Forum - Newbies - How can I make alpha patterns more proportionate?

cgs0517

Skiller

3 years, 6 months ago by cgs0517

I made an alpha wall hanging that was 65x65 knots but it wasn’t square. My knots were all longer than they are wide, so the finished piece was 110 by 137 millimeters. So if I divided the width by the length, I got 0.803. I wanted to get the ratio as close to 1 as possible so my square alphas could actually be square.

I decided to experiment. I made another alpha wall hanging that should have been square, but this time I used double the base strings. So every time I made a knot, I was knotting around two base strings. I hoped this technique would make my alpha wider and more square.

The experiment ended up being 66 by 72 millimeters, which came out as 0.917, which was definitely closer to 1 than 0.803, but it still wasn’t perfect. I kept trying.

I did another ‘square’ alpha pattern using braids for the base strings so it was literally TRIPLE the base strings. The finished piece was 50 by 44 millimeters, or 1.136. Doubling the base strings wasn’t enough, but tripling the base strings was way too much!

Someone please help. Is there another way to get perfect alpha proportions? Is my tension the problem? Is 0.917 as close to 1 as it’s going to get? AAARRGH!!!

Rowsitt

Bracelet King

3 years, 6 months ago by Rowsitt

i haven’t tried this, but maybe try 2 1/2 base strings….?

aiden707

Bracelet King

3 years, 6 months ago by aiden707

You could try pushing up an entire row of knots with a ruler after knotting them. This works great with looser knots. The first time I tried this was with #87616. I tied my knots a little looser than my other alphas and pushed up rows when I finished them. That worked pretty well for me. It wasn't perfect but the pattern does not look stretched at all so that would be a win for me ig 😊

madeleine_

Moderator

3 years, 6 months ago by madeleine_

Looser knots tend to be more square-like. You could also try playing around with the angle that you pull the leading string to tighten it when you make knots. But from what I’ve seen, knots will basically never be perfect squares, they’ll always be at least slightly rectangular

mischief

Skiller

3 years, 6 months ago by mischief

I often adjust patterns so the images are more proportionate before knotting them - make them taller than they are long, by just a bit. Aside from that yeah, I don't know of any way to make them perfectly square.

cgs0517 Skiller	3 years, 6 months ago by cgs0517 I made an alpha wall hanging that was 65x65 knots but it wasn’t square. My knots were all longer than they are wide, so the finished piece was 110 by 137 millimeters. So if I divided the width by the length, I got 0.803. I wanted to get the ratio as close to 1 as possible so my square alphas could actually be square. I decided to experiment. I made another alpha wall hanging that should have been square, but this time I used double the base strings. So every time I made a knot, I was knotting around two base strings. I hoped this technique would make my alpha wider and more square. The experiment ended up being 66 by 72 millimeters, which came out as 0.917, which was definitely closer to 1 than 0.803, but it still wasn’t perfect. I kept trying. I did another ‘square’ alpha pattern using braids for the base strings so it was literally TRIPLE the base strings. The finished piece was 50 by 44 millimeters, or 1.136. Doubling the base strings wasn’t enough, but tripling the base strings was way too much! Someone please help. Is there another way to get perfect alpha proportions? Is my tension the problem? Is 0.917 as close to 1 as it’s going to get? AAARRGH!!!
Rowsitt Bracelet King	3 years, 6 months ago by Rowsitt i haven’t tried this, but maybe try 2 1/2 base strings….?
aiden707 Bracelet King	3 years, 6 months ago by aiden707 You could try pushing up an entire row of knots with a ruler after knotting them. This works great with looser knots. The first time I tried this was with #87616. I tied my knots a little looser than my other alphas and pushed up rows when I finished them. That worked pretty well for me. It wasn't perfect but the pattern does not look stretched at all so that would be a win for me ig 😊
madeleine_ Moderator	3 years, 6 months ago by madeleine_ Looser knots tend to be more square-like. You could also try playing around with the angle that you pull the leading string to tighten it when you make knots. But from what I’ve seen, knots will basically never be perfect squares, they’ll always be at least slightly rectangular
mischief Skiller	3 years, 6 months ago by mischief I often adjust patterns so the images are more proportionate before knotting them - make them taller than they are long, by just a bit. Aside from that yeah, I don't know of any way to make them perfectly square.

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How can I make alpha patterns more proportionate?