learning something new

This is my very first attempt at Tunisian crochet:

I made a set of 3 of this washcloth pattern, skipping the 'fancy' border and only doing 2 rows of singe crochet. (This pattern, btw, comes along with a great tutorial - it was very handy!) The Tunisian crochet part by itself looks very cool, I debated adding a border but it curls like crazy, and the added crochet along the sides straightens it out.

It was very fun to do, and pardon the pun - but I'm totally hooked! I can't wait to do another project!

charity progress

I've not been blogging this month because I've so many projects on the go - between a sweater for my own kiddo, 3 vests I'm working on for a charity donation... and life, of course, that gets in the way of knitting. 

Now that it's warm out, it's so much easier to spend time outside. We fortunately live right next to a park, so we don't have far to go when we take kiddo for a walk. He's at an age now where he can walk almost on his own, so we can go without the stroller. Even though we frequented that park that summer, because he wasn't really walking he mainly stuck to the swings - but now that he can climb, he's got so much more of that park to discover!

Remember, a few months ago I posted about collecting dishcloths to donate to my local food bank? Well, there's a magnificent amount of progress:

What you see here is 21 completed bundles of 3 dishcloths, all sorts of different patterns. I was able to bundle similar colours together, it just worked out that way, despite each bundle being made up from donations from different people. That way, those who choose a bundle can pick one that's of colour interest to them.

The plan was to make the donation today, but since there are some envelopes with donations still in transit, the donation will be made next Saturday. I'm really hoping to get up to 25 completed bundles (for the sake of somewhat rounded numbers) but honestly, I'm elated to have this many already, and for the short time I've been collecting.

Final progress to be posted soon!

feelin' the love

Remember last month's Valentine's post, when I completed 2 heart dishcloths? Well, I had enough red to make exactly two more - and I completed them today. Tada!

So now I've four completed heart dishcloths ready to gift, each to a different person, at Christmas along with a couple more dishcloths that I've yet to complete.

Glad to have these done, these are a fun (albeit small) practice in lace, and a good mix of lace and garter stitch too!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

I recently completed three mosaic flower dishcloths, using Bernat Handicrafter Cotton in Sage and Forest Green & Lily Sugar N Cream in Cream. They're from the booklet Bernat Kitchen Kolors. I thought today, being St Paddy's Day, it's the right day to show off my small collection of green dishcloths!

I've never done this style of knitting before, it's an interesting (mostly garter stitch) textured cloth, and the colours pop out in a really cool way!

At Christmas, I tend to match up 3 or 4 dishcloths in a mini gift bag, dishcloths that I've knit throughout the year. These will likely be gifted then and that way with some other dishcloths I've already completed and some I've yet to make. Progressively, I imagine most of what I'll put together for these mini gift packages will be a collection of mostly red and green cloths. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's no surprise that I knit up a heart dishcloth for today! An interesting pattern that incorporates just a hint of lace along with seed stitch, garter stitch, and stockinette stitch parts in the pattern - two can easily be made from one skein of Lily Sugar'n Cream with a bit left over.

I've already made 2 (using Lily Sugar'n Cream in Country Red) and I've enough left over to make 2 more. A cute gift for Valentine's for anyone who loves to cook or bake, I think!

Since I do most of my dishcloth gifting at Christmas, though, I'll be gifting these two (plus the two more I'll make at a later time) each to a different person along with some Christmas themed dishcloths. 

a little frog in a big pond

My three frog dishcloths are finally done! The two green ones are knit from Bernat Handicrafter Cotton in Hot Green (my favourite!) and Sage Green, and the white one is Lily Sugar 'n Cream in Cream.

Normally I'd "start early" with my xmas knitting gifts by starting in July... that has always been considered early for me. But seriously, to have it started in January is setting a new record! The only trick is to not misplace these between now and December!

knitting irony

I'm nearly done a set of 3 frog dishcloths for my niece. Yep, I'm knitting three at a time, each in a different colour. And, believe it or not, these will be part of her Christmas 2015 gift, so I'm really starting early this year!

The thing is, I'd probably be done by now if I didn't make a mistake within the first third of the dishcloth - and the problem with knitting two or more of something at once, is that you're likely to make the mistake on each item. So, I've had to rip back to undo my mistake on all of them, and reknit everything.

That's right, I've had to (partially) frog my froggy dishcloths. Ha.

naturally...

I absolutely love nature and natural things. I always have. I love being among the trees, growing tomatoes in my garden, going camping, and being by the lake. For as long as I can remember, I've always been a bit obsessed with ecology and preserving nature. Thankfully, I grew up in a family where we actively recycled, composted, and gardened, and my parents have always loved camping as well - so the 'nature experience' was something that was ingrained in me very early on.

Preserving nature is something that we can all easily do, and to varying degrees. I truly believe that we can all do even the smallest changes to our daily lives to make a big impact, ecologically. That's part of the reason why I'm immersing myself so deeply in making as many dishcloths as possible - it's a small thing that will (hopefully) encourage the people around me to use reusable dishcloths rather than paper towels.

It only makes sense, with this thinking, to make some nature-themed dishcloths - doesn't it? 

I recently discovered the Garden Dishcloth to Knit (Leisure Arts) book; it has a dozen dishcloth patterns that are - as you may guess just from the title - all garden themed. Each dishcloth has a different image of something you may find in your garden, and they're lovely. I can absolutely see myself making at least half of these dishcloths for my MiL or my grandmother, who both love gardening and being in their gardens.

One pattern did jump out at me, though, that I simply had to start yesterday: the frog dishcloth. I'm making three at once, in two shades of green and one in cream. And, dare I say, I'm starting this early for Christmas. Don't hate, I just start wicked early on my Christmas knitting!

These will be for DH's niece, who grew up obsessed with frogs. She had a collection of frog toys, frogs on her clothes, a frog mural on her bedroom wall, and even pet frogs. Granted, she grew out of her obsession with frogs and moved onto other interests, but she is in university atm earning some kind of degree in science and (almost) living on her own. Dishcloths come in handy for independent living, and I hope that the frog dishcloths will come in handy! 

The only trick is, when I'm done them, I have to not misplace them between now and December so I remember to gift them to her!