What Do Knitting and The Pythagorean Theorem Have in Common?

The answer of course is "Woolly Thoughts", the creative team of Pat Ashforth and Steve Plummer.

On Sunday I went to the Woolly Thoughts workshop in New Hamburg with Lyz and Lynn, my good pals (and knitting repair saviours) from the Starbucks Friday Morning Knit & Chat. It was held in Meme's Cafe, which had an awesome choice of tea and coffee. Of course I stuck to the herbal teas since I am pretty much restricted in my caffeine intake right now.

I managed to snag a copy of the book (I was kind of sitting next to the pile) and get it autographed.

So anyway, now I can knit according to the Pythagorean theorem (or so I tell myself).


I think this style looks great the way that Pat Ashforth does it, in nice chunky variegated yarn, with everything joined so neatly. I'm not sure my Lett-Lopi was the best weight for this. Also, I've never actually picked up stitches before. (I taught myself really fast -- no time for my usual self-doubt and perfectionism.)

After the workshop we all went shopping at Shall We Knit. I'd never actually been there as a knitter before. The last time I was in the shop was the night of the Harry Potter Festival, when I was disappointed that I couldn't buy a Gryffindor scarf. Now of course I could knit my own if I wanted to.

I bought some lovely thick soft Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton, four balls in three colours. I've already knit the lilac ball up into a potholder, just using stocking stitch and holding the yarn doubled. (I made a centre-pull yarn ball and used both ends.)

When the potholders are all done, I will finish them according to the Easy Going Potholders pattern, which means getting some quilt batting and appropriate fabric. Well, I have some fabric I could use, but it would probably be better to get something with a smaller overall pattern.

This is my new knitting bag -- it's actually the bag my husband got at his conference in Hawaii -- stuffed with yarn, needles, and projects.


You can see two balls of the light green Debbie Bliss Cotton at the bottom right. I'm not sure why I have them in there, because I am unlikely to start the next potholder as a travelling project...