A Little Lace Dishcloths

I found a pattern similar to my final product, however it was too large for what I wanted and didn't have definative direction. So, I essentially created a pattern to match what I had in mind. Using a 56.7g ball of Sugar 'n Cream by Lily I've gotten two of these dishcloths and probably have at least one if not two more in it.

CO 24
Row1-4: k
Row5: k1, *k2tog, yo, *repeat ending with k1
Row6-16: k
Row17: Repeat Row5
Row18-28: k
Row29: Repeat Row5
Row30-33: k

CO

Super simple, took me about an hour to complete both once I got going with the pattern I wanted.

Christmas Tree Dishcloths

Using the Lily brand Sugar 'n Cream 56.7g I've finished two dishcloths and it looks like I might get a third one out of it! I altered the pattern a bit to give it a thicker pattern around the edge.

CO 25
Row1: k1, p1, k1, p until 3, k1, p1, k1
Row2: Repeat Row1
Row3: k1, p1, k1, p1, k until 4, p1, k1, p1, k1
Row4: Repeat Row1
Row5: Repeat Row3
Row6: k1, p1, k1, p8, k3, p8, k1, p1, k1
Row7: k1, p1, k1, p1, k7, p3, k7, p1, k1, p1, k1
Row8: Repeat Row6
Row9: Repeat Row7
Row 10: k1, p1, k1, p2, k15, p2, k1, p1, k1
Row11: k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p15, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
Row12: Repeat Row10
Row13: Repeat Row11
Row14: k1, p1, k1, p3, k13, p3, k1, p1, k1
Row15: k1, p1, k1, p1, k2, p13, k2, p1, k1, p1, k1
Row16: Repeat Row14
Row17: Repeat Row15
Row18: k1, p1, k1, p4, k11, p4, k1, p1, k1
Row19: k1, p1, k1, p1, k3, p11, k3, p1, k1, p1, k1
Row20: Repeat Row18
Row21: Repeat Row19
Row22: k1, p1, k1, p5, k9, p5, k1, p1, k1
Row23: k1, p1, k1, p1, k4, p9, k4, p1, k1, p1, k1
Row24: Repeat Row22
Row25: Repeat Row23
Row26: k1, p1, k1, p6, k7, p6, k1, p1, k1
Row27: k1, p1, k1, p1, k5, p7, k5, p1, k1, p1, k1
Row28: Repeat Row26
Row29: Repeat Row27
Row30: k1, p1, k1, p7, k5, p7, k1, p1, k1
Row31: k1, p1, k1, p1, k6, p5, k6, p1, k1, p1, k1
Row32: Repeat Row30
Row33: Repeat Row31
Row34: k1, p1, k1, p8, k3, p8, k1, p1, k1
Row35: k1, p1, k1, p1, k7, p3, k7, p1, k1, p1, k1
Row36: k1, p1, k1, p9, k1, p9, k1, p1, k1
Row37: k1, p1, k1, p1, k8, p1, k8, p1, k1, p1, k1
Row38: Repeat Row1
Row39: Repeat Row3
Row40: Repeat Row1
Row41: Repeat Row1
Row42: Repeat Row1

Dishcloths for Christmas gifts

I have some relatives I see once a year that I am a bit obligated to get gifts for at Christmastime. Being on the road, my thoughts went to local items, as I was looking I came upon the idea of soaps... that led to the idea of making dishcloths to go with those soaps.

Since knitting is cheaper and more fun that shopping for people I hardly know, I quickly started planning the dishcloths, the soaps will have to wait. First, I picked up some "Sugar 'n Cream" yarn at Michael's, one skein in "Green Twists" and one in "Natural". The plan for the green is more christmas-y, perhaps a tree. The natural will be a bit more everyday.

I searched and searched for a tree pattern, and finally found it! I had almost given up and decided I might have to just figure one out myself, and this one is better than I would have thought up.

I am about to cast on for the tree dishcloths, will then search for a pattern to use with the natural. I hope to come up with a total of four out of the two skeins I bought. I'll keep you posted!

Poinsetta in December

This is the take two on Mums in November. Since I made this one in December I renamed it for a common flower this month, the poinsetta. I followed Mums in November pattern-wise, except for length, as that was requested a bit shorter. Using just one skein I got this to my waist, my aunt is taller, so hopefully it'll be long enough. If not, I'll have to get creative as I don't know where I'd find more of this yarn.

The photo on the left turned out better showing off the color of the yarn, while the right was better on the pattern. Hotel photography is so touchy...

Shopping

I think Seattle and surrounding areas is the perfect place for knitting. There are soooo many shops! I started my experience at Bad Woman Yarn where I found the yarn for the cabled purse. I also ended up back there to get another skein as it ended up taking three, not two, and I had a time trying to find it elsewhere... like Great Yarns. They didn't have the exact kind I needed but it was nice to browse. The nicest so far has to be A New Yarn they have great deals and a purpose! We also tried Hilltop Yarn but weren't too impressed.

So, the yarn above was purchased at A New Yarn and does include the yarn for my aunt's scarf in the top right corner. It is made in Italy... pretty cool. All that pink yarn, I'm not sure what I'll do with, but I'm sure Yaya will be the recipient of at least some of it. The blues will be for the boys, the seaform and white, I'm not sure yet. I'd like to use the burgendy shade to try something in the round or with double points, which I also purchased at this store for a great deal as they were donated, like all the yarn.

Well, off to knit some more...

Mum's in November - Take 2

My mum's been wearing her scarf and I've gotten an "order" to make one for my aunt. She asked for it in teal, a little shorter, but everything else the same. I found the perfect color in an awesome little yarn shop here in the Seattle area for a great price... but only one skein. Hoping that it will work out since she did want it shorter!

After I finish the cabled scarf, hopefully tonight, I will cast on my aunt's scarf, hopefully tomorrow. Kind of exciting since it's the first thing I'm making for someone that actuallly asked for it!

I also picked up a bunch of other unique yarns at the shop that I'm trying to decide what to do with, so those will be sure to get featured soon...

Cabled Scarf?

While searching for one last skein of yarn for my cabled purse I started this scarf to keep me busy and practice my cables. I had some yarn left over from mum's scarf so I cast on 26 using size 10's. I followed basically the same theme as the purse's cables but with a little more pattern... I p1, k4, p1, k4, p1, k4, p1, k4, p1, k4, p1 on the "right" side and k1, p4, k1, p4, k1, p4, k1, p4, k1, p4, k1 on the "wrong". Every other time I was on the "right" side I cabled, p1, set 2 aside, k2, move 2 back, k2, p1, set 2 aside, k2, move 2 back, k2, p1, set 2 aside, k2, move 2 back, k2, p1, set 2 aside, k2, move 2 back, k2, p1, set 2 aside, k2, move 2 back, k2, p1.

Right now it's looking short and as you can see in the picture, not much yarn left to work with. Maybe it'll be more like a neck warmer :-)

Cabled Purse

Wow! Didn't realize how long it'd been since I was here... I started and finished a project already! Actually it knits up so quickly it's not that surprising.

This is a cabled purse that was created by havfaith. It is my first attempt at cabling and I love it! It's so simple and looks so cool and complicated. I always thought it was difficult so avoided it at all costs.

So, the pattern is very... hmmm... variable? Mine was done using N.Y. Yarns Grande in Colour 05 which I believe is some kind of Rose. It is very thick so I cast on (I also learned a new way to cast on!) 28 using size 17 needle. Roughtly, the pattern is, starting on the right side, p2, k4, p1, k4, p1, k4, p1, k4, p1, k4, p2. Next row k2, p4, k1, p4, k1, p4, k1, p4, k1, p4, k2. Just keep repeating that. Then, on the first cabled row, p2, k4, p1, hold two aside, k2, put the two back on, k2, p1, k4, hold two aside, k2, put the two back on, k2, p1, k4, p2. The other cabled row is k2, hold two aside, p2, put the two back on, p2, k1, p4, k1, hold two aside, p2, put the two back, p2, k1, p4, hold two aside, p2, put the two back on, p2, k2. Just cabling whenever it looks like it needs it. The most difficult thing was putting on the handles and sewing up the sides :-(

The next step will be to get some fabric to line the inside so items will not fall out of the purse. I plan to avoid sewing and use that fuse stuff to iron the fabric to the purse. This will then make a lovely Christmas gift... and if the recipient is not as pleased with it as me, they'll have to return it so someone who really likes it can enjoy it!