Would like your advice/ideas

Thanks Richard!! I like the idea of having a garter stitch border on
all...much easier to join. Also doing it in strips. I had considered that,
but the perfectionist part of me thought "Well, I want exactly the same
border on all squares" but then the newly-found family crafts-slogan kicked
in: "Done is better than perfect." So strips it is, I think - less sewing.
The point is to get this to him in a relatively short time. '-)

I tried sz 13 needles yesterday - never used anything that big - and didn't
like them. I think I'll do better on, let's say, sz 10. I will keep you
posted - my project list keeps growing...

Susan K

"Richard Eney" wrote in message
...
In article . net,
Soozergirl wrote:
snip
I'm sorry to hear about your brother's illness.

My questions:
Is there a way to join them kind of like a 3 needle cast off?
Or does anyone have another suggestion (I can't crochet to save my life).

Strictly speaking, binding off is a slipstitch crochet stitch.

Different patterns will pull in slightly different amounts, but as long as
you avoid cables and lace they'll probably even out enough, so you can use
the same stitch count for each square. If you want to knit them in long
strips instead of single squares, you could just do something like 4 rows
of garter stitch between designs, or just switch to the next design.
If you do the garter stitch, you could also do 2 stitches of garter stitch
at each end of each row, so when it's all together there is garter stitch
on all sides of each square. Then you'd only have to fasten the strips
together. That could be done with mattress stitch or just a simple
overhand
whip stitch.

Any ideas about how to balance the colors? Should I join them with black,
dk gray, etc?

Just make each square with one color and make half of them with each
color.
You could make the center one with both colors and work in something
significant.

Do you think I should knit w/ two strands?

It's faster on big needles but it makes a very heavy afghan and the
patterns
won't show up as well.

=Tamar


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Noreen,
I'm embarrassed - what is kolaczy? Is that the filled jelly donuts? Or the
crispy fried pastries? (we call those kruschiki [sp?], but I know there are
the ones you make with the iron molds, and the bow-tie ones)

All my grandparents came from Poland, so I'm as Polish as it gets for having
been born in the US. Although, who knows if it was Poland, the boundaries
were very fluid back then - whoever thought they could beat the Polish army
won...

We're lucky in this area - Schenectady/Albany NY. There is a company called
"White Eagle" (what a surprise) that makes kielbasi, kishka, etc. It is very
close to the kielbasi that we used to buy from the Polish butcher when I was
a kid. I think I'm gonna have to go out and buy some - but every time I look
at the price per lb, I think "but I could buy steak for that price!"
Christmas Eve there is no choice - must have kielbasi, good Jewish rye
bread, pierogi, sour cream of mushroom soup...

Christmas dinner buffet: Fruity Snow salad (if anyone wants the recipe I
will publish it on this ng, it has enough calories to keep you going for at
least a month), baked ham, roast turkey, Boston baked beans (homemade),
kielbasi, potato salad, cole slaw and Christmas cookies. Yum! Go to the gym
the next day - and every day for the next 6 months!

Susan K



"The YarnWright" wrote in message
...
ME!
Half Polish!
Send me Kolaczy!
Hugs,
Noreen
drooling!


--
If Moses had been a woman, she'd have stopped and asked for directions,
and
the people would've gotten to the promised land in under a week!

President Mackenzie Allen, ABC's Commander in Chief
"Soozergirl" wrote in message
nk.net...
Thank you all for the great ideas and kind thoughts. I just talked to
brother Ron, who is feeling pretty well for a chemo week. He told me
that
this time he didn't lose his appetite or sleep all week, and that he was
eating like a pig, and that he's ready to kick butt (not his exact
words...)! Although I may need to postpone my trip due to the SNNOOOWWW,
he
was still planning the Polish dinner: kielbasa, sauerkraut, good rye
bread,
pierogi...I am absolutely drooling! I suspect that if I'm not there this
weekend they'll have the dinner anyway. ;-) If I'm not driving down,
guess
what *I'll* be doing...
Peace to all, and thanks for all of your support knitting and otherwise
(this is a fun group, ya know?)

Susan K
Any other Polacks out there? My maiden name is Strzalkowski - whew! I
can
still spell it...


"The YARNWRIGHT" wrote in message
...

"Soozergirl" wrote in message
ink.net...
Hi, I am visiting my brother who lives in New Jersey this weekend. He
has
cancer and probably won't be around more than about a year. I'm
totally
bummed about this - he's 51. Anyway, I just thought (well, DUH) that
a
nice
knitted quilt/afghan might be nice for him - I think he would like it
and
maybe he could take it to chemo treatments. (no, I'm not gonna knit
it
tonight). As I'm thinking, it might help ME to knit this for him.

I went to JoAnn's tonight and lo and behold, Wool-ease worsted was on
sale
for 1.79. I bought 2 or 3 each of several heather colors: dk brown,
off
white, forest green and chestnut. I figured he might like those
colors -
he's a Boy Scout leader/trainer and loves camping, fishing, etc. Nice
earthy
tones. I figured I could make 12" x 12" squares, using a different
pattern
for each one: garter, the dreaded st st, ribs, seed/moss st, etc.
etc.

My questions:
Is there a way to join them kind of like a 3 needle cast off? Or does
anyone
have another suggestion (I can't crochet to save my life).
Any ideas about how to balance the colors? Should I join them with
black,
dk
gray, etc?
Do you think I should knit w/ two strands?
All ideas are appreciated. TIA

Susan K

Susan, my heartfelt empathy regarding your brothers' health!
You could sew/baste the squares together, or ... this might be the time
to
learn to slip stitch crochet them together.... and if I had the time,
honest, I'd offer to do it FOR you!
BIG GIANT HUGS, and prayers, vibes, healing thoughts....
Noreen




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I made the decision not to take the trip - I woke up this morning feeling
unwell, and the last thing my bro needs is a cold. Thanks again for all the
support - it is appreciated!! (you gals/guys are truly great).

Susan K
"Soozergirl" wrote in message
ink.net...
Thanks Richard!! I like the idea of having a garter stitch border on
all...much easier to join. Also doing it in strips. I had considered that,
but the perfectionist part of me thought "Well, I want exactly the same
border on all squares" but then the newly-found family crafts-slogan
kicked
in: "Done is better than perfect." So strips it is, I think - less sewing.
The point is to get this to him in a relatively short time. '-)

I tried sz 13 needles yesterday - never used anything that big - and
didn't
like them. I think I'll do better on, let's say, sz 10. I will keep you
posted - my project list keeps growing...

Susan K

"Richard Eney" wrote in message
...
In article . net,
Soozergirl wrote:
snip
I'm sorry to hear about your brother's illness.

My questions:
Is there a way to join them kind of like a 3 needle cast off?
Or does anyone have another suggestion (I can't crochet to save my
life).

Strictly speaking, binding off is a slipstitch crochet stitch.

Different patterns will pull in slightly different amounts, but as long
as
you avoid cables and lace they'll probably even out enough, so you can
use
the same stitch count for each square. If you want to knit them in long
strips instead of single squares, you could just do something like 4
rows
of garter stitch between designs, or just switch to the next design.
If you do the garter stitch, you could also do 2 stitches of garter
stitch
at each end of each row, so when it's all together there is garter
stitch
on all sides of each square. Then you'd only have to fasten the strips
together. That could be done with mattress stitch or just a simple
overhand
whip stitch.

Any ideas about how to balance the colors? Should I join them with
black,
dk gray, etc?

Just make each square with one color and make half of them with each
color.
You could make the center one with both colors and work in something
significant.

Do you think I should knit w/ two strands?

It's faster on big needles but it makes a very heavy afghan and the
patterns
won't show up as well.

=Tamar


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.859 / Virus Database: 585 - Release Date: 2/14/05




---
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Susan,
I am so sorry to hear about your brother and think it is wonderful of
you to knit an afghan for him. I have not joined any squares to make 1
myself, but was also thinking of using the 3 needle bind off. What I might
do is choose 1 color for the border and the color for joining the squares.
That would leave 3 other colors to make the squares from. Maybe you could
then decide to knit 3 different patterns, using each color for each pattern,
and then rotate them per row. For example: Chestnut border; green garter;
white seed stitch; brown stockinette; chestnut border. Next row: border;
white seed stitch; brown stockinette; green garter; chestnut border...and so
on. Also, do not use a stockinette stitch for your border as it will curl.
I personally would also not use a standard rib stitch for a square as they
seem to pull in somewhat.

Hope this helps.

Janise


"Soozergirl" wrote in message
ink.net...
Hi, I am visiting my brother who lives in New Jersey this weekend. He has
cancer and probably won't be around more than about a year. I'm totally
bummed about this - he's 51. Anyway, I just thought (well, DUH) that a
nice
knitted quilt/afghan might be nice for him - I think he would like it and
maybe he could take it to chemo treatments. (no, I'm not gonna knit it
tonight). As I'm thinking, it might help ME to knit this for him.

I went to JoAnn's tonight and lo and behold, Wool-ease worsted was on sale
for 1.79. I bought 2 or 3 each of several heather colors: dk brown, off
white, forest green and chestnut. I figured he might like those colors -
he's a Boy Scout leader/trainer and loves camping, fishing, etc. Nice
earthy
tones. I figured I could make 12" x 12" squares, using a different pattern
for each one: garter, the dreaded st st, ribs, seed/moss st, etc. etc.

My questions:
Is there a way to join them kind of like a 3 needle cast off? Or does
anyone
have another suggestion (I can't crochet to save my life).
Any ideas about how to balance the colors? Should I join them with black,
dk
gray, etc?
Do you think I should knit w/ two strands?
All ideas are appreciated. TIA

Susan K

***************************
Knitting is a haven, a safe place
where one can touch history,
dance with art,
and create a peaceful life.
---Nancy Bush, author of "Folk Socks"


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Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
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"Soozergirl" wrote in message
k.net...
Christmas dinner buffet: Fruity Snow salad (if anyone wants the recipe I
will publish it on this ng, it has enough calories to keep you going for
at
least a month)

Yes please! ) See I asked very nicely and gave you a nice smile too...
I think I should get the recipe for that! ;o) hehehe

Gemini

Pronounced KOE LOTCH KEY.
Sometimes the czechs and bavarians try to claim them.
True Polish Kolaczy is thin thin squares of the dough, with 1/4 teaspoon
Solo filling (usually poppy) (but also apricot, pecan, strawberry, almond,
etc) folded over to make little bow-like pastries. (Germanic and Czech and
Croatian etc are thicker, and a thumbprint is made and they're not folded
over)
Other English spellings are Kolacky...
but it's prounounced Polishly as I stated KOE *LOTCH* KEY.
HTH,
Noreen


--
If Moses had been a woman, she'd have stopped and asked for directions, and
the people would've gotten to the promised land in under a week!

President Mackenzie Allen, ABC's Commander in Chief
"MRH" mthecarpenterATxcelcoDOTonDOTca wrote in message
...
"Soozergirl" wrote in message
k.net...
Christmas dinner buffet: Fruity Snow salad (if anyone wants the recipe I
will publish it on this ng, it has enough calories to keep you going for
at
least a month)

Yes please! ) See I asked very nicely and gave you a nice smile
too... I think I should get the recipe for that! ;o) hehehe

Gemini

Oh, and my maternal GP's came from Poland, I'm only 2nd generation here.
.....
HTH,
Noreen


--
If Moses had been a woman, she'd have stopped and asked for directions, and
the people would've gotten to the promised land in under a week!

President Mackenzie Allen, ABC's Commander in Chief
"The YarnWright" wrote in message
...
Pronounced KOE LOTCH KEY.
Sometimes the czechs and bavarians try to claim them.
True Polish Kolaczy is thin thin squares of the dough, with 1/4 teaspoon
Solo filling (usually poppy) (but also apricot, pecan, strawberry, almond,
etc) folded over to make little bow-like pastries. (Germanic and Czech
and Croatian etc are thicker, and a thumbprint is made and they're not
folded over)
Other English spellings are Kolacky...
but it's prounounced Polishly as I stated KOE *LOTCH* KEY.
HTH,
Noreen


--
If Moses had been a woman, she'd have stopped and asked for directions,
and the people would've gotten to the promised land in under a week!

President Mackenzie Allen, ABC's Commander in Chief
"MRH" mthecarpenterATxcelcoDOTonDOTca wrote in message
...
"Soozergirl" wrote in message
k.net...
Christmas dinner buffet: Fruity Snow salad (if anyone wants the recipe I
will publish it on this ng, it has enough calories to keep you going for
at
least a month)

Yes please! ) See I asked very nicely and gave you a nice smile
too... I think I should get the recipe for that! ;o) hehehe

Gemini

Pronounced KOE LOTCH KEY.
Sometimes the czechs and bavarians try to claim them.
True Polish Kolaczy is thin thin squares of the dough, with 1/4 teaspoon
Solo filling (usually poppy) (but also apricot, pecan, strawberry, almond,
etc) folded over to make little bow-like pastries. (Germanic and Czech and
Croatian etc are thicker, and a thumbprint is made and they're not folded
over)
Other English spellings are Kolacky...
but it's prounounced Polishly as I stated KOE *LOTCH* KEY.
HTH,
Noreen
Oh, and my maternal GP's came from Poland, I'm only 2nd generation here.

"Soozergirl" wrote in message
k.net...
Noreen,
I'm embarrassed - what is kolaczy? Is that the filled jelly donuts? Or the
crispy fried pastries? (we call those kruschiki [sp?], but I know there
are
the ones you make with the iron molds, and the bow-tie ones)

All my grandparents came from Poland, so I'm as Polish as it gets for
having
been born in the US. Although, who knows if it was Poland, the boundaries
were very fluid back then - whoever thought they could beat the Polish
army
won...

We're lucky in this area - Schenectady/Albany NY. There is a company
called
"White Eagle" (what a surprise) that makes kielbasi, kishka, etc. It is
very
close to the kielbasi that we used to buy from the Polish butcher when I
was
a kid. I think I'm gonna have to go out and buy some - but every time I
look
at the price per lb, I think "but I could buy steak for that price!"
Christmas Eve there is no choice - must have kielbasi, good Jewish rye
bread, pierogi, sour cream of mushroom soup...

Christmas dinner buffet: Fruity Snow salad (if anyone wants the recipe I
will publish it on this ng, it has enough calories to keep you going for
at
least a month), baked ham, roast turkey, Boston baked beans (homemade),
kielbasi, potato salad, cole slaw and Christmas cookies. Yum! Go to the
gym
the next day - and every day for the next 6 months!

Susan K



"The YarnWright" wrote in message
...
ME!
Half Polish!
Send me Kolaczy!
Hugs,
Noreen
drooling!


--
If Moses had been a woman, she'd have stopped and asked for directions,
and
the people would've gotten to the promised land in under a week!

President Mackenzie Allen, ABC's Commander in Chief
"Soozergirl" wrote in message
nk.net...
Thank you all for the great ideas and kind thoughts. I just talked to
brother Ron, who is feeling pretty well for a chemo week. He told me
that
this time he didn't lose his appetite or sleep all week, and that he
was
eating like a pig, and that he's ready to kick butt (not his exact
words...)! Although I may need to postpone my trip due to the
SNNOOOWWW,
he
was still planning the Polish dinner: kielbasa, sauerkraut, good rye
bread,
pierogi...I am absolutely drooling! I suspect that if I'm not there
this
weekend they'll have the dinner anyway. ;-) If I'm not driving down,
guess
what *I'll* be doing...
Peace to all, and thanks for all of your support knitting and otherwise
(this is a fun group, ya know?)

Susan K
Any other Polacks out there? My maiden name is Strzalkowski - whew! I
can
still spell it...


"The YARNWRIGHT" wrote in message
...

"Soozergirl" wrote in message
ink.net...
Hi, I am visiting my brother who lives in New Jersey this weekend.
He
has
cancer and probably won't be around more than about a year. I'm
totally
bummed about this - he's 51. Anyway, I just thought (well, DUH)
that
a
nice
knitted quilt/afghan might be nice for him - I think he would like
it
and
maybe he could take it to chemo treatments. (no, I'm not gonna knit
it
tonight). As I'm thinking, it might help ME to knit this for him.

I went to JoAnn's tonight and lo and behold, Wool-ease worsted was
on
sale
for 1.79. I bought 2 or 3 each of several heather colors: dk brown,
off
white, forest green and chestnut. I figured he might like those
colors -
he's a Boy Scout leader/trainer and loves camping, fishing, etc.
Nice
earthy
tones. I figured I could make 12" x 12" squares, using a different
pattern
for each one: garter, the dreaded st st, ribs, seed/moss st, etc.
etc.

My questions:
Is there a way to join them kind of like a 3 needle cast off? Or
does
anyone
have another suggestion (I can't crochet to save my life).
Any ideas about how to balance the colors? Should I join them with
black,
dk
gray, etc?
Do you think I should knit w/ two strands?
All ideas are appreciated. TIA

Susan K

Susan, my heartfelt empathy regarding your brothers' health!
You could sew/baste the squares together, or ... this might be the
time
to
learn to slip stitch crochet them together.... and if I had the time,
honest, I'd offer to do it FOR you!
BIG GIANT HUGS, and prayers, vibes, healing thoughts....
Noreen




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Susan,

I made an afghan from a pattern book purchased from Wal-Mart. I believe
it was titled "63 Heirloom Afghan squares. It is beautiful and gives
ideas on patterns and connecting them. It was not expensive and it made
a beautiful afghan.

Let me know if you can not find, I will find one and you can purchase it
from me. I t was under $5.00.

Hugs & God bless,

Dennis & Gail

"Soozergirl" skrev i melding
ink.net...


Hi Susan, I am so sorry to hear about your brother!
Warm thoughts to him!
He is going through a very hard time,
but sounds to have the right spirit!
That is so important!

I use to crochet one row sc around my squares,
I have often different knit patterns on the square,
so even if they have the same sieze, the amount of stitches are
different.
Therefore the sc row with the same number of stitches on every square.
(I count and "adapt" the right number of sc stitches
to each square, it is not so difficult.)

Then I chain the squares easily together.
For me this is the simplest way.
AUD ;-)