THE KAS SQUARE MEASURE

Here is the KAS SQUARE MEASURE for members to download - printed onto card (double-sided), or, paper placed back-to-back they make great hand-outs for spreading-the-word about Knit-a-Square. Cut to the size of an 8x8inch, or, 20x20cm.

Thanks to Adelina, the KAS Square Measure.pdf file now has a dotted line to make cutting-out easier.

As members knit or crochet they can hold their work over the jig to keep an idea of the sizing, especially when it is nearly time to stop! Then they will be the exact size of square that KAS needs for the stitchers to turn into blankets.

 

They can be used as a flyer, for they contain all the information that anyone would need in order to start knitting or crocheting for KAS!

At the bottom of the page is the pdf.file for downloading.

 

SIDE 1

SIDE 2

KAS Square Measure.pdf

 

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  • Obviously, it is useful if anyone has a fail-safe measuring system - including conveniently appointed freckles! Thank you for a great laugh Elizabeth, but definitely avoid the tattoo you friends suggest.  Once people get one, they seem to become addicted to them, and, start plastering them all over impractical body places!

    The beauty of the KAS Square Measure is, that one can just hold the knitting or crocheting against the square in order to know when to stop!  A lot of squares I receive come from people in their 80's & 90's and they actually prefer the jig as it is so simple.

    I recently received 600+ squares from a lovely group, of which 200 are very large - they have been sorted into tens and marked as large so they can be kept together.  It will make a larger blanket, but hopefully they will be given to an older child who can manage the extra weight. Fortunately, these particular squares, as you can see, were beautifully crafted and thankfully all the same size. 

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    However, here is one that was recently received in South Africa! It is a fabulous square, but the team will have to use their valuable time by crocheting around the edges and bringing it up to a certain size so that it will slot into a blanket nicely.

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    Essentially, we will probably have to spend the coming year plugging away at this message, and, hopefully when the new website goes live more people will find the information and we can all start singing from the same hymn sheet again.  Facebook will also be used to spread the message.  The 2014 Wish List from Ronda, will outline issues they need help with in South Africa.

    We really appreciate any help anyone can provide with spreading-the-word about the need to stick as close as possible to 8x8inch or 20x20cm squares.

  • I have measured my forearm - between a freckle, just below my elbow, to the first wrinkle line at my wrist - is exactly 8 inches. So, whenever I get close to 8 inches, I just put the square on my forearm, to check for 8 inches. I crochet squares from the middle out - (granny squares, chain stitch squares, etc.) so, no matter what kind of yarn I use, I can always get exactly or very close to 8 inches.

    There are always ways we can figure out what is 8 inches  - even without a ruler. Or even if you don't have a freckle just below your elbow :) such as measuring a length of yarn that is exactly 8 inches or keeping a KAS ruler (that we have double checked and marked to 8 inches) in our knit/crochet bag. Sometimes, I just keep the last 8 inch square I made, (that I know is exactly 8 inches) and gauge my next square to that previous 8 inch square.

    Friends have suggested that I tattoo an 8 inch ruler on my arm, since I am always crocheting 8 inch squares. :) I don't we need to go that far, but keeping a ruler or something else that measures exactly 8 inches near by - is a good idea. I do think we can all come up with clever and creative ways to make sure we can measure out - 8 inches! :)

    • Hey, that's an idea, we all get 8" tattoos!  I use a retractable sewing tape measure (or just a kids 12 inch ruler they use for school) and use it each time I create a square.  I know how many typical stitches I need when crocheting across, but I use the tape measure after a few rows to double check it's 8 inches before I continue with the square.  I also uses it when nearing the end of the square to make sure it's 8 inches.  For granny squares, I know how many rows I usually do and again, towards the end of the square, measure to make sure it's 8 inches and adjust accordingly.  I find it better if I can't get it to 8 inches initially to make the square smaller first and add an edging or whatever to get it to 8 inches.  I know I've sent in squares not exactly 8 inches, but I believe that even though we strive to have them exactly 8 inches, having one that is 7.75 is close enough when it's stretched when sewed that it doesn't matter.  Being a crocheter and just a beginner knitter, I find it easy to get the crochet squares 8 inches and the knit ones is hard for me since there is curling and non-conformity in my stitch size.  But again, I'll try to make it smaller and add a border.  I know that Adelina will fix the ruler issue (thank you!), but the real issue is getting people to not send really weird shaped squares or rectangles (6", 9", etc).  Having the flyer ruler printed either at 8 or 7.75 I believe is still passing that message along.

      • I use a retractable tape measure,  too, Robin.  :))

        Thanks for the laugh Elizabeth...I won't be getting a tattoo!!!!

  • What does "jig" mean and how does drawing a line measure that the printout matches a ruler or tape measure? Shouldn't we be comparing it with a ruler?

    I love the idea of this flyer but I think there's a couple of issues that need fixing to make sure everyone can get a 8x8 inch square. I am not trying to criticise your flyer, I'm just trying to prevent some problems I have come across myself or seen others come across. Often they didn't realise there is a problem, as they didn't have a look at the website or forums.

    Could you please write an extra line in the PDF, telling people to check the print out against a ruler? Not everyone will print it out straight after reading this post or know to check the printed ruler or how to change their printer settings. I forwarded some of the KAS ruler files to a few family members and a few of them didn't think to check, so I think there must be others out there who will do the same.

    I think there should be a ruler on each side of the flyer so we can make sure the width and length at the same time. 2 of these rulers could be in cm and the other 2 in inches. This would also fix the problem of measuring in inches which is not at the bottom of the flyer and therefore you can't measure both the length and the width. Certain patterns can result in a square who's sides lean to the left or right, and unless you compare both width and length with a cardboard square (I use this all the time) you won't realise it is slightly wonky. KAS is a great project for new knitters, but many of them have wonky squares to begin with.

    I find it confusing that the full print out measures 8 and 2/8 inches rather than 8 inches (especially as this is not written on the printout so people who were given this wouldn't know about it or the problem KAS has with receiving different sizes and shapes).

    Why not write on the flyer that you have gotten a lot of squares that aren't square or without yarn butterflies and you then can't use the squares for quite some time?

    You could move the first and last number of the ruler, to the side of a slightly thicker line marking the end, rather than on top of the line. Or have a square frame (in a bright colour) with a note on the inside of the square saying this is the size of the square and with the ruler on the outside of the frame.

    When having to cut something to size, it helps to have a dotted grey line with a line of text eg."cut along the dotted grey line".
    • The shrinking problem is probably caused by the software used to save or convert it as a PDF or the settings of the original file.

      If you don't have time for this, I'd be happy to solve the problem. I troubleshoot pc problems all the time and I know how to use different design software. I'm sure there's other people on the forums that would be happy to help with these type of problems, if things are a bit busy at the moment.

      Of course there are more important things for you to do than trying to make this flyer. Thanks for taking my opinion into consideration.
      • Thanks Adelina, you are an angel!  Will send you file to your email address.  That would be such a help as it does appear to be creating problems!

    • Now I've got KasSnippets put to bed Adelina, I'm going to see if I can get a line-border or dotted line added to the pdf.file as you have kindly suggested, however it is going to be quite tricky.  We think in the process of turning items with measures into pdf.files they shrink slightly.  To try and rectify this we added a warning in red at the top of the page with the instructions.

      Sandy created the original, and, though she has resigned from KAS, she has agreed to create one more calendar for 2014, therefore I do not feel we can burden her with another  task as she is also extremely busy.

      Thanks for your help and support - this is such an important element of reducing the mis-shapes!  The blanket stitchers can cope with wonky or very slightly larger squares, however, anything too big or rectangles do not easily fit into a blanket.

      Because we are all volunteers we can't always manage to get things done in a 'timely' fashion, but want to assure you it is being tackled.  We will get there eventually!  

    • I volunteer at our local Seniors Home for craft activities every Wednesday. So, we are knitting and crocheting 8 inch squares. These women are in their 80's and 90's and thoroughly enjoy doing this.To get the size right, I've used my quilter's ruler and cut an 8 in square from file folders. They each have one and feel confident that they are doing it right. The one problem  I had was that they sometimes forgot to leave the tail on some. Can I correct that by adding a tail or is it better to just leave it??

      • Thank you so much Jacqueline for creating jigs/measures for the Ladies!  It really does make such a difference having 35 equal squares to create a nice even blanket.

        If you can add a tail with a similar colour that would be so useful, and, if possible, please would you stitch in the little starter tail  -  everything that is done before they are sent makes life so much easier for the blanket stitching ladies in South Africa.

        We are also glad to hear that people in their 80's & 90's are really enjoying making a contribution. Please do take some photos and add to the Photo tab, our members would love to meet them and see their work!

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