My brain is slushy these days. Among the family situations that are “front and center” in my life is my Mother-in-Law Helen’s declining health. She is under hospice care and we visit her daily. I am sure you all understand — and I do not need to elaborate.
But my brain is slushy.
So, I have not been up to much in the way of designing. In fact, I am knitting 2 sweaters and a lace shawl from published patterns! It is such a pleasure to follow directions methodically — knowing that the road has been cleared of rocks and brambles by someone else! It is kind of like having a conversation with these bright and inventive designers. “Ah yes, how clever…And then?…Oh, what a wonderful idea!”
I am still working on three pieces of my own design — tho these are pretty much all worked out and it is just a matter of finishing up.
One if these is Evelyn’s Yzma Blanket. I am on the edging — a crenellation pattern. I decided a simple garter miter would work for the corners. But I could not quite remember how to do it (remember the slushy brain). So, I looked it up in my best resource books, but I could not make head or tail of it! There was such a lot of description and explanation. I just could not wrap my (slushy) mind around it.
I had about decided to just try to wing it when I remembered Elizabeth Zimmermann! If there was one writer of knitting books who could give me pithy directions on how to make a garter miter corner it would be the sainted EZ! So, I pulled out “Knit One, Knit All” (her garter stitch designs published posthumously) and flipped to the Techniques section where I found her clear, concise instructions for Garter Stitch Corner; Short Rows. As beautiful and brilliant as a sonnet! Thank you, Elizabeth!