WWKIP Honolulu

A bit last minute, but just in case anyone has been wondering and didn't get the updates on Ravelry, Twitter, and the Aloha Knitters Yahoo! Group:

Worldwide Knit In Public Day: June 13 2009 (today!)
Aloha Knitters will be meeting in the center courtyard of the Aloha Tower Marketplace from 2 - 5 pm. I've added the marketplace to the map below in case anyone needs directions (the red marker sitting in Honolulu Harbor). If you plan to drive, I recommend finding street parking downtown and walking over - the Aloha Tower Marketplace does have a pay parking lot, and it gets very full rather quickly. Also, the Kamehameha Day Parade is today - it starts in downtown and goes to Waikiki; by 2 pm I'm thinking downtown will have cleared up but just in case, you may want to allow a little extra time for traffic.


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Yarn Tasting at the Hawaii State Library

My current plan is to have a short talk on the library collection of knit/crochet books and specific books particularly applicable for our climate, and then a quick review of the yarns. I haven't chosen and acquired all the yarns yet; Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton and Skinny Cotton, Cascade Eco Wool, Lana Knits Hemp for Knitting, and a seacell/silk blend are on the for-sure list, though.

Quick update:

"Come to the library for quick reviews of knitting and crocheting books in the library collection and a yarn-tasting! Sample bags will include mini-skeins of yarns good for tropical-weather garments as well as yarns good for use in felting and making warm garments and accessories for cold-climate friends, relatives, and charitable organizations. Feel free to bring a project to work on during the presentation, or to show off afterwards if you like. There will be a brief Q&A session if you have any questions about knitting/crocheting in Hawai'i. No how-to knit/crochet/spin lessons will be given at this event; reviews of instructional books, videos, and DVDs will be included in the presentation, though, and a handout of yarn shops and where you can take lessons will also be available."

How Not to Crochet a Flat Circle

Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton (pickle, shell, shrimp, sky)

How to turn 'beginning of baby beanie' into 'oh I was just swatching for fun' - forget the really simple, basic guidelines for crocheting a flat circle, and start with 8 sts when working in single crochet, and wind up with a circle that begins to ruffle. I think single crochet at this particular gauge was going to wind up too firm anyway, so score 1 for color study.

This will vary based on gauge, yarn, desired results, etc., but for a basic flat circle I use the following guidelines:

single crochet: begin with 6 stitches, increase 6 stitches each round.
half-double crochet: begin with 8 stitches, increase 8 stitches each round.
double crochet: begin with 10 - 12 stitches, increase 10 - 12 stitches each round.
triple crochet: begin with 12 - 14 stitches, increase 12 - 14 stitches each round.

For those using UK terminology:
US single crochet = UK double crochet
US half-double crochet = UK half-treble crochet
US double crochet = UK treble crochet
US triple crochet = UK double-treble crochet

Star Jasmine (Crochet Headband Pattern)

$5.50 USD

A quick pattern for a simple floral lace headband, with options for ties or a covered elastic strap to secure, as well as an elasticized version that goes all the way around the head.  As of July 2010, there are two versions, one with North American (Canada/US) terminology, and  a version using AUS/NZ/UK terminology. Both versions give measurements in both inches and centimeters. Both versions are included in the Ravelry purchase.

Pattern includes full written instructions and crochet symbol charts.

Individuals and small groups may make and sell up to 12 headbands per pattern purchase; please contact me if you have any questions.

for styles 1 and 2 (partial headband with ties or covered strap):

YARN: Sport/5-ply/12 wpi yarn, such as Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Cotton, 100% organic cotton, 150 yds/137 m per skein, or Southwest Trading Company a-MAIZing, 100% corn fiber, 50g/130m per ball. Pattern uses about 25 yards/23

meters. Cream-colored version in photo is Skinny Cotton Organic, color Birch 30, and turquoise-blue version is a-MAIZing, color Little Boy Blue.

HOOK: E/4/3.50mm crochet hook

NOTIONS: for style 2 (covered elastic band): sewing or beading elastic, 2 pieces, each about 7”/18cm long (for covered elastic band version). If you can find clear beading elastic, it will show through the least.

for style 3 (full band):

YARN: Cascade Fixation, 98.3% cotton/1.7% elastic, 50 g/100 yds/91 m per ball, or Elann Esprit, 98.3% cotton/1.7% elastic, 50 g/100 yds/91 m per ball. Pattern uses about 25 g/50 yds/46 m.

HOOK: G/6/4.5 mm crochet hook

Sizes: S, M, L

S: 12”/30.5cm long, 2”/5cm wide

M: 14” /35.5cm long, 2”/5cm wide

L: 16” /40.5cm long, 2” /5cm wide

Gauge: 2dc-cluster measures 1"/25mm wide

style 1: ties 11”/28 cms long

style 2: covered elastic 5.5”/14cm long

Abbreviations used (US/Canada):

ch = chain

sc = single crochet

sl st = slip stitch

dc = double crochet

... = repeats skipped in chart due to space issues

Abbreviations used (AUS/NZ/UK):

ch = chain

dc = double crochet

sl st = slip stitch

tr= treble crochet

... = repeats skipped in chart due to

space issues

Loop cast-on improvement

I'm a big fan of the TECHknitting blog already, and this latest tip (Casting on additional stitches at the end of a row by the loop cast-on method: a trick for beautiful edges) is especially timely as I recently used a loop cast-on for the underarms of Liesl, and was complaining about the loop cast-on while I was doing it at an Aloha Knitters meeting. The general agreement there was that the loop cast-on can be quite unpleasant but there are circumstances where it seems like the best option. If you've had the same complaints, do take a look at the TECHknitting blog post, and if you're new to the TECHknitting blog, do take a few minutes to check out additional posts. The tips are excellent and very nicely illustrated.