Category Archives: Reference Books

Language Matters

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You may send this post to anyone you like. The condition? Properly attribute the story to me, MLO, at this web site, http://www.mloknitting.com/ .

I’m annoyed.

Believe it or not, I have been a professional technical writer as well as a librarian and an analyst. In all three professions, terminology mattered. It mattered a great deal.

As a technical writer in a manufacturing environment, using the wrong term for something could lead to death. I am not exaggerating. If you are describing a piece of machinery and use the wrong term for a machine part it can get someone killed.

As a business analyst describing business processes, if you use the wrong term you can end up in a great deal of legal trouble because of how things are implemented from your analysis. Using the wrong term is bad.

As a librarian, not having the right term can mean never finding what a patron needs. There is a reason that each specialty has its own controlled vocabulary. If I am looking for something in Medline I will use MeSH, I am not going to look for things using the Psych Abstracts thesaurus!

This is why I find it so appalling that the press is using the terms “implant” and “transfer” as if they are the same thing. They are not.

In IVF cycles, an embryo is transferred in hopes of implanting – hopefully in the uterus. Implantation is an event during reproduction. Reproductive Endocrinologists cannot implant an embryo. There is even an entire body of research around why transferred embryos do not implant.

Misusing the word implant is bad reporting and any reporter guilty of such is shirking his or her duty to properly inform the public. The same goes for editors who change “transfer” to “implant.” It is not, and never will be, the same thing.

Of course, reporting quality has gone so far downhill in the last 20 years, I’m not really surprised.

Edit Feb. 9, 2009: It seems that the physician has been outed and he is the one who uses “embryo glue” to “implant” an embryo. This is still the wrong language to use. The glue is only meant to keep the embryo from floating away from the uterine wall before burrowing into it. It is the burrowing that is implantation.

So, to all the bad science reporters and editors, you are still using the wrong language. (There are a small minority of good science writers and editors out there, but they get obscured by their fellows.)

Roman Shades

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I can sew!

Using the instructions from Simply Window Treatments: All You Need to Know to Make Curtains, Shades, and Swags from Sunset I have successfully made Roman Shades for my front door. I had attempted this two years ago, and though serviceable, the shades were not exactly right.

Using the instructions in the book, I measured my front door’s window. I then set about to use the material I had already gotten two years ago in the vain attempt to make shades for most of the front room’s windows.

I then cut the lining, pressed, pinned and sewed it.

Once that was done, I tackled the actual blind material. It was cut a little larger in order to accommodate the insertion of the lining.

Before attaching the lining I sewed in a ribbon with loops in it for the string onto the lining. Once this was done, I sewed the lining into the main material and put the string for the shades through the hoops.

Since I already had attached a Roman Shade to the door before, I already had the hardware installed – well, I had had my brother-in-law install it so I don’t quite remember what was done. I do know they describe it in the book.

Using a staple gun, I attached it to the door where it now hangs.

This wasn’t as hard as you might think – at least not the second time.

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Entrelac! From Scarf Style

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I just started an entrelac stole two weeks ago:

entrelac start

two weeks into entrelac

And a close-up:

This is an adapted version of Lady Eleanor from Scarf Style: Innovative to Traditional, 31 Inspirational Styles to Knit and Crochet (Style series).

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Lady Eleanor is the first thing I have knitted from this book, but most of the patterns seem pretty well written. Someday I might even do the dragon scarf.

This is a worthy addition to any knitter’s library.

Oh, I’m also running an LSG Ravelry Entrelac – a – long. So, if you are on Ravelry and want to knit or crochet along, join us. Just remember, LSG is where swearing is encouraged – especially at your knitting.

Pet Peeves: Knitting Stitch Dictionaries and Electronic Books

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I received several new stitch dictionaries which I will be reviewing individually soon, but they are all going to get dinged for one reason:

No charts.

Knitting charts make knitting cables, laces, and other patterns so much easier! They are so much easier to refer to than written out instructions. I understand that it increases the cost of creating a book, but I, for one, am willing to pay as much as $5.00 to $10.00 more for good charts. I don’t think it should cost that much to do charting since so many magazines do include charts in their patterns.

A good stitch dictionary is a knitter’s best friend!

The other rant I have is that so many knitting reference books and stitch dictionaries are only available in hard copy. I mean, consider how technical so many knitters really are, why not have it so I can carry a really complete series of books – like Barbara Walker’s books – on my laptop, PDA or phone? How much more yarn could be sold if, while traveling, I finish one project and cast about for another but don’t want to buy a heavy book – or a book I already own – to start it?

Yes, this rant is partially from my current circumstances, but, I don’t think I’m alone in this thought. What are your thoughts about it?