How to Deal With a Security Breach

What you should do as a consumer if your personal information has been compromised in a security breach

Since Knit Picks' poorly managed security leak, we now have to look at what to do if your information was part of those exposed. This information comes to us from PrivacyRights.org  Please surf over and read the entire page. There is a lot of good info there.

I would especially like to highlight the information about potential identity theft. Since Knit Picks exposed our names, addresses, phone numbers and credit card information not only do we have to watch for fraudulent charges, we also have to be wary of someone opening new accounts under our name.

From Privacy Rights:

4. Reducing Your Risk of New Account Fraud Immediately call the fraud department of one of the three credit reporting agencies -- Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion. When you request a fraud alert from one bureau, it will notify the other two for you. Your credit file will be flagged with a statement that says you may be a victim of fraud and that creditors should take additional steps to verify your identity before extending credit.

Equifax fraud department: (888) 766-0008
Web: https://www.alerts.equifax.com/AutoFraud_Online/jsp/fraudAlert.jsp

Experian fraud department: (888) EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
Web: www.experian.com/fraud

Trans Union fraud department: (800) 680-7289
Web: www.transunion.com/corporate/personal/fraudIdentityTheft/fraudPrevention/fraudAlert.page

The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) enables you to place an initial fraud alert for 90 days. You may cancel the fraud alerts at any time.

Good luck!

How to Make a Simple Garter Stitch Dish Rag

This is an easy pattern that explains how to knit a basic garter stitch wash cloth.
These are sometimes called Granny's Favorite or Granny Washcloth.

Making dishrags or washcloths is fun and easy. But let me warn you, once you start making these you get addicted! Washcloths make great take-along projects and are a perfect mindless knitting project.

What you will need:

• Worsted weight cotton such as Peaches & Creme by Elmore Pisgah or Lily Sugar'n Cream.
• A pair of size US 8 (5mm) knitting needles, or size to obtain gauge.
  Worsted weight is generally marked as a US size 8 needle. Go down a size or two if you knit loosely. Go up a size if you knit tightly.
• A needle for darning in the ends

Cast on 3 stitches.

Row 1: Knit 1, Make 1, Knit to end.

Repeat row 1 until you have a triangle that is half the size you want your finished cloth to be.

Begin decrease rows:

Knit 1, K2tog, Knit to end of row.

Repeat decrease row until 3 stitches remain.

Bind off the last three stitches, weave in tails and you are done!

Variations:
This pattern can easily be modified for any yarn, any gauge.

Any Yarn
Try making this washcloth in a hardy acrylic such as Red Heart Super Saver for an indestructible dish rag. Cotton and cotton/linen blends make great face cloths for the bath.

Any Gauge
This granny square can be knit in any gauge yarn. Try using crochet cotton for very fine cloths. Sport weight linen blends make luxorious bath cloths.

In the next post we will talk about how this basic pattern can be modified for many different uses.

Stay tuned. Until then...
Keep knitting!