Online class: Math for Quilters

Image from Quilt University

I’ve been teaching quilting for years, but any time a student asks me to start figuring out dimensions, I panic. If the math part of quilting frustrates you, check out Dena Crain’s online class Math for Quilters beginning July 3rd at Quilt University. Go here to find out more. Scroll down, it’s under Other category towards the bottom of the page.

Course description:

Draft blocks, figure template sizes and yardage, calculate layouts and apply math to calculate the real cost of your quilts.

As a hobbyist, I’m not concerned with what I spend on the quilts I give away as gifts however, if you are in the business of quilting math skills such as these are essential.

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I don’t often share knitting patterns for pets, mostly because I don’t think of it. I don’t have a dog, and I’ve never knit for my cats except a knit couch and a little cat bed I made on a knitting machine, both of which were pretty much ignored.

I have shared some pet bed knitting patterns, and both hats and sweaters for dogs.

But I don’t think I’ve shared a pattern for a cat sweater, until now.

This one is the Bunny sweater by Sarah Zhou, so named because her cat is named Bunny, of course.

It’s a made to measure pattern because cats come in all shapes and sizes, and you can also use any yarn you like and whatever gauge you are getting with that yarn.

The design is knit from the bottom up, that is, from the tail side up toward the head. Pairs of decreases shape the body as you work toward the armholes, which are made by binding off a few stitches. Then the belly and the back are worked flat, then joined and worked in the round for the chest part.

There are some design options in the pattern, from the look of the photos they include using a contrasting color for the edging, working a scalloped edging, maybe a foldover collar? But of course you can add your own embellishments, stripes, make it in team colors or for a Halloween costume. I’m sure they’re quick to knit so you can make a bunch if you have a cat who is willing to submit to such torture.

Bunny looks like a very good and mostly tolerant girl; I don’t think either of my cats would be willing to wear a sweater. But if you make one (the pattern is available on Ravelry) and successfully get your cat to wear it I would love to hear about it!

[Photo: Sarah Zhou]

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