FAQs

Here we’ll add answers to common questions and some information.

What size needles do I need?

The info is in the instructions you will receive but it’s size 7-9, around a UK 4mm. If you’re a tight knitter use larger, loose go smaller.

What colours should I use?

It’s entirely up to you – use spare yarn, DK (not chunky or lace) and just make sure they contrast. Here I’ve used a multicoloured neon DK wool against black – against lighter colours it didn’t stand out.

Someone has already done my element – is this a mistake?

No – we are doing a number of tables so someone may have completed theirs first or been given theirs first. Don’t worry – or if you are worried just ask! We keep a list of what’s gone out and what’s come back.

There’s grey blocks in my pattern – what do they mean?

The conversion to the grid pattern gives “bleed” in the black and white. These come out as different shades of grey. Have a look at the pattern (and pictures of existing knitting) and make a call on what really needs to be black and what should be white on the pattern. Use your own artistic license!

What will happen to the finished tables?

One will be retained at the University (a donation in lieu to Cyrenians). Others we are offering for sale to organisations to raise money for Cyrenians – blankets for blankets.

Why are you doing this?

It’s the International Year of the Periodic Table and we wanted to develop a project that would bring in people from all over to contribute to a project. We are distributing information about the elements through social media and will be running events throughout the year (MayFest, Royal Society of Chemistry Local Section, outreach events…) so watch out for these as we’ll include the table.
Wool for Ewe have been a great help (local wool shop) and will also display the table at some point (Rosemount, Aberdeen)

Finally raising money for charity – originally the idea of blankets let us to think of a homeless charity. Our founders ambition was “…to found a university, which would be open to all and dedicated to the pursuit of truth in the service of others”. We want to serve our community.
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/about/history/#panel453