one thinging (and a simple knitting pattern)

i'm a doer: make, plan, change, move, go. i rarely ever do just one thing. are you the same way?

examples of things i do simultaneously:

• knit, watch tv on the computer, surf the internet
• cook, clean, check email on the phone
• read a book, check back and forth to facebook (did they "like" me? how about now?)

it's as if nothing is sacred. i don't even bathe alone. 

• take a shower, bathe david, sometimes add in: clean poop from the tub

because sometimes this guy poops in the tub.

i know it's gross, but what can i do?

so anyhow, i don't ever just do one quiet thing. but the other day i did.

i sat and knitted in seed stitch, which is simply: knit 1, *purl 1, knit 1; repeat from*. 

the computer was closed. the phone was away. no music, just a fan: whirl whirl. knit purl knit purl knit.

it's simple enough that if you can both knit and purl, you can do it. but engaging enough because it switches back and forth every stitch. knit purl knit purl knit.

it can pull you in. 

it took me a minute to surrender, but then i did. how nice.

and then david woke up (i was "one thinging" on borrowed time), so i went on with my day. 

simple seed stitch coaster

sidebar: jesse gets annoyed with me because i have no reverence for a recipe. i'm a cook of opportunity. a swapper, an estimator. he thinks i'm flippant. i think i'm practical. when i'm working in the unknown, i'll stick to the map, but if i have a feel for where i am, i feel completely free to meander. this also applies to my knitting, and i hope you will "abide" by this pattern in the same manner....

makes 4 coasters approximately 4x4"

you will need:

3.5 mm knitting needles

sport weight, or just not bulky, yarn (less than 50 grams for 4 coasters)

large needle (for sewing in the ends)

the pattern:

loosely cast on 19 stitches

first row: begin working seed stitch: knit 1, *purl 1, knit 1; repeat from*

repeat first row until you have made a square

cast off loosely in seed stitch

sew in ends

these are going to be a housewarming gift.

 brown paper packages tied up with string... eventually.