Monday, December 31, 2007

Bloomington Hoosier Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel


Bloomington Hoosier Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel
©Cathy Waldie, December 22, 2007



Lion Cotton, (US) 7, (4.5mm) needles
C/O = Cast On
Sl 1 = Slip one stitch
K= Knit
P= Purl
Tbl=through the back loop
K2 tog = Knit 2 stitches together
PSSO= Pass Slipped Stitch Over
B/O= Bind Off

C/O 59 sts.
1-7) Knit 7 rows for bottom border.

8) Sl 1, K2, P2, *K1tbl, P2* (17 times), K3

9 and all odd rows) Knit, slipping the first stitch of the row as if to Knit

10-16) Repeat Rows 8 and 9, for a total of 5 times

18) Sl 1, K2, P2, *K1tbl, P2* (3 times) P31, *P2, K1tbl, *(3 times), P2, K3

20, 22, 24) Sl 1, K2, P2, *K1tbl, P2* (3 times), P12, K7, P14, *K1tbl, P2* (3times), K3

26) Sl 1, K2, P2, *K1tbl, P2* (3 times), P8, K15, P10, *K1tbl, P2* (3times), K3

28) Sl 1, K2, P2, *K1tbl, P2* (3 times), P7, K17, P9, * K1tbl, P2* (3times), K3

30, 32) Sl 1, K2, P2, *K1tbl, P2* (3 times), P6, K19, P8, * K1tbl, P2* (3times), K3

34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46) S1, K2, P2, *K1tbl, P2* (3 times), P6, K5, P2, K5, P2, K5, P8, * K1tbl, P2* (3times), K3

48, 50, 52) S1, K2, P2, *K1tbl, P2* (3 times), P5, K7, P1, K5, P1, K7, P7, * K1tbl, P2* (3times), K3

54) S1, K2, P2, *K1tbl, P2* (3 times), P13, K5, P15, * K1tbl, P2* (3times), K3

56, 58, 60) S1, K2, P2, *K1tbl, P2* (3 times), P12, K7, P14, * K1tbl, P2* (3times), K3

62, 64) repeat row 18

66, 68, 70, 72, 74) repeat row 8

75-78) Knit, slipping the first stitch

Begin decreases for the Towel Top.
79) Sl 1, K7, *(Sl 1, k2tog, PSSO), K7* 4 times, end, (Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO) K8. (49 sts.)

80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90) Knit (slipping the first stitch)

81) Sl 1, K6, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K5* 4 times, last 10 sts: Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K7 (39 sts.)

83) Sl 1, K5, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K3* 4 times, last 9 sts: (SL1 K2tog, PSSO), K6. (29 sts.)

85) Sl 1, K4, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K1* 4 times, last 8 sts: (Sl 1, K2 tog, PSSO), K5. (19 sts)

87) Sl 1, K3, (K2tog) 6 times, K3 (13 sts.)

89) (K2tog) 3 times, K1, (K2tog) 3 times. (7 sts.)

Tab Section of Towel Top
90-91) Knit, slipping the first stitch

92) Sl 1, K1, P3, K2.

93-106) repeat rows 91 and 92 of the tab section.

107, 108) Knit, slipping the first stitch

109) Sl 1, K1, P3, K2

110-123) repeat rows 108 and 109 of the tab section

124) Sl 1, K1, B/O center 3 sts, K to end (4 sts) (creates buttonhole)

125) Sl 1, Kfb next st, Kfb next st, K1 (6 sts)

126) K2 tog, K2tog, K2tog

127) Knit 1, K2tog, pass first stitch over. Pull tail through last stitch. Weave in ends, wet/spray block. Sew button into center stitches on tab decrease row #90.

Add a Bloomington Hoosier Dishcloth and a Tribble to complete your set...



Better yet, add a tablecloth and you're all set for your next tailgate party or basketball season slam dunk contest!


and wrap it up to send back withyour favortie Hoosier student...


While he travels back to his very last semester of college-EVER!

Because you are a very Proud

Bloomington Hoosier Dishcloth


Bloomington Hoosier Dishcloth
©Cathy Waldie, December 23, 2007




Lion Cotton, (US) 7 (4.5mm) needles

C/O = Cast On
Sl 1 = Slip one stitch
K= Knit
P= Purl
Tbl=through the back loop
B/O= Bind Off

C/O 37 sts
1-5) Sl 1, K36

6) Sl 1, K2, P31, K3

7 and all odd rows) K

8, 10, 12) Sl 1, K2, P12, K7, P12, K3

14) Sl 1, K2, P8, K15, P8, K3

16) Sl 1, K2, P7, K17, P7, K3

18, 20) Sl 1, K2, P6, K19, P6, K3

22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34) Sl 1, K2, P6, K5, P2, K5, P2, K5, P6, K3

36, 38, 40) Sl 1, K2, P5, K7, P1, K5, P1, K7, P5, K3

42) Sl 1, K2, P13, K5, P13, K3

44, 46, 48) Sl 1, K2, P12, K7, P12, K3

50, 52) repeat row 6

53-57) Sl 1, K36

58) B/O in P


Cut Yarn, weave in ends, do the dishes! Match it up with a Bloomington Hoosier Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel and a Tribble for a complete set.




Sunday, December 30, 2007

Home again, home again...

Yep, I made it home without any of the luggage issues we saw at Thanksgiving. AMEN TO THAT brothers and sisters! And we had a bit of shopping at the very end, too.


See how pretty a 'Chocolate' Christmas Lace Dishcloth can look? See, you don't have to stick to just red, pick your color and let the lace fly!


Add a bit of local beverage and some holiday chocolate and you're in business.


Enjoy the view from the back bedroom window.....before heading out for a trip to 'find' a yarn store when they forget to tell you that it's actually 'downstairs'....so at night you're driving around Harvard Square area over and over and get lost a bazillion times on the one way streets. Then you stop some ladies who were walking and ask if they know where Woolcott & Co. is. AHHHHHHHHHHH no..they say...then ask, you don't know where a yarn shop is? And then they point directly across the street from where you're standing and say..oh a yarn shop..well, it's right there! ahahahahahahah....oy! and by then you're tired, wet from the rain, and really glad they've never met you and will never know who you are!

However, once I scampered inside, I hit the jack pot! I had no idea they were having a 25% OFF sale in the store! I thought I'd been lucky to find solid sock yarn and size 4.0mm double points! I found out about the sale when I went to ring up the order, and didn't see that they threw in an extra skein of yarn (silky wool) until after I got back to my daughters! Now, how cool is that?


I am going to miss that window sill for taking pictures! Perfect lighting, and nice shelf space to lay my stuff. And the kiddo isn't a knitter! tisk tisk tisk...waste of a great sill I tell you!


The next day, I braved the 'wintry frozen' northeast and headed out the door. Oh wait, it was sunny, the snow was fairly well all melted..and it was warmer walking around outdoors than when I'd left Southern California! I got roasted in my jacket and scarf!

I went on the "T" for the second day in a row and it was so much easier than trying to find a place to park, or getting lost! I do believe, I love the 'T'. Even after the rain and the puddles.


I went past the old South Church...and it was sunny!


Found Newbury Yarns and had a wonderful visit with the lady who works there.



Found the Misti Alpaca that I truly wanted to sit and pet all the way home it is so soft! And a hank of Louet's Euroflax linen. Can't wait to try the Mason-Dixon Hand towel with that!


Pretty soon, it was time to head on over to the airport. But there was one last stop along the way. My favorite new place in the Boston area-why that would be Mike's Pastry! To quote Rachel Ray...YUMMO!!!!!!!!



See what I mean? HOLY COW! That is soooooooooooooooooooo good!


And they traveled well home, too! 6 hours by plane. And not a single one smushed!


Through the traffic....



Said good-bye to the sunny skies...and the cleared roads....



And made it to the airport early. Hugged the kiddo goodbye..and answered the cell phone after she drove off telling me to quit crying. I do believe she knows her mom!


It was about this point that I realized that I'd left my cane hanging on the railing of the building as I loaded my suitcases into the car for the airport. Brilliant, huh?


Guess what....pattern up next! See what happens on a 6 hour flight home? It's called..lots of knitting time! Call your Bloomington friends...it's nearly ready to post.

Friday, December 28, 2007

Quick update...

Now, doesn't a Tribble make this a complete set? I think so! In case you copied the pattern early..Row 25 was omitted from the towel pattern, it's been replaced. It should read: repeat row 21. Hope that didn't leave you scratching your head over this. Thank you Carol for catching that for me! If you guys ever find something else that needs to be fixed..please let me know! I appreciate all extra sets of eyes around here.

As for now, I'm trying to do the last few things around here, pack my bags and make it to the airport on time for this evening's flight. If you're on board, I'll be the one knitting! And of course, now that it's time to go home, the sun is in full force, the rain has disappeared, and the snow is just about gone. Figures---huh?

Stay tuned...more patterns on their way! Thank you for all the wonderful comments you have all sent to me. I'm having a blast with these!

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Christmas Lace Dishcloth



Ahhhhhhhhh it's a 2 for 1 kind of day around here! Here's the companion Dishcloth to the Christmas Joy Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel that I just posted a few moments ago. Now, If Christmas isn't your thing, why not make it in another color? My youngest daughter loves browns, tans, and beige colors. I'll be making her one shortly in a chocolate brown to go with the KBB Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel set I gave her the other day. It's based on a pretty lace pattern that I found in a baby blanket pattern some years back. [ found the information! It came from Sweet Layettes to Knit by Carole Prior, specifically the Perfectly Pink sweater set] As soon as I remember the name of the book that it originated in, I'll post that name here as an update. I want to give proper credit! But, since this was for a Christmas set, I gave it my own name. Please feel free to pick your own colors and your own reasons for making this pattern. Don't feel limited by my choice of Holidays or by my choice of Lion Brand's Lion Cotton in Poppy Red. Now, all I need to do, is to make up a Tribble to go with this whole set. See? I told you they were addictive! and I've got just enough cotton left to do that. But, I wanted to get these patterns posted for you all to enjoy.


Christmas Lace Dishcloth
©Cathy Waldie, December 23, 2007


Lion Cotton, (US) 7 (4.5mm) needles
1.1 oz/32 g of cotton/ 58.8 yards/53.8 m in length to knit up.


C/O 34 sts

1-6) Knit for bottom border

Begin pattern

7) K3, *K3, K2 tog, YO * 5 times, K3, K3

8, 10) K3, P28, K3

9) K3, *K3, YO, Sl 1, K1, PSSO,* 5 times, K3, K3

11 – 50) repeat rows (7 – 10) for a total of 11 pattern repeats.

51-57) Knit for top border

58) B/O in P


Cut cotton, weave in ends, and steam block...and you're ready to pair it up for gift giving with the Christmas Joy Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel (pattern in previous post), or use it alone! (not to mention..you're now ready to do the dishes......)




Here's hoping that during these last few weeks of the year, you have the chance for a little time off with a whole lot of family and friends smothered in hugs! Hugs to you all!

Christmas Joy Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel

)

The other night when I was supposed to be packing my bags to head out to Boston to spend a few days with my daughter, I ended up charting and typing out 10 different patterns. This is the one that I worked out while flying from LAX to Logan. Now that it's all finished, blocked and has a cutie little snowflake (thank you Joann's for 50% off holiday buttons the other day!) stitched on, it's ready for it's grand entrance. Granted this might be a bit late for this year's gift giving, but we'll just say that it's early for next years patterns!

Once again, I've used the 5 oz skein of Lion Brand's Lion Cotton, in Poppy Red. I think it makes a great festive holiday red color. (OOOOOOOOOOOO, I'm now thinking as I type it would be a great color for that 'February' event as well. ) OK, back to the pattern. I have paired this towel with another Dishcloth called Christmas Lace, but I'll post that pattern separately, next.


Christmas Joy Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel

©Cathy Waldie, December 23, 2007

Lion Cotton, (US) 7, (4.5mm) needles

Sl 1 = Slip 1 stitch
K = Knit
K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together
P = Purl
YO = Yarn Over
Sl 1, K1, PSSO = Slip 1 stitch, Knit 1 stitch, Pass the slipped stitch over the previously knit stitch
Kfb = knit into the front and the back of the next stitch
C/O = Cast On
* * = repeat directions between the asterisks the number of times given

C/O 58 sts.

1-6) Knit 6 rows for bottom border.

7) K3, *K4, YO, Sl 1, K1, PSSO, * 8 times, K4, end K3

8 and even rows) K3, P52, K3

9) K3, *K4, K2tog, YO, * 8 times, K4, end K3

11-18) Repeat Rows 7-10, for a total of 3 times

19) K3, *K4, YO, Sl 1 K1, PSSO* 2 times, K28, *YO, Sl 1, K1, PSSO, K4* 2 times, K3

20, 22) K3, P34, K2, P16, K3

21) K3, *K4, K2tog, YO, *2 times, K28, *K2tog, YO, K4, * 2times, K3

23) repeat row 19

24, 26) K3, P33, K4, P15, K3

25) repeat row 21

27) repeat row 19

28) K3, P32, K2, P2, K2, P14, K3

29) repeat row 21

30) K3, P31, K3, P2, K3, P13, K3

31) repeat row 19

32) K3, P24, K3, P4, K3, P2, K3, P13, K3

33) repeat row 21

34) K3, P23, K5, P3, K3, P2, K3, P13, K3

35) repeat row 19

36) K3, P22, K7, P2, K3, P2, K3, P13, K3

37) repeat row 21

38) K3, P21, K3, P3, K3, P22, K3

39) repeat row 19

40) repeat row 38

41) repeat row 21

42) repeat row 38

43) repeat row 19

44) repeat row 38

45) repeat row 21

46) K3, P15, K4, P3, K7, P23, K3

47) repeat row 19

48) K3, P14, K6, P3, K5. P24, K3

49) repeat row 21

50) K3, P13, K8, P3, K3, P25, K3

51) repeat row 19

52) K3, P13, K3, P2, K3, P31, K3

53) repeat row 21

54) repeat row 52

55) repeat row 19

56) K3, P18, K3, P31, K3

57) repeat row 21

58) repeat row 56

59) repeat row 19

60) repeat row 56

61) repeat row 21

62) repeat row 56

63) repeat row 19

64) repeat row 8

65) repeat row 21

66) repeat row 8

67-74) repeat rows 7-10 for a total of 2 times

75) Sl 1, K28, M1, K29

76-78) Knit, slipping the first stitch

Begin decreases for the Towel Top.

79) Sl 1, K7, *(Sl 1, k2tog, PSSO), K7* 4 times, end, (Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO) K8. (49 sts.)

80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90) Knit (slipping the first stitch)

81) Sl 1, K6, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K5* 4 times, last 10 sts: Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K7 (39 sts.)

83) Sl 1, K5, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K3* 4 times, last 9 sts: (SL1 K2tog, PSSO), K6. (29 sts.)

85) Sl 1, K4, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K1* 4 times, last 8 sts: (Sl 1, K2 tog, PSSO), K5. (19 sts)

87) Sl 1, K3, (K2tog) 6 times, K3 (13 sts.)

89) (K2tog) 3 times, K1, (K2tog) 3 times. (7 sts.)

Tab Section of Towel Top

90-91) Knit, slipping the first stitch

92) Sl 1, K1, P3, K2.

93-106) repeat rows 91 and 92 of the tab section.

107, 108) Knit, slipping the first stitch

109) Sl 1, K1, P3, K2

110-123) repeat rows 108 and 109 of the tab section

124) Sl 1, K1, Bind off center 3 sts, K to end (4 sts) (creates buttonhole)

125) Sl 1, Kfb next st, Kfb next st, K1 (6 sts)

126) K2tog, K2tog, K2tog

127) Knit 1, K2tog, pass first stitch over. Pull tail through last stitch. Weave in ends, wet/spray block. Sew button into center stitches on tab decrease row #90.






Up next, the Christmas Lace Dishcloth pattern that I like to pair with this towel. Hope you're all finding something special at this time of year to celebrate, no matter which celebration you and yours enjoy! From our house to yours....Happy Holidays...all of them!

Sunday, December 23, 2007

HO HO HO.....

So...how's your week coming along? Me....well...I got another Tribble done the other day..this one is going into my Mother's package that will be mailed at some point. I'm supposed to be packing right now. Well, I'll be finished here shortly...I promise. But, while doing laundry...and vacuuming..well, I kinda, sorta...a little bit....got sidetracked (what a shocker!)... OK, I was doing laundry out in the garage and I was looking for a 'particular' shade of blue. Why? 'cuz last night I stayed up and charted, wrote, and printed out 10 different new patterns.


Not only did I chart out a few more patterns, but in the process started collecting all the 'left overs' of cotton yarn as I went through my bins. See what I've found? Yep...those are 2 gallon bags there. 2. Not 1. And that would be 3 of them. I'm thinking there'll be Tribbles galore in the foreseeable future around here. Now, how many pots and pans do I have to wash if I make these?


Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Tribbles...tribbles...tribbles...





There are two ways to find the Tribbles...if you got to Ravelry, you can either search for them, or go to my page and click on my projects...once you there there, it'll give you a link that will take you to the ravelry page that says...Tribble by Abigail-1870pearl.


Or, you can Google Tribble Knit Pattern, like I did and come up with the link to the pattern... http://1870pearl.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/02/rubadubdub.html and that will take you to the blog 1870Pearl for the pattern.


I am loving this quick pattern....but one thing..I have been using my (US)7's(4.5mm) bamboo needles for this pattern. The original pattern is for (US)6's..but I generally like the fabric that my 7's give me.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

More finished projects...


These little guys are amazing...I found the pattern on Ravelry, called Tribbles. Then I remembered that I'd heard about them a long time ago, but never got around to whipping them up. I won't forget about them again. The coolest part?



After knitting up these Dishcloths and Kitchen Hanging Hand Towels, I was able to knit up a matching Tribble for each of these sets and...



Still had a wee bit of yarn left over! I used a 5 oz skein of Lion Cotton for each of the sets. I love the fact that I could do a whole set of 3 out of one skein of yarn. Yippee! Can't wait to knock a few more things off my to-do list, so I can dive into my cotton left overs and knock these out quickly. They're sooooooooo fast..and soooooooooooooooo easy! And no more left overs that I have no clue what to do with!



Out of Lion Cotton, another KBB Dishcloth...unblocked here... to go with the KBB Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel I posted last week.




Then, added a Bridal Shower Lace Cloth out of the Jute colorway from Lily's Sugar 'n Cream...



To make this Kitchen set to wing over to my daughter in Boston..with luck she won't be looking here before Christmas. Yes, that's another tribble there out of the left over Jute color.




Don't you love that book, "Hat's On!" by Charlene Schurch? I have made a lot of patterns from there in the past. Here's another Classic watch Cap out of Ella Rae, 100% wool, Cherry colorway. I found this yarn from a LYS that is sadly closing for good this month. I've had many a great day knitting with the group over at Sit 'n Knit. Going to miss you ladies!

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Rumor has it...

Rumor has it that there is a 'wee' bit of snow in Boston. How do I know? My daughter just spent the last 47 minutes on the speaker phone with me trying to help her stay calm while she made it home to her apartment. This morning it took her 20 minutes to get to work. However, it took her 4 hours and 38 minutes to get home. While giving her long distance snow driving tips on the ramps...I went online to look up the weather report. Funny, she's telling me about 4-5 inches of snow and hour, and the Weather Channel has it at only 70% chance of snow!



Mommy knitting while stressing over your kids, isn't fun. It certainly comes out all wonky. This was worse than when I was making her red and white scarf while she went skydiving! At least then, she was with 2 other sky diving instructors who had her safety as their priority!

Now, before I was aware of how fast it was coming down and the volume of snow in Boston, I not only got the Hail to the ... Dishcloths and Kitchen Hanging Hand Towels finished, but I got them all steam blocked as well. They certainly look much nicer all fixed up.



Hail to the ... Kitchen Hanging Hand Towels, Lion Brand Lion Cotton in both Sunshine and Navy. (US)7 (4.5mm) needles. Funny how using the same pattern and same pair of needles made these come out a bit different in size. All in the yarn, I tell you...all in the yarn.



Hail to the ... Dishcloths, also with the same Lion Brand Lion Cotton, Sunshine and Navy and (US)7 (4.5mm) needles. These take me 1 1/2 hours to knit up each. And one towel and one dishcloth can be made from one 5 oz skein of Lion Cotton. I just love the color of this Sunshine. It's the perfect shade of 'maize' for this set.



And the whole set ready for gifting now. Someday, I'm going to actually make a set to keep for me! Now, the daughter is home, out of the car, and in a warm place...I'm back to the needles! Heaven knows I'm not in the snow...so I have no excuse for not finishing a few more projects. Stay warm everyone! And stay safe.