Multidirectional Diagonal Dishcloth

Here is a cloth pattern made with the Sugar 'n Cream dishcloth cotton on size 6 or 7 needles. It is an adaptation of the Multidirectional Scarf pattern. This is a great way to get at little experience with short rows.

You can use any thickness of yarn for this cloth...just increase (or decrease) the number of stitches. I've also used Paton's Grace (varigated) with this pattern as well.

Updated the Labels

I just went through all the posts and gave them labels. That should be helpful in the long run. If you are looking for a particular item or post you can just check in the label column on the right hand side.

If you have this blog subscribed in a feed (e.g. Bloglines) then it may appear that I have a bunch of new posts. I don't...it's just the new labels.

Two-Yarn Resoleable Socks....p. 47

This is the sock for May's sock class from the book Favorite Socks.

I tweaked a few things.....

1. The cuff is ribbed until about an inch before the heel flap.

2. The instep is 2 rows shorter.

3. I started the toe decreases right after the M1 round.

4. Once I got to 12 sts on each the instep needle and the heel needle I decreased every row to 8 sts. I then did the donkey ear trick and kitchenered shut.

All the toe tweaks I did after I had already knit the toe the way that pattern suggested. The sock was too long, and the toe too pointy so I ripped it out and redid the toe. Much happier with the way it turned out with the tweaks.

The yarn is Lambs Pride Superwash (100% wool...worsted weight). The colors are Charcoal Heather and Shane's Red. I also included a strand of red wooly nylon on the heel and sole. I used two circular needles...size 2's for the ribbing and size 3's for the rest of the sock.

Haiku's

I was inspired this morning when I read Beer Haiku Daily.

So here is a knitting haiku....

Knitting with Euroflax Linen

Thin, scratchy and stiff
Pattern grows with each repeat
Cloth softer each wash.

Elfin Lace

You've seen this cloth before (or not). It's about 7 1/2" x 7 1/2", 55 sts, done in Mercerized Cotton. Other options for smaller dishcloth yarn would be the linen I spoke of in the other post I did today or Patons Grace (that's a little bit bigger than the mercerized cotton).

I didn't think I'd be adding so many cloths to this blog. But it is so much fun to chart them up and share them with others.

This charted pattern is a bit on the unconventional side. Hope it makes sense to those wishing to knit it. I've used it quite often...even for a lace cashmere scarf (I'm a little better than half way with that) so I know the pattern works. Y'all may just be a little taken aback with the way the repeat stitches line up...or *not* line up as the case may be! The chart is pretty and colorful...I mean.... it's pretty colorful.

This is the first pattern that I switched to using the knitting fonts available from Aire River. It works really slick and can't wait to do more charting with that font. I'm not entirely used to it yet but it looks *very* promising.

King Charles Brocade

Happy Memorial Day!

This is a charted cloth pattern done with Louet Euroflax linen on size 1 (2.50 mm) needles.

I found the Euroflax linen to be much more pleasant to knit with if I wash and hang dry the skein before winding it into a ball. I found it to be tricky to keep stitches even when it isn't washed first because the linen is a bit stiff. The more this cloth is washed the softer and softer it will become.

The finished size is about 7 3/4" by 7 3/4" (55 sts).

The chart is very colorful and hopefully that will make it easy to read.

Lean to the Left

This free cloth pattern (pdf) is a finished size of about 8" by 8". Charted pattern here.


It's 61 sts on size 3 needles done with Royale Fashion Size 3 Crochet Thread.


I think this one and *especially* Lean to the Right would make a cute stitch pattern for the bottom of a summer top...say from the belly button down. Lean to the Right has just a bit more ribbing action to it than Lean to the Left.

Lean to the Right

This free pattern is done in the size 3 crochet cotton like the others.

This one is 55 sts on size 3 needles.

It measures about 7" x 7".

Charted pattern here.

Leafy Vines

Here is another free washcloth pattern I put together.

It's done in the size 3 crochet cotton. This one is 53 sts on size 3 needles.

I'm loving the green grass, warmer temps and the smell of the neighbor's lilacs coming in through the open windows. I wish lilac season was longer.


Edit on 4/12/12: Click this link for help with the SSK.

Rainbow at Dawn

A non-knitting post! *gasp*

My dh rises early...I don't...nor do the kids!

So when he went outside yesterday morning he witnessed this beauty in the western sky. He rushed back in the house for the camera. By then it started to sprinkle which are the white specks...I thought they looked like stars and a moon.

Almost makes me want to write a poem....

He says the picture doesn't really do it justice. He could see the full arc. It must have been amazing. Next time we've got rain expected about the time the sun rises -- I'll have to too.

Columns of Greece

Here is a pattern for a cloth made with size 3 Mercerized Cotton.
(It's a PDF file)

I've been looking through stitch pattern books for patterns I think would make into nice cloths. I hate to say dishcloths because I think these would make nice face cloths as well.

I added the borders to the stitch pattern...and viola! A new dish/face cloth pattern!

It's 58 stitches on size 3 needles. The pattern is charted but is very easy to read. You read the odd rows, right to left. The even rows, left to right.

This cloth looks the same on both sides.

Favorite Socks - New Interweave Press Book

I bought this book at my favorite LYS where she's doing a sock a month from this book for the next six months (with the possibility of doing more after that).

This sock is on page 69....Meida's Socks.

It looks much prettier in a solid color but I had this yarn in my stash and thought I'd give it a try.

The lace pattern is really easy to read and do from memory. The box on page 70 describing how to do the Estonian Cables without a cable needle is well written. I did hold the bottom of the stitches that are let loose temporarily with my left thumb nail. This helped me to get the loose stitches back on the needle.

These socks are in limbo at the moment. I'm a little short on the yarn and not excited about this yarn with this pattern.

The next sock is the Two-Yarn Resoleable Sock on page 47. I've got my homework done and can't wait to see how to do the sole!

Knitting Pure & Simple

This is Knitting Pure & Simple's pattern no. 241
Neckdown V Neck Shaped Cardigan

I knit this cardigan in Berrocco's Ultra Alpaca (color #6287, 6 skeins)....a Christmas present from my parents.

It was a very quick knit. I think it only took about 2 weeks to knit this up.

I did increase the rows of seed stitch on the bottom of the sweater. It called for an inch but I did more like an inch and a half (also on the cuffs to match). The sleeves I tweeked a little too since my gauge must have been a little tighter. In the upper arm I didn't do the last decrease. So when I got to the bell sleeves I didn't do the last increase either.

The sweater isn't really crooked. I lean to the right (in more ways than one!). Plus it looks like it could have been adjusted on my shoulders better. Next time I'll hire a professional to take the picture.....Not!

It is very comfortable and *soft*. If you get a chance to touch some Ultra Alpaca you'll see what I mean by soft.

I've been wearing it *a lot*!!! I anticipate being able to wear it all summer...especially in air conditioning!

If Momma's happy, everyone is happy

I thought these were already posted...guess not.

These were made for the twins who were born in August. (friends of ours at church)

The magazine pictures are on a half of a colored file folder (tacked with stick glue) and covered with clear contact paper. We used a twisted cord from the yarn that we used to knit the bunnies (also a gift to the twins and shown in another post). The cord goes around the seat/headrest of the car so the babies can "talk" to the pictures while riding around in the car.

There are more pictures on the flip side of each.

Cashmere Scarf

My mom and I went to Stitches Midwest last year with our LYS. This laceweight cashmere yarn was something my mom bought (it came with a free pattern). She didn't enjoy knitting with such thin yarn on such slippery needles (addi's) so in frustration she threw it my way.

I cast on.....I didn't mind it at all. It was a nice break from sock knitting. And for her birthday this year I knew exactly what to give to her.

Marie, thanks for asking about the size. That would be nice to know. I called my mom and she'll measure it. The other pictures I had were not that great. I had dried it on bath towels...note to self...buy prettier bath towels for drying knit items. I wanted to get a picture of my mom wearing it and I did have a chance yesterday but spaced out. Ooo...mom called it is 12" x 55".

More socks done

Here's another pair of socks made with Mountain Colors Bearfoot Yarn. This color is called Steelhead.

Done Crazy Toes & Heels method.

This time I added a cable going up the inside and outside of the leg. You can barely see it in the picture.

This pair is Trekking XXL in browns/greens. It is the first pair of socks my dh requested.

May be his last....I asked him for his socks when I was about to wash a load of the hand knit socks. His reply...."Oh, I already washed them!" Thank God they are superwash wool. But I still would rather do them on a more gentle cycle.

Socks for the kids

This is a pair of socks for dd#3. It is Lang Jawool sock yarn. Medium blue. Done on Knitpicks #0 circular, 9.5 spi, 13 rpi.
Queen Kahuna style *again*. Favorite way.

I did another pair of socks (no picture) for dd#2. They are exactly the same as her other pair...Knitpicks denim...only a little bit bigger.

I really need to keep knitting socks for these two so they have more than one or two pair each. My dd#1 has a pair of socks on her own knitting needles. Way cool!

Socks for me

These socks are Bearfoot Mountain Colors. The color is called Huckleberry. The yarn is 60% superwash wool, 25% mohair and 15% nylon. Each skein is 4 oz., about 350 yds.

It is very soft cuddly yarn and the socks are one of the warmest I've got.

These were done on #0 Addis toe up (9 spi). Turkish Cast on (7 wraps). Then Queen Kahuna style up. 36 sts. on each circular needle. Instep rib: k2, p2, *k4, p2* repeat between asterisks, end with k2.

These are Schaefer "Anne" yarn that I picked up at Stitches Midwest. The yarn is 60% merino wool superwash, 25% mohair, 15% nylon. The skeins are 4 oz., about 560 yards. Hmmm...not sure of the color. It's dark blue and dark green.

These were also done on #0 Addi Turbo. 10-11 spi. 39 sts on each circular needle. Did Aloha cast on from Queen Kahuna. I did little holes (just yo's) every other knit panel on the ribbing.

These are also nice cuddy, soft, warm socks.

Mini Sweaters

I saw some cute little sweaters on the Loose Ends Christmas tree and was reminded of the pattern I had to make some for my family (5), my sister's family (4), my parents (2) and dh's work friends (15). It got a little carried away...especially since I started them in December. But it was so much fun using the different sock yarns I've got...some of which haven't become socks yet.

The finished measurements are 2" high and 1 3/4" for the body. Measuring tip of cuff to other cuff is 3 3/4". The ribbing was done on size 1 bamboo dpns and the rest was done on size 2's. I mistakenly used size 1's for a whole sweater and it really did make quite a difference in size. I gave that one away to a neighbor so can't measure it.

The pattern is here. It's the same site that has that cute bunny I posted about not long ago. The pattern is done in the round from the neck down. Once you get to the sleeves you do those flat. Then back to the body in the round. Sew up the sleeves weaving the yarn to take care of any underarm holes. It is a perfectly functional sweater if you had something that small you could dress! Done with different size needles with different size yarn you'd get a differet size sweater.

For the hangers...I bent some craft wire using a nail knitting board to form the bottom of the triangle. Did some twisting by hand and then with a smooth pliers to be sure the end was not pokey. Snipped the wire from the roll and formed the little hook over something roundish...the seam ripper handle was handy for that.

Ornaments

Here are some pictures of Christmas ornaments we made for our local yarn store. Various businesses decorated indoor trees. The public was able to vote on their favorite trees. It was for some charity. Once the viewing was over the ornaments went back to the yarn store and were sold with the proceeds going to the local food pantry.

The Christmas tree and star were made by knitting a rectangular piece and felting it. After drying, I cut out the shapes. It was tough cutting...especially the tree. Ended up with a blister.

We then needle felted on the tree. On the star we sprayed a little glue and sprinkled with a really fine glitter.

I forget how many of each we made. A dozen or so of the tree and star, 3 or so pairs of socks and maybe 6 stockings. Something like that.

Even my dd got into the act by making about a dozen of these scrubbie ornaments. By putting together three different scrubbies it makes a cute little ball.