dish cloths

Whilst at the Manor House, I took some crocheting to do in the evenings.  I needed a couple of new dishcloths and thought I'd try some different patterns.  I started off with this free tutorial at Mellie Blossoms for a zig zag dish cloth.  Check out all the ends you end up with to weave in!

I added the round bit so I can hang it off my tap as I love this feature in my existing dishcloths.  I have no idea why it turned out diamond shape and not square!

As you can see, it's a one-sided pattern, but hey, it's a dishcloth, who cares if it's got a back!

Next I moved onto this tartan washcloth tutorial at Happy Berry.  I used cotton yarn for both dishcloths as it dries quite quickly and I can throw them in the washing machine at 60 degrees with my towels and socks.

I love the way this turned out but it's huge!  I should have scaled it down to make a dishcloth.  Again, I added the circle bit to hang it up.

The pattern is created by slip stitching into the front of the cloth when it's finished, that was a new technique for me and very effective.  I'm not sure what it's called, slip stitch crochet?  Tapestry crochet?  I'm not sure.

This photo shows how it looks from the back - not so neat.

Right, I'm off to wash the rabbit bowls out with one of my new dishcloths!  (No, it doesn't make the job any more interesting... but they're pretty!)

finishing off

I have been finishing off WIPs!  Yay for me, not something that happens round here much, despite my best intentions!

I went to a class to make this bracelet in December last year.  I then had a 'mare trying to sew the ultra suede on the back as I cut it too small. Fast forward 9 months and I tried again, and succeeded!  I didn't enjoy sewing the backing (and all those edging beads which are size 15/0) on, which is a shame as I enjoy bead embroidery in general.  This is now a brooch and I'm very pleased with it.

I'm less pleased with this, which has only been a WIP for a couple of weeks.  It's my knook spa cloth, relegated to being a dishcloth, and what a bloody mess!

I added a loop so I can hang it from the tap, and a crochet edging to try to neaten it up.  Didn't work, did it?  Ah well, first time knooking and all that... 

This kumihimo braid is only a week or so old, but it was nice to get it out of the box where I keep half done jewellery components.  I added some lucite flowers held on head pins with Swarovski pearls, and hung them from a short length of chain.

I'm really pleased with this one and have worn it already.  I'm also pleased with the alternative method of putting on the end caps that I came up with.  Not so neat, but I have long hair so it doesn't matter.  I know how to do it better for next time.

I made this bracelet back at the beginning of August, and all it needed was a clasp!  Clasp added.

Bracelet done.

I feel all virtuous now.  I might just go and start a few (dozen) more projects!

dishcloths

I might be back...  It still remains to be seen, but I do have something to show you so I'll start there and see how it goes.

I saw some ingenious dishcloths on Apple Blossom Dreams.  I've got a vase of cotton yarn that got a bit dusty during the whole house falling down episode.  What better use for it that something that will be washed often?

The free tutorial is easy and quick and I love the effect from crocheting into the front post only.  I did a row of sc round the edge to neaten it up.

The round hole is supposed to loop over the tap to keep it in easy reach.  It doesn't fit over my tap but they do fit over the tap handle-thing.

As you see, we now have a sink and a tap, but no tiles yet.  We had a bit of an issue with the kitchen fitter so the kitchen is still not done...  we're now on month 6.

Eagle eyed viewers will have noticed the dishcloth in the photo above is not the same one...

That's because I made another 2.  The pattern calls for a picot edge.  I couldn't get it right on the purple one so went for a round of scs.  I had another go on the blue one and whilst I'm not convinced it's a picot edging, it is kind of fancy.

Here they all are laid out on the hob.  Yep, we have a hob.  And an oven.  What we do not have is worksurfaces to prepare food on... you people with a fully-functioning kitchen have no idea how luck you are!