I'm Dishcloth Cotton!

This is a hoot! I've had so much fun making dishcloths' this year. Now I take the "What yarn am I?" quiz and find out I'm dishcloth cotton!

What are you?

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Dishcloth Cotton.You are a very hard worker, most at home when you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly born to clean. You are considered to be a Plain Jane, but you are too practical to notice.
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What did I make in 2006?

This was my first full year of non-stop knitting. What did I make? Hm... it seems there must have been more than this. I guess packing and moving took more of my knitting time than I realized. I also taught Jen, Lala, Becky, and Kelly to knit and taught JJ and Kayleigh, Lala and Reyes spool knitting on the Knifty Knitter looms.

In 2005 I started knitting around Halloween.

I made 9 scarfs for Christmas and taught Julie to knit.

2006 Finished:

4 baby blankets

2 stocking hats

2 drawstring knitting bags (one small, one medium)

1 knitted belt (that should have been a tie)

too numerous to count : dish cloths

1 cell phone bag

1 soap bag

5 shrugs

1 Barbie shawl

Started but not finished:

Pat's tie

Pat's vest

Blue socks

Socks, Socks, and more Socks for 2007!

I finished the Christmas shrugs! -- all but one. Renee's is 2/3 done, but I can't get into the spare room to get the last skein of yarn until Joe returns to college from Winter Break. He has the room stuffed with computers and other temporary items. He had to bring home a lot of the things from his dorm room because the staff was going to polish floors over the holiday. The spare room isn't very big to start with. We have the last of the unpacked boxes in there, my sewing materials, Joe and his dorm overflow. Trust me -- it's a case of "Go outside to change your mnd." Ah, well. Guess I'll just have to start a new project. Johanna has challenged the KansasKnitters to join her in knitting a pair of socks a month during 2007. I've never made socks before, so my goal will be 6 pairs in 2007. I started my first pair using Lion Brand Magic Stripe yarn in blue. Here's the pattern. I hope they will look like the picture on the yarn band. Here's the website for this pattern: http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/kmstripe-socks.html?noImages=0 Magic Stripe Basic SocksLion Brand® Magic Stripes GAUGE: 28 sts + 40 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in St st (k every stitch in the round; k on RS, p on WS when knitting flat). BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. STITCH EXPLANATION: ssk (slip, slip, knit) 1. Slip the next 2 sts as if to knit, one at a time, to right needle. 2. Insert left needle into fronts of these 2 sts and k them tog. Grafting Holding the 2 needles parallel with wrong sides of fabric together, thread a blunt tapestry needle with one of the yarn ends and work as follows: Insert needle as if to purl into the first stitch on front piece. Insert needle as if to knit into the first stitch on the back piece. Then follow steps 1-4 as outlined below. 1) insert it as if to knit through the first st on the front needle and let the st drop from the needle. 2) Insert the needle into the second st on the front needle as if to purl and pull the yarn through, leaving the st on the needle. 3) Insert the needle into the first st on the back needle as if to purl and let it drop from the needle, then 4) insert it as if to knit through the second st on the back needle and pull the yarn through, leaving the st on the needle. Repeat 1-4 until all sts are gone. When finished, adjust tension as necessary. Weave in ends.

SOCKS Cuff Loosely cast on 56 sts. Divide sts evenly onto 4 double pointed needles. Place marker and join, being careful not to twist sts. Work in K1, P1 Rib for 1 inches. Work in St st until piece measures 6" from cast on edge. Place last 28 sts on a holder (instep sts). Heel flap (worked back and forth on 28 heel sts only) Row 1 *Slip 1, k 1; rep from *. Row 2 *Slip 1, p 1; rep from *. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until heel flap measures 2¼" (28 rows), ending with Row 2. Turn Heel Row 1 K 17, ssk, k 1, turn. Row 2 Slip 1, p 7, p2tog, p 1, turn. Row 3 Slip 1, k 8, ssk, k 1, turn. Row 4 Slip 1, p 9, p2tog, p 1, turn. Row 5 Slip 1, k 10, ssk, k 1, turn. Row 6 Slip 1, p 11, p2tog, p 1, turn. Continue in this way, working 1 more st between dec until all 28 sts have been worked, ending with a wrong side row – 18 sts. Pick up sts for heel gussets as follows: Knit 9 sts; place marker (this is now the end of rnd marker); with another needle, knit 9 sts, pick up 19 sts along edge of heel flap, place marker, (with another needle, knit 14 sts of instep) twice; place marker, with another needle, pick up 19 sts along edge of heel flap, knit rem 9 sts – 84 sts. Gusset Rnd 1 Knit. Rnd 2 Knit to 3 sts before first marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, knit to second marker, slip marker, k1, ssk, knit to end of rnd. Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until 56 sts remain. Note Keep markers in place for toe shaping. Foot Work even in St st until foot measures 7½" (or 2" less than desired total length). Toe shaping Rnd 1 Knit to 3 sts before first marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, k1, ssk, knit to 3 sts before second marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, k1, ssk, knit to end of rnd. Rnd 2 Knit. Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until 20 sts remain. Finishing Knit across first 5 sts of rnd. 10 sts will be for the top of foot and 10 sts will be for the bottom of the foot. Graft remaining stitches together.

ABBREVIATIONS / REFERENCES Click for explanation and illustration beg = begin(s)(ning) dec = decreas(e)(s)(ing) k = knit p = purl rem = remain(s)(ing) rep = repeat(s)(ing) rnd(s) = round(s) RS = right side St st = Stockinette stitch st(s) = stitch(es) tog = together WS = wrong side

Barbie's Shawl -- Versatile Grandma's Dishcloth Pattern

I love the Grandma's Dishcloth Pattern. You can use it so many ways. Sometimes I even make dishcloths!
When Jen, Becky, Kelly and Lala were learning to knit before I left Texas, Becky really wanted to make a lacy shawl. I knew she needed an easy pattern because she was still learning and she had not yet progressed to the Purl Stitch. So-- what did I do? I taught her Grandma's Dishcloth.
As a demo of the pattern I made for one of Lala's Barbie's. This was quick to whip out and would let Becky see how the pattern worked. I knitted about 15 rows, then did a row of K1 YO K2Together until I was three from the end. That finished with a K1 YO K2T, K1. After that I did the "lace row" every ten rows. The shawl was knitted until it was as wide as wearers arms are when extended (about your own height). For Barbie around 12" was big enough. Extra long fringe finished it off.
Jen and Becky are big kids at heart. I gave them the Barbie model when I finished it, one night after Lala was asleep. They sat in Jen's room talking, and found themselves absently combing Barbie's hair and rearranging her dress and shawl while they talked. The girls may get bigger, but Barbie is still with them...

Life Changes

The Experts list changing jobs and moving right up there with Death of a Close Family Member for high stressors that can affect your health. I do believe it.
We've been in the Kansas house three months now; I've been on my new job about six weeks. The furniture has pretty much found it's permanent locations but the boxes are still reproducing faster than I can unpack them. We really are going to have to have that It Didn't All Fit Sale. I have found the floor in most of the rooms.
The south bedroom was the big challenge. We stuffed all the "I'll think about it tomorrow... at Tara" stuff in there. I tackled that room last weekend and sorted the boxes. Unfortunately, those were my yarn boxes and sewing boxes and they were not going to be unpacked, just organized.
We put the sewing stuff in the attic (which is convieniently reached from a ladder in the south bedroom) and stashed the yarn tubs under the sewing tables. Aargh! I can't get my black chair in there! Joe, my son in college, gallantly offered to take the chair for his desk. (Why do I feel I lost on that one?) I still have to find room for Mom's cedar chest (full of fabric) that will also go in there. It's a small room. There may only be room to walk down the center.
Those Experts don't know stress. They missed Not Being Able to Use Your Sewing Room.

Thumb Cast On

I've been teaching the girls to knit. They have trouble remembering how to cast on because they only do it once per garment. I've been very frustrated trying to find a drawing of the thumb-cast on that Mom and I learned back in the 1960s. Maybe someday I'll find the book we learned from and be able to post the drawings for posterity. FOR JOY! One of the lists I read gave a link to a British site that illustrates the thumb cast-on. If my directions below don't work, go here http://www.coatscra fts.co.uk/ Crafts/Knitting/ Howtos/How+ to+Cast+On. htm

In the meantime, here is how I cast on.

Thumb Cast On
1. Estimate how long your tail needs to be. If my cast on is for 30 stitches, I wrap the yarn around one needle 30 times and make slip knot after last wrap. This gives more than enough yarn for the tail.
2. Hold the tail-end yarn with the last three fingers of your left hand.
3. Wrap clock-wise around your left thumb until you can see an X where the two pieces of yarn cross. (It won't work if you wind counter-clockwise).
4. Insert your needle under the left side of yarn.
5. Take the ball-side of the yarn and yarn over the needle. (Come from underneath and wrap across the top.)
6. Slip the loop on your left thumb over the needle, and snug down stitch by pulling on the tail-end.
Repeat until all stitches are cast on.

Provisional Cast-On
I have done a provisional cast on that is rather like this, wrapping around the thumb and slipping it over the needle without anchoring it with the ball-side yarn. It isn't as firm a cast on, but it will give you a starting point for adding stitches within a garment.

Drawstring Knit Bag

When I was working on the most recent incarnation of the Toad Rock Tie, I had a lot of trouble with my yarn. It was very slippery and kept falling off the ball and making knots in itself.

My solution was to make the small drawstring bag above. I have since made two more. My second effort was made with size 6 needles/ size F crochet hook. It wasn't that much bigger in the base than the first, just taller. I didn't care for it. The third was made on size 8 knitting needles/size H crochet hook. The base is five rounds wide. It makes a very satisfactory bag for a standard sized skein of worsted. The key must be to increase the size of the hook/needle combination as you enlarge the bag. Oh, yes, for my largest bag, I switched from the bands of knit and purl to a k2, p2 ribbing. It worked well. I made my large bag from scrap yarn. It may take a bit more than one full ball of yarn if you are starting with a new ball.

These bags are quite handy because they keep your knitting together inside a larger bag. In a pinch you can drop your coins, or even an entire wallet in with your knitting and carry them as a purse.
Purse-sized Drawstring Knitting Pouch
1 ball Sugar n Cream cotton yarn (worsted weight)
1 size F crochet hook
Size 6 (4.00 mm) circular needles
Stitch marker
Pendant tread cutter (optional)

Crocheted base:
Chain 5 and join.
Foundation row: Chain 3. Join. 4 sc in circle.
Rd1: Chain 3. 2 sc in each of the 4 stitches.
Rd.2: Chain 3. *2 sc in first stitch, 1 sc in next stitch* repeat to end.
Rd.3: Chain 3,*2 sc. in first stitch. 2 sc. in each of next two stitches*. Repeat to end.
Stop here for small bag.
(Medium bag. Use a size 8 needle, and size H crochet hook) : Rd. 4: Chain 3, *2sc in first stitch, 3 sc. in next three stitches*. Repeat to end.)
(Large bag Size 8 needle, size H crochet hook) : Rd. 5: Chain 3, *2sc in first stitch, 4 sc. in next four stitches*. Repeat to end.)
Knitted sides: Remove crochet hook. Slip knitting needle into loop. Pick up one stitch around in each single crochet. You will be working from the inside out. What you knit will show as a purl on the finished bag.
Patterns:
Purl band: Knit five rows.

Knit band: Purl five rows.

Drawstring row: *YO, k2t* Repeat to end. If you do not come out even, include the last stitch in the k2t.

Small bag: Purl band, Knit band, Purl band, Drawstring row, Knit band, Purl band. Bind off.
Medium bag: Purl band, Knit band, Purl band, Knit band, Purl band, Drawstring row, Knit band, Purl band. Bind off.
Large bag: Purl band, Knit band, Purl band, Knit band, Purl band, Knit band, Purl band, Drawstring row, Knit band, Purl band. Bind off.
Crochet chain 28” (30”, 32”) long for drawstring. Knot end. If you want to attach a thread cutting pendant, slide it on after chain is finished. Slide it to the center of the string. Starting at center, weave both ends of string (one left, one right) into openings, Both can come out the same opening at the end, or have one opening each, as your spaces allow.
copyright Iris I. Jones 2006