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Friday, May 06, 2011

Oddball Baby Blanket now a FO

FO Friday post

cupid oddball finishedCupid, the Oddball Baby Blanket is now complete and will soon be on it's way, traveling once again. It will be heading to Minnesota, and after being wash on it's way with many others to a hospital for babies in need. I blogged about this blanket, the process and the purpose for my WIPW HERE.
close up of the border for oddball blanketHere's a close up of the border which is comprised of a row of sc, followed by a row of dc cross stitches, followed by a row of shells made with 5 dc. I believe it does pull the blanket together a bit, not as much as I had hoped. I see the yellow (Xanthic), but the blue speaks aren't as visible as I would have liked. I like it better finished then when I began, but it's still not a favorite for me.

Items to work on: Afghan for Bridge and Beyond, Washcloth for Bridge and Beyond, Scarf for...maybe myself?, Scarf for Red Scarf Project, but have the urge to start something new....I'm seeing and hearing some yarn calling out to me. And, it's calling pretty loudly, so don't know if I'll be able to pretend I don't hear it much longer.

**Z-A V post is HERE
***U post is HERE

Thursday, May 05, 2011

So much more then a Washcloth

A washcloth, really...you're blogging about a washcloth? Yes, I am. The finished washcloth in pretty spring colors was a gift. I belong to Oddball, and in fact blogged about in yesterday, (scroll back for the post). As we send around our knitted blankets that benefit charity; we generally include (though it's optional) a little gift for the next person doing the knitting. I got this wonderful washcloth from Cheryl. Cheryl is a fellow Ohioan which is cool, and if you've not used a hand knit or crocheted cotton wash cloth, you really don't know what you're missing. They are fabulous.

Hand knitted or crochet washcloths are both new and old. They are new and or retro, because; they really are quite old. People used to make these all the time, and suddenly they've become popular again. People in the crafting communities have decided maybe Grandma knew what she was talking about after all. They're very nice on your skin. They can be made square or round, some folks like to use them in the shower and some in the kitchen. There are several brands of 100% cotton yarn, but probably the most common and widely known and used is Lily, the original Sugar'n Cream 100% Cotton made in Canada. The new larger skeins are normally 3 oz, and measure 150 yards.

If you like to use body wash, you truly only need a dab if you use one of these wonderful cotton washcloths.

The 2nd one pictured, The camo one that's on the needle, well... I decided after getting Cheryl's gift I hadn't made one in awhile and nabbed some camo cotton. I'll be making as many as I can from the one skein and all will be donated to Bridge and Beyond.
Bridge and Beyond is one of my other blogs that focuses on helping homeless and those in need. Please hop over, always love visitors. Homeless people live in the elements. Do you have any idea how good it feels to take a bath, a shower, to wash up? To do that with a hand knit or crocheted washcloth is something easy to do at our end; and very meaningful at the other end. Skin tired, cold, wrinkled from the elements deserves to be washed with a hand knit especially for you cloth. Hand made shows them someone does care. We knit and crochet to warm those in need through Bridge and Beyond.

A simple washcloth with a bar of soap, is so much more then a washcloth and soap.

**A-Z Challenge W post
****V post CLICK HERE

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Oddball, Xanthic ?

oddball cupid before borderThis baby blanket is knitted, each strip/section by a different knitter. The blanket travels as each person adds the section much like a progressive dinner moving about. This OddBall Baby Blanket has traveled through Washington, California, Hawaii, Wyoming, Minnesota and to Ohio. This group, Oddball Blankets is fun to belong to because of the variety. Some groups make baby blankets, others full size blankets, others pet blankets. Each travels in a prescribed geographic area. Though the group I belong to is several groups merged so our geographic area is quite large. Doing a section is a nice way to try a new stitch. The end result is heart warming in that all blankets go to charity. The other nice point of the group is using up your stash, using up your odds and ends. It doesn't take much yarn to knit a section. Blankets are all named and knitters are to choose colors appropriate for the theme. We sign up in fact for the blankets we want based on the yarn we have on hand and what goes with what.

This blanket is Titled "Cupid". When I signed up I thought, great I have lots of reds and pinks. Beyond that, it occurred to me people might use white or purple as well. I had plan A and plan B. I knit and crochet and so was added for the border patrol. Border Patrol people crocheted the edge. I had a great variegated laid aside with pinks and reds I thought would probably really tie into the theme and pull the blanket together. Later, I also noticed I had a 2nd variegated with pinks and purples...which is also romantic and "Cupid" like to me. Thus, I was ready with plan A and B. Looking at the blanket above with blue and yellow, neither of preconceived ideas were going to work. Searching through my rather large stash, I had nothing that pulled these colors together. Shopping trip! Normally I love shopping for yarn, but that sorta defeats one of the 3 things I like about the group.


border in the worksXanthic? Yes you're saying the word is in the title....what is it? According to Rgb scales #237 and #237/9, it's also listed on the Hex list as EDED09. I've read it described as the color of ripening lemons, and the color in eggs. When looking at a sample of the color, it seemed to me to have a tinge of green? Now, that could be due to my computer screen; but...that's my current take on it. See the yellow in the variegated above? And don't forget the 2 blue sections.
cupid in the worksHere then is my work in progress using Red Heart's Fiesta to try and pull some blue and some Xanthic into the border, hoping to pull this blanket together. The color is called Harvest #6332. Firstly let me say, I hate this yarn and do not recommend it. It's not wrapped well and separates easily when being crocheted (as bad as Caron's Simply Soft). It might be better knitted? Using a cross stitch here to add a little bit of a lace look to it...Cupid after all would be frilly, lacy, romantic. Or at least my idea of.

Check back on Friday for FO, hoping to get this done and in the mail. Thus far I have to say, it's not one of my favorite projects. I don't like yarn I'm using, and I'm not feeling the theme of Cupid.

**Z-A, Z post, badge in sidebar
***WIPW post, badge in sidebar

Y Post Here