Addendum to Annoyances Post

My sister reminded me this morning of another pattern annoyance that I had forgotten. Patterns with charts that leave out information. Specifically, what I am talking about is a pattenr she and I were crocheting with a star pattern, the pattern started out with 24 sts, but the chart only showed 22. We later figured out that the extra two stitches were selvedge, but they weren't on the chart, nor was there any mention of them in the written instructions. Finally, after following the chart there was one row of background color to stitch. One entire row that was not mentioned in the instructions! Talk abou infuriating!

Changes

Hey, I just noticed that my comment settings required people to sign in with a Google account to be able to post a comment. I certainly don't want that. So, I fixed it so that anyone, including those who wish to remain anonymous, may post comments.

Also, you may have noticed, I finally updated my followed blogs gadget (to the right). It now contains my complete list of the blogs I read. (well, until tomorrow when I find more to read!)

Posting Notes

A note to my loyal readers (both of you, lol). From time to time you may notice that my blog posts have a tendancy to change formatting a little bit from when they are initially posted. This is because I typically post from my cell phone then go back and fix the formatting later. The main reason I have a blog is so my ideas don't get lost in the moment; posting by phone allows me quick access to my blog and the ability to record my thoughts quickly then move on with life!

Annoyances in Published Patterns

I've been doing some hand-knitting lately and I've decided that their are some definite annoyances in modern printed patterns. So here they are in no particular order:

1. Patterns that start on one page, but finish elsewhere (newspaper style)- This annoys me in newspapers too. But at least there they have a somewhat legitimate reason for it. In a magazine or book there is ABSOLUTELY no reason to split a pattern up like this.
2. Patterns that don't tell what weight yarn they use. I very rarely use the yarn the pattern calls for; I guess I could be the Queen of Substitution. I just don't see why I should have to pay for designer yarn when there is a yarn at half the price one shelf over. Substitutions aside, in as little as 5 years from when the pattern is written the particular yarn can be discontinued. Without a weight specified, how can you knit the pattern?
3. Patterns with guages that are impossible to obtain on the size needle or hook specified.
4. Patterns that use multiple sizes of needles/hooks to do shaping. Occassionally, this is fine, but for a small project- like a hat- it is really annoying to have to carry six sizes of needles with me. (maybe I'm the only person bothered by this?)
5. Garment patterns that don't give finished measurements AND a diagram. (this is one of my major peeves; I think everything else can be preposterous with a pattern, but as long as you have a diagram with sizes I'm fine)
6. Patterns that tell you to knit or crochet for a specified number of inches. Seriously? What's the point of specifying a row guage if you're not going to use it. Come now do some math with me 5 in X 6 rows per inch = 30 rows. Wow, now that wasn't so hard! Now I realize that magazines have space limits; but it takes much less space to say continue in pattern for 30 rows, than to say continue in pattern until work measures 5 inches from beginning ending on a wrong side row.

Blanket for My Husband

Ok, so here it is, I used this fabric to make a crib bumper for baby girl's bed and my husband- who is a HUGE Peanuts fan- insisted that I had to make him a blanket with the left-overs. This is a throw blanket about a 5ft square. Would have liked to make it bigger, but that's all the fabric I had.

Tuscaloosa Tornado

As I mentioned briefly in my last post, I was in Tuscaloosa for the tornado. The gentleman behind the desk (Ian) at our hotel was kind enough to let me link to his Photobucket stream for pictures. Click Here. There are a lot of pictures here. Most of this is just a block or two from the hotel we were staying at.

Our hotel wasn't harmed (Praise the Lord!). And Cynthia- the hotel lady that was working that night- was an absolute Godsend. She made sure we were all in the laundry room safe when the storm hit; she also made sure we all had glow sticks and flashlights. If you are ever in Tuscaloosa, AL stop by Microtel Inn and Suites on 15th st and see Cynthia- she'll take good care of you.

Massive Updates

Ok, so it's been a while since I posted, lets see if I can fill in the gaps. I finished a set of curtains for my son's room. (look closly, they're Charlie Brown) I was in Tuscaloosa for a computer class just in time for the tornado. (my hotel was on 15th street) BTW, I'm fine. Made a trip to Corpus Christi to see my father-in-law who had a stroke on Valentine's Day. I'm working on another Mizzou blanket. This one to take to Columbia for approval. And... I think that's it. Will repost if I remember anything else.