CORONA CORNER
KAS Sisters, here we are, living a global nightmare, with almost every country in the world affected. We are all worried, many of us fall into the vulnerable senior group, and it seems the ‘new normal’ is to stay away from people, go out as little as possible, just hunker down and hope we and our loved ones don’t succumb to the virus.
Fortunately, our Forum is one of the safest places we can be. We can reach out to our friends, chat, share our feelings about this pandemic and how it is temporarily changing our lives. We can share ideas on how we are protecting ourselves as much as possible, how we are managing to keep from going nuts if quarantined, and maybe, just maybe, we can even find something to giggle about in the midst of this tragic event. In other words, anything goes.
I hope we can fight this pandemic, armed only with knitting needles, crochet hooks, balls of yarn, our sense of compassion, and even our sense of humour. I hope we can share our feelings in this safe place where no viruses can go (unless your computer has one). It’s OK to express frustration or fears, and it’s OK to rejoice if you feel like it. None of us have ever faced anything like this before – let’s get through it together, ’cause that’s what Kas Sisters do.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by P. Jeanne Haessler on
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When hubby got fuel today at the self serve gas bar I had the bottle of hand sanitizing gel ready the moment he got back in the car. I agree fully with using tissues or whatever else is handy. We have many fast food serviettes in the car that we can use in future.
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Permalink Reply by Anne Powell on
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Permalink Reply by Gloria Grandy on
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Here is another idea for combatting Cabin Fever. Get involved in working a new pattern :)
I have been creating a couple of simple Illusion Knitting patterns. Two of our dear KAS sisters kindly agreed to test them for me. Thank you, Jude and Karla! Here is one that has passed the test for anyone who would like to give it a go.
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Illusion Knitting is best done with smaller needles. I use one size smaller (sometimes one-and-a-half or two times smaller) than recommended on the yarn ball band. This technique is also best worked using a not-so-fuzzy yarn.
You will need two high contrast colors. In the case of this candy cane, I used three colors and just alternated the red and green withthe white all the way up. White is the background color, and red and green are the ‘picture’ colors. No need to cut the yarn at each row - just carry it up the side. All color changes are at the right side edge.
Perhaps you already have an understanding of Illusion (or Shadow) knitting. If not, here is a site that explains it and offers some phenomenal examples: http://www.illusionknitting.woollythoughts.com/information.html
Of course, my simple little patterns are nothing compared to some of the ones on the Woolly Thoughts site. I am not an artist, so just create some simple drawings.
When knitting an illusion square, all right-side rows are knit. The ‘illusion’ is created by what is worked on the wrong side rows.
Here is a picture of the candy cane square I made - shown from both angles. On the left is the square viewed straight on. On the right is the square viewed from an angle, as a child would see it when looking down on it, perhaps.
There is a border of 6 stitches on either side of this square. If you find you need fewer or more stitches in order to create an 8” square, this is where you could delete or add stitches.
NOTE: If any one of you is better at creating Illusion patterns and would like to offer suggestions for improvements, they will be most welcome. "Our" children will be the winners when the squares are created :) ... xo
I worked this on 3.5mm needles with medium worsted yarn.
WHITE
1. Cast on 32 sts. (RS)
2. KNIT (WS)
GREEN
3. KNIT
4. KNIT
WHITE
5. KNIT
6. K11, P3, K18
RED
7. KNIT
8. K6, P5, K3, P12, K6
WHITE
9. KNIT
10. K12, P3, K17
GREEN
11. KNIT
12. K6, P6, K3, P11, K6
WHITE
13. KNIT
14. K13, P3, K16
RED
15. KNIT
16. K6, P7, K3, P10, K6
WHITE
17. KNIT
18. K14, P3, K15
GREEN
19. KNIT
20. K6, P8, K3, P9, K6
WHITE
21. KNIT
22. K15, P3, 14
RED
23. KNIT
24. K6, P9, K3, P8, K6
WHITE
25. KNIT
26. K16, P3, K13
GREEN
27. KNIT
28. K6, P10, K3, P7, K6
WHITE
29. KNIT
30. K17, P3, K12
RED
31. KNIT
32. K6, P11, K3, P6, K6
WHITE
33. KNIT
34. K18, P3, K11
GREEN
35. KNIT
36. K6, P12, K3, P5, K6
WHITE
37. KNIT
38. K19, P3, K10
RED
39. KNIT
40. K6, P13, K3, P4, K6
WHITE
41. KNIT
42. K12, P3, K5, P3, K9
GREEN
43. KNIT
44. K6, P6, K3, P5, K3, P3, K6
WHITE
45. KNIT
46. K11, P3, K5, P3, K10
RED
47. KNIT
48. K6, P5, K3, P5, K3, P4, K6
WHITE
49. KNIT
50. K13, P3, K2, P3, K11
GREEN
51. KNIT
52. K6, P7, K3, P2, K3, P5, K6
WHITE
53. KNIT
54. K16, P2, K14
RED
55. KNIT
56. K6, P10, K2, P8, K6
WHITE
57. KNIT
58. KNIT
GREEN
59. KNIT
60. KNIT
WHITE
61. KNIT
62. KNIT
RED
63. KNIT
64. Cast off
If you prefer a chart, here is one to follow. This chart shows only the wrong side rows, as all right-side rows are knit. So … the first row (bottom) is actually Row 2 of the pattern. The chart is read from left to right.
All white squares are purled (P)
All grey squares are knit with the background color (white) (K)
All black squares are knit with the “picture” color (either red or green) (K)
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THANK YOU, GLO! This looks like a lot of fun. Nothing breaks boredom better than trying something new.
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Permalink Reply by Arlene G. on
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Thank you for the pattern. I had decided to try to do two things I have never make before - a granny square (crochet) and a cable knit. I will try this one also. Do you have other simply beginner patterns for your pattern?
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Arlene, what a great idea to with try new things. It keeps the mind sharp, fills in the spaces, and makes the time go faster ... :)))) Good luck with your new endeavors!
I'm thrilled that you want to try my pattern. There are several illusion patterns online, which is how I got started :) I am currently working on a couple more of my own that I will definitely share with you all when I get them finished and tested. Stay tuned ... xo
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Hey everyone, have you seen Glo's new discussion - Tally Rally here
Since we are housebound and probably knitting or crocheting squares to keep from going around the bend, Glo decided that it would be a good idea to keep a count of what we make. Visit her discussion and add your stack to the tally. This will go on for many months, so don't forget to drop in and record your stack of squares every now and then.
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Just have to tell you about another great store and how they are making if possible for folks to satisfy their shopping urges in this time of isolation. Michael's, a craft chain here in Canada (and probably the USA) has started a new service. I'm not sure if the stores are actually open, since most things are closed, but each week when they publish their flyer, customers can order what they want, pay with a credit card, and pick up outside the store. My daughter tried it yesterday. All she had to do was call in with her order # when she arrived at the store and a clerk brought her order out and placed it in her trunk. Easy-peasy no-contact shopping!
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This is great news! I just did the same thing with a lumber store. I ran out of nail for my spring garden boxes and they did the same service. Thanks sooooo much for sharing this information!
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Fab news, Anne. I'm still trying to figure out how I can order my groceries online and have them delivered or pick them up at the curb. Yes, some of the stores here are doing that but I can't seem to get my head around how to order them :(( BUT ... I can just betcha I won't have any trouble figuring out how to order more yarn ... hahahaha ... xo
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Permalink Reply by Lesley King on
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Had to smile (sadly) at this, Gloria. Having never shopped for groceries online, I decided this was the time to do it and spent hours working it out, signing up and filling my virtual baskets, only to find two of the stores don't deliver to our area and the third can't deliver until 21 April! I think we may be a little hungry by then :((
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Well, Lesley, you seem to have done better than I did. I was loading a virtual cart from a store that I know has curbside pick up and not very far from me. However, when I went to 'checkout' and pay, I was told that my cart was empty! So either I loaded someone else's cart, or I turned my head for a minute and someone else stole my cart, or I'm just plain daft. I go with #3 ... hahahahaha Why is it that ordering yarn is so much easier than ordering milk??? xo
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