Creepy Cloths 2..

I wish I could've had these cloths ready for last week but our entire house came down with the flu. It was just too much work to squeeze in between everything else. Thankfully everyone is feeling much better. Of course I caught it last and I'm still recovering with a cough. I figured that there is still one week to Halloween and some of you might be looking for something extra to give to a special trick-or-treater in your life. This set is a brand new collection of all new designs. I've included eight in all.

This pattern is available as a PDF download and priced at $3.25. There are eight cloth patterns in this set. You can purchase this pattern if you are a Ravelry member by clicking the "Buy Now" button below the pictures. Creepy Cloths "2" are also available in my Pattern Store here as a Ravelry Download. There are 5 pages total and the download is sized at 4MB. If you have any questions about the pattern or payment options, please feel free to contact me via email at kris@krisknits.com or on Ravelry: KristenKnits.

You don't need a Ravelry account to purchase the pattern. Ravelry will re-direct you to paypal and will email you a link to download the pattern.

I made each written pattern with a corresponding chart for the dishcloth. From the sets that I've already made, I've managed to get about 2-2½ cloths out of one ball of Lily's Sugar'n Cream Solid Yarn. Though you can use any kitchen cotton you prefer.

Heres a link to the pattern page on Ravelry!

Lily's Sugar'n Cream Solid:

Witch Hat - 01317 Hot Purple (Purple)
Boo! - 00084: Sage Green (Green)

Peaches & Cream Solid:

Candy Corn - 11 Sunburst

Lion Brand Cotton Solid:

Jack-O-Lantern - Paprika Article: #760-133
Autumn Tree - Clove Article: #760-136

Lion Brand Cotton-Ease:

Skull - Stone Article: #830-149
Black cat - Charcoal Article: #830-152
Spider - Hazelnut Article: #830-125

I think these are really fun designs for the season and there is something for everyone. We've been making great progress on the apartment and I can't wait to finally get settled in. I have tons of stuff to post next week!

Painted Walls...

There's been so much going on over here lately I don't even know where to start. As I type I'm waiting for chocolate pumpkin lollipops to finish chilling in the refrigerator so I can add the next color. I'm making about 50 of them for Ella's 2nd birthday party this weekend. We're having a pumpkin party on the 10th, which is actually my birthday as well and there's just too much to do. I even went to a local farm earlier this week and picked up about 30 small pumpkins for all of the children to carve. Weather permitting there will be lots of food and games. I have to start the goodie bags later tonight but I don't see that happening.

I wanted to share something with you that my kids have been begging me to paint for ages now. I've finally started the "Nemo Mural" on they're playroom wall at Grandma's house.

I've had a blast sketching and painting on the walls. I'm just glad my Mother in law is as happy as I am to see the kids smile. It's been relaxing to just sit with them around me watching and helping me with the colors.


Victor is planning on having the entire cast on the wall and keeps telling me that I need to keep painting.

I guess what it comes down to is that I just can't seem to keep art out of my life for too long. I started this to take a short break from knitting while the family is in "party mode". But I feel it's time for a new set of cloths. Early next week Creepy Cloths "2" perhaps....? I need to find some delicious Halloween colors for these. I'll take pictures of all that I'm making for the birthday and share them. I'll be a baking nut on Friday I can promise that.

Painted Letters...

I'm sorry I haven't updated the blog in awhile. We've been busier than normal and most days I don't even have a chance to turn the computer on. I've made lots of progress on my current projects and will be posting pictures throughout this week. I finally ended up painting those wooden letters for Victor and Ella's room. I am so pleased with the way they turned out. Using only blue painters tape, acrylic paint and a few brushes they were done in no time.

Using a four shaded color scheme I gave every letter two coats of Anita's All Purpose Acrylic Craft Paint in 11001 White to start. When dried, I started taping sections off with the blue painters tape making sure that the edge to be painted was pressed down firmly. To make it go quicker I placed two sections of tape on each letter creating three empty areas to be painted. I painted each of these areas a different color. If you look closely you'll notice there are two sections of the same color in each letter. These are the areas where the tape was placed first. After a few coats in the three sections and some drying time, I then taped off the next two areas to be painted leaving some white on either side for the striped effect. For each letter the color that you paint these last two areas will always be the color you haven't used yet.


These are the colors I used.

Ella's Color Scheme:

Anita's Acrylic Craft Paint
11090 Melted Butter (yellow)
11170 Hot Pink (pink)

Folk Art Acrylic Paint
633 Baby Pink (lt pink)
526 Soft Apple (lt green)

Victor's Color Scheme:

Anita's Acrylic Craft Paint
11009 Medium Blue (drk blue)
11064 Morning Blue ( lt blue)
11056 Ocean Blue (drk green)
11036 Seafoam Green (lt green)

I truly love the look of these for any baby or children's room. They add just the right amount of personal touch to any decor. If you have any questions about the process to make these send me an email or leave a comment and I will try to help. Hope everyone is well and enjoying this new autumn season.

The Fruit Cloths...

This past weekend got the better of me and they're a few days late but I'm so pleased with the finished pattern. A lot of hard work went into these and it's been difficult to get everything together while taking care of our home, the kids, and the new construction at the apartment. I'll probably be taking a few days off and then start the next set right away. Also, I've added the "Apple Cloth" from the School Set in case you don't have it.


This pattern is available as a PDF download and priced at $3.25. There are nine cloth patterns in this set. You can purchase this pattern if you are a Ravelry member by clicking the "Buy Now" button below the pictures. The Fruit Cloths are also available in my Pattern Store here as a Ravelry Download. There are 6 pages total and the download is sized at 5MB. If you have any questions about the pattern or payment options, please feel free to contact me via email at kris@krisknits.com or on Ravelry: KristenKnits.

Heres a link to the pattern page on Ravelry!

Lily's Sugar'n Cream Solid:

Strawberry - 01740 Hot Pink (Pink)
Pineapple - 00082: Jute (Tan)
Grapes - 01317 Hot Purple (Purple)
Watermelon - 00084: Sage Green (Green)
Cherry - 00095: Red (Red)
Apple - 00095: Red (Red)
Banana- 00073: Sunshine (Yellow)


Peaches & Cream Solid:

Orange - 11 Sunburst

You don't need a Ravelry account to purchase the pattern. Ravelry will re-direct you to paypal and will email you a link to download the pattern.

I made each written pattern with a corresponding chart for the dishcloth. From the sets that I've already made, I've managed to get about 2-2½ cloths out of one ball of Lily's Sugar'n Cream Solid Yarn. Though you can use any kitchen cotton you prefer.


I have to start and finish a baby shower gift by this upcoming Saturday. Still undecided on what I should knit for the baby girl. I wish I had enough time to design something elegant and original but that might have to wait until she's a teeny bit older. I won't post any pictures until after the shower because my girlfriend does check my blog regularly. I really want the item/s to be a surprise even though now she'll know that I'm knitting her something. If anyone has any suggestions I would gladly appreciate it. I guess the knitting is somewhat time sensitive. I can't obviously finish a whole blanket in two days. Though I have tried, it was horrible.

Another Blanket...?

When you have two babies your going to have to make two blankets. I woke up early this morning and started working on Ella's blanket before the kids got up. When Victor finally came into the living room he asked me when I was going to make him his "Birthday Blanket". My heart melted and I promised that I would make him one as well. After we all had breakfast he sat on my lap and we went through different patterns on Ravelry. He was so excited to see that they had a fish blanket. We had to run some errands today so I stopped by our local A.C. Moore and we picked out some big boy colors. At this point I wish I had a few extra hands to knit these things. I'm using a US size 6 and looking at 50+ knitted fishies.


I also saw these wooden letters that were on sale. They're about 5" high and couldn't pass them up. I know after I paint them they'll be perfect over the toddler beds.


I pulled out some of my mural paints and brushes when we got home. I had really forgotten how much I had. I haven't painted one in over a year an a half. Most of my brushes and paints came from an artist's garage sale. One of my luckiest finds, half of them have never been used.


The kids want me to paint them each a scene on their bedroom walls. Victor wants a whole Disney's Cars theme and Ella can't get enough of Dora the Explorer these days. It should be a lot of fun and I can't wait to show you the progress. The floors are going down today in the apartment so I can start sketching the walls next week.

What We've Been Up To...

I can't believe that it's already September! Where has the summer gone? I guess time slips away when you're working towards something everyday. Entire weeks go by and not much gets finished. Though I'd say we're about 80% done with the apartment by now.

Lately I've been keeping my hands busy with little projects here and there. I've started one of two Shedirs that I'm knitting for some friends before it gets cold. I went to a yarn store while on the Island this week and was hoping to find some Rowan Calmer but they didn't carry it. I wanted to start the hat right away so I settled for some Filatura Di Crosa Zara Solid in a light beige. They didn't have a dark grey that my other girlfriend asked for in Zara but they did in Zarina by the same brand. Zarina is more of a true sport weight rather than the dk that the pattern calls for. After checking my gauge it seemed to be working out so I casted on. After about 3 pattern repeats it's very stretchy and I think it will fit well. Fingers crossed!

My daughter had asked me to make her a blanket for her birthday on October 6th. It might be finished, it might not. I haven't made a granny square blanket since I first started learning how to knit and crochet. I wanted to make this one very special and decided on colors that will grow with her. This is a quick picture taken at night, my white balance is off so the colors might not be as true as I'd like but I'll keep taking pictures as I work on it. Each square is about 3"x 3".

The Fruit Cloths are all knitted up and blocked. All I have to do is take some photos tomorrow morning and design the pdf file. They might be up late tomorrow evening if I can find some help with the kids. Either way they will definitely be availible by Sunday. They are fantastic!


I feel like I've been trying to take on too much, hence the absent posts lately.I have tons to knit for baby showers, birthday gifts and charity. I can't even think about Christmas yet. I think this year I'm strictly going to gift to family. This way I can still find some time to design. I've been working on a calender for 2010 and hopefully a book by the end of next year that will cover knits for the whole family and home. I'm very excited and can't wait to devote some much needed kniting time.

Meet Posey!

Our family had to take a long drive the other day down to New Jersey and I kept happily busy with this lil' pattern. Easy to design and easy to knit. It was finished in a few hours.


Pattern: Posey

Needles: US Size #6, 4.0mm double pointed needles

Yarn: I used Lily's Sugar'n Cream
but any worsted weight yarn will work.

Materials: Fiber fill or scrap yarn for stuffing,
Tapestry Needle
Stitch marker
Extra yarn for sewing.
Button
Scissor

Finished Measurements : Approx. 3"width 3½" height

Pattern:
Bottom Flower

CO 6sts arranging 2 on each needle. Join for knitting in the round and place stitch marker being careful not to twist sts.
K 1 rnd

Round 1: kfb all sts (12)
Round 2: k all sts
Round 3: kfb all sts (24)
Round 4: k all sts
Round 5: k1, kfb for entire round (36)
Round 6: k all sts
Round 7: k3, kfb for entire round (45)

Rounds 8 - 18: k all sts

Round 19: k3, k2tog for entire round (36)
Round 20: k all sts
Round 21: k1, k2tog for entire round (24)
Round 22: k all sts
Round 23: k2tog for entire round (12)
Round 24: k all sts
Round 25: k2tog for entire round (6)
Round 26: k all sts.

Break yarn leaving at least 8" and thread with tapestry needle through all 6 sts. Remove double pointed needles but do not pull closed.

Middle Flower

CO 6sts arranging 2 on each needle. Join for knitting in the round and place stitch marker being careful not to twist sts.
K 1 rnd

Round 1: kfb all sts (12)
Round 2: k all sts
Round 3: kfb all sts (24)
Round 4: k all sts
Round 5: k1, kfb for entire round (36)

Round 6- 14: k all sts

Round 15: k1, k2tog for entire round (24)
Round 16: k all sts
Round 17: k2tog for entire round (12)
Round 18: k all sts
Round 19: k2tog for entire round (6)
Round 20: k all sts.

Break yarn leaving at least 8" and thread with tapestry needle through all 6 sts. Remove double pointed needles but do not pull closed.


Top Flower

CO 6sts arranging 2 on each needle. Join for knitting in the round and place stitch marker being careful not to twist sts.
K 1 rnd

Round 1: kfb all sts (12)
Round 2: k all sts
Round 3: kfb all sts (24)

Round 4- 12: k all sts

Round 13: k2tog for entire round (12)
Round 14: k all sts
Round 15: k2tog for entire round (6)
Round 16: k all sts.

Break yarn leaving at least 8" and thread with tapestry needle through all 6 sts. Remove double pointed needles but do not pull closed.

Click here for the pattern page on Ravelry!

Finishing
Repeat for all three sizes:

Stuff each layer with scrap yarn or fiberfill and shape into a flattened ball pulling thread so that the top is closed.
Measure out two 12" strands of yarn in a contrasting color.
Thread the tapestry needle with the yarn down the middle of the ball and back up around the side.
Continue going down through the middle and around the side to the top a total of six times pulling tightly to create the flower shape.
Tie a knot around a strand at the top to secure.

Stitch layers to each other and secure yarn. Add a button with some yarn for detail and your done!

Posey © KrisKnits 2009
This pattern is for personal use only.

If you have any questions about this design or need help you can leave a comment or an email at kris@krisknits.com or on Ravelry via KristenKnits. I will try and help as best I can.
Hope everyone is having a great summer!

The Wedding Cloths...

August has been such a busy month for us. I'm kinda surprised that I was able to finish these patterns by the end of the week. But I'm very happy with the outcome and I think they are worth the wait. I took my time with everything and I know they will make wonderful gifts for couples everywhere.


This particular set of cloths is going to my best girlfriend who recently got married. Now that I've finally taken pictures and published the pattern she can finally use them in her kitchen.

This pattern is available as a PDF download and priced at $3.25. There are eight cloth patterns in this set. You can purchase this pattern by clicking the "Buy Now" button below the pictures. The Wedding Cloths are also available in my Pattern Store here as a Ravelry Download. There are 5 pages total and the download is sized at 4.4MB. If you have any questions about the pattern or payment options, please feel free to contact me via email at kris@krisknits.com or on Ravelry: KristenKnits.

Lily's Sugar'n Cream Solid:


Cake - 00082: Jute (Tan)
Heart - 00003: Cream (Off White)
Husband & Wife - 00003: Cream (Off White)
Dove - 00001: White (White)
Rings - 00082: Jute (Tan)
Chapel - 00001: White (White)
Wedding Bells - 01004: Soft Ecru (Off White)

Peaches & Cream Solid:

Champagne - 89 Camel

Heres a link to the pattern page on Ravelry!

You don't need a Ravelry account to purchase the pattern. Ravelry will re-direct you to paypal and will email you a link to download the pattern.

I made each written pattern with a corresponding chart for the dishcloth. From the sets that I've already made, I've managed to get about 2-2½ cloths out of one ball of Lily's Sugar'n Cream Solid Yarn. Though you can use any kitchen cotton you prefer.



We're about 3 weeks from finishing all of the construction on the apartment. Then we can start moving in our furniture and Mommy can finally relax. I designed a really cute knitted pin cushion pattern recently and I'll be posting the instruction and pictures during the week. The fruit cloths are almost knitted up. I hope I can get everything together for next Sunday. I can't wait to sit down and start the Dessert cloths.

A Little Downtime...

We decided to take a weekend road trip with some friends to Pennsylvania over the weekend. We were able to visit family and check out some beautiful scenery. It was a nice break from our tiring routine back at home. I had a memory card malfunction and lost a lot of pictures from our trip but still managed to get a few off the card before it broke.

Somewhere in the north east region of the state we found this wonderful field of wildflowers. I would love to go back one day. It was so remarkably beautiful at twilight that it felt like a dream. The kids and I were able to walk around and play for a while before it became too dark.


There was a beautiful lake where we stayed. Victor and Ella loved watching the people fishing. I wish I could show you the great shots I got but I guess no technology is fail proof. I did manage to move over one picture of the lake at sunset though.

We're planning another trip with our friends before the end of Summer and I'll be sure to take a few memory cards and lots of photos next time.


We're still working on the apartment almost everyday and hoping to be finished and settled in by September. It has been taking forever but we've been building it from scratch by my Mother's so that I can help her out with the house. Being almost ready for paint, I'm so grateful to her and my mother-in-law for all of the babysitting.

On another note, I've been finishing up many patterns. Everything from dishcloths to baby dresses, I'm losing some sleep. I need to photograph the Wedding and Fruit sets tomorrow and start designing the PDF files. By Saturday I should have one of them up. I'm also currently working on a charity pattern for a Lupus foundation. One of my best girlfriends suffers from this disease and we're working together to create something special for the cause.

Birthday Baking...

I haven't made these in awhile even though they are incredibly easy to create. I keep seeing different recipes for variations of the fun treat everywhere. Yesterday I decided to make some simple ice cream themed cakes to celebrate Summer and my Son's third birthday. With the camera out I decided to take some photos and write the process up for anyone who might've not seen them before. You must try them.


The first thing you want to do is pick up any instant cake mix. For these I used Pillsbury Moist Supreme Cake Mix, Golden Butter Recipe. One box of mix will yield around 30-35 cones. Any type of ice cream cone will work as long as it has a flat bottom. I prepared the mix as instructed with the correct amount of water, oil and eggs, then whisked until smooth.


Then you want to fill the cones to the level shown in the picture, any less or more will have your cupcake coming up too short or overflowing the tops of the cones. Carefully spoon in the batter trying not to get any on the outside of the cone because it will burn slightly in the oven. Arrange the cones next to each other on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper so that the bottoms don't brown. I had to use foil because I was out of paper. I think I was able to fit 26 on the tray.


Set your oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Check your cake mix box for timing instructions. I left these in the oven for 20 minutes. Use a toothpick to make sure the centers are baked through. Cool completely for 1 hour.


After cooling I used a pastry icing bag with a long tip and filled them with whip cream. For the chocolate centers I used a milk chocolate fudge.


Using the same icing bag and a different tip I swirled some butter cream and chocolate icing on the tops of the cakes to imitate soft serve ice cream.


The kids had lots of fun decorating the icing. I know my kitchen floor had more sprinkles than all the cakes put together! You can use any topping you wish. We've used gummy bears, pretzels and crushed candy bars on other occasions.


They we're such a big hit at the party. I wish I had hid a few more in the house just for us.


Here's the recipe if anyone wants to copy and paste or print out the selection.


Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes:

Prep Time: 20 min
Total Time: 1 hr, 30 min
Yields: 30 to 35 Cupcake Cones

Ingredients:

• 1 box of cake mix (non swirl)
• Water, vegetable oil or butter, eggs and anything else called for on cake mix box
• 30 or more flat bottom cones
• Assorted decorations and toppings

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare cake mix as directed on box.
2. Fill each cone to about halfway with batter. Stand and arrange cones on a cookie sheet.
3. Carefully carry tray to oven and bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. Cool completely 1 hour.
4. Add frosting and decorate to your hearts desire. Store covered at room temperature.
   

1 Cupcake Cone : Calories 160, Total fat 7g

The Beach Cloths...

Wow, I have been so busy this Summer and it's been taking much longer then I had hoped to get all these cloths out. We're still waiting to move as well. Bad experiences with bad contractors have caused us to finish all the work on the apartment ourselves. I am so thankful for my Mother and all the babysitting she's doing. Every day we've been framing, hanging sheetrock, taping, sanding, and laying floors. It's about 70% done but there is still a lot to finish. Hopefully it will be completed by September 1st.


I wish I could just sit at home and knit these patterns up. Though I know when the dust settles there will be better organization and lots of time to wrap up these unfinished patterns. I'll keep everyone posted on what I'm working on. These Beach Cloths we're a nice distraction from all of the construction and headaches I've been having lately.

This pattern is available as a PDF download and priced at $3.25. There are eight cloth patterns in this set. You can purchase this pattern if you are a Ravelry member by clicking the "Buy Now" button below the pictures. The Beach Cloths are also available in my Pattern Store here as a Ravelry Download. There are 5 pages total and the download is sized at 4.4MB. If you have any questions about the pattern or payment options, please feel free to contact me via email at kris@krisknits.com or on Ravelry: KristenKnits.

Lily's Sugar'n Cream Solid:

Binkini - 01740 Hot Pink (Pink)
Sand Castle - 00082: Jute (Tan)
Boat - 00083: Cornflower Blue (Blue)
Seahorse - 00046: Rose PInk (Pink)
Palm Tree - 00084: Sage Green (Green)
Sea Shell - 01004: Soft Ecru (Off White)

Peaches & Cream Solid:

Shovel & Pail - 11 Sunburst
Fish - 56 Light Green

Heres a link to the pattern page on Ravelry!

You don't need a Ravelry account to purchase the pattern. Ravelry will re-direct you to paypal and will email you a link to download the pattern.

I made each written pattern with a corresponding chart for the dishcloth. From the sets that I've already made, I've managed to get about 2-2½ cloths out of one ball of Lily's Sugar'n Cream Solid Yarn. Though you can use any kitchen cotton you prefer.


I really need to blog more frequently, I just need to make the time. There are so many pictures to put up and the kids are getting so big. I wish someone could be here to nudge me to do it. I'm almost at the point where I need an assistant. :0)

Dishcloth Q & A...

I've received a lot of emails this year on ways to make my dishcloths and other cloth patterns the best they can be. I figured an easy way to help everyone out was to write up a list of frequently asked questions and add some tips and tricks. Please forgive me if I leave something out. If you have another question, leave a comment on this post and I will add it to the entry.


1. "My dishcloths aren't popping the way they should. Is there anything I can do?"

Yes! There are a lot of different ways to make sure that your cloths look the best. I'm going to go over the basics in this post to ensure that the finished cloth looks great for both gift giving and regular use.


2. "Should I really be using a US size 3 needle?"

Yes and no. It depends on how tight or loose you knit. I knit continental and always use a size 3 needle. I invested in a pair of addi turbos last year for my dishcloth knitting and designing. It was the best decision I made. With the addi's my hands won't hurt and my knitting is faster and significantly more even producing a better defined cloth. If you find that you are unable to knit with a smaller needle or don't have one available, you can use a different size and get a well defined cloth as long as your knitting is very even.


3. "The picture on the cloth is hard to see. I think my knitting is uneven, what can I do?"

If your seeing gaps in between the rows on the wrong or right side of your cloth you might be "rowing out". It's a common problem that affects many knitters. It is most obvious in stockinette or reverse stockinette and is caused when there is a different amount of tension on the yarn while knitting a stitch than while purling a stitch. The fastest way you can correct this problem is to use a different size needle for the knit rows and the purl rows. It may take some time to figure out which two to use though. People generally knit slightly tighter than they purl, but It could be the other way around. You might want to try tightening your stitches on one side or the other to see if there is an improvement. Blocking can also help equalize the tension in the stitches. It might be a few wash and dry sessions before the cloth is completely smooth in the stockinette areas.

I also try to knit an entire cloth in one sitting. I find that if I start and stop a cloth too many times that the stitches pull slightly on the needle for that particular row and create some unevenness when picked back up again. I move my knitting around so much because of the kids. Though I'm sure if it just sat still for awhile there wouldn't be too much of a tension problem.



4. What are the best colors and yarn to use for your dishcloths?"

I tend to use any cotton yarn I have around the house. It's kinda scary exactly how much I have stashed. I should take a picture to show you one of these days. You can use acrylic yarns as well but they are not as absorbent and could scratch some surfaces if you don't pay attention. Wool will obviously pill and felt if washed with hot water.

When it comes to colors your going to see the best results on a medium shade. Very light and dark colors may only show in the right light. Generally with dishcloths or any other picture design if light is directly overhead the picture may be hard to see unless your knitting is very even and the cloth is blocked after use.


5. How do you block your dishcloths?"

After I finish knitting my cloths I weave in all the ends and then soak them in warm water stretching the cloth slightly under the water to even out any tension problems. Then lightly ring out the water trying not to distort the shape too much. I tend to lay the cloths out on my counter top to dry shaping them into squares and pushing down all of the stockinette areas so that the purl bumps stand up. This makes a huge difference! There is no need to pin them and they dry in about an evening. I've only blocked the cloths I keep once or twice and then they go into the washer and dryer with the towels. they come out great every time!



6. What is the best way to photograph the finished cloths?"

After the cloths are blocked and dry I use natural light to my advantage to show the best picture. I will arrange them in front of a sunny window out of direct light. I like to photograph on sunny days to show colors in their true form. Not an easy thing with all of that rain we've been having. You can also use light from a lamp. Just be sure that the light is shining down on an angle from top to bottom to show the shaded areas from the purl bumps. Try to avoid using a flash because this can diffuse the stitch definition of knit and purl stitches.

I always try to take pictures in the morning, around 10am with light shining in from a south window. The later in the day it is, the more likely your colors may come out darker.


A few other things:

• Fact: The more use a cloth gets the more the design will "pop" over time.

• I actually do use the cloths I make for my kitchen and bathroom. The kids love to play with them in the bathtub and in the backyard. I don't manage to keep many sets though. I always have a reason to gift them.

• I use a Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera to photograph all of my cloths.

• I find most of my colors in A.C.Moore but I do frequent Michael's and Walmart as well. Sometimes a LYS will have a discontinued color and I'll quickly grab it. You can find most colors online or try the trade or sell feature on Ravelry to see if you can snag a deal.

• I design and love every bit of my cloths from drawing up a chart to writing the pattern to knitting, editing the pictures and graphically designing the pdf files from scratch in Adobe Photoshop. Every cloth and pattern is an original design.

• There are about 5 or 6 more sets for this year that I'm currently working on and of course, I'm really enjoying them.
  

I'm sure I forgot a few things but I didn't want to wait any longer to write this up and share some of the questions I get. Again if you have any other questions leave a comment and I'll answer it the best I can.

The Beach Cloths are almost done. Hopefully by the end of the week! I'm also working on a cute little non-dishcloth pattern for everyone.

A Bit of Sun and Chalk...

The weather we've been having may be making us all a little blue, but we're still finding some time to get out and enjoy the warmth. The kids and I played with chalk for a few hours the other day when the sun decided to show his face and dry up the backyard. They both helped me color this little masterpiece.

I have lots of things to post, but not enough time to pull the pictures and words together. I'm sure this happens to a lot of Mom-bloggers. I sometimes find myself writing posts in my head about things that I would love to share. Of course, I never write them down and get stuck at the computer screen as always. Tomorrow, I'll post up another entry about the dishcloths and hope that it helps some of you who may not be getting the best stitch definition.

All-American Cloths...

I apologize for the lateness of this pattern. I've been a little distracted with the move and other family situations. I was really hoping to finish everything earlier. Tragically, we lost our dear friend, John Lanzone, last Tuesday to a bad reaction from prescription drugs. He was only 30 years old and if you can, please say a prayer for his family during this very difficult time.

I've been keeping busy with lots of knitting. From all of this rain we've been having, I've kept the camera hidden. I did knit up the Wedding cloths this week but still need to photograph and create the pdf file.

I think I'm going to start the Beach set next and get that done before the first snow. :0)
I have a lot of emails to get to this week. If you wrote me please be a little patient, I will get to every message within the next few days. Thank you to everyone who is following this blog and for all of the wonderful comments you leave. They help make me create these great patterns.


The All-American pattern is available as a PDF download and priced at $3.25. There are seven cloth patterns in this set. You can purchase this pattern if you are a Ravelry member by clicking the "Buy Now" button below the pictures. The All American Cloths are also available in my Pattern Store here as a Ravelry Download. There are 5 pages total and the download is sized at 5 MB. If you have any questions about the pattern or payment options, please feel free to contact me via email at kris@krisknits.com or on Ravelry: KristenKnits.

Lily's Sugar'n Cream Solid:

Eagle - 00009 Bright Navy (Dk Blue)
USA - 00083: Cornflower Blue (Blue)
Uncle Sam Hat - 00095: Red (Red)
Flag - 00095: Red (Red)
BBQ - 00095: Red (Red)

Peaches & Cream Solid:

Fireworks - 26: Light Blue

Bernat Organic Natural Cotton:

(knitted slightly looser)
Star - Lt Blue

Heres a link to the pattern page on Ravelry!

I made each written pattern with a corresponding chart for the dishcloth. From the sets that I've already made, I've managed to get about 2-2½ cloths out of one ball of Lily's Sugar'n Cream Solid Yarn. Though you can use any kitchen cotton you prefer.

I'm still going to write a FAQ blog post on these dishcloths in a few days so be sure to check back for some helpful hints. Happy Summer everyone!

For All The Dads In Your Life...

I made this quick knit for my Father-in Law today. It'll be a washcloth that I'm sure he'll get use out of. After the Mother's Day cloth that could be used year round for any occasion you would want to give some knitted love, I decided we could all use this Fatherly one as well. It can be used for birthday's and any other holiday. This pattern is great for beginner knitters and have full easy to follow, line by line instructions.


I'm going to be writing a post in a few days with lots of tips and tricks on dishcloth knitting and ways to photograph, block and get the best stitch definition you possibly can. I just have to gather all my thoughts and write them down.

Here's a link to this project's page on Ravelry!

Father's Day Cloth:

Needles: US Size #3, 3.25mm
(You can use larger needles if you want)

Yarn: Lily's Sugar'n Cream
or any other kitchen cotton yarn.

Finished Size: 8"x8"

Materials:
Tapestry Needle

Pattern:

CO 44s

row 1: (an all odd numbered rows) k
row 2: k
row 4: k2, p40, k2
row 6: k2, p40, k2
row 8: k2, p2, k36, p2, k2
row 10: k2, p2, k36, p2, k2

row 12: k2, p2, k2, p32, k2, p2, k2
row 14: k2, p2, k2, p32, k2, p2, k2
row 16: k2, p2, k2, p3, k5, p4, k2, p4, k2, p2, k5, p5, k2, p2, k2
row 18: k2, p2, k2, p3, k6, p3, k2, p4, k2, p2, k6, p4, k2, p2, k2
row 20: k2, p2, (k2, p3)x2, k2, p2, k2, p4, k2, p2, (k2, p3)x2, k2, p2, k2

row 22: k2, p2, (k2, p3)x2, k2, p2, k2, p4, k2, p2, (k2, p3)x2, k2, p2, k2
row 24: k2, p2, (k2, p3)x2, k2, p2, k8, p2, (k2, p3)x2, k2, p2, k2
row 26: k2, p2, (k2, p3)x2, k2, p2, k8, p2, (k2, p3)x2, k2, p2, k2
row 28: k2, p2, (k2, p3)x2, k2, p2, k2, p4, k2, p2, (k2, p3)x2, k2, p2, k2
row 30: k2, p2, (k2, p3)x2, k2, p2, k2, p4, k2, p2, (k2, p3)x2, k2, p2, k2

row 32: k2, p2, (k2, p3)x2, k2, p2, k2, p4, k2, p2, (k2, p3)x2, k2, p2, k2
row 34: k2, p2, k2, p3, k2, p2, (k3, p2)x3, k2, p2, k3, p3, k2, p2, k2
row 36: k2, p2, k2, p3, k6, p4, k6, p3, k6, p4, k2, p2, k2
row 38: k2, p2, k2, p3, k5, p6, k4, p4, k5, p5, k2, p2, k2
row 40: k2, p2, k2, p32, k2, p2, k2

row 42: k2, p2, k2, p32, k2, p2, k2
row 44: k2, p2, k2, p18, k8, p6, k2, p2, k2
row 46: k2, p2, k2, p8, k2, p2, k2, p4, k8, p6, k2, p2, k2
row 48: k2, p2, k2, p8, k2, p2, k2, p7, k2, p9, k2, p2, k2
row 50: k2, p2, k2, p6, k10, p5, k2, p9, k2, p2, k2

row 52: k2, p2, k2, p6, k10, p5, k2, p9, k2, p2, k2
row 54: k2, p2, k2, p8, k2, p2, k2, p7, k2, p9, k2, p2, k2
row 56: k2, p2, k2, p8, k2, p2, k2, p7, k2, p9, k2, p2, k2
row 58: k2, p2, k2, p6, k10, p5, k2, p9, k2, p2, k2
row 60: k2, p2, k2, p6, k10, p3, k4, p9, k2, p2, k2

row 62: k2, p2, k2, p8, k2, p2, k2, p5, k4, p9, k2, p2, k2
row 64: k2, p2, k2, p8, k2, p2, k2, p6, k3, p9, k2, p2, k2
row 66: k2, p2, k2, p21, k2, p9, k2, p2, k2
row 68: k2, p2, k2, p32, k2, p2, k2
row 70: k2, p2, k2, p32, k2, p2, k2

row 72: k2, p2, k36, p2, k2
row 74: k2, p2, k36, p2, k2
row 76: k2, p40, k2
row 78: k2, p40, k2
row 80: k

row 82: k

row 83: (right side) BO all sts.



Weave in ends.

Block and lay flat to dry

If you have any questions about the pattern, please feel free to contact me via email at kris@krisknits.com or on Ravelry: KristenKnits.

Summer Cloths!

I'm so happy to finally be able to offer this cloth set. It's taken me a little longer than expected but I've been working on so many things at once. The Wedding, All American, Beach, and Wedding set are coming up next.


I really like the designs I made for this set. It has a little of everything for the season from flip flops to Mai Tai's. There will be more great summer designs in the Beach Set as well.


My son has his first ear infection and we're in the midst of packing everything that we don't need on a daily basis. It has definitely been an interesting week to say the least. I cannot believe how much outgrown clothing I have from my little ones. All of it is probably going to good-will and a few friends that are having babies this year. Between the packing, playing, and insomnia I'm hoping to get a another few sets out before the end of this month. I know a lot of people have been asking when the All-American Set is coming out and I would guess Sunday/Monday if everything goes well this week.

This pattern is available as a PDF download and priced at $3.25. There are eight cloth patterns in this set. You can purchase this pattern if you are a Ravelry member by clicking the "Buy Now" button below the pictures. The Summer Cloths are also available in my Pattern Store here as a Ravelry Download. There are 5 pages total and the download is sized at 5.4MB. If you have any questions about the pattern or payment options, please feel free to contact me via email at kris@krisknits.com or on Ravelry: KristenKnits.

Lily's Sugar'n Cream Solid:

Dragonfly - 01740 Hot Pink (Pink)
Sunglasses - 01317 Hot Purple (Purple)
Flip Flops - 01712 Hot Green (Green)
Popsicle - 01130 Warm Brown (Brown)
Ladybug - 00095: Red (Red)

Peaches & Cream Solid:

Mai Tai - 11 Sunburst
Kite - 12 Gold
Bicycle - 56 Light Green

Heres a link to the pattern page on Ravelry!

I made each written pattern with a corresponding chart for the dishcloth. From the sets that I've already made, I've managed to get about 2-2½ cloths out of one ball of Lily's Sugar'n Cream Solid Yarn. Though you can use any kitchen cotton you prefer.

Alright, it's time to put the laptop away and clean the kitchen. Hope everyone is at least trying to enjoy this summer. It's been nothing but rain and chilly days here in New York.

We're Still Here...

To say that I'm a mess right now is an understatement. So many things are happening all at once I'm starting to feel dizzy. Though I wouldn't trade any of it for one second. I had re injured my right eye last weekend and that put me out of commission for the entire week. Alright, maybe that part I wouldv'e traded but everything else has been productive and exciting. The move is still happening by the end of this month and although I should be packing, I really do enjoy a hectic lifestyle. I don't know what I'm going to do after all the dust settles, maybe sleep a little more.



With somewhat limited vision and extra help I had with the kids this week, I managed to get some work started. Knitting was a little strange with the lack of depth perception so I stuck to just charting out some fantastic designs. I've already started writing up some of the patterns and knitting. There will definitely be some wonderful sets of cloths this summer. So far I have added plans of a beach, fruit, dessert and flower set ontop of the wedding, summer, and patriotic ones. I'll be happily busy over the next few months trying to make them all availible.

In the last day or so I have also been working on a pattern for a headband that I'm making for Ella. It is coming out beautifully and I'm going to try and tech edit the pattern to put on my blog for everyone in the next couple days. Right now its just living on crumpled and ripped graph paper.

I have to go back to the doctor next week just to make sure that everything is healing right. They were talking about surgery earlier this week but it turns out they don't want to go the more aggressive route until it happens again. I have what's called recurrent corneal erosion syndrome and I'm not looking forward to more pain when when it tears again. Hopefully with the drops I was prescribed and a more reasonable bedtime, It'll be a long time before another episode.

School Cloths...

Well, my kiddies decided that today would be a great day for 2 and a half hour naps. It allowed me to clean up the living room a little and finish the pdf file for the School/Teacher Cloths. I actually finished the knitting last week but wasn't able to take photos until Sunday. I love this set. I'm actually giving these to a very special teacher in my life. I know she's going to be all smiles when I see her tomorrow.

I'm going to try and get a few more sets out this month while I still have some free time. I'm hoping to finish the "Wedding Set" by next Friday. I'm about halfway through charting the patterns. Some have asked what program I use to put the pattern booklets together. All I really use is a simple cross stitch charting program that lets you click on small boxes to design an image, and photoshop. After I design the images, I write out each picture's pattern, knit them up, block, take photographs and load them into the computer. I really enjoy creating an exciting and original cover page for each pattern set. The rest is all editing text, resizing photos to make sure everything fits on a page to be printed, then adding some extra theme to the pattern. I really hope you enjoy everyone of these sets. A lot of love and creativity goes into each one to make it special. The kids are even starting to get involved when I design the charts. Victor especially loved the Easter set.

This pattern is available as a PDF download and priced at $3.25. There are eight cloth patterns in this set. You can purchase this pattern if you are a Ravelry member by clicking the "Buy Now" button below the pictures. The Baby Cloths are also available in my Pattern Store here as a Ravelry Download. There are 5 pages total and the download is sized at 6MB. If you have any questions about the pattern or payment options, please feel free to contact me via email at kris@krisknits.com or on Ravelry: KristenKnits.

Lily's Sugar'n Cream Solid:

Scissor - 00071: Grape (Purple)
ABC Cloth - 00083: Cornflower Blue (Blue)
123 Cloth - 00062: Emerald (Green)
School Bus - 00010: Yellow (Yellow)
Apple - 00095: Red (Red)
Pencil - 00082: Jute (Tan)

Lion Brand Cotton Solid:

Book - Paprika Article: #760-133
Globe - Clove Article: #760-136

Heres a link to the pattern page on Ravelry!

I made each written pattern with a corresponding chart for the dishcloth. From the sets that I've already made, I've managed to get about 2-2½ cloths out of one ball of Lily's Sugar'n Cream Solid Yarn. Though you can use any kitchen cotton you prefer.

I should probably start dinner now. Later I'm going to get to all the emails I have. Promise!

Mondays...

We've been having a really busy week over here. I keep trying to create more time out of thin air to accomplish everything but it's not working out too well, I'm tired. The weekends are filled with birthday parties and baby showers, play dates and visits to the park. During the week we go through our normal routines and before I can settle down and breathe a little it's time for bed. I do love being woken up every morning by these two beautiful kids though. I wish they could stay small forever. I already see how fast my daughter has become a little girl. Right now I can't imagine a day when I won't be able to cuddle them on the couch or tuck them into bed. But I'm just a Mom trying to hold on to all the wonderful memories we have as a family.


They really are the best children any Mother could ask for. I'm so thankful that right now I'm able to stay home with Victor and Ella and watch them grow. Lately we've been getting ready to pack for the move next month. This is where most of my time has been going, I'm sure anyone can relate to this kind of headache.


In the evenings I've been working on a School/Teacher set of cloths to put out next. My girlfriend had asked if I could create a set for her to make for her daughter's teacher. After I started charting a few designs I had in my head, I knew they would be perfect for any occasion in the school year. They should be up in the next day or two if I can manage a few hours tomorrow and finish up the pdf file in photoshop. Well, it's time for bed in this house, Have a goodnight everyone.

A Few More Baby Gifts...

It seems like every weekend this month I have another baby shower to go to. I always try to make something special and handmade for the Mom-to-be. While browsing Flickr the other day, I saw this tutorial and decided that it would make the perfect gift for a friend who's having a baby boy in July. I think the outcome was well worth all the cutting and sewing.

It's a pretty straight forward, easy to follow tutorial. I would definitely recommend it if you have some extra time on the weekend. I loved looking through my fabric stash to find matching colors.

You can't tell in the photos but I did add something extra to these adorable blocks. I picked up some round mesh jingle toys from the store and put them in the middle of the fiberfill when I stuffed them. Any baby will love the sounds they make when bounced on the floor.

I think I managed to finish everything in one evening while (not really) watching Disney's Cars in the living room with the kids.

I'm still working steadily on a few more cloth sets for this month. I might even be able to finish everything I hoped for. There's also a lot of exciting things happening around us. One being the fact that our new home will finally be finished next month and I get to pack up all of our belongings and move again. This time it will be permanent and that makes this Mommy very happy.