time – fast and slow

I know I haven’t posted much lately.  I have been so busy with this new job, still getting used to keeping regular hours and I don’t seem to have much time to do anything else but work, eat, sleep and get ready for the next day.  But I have managed to cram in a few birthday celebrations (for me and friends) and that was great!  Getting closer to being a crone (it’s a good thing).  I am officially 47 even though I have been telling people for a long time that I am 47 already. But enough of that – let me show you some projects!

Here is what I have been able to do since I last checked in:

Pretty impressive if I do say so myself. I have also finished a few bits to some already shared sets, so here they are complete:

Here are more details:
2 red, white, blue and cream dishcloths in the ballband pattern as written with 13 repeats. I am doing a hand towel using a modified KBB Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel. Using the pattern’s CO number, did the ballband pattern (modified) to use up all of the 59 stitches, knit those for 3 repeats, then I will continue using the variegated yarn to knit up the length using the basket weave 2 pattern from the book 365 stitch a day calendar. I will use the decrease and tab instructions as written from the KBB Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel. I have already done the matching tribble sponge.

The Blue, White and Yellow set is one squidge cloth (upper), a Christmas Cloth Pattern (lower) and a hanging towel using that same pattern. I still need to do a tribble/sponge for the set to be complete.

The white, yellow, violet and blue set are all done using the stitch pattern called corded ribbing, which makes up the stitch pattern in the blissfull moss rib used as written for the 2 dishcloths. I used the pattern in a matching hanging towel. I also have a matching tribble sponge here that completes this set.

For the Red and White set I completed the hand towel, which is a modified KBB Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel. What I did is use the CO number, did the ballband pattern (modified) to use up all of the 59 stitches, knit those for 3 repeats, then using those 59 stitches, switched to the basket weave 2 pattern from the book 365 stitch a day calendar. Then used the decrease and tab instructions as written from the KBB Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel. The set is complete with a red and white tribble sponge too.

I don’t think I covered everything yet, but I need to get ready for bed for another day. I hope you are all happy and healthy and making most of the time you have.

Peace

The Right Tools

Using the right tools for the job is always a good idea. Sometimes I forget that even though I can knit washcloths/dishrags/handtowels or whatever you want to call them=those cotton things, on straight needles, perhaps using my trusty old Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles are the best tool for the job. Lightweight, bendy, easy on the hands, wrists and elbows, low to no drag on cotton yarn; just all around good, better, best tools for pretty much any job. I could put the little stoppers on and make them into bendy straights but I am forever dropping one, so circular used as straights really works the best too.

So, back to the dishcloth/washrag/hand towel thing. They are this year’s christmas theme. Inexpensive, colorful, quick and easy to knit or crochet and heck, who doesn’t need a nice cotton cloth to do a nice regular job around the house?

I figure I need at least 12 sets are needed for family members and a few friends, and by a set I mean:

• two dishcloths
• one longer hand/dishtowel (hanging or straight)
• one sponge type dishthingie like a Tribble or one of the many tawashi patterns there are out there on the internet, either knit and crochet or a combination of both.

I haven’t decided on who gets what set or if colors really matter. Except that I do want Jessica and Joe’s set to be red and white because they are a newish couple and I know that when you are just starting out you tend to want things to match your decor. Those of us that have been around for a while (keeping up a home) know that color doesn’t matter if you are talking about mopping up a spill or whatnot. Oh and then there are the more masculine colors for the male relatives because I don’t think they would take kindly to a lot of girlie colors, or maybe I only think it matters? Most of it really depends on the mood I am in and just how sick of green and yellow I am going to be by the end of this particular large many itemed project.

Onto photos, details and links!

Set number 1:
eLoomanator’s Diagonal Knit Dishcloth (.pdf pattern)

I still have a few items to do, but in order to do those I need to find a matching pale green, pink or brown cotton to use for the hanging towel and the tawashi.

The following set is complete except for finding a button for the hanging towel:

The small green/blue/yellow cloth on the upper right is a Ballband Dishcloth
The cloth on the lower right is a combination of the Ballband dishcloth on both ends, and a basketweave pattern in the middle, same set-up for the hanging towel. The round variegated cotton sponge is a Tribble.

 

This following set is complete!
The long dishtowel is from a free pattern called Vignes, the square light green cloth is called Baby Fern Stitch Dishcloth. There is another Tribble, this time using alternating variegated and solid green.

 

 

This is the finished dark green square from the previous photo. Another free pattern called Little Shells.

 

 

 

 

On this one I finished the two dishrags:

Both variations on the Little Starbursts Dishcloth.  And I have started on the handtowel tonight – is a Christmas Lace Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel.  Once that is done, probably tomorrow I will also need to do a tawashi.

And finally, the start on set 5, just one dishrag done:

The Squidge Cloth.

It still seems like a lot to go but I have plenty of time. If I get all the sets done I may just keep adding to them, or do extra sets for myself, who knows?

Peace!