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First annual North Country National Scenic Trail Day celebration
September 4, 2014 The North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) runs for 4600 miles, through seven states from the New York-Vermont border to North Dakot. more »»
Work day on Tanbark Trail this Saturday
September 4, 2014 The next work day on the Tanbark Trail for the Allegheny Trail Crew will be Saturday, Sept. 6. more »»
Whether or not you believe in global warming
August 28, 2014 There have been times when I doubted global warming. more »»
Public meeting to inform on CWD
August 28, 2014 Those who want to learn more about chronic wasting disease, and the rules that apply within areas of the state where the disease has been detected, can attend a public meeting to be held next week i... more »»
Early migratory bird seasons scheduled
August 28, 2014 Pennsylvania's early migratory bird seasons have been approved, and changes this year give dove hunters about three additional weeks to spend afield. more »»
White bass are for enjoying
August 21, 2014 Cross a striped bass with a white bass and you get one of the hardest hitting, strongest fighting fish in fresh water. more »»
This week at Chapman SP
August 21, 2014 The following events are planned at Chapman State Park this weekend: A GPS Scavenger Hunt is planned for 4 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22. more »»
On ANF special use renewals
August 21, 2014 The Forest Service is proposing to issue new special use authorizations to replace 27 currently expired authorizations for existing springs, roads and pipelines on the Bradford Ranger District,... more »»
Celebrate with Smokey
August 21, 2014 More than 100 people attended Smokey Bear's 70th birthday party held at Kinzua Beach on Aug. 9. Above, Jacob Elmquist practices his future firefighting skills. more »»
Chautauqua muskie fishing is on fire this summer
August 14, 2014 Maybe the cool summer weather has been behind the great muskie fishing at Chautauqua Lake this summer. Why, though, is something we can ponder next winter when we are waiting for the next summer. more »»
ANF personnel lend a hand with planting at Flight 93 Memorial
August 14, 2014 During the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Somerset County. Forty died. more »»
Tending to the local trails
August 7, 2014 Allegheny Trail Crew began with a specific reason, to maintain trails. This kind of focus was the perfect beginning. more »»
Celebrate Smokey Bear's birthday Saturday at Kinzua
August 7, 2014 The Allegheny National Forest will host a birthday celebration on Saturday Aug. 9, to celebrate the 70th birthday of Smokey Bear. The party will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. more »»
'Make it Rain' at Chapman State Park this weekend
August 7, 2014 The following events are planned at Chapman State Park this weekend: "Make it Rain" will be the topic of a program from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday. more »»
This week at Chapman SP
July 31, 2014 The following events are planned at Chapman State Park this weekend: On Friday, "Marvelous Mammals" will be shown from 6 to 7:30 p.m. more »»
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Tip of the Mathberg
The Crochet Lounge Way
Magic Potholders Deciphered
I LOVE Magic Potholders and you may, too!
A "magic potholder" is a square potholder that is made in one piece (without having to break yarn), on the diagonal, in the round, and folds into double the thickness onto itself before finishing off.
That was a mouthful, but when you hook it, it really is all of the above and more. Can you tell I am excited to share?
The More
- You can take ANY stitch pattern, as long as you make a straight edge for it (to form the square), and make a Magic Potholder!
- Using a little bit of mathematics, it can come out the expected size EVERY TIME and we'll show you how
- Prefilled tables at your fingertips for your foundation chain/foundation single crochet (fsc) count
The Tip
Use Pythagorean Theorem (yes, Geometry level nomnom) to help figure out the sizing of your finished Magic Potholder!
The Free Pattern
For the faint-hearted at mathematics, here is a pattern to explain by hooking, Butterfly Stitch Magic Potholders.
The How to
Take ANY Stitch and Making Magic Potholders:
Steps to creating a successful magic potholder with any stitch:
1) Determine your gauge with the chosen hook, yarn and stitch
2) Determine the desired size of the finished potholder e.g. 5″x5″, 7″x7″ so on and so forth
3) Do the math or simply check out the table at the bottom of this post to determine the starting chain length or fsc length taking into consideration how to make the stitch straight edged on the two sides
4) Get ready, set and HOOK the stitch from one end of your foundation chain to the other, adding enough repeats at each end to make a pouch shape.
Quick 30s video of how this pouch is then folded into the Magic double layered Potholder is being uploaded and will be linked here soon.
The Nitty Gritty that isn't so Detailed
- A right angle measures 90°, and in this case is the corner of the Magic Potholder.
- The Legs of the triangle are the sides that form the right angle, denoted as sides a & b.
- The Hypotenuse is the largest side in a triangle that is opposite to the right angle. It is denoted as side c in the Pythagorean Theorem.
- Since the Magic Potholder is a Square, we will only be talking about the Pythagorean Theorem where side a equals side b (a=b).
Pythagorean Theorem
The pythagorean theorem states that the sum of the area of the squares created by the two legs of the right triangle (a & b) is equal to the area of the square with sides the length of the hypotenuse (c).
In our case, the Magic Potholder is a square, so we will be working with the theorem where a is equal to b.
a² + b² = c², and a = b
Here are the steps to find the sides from a given hypotenuse (your foundation chain start):
2a² = c²
a² = c²/2
a = sqrt (c²/2)
The ideal situation is actually determining what end size potholder you want and finding the hypotenuse then converting via your gauge to your starting foundation chain.
The Math:
a² + b² = c², and a = b
2a² = c²
sqrt(2a²) = c
The following table calculates the length of the hypotenuse based on the ending measurement of the sides of the square you would like to make. It does not include a unit base since it could be used for any unit calculation. In metric, 30.5cm is roughly 12 inches, so the table is made going up to 30.75 for the side.
Determining the Gauge
To determine the gauge, I highly suggest you measure your foundation single crochet or if you must, measure foundation chain with a row of sc to stabilize the chain. The reason for suggesting using FSC is because it doesn't stretch/pull out of shape and will stay the same as you stitch across and around it. I prefer starting all my magic potholders using FSC since it creates a nice straight diagonal or hypotenuse for one side of Magic Potholder.
What is Foundation Single Crochet (FSC)?
FSC is the foundation chain plus a row of sc done in one single row, and is done as follows:
Foundation single crochet (fsc) – ch2, insert hook into 2nd chain from hook, yo draw up a loop, yo draw through 1 (this creates the next foundation chain), yo draw through 2 (this completes the single crochet)
*insert hook into the next foundation chain just created, yo draw up a loop, yo draw through 1, yo draw through 2
Repeat from * until total fsc completed
The equation so you can make specific calculations to your own gauge.
Ex. Measuring in inches, using worsted weight cotton and an H or I hook, my sc rows can measure 4st to an inch. Upon determining the hypotenuse of the potholder from the table above, you simply take the hypotenuse and multiply it by the number of stitches per inch to get the number of starting FSC you need.
So to get an 8″ Magic Potholder, you would read the table for 8 inches and see that the hypotenuse will be 11.31in. To get the number of foundation chain needed to achieve proximity to the 11.31in hypotenuse, you multiply 11.31in to your gauge stitches per inch (here, we're using 4).
4 stitches/in * 11.31in = 45.24stitches
Obviously, since we can't stitch a partial stitch, you will then round up or down depending on your heart's desire
The following table calculates the FSC number needed for you – you just need to know what the finished size of the potholder you would like, and using the same base unit (inches or cm, for example), make your gauge to figure out the stitches per unit, and use this table to find out how many starting FSC you would need (or starting chain + 1).
Hooking the Magic Potholder
The only thing remaining for consideration is how to hook the stitch you want on your Magic Potholder. Some patterns have larger stitch quantities before reaching a repeat. This will have to work with the size of the potholder you have chosen (unless you want to make it larger or smaller purely based on the number of pattern repeat — which is much easier than the mathberg we are playing with here).
Since the pattern is worked AROUND the FSC, in order for it to start forming the square shape, you need extra stitches in the end fsc on each side in the first round. If your pattern stands the height of sc, you would use 4sc on each end, if it stands the height of hdc, you would stitch 4hdc on each end. For more complicated stitches, you can convert the stitch to match – just like the Butterfly Stitch Magic Potholders. You need to account for the extra stitches at the two ends for your pattern repeat.
On the Butterfly Stitch Magic Potholders, there is an extra 2 stitches at each end of the fsc so when calculating the pattern repeat, you would have to add 4 to the 'foundation as if it were a flat rectangular piece.
Once you get going, it won't be such a mystery since all you are doing is going around and around with the fsc as the base of the rectangular pouch you are creating. When the short side of the rectangle is equal to half of the calculated hypotenuse, you are ready to fold it into your Magic Potholder and stitch it shut into a double layered square.
4 Responses to "Tip of the Mathberg – Magic Potholders Deciphered"
I do love your chart and explaining the need for a FSC – along with your including the stitches per inch.
I love your math, and your application of it is correct; however, your diagram of the Pythagorean Theorem is completely wrong. The hypotenuse is the diagonal of the square and the sides of that *same* square are a and b. You are calling "c" the hypotenuse but showing it as the side of your bigger square. In your example of an 8″ potholder, "a" and "b" are the sides, and "c" is diagonal across your potholder. Please revamp your Pythagorean Theorem diagram to apply to *one* square and not three.
Thanks so much for this wonderful tool! By the way, I always seem to get a slight rectangular magic potholder… any tips on why that might be? Thanks!
Yea… I have a square – thanks so much! Perhaps adding the four extra stitches at the end of each FSC and adjusting the golden loop helped. Thanks!

subset: commoncrawl


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Varsity Theater
1710 Sherman Avenue,
16 people favorited this theater
The Varsity Theater opened December 24, 1926 with "The Collegians" and "Man of the Forest". It was one of the largest suburban Chicago movie palaces ever built, was also one of the most spectacular. It was designed as a French royal chateau of the era of Francois I, and no expense was spared on luxury by its original owner, Clyde Elliot, an Evanston native who had worked in Hollywood for many years. From marble imported from Italy to antique tapestries, the Varsity Theater rivaled many of neighboring Chicago's finest theaters.
The theater was absorbed into the ever-expanding Balaban & Katz chain's empire in the early-1930's, and remained a popular fixture of downtown Evanston until competition from multiplexes caused its demise in the 1980's. It closed in 1988 and the interior at orchestra level was gutted to be converted into mixed-used retail use. Original decorative features, proscenium and ceiling still remain, but are hidden from view.
Recent comments (view all 75 comments)
The YouTube is now my second Varsity Theater. Because of the YouTube, there are now perhaps millions of younger people who are eagerly rediscovering the Golden Age. Thus, it would seem that the Varsity Theater could be reopened, showing only Golden Age motion pictures. Sample list:
Casablanca, Funny Face, You Were Never Lovelier, The Red Shoes.
Here is a report prepared for the city by some consulting firm in July, 2011. In it they discuss reactivating the balcony space for theater use while keeping stores in the ground floor:
Discussion continues. This has been tossed around for enough years now that I think they'll eventually make something happen. As long as I've been alive Evanston has had a large arts contingent.
I drove by yesterday with a friend from Chicago. I wonder how much was left upstairs in the balcony? From the alley, you can see that all the fire escapes have been removed, and many of the exits are bricked up. You can still see a few metal doors just begging to be opened by us urban explorers. No way for the employees of that Gap store to explore. From what I recall, the stairs leading up to the balcony were just inside the front doors in the lobby. And those are gone as well. All retail space, except maybe far back, the stage area is still there. No need to dismantle it. Too expensive. Just wall it up. It was a grand place to see movies!
This link was posted back in 2007. It has photo's of the dormant balcony area.
Link won't open on this site.
You would have to copy and paste it into your browser, starting from the end of the link so my sentence above it doesn't highlight. Or just scroll back to 08/06/07 in the comments, and click on the link HowardBHass posted originally that says Behind The Gap.
Just saw on FB an interior photo of this theatre under After the Final Curtain. Will this theatre be restored as it has an awesome exterior.
After reading about this historical theatre it is a shame that the interior was gutted….Evanston's loss!
1970 lobby photo added, photo credit and courtesy of Mary Gilbert Albrecht, pictured in her uniform
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater


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Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Location: Rockland Lake State Park, Lot #1
Address: 299 Rockland Lake Road, Valley Cottage, NY 10989
Site Open: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Walk Begins: 9:30 a.m.
Route Length: 3 miles (fully accessible)
Thank you to our participants, volunteers, teams, and sponsors for making Walk MS Rockland County 2015 such a great success! Your hard work and participation made it memorable!
Thanks to your incredible fundraising efforts, we're on our way towards reaching our goal! However, we still need your help to fund comprehensive support services and programs for people living with MS, their families and friends and support the Society's critical research initiatives.
Join a SUPPORT GROUP or participate in one of our RECREATION & WELLNESS programs:
The chapter offers professionally led support groups for individuals living with MS, their families and caregivers. Visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/SupportGroupsNYC for more information.
Our Recreation and Wellness Programs promote healthy living for people with MS. Visit www.MSnyc.org for programming in your area.
Walk MS NYC - Southern NY is locally presented by:


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Like his close friend and colleague Dmitry Shostakovich, Vissarion Shebalin (1902–63) knew a life of both celebrity and hardship: he was another of the composers condemned in the infamous 1948 Party congress in Moscow, and in later life he fought to overcome a series of crippling strokes. But his personality remained undaunted, as his music resolutely proves. This is the first recording of his First Suite for Orchestra and the first appearance on CD of the Second, both of them prepared from theatre music, and showing the lighter side of Shebalin's symphonic music. They have been recorded by the orchestra of his home town, Omsk, the capital of Siberia.
"... Strongly recommended..."
Barry Brenesal - Fanfare - July/August 2013


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It is looong overdue for an update on the 65 roses quilt. Thank you all so very very much for your wonderful quilt blocks that you have sent in. Such amazing variety and talent – I am loving these blocks. Please keep them coming in as I am thinking I will make more when I get enough for a second one. In the mean time this particular quilt will be auctioned at the cystic fibrosis Australia annual charity auction.
Here are just some of the wonderful squares coming in – I will post more next week and the week after. And will also be offering a free pattern so you can make this quilt with your local community group.