Monday, October 5, 2015

In praise of a dishcloth

I don't know if it is the result of working with so much color, but I have recently become enamored with a plain garter stitch dishcloth. In the last few years I have been dyeing sock yarn which is sold at my local yarn shop Spin of Door County. I've also knit 20 small hand-dyed sweaters that were auctioned off for a fundraiser. Each sweater was different, lots of color! More about these later.
I needed some dishcloths and I had a cone of white cotton. So one night while I was watching TV, I decided to get to work. I cast on 25 stitches and knit. The result was a pure white garter stitched square. For some reason I was delighted with its simple elegance, if you can use that word to describe a dishcloth.  Yes, I live a simple life so it doesn't take much to move me.


For the last week I have knit a cloth each night so that I will have a good supply. My husband and I do the dishes together each morning. I wash, he dries. I get to play in the warm water. At the same time my hands enjoy some hydro-therapy. And when my husband puts his ears in we enjoy a pleasant time visiting. Once in a while, not nearly often enough, I appreciate the simple things in life. It feels good. I encourage you to do the same. The easiest way to do that may be to knit a simple, white, elegant, garter stitch square.
Happy Stitches.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

HERE WE GOOOOOOOOO.

Spring is gushing forth with April Fool's Day, the Final Four, Easter, and my son, Mike's, Birthday all in one week. There have already been solo ensemble, prom, forensic meets, tournaments of all sorts, and now there will be award banquets and presentations to celebrate EVERYTHING!! Don't you love it? Have you perfected your bilocation skills for those multi-time,  multi-venue, multi child challenges? 
Not to worry. This is when the joy of knitting comes in. Take a deep breath.   
             AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. 
    
 Round up your twigs and strings, and all will be revealed. Actually you may be able to knit your way through some of this busyness. I did some Badger knitting during the Elite Eight with my team wristers being the result.



Since we're talkin' Wisconsin life, next is a picture of the yarn I am knitting now. It is one of my hand-dyed Door County Socks designs. It is named "Horses and Holsteins."



Now remember, BREATHE, KNIT, BREATHE, KNIT, BREATHE, KNIT, BREATHE, KNIT





Friday, March 20, 2015

DOING STUFF

Since I last posted, and can it really have been that long ago, I've been busy doing stuff. Apparently, I haven't been posting about any of it. So here are some of the projects I've been up to.

I've continued to dye sock yarn for my lys, Spin of Door County The yarns are sold with the label, "My Door County Socks" and they are designed to evoke memories and the Spirit of the Door. In case you are not familiar with Door County, it is the finger of the Wisconsin glove. It is a lovely area in which to reside, and is also a very popular Midwest vacation destination.

More snow's a comin'
Here is one of the more than fifty yarns that I have designed and dyed. I've been having a great time playing with my colors.

I also have discovered knitting from the top down. I have made 12 different sweaters riffing on Deb and Lynda Gemmell's  "Basic Pullover" pattern from their book Top Down for Kids,  These sweaters have been auctioned off in a fundraiser at my cousin Jackie's church, St. Michael's in Barrington, IL, for the support of the people in the Diocese of Renk in South Sudan.




This is hand dyed and hand knit, and features little bobble snowmen. I like to do small projects. That way I get to get on with my next idea.

Well, I have to finish now because I have to go to my daughter's house to watch the Wisconsin Badger, basketball team win another game.

Good Stitches