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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Wedding Ghan, and Work in Progress Wednesday

start of June cotton clothA small beginning to a standard corner to corner cotton washcloth. I love the color combination. This is the first cloth made from The Cotton Stash I showed you HERE. My thought is a cloth a month, calendar cloth project I think I'll call it. I think this combination works best for June? It's summery, blue for water, green for grass, and the colors remind me of swimming pools and beaches. But, with my idea now of calendar cloth some of the months aren't represented in my current stash, and some of those colors in the stash don't jump out as a particular month. Might have to give this more thought, and or go shopping again? Primarily trying to focus on the wedding ghan, but need quick little items to toss in purse for on the go knitting. ( I should mention I'm using the lightest color for the joining, the color from the eyelet block, and you don't see it even on the dark brown blocks).
This shows the back of the wedding ghan and the mattress stitch. I had planned to whip stitch, but someone...good friend Sandie in Louisiana suggested mattress stitch. I discounted it as too tedious, good stitch for hats and sweaters, which is the only time I've used it previously. Then I watched a video of it to refresh myself. She talked about how easy it was, how fast etc. Sooooooooo, I thought...ridge on the front from whip stitch and seeing it differnt color yarn, vs ridge on the back using mattress stitch join, and not seeing, or barely seeing different color yarn?
Soooo, decided to give it go. Three rows joined. Two more to knit. Plenty of tails to tuck which I find you can't really do at the same time as doing the mattress stitch. I do like how smooth the top is, but...it seems far more tedious to me and not quick like the lady in the video. Naturally the ghan will need to be blocked, but the monochromatic colors in the traditional diagonal blocks are coming together.
This in Mardi Gras Oddball Baby Blanket. I'm tasked with being the border patrol for this. I'm currently in staring mode. lol I always stare awhile to decide what I want to do with the edge. What color, what type of crocheted border. I have some purple variegated that might work?

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18 comments:

  1. Really loving that baby blanket. Babies don't get enough bright colors. Stupid pastels, bleh. :)

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  2. The few times I've used mattress stitch I have found it to take a little more concentration than simple whipstitch. It just depends on what I'm doing whether seeing the stitches is acceptable or not. Sometimes they can make a nice addition to the project. I think as you get going it may go faster. Glad you like the look! Thanks for the mention.

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  3. Thanks for the visits and comments Joansie, Calophi,and Sandie.

    I'm with you on the colorful vs pastels Calophi. I'm not sure I've made a pastel blanket, except when specifically requested. I like color.

    Hope you're right Sandie, that as I continue it will go faster, those are some long seams. Found it worked better laid on the dining room table instead of my lap, which is typically how I work.

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  4. I think mattress stitch is tedious too BUT I do think it'll go faster the more you do it. I think everything is looking great :)

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  5. As much as I hate miles of mattress stitch, I think it is the right call for the ghan :) Love the baby blanket too

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  6. I love the summery colors of your washcloth too. That afghan is really coming along. What a nice gift.

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  7. YOUR PROJECTS ARE LOVELY. THE DISH CLOTH IS VERY PRETTY, AND THE BABY BLANKET IS SUPER, I LIKE THE COLORS. TAKE CARE,
    RIZZI

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  8. Lovely looking WIPs there. I have only used mattress stitch once and it was tedious but the results were great :-)

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  9. Wow! You have been busy! I really like all of your projects. The dishcloth is so nice & colorful. The wedding afghan looks so lovely. You're a stronger woman than me...I hate to sew things tog. (I get that from my mom.) Love, love, love the baby blanket! Great color scheme.

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  10. I have to admit I have to have a staring phase whenever I make a blanket to ensure that the border is perfect.

    I think the border makes or breaks a blanket!

    Can't wait to see it finished.

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  11. I love the colors of the dishcloth! Makes me want to make a corner to corner one! Thanks for sharing.

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  12. I love it. Staring mode! I will have to use that when my kids ask why I am not paying attention to them. Love the wedding ghan.

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  13. Umm, yup, I'm stumped on that border too. My friend Shirley usually decides for me when she's fed up with my waffling.

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  14. I have a small stash of cotton yarn now thanks to Wal Mart marking some of the colors on clearance for $1

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  15. Thanks all for the visits, and comments both are appreciated. I also enjoy and need the encouragement for some of these project. Marsha...you hit the jackpot cotton for 1.00! It doesn't go on sale much compared to other fibers around here and when it does it seems to only be discounted 20-30 cents a skein, so you did well. Plus...Walmarts here no longer have their nice notions department. Good for you

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  16. Awesome idea for the dishcloth a month thing! Especially since they're such quick knits.

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  17. I'm loving everything in this post! I love the wedding ghan and the baby blanket! I'm such a sucker for knit and crochet afghans. The cotton yarn at the top is nice too, I've used one very similar to that, and I think it was made by the same brand. It had a shade of purple in it though.

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  18. I know I already commented on this, but I just love those afghans so much! I hope you post another update soon on the wedding ghan, I bet it's looking pretty amazing! And I'm excited to see what kind of border you put on the mardi gras blanket. It will look great once it's blocked!

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