Top-Down, No Math Hat: FourSquare
Ok, folks, I can take a hint. My two Top-Down, No Math hats account for over half the hits I have ever gotten on this site. So, I will give you more. Yes! A new Top-Down, No Math hat, this time aptly named: FourSquare. It looks like a hot-cross bun, doesn’t it?
Here we go:
Yarn: Same as the others, yarn is whatever you like, about a hat’s worth. In the sample, I used Cascade EcoWool, which is lovely stuff.
Needles: Needles should be appropriate to the yarn. You’ll need to start either on dpns or a magic loop. By the end, you’ll either need more/longer dpns, or a circular.
Notes: We’re going to use two different increases. The first is the same nearly invisible increase we used before. The second is the same idea, but heading left. I’m going to point you to this lovely tutorial from the Twist Collective, and use her terminology: RLI and LLI.
Ready? Let’s begin.
CO 8. Join in the round, being careful not to twist.
Round 1: K all, placing a marker after stitches 1, 3, 5, and 7.
Round 2: [RLI, K2, LLI] 4 times (16 st)
Round 3 and all odd rounds: K
Round 4 and all even rounds: [K to 1 st before st marker, RLI, K2, LLI] 4 times, K to end of round.
So, here’s the weird part: even though you’re working 2 st around each marker, the result looks like a single st going the other direction. If you want the cross to be bulkier, you can work an extra stitch or two around each st marker (inside the increases).
Keep going until you have the circumference you want, then work plain stockinette until you feel like doing ribbing, have enough for it to curl under, or run out of yarn.
BO loosely. My favorite trick is to go up a few needle sizes for the bind-off row.
If you like this or any of my other patterns, would you drop me a comment letting me know? Nice comments make my day. Thanks.
The Purple Teacozy
Have you encountered BBC Sherlock yet?
Have you encountered BBC Sherlock fandom?
Have you encountered the Purple Shirt of Sex?
I have, recently, and when you add in the Ravellenic Games, well, there was only one logical course of action.
I present the Purple Teacozy of Sex:
The pattern is free on Ravelry. Why don’t you make yourself one!?
They are the most beautiful socks in the world…
… and they are all mine!
Pattern (you know you want to knit yourself some!) is Chuck’s Cabled Socks.
Making Moments Matter: A Guide to Conversations
This is part 1 of a new series: Unconventional Resources for the Engaged.
You’re getting married. Fantastic.
There are approximately 18 gazillion websites out there ready to sell you pretty stationary and silly cake toppers.
But you know what? Ehhh…
The abosolute, bar-none, #1 top most important thing you could be doing right now is this: talking with your partner, and then talking with your families.
I know – picking out cocktail napkins is more fun. But the talking, now, will impact the rest of your life. The napkins won’t.
And the trouble is, no one teaches us how to have an honest, deep conversation. Sure, miscommunication fuels half the romantic comedies in Hollywood, but marriage is real, and hard, and it’s much much better when you’re on the same page with your sweetie, and when you’re clear and honest with your families about this new family you’re building.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if someone, say, a relationship coach or two, would sit down and explain to you how to figure out what’s important for you to say, how to talk so that you can be heard, and how to really listen?
You lucky duck – they already have!
In Conversations for Making Moments Matter, Judy Elkin and Pearl Mattenson lay out strategies for talking about the important moments in our lives (weddings, natch, but also graduations, funerals, even vacations!) with the people who matter most to us.
Ironically, the people you’re closest to can be the hardest to talk to, and the important moments can be the hardest to talk about! That’s why you can get into a minute analysis of last night’s Mad Men with you mom, but never quite bring yourself to tell her that your vision of your wedding doesn’t match up with hers.
Conversations for Making Moments Matter is like having a coach in your pocket, walking you through those conversations. Yes, they can be awkward and weird – but they can also be important and painful and awesome. This book gives you the tools to approach these conversations, and strategies for when conflict arises, so that you can feel confident treading territory that may be new for you.
This is part 1 of a new series, Unconventional Resources for the Engaged. Please leave a comment with your thoughts on this resource and other resources you’d like to see. Coming up: books on money and imperfection – hot topics!
“She *gets* relationships” A review from Pearl Mattenson
I met Pearl Mattenson when we both wrote for (now defunct) Carrie + Danielle. Though we still haven’t met “in person,” we’ve been internet buddies ever since. When I saw her profiled on Fear.Less (go read it, it’s awesome) recently, I had to drop her a congratulatory note. We got to chatting and turns out we were both working on book projects.
Pearl is a leadership and relationship coach, with all this training and years of experience, so I was waiting with bated breath to see what she’d think of my book, which is a lot more about relationships than it is about tulle and bows. Just the other day, she posted this on Amazon:
A “meaningful” gift to couples… [5 stars]
Suzyn is a talented writer with a down home sense of humor so I knew I would laugh. (I did). I also knew she was wise beyond her years and I would learn from this book. (I did). What I had not realized is that even without the years of training I have put in, she gets relationships and how to create meaning- in her bones. What I love about this book is that it gets at the core of what is important.
Suzyn gets right to the point- It is not about the magazine driven mayhem that wedding planning has become. It is about you and your partner. It is about building a life and setting the tone for how that life together will begin. The book is content rich AND a workbook. And because the questions Suzyn asks are so fundamental and important- it is more than a workbook. It becomes a repository for your (you & your partner’s) most heartfelt dreams and closely held values.
The beautiful cover ensures this will be a keepsake that stays with the wedding album and will be pored over for years to come.
I think I’ve read this 50 times since she posted it – I’m completely blown away and so so honored!
Stay tuned for my review of Pearl’s book, Conversations for Making Moments Matter. It’s fantastic.
#84
I launched my book two days ago, March 8. Over the past two days, I’ve posted here, I’ve tweeted, and most importantly I’ve emailed just about everyone I know (if you know me and you didn’t get an email, it’s because I have an old email address for you!) And, voila: I’m in the top 100 wedding planning books on Amazon.com!!!
But the best part by far is all the wonderful notes I’ve been getting. I am really fortunate to know a large number of lovely people. My heart is filled with thanks today.
Update: Later in the day, I hit #19!
My Book is on Amazon!!!
Hi!
I am beyond thrilled to be able to say:
My book is available on Amazon.com.
Going Home Married: How to Plan a Meaningful Wedding Without Losing Your Mind
(Isn’t it beautiful?)
The gist: The aesthetics of your wedding should support your relationship, and not the other way around. Figure out what getting married means to you, build a ceremony around that, and then build an event around the ceremony. Simple.
Here’s what people are saying about it:
Your writing style is so open and direct, it’s a breath of fresh and inspiring air! Clearly says to readers “you can do this and have a great time doing it.” –Bryan Smith
I LOVE the short lists of simple things. I love the slashing through the extras to get to the essential. It’s like spring cleaning. I think this will appeal to the sorts of people who want permission to do something individual and personal (perhaps unconventional) instead of prescribed. –Kirsten Hall
The realization that one needs to think critically about the so-called wisdom and utility of most wedding books is a true gift. Plus, your book is genuinely funny—it will get people laughing while they plan their weddings. –Caitlin Craven
Intrigued? You can download a sample chapter here.
Sold? Buy it, please! (It’s only $10.)
I need your help.
Here’s the thing: There’s no such thing as a giant, anonymous “book buying public.” No “media machine.” There are only people, like you and me, talking to each other. So please, if you believe in this book and its message (or, if you just like me) talk about it. Tweet it. Post it. Email the preview chapter to all your friends. Give the book as an engagement gift. Post a review on amazon (hugely helpful). Mention it to your neighbor.
I truly believe this book will help people. But before it can help people, they need to hear about it.
Thank you thank you thank you.
One more thing.
I’m setting up a blog tour. My goal is 31 blogs for the 31 days of May. Reviews, guest posts, interviews, excerpts, contests… If you would like to be involved, please let me know.
Thank you. So many people have supported and encouraged me in this project. I feel lucky to have such wonderful people in my corner.
Suzyn
