Your M1 isn't the same as my M1, so there!

The other day, a good friend came into the shop with a problem that I have seen a few times before. In the book Hip Knit Hats there is a great hat pattern named Ella - it was my first foray into the world of entrelac. But I digress. So, here is a brief outline of the first couple of rows - cast on 12 stitches, join in the round. K1, m1, across the round - 18 stitches. I got 24, so did my friend and every other customer that has come in with a problem with this book. You see, the usual way of doing a M1 is to lift the bar between the stitch and knit into the front, thereby making a stitch. That is not what the designer wanted though. When I finally looked at the first chapter of the book with the abbreviations I found that her M1 was to knit into the back and then the front of the next stitch - which is what is usually referred to as "KBF" or "KFB" (knit back front or knit front back).

To be fair to the designer she did explain the different abbreviations in the front of the book, but who would think they would need to look up how to do a M1? Not me and at least 10 of my best friends! That'll teach me to assume I know what someone else is thinking! When I get my next shipment in of this book, I will insert a little note saying "Read the first chapter! It contains super secret instructions".

All joking aside, when I become Queen of the Universe - at least the Knitting Universe - I will insist my subjects use the same abbreviations. No more confusion - a M1 is a bar increase, an Inc 1 is a backward loop increase, a KFB is a knit into front and back of stitch, and so forth. Then I will standardize the knitting & crochet chart symbols. And demand that the loyal subjects (which they will be, or I shall set the moths loose upon their stash) use standardized sizing, and include schematics of the finished pieces. The Craft Yarn Council is doing a fine job at trying to do this, but not everyone is on board. And yes, there would only be one type of  needle. I don't care if they are US or Metric or British, but please Madame Designer, please just indicate 1 type of needle in the pattern. Don't say a size 7 needle - there is a huge difference between a 7 US (4mm) and a 7mm (10.75 US). I really can't tell you the number of times a customer has asked me for a size 7 (for example) needle, and when I questioned them on which 7, they didn't know. Sometimes we are lucky and I have the pattern in the shop, but not always.

The Craft Yarn Council is working on a "Standards" booklet which you can download. I refer to mine quite often. The link takes you right to it. There are also some good patterns on this site.

And if you think this has got me going, just ask me about the difference between US and British crochet instructions! There's a rant that will take you into 2011!