Tangrams and knitting

My son is working on the classic Geometry tangram project, Lewis Carroll's concepts for Alice in Wonderland. He's figured out the Cheshire Cat and the White Rabbit. Next come the Mad Hatter and the cranky Queen. I think just about every Geometry student has tackled this project at one time or another. And, believe it or not, there are solutions on the internet. Cheating sure wasn't that easy when I took Geometry (admittedly a really long time ago).

I haven't enlightened A about the solutions. And, bless him, it hasn't occurred to him to look.

Tangrams remind me of the complex interrelationship of knits and purls to create dimension and pattern. Geometry is at the heart of knitting design - slopes and angles, lines and planes - calculating proportions exactly is the difference between good design and bad fit.

Math was never my strong suit. I'm a writer, not a calculator!

But I'm going to have to overcome my reluctance to do the math as I embark on my first major design. I have in mind a long, hip-hiding, figure-flattering, perfectly fitted, kimono-style sweater. There will definitely be math.

Knitting with your slip hanging out

Having my first pattern linked with Knitting Pattern Central is feeling a bit like walking around with my slip hanging out (I'm dating myself). I'm thrilled, excited, breathless. But I'm also anxious that I wrote the pattern accurately and clearly. Here's hoping! The Felted Tote is making its rounds. So now I have to just sit back and wait . . .

The staff at the Nature Center headed to the World Peace Cafe in Sandy Springs for a Christmas luncheon. Delish, to quote Rachel Ray. Our gathering was small, but our enjoyment was immense. Mushroom strogonoff, carrot ginger soup, mozzarella/basil/tomato sandwiches, and homemade pimento cheese sandwiches. Yum! We shared sweets we'd each made for taking home.

World Peace Cafe is a fascinating place. The wait staff was all volunteers! This was my first time, and I really love the ambiance and philosophy behind the food. This Buddhist restaurant has homes throughout the world, specializing in locally grown, organic food. I highly recommend it to Sandy Springs and Dunwoody readers . . . it's worth a trip for you ITP knitters as well.

(ITP: Inside the perimeter. OTP: Outside the perimeter. In the traffic horror that is Atlanta, there is a definite demarcation between inside I-285 and outside I-285 dwellers. There are those who SWEAR they will NEVER cross that line, no matter what. I happily hop across with careless abandon, but only between the hours of 10 and 3. Those of you who live here know what I mean.)