This is the cotton cloth for the month of March, doesn't it look like an Easter Basket? Though I think the pattern, Garter Stitch Checks would show up better with a solid fiber, you can see it looks a bit like a basket. Or maybe that's because I know that's what it's suppose to be? What do you think? I love the colors, it's very springy looking to me. This completes my Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge, so this is sorta a Done and DONE on this finished object Friday post. hehe
January = White and snow
February = Red and Valentines Heart
March = Easter Springy colors, and a basket pattern
April = Green and white, fresh and growing after the rains
May = pretty pink flowers
June = Beachy-ness
July = Red, White, and Blue Patriotism
August = Scourching hot, bright yellow and orange sunny
September = Fading Colors of summer
October = Brown, and orange Candy Corn
November = Green, orange, gold leaves changing colors
December = Red, Green, and White Christmas
This was a fun project, I learned some new knitting stitches/patterns in the process. With the exception of January, the cable stitch learning to do new things on small scale like a cotton cloth is a good idea....the cable wasn't a good idea, as cotton has no stretch when your knitting and it was rather hard on the hands.
Finished Object Friday Badge and link in sidebar
Darling Daughter asked for a mound a cotton cloths, not for dishes body clothes. I've been giving them to her as I made them. The last one was mailed 2 days ago. Enjoy, DD.
**Please let me again ask everyone who enjoys meme's, linky parties to please please please stop using those dang captcha's on your blog's. It is soooooo time consuming, and sooooooooo frustrating, and in many cases truly over kill. Most of you who use them, also have your settings set to approve comments. If you're approving them anyway, why use captcha. You're going to delete spam. AND, the filters on blogspot are so good, they catch the spam without comments needing to be approved and without using captcha. Please at least try blogging without the captcha for a 2wk period and see how well the filters work. Those things are killing my eyesite.**
sigh...steps off soap box
Showing posts with label calendar challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label calendar challenge. Show all posts
Friday, February 17, 2012
Friday, December 23, 2011
A travel plan in order
I've posted about Oddball blankets before, it's a group on RAV, every knitter knits there section and sends the blanket on. Some are baby blankets, some full sized, some even for pets. This is a knitted worsted weight blanket sized for babies that requires 6 knitters and a border patrol person. My section has been complete and now that the blanket, Fruit Salad has it's traveling papers will be mailed, once again.
This blanket has traveled from Canada, to Wyoming, to Texas, to the state of Washington, then to me here in Ohio. From Ohio, The Buckeye State it will travel to Idaho for it's final section. I'm unsure where it will go from there to be bordered. The blue section is to represent blueberries.
Another Finished Object for Friday is January Cloth (my first cable attempt). And my 10th of 12th cloths for Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge which is part of my YOP. It's not great and I learned that I would NEVER again do a cable stitch using Cotton!
Cotton has no give which made doing this very difficult. And as you can see where I tried really hard to knit loser...there are some inconsistent holes near the cables. There are sections that turned out nice but I was only able to do a few rows at a time cause it played havoc on hands.
FOF Badge and link in sidebar.
This blanket has traveled from Canada, to Wyoming, to Texas, to the state of Washington, then to me here in Ohio. From Ohio, The Buckeye State it will travel to Idaho for it's final section. I'm unsure where it will go from there to be bordered. The blue section is to represent blueberries.
Another Finished Object for Friday is January Cloth (my first cable attempt). And my 10th of 12th cloths for Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge which is part of my YOP. It's not great and I learned that I would NEVER again do a cable stitch using Cotton!
Cotton has no give which made doing this very difficult. And as you can see where I tried really hard to knit loser...there are some inconsistent holes near the cables. There are sections that turned out nice but I was only able to do a few rows at a time cause it played havoc on hands.
FOF Badge and link in sidebar.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
What are the Right Tools?
This is the start to The January Cloth for Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge for my DD. Sigh.........The photo shows 2 cables and the pattern is called mirror image. The beginning you see is after 3 tries! Argh..........it's been frogged multiple times. First it was going to be blue and white......white for snow and blue for cold. Cold and snow pretty much sums up Ohio in January. However, after frogging twice I decided to stick with one solid color, one less issue to deal with. This is my first attempt at cables. Learning to knit cables is one of 2 items on the goal area of My Year of Projects List.
I thought (probably not wisely so), that doing a cotton washcloth would be a good way to try my hand at this stitch, because it's a small project and doing something new on a small project is probably a better idea.....right? Hum, well in retrospeak, I think using cotton for a cable is probably NOT a good idea? Cotton has next to know give, no flexibility which seems to make doing the stitch really hard on my hands......tight. I do a few rows, then take a break.
I read the directions several times, and watched a couple of video's to see how to do the stitch. Above you see 2 types of cable stitch holders. The one that looks like a knitting needle with a curve is the one I started with. My thought was, it's about the same size (gauge) as the knitting needles I'm using for the project..........figured that would keep the stitches the right gauge?
Some directions suggest knitting right from the stitch holder..........yeah, tried that and couldn't keep the count very well. Though it did seem knitting from the holder when the holder was in back of the work (C6B) was easier then C6F. Another video suggested moving the stitches back to the regular knitting needle. That method seemed to work better for me.........except I found again moving them hard to keep the right number, things just seemed toooooooooooo tight, particular with C6F.
Then I remembered the cable holders I purchased previously that looked like big safety pins and thought I'd give those a try. I much prefer these. Using these and putting the stitches back on the needle seems to be easier....not easy, but easier. One of the video's showed a v shape stitch holder that I've not seen in the stores. Need to keep my eyes open, as it seemed like it might be the ticket.
Does the equipment/tools one uses make a difference? As a newbie, I think so...but what say you all? Is using a cotton a foolish way to learn? Is a good wool easier?
YOP link and badge in sidebar. Working on the actual list, plan to have an additional page/tab here vs reposting it each Sunday.
I thought (probably not wisely so), that doing a cotton washcloth would be a good way to try my hand at this stitch, because it's a small project and doing something new on a small project is probably a better idea.....right? Hum, well in retrospeak, I think using cotton for a cable is probably NOT a good idea? Cotton has next to know give, no flexibility which seems to make doing the stitch really hard on my hands......tight. I do a few rows, then take a break.
I read the directions several times, and watched a couple of video's to see how to do the stitch. Above you see 2 types of cable stitch holders. The one that looks like a knitting needle with a curve is the one I started with. My thought was, it's about the same size (gauge) as the knitting needles I'm using for the project..........figured that would keep the stitches the right gauge?
Some directions suggest knitting right from the stitch holder..........yeah, tried that and couldn't keep the count very well. Though it did seem knitting from the holder when the holder was in back of the work (C6B) was easier then C6F. Another video suggested moving the stitches back to the regular knitting needle. That method seemed to work better for me.........except I found again moving them hard to keep the right number, things just seemed toooooooooooo tight, particular with C6F.
Then I remembered the cable holders I purchased previously that looked like big safety pins and thought I'd give those a try. I much prefer these. Using these and putting the stitches back on the needle seems to be easier....not easy, but easier. One of the video's showed a v shape stitch holder that I've not seen in the stores. Need to keep my eyes open, as it seemed like it might be the ticket.
Does the equipment/tools one uses make a difference? As a newbie, I think so...but what say you all? Is using a cotton a foolish way to learn? Is a good wool easier?
YOP link and badge in sidebar. Working on the actual list, plan to have an additional page/tab here vs reposting it each Sunday.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Knitting the End of the Month
Colors in this Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge photo aren't exact. The orange is brighter, as is the green in real life, I think. Hoping to have this done by days end and should be able to manage that. This is November's cloth for DD in my Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge, it's the last day of month...so time to move to the next cloth...........but will finish this one first. She loves using cotton washcloths and I meant to have this one finished to give her when she was home for Thanksgiving; but was working really hard on finishing Pink Petuna which you'll see on Friday, for Finished Object Friday. Please check back. Need to make Dec, Jan, Feb, and March for this challenge (and item on my YOP list) will be complete. 8 down and 4 to go.
Barely a start, but a start. The blue represents Blueberries on this Oddball Baby Blanket called "Fruit Salad". They come up with cute and fun names and each knitter in turn interpets the theme and knits their section. I lost track how many I had committed to and so initially only had 1 on my list of to do's. Boy was I off, this is #4. When DD was home for Thanksgiving she wanted to work a bit on something and so started this so I'll continue and finish it up SOON.
Still working on The awesome Green Scarf for DD, and by the time you read this scheduled post will probably be working on another afghan from donated squares through Bridge and Beyond's Project Welcome Home and Give a Square.
Hope you're all doing well and enjoyed Thanksgiving. You can find all Work in Progress Wednesday's Badges and Links in the left sidebar.
Barely a start, but a start. The blue represents Blueberries on this Oddball Baby Blanket called "Fruit Salad". They come up with cute and fun names and each knitter in turn interpets the theme and knits their section. I lost track how many I had committed to and so initially only had 1 on my list of to do's. Boy was I off, this is #4. When DD was home for Thanksgiving she wanted to work a bit on something and so started this so I'll continue and finish it up SOON.
Still working on The awesome Green Scarf for DD, and by the time you read this scheduled post will probably be working on another afghan from donated squares through Bridge and Beyond's Project Welcome Home and Give a Square.
Hope you're all doing well and enjoyed Thanksgiving. You can find all Work in Progress Wednesday's Badges and Links in the left sidebar.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Traveling with Works in Progress
This was suppose to be last Wednesday's post, but I was traveling and hubby's computer was self imploding, so very limited computer time was available which meant no blogging. Above crocheted squares were donated from a high school friend over on Bridge and Beyond. The one pink row after the circles makes the squares about 6 inches. She had started this for her daughter years ago and found it while cleaning out a closet. I've added a row of purple and or green as you can see with 2 additional rows of pink to extend the squares. Those with purple centers have no green so they get the green row, and those with pink centers have no purple so they get the purple row. These squares went traveling with me. Once joined they will be donated for Project "Welcome Home", through my other blog, Bridge and Beyond to The Homeless Families Foundation. Hopefully this will put on smile on some girls face, as well as warm her up. Some of you may know, some may not; this month focuses on another classmate of mine from school who sadly died homeless. It's Jack Otis Memorial Month. How fitting that my friend Connie also a classmate of Jack's made this donation. I'm naming this ghan, Pink Petuna.
Barely a start here, but this is/will be a knitted cotton cloth for DD. A continuation of The Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge, this is November's cloth. Had plan to work on this on the recent trip as well, but didn't make it that far. Need to push to get this done so I can pass it along to her over The Thanksgiving Holiday. Looking forward to coming home for a couple of days to visit. Don't remember what the pattern is called, or if has a name? When I jotted it down on the note card I didn't make a note...........dang it. I know I found the pattern/stitch some time back, as the note card was bent so has been around awhile.
This counts as less then barely a start. But, I wanted to at least cast on this yummy Liberty wool. It feels wonderful. I'm in need of a new scarf.........the last 2 I made for myself ended up being passed along to someone else. LOL, I do that often and know many of you do too, from reading your blogs. This though, looks to be funky colors and many of those I pass things along to aren't into the funky as much as I am, soooooooooooo it may indeed end up being mine. I selected a limited straight forward lace stitch for this, knit 1, yo, k2tog across. I'm hoping it will still be warm since this is 100% wool, and won't be too open given the DK weight of the yarn.
Hoping to get back to more regular blogging and blog visiting, Happy Work in Progress Wednesday to you all. All badges and links in the side bar.
Barely a start here, but this is/will be a knitted cotton cloth for DD. A continuation of The Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge, this is November's cloth. Had plan to work on this on the recent trip as well, but didn't make it that far. Need to push to get this done so I can pass it along to her over The Thanksgiving Holiday. Looking forward to coming home for a couple of days to visit. Don't remember what the pattern is called, or if has a name? When I jotted it down on the note card I didn't make a note...........dang it. I know I found the pattern/stitch some time back, as the note card was bent so has been around awhile.
This counts as less then barely a start. But, I wanted to at least cast on this yummy Liberty wool. It feels wonderful. I'm in need of a new scarf.........the last 2 I made for myself ended up being passed along to someone else. LOL, I do that often and know many of you do too, from reading your blogs. This though, looks to be funky colors and many of those I pass things along to aren't into the funky as much as I am, soooooooooooo it may indeed end up being mine. I selected a limited straight forward lace stitch for this, knit 1, yo, k2tog across. I'm hoping it will still be warm since this is 100% wool, and won't be too open given the DK weight of the yarn.
Hoping to get back to more regular blogging and blog visiting, Happy Work in Progress Wednesday to you all. All badges and links in the side bar.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Green Grass of Home, Rainbow Bright and October Cloth
Pretty excited I have so much to share with you this Friday for Finished Object Friday. Firstly cause I've not been able to blog as much of late with many things going on in the family. Many of you know my Dad was in the hospital, and his sister, my elderly aunt (91) had been moved from to a nursing home here in town from assisted living and hospital stays in Urbana and Springfield. Life's been busy. So, I've missed some FOF, WIPW, and YOP Sunday. Above is a finished object, this bright colored ghan is titled, "Rainbow Bright". It's made from donated crocheted squares through Bridge and Beyond, (thank you Cheryl S), for Project "Welcome Home". I crocheted 2 rows around each of the squares, joined them, crocheted another row around each strip, joined them and crocheted several more rows around the whole ghan before adding the decorative border.
Thank you all for the good wishes for my Dad. I'm happy to say, he's back home and doing well. My Aunt settled in nicely at the nursing home and things were going well for awhile. Sadly, that didn't last and she ended up back in the hospital (at least it was here in town this time). After a weeks stay in the hospital, I can say she's no longer in pain; she is now at peace and for that........we are very Thankful. Am hopeful life will slow down a bit, and get back to "normal".
Above photo shows close up of the border.
Finished knitting this October cloth on a recent road trip to St. Louis to visit with DD., and therefore was able to give it to her. This is cloth 7 in the Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge. Next up, need to work on November's cloth. **Editing to add name of pattern, and link for the October Cloth. Easy Squidge by Sasha. Click HERE
The Green Green Grass of home. You may remember seeing this scarf in the works. It's a scarf I started while spending time at the hospital with my Dad. It was donated to Bridge and Beyond.
Thank you all for the good wishes for my Dad. I'm happy to say, he's back home and doing well. My Aunt settled in nicely at the nursing home and things were going well for awhile. Sadly, that didn't last and she ended up back in the hospital (at least it was here in town this time). After a weeks stay in the hospital, I can say she's no longer in pain; she is now at peace and for that........we are very Thankful. Am hopeful life will slow down a bit, and get back to "normal".
Above photo shows close up of the border.
Finished knitting this October cloth on a recent road trip to St. Louis to visit with DD., and therefore was able to give it to her. This is cloth 7 in the Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge. Next up, need to work on November's cloth. **Editing to add name of pattern, and link for the October Cloth. Easy Squidge by Sasha. Click HERE
The Green Green Grass of home. You may remember seeing this scarf in the works. It's a scarf I started while spending time at the hospital with my Dad. It was donated to Bridge and Beyond.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
OddBall Baby Blankets and October Cotton Cloth (YOP)
YOP #6 FO Friday Post HERE
Wow, here it is, another Sunday and time for another update of YOP (year of projects). Have highlighted in red with links to posts of the finished objects to date. Had plan this week to focus on above cotton wash cloth, part of the Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge (this is #7), and Pink Poodle. Instead I focused on the 2nd OddBall Baby Blanket that arrive, Cinco de Mayo. And the start of the new OddBall Baby Blanket which will be cast on today, now that I've selected the yarn and name of the blanket. It will be titled Pretty in Pink.
Will be heading to the post office to get both Oddballs in the mail, and The wedding ghan in the mail, hopefully tomorrow before work.
YOP list:
Wedding Ghan DONE
Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge Working on The October Cloth for DD, so am slightly over 60% done with Nov Dec Jan Feb and April left.
Cotton Cloths for Bridge and Beyond (haven't started)
Candy Corn Ghan (no headway)
Buckeye Scarf (no headway)
Learn to knit socks (no attempt)
Learn to knit cable stitches (no attempt, but....have found a pseudo stitch I may try on a cotton cloth to get me started)
Awesome wool (blue) scarf no headwayPoodle Ghan no additional headway
Oddball DONE (both Mardi Gras and Cinco de Mayo finished, in the laundry and needing blocked as we speak) Starting new blanket which will be titled "Pretty in Pink" and will start it's journey to other knitters.
Bridge Ghans (no additional headway) Will begin edging squares since wedding ghan is done
Red Scarf Project Scarf, DONE
Happy Sunday all
Wow, here it is, another Sunday and time for another update of YOP (year of projects). Have highlighted in red with links to posts of the finished objects to date. Had plan this week to focus on above cotton wash cloth, part of the Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge (this is #7), and Pink Poodle. Instead I focused on the 2nd OddBall Baby Blanket that arrive, Cinco de Mayo. And the start of the new OddBall Baby Blanket which will be cast on today, now that I've selected the yarn and name of the blanket. It will be titled Pretty in Pink.
Will be heading to the post office to get both Oddballs in the mail, and The wedding ghan in the mail, hopefully tomorrow before work.
YOP list:
Wedding Ghan DONE
Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge Working on The October Cloth for DD, so am slightly over 60% done with Nov Dec Jan Feb and April left.
Cotton Cloths for Bridge and Beyond (haven't started)
Candy Corn Ghan (no headway)
Buckeye Scarf (no headway)
Learn to knit socks (no attempt)
Learn to knit cable stitches (no attempt, but....have found a pseudo stitch I may try on a cotton cloth to get me started)
Awesome wool (blue) scarf no headwayPoodle Ghan no additional headway
Oddball DONE (both Mardi Gras and Cinco de Mayo finished, in the laundry and needing blocked as we speak) Starting new blanket which will be titled "Pretty in Pink" and will start it's journey to other knitters.
Bridge Ghans (no additional headway) Will begin edging squares since wedding ghan is done
Red Scarf Project Scarf, DONE
Happy Sunday all
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sandy's Sunday Year of Projects, fast week
Week #5 for me Aug 21-27
A much shorter post then most of my YOP posts are, and no pictures today. Though links below to see what projects I'm talking about. I've made good headway since last Sunday (Monday when I made my post); but not 1 single item is yet to go from the YOP Work in Progress List to The Yea it's done list. Chipping away. I'm so enjoying visiting, and learning from some pretty awesome blogs with regard to this challenge.
YOP list:
Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge (about 50% done with DD's cloths) started cloth 7 which was to be Easter Colors, a basket weave design for March; but you can't see the pattern well, and needles are wrong, and wrong size and ...frogged it. Posted it HERE. Think I'll switch to October since that's closer anyway. April, May, June, July, August, and September done. Need to do Jan, Feb, March, Oct, Nov and Dec.
Cotton Cloths for Bridge and Beyond (haven't started)
Wedding Ghan (about 90% Knitting completed! Ends all tucked in, all strips joined. Have started the border. Wanted to finish this weekend, get it in the laundry and block it; that's not going to happen. Spent to much time outside doing yard work.
Candy Corn Ghan (no headway)
Buckeye Scarf (no headway)
Learn to knit socks (no attempt)
Learn to knit cable stitches (no attempt, but....have found a pseudo stitch I may try on a cotton cloth to get me started)
Awesome wool (blue) scarf (planned to take on recent trip; but as I was packing it realized I once again had not included the pattern I was using in the zip lock bag!) Why...probably because I was using the pattern on something else? I have no yet frogged this start---it's a 300 stitch cast on and I'm hoping to be able to determine what I was doing.
Poodle Ghan (had planned to finish this by now, had it packed for mentioned trip....mindless knitting would have been good; but.........needed to remove it from the suitcase to make room for our Martini glasses)
Oddball (Two rows of the border done, so bout 60% finished, waiting on a 2nd one to be delivered so I can mail them at the same time.)
Bridge Ghans (no additional headway)
Red Scarf Project Scarf, posted about it HERE. Though I'm about 65% done with it, looks like with the new regulations for The Red Scarf Project, it won't be donated there, but I will continue to work on it and it will be good for something/someone/charity wise.
A much shorter post then most of my YOP posts are, and no pictures today. Though links below to see what projects I'm talking about. I've made good headway since last Sunday (Monday when I made my post); but not 1 single item is yet to go from the YOP Work in Progress List to The Yea it's done list. Chipping away. I'm so enjoying visiting, and learning from some pretty awesome blogs with regard to this challenge.
YOP list:
Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge (about 50% done with DD's cloths) started cloth 7 which was to be Easter Colors, a basket weave design for March; but you can't see the pattern well, and needles are wrong, and wrong size and ...frogged it. Posted it HERE. Think I'll switch to October since that's closer anyway. April, May, June, July, August, and September done. Need to do Jan, Feb, March, Oct, Nov and Dec.
Cotton Cloths for Bridge and Beyond (haven't started)
Wedding Ghan (about 90% Knitting completed! Ends all tucked in, all strips joined. Have started the border. Wanted to finish this weekend, get it in the laundry and block it; that's not going to happen. Spent to much time outside doing yard work.
Candy Corn Ghan (no headway)
Buckeye Scarf (no headway)
Learn to knit socks (no attempt)
Learn to knit cable stitches (no attempt, but....have found a pseudo stitch I may try on a cotton cloth to get me started)
Awesome wool (blue) scarf (planned to take on recent trip; but as I was packing it realized I once again had not included the pattern I was using in the zip lock bag!) Why...probably because I was using the pattern on something else? I have no yet frogged this start---it's a 300 stitch cast on and I'm hoping to be able to determine what I was doing.
Poodle Ghan (had planned to finish this by now, had it packed for mentioned trip....mindless knitting would have been good; but.........needed to remove it from the suitcase to make room for our Martini glasses)
Oddball (Two rows of the border done, so bout 60% finished, waiting on a 2nd one to be delivered so I can mail them at the same time.)
Bridge Ghans (no additional headway)
Red Scarf Project Scarf, posted about it HERE. Though I'm about 65% done with it, looks like with the new regulations for The Red Scarf Project, it won't be donated there, but I will continue to work on it and it will be good for something/someone/charity wise.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge and Lessons Learned.
Finished Object Friday Post(link in sidebar)
Here we have the back of faded summer (Septembers) cotton cloth for DD for the Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge. Pastels indicating the brilliant summer colors no longer at their peek. Details in this post
Here's the front of the cloth, on my lap, sorry folks didn't have a good place to lay it down to photograph at this particular moment. I finished this cloth once we arrived in Park City for our family vacation and passed it on to DD who was happy with collection to date. I had 3 finished prior to the trip, finished July on the plane, started above September on the plane. (finished Sept and April before the end of the trip). Love this pattern and will definitely use this stitch again. Actually already have, now that I think about it....as a design element in the red and purple scarf.
This is another cloth for the challenge started after arriving in Park City for the family vacation also. This cloth was started over 4 times before I hit on a pattern I liked. Several of the patterns just weren't showing up using the variegated yarn/cotton...and so were a bit of a waste of time counting etc. Both DD and I like this, it's a bit thicker and has good texture for a cotton washcloth. This now is cloth 6 in her possession. #7 which is March is on the needles, as we speak which leaves 5 to complete for the cotton cloth calendar challenge. 50% there.
I have discovered 2 things while making these cotton cloths. Some time back I posted I didn't like to work with cotton, that it bothered my hands. What I found out is, I was using my Denise needles and the cotton does not slide nicely off the needles, in fact it really sticks which makes working on the item hard on the hands, fingers, and shoulders (you know tension). However, I had a metal something (Susan Bates I think), circular needle the right size and started using it for these cloths............WOW, what a difference. It's not the cotton that's hard, it was the combination of the needles and the cotton. The 2nd thing I've learned so far with working on these cloths, is the fun in trying new stitches/patterns on a small scale.......much less fearful, and also much more willing to frog if I don't like it.
Here we have the back of faded summer (Septembers) cotton cloth for DD for the Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge. Pastels indicating the brilliant summer colors no longer at their peek. Details in this post
Here's the front of the cloth, on my lap, sorry folks didn't have a good place to lay it down to photograph at this particular moment. I finished this cloth once we arrived in Park City for our family vacation and passed it on to DD who was happy with collection to date. I had 3 finished prior to the trip, finished July on the plane, started above September on the plane. (finished Sept and April before the end of the trip). Love this pattern and will definitely use this stitch again. Actually already have, now that I think about it....as a design element in the red and purple scarf.
This is another cloth for the challenge started after arriving in Park City for the family vacation also. This cloth was started over 4 times before I hit on a pattern I liked. Several of the patterns just weren't showing up using the variegated yarn/cotton...and so were a bit of a waste of time counting etc. Both DD and I like this, it's a bit thicker and has good texture for a cotton washcloth. This now is cloth 6 in her possession. #7 which is March is on the needles, as we speak which leaves 5 to complete for the cotton cloth calendar challenge. 50% there.
I have discovered 2 things while making these cotton cloths. Some time back I posted I didn't like to work with cotton, that it bothered my hands. What I found out is, I was using my Denise needles and the cotton does not slide nicely off the needles, in fact it really sticks which makes working on the item hard on the hands, fingers, and shoulders (you know tension). However, I had a metal something (Susan Bates I think), circular needle the right size and started using it for these cloths............WOW, what a difference. It's not the cotton that's hard, it was the combination of the needles and the cotton. The 2nd thing I've learned so far with working on these cloths, is the fun in trying new stitches/patterns on a small scale.......much less fearful, and also much more willing to frog if I don't like it.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Wedding Ghan, Scarf round 3, and Easter Cloth
Work in Progress Wed Post (links in sidebar)
This is the start, barely perhaps of the cotton cloth for March (Easter). Several problems right from the get go. The stitch/pattern is called basket rib. Well basket certainly seems appropriate for Easter and the colors sure look like Easter Eggs and Jelly Beans so that part works. However, started this with my Denise Needles which is how I discovered cotton and Denise needles don't play well together. There's no sliding, and do you see a pattern? No sure I do. Sometimes patterns don't show up well with variegated yarns; but perhaps the needle size is to large? Perhaps frogging and starting over with a smaller and metal needle (like I used with the other 6 cloths) is the way to go? This cloth is part of the Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge for DD.
TaDah! Well yes I know that expression and a drum roll is usually reserved for when a project is completed. However, I feel whew.......finished the knitting the last strip (far right), and am joining using the mattress stitch. Well, this is a scheduled post, so perhaps thats done as you now read this? Anyway...the very last brown square on the last strip gave me fits. I frogged it 4 times. Had issues with right and wrong side, not seeing the brown well etc. So, to actually have the last strip done really thrills me. Once joined will crochet edge/border and laundry and block! Stay tuned. Am thus far pleased, this is the largest knitting project I've done, and I learned several new stitches/patterns in the process so this was a challenge for me.
Anxious to see how much larger it will be after joined, border, and blocked. Currently it measures 43 x 53.
This scarf, started out HERE, as an early start for The Red Scarf Project. For some unknown reason I've gotten bad at not noting what pattern I'm using and or where in the pattern I am when I lay something aside. Needed to put this aside to work on wedding ghan. So, frogged it and started over. Decided I would use the pattern from the faded summer cotton cloth, but after several rows decided it was to open and adjusted. Mentioned here. Well.........as things progressed I could see I wasn't going to have enough yarn. I purchased this red yarn several years ago, and so didn't even attempt to match; but was sick and tired of frogging.......so my new idea....see above. I knitted until I ran out of red and joined purple to do the 2nd half. As you wrap scarf you'll see both colors. Jury's out on how I'll like it or not on completion. I do love the colors together, but no...it's not a gift for a lady in The Red Hat Society. lol The other day I read guidelines for The Red Scarf Project have become more restrictive regarding red, which was not an issue before. I need to read and see if this scarf will work for them or not. If not, will go to another charity.
This is the start, barely perhaps of the cotton cloth for March (Easter). Several problems right from the get go. The stitch/pattern is called basket rib. Well basket certainly seems appropriate for Easter and the colors sure look like Easter Eggs and Jelly Beans so that part works. However, started this with my Denise Needles which is how I discovered cotton and Denise needles don't play well together. There's no sliding, and do you see a pattern? No sure I do. Sometimes patterns don't show up well with variegated yarns; but perhaps the needle size is to large? Perhaps frogging and starting over with a smaller and metal needle (like I used with the other 6 cloths) is the way to go? This cloth is part of the Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge for DD.
TaDah! Well yes I know that expression and a drum roll is usually reserved for when a project is completed. However, I feel whew.......finished the knitting the last strip (far right), and am joining using the mattress stitch. Well, this is a scheduled post, so perhaps thats done as you now read this? Anyway...the very last brown square on the last strip gave me fits. I frogged it 4 times. Had issues with right and wrong side, not seeing the brown well etc. So, to actually have the last strip done really thrills me. Once joined will crochet edge/border and laundry and block! Stay tuned. Am thus far pleased, this is the largest knitting project I've done, and I learned several new stitches/patterns in the process so this was a challenge for me.
Anxious to see how much larger it will be after joined, border, and blocked. Currently it measures 43 x 53.
This scarf, started out HERE, as an early start for The Red Scarf Project. For some unknown reason I've gotten bad at not noting what pattern I'm using and or where in the pattern I am when I lay something aside. Needed to put this aside to work on wedding ghan. So, frogged it and started over. Decided I would use the pattern from the faded summer cotton cloth, but after several rows decided it was to open and adjusted. Mentioned here. Well.........as things progressed I could see I wasn't going to have enough yarn. I purchased this red yarn several years ago, and so didn't even attempt to match; but was sick and tired of frogging.......so my new idea....see above. I knitted until I ran out of red and joined purple to do the 2nd half. As you wrap scarf you'll see both colors. Jury's out on how I'll like it or not on completion. I do love the colors together, but no...it's not a gift for a lady in The Red Hat Society. lol The other day I read guidelines for The Red Scarf Project have become more restrictive regarding red, which was not an issue before. I need to read and see if this scarf will work for them or not. If not, will go to another charity.
Monday, August 08, 2011
Running to Catch Up
YOP wk 4 for me (Aug 7-13)
Some progress to report on my YOP list:
Got July finished, and both April and September started for my Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge. I was traveling (Park City, Utah), so washcloths projects were perfect for the plane trip.
This is a neat pattern, one you might remember from the medium tan blocks in my stripes for the upcoming wedding ghan. It's called little blocks.
April showers is a cool stitch pattern, one I plan to use again perhaps on a scarf. It's called Chinese Waves. It's working up fast since it's basic garter, is nice and I think a very adaptable pattern. It called for a cast on of 45, but I thought that was too large for a washcloth and cast on 35, trick is to have an odd number for the cast on according to Margaret Radcliffe, designer. Was thrilled to come across this pattern, as I have now started and frogged this green--April Showers Cloth 3 times.....argh, just really didn't like the look of the other patterns I tried.
Fading summer is sort of an eyelet pattern but with garter and purl stitches, called Reversible Open Rib Washcloth. The pattern called for a cast on of 31. I really like the look of this stitch and plan to use it again also. The nice bonus in making these cotton cloths is trying out new stitches.
Also on the plane finished 2 more blocks on the wedding ghan's last stripe (which were blocks 4 and 5), and was almost finished with the 6th and final block of the last strip when I realized there was a mistake. Somehow I had gotten off with right and wrong side. I either didn't count a row, or I hit my clicker (row counter) twice. Arghhhhhhhhh. Dark brown to hard to see to rip out and get back on track on the plane so laid it aside. Once we reached Park City and got settled in, I again re-did the brown section....And...dang it, the same thing happened. I do find it hard to see, and was apparently not paying enough attention so completely frogged it again. As of the writing of this post, I've restarted this last brown block 3 times. I didn't attempt to do it on the plane ride home and plan to finish it today and begin attaching. Fingers crossed. Taking it slowly to be certain I don't get off again. Only doing it when there are no distractions.
Have updated my YOP list when I realized I'd left something off. I started a scarf for The Red Scarf Project way back and didn't get it on the list. Actually that link shows were I made progress, as it was started before that. However...........I didn't keep the pattern I was using with it, don't remember it, and have no clue where in the process I was. So, though I took it with me for this trip to Park City, I ended up frogging it and starting over.
I started out with the idea of using the Reversible Open Rib Washcloth pattern, but once I did several repeats decided it was too open for a scarf. Click to enlarge. I think with this wonderful soft Plymouth Yarn (washable wool), the openness is greater than with the cotton in above washcloth? So, after doing several repeats decided to do a section of garter stitch (32 rows which is double the amount of rows 16 used in the pattern stitch), then back to the pattern though only did 1 repeat and was going to repeat that. Changed my mind again and kept going with garter. The little bit of pattern, I think just gives some detail to the scarf. Now my problem is whether or not I have enough yarn. The skein is 200 yards, and this scarf is wider then I sometimes make them. I'll dig out my scale and weigh how much yarn I have left. If there's not enough, will have to get creative with how I finish it, as I've had this yarn a long time and won't even attempt to match it.
YOP list:
Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge (about 40% done with DD's cloths)
Cotton Cloths for Bridge and Beyond (haven't started)
Wedding Ghan (about 80% done, need to finish last block, attach last strip, edge, launder and block)
Candy Corn Ghan (no headway)
Buckeye Scarf (no headway)
Learn to knit socks (no attempt)
Learn to knit cable stitches (no attempt, but....have found a pseudo stitch I may try on a cotton cloth to get me started)
Awesome wool (blue) scarf (planned to take on recent trip; but as I was packing it realized I once again had not included the pattern I was using in the zip lock bag!) Why...probably because I was using the pattern on something else? I have no yet frogged this start---it's a 300 stitch cast on and I'm hoping to be able to determine what I was doing.
Poodle Ghan (had planned to finish this by now, had it packed for mentioned trip....mindless knitting would have been good; but.........needed to remove it from the suitcase to make room for our Martini glasses)
Oddball (sorry to report no headway since picking out colors and edging pattern)
Bridge Ghans (no additional headway)
Some progress to report on my YOP list:
Got July finished, and both April and September started for my Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge. I was traveling (Park City, Utah), so washcloths projects were perfect for the plane trip.
This is a neat pattern, one you might remember from the medium tan blocks in my stripes for the upcoming wedding ghan. It's called little blocks.
April showers is a cool stitch pattern, one I plan to use again perhaps on a scarf. It's called Chinese Waves. It's working up fast since it's basic garter, is nice and I think a very adaptable pattern. It called for a cast on of 45, but I thought that was too large for a washcloth and cast on 35, trick is to have an odd number for the cast on according to Margaret Radcliffe, designer. Was thrilled to come across this pattern, as I have now started and frogged this green--April Showers Cloth 3 times.....argh, just really didn't like the look of the other patterns I tried.
Fading summer is sort of an eyelet pattern but with garter and purl stitches, called Reversible Open Rib Washcloth. The pattern called for a cast on of 31. I really like the look of this stitch and plan to use it again also. The nice bonus in making these cotton cloths is trying out new stitches.
Also on the plane finished 2 more blocks on the wedding ghan's last stripe (which were blocks 4 and 5), and was almost finished with the 6th and final block of the last strip when I realized there was a mistake. Somehow I had gotten off with right and wrong side. I either didn't count a row, or I hit my clicker (row counter) twice. Arghhhhhhhhh. Dark brown to hard to see to rip out and get back on track on the plane so laid it aside. Once we reached Park City and got settled in, I again re-did the brown section....And...dang it, the same thing happened. I do find it hard to see, and was apparently not paying enough attention so completely frogged it again. As of the writing of this post, I've restarted this last brown block 3 times. I didn't attempt to do it on the plane ride home and plan to finish it today and begin attaching. Fingers crossed. Taking it slowly to be certain I don't get off again. Only doing it when there are no distractions.
Have updated my YOP list when I realized I'd left something off. I started a scarf for The Red Scarf Project way back and didn't get it on the list. Actually that link shows were I made progress, as it was started before that. However...........I didn't keep the pattern I was using with it, don't remember it, and have no clue where in the process I was. So, though I took it with me for this trip to Park City, I ended up frogging it and starting over.
I started out with the idea of using the Reversible Open Rib Washcloth pattern, but once I did several repeats decided it was too open for a scarf. Click to enlarge. I think with this wonderful soft Plymouth Yarn (washable wool), the openness is greater than with the cotton in above washcloth? So, after doing several repeats decided to do a section of garter stitch (32 rows which is double the amount of rows 16 used in the pattern stitch), then back to the pattern though only did 1 repeat and was going to repeat that. Changed my mind again and kept going with garter. The little bit of pattern, I think just gives some detail to the scarf. Now my problem is whether or not I have enough yarn. The skein is 200 yards, and this scarf is wider then I sometimes make them. I'll dig out my scale and weigh how much yarn I have left. If there's not enough, will have to get creative with how I finish it, as I've had this yarn a long time and won't even attempt to match it.
YOP list:
Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge (about 40% done with DD's cloths)
Cotton Cloths for Bridge and Beyond (haven't started)
Wedding Ghan (about 80% done, need to finish last block, attach last strip, edge, launder and block)
Candy Corn Ghan (no headway)
Buckeye Scarf (no headway)
Learn to knit socks (no attempt)
Learn to knit cable stitches (no attempt, but....have found a pseudo stitch I may try on a cotton cloth to get me started)
Awesome wool (blue) scarf (planned to take on recent trip; but as I was packing it realized I once again had not included the pattern I was using in the zip lock bag!) Why...probably because I was using the pattern on something else? I have no yet frogged this start---it's a 300 stitch cast on and I'm hoping to be able to determine what I was doing.
Poodle Ghan (had planned to finish this by now, had it packed for mentioned trip....mindless knitting would have been good; but.........needed to remove it from the suitcase to make room for our Martini glasses)
Oddball (sorry to report no headway since picking out colors and edging pattern)
Bridge Ghans (no additional headway)
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge
Today's Work in Progress Wednesday (badges with links in the left sidebar) focuses on my Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge. I've listed it as one of my YOP (year of projects). I want a cloth to represent each month. This stemmed from all the beautiful cotton washcloths that were collected during the month of June's focus on Bridge and Beyond, and my wanting to get some of the awesome colors I saw, and my DD seeing them and stating how much she LOVED cotton washcloths and wanted a mound of them. After making 2 shopping trips, one to JoAnne, and a 2nd one to Hobby Lobby and Michaels, I think I finally have colors that will work for my calendar idea.
January, cold, snowy. Blue and White is my current idea
February, naturally one thinks red; but I may do this combo? Thoughts vs plain red?
March is Easter, so thought this looked like an Easter Basket of pretty eggs and jelly beans.
April tends to be a rainy month, things here in the Midwest start turning green...........unless there's still lots of snow on the ground.
In normal conditions those April Showers bring on May Flowers (though again snow can get in the way of seeing many of them). I used a cast on of 33 and a double eyelet pattern, one of the stitches I used in the wedding ghan you've been seeing...HERE
June makes me think of summer vacation, swimming pools, kids out of school, beach vacations, laying around in the grass getting a sun tan. This is the famous Grandma's favorite washcloth knitted corner to corner. Everyone's go to pattern.
July is 4th of July, the celebration of our Nations Birthday, Patriotic, Red, White and Blue and family picnics. This is using a cast on of 33 and a pattern stitch called Little Blocks that's also one of the stitches being used in the wedding ghan. HERE
August, the dog days of summer......hot scorching sun, bright orange and yellow. Another cast on of 33, with straight knitting side to side.
September...well, not totally sold on it yet; but thus far I'm looking at this. Though it seems like pastels...I'm thinking fading summer? September is still colorful, but less so. Some flowers gone, but too early for pretty leaf color? Thoughts? I also thought of just stripes of primary colors, thinking back to school, crayon colors; but since I'm using all those colors elsewhere...didn't want to be repetitive???
October of course is Halloween, and Candy Corn.
November makes me think of the end of fall leaves, Thanksgiving on the horizon.
And naturally for December we think Christmas and Red, Green and White.
I'm feeling like I'm a bit over 1/3rd done with this project, even though 12 divided by 4 equals 3, and my 4th cloth isn't yet done. After all, the time to shop, to think and plan...that counts right? And now to lock in some patterns for above colors and months. Thoughts, suggestion? Happy to check them out.
For those who've been following my progress on the wedding ghan...it continues, as of the writing of this scheduled post I'm on block 4 (6 in a strip) of the 5th (I think final) strip. Fingers crossed when I get the 5th strip done and attached I'll feel like it's large enough. I know it will grow a bit when blocked, and again a bit more with a nice border. Running out of time to make a 6th strip, and am pretty sure doing so would be very tight on yarn....don't want to run out and not have enough for a nice border. Have you ever knitted a border? Thus far, I've only crocheted them, but...have a few knitted patterns? How hard is it to pick up stitches? I haven't done this before. This is quite a learning process for me, in that, aside from corner to corner's this is my first knitted vs crocheted ghan, and I did learn new stitches in the process.
January, cold, snowy. Blue and White is my current idea
February, naturally one thinks red; but I may do this combo? Thoughts vs plain red?
March is Easter, so thought this looked like an Easter Basket of pretty eggs and jelly beans.
April tends to be a rainy month, things here in the Midwest start turning green...........unless there's still lots of snow on the ground.
In normal conditions those April Showers bring on May Flowers (though again snow can get in the way of seeing many of them). I used a cast on of 33 and a double eyelet pattern, one of the stitches I used in the wedding ghan you've been seeing...HERE
June makes me think of summer vacation, swimming pools, kids out of school, beach vacations, laying around in the grass getting a sun tan. This is the famous Grandma's favorite washcloth knitted corner to corner. Everyone's go to pattern.
July is 4th of July, the celebration of our Nations Birthday, Patriotic, Red, White and Blue and family picnics. This is using a cast on of 33 and a pattern stitch called Little Blocks that's also one of the stitches being used in the wedding ghan. HERE
August, the dog days of summer......hot scorching sun, bright orange and yellow. Another cast on of 33, with straight knitting side to side.
September...well, not totally sold on it yet; but thus far I'm looking at this. Though it seems like pastels...I'm thinking fading summer? September is still colorful, but less so. Some flowers gone, but too early for pretty leaf color? Thoughts? I also thought of just stripes of primary colors, thinking back to school, crayon colors; but since I'm using all those colors elsewhere...didn't want to be repetitive???
October of course is Halloween, and Candy Corn.
November makes me think of the end of fall leaves, Thanksgiving on the horizon.
And naturally for December we think Christmas and Red, Green and White.
I'm feeling like I'm a bit over 1/3rd done with this project, even though 12 divided by 4 equals 3, and my 4th cloth isn't yet done. After all, the time to shop, to think and plan...that counts right? And now to lock in some patterns for above colors and months. Thoughts, suggestion? Happy to check them out.
For those who've been following my progress on the wedding ghan...it continues, as of the writing of this scheduled post I'm on block 4 (6 in a strip) of the 5th (I think final) strip. Fingers crossed when I get the 5th strip done and attached I'll feel like it's large enough. I know it will grow a bit when blocked, and again a bit more with a nice border. Running out of time to make a 6th strip, and am pretty sure doing so would be very tight on yarn....don't want to run out and not have enough for a nice border. Have you ever knitted a border? Thus far, I've only crocheted them, but...have a few knitted patterns? How hard is it to pick up stitches? I haven't done this before. This is quite a learning process for me, in that, aside from corner to corner's this is my first knitted vs crocheted ghan, and I did learn new stitches in the process.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Knitting up a Storm (Wedding Ghan, Cotton Cloths YOP))
Week #3 for me
Here's the wedding ghan progress, got 4 stripes (4 of 5) done, joined, AND ends tucked in...not final edge as those will get done when the ghan is bordered; but forced myself to tuck in all the ends from changing yarn colors etc so I wouldn't have them all staring at me in need of attention all at the same time.
2 blocks of the 5th strip done, working on the 3rd block (3 of 6), hoping to have this done and joined yet this week, but may not make it given my work schedule and the fact I'll be out of town later in the week.
You've perhaps seen these cloths when they were work in progress, and or separately for a finished object on a Friday post, but here now are 3 which means this project is 1/4th done. May, June and August here in this picture for my Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge. July has been started and is about 1/3 done.
The remainder of the list:
Oddball
Blue Scarf
Edging and joining ghans for Bridge and Beyond
Poodle Ghan
Candy Corn Ghan
Buckeye Scarf
*Learn to knit socks
*Learn to knit a cable
have no progress.
In my previous post I added a fun video, please treat yourself and scroll down.
Hope you've noticed my blog log for those who visit, and comment that are part of the yop. I like to keep working blog logs, and have removed a few folks from my regular blog log who never return visits, don't blog anymore etc.
Here's the wedding ghan progress, got 4 stripes (4 of 5) done, joined, AND ends tucked in...not final edge as those will get done when the ghan is bordered; but forced myself to tuck in all the ends from changing yarn colors etc so I wouldn't have them all staring at me in need of attention all at the same time.
2 blocks of the 5th strip done, working on the 3rd block (3 of 6), hoping to have this done and joined yet this week, but may not make it given my work schedule and the fact I'll be out of town later in the week.
You've perhaps seen these cloths when they were work in progress, and or separately for a finished object on a Friday post, but here now are 3 which means this project is 1/4th done. May, June and August here in this picture for my Cotton Cloth Calendar Challenge. July has been started and is about 1/3 done.
The remainder of the list:
Oddball
Blue Scarf
Edging and joining ghans for Bridge and Beyond
Poodle Ghan
Candy Corn Ghan
Buckeye Scarf
*Learn to knit socks
*Learn to knit a cable
have no progress.
In my previous post I added a fun video, please treat yourself and scroll down.
Hope you've noticed my blog log for those who visit, and comment that are part of the yop. I like to keep working blog logs, and have removed a few folks from my regular blog log who never return visits, don't blog anymore etc.
Labels:
A Year of Projects,
afghans,
calendar challenge,
cotton wash cloth,
knit,
wedding
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