You may remember a few posts ago I talked about the amazing National Geographic Genographic Project which traces human migration across the globe. Steve and I submitted our DNA to add to the database, and also to find out what our roots are.

The results are in! Let’s just say it was a really long walk. All of us can be traced back to Africa 150,000 years ago. Then various groups wandered off in different directions. My people trudged off to West Africa and hung out there for a long time. Then, about 80,000 years ago, one of my matrilineal ancestors had a DNA mutation and eventually her clan headed north. We wandered into the Mediterranean region, and may have even met up with a Neandertal or two. (I wish I could ask them!)

Finally we get to the branch of my tree which split off about 50,000 years ago with another mutation. My matrilineal line crossed the Caucasus Mountains in Southern Russia – a tough hike and one I can’t imagine making unless ice cream had been invented and was just on the other side.

The Genographic Project produced a very detailed report of our DNA, including which genes mutated along the way and a map of our ancestors’ migrations. If you’re geeky like me, you will love participating in the Genographic Project. It’s fascinating!

Don’t you hate it when you lovingly knit a scarf, only to have it worn with the wrong side showing? My book will be a resource for reversible scarves, using a variety of techniques. “Mixer” comes from the chapter showcasing simple knit/purl patterns. I love the jaunty scalloped ends (if I do say so myself) and the great Cascade 220 Citron color.

My book is available for pre-order (see the sidebar at right). If you order the printed book, you’ll also receive the digital version. The digital version alone is also available.

Photo by Caro Sheridan

]]> http://audknits.com/2012/04/book-sneak-peek-mixer/feed/ 0 http://audknits.com/2012/04/a-touch-of-spring/ http://audknits.com/2012/04/a-touch-of-spring/#comments Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:11:26 +0000 AudKnits http://audknits.com/?p=3113 Plum Tree

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If you don’t already, I encourage you to subscribe to my YouTube channel. No surprise here, it’s called the AudKnits channel. I hope you find the videos helpful!

Gwen’s workshop had something for everyone. The new skill for me? Using plastic canvas to add structure to a project. The pace of instruction made it so we could follow along, without getting overwhelmed. And we ended up with a versatile, cute little project at the end (or at least one we could finish up at home).

Gwen’s teaching style is clear, and she makes it a lot of fun.

For people coming from out of town, the workshop included accommodations at the Cambria Pines Lodge. It was the perfect location. It’s beautiful, set in the pines overlooking the village of Cambria. We had our own dedicated room for the workshop, and our own dining room as well. Kris and Oz greeted us at breakfast every morning.

Kris welcomed us into the shop Friday night for a special shopping spree. While most people ended up with armloads of gorgeous hand-dyed yarn, I finally gave in to temptation and bought a set of Addi Clicks lace needles – the ones with the very cool slit in the cord for carrying a life line.

The meals in our Very Own Dining Room gave the students a chance to get to know each other. On Saturday, we were treated to an extraordinary dinner at the local Madeline’s restaurant. Not only was the food and camaraderie fantastic, but we got to learn about Oz’s talents with a blow torch. If you want to find out what THAT was all about, you’re just going to have to come to the workshop yourself next year!

Every so often I get inquiries about how to work lace and/or charts. As a reminder, you can find an excellent (if I do say so myself) blurb in the Tips & Techniques section of my web site about how to work with charts. I like to use Post-It Notes to keep track of my place on a chart, but Ishbel’s chart is too wide. Highlighter tape comes to the rescue! I know some people like to put the tape right over the line they’re working on, but I’m so set in my ways, I put it just above the line just like I do when using the sticky notes.

Next comes the use of markers. Here’s my philosophy – either I can use markers, counting stitches as I go and fixing mistakes early on, or I can skip them, make mistakes way back in the work, then have to rip back to fix them when eventually I find my count is off, and be grumpy for an extended period of time. No thanks! I put markers every three repeats in Ishbel, giving me a manageable number of stitches to count. The pattern makes it so I have to shift the markers frequently, but that’s a small price to pay for peace of mind. The coffee bean marker tells me, “Wake up – you’re coming to the center section!” The center is worked differently than the repeats.

Another anxiety reliever is the life line. That’s the contrasting color you can see in the photo. I’ve already had to rip back to the life line, and was very glad it was there! I’ll move it up at the end of the section I’m working on, so it’ll be ready to save the day again if needed.

If you’re new to lace and charts, or just needed a refresher, I hope you found this helpful!

Enter my favorite new sanity saver, the Knit Evenly Calculator app.

Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and requiring iOS 4.0 or later, the app is an ingenious tool for figuring those tricky “knit evenly” instructions. It’s very simple to tell the calculator whether you’re working with increases or decreases, and whether you’re knitting in the round or flat. You type in the number of stitches you’re increasing/decreasing across, then tell it the number of increases/decreases you’ll need…

and it tells you the answer, in your choice of formats  - a simple spacing out between two given stitch counts to either side, or the more complicated but also more evenly distributed :

Being the stickler type, I favor Option 2, the more evenly distributed method. The calculator not only shows me the written instructions, but also gives me a way to keep track of which increase I’m on. I just set my iPhone or iPad next to me, and touch the little red squares each time I complete a step. See the little arrow above the third square? That indicates where I am in the instructions. As I finish a step, the little light turns red, and the pointer automatically advances to the next step. Very cool, and well worth the $1.99 price!

Resources:

Knit Evenly Calculator by JAKRO SOFT LLC

 I found some cute buttons.

I love the sweater’s swingy nature.

Resources:

February Lady Sweater pattern on Ravelry

Pam Wynne’s web page of  FLS modifications

Buttons were bought at the delightful Yarns at the Adobe in San Luis Obispo

Each kit includes a map and DVD telling about the Genographic Project and what’s been discovered to date. The story of the science and research is absolutely astounding!

By submitting samples of our DNA, using a simple swab inside our cheeks, the Project will tell us the story of our own ancestors’ migration. The Project is careful to explain that no medical research is done on the DNA, and all the samples are anonymous. Nor are the results genealogical. They simply tell us where our ancestors came from, going back thousands of years. Let’s just say it involved a whole lot of walking over the centuries! Our samples will help add data points the the project to help complete the picture of the human family tree.

How is this possible? Mutations have occurred over the centuries in certain markers in DNA. They take place in a specific order, which means the switches in markers can be tracked back over time. Even where physical archaeological evidence has been wiped out by glaciers and/or rising water levels along the oceans, the changes in DNA help to track populations’ wanderings across the globe.

The kits come with unique identification codes which we use to track our samples on the website. My DNA is now being isolated, which means its going through some chemical washing and soaking. The next step is the analysis. I can’t wait to find out where my ancient ancestors migrated from!

There are some good YouTube videos if you’d like to explore further, starting with this introduction:

The kit can be ordered here: https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/lan/en/participate.html

The interview aired on Wednesday evening on Phoenix 3TV News, on the 3 On Your Side segment. I’m at the beginning and end. You can watch it here:

Stephannie and I also have In common that we’re part of Knit Picks Independent Designer Program. Here’s me in my brand new February Lady Sweater, Stacey from Knit Picks, and Stephannie. Stephannie is wearing her gorgeous Wrought Iron Cardi from her upcoming book.

]]> http://audknits.com/2012/01/tnna-phoenix/feed/ 0 http://audknits.com/2012/01/proof-its-genetic/ http://audknits.com/2012/01/proof-its-genetic/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:38:16 +0000 AudKnits http://audknits.com/?p=2836 My cousin sent me ancestral family photos recently. I had to laugh when I came across this one of my paternal grandmother’s aunt. Some things never change!

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