Charts or Written Instructions, have yet to make a definitive decision. Upon beginning the Blanket Statement Club I was rather hesitate to make use of charts, a seemingly unfathomable, if not daunting proposition. This opposed to written instructions, of which began simple enough, i.e.: R2: p1, [k1, p4] repeat to last s1, p1. Yes simple indeed, not a lot of space for ambiguity, concise and rather straight forward, just the way I like it, offering an easily remembered refrain. Of course written instructions can imbue a certain clumsiness with more intricate patterns, negating any semblance or hope of remembering a complicated series of stitches. This is where charts truly shine, particularly with a more complex pattern. The chart can be partitioned/dividend/marked up in any manner of ways that will allow for easier reading at a glance. In the photo above, rows are divided in groupings of 4 stitches, a quick look allows me to know what to knit (Anne’s idea actually). But then there is this business of working on the wrong side, even numbered row from left to right and doing the opposite for the right side. It has taken some time to get my mind right and follow this logic and to keep it in the foreground as not to forget to do what when. Presently gravitating toward charts for the moment, can really appreciate their use, especially for larger and more complicated patterns. Have not done anything to challenge my current beginners aptitude, perhaps a sign to try something a bit more complex.
Just brought a new pair of cycling shoes. Finally an opportunity to replace a pair that I have been wearing for the last 15 years or so, the buckles are/have began to fail. Cost of replacements buckles are a bit obscene, although would have liked to replace the buckles and continue wearing. Wonder if such longevity is do to not riding enough miles, probably not, but more likely because you are not actually walking in them. In general bicycle clothing and shoes are quite an extraordinary value, all things considered, still wearing bib shorts and jerseys that are 15 years plus. Liking the black and white combination, appealing to my fashion sensibilities opposed to tech specs (albeit very good, carbon soles, make for a rather rigid shoe). Paul Smith (menswear designer) offered a similar dress shoe combination some years back, same color but slightly different styles, I like this concept. Reminds me of Anne’s Double Happiness pattern, two wonderful motifs on each side of the shawl.
Nearly time to turn my attention to the garden, last fall we had 20 or 30 yards of compost delivered. Unfortunately there was no way of having the compost dumbed directly into the garden area, necessitating me to move it myself, wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow. Now I get to move it again, yay (not so much), half will go in beds around the house and rest will remain in vegetable garden. Planning on digging up all previous mounds in vegetable garden, mixing in compost and creating new mounds. Affording an opportunity to either sow plants in same positions as last year or rotate, a tremendous amount of effort, but nice to have options.
Photos really do not capture the grandeur of compost mass, they were higher, but have settled. Landscape fabric did do a fair bit to control weeds, will likely use again, also would love to install some drip irrigation this year.
Renovation has slowed as the cold weather continues to prevent me from moving desk upstairs, reluctant to run furnace during the day. May be a while before I can get back to demolition of remaining third of room. Cleaning of old plaster continues, note the contrast between cleaned plaster. Also have started to remove old baseboard, considerable termite damage, will not be able to salvage wood after all . Fortunately damage does not extend to floor and appears to have happened some time ago, as there are no present signs of termite activity.
If anyone is interested in traditional plaster finish/top coat, let me know and I will be happy to share my techniques here.
13 thoughts on “R2: p1, [k1, p4] repeat to last s1, p1”
You’ve got quite the project list there. Are you going to do the color as part of the new plaster? Here in California lathe and plaster has been replaced by drywall, but my old house (built in the early 40s) had a combination technique called “button board” that involved somethng ak to heavydrywall with holes n it so that when you plastered over it, there was soemthing for the plaster to cling to–sure was heavy when we took it out. So, yes, I’m interested in your techniques.
Count me in as curious about your plaster finishing techniques too. I’ve mudded drywall, but have never seen plasterwork done.
I’m an apartment dweller now, but have been gardening vicariously through you and Anne for several years. Thank you for sharing photos and stories of year round gardening activities. 🙂
A few years ago, instead of black plastic, I experimented with newspaper: lay down sections of 5-6 pages, weigh down at bit and water so paper is good and wet, and then cover with mulch. Dig right through the paper to set the plants (did not try this with seeds). It effectively smothered all weeds at the beginning of planting season, and disintegrated by the end of the summer, leaving no ratty looking black plastic to deal with at seasons end. Now that we have moved, I acquired a yard with lovely landscaping, and my garden is confined to just an herb garden,
You have pretty ambitious plans for the upcoming months; I suspect we will see no knitting!
Yikes, David, w/all you have going on, I’m surprised you ever find time for bike riding! But I’m glad you do, and those are some good looking shoes!
All your projects take so much time to complete, but you (and Anne), do such beautiful work–be it knitting, gardening, remodeling–that the finished project is perfect!
You certainly are productive. The plaster work is interesting to me since my granddad and my dad were both in that trade. In my early knitting days, I much preferred written instructions, but as I graduated to more challenging projects, the charts were much easier to navigate.
Happy Easter to you and Anne!
Too bad about the termite damage, I always prefer to keep and/or reuse when I can.
Just wondering about what type of tablet/program you are using to track progress on your chart?
Good luck with the plaster repairs. We live in an old house and I’m always afraid to hang anything, not wanting to damage it.
Once I learned to read a chart, I’ve never looked back! I will now make it a point to see if the pattern specifies whether or not the instructions are charted. If they aren’t, I’ll buy the pattern only if it’s really one I can’t live without. A glance at a chart stays in my head longer and is so much less ‘motion intensive’ that glancing back and forth between the written word and your knitting.
I hope your plaster project goes well. We watch This Old House on TV and are always amazed at what an art redoing plaster seems to be. Much luck to you!
You are very busy with inside and outside projects and knitting! That’s great.
It took me a while to embrace the chart but now I love them. Initially it was like reading a foreign language but once it clicked, it made following the pattern much easier.
Have a nice weekend!
Just turned my very tiny garden patch earlier this week and will give it another go over in a few weeks. Hopefully this will help with some grass and weeds that want to take over during the summer. I like the newspaper suggestion a few posts up, might have to consider it.
I really like the idea of having the chart on a tablet. What type of program do you use? Can it be used on a laptop instead? Does your program allow you to add the red lines or is that something you came up with yourself? I’d appreciate any information on this because I find it hard to keep my place when I’m following a paper version of a chart.
I can also vouch for the newspaper suggestion. It worked well for me, here on the prairie where the wind blows a gale and the weeds are plentiful. Looks like you have your spring and summer projects lined up and ready to go. As far as knitting, I like charts with the backup of written instructions if I get confused, which I often do. The right to left thing is also tricky for me.
You are juggling so many things right now. I am looking forward to seeing your garden, it is always so productive and I love to see what Anne makes with it all.
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