Hip to be a Square RECTANGLE

This is along the same idea as that last post.  My pattern is as follows (approximately 40" X 50" after washing):

With acrylic worsted weight (for donation purposes, or just generally preferred for afghans) size 8 needles.

Cast on 1 stitch, turn.
In that 1 stitch, knit front and back, 2 stitches.  Turn.
Knit the first stitch, Knit front and back of next stitch, 3 stitches. Turn.
Knit the first stitch, Make 1 right, knit the rest of row, turn.  Repeat this row, until 200 stitches. 

Continue increasing at the beginning of each row on one side.  Perhaps place a marker on the side you wish to designate as the different side ~  That side should be worked even once.  Then begin decreasing by Knit 1, k2tog every row.

Increasing on one side, decreasing on the other, maintaining the 200 stitch count.  When you have 10 inches on the decreasing side, begin decreasing the same one on the other side.  Continue decreasing at the beginning of each row, until 1 stitch remains and bind off. 

I did not edge this one at all, intended to i-chord edge it, but completely ran out of the yarn I was using.  Still it has a nice look to it.

Hip to be square Pattern

This is a pattern for a garter stitch square.

The square is knit diagonally, from a corner.  

With your choice of yarn and knitting needle:  cast on 1 stitch.  Turn.  

Row 1:  In that one stitch, knit in the front and back.  (2 stitches)

Row 2:  Knit the first stitch, knit in the front and back of the next stitch. (3 stitches)

Row 3:  Knit 1, Make 1 right (pick up the stitch below the next stitch, knit it, then knit the stitch on the needle = M1r) knit the last stitch.  (4 stitches.)

Row 4: Knit 1, M1r, knit to end of row.  Repeat this row until square edge is desired width or length.

Knit 2 rows even.  Then begin decreases.

Row 1: Knit 1, k2tog, knit to end of row.  Repeat this row until only 1 stitch remains.  Bind off.

NOW, here comes the fun part. 

Option #1 ~ This baby blanket was knit of acrylic sport weight, of one square.  I worked it until it was about 40", then found a lace garter edging that I like and trimmed it using more of the same acrylic.

Option #2: Shawl/lap robe, pretty much the same as the baby blanket, except worsted weight yarn was used.  I really liked this one because the variegated looks very nice as a garter (hides the pooling) was super soft.

Option #3: Stash busting! ~  Adventure Afghan

I like this option a lot.  Sometimes you just end up with bits of things that don't necessarily make enough of anything.  In this case, had a lots of bits of never been used acrylic, worsted weight yarn, of different brands.  I made these squares following that same pattern at the top of this post, until I had 80 stitches, then decreased.  As each square was finished, I put them in a pile, which eventually filed a milk crate in my stash.  The squares I carried with me to work on every time I left the house, riding along while my husband drove us to the store, went to the movies, went camping.  They became my adventure squares, I knew when the blanket was done which one I'd been working on when I saw the last of the 'Harry Potter' movies, the last trip we took our dog on before she died...  When I assembled the blanket, I did the last bit where our grandson was watching my work and told him about the squares, enough for everyone to pick a favorite, which was mine, which was Grandpa's....  about the adventures I worked on while I knitted the squares, my hopes for it with him, that it would keep him warm in winter, that he would take it on his adventures, that he would still be using it when he went to college. 

I am working on another square now.  I think I will do a variation on it, make a rectangle.  One edge will go until it is 48" the other will continue until 60", then decrease.  I'm planning to donate it to the local Linus Blanket project.  It's one of those Pounder skeins from the craft store, in a dark sage.  Hoping some foster boy will know it was made just for him to grow strong and free as the forests.  Stay tuned, I hope to post the finished picture of it here. 

Once upon a time, we were children

Dear Ricky.

   Do you still go by that name, or is it Rick now?  
  
I remember when we were kids, you and your brother were so close, it was as if his and yours were one long name.  I think my sisters were probably that way too, although mostly what people told me was that the one was so shy, they only remembered the other, and didn't realize there were two.

Your name came up the other day, as you can imagine, and made me stop and think about way-back-when.  Made me think I have some things I want to share with you.  Keep in mind, it's been nearly 40 years since we first met, I have no idea what's been going on with you.

I remember your Mother.  She had me over one day ~ something about having a girl around for a day, instead of all those boys.  We made cookies, I think.  I had never heard of Oleo.  Your Mother was a very different person from our Mother.  I didn't really get to know her in the time I spent with her.

It was your Father I learned more about.  Probably because of all the time we listened to him, in the congregation, but the story of our father was sad, so to listen to yours was a comfort that we needed at that moment.  In person he was very kind, genuine and was heartfelt.   I can still hear his laugh.  So many others were too stiff to laugh, but he could and did.  I wonder if your laugh as an adult is anything like his.

I got you in trouble once or I got myself in trouble, I guess.  Somehow I met you and your brother at the mall, looking at 45's.  You guys had a pretty extensive collection at home, I remembered.  We didn't buy records then, unless they were at yard sales or the thrift stores.  I remember one song you guys showed me, I said I'd heard it on the radio before.  You bought it, but it apparently gave one of you nightmares.  Do you remember?  I think it was you that told me about bad dreams, but I don't recall if it was you or your brother that had them.  I don't even remember what song it was, but I always felt bad about that.  One of those recollections that always cause me regret, occasionally a sleepless night, wondering what I could have done differently.  I have a quite the selection of memories that do that, I suppose being human we all do.

What has been going on with you?  I can't even begin to guess.  I'm sure there was some gossip going around about you, I'm sure there is some about me too.  I'm not a big fan about that kind of drama, so I truly have not heard anything.  Life has not gone the way I'd hoped, but my expectations were thin at best.  

If you are where I've heard you are, I'm sure that life has not gone the way you've planned, that you've made every kind of mistake any normal human could make.   I do hope that you, in your heart, still talk to God and know he's listening, like your father taught you, that He truly is the only being you can rely on.  I hope you are standing tall, like your dad.

I also hope that someday, you and I, your siblings and mine, will find ourselves happy to be in each others presence, and make each other laugh and show our children how to be grown ups, that you and I will be close as brother and sister, too, and that in our old age we can be content in each other's company.  

That is the definition of hope, isn't it?  The idea of something seemingly unlikely, but yearned for just the same.  

Ribbed Hat Pattern

I've been making a few hats to donate for charity project, thought I would share my pattern. The great thing about hats is that you can try out something new on a small project PLUS when you're working in the round, you only have to worry about going the one direction!

This is for worsted weight yarn.  Most donation programs ask for acrylic yarn for easy laundering, but how great would it be to make as a quick gift of wool!

Size needles:  I'm using a circular size 6, which is too long so it has a loop at the row end.  If you can find a 16" or dpns, your preference, whichever is easiest.  I find the circular needle most convenient for a take along project, fits into my purse.  For instance, when we leave the house to do grocery shopping, I can get three rows done before we get to the store.

Stitch Markers: at least 4.

Mine takes about two ounces of yarn.  With 2 three ounce skeins of acrylic, I can get three hats, with a tiny bit leftover.

Cast on 96.  

My preferred method is a Tubular Cast on, I learned many years ago from a magazine article written by Lily Chin.  I cannot find a video that does this exactly -- this is pretty close. Creates a Knit One, Purl One rib.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQmkBeKCLSM

For a Knit Two, Purl Two rib, I saw a suggestion (I thought was on Knitting Daily, but of course I can't find it) where you are actually cabling on the first round so that it changes from 1x1 to the 2x2.  So, in this case I always start with a knit stitch in my cast on....  Then the first working round, or the first round after casting on, goes like this:  K1, P1, either put the next stitch which should be a knit on a cable needle and work it after the next purl or leave on left needle and purl THE NEXT STITCH, then knit the first and slip the two stitches off the left needle.  Repeat these four around and you have changed the 1x1 rib you cast on to a 2x2 rib to work with.  This would be a great opportunity to learn a new stretchy cast on. 

Another thing that is very cool, is that it is very easy to see and correct if your stitches are twisted.  You'll notice I did not say, 'Cast on being careful not to twist your stitches'.  At the end of the second row, if your work has twisted, simply untwist it, no one will know.

Knit around in two by two rib for a minimum of 6 inches.  My preference is to go longer, 7 to 8 inches, because less barely covers the tips of the ears, and of course some folks like to fold the hat so a double layer covers the ears, which means knitting for 9 to 10 inches.  

Place a marker every 24 stitches.  This should be in the middle of 2 knit stitches and divides the body of the hat into four sections.

Decrease round:  Slip one, knit, PSSO (or a left-leaning decrease), work to two stitches before next marker, K2tog (right leaning decrease), repeat three more times around.  Decreasing this way leaves knit ribs primary throughout the crown at the marker.  Continue decreasing EACH ROUND until you have two stitches between markers or 8 stitches total.  Cut yarn at about 4" and with a large eye needle, thread tail through all stitches.  Weave in end, block and done.


For acrylic yarn:  I recommend washing on the gentle cycle in the washing machine and drying on low temp with a dryer sheet until mostly dry, to get the most softness and less likely to pill.   I block mine on a Styrofoam head, like you see in my pictures.

Once you've done one hat, play around a bit.  I've done some of the hats with cables throughout, just like how I suggested in the change row to create two by two rib:  knit the second stitch then the first and slip off both. Cable done!  I cable every other rib, every fourth row, then two rows later, cable the skipped ribs.  This way if the cable rows are tight, the alternate ribs keep it from being unwearable.  

UPDATE: 10/27/12
Have just completed a 1x1 rib version of this, adding note here in case there's interest (it turned out nearly reversible!) : 

Same cast on, 96 stitches.  Work for 7 inches in the knit 1, purl 1 rib.  Mark the four sections of 24 stitches.  (Should start with knit stitch and end with a purl, or at least mine did.)
Crown decreases:  K2tog, work to two stitches before next marker, p2tog.  Repeat for each section, around.  Repeat for each row, until you are down to 8 stitches.  Cut about 4" tail, and weave end through all stitches, weave in ends.

Dori, 2012

http://youtu.be/G9BKYqHSBLY

This is a link to recent video of our rescue girl, Dori.

We have had her now for more than three years.  Change has been slow, but there has been change, and we rejoice with each incremental sign that there is a dog in there somewhere, such as this little bit of footage.  

No apologies

You may have noticed I don't say 'I'm Sorry' anymore.

I have always felt that if I had to say so, it had to be from the heart.  It always has.  From my heart, I have sincerely apologized for being wrong.  When I wasn't wrong, I was apologizing for hurting you.  I have always thought that doing so was taking a pass, fixing everything, reverting all things back to the way it was.  A 'Get Out of Jail' FREE card, if you will.  Another fairy tale, another dream life, dashed and cursed as stupidity.

You have taught me otherwise.  In your eyes, my apologies are evidence of weakness and proves you were right.  Regardless, I have to be punished with your silence and unforgiveness, sullenly unforgettable.  I am thankful it does not last weeks and months, silent but for slamming doors, but it still feels terrible, like you're going to leave me.

Don't demand I speak up and then get upset if I'm shouting.  I, for one, can't tell if you couldn't hear me or weren't listening because your focus was elsewhere.

Stop picking fights with me.  Who do you think I am?  You seem to forget I'm the one that loves you, would do anything for you, only want your happiness.

Where is your happiness?  Why can you not find it?  If I am your world, like you say, live like you love it, like there's no place else to be.  As if you love me.  

I'm not playing at loving you.  I'm not 'being that way' whatever that way is.  You are breaking my heart.  When you walk away, I need to know you're coming back, because this life would be over without you.  Note: I didn't say I won't survive.  We both are very practiced in getting by in survival mode.  I'm saying I don't want to go back there.

It means something

Thirty years ago today, I got married the first time.

I really don't have anything important to say about that, beyond what I've said before, and what I do have to say I want to be thoughtful about, so let me compose that....  Unfortunately, I've been swamped and pooped out and haven't finished.  Stay tuned if you need to pay attention, otherwise, see you around?  
 
Edited 9/16:

I've said before, the important thing, in my opinion, that happened to me during all those years, was my daughter.  She has been the sunlight in my everyday, and I probably would not be the person I am today without her very existence.  She is my future as well, and I realize, she has great importance in the universe, so I am content to share her with others.

I have been changed since that day 30 years ago.  That probably is an understatement, I've probably been changed in many times over, but there are some things that are very obvious that I can share:

Things are not so black & white at nearly 50 from nearly 20.  I think a lot of the rules we learn when we are young do seem to be black and white, right or wrong, happy or sad, but as we get older there are a lot of shades of grey that also become blatantly apparent.  Perhaps the rules of youth are guidelines to make decisions by as a protection until we figure things out on our own later.

I hate quoting Dr. Phil on this one but I know for a fact it is a truth ~ We're not grown or adult when we are out of school or married or have driver's licenses or whatever is the drinking age.  A study Dr. Phil pointed out shows that there is a part of the brain that can see the result of decisions we make that is not developed until about the age 25.  For my part, a lot of things became apparent right about that point.  Of course there were a lot of things happening about then, the birth of my daughter, the loss of a sister-in-law close to my age to breast cancer, the loss of another in-law in a tragic accident exactly four months later...  Making a simple statement to my mother of my determination not to raise a daughter to hide from the skeletons in the family closet or to condone (making light) of those issues, and thus not having her a part of my life for a couple of long years.... 

All of those things were very hard to bear, but the toughest complication came from how I was treated by the mental health profession.  I came to realize I was in a relationship that I was unequal to, and the 'experts' determined I was clinically depressed and put me on drugs that eventually landed me in the hospital psych ward for two weeks.  Those two weeks were the longest of my life.  They were right at the time my daughter turned one-year-old, and her first steps happened right there on that nasty carpeted floor.  Each different person who wanted a piece of me there had a different definition of why I was there (ranging from Post-Partum depression, unresolved issues with the abuse received in childhood by my father and others, poverty, unemployment, etc.) and a different pill to cope with it, but it is my opinion I was sad or having a difficult time dealing with a sad situation.  Plain and simple.  No pills required for that, but a decent  friend would have been really helpful.

People are not usually what they say they are, but they are what they prove to be.  I've found out that I tend to believe everything a person tells me, but the older I get, I tend to shelve that information for corresponding proof.   With that, People cannot be depended on (including myself) and if you needed someone to depend upon absolutely, you have to look higher....

I don't have much regrets:  There are a lot of people I miss, many who have admirable traits that I wish I had.  However, the world relishing drama and reality television like it does, it seems that most would rather let the world go along that way.  We seem to expect certain people to behave a certain way, when in real life we are entirely capable of better behavior.  In that same vein, if we are of a moral or religious view, we should be emulating whatever higher being we worship.  Most people seem to have a faith but don't tend to behave that way, which is beyond sad ~ it's deplorable.  We should all be better than that.  Often makes me wonder at what age we grow out of school yard childishness.

So, I tend not to look back at those years as lost.  They're not lost, I have some very good memories.  I don't have much beyond that so I tend not to look back at all.  I don't wish to stand still, not much can be done about the past, I can only move forward with those who would move forward with me.