Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Holidays

I’m finally getting to my blog and help learning how to use the new computer update.  So here’s our Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Thanksgiving spread -

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving dishcloth -

007

Christmas Tree that Bryce had to have.  Amber is posing to show the height of the tree.  Amber is now taller than her mother.  I am now the shortest one of the family.  We’ve decided that the tree is about 12 feet high.

tree with Amber

Tree with lights -

Tree with lights

Friday, November 20, 2009

Christmas Tree Dishcloth

This is the November Monthly Dishcloth KAL. It was a nice simple cloth to do. It has gotten me excited about other Christmas dishcloths that I want to do.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Log Cabin Dishcloth

Here is the October mid-month Monthly Dishcloth KAL. I really enjoyed doing this KAL - especially because I had not a clue what I was knitting, which was front or back until I finished the peak of the roof. Then it was, Oh, it's a log cabin!
I knitted this one twice. Once reading the pattern forwards, and again reading it right to left.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

A Dish Monkey

I've been missing in action a bit lately. Lance updated the computer with Windows 7 and I'm totally lost on it now. I have no idea how to edit photos or for that matter upload them.

Here's my Monthly Dishcloth KAL for the beginning of October - I knitted this with size 5 needles.
This next monkey was knitted with size 4 needles - the cloths only differ in size by about 1 inch. (Editing photos, i.e. cropping this picture is still something that I can't do. I don't know what program use yet. Hmm, I don't like change.)
Amber has been wanting a cloth and has picked the darker brown monkey as one of her favorites.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Happy Halloween

I thought I'd post a picture of Amber and me dressed up for a Halloween party and then my Halloween dishcloths that I've been working on this month.
I didn't get a picture of the side of my face, where I tried to draw a spider's web and spider.
A bat -
Skull and crossbones -
Illusions candy corn -
My skull and crossbones pattern -
Frankenstein -

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Skull and Crossbones



I've been wanting to share some of my patterns on my blog, but have been waiting to figure out how to share them in a pdf file. Well, I've not figured that out yet and just decided to post it straight on the blog. I also need some photography lessons, so that I can get a better picture of this dishcloth.


I've been working on Halloween dishcloths and wanted a skull and crossbones. So Monday I wrote the pattern and then knitted it up. I'm pleased to share this with everyone who's interested.


Skull and Crossbones Dishcloth
by Miriam Giles


Materials:
White cotton yarn - 2 oz
Size #4/(3.5 mm) needles


Finished Size - 8 ½ by 9 inches


Pattern:


CO 45 stitches

Row 1: (K1, P1)* repeat * across, end k1
Row 2: (K1, P1)* repeat * across, end k1
Row 3: (K1, P1)* repeat * across, end k1
Row 4: (K1, P1)* repeat * across, end k1
Row 5: (K1, P1)* repeat * across, end k1
Row 6: (K1, P1)2X, P37, (P1, K1)2X
Row 7: (K1, P1)2X, K37, (P1, K1)2X
Row 8: (K1, P1)2X, P6, K2, P21, K2, P6, (P1, K1)2X
Row 9: (K1, P1)2X, K5, P4, K19, P4, K5, (P1, K1)2X
Row 10: (K1, P1)2X, P5, K5, P17, K5, P5, (P1, K1)2X
Row 11: (K1, P1)2X, K4, P6, K17, P6, K4, (P1, K1)2X
Row 12: (K1, P1)2X, P2, K8, P17, K8, P2, (P1, K1)2X
Row 13: (K1, P1)2X, K2, P9, K15, P9, K2, (P1, K1)2X
Row 14: (K1, P1)2X, P3, K9, P13, K9, P3, (P1, K1)2X
Row 15: (K1, P1)2X, K4, P10, K9, P10, K4, (P1, K1)2X
Row 16: (K1, P1)2X, P9, K6, P7, K6, P9, (P1, K1)2X
Row 17: (K1, P1)2X, K10, P7, K3, P7, K10, (P1, K1)2X
Row 18: (K1, P1)2X, P12, K13, P12, (P1, K1)2X
Row 19: (K1, P1)2X, K13, P11, K13, (P1, K1)2X
Row 20: (K1, P1)2X, P15, K7, P15, (P1, K1)2X
Row 21: (K1, P1)2X, K14, P9, K14, (P1, K1)2X
Row 22: (K1, P1)2X, P12, K13, P12, (P1, K1)2X
Row 23: (K1, P1)2X, K11, P7, K1, P7, K11, (P1, K1)2X
Row 24: (K1, P1)2X, P3, K2, P4, K7, P5, K7, P4, K2, P3, (P1, K1)2X
Row 25: (K1, P1)2X, K2, P4, K2, P6, K3, P3, K3, P6, K2, P4, K2, (P1, K1)2X
Row 26: (K1, P1)2X, P2, K11, P3, K5, P3, K11, P2, (P1, K1)2X
Row 27: (K1, P1)2X, K3, P8, K3, P9, K3, P8, K3, (P1, K1)2X
Row 28: (K1, P1)2X, P3, K7, P3, K11, P3, K7, P3, (P1, K1)2X
Row 29: (K1, P1)2X, K4, P5, K4, P11, K4, P5, K4, (P1, K1)2X
Row 30: (K1, P1)2X, P4, K4, P4, K13, P4, K4, P4, (P1, K1)2X
Row 31: (K1, P1)2X, K4, P3, K5, P13, K5, P3, K4, (P1, K1)2X
Row 32: (K1, P1)2X, P4, K2, P5, K15, P5, K2, P4, (P1, K1)2X
Row 33: (K1, P1)2X, K11, P5, (K1, P1)2X, K1, P5, K11, (P1, K1)2X
Row 34: (K1, P1)2X, P11, (K1, P1)7X, K1, P11, (P1, K1)2X
Row 35: (K1, P1)2X, K11, (P1, K1)7X, P1, K11, (P1, K1)2X
Row 36: (K1, P1)2X, P10, K2, P1, K1, P1, K7, P1, K1, P1, K2, P10, (P1, K1)2X
Row 37: (K1, P1)2X, K10, P1, K2, P11, K2, P1, K10, (P1, K1)2X
Row 38: (K1, P1)2X, P13, K11, P13, (P1, K1)2X
Row 39: (K1, P1)2X, K12, P13, K12, (P1, K1)2X
Row 40: (K1, P1)2X, P11, K6, P1, K1, P1, K6, P11, (P1, K1)2X
Row 41: (K1, P1)2X, K10, P7, K3, P7, K10, (P1, K1)2X
Row 42: (K1, P1)2X, P9, K8, P3, K8, P9, (P1, K1)2X
Row 43: (K1, P1)2X, K9, P8, K3, P8, K9, (P1, K1)2X
Row 44: (K1, P1)2X, P8, K10, P1, K10, P8, (P1, K1)2X
Row 45: (K1, P1)2X, K8, P21, K8, (P1, K1)2X
Row 46: (K1, P1)2X, P9, K2, P4, K7, P4, K2, P9, (P1, K1)2X
Row 47: (K1, P1)2X, K9, P2, K5, P5, K5, P2, K9, (P1, K1)2X
Row 48: (K1, P1)2X, P9, K2, P5, K5, P5, K2, P9, (P1, K1)2X
Row 49: (K1, P1)2X, K9, P2, K5, P5, K5, P2, K9, (P1, K1)2X
Row 50: (K1, P1)2X, P8, K4, P4, K5, P4, K4, P8, (P1, K1)2X
Row 51: (K1, P1)2X, K8, P5, K3, P5, K3, P5, K8, (P1, K1)2X
Row 52: (K1, P1)2X, P8, K6, P2, K5, P2, K6, P8, (P1, K1)2X
Row 53: (K1, P1)2X, K8, P21, K8, (P1, K1)2X
Row 54: (K1, P1)2X, P8, K21, P8, (P1, K1)2X
Row 55: (K1, P1)2X, K8, P21, K8, (P1, K1)2X
Row 56: (K1, P1)2X, P8, K21, P8, (P1, K1)2X
Row 57: (K1, P1)2X, K8, P21, K8, (P1, K1)2X
Row 58: (K1, P1)2X, P9, K19, P9, (P1, K1)2X
Row 59: (K1, P1)2X, K9, P19, K9, (P1, K1)2X
Row 60: (K1, P1)2X, P9, K19, P9, (P1, K1)2X
Row 61: (K1, P1)2X, K9, P19, K9, (P1, K1)2X
Row 62: (K1, P1)2X, P10, K17, P10, (P1, K1)2X
Row 63: (K1, P1)2X, K10, P17, K10, (P1, K1)2X
Row 64: (K1, P1)2X, P11, K15, P11, (P1, K1)2X
Row 65: (K1, P1)2X, K12, P13, K12, (P1, K1)2X
Row 66: (K1, P1)2X, P13, K11, P13, (P1, K1)2X
Row 67: (K1, P1)2X, K15, P7, K15, (P1, K1)2X
Row 68: (K1, P1)2X, P37, (P1, K1)2X
Row 69: (K1, P1)2X, K37, (P1, K1)2X
Row 70: (K1, P1)* repeat * across, end k1
Row 71: (K1, P1)* repeat * across, end k1
Row 72: (K1, P1)* repeat * across, end k1
Row 73: (K1, P1)* repeat * across, end k1
Row 74: (K1, P1)* repeat * across, end k1


Bind Off in pattern

Enjoy! Happy Halloween!

A pdf of this pattern can be found here.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Baby Hat Weekend

Since this weekend was conference, I decided to knit while listening all weekend long. I thought I'd try to use up my leftover bulky yarn. I was so excited to discover that I had enough yarn to knit one more hat in each color.
After finishing the goofy tri-cornered baby hats, I had just a tiny bit of the green and purple yarns left over. I wondered what would happen if I striped the two yarns. I was just barely able to make this tiny hat.
I absolutely loved the way it turned out! I want to buy both yarns in greens and purples again and make this hat in a bigger size.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Dad's Birthday

My dad and sister share the same birthday - September 30. Because of busy schedules, we didn't celebrate Dad's birthday until last night. Lance decided that since Dad always makes such wonderful things out of wood, that he would also like to try his handiwork. So, Lance made this clock for Dad.
These are Russian nixie tubes. Lance ordered the clock kit from Yugoslavia and built the box around it. I think it's kind of cool. At 50 seconds past the hour the clock displays the date.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Baby Shower Tonight

I've got a baby shower to attend tonight, so guess what I've been doing all week. Actually I bought the yarn on Tuesday, and cast on the pink one that night. The pink yarn is merino wool, microfiber, and cashmere. I have ripped out this little hat twice and back tracked many rows several times. I am disappointed in my work on this one and would like to try it again. Luckily I have just enough yarn to make one more, but not before tonight.
This pattern is becoming my old faithful. I like that it works up quickly in a bulky yarn. I absolutely love this yarn. It's 100% baby alpaca - just delicious!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Finally Caught Up

Since I joined the Monthly Dishcloth KAL at the end of March, I've been keeping up with the dishcloths as they've come along. In between time I've been trying to play catch up. Well I've finally finished January through March and their mid-months. This is March's Pot O' Gold.

I did a little experiment with the lighter yellow cloth. According to the pattern, the image is created on the right side of the cloth, with the wrong side being border then purling across. In the lighter cloth, I tried the pattern by creating the image on the wrong side with the right side being border then knitting. The difference is very subtle, but I believe that the image is stronger when created on the right side - as in the darker yellow cloth. The colors and yarns can fool one a bit, but I was able to feel a difference.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Playing Catch Up

For the past several weeks I've been trying to catch up on the February mid-month dishcloth. I am finally done with this one!! This is called Circle Cloth.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Rhombus

This is the September mid-month dishcloth KAL. We just got the last rows last night, so I don't have the official name for this cloth. I decided to name the cloth, Rhombus, because it is a rhombus. I also wanted to dedicate this cloth to Amber, who is trying to memorize the definition of a rhombus.


A rhombus is an equilateral parallelogram.

Monday, September 21, 2009

September ABC Dishcloth

School has begun and my times seems to be tied up with helping Amber with her home schooling/charter school work and my job - the office manager at her charter school. Some nights I'm so tired that I don't have the energy to knit.
This is my excuse for not posting my knitting lately.
Here are the September KAL dishcloths - very appropriate for this time of year.
I added one row of knit before I did my border on the yellow dishcloth. Subtle but I think I like it better.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Sock Yarn

O.K., so I admit, I have a problem. I am a yarnaholic!

I have so much yarn stashed away, yet I still need - (ok want) more yarn. I saw this sock yarn at the yarn store a few weeks ago and have been wanting to buy it ever since, even though I already have several skeins and hanks of sock yarn. I also have to admit that I still have yet to make a pair of socks.
I absolutely love the melon and green stripes of color in this yarn. So today I rationalized the need for this yarn, and I added this beautful yarn to my sock stash.

Diamonds Plus

I've mainly been knitting dishcloths from the Monthly Dishcloth KAL. I'm also a member of Cloth of the Week group, but I don't knit those cloths as often. The following is a pattern from that group. When I saw the pattern, I knew I had to give this one a try.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

August Mid-Month KAL

I was hoping for a name for this cloth before I blogged about it, but so far no name as been given to us. I need to make a quick disclaimer - I don't usually block my dishcloths before I take pictures or use them. I figure that they are to be used to work and don't need to be shaped.
I did get carried away with this dishcloth and made four different cloths. This tea rose colored one is as the pattern reads.
I found that I didn't care for the last row of eyelet hole at the very top before the border. I decided I wanted it a bit more symmetrical, so for the purple one I omitted row 56.
As I finished the purple one, I realized that it wasn't symmetrical from left to right. So I decided to try another cloth - the yellow one. For this cloth, I cast on 41 stitches and changed the eyelet rows by adding a K1 before I started the yo, k2tog repeats. This centered the eyelets much better. I also omitted row 56.
Then of course, I decided to try one other experiment. The previous cloths had the eyelets in vertical rows, so I changed this last cloth to alternate the holes. I did this one by following the pattern that I changed for the yellow cloth. Then I alternated the eyelet rows by reading it forward the first time (row 8), then backwards, right to left, the next time (row 12), back and forth.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

August Dishcloths

I finished the August KAL just in time to start the August mid-month KAL. I struggled with this cloth. I had it almost done (11 rows to the end) when I realized I couldn't make out the flower or the words. So I ripped it out and started over using needles 2 sizes smaller.
After finishing the thank you cloth, I decided I wanted to make an August themed dishcloth as my second cloth. So I went back into the files and found this lighthouse from 2006. This reminds me of August and summer because I love going to the beach this time of year.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Amber's Show Is Tonight

Amber and her team were in today's paper. Make sure to look at the slide show. In picture #1 - she's front and center, #2 - she's far left, #3 she's harder to be seen - 4 girls are around pool, 2 are diving in, she's still waiting her turn to dive, closest to the house, #4 - she's at 10:30, and I don't believe she's in #5.

http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/18585019-41/story.csp


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Friday, August 14, 2009

School of Fishies Bath Cloths

I know that I already posted pictures of the fishy Tawashi, but I made some more of these last night. Heidi, I liked your idea of using these as kids' bath cloths. So, I'm sending these to Aimee, Betty, and Katie from their Auntie Miriam. Grandma and Grandpa will deliver them this weekend. Enjoy!!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Baby Shower Gift

I had a baby shower to attend this morning, so last night I picked out some yarn and cast on this little hat. The previous hats that I have made with this pattern have used bulky yarn, and I've been able to whip them up in about 3 hours. So, I figured I'd be able to just whip out this hat last night. Well this wasn't a quicky. I used kitchen cotton yarn, so I had to make adjustments to the pattern which was fun to figure out. Anyway this ended up taking me about 9 hours to finish. I took the picture before I had sewn in all the yarn ends as I was running out the door. Then on the way to the shower, I sewed in the ends - good thing Mom was driving.

I striped this hat using the fibonacci series. Lots of fun for this mathematician!!!
Love the toilet paper roll poking out under the hat! Needed something to keep the hat in shape for the photo shoot.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Fishy Tawashi

I am slow at posting, maybe because I went through a bit of a knitting lull. Here are July's mid-month dishcloth KAL. It was supposed to be knitted in acrylic yarn. Well my dishcloth stash is cotton, so I knitted this in cotton. The eye is done using the crochet method.
After seeing what I was knitting, I remembered a book I used to read to the kids, Rainbow Fish, by Marcus Pfister. I decided my next fishy needed to be blue and green. I also made a change in this fishy. I knitted this with a smaller needles (size 8) and CO 20 st. It turned out slightly bigger, but I like the closer knit.
Two fishies swimming in the sea.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Sariah's Birthday

We celebrated Sariah's birthday on Saturday. Here she is with the only birthday present worth taking a picture of. O.K. I may be a bit biased there.
After the presents we had cake. Sariah decide she wanted ice cream cake, but a bit differently than I've previously made. She was so excited about the cake that she invited a friend over. Here we are with Lance cutting the cake.
A slice of cake - described from left to right. Blueberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream, gluten-free "blondie", strawberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream, gluten-free brownie, blackberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream, and gluten-free "blondie". The cake was frosted with whipping cream to which I added some hot chocolate mix.
I must admit that it was so filling that most of us couldn't finish a slice at one sitting. It was funny to look in the feezer to see all these plates of left over cake.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Circular Dishcloths

I gave up the computer last week for air conditioning and have since fallen behind in posting. Here are some dishcloths that I sent home with my sister, Lydia, to give to my sister, Beth.
I've decided I don't like black in the bright sun, but don't have the cloth to retake the picture.


Here they are all together. The black is a better color, but the stitches aren't as clear. I guess I gave up one for the other.