Final Dishcloth Weekly Topic

Here's this week's topic: Go check out one other person's blog who's answered some of the weekly topics.. find someone you have something in common with, who posted a really cool cloth pattern, or who 'calls' to you for some other reason, and post about them on your blog sharing why!

I've noticed that Kathy has answered all the weekly topics so far. Her favorite cloth is the ball band and I agree with her. I love doing them because they're simple and the color combinations are endless.

Twins

I've never bought a cone of Lion Cotton before. What fun!!! I've made two bags from it and still have a ton left on that cone.

I need to go to Bags Anonymous

The orange one is for my friend Ellen, the green one is for Susie, and the blue one goes in my pile of bags-that-need-a-home.


These were for my Going Green Swap partner.



The pink and brown (it really is a nice brown but seems to look burgundy in the picture) is a little on the smallish side but it'll tuck nicely in my purse if I'm just getting a few items.

This one went to my friend Jennifer. She's introducing me to Chinese Cooking. This was a thank you gift.


And let's not forget this one. My friend Ellen sent me some leftover Corn Fiber yarn so I could play with it. The bag is small but what great colors:


I've lost count of how many I've done but there's a green one on the needles right now.

Weekly Topic #3 Dishcloth Exchange

Well now that Summer has OFFICIALLY begun.. what do you do to beat the heat? A nice tall glass of lemonade? Frozen Coffee? A dip in the pool? What's your favorite way to keep cool this summer as things heat up?

My favorite way to keep cool is to lounge, knitting in my living room, with my feet up and the air conditioning on.

Weekly Topic #2 Dishcloth Exchange

This week's topic:

Share with us how you know that summer has truly 'arrived', or something that signifies the start of Summer in your world.

It's hard to differentiate sometimes. Southern California seems to have only two seasons, Winter and Summer.

A few of my signs are:

Leaving the air conditioning on almost constantly is one sure sign of Summer.

The freeways are a lot less crowded once school is out. They're still pretty bad but there is definitely a noticeable difference.

Because it gets dark later, the kids are able to stay outside a lot longer.

Keepin' Cool in Summer - Favorite pattern

For this week's topic, I get to share my favorite dishcloth pattern(s).

I don't think I have a favorite but these were the most fun recently. The picture was already posted in a previous blog entry but but I did enjoy making this batch for a friend. I made up the patterns as I went along except for the ballband. There should always be a ballband around. I guess now that I'm writing this, that's my favorite dishcloth pattern. They are so much fun to make and I don't have to think about it. The color combinations are endless.

Central Park Hoodie

It's finished - YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Fleece Blanket

My son has a sudden obsession with the Lakers and wanted a fleece blanket. I'd never done one of them before but my friend Janet inspired me and here it is in all its glory. Start to finish, 3 hours or so. Justin loves it. :-)

Keepin' Cool in Summer Dischloth Exchange Questionnaire

1. Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long? I learned when I was a child but picked it up again 18 years ago, seriously involved for 5.

2. Do you enjoy using metal, wooden, or some other kind of needle? It all depends on the on the project but I don't like plastic needles at all.

3. What are your favorite types of yarn? Any you just can't stand? Anything soft is a favorite. I don't like fun fur or specialty yarns usually.

4. When it comes to cotton, are there any brands you'd love to try and haven't? I normally use Sugar & Cream or Peaches N Cream for dishcloths. I can't think of anything I'd love to try but I'm sure there are tons out there waiting for me.

5. When you make Dishcloths, do you use them yourself, or tend to give them as gifts? The ugly ones I keep, the other ones go out as gifts.

6. Do you have a favorite color? Any that you dislike? Purple is my favorite and orange is my least favorite.

7. What color(s) (if any!) are your kitchen and bath decorated in? Both are purple and sage green.

8. What are your favorite scents around the house? Anything but vanilla scented.

9. What is your very favorite thing about summer? Summer fruit although in California we can get almost anything year round.

10. What is your least favorite thing about summer? The heat, it can get up to 110 degrees at my house. Thank goodness for our air conditioner.

11. Do you use soap or body wash in the shower? both

12. What scents do you enjoy in the bath? I like everything but I don't love overpoweringly sweet.

13. What is your favorite dishcloth pattern? All of them

14. What sort of treats do you enjoy? Sweet or Salty? Sweet - no nuts

15. Imagine today is one of the hottest days of the year - what do you do to keep cool? Or are you one of those folks who loves the hot weather? I dislike the hot weather. You'll find me indoors.

16. What sorts of hobbies do you enjoy besides knitting or crocheting? Reading although I wish I could knit and read at the same time. There's that problem with turning the pages of the book.

17. Do you collect anything (besides yarn!) Nope

18. Are you on Ravelry? If so, share your ID! arielzoe

19. Do you have any allergies? No

20. Do you have any pets? A cat and two bunnies - they're outside most of the time

I've started and I can't stop

These are sitting in a pile in my livingroom waiting for homes. The one below was for a friend who LOVES the Anaheim Ducks hockey team.

Dishcloths for Sarah

My friend Sarah gave me three skeins of dishcloth yarn. I wonder if that was a hint that she wanted dishcloths?

Happy Mother's Day

My mom sent me these for Mother's Day. :-)

Thanks Mom!!!

The Power of Yarn

A recent study indicated that Yarn and thread gives off certain Pheromones that actually hypnotize women and cause them to purchase unreasonable amounts.

When stored in large quantities in enclosed spaces, the Pheromones (in the yarn) cause memory loss and induce the nesting syndrome (similar to the one squirrels have before the onset of winter i.e. storing food), therefore perpetuating their species, and not having a population loss due to their kind being cut into pieces and mixed with others.

Sound tests have also revealed that these yarns emit a very high-pitched sound, heard only by a select few, a breed of women known as "knitters".

When played backwards on an LP, the sounds are heard as chants, "buy me, hook me, and wind me in a ball."

In order to overcome the so called "feeding frenzy effect" that these yarns cause, one must wear a face mask when entering a storage facility and use ear plugs to avoid being pulled into their grip.

(One must laugh, however, at the sight of customers in a yarn store, with WW2 army gas masks and headphones!). Studies have also indicated that aliens have inhabited the earth, helping to spread the effects that these yarns have on the human population. They are called "YARN STORE CLERKS".

It's also been experienced that these same Pheromones cause a pathological need to hide these yarn purchases when taken home (or at least blend them into the existing stash), and when asked by a significant other if the yarn is new, the reply is, "I've had it for awhile."

Going Green Swap

After watching me and my bag addiction my friend Kathy found this swap for me on Ravelry. How perfect for my current obsession. If you're a member of Ravelry, take a look at the Going Green Swap. Sign-ups start May 9.

Bear

I received some Crystal Palace Chenille in an exchange quite awhile ago and I forgot all about it. I found it the other day and looked to see what people were using it for. I found this pattern and a flower cloth as the most popular. I opted for the bear. I always thought they were so cute and bought the pattern a long time ago but I am not at all impressed with my rendition of him. I doubt he'll be gifted so we'll keep him as part of our family.

Okay, I have an addiction

Bag #5 - Will I EVER get back to those sleeves.........

Thanks MJ for the idea of knitting the whole way around.

Market Bag #5

The last person I gave a bag to showed it to her piano teacher and she wanted one so this is the latest.


And a dishcloth for fun.

Back to my CPH sleeves.............

CPH Update and market bag #4

Sleeves are moving along. The hood is finished as well as the button band. I have the shoulders sewn together. Once the sleeves are finished, it's all about the seaming and then learning to put in a zipper. :-)



4th market bag complete. Friends are snatching them up as quickly as I can make them. The next one's for me........ I think.

Tawashi

I've been seeing these in Ravelry and really liked this one by Rhonda K. White.

In honor of Earth Day (thanks Kathy for the title)

Two more market bags already living in their new homes.