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Diary of a Placemat
Day 1 - New placemats
1:00 pm
Dear Diary. I have a problem - After lunch today I notice that my current placemats have lost their luster. They are looking kind-of shabby. I decide to replace them.
1:30 pm
·Solution - Buy or Make replacement placements Buying would be easier and faster, but knitting a placemat that I designed would be much interesting and fun. I'd get exactly what I want to match my kitchen décor, and I'd learn something about designing aswell.
2:30 pm
Placemat Analysis I study my kitchen and kitchen table. I have a round kitchen table (not to scale) It can seat 4 people comfortably. My kitchen colors are primarily beige. I'm not going for any pop of color.
Placemat (not to scale) I think about my placemat for the day. What would excite me?
Copyright 2014 Cnotta Knits. For personal use only. Allrights reserved. Questions, usage questions, please contact the designer at knitsbyconnie@yahoo.com
Page 2 of 10
Day 2 - Design Elements for the Placemat
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Design Elements
Dear Diary I think about the key design elements for my placemat to be.
| Element | Specifications | Comments |
| Shape | Rectangle | Universal placemat shape |
| Size | 17" wide x 12" high | Like a picture frame |
| Yarn | Cotton, Lily Sugar'n Cream or similar | Easy to clean and practical |
| Color | Ecru | Nice washable, goes with anything color. |
| Gauge | 14sts = 4" = 23 rows 3.5sts = 1" = 5.75 rows On US # 6 needles. | Dislike gauge swatches. I the gauge from knitting dish cloths. |
| Needles | Cast on and Cast off - US # 9 Body for work - US #6 | From past experience I've found that in cotton my cast on and cast offs are usually tight, so I need to use bigger needles so that the cast on and cast off are not too tight. |
| Special stitches | Borders - Borders on the top and bottom and side edges. Select a stitch pattern that will allow the edges of the rectangle to lay flat Body - Very simple lace to give some interest and character. Other stitches that will lay flat. |
Why rectangle? Easy to shape; Why the size? I can get 4 placements of this size to fit my round table. Why the yarn? I like how cotton knits up and looks on a kitchen table. Why the color? Ecru is like beige, as close to white without being antiseptic. Why the needles? In this situation it was all about gauge, gauge, and gauge. That's enough for day 2. Day 3 will be a big day. I need to figure out the border and body stitch patterns.
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Day 3 - Placemat Border Pattern
10:30 am
Dear Diary, This is the fun day. I get to lay out the big picture for my placem Fo get a placemat that is 17 inches wide by 12 inches high with my gauge gauges out to be: · Width: 17 inches x 3.5 sts/inch = 59.5 sts. Rounding up to 60 sts. ● Height: 12 inches x 5.75 rows/inch = 69 rows. [Sts.] = stitches [G. St.] = Garter Stitch = Knit every row
| 6 Rows G. St. ~ 1 inch | ||
| 4 sts in G. St. | BodyH Pattern G St. ~ 1 inch | 4 sts in G. St. |
| 4 sts in G. St. | 4 sts in G. St. | |
| 4 sts in G. St. | 4 sts in | |
| 5 Rows | G. St. | |
11:30 am
Border
I must design the Border. I want the knit in border to frame the body of the placement, and I want the border to lay flat. What are my choices for a lay flat knit fabric that will not curl? Curl is when the knit fabric rolls in on itself and does not lay flat. The fabric may continue to curl even after blocking. Flat knit fabrics that come to mind are: Garter stitch, Seed Stitch comes to mind quickly. I decide my border will be knit in Garter Stitch. Knit every row. I did not choose seed stitch (alternate knit and purl in the same row, and knit the purl and purl the knit on the next row) because that would interfere with the body pattern, that as yet I have not chosen. To get the border to lay flat on the ends, I decide to have a 1 stitch selvedge. I willslip the first stitch of every row as if to purl. [S1P = Slip 1" purl wise] Why 5 rows G st? I want at least 1 inch on the top and bottom border. My row gauge is 1" = 5.75 rows. It's not really possible to get 3/4"h of a row. So I round the 5.75 rows to 6 rows. I count the cast on as 1 row. So that is why I only need 5 more rows in G. St for the bottom border. 1 + 5 = 6. For the top border I just knit 6 rows in Gt. St. the bind off row is a bit thinner than the cast off row. Why 4 stitches in G st for the side borders? My stitch gauge is 3.5sts = 1". It's not really possible to get / stitches. So I round the 3.5 st to 4. This is why I knit 4 sts in G. St for the side borders. Copyright 2014 Cnotta Knits. For personal use only. All rights reserved. Questions, usage questions, please contact the designer at knitsbyconnie@yahoo.com
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Day 4 - Placemat Body Pattern
4:00 pm
Dear Diary, Having figured out the border, now it's time to figure out the body pattern. What is the width and height of the body? Width is to be 17 inches. I've already used 2 inches (1 inch x 2) for the side borders, so that leaves 15 inches width for the body. 60 sts - 8sts = 52 sts for body pattern Height is to be 12 inches. I've already used 2 inches (1 inch x 2) for the top and bottom borders, to that leaves 10 inches for the height of the body. 69 rows - 11 rows = 58 rows for body pattern ·15 inches width x 10 inches height. What shall my body pattern be? [St. St.] = Stockinette Stitch = Knit 1 row, Purl next rc [Chart 1] = Stitch pattern for Chart 1 [Chart 2] = Stitch pattern for Chart 2
4:30 pm
Main Simple Chevron lace pattern
Recall day 1's elements. I wanted a stitch pattern that had a little lace to i · I found a 15 sts by 20 rows chevron lace pattern. It's a simple lace pattern, easy to follow, and adds interest. The 20 rows give approximately at 3.3 inches in height. I'll need 3 repeats of the chevron lace pattern to get the 10 inches in height. 3.3 x 3 = 9.9 inches, rounded up to 10 inches. · One chevron points to the left, Chart A, and one chevron points to the right, Chart B.
5:00 pm
Pattern panels
· I'd like to separate those 2 chevron sections with a simple St. st panel. I've got 22 sts to play with. I'd like the center panel to be a tad smaller than the chevron's, say 10 sts. 22 sts - 10 sts = 12 sts. That leaves 12 sts for the 2 panels. So I divide 12 by 2, leaving 6 sts for the Other 2 panels. · 12 sts - 12 sts = 0 sts. I've used up all of my 52 body sts.
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7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Laying the Chevrons and st. st. panels out into the following table, I get this st pattern division. I had to fiddle with it a big to get the total stitch count to come out just right. I needed to add and subtract from the st. st. panels. I used the panels as my fudge factor.
| 6 Rows G. St. | ~1 inch | ||||||
| 4 sts in G. St. | 6 sts in St. St. | 15 Sts x 20 rows Chart 2 (repeat 3) | 10 sts in St. St. | 15 Sts x 20 rows Chart 1 (repeat 3) | 6 sts in St. St | 4 sts in G. St. | ~3.3 inch |
| 4 sts in G. St. | 6 sts in St. St | 15 Sts Chart 2 (repeat 2) | 10 sts in St. St. | 15 Sts x 20 rows Chart 1 (repeat 2) | 6 sts in St. St | 4 sts in G. St. | ~3.3 inch |
| 4 sts in G. St. | 6 sts in St. St | 15 Sts Chart 2 (repeat 1) | 10 sts in St. St. 5 Rows G St. | 15 Sts x 20 rows Chart 1 (repeat 1) | 6 sts in St. St | 4 sts in G. St. | ~3.3 inch |
| ~1 inch | |||||||
Let's see did I get the 12 inches in height? 1 + 3.3 + 3.3 + 3.3 + 1 = 12 inches. Yes. That's enough for today. Time need to take a break. Dear Diary, Tomorrow I'll write out the Chart details for the Chevron pattern.
Page 6 of 10
Day 5 - Chevron Pattern Details
9:00 am
Dear Diary, I found this Chevron patter that has a 15 st repeat for 20 rows. The stitch key is the following. The key should look familiar. K = knit; RS = Right side; p = purl; WS = wrong side; Yo = Yarn over; K2tog = knit 2 together; Ssk = Slip, Slip knit STITCH KEY K on RS, p on WS P on RS, k on WS O Yo K2tog Ssk
9:30 am
Here is Chart 1 written out row by row: Row 1 - ssk, yo, kl, pl, kl, yo, ssk, k4, pl, ssk, yo, kl Row 2 - and all ws rows - p3, k1, p7, kl, p3 Row 3 - ssk, yo, k1, p1, k2, yo, ssk, k3, p1, ssk, yo, k1 Row 5 - ssk, yo, k1, p1, k3, yo, ssk, k2, p1, ssk, yo, kl Row 7 - ssk, yo, k1, p1, k4, yo, ssk, k1, pl, ssk, yo, k1 Row 9 - ssk, yo, kl, pl, k5, yo, ssk, pl, ssk, yo, k1 Row 11 - ssk, yo, kl, pl, k4, k2tog, yo, kl, pl, ssk, yo, k1 Row 13 - ssk, yo, k1, p1, k3, k2tog, yo, k2, p1, ssk, yo, k1 Row 15 - ssk, yo, kl, p1, k2, k2tog, yo, k3, pl, ssk, yo, k1 Row 17 - ssk, yo, kl, pl, k4, k2tog, yo, k4, pl, ssk, yo, kl Row 19 - ssk, yo, kl, p1, k2tog, yo, k5, p1, ssk, yo, k1
Page 7 of 10
10:00 am
Here is Chart 2 written out row by row: Row 1 - ssk, yo, kl, pl, k4, k2tog, yo, k1, pl, ssk, yo, kl Row 2 - and all ws rows - p3, kl, p7, k1, p3 Row 3 - ssk, yo, k1, pl, k3, k2tog, yo, k2, p1, ssk, yo, k1 Row 5 - ssk, yo, kl, p1, k2, k2tog, yo, k3, p1, ssk, yo, kl Row 9 - ssk, yo, k1, pl, k2tog, yo, k5, p1, ssk, yo, k1 Row 11 - ssk, yo, kl, pl, kl, yo, ssk, k4, pl, ssk, yo, kl Row 13 - ssk, yo, kl, pl, k2, yo, ssk, k3, pl, ssk, yo, kl Row 15 - ssk, yo, k1, p1, k3, yo, ssk, k2, p1, ssk, yo, k1 Row 17 - ssk, yo, kl, pl, k4, yo, ssk, kl, pl, ssk, yo, kl Row 19 - ssk, yo, k1, p1, k5, yo, ssk, p1, ssk, yo, k1
CHART 2
10:30 am
Later on I think about other 15 stitch by 20 row patterns I could replace the Chevron pattern with. I scour my knit stitch pattern books and the internet to see if I can find any.
11:00 am
I find the Butterfly Stitch pattern at http://www.knittingonthenet.com/stitches/butterfly.htm. It's a Multiple of 8 + 7. That's 15st wide. That could work! But its 8 rows high. I'd need to do 2 repeats of it which would give 16 rows, but that would be 4 rows short of the total 20 rows in my chevron pattern. I could do 2 extra G. St. rows at the beginning and end of the pattern to get a total of 20 rows (16 + 4) to be an exact substitute for my Chevron pattern. While the butterfly pattern is pretty, I decide to stick with the Chevron pattern.
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Day 6 - Putting it all together
9:00 am
Dear Diary, Recall the big picture diagram.
| 6 Rows G. St. | ~1 inch | ||||||
| 4 sts in G. St. | 6 sts in St. St. | 15 Sts x 20 rows Chart 2 (repeat 3) | 10 sts in St. St. | 15 Sts x 20 rows Chart 1 (repeat 3) | 6 sts in St. St | 4 sts in G. St. | ~3.3 inch |
| 4 sts in G. St. | 6 sts in St. St | 15 Sts Chart 2 (repeat 2) | 10 sts in St. St. | 15 Sts x 20 rows Chart 1 (repeat 2) | 6 sts in St. St | 4 sts in G. St. | ~3.3 inch |
| 4 sts in G. St. | 6 sts in St. St | 15 Sts Chart 2 (repeat 1) | 10 sts in St. St. 5 Rows G St. | 15 Sts x 20 rows Chart 1 (repeat 1) | 6 sts in St. St | 4 sts in G. St. | ~3.3 inch |
| ~1 inch | |||||||
9:30 am
Skill level: Intermediate because of the pattern changes and lace. Finished measurement - Approximately 17 inches wide x 12 inches high
Materials
●Cotton, Lily Sugar 'N Cream, or similar, (2.5 oz./70.9 g; 120 yds./109 m), Ecru, 1 ball ·Needles: U#6 ( mm), US #9 (mm) or size to obtain gauge Tapestry Needle for weaving ends (optional) Markers to use between chart repeats Gauge 3.5 sts = 1" = 5.75 rows or 14 sts = 4" = 23 rows
10:00 am
Note: Slip first stitch purl wise at the start of each row to aide with keep the edge flat. Pattern is worked from charts; using Garter stitch borders left and right edges and top and bottom edges, with the Chevron charts bordered by a Stockinette panel. Copyright 2014 Cnotta Knits. For personal use only. Allrights reserved. Questions, usage questions, please contact the designer at knitsbyconnie@yahoo.com
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Pattern stitch: ● Row 1 (RS) - Sl 1, k3, k6, Chart 1- row 1, k10, Chart 2, k6, k4 · Row 2 (WS) - Sl 1, k3, p6, Chart 2 -row 2, P10, Chart 1, p6, k4 · Rows 3 - 20 - Continue to work pattern from charts, maintaining established pattern.
10:30 am
· Cast 60 sts with US #9 needle using the CO technique of choice. I used a cable cast on. Switch to US # 6 needle Border Rows 1-5: Sl 1 purl wise, k to the end of row. 0 I use this table to check off the rows as they are completed.
| Row 1 | Row 2 | Row 3 | Row 4 | Row 5 |
11:00 am
Body: Work [Pattern stitch rows 1-20] 3 times. o I use this table to check off the rows as they are completed
| Row 1 | Row 2 | Row 3 | Row 4 | Row 5 |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| Repeat 1 done | ||||
| Row 1 | Row 2 | Row 3 | Row 4 | Row 5 |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| Repeat 2 done | ||||
| Row 1 | Row 2 | Row 3 | Row 4 | Row 5 |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| Repeat 3 done | ||||
Unknown time, work on placemat, until finished
Border Rows 1-6: Sl 1 purl wise, k to the end of row. O I use this table to check off the rows as they are compl ·Switch to US #9 needles. Bind off knit wise all stitches until 2 sts remain, k2tog, bind off last st. Cut yarn leaving about 6 inches to weave in. Weave in ends. Lightly block.
| Row 1 | Row 2 | Row 3 | Row 4 | Row 5 | Row 6 |
Copyright 2014 Cnotta Knits. For personal use only. Allrights reserved. Questions, usage questions, please contact the designer at knitsbyconnie@yahoo.com
Page 10 of 10
Day 7 - The Final Pictures
11:00 am
Dear Diary, I quickly take pictures of the unblocked Placemat Front.
And I take a close-up picture of the Placemat corner detail unblocked
Dear Diary. I'm done. I'm pleased with my 1"t ever placemat design.
