The Newest Knit Dress Dishcloth

I've been busy this week finalizing the pattern for this dress dishcloth called "Princess for a Day". I'll be releasing this pattern on my website within the next week. The one on the left is made with Peaches and Cream cotton in yellow and the one on the right is with Sugar and Creme in Robin's Egg Blue. I have the pattern written up and just need to put the final touches on it before I publish it. Along with this pattern will be the pattern for the Dress Dishcloth that I've named "Garden Party". I posted a photo in my post of August 2, 2009. I'm currently knitting up one to be photoed and also as a way of checking the pattern.

These two dress dishcloths are number 3 & 4 in the series. The original "Going Dancing" is on my website and the second is in the 2010 dishcloth calendar.

Other knitting this week has included the second sock of my Mint Chocolate Chip socks. The second sock always goes faster than the first for me so I hope to finish it this week.

Change of Season Knitting

Today brought an extra hour. I do enjoy this day and this time of year. Last week these pine cones were all over the ground near my home so I took this mini planter and filled it up with the pine cones. I'm so happy with the way it looks.




With the days shorter and cooler, my knitting projects change and to help make the transitions, I knit several dishcloths. The simple patterns and quick completion help clear my knitting mind for the longer projects of winter.




I have a blanket that is waiting to be worked on. The yarn is from my trip to England several years ago. I'll be working on that blanket all through the winter and hopefully will finish it by the end of March. There's also the yarn for a sweater that has been in storage for four years, I think I'll use it this winter.

Meantime, I'm using this sign that hangs in my staircase to remind me that I don't need any new yarn for awhile. Life is simpler when I use what I have first. I've purchased enough yarn in the last six months to get me through the winter. I'm really trying to stop accumulating yarn and fabric to use later. I really want to use what I purchase when I purchase it (at least in the same year!)

Holiday Gift Set

As the end of October gets closer, it's time for me to think about holidays. This year, I have very little stockpiled as I've given away a lot throughout the year. So today, I decided to begin to make up some gift sets.
Here's the first one. It's the original "Going Dancing" Dress Dishcloth in a variegated and a solid peaches & creme yarn, a matching tribble, and 2 hand woven potholders. I'll place these in a baking pan that I can purchase inexpensively and maybe add two dish towels and it will be ready for gift giving. I especially like to use these as hostess gifts when I go visiting around the holidays.

I have plenty of yarn and these go quickly so I'll be making several more sets. Then it will be time to move on to decorations. Each year, I make a few ornaments. I usually knit up a few small Christmas Stockings, some mini mittens, and last year I made several beaded ornaments. One of the beaded ornaments is highlighted in my posting of October 25, 2008.


I'm continuing to work on my socks. I currently have four pairs started and this yarn is for the next pair. The colors in this Shalimar Yarn are so perfect at this time of year. I tend to work on socks in sets. I finish one sock to a pair, start the other, and then switch to a different pair for a week or so before I go back and finish sock two of the pair. This keeps me from getting bored with any one yarn. Since almost all my socks are done in the same knit 3, purl 1 rib, I depend on the quality and colorway of the yarn to be the highlight of the sock.

Finally A Finished Piece

I finally finished my shrug and I'm really pleased with it. This was the simplest of projects. Plain ribbing through out and two seams yet it fits beautifully. I just bought a white top with three quarter length sleeves to wear with it. This is made with 4 skeins of Caron Simply Soft Shadows. The yarn has been in my stash for awhile. I bought it because I really liked the colors especially at this time of year. Because it's an acrylic, it's mashine washable and dryable but the yarn has a nice feel to it.

I also finished the first sock of my mint chocolate chip socks. I've started on the second one. I am really trying to get some of the socks done. I have 3 other pairs started and yarn for two more pairs. As soon as I finish the Wanida socks from Sock Innovations, I'm starting the Diamond socks from Issue 17 of Yarn Forward Magazine. This is the first issue I've seen and I think it's a great magazine. Totally recommend that you look for it.
And finally, here's another photo from my day at the National Zoo. I just love his pose!

Busy, Busy Weekends!

Both last weekend and this one have been busy with activities so I haven't finished any projects but I am making progress on three of them. My shrug is on the final 4 inches, my Wanida socks are done through the middle of the foot, and my mint chocolate chip socks are ready for the toes. Hopefully, next post will have a finished project. I'm expecting the shrug to be finished first. It's the closest and easiest to finish.

Last weekend I went to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Here's a photo of the baby Panda. He is as cute as can be and can you believe, he was sound asleep on those rocks. I took a lot of photos and will share more later. It was a great day!

While I was in D.C., I visited a Michaels' store and was able to purchase this Yarn Shop. I've positioned it next to one of my framed pictures of the sea. This is where I'd like to be, in a shop, close to the ocean and the beach. Can you imagine, stopping by, sitting and knitting in such a place?

Antique Fair Finds & Not much Knitting Time

September brings many Antique Fairs to this area. I visited one on Labor Day and another one last weekend. The Gonder Vase pictured above was my find last weekend. This is the fifth in my collection. I started collecting Gonder Ceramic pieces a few years ago. While helping my aunt clean out my grandmother's house, I spotted a vase in the livingroom that had been in the same spot on the end table for as long as I could remember. I asked my aunt if I could have it and of course, she said yes. When I got it home, I researched the marking on the bottom and came upon the world of Gonder ceramics. This company was in Ohio and the pieces I have are between the 1940's and 1950's. This yellow vase is a real find for me. I had admired the photo of it in the collector's book that I have and I was able to spot it from a distance on the vendors table. The nice thing about Gonder is that it is relatively inexpensive. I have only found one piece at each Antique Fair.

This drawstring bag is from another find at an antique fair. It is a linen tea towel. I cut it in half and added the fabric for the facing and made it into a drawstring bag. This bag is another great bag for my knitting and sewing projects. I don't ever have enough tote bags. When I was younger, it was shoes, now it handbags, tote bags, and project bags.

Meanwhile, my knitting time has been severely restricted in September. With the start of school, I'm working longer hours and I'm really tired in the evening. I did finish an apron, knit from my own design. I don't want to share a photo yet because I'll be writing up the pattern and offering it for sale on my website and ravelry. It will be a month or so before it's ready. All I can say, is that I'm really looking forward to sharing this pattern. The apron came out beyond my expectations.

I've also been working on a Ladies Shrug with some yarn that was in my stash. The pattern is by Plymouth yarn. With any luck, I'll have it finished in a week or two. It's all ribbing and simple enough to work on, even if I am half asleep.
And finally, here's a photo of a sleeveless top that has been sitting in the closet, in one of my knitting bags for three years. This is totally ridiculous. It is completely sewn together. All that needs to be done is to weave in the few yarn ends and wash it. I am determined to wear it this fall. The only thing is, the yarn is a little heavy for a sleeveless top and I'm not sure what to wear under it. Maybe a three quarter sleeve t-shirt but I'm not sure about the neckline with a t-shirt under this top. Any suggestions?

Accessories for My Knitting

I went to a local Antique Fair last weekend and found these great vintage glove dryers complete with instructions. They are so cool and will come in handy for my glove knitting. Then I stopped at a booth that had thousands of vintage buttons. The woman that owned them was so nice and I could tell that she really enjoyed her button collection. I pulled out many, many cards of buttons and could have bought a lot more but settled on these.The photo doesn't really show the clear one's that well but believe me, they're awesome. I'll need to make a sweater with one button for the large glass one and I'm thinking of buying a fine gauge sweater and replacing the buttons with the other smaller glass ones. The colored buttons are perfect for so many projects that I'm not sure where they'll end up but for now I'm just enjoying having them and pondering the possibilities of their uses.

Another accessory that I totally enjoy is my many, many Knitting bags and Tote bags for all those projects that are in progress. I use tote bags for everything from carrying my netbook, my lunch, carrying work back and forth from the office, and even carrying my mail to the post office. I keep a tote bag by the front door at all times and fill it with the things that need to go with me when I leave the house.

Here's three of my favorite bags. The one on the left, I sewed from a tapestry fabric, the center one, I knit and sewed on the handles, and the one on the right is my Namaiste bag. I keep the Row Keeper Bracelet for knitting hanging from the handle so I'm ready to knit any time.
These two handbags are my newest and they're terrific. These are custom made bags by Maddy Moo Creations. I am now an independent design consultant for Maddy Moo Creations. The quality of these bags is excellent. The best part about Maddy Moo Creations is that you get to pick the style of the bag and then choose the fabric. In 6 weeks, your bag arrives at your door. They also have great party opportunities where you can get a hostess exclusive bag for free and other bags at half price. I'm really excited about bringing these handbags and totes to my fellow knitters. I know you'll enjoy them as much as I do!

My knitting this week has been all over the place. I seem to be picking up a different project every day. I've worked on a baby blanket, a sweater, a sock, a scarf, and a dishcloth this week and haven't made much visible progress on any of them. That's what happens when I'm tired at the end of the day but want to knit. Now that the weekend's here I'm hoping to focus on one project and get it near completion. I'll let you know how that works out!