Ask any craftsman. What is paramount to the success of a job well done? Nine out of ten times the answer will be, ‘the use of good tools.’ A bad workman always blames his tools, you know, in some weird way, he is correct. Just saying, he may show a teeny wheeny tiny little improvement with better tools. Give the guy the benefit of the doubt! Bad tools are frustrating!
When writing patterns, one of the first things to note is a list of supplies needed for the project. How much thought is given to the list? For fun, here are a couple of anecdotes and our solutions to them.
“Stitch markers! Smitch markers! I’ll just use a piece of contrast yarn and tie it around the needle”.
It’s yarn, pretty good chance you will inadvertently turn it into a stitch.
The tail will felt into your work.
If it’s a piece of yarn of unknown origin, it may not be colour fast and bleed into your lovely white baptism gown that you are knitting in 2 ply.
Where is a piece of scrap yarn when you need it?
You will have stitch markers for a long time and for every project.
“I have a huge bundle of my great-aunt’s knitting needles. That’ll do. There will be something in there I can use”.
You will have every number, but only one of each.
Tortoise shell. Politically incorrect, poor tortoise!
Aluminum, never warms up in your hand. Bad for arthritis.
Buy beautiful nickel plated, laminated birch wood and bamboo needles. Use interchangeable circulars (or circs in modern parlance) for everything.
“Row counter. Why do I need one of those? I’ve got plenty pieces of paper”.
OMG! Where did I put that piece of paper? Is there anymore to say!
Invest in a row counter or two or three. One for every project, preferably one you can slip onto your needle.
Required yarn: Manos Silk Blend, a luxurious blend of 70% Merino Extra fine Wool and 30% Silk.
“My friend has some pet alpacas and she spun this wool and gave it to me. Surely I can use that”.
This last anecdote generally only has repercussions a few weeks, months or years down the track. “It doesn’t feel like/look like your sample at all”.
Really, how odd!
We hope you enjoyed our take on things that happen around us all the time.
Picot Edge Scarf Pattern
If you knit nothing else this winter, knit this,
Requirements
1 x 100g Manos Fino . Our sample was knit in col 2500-50 silhouette. Try it in other yummy colours in the range.
1 x 3.50mm 80cm circular needles
A kitchen scale capable of measuring grams. It’s not necessary to go out and buy one, (unless you want to get into baking as well). Find a friend with one.
Method
C/on 3sts.
Knit 1 row.
Next row: c/on 6sts, c/off 2sts, knit to the end of the row.
Repeat this row until there is 5 gram of yarn left (this is where the kitchen scale comes in).
Picot edge cast off
C/on 2sts, c/off 6sts, *slip the remaining stitch from right needle to left needle, c/on 2sts, c/off 6sts, repeat from
* to the end of the row.
It’s possible that the end of the row does not have 6sts to cast off, just cast off what ever stitches remain.
Until we meet again. Make many beautiful things!
The Morris and Sons Blog 
Agree about the stitch markers and circulars, but I have to tell you I have a marvellous app on my phone for row counting. So much easier to tap the screen once than fiddle with those twirly things on your needles.
However, as EZ says in Knitting Without Tears, what’s wrong with a safety pin as a stitch marker 🙂 (surely much cheaper?)