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Sunday, January 08, 2006
Starting a New Year
I know I've had a lot of serious posts lately, and I promise that I'll lighten up in the coming months. But since this is the start of the new year, and most people are busy making resolutions, I have to write about one more serious topic.
I don't make New Year's resolutions. But I do try to spend some time in introspection at the end of each year, to consider what I want to work on in the upcoming months. This year, instead of choosing a single project to focus on, I have been thinking about what I want my life's larger purpose to be.
As some of you may know, I do not believe in the supernatural. So, without a god or a holy book to tell me what to do with my life, I have to create my own purpose for living. I take this responsibility seriously, and have given it a lot of thought.
There are many worthy causes and many ways to find meaning in life. But eventually each one of us must come to recognize those causes that are closest to our own hearts and those issues that arouse our strongest passions. I consistently find myself moved by stories about the oppression of women and minorities. While the United States has made some strides toward equality during the past decades, we have by no means reached perfection. And in many parts of the world, women and minorities are treated no better than property or animals.
Just last month, an Islamic militant group in Bangladesh declared that they will kill any woman seen in public without a burqa. In our own country, fundamentalist Christian pharmacists are refusing to fill birth control prescriptions for women, and the Boy Scouts of America openly discriminates against gays and atheists. Domestic terrorists bombed an abortion clinic in Louisiana on Dec 12th, 2005 and it did not even make the national news, and militant Christian extremists march at funerals of AIDS victims carrying signs that say, "God hates fags."
It is generally accepted that we should respect other people's beliefs. But when beliefs lead to violence and oppression, we must speak out against them.
Silence is complicity. I can no longer sit back and allow my silence to condone prejudice and oppression. I have decided to allow reason and passion to lead me, and that
My purpose will be
to help make the world safer and more comfortable
for women and minorities
How will I accomplish this?
- By creating things that provide comfort, such as hand-knit items to donate to charity and knitting books that allow others to create comfort, and by continuing to provide free knitting patterns and charity knitting information on this blog.
- By using my writing to advance reason and enlightenment and to oppose fundamentalism and the beliefs that breed hatred, violence, intolerance, and ignorance.
- By valuing--and encouraging others to value--the ideas, creativity, and contributions of women.
- By supporting secular organizations that help women and the glbt community.
- By speaking out whenever I can in private and in public to point out injustice and to defy the censorship that silences those with no political power.
In each of these areas, I will volunteer, work for pay, and develop personal projects. As the new year begins, I hope you will join with me in evaluating your own purpose in life and choosing a path that brings comfort and joy to the world.
Peace, Comfort & Joy to All in the New Year!
Pattern: Easy Cable Scarf and Headband
This easy scarf and headband will give you practice making cables. It's perfect for anyone needing a bit of warmth.
Materials
Approx 440 yards of worsted weight yarn.
I used 4 balls of Suri Merino from Plymouth yarn (55% suri alpaca, 45% extra fine merino wool), Color 5192
To make each separate item, you will need:
Scarf: 3 balls, size 7 needles
Headband: 1 ball, size 7 needles
Gauge
Approx 20 sts = 4 inches over stockinette stitch
Size
Headband: 18 inch circumference, fits head sizes up to 23 inches
Scarf: 5 inches wide x 58 inches long
Pattern Stitches
Rope Cable
Rows 1, 3 and 7 (RS): P2, k6, p2.
Rows 2, 4 and 6 (WS): K2, p6, k2.
Row 5: P2, slip 3 sts to cable needle (cn) and hold in front, k3, k3 from cn, p2.
Row 8: K2, p6, k2.
Repeat rows 1 to 8 for pattern.
Headband Instructions
Cast on 16 sts.
Setup row (WS): K3, place marker, k2, p6, k2, place marker, k3.
Row 1: K3, sm, work rope cable over next 10 sts, sm, k3.
Repeat row 1 until headband measures approx. 18 inches. End after row 2 of rope cable pattern.
Bind off. Sew ends of headband together. Weave in ends.
Scarf Instructions
Cast on 36 sts.
Ribbing
Row 1 (RS): K3, place marker, (k2, p6, k2, place marker) three times, k3.
Row 2 (WS): K3, (p2, k6, p2) three times, k3, slipping markers when you come to them.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until ribbing measures 2 inches.
Knit 6 rows (3 garter ridges).
Cable Pattern
Next row (RS): K3, sm, work three repeats of rope cable over next 30 sts slipping the markers when you come to them, sm, k3.
Work patterns as established until scarf measures approx 55 inches. End after row 2 of rope cable pattern.
Ribbing
Knit 6 rows (3 garter ridges).
Repeat rows 1 and 2 of ribbing as above, until ribbing measures 2 inches.
Bind off loosely in pattern and weave in ends. Wash the scarf and dry flat, flaring the ends out to create the clamshell shape of the ribbing.
Bundle-Up New Orleans Knitting Project
Although Hurricane Katrina is now several months in the past, there are still many displaced people in need of extra warmth this winter. Here's how you can continue to help!
I recently received an email from Ray Whiting of Bundle-Up New Orleans. He said, "After discussing the options for providing hats and scarves for the people here in New Orleans who lost everything in Katrina, we are forming a project called Bundle Up New Orleans, largely with members from the New Orleans Knitting Meetup and anyone else who wants to participate. After what Katrina did, finding winterwear hasn't been a large priority, but now that winter is actually here, it needs to be done."
Ray has posted details at http://www.knitivity.com. The site includes the basics, such as links to free patterns, tips about what types of yarns are acceptable, and instructions on how to package and where to ship your donations. More info will be added shortly as the project grows and partners and supporters are added.
This is a great way to help, because your donations go directly to the people of New Orleans. If you have time to knit, great! If not, you can also donate yarn and knitting supplies or cash.
Here are a couple of additional "Knitting for Katrina" sites:
- Knit for Katrina. This site is collecting 7 to 9 inch knitted squares that will be made into blankets. Using worsted-weight yarn and a size 7 needle, you cast on 35 sts and make a square using any stitch pattern you like. You can also crochet squares. That's all there is to it. They will sew the squares together into blankets, combining squares from many different knitters into one finished project. It's a great way to help if you don't have time to make larger projects.
- Knitting Arts and Oprah's Angel Network are working together to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. One big need is items for the home, because so many people lost everything. This site is collecting knitted and crocheted blankets, pillows, curtains, rugs, and other accessories. Knitting Arts will collect these items throughout the next few months while the homes are being constructed & then ship them to their contact at Oprah's office.
Lesson: Making Cables
Cables are made when stitches in the knitted fabric cross over each other. You place a few stitches on hold by slipping them onto a cable needle, knit the next two or three stitches, then knit the stitches off of the cable needle. These traveling stitches may move to the right or to the left.
Cable needles are short, double-pointed needles made especially for the purpose of knitting cables. They usually have a notch, ridges, or a curved section to keep the stitches from falling off while you are manipulating the cable.
To make a left-crossing cable, you hold the cable needle in the front.
Crossing a four-stitch cable to the left:
1. Slip the next 2 stitches onto the cable needle and hold the cable needle in front of the work.
2. Knit next 2 stitches from left needle.
3. Knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle.
To make a right-crossing cable, you hold the cable needle in the back.
Crossing a four-stitch cable to the right:
1. Slip the next 2 stitches onto the cable needle and hold the cable needle in back of the work.
2. Knit next 2 stitches from left needle.
3. Knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle.
