. . . One bite at a time.
This is an example of a chart I modified as an example. It is NOT a real chart, and any resemblance to a published pattern is purely coincidental.
It was too wide to be shown clearly in this space so I have sliced it, and presented it in 2 pieces.
...to write a chart !
The examples
below are ‘lace knitting’ because the row following the pattern row is a basic
stitch (knit or purl).
The Legend of the Turtle
Nothing happened for a few moments, as if the egg needed to
rest.
Then a gentle wiggle, and a whop, as the crack grew wider.
Suddenly a claw emerged, with long nails, curved and sharp.
The claw was ugly, as if to proclaim the emergence of a horrid creature.
But what followed the claw from the crack in the shell, was
a beautiful creature. So stunning in its beauty it shone brightly in the
darkness.
Little by little the creature made its way to the opening in
the hollow, as if by instinct, seeking the light, and following it to emerge
into the brightness of a green spring.
Blinking its eyes against the harsh light, the little
creature became aware of hunger. Far in the distance it spied a bush, laden
with bright berries. The bush with its fruit beckoned to the creature, as if in
invitation, to tea.
As lovely as the creature was, it felt sluggish, and moved
slowly. So slowly did the creature move, it caught the attention of a hawk.
The hawk saw the beauty of the creature and cried to its
friends: “I will win the day, for I’ve found the most beautiful creature on
earth, and when I swallow it, the beauty will be within me, and I will win the
day!”
The creature heard this cry and cowered under the leaf,
afraid to move any further.
Then, as it quivered in fear, it attracted the attention of
the snake. The snake cried: I will win the day!
I see a creature of such great knowledge, and when I swallow
it, I will be the smartest creature on earth, and will win the day!”
The creature stilled its tremors and avoided discovery by
the snake.
As happens in the forest, a fox smelled a tantalizing aroma,
and lifted his head to focus on the source.
He howled: I have found the most delicious, fresh meat! When
I swallow it, I will become the craftiest creature of the forest and will win
the day!
The creature froze, trying to make itself as small and
insignificant as possible, away from the sky and its flying dangers, away from
the land and the crawling demons, away from the forest with its gaping jaws.
Then the creature looked at the bush, with the berries, so
far away. I am so hungry, it said. Surely, I will die if I can’t eat those
berries. But I am so afraid. I am too slow, too beautiful, and too wise for
this world. I will surely die. Weary with the struggle, the creature fell to
sleep, with only a prayer in its heart to the everlasting Father of the forest
and all creatures.
Later when the creature awoke, the first thing it saw was
the bush with the wonderful berries. Hunger forced it to move. But it was even
slower than before its nap. Still, it struggled forward.
The hawk swooped upon the creature, and just before grabbing
it up in his talons, saw only a rock. I was mistaken, he surmised. It happens.
The creature moved forward a few more steps, attracting the
attention of the snake, who slithered forward, with the taste of the creature
on its tongue. But when the snake was ready to strike, all he saw was a rock. I
was mistaken, he surmised as he slithered away. It happens.
Hunger screaming in its belly the creature ventured forward
a few more steps. Aha, said the fox. There you are! But just as the fox
prepared to pounce, he saw only a rock. Harrumph, said the fox. I suppose I was
mistaken. It happens. And he darted off to chase a butterfly.
Whew, close call, said the creature. Ever so slowly it took
a few more steps and realized he was directly beneath the berry bush. At last!
Thank you, dear Father of the forest. I am saved! He cried.
Thus, the turtle spent the summer in glorious splendor,
eating and smiling. He filled his belly full for another long winter sleep in
the hollow, under the floor of the forest.
Although some photos on the internet are programmed so they cannot be copied, you can still take a photo with your phone. ALWAYS credit your source if you share information. It's just good manners. You know "karma" . . . best be safe.
I doubt my Blog is that well structured. If I were you I would open an article, do a screen print of the page. Then open the screen printed photo of the page in any photo app you have. I use Microsoft Paint.
You can then edit (crop, resize, rotate) your photo, and copy it to a word processor page.
Print, or save the article in your file.
A 'practice' swatch is not a 'gauge' swatch. It is something I play with to see if I like a pattern: its appearance, rhythm, and whether I can do it with a minimum of frustration. After all, I do this for fun.
This is a practice swatch of the Rose Trellis pattern found in A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, by Barbara G. Walker (Blue cover.)
It illustrates a 'half drop surface pattern' and was knit in finer thread than I usually do my practice swatches.
A 'diaper' pattern is an all-over pattern and has nothing to do with baby's garments.
"diaper: A pattern formed by small, repeated geometrical motifs set adjacent to one another, used to decorate stone surfaces in architecture and as a background to illuminations in manuscripts, wall painting or panel painting." . . . my note: also used in textiles.
When I start a new color, I tie the new yarn to the previously used yarn with a 'clove hitch' knot.
It's the Itbe Shawl from Laura Nelkins, but don't expect your shawl to look like this swatch!
I use a bulky or chunky yarn and big needles. My mind is 7 to 17 years old while my eyes are 77 years old. Like a kindergartner using big crayons, I use big yarn and needles. I get Knitpicks™ 'Bare' wool blend bulky yarns because they are good quality, and less expensive. For cotton yarns, I use Brown Sheep Company.
The size of the swatch depends on the multiple number of stitches, and the all-over pattern repeat. If a pattern is a half-drop pattern I will do at least a set of pattern rows with 3 repeats, followed by a set of rows with 'filler' stitches and 2 repeats, then another set of 3 pattern repeat rows. I try to keep swatches small enough to place in an album. I use either a store-bought ring binder, scrapbook album or make my own if I need an odd size.
There are many examples of stitch patterns in the Stitch Dictionaries available. The stitch count I use depends on the pattern I am knitting, but I don't want to use any more than necessary. It is only a swatch, and has to fit in my album.
If I am following a published pattern that instructs "Work these 2 rows 23 more times" (for a total of 24 rows) I may work them 2 or more times, if needed, to end up on the RS (right-side-of-fabric) and to see the pattern interplay. The pattern calls for an even-number-of-repeating-rows, so that is what I want to do in my swatch as well, to maintain an accurate stitch count according to the pattern.
Note: if I mean 'right-of-center' I will indicate 'right edge' or ROC. Likewise, 'left edge' or LOC (left-of-center). RS always means 'right-side-of-fabric' in Knitting Standards.
