Sunday, November 23, 2008

More Dash Cloths

Can't stop making these little suckers. Here's a pic of a couple of them taken with my iPhone. I've said it before and I'll say it again: this pattern is perfect for Mason-Dixon fans, because it's like the love child of the Baby Genius Burp Cloth and the Ballband Dishcloth.

It's a good thing I have a place to donate all these, because seriously. Can't. Stop. Making. Them.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Dash Cloth

This is my new favorite washcloth pattern. Found the pattern on Ravelry. If you're not on Ravelry (Why aren't you? Seriously. Check it out.), you can find it here.

I'm making 4 of these right now, knitting them like a chain smoker smokes: starting another color combo on another pair of needles before I've even finished the previous one. Every pair of #7 needles that I own have one of these puppies on 'em.

Good thing I make washcloths for charity. I'm not nuts for this pattern, I'm helping my fellow man. A lot. 

Monday, November 10, 2008

Extra Post: My Proudest FO



This is my buddy Chrissy. 

I helped her learn to knit.

She's finished lots of projects already, become a rockin' Raveler, and generally caught the knitting AND crochet bug.

Read all about her crafty accomplishments, which range far and wide beyond fiber, here.

If you love to knit, there's only one thing that I can promise you is even better: teaching someone to knit.

It's not hard. Mostly they will figure it out on their own. You just need to be there to encourage them, show them what to do one more time, and fix their knitting uh-ohs. All you need is patience and that special evangelical zeal to spread the craft that most knitters have anyway.

So teach somebody that you know how to knit, won't you?

Spread the love.

You won't be sorry you did.

Because before you know it, you'll have the very best FO of all:

A brand new knitter.

And a knitting buddy for life. 

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Mini Stockings

This week I started knitting for Christmas. 

The mini stockings above were made to be sent to troops serving in Iraq. 

Read the original post asking for stockings/socks here. You may have to scroll down to find it.

I'm using this free pattern for mine, but posts on Ravelry say that any pattern or yarn is fine as long as the resulting sock is about 4 inches high.

These are a lot of fun to make, and they're really helping me get in the Christmas spirit.

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Soda or Juice Sleeves

This week's off-screen unpleasantry: mouth surgery. (And no, it wasn't a bigmouthectomy, although many have diagnosed me with that condition.) Doctor's orders were to drink as many cold beverages as I could hold to keep the swelling down.

Problem is, it's a little cold these days in Beantown. Wrapping my sensitive typing hand around a cold can or bottle all day long for days on end wasn't the most appealing thought, so I did what any self-respecting crocheter would do.

I whipped up a cozy. Or two. Possibly six.

Couldn't be simpler. Just a few rows of single crochet with a couple of loop closures on the last row, and two beads to pull the loops over. Interestingly, the size, with a little stretching, seems to fit any size or shape of bottle.

I used beads to close mine, but buttons would work. It would be easy to work in stripes, and the gauge isn't that important because you can easily check the size as you go by holding it up to a bottle of your favorite beverage and adjust the size with a few more or less chains or rows.

SODA OR JUICE SLEEVE

Hook: Size H
Yarn: I used leftover worsted weight dishcloth cotton
Other: Large beads or small buttons, tapestry needle

  1. Ch 16.
  2. Sc in each chain across (15 sc), ch 1, turn.
  3. Repeat this row 32 more times (33 rows sc).
  4. On row 34, sc in first 3 stitches, chain 4, sc in next 9 stitches, chain 4, sc in last 3 stitches. This will create 2 loops evenly spaced across the edge.

Break off yarn and pull through last loop.

Attach a bead or buttons on the other edge (beginning of piece) in the 3rd stitch from each side.

Weave in all ends.