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THE ELECTRONIC CAMEL

Newsletter of the Oasis Knitting Guild in Israel

Vol. 1, no. 3 (Nov. 2000)
Editor: Avital Pinnick
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Newsletter Index

Contents:
- ARTICLES:
- SHORT NOTES
- PATTERN: Dreidel (Sevivon), by Heather Broadhurst
INKLE WEAVING AND MOSAIC KNITTING: A LOOK AT STRUCTURE, by Avital
Note 1: Warning: heavy theorizing to follow, so if you're not interested, please feel free to scroll down! ;-)
Note 2: I am not an expert, nor even a very experienced weaver, and I welcome feedback from "real" weavers.
Note 3: Because this is being sent out by e-mail, I've had to do a little ASCII art to show the pick-up patterns. For the web version of this article, I am specifying a non-proportional font.

While working a panel in mosaic knitting the other day, I noticed an interesting phenomenon. Have you ever noticed that some mosaic knitting patterns closely resemble inkle weave pick-up patterns? I'll start with a few definitions for those of you who are not familiar with mosaic knitting or inkle weaving.

MOSAIC KNITTING:
Mosaic knitting is a 2-colour patterning technique that consists of alternating garter-stitch ridges (= 2 rows, both knitted) in contrasting colours; the pattern is created by knitting the first row in a dominant colour, while slipping contrasting stitches from the previous row in the contrasting colour. On the second row, in the same dominant colour, the dominant colour stitches are knitted and the contrast colour stitches are slipped.

Without slipping stitches, your knitted garter stitch piece would look like this (each row in the diagram below equals 2 rows of knitting or one garter stitch ridge; X = colour 1; H = colour 2):

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (X colour dominant)
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (H colour dominant)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (X colour dominant)

When you slip the contrasting colour stitches (and slip them also on the "return" row), you can produce patterns like this:

XHXXXHXXXHXXXHXXXHX (X colour dominant, stitches in colour H slipped)
HHHXHHHXHHHXHHHXHHH (H colour dominant, stitches in colour X slipped)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (X colour dominant, no stitches slipped)

INKLE WEAVING:
Let's turn to inkle weaving. Inkle weaving is a long, narrow band of warp-faced weaving (that means that the warp threads, or lengthwise threads, are spaced very closely together so that the weft threads, or widthwise threads worked with a shuttle, don't show except a bit at the selvedge) worked on an inkle loom, that is, one with pegs and a very simple shed system using "leashes." Pick-up techniques are a method of manipulating the warp threads (you pick them up with a stick, hence the name) so that a previously used warp colour can be brought to the surface, over two weft picks instead of just one. Most pick-up techniques, other than basket-weave, have the following warp threading:

X H X H X H X H X H and so on...

Remember that the weft doesn't usually show on inkle weaving, so if you do plain weaving with this threading, this is what you get--horizontal stripes:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (X colour dominant)
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (H colour dominant)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (X colour dominant)

Do you notice the similarity to the pattern above for "mosaic" knitting without the patterning?

Now get your pick-up stick and start picking up warp threads, so that some of them are not hidden when you do the next shed. You could easily do this design:

XHXXXHXXXHXXXHXXXHX (X colour dominant, H threads picked up)
HHHXHHHXHHHXHHHXHHH (H colour dominant, X threads picked up)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (X colour dominant, no threads picked up)

Still with me? That was the introduction.

HORIZONTAL STRIPE BACKGROUND PICK-UP:
What I noticed is that simple mosaic patterns resemble traditional pick-up patterns (Atwater, pp. 33-37 and diag. 12; Bradley, pp. 21-23), also called Horizontal Stripe Background (Bress, pp. 117-124), characterized by horizontal stripes, with the stripes broken up by picked-up warp threads, such as the example given above.

This shouldn't surprise us, because both methods are based on a structure of horizontal stripes, with a colour pattern created by slipping stitches from the row below or by picking up warp threads. And so you find similar design limitations: a contrasting colour cannot be introduced if the row below does not contain it (in other words, if the stitch isn't there to slip or the top-most warp thread isn't there waiting to be picked up, you can't incorporate it into the pattern). This limitation imposes a geometric grid upon the pattern. You cannot do curves easily, unless you are working at a very fine gauge. The designs tend to be step-like or horizontal/vertical.

Here is an example of a typical horizontal stripe background pattern with the contrast colour depicted without a symbol (= white) for clarity:

XXXXXXXXXX (X colour dominant)
    X X    (white dominant, X threads picked up)
XXXXXXXXXX (X colour dominant)
   X X X   (white dominant, X threads picked up)
XXXXXXXXXX (X colour dominant)
  X X X X  (white dominant, X threads picked up)
XXXXXXXXXX (X colour dominant)

SPECKLED BACKGROUND PICK-UP:
Now let's take pick-up techniques a step further and look at what Atwater calls "Native American - Mexican, Navajo, Zuni, etc." (pp. 36-37 and diag. 13), Bradley calls "Bolivian Pebble Weave" (pp. 40-44), and Bress, "Speckled Background" (pp. 125-135). These pick-up patterns avoid the horizontal bars (not to mention boring horizontal stripes in knitting!) by slipping every other stitch/every other weft pick, so that the background of the figure is less obtrusive AND so that patterning can take place on EVERY ROW, rather than on every other row, as in the horizontal stripe background method.

Here's a weaving pattern from Bradley (p. 42):

   X   | (white dominant, X threads picked up)
X XXX X| (X dominant, white threads picked up)
  X X  | (white dominant, X threads picked up)
 XXXXX | (X dominant, white threads picked up)
 X X X | (white dominant, X threads picked up)
XXXXXXX| (X dominant, white threads picked up)
       | (white dominant, no threads picked up)

Now here's a mosaic knitting chart (Walker, p. 207, bottom of "Puppets 1"):

X XXX X| (X dominant, white threads picked up)
  X X  | (white dominant, X threads picked up)
 XXXXX | (X dominant, white threads picked up)
 X X X | (white dominant, X threads picked up)
XXXXXXX| (X dominant, white threads picked up)
X X X X| (white dominant, X threads picked up)
XXXXXXX| (X dominant, white threads picked up)
       | (white dominant, no threads picked up)

Are you starting to see the pattern? The speckled backgrounds of both mosaic knitting and pick-up weaving fulfill a similar function: they allow patterning on every row, so that the pattern is not broken up by a horizontal band of a dominant colour, and they give stability to the structure. Weaving has both vertical and horizontal threads, and for this reason the "spots" tying down the (vertical) warp threads must be staggered, so that long floats do not weaken the structure. Knitting, however, has a horizontal structure and the "spots" do not need to be staggered; they can be aligned vertically as well. As in stranded colour-work, the spots prevent long floats of yarn on the back that would get caught on things (think of Norwegian lustkofte).

To avoid long warp floats, pick-up patterns in inkle weaving also tend not to have long, continuous lines. Pattern and background pick-ups are arranged so that the warp threads are tied down by the weft every five picks or so. Knitting does not have this limitation.

PERUVIAN DOUBLE-FACED WEAVE AND BASKET WEAVE BACKGROUND:
Not all pick-up techniques are easily adapted to knitting. Peruvian double-faced weave (Atwater, pp. 81-86; Bradley, pp. 26-27) can, in theory, be knitted but the effect is quite different because this weave takes advantage of the fact that the warp floats, when packed closely together, give the illusion of a solid block of colour. The tied down warp threads, which are necessary for stability, recede visually behind the warp floats. In knitting these spots do not recede; they are as prominent as the stitches that represent the floating warp threads.

Basket weave pick-up (warp threaded X H H X H H X H H and so on; H is a fine background thread and X is a heavier pattern thread) will not work because structurally it is quite distinct from the pick-up patterns that we have been discussing. The finer warp background threads form a structurally complete basket-weave cloth, while the warp pattern threads, which travel in and out of cloth and form patterns on the surface with floats (analogous to embroidery thread), are superfluous to the structure of the cloth.

SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
What does this mean for the knitter? Some of us are fans of mosaic knitting because it results in a dense, non-curling patterned fabric that is easier to knit than many other colour techniques. There are many charming South American designs that can be adapted very easily to mosaic knitting and whose possibilities have never been explored or exploited. This development is an interesting digression from and contrast to traditional Andean knitting. [In LeCount's book, I have seen photographs of stranded colour work, intarsia, bead knitting, and lace but I don't think that I have ever seen slip-stitching used as a patterning technique.]

References:
  • Atwater, Mary Meigs. Byways in Handweaving. Coupville, Wash.: ShuttleCraft Books, 1954; rpt. 1988.
  • Bradley, Lavinia. Inkle Weaving. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1982.
  • Bress, Helene. Inkle Weaving. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1975.
  • LeCount, Cynthia Gravelle. Andean Folk Knitting. Saint Paul, Minn.: Dos Tejedoras, 1993.
  • Walker, Barbara G. Charted Knitting Designs. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1972.

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    FABRIC KNITTING, by Kesam
    In 1985 a local fabric store gave a class in "fabric knitting". In the class we knitted a short sleeve sweater and made a matching skirt. Immediately I got bitten by the "fabric knitting bug" and over the years have experimented with many different fabrics as well as combining fabric strips with yarn. Knitting with fabric is fun and fast. Your sweater needs no blocking and if your fabric is machine washable, so is your sweater.

    The best fabrics to use are light weight cottons and china silk if you wish to knit a short sleeve or sleeveless top. For vests or jackets you can use a heavier fabric--I have used raw silk and denim. In picking your fabric remember that fabric knits up much heavier than the original fabric. The best-looking sweaters are made from the most garish of fabrics--the more bright colors the better. As you are cutting the fabric into strips the printed fabric pattern is totally lost, so don't let that concern you. For this reason it is best not to use a tiny print as it will be totally lost.

    DO NOT USE A FABRIC THAT HAS A "WHITE" SIDE as you will utilize both sides of the fabric when knitting. Also do not use a loosely woven fabric such as voile or gauze, as it tends to fall apart in the knitting process.

    Start by folding your fabric so that you have 4-6 layers and start cutting. Your strips DO NOT NEED TO BE CUT ON THE BIAS. Do not measure before cutting your strips, but eyeball the width. When the fabric is knitted the fact that the strips may vary in width does not show. Your strips should be a fat 1/4 inch or a skinny centimeter. If your strips are too narrow, they will break easily when your sweater is worn--remember that we are actually weakening the fabric by cutting it into strips. To cut your strips quickly, a rotary cutter is very useful, although a sharp pair of sewing shears do well also.

    Tie your strips together, roll into a ball, and begin knitting using a size 15 needle or any needle that will give you a knitting gauge of 2 stitches per inch. When you knit your swatch to determine your gauge, cast on 16 stitches and knit a 3-6 inch swatch.

    The knots with their butterfly-like tails can provide a decorative touch for a sporty outfit, or the knots can be kept to the inside if you wish.

    I have also combined one strand of yarn with a strand of fabric and have come up with some great sweaters. With a heavier cotton or raw silk I have used 3-ply weight yarns and with china silk I used a silky poly yarn. Lighter weight yarns are better as heavier yarns will change your knitting gauge. Yarn is also a welcome addition, used as ribbing for your sweaters.

    The amount of fabric needed is as follows: fabric width=44 inches:
    short sleeve pullover: 5 yards, sleeveless pullover: 4 yards; vest: 4 yards.

    You can use any pattern as long as it is very simple. When I had my fabric company I sold patterns for a short sleeve pullover, a sleeveless pullover, as well as a vest. If anyone needs a pattern I can send you a copy of mine. In the States they sold for $10 each but would be happy to send them out for NIS 20 each or all three for NIS 50.

    Shalom and happy knitting, Kesam

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    [Avital: When I did Jennifer's profile, I rewrote the answers in prose form. I decided to leave Donna's profile as question and answer.]

    MEMBER PROFILE: DONNA
    Q: Where are you from?
    Donna: I grew up in Rockland County, NY, when it was still farm country and was considered exotic because my grandparents came from Russia instead of dating back to the Dutch or the Mayflower. Freddy [husband] and I lived in San Francisco for 12 years--which was where he grew up.

    Q: How long have you been in Israel?
    Donna: I met my husband on the bus to our first Ulpan in 1969. He left in 1972--high American lottery number and the student exemption expiring here. I left in 1973. We floated in and out as often as we could, did not move to Yamit which I had checked out in 1975 when it was getting going. We spent the summer of 1980 on Moshav Amirim, were accepted and then had every house deal fall through--and we moved to Jerusalem in 1987. We spent 2 years in Cleveland for a lot of reasons and then came back.

    Q: Where do you live now?
    Donna: In Ein Kerem in Jerusalem--pure delight for us and not so much for teenagers. We have owned the house since 1986. We rented in more central places until about 5 years ago.

    Q: Tell me a bit about your family (how many kids, dogs, pet spiders).
    Donna: We have 3 children--the oldest is married and in NYC, due to return in July. She is 25. The next is our 22-year-old son who is studying in the U.S. and is planning on getting married next September in Ohio. The youngest is 12--Vanessa--she was my reward for moving here and has been a joy and a delight since day one--perhaps the plus of one last baby. Besides my own children for a variety of reasons we have had a lot of teenagers living with us and I will spare you the details--however even though I have no biological grandchildren--I am accumulating honorary ones at a rapid pace. we are down to two fish and one very neurotic small dog named Gloria. The fish seem bionic--they have survived every imaginable level of neglect.

    Q: What do you do for a living or how do you spend your days?
    Donna: Mostly I am a bum. I take some classes. I took a course for lactation consulting and am considering working seriously--or less seriously--as the case may be. I do have private clients but not so many that my life style has changed much.

    Q: How long have you been knitting? Who taught you?
    Donna: I started knitting when I was 4 or 5. The maid taught me--she also helped me design clothes for my Miss Revlon Doll--predating Barbie (ha!) and then she helped me sew them.

    Q: What kind of knitting interests you the most?
    Donna: I went through a very long phase of instant gratification stuff. Now I am rather into cables and lace interspersed with mindless or baby stuff (see above). Knitting is mostly an extension of myself--almost like I have needleholders instead of hands. I can't explain it--I always have something going and I can't imagine being without. I have humiliated endless kids by knitting on class trips, etc. There is not a parents' committee, etc., that I haven't knit through. I kind of wish I had more memorable qualities but I guess....

    Q: What other fiber things do you do?
    Donna: I crochet, I needlepoint, I sew with a machine, I occasionally cross stitch--less with middle-age vision setting in and no reading glasses, I have tatted, done weaving when the stars lined up perfectly.

    Q: How did you find out about the Guild?
    Donna: I was on the Knitlist from something like 1994 [note: in Cincinnati]. I wrote to some of the Israeli members before I came back--I think the Guild was already happening--and I showed up at Marion's for a meeting and it was pure heaven and there you have it.

    Q: What do you like about it?
    Donna: I really like women (not that I don't like men too). I adore creative women. I passionately adore eccentrics and anyone who is living in Israel does fall into the category of "not mainstream". I also like seeing everyone's work, magazines, being in a room full of busy hands--and through time I have developed far deeper affection for those who come regularly so mostly I am happy to just be with the company. I like that we are all so different.

    Q: Where do you see room for improvement?
    Donna: I actually want to send out a questionnaire so everyone can have input. I feel like we should be more structured but it's not so very much my style. I do think that we need to have "chesed projects" that people commit to. A hand-made item has far more energy and love in it that something manufactured and there is such a need for that kind of giving here. Frankly I would like to see us do some kind of outreach--whether with older Russians who may be willing to knit blanket squares for the different crisis centers in the different cities--as much so they can hold their heads high and know they are making Israel a better place. I'd like to see some kind of project like sending socks or scarves or slippers or hats or something like that to soldiers and have people volunteering in either schools or community centers to teach kids to knit.

    My major gripe with Israel is that it is not a kinder, gentler place and we aren't creating an interdependent society or fostering giving in a totally non-sectarian way. I think that this is something we can facilitate and that we have a lovely tool to use to do it with. I do believe that we can make a difference this way--and since I can really get on a roll on these kinds of things--I will spare all of you--but wouldn't it be nice if the next time Tel Aviv flooded that not only did we have a stash of fun blankets to donate but the system in place to ask for more people to knit and donate time/money for an effort that says I am giving you something that is truly from me.

    And you would not believe how many people come up to me and say they used to knit--I'd love to have a little card to pass out saying whatever we call the project and contact people and just say--hey--start again--here's a minimal thing. (Because ex-knitters always still have some stash and some needles--trust me)--OOPS--I did promise not to wax ad nauseam .

    [Avital adds: A guild card would be a great idea. Today I was in a magazine store and an older woman, Hebrew speaker, got the Vogue Knitting before I did (darn! <g>). In my wretched Hebrew I told her a bit about the Oasis Guild and asked about her knitting but she didn't sound all that interested and I was in a hurry. I remember thinking what a pity that we don't have cards or brochures that we could just push into the hands of unsuspecting strangers browsing the needlework sections of Steimatzky's! The charity knitting would also be a nice idea. When I contacted a nurse/friend at Misgav Ledach years ago, asking whether they needed things like preemie gowns, she sounded amazed that anyone would even suggest such a thing. So I never tried again but maybe there's hope.]

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    ODDS AND ENDS, by Marian
    My son found the yarnstore in Zurich where I first made the acquaintance of wooden needles. He returned this week with a large assortment of straights, dps and circulars all in various woods or bamboo. I now have the address of this store plus fax and phone numbers and the owner's English is a bit poor, but I think she would handle a fax order just fine. She carries a huge assortment of Swiss yarns and my son said it was quite impressive. Lang, Froelich and others are for sale. Son brought home some sock yarns too including a new one to me called Tiran by SommerWolle. This seems excellent quality and like the other Swiss sock yarns, has reinforcement inside. He also brought the latest Lang magazine and I found it very boring, being almost entirely those bulky yarns that you can't do anything with.

    Handart is the name of the store and the owner is Marianne Eberle.
    Address:
    Neumarkt 10
    8001 Zurich
    Telephone: 01-251 5757; fax: 01 261 24 91.

    The bamboo dps he brought me are called Iris and they are really top quality, better than anything I've bought before. The circs are made by Holz Stein in Duisburg. This might be Germany. First time I bought them in rosewood and this time son came back with 2 in ebony or Ebenholz. They came in 80 cm size although the label shows that the other sizes are 40, 60,100 and 120 cm. I got sizes 3.00 and 4.00 mm. She didn't have dps in anything but the bamboo. The straights came in various kinds of wood and all kinds of sizes from 2.5 mm to7 mm. The circs are excellent quality. I don't know the prices as my DS wouldn't let me pay him. But I figure they are a lot cheaper than buying them in the states; not cheap, but cheaper anyway.

    Yesterday I got the new Knitwell catalog. They are also online http://www.knitwell.co.uk . I have previously ordered from them mainly the Greenhowe doll patterns. I have discovered that their prices are sometimes a bit higher than my other source Jaycraft. But this year they are selling Jaeger matchmaker DK and 4 ply which is 100% wool. In addition they also carry Wendy merino DK and 4 ply and a very good Wendy Aran on a cone. However, last year I found this significantly cheaper from Jaycraft: jcraft@nascr.net . However, the catalog does have pictures of most of the new English patterns. If you want their catalog, I suggest you check their Web site for their address.

    I went back to eBay this month and found a few new vendors out there. One is Smiley's Yarns but the one I am excited about is a guy called Aram Paquin who has a yarnstore in Mass. His wife Kathleen designs for Ironstone. What makes him different from all the others are several factors. He goes around buying up yarns cheap and when he sells them on eBay, he sells them by the kilo which means you can definitely make a large sweater from it. Also, he buys quality yarns. When you look at his offerings, he has excellent photos and great descriptions. Finally, although not Jewish, he is definitely pro-Israeli and likes to chat on email.

    I have found some great Arans to buy and was able to bid successfully for what I consider to be great prices. My latest purchase was a kilo of Sunbeam Aran in a baby blue that I got for $24. Aram has decided he will take credit cards and mail to Israel. The only reason I'm telling you about him is that I think for now I'm sated. His e-mail is apaquin@gis.net .

    Marcia Ben Menachem in Arad tells me she is going to buy a computer soon and get on-line. Marcia is a great shopper rivaling me so I guess we'll be seeing her emails shortly and watching her top my eBay bids too. I don't think she has a LYS where she lives.

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    SHORT NOTES

    "How To" Web sites for knitters (Avital)
    Deb Bodmer originally posted this on several fiber lists (reprinted here with permission). I have checked all the URLs and can say that they were all valid as of 12/11/00.

  • Learning to Knit (right or left hand holding wool): http://marketplace.xtra.co.nz/isroot/KnittingStore/knit/index.htm
    http://www.wonderful-things.com/newknit.htm (right hand only)
    http://www.bhg.com/crafts/techniques/knittingbasics/basics.html
    http://www.vogueknitting.com/tech/tech.html (animated knitting techniques)
    http://www.dnt-inc.com/barhtmls/knittech.html (learn to knit video
    instruction)
    http://www.fiberartshop.com/knclbg.htm

  • knit stitch, purl stitch: http://marketplace.xtra.co.nz/isroot/KnittingStore/knit/basic.htm
  • backwards loop and knitted-on cast-on: http://marketplace.xtra.co.nz/isroot/KnittingStore/knit/caston.htm
  • knitted-on cast on: http://learntoknit.com/instructions_kn.php3
  • tubular cast on & cast off (plus other techniques) http://flor.freeservers.com/tips.htm
  • Knit into the front and back of the first stitch, illustrated as "Inc 1" http://marketplace.xtra.co.nz/isroot/KnittingStore/knit/increase.htm
  • "single cast on": http://marketplace.xtra.co.nz/isroot/KnittingStore/knit/caston.htm
  • raised increase: http://marketplace.xtra.co.nz/isroot/KnittingStore/knit/increase.htm
  • lifted increase: http://marketplace.xtra.co.nz/isroot/KnittingStore/knit/increase.htm
  • duplicate stitch: http://www.serve.com/marbeth/duplicate_stitch.html
  • picking up stitches: http://www.cybertours.com/borealis/pickupst.htm
  • grafting: http://flor.freeservers.com/tips1.htm
  • k2tog: http://marketplace.xtra.co.nz/isroot/KnittingStore/knit/decrease.htm

  • Encarta Online Links to information about our favorite fibers (Jennifer)
    Wool: http://beta.encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=761560402
    Cotton: http://beta.encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=761562256
    Silk: http://beta.encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=761565526

    and one for fun: http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/noreen.html (this URL was contributed by Sharon Abrial)

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    Sending this newsletter to others (Avital)
    If you have a friend who would like to receive this newsletter, let me know and I'll add the e-mail address to the newsletter address list. I send out the newsletter using BCC, so you will not have to wade through dozens of addresses in the header.
    PayPal (Jennifer)
    PayPal, the on-line payment service ( http://www.paypal.com ), now accepts Israeli credit cards. [Avital: Good news for you eBay addicts!]
    Georgian fiber art exhibit (Avital)
    There is a exhibit of contemporary Georgian fiber art (weavings, embroideries, tapestries, mixed materials) by 15 artists, graduates of the Academy of Art in Tbilisi. They are attempting to revive traditional techniques and themes, using wool, cotton, felt and other textiles. Seamgallery, Moshav Megadim, Hof Carmel. Till Dec. 2. (seen in the Jerusalem Post)
    Announcements from the Israel Designer Craftsmen Association (Jennifer)
    An international exhibition called "Jacquard Weaving--A Renewed Tradition" will open on Motzei Shabbat, 16/12/00, 19:00, at the Gaston de Pere French Cultural Center, 4 Eliyau Hakim St., French Carmel, Haifa. Participating will be 30 artists from 11 countries. Visiting hours on Monday, 10:00-14:00. Exhibition closes 5/1/01.

    Two discussion days will be held, in conjunction with the Israel Ceramics Guild's Biennial, at Museum Eretz Israel (2 Haim Levanon St., TA, 03-5774040) on 31/11/00 and 1/12/00.

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    PATTERN

    Dreidel (Sevivon), by Heather Broadhurst (contributed by Jennifer)

    [With permission from Heather Broadhurst, who adds that the original was done with worsted weight yarn on size 6 dpns]

    Knitted ornament for Hanukkah

    Sue Caskey asked about a knitted ornament for a Jewish co-worker--how about a dreidel? Blue and/or white or silver would be more traditional than gold but what the heck? Anyhow, I've been playing with the idea as a cute way to wrap Hanukkah presents. All you're looking at is a box with a four-sided pyramid at the bottom.

    I did one with this as a rough guide (forgive me for lousy pattern writing):

    Cast on 8 stitches.

    Knit in stocking st. until the piece reaches 1" (or desired length)

    Cable cast on 20 more stitches

    Divide on to 4 needles, join and begin a sequence of knit 6, purl 1 until sides reach 1" (or desired length).

    Next round -- k5, (slip 2 knitwise [the 1st stitch to be slipped will be the purl stitch] k1, p2sso, k4)3x (slip 2 knitwise (the 1st stitch to be slipped will be the purl stitch) k1, p2sso (20 stitches)

    Next round knit

    Next round k3, (slip 2 knitwise k1, p2sso, k2) 3x, slip 2 knitwise k1, p2sso (12 stitches)

    Next round knit

    Next round k1, (slip 2 knitwise, k1, p2sso)4x (4 stitches)

    Cut yarn, thread through remaining stitches pull up and knot on inside.

    Stuff with whatever, sew top flap to sides and thread string through center of top to hang.

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    © The Oasis Knitting Guild, 2000. "The Electronic Camel" is edited and distributed by Avital to members of the Oasis Knitting Guild at the end of each month. In order to include your stories and announcements, please try to submit them to mspinnik@mscc.huji.ac.il no later than the 25th of each month (civil calendar).