This week, I share a pattern for a round ice bag and chat with Cheryl Oberle.
The ice bag's shape is modeled on the Bonjour Baby Beret. There are some structural changes, and it's smaller, but the shape is very much the same.
Just for you, gentle audience, I made my very first twisted cord. I don't know why I put it off for so long. To avoid it, I even played with making Monk's cord with instructions from my Good Housekeeping New Complete Book of Needlecraft. If you're interested in torturing yourself, too, take a look at page 59. I seriously struggled, and finally gave up, on this. Maybe I'm not as patient as a monk.
For a standard twisted cord, start with a length of yarn four times longer than your desired cord. I wanted a double-thick cord, so I started with 8 times longer - or about 10 feet. Fold your length of yarn in half and attach one half to a stationary object. You could even have someone patient hold that end for you. I looped my yarn around the handle of a cabinet. Twist your cord, in one direction, as tight as you have the patience for. I sat in a chair and rolled the cord between my hand and my leg about 6 or 7 times. Take the loose end of your cord and bring it up to the fixed end. Basically, you are folding the cord in half. It should twist up on itself, releasing the energy you put into it when you twisted it. Unhook or cut off the fixed end of your cord and tie a knot in it. Tie a knot in the other end.
Links
Cheryl Oberle's Books and Patterns and yarns are on her website.
Ravelry Links:
Eulogy for Pine Meadow Knitting News (ceased publication in 2003)
