Journal to a Muse

What I've Learned So Far
from a Log Cabin Square

• It's going to need to be blocked.
• I like the stripes a bit wider than I started... 5 ridges rather than 3.
• If I do that, the middle square should be the equivalent of 6 x 6 ridges rather than 9, unless I want the square to be more than 10 x 10 inches.
• If it is 10 inches square, there are 33 "ridges" from top to bottom in garter stitch, plus a few half ridges where I "picked up and knit"
• When you pick up stitches perpendicular to a ridge, be sure to pick up only one stitch for each ridge. Yes, it might seem like not enough. Too many makes the strip bulge, especially on that final outside edge.
• If one assumes (4.5) x 10 inches (the length of the row) x 66 rows (never mind that in a log cabin square, some are horizontal and some are vertical) That comes out to 2970 inches. 2970 inches/36 = 82 yards. If you had .10 yard for each color change (1.1 yard) each square uses 83.6 yard.A piece 5 squares x 6 squares (30)!! would require 2508 yards.2508 yards / 200 yds per skein = 12.54 skeins.
• Factor in the fact that I'm going to randomly use 6 different colors.. and I have no idea how much yarn I need of each color. but it seems like if there are 3 of each color (i.e. 18 skeins) I might be close enough.
• I don't know how many extra skeins to order... since I have to do it by mail because my fancy LYS stocks mostly non washable, high-profit fibers and my local craft supplier's color sense is on crack.
  
• There are either going to be lots of knots on the back, or a fair amount of "weaving in."
• I'll be an expert at mattress stitch when I'm through.

• I don't think the post weaving-in ends I snipped are significant enough to change the yardage purchased.

PLEASE CHECK MY MATH.