Playing with Lace

I tend to write out designs that never get made or see the light of day...

On a whim I decided to sign up for a one on one dishcloth swap on Ravelry.  I had planned on sending my partner one of my multitude of already finished cloths, but when she told me her family had allergies I knew I had to buy new yarn, make a new cloth and keep the kitties out of my lap while I made it.  This time I chose 'Creme de la Creme' by Coats.  I've never used it before, but I will use it again.  It's very tightly spun and has way better stitch definition than 'Peaches 'n Cream' or 'Sugar 'n Cream'.  The colors are very crisp and non-muddy.  It knits up a nice firm cloth.

I went hunting through all my notes and patterns in search of something different, when I discovered this doodle page... I had wanted to make an easy to memorize lace pattern (which is what this blog is all about after all!!) that could be made into a small scarf or cowl.  I decided to test knit my design onto a dishcloth for the swap.... On paper it reminded me of snow, made up, it looks more like trees.

So far, I'm liking the rhythm of the design and the look of it.  We'll see how it blocks out and it I take it to the next step and turn it into a real pattern.  So far it's a 'good knit in public' pattern, easy to memorize and keep track of.... Caveat is there is plenty of purling rows.  Even that top garter edge is purled (but it had to be for continuity of design).

This finished (unblocked) cloth looks very much like a watermelon to me.  Very summery and happy.  I like it!

I decided to actually wet block it with wires and pins instead of just laying it out on a towel and patting it a bit like I usually do for gift cloths.  It really defines the lace nicely.

Truth is that I rarely block dishcloths.  I normally just weave the ends in and that's good enough, but I really wanted to see how this pattern looked opened up.

Dunes de Sable revisited

I know plenty of people think dishcloths are for amateurs, but not me -- I think they are the best way ever to test drive new stitch and lace patterns before you commit to a huge scarf or afghan.  It's no secret that I love Danielle Cote's dishcloth designs because they are so full of possibilities for larger projects.  Unfortunately I have recently been unable to access her (disabled in 2012) site via the wayback machine as I usually do.  Their crawler robots seem to be having issues or something.  Thankfully I took screen shots of the patterns I wanted before they shut the whole thing down.

Anyway, I decided to make the pattern "Dunes de Sable" for a Ravelry swap I'm in.  I had previously blogged that this specific pattern was not public knitting friendly, but I have since changed my mind.  I took my cloths on the road this last week and found this pattern to be quite memorizable/intuitive and I was easily knitting along and chatting with relatives as I attended my daughter's college graduation.  My aunt sat with me and I taught her the pattern while we waited for the graduates to march.... 6 knit, 6 purl, 6 knit... and so it goes.  This yarn is called "Sweet Caroline" and I am in love with it.  100% cotton, but soft enough for a baby ensemble - lovely stuff!!  I'm sad Plymouth discontinued it.

Today, I had a Raveler ask me about my project page and as much as I tried to send her a link for the pattern I was unsuccessful, so I'm going to post it here even though this is NOT my pattern and I do not hold any rights to this.  No copyright violation is intended.  It was originally available for free on the website "Knit Dishcloth Corner" and it was designed by Danielle Cote (who has designed many beautiful cloths - I'm a huge fan!)... I take zero credit for this design even though I have modified it several times for my own uses -- it's really lovely - fully reversible too.

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Dunes de Sable or Sand Waves

copyright by Danielle Cote 2004

@ Knit Dishcloth Corner

(translated from French - but it just sounds so much prettier in French!)

(This is a 9in cloth, Sugar n'Cream, US8 needles)

(Click on pattern to see it full sized)

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(this cloth was modified by subtracting half of a repeat - I wanted a perfect 7in cloth for my swap and that's what I ended up with - this is on size 6US needles)

My "Dunes de Sable" project page on Ravelry - opens a new window

Happy knitting!!!

Little Baskets - a pretty perfect pattern

I am always trying out new designs with the specific intent of finding patterns that can be EASILY knit in public and during group situations without dependence on a pattern.

Little Baskets is absolutely perfect for that purpose.  It's one of the designs that can be  looked at and see where you are without having to memorize an actual pattern.  

It is easy to have a conversation or pay attention to another person while this is knit.  It's fast and it's beautiful.. It's quite squishy and dimensional.  It makes a lovely dishcloth, and if it was expanded it would made a lovely blanket too.
Knits and purls only, no shaping - 9 inch cloth

This pattern used to be on Danielle Côté's website knitdishclothcorner, but the domain has expired and can only be accessed via the wayback machine website.  Those pages often don't load properly and often have broken images so I took a screenshot of her pattern and have decided to post it here and share it with other public knitters -- no copyright infringement intended - this is NOT my pattern, it was designed and copyrighted by Danielle Côté in 2006.  She originally called it "Petit panier 1". (click on the image to make it full sized)

I love Danielle's designs so much and have made several of her cloths.  Most of them translate very well into larger projects with just a little math.  If you can access the archive of her site, please do so, and take a look at all her unique patterns.  I have singled out this basket weave pattern because of it's simplicity and it's ability to be completed in a distracting environment without a pattern.  I promise you'll get compliments.

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Ok, so I'm on a green dishcloth kick - this Peaches 'n Cream ombre compliments my Corelle - (callaway - it's ivy leaves on white), and my table linens pretty well.  It's called key lime pie... I bought a full cone.

My other cloth I made yesterday from Danielle's design is this one...

9 inch square, all knits and purls, no shaping.

This one is called "Dunes de sable" or "Sand waves", copyrighted in 2004.  This is a gorgeous and sturdy cloth, fully reversible, but doesn't really adapt well into public knitting.  I knit this one in front of Netflix and that was OK, but I wouldn't knit it at church.

Summer Dishcloth Swap Project

I decided to participate in an online dishcloth swap - So I needed to step it up a notch and make something unusual...

I once again decided on using the 'Almost Lost' pattern.  It's such a mindless pattern that I find I can easily watch TV or have a conversation while I knit... it always turns out pretty, but I needed to make it somehow different.

I decided that I could make the center area very flowery looking by holding a small strand of ombre crochet cotton alongside the worsted cotton for the main knitting, then dropping it for the stitches outside the yarn over.  The two yarns I used are easily seen in this photo (click it for larger image)

Finished cloth - I think they turned out great!!  I'm thinking I will use this technique again and make some red and green cloths for gifts at Christmas (stay tuned)

Squishy Feather Dishcloth / Hot Pad (two ways)

Many years ago, my Aunt Sherry made me this potholder as a wedding (or anniversary?) gift.  It was designed to be folded in half around a hot handle or pan and it works great for that.  It's thick and soft and totally reversible.  It's my go-to pad for when I need something under a hot dish at the table.  It has been washed hundred+ times and it's still fat and squishy and looks good.  (note - the yarn used in this pad in this seems heavier and more firmly wound than the cotton yarn I have used in past years - this may have made a difference in the wear and tear factor - time will tell)

I wanted to make one for my daughter's apartment warming party, so I cornered my aunt one day and asked her for the pattern.  She told me it was a standard Feather & Fan pattern and she couldn't remember it, nor did she have it written down.  She thinks maybe she was just swatching ideas for an afghan and ended up with that potholder, but she never made it again... (sigh)

So I hunted and hunted and hunted for the pattern, but I have not found anything like it online or in a book.  I found dozens of different versions of F&F and Old Shale, nothing seems "standard", and for sure I didn't find anything really reversible like this one is... So I got out my magnifier and my needles and worked the stitch pattern out on my own.

The two following patterns are the results of my playing with this... I have a three fan version and a four fan version and an example of a two color version.  

THIS PATTERN IS SUPER SIMPLE TO MEMORIZE so it is ideal for public, group and portable knitting situations... Spoiler = I also am working on making a version of into a floofy scarf pattern, so watch for that next!! :)

PATTERNS BELOW

(PDF download link available under each pattern)

K = knit

P = Purl

K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together

YO = Yarn over

[repeat] = repeat the previous shaping stitches that are in brackets

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SQUISHY FEATHER HOT PAD (w three fans)

Yarn is worsted 100% Cotton - Lily Sugar'n Cream, Peaches'n Cream, Knit Picks Dishie, Lion Kitchen Cotton - anything like these

Needle size - US 8 (5.0mm) .. The reason for this is because you want a loose knit.. but use what you have, 6,7 or 8 all give good results.

Makes appx 9.5 inch cloth (depending on gauge)

Cast on 42 stitches, loosely

Row 1: K2, [YO, K4, K2tog, K2tog, K4, YO], K1, [repeat], K1, [repeat], K2 

(do yourself a favor and occasionally count your stitches after doing Row 1 to make sure you still have 42)

Row 2: K2, P38, K2

Row 3: K all

Repeat this three row pattern until you have a cloth that is reasonably square.

Bind off and weave in the ends....  Ta-Da!!  So soft! 

If you decide to give this cloth as a gift PLEASE take the time to gently block it and make it look pretty

Download and print - Squishy Feather Hotpad PDF

Ravelry page - Squishy Feathers Hot Pad (w three fans)
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SQUISHY FEATHER DISHCLOTH (w four fans)

Yarn is worsted 100% Cotton - Lily Sugar'n Cream, Peaches'n Cream, Knit Picks Dishie, Lion Kitchen Cotton - anything like these

Needle size - US 6 (4.0mm) .. You want a loose but firm knit.  Larger needles will give a bigger than average cloth... but use what you have, 6,7 or 8 all give good results.

Makes appx 10 inch cloth (depending on gauge)

Cast on 47 stitches, loosely

Row 1: K2, [YO, K3, K2tog, K2tog, K3, YO], K1, [repeat], K1, [repeat], K1, [repeat], K2 

(do yourself a favor and occasionally count your stitches after doing Row 1 to make sure you still have 47)

Row 2: K2, P43, K2

Row 3: K all

Repeat this three row pattern until you have a cloth that is reasonably square.

Bind off and weave in the ends....  Ta-Da!!  Beautiful!

If you decide to give this cloth as a gift PLEASE take the time to gently block it and make it look pretty

Download and print - Squishy Feathers Dishcloth PDF

Ravelry page - Squishy Feathers Dishcloth (w four fans)
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The size difference between the two cloths is not really so much, maybe an inch, not as much as you might imagine them to be.  As you can see, they are pretty similar, but the three fan version is much squishier and thicker.

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Experiment #3 --- Two colors

My son wanted me to make a cloth for him that matched his dishes and this is what I came up with.  I started out by doing 3 rows of black and three rows of the white/black speckle, but ended up with too many ends to weave in and I hate that, so that project was scrapped even though the shadow effect was very pretty... 

My second attempt was 6 rows black and 6 rows white speckle with the yarn carried neatly up the side.  The front of the cloth is stunning, but the back leaves a lot to be desired.  I won't be making any two color variations again. (BTW - these photos are not black and white even though they look that way.  That yarn is really that color and it is quite pretty made up - my bad for wearing grey pants)