Linen Stitch

I was on ravelry the other day and came across the linen stitch. I really like it. It looks like linen fabric. It looks woven. It's pretty. I'm making a dishcloth right now to see how it knits up and how difficult it is. It's rather easy. I just have to pay attention or I slightly mess up. There are apparently a few different ways to make it. I like this way. It's not difficult. It's actually rather fun!

Linen Stitch

Cast on a multiple of two stitches.

Row 1 (RS): *K1, bring yarn for forward, Slip 1, bring yarn back* repeat across row.

Row 2 (WS): *P1, bring yarn back, Slip 1, bring yarn forward* repeat across row.

Repeat these two rows.

This stitch looks really cool if you change colors every two rows.

Traveling Scarves

I joined a Traveling Scarves group on ravelry. The group I am part of will be doing a lengthwise scarf. I was hesitant about doing a lengthwise scarf because it will be so wide. Plus all the stitches I have to cast on. I'm glad I joined that group though. The lengthwise scarves are really pretty. I ordered my 47" circular needles in US8 off ebay. I should get them no later than January 19. I'm going to let the others working o my scarf choose the color yarn they use and just ask for it to be in worsted weight yarn and garter stitch. It'll be the easiest stitch to knit.

I need a scarf.

It's been extremely cold here lately. I don't have a scarf. I really need and want one. I want to do a Traveling Scarf, but can't find people to participate. I was able to get one person say they were up for it, but that's it. I've posted in my Winter Wonderland group on ravelry. I thought it would be a cool and fun way for the group to participate in something together. Also, it'd be a great stash buster project. I've looked into Traveling Scarf groups on ravelry, but I'm not really interested in them. I'd rather do it with my Winter Wonderland group.

I could do a Sampler Scarf, but I want a Traveling Scarf. I saw a finished one and it was so beautiful. It was so great because it was different yarns, colors, stitches, patterns, etc. I even think it had different gauges in it. It was wonderful.

First Post of 2010

So I swear, I will write on this blog. I seriously forget about it. I suppose my last project of 2009 was the Baby Cloths from KrisKnits. I used some of the Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Baby I had left over from the ripple afghans. My first project of 2010 is a Toto from Mason Dixon Knitting Outside The Lines. I'm using a camel color in cotton and a country red in cotton.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is a really fast post just to wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving! Be safe, have fun and don't eat too much!

This and That

I really don't update often. Sorry. I can never seem to remember. I did finish my sister's ripple afghan. I finished on Saturday the 12th. Just in time for her birthday on Sunday. I was so happy I finished it. I can officially say that her ripple afghan was the first biggest project I've ever completed. A baby blanket doesn't count as big. Other than the ripple afghans and a baby blanket, I only ever knit/crochet hats and dishrags with a few toys and other small projects thrown in here and there.

I have my eyes set on making myself a hat and mitten set with owls on them. I've never made a hat and mitten set before. I did make a small hat and mitten ornament set. It was cute. I found a couple patterns that might work. I just have to find the right yarn. Sometimes trying to figure out the gauge so I won't knit all wrong makes me not want to knit anything at all. It can be really irritating! That happened with the owl mittens I found. The pattern says the size fits most adult female hands. Well while I was searching through projects on ravelry a lot of people said the pattern knits up really small. Even people with small hands were saying it turns out small.

I can tell the weather is changing. That's good. I want a snowy Winter, but we don't ever really have a Winter here in North Carolina. It gets cold, but it's bearable cold. I want unbearable cold! I know I'm crazy, but I like the cold. The cold also makes me want to knit. I don't work on stuff in the Summer. It's way too hot.

I may start a pair of socks today. I may try two at a time on circular needles.

I will try to remember to blog, but I really keep forgetting.

The Baby Burp Cloths and Receiving Blankets

So back in July my cousin had her second baby. A little girl. I made her a flannel burp cloth with a crochet edging to take to the hospital with her. She says she got tons of compliments on it. So cool! It has a shell edging on it.

It took me a month and a half to finish the receiving blanket and mail it. It had actually been done since some time in August. It took me forever to mail it. Sorry for the crappy pictures. I can't decide if it's me or the camera. Probably me. It has a more involved edging than shell edging. It's the puffy lace edging. It took me a few tries to get the pattern right, but once I did, it went smoothly.

So last month my Aunt had her first baby. It was a boy. I made him a burp cloth and receiving blanket as well. I was very happy with the way these turned out.

The edging is just a simple shell edging called gentle waves edging. It was easy and fast. I didn't want to get too fancy because he's a boy. I didn't want it to look girly.

I think the next time I make some of these, I will use just solid color DMC thread and the gentle waves edging. The flannel was an ordeal. You can't find good feeling flannel. It's all cheap feeling now. The flannel I had for the girl's burp cloth and receiving blanket was stuff I got a few years ago. It was so soft. The boy's flannel I had to go buy and it doesn't feel as good as her's. They were both washed with fabric softener before I cut them out and you can still tell a difference.

I also made some simple single crochet wash cloths out of cotton tots for them both. Those pictures are really bad. So I'm not even going to post them.