Knitting swatch - Lace Insertion - Faggot stitches

I solved a pattern request on Reddit and made a swatch.  Might as well record it here.  Repeat rows 1-4

1.  Was the correct solution to the Reddit user question:
The part in red:

Row 1: K1, (yo, K2tog) 2 times
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: (SSK, yo) 2 times, K1
Row 4: Purl



2. The part in red (includes one more column each side)
Row 1: K2, (K2tog, yo) 2 times, K1
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: K1, (SSK, yo) 2 times, K2
Row 4: Purl

3. The part in red (includes one more column each side)
Row 1: K2, (K2tog, yo) 2 times, K1
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: K1, (K2tog, yo) 2 times, K2
Row 4: Purl

Luggage Lock TSA20 Instruction Manual (Manufactured by Lewis N. Clark, L.C. Industries, Chicago, IL)

While traveling, I had opened the TSA20 lock and unknowingly put it into an unknown mode... I could not pull the shackle up out of the lock and it was stuck in the down mode, but not with the open end of the shackle plugged into the shackle socket.  If I turned it the shackle, it turned the numbers and nothing I did with the numbers allowed me to release the shackle.  I thought it might be in the mode to reset the lock combination. But I didn't have the instructions. I was now unable to use the lock and the instructions were home, not with me. I've posted them here for myself and anyone else who might find them useful.

To solve my immediate problem, I found youtube instructions for how to open a lock if the combination was forgotten, but not how to handle setting the lock combination or how to get out of this mode.  I managed to use the youtube instructions for releasing the lock (I inserted manicure scissors into the key hole and turned 90 degrees and that allowed the keyhole portion to be pulled out of the lock and that seemed to release the whole thing.  Indicates just how easy it is to unlock this lock by anyone with a pair of pointy tweezers or manicure scissors, or a key you can buy on Amazon.).  Anyway, here are the instructions that came with the lock.  Not sure how I got it in the funky mode, but I think I pushed the lock shackle in while the combination was set, but I pushed it in without aligning it to the socket for the shackle--it was slightly off.  Nervous this might happen again.

Wheat Ear Rib Stitch (Knitting)

Flat knitting:
A multiple of 6 stitches, plus 3.
Rows 1 through 4 are the set-up rows.  Rows 5 through 8 are repeated the desired number of times.

Row 1 & 3: p3, *k3, p3; rep from *
Row 2 & 4: k3, *p3, k3; rep from *
Row 5: p3, *wyb, insert right needle into center k st of next rib FOUR rows below (i.e Row 1), draw up a loop from the working yarn onto the right needle, extending the height to be even with the other stitches in Row 5; k3; using the same hole where you made the previous loop, draw up another loop on the right needle, again extending the height of the loop to be even with the other stitches in Row 5; p3; rep from *
Row 6: k3, *wyf, sl loop pwise, p3, sl loop pwise, k3; rep from *
Row 7: p3, *wyb, sl loop kwise, k1, psso, k1, k2tog (you are knitting the next st with the loop that follows), p3; rep from *
Row 8:  k3, *p3, k3; rep from *

In the round:
A multiple of 6 stitches.
Rnds 1 through 4 are the set-up rnds.  Rnds 5 through 8 are repeated the desired number of times. 
Rnds 1 - 4:  *k3, p3; rep from *
Rnd 5: *wyb, insert right needle into center k st of next rib FOUR rows below (i.e Rnd 1), draw up a loop from the working yarn onto the right needle, extending the loop height to be even with the other stitches in Rnd 5; k3; using the same hole where you made the previous loop, draw up another loop on the right needle, again extending the height of the loop to be even with the other stitches in Rnd 5; p3; rep from *
Rnd 6: *wyb, sl loop pwise, k3, sl loop pwise, p3; rep from *
Rnd 7: *wyb, sl loop kwise, k1, psso, k1, k2tog (you are knitting the next st with the loop that follows), p3; rep from *
Rnd 8: *k3, p3; rep from *

White Cotton Afghan - Decoded

Facebook post by Sue Miller (Aug 5, 2015 post in Crochet Fanatic group) showed the following afghan she liked:

I decoded the pattern - it looks like the real afghan is in white cotton.  I used worsted acrylic.  Mine is fuzzier, but I think I got the pattern right.

 

And the pattern that I figured out:

Cast on 15

Knit 6 rows (garter st) before beginning pattern.

R1:  K4, (YO, K1) 7 times, YO,    K4
R2:  K4,  P15                ,    K4
R3:  K4,  K2tog, K11, SSK,        K4
R4:  K4,  K2tog, K9, SSK,         K4
R5:  K4,  P2tog-tbl, P7, P2tog,   K4
R6:  K4,  K2tog, K5, SSK,         K4

Repeat for length desired.
Knit 6 rows garter st.  BO.

Combine strips to make afghan of width desired.

My swatch was Size 6 needle and regular weight yarn.

It looks like the strips were joined with a crochet join.  Edging is a garter stitch sawtooth with a couple of YO holes in it.

E-Z Stitcher Instruction Manual

Found a cool gadget from 1953.

AND the manual is included!

It uses standard sewing machine needles.  Fantastic!

DIY Queen - Rayan Turner

I just LOVE the creative work of Rayan Turner at her Design Confidential site. She is smart, inventive and a super craftwoman. Wonderful!

I'm gathering the tools, the ideas, and the gumption to try some of her projects. Thank you Rayan!

Christmas Star Potholder or Hot Pad

My sister-in-law, Patty, asked if I could deduce the pattern for the potholder pictured to the left. Here is a pretty close match:

Sugar N' Cream (Lily) crochet cotton Green (Color 00016) and Red (Color 00095); Crochet hook US size G (4.5mm).