December 2006

2007: Focus on Womens' Health

In 2007, Knitting for Change will focus on issues concerning womens' health. I have a terrific group of guest designers and writers lined up. Each month, a different aspect of womens' health will be covered in an essay and I'll include links to read more about the featured topic, especially how it relates to knitting. I'll continue to post free charity knitting patterns and knitting lessons every month as well. I'll also post links to interesting news stories about womens' health throughout the year. One important topic I'll focus on all year is how we can wade through all of the information we find and figure out what is real, unbiased medical advice based on solid scientific evidence, versus what is just someone's opinion or, even worse, material that is intentionally distorted or censored to misinform the public.

I believe this topic is one of the most important topics we, as knitters, can address. Because the large majority of knitters are women, I am focusing on womens' health, rather than on health issues in general. Today, while women around the world are suffering and dying from preventable and curable diseases, misinformation is being spread by governments, religious leaders, and others who desire to keep women from being free and powerful. You may find some of the stories I post this year disturbing You may wish you could close your eyes and cover your ears and ignore the ugly facts. But don't. Those of us who are safe and free have a duty to acknowledge the suffering and pain of others who are oppressed, and do do whatever we can, even if it is only a small token, to help alleviate that suffering.

To ignore the plight of others less fortunate than ourselves is selfish and immoral.

This story from the AP shows how the United States is not exempt from such policies of misinformation:

The study, examining how sexual behavior before marriage has changed over time, was based on interviews conducted with more than 38,000 people—about 33,000 of them women—in 1982, 1988, 1995 and 2002 for the federal National Survey of Family Growth. According to Finer’s analysis, 99 percent of the respondents had had sex by age 44, and 95 percent had done so before marriage.

Even among a subgroup of those who abstained from sex until at least age 20, four-fifths had had premarital sex by age 44, the study found.

Finer said the likelihood of Americans having sex before marriage has remained stable since the 1950s, though people now wait longer to get married and thus are sexually active as singles for extensive periods.

The study found women virtually as likely as men to engage in premarital sex, even those born decades ago. Among women born between 1950 and 1978, at least 91 percent had had premarital sex by age 30, he said, while among those born in the 1940s, 88 percent had done so by age 44.

“The data clearly show that the majority of older teens and adults have already had sex before marriage, which calls into question the federal government’s funding of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs for 12- to 29-year-olds,” Finer said.

Under the Bush administration, such programs have received hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.

***

It's time to stop wasting money on policies founded on ideology instead of fact.

It's time to implement policies that positively impact womens' health

insted of catering to the false morality of religious & political extremists.

Join me in 2007, as I explore various issues of womens' health with guest columnists and designers, in the hopes of spreading real, scientific information that can change the lives of those at risk and help stop the spread of disease, illness, and suffering around the world.

Pattern: Aunt Phebe's Comfort Shawl

I made this shawl for a friend whose son recently died. She is 80 and he was 50, but that doesn't make the loss of a child any less tragic or distressing. I hope this shawl brings her some iota of comfort.

Size: Approx 28 inches long by 66 inches wide

Gauge: Approx 8 sts = 4"/10cm

Exact gauge is not critical. Make sure the fabric is light and airy. The shawl should be like a cloud.

Skill Level: Easy

Yarn: 1 skein of Plymouth Yarn's Outback Mohair (70% Mohair, 26% Wool, 4% Nylon, 218 yds/100g skein)

Needles: Size 15 circular needle, at least 24" long

Instructions

CO 7 sts.

Begin Garter Stitch Pattern

Row 1: K2, yo, knit to end of row (8 sts).

Put a safety pin on this row to mark the right side (RS).

Repeat row 1 until you have have used up approx half of the yarn. Piece should measure approx 20 inches long. End after working a WS row.

Begin Eyelet Pattern

Row 1 (RS): K2, yo, k1, (yo, k2tog) to last 3 sts, k3.

If you have an extra plain stitch at the end of the row before the last 3 sts, don't worry. Just knit it. This pattern is very forgiving and you should not get stressed out over having an extra stitch! I had one a couple of times on my shawl, but I couldn't find any mistakes after I finished knitting and examined the shawl.

Rows 2, 3, and 4: K2, yo, knit to end of row.

Repeat rows 1 to 4 until you have approx 12 yards of yarn remaining. End after a plain row.

(Design tip: If you prefer, switch back to plain garter stitch in the center after working 5 or 6 eyelet rows. This will create a solid border at the top edge of the shawl.)

Finishing

BO loosely. Weave in ends.

There is no need to block this shawl. Wash and lay flat to dry, if desired.

Lesson: Tips for Knitting with Mohair

Although this month's comfort shawl pattern is very easy to knit, working with mohair yarn can be a challenge.

Because the yarn is so fuzzy and the fibers are clingy, the yarn will stick to itself as you knit, making it almost impossible to rip out. If you do have to rip, slowly unknit the piece stitch by stitch, using a sharp scissor to separate the furry halo if it gets stuck together. But be careful not to cut the core of the yarn! Pay special attention at the beginning of each row. For some reason, the fibers tend to stick together most where each new row begins.

To avoid frustrating mistakes, make sure you knit slowly and pay attention. Even though this shawls uses very easy stitch patterns, you might find that you need a marker inside the 2 edge stitches so you don't forget to to work the YOs at the beginning of each row. These are the increases that give the shawl its triangular shape and add a small, but noticeable detail to the edges.

When binding off, make sure to work very loosely. Because the mohair yarn is held together by a nylon thread, it does not stretch at all. If your bind off is not loose, the shawl will have a hard, puckering edge that will spoil the soft, cloud-like feeling. If you don't have a needle bigger than a size 15 for binging off. Use this stretchy bind off instead of your regular technique.

One nice thing about working with mohair is that, should you make a mistake here or there, it will be impossible to notice in the fuzzy texture of the finished knitting.

Keep these few things in mind, and you'll learn to enjoy knitting with this luxuriously warm and lightweight yarn.

A small charity knitting project for a busy season

Hi All,

The editor of Arctic Lace, Deb Robson, has made 43 baby caps for Save the Children's Caps for the Capital program. Oh my!

Most of us don't have time to make 40 caps during this busy holiday season. But if you can spare one evening while watching TV, you can knit one baby cap, and you can save the life of one infant who might otherwise die from exposure. Please take a miniute to download this action kit (PDF) and use a little smooth, soft yarn from your stash and join in, even in a small way, this holiday season. The action kit contains all of the information you need, including knitting and crochet patterns.