That’s the Sunshine Yarn from my Yarn Aboard pal, Alison. I am making up the pattern for the April Socks. The yellow and white Peaches N’Creme is for a dishrag. I never really considered knitting dishrags before. I mean, I’ve got a bunch of store-bought towels that work great and I use them all the time – why would I waste hard work on something that is going to get filthy and disgusting? Then Amazon sent me Mason-Dixon Knitting.* Kay and Ann make a wonderful point about using your knitted objects which got me to thinking: I made a certain sweater** and I love it. I did a great job on it (even though I say so myself).*** But I never wear it. I never wear it because I am afraid that something is going to happen to it. I am hoping that using handknit dishrags to wipe the counter will help me get over that.
I’ve also gotten a good start on the Honeydew Top.
The markers came from the Three Sisters etsy shop. They were handmade by the Third Sister and I love them.
I’m not making Bardot after all. When I was ordering, I was some how struck with a sort of Pattern Illiteracy and purchased yarn that is the completely wrong weight for the pattern. I emailed Jimmy Bean and managed to secure two more hanks in the right dyelot.**** God bless Jimmy Bean’s Customer Service, they are some of the nicest people and don’t even laugh at you when you tell them what you did. At least, they don’t laugh Out Loud. I am now making this by Knitting Pure and Simple but with short sleeves, different increases, a wider band at the neck and maybe different side shaping. All of these changes are cosmetic – I really like the pattern! Top down sweaters are cool. I’ve ordered some Rowan Cotton Tape (discontinued so it’s cheap) off of ebay to make Bardot.
In a photo finish:
Mom first, Great Gran second and Emily Dead Last. We shall not speak of this again.
In case you’re wondering, the 2-up red socks that I started for March’s Project Spectrum have been recategorized as Red Hot Sizzling Socks and don’t have to be finished until July. I did start the gussetts.
*Mason-Dixon Knitting is a great book! Really great. Fun patterns (many are easy enough for the Rank Beginner but will still make the Experienced Knitter say “I want to make THAT”), wonderful photography and more of the casual, friendly writing that is a hallmark of their blog. Flip through it in the book store, you won’t be sorry. I bet you take it home.
**You may remember it: the Tyrolene Cardigan? There’s a picture in my gallery and posts about it somewhere but I am too Lazy to dig through my archive to find them.
***I had only been knitting for a year and was awed (who am I kidding? I was Deeply Impressed) by how well it turned out. You’ve all got projects like that (if you don’t you will soon, trust me). Projects that you look at and say to your self, “I made that. I made that thing, it looks just like the picture and it fits. Awww, yeah.” I will add, before I get an email from Mom, that she embroidered the flowers for me. I do not know how to make a lazy daisy.
****I only needed one more, but panic will do that to a girl.
I always knit dishcloths. In fact, I need some new ones. They’re great for working on at reenactments, too.
You will love the knitted dishcloths! I made them to tuck in Christmas stockings, gift baskets, etc. pretty much as an afterthought. They were a hit! They are also used as exfoliating cloths to use in the shower. I make mine using a size 8 needle, knit tight! Love the sweater you are working on, especially the color!
I’ve never knitted a dishcloth before either. Your Tyrolean cardi is beautiful, I hope you get round to wearing it more and the split neck T is a very pretty pattern and your modifications sounds good. Those are really happy scarves.
I was just working on a dishcloth today! I knit a ton of them — because my mom…and my aunt…and my sister-in-law…and my cousins will use nothing but knitted dishcloths. So I figure I’m getting a jump start on next Christmas. 🙂 I know what you mean about not being able to use knitted stuff — I feel the same way (except when it comes to my dishcloths — probably because the yarn is cheap, and they’re so quick to knit). I’m always afraid that something will happen — I’ll snag it or stain it or something. I’m very protective of my knits. BTW — I have the same KP&S pattern, and I have some nice Project Spectrum Orange yarn to knit it with… I can’t wait — it’s such a cute pattern. KP&S patterns are so much fun to knit.
You are giving me spring fever over here! So much planned, and all so cute!
Can’t wait to see the sock pattern you come up with!
Oh the chenille looks wonderful! Now, next time we want to see you three beauties WEARING them! Grin.
It’s going to be fun to see how the socks knit up. I really like the colors!
It’s going to be fun to see how the socks knit up. I really like the colors!
Girl. You don’t use knit dishcloths? I thought every knitter did! Gotta. You’ll never use anything else ever again. They’re a true workhorse at my house!! And oh they make the sweetest little gifts. Use them without fear – for you can make more! 🙂
What a lovely spring post! I love all of the colors! 😉 Great sunshine yarn!
I have never knit a dishcloth – but I want to! Maybe I can fit one in this month…
I have never made a dishcloth either even though I have had the yarn to do so for years.
What pattern is the honeydew top? The yarns is so pretty.
Yarn, not yarns. Duh!
Wow, I had no idea the love that abounded for knitted dishcloths. I wonder what I’m missing?
I have also had great customer service from Jimmy Bean’s Wool. They have matched dyelots from me more than once. I’m guessing they are pretty used to that request. 🙂
I have a few knit dishcloths, but *blush* have never used them. I need to do that, really I do. I saw the Mason Dixon book in Barnes and Noble yesterday, but it was too high to reach so I looked at some others. Now I think I might have needed to check it out. Dangit!! 🙂
The yarn from your Yarn Aboard is beautiful. The colors look good enough to eat! 🙂
I’ve NEVER knit a dishcloth. I’ve never even thought of it until I taught a girl to knit and she ended up knitting a gagillion dishcloths. I am however lucky enough to have some wonderful dish cloths that were woven for me by a friend. They are the bomb, some cotton, some linen and cool weaving.
I keep a dishcloth going in the car to work on while I wait on my son at piano lessons, etc. (Using a circular needle of course so one doesn’t get lost under the car seat). Love ’em.
Lovely sock yarn! I’ve ordered more sock yarn (I know, bad me) for April’s swap. Love the knitting pure and simple sweater, it is a great basic!
Actually, I was having this conversation with my boyfriend recently. I always use the things I knit, because otherwise, why would I knit them? What’s the use in putting all that effort and energy into an afghan that’s just going to sit on the couch? What good are socks if they’re not warming my feet?
That sock yarn is delightful – it just shouts “spring” !
Once again your photos are works of art. While most of us just lay stuff down and snap a picture; you stage art. I love the sock yarn. I don’t know if I’ll get anything done for PS in April – but I’m going to try.
Well, I like your scarf best. 🙂 I also love that green color of the honeydew top — it’s named well. It also compliments the pink of the stitch markers nicely (hee hee), and speaking of stitch markers, the third sister read what you wrote about them and smiled really big. 😀