Pattern Gauge is the gauge that the Pattern Author has designated as what is needed for the project to be “as advertised”

This is technical a draft, but it has the basics covered and eventually I will add to it –

Pattern Gauge is, often as not – DIFFERENT than the LABEL Gauge (the information noted on the yarn label) So you can’t just look at the pattern gauge and know what style of yarn to choose (DK, Worsted, Bulky, etc)

Hopefully the Pattern Author has also included some yarn specifics, for example many of patterns call for lace and fingering weight yarns and use 6mm and larger hooks – not the Label suggestion of 2.23mm to 3.5mm.

Pattern Gauge has a huge effect on the amount of yarn needed to complete the project. One might think that with the many wonderful smorgasbord project – people would be inclined to buy sufficient yarn even if that means a bit leftover. But they don’t and then its gets dicey because that color or dyelot or even that yarn may no longer be around.

So, in addition to the very real issue of yarn needed for the project and how gauge can make that a very painful experience, you know the kind you learn the hard way.

Gauge ALWAYS matters. Size Always Matters In Craft.

GAUGE IS NOT JUST ABOUT SIZE –

it is also about

HAND – the feel of the fabric – if your gauge is off it means your fabric might be too floppy/open to be useful for the project OR conversely, too tight and it is more like armour than a fabric you want to wrap your self in.

SURFACE DESIGN – if you go to the trouble to work pattern motifs, if your gauge is off you may lose the necessary stitch definition needed to make that project all it can be

PATTERN AUTHOR INTENT – Many time the PATTERN GAUGE is not the Same as the LABEL GAUGE and if your goal is to have your project look like the pattern author intended, then you need to swatch to find the combination of yarn and hook that will enable you to meet that expectation.

Now I need to get a started on things like “My Gauge”, Label Gauge, and of course the OCD Swatch.

If you get here from my online store and want to get back – to the main page – click here for ItsAllJustString.com or here for the What Wheat MEANT – a glossary.

From time to time there are discussions about the use of line counters in conjunction with measuring yardage.
For a series of reasons that TH once spent more than hour explaining I have always found the McMorran Yarn Balance to be the most accurate tool for estimating yardage and in many cases. And it has the added value of math I can easily do in my head.

Caveat Emptor: Presently I do not sell, but personally own and occasionally all except the Boye product. We have sold, and my first choice is the McMorran Yarn Balance. And yes, we are hoping within the month to have an imperial (lb/oz) version available.

Click on any of the images for larger image or to visit the information pages for these products. Please Note: Links may be “affilate links” or to my shop – ItsAllJustString.com

There are several difference styles of Yardage Counters – often found in the Fishing section of a Sporting Goods department – used to measure fishing line as it is reeled onto the spinner.

All the devices I have seen have quite an issue with handling yarn beyond accuracy is an issue even in industry situations which is why measuring by weight is usually much or active (averaging plus/minus 10%) and why I included YPP (Yards Per Pound) in my yarn label reference chart and will soon add some additional lines that may be helpful to others.

Until recently, among the most common is probably the Berkeley Line Counter

Keep in mind that these devices were not originally designed for use with yarn and when used for wire and for fishing line are usually quite accurate.

Recently, Simplicity – Boye has been offering a variation and I have not used it. I suspect it will be victim of the same issues any YARNandTHREAD have stretch and that is at the heart of the “issues” when using any of the meter/counter devices. My suspicion is based on the Amazon reviews for this product.

Nancy’s Knit Knacks used the DIY idea that weaver (including Nancy and Wheat) had been using for years and put it into another tool for their wide ranging tools and accessories for yarn users. As you can see, it incorporates both the Berkely meter and some yarn control to help with the consistency for the best possible result. There are other versions with a meter mounted – usually sold thru shops that cater to production and other hand weavers. I do consider
Nancy’s Yardage Meter to be fairly priced because of the quality of their workmanship.

While I can say from experience with the more expensive models sold thru sporting goods suppliers, that these work reasonably well with thinner, (Fingering – sock) smooth yarns but it gets interesting from sport on up; if I did not already these, I would probably not buy them again. .

In the interest of comparative pricing – The McMorran falls into the $25 to $30 range – but it does mena you will also need a scale that measure in fractions of an ounce to get the best possible result. Fortunately reasonably priced scales are not as hard to find as they once were.

—
Enjoy The Making
Wheat

I remember a conversation with one of the executives at Jeanette Crews some years ago. We have been having some timiliness issues with a particular designer and and the “money” guy was a bit upset about the losses because we coule not get a pre-sold book to press. He asked in an outdoor voice, “Can’t we just scan it into something and get the instructions”. The three design professionals AND company CEO all said, in GREAT outdoor voices NO!!! Someone added “and best you get that thru your thick head once and for all”.

There is much more to pattern authoring than just the design of a motif, the choosing of a shape, and oh well the list goes on.

As often as not, I will get an email that makes it clear to me that something is not clear. Confused yet?

So many misunderstandings occur when Semantics meets Expectations

how does this relate to Symbol Crochet – Well, at the moment we have very few options, each has benefits BUT none of them can replace a Pattern Author or at least none in the the under $100 category includes the ability to WRITE/Author a Pattern –
And if I had time to research, I suspect it would in the uner $200 and in some cases features in the $2000 and up range.

Rather they CHART – create a graphic representation of a series of stitches to form a Motif.

The route of the chaos might be that while most professional designers understand that until they are ready to spend a LOT more money, many new to the business of design have not yet understood this and think at the programs in the $ 50.00 range are going to deliver.

For example, looking at the two I use/have used for CROCHET CHARTING

New England’s Software describes the purpose of SymbolCro as to provide computer aided drafting of circular and/or rectangular crochet patterns using symbols.

StitchWorks describes itself as software for creating symbol crochet charts that can be shared or published …

Neither says it is a pattern writer and frankly I don’t want them to be. When we are working on patterns for publications we have to be able to format as needed.

Are there “I Wish” features – sure – but we can all save ourselves a LOT of upset if we take the time to understand what we are buying and then make a decision if it meets our needs.

Life is just too dang short to waste any of it on unreasonable expectations.

This is a work in progress, compiled from a variety of sources including my own experience – I do suggest reading the term explanations/glossary of the description headings –

I would be delighted to hear your thoughts for improvement including what might need to be added or changed or perhaps better explained.

Hope you find at least some helpful and will look forward to your constructive comments

Enjoy The Making

Wheat

Back to Chart…

Glossary – Or how to speak in Wheat

Blanket – Blanket measurements are very helpful in estimating the additional width needed to cover the drop – sides of the mattress.

Common Description – These are name often used in advertising to refer to a particular product.

Drop – The height of the mattress – varys greatly depending on type of mattress – Wheat Rule of Thumb for Adult Bedding where a dust ruffle will be likely is 8 to 12 inches ON EACH SIDE (sometimes determined by how much yarn is left to finish the project.)

Top – this is the area that is one the TOP of the bed – or the finished size of your quilt or afghan – it does not include any allowance for the sides of the mattress or hems or well anything.

Pillow Cover – ONE SIDE of the finished average measurement for a pillow cover (pillow case) – also useful determine how much to add to length of bed top to include covering the pillow. If you want to make a standard pillow cover, the fabric needs to be at least 40 inches plus seam allowance by the length plus hem allowance if needed. – By the way – there is no rule that says both sides of a pillow cover have to be the same.

Tiplet – Things Wheat has learned – mostly the most difficult way – that you may find helpful as you work on your project

Back to Chart …

Memorial Day History
(complied from information found at: http://www.va.gov/

The wearing of poppies in honor of America’s war dead is traditionally done on Memorial Day, The practice of wearing of poppies takes its origin from the poem In Flanders Fields, written in 1915 by John McCrae. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) or The American Legion, are among the many veterans organizations distributing poppies annually on Memorial Day.

Memorial day has it beginnings three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

The ceremonies centered around the mourning-draped veranda of the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Various Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. After speeches, children from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan Home and members of the GAR made their way through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns.

While Veterans days is intended to honor the living who have served,

Memorial Day is meant to honor the those who made the ultimate sacrifice, either in service or as a result of injuries sustained in battle.

I choose to honor both and promise never to forget what they gave to make our way of life possible.

I hope you will join me in proudly wearing a poppy this and every memorial day –