How Do You Carry Your Project Directions on the Go? Think, "Cell Phone"

I like to take my craft projects with me everywhere in case I have some downtime to put to good use. But I always have a problem keeping up with my directions and instructions: they get creased, stained, torn, or just disintegrate from all the handling and folding. Sometimes project directions get let behind in the briefcase, the backpack, the car, on or under the conference table, lost under the table in the restaurant or coffee bar, or forgotten at home. In short, I've had the devil's own time keeping up with my project directions. I sure others can tell this same tale - we all do it.

My greatest project failure occurred because of misplaced instructions: I left the pattern for a knitted Chanel-type suit, printed in a rare, vintage European craft magazine, no less, in the airport in Johannesburg, SA, so there was no replacing it. I did try to work it from memory, thinking I could remember the pattern sequence I'd worked through for three of the five pieces to the garment - a disaster that I paid for with 3 hours of carefully ripping out 10 inches of work in a mohair blend yarn. I finally abandoned the project in despair.

But that doesn't happen to me any more - I stumbled on a simple solution that has worked wonders for my knitting on-the-go: I upgraded my cell phone.

Did you know you can use your smart phone to carry your project directions, mark up your pattern, and take notes? Well you can! 

It's particularly easy if the phone has a flexible operating system. The 'I just traveled a thousand miles and my pattern instructions are on my coffee table at home' revelation is one I have had one too many times and want never to experience again. It's annoying. and can be fatal to the completion of an otherwise wonderful knitting project. One way to get around it is to pack a laptop around, but that's extra weight, and another bag to carry on or check - can I get a 'no thank you'?

Here's the thing: I got a smart phone with my last upgrade, so I could keep track of EMAIL, access 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, and keep a calendar. The phone's extra features, including expandable memory, were something I rarely used, except to feed my Sudoku addiction, or play music. Then, I started playing with the office document functions, and found the phone also had Adobe Acrobat and two eBook readers, along with a notepad application and calculator - and THAT's where I found my solution. 

I download patterns now, rather than handle paper, and scan printed patterns that I like into my computer so I don't lose them. Then I load the one I want to work on into my phone using a memory card. Now, using my smartphone, I can carry my crafting patterns and instructions for my latest projects on it when I’m on the go! And those of you with texting phones: this might work for some of you, too!

Anyone who has a smart phone has access to something similar; nowadays, most do have something for document handling, even if it’s proprietary. The eBook formats used today originated with the Palm phones and PDAs, so it's a given that Palms are eBook-friendly, as are the Nokias, iPhones, Motorolas, or RIM Blackberries. WindowsOS phones have MSWord, of course, and probably Adobe Acrobat, and there are more and more apps available, daily for AndroidOS phones. As for those of you with iPads, Kindles, Sony, Nook, or other pad eReaders, this also applies - all you need is to get the pattern into a compatible format, (something I'll address later).

First, check the installed apps on your phone so you know what you can use. My Nokia smart phone gives me lots of choices: PDF, Mobipocket Reader, eReader and MSWord, for example. But if you can't find anything for document handling on your phone, you can get an app from several sources: if you use iTunes, you can search for an app there, Blackberry has its own app store or you can check the Crackberry site (love them both!), 

If that fails, you can go to the Mobipocket Reader site for a free reader and document creator (for formatting) - they support most of the major cell phone operating systems, as well as Win XP, Vista, MacOS, and Linux for your computer. As I mentioned earlier, I've got a Nokia smartphone (SymbianOS) - they have an app site at ovistore.com . There's also a free eBook software for the phone and desktop at eReader.com and they have a version specifically for AndroidOS phones. The Android Market (accessed from your android phone) may have additional options for you.

As for pattern formatting, the first thing to do, is determine if the pattern designer or publisher has an eBook version or if they furnish electronic versions of their patterns for download. If eBook formatted files are available, you're good, or if you can get an electronic version of the pattern in Word or PDF, and your phone can't read it, there are several ways to get it formatted so it CAN be read. For example, there's a website that can convert electronic documents to eBook formats: online-ConVert.com, You can save the converted document to your PC for transfer or Emailing to your phone.

For Printed patterns, you may choose to do your own conversions to eBook formatting, like I have. If you do, be aware of the publisher's and author's copy rights, so that you don't get yourself in a jam by posting altered versions of others' copyrighted material on the web without their permission. Knowing that, you can scan paper patterns and convert digital ones.

I have a scanner with high-end optical character recognition (OCR) at home, that I use  to convert paper patterns, using the procedure below

1. scan the pattern and run the scan through OCR, 
2. check the position of the figures and correct if need be,   

If your pattern is in Word or Word Perfect format, you can skip steps 1 and 2 above. In any case, once you have a digital copy, you can proceed.

1. build a PDF file by printing the file using Adobe Acrabat full version, or the free CutePDF writer with Adobe Acrobat Reader,
2. run the PDF file through online-Convert.com or the Mobipocket Creator app,
3. transfer the eBook to the phone on a memory stick, microSD card, or use the computer to sync it.

The results are … FABULOUS! I am happily crafting away wherever I go, and I always have my instructions at hand.

Well, Starting up again ....Adventures in Hat-Making

It's a sunny Tuesday morning in T-Town (but cold) and I'm back to blogging again. I'm in a much better place than I was a year ago. I’m still unemployed, and it's looking likely that it isn't going to change. I'm considered too old, you see. But that's OK, as long as I have my knitting, I'll be fine.

I've been making hats, and trying out several versions of Newsboy caps in knitted and crocheted versions. The thing is, I've found little issues with each one, so I'm using the best features from each of the three I like best, and adding little tweaks of my own, to make something I like. I’ve included a photo of my first completed hat, in crochet below. I still don't like it, but it's starting to get to where I want it to be.  

That said, I'll publish the finished pattern here, when I'm satisfied. I’m a lefty – so in deference for any right-handed readers, there will be two versions posted.

As for some of the patterns I'm testing:

·         On the Berocco.com website, there are patterns knit and crochet patterns available. You can reach the free knit version, KAP, by clicking here.  If you don't want to use a chunky yarn as they did, you can use double strands of worsted weight to get the same gauge, but your cap will be stiffer and heavier. Berocco’s crochet version is included in one of their booklets for purchase: #233 - the cap is called Newsgirl. I've knitted the sweater (shown with Newsgirl) in a slightly longer length than it was designed for – but I LOVE that one!

·         Here's another nice knitted newsboy cap at suite101.com . I didn’t like it at all when I finished it; I’m not sure if it was the yarn, or if I just need be certain that I changed some things in the directions correctly – I’m left-handed, and I have to remember to switch how dec and inc, cables, etc. are made to get the same outcome, because all published patterns are right-handed. It took a while for me to get that, which was not until I made a one-way patterned sweater that was very specific about which sleeve (both unique) went where. the sleeves were knitted in the round, which meant I couldn't just swap them; I had to re-knit them,

·         There's a cool-looking crochet hat on the Lionbrand.com website: pattern #50768, also in a chunky weight yarn. You'll have to register, first, on their site to see it. You'll not regret registering, however, because there are some wonderful patterns - free - on their website.  Lionbrand doesn't take down patterns for which the original yarn has been discontinued, either - something I love. I like to modify the patterns to expand the size range, or adapt for figure flaws/details anyway, so yarn substitution is a piece of cake. I use a lot of Lionbrand's patterns, and have never had an issue substituting other yarns for theirs if I wished, therefore. Sometimes, I want to use bamboo, corn, silk, or hemp yarns that Lionbrand doesn't carry. 

·         Finally, this is the pattern I started off working with, at Hook, Yarn, and Needles (HY & N). I'm a tight crocheter, so it took a lot of trial and error (and another new ball of yarn) before I found the right combination to get that look.  Even then, I didn't quite like how it turned out, so I've developed my own design, working from that base. I've given the second generation hat away, so no pic, but here's the original from the HY & N pattern, as written, after I got the gauge and sizing 'right'. I'll make another Gen2 with the changes I've made and post it.  Below is the hat made from the HY & N pattern, without the ridges.

I can share these changes incorporated in this hat: 

• Instead of using cardboard for the hat brim, I tested buckram (traditionally used to make and stiffen hats), Peltex Ultra interfacing, and plastic canvas. Plastic canvas or cardboard are the preferred stiffener in most patterns, but these are problematic for washing your hat or dry-cleaning. The buckram made for a nicely shaped, flexible hat brim, but it can lose its shape if washed. The Peltex is thicker and stiffer than the buckram, but is washable, and takes dryer heat well. The drawback there is that the brim is thicker that I had anticipated, so I'm reshaping the brim to accommodate it. That’s all for now, but there’s more to come. Stay tuned!