[Nfb-krafters-korner] an iPhone AP for knitting

[Cathy]

I am sending this post pasted into my email from another blind crafters
list. It was interesting and I thought some of the members here might find
it useful.

Cathy


I recently invested in an IPhone. It has been amazing to be able to use
every feature of a phone. I haven't been able to do that since I lost my
sight ten years ago. But, rather than gushing on all the wonderful things I
can do with the phone, I'll just tell you about one app I found.

JKnit is a knitting assistant app. It costs $5.99 so I was very hesitant to
try it out. Luckily for me it works perfectly with voiceover. The app allows
you to keep track of your projects by the piece and by the row. You can use
the online web portal to input all your project directions along with the
row numbers they affect. Then you sync the app and all the information
transfers to the phone. JKnit has a built in row counter and each time you
get to a row it shows the directions for that row.

I've really enjoyed having an easy row counter. I turned off screen lock
within the app so all I have to do is position voiceover to the counter plus
button and sinply double tap each time I start a row. It will keep your
place on multiple projects and it's just so easy.

I can't say enough wonderful things about JKnit. As a blind knitter it's
even more helpful since it allows me to have an accessible version of the
pattern wherever I am. It's true that I can also read online and text
versions of patterns with the IPhone but having one integrated with a row
counter is even better. The online web portal is also easy to use. Copy and
paste your individual pattern instructions and you're ready to go. I highly
recommend it and the price is well worth it.

Here are some links to more information on JKnit:

JKnit Knitting Project Assistant App

JKnit User Guide

Ravelry Group for JKnit App Users

Direct Link to JKnit in the ITunes Store

Row Counter Bracelet
09 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment

by Ana in Handy Accessories, Knitting, Patterns, Row Counting 

Karen's post on i-cord gave me an idea for a row counter bracelet. This one
is a double i-cord band that separates into two lengths of single i-cord,
each with large beads that can be slid from one end to another, abacus
style. There's a divider that keeps the beads from sliding away from where
they belong.

The idea is simple. The 9 beads on one length of i-cord each represent one
row. The 10 beads on the other length of i-cord each represent 10 rows.
Slide one bead from one side of the divider to the other each time you
finish a row. When you get to Row 10, slide the 9 beads to the opposite side
of the divider, and bring one of the other beads across.

While groovy in its own way, the bracelet isn't the most stylish accessory
on the planet, but it is practical and easy to carry around with your latest
knitting project.

Materials

. 19 pony beads (9 of one shape, texture, or color and 10 of another). Pony
beads are the pea or garbanzo sized beads with large holes, often used in
children's crafts. You can pick up some plastic pony beads at places like
Wal-Mart and Michael's, or you can order wood or glass pony beads from
places like Shipwreck Beads.
. Small amount of yarn (DK or thinner). I used the Dk weight yarn leftover
from a pair of socks. When I finished the bracelet, I still had enough to
make plenty more. Worsted weight yarn is too thick to fit through the beads.
Sport and fingering weight yarn work better. I worked from both ends of the
yarn, so if you can't find the other end, cut a length that is a couple of
yards/meters long.
. 3.0 mm needles. Any needle that is 3.5 mm or thinner should work. I used a
circular needle, but 2 DPN's would have been just as well.
. Twist tie. This is the short length of wire you use to close plastic bags.
They're great for stringing beads and for sliding beads from the working
yarn to the length of i-cord.
. Tapestry needle (for sewing and weaving in ends).

Bracelet

This really is a lot easier to make than it sounds. The goal is to make the
bracelet a little smaller than you would like because the yarn stretches.

String 9 beads onto working yarn, and slide them away for now.

Cast on 6 sts.

Row 1: K3, P3.

Row 2: K3, bring working yarn to front of work, sl3.

Rep Row 2 until bracelet is 2 inches (5 cm) long.

String 10 beads to another end of yarn and slide them away for now.

Thread this second end of yarn through the 6 stitches on the needle so that
the tail end is closest to the tip of the needle and the ball end is
farthest. The result is 3 knit stitches followed by a working yarn, then 3
purl stitches followed by a second working yarn. You're ready to work two
separate pieces of i-cord.

Row 3: With first working yarn in back, k3; with second working yarn in
front, p3.

Rep Row 3 until the separate i-cords are about 3.5 inches (9 cm) long.

Slide the twist tie through the 3 stitches of one i-cord. Fold the twist tie
in half. Hold the working yarn next to the twist tie, and slide the beads
down the working yarn and onto the i-cord. Slip the stitches back onto the
needle, remove the twist tie, and do the same for the second i-cord.

Break the yarn of the i-cord that is farthest from the tip of the needle.
Thread it through all 6 stitches, and continue with instructions, using the
remaining working yarn.

Row 4: K3, bring working yarn to front of work, sl3.

Rep Row 4 2 inches (5 cm) more.

Bind off.

Sew Cast-on and bind-off edges together, and weave in all ends.

Divider

You can make the divider in a number of ways. I've tried all of these
methods, and they all work, so it's really a matter of which one you like
best. The hardest part for all is securing the divider so that the beads can
be pushed through intentionally, but not slide through on their own.

The method I'm using now is the first one listed. When I find someone with a
camera, I'll post a picture.

. Find a decorative button with a post in the back. Thread a 6-inch (15 cm)
length of very narrow ribbon, yarn, or string through the post. Position the
button between the two single i-cords. Wrap one end of the ribbon around one
of the i-cords and thread it through the post; wrap the other end of the
ribbon around the other i-cord and thread it through the post. Adjust the
ribbon so that beads can be pushed through the loops. Then holding both
tails together, tie an overhand knot with both ends to secure, trimming
excess.
. Take a short-length of narrow elastic. Wrap it around one piece of single
i-cord, then the other in a figure-8. Sew it in place, making sure the
figure-8 loops are big enough to push the beads through, but not so big the
beads can slide through on their own. If you don't have any elastic, but you
have some Fixation, Esprit, or another highly elastic yarn, you can make an
i-cord loop that does the same thing.
. Make a rectangle that is roughly 2 inches (5 cm) long and 5 inch (1.2 cm)
wide. Wrap it around both single i-cord strands. Then sew the two ends of
the divider together (with seam in back),, sewing front and back of the
divider together forming a waist between the single i-cords so that beads
can be pushed through the divider.
. Make a length of i-cord that is 9 inches (22 cm) long. Fold the i-cord in
half. Slip it under the bracelet. Pull ends through loop as when you make
fringe. Then tie ends into a bow. Work loosely to give yourself enough room
for pushing beads through.. 

Review: APH Score Card as Row Counter
10 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment

by crystal in Crochet, Handy Accessories, Knitting, Reviews, Row Counting 

Many blind and low-vision knitters have a problem finding a good way to keep
track of what row they are on. One device I've found useful to count rows is
the score card from APH.

These score cards are about 3" by 10" and very thin so they will go into
most project bags easily. There are two rows of ten buttons each that can be
used to count up to 110. I use the top row for tens and the bottom row for
ones. The cards are made of thin plastic with a cardboard backing. They can
be bent if you, for example, sit on one. However, they are very brightly
colored so they would be easy for a low-vision person to see.

As for durability, I would say that, with care, they would last for a very
long time. Now, if you compulsively press and un-press the buttons while
talking on the phone, the plastic will break down and you'll have holes
where your buttons should be.

I like using one of these as a row counter. They are easy to lay on the
table or couch and mark each row with just the press of a button. This can
be done one handed so there is minimal interruption to your knitting or
crocheting.

I would recommend these to anyone looking for a convenient way to count rows
without a lot of hassle. You can find these score cards at APH and they are
two for $15.

APH Score Cards

For other row counting ideas see Ana's post, Asking Stitchers and Counting
Rows

Asking Stitchers and Counting Rows
22 Feb 2011 1 Comment

by Ana in Crochet, General, Knitting, Row Counting, Technocrafting 

Blindness brings on the most interesting problems. They're never the sorts
of things sighted people think: I can get dressed, clean my house, go to
work, and eat just fine, and I deal with other people's lack of imagination
as routinely though rarely as successfully. The problems tend to be in the
little things, in the details, where the devil lies, as some would have it.
Row counting is a prime example.

I can knit complex lace work while listening to a literary novel I plan to
teach or discuss with one of my English teacher friends, but keeping track
of which row I'm on, aside from simply observing the pattern, is not so
easy. Commercial row counters don't really work because they have either no
tactile markings or tactile markings that are so small they're hard to
distinguish even with super blind fingers. So for ideas, I turned to my yarn
council.

The Blind Stitchers Google group is fantastic. I learn a lot from the other
yarn crafters on the list. Tips range from the practical to the truly
inspired. Here's a list of row counter substitutes they came up with during
several discussions on the subject.

. Add coins or can tabs to a container or baggy.
. Count out X number of pieces of candy and eat one after every row.
. Make little tears along the edge of an index card.
. Move pegs on a cribbage board or Scrabble tray.
. Place one safety pin in hem of shirt or arm of couch for every row.
. Place strings or safety pins in work to mark repeats or X number of rows.
. Slide (Braille) Tags or can tabs on a ring.
. Slide Beads on a string or bracelet.
. Use Brynolf Pocket Counter (discontinued).
. Use abacus.
. Use cell phone app.
. Use PDA (write down the row you are on, deleting and changing the number
with each row).
. Use Scorekeeper from American Printing House for the Blind.

Elizabeth Zimmerman Quote
"What? You can't knit in the dark? Stuff and nonsense; anybody can. Shut
your eyes. Knit one stitch. Open your eyes and look at the stitch; it's all
right. Shut your eyes and knit two stitches. Open them. Shut them. Knit
three stitches. Falling off a log is no comparison."
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