Last, but not least...

Well, here's 5 of 5!

The Doily Style Dishcloth from Dishcloth Boutique.



The {YO, K2tog} got to be a pain in the tokhes since my needles have pretty blunt tips. Nevertheless I am pleased with how it turned out, even if it did take me an eternity to cast off. Finishing this project didn't come with the standard "I just finished something" satisfaction, perhaps because I've been producing dishcloths en masse for the past two weeks or so (don't tell me 5 in 2 weeks is not en masse... it is for me). Either way, that takes care of the brunt of the Jake-Bethany wedding gift. I'd like to come up with some creative presentation idea for these since nothing says excitement like opening a box full of dishcloths. Apparently the gift-opening will be private, so I'm going to have to force it on them strategically. Ah, the stress of planning for a wedding...

A Novel Idea

Well it turns out that the novelty of knitting dishcloths has worn slightly. I've gotten over the satisfaction of knitting with yarn that didn't cost me an arm and a leg. I've gotten over the satisfaction of knitting with yarn that works up quickly. I've gotten over the satisfaction of finishing a project in a day or two. Okay, so I lied about that last one. The prospect isn't as exciting as it used to be, but it's still more satisfying than ice cream and chocolate. Anyway, rather than ramble on and on (as I am wont to do), here are two more off the needles. 4 down. 1 to go.

I designed this one myself. It's available to the left as a .pdf download. Although the file is hosted on Ravelry, anyone should be able to download it, should the compulsion arise to knit a dishcloth with lace grain ears on it. There's an idea behind this, people.



Second, I give you the Vignes Dishcloth, which apparently translates from French as "Vineyard." I haven't back-translated this and I don't intend to, but I'd like to think I can take the designer's word for it because who would lie about something so insignificant? Don't answer that. I've already thought of a myriad of people before I even finished typing that question.

The original pattern actually calls for three of the overlapping leaves panels, but 53 stitches is awfully wide for a dishcloth. With the help of someone far superior than me in the mathematics realm, I managed to take out one of the 15-stitch panels and brought this baby down to size. The pattern only calls for 3 vertical repeats, so I cannot imagine how someone can actually get a square dishcloth using 53 stitches. I suppose gauge is all the difference, but vertical gauge is difficult to control. I digress...

Earworm

When I'm standing next to you,
There's a song to sing.
I know everything's feeling right.

When I'm standing next to you,
Steeple bells ring.
Only good things do I see,
When you're next to me.

When I hold your hand in mine,
Different world wakes.
A new morning breaks with the sun.

When I hold your hand in mine,
Children's dreams take flight,
Through a star lit night.
That's what I see,
When you're next to me.

This love for you I'm feeling,
Has a power that is healing.
It can mend the darkest hour,
With glorious light.

When I taste your lips so sweet,
I see beggars dine,
And the sands of time up and stop.

When I taste your lips so sweet,
Black and white bend.
Every dove lands at your feet,
When you're next to me

This love for you I'm feeling,
Has a power that is healing.
It can mend the darkest hour,
With glorious light.

When I'm lying next to you,
I feel moonbeams burn.
I see rainbows turning to gold.

When I'm lying next to you,
I hear Angels play.
I see sweeter days.
I see rivers wind,
Through the end of time.
I see hatred fall,
From the highest hill.
I see God's good grace,
Shining in your eyes.
That's what I see,
When you're next to me.

Mitch & Mickey "When You're Next to Me"
A Mighty Wind Original Sountrack

Another one bites the dust!

2 down. 3 to go.

Dishcloth Frenzy

Well... in a satisfyingly short amount of time I have finished the first of the series. I've also come across some interesting gift presentation ideas, so those are simmering on the back burner too.

Pattern: The Wedding Bands
Designer: Kathleen Brundige
Yarn: Lily's Sugar 'n Cream in "Hot Pink"

The loop in the top left corner is just a 3-stitch garter extension that I added while binding off--a handy loop for hanging. Anyway, I think the cloth turned out nicely, although the pattern actually shows better in this picture than it does in person. I could do something more complex, but I don't want to give them something that would be deemed unusable because it's "too pretty."

For those who cannot make out the pattern, there are two hearts at the top, interlocking rings at the center, and then a third heart at the bottom. The quote with the pattern is "When God joins two hearts together in marriage, they become one." Makes sense with the pattern.

I'd like to include a meaningful Biblical quote with each, but that's another can of worms.

I think I'm in love!

I think dishcloths might possibly be one of the most satisfying knits out there. They're simple, they knit up fast, they come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and patterns, and they're utilitarian. I've selected 5 patterns, several of which are Christian-oriented, for Jake and Bethany, and I will share them with you now because I'm overly enthusiastic about this whole project.

Now I contemplated posting pictures of each one (and, in fact, I actually started to), but then my own pictures will be old news once I actually finish the things. With that said, I'm making a church, a cross with a heart, a Christian fish (or as I prefer to call it, a "Jesus Fish"), a wedding rings/hearts thing, and a musical note whose length I shall not divulge (Ooo so sneaky!).

Srsly. Way too into this dishcloth thing.

On a finer note, I am looking forward to beginning the project for my mother. I peruse the pattern book like a high school girl peruses Cosmo, or Teen Beat, or whatever those youngins are reading these days. Hopefully it won't kick my butt (the pattern, that is). Fortunately wool is a forgiving fiber. NOOPS!

Yes, I know I spelled that incorrectly.

Stealth Mode

I'm forcing myself to put all of my projects into hibernation today, excluding the Jaywalker socks which are a birthday/Mother's Day gift from last year... I'm a bad gift knitter. Today is the day I will enter gift knitting purdah, which is, incidentally, right next door to paper writing purdah. Commuting shouldn't be a problem. I'm going to miss Adamas and Blue Stocking, but what is a girl to do when there are deadlines... deadlines... deadlines... oh the deadlines.

I've selected a very beautiful pattern for my mother's birthday/Mother's Day gift (I justify combining the two when the gift is hand-knit). I can say no more on the off chance that she still reads this blog, but I'll be all over Ravelry with it, no doubt. The yarn has been ordered, so I should think I'll be given the go ahead to stalk the mail carrier soon enough.

When my poor brain needs a break from the complexity of my mother's gift, I'll also have the wedding gift for my brother and his female counterpart, Bethany. Thanks to Ravelry, provider of all things knitterly, I have found Christian-themed dishcloths. Now I know dishcloths may seem like a lame present, but let me remind you that they are knitted by hand. Furthermore, they really need things for their apartment, so there you have it. 5 cotton dishcloths made by me. They'll start cropping up in the works-in-progress soon.

Long time. No see.

It's been a while since I've blogged. A long while. Just under a year while. Anyway, I'm dragging through school and knitting to keep myself sane. Of course I have my little harem of knitting projects because I don't have the attention span to be a monogamous knitter, so here's what I've been working on:


Blue Stocking by Lisa Grossman
Of course I'm using Jennifer's FlockSock Sock Yarn (Holiday Yarns) in "Electric Slide," the color made specifically for this pattern. The half-veil stitch took a bit because it's fiddly, but it's actually sort of addicting.




Jaywalker by Grumperina
Yarn: Trekking (XXL) by Zitron
This yarn was gifted to me by my "Flock Mom" in Germany. I feel so exotic when the yarn label is in a language other than English.




Adamas Shawl by Miriam of MimKnits
Yarn: Silk Thread II by Blue Moon Fiber Arts
I've been having this urge to knit lace lately, so here's the outcome of that. This is sort of a "let's see if I can knit lace" attempt before I set my sights on the real beaut. The end goal is to get some Evilla yarn (specifically the undyed lace yarn available from this website... hinty hinty birthday May 14th) and knit Nancy Bush's "Crown Prince Square Shawl" from her new book Knitted Lace of Estonia (the shawl happens to be the one on the cover and I happen to have the book already, so it's practically destiny).




I have a few other things, but I'm not going to list them because I'm lazy and they're not as interesting to look at.

Also, Georg, may Sassy rest in peace. You and Jazz gave her a happy life. A kitty in your fambily is a kitty in the Flock's fambily. She will be missed.



(Georg, I hope you don't mind that I took the liberty of using one of your pictures.)