Thursday 31 May 2012

KASAD31: Finito

Well, what a ride! Here were are at the end of the month. There are now 31 patterns to make 20 cm (8 inch) squares. You can use these to make scarfs, blankets or as knitting for charity. Remember that Knit-a-square is desperate for squares to help orphaned and vulnerable children, as are many other charities.

I know that I did fall behind in the supposed-to-be-every-day posts, my apologies. Whilst I like to keep the blog current, I do not want to make it a priority over other things which are more important to my family and me at this time. This blog was supposed to be something fun for me to share ideas and interact with others, not a source of stress and late nights. I have kept it as such. I've backdated the posts so that they will make sense in the future.

Thank you one and all for sharing this journey with me. May brought 2613 page views for this blog. That's 2613 opportunities to craft for one's own sanity and enjoyment, to knit for loved ones or for charity and to connect with others.

Please let me know what you thought about the KASAD project in the comments, I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks again for coming along for the ride!

KASAD31: Finito

Materials
- 8 ply yarn in three colours.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner - intermediate knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch- increasing
- changing colour at the end of row
- knitting a mitre square
- carrying unused yarn up the side

Colours
In this example, C1 is pink, C2 is purple and C3 is yellow
Procedure

1. Using C1, cast on 3 stitches
2. Knit two stitches, then place the stitch marker on the 'used' needle.
3.Yarn over (wrap the yarn around the needle so that you can knit into it on the next row which increases 1.) You should now have 2 stitches either sides of the stitch marker.
4. Knit until the stitch marker then move the stitch marker to the next needle.
5.Yarn over to increase 1, then knit until the end of the row.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until there are 20 ridges (40 rows). End C1.
7. Change to C2. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for 2 ridges (4 rows). End C2.
8. Change to C3. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for 8 ridges (16 rows) or until square is 19 cm (just less than8 inches)
8. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
9. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.
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Wednesday 30 May 2012

KASAD30: Palindrome

KASAD30: Palindrome


Materials

- 8 ply yarn in three colours.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row

Colours
In this example, C1 is pink, C2 is purple and C3 is yellow

Procedure
1. Using C1, cast on 32 stitches.
2. Knit 22 rows (11 ridges). End C1.
3. Change to C2. Knit 4 rows (2 ridges). End C2.
4. Change to C3. Knit 4 rows (2 ridges). End C3.
5. Change to C2. Knit 4 rows (2 ridges). End C2.
6. Change to C1. Knit 22 rows (11 ridges).
7. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
8. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.

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Tuesday 29 May 2012

KASAD29: Strata


KASAD29: Strata


Materials
- 8 ply yarn in three colours.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row

Colours
In this example, C1 is pink, C2 is purple and C3 is yellow
Procedure
1. Using C1, cast on 32 stitches.
2. Knit 4 rows (2 ridges). End C1.
3. Change to C2. Knit 10 rows (5 ridges). End C2.
4. Change to C3. Knit 4 rows (2 ridges). End C3.
5. Change to C1. Knit 10 rows (5 ridges). End C1.
6. Change to C2. Knit 4 rows (2 ridges). End C2.
7. Change to C3. Knit 10 rows (5 ridges). End C3.
8. Change to C1. Knit 4 rows (2 ridges). End C1.
9. Change to C2. Knit 10 rows (5 ridges).
10. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
11. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.

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Monday 28 May 2012

KASAD28: Cake and WHO Code issue reply


KASAD28: Cake


Materials
- 8 ply yarn in three colours.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row
- carrying unused yarn up the side

Colours
In this example, C1 is pale yellow, C2 is purple and C3 is pink


Procedure
1. Using C1, cast on 32 stitches.
2. Knit 22 rows (11 ridges). End C1.
3. Change to C2. Knit 4 rows (2 ridges). Carry unused yarn
4. Change to C3. Knit 2 rows (1 ridge). End C3.
5. Return to C2. Knit 4 rows (2 ridges). End C2.
6. Change to C1. Knit 23 rows (12 ridges).
7. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
8. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.

Return to all the KASAD posts

WHO Code Pharmacy issue

I blogged previously about the importance of the WHO Code and about the breach at our local pharmacy. Here is the response I received.

.... Chemists is proud to be able to offer our customers the opportunity to use scales for the weighing of babies in our stores. It is a service which we extend to all mums and carers and one which has been warmly welcomed by those who use it.

We believe in the ability of parents to make decisions which take account of their individual circumstances and we support the choices they make in the interests of good health.

As a retail pharmacy we provide products and services to meet a diverse range of needs. In the interests of hygiene we provide disposable covers for the convenience of the parents and carers who use the baby weigh service.

We take your concerns very seriously and as such have reviewed our position. We understand that the provision of these disposable covers does not contravene existing rules and regulations which impact pharmacy in Australia.

We are also working with our ... Chemists branch store to address this however if you have any further concerns we encourage you to please raise these directly with us at ...Management.

Kind Regards,

Operations Admin
... Chemists Customer Service



I also received a reponse from the local store. In it the manager let me know that the baby nurse was at the store once a week, with the exception of public holidays when the store was closed. I was in error when I said that there was no baby nurse there. The previous nurse had left and I hadn't realised that the new nurse was coming in on a different day, since that's one of my work days so I'm not in the pharmacy and I overlooked the signs. Despite my mistake here, however, the pharmacy is still not following the WHO Code even if the nurse was there during all opening hours (currently she is there for half a day once a week, with the available times advertised.) The manager also let me know that she had passed on my issue to the chain management and that that process takes time and she apologised if that mean that I thought that it hadn't been addressed. (It had been approximately three weeks between when I raised the issue instore and when I send my online feedback to the chain managment.)

Here is my response to the email I quoted above.

I find it very difficult to believe that you have taken my concerns ‘very seriously’ from the rest of your email. To again clarify my position – I have no objection to the provision of the baby scales or the use of a blank/ unbranded disposable mat for hygiene purposes.
I too ‘believe in the ability of parents to make decisions which take account of their individual circumstances and we support the choices they make in the interests of good health.’ It is for this very reason that I have contacted you about this issue. If you believe this as you say, then why do you undermine this through unethical advertising? If good health is really a concern of yours, then why does *** Chemists not follow the WHO Code?
I repeat my earlier point that this is not about being ‘anti-formula’ but is about making sure that it is used, advertised and sold appropriately. I say this as a mother who uses both the baby weigh station at **** and formula and who is thankful for the availability of both.

I have not found anything in your email which makes me feel that you have taken my concerns ‘very seriously’. You have defended points which I never objected to. I have no concerns about the baby scales being available – indeed, I think that it is important for a pharmacy which sells weight dependant medication to have scales available. As I said both in store and in my online feedback, I have no concerns about the use of a disposable mat in general. My concern lies with the blatant formula advertising on the disposable mat. I do not see how this branding has anything to do with hygiene.

The only part of your email which address the actual issue – the branding on the mat – is where you say that it ‘does not contravene existing rules and regulations which impact pharmacy in Australia’ is incorrect. The General Assembly of the World Health Organisation adopted the Code in 1981, and as a Member State of the WHO Australia has agreed to follow the Code. Whilst the entirety of the Code is not enforced under Australian law, you are incorrect in your statement that the Code does not impact on pharmacy in Australia.

In ‘the interest of good health’ is *** Chemists prepared to remove the branding from the mats in the *** store as per the WHO Code, or will **** Chemists continue to jeopardise the health of infants because the prohibition of such is not legally enforced?


I will continue to let you know of future developments.

Further apologies

I have again fallen behind in the KASAD posts. My apologies, I will catch up and backdate so again the posts will make sense.

Sunday 27 May 2012

KASAD27: Seashell


KASAD27: Seashell

Materials
- 8 ply yarn in three colours.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row
- carrying unused yarn up the side
- bias knitting

Colours
In this example, C1 is yellow, C2 is purple and C3 is pink

Procedure
1. Using C1, cast on 3 stitches.
2. Increase 1 stitch on the first stitch, knit to end of row. (You should now have four stitches.)
3. Repeat step 3 until side is 8 inches long. This should be about 40 rows (20 ridges). End C1.
4. Change to C2. Decrease 1 stitch on the first stitch and knit to the end of the row for 2 rows (1 ridge). Carry unused yarn up the side.
5. Change to C3. Decrease 1 stitch on the first stitch and knit to the end of the row for 2 rows (1 ridge). Carry unused yarn up the side.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until 3 stitches remain.
7. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
8. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.

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Saturday 26 May 2012

KASAD26: Isosceles



KASAD26: Isosceles



Materials
- 8 ply yarn in three colours.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row
- bias knitting

Colours
In this example, C1 is purple, C2 is yellow and C3 is pink

Procedure
1. Using C1, cast on 3 stitches.
2. Increase 1 stitch on the first stitch, knit to end of row. (You should now have four stitches.)
3. Repeat step 3 until side is 7 inches long. This should be about 36 rows (18 ridges). End C1.
4. Change to C2. Increase 1 stitch on the first stitch and knit to the end of the row for four rows (two ridges). End C2.
5. Change to C3. Decrease 1 stitch on the first stitch and knit to the end of the row for four rows (two ridges). End C3.
6. Change to C1. Decrease 1 stitch on the first stitch and knit to the end of the row.
7. Repeat step 6 until 3 stitches remain.
8. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
9. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.

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Friday 25 May 2012

KASAD25: Trio



KASAD25: Trio

Materials
- 8 ply yarn in three colours.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row

Colours
In this example, C1 is pink, C2 is yellow and C3 is purple
Procedure
1. Using C1, cast on 32 stitches.
2. Knit 18 rows (9 ridges). End C1.
3. Change to C2. Knit 18 rows (9 ridges). End C2.
4. Change to C3. Knit 18 rows (9 ridges)
5. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
6. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.

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Thursday 24 May 2012

KASAD24: Slice



KASAD24: Slice



Materials

- 8 ply yarn in three colours.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row
- carrying unused yarn up the side

Colours
In this example, C1 is yellow, C2 is purple and C3 is pink

Procedure

1. Using C1, cast on 32 stitches.
2. Knit 10 rows (5 ridges). End C1.
3. Change to C2. Knit 4 rows (2 ridges). End C2.
4. Change to C3. Knit 10 rows (5 ridges). End C3.
5. Change to C2. Knit 6 rows (3 ridges). End C2.
6. Change to C3. Knit 10 rows (5 ridges). End C3..
7. Change to C2. Knit 4 rows (2 ridges). End C2.
8. Change to C1. Knit 10 rows (5 ridges)
9. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
10. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.

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Wednesday 23 May 2012

KASAD23: Powder

KASAD23: Powder

 
Materials
- 8 ply yarn in three colours.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row
- carrying unused yarn up the side

Colours
In this example, C1 is pink, C2 is purple and C3 is yellow
Procedure
1. Using C1, cast on 32 stitches.
2. Knit 26 rows (13 ridges). End C1.
3. Change to C2. Knit 2 rows (1 ridge). End C2.
4. Change to C3. Knit 2 rows (1 ridge). End C3.
5. Change to C1. Knit 26 rows (13 ridges).
6. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
7. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.

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Tuesday 22 May 2012

KASAD22: Cornerstone

KASAD22: Cornerstone


I was going to crop out those little fingers, but then I thought they were just too cute.

Materials
- 8 ply yarn in three colours.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- increasing
- changing colour at the end of row
- knitting a mitre square

Colours
In this example, C1 is pale yellow, C2 is purple and C3 is pink

Procedure
1. Using C1, cast on 3 stitches.
2. Knit 2, place stitch marker, increase 1, knit to end of row.
3. Knit each sitich until you reach the stitch marker. Move stitch marker, increase 1, knit to end of row.
4. Repeat step 3 until there are 30 rows (15 ridges) of C1. End C1.
5. Change to C3. Knit each sitich until you reach the stitch marker. Move stitch marker, increase 1, knit to end of row.
6. Repeat step 5 three times. End C3.
7. Change to C2. Knit each sitich until you reach the stitch marker. Move stitch marker, increase 1, knit to end of row.
8. Repeat step 7 three times. End C2.
9. Change to C1. Knit each sitich until you reach the stitch marker. Move stitch marker, increase 1, knit to end of row.
10. Repeat step 7 three times. End C1.
11. Change to C2. Knit each sitich until you reach the stitch marker. Move stitch marker, increase 1, knit to end of row.
12. Repeat step 11 18 times or until the square measures 19cm. 
13. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
14. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.


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Monday 21 May 2012

WHO Code breach and KASAD21: Fairy floss

The local pharmacy breach of the WHO Code.

I spoke earlier about The WHO Code which is the abbreviated name for the International Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes developed in 1981. I have become involved with a breach of the Code at a local pharmacy which I would like to share here.

A few weeks ago we were at the local (chain) pharmacy buying all of the usual sick baby paraphenalia that we seem to find ourselves needing. It was with concern that I notice the following disposable mat on the baby scales.



This is clearly a breach of the WHO Code - anything with a formula company logo on it is promoting that formula, and this should not be done. (Please remember what I said in my earlier post - this is not about someone's choice to use formula, but about the unethical marketing practises of companies.) I was going to let it go but I decided not to and I asked one of the sales assistants who I could speak to about it. She said she would get the manager. I spoke with her and I said that I was concerned that the mat on the scales had a formula logo on it because it was against the WHO marketing code.

She said that they had the scales there so that people could weight their babies if they wanted to and she showed me where they could write down their baby's measurements etc. She also said that the mat thingie was there as a hygiene thing to keep the scales clean between babies. I said that I had no issue with the scales at all or using a generic disposable mat. My concern was that it was provided free by the formula companies with their logo on it, so that if someone weighed his/ her baby and they were worried about the baby's weight then the first thing they see is the formula company's logo when they lift the baby up, and that that was against the WHO marketing code.

She said that she would take it up with the chain pharmacy managment through their feedback chain. I asked if I could give her my details and be infomed about what they said, she said yes and took my email.


Two weeks later I had not heard anything so I submitted the following through the chain pharmacy's website feedback section.


I am writing to discuss a breach of the World Health Organisation's International Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes in the location store.
I was quite concerned that the disposable mat on the baby scales was printed with a formula company's logos. Chemist Chain want me to believe that 'it's good to know that we're looking after your health' and I find breaches of the WHO Code very serious.
The WHO code is not 'anti-formula' but aims "to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breastfeeding, and by ensuring the proper use of breastmilk substitutes, when these are necessary, on the basis of adequate information and through appropriate marketing and distribution."
The use of a formula company freebie, with its logo clearly visible, on the baby scales is a clear breach of the WHO Code.
Of all of the freebies to give out from formula or pharmaceutical companies, I must point out that a disposable mat on the baby scales is perhaps one of the worst possible things that a chemist - which claims to 'provide professional advice and recommend solutions for all your health... needs' can do.
If a parent is concerned about his/ her baby's weight according to the in store scales, then s/he will lift up her baby and the first thing that is seen is the formula company logo. This is unacceptable, and a far cry from the detailed professional advice which Chemist Chain claims to provide. A number on the scales does not mean much on its own, and needs to be looked at in comparison to other weight gains over a period of time, other measurements of the baby such as birth weight, prematurity, height, age and any underlying health issues. In addition, the baby's general level of health, (de)hydration as indicated by wet nappies and other indicators need to be considered. These are the questions which a suitably qualified health professional will ask before recommending (or not) formula use and any particular brand. The recommendation to use Brandname formula by Chemist Chain by placing their logo on the baby scales is in total contradiction to your stated claim of caring about the health of your customers.
There has been no in store baby nurse at the location branch for months, and even when she was there she was only there for a few hours one day a week. Since I first saw the formula branded mat on the scales a few weeks ago it has been there every time I have gone into the store.
On Date I noticed the branded mat on the scales. Whilst in the store I asked one of the sales assistants who I could discuss this breach with, and I was directed to the manager. I shared my concerns with her and she replied that the scales were there so that parents could weight their children and write their weights down, and that the mat was there for hygiene purposes. I said to her that I had no concerns about the scales or the use of a blank mat, but my concern was the formula branded mat as it was a breach of the WHO Code. She said to me that she would need to speak with Chemist Chain management and would get back to me. I gave her my email address but have not heard anything further.
Can you please let me know 1) if Chemist Chain feel that jeopardising infant health by breaching of the WHO Code is an acceptable practise, 2) what is being done about the formula branded mats in the location store and 3) why I have not been contacted by the location store with regards to my initial inquiry?

I received an automated response from the chemist chain thanking me for me feedback and saying that I could receive a reply within three working days. I then received another email thanking me again for my feedback and saying that I would be contacted by the relevant department soon.

The pharmacy is operating within the law. The breache of the Code which I have observed are not legally enforced in Australia. I await their response.



KASAD21: Fairy floss

Materials
- 8 ply yarn in three colours.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row

Colours
In this example, C1 is purple, C2 is yellow and C3 is pink.
Procedure
1. Using C1, cast on 32 stitches.
2. Knit 8 rows (4 ridges) End C1.
3. Knit 20 rows (10 ridges) of C2. End C2.
4. Knit 20 rows (10 ridge) of C3. End C3.
5. Repeat step 2.
6. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
7. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.


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Apologies

My apologies for being behind on the KASAD posts. Yet again we have all been sick with daycare colds, and I had my first migraine in two years as well.

I will get the posts up ASAP and I will backdate them so that the series still makes sense.

Sunday 20 May 2012

The WHO Code and KASAD20: Icing

The first part of this post is devoted to discussing the World Health Organisation's International Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes. It aims to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breastfeeding, and by ensuring the proper use of breastmilk substitutes, when these are necessary, on the basis of adequate information and through appropriate marketing and distribution. It was adopted in 1981.

It is important to note that the WHO Code is not 'anti-formula' but is about ensuring that companies should not use unethical marketing practises to sell more formula or other products and in so doing jeopardising infant health.

I would like to take this opportunity to point out to my readers that this is not an 'anti- formula' post, not am I trying to make a judgement on any parent's feeding choices. Indeed, I think that freedom of choice is very important for parents - please don't think that I am saying anything about if you should or shouldn't use formula or dummies or how feeding choice determines if you are a 'good mother' - whatever that means. What this post is about it about exposing the dodgy marketing practises which are used to increase profits - both for formula companies and for chemists.

Many of the advertising techniques which are used by formula companies are unethical, deceptive and endanger health to increase profits. If this was a blog post about the dodgy marketing strategies of tobacco companies, then people would be calling for action to prevent this. Please keep this in mind while following this story - it is about holding large companies responsible for their dishonest methods, not about feeding choice. Breastmilk substitute marketing is even more complex that tobacco advertising, because it deals with a legitimate, needed and life saving (in some cases) product, which enable the companies to get away with much more, to the detriment of our children's health.

The WHO Code covers formula, but also bottles, dummies and solid food (when replacing breastmilk). it is quite comprehensive but, in my opinion, it tells manufactures and retailers to 'play nice' when it comes to advertising. Formula should not be claimed or implied as to be superior or equivalent to breastmilk and there should not be formula advertising to the general public - including toddler formula. Health facilities and health professionals should not promote or recommend a particular formula brand and free samples of formula or items that promote breastmilk substitutes (eg a freebie toy, blankie, pen or changemat with a formula logo should not be provided to pregnant women, new mothers, or health facilities. Pictures or text that idealise the use of breastmilk substitutes should not be used - this includes using a 'shield' logo which implies protection, or made up non-words like 'immunocare' and 'prebiotics'.

I note that many of these measures also apply to medication and cigarettes. There are many rules about the advertising of prescription medication - for example in Australia it cannot be advertised to the general public. This does not mean that the medication is bad, or that it shouldn't be used, or that you are a bad person if you take the medication, but that direct advertising may convince people to take it who don't need to which may place them at risk.

I must admit, I once felt sceptical about these advertising rules. If the product isn't bad, then why is
advertising it bad? It was once explained to me using this analogy.

The marketing regulation is in response to a real problem ie babies dying because of the advertising of infant formula and feeding bottles, it is in response to the UNNECESSARY and INAPPROPRIATE use of these products. If advertising and marketing of infant formula did not result in the unnecessary and inappropriate use of infant formula and feeding bottles then there would be no need for marketing to be regulated. I'll try to develop an example (and this will not be perfect so please forgive- it is an extreme example)...another product that can be useful and necessary in some situations is a urinary catheter. It is used when people have surgery, when they have various medical conditions and in the past even by astronauts (I think!) but there could be a wider market....they could be sold to long haul truck drivers or to people who find it difficult to drag themselves away from the TV or game console for toilet breaks, others who just find it more convenient. Most I would think would say that such usage is inappropriate and potentially dangerous. I think however, that should there be a situation where urinary catheters were marketed for such purposes and the marketing worked (ie people were using them) that it would be reasonable for such marketing to be banned because it was harming people. This not because there is anything wrong with the product itself but because the climate that was created by the marketing had made any marketing harmful. That's what happens with bottles....and bottles are so ingrained all over the world that they are a universally accepted symbol for babies.

The WHO Code is not in itself legally enforceable, and this is the problem. Some of it has been prohibited under legislation in Australia, particularly the MAIF agreement. For more information see here. However, this is not sufficient and the government's failure to enforce the entirety of The WHO Code.

In my next post I will give details of a breach of The WHO Code at my local pharmacy, why I'm concerned about it and what I am doing to change it.



KASAD20: Icing

Materials
- 8 ply yarn in three colours.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row

Colours
In this example, C1 is pale yellow, C2 is pink and C3 is purple.
Procedure
1. Using C1, cast on 32 stitches.
2. Knit 8 rows (4 ridges) End C1.
3. Knit 8 rows (4 ridge) of C2. End C2.
4. Knit 8 rows (4 ridge) of C3. End C3. 
5. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4.
6. Repeat step 2.
7. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
8. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.


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Saturday 19 May 2012

KASAD19: Scratches


KASAD19: Scratches 


Materials
- 8 ply yarn in three colours.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row
carrying unused yarn up the side

Colours
In this example, C1 is pale yellow, C2 is pink and C3 is purple.

Procedure
1. Using C1, cast on 32 stitches.
2. Knit 12 rows (6 ridges)
3. Knit 2 rows (1 ridge) of C2.
4. Knit 2 rows (1 ridge) of C1.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 twice. End C2.
6. Knit 2 rows (1 ridge) of C3
7. Knit 2 rows (1 ridge) of C1.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 twice. End C3.
9. Repeat steps 3 and 4 three times. End C2.
10. Knit 10 more rows of C1 (total of 6 ridges).
11. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
12. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.


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Friday 18 May 2012

KASAD18: Christmas

KASAD18: Christmas

This square uses two types of yarn and gets the 'snow' effect by using two strands.

Materials
- 8 ply yarn in one colour
- 4 ply yarn in two different colours
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row
-  knitting with two strands

Colours
In this example, C1 is 8 ply dark green, C2 is 4 ply while and C3 is 4 ply red.
Procedure
1. Using C1, cast on 32 stitched.
2. Knit 18 rows (9 ridges). End C1.
3. Hold C2 and C3 together and treat them as if they were one strand of yarn. Start the doubles strand and knit for 20 rows (10 ridges). End C2 and C3.
4. Start C1. Knit 18 rows (9 ridges).
5. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
6. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.


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Thursday 17 May 2012

The prize for.. and KASAD17

KASAD15: Garden bed

This square reminds me of a flowe bed the the corner surrounded by grass.

Materials
- 8 ply yarn in two colours, approximately 30g each.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- stitch marker
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner - intermediate knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- increasing
- changing colour at the end of row
- knittng a mitre square (increasing mid row)

Colours
In this example, C1 is light green, C2 is white, oink, blue and yellow varigated yarn

Procedure
1. Using C3, cast on 3 stitches
2. Knit two stitches, then place the stitch marker on the 'used' needle.
3.Yarn over (wrap the yarn around the needle so that you can knit into it on the next row which increases 1.) You should now have 2 stitches either sides of the stitch marker.
4. Knit until the stitch marker then move the stitch marker to the next needle.
5.Yarn over to increase 1, then knit until the end of the row.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until there are 15 ridges (30 rows). End C1.
7. Change to C2. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for 13 ridges (26 rows).
8. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
9. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.


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Wednesday 16 May 2012

KASAD16: Stream


KASAD16: Stream

Materials
- 8 ply yarn in three colours. Approximately 30g of C1 and 20g of C2 and C3.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner - intermediate knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row
- bias knitting

Colours
In this example, C1 is dark blue, C2 is light green, C3 is dark green

Procedure
1. Using C3, cast on 3 stitches
2. Knit 3 stitches then increase 1. Continue knitting to the end of the row for 12 rows (6 ridges). End C3.
3. Start C1. Knit 3 stitches then increase 1. Continue knitting to the end of the row for 16 rows (8 ridges). End C1.
4. Start C2. Knit 3 stitches then increase 1. Continue knitting to the end of the row for 16 rows (8 ridges). End C2.
5. Change to C1. Knit 2 rows (1 ridge) without increasing or decreasing.
6. Knit 3 stitches then decrease 1. Continue knitting to end of row.
7. Repeat step 6 until 3 stitches remain.
8. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
9. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.


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Tuesday 15 May 2012

KASAD15: Maypole


KASAD15: Maypole



Materials
- 8 ply yarn in three colours. Approximately 30g of C1 and C2, 20g of C3.
- 6 mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner - intermediate knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row
- bias knitting 

Colours
In this example, C1 is green, C2 is hot pink, C3 is pale yellow

Procedure
1. Using C1, cast on 3 stitches
2. Increase one stitch at the start of each row, then continue knitting to the end of the row for 16 rows (6 ridges). End C1.
3. Start C3. Increase one stitch at the start of each row, then continue knitting to the end of the row for 10 rows (5 ridges). End C3.
4. Start C2. Increase one stitch at the start of each row, then continue knitting to the end of the row for 10 rows (5 ridges). End C2.
5. Start C1. Increase one stitch at the start of each row, then continue knitting to the end of the row for 10 rows (5 ridges). End C1.
6. Start C3. Increase one stitch at the start of each row, then continue knitting to the end of the row for 4 rows (2 ridges).
7. Knit 2 rows (1 ridge) without increasing or decreasing.
8. Decrease one stitch at the start of each row, then continue knitting to the end of the row for 4 rows (2 ridges). End C3
9. Start C2. Decrease one stitch at the start of each row, then continue knitting to the end of the row for 10 rows (5 ridges). End C2.
10. Start C1. Decrease one stitch at the start of each row, then continue knitting to the end of the row for 10 rows (5 ridges). End C1.
11. Start C2. Decrease one stitch at the start of each row, then continue knitting to the end of the row for 10 rows (5 ridges). End C2.
12. Start C1. Decrease one stitch at the start of each row, then continue knitting to the end of the row until 3 stitches remain.
13. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
14. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.


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Monday 14 May 2012

KASAD14: Chrysanthemum (tutorial)

Today's KASAD explores how to knit a diagonal square. These can be especially good when you are knitting with new yarn or needles and you aren't sure of the tension. You can keep knitting until the square gets to the length you need - it's not like knitting a horizontal square where you are 'stuck' with the width, which may be too narrow or too wide. It saves you knitting a swatch, too, as you can use the finished diagonal square to measuer your gauge.

When knitting a diagonal square, you will need to know how to increase and decrease. Some increases like 'yarn over' are very 'gappy' and you can use this to make a lacy pattern. Some other increases like 'make one' or knitting into the front and back of the stitch are less visible. Whatever type you use it will change the appearance of the square.

The square will increase in length and width, and then you need to bring it back in again. One of the things I love about these squares is the instant results. Because the first few rows are very short, they knit up quickly so you get a lot of length for your efforts. Then it slows down a bit, but once you're over the middle it finishes quickly - all down hill.

KASAD14: Chrysanthemum



Materials

- 8 ply yarn in two colours approximately 30g of each
- 6mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner to intermediate knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row
- increasing
- decreasing
- stitching felt design

Colours
In this example
- C1 is pink
- C2 is pale yellow

Procedure
1. Cast on 3 stitches in C1

2. Knit two stitches then increase one by 'yarn over'. To do this, wrap the yarn around the needle once in between the third and fourth stitch so that you can knit into it on the next row.
3. Keep knitting until the end of the row.


4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the edge of the work measures 16cm (7 inches)


5. Knit 2 rows (1 ridge) without increasing. End C1.
6. Start C2. Knit 2 rows (1 ridge).
7. Knit 2 stitches, then decrease one by knitting two stitches together.
Knit two stitches together
(I find it easiest to do this by knitting into the back of the stitches)

Wrap one strand of yarn around both stitches.
This poor quality photo is taken just before the stitches are slipped off the top.


8. Keep knitting until the end of the row.
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 until there are 3 stitches left.


10. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
11. Weave in ends and butterfly the tail.

Once you have completed the square, add a felt flower as described on Saturday.

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The Southern Institute

Sunday 13 May 2012

Mother's Day: How pregnancy taught me to be selfish and KASAD13

Mother's Day: How pregnancy taught me to be selfish.

It might sounds strange that motherhood and pregnancy taught me to be selfish. Isn't motherhood all about putting your child's needs first? Isn't pregnancy where another human being literally sucks the life out of you, to the detriment of the mother's health? Well, yes - let me explain.

I started vomiting the day I took a home pregnancy test, which was week 4 to the day. It was a very faint line, but I knew I was pregnant even if Dear Husband didn't believe me. I didn't 'feel' pregnant necessarily, but I knew that false positives are practically impossible when you're talking about home pregnancy tests. The next day I took another test and sure enough the second line was stronger and we were officially pregnant and overjoyed.

We started telling close friends and family, and we were planning on going public with the news (at work and on Facebook that is) at 12 weeks or so. The nausea and vomiting kept getting more persistant, but I figured that this was just par for the course. Dear Husband had a work trip to Sydney and I went with him, I was about six and a half weeks at this point. I remember spewing in the bathroom at the hotel feeling pretty awful, but none the less I thought that this vomiting was something special that I was sharing with my precious baby. Yes, I was thinking that as I was curled up over the toilet bowl. I had bought some ginger tablets and was trying dry toast, but they weren't doing much. I wasn't really fussed though, just enjoying being pregnant.

The night before we were due to fly home we couldn't check in to our flight online, nor could we check in the following morning. Thinking that it was a problem with the website we checked out of the hotel and got a cab to the airport, my trusty zip lock bags in my pocket just in case I needed to spew. When we got to the airport there were so many people queuing out of the terminal onto the footpath. I thought that it must have been so busy since it was the first day of NSW school holidays.

We got out of the cab and went to the terminal with our gear, and I stopped to vomit in the gutter. Very classy. I felt the need to explain to people that I wasn't hung over, just pregnant. Then we started to notice the news cameras and it became apparant that the website wasn't down and the airport wasn't just busy, then entire computer system for our airline had crashed across the country. Everything was having to be done manually, there was an enormous backlog and flight were being cancelled constantly.

After two hours in the queue on the footpath we made it into the foyer of the terminal. It was packed and we picked a spot near the rubbish bin which I spewed into several times. When our flight was cancelled, we knew we had to go. The line to get onto another flight was out the door again, the other airline was booked solid (and rubbing their hands with glee at all the extra customers, no doubt), the surrounding hotels were booking up fast and I had run out of sick bags. We knew that we weren't going to get anywhere that day and hanging out in a crammed airport with no hope of a flight out was not where I needed to be.

A few phonecalls later, some fortunate connections and a short cab ride later and we had one of the last rooms in one of the airport hotels. It was a tiny, tiny room - only just fitted in a double bed and the tiniest of ensuites but it was infinately better than the floor of the overcrowed terminal.

I promptly had a shower and went to bed. Dear Husband tred to get me to sip lemonade and eat small bit of bread, which worked for a while but before long I was vomiting uncontrollably. I couldn't keep down fluids and was vomiting bile constantly. Thank God we had left the airport when we did - I was so sick and I just kept going from the bed to the bucket to the shower. I'm so glad I didn't need to get though that without privacy, a bed and running water. In hindsight, I should have gone to the hospital, not a hotel, but we didn't know this then.

The next day we tried to call the airline but couldn't get through. We were only 1000km away from home - one long day of driving or two shorter days. We considered hiring a car and driving home, but we couldn't get a gurantee that the airline or insurance would pay for it. To be honest I don't think I could have done the drive anyway - vomiting into a bucket and then having no running water would have been awful. We stayed at the hotel for another night since at least we had a bed and a shower.

After two nights at the hotel we were able to get a flight home. I was supposed to be presenting at a conference that day but I had to call and cancel. Firstly I couldn't have made it there in time with the two day flight delay and secondly there was no way I could run a session in my condition. We went straight to the doctor who gave me an injection of metoclopramide (a common anti nausea drug) and I went home to bed.

Over the next week my nausea and vomiting only got worse. I had to fess up at work - it was so obvious what was going on. It was announced to staff while I found myself in hospital on a fluid drip. I remember being so upset in hospital, I felt so awful. I was thinking that I was only 8 weeks into my first pregnancy, and all I could see was the huge expanse of time in front of me. I couldn't believe how bad I felt, how awful this was and how long I had to go. At least the baby was safe, there was never any concern about her safety which was beyond wonderful.

I was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum - literally 'extreme vomiting of pregnancy'. I tried metoclopramide tablets and injections, prochlorperazine suppositories, ginger, B6, seasickness bands, antihistamine tablets, eating small meals frequently and before I got out of bed but practically nothing worked. I soon found myself on ondansteron wafers. Ondansteron is a powerful antiemetic drug which works on the brain by stopping you from feeling nausea (rather than on the digestive system or muscles themselves). It's good stuff, but it's very expensive as it's not on the PBS (except for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.) (For those of you who don't know, in Australia most prescription medications are subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which means that most scripts end up being about $20 or so, even though the real cost may be $100 or more. The price difference is funded by the taxpayer. Only a very small amount of the cost of ondansteron is rebated by private health insurers.) I was having to take one or two doses a day, at $15 a dose. The cost added up very quickly, and I had spent over $5000 out of pocket on ondansteron by the end of my pregnancy.

It didn't get any better, and in total I was hospitalised five times. I kept waiting for 12 weeks to see if it would get better, but no. I was waiting for 20 weeks, but no. After abou 25 weeks it did get less and I had no further trips to hospital but I was still taking the ondansetron daily - with that it was probably more like regular morning sickness for the last half of the pregnancy, I was only sick 2 - 3 times most days.

I was still working until 34 weeks, although I strugged every day. Physically and emotionally it was hard - very hard. All the talk about work/ life balance, and about priorities which you always agreed with and then went home and ignored because you had work that needed to be done - went out the window. I had to prioritise my health, full stop. It was the only way I could function. I had to do the bare minimum at work; sometimes less. I relied heavily on my colleagues. I had to look after my body - I had to take my medication, and nibble on food, and try to sip slushy drinks. I had to rest - constantly.

I had to rely on my family, friends and husband. I was not self sufficient, and I couldn't have been if I wanted to. I needed to ask for help and I needed to accept it. I couldn't bite off more that I could chew and then chew like crazy - I needed to say no. A lot. And ask for help. A lot. If I didn't, I would find myself in hospital again.

My precious girl was born six days post term at a very healthy 4.1kg (9 pound and half and ounce). Two weeks after Chubs was born, I was 12kg lighter than my pre-pregancy weight. After a quiet, slow fourth trimester I began to recover and to feel ready to rejoin the world. I have a lot more resilience now that when I was pregnant, and it's time to repay many of the favours that my friends, family and colleagues. Sometimes I need to burn the candle at both ends, and I don't always look after myself as well as I should as sometimes.

However, I have learned that my body is not to be taken for granted. It may be able to run on coffee and skipped meals for a few days, but not permanetly. I may be able to convince myself that I can cope on my own, and just choose to let people help me when it suits me, but that's not true - sometime I need other's help, and not just when I give them permission to help me. There is a limit to the sleep debt that you can run up - sometimes you need to leave work unfinished and go to bed. When it took me everything I had - and help from others - just to get through the days and weeks and months, I lerned to be selfish and look after my body. I can get away with not doing it now, but I try not to, at least not all the time.

So this is my Mother's Day message to you all - look after yourself. Your body needs you too. Just because you can go all day without a proper meal on four hours of sleep doesn't mean you should.






KASAD13 Snow and grass

This square uses boucle yarn which gives it a great texture which is great for knitting for kids. When using novelty yarns, remember that they are often synthetic and may not be very warm. This boucle was 50% wool so I felt it was ok to use as such a main part of the square, however eyelash, ribbon and furry yarns may be best only as embelishments rather than part of the 'warmth' of the square.



Materials
- 8 ply yarn, approximately 30g of C1
- boucle yarn, approximately 30g of C2
- 6mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- changing colour at the end of row
- carrying unused yarn up the side

Colours
In this example
- C1 is dark green 8 ply yarn
- C2 is white boucle yarn

Procedure
1. Cast on 32 stitches in C1
2. Knit each row (work in garter stitch) for 4 rows (2 ridges).
3. Change to C2. Knit 2 rows (1 ridge). Carry unused C1 up the side.
4. Return to C1. Knit 2 rows (1 ridge). Carry unused C2 up the side.
5. Return to C2. Knit 2 rows (1 ridge).
6. Continue to alternate C1 and C2 every 2 rows (1 ridge) until there are 13 ridges of C2. Work should measure approximately 18cm at this point. End C2.
7. Return to C1. Knit 4 rows (2 ridge).
8. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
9. Weave in ends and butterfly the tail.

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Saturday 12 May 2012

Pick it from the garden KASAD12: Flora



I'm someone who likes sharing her ideas, discussing things and connecting. Have you noticed ;) ? You probably won't be suprised to learn that there are several internet forums which I frequent, well, frequently.

One of them is the Knit-a-Square forum. As well as being a place to chat with other charity knitters and crocheters, share ideas and trouble shoot, it's a place where we can share photos of our squares and particpate in monthly challenges. The challenges are totally optional and usually revolve around a theme which is very loosely applied. It's just something fun to do to keep things interesting and to act as inspiration.

Previous themes include Flags of the World, January Jewels, and Africa in August. This month's challenge is Pick it from the Garden in May. Fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, critters - anything really! Some squares are beautiful pictures, some are just loosely inspired and what is always needed in huge amounts - brightly coloured Plain Janes. Check out the beautiful creations here.

So with that in mind, here's KASAD12: Flora (tutorial)


This square is made by stitching a felt flower onto a knitted square.

Materials

- 8 ply yarn in two colours. Approximately 30g of each colour.
- small piece of felt
- yellow button
- 5mm knitting needles
- yarn needle to weave in ends, scissors to cut yarn and felt
- sewing needle and thread.

Skills and difficulty
Beginner knitter
- cast on
- cast off
- knit stitch
- making and sewing flower
- carrying unused yarn up the side

Colours
In this example, C1 is green/ yellow/ orange/ purple varigated yarn, C2 is pale apricot.

Procedure
To make square:

1. Using C1, cast on 36 stitches. Work in garter stitch.
2. Knit in C1 for 2 rows (1 ridge).
3. Knit in C2 for 2 rows ( 1 ridge).
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until work measures 20 cm (8 inches) - this should be about 32 rows.
5. Cast off and leave a 50cm tail.
6. Weave in beginning end and butterfly the tail.

To make flower:
1. Draw around a cup, jar or similar to make a circle on the felt. Cut out circle.

2. Fold the circle in half and press down the 'crease' hard.

3. Concertina (zig zag) fold the semi circle into three or four. Again, press down the creases hard, it needs to be as flat as possible.

4. Cut a curved top off the edge of the circle to form the petals. Make it rounded, not pointy or you will end up with a star instead of petals. If you're anything like me then you will need to do several of these to get one that looks vaguely like a flower.




You should now have a flower and a knitted square.

To finish:

1. Blanket stitch the flower to the square.
2. Sew a yellow button SECURELY to the centre of the flower.

Voila - a beautiful flower to brighten up a blanket


Variations
- You could add several flowers, or stitch any other shape to a plain square.
- A crocheted flower or other embelishment could be used instead of a felt one
- A Plain Jane square could be used instead of the stripey one
- A crocheted square could be used instead of a knitted one.


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