I joined a Pot Holder Along on Ravelry. This is our first pattern. I'll use it for a Christmas gift.





I love bobbles and thought this dishcloth would be fun to knit. It sure was.

More Calorimetries

Sarah saw the Calorimetries in my blog and wanted one. She's getting two.

Sarah, they'll be mailed out tomorrow. :-)

Calorimetry

A friend requested one of these but it was so much fun to make, I made her two. :-)

This pear tree came to live with us last year. He's small but there are four pears on him. YUMMM!!!!

What's my blog without a weekly market bag?

I thought I'd add a charm to it. It's a little green cross but it's too small. I'll use a larger charm next time. I used Bernat Cot'n Corn yarn for the bag - it was really nice to knit with.

Kerchiefs

I made these for a friend who was asking for some. I improvised on the pattern and I hope she likes them.

Do you want to win a gorgeous quilt?

Old Red Barn Co is having a contest. Look! Look! Look! The prize is this beautiful quilt! Click on the link on in my sidebar for details on how to enter...

Summer Dishcloth Swap Receiving

There is nothing better than getting a box in the mail. You always know something wonderful will be inside. This was no exception. I just got home from work and found a box from my secret dishcloth pal.

Michelle's note made me laugh. She didn't send chocolate because of the heat and it was coming all the way from Ohio so I don't blame her. She sent the perfect substitution. I love Smarties and she filled a cute cosmetic bag with Smarties as well as sending me a giant roll of Smarties. There's nothing happier than a whole giant roll of Smarties.

She also sent the prettiest two dishcloths. One is purple (can't go wrong there) and a really pretty round one in blue/lavender (another great color choice). Peaches N Cream dishcloth yarn in one of my favorite colors (anything purple works for me). The cute cosmetic bag filled with Smarties, jasmine bath gel with a body puff, a refrigerator magnet, and then last but by no means least is two skeins of Bernat Cot n Corn yarn. I saw it the other day, picked it up, and put it down. I was sure that I didn't need to buy any more yarn but it's so soft. I'll be casting on another bag with that and that bag will be for me. I haven't kept any of the bags yet but I love the color of the yarn and the way it feels.

Thanks so much Michelle for every single item and for all the thought you put into my surprise.

My week in knitting

I found this pattern on Ravelry and really liked the way they looked. I'd been holding onto some yarn that my friend Deb spun for me and this is was the perfect project. I modified the fingerless mitt pattern into mittens that would fit me. These are so cozy and although I don't need mittens often during our winters, there are several days that I do wear them.

Oh look, another bag!!!

Christmas in July

My first Christmas gift is finished!! I've never knit fingerless mittens before and made them for my friend Kathy who lives in Oregon (I don't think she reads my blog). They were a lot of fun to make. Hope she likes them.

MERRY CHRISTMAS KATHY!!

Summer Dishcloth Exchange

I made these for my Secret Dishcloth Swap pal. There's really no clue in the showing of them so here they are.

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.

Plastic or Paper?

When I remember to get them out of my trunk I've been trying to bring bags with me to the grocery store.

The other day I was looking at my giant basket of dishcloth yarn and thinking what can I do with all this other than making dishcloths with it. I went to Ravelry (where else) and put in Sugar N Cream and started looking at what everyone was doing with it. I found market bags. Great idea for me. I could use up the dishcloth yarn on something so useful. I found a bunch and sent all my possibles to a friend and this is the one she was going to try out. That helped me decide so here's the first of hopefully many. It took a full skein of the large ball of Lion Cotton and I did make it a bit shorter than the pattern called for but I knew it would stretch out.

(Sarah, do ya want one?)


Here are some of the other patterns I'm hoping to try out:

http://www.purlbee.com/elisa-nest-tote/

Ravelry link if you want to see others of the same bag http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/elisas-nest-tote

http://dorkybestfriend.typepad.com/blog/2007/03/the_string_bag.html

Ravelry link if you want to see others of the same bag http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-string-bag

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/saturday-market-bag

http://knittymcyarnpants.blogspot.com/2008/04/sarahs-market-bag.html

Ravelry link if you want to see others of the same bag http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sarahs-market-bag/people

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTeverlasting.html

Ravelry link if you want to see others of the same bag http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/everlasting-bagstopper/people

http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/BK4K-0702003.html?noImages=

Ravelry link if you want to see others of the same bag http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/eco-friendly-expandable-shopping-bag

http://www.knittingdaily.com/freepatterns/bags/Market_Bag_Knitting_Pattern70-1.html

Ravelry link if you want to see others of the same bag http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/market-bag

Favorite Color Swap

WOW is all I can say. Chris sent the most amazing things and said in the note that he wanted to keep it all himself. I'm sure glad he didn't. First, chocolate licorice......oh yum. I couldn't wait to taste it but had to take a picture first. Two bars of Dagoba chocolate. If you ever see them, you have to try them. I've had the lavender before but never the mint. Again, yummmmmmmmm. Malibrigo yarn - it's so funny, I've been seeing it on blogs all over the place lately. I checked it out online and found a store nearby that sold it. I've gone to that store twice this week and it's been closed due to an illness in the family. And now I have some in the most perfect colors. It is as soft and nice as everyone says. He also sent personalized stationary, Knitpicks DPN's, cucumber/melon hand lotion, a cucumber candle (one of my favorite scents), three skeins of bamboozle yarn in the prettiest purple and blue, and last but not least a crafty alien hedgehog kit. I have never seen those and I can't wait to make him. Chris, you outdid yourself!!! Thank you so much!!!!

Diamonds & Lace Fingertip Towel

This was supposed to be tapered at the top with a button but I decided to make it flat. I just love the scalloped edge. Pattern here.

Six Word Memoir

Sallee tagged me for a 6 word memoir. First I thought, forget it, I'm not creative regarding words but I watched the youtube video and it helped me a bit. This was by no means easy. Here is the image I chose:
And my memoir is this:

"I make my children laugh, perpetually."

If you stop by Amazon you can see a short You-Tube video of some that are included in the book Not Quite What I Was Planning,. Here are the directions for the meme:

1. Write your own six word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like.
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere.
4. Tag five more blogs with links.

I generally dislike tagging people but I thought I'd follow the rules and hope for the best. I'm tagging Kathy, Miss Me, Mona, Rikki, & Susan.

I'm looking forward to seeing your memoirs.

Malibrigo Contest

Cinnamongirl93 is having a "HAPPY SPRING" contest and giving away some Malibrigo yarn as well as some other goodies. All you have to do is tell her your favorite flower. How easy is that. Mention that I sent you and I get an extra entry.

Loves Sweet Song Mittens

My friend Mona designed these mittens and they will be perfect for a piano friends birthday. You can find her patterns here.