Blocking

On the floor, at my mother's-in-law house where there are no parades of dirty-footed children or dirty-footed cats to trek stuff onto my damp shawls.

Once you understand the mechanics of Pi you can dress it up or down to your heart's content. I've made half a dozen Pi shawls now, the first was "by the book" using EZ's lace inserts (simple), the other five followed the Pi formula but I used lace patterns of my own choosing.

But obviously Pi isn't everyone's cup of tea.

But how do you pin it down?

I understand it perfectly.

As I said, I made my own design - aka pattern. It's very lacy and complicated. But it wasn't as challenging as frequent and regular increasing.

The yarn I used was 2ply baby yarn left over from ancient projects for baby shawls, the result is very light, cobwebby and delicate. It might be given to a granddaughter, I certainly have no use for it but I wanted to make something interesting and was disappointed. If I'd stuck to the diamond pattern suggested I'd have given up due to the boredom factor.

Certainly not mine, I'll be doing an Heirloom design next - now that WILL be a challenge.

Mary

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On a clean sheet, with a metric asston (that's a technical term meaning "more than you can count without drinking a few beers") of pins. Pins with LARGE, BRIGHTLY-COLORED heads work best if you want to actually find the pins later by sight and not with the soles of your feet.

Congratulations.

And sometimes we all need a little motonous knitting. I made one entire Pi while on deathwatch with my father-in-law. Made another while on "mind the nurses" duty after my mother-in-law had surgery last year. Pi Are Easy, but Pi Are Fast, too, when you need them to be. And as Elizabeth pointed out - Pi made with fine yarn on small needles makes for lots of cheap knitting.

Funny. I'm working on an Aran from my own handspun right now. It's gotten more than a little monotonous but I'll perservere because I want to enter it in a fair next month. My next planned project is a cobweb shawl of my own design, based on Sharon Miller patterns. I don't expect it to be fast, and it won't be public knitting, but I'll probably start another Pi as a take-along project.

I took the idea and upsided it , i started at the widest side and worked my way to the point with the least stitches , i found it quite a challange to work out the calculations ,,,, mirjam

I always use glass headed pins but a sheet would just slide over the floor. Im not convinced.

Not me. That's why I have a machine - for single colour stocking stitch. mind you, I haven't used it since the children needed school uniform. The youngest is 38 ...

I've loved Aran knitting since I was taught it, as a child, the more complicated the better. But not in summer :-)

My next planned project is a

Knitting doesn't have to be fast, for me, just interesting.

Mary

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My mother-in-law has carpet. Apparently you don't.

Good for you that you have no stressful times in your life that prevent you paying close attention to your knitting. I too have knitting machines - three of them now - for turning out miles of stockinette fabric for baby blankets that I send off to be edged by hand and donated to preemie units. I can't shove a knitting machine in my purse and work on it while waiting things to happen but I can stuff a Pi or a pair of socks in my bag for just such occasions.

Just this morning I realized you're the sort who will take issue with everything or find a reason to poo-poo any suggestion given you, so I won't waste any more of my time.

If you have a bed or a futon that might work. If you have a carpetted floor life will be easier for you but if you don't, some people have those interlocking foam pieces for children's play rooms that they use for blocking. You can interlock them in whatever shape you need and pin straight to them. But you'll still need a metric asston of pins, glass head or not.

I don't, we got rid of them deliberately and are happy that we did, wood is much easier to clean and this is a warm house.

That's because I don't want anything I don't have - at least, that's my theory. I'm sorry for anyone who doesn't.

...

Actually, that says more about you than about me - but you won't see this so I've wasted a few seconds of my time.

No problem, when God made Time She made plenty of it :-)

Mary

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Ah, I thought about a bed but it wasn't big enough. But I could prop up the futon on the boxes of wine at the side of the bed and use that - thanks! Great idea :-)

We haven't.

That would be a great idea but I don't think I know anyone with playrooms, our grandchildren certainly don't. We're not a wealthy family and most English houses are much smaller than most American ones - in my limited experience.

No, I'll go with the bed/futon idea and thank you very much.

Mary

Hi Mary,

The interlocking foam pieces are about 2 foot square each, and work quite well. One doesn't need a playroom or children to own these. A pi shawl blocking would take up as much room on these as it would on a bed or a futon, so the space really isn't an issue.

What I like best about these is you can block small things one one square or go as large as you need by adding more pieces. They can also be moved around making them more flexible than furniture or a floor.

Hesira

Where do you get these?

Hi Jan,

I got mine at Toys R US. I think a pack of 4 squares that measure 2 feet x 2 feet each was 15 or 20 dollars US (I can't remember exactly). You could probably get them from Walmart or Target, too. I found this link where you can order them in many different colors, but they may be a little more expensive than discount store prices:

PS: When I wrote the orig Where do you get these?

Jan in MN

Jan,

I have found them at Lowe's for $17. We got them for our living room floor (we have all hardwood) when my daughter was learning to sit up on her own. She didn't seem to mind me borrowing them once in a while for blocking on the dining room table :) Another thing that is nice about them is that you can arrange them in different shapes for blocking long scarves, triangular shawls, etc.

LauraJ

What a good idea! :o)

*hugs* Gemini

I got mine from Amazon.com; they're listed as exercise mats. Actually, I got the idea from the Wendyknits blog (thanks, Wendy!!). Amazon didn't have the 2-foot ones in stock when I ordered so I got the 12

1-foot square ones for now. Cost me about $12 for the 12 square feet, and if you're not in a rush you can get free shipping.

The Other Kim kimagreenfieldatyahoodotcom

Thanks, Hesira. It helps to see a picture of them. By the way, I never noticed your typos.

Thanks for the tip, Laura. How many did you get for $17?

26 squares, about 1 sqft. each.

Here is my Branching Out scarf blocking on the foam squares:

"The Other Kim" wrote

That's a good price - I'll have a look. Thanks.