Monday, February 18, 2008

Its a Spring Thing...

Theres was alot of fun that went into this design. This is actually the second cloth I designed. The first one just didn't do it for me. Im so amazed at all the heart cloths that everyone knitted. They are all so beautiful. Knitting has really brought a joy into my life. My husband keeps telling me I should write a pattern book. I'm a long ways away from anything like that with two little ones, but right now I'll enjoy a lil knitting during naps and car rides.

I finally got the kids (and the husband) healthy. I don't ever remember being that sick in my life. I definitely need to think about that flu shot next year.

I was having a very hard time naming this one. Seriously there were about 30 running titles. I might ask for help on the next one...

"Springing Up Flowers"







Finished Measurements : 9"x8"


Materials: 1 ball Lily Sugar'n Cream Solid
US #3/3.25mm needles
Tapestry Needle

*A note about this cloth and all the others with regards to needle size. I use a size 3 needle when I test-knit the pattern because I tend to knit somewhat loose. I also find that with a smaller needle the design seems to "stand out" more. You can however use any size you prefer from a 3 to a 7 and it would give you a good size with definition depending on how tight or loose you knit. Or whatever needle gets you gauge
My gauge on all these dishcloths is 23s to 4in.



Pattern:



co 47s

(k1, p1) to last stitch, k1 repeat for 6 rows

row 1: "and all odd rows" (k1,p1) 2x, K to last 4s, (p1,k1)

row 2: (k1,p1)x2, p39, (p1,k1)x2
row 4: (k1,p1)x2, p6, k10, p19, k3, p1 , (p1,k1)x2
row 6: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k18, p6, k13, p1, (p1,k1)x2
row 8: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k6, p8, k21, p3, (p1,k1)x2
row 10: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k1, p12, k8, p7, k1, p5, (p1,k1)x2

row 12: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k9, p5, k1, p4, k1, p8, k1, p5, (p1,k1)x2
row 14: (k1,p1)x2, p4, k3, p2, k7, p3, k1, p4, k1, p8, k4, p2, (p1,k1)x2
row 16: (k1,p1)x2, p2, k2, p1, k1, p4, k7, p2, k1, p4, k1, p8, k1, p1, k2, p2, (p1,k1)x2
row 18: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k2, p2, k1, p5, k6, p2, k1, p4, k4, p5, k1, p2, k1, p2, (p1,k1)x2
row 20: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k2 ,p2, k1, p8, k3, p2, k1, p4, k1, p1, k2, p5, k1, p5, (p1,k1)x2

row 22: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k2, p2, k1, p10, k1, p2, k1, p4, (k1, p2)x2, k3, p1, k3, p2, (p1,k1)x2
row 24: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k1, p3, k1, p13, k1, p4, k1, p5, k7, p2, (p1,k1)x2
row 26: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k1, p11, k2, p1, k2, p2, k1, p5, k7, p2, (p1,k1)x2
row 28: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k6, p6, k5, p2, k1, p6, k2, p1, k2, p3, (p1,k1)x2
row 30: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k1, p1, k5, p6, k3, p3, k1, p4, k3, p3, k3, p1, (p1,k1)x2

row 32: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k1, p2, k4, p4, (k3, p1)x2, k1, p4, k4, p1, k4, p1 , (p1,k1)x2
row 34: (k1,p1)x2, p2, k4, p4, k2, p4, k7, p1, k1, p4, k9, p1, (p1,k1)x2
row 36: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k3, p1, k1, p5, k1, p6, k3, p3, k1, p7, k3, p4, (p1,k1)x2
row 38: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k2, p2, k1, p12, k3, p3, k5, p3, k3, p4, (p1,k1)x2
row 40: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k1, p3, k1, p6, k2, p1, k2, p2, k1, p4, k1, p1, k4, p3, k1, p5, (p1,k1)x2

row 42: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k1, p6, k5, p7, k1, p2, k3, p9, (p1,k1)x2
row 44: (k1,p1)x2, p2, k3, p1, k3, p2, k3, p1, k3, p6, k1, p4, k1, p9, (p1,k1)x2
row 46: (k1,p1)x2, (p2, k7)x2, p6, k1, p14, (p1,k1)x2
row 48: (k1,p1)x2, p2, k7, p4, k3, p5, k3, p1, k3, p4, k2, p1, k2, p2 , (p1,k1)x2
row 50: (k1,p1)x2, p3, k2, p1, k2, p5, k3, p5, k7, p4, k5, p2, (p1,k1)x2

row 52: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k3, p3, k3, p4, k1, p6, k7, p5, k3, p3, (p1,k1)x2

*****(Corrected Row)*****
row 54: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k4, p1, k4, p12, k2, p1, k2, p4, (k3, p1)x2 , (p1,k1)x2

row 56: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k9, p10, k3, p3, k3, p2, k7, p1, (p1,k1)x2
row 58: (k1,p1)x2, p4, k3, p13, k4, p1, k4, p4, k3, p3, (p1,k1)x2
row 60: (k1,p1)x2, p4, k3, p13, k9, p4, k3, p3, (p1,k1)x2

row 62: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k1, p17, k3, p8, k1, p4, (p1,k1)x2
row 64: (k1,p1)x2, p23, k3, p13, (p1,k1)x2
row 66: (k1,p1)x2, p24, k1, p14, (p1,k1)x2
row 68: (k1,p1)x2, p39, (p1,k1)x2

row 69: (k1,p1)x2, k to last 4s, (p1,k1)x2

(k1,p1) to last stitch, k1, Repeat for 4 more rows
Last row: bo in pattern

Weave in ends.


Chart:




Notes:
Chart is worked from right to left and bottom to top and does not include the 4 stitch seed border on either side.



I wanted to get this pattern out well before the start of spring. I have some very dear friends that I love, who take their time...
Again, thank you to everyone who left such wonderful comments on Ravelry an on here. Now... I have some new baby knitting thats piling up.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Designing Spring...

Polls are closed. Thanks to everyone who voted. The winning idea was Flowers and the decision was to make it a scene instead of a single object. I've actually finished designing this one today during my daughters afternoon nap. Its taken longer than I expected it to because I am working with such a small graph. It is somewhat difficult to squeeze alot into such a small area and have it look just right. Theres no margin for error. Overall I am extremely pleased with the outcome and I'm sure everyone will like it as well. I will say this though. It will be a bit more challenging than the heart or santa cloth, but I'm sure you will all do fine and enjoy every minute of knitting it as I did designing it. I'm hoping to do a couple this spring. We have some great holidays coming up, and I have lots of people to make cloths for. All the hearts on Ravelry are melting mine... They look Fantastic! Love, love, love!

The Spring Cloth will be up sometime after Valentine's Day.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

1000 things at once.

Im going to try and make it a point to blog a lil more than I have. I've been knitting some really spectacular things lately and there needs to be proof that they exist other than on my shelf. Im just getting over a nasty flu myself. I was even hospitalized for dehydration which apparently can happen very quickly if your breastfeeding. Babies are doing well. Ella has a cold so shes nursing round the clock taking up most of my free time. But its ok, I wish this time in our lives would never end.

Can I tell you all how excited I am to see all the wonderful cloths everyone is making on Ravelry? Seriously, Im so touched that so many people are enjoying these patterns... Kinda makes me want to spend some time and make more. I would love to create a spring themed design. Im up for any ideas or suggestions that you might have.

I created a poll to see what everyone might like in the next cloth. Also whether I should design a whole scene like "A Christmas Dishcloth" (I know some of you are asking for more like that) or just a main image.




Should be fun to see the results. Oh an please if you have another idea cause im drawing a blank on other iconic spring pictures, leave a comment I would love to read some.

Ok I'm off to do some diapering.. ;)