COMFY CROCHET WASH CLOTH

What can I say. I just enjoy crocheting little things for my home!

Often I spend a lot of time knitting. Mostly gifts for others, which I enjoy doing, and less often, it seems, trying to complete one of several projects for myself. Example: Einstein Jacket-circa: many years ago! Status: Not done yet, but almost.

It's a very rare thing for me, during the summer months, to NOT be knitting on my back porch or poolside, a Ball Band dish cloth. None knitted this summer. Nope, not a one.

But, I do like to make things for my home.

This year, my summer turned into THE SUMMER OF CROCHET LOVE for me. My back porch time was usually spent crocheting little cloths at 2 am while my aged collie, Scotty, was leisurely relieving himself in the moonlight. This was my coping skill to deal with my enforced sleep deprivation.

These little wash cloths were made with Plymouth Earth Oceanside Organic Cotton, purchased at the Knitters Edge, in Bethlehem, Pa., in assorted natural color tones. This was my very first experience working with organic cotton of any kind. This yarn is very soft and works into a great wash cloth, which, from personal experience, feels quite luxurious. Keep them for yourself or gift to a friend!

Here is the pattern. Enjoy!

COMFY CROCHET WASH CLOTH

2 balls of Plymouth Earth Oceanside Organic Cotton, in 2 different  colors.

F Hook

Two balls make roughly 3 cloths, with contrasting color border edging.  

Size approximately 7 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches

Chain 30

Starting from second chain from hook, single crochet across, chain 1, turn.

Row 1: Single crochet across row.

Repeat row 1 for 35 rows or until desired length. Cut yarn and attaching contrast color, single crochet along all 4 sides, making 2 single crochet stitches in each corner stitch. Cut yarn, weave in tails, and make another one!

FEATHER AND FAN BABY CAR SEAT WRAP

I continue to knit for the soon-to-be-born-babies of my co-workers.

 This little car seat blankie/wrap was made with Bernat Cottontots yarn from my yarn stash.  It's been perfect to knit and crochet with during the recent heat wave.  It is a very soft yarn that becomes even softer once it's washed and dried on low. The blanket/wrap is not too big, so it will be easy for Mom to handle. Later it could be a little doll blanket!

I have amassed a nice stash of cotton yarn over the years. It's a great feeling to be able to make something from that yarn stash of mine! Most of the Cottontots was purchased on sale or with coupons from Michael's and Hobby Lobby. When the price of cotton began to increase I saved a lot of money buying a little of this, a little of that, a little here, a little there...

Do you like my rationalization?

The stitch pattern is worked across the row 4 times and there is a 4 stitch Garter Stitch border on each side. I suggest using a stitch marker on each side to denote the borders. 

FEATHER AND FAN BABY CAR SEAT WRAP

Length: 29 inches

Width:  19 inches

Yarn: Bernat Cottontots/colors: (A)Grape Berry, (B) Lovely Lilac, (C)Very Berry, (D) Wonder White. One ball in each color. Choose the colors that work best for your baby!

Needle size: #8 circular-24 inch length

Stitch Markers: 2

 With Color A, C/O 80 stitches and knit 4 rows.

(RS) Row 1: K4, Place Marker, knit to last 4 stitches, Place Marker, K4.

(WS)Row 2: K 4, pass marker, purl across to last 4 stitches, pass marker, K4

(RS) Row 3: K4, PM, *(K2TOG x 3) (YO, K1 x 6)(K2TOG x3)** repeat from * to**, until marker, PM, K4

(WS) Row 4: K4, pm, k across, pm, k4.

Continue working with Color A until you reach end of the ball. For me, that worked out to be about 9 wavey ridges facing the Right Side. Attach Color B, and continue in pattern, repeating 4 Row pattern until you have finished Colors B, C, and in the case of  Color D, worked Row 4, followed by 3 rows Garter Stitch and Binding Off. Let me know if there are any errors or the pattern is unclear.

BABY SHOWERS and all that knit...

If you're wondering what I've been up to, well it involves lots of knitting and crocheting for all those babies who are getting ready to be born in the upcoming months! Their Moms all work with me, it seems. So I've put most of my personal knitting and crocheting to the side for the time being.

For the most part I've been trolling for baby patterns on the net, pouring through my personal library, and all the patterns stored in my filing cabinet (yes, it's that bad-did you think I only collected yarn?) in search of THE PERFECT BABY PATTERN. What qualifies as "perfect"? It must be:
1. Cute as-all-get-out!
2. Adaptable to the yarns in my STASH-stash friendly!
3. Not too fussy a written pattern
4. Something that little baby wouldn't be embaressed to be seen in
5. QUICK-QUICK-QUICK!

So there are lots of baby patterns out there and at home, but the problem lies in that there are JUST SO MANY to choose from!

Since the stress of the hunt was making me gnash my teeth, I decided to take some sort of decisive action and design this little bib (QUICK! STASH-FRIENDLY! BABY WORTHY)
Although by no means would I ever consider this a perfect baby pattern, my design is simple to work up in no time flat. It's worked in Tunisian Crochet (SURPRISE! You should have seen that coming!) It makes a bib that is thick and looks woven, so baby or toddler stays nice and tidy!
It's so easy and did I menton that it goes really fast? Give it a try.

Basic TSS-Tunisian simple stitch-is so easy to learn if you know how to chain and work a single crochet already. Here is a great video to help you get started

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEvFHE8wYtQ&feature=player_embedded

Enjoy and get crackin' 'cause those babies arrive sooner than expected more times than not! THE TC BABY BIB by Linda Ball

Materials:
1 skein stash yarn-worsted weight cotton or acrylic (I used Sugar and Cream cotton from my stash!)
Hook size G

Directions:
Chain 37
Begin TSS by picking up 36 loops to create the foundation/base row.
You will have a total of 37 loops on your hook
Work as directed in video until bib is 8 inches long. Wasn't that simply the most mindless fun!

O.k. Now it's time to start binding off and make the straps:
Watch this video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34ZO5M-6TLs

Ready-let's go!
Starting a forward pass, (go toward the left-remember?)
Work 9 TSS, then bo 19, then continue to TSS 9 st. You'll have loops, a big gap, and more loops!

Now, continue working TSS on the single strap ( the strap will be on the left side of the bib facing you and you will have loops on the hook on the right edge for a while while you work this strap!) for 6 inches, B/O these stitches, and cut yarn.

Attach the yarn to the bound off neck edge nearest to the loops on the hook and work a return pass on the remaining loops. Now work TSS for 6 inches.

Time to make the buttonhole!
Starting with a Forward pass, work 4 stitches, B?O 1 st, work 3 st.
Return pass: Work 4, chain 1, work remaining stitches.
Continue in TSS until strap measures 7 inches total, then B/O and cut yarn. Weave in all ends. Securely sew on button to opposite strap. Wet block to tame that bottom curl of you're not going to attach a edge.

RUFFLE EDGE (optional)
I knit my ruffle by picking up and knitting the stitches along the edge for one row. I worked in stockinette pattern , increasing the stitch number by knitting in the front and back loops in each stitch across on every right side row and just purling straight back on every wrong side row.

Do this until you get the ruffle length and fullness you want and then B/O. I repeated this one time before I was satisfied. A crocheted edge would look beautiful too! Lots of possibilities!

Now, wasn't that quick? Leave a comment telling me how yours turned out or if there are any issues with the pattern.
Send me a photo link if you'd like! Hope you enjoyed this pattern!

This is a free pattern from me to you, so please don't sell this pattern or any article made from it. Why not make one to gift and another to give to your favorite baby charity!

PUMPKIN PATCH AND GOURDS DISHCLOTH PATTERN

May thanks to all of you who responded with kind words for my little dish cloth experiment. As mentioned in my previous post, wondering "what if?" resulted in a variation on the beloved Ballband dishcloth which resembles rows of little pumpkins. Here is the pattern for everyone to enjoy, hopefully, without any glitches! Do let me know if there are any problems with the pattern. I'd love to see any one's knitted version of it, so send me a photo, and I'll post it!


PUMPKIN PATCH AND GOURDS DISHCLOTH PATTERN
*** Inspired by the Ballband Textured Dishcloth Pattern***

Materials: 1 ball each Peaches and Cream Sunflower, Orange, and Gold cotton yarn. This pattern evolved during my knitting mission to use up these colors leftover from previous dishcloths. I was in an Autumn state of mind at the time. You, of course, may use whatever colors you have on hand!

Needles: size 7

Important! Remember to twist/ carry your different colored yarns along the side at the beginning of each row!

With (A) Sunflower, CO 35 stitches.
Row 1-knit.
Row 2-purl.

Add on (B) Orange-
Row 3- *k5, Slip 1, *repeat to last 5 stitches, k5.
Row 4- *K 2, p1, k2, Yarn forward, Slip 1, Yarn Back * repeat to last 5 stitches, ending k2, p1, k2.
Row 5- *p2, k1, p2, Yarn back, Slip 1, Yarn forward, *repeat to last 5 stitches, ending, p2, k1, p2.
Row 6- repeat Row 4.

Row 7- With (A), k across.
Row 8- With (A), p across.


Row 9- With (B), k 2, *slip 1, k5, *repeat to last 3 stitches, slip 1, k2.
Row 10- K2, * YF, slip 1, YB, k2, p 1, k2, * repeat to last 3 stitches, YF, slip 1, YB, k2.
Row 11-P2, *YB, slip 1, YF, p2, k1, p2, *repeat to last 3 stitches, YB, slip 1, YF, p2.
Row 12. Repeat Row 10.

Repeat Rows 1 thru 12 for desired length, changing to color (C) Gold and eliminating color (B) Orange whenever you wish. End pattern by knitting with color (A) rows 1 and 2. Bind off. Single crochet a row along the sides if you wish a more finished look.

Happy knitting!

BY REQUEST, THE EYELET BORDERED HEART DISHCLOTH PATTERN

Many thanks to all the kind folks who contacted me about my heart shaped dish cloth design. Since it's been quite a while since I first knit the prototype, and since dummy me didn't take the time to actually write down any pattern notes while knitting merrily along, I have to admit that I've more or less been avoiding doing the dreaded sitting- down- and -figuring- it- all- out! But, since it's raining miserably today, and, what the heck, I've nothing else to do, ( aside from laundry, vacuuming/dusting, cleaning out closets, weeding and planting the gardens, painting the basement stairs, etc) I decided to have a go at it, just for YOU, Gentle Knitter.

Originally the Heart Dish Cloth was designed to be sold at my church's Dish Cloth/Pork and Sauerkraut Dinner. This week I managed to retrieve the cloth from the "knitting room" at church so I could pick it apart a bit to see how I knitted the final few rows that shape the top of the heart.

Giving credit to the creator of "Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth" whoever they may be, I had reasoned that the pattern could be somehow manipulated to form a heart with an eyelet border. The big challenge was how to keep the eyelets in pattern while doing the decreases necessary to get the gentle sloping along the ends and the dips in the middle. On my cloth I ripped back several rows until there were 31 stitches on the needles. It did take a few feeble attempts until I got the final results that I am satisfied with.
Needless to say, I will make it a point to jot these things down as I'm working on them from now on!
Hope the pattern works out well for you. Contact me if you hit a snag, find a problem, or even have a better idea for shaping and finishing the top of the heart!

EYELET BORDERED HEART DISHCLOTH

BY THE KNITORIOUS MRS. B.

Approximate size = 8 in. x 9 1/2 in.

1 ball dish cloth cotton

size 7 needles

Co 3 stitches

row 1: K1, Knit front and back in the 2ND stitch, k1 (4 st.)

row 2: K2, yo, knit to the end. ( 5 st.)

Repeat row 2 until side of cloth measures about 6 inches from the bottom tip.

Shaping The Sides:

Next row: K2, yo, knit 2 together THRU THE BACK LOOPS, knit to the end of row.

Repeat this row 9 more times.

Beginning The Decreases For The Top:

Next row: K1, knit 2 together THRU THE BACK LOOPS, yo, K2 tog THRU THE BACK LOOPS, knit to end of row.

Repeat this row 9 or 10 more times, until you have 31 stitches on your needle.

Top Of the Heart Shaping:

Next row: K1, k 2 tog THRU THE BACK LOOPS, ( yo, k 2 tog THRU THE BACK LOOPS) 5 times, then yo, k1, *k1, knit the next stitch and slip it over the *knit stitch that is on the right hand needle so there is a slight slant to the right. Turn your work.

Next row: k2 tog TBL, knit to the last 2 stitches, knit 2 tog THRU THE FRONT LOOPS. Turn work.

Next row: Beginning to BO by Knitting the first 2 stitches together TBL, continue in a normal BO until the last 2 stitches remain on left needle. Knit last 2 stitches together and complete the BO by slipping the first of the 2 stitches on the right needle over the newest stitch. One remaining stitch is on the right needle. You should be at the middle of the heart, not on the end. DO NOT CUT YARN YET!

Treat the remaining stitch as a loop and, carefully removing it from the needle, begin pulling yarn from the ball until you have about 3 yards. Cut the yarn. There should be enough to finish the other side of the heart top.( This requires some guessing on you part in order not to have to cut the yarn and tie it back on!) Thread yarn onto a needle and weave it thru the garter stitch "bumps" down to where the "dip" of the heart is and then come up to where the other side of the heart starts to ascend. Your yarn should come up next to the first stitch on your left needle.

Begin this row:

K2 tog TBL, k1, (yo, k2 tog TBL) 5 times, k2, Turn.

Next row: K2 tog TBL, knit to last 2 stitches, K2 tog TFL. Turn.

Begin to BO by knitting the forst 2 stitches together TBL, continue in normal BO until last 2 stitches remain on left needle. Knit the last 2 stitches together and complete the BO by slipping the 1st stitch on the right needle over the newest stitch. Cut yarn and weave in ends.

I think you could very easily adapt this pattern to different size hearts just by shortening the rows knit from the tip up to where the side decreases!

Here's a teensie one I knit today!

enjoy!

MISS THING BABY BIB PATTERN

Well, thank-you to all of you Gentle Knitters out here who requested my free baby bib pattern. I'm of the opinion that sometimes a girl just has to dress up. Sorry, boys, but this is not a baby bib for the guys!

I'm happy to post the pattern instructions for your personal use. I modified the written basic stitch pattern to include a 3 stitch border on each side and to make a wide, single rippled edge, rather than the several shown in the stitch pattern photo in Barbara's book.
I also posted the pattern and photo to Ravelry under the tags "baby" and "bib".
I'd love to see photos of the bib, if anyone knits one!

MISS THING BABY BIB
**********
by Linda Ball

Sized for newborn and older -approximately 13 inches x 9 inches.
Materials:
Peaches and Cream Cotton yarn:
(MC) Apple Green- one ball
(CC) Lemonade -one ball
Size 7 needles
Large eye tapestry needle to weave in yarn tails.

Knitting Stitch reference book: Treasury of Knitting Patterns
by Barbara G. Walker, Schoolhouse Press. 1998, page 205.

MC - Main Color
CC - Contrast Color
Slip 1- always slip stitch from left needle onto right needle as to knit.


Using MC, C/O 42 stitches and knit in the following modified Feather and Fan pattern:
Row 1. K.
Row 2. P.
Row 3 (Border) K 3,(K2tog) x 3, (YO, K1) x 6, (K2tog) x 6, (YO, K1) x 6, (K2tog) x3, (Border) K3.
Row 4. K.

Repeat in pattern for 6 inches, ending having just worked Row 3. Leaving short tail, cut MC, turn work, attach CC, and Knit Row 4.

With Right Side of work now facing, work with CC yarn in Stockinette Stitch, Slipping the first stitch of every row. Continue in this manner until section worked in CC yarn measures 2 inches, ending having worked a Wrong Side Row.

Setting Up For Straps:
With Right Side facing, Slip 1, K 10, Bind Off 20 stitches, Knit remaining stitches on needle.
Turn work to Wrong Side.
Working on Wrong Side of Bib, Slip 1, P 10.

Place The 11 stitches BEFORE THE BO that are resting on your other needle onto a stitch holder for the present time.


Continue working this strap in Stockinette stitch for 5 inches or longer as you prefer, remembering to Slip the first stitch at the beginning of every row.
Bind Off on Right Side and cut CC. Attach medium size button SECURELY to this strap 1/2 inch from BO edge .

Buttonhole Strap: rolled edges ( Need to water spritz to block flat if you hate the roll!) See below for pattern update if you prefer the garter stitch border strap version!

Placing stitches on stitch holder back on your needle and with Right Side facing, attach CC yarn and work this strap in stockinette stitch for 4 1/2 inches, slipping the first stitch at the beginning of every row. End having worked a Wrong Side Row.
Next Row: Slip 1, K4, BO 1 Stitch, K remaining stitches on needle.

Purl Side row: Slip 1, P4, CO 1 stitch, P remaining stitches on needle.

Continue in Stockinette stitch until strap length is equal to the other one.

PATTERN UPDATED 6/30/09 FOR FLAT EDGES: GARTER STITCH BORDER
Continue to keep the first 3 and last 3 stitches in garter stitch pattern as you work each strap. Follow the pattern for working the remaining middle sections of each strap and the button hole.

PATTER UPDATE 5/24/2011 THOSE STRAPS AGAIN!
You could also choose to just knit the upper section and the straps in plain old Garter stitch if you want to. Just keep in mind that you need to incorporate that buttonhole with whatever stitch pattern you decide to use!

Cut CC yarn and weave in all tails. Lay Bib flat and wet block, shaping to desired size.

It takes very little yarn and lends itself to various combinations of leftover yarns, cotton or acrylic.

I was tickled to see that over time some folks on Ravelry have offered their own colorful interpretations.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/miss-thing-baby-bib/people

Leave a comment and send me a photo link if you make one!
CONDITIONS OF USE:
1.Please be kind and not sell this published pattern nor the finished item made from this pattern. Gift it or donate a bib to your charity of choice instead.
2. Yarn shop owners may distribute this pattern free of charge to their customers.

A FREE PATTERN FROM ME TO YOU!

LA PETITE SWEET SWEATER ORNAMENT
from the needles of The Knitorious Mrs. B.. AKA Linda Ball

Several of my Gentle Readers have commented on my WIP miniature sweater ornament displayed in a previous post. Many thanks for the kind words of encouragement! It is a very simple concept: Knit up , across and down.
I'm posting my pattern for free, with the understanding that it is yours to do with it whatever you wish. You have my permission to knit this ornament and sell them for personal profit, or offer them for sale at Fund Raisers to benefit not-for-profit organizations. Put your own creative stamp on it and embellish however your sense of whimsy guides you.

All I ask is that you credit me as the author of this pattern. I 'm not aware of any other ornament patterns written as such, so I feel at ease in posting this pattern.

Seriously, that's all, folks! So, go ahead and enjoy my early Christmas/whatever Holiday-you-observe gift to you!


I'd love it if you'd send me photos of your La Petite Sweet Sweaters knit up so I could post them!
Please let me know if you find any errors in my pattern directions.

Make someone happy by knitting them a La Petite Sweet Sweater!
********************************
La Petite Sweet Sweater Ornament
********************************
Materials:
Small amount of yarn ( fingering, sock weight, dk, sport weight, worsted weight) I used a small amount of sportweight, superwash that had been hand dyed with Wilton's Cake Icing Coloring from Fall 2006 yarn dying adventure with Amiga Jeanie.
2 DP Needles-Size 2
Using DP needle, and leaving about a 6 inch yarn tail, Cast On 16 itches. Work pattern with DPs as if knitting with straight needles.
Sweater front:

(RS) Row 1. K1, P1 across.

(WS) Row 2: P1, K1 across.
Repeat 1:1 ribbing as above until you have 6 rows of ribbing, ending having worked the (WS) Row 2.
Now, knit in Stockinette Stitch for 20 rows ( OR until you feel your sweater body is long enough/ You are bored!) The Knitted side is the (RS) facing you.
Beginning the front sleeves:
Ending on a Purl side row, Cast On 10 stitches, and then begin Knitting across to end of row-26 stitches. Before you turn your work to begin the next row, Cast On 10 stitches, turn, and Purl back across the entire row. Total stitches are now 36. 10 (sleeve) 16 (body) 10 (sleeve).
Knit the first 2 stitches AND the last 2 stitches at each end of EVERY sleeve row, working the 32 stitches in between in Stockinette Stitch. (Very important when you are working the PURL side rows, as this makes a little ribbed cuff at each end of the sleeves!) Just remember to knit straight across on all (RS) facing rows and knit the fist and last 2 stitches on all the PURL side (WS) rows!
Continue working the sleeves this way across all 36 stitches for 10 rows, ending on a purl side row.
(RS) facing you. knit 13, BO 10 stitches, knit remaining 13 stitches.
(WS) facing you, knit 2,p 11 stitches, CAST ON 10 stitches, purl next 11 stitches, knit last 2 stitches
((RS) facing you, knit across all 36 stitches.
Continue working the back sleeves as previously done in the front sleeve section for next 9 rows, ending having worked purl side row.
Decreasing for sleeves:
At beginning of (RS) row, BO 10 stitches, knit next 26 stitches.
At beginning of purl row, BO 10 stitches, purl remaining stitches. 16 stitches remaining.
Return to working the sweater body in Stockinette Stitch pattern for 20 rows/ OR equal to the number of rows worked for the front of the sweater.
Remember to repeat 6 rows of 1:1 ribbing near the bottom of your sweater and BO in K1, P1 pattern. Leave about 6 inches yarn tail before cutting yarn.
To finish, you need only to sew up your sides up to the end of your sleeves with your 6 inch yarn tails! Embellish as you wish and enjoy!