I forgot in my last post on my crocheting technique, Back to Math Basics, to explain further how I use the following table and how I arrived at it’s contents:
Row
x2
x3
x4
x5
x6
16
32
48
64
80
96
17
34
51
68
85
102
18
36
54
72
90
108
19
38
57
76
95
114
20
40
60
80
100
120
21
42
63
84
105
126
22
44
66
88
110
132
I used some algebra (or possibly finite mathematics) to achieve the process for inserting the six additional stitches equadistant around the circumferences of the cap.
Let the row be represented by a; let the incremental stitches be represented by b; and, let the insertion position for the additional stitches be represented by P. Then,
P = ab-1
Using the table above, at the beginning of a round, I stitch a-1 stitches and insert the a stitch in the same stitch. For row 16, I started off with 15 stitches and put the 16th stitch in the same stitch as the 15th, then I continued counting 15 more stitches (or to the number 31, since that is ab-1 or (16×2)-1, and inserted the second additional stitch, which is also the 32nd stitch, in the same stitch as the 31st stitch. How many times can I type stitch in a sentence? 🙂
When I reach my safety pin which marks the end (or beginning) of the round, I should have reached the 96th stitch, after which I slip stitch into the first stitch of that round.
Algebra doesn’t always lends itself seamlessly to application in crochet, but an algorithm works perfectly. For example (using no particular programming language, but rather just generic easily understood syntax):
While Row < = MaxRow
While AddStitch <= IncreaseBy
While Stitch < Row
Stitch=Stitch+1
EndWhile
AddStitch=AddStitch+1
EndWhile
Stitch=1
AddStitch=1
Row=Row+1
EndWhile
I think that algorithm works, however clumsy it may appear. I’m sure I could do it with less loops and/or recursively, but I’m too far removed from my programming days to dredge up those memories. I may research a bit to remind myself of some more aesthetic algorithmic techniques and revisit this in a later posting.
Still, I find it fascinating to confuse what otherwise could be a boring bit of crocheting. Besides, I always love to tout all the math my fellow students complained about in high school, whining that they would never use algebra or geometry or trigonometry, etc. in the ‘real’ world.
Sunday afternoon became more distracting as it approached evening. Aside from the numbness and tingling which reasserts itself every few minutes, I find it difficult to count stitches and determine multiples of double digit numbers in my head while remembering the end goal of max stitches for that row all while the rest of the family watches a movie or taunts the Rotts into playing boisterously.
At row fifteen, I stopped and took a break for a bit. I read a few pages in Grand Conspiracy. I then found a piece of paper to write out the next seven rows numerical stitch pattern. For example, until row twenty-two, I need to increase each row by adding six stitches evenly spaced around the round. I wrote the following quick chart to aid in my stitch counting:
Row
x2
x3
x4
x5
x6
16
32
48
64
80
96
17
34
51
68
85
102
18
36
54
72
90
108
19
38
57
76
95
114
20
40
60
80
100
120
21
42
63
84
105
126
22
44
66
88
110
132
I made it to row eighteen last night before retiring to bed.
Eighteen Rows or 108 Stitches Around
Part of the reason I enjoy crocheting, or music (which is tangential I know) has to do with all the finite math involved with the patterns. And the best part of all, at least when working a circular crochet pattern is the chance to use my favorite mathematical constant. Stretch your memory back to the days of algebra and geometry and remember the simple formula for determining the circumference of a circle:
Diameter of 10.25 inches
Can’t remember? Well, let me remind you using the photo above. If the diameter of a circle is 10.25 inches, the circumference is the diameter multiplied by the constant pi:
C = dπ
Or, as illustrated above:
C = 10.25 * 3.14159
C = 32.2
I have four more rows of increasing before I crochet a band of a half dozen single crochets (with no increases in stitches). After that, I start decreasing. The pattern reduces to a head band circumference of 18.25 inches, which is too small for Rachelle’s inflated ego, er I mean head. Her cranium has a circumference of over 22 inches. So I’ll have to do yet more math to determine the proper stopping point during the reduction.
I’ve decided not to take this Brimmed Cap project with me to work today, even though with the vanpool I have over an hour I could be crocheting to and from work. Mondays (and Fridays) I usually have to tote quite a few things with me (like a week’s worth of lunches and a laptop). If I don’t finish the cap this evening, I’ll probably take it with me on the commute Tuesday.
Brief post in update to the Brimmed Cap crochet project: I’ve finished the first ten rounds (more successfully than my attempts last week). Marking my rounds definitely helps me keep track of the correct number of stitches.
After just six roundsTen Rounds or Sixty Stitches in Circumference
And lastly, I needed to check my gauge:
Six Inches in Diameter after Ten rounds
I’m taking a break for a few minutes to give my wrists a break. Ten years as a legal secretary in the mid to late 80s left me with some symptoms of carpal tunnel – including tingling and numbness. But I’ll be back to this project in no time.
My first attempt, last year (or more accurately last week) ended in a tangled confusion of what round am I really on and how many stitches are left on this round?
So, this afternoon, I unraveled the chaos, found a safety pin to mark my rounds, and started over again with this Brimmed Cap pattern my daughter, Rachelle, selected as a belated Christmas gift. Last year I made her a Ruffle Scarf using Lion Brand Yarn‘s Homespun yarn in Wild Fire color. Using the same color, I’m crocheting the cap. I’ll post pictures once I have a bit more done.
Two weeks and last year since I sat down to compose an entry. Half my offspring have come and gone (north then south) mysteriously in the night. Said goodbye to one of the best years of my life with some trepidation, concerned that 2011 can’t possibly exceed it.
After trimming the tree on Thursday the 23rd, I spent nearly all of Friday the 24th (Christmas Eve) preparing a family tradition — giving the gift of sticky buns to various friends. I, of course, modify the recipe a bit (see previous link) and don’t bake them. Rather, Rachelle and I deliver them with instructions on how to refrigerate, thaw, rise and bake them so our friends can enjoy hot out of the oven buns in all their sticky sweet goodness.
I asked, but did not insist, if anyone wanted to attend Christmas Eve services. My inquiry met with less enthusiasm than I’d hope, so we spent the evening watching DVDs from Netflix (the Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Price of Persia). Oddly, we did not and have not yet watched the Muppet Christmas Carol, a Moss Family tradition going back a decade or more. Perhaps Rachelle, Terry and I will watch it this evening.
Christmas morning, I took my time waking, since I knew my main courses for Christmas dinner (scheduled for one o’clock) wouldn’t take more than a couple of hours to bake). Rachelle was next to awaken and by eleven o’clock couldn’t contain herself and insisted that grandpa arrive early (since I refused to let her distribute gifts until he arrived). Once grandpa arrived, with his delicious pasta cucumber salad, Royna played Santa with Rachelle as her elf-like assistant.
The Christmas dinner menu consisted of a fresh green salad with my home made dressing (an off shoot of the dressing grandpa uses for his pasta salad), said pasta salad, a boneless turkey breast, a spiral cut ham, mashed potatoes (because Terry and I forgot to bake the potatoes), green bean casserole and fresh hot sticky buns for pseudo-dessert.
We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing, conversing and even played a game of Catchphrase. Grandpa returned home, everyone took a nap and I read a book (no surprise there).
The strangest and saddest event was Derek and Royna’s sudden departure around 9:00 p.m. that evening. They had carpooled with friends from Texas the previous Sunday and now they wanted to hit the road back south – overnight! The catch was Derek and Royna needed a ride to the UMKC campus (just a couple of blocks southeast of where I work five days a week in the Plaza Library building near the Country Club Plaza). I agreed to transport them and they quickly packed. Being a mother, I was concerned about an overnight return trip to Dallas and insisted that Derek text message me at 6:00 a.m. so I wouldn’t worry. Their return trip was uneventful, he rememered to text me and Derek and Royna were safely home by 7:00 a.m.
Sunday the 26th, I filled up both Pontiacs and saved a dollar per gallon because I had earned over one thousand points at Dillons during the month of December. I knew I’d be driving to work four days this week since my vanpool was on hiatus between Christmas and New Year’s Day (Hallmark closes during that week). I don’t miss having to drive in traffic or fight for a parking space (at least the one I want to get) even though I arrive at work very early.
Monday and Tuesday swept by boringly but Wednesday brought a visit from Terry’s sister Bonnie. She came to visit after dropping her daughter Katie off to visit friends. We enjoyed her visit, and dinner at Famous Dave’s at the Legends. Terry and Rachelle also met her the next day for lunch at Azul Tequila in Lansing. Bonnie retrieved her daughter Thursday afternoon for the return trip home to the Cheney area.
Thursday evening, Terry, Rachelle and I caught a showing of the True Grit remake starring Jeff Bridges at Rooster Cogburn and Matt Damon as Texas Ranger Leboeuf and Barry Pepper and Lucky Ned Pepper. Hailee Stanfeld gave an outstanding performance as Mattie Ross. I highly recommend this movie, even though I’m not entirely sure it’s better than the original. Watch either or both … you can’t keep a good story down.
Friday, New Year’s Eve, arrived. The final day of twenty ten. The only day that last week of the year I didn’t have to drive to Misery (er, Missouri) to work. Rachelle intended to spend the evening with friends. Terry and I thought about finding something at a local bar to participate in, but nothing appealed. So, Terry invited Sean over and I took the dogs upstairs to relax, read and perhaps play a few hours with friends on Aardwolf, an old-fashioned text-based MUD. Not surprisingly, I fell asleep shortly after ten o’clock, only to be startled awake by the boom of fireworks, dogs barking and my daughter text messaging. I eventually returned to my dreams.
Early morning, New Year’s Day, twenty eleven, I’m startled awake, again, by the sound of hail stones dancing on my roof. Did I just sleep through three months of winter and arrive to a Kansas spring thunderstorm?
Spent most of the morning reading a book, playing more Aardwolf and waiting for Rachelle to return home. Later in the afternoon, Terry, Rachelle and I travelled to the Legends (twice in as many days) to watch the latest Narnia flick: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. We had to watch it in 3D (and pay a premium matinee ticket price for the privilege) but the movie was excellently rendered. Again, you can’t keep a good story down.
Today, the second of January, two thousand and eleven, dawns crisply cold and clear. I’m castigating myself for not dragging out the telescope to view Mercury and Venus this morning. I’ve taken too long to write this blog post and missed the opportunity. I spy a gleam of dawn to the east.
Have I resolved to change or achieve anything new as the year starts fresh? Perhaps. I have a few ideas that I’m still brewing and stewing about; just not ready to codify them publicly via this blog.
I’ll leave you with this thought for the day: various translations of Psalm 90:12
Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom. (NLT)
Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise. (NCV)
Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well! (MSG)
Peace and may all your years, new and old, be happy!
Another Tuesday is upon me and I survived the Holidays … barely. Last week, in my A Trivial Holiday post, I shared seven mid-winter holiday themed trivia questions, courtesy of Ken Jenning‘s weekly Tuesday Trivia e-mail service.
And now, the answers you’ve all been waiting for:
1. How many tiny reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh, in the poem that begins “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”? Eight tiny reindeer–Rudolph was a later addition.
2. What sitcom featured a character with the very festive full name of “Christmas Noelle Snow”? Chrissy Snow, Suzanne Somers’s character on Three’s Company, was saddled with that wintry nightmare of a name, for which at least three different explanations were given on the show.
3. Which of the three traditional gifts brought by the three wise men has the highest market value today? Frankincense and myrrh, being nothing but tree sap with vaguely aromatic/medicinal properties, retail for just a few dollars an ounce. Gold is about a hundred times more valuable.
4. Rod Carew was a Minnesota Twin, but who are the only *real* twins name-checked in Adam Sandler’s “Hanukkah Song”? Ann Landers and her sister Dear Abby. (Harrison Ford’s a quarter Jewish–not too shabby!)
5. Most commercial Advent calendars begin on what date? The actual dates of Advent move around, since the period officially begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, but the eponymous calendars typically just start on December 1.
6. “Christmas disease” is another name for the ‘B’ type of what disease, most famously suffered by Alexei Romanov? Hemophilia B was named for Stephen Christmas, the first patient in which it was identified.
7. What unusual distinction is held by these countries in this order, and no others? Spain, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia. These are the (modern-day) sources of the four “ethnic” dances in the second act of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker: a Spanish dance, an Arabian dance, a Chinese dance, and a Russian dance. When I first came up with this question, I thought there were a few more countries on this list, but it turns out the list just SEEMED longer when I took my four-ear-old daughter to The Nutcracker a couple weeks ago.
If you’d like to see this week’s questions, submit a comment replying to this post and I’ll see what I can do.
Probably rates a 3.5, but like Connie Willis, I love Christmas and singing in very large choirs. Combining the two, especially with Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, is priceless.
And as Aunt Judith and the Altairi reminds us: ‘A prompt handwritten note expressing gratitude is the only proper form of thanks.’ I’ll be posting those notes to friends and family today.
Highly recommended, especially during this joyous season, bearing tidings of comfort and joy to all.
Ten days and over a thousand miles ago (1,313 miles or thereabouts, but who’s counting?), Terry and I survived a weekend of single digit temperatures and 35 mph north wind gusts without a working furnace. We kept our home a toasty 70 degrees with two oil heaters and two inexpensive fan space heaters, even in the aforementioned frigid weather conditions.
Tuesday, 14 December 2010: Mark Moody, life-long friend of Terry from the Wichita area, and his assistant, Kenneth, arrived with our shiny new 96% efficient furnace and four ton air conditioning unit. In record time (and I mean record), Mark and Kenneth installed both units and by the time I arrived home from work on Wednesday evening, I had a warm toasty house.
Wednesday, 15 December 2010:
"After"
Texas Visitor's Center near Gainesville
Thursday, 16 December 2010: Only about twelve hours after thanking Mark and sending him home to Wichita, Terry, my dad and I hit the road south to Texas for a weekend of celebration, exhibition, reception and graduation for my son, Derek Moss. We took our time, had fantastic weather and arrived in Plano as the sun was setting.
Friday, 17 December 2010: Derek’s exhibition demonstration was scheduled for 4:00 pm at the Guildhall (SMU @ Plano campus) so we (Dad and I) retrieved Rachelle from Denton via SH 380. That took a couple of hours, and a stop for lunch at Braums.
Derek Moss as part of the Synesthetic Dream Game Team of Cohort 13
Once back in Plano, we left Rachelle at the Residence Inn and headed over to the Guildhall for the presentation and later the reception, which included a talk by the EA’s Chief Creative Director, Richard Hilleman.
Derek Moss receiving his stole for his Certificate of Art Creation
Of even more importance to the photographers in the audience, the graduates donned their academic regalia and received their stoles and master’s hoods.
Saturday, 18 December 2010: Friday, we left the Residence in after a quick continental breakfast to brave the Dallas traffic to the main SMU campus. On a normal day, Google maps estimated an hour drive. Since it was early Saturday morning, it took us just a bit over a half hour, giving us some time to cruise around campus and take in the beauty of the grounds at Southern Methodist University. We scored close parking, thanks to Terry’s handicap hanging tag and great seats (also in the handicap accessible area) of Moody Coliseum.
Derek Moss waiting to walk across the dais at the SMU December Graduation Ceremony
A couple of hours later, at 10:00 a.m., the graduates processed in and the fun began. The Guildhall graduates were the last set of Doctoral or Masters candidates to walk before the ‘regular’ Bachelors degree students.
Derek Moss, SMU Guildhall Graduate, Certificate of Art Creation
After the ceremony concluded, it took us a few minutes to find Derek again out in front of Moody Coliseum, but we eventually got together for some family photos. Derek turned in his gown and led us to the home of one of his team members for a after-graduation party. Stunning home (built by the owner/father), savory pulled pork (prepared by Derek’s friend), wonderful vodka punch and great fun.
Sunday, 19 December 2010: For some unknown reason, Terry and I were up, wide awake, by 4:30 a.m. We packed as quietly as we could and started stowing away items in the car. By 6:00 a.m. we were done and waiting for Rachelle, asleep on the hideaway. Rather than wait another hour for the continental breakfast provided by Residence Inn, we left early and descended upon an IHOP just north of there on Preston Road. If you haven’t tried their Harvest Grain ‘n Nut pancakes (with a side of turkey bacon heave), you don’t know what you’re missing. We dropped Rachelle off in Denton and said a quick ‘hi’ and ‘goodbye’ to Nic as he was heading off to work (the only Sunday he is required to work all year for his employer). The rest of the trip north, with a hefty tailwind to aid our gas mileage, was uneventful. We arrived back in Lansing before 4:30 pm.
Just a few hours later, while Terry was talking to a friend down in his band room, he started experiencing chest pain. We called an ‘ask-a-nurse’ service and tried to wait it out, hoping the pain would resolve itself, but after a couple more hours, he was still in pain (but not experiencing any of the other ‘usual’ symptoms associated with heart attacks or strokes – no numbness, tingling, tunnel vision, radiating pain, etc.). So, at 10:15 pm, we arrived at a quiet St. John’s Hospital emergency room, where we stayed for a battery of tests until 3:30 a.m. Heart issues were quickly ruled out, as well as stroke, but it took some time to rule out a blood clot in the lungs. Eventually, Terry was released to return home with some pain medication to help deal with the chest pain, which continued but was unexplained (yet apparently not life threatening).
Monday, 20 December 2010: We slept late (see previous paragraph), but not too late as we had several errands to run, including retrieving the Rotts from the boarding kennel. Squeaky clean excited Rottweilers in the back of your car and in your home for the first fifteen minutes; makes it difficult to take snapshots, but I persisted:
Roxy and Apollo all clean for Christmas
Tuesday, 21 December 2010: Knowing I had to work a whopping two days this week, I went to bed early. Terry woke me up around 2:30 or 3:00 a.m. to let me know Derek and Royna were arriving in thirty minutes. Shocker! I blearily got up and prepared the spare bedroom and slunk back to bed to finish my interrupted sleep. After work, I made a couple of loaves of Rosemary Sourdough to take to work on Wednesday as last-minute gifts for a long-time co-worker and my boss.
Wednesday, 22 December 2010: I survived a slow day at work, anticipating Rachelle arrival from Texas, via the Kelloffs, later that evening. She arrived safely before 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, 23 December 2010: Rachelle and I, the early risers in the family, rearranged the great room to accommodate the Christmas tree.
Santa's Helper
Thanks to Santa’s helper (Rachelle), who transported the tree and trimmings from the basement storage room up two flights of stairs to the great room, we have a beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the northwest corner of our great room.
And here I sit, on the morning of Christmas Eve, reflecting back on a year of surprises, filled with joy, hope, grace and love.
Re-posting this from the weekly e-mail I subscribe to from Ken Jennings, which he coins as “Tuesday Trivia”:
Season’s greetings from Tuesday Trivia! Christmas and trivia go together like a creepy Bing Crosby-David Bowie duet, so we hope you enjoy this Christma-Hanuk-Kwanzaa-themed installment of our weekly quiz.
Now BRING US OUR FIGGY PUDDING! We won’t go until we get some. And some pudding.
THIS WEEK’S QUESTIONS
How many tiny reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh, in the poem that begins “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”?
What sitcom featured a character with the very festive full name of “Christmas Noelle Snow”?
Which of the three traditional gifts brought by the three wise men has the highest market value today?
Rod Carew was a Minnesota Twin, but who are the only *real* twins name-checked in Adam Sandler’s “Hanukkah Song”?
Most commercial Advent calendars begin on what date?
“Christmas disease” is another name for the ‘B’ type of what disease, most famously suffered by Alexei Romanov?
What unusual distinction is held by these countries in this order, and no others? Spain, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia.
——————————————-
As with all good trivia, it would take you about 30 seconds to Google the answers to the first six questions above. So you’re on the honor system here: no peeking, and only send in the answers you knew off the top of your head. Answers will appear in next week’s mailing.
The seventh and final question every week is a “What do they have in common?” question, designed to be harder to Google. As I arrange to send out goodies to high scorers, it will be on the basis of these seventh questions only.
Send responses to tuesdaytrivia@ken-jennings.com by noon Pacific each following Monday. That’s also the address to contact if you missed the quiz one week and need to request a replacement.
I should read more space opera, especially when written by Niven and Pournelle. The human Empire (Russian in origin, which seemed odd considering in 1974 when first published, the USSR was Communist not Imperialist) has first contact with aliens from a system referred to as “The Mote.” Communication is key, but as expected, truth is the first casualty in diplomacy and war. By the time I reached the end, having had bits of both sides of the story, I kept wishing and hoping … ‘if only’ the aliens had divulged the truth behind their species’ biological problem, I believe, even a militaristic human society would feel compassion for them and strive to solve what the alien’s considered unsolvable or impossible or ‘Crazy Eddy.’
