About the Not Really 6 x 6's

In article , "MRH"
mthecarpenteratxcelcodotondotca wrote:

"Aud" wrote in message
...

snipped
BUT remember... some of us have NEVER in our life used inches!
All our measures are metric.

Aud, when I was little we didn't use metric at all. Everything was in
inches, MILES per hour -- not KILOMETERS, and Farenheit not Celsius. So
when I got my driver's license *just* after it changed to metric here, my
Mom and I went for a drive down the very busy 401 highway (like an American
freeway) and I was wondering why I was passing everyone... including five
police cruisers. When we came home and told my Dad he looked at me, half
grinned and asked what speed I was doing. I told him "100 MPH like the sign
said". He shook his head and said "The sign said 100 KILOMETERS per hour.
No wonder you were passing everyone. You're lucky one of the police
cruisers didn't come after you." Ooopsy! ROTFL

By the way, except for driving in Kilometers which I'm used to now, I still
don't follow any of the rest of the metric system. When I want to know the
temperature, I look at a converter that I have hanging on the wall, and I
always measure in inches... although I do have a ruler that has both on it
if I *really* need to know. ;o) And God help me when a recipe is in
metric.... I'm totally lost and have to holler at Matthew's best friend Kyle
who went through to be a chef "What the HECK is this in CUPS, OUNCES, or
SPOONFULS??" LOL

Gem

Having just finished two days of natural dyeing, I have been very
frustrated when the instructions tell you to figure out 3% of 1/3 of a
teaspoon. When doing precise measuring, grams and weight is the way to go
to keep your sanity. and the same for temps while working with dye bath.
C. works well

Els

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"Tante Jan" wrote in message
...
"Kira Dirlik" !! wrote in message
...

Since this topic has come up in another thread, I'd like to make a few
comments on the Not Really 6 x 6's, if that is okay.

Firstly I just love Shelagh's solution with her comfort afgan. It is
almost like a crazy quilt. The black background is a major element
and it doesn't matter at all how "wrongly" the squares measure 6 x 6.
In fact the variety of sizes makes it all the more interesting. I
just love this solution.

Shelagh's comfort afgan:
http://tinyurl.com/72ekp

I have been trying to be accurate with my squares. I only frog
about 3 rows if they come out wrong (you can really tell, with only
that much), and it is easy to measure the vertical as you knit along.
Also, it is easier to incorporate a square that is too small, than
one that is too large (for a symetrical afgan). One can just add a
few more rounds to the edges of a too small one.
I also keep notes on the type of yarn vs. the number of stitches to
cast on for it to come out 6 x 6. Then I can get it right with the
very first row. And I always use a size 6 needles. (I knit, can't
crochet.) Also if you have a pattern or design, take notes. Next
time you can center it perfectly. Graph paper works great.
Sometimes if they come out a tad too big or too small, blocking will
correct it. And blocking is not ironing, pressing the iron onto it,
nor stretching it out.
It can result in a beautiful square if you take a ruler to make
sure it is 6 x 6. Put a straight pin in each corner so that it is not
more and not less than 6 x 6. Put 3 or 4 pins along each edge to
evenly squish it in or pull it out, as need be. If you don't have a
padded ironing board, do it on a bed. Then take a damp towel and lay
it over the square. Then take a steam iron and slowly steam it, not
letting the full weight of the iron press on it. When you take the
towel off, it will look really nice and be 6 x 6 (unless it is way,
way off mark.) Also, some of the man-made yarns will melt, if you
press hard.
But thank you so much, Shelagh, for showing me a way to use ALL my
wonderful squares I've received from you all. I just love it.
I hope my comments are helpful and not taken as criticism.
Kira

Thanks, Kira, for your suggestions. FWIW, here's how I block the squares.
I took a piece of Styrofoam and marked a 6 inch square on it. After
spraying the square (the one of yarn not the Styrofoam) until it is very
damp, I manipulate until it exactly fits the marked square, pin it in
place
and leave it to dry. I also used the marked square to check the
dimensions
while working on the piece.

--
Jan in MN


That's exactly how I would block them, Jan... except... a lot of the
participants use acrylic, and those are unblockable....
Noreen

Thanks, Kira, for your suggestions. FWIW, here's how I block the
squares.
I took a piece of Styrofoam and marked a 6 inch square on it. After
spraying the square (the one of yarn not the Styrofoam) until it is
very
damp, I manipulate until it exactly fits the marked square, pin it in
place
and leave it to dry. I also used the marked square to check the
dimensions
while working on the piece.
Jan in MN

That's exactly how I would block them, Jan... except... a lot of the
participants use acrylic, and those are unblockable....
Noreen

That's a great idea, Jan. And many of mine are acrylic or combos of
many yarns, and I find they do block to size with the pin and wet
towel and iron method. But none of the blocking methods do well if
the measurements are way off.
Anyway, I still love the crazy quilt idea, so that all can be used,
and I just love the way it looks.
Cheers,
Kira

"Els van Dam" skrev i melding
...
In article , "Aud"
wrote:

"Noreen's Knit*che" skrev i melding
...

Aud one inch is exactly two and a half cm.

I knew I had read about the difference in English and American inches,
(but now they are alike!) I found this:
"There was also a small discrepancy between the English inch and the
American inch until 1959 when both standardised to exactly 2.54
centimeters."
(
http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pub...e-content.html )

For OUR use, 1 inch = 2,5 cm,
is more than good enough. (4 inches, 10 cm.)
But If you shall measure 40 inches,
the convertion is NOT 1 metre, as it had been if an inch is exactly 2,5
cm.
40 inches are 1 m 6 cm.(over 2 inches more).
So I use a convertion page (or oldfashioned pencil and paper ;-)
to be sure, when I use pattern with inches.
But knitted items can never be accurate, so normally there are no
problem.
....and as I mostly use wool for knitting, blocking is an option!! LOL!

It was rain this morning, and cold!
Therefore I started on a BIG house work job!
(wanted to have it done before summer holiday.)
Done it half, and the sun came through, and the temperature changed!
Now it IS done (I am glad I started!) and I can relax with an "easy
heart"!

Wish you a nice week end!
AUD ;-))

X-No-Archive: yes
"Aud" wrote in message
...

For OUR use, 1 inch = 2,5 cm,
is more than good enough. (4 inches, 10 cm.)
But If you shall measure 40 inches,
the convertion is NOT 1 metre, as it had been if an inch is exactly 2,5
cm.
40 inches are 1 m 6 cm.(over 2 inches more).

Aud I don't think this is correct. 1 metre = 39.37 inches so 40 inches =
1.016m
http://www.initium.demon.co.uk/converts/metimp.htm

Eimear, off to weed the garden before it rains again

"emerald" skrev i melding
news:AHGqe.1647266$Xk.934659@pd7tw3no...

X-No-Archive: yes
"Aud" wrote in message
...

For OUR use, 1 inch = 2,5 cm,
is more than good enough. (4 inches, 10 cm.)
But If you shall measure 40 inches,
the convertion is NOT 1 metre, as it had been if an inch is exactly
2,5 cm.
40 inches are 1 m 6 cm.(over 2 inches more).

Aud I don't think this is correct. 1 metre = 39.37 inches so 40 inches
= 1.016m
http://www.initium.demon.co.uk/converts/metimp.htm

Eimear, off to weed the garden before it rains again

Of courseYOU are right, Eimear!
MY fault! just 1,6 cm difference, not 6 cm as I said!!!!

Aud ;-))

In article , "Aud"
wrote:

"emerald" skrev i melding
news:AHGqe.1647266$Xk.934659@pd7tw3no...

X-No-Archive: yes
"Aud" wrote in message
...

For OUR use, 1 inch = 2,5 cm,
is more than good enough. (4 inches, 10 cm.)
But If you shall measure 40 inches,
the convertion is NOT 1 metre, as it had been if an inch is exactly
2,5 cm.
40 inches are 1 m 6 cm.(over 2 inches more).

Aud I don't think this is correct. 1 metre = 39.37 inches so 40 inches
= 1.016m
http://www.initium.demon.co.uk/converts/metimp.htm

Eimear, off to weed the garden before it rains again

Of courseYOU are right, Eimear!
MY fault! just 1,6 cm difference, not 6 cm as I said!!!!

Aud ;-))

Aud and Eimear, I have made the change from metric to imperial and back
again. I find that the best way of working with either metric or imperial
measurements is not to hop back and forth, but when you use cm. stick with
it and forget the inches and visa versa.

Els

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hate spam not welcome

"Els van Dam" skrev i melding
...
In article , "Aud"
wrote:


Aud and Eimear, I have made the change from metric to imperial and
back
again. I find that the best way of working with either metric or
imperial
measurements is not to hop back and forth, but when you use cm. stick
with
it and forget the inches and visa versa.

Els

--
hate spam not welcome

I agree, Els!
And I was very happy
when I found a suitable measure with inches!!

But I often convert to see which measures they talk about,
I am not quite familiar with inches yet.
F.Ex. when they say that a sweater is 27 inches long, I don't have a
clue
till I have thought CAREFULLY about it! LOL!
AUD ;-))

X-No-Archive: yes
"Els van Dam" wrote
Aud and Eimear, I have made the change from metric to imperial and back
again. I find that the best way of working with either metric or imperial
measurements is not to hop back and forth, but when you use cm. stick with
it and forget the inches and visa versa.


You're quite right, Els..........but my brain won't quite work that way. I
know my own weight in pounds and assess other people's in kilos (it's part
of my job, BTW, for those who might think I'm *really* weird. I don't do it
just for fun! LOL!). I can only "do" heights in imperial measurements. But
I'm completely happy with temperature in degrees Centigrade.

I'm just a muddle! vbg

Eimear

Hi Ladies,

Well, my turn to chime in on the 6x6 squares. As many of you know I've
made a lot of comfortafghans with 6x6's and yes, they come in all sizes
and I've loved making them all fit. So, some are too big, some too
little, you just have to adjust them to work and they will, I know from
experience. I do agree having them a little smaller is the best as
that way when you add a round of color that you are using for the
border then it works, if there are too many that are big, make them
into a top or bottom row as I've done that too. To me, the size
doesn't matter at all, it's the hugs that are in each one that counts.

Hugs,

Nora who is slowing melting away with this heat.