Music Bookstand
Knitting Tools of the Trade
Knitting in its simplest form is often described as the looping of a string around two sticks. When faced with multi-color patterning, intricate stitches or detailed graphs, this seemingly easy craft becomes a more complex activity that can benefit from an innovative tool or two. Right from the start when the ideas for a new knitting project abound, there are aids to guide you in choices of yarn and color. Color wheels and color selectors, using proven principles of color theory, can steer you through establishing a pleasing color combination of two or many colors. Even though you may pick the perfect geranium pink to match that perfect leaf green, you still must find commercially available yarns of compatible weights in those very colors. Many yarn retailers offer, at a reasonable cost, sample cards of available yarns in their full color range. Much like selecting paint chips at the hardware store, you are able to see at a glance what colors are available in a particular yarn and how they interact with other colors of that yarn type.
The screwdrivers and wrenches of knitting, the needles, though basic in shape, appear in a variety of materials. Wood and plastic offer comfort to tired hands, while metal needles promise speed. A luxury class of needles fashioned from ebony or rosewood are advertised as hewn from the remains of prized woods used in the manufacture of musical instruments. These needles should make your stitches sing. There is also the “heritage“ needle collection of which mine is labelled, due to many being borrowed from my mother’s knitting basket and never returned. A “classic” collection will likely contain a hodgepodge of needles gathered over the years as in mine, which range from a chipped orange metal No. 4′s to green plastic No. 8′s. It’s an odd grouping of materials and colors but favorites are easily recognizable when a certain knitting job comes to mind.
Now any good craft project whether made from wood or wool is only worth its weight when measurements are accurate and consistent. To knitters, the correct gauge must be achieved or every measurement throughout the project will become skewed. With numerous devices available to help accurately measure those all-important numbers of stitches and rows, there is absolutely no excuse for having the wrong gauge. A square gauge frame will force you to line up your knitting with the stitches at right angles to the rows, leaving you to count the numbers between the borders of the frame. Transparent stitch templates will tell you nothing but the truth as you try to match the drawing of the desired stitch gauge to the stitches of your knitted sample. A good tape measure, plastic or cloth, retractable or not, is essential to measure those lengths and widths once you start knitting.
To see those stitches clearly, use a magnifier lamp clamped to your favorite chair or stood behind the sofa. Try a pair of magnifying flip-up lenses to increase your staying power when working with intricate stitches and dark colors. Don’t forget to prop up that book or pattern on a bookstand to keep your charts and graphs front and center. A line magnifier placed over the chart on a magnetic board will eliminate a lot of twisting and turning in your seat as you lean to squint at those lines. Once you have found your place there are gadgets to keep it. Stitch markers and row counters mark the spot and giant safety pins put stitches on hold.
A collection of tools needs a toolbox. Needles should be organized in needle cases, one for the straights and another for circulars, small boxes or bags for the bits and pieces such as stitch markers and measuring devices, and a great big bag or basket to keep it all handy and neat.
About the Author
Maddy Cranley is a professional knitwear designer, who has created exclusive designs for knitting and craft magazines, authored and published three books on the subject of creating felt garments and projects from handknitting, and produces an ever-expanding line of maddy laine handknitting patterns. For additional information, see http://www.maddycraft.com
How to use the studystand text book holder recipe holder music holder easel
|
|
Ott-Lite 438009 Bookstand Lite $29.97 The new Bookstand Lite offers the ultimate in utility and comfort. Great for reading, holding recipe books, computer work and more, this clever innovation in lighting provides low-glare and-low heat, and the LED illumination doesn’t cause eyestrain. Now you can do what you love longer…. |
|
|
Ott-Lite 438G59 Bookstand Lite – Black $29.97 The new Bookstand Lite offers the ultimate in utility and comfort. Great for reading, holding recipe books, computer work and more, this clever innovation in lighting provides low-glare and-low heat, and the LED illumination doesn’t cause eyestrain. Now you can do what you love longer…. |
|
|
Clover Plus Book Stand (Bookstand / Holder / Cookbook / Music) $48.99 # NON-SLIP RUBBER BACKING # MADE FROM STRONG BUT LIGHT-WEIGHT MATERIAL (MDF) # EASY TO CLEAN SURFACE FINISHED WITH ROUNDED CORNERS (HUMIDITY RESISTANT) # HARD & STRONG PLASTIC ADJUSTERS # NO ASSEMBLY REQUIRED # HAND MADE # PATENTED 2-WAY ADJUSTMENT (HEIGHT & DEGREE) ** PLEASE SEE SELLER”S OTHER BOOK STANDS (IHD-105 … |
|
|
Country Life $16.98 Some contend Roxy Music peaked on their first two LPs, the ones with Brian Eno. Others contend they were best on their next two LPs, without Eno. Country Life is the second LP of the latter grouping, and it probably is the highpoint of the band’s career (although its predecessor, Street Life, is stiff competition). The haunting, melancholic “The Thrill of It All,” the art-rockin’ “Out of the Blue,… |
|
|
Argybargy $9.98 … |
|
|
Macally BOOKSTAND Protective Case and Stand for iPad $49.99 PROTECTIVE SUEDE CASE & STAND CASEFOR IPAD… |
|
|
Macally BOOKSTANDB Protective Microfiber Case and Stand for iPad – Black $31.36 Functions both as a protective travel case, as well as viewing stand to improve typing and viewing comfort… |
|
|
CaseCrown Dual Adjustable Multimedia Multi-Purpose Wood Stand (iPad/eBook/Kindle/Nook/Sony/Music) $24.21 Use this stand when using your device on any flat surface! Now you can watch your favorite videos or read your favorite ebook without worrying about scratching or holding it! This stand is easily setup and adjustable to a comfortable level custom just for you. Put it on your desk, kitchen counter, book case, anywhere it might be utilized!… |
|
|
Multimedia Multi-Purpose Wood Stand (iPad/eBook/Kindle/Nook/Sony/Music) $19.21 Use this stand when using your device on any flat surface! Now you can watch your favorite videos or read your favorite ebook without worrying about scratching or holding it! This stand is easily setup and adjustable to a comfortable level custom just for you. Put it on your desk, kitchen counter, book case, anywhere it might be utilized!… |
|
|
Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran $5.75 Wild Boy is the explosive first inside account of the rise and fall of Duran Duran. The band rose to conquer the globe with a string of unforgettable hits such as “Rio,”"Hungry Like the Wolf,” and “The Reflex.” With Simon Le Bon as their frontman, they were the defining pop act of the 1980s, but Andy Taylor, the enigmatic lead guitarist, is widely acknowledged to have been their musical driving fo… |
