Tag Archives: dish cloth

Inspiration: Christmas

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It’s October 25th… you know what that means.  2 months until Christmas!

That means you have 61 days to get all your Christmas knitting done (or at least started enough to have a good excuse when you wrap up a half-finished scarf in the wee hours of Christmas morning… not that I’ve ever done that).

Might I suggest a few patterns- a few of my free patterns?  These are some of my favorites, they’re small, simple, and fun enough (if I say so myself) to whip up a handful in the next two months.  Plus, they’re nice enough that even the pickiest gift-receiver will be happy to open them up on Christmas morning.

I love the Snowbank Spa Cloth.  It’s a super simple dish-cloth (with almost no finishing-just two ends to weave in!).  The pattern calls for fancy-pants cotton yarn to make it a “spa” cloth, but you could use any cotton you have on hand, and just rename it “dishcloth” or “washcloth” depending on how soft your yarn is.  It’s a simple repeat of knits, purls, and slipped stitches, surrounded by a nice garter stitch border, so it’s easy to work up.  Make a stack of them, or just one and wrap it up with a fancy bar of soap for a lovely gift.

Get the pattern here! I’m also a fan of the Snoqualmie Cowl.  I can’t wait for the temperature to drop enough so that I can break mine out again.  It’s worked with really bulky yarn at a massive gauge, so it works up in almost no time.  I used fancy leftover yarn from a big shawl I made years ago, but you can use whatever you have on hand- the colorblocking is perfect for using up leftover bits and bobs of your fancy bulky yarn that you couldn’t bear to throw away.

Get the pattern Snoqualmie Cowl.

If you ever need a super fast gift (for Christmas or otherwise), you’d be hard-pressed to find a simpler (or easier) project than my tiny Coffee Sweater.  Worked in the round with just enough cabling to make it interesting, this little guy knits up in an afternoon.  Use your favorite yarn, or whatever worsted-weight yarn you have laying around your craft room- it doesn’t take more than an ounce or two. If you start now, I bet you can make Coffee Sweaters for everyone on your Christmas list before Thanksgiving has passed!  Wrap up each sweater with a gift card to your favorite coffee joint- and I can’t imagine a better gift!

Get the pattern Coffee Sweater!What are your go-to patterns for gift giving?

New Pattern: Checkerboard Dishcloth

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Happy Friday, everybody!

Hope you’ve got a nice weekend planned with plenty of time for some fun and easy knitting!

Might I offer up a pattern for you to try?

How about my brand-new Checkerboard Dishcloth?

It’s a super simple dishcloth knit in a single color featuring subtle texture, courtesy of knits and purls.

It’s simple, timeless, and easy!

Oh, and did I mention, it’s free?

Get the pattern here!

New Pattern: Mixed Berry Dishcloth

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Just a quick little post today, but it’s an exciting one.  That is, if you get excited about new free patterns! (I know, right?!  So many new patterns lately!)

Here’s a fun new pattern for a cute little berry-colored dishcloth!  Introducing: the Mixed Berry Dishcloth!It’s a simple two-color stripe pattern, with some slipped-stitch detailing to make it a little more interesting.

Enjoy!

Dishcloth Winner!

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It’s drawing day!  I always get so excited for drawing day!  (And I hope you do too!) (And I hope you forgive all the exclamation points!)

So, without further ado, let’s see who wins a beautiful copy of KnitPick’s 52 More Weeks of Dishcloths!32978[1]Drumroll please!

(Here’s where I’d put a picture of the bowl with everyone’s entry slips if I hadn’t forgotten to charge my camera this morning… whoops!)

And the winner is:  Sue!  Congratulations!

Sue, I’ve sent you an email so that you can send me your address and I can get this book in the mail real soon!

Until next time.

(And remember, if you’re not Sue, you can still find all the patterns available for free on the KnitPicks website!)

 

Dishcloth Mania!

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I got a lovely surprise in the mail the other day!  Apparently KnitPicks made a beautiful book of all the 52 Weeks of Dishcloths patterns that they published for free all last year.  32978[1]The book is filled to the brim with literally dozens of patterns for beautiful dishcloths.  Some are simple and classy (Checks and Eyelets Facecloth):55829220[1]Some are silly and fun (Pumpking Dishcloth):55834220[2]And everything in-between.

I’ve even got three patterns included in the book, the Maritime Dishcloth:55807220[1]The Pinwheel Dishcloth:55826220[2]And, the Snowbank Spa Cloth (It’s a “spa cloth” because I like alliteration.  You could totally use it as a dishcloth):55831220[1]I’ve got an extra copy of the book , so let’s do a giveaway (I love doing giveaways!  They’re the best!).  To enter, respond below with your favorite dishcloth from the collection!  I’ll pick a winner some time next week.

And, if you don’t win, or if you’re too impatient to wait until your copy of the book arrives, all the dishcloth patterns are available here for free!

Pattern: Pinwheel Dishcloth

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When it rains, it pours, right!  Another day, another free pattern!  This one’s a cute little dishcloth, and it’s available through Knit Picks!

55826220[1]The Pinwheel Dishcloth is a cheerful little project with vintage flare. Based on a traditional American quilt block pattern, this dishcloth is a fantastic way to play with color and use up scraps. The Pinwheel Dishcloth is cast on between a Main Color and a Contrast Color section using the provisional cast on. Using short-rows and wrap-and-turns, the washcloth is knit to form a square, and finished with a few stitches of Kitchener stitch.

Get the free pattern here!

 

Pattern: Maritime Facecloth

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The patterns just keep coming!  And this one is free!

As part of Knit Picks’ “52 Weeks of Dishcloths” series, I’ve designed a brand-spanking new washcloth, and it’s available for free from the KP website.

55807_medium[1]The Maritime Facecloth is a generously-sized square of squishy garter stitch bordered by an unbroken cable. Knit in silky Knit Picks Comfy Sport, this washcloth is perfect for even the most delicate skin, and makes a fabulous gift. The Maritime Facecloth is knit on the bias, with two cables worked as you go. To finish, a few stitches of Kitchener stitch join the cables into a beautiful unbroken border.

Not in the mood for a fancy-pants spa washcloth?  Use regular old Peaches ‘n’ Cream (I know you’ve got a ball or two hiding in your stash.  Everyone does) and make a very cool dishrag.  Or, if you want to try something a bit bigger, I think this pattern would make a really nice baby blanket (or an afghan, if you’re really persistent!).  Just follow the pattern, repeating the increase rows until your knitting is big enough!

You can get the Maritime Facecloth pattern here!

Inspiration: Charles Phoenix

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I just re-discovered an awesome… performer?  Internet personality?  Cook?  I’m not sure what to call him, exactly.  He defies explanation.  He is Charles Phoenix, and on his website he describes himself as a showman, author, humorist, and Ambassador of Americana, which seems as good a description as any.

CharlesPhoenix-4-up-599x158[1]But, really what he is is fabulous.  Point in case:

Isn’t that the best thing you’ve seen in years? I want to a Christmas party this year, just so that I can make Frosty the Cheeseball Man.    If you have an hour to kill, I highly recommend looking through his other cooking videos.  They’re pretty much the best.

Let’s take a minute to share patterns that Mr. Phoenix would heartily approve of.  Fun, kitschy, and a little bit weird.

When I throw a party, I always insist on a strict dress code, even for my dish soap bottles.

Going Dancing Dish Cloth Dress by Debbie Trainor

36075428_DishclothDresses_p17_Going-Dancing-No2_medium[1]Why waste your time with boring old pot holders when you can use this adorable menagerie?

Crazy Casserole Pot Toppers by Crochetroo

2406514933_614a0f64c7_z[1]Vintage shaping combined with a fantastic bright fuchsia yarn is definitely something that Charles Phoenix would approve of.  If only there was a way to add a glittery Western String Bow-Tie…

Zelda by Joan McGowan-Michael

13611507175_a6d937759a_z[1]

 

In-Between

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I finished my Ravellenic Sweater!  And, with days yet to go in the Olympics!  It’s cool to see how fast you can knit when you are working up against a deadline.  It’s blocking now, but when it’s dry, I’ll post some pictures.

But for now, though, I am a little bit at loose ends.  Do you feel the same way when you finish a big project?  I don’t really know what to do with myself.  I have a pair of half-finished socks, but all those little tiny stitches seem daunting right now.  I don’t want to go spend money on more yarn for another sweater.  And working on my afghan seems like too big a project.  Ugh.  I’m in a sorry state.

What I really want, is something that I can sit down, and in an hour or two have a completely finished project.  Something useful, and nice, and not too taxing on my brain.

I’ve got it!  The perfect in-between-projects project: washcloths!

Knit washcloths are great for in the kitchen, or for face washing (they’re super gentle on skin).  They also make really great gifts; wrap up one or two with a fancy bar of soap, and you’ve got a really nice little gift.  (Keep a few on hand, in case you forget someone’s birthday.)

If my brain is super-fried, I’ll just make a square of garter-stitch out of some pretty dishcloth cotton (like Sugar n’ Cream, or KnitPick’s Dishie).  Or, if I have a lace/cable/texture pattern bouncing around in my head, I’ll make a swatch of that pattern, sort of doodling with yarn.

Or, if you want a pattern, try one of these:

The Almost Lost Washcloth by Julie Tarsha

firsttakecloths11_small_best_fit[1]Leafy Washcloth by Megan Goodacre

leafycloth5_medium2[1]Grandmother’s Favorite by Traditional Design

976923313_4966a8fbc3_z[1]