Introducing Python

Chapter 1. A Taste of Py

Let’s begin with a mini-mystery and its solution. What do you think the following two lines mean?

(Row 1): (RS) K18,ssk,k1,turn work.
(Row 2): (WS) Sl 1 pwise,p5,p2tog,p1,turn.

It looks technical, like some kind of computer program. Actually, it’s a knitting pattern; specifically, a fragment describing how to turn the heel of a sock. This makes as much sense to me as the New York Times crossword puzzle does to my cat, but my wife understands it perfectly. If you’re a knitter, you do, too.

Let’s try another example. You’ll figure out its purpose right away, although you might not know its final product.

  1/2 c. butter or margarine
  1/2 c. cream
  2 1/2 c. flour
  1 t. salt
  1 T. sugar
  4 c. riced potatoes (cold)

Be sure all ingredients are cold before adding flour.
Mix all ingredients.
Knead thoroughly.
Form into 20 balls.  Store cold until the next step.
For each ball:
  Spread flour on cloth.
  Roll ball into a circle with a grooved rolling pin.
  Fry on griddle until brown spots appear.
  Turn over and fry other side.

Even if you don’t cook, you probably recognized that it’s a recipe: a list of food ingredients followed by directions for preparation. But what does it make? It’s lefse, a Norwegian delicacy that resembles a tortilla. Slather on some butter and jam or whatever you like, roll it up, and enjoy.

The knitting pattern and the recipe share some features:

• A fixed vocabulary of words, abbreviations, and symbols. Some might be familiar, others mystifying.