[Nfb-krafters-korner] Keeping track of Rows - WAS: Knitting and Ripping

Sat Feb 2 19:29:30 UTC 2013

Resending with new subject line.

I too use an abacus to keep track of rows, but this is one of many ways that
I accomplish this.  Some other ways include:

An abacus bracelet - This is a bracelet with beads that you slide from end
to end to count your stitches or rows.  You can purchase them from some
craft suppliers.

Pennies or other small objects - If my pattern has 18 rows, I will move 18
pennies from one pocket to another, or from one container to another.  Make
sure you use 2 different containers so that you can remember which one you
are moving the pennies into to represent the number of completed rows.

An App on my iPhone

A paper clip slid down the side of my braille pattern to point to the row I
am currently working on.  There are magnetic row markers that are used in
this same manner.  They are made up of a ribbon with a magnet at each end.
You rap the ribbon around the edge of your paper and allow the magnets to
sandwich the paper between them as they are attracted to each other.  I've
not used this type, only read about them.

Individual pages - I write each row of a pattern on a separate piece of
paper or index card.  Punch a hole in one corner of the page and place the
stack on a metal ring or loop of yarn.  As I complete a row I flip the page
to the back.  I hold the stack together with a paperclip when not knitting
so that I do not lose my place when it is in my bag.

Read the pattern from a device - I place a file of the pattern on a device
such as a computer, bookPort, Victor Stream, iPhone, etc.  There was a time
when I used cassette tapes.  When I complete a row I move the cursor to the
next row. 

Stitch markers - Prepare yourself for reading this one, it is crazy.  I put
a solid ring stitch marker at the beginning of my row.  Sometimes I have to
place it after the first stitch so that I do not lose it off of the end of
my needle.  I then attach 2 different type locking stitch markers to that
ring marker.  Now I place as many stitch markers as rows in my pattern on
one of the locking stitch markers.  As I complete a row, I move one marker
to the other locking stitch marker.  If my pattern has a lot of rows with
the pattern rows only on the odd number or only on the even number, then I
only place enough ring markers on the locking marker to keep track of the
actual pattern rows.  

A tip to keep in mind when using any type of system to keep track of your
rows is whether you are keeping track of which row you are about to work,
which row you are working, or which row you have completed.

As it has been said many times before on this list, figure out what works
for you and use it.  I encourage you to not get locked into using just one
technique.  Different situations call for different solutions.

HTH,
Annette

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of sunshine
Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2013 10:30 AM
To: nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Knitting and Ripping

Hi, Linda!

I use an abacus to count rows so I don't forget where I left off while doing
a pattern of sorts! Right now, I'm doing a simple afghan with variegated
yarn!

Hugs

----- Original Message -----
From: River Woman <riverwoman at zoominternet.net>
To: "List for blind crafters and artists" nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
Date: Saturday, February 2, 2013 6:28 am
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Knitting and Ripping

>
>
> Annette,
> I think you are so right in that ripping out (rippit) is an important 
> part of knitting. I have been knitting for about 60 years now, and I 
> still do a lot of ripping out! That is just part of it all, and 
> something you eventually begin to not mind doing.
> 
> Right now, I am working on a Double Basket Weave Scarf, and it is an 
> 18 row pattern. I have to do it when all is quiet and I can just be 
> mindful of where I am in the pattern. I am doing it with yarn that is 
> vintage, and it was labeled as "worsted weight." Well, I have no clue 
> how they came up with that label but it is more like fingering yarn  
> so it's gonna take a long time to get this done.
> 
> For me to work in a pattern, I have to mark down every row, just as 
> soon as I finish it, or I will be lost. The other night, I was 
> watching some things on tv that were so interesting, and my husband 
> was there, and we were chatting as I was knitting. Well, you can guess 
> the rest of that story. I completely lost my place in the knitting  
> and had to spend a lot of time the next day trying to figure out where 
> I was, what was wrong, and how many rows I had to rip out  
> Fortunately, I can do this with major help from my MERLIN C C  T V.  I 
> have been addicted to the Double Basketweave Scarf pattern for a few 
> months  I did several scarves in this pattern and gave for Christmas 
> gifts. I still don't have one for ME, since I gave them all away. It 
> is such a beautiful pattern and people stop me to have a look at it  lots
of compliments follow!
> Lynda
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Annette Carr" <amcarr1 at verizon.net>
> To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'" 
> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 01, 2013 10:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] How are the new knitters doing?
> 
> 
> > Kathy,
> >
> > If American is working well for you, then maybe that is what works 
> > best for you.  However, I think it is great that you are continuing 
> > to work at getting the hang of continental.  Keep up the great work.
> >
> > Ripping out is as much a part of knitting as knitting.  For that 
> > matter, so is making mistakes.  I have been working on a cowl for my 
> > daughter over the past few weeks and have made very few mistakes.  
> > They have been minor and I have been able to catch them when it was 
> > still easy to fix.  Tonight I was down to the last 22 stitches of 
> > the last pattern row, and something is majorly wrong.  Things have 
> > been going so well that I have neglected to move my lifeline up as 
> > I've worked.  So I put it down for tonight and will take a stab at 
> > fixing it tomorrow.
> >
> > Annette
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Nfb-krafters-korner 
> > [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> > On
> > Behalf Of Cathy
> > Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2013 9:33 PM
> > To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] How are the new knitters doing?
> >
> > Sunshine wrote:
> >
> > I'm starting to do better with the continental method! I think it's 
> > just that it's so different!
> >
> > Cathy says:
> > Same here! I knit the American way and everything goes nicely, then 
> > I say ok, let me try that European method again and things get messy
quickly.
> >
> > Hmm, should I really try the European way again now that I have four 
> > rows of American of my dish towel done? I've already ripped it out 
> > four times.
> > Could
> > have had sixteen rows of American by now. <sigh>
> >
> > I should be better at this, after all my ancestors are from Europe? 
> > <smile>
> >
> >
> > Cathy
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
> > Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
> > for
> > Nfb-krafters-korner:
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/amc
> > arr1%40v
> > erizon.net
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
> > Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
> > for
> > Nfb-krafters-korner:
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/riv
> > erwoman%40zoominternet.net
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfb-krafters-korner:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/sunsh
> ine817%40cox.net