Friday, June 24, 2011

I Need Some Towels!









Back problems have managed to keep me from knitting and crocheting for the past few months, but I decided I will sit down and try to knit a kitchen towel and finish it no matter how long it takes! I told myself if I knit 10 minutes a day it would take me 24 days to complete a single towel. Ok, I can do it!


My kitchen towels are in really sad shape and last summer I knit a towel and fell in love with it! Most of the towels I buy seem to not withstand being used than more than a few times and the nice ones are pricey. Ravelry has so many patterns and I found a simple basket weave pattern that would work up fast and give me a nice end product. I was also happy that it was an easy pattern to remember so I could work without a chart. A quick trip to pick up a couple small skeins of red, white, and blue self striping yarn and I was ready to cast on!


Suprisingly things worked out and I only had to tear only a half of a row out which for me is good! The yarn cooperated for the most part and when I finished the halfway point of the first skein and started the second the color sequence fell into place perfectly so I didn't have to unwind the ball to find the next run of red. I was able to work 5 repeats of the 28 the first evening and that was exciting! In 4 evenings I had completed the towel and a small washcloth to match! What was the best part is that it was made for the upcoming 4th of July holiday and it is actually done before the 4th of July!


It turned out I spent around $5 for the towel that measures 13"x20" and washcloth that is about 8" square. They are nice and heavy and I know based on the towel I made last summer that even with heavy use they will look as good next summer than they did when I pulled them off the needles yesterday. I won't have to worry about them getting thin and they will always absorb a ton of water off of wet dishes.


I did have enough yarn left for another dishcloth, but I will throw it in the scrap drawer with the rest of my snippets and peices of left over cotton. I started a scrap yarn ball and plan on making some crazy towels and dishcloths to put them to use. I will probably make a few tawashis for the dishes too. What are tawashis? They are cute little scrubbies made of cotton yarn that are as simple as a round disk to little animal or flower shapes. They were started in Japan and they are perfect for wiping the dishes off before throwing them in the dishwasher. They are a perfect way to use scraps too!


Hope you enjoy seeing my new towel and dishcloth set! I picked up some more yarn today and plan on making a few feather and fan hanging towels since I no longer have towels with crocheted tops. I guess I better get busy!

Friday, February 25, 2011

It's About Time!




I admit that I am horrible when it comes to completing a project. I believe that they are called UFO's. And if you so happen to believe in aliens you won't be suprised by all of the UFO's in my house. I see something that I want to make and get half way or more done then another project catches my attention. Right now on knitting needles I have a scarf and a face cloth that would like to be done, and I started a pretty shrug to throw on with a sundress when the cool spring evenings get here. Sewing projects are not mentioned for good reason here! I am still working on stitch markers for knitting and I can dream all I want about what I will do with a particular skein of yarn I have stashed away.

I did finish a couple of projects that were test projects for designers. The first was the "Pretty As A Petal Ponchette." It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I didn't screw anything up. The truth is if there was a mistake I wouldn't tell anyone because I plan to wear it myself. Now I need for find a dress that will go with it! That just sounded like another sewing project... The second project was a quick crocheted hat called "Waffled Ponytail Hat" It has buttons in the back and a hole so when you have a ponytail you can put the hat on and not mess up your hair.

My projects are starting to pile up and I need to get busy and finish them. When spring gets here we switch gears from working inside to working outside. So maybe that scarf and face cloth I have on needles will be done soon and the third scarf I have going for the Special Olympics Winter Games will be completed and in the mail by the deadline. All of those other UFO's; well we won't get into that!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

What do you mean I have too many projects???



It is hard to believe that an entire month has gone by in 2011 already! I have been busy knitting and trying to get a little crocheting done. Throw in sewing projects, making stitch markers for knitting and the quilt I want to get done..... You may start to see the picture!

I was able to finish James's Christmas present on Christmas Day. He received a head warmer and matching mitts out of wool yarn that just so happens to match his work coat. I also managed to complete another test knit for a "Ducati Cowl." I used a nice bulky wool that was an off white to black variegated and had lots of big chunky cables. I hope he will find it warm with this cold weather!

I started another test knit project that was called "Pretty As a Petal Ponchette." It is a very shortened version of a poncho that will be nice to wear over a spaghetti strap top or dress when the weather warms up some. I chose Knit Picks Stroll yarn in Gypsy and it is a pretty variegated red. It is a soft, squishy wool blend that I think will work well to cover chilly shoulders. I have knitted in circles many long hours to finish this project and am finally working on the petals that complete it.

I have a black wool scarf on needles too, and you would think I could complete something and move on to the next adventure. Not me! I found a perfect pattern that would make a great gift for a family member and the next thing you know I am at the yarn shop buying yarn! I admit that project is napping right now because I need to be able to concentrate and with Colton around that won't happen!

Attention Deficit Disorder may be hitting me hard lately. As I was scrolling through patterns on the internet I found that people are making scarves for the Special Olympic Winter Games. Of course that is for a good cause so I had better get some yarn to make scarves!!! A couple of days later a friend posts on Facebook about the scarf project. I have one blue and turqua scarf done and have a second crocheted one about half way done. Again, I have one on knitting needles too I just need to get it done! Hopefully at least three scarves will make it into the mail within the next couple weeks.

My memory afghan I started earlier in the winter is still resting in a tote with the yarn that will make it complete. I walk by that tote every day and look at it knowing that those blocks are sitting inside waiting for me to work on them again and make them whole. Kind of sounds like life sometimes doesn't it?

Friday, December 17, 2010

What do you mean I procrastinate?




Once a procrastinator always a procrastinator is what a wise man say. I am the master of procrastination, but when the pressure is on I do my best work. I was able to knock out Colton's new orange wool hat, but don't have enough yarn left for mittens. He has new gloves so it isn't a big issue. James has one knitted gift that will find it's way under the tree; we agreed our new phones were our gifts, but it was a small quick knit!




I started on a crocheted Christmas tree to put on the table and even bought little LED lights to put on it--well it's not done! I started a really nice cotton/linen blend facecloth as a gift--it's not done either lol! I have some wonderful corn yarn waiting to be made into a shawl and more cotton yarn begging to be knit into dishcloths.




I did finally knit myself a new hat that matches my coat. I did another test knit for a designer and it turned out great! She needs someone to test knit the pattern for matching mitts but I won't have time to make them now. Hopefully a facecloth will be completed, a tree with have lights that twinkle, and maybe a pair of mittens will be warming someones hands by the time next weekend rolls around!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

It is the most wonderful time of the year...


Like most people, we are trying to get ready for Christmas. I know it is a celebration of Christ's birth and I admit sometimes presents, cookie making and meal planning overshadows the true meaning of the day. Usually, by this time of year I have most gifts bought or made, cookies baked and froze. Finally, I would have picked up mom, taken her to lunch and gone shopping with her. This year is obviously different and I don't have anything done.


Christmas presents are on knitting needles, or in a bag in the guest room. Cookies are not baked and meal plans are not set. Other things have taken my time and that is ok. I started on a memory afghan with yarn that mom had. She said she had enough to last her until she died. She was wrong; she had enough to last until I die. I started making hexagon shaped blocks and will outline each with off white yarn to tie them all together. All 39 blocks are done through 6 rows--each row is a different color. The 7th row will be the off white one and it has to wait until after the first of next year. 27 ounces of yarn was made into a large "magic ball" of multi colors for Shane's memory afghan. The remaining yarn was sorted through and given new homes.


I joined a RAK group (RAK=Random Acts of Kindness) and found a few people who could use the yarn. I felt like Santa mailing those little packages and one of the recipients turned my act of kindness into a great gift back to me. This was proof that even though at times I felt no one cared or everyone was out to get me there are still wonderful people in the world. I have to let the Lord show me the way! Today I will sew some project bags to be RAK'd over the next few months. It has been a wonderful experience giving to others that you don't know and not expecting anything in return. I admit it is a big suprise when someone does something unexpected for you though!


When I finish my sewing project today I will pick up the knitting needles to make Colton an orange wool hat to match his new coat. He chose a simple pattern so I am hoping it will be done in an evening or two! After that he wants mittens to match his coat too. I found a fun pattern called "My Thumbs Look like Chicken Legs" and the picture is a mitten with fried chicken legs for the thumbs. Just don't tell the dog that or he will probably eat the mittens!


I have chili beans in the canner and I will make a nice big pot of soup for dinner. After the table is cleared and dishes are done I will sit down with another ball or yarn and hopefully put another little dent in the projects I would like to have done by the end of the month.


Monday, November 22, 2010

Is it a glove? Is it a mitten? No! It's a glitten!




While on Ravelry one day looking for ideas for a gift to make for James I ran across a glitten. What is a glitten you may ask??? It is a great device for warming your hands but then transforms into something great! You can free your fingers so you can do tasks that require dexterity while still keeping your hands warm. I modified the thumbs so they also have a pop top allowing texting on a cell phone as well. You never know when you will need to text while standing outside during a blizzard! It also allows the thumb to be seen in case you feel like hitch hiking.




I knit the glittens using Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool. The yarn still has some lanolin in it making them water resistant. This should be a nice feature when he is outside working and his glittens get damp--hopefully his hands will still stay warm and dry! When James read the label and saw it was virgin wool he couldn't help but smile--I had to explain what that meant in terms of yarn.




I rounded up my size 6 Bryspun plastic circular knitting needles to knit these. I had bought 12 pairs of Bryspun circular needles at a local thrift store for a quarter per circular needle. They were still in the original package and at the yarn store they cost $7 for a single circular needle.The pattern called for using double pointed needles but I prefer to use two sets of circular needles so I avoid the "ladders" that can occur while using dp needles.




The only issue I had making them was starting the fingers. It seemed like a wrestling match to get the first couple rounds done but after those rounds were done it was easy to knit. There were also a lot of tails to work in but I did that as I knit making less work to do when I bound them off.




I am happy to have them done and James is happy to get them and try them out. Seems I finished them just in time for winter weather!




Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Cold Weather is Coming!




I always procrastinate on important projects until winter is here then try to get everything done in a few days. Some day I will learn! I promised James a pair of glittens last winter and I finally started knitting them about a week and a half ago. I finished one and then we had a cold snap reminding me I needed a pair of slippers. I crocheted myself a pair last year but the dog decided he did not have enough fiber in his diet so he ate one of them. So the second glitten I started was put aside so I could knit some slippers for myself. My logic was that I don't function with cold feet and they only take a couple evenings to make so off to the store I went.




I picked up a skein of Fisherman's wool at Hobby Lobby and with a 40% off coupon will be able to make a pair of slippers for myself and maybe a pair for Colton. If Colton decides he needs a pair he can pick a flavor of Kool-aid and then I will dye the yarn with it so we can tell our slippers apart. (I can't believe the kid wears a size 9 mens shoe now!) The total price of the yarn was just over $6 and I can get 2 pairs of slippers and a pair of fingerless mitts out of it; not bad!




The pattern I chose was a simple one and it called for large knitting needles so the stitches would be huge. The slipper itself was gigantic and easily could have been a sweater for Colton. The reasoning behind it was that it would end up in hot water having the crap agitated out of it in the washer. Why would anyone in their right mind do this to wool you may ask? I had to felt it to make it a solid piece of material. Felting is the term when you accidently throw that $100 pure wool sweater in the washer with hot water and then throw it in the dryer on high heat. It makes a nice soft sweater turn into a small mini sweater that is thick and solid right?




Anyway, my slippers are knit and last night I felted them. I let them air dry so this morning they are still damp but they turned out great and fit wonderfully. Now I can get back to that half done second glitten so James can have warm hands when he is outside!