Monday 22 June 2015

vests for charity - done!

The Patons Back to Basics book is one of 3 books with a great collection of basic sweaters to knit. This particular issue uses sport weight yarn - the other two use dk and bulky weight respectively. I just finished making the vests from this particular book:

... to donate to Warm Hands Network. It's the same vest, made 3 different ways: buttoned up, round neck collar or v-neck. These particular ones were made in the 4 year old size. A really great, fun, easy knit!

Monday 15 June 2015

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!

Monday 8 June 2015

the apple of my eye...

My family - for as long as I can remember - has always made wine at home. It is a big hobby of my brother's and my dad's, and was my grandfather's as well. My husband, knowing that it's being done but was never really exposed to it, thought it was interesting that my family did this. 

Him being more of a beer drinker than wine, a few years ago he was gifted a beer making kit, and has made a few batches with great success. 

Last Christmas, to take his home brewing a step further, I bought him a brew-your-own hard cider kit, because he talked about how he used to have hard cider when he was visiting his family in Northern Ireland when he was younger. I think this particular hobby picked up better than making his own beer, and he has since made a handful of batches.

This month is both Father's Day (June 21) in Canada and his birthday (June 28th) - so to extend his new hobby a bit further, I bought him a few more home-brewing cider things, plus I made him these lovely dishcloths to clean up his fermentation equipment with:
The pattern is Fresh Knit Apple/Bar Mop - it's another mosaic dishcloth pattern. I had so much fun learning the mosaic knitting technique from making the St Patrick's Day ones, I was eager to make some more! 

The texture of these on the picture side is so waffley, it's very neat to feel and I'm sure will be very scrubby to work with! I can't wait to make more of these, I can totally see myself making them for Christmas!

Sunday 7 June 2015

basic crocheted dishcloths

I'm usually good at starting and finishing a project without starting a lot of other projects at the same time - but not always. As my son's sweater is still a WIP, and I haven't yet finished the 3 vests I'm making to donate (although what's left to finish them is minimal) - I started a couple dishcloths for my husband for his birthday/Father's Day (which I'll share later, when they're done!) and yesterday, I started crocheting some basic dishcloths.

My mom's coming to visit tomorrow, and she's heading out to visit friends - two couples - next week. These are long time family friends, and I've known them literally my entire life. It's for them that I'm making a set of dishcloths each.


The green dishcloth is a basic single crochet dishcloth. The brown & white one is also single crochet, but every 3rd row alternates between a double crochet and a chain, to make a bit of a lace effect. These are a very quick make and can each be made in about an hour or so.