August 1st, 2007 at 00:00 am » Comments (71)

I am always interested in seemingly esoteric needle arts tools. Naturally, when a reference to Grant’s One Needle Looper came up in a Yahoo group; of course I had to go google. Nothing except an old eBay Auction.

Okay, on to the usual second source for “IT”, aka/ eBAY and nothing except some closed auctions and one picture, at least not for several months, then POOF, suddenly results in my automatic searches. Here is what it looks like:

However, in the last few weeks, quite a few have turned up and as importantly some instructions and patterns. (Happily original not copies)

All of the patterns and such give only the following company Information

The Grant Company
4149 N Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago IL 60641

The Copyrights are mostly dated between 1969 to 1970, so they must have been at that address for at least ten years, but the location is apparently now a building which has been converted to Condos.

The US Patent No is 3,228,212 and was issued in 1966 to Angela Huber of Germany. There is a later patent, 3,979,929 for what seems to be for the technique, issued to Angeline Lapi of Sprakers NY; assignee The Raymond Lee Organization

TH  tells me that he learned a very similiar techniques from a book on Knotting (but has not yet found the book to show me )

Although obviously the patent protections may have expired, my “project” for The Grant’s Looper is to track down whomever currently holds the Copyright to the patterns with a goal to obtaining permission to place them in the public domain.

When time allows, I will add some details about the Pattern Leaflets found so far.

I would welcome any information you care to add as comments or by email to:

Wheat

May 7th, 2007 at 17:58 pm » Comments (14)

Believe or not, I cleaned this up to be as gentle as possible.

I am almost positive it will, at best upset a few people and at worst really T-off some others.

So why write it? because sometimes it is needed to give a strong opinion even when it may be an unpleasant truth instead of what people want to hear.

CAN Crochet be CONVERTED To KNIT?

IMNHO – the best information about this can be found in the
Lion Brand FAQ

>>>
Question:
How do I convert a crochet pattern to knit?
Question: How do I convert a knit pattern to crochet?

Lion’s Answer to BOTH:

Knitting and crochet use stitches that are different sizes and shapes.

You can’t “convert” a pattern from one to the other.

Each pattern must be totally redesigned and even then, it’s not always possssible.

With all due respect to various authors, every book I have seen on this topic was not worth the investment either of money to buy it or time to read it.

Could you learn this in a class, maybe if the instructor was extremely well grounded technically and made it very clear that you are NOT converting, you are RE WRITING IN A DIFFERENT Discipline. And if you already possess the basic skills your your preferred craft, be it knit or crochet.

Otherwise, these books are not really helpful. Most of what I have read on the web about how to convert a pattern is so entirely simplistic and totally ignores the nuances of the differences in the finished fabric that at best, be it book or web “how to” are a nearly fool proof recipe for disappointment – your disappointment that is.

Just as “designing” for different size ranges often requires a nearly complete re-write of a pattern (unless you want really ugly fitting garments) Creating a similar look in another technique requires you have reasonable basic skills in BOTH techniques.

The truth is you can, IF you are technical enough to write your own patterns – and many experienced crocheters are, create a similar looking garment but you cannot convert “stitch for stitch” no matter what is says on all those websites.

If converting patterns is your goal, then you need to build your library of stitch instructions, and learn all the basic skills, including shaping, increases and decreases, shaping and oh yeah, that most dreaded of words, SWATCHING and not just a single swatch, if you want to create crochet instructions from knit, you need to plan to make several swatches.

Nancy Nehring is teaching a series of classes at CGOA this summer on designing simple garments and progressing into shaping – There are few people more qualified, as a technician and as a teacher to learn these skills from.

But IF the look and feel of knitting is desirable, then you need to get into Tunisian/Afghan crochet and learn those stitches. I believe there was still some seats in Darla Fanton’s Beginning Tunisian class is place to get grounded in that crochet technique.

Once you have learned these basic skills, you will be able to CREATE the look you want instead of being disappointed by the result attempting to “convert” without adequate skills and experience.

Wheat

P.S. my favorite “tool” for converting – sewing patterns but that is a blog-a-mentry for another day.

P.S. Jr, if you want to send me any website that you think has instructions that will really work, I am more than willing to look and give them a fair try.