-nE_RwMSszElyFkIhhdk6hquQEzqjgJ9rOL5-JDNHWgceosnHkn8V8yYQDAU7vPv2c6m9NP9YJqJtqU-cOrvPdC_t3qfWvfUZzmdOkPX8dDiF4y8S6e_KfouKvB_Q/s320/IMG_5002.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;">Black: foot. Purple: Gusset. Blue: sole flap.</i></p></div><div><p>Work the sole flap back and forth over a total of<b><i> </i></b>8[10, 12, 14, 16] rows. You should be able to count 4[5, 6, 7, 8] sts along each edge of the flap, starting 1 row below the live sts on the needle, up to & including in the last full round below the flap. </p><p>For a detailed tutorial on how I pick up and work the edge stitches of a heel flap, please see <a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2022/04/my-edge.html" target="_blank">this companion post</a> on my blog. </p></div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgnHWDtCRubIboudwJsGiGGu_x462FNdWCeDPFbC1KvUB0r96qB9aQz3OcgoQPR1un3qTLVvBPUZA-TZ8gCnirtw0gJnAqJseeDcBdSV-EQGKJtyBLugoS5SejV4QITOp3nJ9Pb9KKcI-fH_9TghVGEvThuSYU_9TUlGKsaeL2eTc9-fwOS1UJaATyA/s2102/IMG_5003.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1494" data-original-width="2102" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgnHWDtCRubIboudwJsGiGGu_x462FNdWCeDPFbC1KvUB0r96qB9aQz3OcgoQPR1un3qTLVvBPUZA-TZ8gCnirtw0gJnAqJseeDcBdSV-EQGKJtyBLugoS5SejV4QITOp3nJ9Pb9KKcI-fH_9TghVGEvThuSYU_9TUlGKsaeL2eTc9-fwOS1UJaATyA/s320/IMG_5003.JPEG" width="320" /></a></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Stitches along the RS left edge. The purple stitch is from the last round worked before the flap. This sole flap is 8 rows high. </i></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></div></i><p></p><p>3. <u>Work the heel back</u>.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGLbiKO-gekaPkJLKw8TnNb2GAuWD5kspwC6YG9xYamC7mUYS56ej2-eRb4AnINn_ySxgsgl7pH_Nhdvd2CO01sLM2DGuNRIrZGWtcrnFo3mu-gNeORacY2VhIijn0P4PrT1tmisg6_MLK1KoGJvhAA78SExXwdWBhwD8BoqQh-YMi2I2M6B7JFNTaw/s1422/S3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1422" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGLbiKO-gekaPkJLKw8TnNb2GAuWD5kspwC6YG9xYamC7mUYS56ej2-eRb4AnINn_ySxgsgl7pH_Nhdvd2CO01sLM2DGuNRIrZGWtcrnFo3mu-gNeORacY2VhIijn0P4PrT1tmisg6_MLK1KoGJvhAA78SExXwdWBhwD8BoqQh-YMi2I2M6B7JFNTaw/w120-h112/S3.jpg" width="120" /></a></div><div>Pick up and knit tbl 4[5, 6, 7, 8] sts along the RS left edge of the sole flap, working the last into an ssk with the adjacent gusset stitch to its left, turn. Sl 1 pw, purl back to other edge of the sole flap, pick up and purl 4[5, 6, 7, 8] sts along WS left edge, working the last into a p2tog with the adjacent gusset stitch, turn.</div><div><p><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">* Pro-tip #1: </span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The ssk and p2tog on this first set of turns will each have a gap if you work them traditionally. See ssk example below. For more details on working these two decreases please visit <a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2022/04/my-edge.html" target="_blank">this post</a>, section 3, "working decreases with picked up sts," which goes into detail on this point.</span></i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p>The image below shows stitches picked up along the R edge of the sole flap (viewed from RS). Note how the sts lean the opposite way from normal. When you purl these sts (from the WS) they will twist in the opposite direction as the sts on the other side of the flap. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw0ut40SaPgwC7yhRW1-GGyVgD5fScsTmXz54LslZWHHixpPecl8y52x4zBRrIo--IMmXHENzsSM8IV0LiOEp41jcpl6xym-OyzWtrEPGjNzNrIdzZallgf_0-nXp2zmV6GetjA6fgkgW5hWU273MWa8doKnMtNY8AGv_1ScaTz92sIhWoy67EY9__Q/s1481/IMG_5006.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1481" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw0ut40SaPgwC7yhRW1-GGyVgD5fScsTmXz54LslZWHHixpPecl8y52x4zBRrIo--IMmXHENzsSM8IV0LiOEp41jcpl6xym-OyzWtrEPGjNzNrIdzZallgf_0-nXp2zmV6GetjA6fgkgW5hWU273MWa8doKnMtNY8AGv_1ScaTz92sIhWoy67EY9__Q/s320/IMG_5006.JPEG" width="320" /></a></p><div><i><br /></i>Now that you have incorporated the sts along both sides of the sole flap, work back and forth across the heel back, each time ending with an ssk (RS) or p2tog (WS), until you have decreased all the gusset sts you created earlier and you have returned to your original stitch count of 48[56, 64, 72, 80] sts. The heel is now complete and you can resume working in the round. <br /><p><i><b>* Pro-tip #2:</b> To avoid having a gap at the top of the heel back on the right side, after you work the last ssk, continue working around the front of the sock, and work that last decrease as a k2tog from the RS. In the image below, do a k2tog into the first 2 sts on the L needle.</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuTbogObQJcPCqgrystXzYU4vXNj2hbtL_6tyIddXxaZTF_ahwxMB1Pbh6Eu0WfS8zctq6VW-URwnAlKHhQ4t6Q-jSy3ZNxvbxp8aeiiKqww26NALXOi3nb8Pc0_uNmfsuav3LdFsWl0BOjxDMVzomnCHlTRk4MkzW7NZOzh9cXXFfm_k2Hk-sAyL3A/s1236/IMG_5010.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1236" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuTbogObQJcPCqgrystXzYU4vXNj2hbtL_6tyIddXxaZTF_ahwxMB1Pbh6Eu0WfS8zctq6VW-URwnAlKHhQ4t6Q-jSy3ZNxvbxp8aeiiKqww26NALXOi3nb8Pc0_uNmfsuav3LdFsWl0BOjxDMVzomnCHlTRk4MkzW7NZOzh9cXXFfm_k2Hk-sAyL3A/s320/IMG_5010.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p><i><b>* Pro-tip #3:</b> I always get loose stitches on the left side of my heel back. To help with this, I use the <a href="https://catbordhi.com/videos/perfect-ssks-guaranteed-hungry-stitch-saves-the-day-video-tutorial/" target="_blank">hungry stitch method </a>to tighten up this side. Even after using hungry stitch, I still manually distribute the slack across the rows as needed. In the photo below, the stitches in the lower half of the heel back have been manually adjusted, and those in the upper half have not. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7-adYIypCntfczi0E0DWhQW8VasPI9wHuUuAQdXQRggaXq1aQ9TuL2HVcq5jmhnggPTVbqPDFHKp0qXnQoce_Rd6JFOiJL5071xK8jNunBW6kYSGxe9pt5REeNgaCRGJdb3_WzssoZOM8sJURbbt9gtiSi_7z8L-QxIuPOv_HJv1xI5aNU7krQ8V2A/s2048/IMG_5008.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7-adYIypCntfczi0E0DWhQW8VasPI9wHuUuAQdXQRggaXq1aQ9TuL2HVcq5jmhnggPTVbqPDFHKp0qXnQoce_Rd6JFOiJL5071xK8jNunBW6kYSGxe9pt5REeNgaCRGJdb3_WzssoZOM8sJURbbt9gtiSi_7z8L-QxIuPOv_HJv1xI5aNU7krQ8V2A/w300-h400/IMG_5008.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div><div><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-12183114977905062352022-04-22T06:26:00.029-07:002022-04-23T07:13:42.028-07:00My Edge.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCj6rduLG0mHvurTu6eUWQDLY9JS5Vvwht5OrC45dzCG5SCTPiwoagsv7WuWKmBjmDW8oiOWW5RC4lnaJSegAiYaKbukMbCvPHlflyq-tIcyLADrhZUZFN2vaiHHu5z5ZxcGqGrEOpJ5W8oH4K1E_XiyWPWSTHffJJ4ZhVTfAqQyJbFtP2IJMQkMaUoA/s1760/image0_short.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="1760" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCj6rduLG0mHvurTu6eUWQDLY9JS5Vvwht5OrC45dzCG5SCTPiwoagsv7WuWKmBjmDW8oiOWW5RC4lnaJSegAiYaKbukMbCvPHlflyq-tIcyLADrhZUZFN2vaiHHu5z5ZxcGqGrEOpJ5W8oH4K1E_XiyWPWSTHffJJ4ZhVTfAqQyJbFtP2IJMQkMaUoA/w400-h158/image0_short.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I often come up with my own knitting methods instead of using traditional ones, and picking up & working edge stitches is no exception. The traditional method works well for sweaters, but I don’t think it’s the best method for socks. <p></p><p>In this post I will cover the following:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Brief review & recommended tutorials for traditional method of picking up and knitting edge sts</li><li>Tutorial for my method, and why I prefer it to the traditional one</li><li>Details specific to working flap & turn heels from the toe up, like <a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2022/04/jenys-square-peg-heel.html" target="_blank">JSPH</a> (Jeny's Square Peg Heel)</li></ul><p></p><p>I will start with a brief word about the last point above, because JSPH has completely transformed the way I think about working edge sts. If you’re working a flap & turn heel from the toe up, picking up and knitting the flap edge stitches is only part of the picture. You also have to pick up and <i>purl</i> on the opposite side of the flap, and also work decreases <i>with picked up sts </i>on the first row. Neither of these is hard to do, just slightly fussy.</p><p>If you prefer learning by video rather than still images, I made <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWI3RkE0-q0" target="_blank">this video</a> just for you. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BWI3RkE0-q0" width="320" youtube-src-id="BWI3RkE0-q0"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>0:00 - Pick up and knit<br />4:23 - Pick up and purl<br />6:58 - Working decreases with picked up sts </p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Traditional Method</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is an example photo of what the traditional method of picking up and knitting sts looks like worked in stockinette, RS and WS.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQYwau6DdQYxEIw8uOesXKP9FWvCxh7ZEMuOsfekZEPctJP90nrGpxp3YahJ-8dILUafXJP0nF25oAqqeIX5rcSHmIdljF88LS1aVIGV2-BYExw5AmOOMZekd7CswGH-5AiwQ5c4Efy4-YufOwihxBBfnrPlkLWrOvflIoNus0ECPPx9sjTZjMlp6Xw/s3881/TraditionalEdge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1700" data-original-width="3881" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQYwau6DdQYxEIw8uOesXKP9FWvCxh7ZEMuOsfekZEPctJP90nrGpxp3YahJ-8dILUafXJP0nF25oAqqeIX5rcSHmIdljF88LS1aVIGV2-BYExw5AmOOMZekd7CswGH-5AiwQ5c4Efy4-YufOwihxBBfnrPlkLWrOvflIoNus0ECPPx9sjTZjMlp6Xw/w400-h175/TraditionalEdge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>There are lots of tutorials available on the internet on “How to pick up and knit edge stitches.” These generally all demonstrate the same method. I personally recommend this <a href="https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/2018/03/28/techniques-depth-pick-stitches/" target="_blank">photo tutorial</a> on Modern Daily Knitting written by Kate Atherley, and this <a href="https://techknitting.blogspot.com/2015/11/pick-up-stitches-along-selvage.html" target="_blank">illustrated tutorial</a> by TECHknitter (“Added Yarn Method” section). Bear in mind that with socks, it’s not necessary to skip every 2nd or 3rd stitch as you would need to do if you were making a sweater or large garment. </p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My Method</span></p><p>Let me explain why I don’t use the traditional method when I’m making socks. Look closely at the photos above. The RS looks ok, but on the WS you can see there is a prominent seam. This is fine for sweaters, but for socks it is potentially uncomfortable. </p><p>Whereas, this is what I get when I do it my way:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCl_8vsBvrf6SP9OGJjVzbbJQW4nc5IPPxis9kZ_70T7znrHqVhl1j0jePZANf3OxuIOOhYbRGAQ_GOw5zreSDIkUZ5nlJqfJllGmAPl4E4X5vmkamJKkWrkQB7qfWiBDYCfQ4s6HhLForzfPLQXoh2nqDyLPY5MQM8DaXnJxZW6dkCPu45ZfaoFFNw/s3881/MyEdge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1700" data-original-width="3881" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCl_8vsBvrf6SP9OGJjVzbbJQW4nc5IPPxis9kZ_70T7znrHqVhl1j0jePZANf3OxuIOOhYbRGAQ_GOw5zreSDIkUZ5nlJqfJllGmAPl4E4X5vmkamJKkWrkQB7qfWiBDYCfQ4s6HhLForzfPLQXoh2nqDyLPY5MQM8DaXnJxZW6dkCPu45ZfaoFFNw/w400-h175/MyEdge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Viewed from the RS, the two methods just look a little different.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZcKLjEAP1O14pRQrpMZtry2EtpFBD3xEOCHM62QrdUjECx7Kqicze5X5PyTQ2j_1rSvL1dNJn8YO68ifE2kVgrWHKSM93oLRfD3Tjpm-diVgxtwIL6AkvqqgmZRAbnC7C5efUCDJ1qN1zKV51ZVeK-L3Ijg3MO5I36HO86Nto11oZ8qIDgexgVJFiA/s3821/RS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1700" data-original-width="3821" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZcKLjEAP1O14pRQrpMZtry2EtpFBD3xEOCHM62QrdUjECx7Kqicze5X5PyTQ2j_1rSvL1dNJn8YO68ifE2kVgrWHKSM93oLRfD3Tjpm-diVgxtwIL6AkvqqgmZRAbnC7C5efUCDJ1qN1zKV51ZVeK-L3Ijg3MO5I36HO86Nto11oZ8qIDgexgVJFiA/w400-h178/RS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>But, viewed from the WS, you can see that my method eliminates the bulk of the seam.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpIlxa-WyO_imT5L0pC9XAnrKMJ43RG326RqfxId3CKonEsJ38d9TqZGjnl-aUYUCSccEB2zdW9F1R8tI_bMfdYwDdEk5atn_36ecD4lJ0Gf57gcEHBRbyhDKJQKfw38ktDarpoKjZz1w9n0NeR0WvvzZb8wAiximRFtdJaNqce5KOVmfZsjXMLCELg/s3821/WS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1700" data-original-width="3821" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpIlxa-WyO_imT5L0pC9XAnrKMJ43RG326RqfxId3CKonEsJ38d9TqZGjnl-aUYUCSccEB2zdW9F1R8tI_bMfdYwDdEk5atn_36ecD4lJ0Gf57gcEHBRbyhDKJQKfw38ktDarpoKjZz1w9n0NeR0WvvzZb8wAiximRFtdJaNqce5KOVmfZsjXMLCELg/w400-h178/WS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I do think the traditional method looks nicer on the inside than mine does. But if it's on the inside, I'm much more concerned about comfort than I am about appearance. <p></p><p>There are two key structural differences between my method and the traditional one: 1) I pick up and work through only the outside leg of the edge stitch, rather than both legs; 2) I twist the leg in a particular way as I work it. </p><p>Tutorials on the traditional method often state that working edge stitches through both legs makes the joint more secure, but that's not necessarily the case. The real game changer is to twist the picked up leg as you work it. </p><p>Let’s zoom out for a minute...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW7muV1GFg2rE8bG4K2zNqA6VnMSFU8ZO_9arcE-DLlYox1GmzBFsrktenAI3P5yW1-NihvtG7BNpHHsB4TGKjf9l2hbxJ97giCiZBqdzkAgxt4AxMm5D1PGo_SwwpCVc0bPHh0NvUotLx5ZtdAMpelxLwJd2XLX0xmPbQy8aK4jFptN-YE0YRmiU4w/s3212/ZoomOut.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2414" data-original-width="3212" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW7muV1GFg2rE8bG4K2zNqA6VnMSFU8ZO_9arcE-DLlYox1GmzBFsrktenAI3P5yW1-NihvtG7BNpHHsB4TGKjf9l2hbxJ97giCiZBqdzkAgxt4AxMm5D1PGo_SwwpCVc0bPHh0NvUotLx5ZtdAMpelxLwJd2XLX0xmPbQy8aK4jFptN-YE0YRmiU4w/w400-h300/ZoomOut.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />See how the traditional method is taller at the joint? And the gauge of the new sts (off-white) is slightly expanded right there? And the edge sts (purple) pooch out a little bit? These are all subtle indicators that the traditional method is looser and therefore <i>less</i> secure than mine. Again I’m sure it works well for sweaters, but for socks I think my method works better.<br /><br /><p></p><p><b>Tutorial - My method</b></p><p>Here is what the flap looks like just before I start working edge stitches. The example shows a sock heel sample. The colors indicate different parts: the purple section represents the foot, the blue section is the flap, and the magenta working yarn represents the first row of edge stitches. Rows begin and end in the middle of the flap.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAYhEzDNDASQLJ_YNe5ChZCz0DcX7TL3QXz5YkwqQgKshsoOZAw0AmX3JePFKPSBdabVEcoRD2kpolRvh-fOSRvBdMg0Z6jbjyTwqSP8XBrHUWKkpMvpa5p_g_31VLjZtJjz4XKTOaugVyLOKV1rD0PipfD9RiwP4dAxmrHFUSanb-xewA-rLUyn8NQ/s2016/IMG_5408.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAYhEzDNDASQLJ_YNe5ChZCz0DcX7TL3QXz5YkwqQgKshsoOZAw0AmX3JePFKPSBdabVEcoRD2kpolRvh-fOSRvBdMg0Z6jbjyTwqSP8XBrHUWKkpMvpa5p_g_31VLjZtJjz4XKTOaugVyLOKV1rD0PipfD9RiwP4dAxmrHFUSanb-xewA-rLUyn8NQ/s320/IMG_5408.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>It's easier to see the stitches on the WS. There are exactly 12 edge stitches that I'm going to pick up, numbered 1-12 below. Stitch #1 is immediately below the last stitch worked, and stitch #12 is actually below the first turn of the flap; the color change indicates that this stitch was worked in the round. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLIEb5oys9ac1I6jeUIF_7vFzEKEAjlbjYcr9lahYGMCGIhj6FFor19RgWdSXLk58TfDcGn544t9vCQSBtQiiQFJhemOio4YXD5UTvqud7UkF3qn-sg-MTXzrXSfW0o3LKb0MccXgms3B4qjQ1dKKEVTQsDu0kODW0wYoCg-ks-AJPXkk6P7ESAc8pA/s4032/IMG_5411.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2523" data-original-width="4032" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLIEb5oys9ac1I6jeUIF_7vFzEKEAjlbjYcr9lahYGMCGIhj6FFor19RgWdSXLk58TfDcGn544t9vCQSBtQiiQFJhemOio4YXD5UTvqud7UkF3qn-sg-MTXzrXSfW0o3LKb0MccXgms3B4qjQ1dKKEVTQsDu0kODW0wYoCg-ks-AJPXkk6P7ESAc8pA/s320/IMG_5411.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The stitches can each be picked up and immediately worked, or you can pick them all up first and then work them. I personally prefer to pick them all up before working any of them. I start at #12 and work my way up to #1, but the direction of pickup doesn't matter.<br /><br /></p><p>To pick up: I insert the R needle into the middle of the edge stitch, then continue to the next. I typically use a needle 1-2 sizes smaller, because these can be tight.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoR9PnsW073paU7r6hjA4aOre7lERJrBFMHHW_1zUKar9eqAm2-tyWKznT1Vgwerge8DFdBdQCi8KBesaIbNoyQqG0URtSR4r74yNSxceUNFRDGbQ1z4yC-82lzttLovHQAUvmPvvJracVhHC937RE4pJhTC3x2rqYsmCE5nxdyb2SX7WJHObtj-SDA/s3001/IMG_5411_arrows.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="3001" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoR9PnsW073paU7r6hjA4aOre7lERJrBFMHHW_1zUKar9eqAm2-tyWKznT1Vgwerge8DFdBdQCi8KBesaIbNoyQqG0URtSR4r74yNSxceUNFRDGbQ1z4yC-82lzttLovHQAUvmPvvJracVhHC937RE4pJhTC3x2rqYsmCE5nxdyb2SX7WJHObtj-SDA/s320/IMG_5411_arrows.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>The resulting row of sts will sit on the R needle just like normal stitches, leading with right leg in front.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDg7d9BCuiYMygKY2qronQVyZKDzFlC-wFTqivKsC2_phTzsvHhSvIQyLNfrS0EAZ6vLCZNjwe4hxa6TwQmqZrNRfPX_wMiMV7n3W-q274wmOF-pmg7SqTkpJw6oF6SjMkCXRsBog0LbF87ZvzdcDAFbwjwcwtyltY10G1n06TiIG7Moyhu3emNTHyg/s2216/IMG_5431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1662" data-original-width="2216" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDg7d9BCuiYMygKY2qronQVyZKDzFlC-wFTqivKsC2_phTzsvHhSvIQyLNfrS0EAZ6vLCZNjwe4hxa6TwQmqZrNRfPX_wMiMV7n3W-q274wmOF-pmg7SqTkpJw6oF6SjMkCXRsBog0LbF87ZvzdcDAFbwjwcwtyltY10G1n06TiIG7Moyhu3emNTHyg/s320/IMG_5431.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Once the stitches are all picked up, knit each one through the back leg. (Note that stitch #1 has been worked once already.) This will twist each stitch and tighten up the joint. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lJ54x2RBSS9hbk51WWPSNG-xGWAVCSAZGpyoHBb1KppbsYB--TkMx7J_dYnqIvnPX1F0bDekCGcC6pfpKVi1klngdYzu9KQz673Hlm-GBspYHjTq3tyiim7JjGvwpHG0PRys3cSJ86QZcnQHonU7KnJG6MC-b9B0zHYU2EL11vVO2kykNO_8KVZYnA/s2640/IMG_5416.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1866" data-original-width="2640" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lJ54x2RBSS9hbk51WWPSNG-xGWAVCSAZGpyoHBb1KppbsYB--TkMx7J_dYnqIvnPX1F0bDekCGcC6pfpKVi1klngdYzu9KQz673Hlm-GBspYHjTq3tyiim7JjGvwpHG0PRys3cSJ86QZcnQHonU7KnJG6MC-b9B0zHYU2EL11vVO2kykNO_8KVZYnA/s320/IMG_5416.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><i>*Note that if you are working a toe-up flap & turn heel, there will be an ssk at the end of the row. This decrease and the p2tog on the other side are worked a little differently from normal. This is discussed in more detail in the last section.<br /><br /></i></p><p>The picked up stitches can be twisted either way, but I prefer the look of them when they are twisted as described above. Below is a comparison example - the stitches on the right half were twisted in the other direction. These are slightly looser and more prominent. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11BUb0Ms1-LusrSTtci9NfH7aSjNfsIgSDtB3rD7wv9tJ_qV1AIJ8sd8jolApqDyyKjL-3BRdiEv8Ejztb2j_-vjTnDxZd98DZkKGAzWsUPLMBqlfP91Bu-fksx7pdrNEXelRnnQtFrr2ZQrLQU8B25tjg_gg-7Dixx03p3yZ_cQMgII5869qz1mOdw/s1781/IMG_5426.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="1781" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11BUb0Ms1-LusrSTtci9NfH7aSjNfsIgSDtB3rD7wv9tJ_qV1AIJ8sd8jolApqDyyKjL-3BRdiEv8Ejztb2j_-vjTnDxZd98DZkKGAzWsUPLMBqlfP91Bu-fksx7pdrNEXelRnnQtFrr2ZQrLQU8B25tjg_gg-7Dixx03p3yZ_cQMgII5869qz1mOdw/s320/IMG_5426.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Toe up flap & turn heels </span></p><p>So far I’ve given you everything you need to know for using my edge stitch method with a standard cuff down flap & turn heel. For working toe up, there are some remaining details to cover.<br /><br /></p><p><b>Picking up and purling</b></p><p>(Jump to 4:23 in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWI3RkE0-q0" target="_blank">my video</a>)</p><p>Picking up and purling is slightly trickier than picking up and knitting, but it is not difficult. I find it easiest to hold the flap WS facing me with the edge at the bottom, then rotate it in order to work the purls. Note that even though you have worked down and back from the other side, there are the <b>same number </b>of rows on this side from which you will pick up stitches. Once again, stitch #1 is immediately below the one just worked, and stitch #12 was worked in the round just below the flap.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVkDomd-OW4H6emWRgVM0djctnaln4FwHw80w3hPHhsjFXb12cYL0fOGswECJbSleiAKRS-FeL7MeamZoNm1iecTrBydmhsvW7bx7gEAnzNjQ5NSlN4fTgOwC-kkYBEd0cT6MNrlv-9fR4nseGOCY-WIbdyYcik7Sl-VxtLtWy210hxpwcdPWcRI5lw/s3199/IMG_5434_numbers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2399" data-original-width="3199" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVkDomd-OW4H6emWRgVM0djctnaln4FwHw80w3hPHhsjFXb12cYL0fOGswECJbSleiAKRS-FeL7MeamZoNm1iecTrBydmhsvW7bx7gEAnzNjQ5NSlN4fTgOwC-kkYBEd0cT6MNrlv-9fR4nseGOCY-WIbdyYcik7Sl-VxtLtWy210hxpwcdPWcRI5lw/s320/IMG_5434_numbers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p><br />To pick up: I insert the R needle into each edge stitch, then continue to the next. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1WFgT0eiNA9l6Hbc0wBeO2nwI4gVvJfGAntLwnnBshPT-Ty0hWZTQoqemjWRhKJ2aYKoj-WPK-_suCyV3me6l6oloH3fb21oka7pvKdu8uVD66FaYRnD1am1B194sT0AzK25UdHs7aL0Mdf6RVfuTXiQW5pkthpBiAB46ShRGUF1QU-zWTTvpKO9Wg/s3753/IMG_5434_arrows.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2306" data-original-width="3753" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1WFgT0eiNA9l6Hbc0wBeO2nwI4gVvJfGAntLwnnBshPT-Ty0hWZTQoqemjWRhKJ2aYKoj-WPK-_suCyV3me6l6oloH3fb21oka7pvKdu8uVD66FaYRnD1am1B194sT0AzK25UdHs7aL0Mdf6RVfuTXiQW5pkthpBiAB46ShRGUF1QU-zWTTvpKO9Wg/s320/IMG_5434_arrows.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>This time, the stitches sit on the needle in the opposite direction, leading with the right leg in back.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaiFygSL2Zh76NW1IRTpE5MJiS4U3rYekSA7BPNGRtObT8bEKwFE1RhzXdNxLEDDKITqwcwR78zrPv7yAhA5wo1nHjG54vOn2OGaFY-1m4f_04bhA7R9UGMtM_MLXDuBsotPWIpe8Fjdxk6n6djULgo8KMHbxotJn0I2ViEwGoC0cQd20PvJMMV49NQ/s2046/IMG_5431_flip.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="2046" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaiFygSL2Zh76NW1IRTpE5MJiS4U3rYekSA7BPNGRtObT8bEKwFE1RhzXdNxLEDDKITqwcwR78zrPv7yAhA5wo1nHjG54vOn2OGaFY-1m4f_04bhA7R9UGMtM_MLXDuBsotPWIpe8Fjdxk6n6djULgo8KMHbxotJn0I2ViEwGoC0cQd20PvJMMV49NQ/s320/IMG_5431_flip.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Now purl each stitch through its front (left) loop. When you turn it to the RS, you will see that the picked up stitches twist in the opposite direction as those on the other side of the flap. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3d3lqhGYB3ZbCve_wSvYWJxDv94LwujqwjAw4s80Y_ykpPn4-XGoabo5Vutvd68ScBjATcdNjFcvGcco18reeuVxzSY6mnxOKXEP5p2xch9xuRUWM403msqzJpnpKr9Y7_hpmaeTNc6LIxYELxXNSGn7IK2sC1MB_LHWd1GQqgzv_CLfCAI-1-9c9Q/s1210/Mirror.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="994" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3d3lqhGYB3ZbCve_wSvYWJxDv94LwujqwjAw4s80Y_ykpPn4-XGoabo5Vutvd68ScBjATcdNjFcvGcco18reeuVxzSY6mnxOKXEP5p2xch9xuRUWM403msqzJpnpKr9Y7_hpmaeTNc6LIxYELxXNSGn7IK2sC1MB_LHWd1GQqgzv_CLfCAI-1-9c9Q/w329-h400/Mirror.png" width="329" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><p><b>Working decreases with picked up stitches</b></p><p>(Jump to 6:58 in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWI3RkE0-q0" target="_blank">my video</a>)</p><p>If you are working a toe up flap & turn heel, your first RS and WS row of the heel back are worked as you are simultaneously picking up and working sts. This calls for a bit of jiggery-pokery.</p><p>In both cases, if you work the decrease normally you will get a hole. This is what the ssk would look like if worked normally:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlZUBZoPsIvcXAo7CbEiL_3nFShFHNZliH8xaq-76iUwK1dR-o1J-hpUpMa1uEgrraCHUYbH76a4F3Yfvi8wSWjIEKkyUWVlo1qZr154gefrbSLbIeg4kRfX1hh7kbvW3nWFHpUfA-snnZx4ifUt6CIqDD3URwmvlY5B7o9hXBAypUfg3QBX6laSvrQ/s1545/IMG_5419.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="1545" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlZUBZoPsIvcXAo7CbEiL_3nFShFHNZliH8xaq-76iUwK1dR-o1J-hpUpMa1uEgrraCHUYbH76a4F3Yfvi8wSWjIEKkyUWVlo1qZr154gefrbSLbIeg4kRfX1hh7kbvW3nWFHpUfA-snnZx4ifUt6CIqDD3URwmvlY5B7o9hXBAypUfg3QBX6laSvrQ/s320/IMG_5419.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So in order to hide this hole, you will twist only the front stitch. When working the ssk, slip the first st purlwise so that it still sits on the needle leading with right leg in front. Slip the next st knitwise. Now both sts lean towards each other on the back side of the needle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4nXS19GhyRqaPYN2WI06MGul9Zol6XGBd844PhakzN86PaPWoaeiwSYzG6HTiXXggdEaDYu3Kz_d1_oKk0WMFlJDfXEROUzjEVBB_tjORgeGeAwQ8ifApFauQ9Rcb-CeJCW-I3e_3ygAvF_3KUSb4j7ghyl78ffslWnBE7__T6GhweKheXxLKArQrw/s1852/IMG_5417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1389" data-original-width="1852" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4nXS19GhyRqaPYN2WI06MGul9Zol6XGBd844PhakzN86PaPWoaeiwSYzG6HTiXXggdEaDYu3Kz_d1_oKk0WMFlJDfXEROUzjEVBB_tjORgeGeAwQ8ifApFauQ9Rcb-CeJCW-I3e_3ygAvF_3KUSb4j7ghyl78ffslWnBE7__T6GhweKheXxLKArQrw/s320/IMG_5417.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Slip both sts back to the L needle purlwise, then k2 tbl. The resulting decrease twists to the left, just like all the other edge sts that were picked up and knitted (tbl).<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIXA_6pthmC-LwEsOQAK57MZen1Gh5hwYuYTb8s1yPLh83tLlHoCmE3A9QgQOTo1VtLc4iljI_9nC1OSfQkHnZmzQJO9yqFS0eKThyUlO-hQXtooMupeMbjY4GNsji0qVSJdxWwCh6OFXBio1-YJG0yf2E4eIMhFgnkx2vRRR0PcmifGpcWwKTgm4kQ/s1167/ssk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1167" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIXA_6pthmC-LwEsOQAK57MZen1Gh5hwYuYTb8s1yPLh83tLlHoCmE3A9QgQOTo1VtLc4iljI_9nC1OSfQkHnZmzQJO9yqFS0eKThyUlO-hQXtooMupeMbjY4GNsji0qVSJdxWwCh6OFXBio1-YJG0yf2E4eIMhFgnkx2vRRR0PcmifGpcWwKTgm4kQ/s320/ssk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>To work the adjusted decrease on the purl side, you do something very similar. Both sts are already in the position you need -- they lean towards each other on the front side of the needle. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoalXQe1HYGqTYRQ-Z59RAC04D-CKMjujKH32622BIdAJg0ObgxszmUdV9D5Q1BatiTSE2DLXPVQJHvzIhXiUtr4Hh824_yJlD47YxN_DwngfbX85z5LFDZZSorRVSnJrA_TGxkvM0sd2PxoZuRkl2lMk_kZen4lxRf2GMPnzrXlXEr2dWPaE9WQivyw/s1789/IMG_5423.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="1789" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoalXQe1HYGqTYRQ-Z59RAC04D-CKMjujKH32622BIdAJg0ObgxszmUdV9D5Q1BatiTSE2DLXPVQJHvzIhXiUtr4Hh824_yJlD47YxN_DwngfbX85z5LFDZZSorRVSnJrA_TGxkvM0sd2PxoZuRkl2lMk_kZen4lxRf2GMPnzrXlXEr2dWPaE9WQivyw/s320/IMG_5423.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>With the sts in this position, work a p2tog. When you turn back to the RS, you will see that this decrease now twists to the right, matching the other edge sts.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_51xoxRhudZxAQ3SHw2bsNyhCN_9WQSHJH54on3gTD2IkjAnjeVzte24H6JdUmOoSMRyBWNSiSU0MBt969cVEIDNnwKb6Bb_n8fHAisk0xPelzfkPgr7tqXdkl9ssunnRfq42hpkZKi6esAQLzMiwtNoDiWFSUKk18PgFEG1EGcJ5-8gj9sREibeZeg/s987/p2tog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="987" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_51xoxRhudZxAQ3SHw2bsNyhCN_9WQSHJH54on3gTD2IkjAnjeVzte24H6JdUmOoSMRyBWNSiSU0MBt969cVEIDNnwKb6Bb_n8fHAisk0xPelzfkPgr7tqXdkl9ssunnRfq42hpkZKi6esAQLzMiwtNoDiWFSUKk18PgFEG1EGcJ5-8gj9sREibeZeg/s320/p2tog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I work these adjusted decreases on the first rows only; for subsequent rows I work regular ssk's and p2tog's. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Thanks for reading! </p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-13412052257248917702022-04-02T20:11:00.093-07:002022-06-25T08:47:22.370-07:00Jeny's Square Peg Heel<p>Meet <b>Jeny's Square Peg Heel</b>, or JSPH. Because I am nothing if not a square peg!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj764TUlaEj9IKX1wWSGZuUauhJtsQJp1C0nv1tc0-TpUjCY74hVO0lDAWH0MQV_S06xaAp_W590xgh4G8qvMHPEBzmyO-FQ-CEG6V4SlLSSvMW7ScH25U1elbuf_2XvUZiIgLrdZQdSj6EXQy3NVBnE1nKDLs7zUKvwXQo4_0UOD9SSw4pClRaQlRpAQ/s2176/TopHeels.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="2176" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj764TUlaEj9IKX1wWSGZuUauhJtsQJp1C0nv1tc0-TpUjCY74hVO0lDAWH0MQV_S06xaAp_W590xgh4G8qvMHPEBzmyO-FQ-CEG6V4SlLSSvMW7ScH25U1elbuf_2XvUZiIgLrdZQdSj6EXQy3NVBnE1nKDLs7zUKvwXQo4_0UOD9SSw4pClRaQlRpAQ/w400-h259/TopHeels.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>JSPH is an original variation on a traditional square heel. But before I dive into the details of JSPH and why I think it's so cool, I need to start with this... </p><p><b>There is no such thing as a cuff down heel.</b> Just about every book, video tutorial or blog post about sock knitting classifies standard heels into cuff down or toe up. But any heel that can be worked from one direction can also be worked from the other, it just takes a little reverse engineering. I enjoy knitting socks all kinds of ways, and I won’t let any part of the sock constrain me on how I work. Because <i>I am the boss of my knitting.<br /><br /></i></p><p><b>Terminology </b></p><p>Flap & turn heels in particular are thought to be cuff down only. When you work a flap & turn heel traditionally, a "heel flap" is worked in the back, then turned at the bottom. But if you work from the toe up, the term "heel flap" becomes imprecise. So for this post, I am using the following terminology for flap & turn heel anatomy: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4-K-rpjwHhbPswtqVwPR9RE8ZrNqnc58iojbqY9Tj9dUprg1nhYDqjpU1hG6jO51gEs6sp_5FlyVGVsqDhwsnCxjLchIQ9e_cfTbxYf3v2U4xVNj1QcxTKch7HDrXaOaZEfgr82IZ7ChEbdzGWN356yZP7nZGpVBTI9ViNe2J_MvOLv6ZOTZmBhbug/s1980/IMG_5065_d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1980" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4-K-rpjwHhbPswtqVwPR9RE8ZrNqnc58iojbqY9Tj9dUprg1nhYDqjpU1hG6jO51gEs6sp_5FlyVGVsqDhwsnCxjLchIQ9e_cfTbxYf3v2U4xVNj1QcxTKch7HDrXaOaZEfgr82IZ7ChEbdzGWN356yZP7nZGpVBTI9ViNe2J_MvOLv6ZOTZmBhbug/w400-h226/IMG_5065_d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Gusset (purple) - Where more stitches accommodate the widest part of the foot/ankle.</li><li>Heel Back (red) - Goes around the back of the heel.</li><li>Sole (blue) - Goes under the weight bearing area of the heel.</li></ul></div><div><p>When working a square heel using the traditional cuff down method, first you work a flap, and then you turn it at the base. Hence the name "flap & turn." Then you pick up sts along the sides of the flap and work gusset decreases in the round. </p><p>Toe up, you simply work in the opposite order:</p><p>1. Increase by the number of desired gusset sts.<br />2. Work the sole <i>as a flap</i>.<br />3. Pick up the edge sts around the sole flap, then work back-and-forth across the heel back, working the last stitch on each side with a gusset stitch on each turn. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hopefully you can see now why I want to avoid using the term "heel flap." It's used to describe the flap worked at the back of the heel. However, when you work toe up, the <i>sole</i> is the flap, and the <i>heel back </i>is the turn. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div>The remainder of this post will demonstrate two different ways to knit JSPH: toe up, and cuff down. See <a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2022/05/my-square-heel.html" target="_blank">this companion post</a> for a tutorial on how I do a standard square heel from the toe up.</div><p></p><p><b>Gauge & Sizing</b></p><p>All instructions below are based on standard sock gauge of 32 sts x 44 rows = 4" in stockinette using fingering weight yarn on US size 1 needles. Stitch counts conform to standard sizes XS[S, M, L, XL] in which unstretched sock circumference is 6[7, 8, 9, 10] inches.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Jeny’s Square Peg Heel (JSPH)</span></b></h2><div><div><p>JSPH morphs and moves around the parts of the square heel and yet somehow ends up with a fit that is identical to a standard square heel of the same sole width. I really enjoy coming up with designs and techniques that seem like they can't possibly work, but then they do! JSPH is like that. </p><p>If you look at the JSPH sample next to my square heel, you can see that the sections of the heel have different shapes and positions, but still have the same fit.</p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozVauD7AmnOEtTnCdFA7lmRFNdp5geIhik46kbbBHd68QBF_h_Pyd33RNbelsYVp7vVw_Bvp2hQMVF-4U95-wWKY3uuTCT41zLVcyxDWoDzwVJDKAlRmxwcgJ7e_Vj-mStxWuKVSa93xXomTceZYTJGzQtmzXsGkFVkMwYfh1tvGXxMIq5__NhQaxdg/s1836/IMG_5055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1377" data-original-width="1836" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozVauD7AmnOEtTnCdFA7lmRFNdp5geIhik46kbbBHd68QBF_h_Pyd33RNbelsYVp7vVw_Bvp2hQMVF-4U95-wWKY3uuTCT41zLVcyxDWoDzwVJDKAlRmxwcgJ7e_Vj-mStxWuKVSa93xXomTceZYTJGzQtmzXsGkFVkMwYfh1tvGXxMIq5__NhQaxdg/s320/IMG_5055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Left: My square heel. Right: JSPH.</i></div><p>With JSPH, the gusset is worked <i>above </i>the heel, rather than as part of the foot. Because of this structure, JSPH gives you design opportunities you wouldn't have with a standard flap & turn heel. <a href="https://www.brendadayne.co.uk/category/cast-on/" target="_blank">Brenda Dayne</a>'s Funky Grandpa socks below demonstrate this nicely. Because the gusset is worked above the heel turn, the stripes worked in the round can extend an additional 2" further down compared with a traditional square heel. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBnNWtidkKH3V3XFy2xkRAa0-h9HJgeNO3W6gzK_jOGSVvIDLAS3diMoVYlE-__1XJustfdf7gRRaX5cQld_-V2A8E4Epg3z6lfydugRsH2nVD4hEdBsQNSqfE1L3WYXt692436E5OaqjsO_ZMm6vk6BOKhSx82YiS10ieL_y0SGBLFDqvFT3M62evA/s1600/IMG_5035.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBnNWtidkKH3V3XFy2xkRAa0-h9HJgeNO3W6gzK_jOGSVvIDLAS3diMoVYlE-__1XJustfdf7gRRaX5cQld_-V2A8E4Epg3z6lfydugRsH2nVD4hEdBsQNSqfE1L3WYXt692436E5OaqjsO_ZMm6vk6BOKhSx82YiS10ieL_y0SGBLFDqvFT3M62evA/s320/IMG_5035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>(c) <a href="https://www.brendadayne.co.uk/category/cast-on/" target="_blank">Brenda Dayne</a>, 2022.</i></div><p><br /></p><p>JSPH can be worked either toe up or cuff down. Let’s continue with the toe up direction for now, because the method is similar to that of my basic toe up square heel. Below is the chart you can use for finding your JSPH size and numbers. This chart applies to working either cuff down or toe up. </p><p>Click on the chart to see a larger image.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx5LhIh8y8eEsMlNSNpX9baglZWNLMumghvPIQIom-amU35qFWxJA2eoDr7lXpO0JWvY1fBR5y-Obodo4HiWZ6GDETeC7Uh44LcgcQxEUAh0MBZmnBequ9Asdp7hOxT70WqrtvD5tMeN2LfZcCw_OkFPMFcyATqF5eFnpGI4D_I0sQZnv2QTPU2BE6aA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="648" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx5LhIh8y8eEsMlNSNpX9baglZWNLMumghvPIQIom-amU35qFWxJA2eoDr7lXpO0JWvY1fBR5y-Obodo4HiWZ6GDETeC7Uh44LcgcQxEUAh0MBZmnBequ9Asdp7hOxT70WqrtvD5tMeN2LfZcCw_OkFPMFcyATqF5eFnpGI4D_I0sQZnv2QTPU2BE6aA=w400-h146" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><b>JSPH Toe up</b></p><p>The basic method for working JSPH toe up is the same as the basic square heel, except that working the gusset now happens last, and is worked in decreases rather than increases. And of course the shapes of the heel back and sole are quite different. </p><p>1. <u>Work the sole turn as a flap</u>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMiCjnhx6Gh_pPk1HMlwrVQA83p6GtbaNQ-2XoylETDClnWqJRM252MZz-hy_M7nPZ8H32DUfPXKIgVonT7mdnw6HYhXkVhsPOJbFj0yqfdJIFIKr6NUuR6IUg2uX-ZyJgyeKWg-O4xhR1FOy1dmPM30y38i3ZMFqJEXSAvG8oJLJXTSLs6ToToR2aQ/s1422/J1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1422" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMiCjnhx6Gh_pPk1HMlwrVQA83p6GtbaNQ-2XoylETDClnWqJRM252MZz-hy_M7nPZ8H32DUfPXKIgVonT7mdnw6HYhXkVhsPOJbFj0yqfdJIFIKr6NUuR6IUg2uX-ZyJgyeKWg-O4xhR1FOy1dmPM30y38i3ZMFqJEXSAvG8oJLJXTSLs6ToToR2aQ/w119-h111/J1.jpg" width="119" /></a></div><p>Work the foot over 48[56, 64, 72, 80] sts until you would normally begin working gusset increases (for me, this is about the middle of the arch). Select the desired location for the sole. From the center of this location, k 8[9, 10, 11, 12] sts, turn. Sl 1 pw, p 15[17, 19, 21, 23] sts, turn.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Work the sole flap back and forth until you can count 13[15, 17, 19, 21]<b><i> </i></b>sts along the RS left edge of the flap, starting 1 row below the live sts on the needle, up to & including in the last full round below the flap. <br /><br /><div><div><p>2. <u>Work the heel back</u>. </p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneRgXwcINHjdyj40v0eVv52bmGLf5_jJ4oF2lgoPiaAl5Z-CAMax1gllLLzju-DSGlEIjHGXZJC5HIwxmQvNwSKDyvWaQrZLt_5bMRJXDxToVmRQKEeBGZKJjWrbBaqXdkvEbM8lzyrgp3H2kPvycdaSiyqQR9Mni2Wzcr7gXoByvvOORhJEIWNQDGg/s1422/J2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1422" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneRgXwcINHjdyj40v0eVv52bmGLf5_jJ4oF2lgoPiaAl5Z-CAMax1gllLLzju-DSGlEIjHGXZJC5HIwxmQvNwSKDyvWaQrZLt_5bMRJXDxToVmRQKEeBGZKJjWrbBaqXdkvEbM8lzyrgp3H2kPvycdaSiyqQR9Mni2Wzcr7gXoByvvOORhJEIWNQDGg/w121-h113/J2.jpg" width="121" /></a></div><br />Pick up and knit tbl 13[15, 17, 19, 21]<b><i> </i></b>sts along the RS left edge of the sole flap, working the last into an ssk with the adjacent gusset stitch to its left, turn. Sl 1 pw, purl back to other edge of the sole flap, pick up and purl 13[15, 17, 19, 21]<b><i> </i></b>sts along WS left edge, working the last into a p2tog with the adjacent gusset stitch, turn.</div><div><br /></div><div>For a video tutorial on picking up and working the edge sts and in particular the first decrease of each row, visit <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWI3RkE0-q0" target="_blank">this video</a> on the My Edge technique for picking up sts. The images below give a preview of the demo for this technique.</div><div>Video sections: </div><div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">0:00 - Pick up and knit</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">4:23 - Pick up and purl</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">6:58 - Working decreases with picked up sts </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><p><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">* Pro-tip #1: </span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The ssk and p2tog on this first set of turns will each have
a gap if you work them traditionally. See ssk example below. </span></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYTCt8R_PDU9GjC-D5vekrHLP5lsbYCm0gV832i8e_1BgoEgUrGNRX2nOc4kMwrMLPlsMHnk5CknapgmWsWjvMBrtDRB3Nsd9LtGdra7f3ieAbdtMOm1pL-aYZNNfvOWEm4ITHiV5dOh_4HpqjRkVbGEXcl2oR7sFBCjj7TnnHMR241hbMdYjXfXt_w/s1545/IMG_5419.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="1545" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYTCt8R_PDU9GjC-D5vekrHLP5lsbYCm0gV832i8e_1BgoEgUrGNRX2nOc4kMwrMLPlsMHnk5CknapgmWsWjvMBrtDRB3Nsd9LtGdra7f3ieAbdtMOm1pL-aYZNNfvOWEm4ITHiV5dOh_4HpqjRkVbGEXcl2oR7sFBCjj7TnnHMR241hbMdYjXfXt_w/s320/IMG_5419.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you work the ssk traditionally, there will be a hole in your work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnWMgO4T5S7ir1O_qJoHZ0OUQS3iSFF35z9KppnFYiE3jwtcPxZkGtv_Pzhh4rn1ZcJHYPrLsVFGbLnI8nKXYNHS_yoKKTYA7F94Qfk984L9CkIT9suOYhYeX9_bpoCu-CFMAwKBgn-laiNZxiLjnHn-pEX3dEHUOgYoX39XmpgK5Gfotgi90-WOJNg/s1852/IMG_5417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1389" data-original-width="1852" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnWMgO4T5S7ir1O_qJoHZ0OUQS3iSFF35z9KppnFYiE3jwtcPxZkGtv_Pzhh4rn1ZcJHYPrLsVFGbLnI8nKXYNHS_yoKKTYA7F94Qfk984L9CkIT9suOYhYeX9_bpoCu-CFMAwKBgn-laiNZxiLjnHn-pEX3dEHUOgYoX39XmpgK5Gfotgi90-WOJNg/s320/IMG_5417.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The 2 sts to be worked together should be oriented so that they are leaning in </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">opposite directions. For the ssk, the first st is R leg forward, the next st is R leg back. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(For the p2tog, it's the opposite.)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBBxbEkyG_IR3pZhT-N5ng9JkYfqk0K5-Wy_EYAyLUnRNhA9lN1xgXWT61a7zadudKBo-4HWxuL043o_MrpjNbU8LrQkRyFsyCfkbMaAEDTtestM4zHmB5thF01X6vTUj98-pxWJm9Id-jwTU9gEkTMfRdLgzBvyRm5Nd68TxLsPUBCoGpgic8a0G1g/s1167/IMG_5418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1167" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBBxbEkyG_IR3pZhT-N5ng9JkYfqk0K5-Wy_EYAyLUnRNhA9lN1xgXWT61a7zadudKBo-4HWxuL043o_MrpjNbU8LrQkRyFsyCfkbMaAEDTtestM4zHmB5thF01X6vTUj98-pxWJm9Id-jwTU9gEkTMfRdLgzBvyRm5Nd68TxLsPUBCoGpgic8a0G1g/s320/IMG_5418.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Slip both sts back to L needle and k tbl. The front stitch of your ssk </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">twists to the left, just like all the rest of the sts on this row.</div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><p></p><p>Work back and forth from edge to edge, each time ending with an ssk (RS) or p2tog (WS), until you have decreased by 4[5, 6, 7, 8] sts on each side. Your heel back will be a total of 8[10, 12, 14, 16] rows high. </p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">* Pro-tip #2:</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> To avoid having a gap at the top of the heel back on
the right side, after you work the last ssk, continue working around the front
of the sock, and work that last decrease as a k2tog from the RS. In the image
below, do a k2tog into the first 2 sts on the L needle.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84yjdoQEWLdYILySudVMp1WvRDDz8LHjf16TFA27OlrzQfdgn9OkYnUvGn91iAu0cQmgZ-gysh_S7mmV5ZLOWcGE_uc1U1reB9xUsvHRCKVLXY-OSWjSnu0kf9Agj6XqnjwsXnxle465ZPZkeOXHln-yp7yBz3HORWQQIfRbWiRVcC7JxswJmBq4iAg/s1236/IMG_5010.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1236" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84yjdoQEWLdYILySudVMp1WvRDDz8LHjf16TFA27OlrzQfdgn9OkYnUvGn91iAu0cQmgZ-gysh_S7mmV5ZLOWcGE_uc1U1reB9xUsvHRCKVLXY-OSWjSnu0kf9Agj6XqnjwsXnxle465ZPZkeOXHln-yp7yBz3HORWQQIfRbWiRVcC7JxswJmBq4iAg/s320/IMG_5010.JPEG" width="320" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">* Pro-tip #3:</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I always get loose stitches on the left side of my
heel back. To help with this, I use the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/9134334591698023754/1341205225724891770"><span style="color: blue;">hungry stitch method </span></a>to tighten up this
side. Even after using hungry stitch, I still manually distribute the slack
across the rows as needed. In the photo below, the stitches in the lower
half of the heel back have been manually adjusted, and those in the upper half
have not. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEwh_onKHkXXdEk9iATYpJC1lUkFYGcf04PENMEyRg0SQHZTIwIzsRTaIVXjvasRHZhUJoi9NXIxYOBc7N9tY7NvE-KMLjE9YH1MccHncyLtS9C8E1ld48YxQL7ZHTBBxdFEKSwakN9likCwqzAb5RR3Y6jx7dybZzGcN3UaEgpJv-CDeJxx3IqwqZQ/s2048/IMG_5008.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEwh_onKHkXXdEk9iATYpJC1lUkFYGcf04PENMEyRg0SQHZTIwIzsRTaIVXjvasRHZhUJoi9NXIxYOBc7N9tY7NvE-KMLjE9YH1MccHncyLtS9C8E1ld48YxQL7ZHTBBxdFEKSwakN9likCwqzAb5RR3Y6jx7dybZzGcN3UaEgpJv-CDeJxx3IqwqZQ/s320/IMG_5008.JPEG" width="240" /></a></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">3. <u>Work the gusset decreases</u>. </p><div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMQR6Q6lDi5Rhy_Y0Vi9JUWF5pyGaONSqISSMjEWIICRouXF5U1thv6RWBfAIVYTmgLHscBPNhqkhC_iLMWA_GvqBdpJHausvs-OcGqaPqXxRENqWwfkKYWYzjlFqrz2lC59njCxHj7tflNpvGaZQdEnZcbXrkYZgN4cDX0qWkfCh9-8oedpa6kW95A/s1422/J3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1422" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMQR6Q6lDi5Rhy_Y0Vi9JUWF5pyGaONSqISSMjEWIICRouXF5U1thv6RWBfAIVYTmgLHscBPNhqkhC_iLMWA_GvqBdpJHausvs-OcGqaPqXxRENqWwfkKYWYzjlFqrz2lC59njCxHj7tflNpvGaZQdEnZcbXrkYZgN4cDX0qWkfCh9-8oedpa6kW95A/w123-h115/J3.jpg" width="123" /></a></div><br />Working in the round, decrease by 2 sts every other round until you have returned to your starting stitch count of 48[56, 64, 72, 80] sts. <p></p></div><div><p><br /></p><p><b>JSPH Cuff down</b></p><p>This method is essentially the same as working a standard flap and turn heel except 1) you work the gusset first, as part of the leg, and 2) the shapes of the heel back and sole are very different! </p><p>1. <u>Work the gusset increases</u>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AxCyolmcq8_cbbB4gTqBJ_n-UskvH6GpgOWNkNrusv8xYOEUvLr36LJ02A7rA2MYsaj9XutHo5LrI2DZ4mP52Aq5vqifDP66Rzp0NdafeGBgez6VPxei3x64pC8T22IJ6Z3pMgi6R94RTGf8vrs4puWz4kwDiPxOl6QrkRrJDCVjOaug-A92g9j9zw/s1422/J1_cd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1422" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AxCyolmcq8_cbbB4gTqBJ_n-UskvH6GpgOWNkNrusv8xYOEUvLr36LJ02A7rA2MYsaj9XutHo5LrI2DZ4mP52Aq5vqifDP66Rzp0NdafeGBgez6VPxei3x64pC8T22IJ6Z3pMgi6R94RTGf8vrs4puWz4kwDiPxOl6QrkRrJDCVjOaug-A92g9j9zw/w128-h120/J1_cd.jpg" width="128" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Starting with 48[56, 64, 72, 80] sts, work the leg to the point where you would normally start working the flap for the heel back. Instead, work the gusset. Increase by 2 sts every other round until you have increased by 9[10, 11, 12, 13]<b><i> </i></b>sts on each side. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The gusset needs to be shaped in a particular way to fit together with the heel flap. Divide your stitches into those in front and those in back, with an equal number in each group. Then:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Work across the front stitches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Work 1 left leaning increase, work across all the back stitches, work 1 right leaning increase. 2 stitches increased on the back side; front side is still 1/2 of original stitch count.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Work 1 full non-shaping round. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Repeat the last shaping round, placing the new increases on the outside of the back sts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Alternate shaping and non-shaping rounds until you have increased by the target number of gusset stitches, all on the back side.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div><p>2. <u>Work the heel back (flap)</u>. </p></div><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCFlzdYZPsvJcvLEZ6r4PLI_hwoJMYDUgBPZLxt1D43pso8IXXpX2gFxfzQxQgJie-W0AgmV8gThjBhLbcM7Yl8tMmq49SAyiHLul9op7QhmyxH5B1JCOwCD5gBekYK5pPzGjt4TjXSn7fnxzeZr8NbxmgavJpYyW7J0Fw-Yl5YBF-xwvZ60wUeTMmw/s1422/J2_cd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1422" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCFlzdYZPsvJcvLEZ6r4PLI_hwoJMYDUgBPZLxt1D43pso8IXXpX2gFxfzQxQgJie-W0AgmV8gThjBhLbcM7Yl8tMmq49SAyiHLul9op7QhmyxH5B1JCOwCD5gBekYK5pPzGjt4TjXSn7fnxzeZr8NbxmgavJpYyW7J0Fw-Yl5YBF-xwvZ60wUeTMmw/w123-h115/J2_cd.jpg" width="123" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">From the center of the heel back, k [24, 27, 30, 33] sts, turn. Sl 1 pw, p 41[47, 53, 59, 65], turn. Continue working the flap from edge to edge until you have worked a total of 8[10, 12, 14, 16]<b><i> </i></b>rows. You should be able to count 4[5, 6, 7, 8] sts along the RS left edge of the flap, starting 1 row below the live sts on the needle, up to & including in the last full round below the flap.<br /><br /></p><div><p>3. <u>Work the sole</u>. </p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPqrwbn04RRUrNnTl-nQZkMz1NqlTRVgxjOY9J7MclZNm25bE4ahQZgjcjdC26-3KT9_iB1zAsMnSuS4Cmro43Lwa31atg092eNB1oCb7ZPPxHK0GkdNvEGz3cEDvKKo3wqhnZg209-r_qDqrKn6RNUADa_joNXjXS3pHJceIU5pWVZ0jEloMr1fTkg/s1422/J3_cd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1422" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPqrwbn04RRUrNnTl-nQZkMz1NqlTRVgxjOY9J7MclZNm25bE4ahQZgjcjdC26-3KT9_iB1zAsMnSuS4Cmro43Lwa31atg092eNB1oCb7ZPPxHK0GkdNvEGz3cEDvKKo3wqhnZg209-r_qDqrKn6RNUADa_joNXjXS3pHJceIU5pWVZ0jEloMr1fTkg/w125-h117/J3_cd.jpg" width="125" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">Work to the halfway point of the flap, then k 7[8, 9, 10, 11], ssk, turn. Sl 1 pw, p 14[16, 18, 20, 22], p2tog. Work back and forth, each time decreasing the last sole st into the flap, until you have integrated all the flap sts into the sole.</p></div><i>* Pro-tip #3: See above.</i><br /><div><p>From the present location of the working yarn, pick up and knit 4[5, 6, 7, 8] edge sts along the heel back flap, k across the front of the foot to the other flap edge, then pick up and knit another 4[5, 6, 7, 8] sts. Your present stitch count should now be your original 48[56, 64, 72, 80], and you can continue working the foot in the round.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">You made it to the end! </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Congratulations! Now, would you like to hear something else fun?</p><p><b>Epilogue.</b> If you take any heel + gusset assembly and work it upside down in your sock pattern (i.e., work a supposedly "cuff down" heel and gusset from the toe up), it's likely it will fit you just as well as if worked as instructed. You may have already noticed that JSPH visually resembles a square heel flipped upside down. The pictures below show that both of these heel structures fit me equally well worn upside-down or upside-up.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Left: My square heel. Right: JSPH.<br /></b></i><i>Worn upside-down:<br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhk0R_pHRcbsNItmnSHZKcg_xRri-YVbW7M4MS5dBFsopGSKsaAzHLE72NQFf7t8YBC-vlX8ViXZLp9PPg6VSE56hANKe-mgQ6gCIlpejz2ENIQ40fipjTehrT7ZAzkbxVfq-SBu2bNBxU3Dwd_j_EyD5JbejLWP3oi4f0ek1yqoaTkNJEFJ6MZNBWRg/s1900/IMG_5072.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="1900" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhk0R_pHRcbsNItmnSHZKcg_xRri-YVbW7M4MS5dBFsopGSKsaAzHLE72NQFf7t8YBC-vlX8ViXZLp9PPg6VSE56hANKe-mgQ6gCIlpejz2ENIQ40fipjTehrT7ZAzkbxVfq-SBu2bNBxU3Dwd_j_EyD5JbejLWP3oi4f0ek1yqoaTkNJEFJ6MZNBWRg/s320/IMG_5072.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Worn upside-up:<br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhdjE2SXiLZt-MCTNC2nk7CJZnjiVUXR9c6vl_zgj5evVh2Jo99lxM1FrE4nrYMtwlkR5fH-su-RaIDVoBnqYI0zQss1Fvf4yLKobnqxzK7_2nfDuYdQo06ko7E-WDU95BBuZTr4-9tbac2svMk6SeKqXwdqJYfR_tvp97Jctl2rASUAwaf4oM6RIEw/s1836/IMG_5055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1377" data-original-width="1836" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhdjE2SXiLZt-MCTNC2nk7CJZnjiVUXR9c6vl_zgj5evVh2Jo99lxM1FrE4nrYMtwlkR5fH-su-RaIDVoBnqYI0zQss1Fvf4yLKobnqxzK7_2nfDuYdQo06ko7E-WDU95BBuZTr4-9tbac2svMk6SeKqXwdqJYfR_tvp97Jctl2rASUAwaf4oM6RIEw/s320/IMG_5055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I dare you to play with this. Welcome to my sandbox! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksm1b-hFPRpae27GlINARcYPKUF3qNkb-qJx9hG0vyVLYgQks7j-gKBbLT3f0Vu6Os2SDtkAkdaizNl34d8Wl9VwsG-uTPdg-6NaLuvAXTp7yp9LDosSMCUoZE-mHZ9-7tgYLJCMc-Oh7jqO78gwjY92C9VdqCpGDeAMfNANmZ_PdY3NEeeyFN_QITQ/s679/Sandbox.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="679" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksm1b-hFPRpae27GlINARcYPKUF3qNkb-qJx9hG0vyVLYgQks7j-gKBbLT3f0Vu6Os2SDtkAkdaizNl34d8Wl9VwsG-uTPdg-6NaLuvAXTp7yp9LDosSMCUoZE-mHZ9-7tgYLJCMc-Oh7jqO78gwjY92C9VdqCpGDeAMfNANmZ_PdY3NEeeyFN_QITQ/w132-h132/Sandbox.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><p>Please stay tuned for upcoming designs featuring this heel structure, there are several in the works. </p></div></div></div>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-83211447477069754362022-03-31T12:45:00.012-07:002022-04-05T14:26:59.819-07:00Stretchy Cast Ons!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheneaHYggSsuLJiDg4DNZpg6purfd8rp0dgFZtmZ8X-dYXwKeiWKIr__k_hVaXJ_77IzXAX3J0pTylN00XPNpH3apDx47Rc47pWe9aczbDyWbkmmYAMQucbnYKcQ_lg6dy-3NpMf6y-dIoMthCltehzcuxDZ1n030qKZiBKsKCmnsEBlG7IWaJQrEu-g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1181" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheneaHYggSsuLJiDg4DNZpg6purfd8rp0dgFZtmZ8X-dYXwKeiWKIr__k_hVaXJ_77IzXAX3J0pTylN00XPNpH3apDx47Rc47pWe9aczbDyWbkmmYAMQucbnYKcQ_lg6dy-3NpMf6y-dIoMthCltehzcuxDZ1n030qKZiBKsKCmnsEBlG7IWaJQrEu-g" width="320" /></a></div><br />Do you have a knitting BFF? I do, and her name is Brenda Dayne. 💕 Despite being separated by 8 time zones and almost 5,000 miles, Brenda and I often find time to text and videochat about knitting. She has been podcasting about knitting for many years, long before we met in person. This week she and I get into the nitty gritty of stretchy cast ons. We discussed the three methods below in particular. For details on each, listen to our <a href="https://www.brendadayne.co.uk/2022/04/02/172-flotation-device/" target="_blank">conversation</a> on the latest episode of her podcast, Cast On. All of her episodes are available at <a href="https://www.brendadayne.co.uk/" target="_blank">https://www.brendadayne.co.uk/</a>.<p></p><p>There are many videos online about these techniques. Note that the way I do #2 and #3 is a little different from the standard method.</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Slip Knot Cast On </b>(known by many names, but still just a series of slip knots.)<br />My video from 2009 is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n8E3I6Cg2k&t=26s" target="_blank">here. </a><br />Hand's Occupied's take on my method is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMBjPPys9Yw&t=0s" target="_blank">here</a>. A great interpretation of what I originally did.<br />Janel Laidman Vaisbort's video is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNc0e1Wizjk&t=0s" target="_blank">here</a> - structure is slightly different than mine, and a little easier to tighten.<br /></li><li><b>Long Tail Cast On </b>my way is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2IuCIJKdkA&t=17s" target="_blank">here</a>. </li><li><b>German Twisted Cast On </b>my way is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2IuCIJKdkA&t=17s" target="_blank">here</a>. </li></ol><p></p><p>Soon I will be sharing with you a new heel design I have come up with recently, affectionately named "Jeny's Square Peg Heel" or JSPH for short. Stay tuned!</p>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-76348865727362101002022-02-17T19:57:00.030-08:002022-02-18T08:51:21.045-08:00My Pie.<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYK8ut28IACDjBALJ4YZa-D1j00tyQ9A4BoCGaZDannNW1hXbyprubt31vQUi9ocvlnusK3KD-oIFYSf2FbB9M4KIkW_lkhenMhyVaATDvxcKFc2ITDjIPuqy-vCOgsuHUz53QBWouwAR6kYDeoDZlWGKqw-bgKjHWpK8N9O4onWnO_bWY0L4SBcqCuw=s480" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYK8ut28IACDjBALJ4YZa-D1j00tyQ9A4BoCGaZDannNW1hXbyprubt31vQUi9ocvlnusK3KD-oIFYSf2FbB9M4KIkW_lkhenMhyVaATDvxcKFc2ITDjIPuqy-vCOgsuHUz53QBWouwAR6kYDeoDZlWGKqw-bgKjHWpK8N9O4onWnO_bWY0L4SBcqCuw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Everyone has their own favorite way of making pie, especially the crust. I believe that a pie maker should follow whatever method they most enjoy. The most important thing is to have fun! The method documented below is what is most fun for me. It just happens to also look and taste awesome.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In brief, this is what I do. Note that some parts of my process defy traditional methods.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I make an all butter crust; butter is integrated in two separate steps using different mixing methods.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">When cutting in the butter, I leave the chunks large (marble-sized). </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ice water is mixed in by hand, not in the food processor.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Crust can be rested and then rolled, or rolled and then rested; order doesn’t matter. (Some bakers think this is heresy, but it works for me.)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Crust is rolled out between sheets of plastic wrap, not on a floured surface.</span></li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And now in not-brief, here is my definitive process of making pie.<br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>What makes a flaky crust:</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The primary thing to many pie bakers and eaters, and possibly the most contentious, is how one achieves the perfect balance of tenderness, flakiness, and taste. Many people swear by a combination of fats — part butter and part Crisco or lard. Here I can offer a food-science explanation for why a combination of fats typically results in a flaky crust, and some different ways to achieve that.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the keys to making a pie crust that is crispy and flaky is not what specific combination of fats you use, but rather the result of how those different fats disperse when you cut them into the flour. Cold butter stays in firm chunks, whereas Crisco/lard will quickly disperse and coat the individual flour grains. The combination of fat-coated flour grains and firm chunks of fat is the goal. But it’s not necessary to use multiple different fats to get this effect. I've identified three different ways of getting this effect using all butter. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Divide the butter ahead of time, keep most of it cold and let a portion come to room temperature; cut into the flour in one step just as you would butter + Crisco/lard. <i>OR</i>,</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Keep all the butter cold and add in two separate steps: first blend in a portion completely until the flour grains are coated, then cut in the rest, leaving large chunks. (This is how I do it.) <i>OR</i>,</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Keep all the butter cold and cut into the flour, leaving large chunks, then </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">rub the mix with your hands until the flour starts to get slightly sticky.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Pro-tip: </i>cutting in butter using any of these methods also applies to making excellent biscuits and scones.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Note that you’re not limited to Crisco and lard as alternative fats. Duck, beef and lamb fat, to name a few, are also great choices especially for savory pies. Coconut oil would probably be great also, but I haven't tried that.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here is how I make my crust.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ingredients:</span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">320 g flour (same weight gluten-free or wheat) This is about 2-2 1/2 cups.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 c unsalted butter (divided into 3/4 c and 1/4 c, cubed & cold)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 tsp salt</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">8-12 Tb ice water</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">(GF only — 1 tsp vinegar. This is recommended by America's Test Kitchen to help with flakiness. I often forget to add it though, and my GF crust still turns out great.)</span></li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Instructions:</span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. Put the flour, salt, and 1/4 cup of butter into a food processor. Process on high until the flour begins to stick together very slightly as it spins around the bowl. There should be no visual trace of the butter; it should be completely integrated.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6_YsCXL2w6Ws7xv-CH6vMtSFb9MgaGoDv7Wi9PHA_vJyIk9sX8oCp8zn5i7UB4Rfdq3Py55-_wd3vB22hAPH3L9iCiPu9tXNl1Tqvwqaznx3cc94dF_a29RKcEfWegXHF7avmU9aPe2TSN_0hxsxmw0CyXIuIAgWTdjt1oquP3DLd1MPxADb6F5c-IA=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6_YsCXL2w6Ws7xv-CH6vMtSFb9MgaGoDv7Wi9PHA_vJyIk9sX8oCp8zn5i7UB4Rfdq3Py55-_wd3vB22hAPH3L9iCiPu9tXNl1Tqvwqaznx3cc94dF_a29RKcEfWegXHF7avmU9aPe2TSN_0hxsxmw0CyXIuIAgWTdjt1oquP3DLd1MPxADb6F5c-IA=w400-h300" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">2. Sprinkle the remaining 3/4 c cold cubed butter into the flour mix. Pulse a few times until you have marble-size chunks. This is larger than what most cooks recommend, but this is what works for me. I prefer to be conservative, and to cut up any too-big pieces later if I deem necessary.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTJz9z7nemlIk8hsVC76zBAL_eoeDtXKQvOGRzFKUn1E7DAtu-Q_GX-9I_DOMhbVI_p2fQ9wodvKuLVusFueziBSoBBCXp6MB3qYDDK3pprBMCKw_R89sFw5AdBZhRhYWbUgcZ_FLTtKPkgFvjPmkHX1aE7LEq-wt6qYaDXaGLaVQI8__496tXnquayw=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTJz9z7nemlIk8hsVC76zBAL_eoeDtXKQvOGRzFKUn1E7DAtu-Q_GX-9I_DOMhbVI_p2fQ9wodvKuLVusFueziBSoBBCXp6MB3qYDDK3pprBMCKw_R89sFw5AdBZhRhYWbUgcZ_FLTtKPkgFvjPmkHX1aE7LEq-wt6qYaDXaGLaVQI8__496tXnquayw=w400-h300" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Pro-tip: </i>consider making an extra bag of this flour mix and storing it in the fridge, in the event that you accidentally add too much ice water in the next step. If that happens and you add more plain flour to compensate, your result will not be as good.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">3. Pour the flour mix from the food processor into a bowl so that you can mix in the ice water by hand. Mixing by hand gives you much more control over working the dough as little as possible and also maintaining the desired size of the butter chunks. Picture below shows the mix before any water is added.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSHElahd2gEdOLKHTiH3dIaGIXwB2b5-YFGkwLwMBiKdEYfSVrRmgRylg-eOvr2fvQxVkbEbWn5Q-bmXU66X0WwOfK7049FNDhuRz7wcUpmAP2m9Jq2me8C6o19vXjYg9rHIkzKCj_583g-0L3Fzrs7-n2tGyZaDxLN9Q3YlocUD1KJtpy2Q3yZAi4Mg=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSHElahd2gEdOLKHTiH3dIaGIXwB2b5-YFGkwLwMBiKdEYfSVrRmgRylg-eOvr2fvQxVkbEbWn5Q-bmXU66X0WwOfK7049FNDhuRz7wcUpmAP2m9Jq2me8C6o19vXjYg9rHIkzKCj_583g-0L3Fzrs7-n2tGyZaDxLN9Q3YlocUD1KJtpy2Q3yZAi4Mg=w400-h300" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">4. Start with 8 tablespoons of ice water. (If you are making a GF crust, first add the teaspoon of vinegar to this water.) Stir briskly around the periphery of the bowl with a fork, occasionally cutting through the middle of the bowl. This movement should moisten everything evenly with as little working of the mix as possible. Picture below shows the mix with 8 Tb ice water incorporated. Sometimes this is enough for the dough to stick together, but not this time. It looks a little different from the photo just above, but there is not yet enough water in this dough.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEJ5r5n68NXyiBTURuqtHJTjIMBO17uyzlBsXR4YImDrUfSwWi2zfVJyRnT7HSt96RYhK304CBcj2Aqlhu8Gd7DMcCTkR4FhmUTB9O_eQdXHSiojFc-Xba1TdqXnDVQIwGGgOlPVV6OD2SMH7xkzabNdxJEpuYGJaSQG22XexvFoMo24z_bvZECIprAg=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEJ5r5n68NXyiBTURuqtHJTjIMBO17uyzlBsXR4YImDrUfSwWi2zfVJyRnT7HSt96RYhK304CBcj2Aqlhu8Gd7DMcCTkR4FhmUTB9O_eQdXHSiojFc-Xba1TdqXnDVQIwGGgOlPVV6OD2SMH7xkzabNdxJEpuYGJaSQG22XexvFoMo24z_bvZECIprAg=w400-h300" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">5. If after adding 8 Tb of ice water your mix is still a little dry, add another 2-3 Tb. The dough pictured below has the right amount of water for it to stick together when pressed. (For reference, I find that 10 Tb is usually perfect. I never need more than 12 Tb.)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmw0RIxRhZH_N1hBeyiRC-jyqZ8eF3YeZ8HjVMHiuRSv0ee9_ICsIfzjQDjgJ3F-OT-fgyeyR-Ph7wIa82xWhRkQOI-62-waIrRFBolP9NdimZ13CsURi7Qf6-JfS3K5an2nry3AIbbfNCx2Pey6SWnmN0Dv_Aoy9UgH0Su2hrrlPmfH6RhvrJd982wg=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmw0RIxRhZH_N1hBeyiRC-jyqZ8eF3YeZ8HjVMHiuRSv0ee9_ICsIfzjQDjgJ3F-OT-fgyeyR-Ph7wIa82xWhRkQOI-62-waIrRFBolP9NdimZ13CsURi7Qf6-JfS3K5an2nry3AIbbfNCx2Pey6SWnmN0Dv_Aoy9UgH0Su2hrrlPmfH6RhvrJd982wg=w400-h300" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Note that the mix is still “shaggy” — you don’t keep adding water until the dough sticks together, just until it is barely and evenly moistened. (As per pro-tip, if your result is too wet, compensate by adding flour mix from your reserve bag held just for this purpose.)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6. Press the shaggy dough together gently; do not knead or compress into a firm ball. Cut into 2 roughly equally sized pieces. (If you are making hand pies, one batch of dough makes eight equally sized pieces, probably about 85 g apiece.) Picture below shows 1/2 of the dough, after it is cut into 2 pieces.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxBMGmYe1ju5qL92oxe-HzkPFBe-twGdbiwy2EWRVIxkZaX7vHkaJ8ba9yzNnSfkXhPUheN9b51rVSx1f3ghVR8EHQfZOGwWNfHUTbApTtgfiEa14688ypTF-NHy_A__Me3HHG-xgFgq_RbkRv0vqB60e1TJUii_5FdbXoUJKbetDn4QxJc9QiTzokpA=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxBMGmYe1ju5qL92oxe-HzkPFBe-twGdbiwy2EWRVIxkZaX7vHkaJ8ba9yzNnSfkXhPUheN9b51rVSx1f3ghVR8EHQfZOGwWNfHUTbApTtgfiEa14688ypTF-NHy_A__Me3HHG-xgFgq_RbkRv0vqB60e1TJUii_5FdbXoUJKbetDn4QxJc9QiTzokpA=w400-h300" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">7. Press each of these into a round flat disc about 1/2 inch thick on a piece of plastic wrap, seal and rest in the fridge for an hour or so. Picture shows a tablespoon for scale. Note the spotty surface -- these are the chunks of butter that will melt and leave thin layers of dough, thus creating the sought-after flakiness.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwWxqLrj8wgkn3LC0eQdz4maaBEYE0ashB7-kcyWII-4gF9wxKJ1IG8n0o3YU33Sk0yDM5qNuC3CtRV8gVqyKhPUd7Mv4n0QiDg-fbA9Olad-FZuI0pak5sw2Xly6dZ2kMSe9iYSLUl8AsfSgBfJi673R5zu8TS2u3dLmGBn9PDtsR5D7dGMEivgqXGw=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwWxqLrj8wgkn3LC0eQdz4maaBEYE0ashB7-kcyWII-4gF9wxKJ1IG8n0o3YU33Sk0yDM5qNuC3CtRV8gVqyKhPUd7Mv4n0QiDg-fbA9Olad-FZuI0pak5sw2Xly6dZ2kMSe9iYSLUl8AsfSgBfJi673R5zu8TS2u3dLmGBn9PDtsR5D7dGMEivgqXGw=w400-h300" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you choose, you can alternatively roll out right now into the final size and shape, so long as the butter is still cold and firm. If you roll first, you will need to rest in the fridge afterwards. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Resting the dough: </b>This is an important step. The dough needs at least an hour of rest in the refrigerator, either before or after rolling. If it’s a wheat crust, the resting time helps the gluten to relax after mixing/rolling, which yields a more tender result. If it’s a GF crust, it needs time to absorb the moisture in the dough because the grains in GF flour are less permeable than wheat. In both cases, keeping the dough cold is important because that keeps the butter firm, which is key to a flaky crust. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Rolling the dough:</b> Make sure you lay out enough plastic wrap to accommodate the final size and shape you want (it may be multiple sheets wide for a full size pie). As cracks form along the edge, compress them together using the plastic wrap to apply pressure. The plastic wrap may tear as you roll it; peel and replace as necessary. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pictures below show a small piece of dough for a 2-crust mini tart. As you begin to roll, cracks will inevitably form along the edge. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTGobRrF_pKg0IaLp8gstNpnUgH3lK3I7ic1YvmFzlgp3EahxoB5VDXmGcugkNeF99GJwtqzDUeWmsqTeOWFUaDGHnXdVJIDFZvfZoepTmsnpW13U6wdeGsA_5e9ZP45TfEipSYTg_-Xs0FAoU1KSrQM6ecZ_PpTvVIGQa4DJFF2I4pEcVTfM1LJkQOw=s1900" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="1900" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTGobRrF_pKg0IaLp8gstNpnUgH3lK3I7ic1YvmFzlgp3EahxoB5VDXmGcugkNeF99GJwtqzDUeWmsqTeOWFUaDGHnXdVJIDFZvfZoepTmsnpW13U6wdeGsA_5e9ZP45TfEipSYTg_-Xs0FAoU1KSrQM6ecZ_PpTvVIGQa4DJFF2I4pEcVTfM1LJkQOw=w400-h349" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Below: Fold the plastic wrap over the cracked area and compress; then unfold and continue rolling. Repeat folding, compressing, and unfolding as necessary.</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjW3mOHYrq_zameLIk6aRBnOLUJ-Mz6QbAx-CjtAuHeBs2Zd9IINfdwx8URDcNKzm42W6oHTdmgdbGn5iggk97P5TSwHHmU08G_OuAdWM5J709s1sjN9cWQCW8Twaj1_VOVLkqXK-WL6wgNulhgOnVQR4XDcbN5gm-5-DfEimqmGK8taEG-gzz5gu9XLA=s426" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="426" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjW3mOHYrq_zameLIk6aRBnOLUJ-Mz6QbAx-CjtAuHeBs2Zd9IINfdwx8URDcNKzm42W6oHTdmgdbGn5iggk97P5TSwHHmU08G_OuAdWM5J709s1sjN9cWQCW8Twaj1_VOVLkqXK-WL6wgNulhgOnVQR4XDcbN5gm-5-DfEimqmGK8taEG-gzz5gu9XLA=w400-h379" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Below: The crust rolled out, cracked edges smoothed and compressed. Those large spots of butter are exactly what will give you a nice flaky crust!</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsYdKw6Psd_PEaox-OCAfam29_lFXjFwPK1TT-dFy5978iMzRwUXpjEe2JWN9pnLYDYgBzAUNUkENRY1rHLcS3u2yJkLfsbg25KYpSIY2BkbB4HdbZBbO7tGwUzMKfoLogI3hvb2urX9kRc1X8KuhOP5rY6SzKfLU6ZUKnkwycjP8cd9y8-eXu9th4tg=s1912" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1642" data-original-width="1912" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsYdKw6Psd_PEaox-OCAfam29_lFXjFwPK1TT-dFy5978iMzRwUXpjEe2JWN9pnLYDYgBzAUNUkENRY1rHLcS3u2yJkLfsbg25KYpSIY2BkbB4HdbZBbO7tGwUzMKfoLogI3hvb2urX9kRc1X8KuhOP5rY6SzKfLU6ZUKnkwycjP8cd9y8-eXu9th4tg=w400-h344" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once rolled and rested, place into the pie plate as follows:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana;">1. Remove one side of plastic wrap and set gently back on top.</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana;">2. Flip over, remove the other side of the plastic wrap.</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana;">3. Plastic side up, position the crust centered over your pie plate and press into the sides. Do this gently; the more pressure you apply when pressing into the plate, the tighter the plastic will adhere to the surface, the softer your dough will get, and the trickier it will be to remove the plastic without tearing the dough.</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">4. Carefully remove remaining plastic wrap.</span></div></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then, fill as desired. If you’re making a double crust pie, repeat the above steps with the top crust. Crimp sides as you wish. Make sure to cut vents in the top so the sides don’t blow apart.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here is what I do for my apple pie filling.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Apple filling ingredients:</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">5 medium sized apples, a combination of Granny Smith and some other firm high acid variety like Honeycrisp</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">1/2 c white or brown sugar</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">32 g flour (about 1/3 to 1/2 the volume of sugar)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">1/2 tsp cinnamon</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Juice of one lemon</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 Tb melted butter</span></li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Optional add-ins: 1/2 tsp salt, other spices like ground cardamom, coriander, or cloves, or even savory spices like red pepper or paprika. You can also add sharp cheese, or a custard or frangipani filling. Fresh halved cranberries is one of my favorite add-ins.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Instructions:</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. Apple pieces should be medium-thin; first peel and quarter the apples, then cut each quarter into 4-5 slices.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">2. In a separate bowl, mix together the sugar, flour, and cinnamon. It’s important to do this before you add to the apples, otherwise you might get clumps of flour.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">3. Add the sugar mix to the apples and stir. Add the lemon juice, then the melted butter. Arrange the apples inside the bottom crust as desired.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">4. Top with the second crust, crimp sides, cut vents, finish surface as desired. I like to dust with granulated sugar, and I don’t bother with egg wash.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">5. Place in the lower third of the oven, bake at 375° with convection on for a total of 50 to 60 minutes, rotating halfway through the baking process. The pie is done when you start to see syrupy bubbles coming through the top vents and/or the crust edge. Do not judge by the appearance of the crust. If it’s getting brown but not yet bubbling, try moving it to a lower rack of the oven and/or placing a sheet of foil on top of it.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Note that if you are making a GF crust, I recommend you have some support around the side of the pie plate, because GF pie crust tends to spread over the edge and break off. If your pie plate can slip snugly into a springform pan, that’s perfect. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhm-ngUxagFf_-iOPmKgDJCJZr04wW3KE-RHb_YqZBfz6-M0yRpUxlWMOVjRtIpfrK2OSapFXwN8p-0hat4i57AFY-wI5SyklSystZrjt1PefXqm_xhgxPQKftPI2EMn4ej0-aGv1-CouFLbK0A35MSi-VhinsKumddRn7E25uxGSi0ZAIHWm4LASCSIQ=s1918" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1640" data-original-width="1918" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhm-ngUxagFf_-iOPmKgDJCJZr04wW3KE-RHb_YqZBfz6-M0yRpUxlWMOVjRtIpfrK2OSapFXwN8p-0hat4i57AFY-wI5SyklSystZrjt1PefXqm_xhgxPQKftPI2EMn4ej0-aGv1-CouFLbK0A35MSi-VhinsKumddRn7E25uxGSi0ZAIHWm4LASCSIQ=w400-h343" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyn_1VEk42NIo55DuG18tkMy-va-9pBX6RglKcgVhZpqN48_yQ1I7an8Go8jZ6sZJ0RGoIHxxLRL2e4HWD6fAN5RVIvnqUbEVL639UXBARcW5fFbq931ePV1EG1cEAcpbQnnrVJS0LKSJuB0R04G8QdYE7OaLqxBLhqTT8QM5mu9QMk-yS_1l8xF7P0w=s2244" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="2244" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyn_1VEk42NIo55DuG18tkMy-va-9pBX6RglKcgVhZpqN48_yQ1I7an8Go8jZ6sZJ0RGoIHxxLRL2e4HWD6fAN5RVIvnqUbEVL639UXBARcW5fFbq931ePV1EG1cEAcpbQnnrVJS0LKSJuB0R04G8QdYE7OaLqxBLhqTT8QM5mu9QMk-yS_1l8xF7P0w=w400-h250" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another way to provide support for GF pies is to construct a foil collar and staple it together around the periphery. The picture below shows 4" mini GF tarts in and out of their little makeshift foil pans.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRGKiV9-rXsbW0YZhGZASVLXowSyVHQ70R5XRoNStsRLTcOph84MJma5JEanXv2FDu9yJxdZxlWI44bIsUTroPGO5wSPhlx092tzrWZJoe0YOdXJxYNoKXS6LiAof5isi967m1_ucK7ZWpAdBVX7_f85znywGB3LJNAJRCZeqGgPlheSgSrwBrT8XDUQ=s1856" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1692" data-original-width="1856" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRGKiV9-rXsbW0YZhGZASVLXowSyVHQ70R5XRoNStsRLTcOph84MJma5JEanXv2FDu9yJxdZxlWI44bIsUTroPGO5wSPhlx092tzrWZJoe0YOdXJxYNoKXS6LiAof5isi967m1_ucK7ZWpAdBVX7_f85znywGB3LJNAJRCZeqGgPlheSgSrwBrT8XDUQ=w400-h365" width="400" /></a></div><br /> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQqBM7QLEqBc455gDznq2Vrdz46dXVQ6Qjn4tkMo7YO6-9zp8e-5P6-Ilorehrt0fxXzikaAY9S63wBgzL-HtEe6edWiktiRpn4McJF5SpGqIAQqQ4Vsx2cZWYRwUipB7jChh6BCfA0V3z19clKED2jOuIy6ac5MDzWTVClhsKnVmTTgytPyud4h-_gQ=s424" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="424" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQqBM7QLEqBc455gDznq2Vrdz46dXVQ6Qjn4tkMo7YO6-9zp8e-5P6-Ilorehrt0fxXzikaAY9S63wBgzL-HtEe6edWiktiRpn4McJF5SpGqIAQqQ4Vsx2cZWYRwUipB7jChh6BCfA0V3z19clKED2jOuIy6ac5MDzWTVClhsKnVmTTgytPyud4h-_gQ=w400-h383" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I hope you find this photo-documentation useful in your pie making. I believe we each have our own ways of doing things, and I encourage you to make your pie process your very own. Trust your instincts and have fun!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div></div>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-90236192847184600602021-12-08T18:34:00.003-08:002021-12-08T20:01:05.081-08:00Better Together<p>Hello knitters!</p><p style="text-align: left;">If you've seen the latest issue of <a href="http://knitty.com" target="_blank">knitty</a>, you may have noticed a (beautiful!) sock pattern called <a href="https://knitty.com/ISSUEw21/PATTsevern/PATTsevern.php" target="_blank">River Severn</a>. You may have also noticed there are <i>two </i>designers on the byline: me, and my friend Brenda Dayne. Co-designers? This is not the norm. Designing, iterating, working, writing, and editing a pattern as a 50-50 team was a first for both of us... and man, it was FUN! Why is this kind of collaboration between geeks not more common? Oh my gosh. Everyone should do this!! Brenda and I are looking forward to many more collaborations, the next of which is already in the works.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8S706gfpYlcJmWckOIT2AHXmGGiINQFELK-7GVXBm_aDFXjh4QTafZ7iE5OvmYUDcHAcIiwV7_WF-JUSRvxT_LYz6TEBIm5rs_wr5pBJZ9_jD2XnVoxRQe_yADMyR2txXdrTOdm7lOKo/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="650" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8S706gfpYlcJmWckOIT2AHXmGGiINQFELK-7GVXBm_aDFXjh4QTafZ7iE5OvmYUDcHAcIiwV7_WF-JUSRvxT_LYz6TEBIm5rs_wr5pBJZ9_jD2XnVoxRQe_yADMyR2txXdrTOdm7lOKo/" width="160" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br />Let me tell you a little about my friend Brenda. She is a kindred spirit. 💑 I don't say that lightly. True kindred spirits are few and far between, and I'm profoundly grateful for each one. Brenda is articulate, hilarious (often in a delightfully self-deprecating way), compassionate, brilliant, creative, geeky, and curious. If you are not already familiar with her excellent and long-running podcast <a href="https://www.brendadayne.co.uk/category/cast-on/" target="_blank">Cast On</a>, please do check it out. I love listening to her and I love chatting with her. I feel simultaneously completely comfortable and understood by her, and at the same time utterly starstruck with her. She's simply the best.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZkRy26BaYFAwceH1earmLvnPYUWSepkwpO2MlwSwQQMTbpbYELohFt2PPwec5lX_GW8PlDy1hpRBwTwXVO5B2HXBInwMWxoGjRF7ANXTkIQqipzSTzDhrAEmzA5iNCOtIeGe3Pnn99Pj/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="650" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZkRy26BaYFAwceH1earmLvnPYUWSepkwpO2MlwSwQQMTbpbYELohFt2PPwec5lX_GW8PlDy1hpRBwTwXVO5B2HXBInwMWxoGjRF7ANXTkIQqipzSTzDhrAEmzA5iNCOtIeGe3Pnn99Pj/" width="264" /></a></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Now let me tell you how this collaboration came about. It was not exactly planned. Brenda had a lot on her plate and was also re-designing a pattern on short notice. I had some free time and hoped I could reduce some of the stress on my friend. "Hey, can I help? Want me to do some test knitting, or something?"</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHgLF95UFubdu2gw15I0r77FnrVVI7ARRoWc-sxyGil182RreLNNuH9MHgz-HD6w7ksdUPQ08ekHCOxfqdy7zQg4t1gwRYTnSDl0gC0O4WSw0xmtPVJTheYyAf41_V0s8BwKrbEqJ7Vqe/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="650" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHgLF95UFubdu2gw15I0r77FnrVVI7ARRoWc-sxyGil182RreLNNuH9MHgz-HD6w7ksdUPQ08ekHCOxfqdy7zQg4t1gwRYTnSDl0gC0O4WSw0xmtPVJTheYyAf41_V0s8BwKrbEqJ7Vqe/" width="160" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">My role shifted from test knitter to partner when I shared some sketches of twisted stitch designs I'd been exploring. Brenda liked them enough to leverage them for the primary sock design motif. Shortly thereafter, I bought <a href="https://www.envisioknit.com/" target="_blank">EnvisioKnit</a> (which I highly recommend) and we were passing files back and forth, refining my explorations into a finished design.</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1_i7dil3SUemTfrKOYBS-ge-yMDV232kbMjwZVvOORdvtA78jp2sZA_Dpqxz-xLXNNpUjdlbHh0nHEvooo3zc6cVXjlMYoGq-wxCn2TPBGR35eZn-jdBj6ecu1Ej7qOY80uOWx53WgAP/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1506" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1_i7dil3SUemTfrKOYBS-ge-yMDV232kbMjwZVvOORdvtA78jp2sZA_Dpqxz-xLXNNpUjdlbHh0nHEvooo3zc6cVXjlMYoGq-wxCn2TPBGR35eZn-jdBj6ecu1Ej7qOY80uOWx53WgAP/" width="176" /></a><br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The joint iteration process really helped each of us to recognize when we were (inadvertently) operating from within a box, and how to break out of that box. This was the most amazing thing about this collaboration. Every step of the way, one of us noticed and pointed out something that the other didn't see. Once pointed out, the other person was like, OMG, why didn't I see that?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">And <b>herein lies the magic of design collaboration. </b>No matter how brilliant a designer you are, you will at some point develop tunnel vision. You need another mind and another set of eyes to give you those crucial reality checks. Tech editors (like our very own <a href="https://kateatherley.com/" target="_blank">Kate Atherley</a>) are also skilled at playing this role, but if it can happen during earlier, generative phases of the design, that's even better.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">So, please check out the pattern. It's available in two different yarn weights (sport, and fingering) and two different directions (cuff down, and toe-up). Something for everyone!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_xOlpXfX6-OhSpSj4qaYpH2f085G-yOIamCTxIemGF0o05TWFqQljSsj3bNYrcTRcSjdnh_jEoAZTNJh6A8LVjS62Y7m_lMJsrWggfumdj5VQk-Q4f55YA6_eYaXPQJEU99Lt5D-JwME/s982/BrendaJeny.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="982" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_xOlpXfX6-OhSpSj4qaYpH2f085G-yOIamCTxIemGF0o05TWFqQljSsj3bNYrcTRcSjdnh_jEoAZTNJh6A8LVjS62Y7m_lMJsrWggfumdj5VQk-Q4f55YA6_eYaXPQJEU99Lt5D-JwME/s320/BrendaJeny.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-10048526649926838102021-03-26T17:06:00.006-07:002021-03-29T18:45:38.487-07:00Provisional Primer: Reloaded<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have been tinkering with provisional sts a lot lately because I've been working on gloves, afterthought heels, and similar forms. <a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2011/06/provisional-primer.html" target="_blank">I blogged about this topic in 2011</a>, but I do things a little differently now. Below is a photographic guide to my latest methods for picking up provisional sts and working added parts. The main challenges we face with this technique are avoiding holes in the corners where sts are added, and also getting an even stitch count. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My 2011 provisional primer illustrated that the live loops above and below the provisional waste yarn are offset by 1/2 stitch, and there are noticeable gaps on either side of the live sts on the top row. For this reason, I recommended picking up 1 additional stitch on each side of the live loops on top. This means you will have 1 more stitch on the top row than you will on the bottom row. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0UIPYYAS1tlyPvyTwkl5O-4dIw0q1Prn0bZDdnCyy8U1bX3pXk3L4g6Zbov0Nep_YW5IZ-3ZqQlTeWNtrBuuml9REgyszOhWFjU5LBf6vzHSRWjbFn9Bl-yMZ2t287Ibk5C14gNnJsf2/s400/Provisional6detail+%25281%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0UIPYYAS1tlyPvyTwkl5O-4dIw0q1Prn0bZDdnCyy8U1bX3pXk3L4g6Zbov0Nep_YW5IZ-3ZqQlTeWNtrBuuml9REgyszOhWFjU5LBf6vzHSRWjbFn9Bl-yMZ2t287Ibk5C14gNnJsf2/s320/Provisional6detail+%25281%2529.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you want to have the same number of sts on top & bottom, this is a relatively simple tweak. When working the scrap yarn, simply do a k2tog decrease somewhere on the bottom row. In this example, the last 2 sts worked with the scrap yarn, on the far left, are worked together. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkOlLXVYi_-JpLr3VdR4aXJmy4K0VB-zodB3iJ6fXGB2acisdsXgBHGptTAAH-MIczpCAEguEtM3T9PsQIIDp86WeZJqWO2ItHpOqpn97qPxcN6oaPBo7OW2XWNOa_H06OaBHL_jQiR23/s480/IMG_9547.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkOlLXVYi_-JpLr3VdR4aXJmy4K0VB-zodB3iJ6fXGB2acisdsXgBHGptTAAH-MIczpCAEguEtM3T9PsQIIDp86WeZJqWO2ItHpOqpn97qPxcN6oaPBo7OW2XWNOa_H06OaBHL_jQiR23/s320/IMG_9547.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">(Alternatively you could work the scrap yarn over all sts and do a k2 on the next round over the scrap yarn, but I find that when done this way it is harder to do the next step.)<br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Later when you pick up sts, be sure to thread your lifeline through both sts that are worked together in the k2tog. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9veZWftfqsSTognb1QF6Qo_ZIAtSJm4Zf2GHF1I35MsE2ibWkfublFyazEzHazghBzrA2Rlek_P9a1wU73_r-L-Sx39MPyMCNAoMr5FgbndjQD2VwJIbYvo5d37mn6uet2gjuJPUpInX2/s1240/IMG_9553.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="1240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9veZWftfqsSTognb1QF6Qo_ZIAtSJm4Zf2GHF1I35MsE2ibWkfublFyazEzHazghBzrA2Rlek_P9a1wU73_r-L-Sx39MPyMCNAoMr5FgbndjQD2VwJIbYvo5d37mn6uet2gjuJPUpInX2/s320/IMG_9553.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I unpick my scrap yarn, including the sts picked up in the corners on top, I have 12 top sts and 12 bottom sts. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTU8Cz13JV501Fcjgyyw9wrb7dGi7mHXpKZc0OJl3RHkzUM_TxvzTHHjXln31QYwrcldggIDsDi7cnEY4OKseq-1FFtp6onHDP52qLo7M2V-Bnufd4OqZBPi1Ca0vGJ2Vncyydeu-f2UZW/s480/IMG_9561.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTU8Cz13JV501Fcjgyyw9wrb7dGi7mHXpKZc0OJl3RHkzUM_TxvzTHHjXln31QYwrcldggIDsDi7cnEY4OKseq-1FFtp6onHDP52qLo7M2V-Bnufd4OqZBPi1Ca0vGJ2Vncyydeu-f2UZW/s320/IMG_9561.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In my 2011 post, I kinda stopped there. But when I returned to this topic recently, I found that if I simply began working these 24 sts in the round, I'll still have holes in both corners: </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzd-BjdjrcWx4fZJ3X-dg8nCkWM5D3PVF1SyO6cnPoB8dQs4JDx216mWrfk8bN9dgx3IDdnQrO6hyphenhyphen-Vxa38R5AaQ_rQvhk5MvNb7HkqXPdGDohghRF4O_s11nUSJlx4Lwr8y1W0OLF_Kw/s480/IMG_9565.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzd-BjdjrcWx4fZJ3X-dg8nCkWM5D3PVF1SyO6cnPoB8dQs4JDx216mWrfk8bN9dgx3IDdnQrO6hyphenhyphen-Vxa38R5AaQ_rQvhk5MvNb7HkqXPdGDohghRF4O_s11nUSJlx4Lwr8y1W0OLF_Kw/s320/IMG_9565.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSSRJ_k4-BfUkZcQVPt4qwSBA2CZogPS4v8K1k9yiO2l8johrduQ8cEQW6BfhWsaCZGodyjfzSmhyphenhyphenIxYy8k-LlT5LzQRf0ldAKHzrPp8HmBGLTrjUd2vtOSAxqQOaZ_lfoA-MsGxQjqUv/s480/IMG_9566.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSSRJ_k4-BfUkZcQVPt4qwSBA2CZogPS4v8K1k9yiO2l8johrduQ8cEQW6BfhWsaCZGodyjfzSmhyphenhyphenIxYy8k-LlT5LzQRf0ldAKHzrPp8HmBGLTrjUd2vtOSAxqQOaZ_lfoA-MsGxQjqUv/s320/IMG_9566.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p><br /></p>These holes result from excessive slack in the stitches, not gaps between them. So technically they can be closed by redistributing the slack into the other sts on the row. Nevertheless, I decided I needed a more elegant solution that would put less stress on the corner sts. It adds three quick steps to the process.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. Pick up 2 extra sts on either end in the bottom row. (This means you now have 2 more sts on the bottom than you do on top, but this is temporary.)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RTJmg_ZQRn8CKkTX6gMD3_0cxNqpogNULmDC8oCVGRmAy9p9i7y5Rt28jezmFQbJ6PUZK-TEemsKY3JOqclTOvk9aaob4ei_vmEJUh9l5Ejpz06u9Yb6ZdZLrZaD5wRgmPXFAciZLOLZ/s480/IMG_9567.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RTJmg_ZQRn8CKkTX6gMD3_0cxNqpogNULmDC8oCVGRmAy9p9i7y5Rt28jezmFQbJ6PUZK-TEemsKY3JOqclTOvk9aaob4ei_vmEJUh9l5Ejpz06u9Yb6ZdZLrZaD5wRgmPXFAciZLOLZ/s320/IMG_9567.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p><br /></p>2. As you work each of the 4 corner sts, twist them (either way, per your preference). The twist will conceal any small openings. The image below shows one of the top corner sts after being twisted. You will work all 4 in the same way (you may wish to mirror the twist direction but that's up to you). </span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRAjoxUUnfw_5iEktZP2wMZxFCp84hTvufZXznStf-iO9xlHnNgGDi5B7C_fB5LIRFJQ2ZzedHOUvnsSSKwJrd_c5YYauY6lkJYpsoo_sb6LTcugJmcHT-Gi10yMB5cYl-GJUnNQ3vo9x/s480/IMG_9571.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRAjoxUUnfw_5iEktZP2wMZxFCp84hTvufZXznStf-iO9xlHnNgGDi5B7C_fB5LIRFJQ2ZzedHOUvnsSSKwJrd_c5YYauY6lkJYpsoo_sb6LTcugJmcHT-Gi10yMB5cYl-GJUnNQ3vo9x/s320/IMG_9571.jpeg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">3. To correct the stitch count, I like to work 1 round with the 2 extra sts on the bottom, then on the next round I decrease them with a k2tog and ssk. (Note that in several of my recent glove patterns I have instructed knitters to close holes by picking up gap sts and then immediately working them with the next st, but I now prefer working all picked up sts in the first round, then decreasing on the second round.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Round 1:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WLrETqZxEsib7gjqaEs1fzHvHbvC3Oc0Jjd6jjZkvjvuQrag2dcmt3T7G7V38BWtBiXMqDgT8hV9jD9mHZ1_8zLRulQPcMk8nscAH7YD5tGGFD4K-3lbZWxcJjaqUBVoKFybZRjDkdVk/s480/IMG_9575.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WLrETqZxEsib7gjqaEs1fzHvHbvC3Oc0Jjd6jjZkvjvuQrag2dcmt3T7G7V38BWtBiXMqDgT8hV9jD9mHZ1_8zLRulQPcMk8nscAH7YD5tGGFD4K-3lbZWxcJjaqUBVoKFybZRjDkdVk/s320/IMG_9575.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Round 2:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4pfPOATGkOAuqeHaQeG7mVR2EJ9qbvTrlaieIm6GJkFBnTcmBDX11drZUqgCXEBhRJMdcGJw7tp0pXtDD3BCJBhY5HsFT1uEW59htA6pG1qqlmmyun3GcHl4PBl8oW15Ej4iHeava3Tp/s480/IMG_9576.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4pfPOATGkOAuqeHaQeG7mVR2EJ9qbvTrlaieIm6GJkFBnTcmBDX11drZUqgCXEBhRJMdcGJw7tp0pXtDD3BCJBhY5HsFT1uEW59htA6pG1qqlmmyun3GcHl4PBl8oW15Ej4iHeava3Tp/s320/IMG_9576.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">At this point if I continue working my 24 sts in the round, my corners are quite tidy. There is a small amount of extra slack in the corners of the top sts, but this will probably self-resolve after the first washing. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXHzwIaTNjF-sJSptQdOC2hJzMqZVeHCDtVfdNa1RiWM91LBTf_WAvS3cRpV4uy4bNIZ4ZOwl_OQxgPiKcyY-J_Pzj6I789aVCLN447O_5TKgazQlYHH2GU4h16dyhh6HoQpbqkAgIOOx/s480/IMG_9572.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXHzwIaTNjF-sJSptQdOC2hJzMqZVeHCDtVfdNa1RiWM91LBTf_WAvS3cRpV4uy4bNIZ4ZOwl_OQxgPiKcyY-J_Pzj6I789aVCLN447O_5TKgazQlYHH2GU4h16dyhh6HoQpbqkAgIOOx/s320/IMG_9572.JPEG" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hopefully this tutorial will help you to work tidy finger and heel joins. Please stay tuned for more upcoming patterns from me that make use of this technique (there's your teaser!)</span> </div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p><br /></p>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-75974412476830828132021-01-24T21:52:00.000-08:002021-01-24T21:52:05.672-08:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyHr_1rvFP2sR8poaW1bCPJf16eN8hGLyMKLh2GfMjQyREd9iL2aIxswaAC7JT7OuAdwPnK7MZC5VI5OjlJr2HZGktnFSXQgHA6IxFlCI431tJLlM6k_LJJquAYzschVzpW14DIowmYdE/s960/Gerda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="727" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyHr_1rvFP2sR8poaW1bCPJf16eN8hGLyMKLh2GfMjQyREd9iL2aIxswaAC7JT7OuAdwPnK7MZC5VI5OjlJr2HZGktnFSXQgHA6IxFlCI431tJLlM6k_LJJquAYzschVzpW14DIowmYdE/s320/Gerda.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Although this is an older photo of my just-published glove pattern <a href="https://knitty.com/ISSUEw20/PATThandspan/PATThandspan.php" target="_blank">Handspan</a>, it's still my favorite one of this design, because how can you resist this adorable model? Here is my friend Gerda pictured in 2018 on my 48th birthday in her home city of Tempe AZ, where we met in grad school. I love you, my friend. <3<br /> <p></p>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-36171178806384349512020-10-15T13:42:00.006-07:002021-08-30T00:19:42.570-07:00Introducing the Single Strand Glove Technique (SSGT)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMEn8puUNxhr3nGNzmWQ7C12YPgxG7v41ApTLekFdwviAjr6drhFDdJWuVYZByFhG43CxG8w1OBBjOu7ACgCxGzBk1XNu09m03RsUH_iU5WBd6y5UptfDPOaBBHg80bJvCpAl0p-cGf4z/s426/continuityBEAUTY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="425" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMEn8puUNxhr3nGNzmWQ7C12YPgxG7v41ApTLekFdwviAjr6drhFDdJWuVYZByFhG43CxG8w1OBBjOu7ACgCxGzBk1XNu09m03RsUH_iU5WBd6y5UptfDPOaBBHg80bJvCpAl0p-cGf4z/s320/continuityBEAUTY.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Welcome! It's been seven years since my last pattern, but I'm still here. :)<p></p><p>I hope you enjoy my latest pattern, Continuity. Here is the link on Ravelry, if you haven't just come from there: <a href="https://knitty.com/ISSUEdf20/PATTcontinuity/PATTcontinuity.php">https://knitty.com/ISSUEdf20/PATTcontinuity/PATTcontinuity.php</a>. </p><p>This pattern introduces my newest un-vention, the Single Strand Glove Technique (or SSGT). </p><p>I have always loved gloves but rarely made them because I absolutely hate having to break my yarn into so many pieces and then deal with so many unfinished ends. This glove pattern shows you how to knit hand and all 5 fingers in a single unbroken strand. This technique can be used with any pattern that has extremities: gloves, mittens, socks with articulated toes, whatever. In principle, you feed the working yarn up through the inside of the finger tube so that you can pull it back down inside, and then you float the yarn back down to the hand, anchoring it to the side of the finger. </p><p>Link to video of the single strand glove technique is here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnV5kQCEDf4&feature=youtu.be">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnV5kQCEDf4&feature=youtu.be</a></p><p>Here is the tutorial that is included in the glove pattern pictured above. </p><p>Traditional glove patterns will instruct you to break the strand after finishing each finger, then resume knitting with a fresh strand. The ball of working yarn is on the outside of the finger, so you have to break it because it's too large to fit back through the tube.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMuN8nMPMW9tgH__T0TSgX1LJjpzv6rHMpTE-LD7c3I9VLqemWLrSwpV0UEQCeZDG2BTXJW_LQZJkA35G4xKuI95TSCXBQuIxN3XXabcavB1J3S5L-0S_iJBwcSbA1p8AOndqw9tOCyYt/s1318/Diagram1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1318" data-original-width="999" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMuN8nMPMW9tgH__T0TSgX1LJjpzv6rHMpTE-LD7c3I9VLqemWLrSwpV0UEQCeZDG2BTXJW_LQZJkA35G4xKuI95TSCXBQuIxN3XXabcavB1J3S5L-0S_iJBwcSbA1p8AOndqw9tOCyYt/s320/Diagram1.png" width="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>But if you feed the working yarn through the inside to begin with, the yarn never goes onto the outside. So when you're done with that finger, instead of breaking the strand, you can float the yarn from the fingertip back down to the hand, on the inside of the glove. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XkWTdesQxej0CC1ToMYap1TOBgJJ33qGA5sbjWLwSDDTBUgLbwI2G_9lRDa7yL2bzvJOBRuSfPgyV_hnwCmOTze34dyMAE-BTAQ8O22Tx20nDSRIJBEQXGUuXo7gFy1YGpwxnusUuVgZ/s1574/Diagram2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XkWTdesQxej0CC1ToMYap1TOBgJJ33qGA5sbjWLwSDDTBUgLbwI2G_9lRDa7yL2bzvJOBRuSfPgyV_hnwCmOTze34dyMAE-BTAQ8O22Tx20nDSRIJBEQXGUuXo7gFy1YGpwxnusUuVgZ/s320/Diagram2.png" width="244" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Setup: When starting each new finger, cast on 4 sts. Just before you start knitting in the round, draw a loop of the working yarn from under the needle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpMgsd79ZmTldCZ9qAcIeZUUwDVFHVw4h8ZLLQsAonSVTDQApVUYsVGFDE7GuFgDK5h1wB_n3K8L1A6Ebry9EVhbZ6JUEQVhkUbhO8Mkgqio82IfcgD3Iv86Dsdo9WRFvMppk9u0kDKld/s680/SSGT1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="680" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpMgsd79ZmTldCZ9qAcIeZUUwDVFHVw4h8ZLLQsAonSVTDQApVUYsVGFDE7GuFgDK5h1wB_n3K8L1A6Ebry9EVhbZ6JUEQVhkUbhO8Mkgqio82IfcgD3Iv86Dsdo9WRFvMppk9u0kDKld/s320/SSGT1.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Work the finger: Continue the finger while feeding the yarn through the inside. Take care to use the working end of the loop, not the ball end.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iiV5Y7BZ9PpO_XFIFe693hKsWfzq3nLgcn7yxdRaiSNJhVBmSPBnmv7vOTlvoXZG5CAQsQRET5jbuVm7DJNBgWbg2GNxMOCkU9hsDTqH47bne31XiTq-RH1kGOy1rXx15IMk3B3Z6NWw/s662/SSGT2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="662" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iiV5Y7BZ9PpO_XFIFe693hKsWfzq3nLgcn7yxdRaiSNJhVBmSPBnmv7vOTlvoXZG5CAQsQRET5jbuVm7DJNBgWbg2GNxMOCkU9hsDTqH47bne31XiTq-RH1kGOy1rXx15IMk3B3Z6NWw/s320/SSGT2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Secure the end of the finger: After you work the last sts on each finger, thread the loop of working yarn through a yarn needle and draw it through all remaining sts. Then use the needle to insert this loop-tail inside the finger. Turn the finger inside out and remove the yarn needle.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8v-QJDRBj9SpbdmwmYYE0x5Vj3Jtr3uRxiHuZEGfSGWqOmvzWgIy3EAlPYXMuVuFgEO5rXw5P1Wc5qskUCurz2b2a4a0GmDNS6_ZX2Sb8Q9Cna1X3VaCzmtMKg_ZRqWlRNmeyON-OnDIg/s2048/SSGT3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8v-QJDRBj9SpbdmwmYYE0x5Vj3Jtr3uRxiHuZEGfSGWqOmvzWgIy3EAlPYXMuVuFgEO5rXw5P1Wc5qskUCurz2b2a4a0GmDNS6_ZX2Sb8Q9Cna1X3VaCzmtMKg_ZRqWlRNmeyON-OnDIg/s320/SSGT3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Widen the loop enough to bring the ball of yarn through the loop. Snug the loop.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAZZU58a8xdABhk4Q6sLRPoISB3Dh4UoXJmV8j-oC7OXhr7Gowmz2RZKdp0UJlPtxFUkRs9Qva4Xd9O89uPhJZQXdn8vGwmEnIgSngnOnnNzAO-MoOVgIEWPkq3IXjck0ofuAz-8YH5u8/s2048/SSGT4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAZZU58a8xdABhk4Q6sLRPoISB3Dh4UoXJmV8j-oC7OXhr7Gowmz2RZKdp0UJlPtxFUkRs9Qva4Xd9O89uPhJZQXdn8vGwmEnIgSngnOnnNzAO-MoOVgIEWPkq3IXjck0ofuAz-8YH5u8/s320/SSGT4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anchor the working strand: With the finger still inside out, draw a loop of working yarn through a stitch, widen the loop enough to bring the ball of yarn through, the gently snug. Two or three anchors should secure your yarn nicely before you continue working.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLuoMSBQ2ii437MCJHBl3OP5-lJLgiOvINmk38YxP1YXGtPvMOP1H2Ti6p3qJLu-gsCvD8SAeCjkkQfYQ8G-TNcuF4sW3rwOVZAfpXLdwGETqxtcnS0bI5JHL6VyG1XRK5Ac2YC5MkNQK/s2048/SSGT5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLuoMSBQ2ii437MCJHBl3OP5-lJLgiOvINmk38YxP1YXGtPvMOP1H2Ti6p3qJLu-gsCvD8SAeCjkkQfYQ8G-TNcuF4sW3rwOVZAfpXLdwGETqxtcnS0bI5JHL6VyG1XRK5Ac2YC5MkNQK/s320/SSGT5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I hope you enjoy this technique! It has made glove knitting a much more enjoyable experience for me.<br /><p><br /></p></div>Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-11371641611436193972013-12-14T15:37:00.001-08:002013-12-17T18:40:43.662-08:00Wraptor: A (Relatively) Short History<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Each time I publish a pattern, people ask me “how did you
think of it?” and then seem surprised by the length of my answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Designs don’t burst from my head fully formed
like Athena, they evolve over a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of all my patterns, Wraptor has the longest and curviest history.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFJ8T0NMOq1AkhJac9v_chf5_rUKM41b5Gg7EyTvl6P1h-pu0m5TLiP8BdJw_bWH0uDWexgYnvC6fNwHoPUlVEcH8XJpAmwYBKAe-h7pjpvPtH7OyWEJR_Dhqz3bL-behRTlHBEBfGWbr/s1600/I_MC2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFJ8T0NMOq1AkhJac9v_chf5_rUKM41b5Gg7EyTvl6P1h-pu0m5TLiP8BdJw_bWH0uDWexgYnvC6fNwHoPUlVEcH8XJpAmwYBKAe-h7pjpvPtH7OyWEJR_Dhqz3bL-behRTlHBEBfGWbr/s400/I_MC2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEw13/PATTwraptor.php" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wraptor</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> © Jeny Staiman, 2013</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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</o:lock><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_15" o:spid="_x0000_i1044" style="height: 359.25pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 372.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Jeny\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></v:path></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The pattern is available </span><a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEw13/PATTwraptor.php"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, on knitty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s also a companion document rich with
special features (charts, tips and tricks, etc.) available </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wraptor-2"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> on Ravelry.</span></div>
<h1 style="margin: 15pt 0in 2pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 – Inspiration<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The original inspiration came from this sock pattern in
knitty 2009:</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EDE20gIraaOKIX7rsj983agHa2cWznOCYptM55BqTJXJRUSMftnyQDa4GIRIyX47XU9yQTiS55KJiWvUjlvmiIKmFg5yqiSXrUiUVO12wS5GR87Uzjz7vtW_RGvLZyGW80OT1w5Hb3Qt/s1600/Skew2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EDE20gIraaOKIX7rsj983agHa2cWznOCYptM55BqTJXJRUSMftnyQDa4GIRIyX47XU9yQTiS55KJiWvUjlvmiIKmFg5yqiSXrUiUVO12wS5GR87Uzjz7vtW_RGvLZyGW80OT1w5Hb3Qt/s400/Skew2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTskew.php"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Skew</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (© Lana Holden, 2009)<o:p></o:p></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Coolest. Sock. Ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Inspiring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jealousy-provoking
(the highest compliment, by the way, coming from one designer to another).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Even before Skew came out, though, I’d always enjoyed spiral
and helix motifs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have several designs
based on helix knitting (</span><a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEff11/PATTdoubleheelix.php"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Double Heelix</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/metamorph"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Metamorph</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/helix-herringbone-hat"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Helix
Herringbone Hat</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">). </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I wanted to make a sock with a steep curving slope - sort of like Skew, but more like a barber pole. I assumed I'd approach this via multi-strand helix knitting, but the closest I got to my vision was this baby sock which uses 12 strands over only 40 sts.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdiWGknX9FclYcM1R5VP9yhkUuMKmF5eDZPhYrqFpj-7GI0rT6mBWQP8AF7BOJnnu7q6S0sCOBz5hrvbg2nsKwhmFEKdUXzGDyRXIs4zrJ0E6ws8-XZ1wVaY_VkRTsJaMzSCIJWQggvFo/s1600/DSC_0041_ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdiWGknX9FclYcM1R5VP9yhkUuMKmF5eDZPhYrqFpj-7GI0rT6mBWQP8AF7BOJnnu7q6S0sCOBz5hrvbg2nsKwhmFEKdUXzGDyRXIs4zrJ0E6ws8-XZ1wVaY_VkRTsJaMzSCIJWQggvFo/s400/DSC_0041_ed.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">© Jeny Staiman, 2009</span><o:p></o:p></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_16" o:spid="_x0000_i1042" style="height: 303pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 187.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Jeny\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here’s a picture of an 8-strand helix tube:</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ooa8pIcCmnc2-5Q5W6CyJJT9V7ohONwHxFR7m_1-yDNC7qCB96QGMt5f49KYYMRhQNZxZkZgGprVH92nqFRfcPTT7JuEprWphrH9X6aA0GBTMl2GnlogHxnFudEARyl8xshDIyJVKc3q/s1600/DSC_0164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ooa8pIcCmnc2-5Q5W6CyJJT9V7ohONwHxFR7m_1-yDNC7qCB96QGMt5f49KYYMRhQNZxZkZgGprVH92nqFRfcPTT7JuEprWphrH9X6aA0GBTMl2GnlogHxnFudEARyl8xshDIyJVKc3q/s400/DSC_0164.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">© Jeny Staiman, 2009</span><o:p></o:p></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_10" o:spid="_x0000_i1041" style="height: 189pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 284.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Jeny\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lot</i> of
live strands!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And still not a very steep
curve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine how many more strands I’d
have to use to get at least 45-degree angle… this was too much of a pain (yes,
even for me).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">End of story, or so I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as it turns out, life is composed of many
unrelated overlapping threads…</span></div>
<h1 style="margin: 15pt 0in 2pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: large;">2 - Genesis<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In August 2011 I embarked on my first yarn-bombing project:
knitting covers for my co-workers’ headphones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The back story of this project is documented in an </span><a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2012/06/yarn-bombs.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">earlier blog
post</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because there were big ear pieces
on either end of the cradle, I wouldn’t be able to slide the cover on after it
was knitted – it would have to be worked flat and grafted on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the first ones I made was this one:</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiyBdFc0xFk7e9c6ycS8pIRkaLfbF1ItJ6IZcqz8y4OzDcgc6564VqI-quhSfwymz9fDyCyDeLfSyLRm3Po_pNAl_q0g2i_l2iz2alXWZtjOpP9L5cyuEg3C7XQ-jyyqNY5Ra5CGvK7Mz/s1600/John.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiyBdFc0xFk7e9c6ycS8pIRkaLfbF1ItJ6IZcqz8y4OzDcgc6564VqI-quhSfwymz9fDyCyDeLfSyLRm3Po_pNAl_q0g2i_l2iz2alXWZtjOpP9L5cyuEg3C7XQ-jyyqNY5Ra5CGvK7Mz/s400/John.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">© Jeny Staiman, 2011</span><o:p></o:p></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_11" o:spid="_x0000_i1040" style="height: 218.25pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 328.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Jeny\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.png">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">While I was working the strip for these headphones I wondered
what I’d get if I worked it on the bias.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During the graft, the strip spun around the headphones like a barber
pole, and I thought <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“A-HA!”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was how I could get that steep sloping
sock I envisioned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But… knitting a plain tube was one thing; knitting a heel,
toe, and instep shaping was quite another matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would take some more thought.<o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<h1 style="margin: 15pt 0in 2pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: large;">3 - Synthesis<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The heel:</b> After
some more messing around, I realized that I could work a gigantic </span><a href="http://techknitting.blogspot.com/2012/03/vertical-buttonholes-part-4-in-series.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">vertical
buttonhole</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> where the heel would be, then come back later and pick up sts
and work the heel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just so happens
that a few socks based on this construction have since been published by other
designers in the last few months, for instance this one by Margie Mitchell:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8amqE54qEHwwpQIJNGZhOFGQh55VuNYH4OtaKA9100yqgMaNnICDPTGe2CoUyuZ2pG85_pZQuFkHoIddM9xxHIE2jFVUM5e8KFkEj9kCAGx_P3t_pB7w2o2Ub3cy_vtXvJiWx5o8Rf1oq/s1600/Margie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8amqE54qEHwwpQIJNGZhOFGQh55VuNYH4OtaKA9100yqgMaNnICDPTGe2CoUyuZ2pG85_pZQuFkHoIddM9xxHIE2jFVUM5e8KFkEj9kCAGx_P3t_pB7w2o2Ub3cy_vtXvJiWx5o8Rf1oq/s400/Margie.png" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Candy Cane Christmas Stocking, © Margie Mitchell, 2013</span><o:p></o:p></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_27" o:spid="_x0000_i1039" style="height: 360.75pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 237.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Jeny\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image006.png">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span>(More on this topic at the end of this post.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Even though picking up stitches around a hole was a viable solution
to the heel construction, it wasn’t the approach I wanted to take.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inspired by Skew, I wanted the heel to be
integrated into the construction, offset along with the rest of the fabric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I continued looking for alternative
solutions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometime after this, I realized that instead of inserting a
giant buttonhole, I could insert a bulge, just by using some
strategically-placed increases and decreases – a mitered decrease sandwiched
between an increase on one side and a decrease on the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In November 2012 I made my first full-scale
prototype testing my hypothesis:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDWGjoEkTmIMHSdlfDpCYm3sbThyphenhypheneVj43hn3esBeipsndy2JHK239Go3LfEO6vxn7G5hByKwkaj4Nw7IcEPLC6kVIy1yMnRwgFoUlczJjtLy8DKDchP2JbZEkgOxJAoUieeimCM2m-2Vv/s1600/DSC_0072_ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDWGjoEkTmIMHSdlfDpCYm3sbThyphenhypheneVj43hn3esBeipsndy2JHK239Go3LfEO6vxn7G5hByKwkaj4Nw7IcEPLC6kVIy1yMnRwgFoUlczJjtLy8DKDchP2JbZEkgOxJAoUieeimCM2m-2Vv/s400/DSC_0072_ed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">© Jeny Staiman, 2012</span><o:p></o:p></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The toe:</b> Once I’d
realized how I could create a heel, I realized I could apply the same
construction logic to insert a toe at one end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In December 2012 I made this prototype, in which a wedge toe was offset
from the diagonal in a way similar to the heel:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLtk9NEJ0dqcBUanCJOhyphenhyphen20PqamTzfMFk4rPDhuTnNk0vaCOSOl-fWI7uIZQHg6taa3cIfNURj4TwM96QyE03a5aAAL1JbsgkTX36cR31WAX9IsGSIIrbIAEd6HhQlUDV-yfJxSNohccB/s1600/DSC_0060_ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLtk9NEJ0dqcBUanCJOhyphenhyphen20PqamTzfMFk4rPDhuTnNk0vaCOSOl-fWI7uIZQHg6taa3cIfNURj4TwM96QyE03a5aAAL1JbsgkTX36cR31WAX9IsGSIIrbIAEd6HhQlUDV-yfJxSNohccB/s320/DSC_0060_ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">© Jeny Staiman, 2012</span><o:p></o:p></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_21" o:spid="_x0000_i1037" style="height: 226.5pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 237.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Jeny\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image008.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span>Unfortunately there were a number of problems with this prototype.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, the ankle/leg shaping was horrible,
which is evident in the image below:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlIKt_wn7y9h53asH37jQW30rh1U_mPJSV0ORryZYvwXcbqOwV1wNEWZfYSInFpGDDjvu8-BoFzbmQIOuw3CCeNT1hCvT4zXhO0UcscuaqcWL3bKh5qHKwF5QczfMNwfQTo1JEQ0A2fl4/s1600/DSC_0042_ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlIKt_wn7y9h53asH37jQW30rh1U_mPJSV0ORryZYvwXcbqOwV1wNEWZfYSInFpGDDjvu8-BoFzbmQIOuw3CCeNT1hCvT4zXhO0UcscuaqcWL3bKh5qHKwF5QczfMNwfQTo1JEQ0A2fl4/s400/DSC_0042_ed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">© Jeny Staiman, 2012</span><o:p></o:p></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_20" o:spid="_x0000_i1036" style="height: 233.25pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 360.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Jeny\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image009.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span>Second, the orientation of the toe was dependent on the
length of the foot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no way to
control for the toe lining up in the right place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got lucky on this iteration, but with feet
an inch larger or smaller than mine, the wedge might run as much as 90 degrees
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I would have to come up with a
toe that would fit the same way in any orientation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Toe tests:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbgWaqQlR9PWVf6jZTj2DdiFSdd10oVV7dRoQouoPNkdTUoVjF_-9XAB-sDd7kajsprs6Ukfbe7X2l7XYzYrUe96gl5klyE_fwZPeyckLBX07TF7AqVZSol4Ot8iR1mSXB_qusiWauFyO/s1600/DSC_0081_ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbgWaqQlR9PWVf6jZTj2DdiFSdd10oVV7dRoQouoPNkdTUoVjF_-9XAB-sDd7kajsprs6Ukfbe7X2l7XYzYrUe96gl5klyE_fwZPeyckLBX07TF7AqVZSol4Ot8iR1mSXB_qusiWauFyO/s400/DSC_0081_ed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">© Jeny Staiman, 2013</span><o:p></o:p></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The instep:</b> My
first thought about the instep shaping turned into this prototype:</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzae190fCS9_l8pSnvE_xn50i2ha5zDgACUyxZNjTIaGvny5CHs4VwlF8FIfUW1S2VKAw5aiubLnhgSx9ByBKGA6RIafp1tXmWwBYHhjqvLw-pe0dl3RfSujzbmlmm2NI-yipZHXjPQZV/s1600/DSC_0071_ed2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzae190fCS9_l8pSnvE_xn50i2ha5zDgACUyxZNjTIaGvny5CHs4VwlF8FIfUW1S2VKAw5aiubLnhgSx9ByBKGA6RIafp1tXmWwBYHhjqvLw-pe0dl3RfSujzbmlmm2NI-yipZHXjPQZV/s640/DSC_0071_ed2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">© Jeny Staiman, 2013</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mathematically it was a cool approach, but visually I didn’t really
love the jog in slope across the instep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Instep tests:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNnS1EDJvF4d9Oe8LXN3w6F6wvJmZp19wEWFU_X-2Gkf2L2mKFPkcC-P-eZhg372_zs9uiU_b5H31YMJXM29uLVP8NvLsxJSlaTayLSkLpyAemA-uCgh9qgCr_dDt7ZA37kDqEzixlesI/s1600/InstepTests.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNnS1EDJvF4d9Oe8LXN3w6F6wvJmZp19wEWFU_X-2Gkf2L2mKFPkcC-P-eZhg372_zs9uiU_b5H31YMJXM29uLVP8NvLsxJSlaTayLSkLpyAemA-uCgh9qgCr_dDt7ZA37kDqEzixlesI/s400/InstepTests.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">© Jeny Staiman, 2013</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<h1 style="margin: 15pt 0in 2pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: large;">4 - Refinement<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The fit: </b>Most
designs I can work out in a few iterations in small scale, but not this
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed to try it on and
experience the fit for myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
time-consuming and anguishing when, after hours and hours of knitting, I’d slip
it on and it still wasn’t right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
problem I kept experiencing was fabric under stress on the left side of the
heel shaping.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlHrNdExPF7gOHMYHpXZoYgnEa07hiak-kix_1kU8n3CgKv5UV5Fqlwzaz6yD3L3QYh80IrF4dJs2PLhafyNSgJXvRbK4Fcro3m6gyRChW4FL8eUMdnicPYHcbRpbY1bwekmwd06CwSZe/s1600/DSC_0065_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlHrNdExPF7gOHMYHpXZoYgnEa07hiak-kix_1kU8n3CgKv5UV5Fqlwzaz6yD3L3QYh80IrF4dJs2PLhafyNSgJXvRbK4Fcro3m6gyRChW4FL8eUMdnicPYHcbRpbY1bwekmwd06CwSZe/s400/DSC_0065_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">© Jeny Staiman, 2013</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Eventually I figured out that I could just add more stitches
where the fabric was stressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, since
the stressed area of the fabric was in a place where I was doing decreases, I simply
reduced the number of decreases, which put much less stress on the fabric.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWPlptIO-CAf1GTIIK2XQgHIXVRCXhzQgWUbjQk731YDsZoUHDdlH-JFWcX6xz-EMaZ_sIpwI8RVkcUr4KDyi_z2v5utZm21JCXXq9BGVM8_ojO0R1RDm0BDI20ZB9AIya28OMy4048PV/s1600/DSC_0068_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWPlptIO-CAf1GTIIK2XQgHIXVRCXhzQgWUbjQk731YDsZoUHDdlH-JFWcX6xz-EMaZ_sIpwI8RVkcUr4KDyi_z2v5utZm21JCXXq9BGVM8_ojO0R1RDm0BDI20ZB9AIya28OMy4048PV/s400/DSC_0068_z.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">© Jeny Staiman, 2013</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_24" o:spid="_x0000_i1031" style="height: 273pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 388.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Jeny\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image014.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The yarn: </b>Somewhere
in the midst of all this iteration, I found the PERFECT yarn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted a self-striping yarn that would give
me big bold stripes even when worked over 200+ stitches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ordinary self-striping yarn would give me
thin stripes at best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I discovered </span><a href="http://www.twistedfiberart.com/default.asp"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Twisted Fiber Arts</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> from a
Ravelry ad and found their long-repeat self-striping yarn, and then I knew what
my sock would look like!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nm2mpDu9gsaTGyoI3r7w5itTkNL-NCIVbRZUmPnXwUKosHvjVLUybVh2dTiXT4qHwb-ZuYmKAFZ5yQhU5IGX_c8fJkBtmsQ85M-J2Ee4hpPBA8c1QugE9XL9SKWDHE7vyZ9ooqTFnJBq/s1600/LeCirque.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nm2mpDu9gsaTGyoI3r7w5itTkNL-NCIVbRZUmPnXwUKosHvjVLUybVh2dTiXT4qHwb-ZuYmKAFZ5yQhU5IGX_c8fJkBtmsQ85M-J2Ee4hpPBA8c1QugE9XL9SKWDHE7vyZ9ooqTFnJBq/s400/LeCirque.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Left to right:<br /> Self-striping LeCirque colorway from </span><a href="http://www.twistedfiberart.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Twisted Fiber Arts’</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> website (© Meg Campbell-Crawley, 2013); </span><a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEw13/PATTwraptor.php"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Wraptor</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> (© Jeny Staiman, 2013)</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1030" style="height: 259.5pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 468pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"></v:shape></span><br />
<h1 style="margin: 15pt 0in 2pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: large;">5 - Scaling<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Figuring out how to make Wraptor fit anyone other than me was
a nightmare, but armed with a measuring tape, an Excel spreadsheet, and the
data from my 11 rock star test-knitters, I did eventually manage to come up
with a variety of sizes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jaTHIOX2rppvBNKgAH0DqVbGnUBUDuTdwXwkdxVOky08kzXBo0y9CcIpSgHD8Mt5LRe9-TzDbfPWSXDYv1gWbMr3UB_JmPyHPmn_VUudy0EO2JVAKQyNv5K2ErDPszgktx4YjvQr9nK2/s1600/StitchCounts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jaTHIOX2rppvBNKgAH0DqVbGnUBUDuTdwXwkdxVOky08kzXBo0y9CcIpSgHD8Mt5LRe9-TzDbfPWSXDYv1gWbMr3UB_JmPyHPmn_VUudy0EO2JVAKQyNv5K2ErDPszgktx4YjvQr9nK2/s400/StitchCounts.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">© Jeny Staiman, 2013</span><o:p></o:p></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:borderbottomcolor="#a5ff00 pure" o:borderleftcolor="#a5ff00 pure" o:borderrightcolor="#a5ff00 pure" o:bordertopcolor="#a5ff00 pure" o:spid="_x0000_i1029" style="height: 251.25pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 468pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Jeny\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image016.png">
<w:bordertop type="single" width="6">
<w:borderleft type="single" width="6">
</w:borderleft></w:bordertop></v:imagedata></v:shape></span>It was especially challenging to come up with a means of
simply and coherently expressing the stitch counts for each size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the stitch counts varied across two
simultaneous dimensions (foot <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">width</i>
and foot <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">length</i>), this made it
extremely complicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using a constant
(“F”) to account for the individual variability of foot length was the key
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<h1 style="margin: 15pt 0in 2pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: large;">6 - Documenting<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I generally have a difficult time keeping the length of my
patterns down, because there’s always so much detail I want to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wraptor quickly grew to an obscenely
unmanageable length.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to put
the bare minimum in the pattern and release a companion document with all the
special features (aptly named “Director’s Cut,” available on </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wraptor-2"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Ravelry</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2FsMUpqNTKZrQXE3kuBT2ZwM4v9yZJ19bPfJEb-x11dy5tAMDxCknkh9bzhwseMeUygAk9CMB3nPaOM8TdWqcYrrl_YogqlGQtDl6i-bj-uLGntJHWisGXJV_wQFg5q7DNTpeXDiZKas/s1600/DC.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2FsMUpqNTKZrQXE3kuBT2ZwM4v9yZJ19bPfJEb-x11dy5tAMDxCknkh9bzhwseMeUygAk9CMB3nPaOM8TdWqcYrrl_YogqlGQtDl6i-bj-uLGntJHWisGXJV_wQFg5q7DNTpeXDiZKas/s400/DC.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">© Jeny Staiman, 2013</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<h1 style="margin: 15pt 0in 2pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: large;">7 - Confluence<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the most interesting aspects of designing knitted
projects is seeing different interpretations of similar concepts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I started the process of working on
Wraptor, I couldn’t find anything like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The closest thing I found was this:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPOXY_g5QNNphnvSZnA1dmnzJO9IbtpF36V5PgYhoe1hHSJ6WBq1OIkIyuYeUm92OANRgUv8VlmOinCKIgf69wpbHNoXTXTH9kvASc9gTFputFPKhj0-uWM61Yjm1FiNQdUmGnEWWuh3-/s1600/Peppermint.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPOXY_g5QNNphnvSZnA1dmnzJO9IbtpF36V5PgYhoe1hHSJ6WBq1OIkIyuYeUm92OANRgUv8VlmOinCKIgf69wpbHNoXTXTH9kvASc9gTFputFPKhj0-uWM61Yjm1FiNQdUmGnEWWuh3-/s320/Peppermint.png" width="234" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/peppermint-sticks-2-socks"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Peppermint Sticks</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (© Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer, 2000)<o:p></o:p></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_7" o:spid="_x0000_i1027" style="height: 215.25pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 157.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Jeny\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image018.png">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><em>Peppermint Sticks</em> is worked flat on the bias for the cuff,
but the rest of the sock is worked in-the-round like a standard sock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very creative approach!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In November 2013 (while Wraptor was in the final stages of
editing) I discovered <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Exotic Whirlpool</i>
by Natalia Vasilieva, which feels to me a bit like the separated-at-birth
sibling of Wraptor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-fqEfqM8EW9jWl_6nyQcN3CHEN2LPkYzK8QXqmCddSV7rRKGGb-McMyhXCyYMz0fvXgN8vZIkFiS-u-Bvsqu9fASqj6kKh7J058FNa5fMsB4GITvVCcwrUNQR3jtbRuF4OoCtEqB3cBM/s1600/EW_skeincharmer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-fqEfqM8EW9jWl_6nyQcN3CHEN2LPkYzK8QXqmCddSV7rRKGGb-McMyhXCyYMz0fvXgN8vZIkFiS-u-Bvsqu9fASqj6kKh7J058FNa5fMsB4GITvVCcwrUNQR3jtbRuF4OoCtEqB3cBM/s320/EW_skeincharmer.png" width="260" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/exotic-whirlpool"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Exotic Whirlpool</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (© Natalia Vasilieva, Aug 2013)<o:p></o:p></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Little did I know that while I was busy working out the
details of Wraptor, another designer in Russia was captivated by the same basic
concept!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Wraptor, Exotic Whirlpool
is constructed entirely of a flat piece of fabric worked on the bias that is wrapped
around the foot and grafted – but Natalia took a very different approach to the
heel, toe, instep shaping, sizing, and documentation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should definitely check it out!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the last few months, I’ve spotted a few more designs
based on similar construction, each developed independently as far as I know. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIF7eYMZeEteSerjJcgHViuljETmrZL-vHWBjI2ZPj54mQimuj7wfc7dwTKpZhmOfR0CuFHM7giOfMK1I3TZqfLoFYT70Jnp9hx1QVC5JJz-0ghZZ922QDHbB1FUnOyzj3DYjV3iFz5hu/s1600/Others.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIF7eYMZeEteSerjJcgHViuljETmrZL-vHWBjI2ZPj54mQimuj7wfc7dwTKpZhmOfR0CuFHM7giOfMK1I3TZqfLoFYT70Jnp9hx1QVC5JJz-0ghZZ922QDHbB1FUnOyzj3DYjV3iFz5hu/s400/Others.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Left to right: </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/candy-cane-christmas-stocking-5"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Candy Cane Christmas Stocking</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> (© Margie Mitchell, Oct 2013);<br /> </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/no-parking"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">No Parking!</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (© Alison Ziegler, Oct 2013)<o:p></o:p></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think it’s pretty cool that more designers are starting to
explore sideways, diagonally-knit socks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Granted, I’m a bit biased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-13669351030557388032013-12-04T17:35:00.002-08:002013-12-04T17:35:31.576-08:00WraptorKnitty is up. Wraptor has shipped. At last!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2og4NKLZrXZ3hhQechhrl62s2wXU0wICLWGas2i0r0DHda6p_FKvDa5ihdfBIdR-XTL5CmPhllnTxsb__CVviOKQ_9W1etjhdnaQBpiAKR13xbx2ZOv-IIo8KK56ZpXfj1EfuJpBlOC1/s1600/wraptorbeauty_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2og4NKLZrXZ3hhQechhrl62s2wXU0wICLWGas2i0r0DHda6p_FKvDa5ihdfBIdR-XTL5CmPhllnTxsb__CVviOKQ_9W1etjhdnaQBpiAKR13xbx2ZOv-IIo8KK56ZpXfj1EfuJpBlOC1/s320/wraptorbeauty_medium.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
<br />
Very soon, I will post the story of the genesis and development of this pattern, which has been in the works for about a year. In the meantime, I hope you will check out the <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEw13/PATTwraptor.php" target="_blank">Wraptor pattern</a> on knitty. There's also <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wraptor-2" target="_blank">supplemental materials</a> published on Ravelry for those of you who love charts, variations, and geeknotes.<br />
<br />
Thanks for your interest, please stay tuned!<br />
<br />
Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-2168602320407989622012-12-16T11:45:00.000-08:002012-12-18T10:42:54.374-08:00Gift for a gamerOne of the reasons I enjoy knitting as much as I do is that I really enjoy giving hand-made things to people I like. It makes me happy.
<br />
<br />
I work on the Xbox team with a fantastic group of very smart, funny, geeky people. I like and admire them, and I really enjoy working with them, which means I feel instinctively compelled to knit things for them. (Other knitters will understand this compulsion.) But they are not necessarily good recipients for my standard repertoire of socks, hats, and gloves. So I have to take my cue from our context what sort of token of esteem would be right. <br />
<br />
I started <a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2012/06/yarn-bombs.html" target="_blank">yarn-bombing my co-workers' headphones</a> last year. It was totally fun, and I think it went over pretty well with them.
But our group leader proved to be a challenge as he does not wear headphones at work. What do do, what to do...<br />
<br />
Just the other day, because Christmas is approaching and I have been playing with knitting spheres, this image suddenly popped into my head:
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KerfSFMR6jSpFtF8-uY1vidwaC8SN53Hd_ZIqhwIi0No-_AnNXbK_L49mhddAzg-2xnJpDy8iqmjqmYyTsaJfxp-2eroiaP0UIiYBkTcoM6wTru_VAvNhAj6ggomsGesjJjaUVnyYLGT/s1600/155146246_xbox-360-logo_plain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KerfSFMR6jSpFtF8-uY1vidwaC8SN53Hd_ZIqhwIi0No-_AnNXbK_L49mhddAzg-2xnJpDy8iqmjqmYyTsaJfxp-2eroiaP0UIiYBkTcoM6wTru_VAvNhAj6ggomsGesjJjaUVnyYLGT/s320/155146246_xbox-360-logo_plain.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.tradebit.org/usr/eyetube/pub/9002/155146246_xbox-360-logo.jpg" target="_blank">http://cdn.tradebit.org/usr/eyetube/pub/9002/155146246_xbox-360-logo.jpg</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So, here you go boss. You inspire me to attack all sorts of complex problems and to have fun while doing so. The best kind of boss there is.
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnACs_rfqKkYH0ldvZt_u7dIRNmofwct7UHbmEWs6ntbyZ-esQ5vIrPhPDnUGIm3Kg9UBi_mbzdYRnbqfZrNDFDVWy_Y8siHeB6Sx5CyfJYLAjEaSoJwDI6SLsZygk0xlf9sr0tILUmgp/s1600/DSC_0004_edit2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnACs_rfqKkYH0ldvZt_u7dIRNmofwct7UHbmEWs6ntbyZ-esQ5vIrPhPDnUGIm3Kg9UBi_mbzdYRnbqfZrNDFDVWy_Y8siHeB6Sx5CyfJYLAjEaSoJwDI6SLsZygk0xlf9sr0tILUmgp/s320/DSC_0004_edit2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-53066255731300825582012-11-23T12:32:00.000-08:002012-11-25T17:09:29.177-08:00The Math Behind Metamorph<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On November 13, I published the pattern <em><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/metamorph" target="_blank">Metamorph</a></em>. This pattern was a long time in the making, and involved taking a journey deeper into the world of Topology than I had ever previously attempted. This blog post is my attempt to document that journey. Apologies in advance to individuals fluent in the language of Mathematics -- I only play a mathematician on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE0DFcqoUYg" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The tale goes like this...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About 3 years ago while </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was messing around with little form studies, I thought it would be cool to have a knitted form that looked like a torus (or donut) but had a whirlpool in the middle. I knitted a tube, folded it, offset one edge, and grafted. Here's what I got. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CrBwOCKqe0kdYavuAieScHvD7zpeAM6PX4f6sUE3_JwsMEpzOiB6dVvHtX0MYdKcG6VnnS-OyzmiR5Oon-GrwfhOD1To2J4VGOZHDzaGxsgfLSdyaHQJab-dVLjdRnQ-wvZv2HtRhEik/s1600/DSC_0032small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CrBwOCKqe0kdYavuAieScHvD7zpeAM6PX4f6sUE3_JwsMEpzOiB6dVvHtX0MYdKcG6VnnS-OyzmiR5Oon-GrwfhOD1To2J4VGOZHDzaGxsgfLSdyaHQJab-dVLjdRnQ-wvZv2HtRhEik/s320/DSC_0032small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Not <em>exactly</em> what I'd pictured, but interesting enough. I documented my experiment and considered it done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now I should mention: if there's something in my hands, I will probably play with it absent-mindedly. So the next thing I knew, I looked down and saw this...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAxX7-7BYIz0ZFD_XR2XkPXKUHstuxbfTOfE9zDXX0wWXL55wIHzAKb42VKU945WJEec6xSKTmTkCOn-0aNn7T9-jJE-GEOF8Q9UeO8_ev9vO1VQY1I9_2aI0Pp7pcRYTpDfqXPNEgJuy/s1600/DSC_0033small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAxX7-7BYIz0ZFD_XR2XkPXKUHstuxbfTOfE9zDXX0wWXL55wIHzAKb42VKU945WJEec6xSKTmTkCOn-0aNn7T9-jJE-GEOF8Q9UeO8_ev9vO1VQY1I9_2aI0Pp7pcRYTpDfqXPNEgJuy/s320/DSC_0033small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Given that this I’d just done a series of explorations <a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2009/10/is-there-topologist-in-house.html" target="_blank">dissecting the moebius form</a> and thought I understood this form pretty well, this little object just about turned me on my head.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At its core, Metamorph is simply a torus. But when you offset one edge before sealing, this creates periodic harmonic orbits around the longitude, which introduces torsion -- or energy -- into the form. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsDleij4HKZX1j9825EsZviglouUC9LFwdHpgpX7QKUImphls8ofWpBJ2J_R2nusQ5wgBgZyBSa0U366n7qlo8It7NTBtfVStCC-q2uw4DZVP0WzynQtzA8zuZERcfIuM2qOjiDGiTp-v/s1600/TorusHelix.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsDleij4HKZX1j9825EsZviglouUC9LFwdHpgpX7QKUImphls8ofWpBJ2J_R2nusQ5wgBgZyBSa0U366n7qlo8It7NTBtfVStCC-q2uw4DZVP0WzynQtzA8zuZERcfIuM2qOjiDGiTp-v/s320/TorusHelix.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image credit: <a href="http://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/70090/3d-helix-torus-with-hidden-lines" target="_blank">http://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/70090/3d-helix-torus-with-hidden-lines</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOFKcbAybJbNvN-bxsxLiOokAP3Spjdvnhq58qv1TTCbmwZhb1LqTeWgwzfYq2IZbtakd2nNWC7-yEWdr5GXIbjPgr3Mg4IroRp-VVo7dr9ta5o-WIlwoI9oPno7axeEUKsWT6jZHIfUt/s1600/29120-Torus_vectors_oblique.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOFKcbAybJbNvN-bxsxLiOokAP3Spjdvnhq58qv1TTCbmwZhb1LqTeWgwzfYq2IZbtakd2nNWC7-yEWdr5GXIbjPgr3Mg4IroRp-VVo7dr9ta5o-WIlwoI9oPno7axeEUKsWT6jZHIfUt/s320/29120-Torus_vectors_oblique.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Image credit: <a href="http://scienceblogs.de/mathlog/2012/01/20/topologie-von-flachen-cciii/" target="_blank">http://scienceblogs.de/mathlog/2012/01/20/topologie-von-flachen-cciii/</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mathematical models like the ones above show the periodic orbits. With a knitted form, the energy created by these orbits manifests as folds in the fabric. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoq3vnQ38CgkyQ6OaF51rcAYMawDUWfChcQjjPqp43f3TOMSlh1XhpB0m4oRrkXuuOc3XWR9DUVL8vKGjOMaLzOK7J2iSHou2cic9r4C9kfFJ9xOcY8IOlPQAj_3MubL_kQzOQKJ3zUkO/s1600/Torsion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoq3vnQ38CgkyQ6OaF51rcAYMawDUWfChcQjjPqp43f3TOMSlh1XhpB0m4oRrkXuuOc3XWR9DUVL8vKGjOMaLzOK7J2iSHou2cic9r4C9kfFJ9xOcY8IOlPQAj_3MubL_kQzOQKJ3zUkO/s320/Torsion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a little manipulation, the form will naturally relax into whatever shape requires the least amount of energy to maintain. In this case, this is the least-energy shape: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkfF0ONM-jtJ4CXIQZw-UCyXkDqiuBuFx1GFKTLWv2sbKzNwZI-taWR6xmY2iMSwWPCAJrDM_x1UYV2NcNW7NwLbLqkqEFHxt6OJS8fEuXSGGRALECHv5ka9mnXNCBRnotCQqDDGww8J4/s1600/DSC_0119_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkfF0ONM-jtJ4CXIQZw-UCyXkDqiuBuFx1GFKTLWv2sbKzNwZI-taWR6xmY2iMSwWPCAJrDM_x1UYV2NcNW7NwLbLqkqEFHxt6OJS8fEuXSGGRALECHv5ka9mnXNCBRnotCQqDDGww8J4/s400/DSC_0119_crop.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Two conditions</em> determine the least-energy shape: </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(1) the amount you offset one edge before sealing, and </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(2) the ratio of width:height. (Note that "width" here refers to the width of the knitted tube when laid flat, which is 1/2 the total circumference.) </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When the width:height ratio is 1:1, AND the amount of offset prior to sealing is 45 degrees, then after some gentle manipulation of the fabric, you will get a form with a single fold going all the way through the meridian. Or, a 90-degree offset will yield a form with two folds. So, <em>Metamorph</em> is divided into 8 equal segments because this affords a very simple mapping of <em>n</em>-button offset = <em>n</em> folds.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well and good. But <strong>what if my width:height ratio isn't 1:1?</strong> Ah, I'm so glad you asked. The conditions that correspond to 1 or 2 folds are continuous functions:</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQDOdiyulD7m-sVtQ6vy9KrwZePqdY8ryRuM_nG0UObtlFAQlAt_nANRY9qaXBHdqNyd545Rse__-X2LVQSBrfU_YqWcHkCd-8bSsgq7ouTqSuQjn5CAbuWOumcIReVYzUPqcF7z-s0UO/s1600/chart3a_300.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQDOdiyulD7m-sVtQ6vy9KrwZePqdY8ryRuM_nG0UObtlFAQlAt_nANRY9qaXBHdqNyd545Rse__-X2LVQSBrfU_YqWcHkCd-8bSsgq7ouTqSuQjn5CAbuWOumcIReVYzUPqcF7z-s0UO/s400/chart3a_300.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
If height is less than 1/2 the width, or more than 2x the width, the form gets a little unruly. The graph shows a comfortable range of sizes.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's say you're following </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the <em>Metamorph</em> pattern and you suddenly run out of yarn. Your width is 12", but your height is only 10". If you divide your form into 8 equal segments as directed in the pattern, you will not get neat-and-tidy folds when you button your form together. BUT, you can still get a form with nicely-defined folds IF you find your position on the graph above and alter your degree of offset accordingly. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Figure out the width:height ratio, given width = 1.
<br />12:10 --> 1:0.83
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Pick a spot on the x-axis that looks like it corresponds to (1:0.83) and move up to see about where you land on the continuous functions, then left to the y-axis to see how many degrees of offset correspond to the point on each line. In this case it looks like somewhere around 36 degrees for a single fold, or 1/10 of the total circumference.
72 degrees will get you 2 folds.
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6n8o8jevBJZc2L3EFHDfc6nYVV3V5AqHemzEISv1qhYOUbkHr8U7VRTu7xfOWEAQkNQP5TQFFj-ESDDiXDwwa0SgrbtiE4VUfS4FrSUB6NphNQg9ilSUvmKvGZFDp0_3MEKLdr79boZX/s1600/chart4a_300.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6n8o8jevBJZc2L3EFHDfc6nYVV3V5AqHemzEISv1qhYOUbkHr8U7VRTu7xfOWEAQkNQP5TQFFj-ESDDiXDwwa0SgrbtiE4VUfS4FrSUB6NphNQg9ilSUvmKvGZFDp0_3MEKLdr79boZX/s400/chart4a_300.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So you can still have a mapping of <em>n</em>-button offset = <em>n</em> folds if you divide your tube into <u>10 segments</u> instead of 8.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or you could also go the other way: say you have 12 buttons and you want to use them all on your Metamorph. Divide 360 by 12 and you get 30; this time the matching width:height ratio for <em>n</em>-button offset = <em>n</em> folds would be about 1:0.67. Or you could double it up: with a ratio of 1:1.33, then if you divide your form into 12 equal segments, a 2-button (60-degree) offset will give you 1 fold and a 4-button offset will give you 2 folds. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Is your head hurting yet? Mine is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now, adventurous souls may be wondering: <strong>what will my form look like if I go outside those lines?</strong> With the 12-button, 1:1.33 example, what if you offset by some odd number of buttons? Again -- I'm so glad you asked! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">What you get is something like this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6bANA4yRSdZhsWVe-7nPK_1VfiP6wby1fAbZxuKaJMMoN1LwYLQigjJdyqrk5IeZpUK1Af4lpqNDSy0vVwzW5rXBCG6NVFlN47UtpiqYFZr2Q5U2ZA8usk518WvVeeX6NlZy-KA6XxuH/s1600/DSC_0008_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6bANA4yRSdZhsWVe-7nPK_1VfiP6wby1fAbZxuKaJMMoN1LwYLQigjJdyqrk5IeZpUK1Af4lpqNDSy0vVwzW5rXBCG6NVFlN47UtpiqYFZr2Q5U2ZA8usk518WvVeeX6NlZy-KA6XxuH/s400/DSC_0008_crop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a snapshot of a 1:1 form with a fold that goes only <em>part of the way</em> through the meridian. I don't remember exactly what I did, but based on how far down the fold goes (looks like about halfway to me), my guess is I gave it a shift of about 22.5 degrees, or half of what it would have taken to get a single fold across the meridian, based on the graph above. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I owe a huge debt of gratitude to <a href="http://toroidalsnark.net/" target="_blank">sarah-marie belcastro</a>, <a href="http://people.setonhill.edu/sasmor/" target="_blank">Joshua Samsor</a>, and Yonatan Munk for helping me get this deep into the wonderland of Topology. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Other fun places that I discovered along this journey:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torus" target="_blank">Wikipedia's page on the <strong>torus</strong></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/strange-loop" target="_blank">Strange Loop</a> by Morgen Dammerung</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://regularpolygon.org/plugins/torus.php" target="_blank">Plug-ins for modeling the twisted torus</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.math.csusb.edu/reu/jb04.pdf" target="_blank">The Twisted Torus and Knots</a> by Jenny Buontempo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://sketchesoftopology.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Sketches of Topology</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now, to find my way back up this rabbit-hole... :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
.Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-13974295459693256862012-11-13T10:07:00.001-08:002012-11-13T18:13:12.295-08:00Metamorph... the "other moebius"To download Metamorph, please visit the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/metamorph" target="_blank">Ravelry pattern page</a>.<br />
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Anyone who reads this blog knows my affinity for the moebius form. I'm particularly fascinated with how it takes multiple forms as you cut it apart and put it back together...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtauNStCduPBDU-nZPWs2ut_rjUZc36CV2Srwnk9iq6kV3YEyrN_Sr2yFXn5WwAVoQoB4ePJ8pWkVWD5vxtFdLdPuNjEHLJ2oVXvj99Gz1KL_2_ZLDZ_igSHob_xklbME-EJxEKim5tyge/s400/MoebiusMontage.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2009/10/is-there-topologist-in-house.html" target="_blank">Is there a topologist in the house?</a>" October 2009 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtauNStCduPBDU-nZPWs2ut_rjUZc36CV2Srwnk9iq6kV3YEyrN_Sr2yFXn5WwAVoQoB4ePJ8pWkVWD5vxtFdLdPuNjEHLJ2oVXvj99Gz1KL_2_ZLDZ_igSHob_xklbME-EJxEKim5tyge/s1600/MoebiusMontage.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
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So, take a look at the cowl below. It <em>looks</em> like it's the same form as the one on the above right... or is it? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V2kjpN-pmU9wMp3bKejh2Yaw7Bzk39sYosXTQNjvCQK2G7xDtvczW7sgDFfPDQFbOkKyaugEuMfM8xfTVcapOjocYQRyK-n4thg5O67CSNRbkMUACf_Rgqz_tRTAiYkn6S6QH3tVDUxg/s1600/DSC_0706_72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V2kjpN-pmU9wMp3bKejh2Yaw7Bzk39sYosXTQNjvCQK2G7xDtvczW7sgDFfPDQFbOkKyaugEuMfM8xfTVcapOjocYQRyK-n4thg5O67CSNRbkMUACf_Rgqz_tRTAiYkn6S6QH3tVDUxg/s320/DSC_0706_72.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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What will happen when you unbutton the buttons? You just might be surprised...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHYLf5gpxZL8y37RbDqZIm8ipG0cq5p5sDOxKv2J-_hEKLKTg6NXPziMXljcVH78KdLCpJOz-lrCofIAdK0gqBBG4tawqkbfkM-e5c-tAbQn6Ry4WcFwIupsRkJ4wNCXcMwRWkTLmNdTk/s1600/DSC07845_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHYLf5gpxZL8y37RbDqZIm8ipG0cq5p5sDOxKv2J-_hEKLKTg6NXPziMXljcVH78KdLCpJOz-lrCofIAdK0gqBBG4tawqkbfkM-e5c-tAbQn6Ry4WcFwIupsRkJ4wNCXcMwRWkTLmNdTk/s320/DSC07845_crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3asEjcoHrHbrKyZottFiC4o_AWzWnn-BU538PyuSLzvdiwiveYvSDIS0zbswWJAt1hplBo9sUPLnMn2nLvSTjpWaHBgmc3OamVERpDk65X9Fdu8b8ED_DeRvUXsugG0o1-M6PXsf-1R9/s1600/DSC07850_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3asEjcoHrHbrKyZottFiC4o_AWzWnn-BU538PyuSLzvdiwiveYvSDIS0zbswWJAt1hplBo9sUPLnMn2nLvSTjpWaHBgmc3OamVERpDk65X9Fdu8b8ED_DeRvUXsugG0o1-M6PXsf-1R9/s320/DSC07850_crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unlike the moebius above, the basic form of this cowl comes apart into just a simple tube. <br />
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Don't believe me? Watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE0DFcqoUYg" target="_blank">this video on YouTube</a> to see the live-action version. <br />
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I have a new pattern on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/" target="_blank">Ravelry</a> exploring this topic, which you can <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/metamorph" target="_blank">download here</a>.
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Enjoy!<br />
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.Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-24713655066116376372012-08-24T22:50:00.001-07:002012-08-24T22:50:36.669-07:00"Keyhole" Buttonhole<h4>
The Keyhole Buttonhole</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqDr3u8VziyuXm0sWVHt5tH-cfYeYWT_Qet_aMBrr_BwsZR_Oc9cCfV9fNLmWEiD_M_nO5Mga_bDQe3tGCaDailVenm63OUP9DJ5nxFdkyuD2QSZeOJ9ukM8s3lhrwkNRkDQSdl3GDHO2/s1600/Keyhole_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqDr3u8VziyuXm0sWVHt5tH-cfYeYWT_Qet_aMBrr_BwsZR_Oc9cCfV9fNLmWEiD_M_nO5Mga_bDQe3tGCaDailVenm63OUP9DJ5nxFdkyuD2QSZeOJ9ukM8s3lhrwkNRkDQSdl3GDHO2/s320/Keyhole_crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This technique was developed for a very specific instance; it is to be worked over 2 purl stitches that are flanked on either side by columns of knit stitches. However, it would work just as well on stockinette. The example uses (p2, k1) rib.<br />
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Keyhole is a hybrid of a two-row horizontal buttonhole and a yarnover (or “sheep’s eye”) buttonhole. It doesn’t actually bind off any stitches, but rather uses paired decreases on the bottom row, and m1 increases on the top row.<br />
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Here is a <strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl-fnBIGW0Q" target="_blank">YouTube video</a></strong> showing you how to do the Keyhole buttonhole.<br />
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Here are written instructions for the Keyhole buttonhole.<br />
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Work up to 1 st before the hole will begin, then:<br /><strong>Round 1</strong><br />
Ssk, YO, k2tog.<br />Work most of the way around, until you reach the place where you began – 1 st before the hole.<br />
<strong>Round 2 </strong><br />
k1, m3 in YO strand, k1. (This creates an extra stitch on top, which just makes the buttonhole a little larger.)<br />Work most of the way around, until you reach the place where you began – 1 st before the hole.<br />
<strong>Round 3</strong><br />
K1, p2, k2tog.<br />Continue working in pattern.<br />
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Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-28621558794591947682012-08-24T22:40:00.001-07:002012-08-24T22:52:50.274-07:00"Eye of Ra" Buttonhole<h4>
The Eye of Ra Buttonhole</h4>
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I have to give credit where credit is due here: I would not be posting this if it were not for <a href="http://techknitting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">TechKnitter</a>, whose always-impeccable illustrations and technical knitting mind have always been a great inspiration to me and many others. My Eye of Ra buttonhole is very similar to her <a href="http://techknitting.blogspot.com/2012/03/horizontal-buttonholes-including-new.html" target="_blank">Tulips buttonhole</a>, but uses different methods of reinforcement at either end, and requires no tools other than 1 pair of knitting needles. Other than that, Eye of Ra is very similar to Tulips, as well as other reinforced horizontal one-row buttonholes in the knitting sphere.<br />
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If you're familiar with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3J-sUx_whE" target="_blank">Lucy Neatby's crochet provisional cast on</a>, you may recognize the adaptation of this method here for use with two knitting needles, rather than a crochet hook. That said, feel free to use a crochet hook if you prefer.<br />
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Here's a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loY3oBQZnuI" target="_blank"><strong>YouTube video</strong></a> showing you how to do Eye of Ra.<br />
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Below are <strong>written instructions</strong> telling you how to do it.<br />
<br />
The example used here is a 3-st buttonhole worked in stockinette, but this buttonhole can be worked on any stitch pattern over any number of sts.<br />
<br />
1. Reinforce opening edge:<br />
<ol>
<li>Wrap st (reverse YO; sl1, pass rev YO over st and off R needle, sl st back from R - L).</li>
<li>Sl1 R > L, then k this st.</li>
</ol>
<br />
2. Bind off 3 sts:<br />
<ol>
<li>sl2, pass 2nd st over 1st st and off R needle</li>
<li>[sl1, pass 2nd st over 1st st and off R needle] 2x.</li>
</ol>
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3. Work top of buttonhole:<br />
Sl1 R - L and turn work. This section is worked from WS.<br />
<ol>
<li>Insert R needle tip into the back leg of the 1st st on L needle from back to front; slip off to R needle .</li>
<li>Bring working yarn between needles and to the back.</li>
<li>Wrap yarn around both needles and pull loop through st on R needle. Gently snug, not too tight </li>
<li>Repeat step 3 three more times, for a total of 4 cast on sts (number of bound-off sts +1). </li>
<li>Slip st on R needle up onto L needle without twisting. </li>
<li>Turn work.</li>
</ol>
<br />
4. Reinforce closing edge (RS)<br />
Yarn should be in front at this point. <br />
<ol>
<li>Sl1 R - L, then bring yarn to the back -- over the work and under the needles.</li>
<li>k2tog</li>
</ol>
K to end.<br />
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On the next row, work plain. You may find some loose stitches next to the opening edge; if so, use your needle tip to gently distibute the slack backwards along the previous stitches in the round.<br />
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Note that although you added a total of 5 sts when casting on, two of them end up getting worked into each edge, leaving you back at your original stitch count.<br />
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Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134334591698023754.post-46221613204926604942012-08-24T15:46:00.000-07:002012-08-24T22:57:03.266-07:00Down the Button-HoleI mostly knit socks, scarves, and other accessories that don't have closures, so I haven't had much use for a knowledge of buttonhole techniques... until now. I recently began designing garments with buttons, and it turns out the buttonhole rabbit hole is deeper than I realized! <br />
<br />
There are 3 basic categories of buttonholes:<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Eyelet</strong> buttonhole, in which a yarnover creates a hole in the fabric; no sts are bound off or cast on;</li>
<li><strong>Vertical</strong> buttonhole, in which separate strands of yarn work each side of the hole independently;</li>
<li><strong>Horizontal </strong>buttonholes:</li>
<ul>
<li><strong>Two-row</strong> buttonhole, in which sts are bound off in one row and cast on in the next; and,</li>
<li><strong>One-row</strong> buttonhole, in which sts are bound off an cast on in the same row.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<a href="http://techknitting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">TechKnitter</a>, as usual, has provided an excellent and comprehensive exploration of all these buttonhole techniques. If you want the nitty gritty, she's your source. If you want the Consumer Report, read on.<br />
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Within each buttonhole category, there are limitless variations on a theme, and of course everyone claims that their way of doing it is the best. <em>Resist </em>these claims -- different methods work, or don't work, for different knitters! <br />
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As for the main three categories of buttonholes, here is my take:<br />
<h4>
Eyelet</h4>
<ul>
<li>Pros: super-easy to do!</li>
<li>Cons: leaves an un-reinforced, loose area of your fabric that is somewhat vulnerable to disfigurement with frequent handling.</li>
</ul>
<h4>
Vertical</h4>
<ul>
<li>Pros: ?</li>
<li>Cons: Personally I was not able to identify any redeeming qualities of this method. It requires using a second, independent length of yarn, which means more ends to weave in, and possible color-matching issues. The design places a lot of stress on the stitches at the top & bottom of the hole, warranting reinforcement with yet another length of yarn and access to additional tools. Also, if you are not skilled at working a selvedge, the vertical edges will not look tidy.</li>
</ul>
<h4>
Horizontal</h4>
<ul>
<li>Pros: These buttonholes can be made to be very tidy and strong without requiring extra tools or lengths of reinforcing yarn.</li>
<li>Cons: the edges of the hole will be weak and loose without reinforcement -- but there are several simple workarounds that mitigate this.</li>
</ul>
The Horizontal buttonholes were the most interesting to me, so this is where most of my exploration took place. Here are some good resources for making horizontal buttonholes.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://techknitting.blogspot.com/2012/03/horizontal-buttonholes-including-new.html" target="_blank"><strong>TechKntter </strong>on Horizontal buttonholes</a><br />
In this post, TK delivers an illustrated deconstruction of why the un-reinforced simple two-row buttonhole is a poor choice. She also includes instructions for her own horizontal <strong>reinforced one-row buttonhole, "Tulips" ,</strong> complete with link to video by Eunny Jang. <em>Note that although this buttonhole is attractive and highly functional, the method of execution is very complicated (IMHO, unnecessarily so).</em><br />
<br />
Reinforced <strong>one-row buttonhole using cable cast on</strong> for top stitches. The end result of this buttonhole is similar to TK's Tulips, but the method of execution is much simpler. Uses different methods of reinforcing each side of the opening, and uses a different cast-on for the top stitches (TK uses a provisional chain cast on). Here are links to the same exact buttonhole, in three formats:<br />
1. <strong>Video</strong> tutorial - <a href="http://knittinghelp.com/">Knittinghelp.com</a><br />
2. <strong>Photo</strong> tutorial - <a href="http://www.neoknits.com/2009/03/one-row-buttonhole-tutorial/" target="_blank">NeoKnits</a> <br />
3. <strong>Illustrated</strong> tutorial - <a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/howto/archive/2008/05/15/2-3-4-5-stitch-one-row-buttonhole.aspx" target="_blank">Knitting Daily</a><br />
<h4>
<br />Homegrown variations</h4>
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My exploration of this topic gave birth to a couple of my own variations that work best <em>for me</em>. These are each explored in greater depth in their own posts.</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2012/08/eye-of-ra-buttonhole.html" target="_blank">Eye of Ra buttonhole</a> (one-row horizontal) </li>
<li><a href="http://curiousknitter.blogspot.com/2012/08/keyhole-buttonhole.html" target="_blank">Keyhole buttonhole</a> (hybrid horizontal/eyelet)</li>
</ul>
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<strong>Eye of Ra</strong></div>
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I wasn't completely happy with any of the horizontal reinforced buttonholes I found because I wanted something that would look just as beautiful as TK's, with a similar structure, but would be easier to make. "Eye of Ra" is thus named because the appearance of the top and bottom edges reminds me of an Egyptian heiroglyphic eye.</div>
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<strong>Keyhole</strong><br />
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Here I wanted a buttonhole for a very specific context: one that would nestle neatly into a 2-stitch purl column flanked by columns of knit stitches. Keyhole does not actually bind off any sts, but uses paired decreases in the first row, topped by M1 increases in the next row. Curious Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09798024153319039907noreply@blogger.com1