M1: A Knitting Mini-Tutorial

These are probably some fabulous uninventions (noun. something that one created without outside references, although it is entirely possible that someone else has also created the same thing).

m1: A Knitting Mini-Tutorial (for Continental Knitting)

m1: Note the working yarn must cross behind itself

First, the m1 (knitting abbr. "make one stitch").  I saw a picture that showed Barbara Walker's m1 stitch, which is somewhat unique.  I've seen many ways to m1, but this one is my favorite because, if you pull the yarn tight enough, the possibility of inadvertently creating a hole below the m1 is greatly reduced.

Hand position for regular knit stitch

Here's the thing, this m1 is kind of a backwards loop.  When I first started using it, I would drop the yarn, make a loop, just turn the loop until it looked right, and then slip it onto the right needle.  This method was confusing, slow, and inefficient.

Then I realized that, as a Continental knitter (one who holds the yarn in the left hand and "picks" with the right working needle), my finger was already in position for creating the m1 backwards loop.

Hand position for m1 stitch

The method is wicked easy.  Leave everything in the same position as when knitting.  Bring your "guide" finger forward, curling around the front piece of yarn.  Pick up the yarn from the back of the guide finger, from the bottom, as shown.  Remove your finger, and you will have a perfect backwards loop: one stitch made!

-吴碧芙

Felted Potholder Pattern

Follow this link  for my first knitting pattern.

-吴碧芙

Don't buy...DIY

Just bake...

 While I can't take credit for execution of any of these misleadingly simple recipes, I can take part credit for choosing a husband who makes amazing food and tries new recipes and techniques.

Today he said, "I'm going to make Cheez-Its." 

"Really?  Is that even going to work?"

"Oh yeah, I found a recipe on the Internet.  It only has 4 ingredients.  The reviews say, 'Yeah, they taste exactly like Cheez-Its.'"  

...and serve.

And indeed they do taste exactly like Cheez-Its.  If you have a pasta wheel, you can make the edges look nicer.  A skewer creates a hole in the center to make the experience more pleasant.


The birds like them too.


-吴碧芙