Tuesday, November 29, 2011

SNOW Dishcloth

Some people (including my husband) say I'm crazy, but I think snow is romantic.  Obviously, when you're driving through a blizzard with sleet and snow, you're probably thinking "not so much", but when the big, fluffy flakes are coming down and you're sitting inside cuddled up with a blanket and a hot drink, it sure can be!  When you walk outside during one of those snows, the whole world is quiet and peaceful.  To me, it's beautiful.  That was my inspiration for a few dishcloth patterns, one of which is this SNOW.  Light blue, turquoise, light violet, white....any of those colors would be perfect for this dishcloth!


A quick note about the blocking on this one before the pattern...

Because the snowflake is fairly intricate, I suggest using a crochet hook to reach the stockinette stitches within the flake.  This should help make the purled stitches more prominent.

Here's the pattern!  Enjoy!  =)







SNOW Dishcloth


Supplies:

1 Skein Lily Sugar n Cream yarn

US #3/3.25mm needles

Yarn needle




(Finished size approximately 8" x 6")




Instructions:

Cast on 43 sts

Row 1 (and all odd rows): K
Row 2: K
Row 4: K
Row 6: K
Row 8: K9, P25, K9
Row 10: K8, P27, K8

Row 12: K7, P29, K7
Row 14: K6, P31, K6
Row 16: K5, P33, K5
Row 18: K4, P35, K4
Row 20: K3, P37, K3

Row 22: K3, P2, K5, P2, K2, P3, K2, P5, K1, P6, K3, P1, K3, P2, K3
Row 24: K3, P2, K6, P1, K2, P3, K2, P2, K1, P1, K3, P1, K1, P2, K4, P1, K4, P1, K3
Row 26: K3, P6, K2, P1, K2, P3, K2, P3, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P3, K2, P1, K3, P1, K2, P1, K3
Row 28: K3, P2, K6, P1, K2, P2, K3, P2, K1, P1, K3, P1, K1, P2, K2, P1, K3, P1, K2, P1, K3
Row 30: K3, P1, K6, P2, K2, P1, K4, P1, K9, P1, K2, P1, K3, P1, K2, P1, K3


Row 32: K3, P1, K2, P6, K4, P1, K2, P2, K1, P1, K3, P1, K1, P2, K2, P2, K1, P2, K2, P1, K3
Row 34: K3, P2, K5, P2, K3, P2, K2, P3, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P3, K2, P5, K2, P1, K3
Row 36: K3, P3, K4, P2, K2, P3, K2, P2, K1, P1, K3, P1, K1, P2, K2, P5, K2, P1, K3
Row 38: K3, P21, K1, P15, K3

Row 40: K4, P35, K4



Row 42: K5, P33, K5

Row 44: K6, P31, K6

Row 46: K7, P29, K7

Row 48: K8, P27, K8

Row 50: K9, P25, K9



Row 52: K

Row 54: K

Row 56: K



Bind off.

Weave in ends and block, pushing down on stockinette stitches and leaving the purl stitches so they "pop".

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

A Gathered Scarf



This is the year of scarves -- at least for Christmas presents!  I'll be knitting as fast as I can to get all these gifts done in time, but I think it will be well worth it in the end. 



This was knit using Knit Picks Palette in Blue Note Heather.  (The photos do not show the true color -- it's really a deep sapphire with purples and turquoise mixed in.)  I've never ordered from Knit Picks before and was pleasantly surprised with it.  I love all the colors they offer and it is so soft!  I found this free pattern on Ravelry.




As it turns out, this scarf turned out so well, I've decided to make this same pattern for another family member.  It is the perfect width, length and texture for both of my recipients!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Breaking Dawn! ...and Rosalie's Scarf



Today is the day that Breaking Dawn Part 1 premieres and I am so excited!  Yes, yes...I am a Twilight fan and cannot wait to see this movie - headed to theaters this afternoon in fact! 



Anyway, my sister is a fellow Twilight geek and I wanted to knit her something for Christmas that was Twilight themed.  Behold Rosalie's school scarf!  This lovely item was first seen in the original Twilight flick.  The free pattern can be found here, thanks to Nancy Fry.






This scarf was made with Caron Simply Soft in White.  I used a whole skein and just a smidgen of the second skein.  The pattern says to hold the yarn double, but I thought it would be too bulky for this pretty lace design.  I hope she loves it!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Rudolph the Cutest Reindeer Dishcloth



It may be a little early, but is it really ever too early to start your holiday knitting??  I think this little reindeer is so adorable!  Knit it in red to resemble Rudolph or use a tan or brown for any of Santa's reindeer!

This pattern is available to purchase as a PDF file for $1.25.  This pattern is available to purchase on Ravelry, but please note that you do not need an account to purchase it.  Just click on the link below and it will take you directly to Paypal.


Happy Knitting!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Oven Baked Chex Mix

My mom used to make this for football games, sleepovers, as a Thanksgiving Day snack, and any other time we asked for it!  Its really yummy, crunchy and, to me, comforting on a fall day.  Instead of using all the different Chex cereals, I used 9 cup of Crispix cereal (about 1 box).


Ingredients:

  • 6 tbsp butter, melted
  • 2 tbsp worcestershire sauce
  • 1-1/2 tsp seasoned salt
  • 3/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 3 cups Corn Chex
  • 3 cups Rice Chex
  • 3 cups Wheat Chex
  • 1 cup peanuts
  • 1 cup pretzel sticks
  • 1 cup cheesy fishy crackers

Directions:

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.  In an ungreased large roasting pan, combine butter, worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder & onion powder; mix well.  Stir in cereals, nuts, pretzels & crackers until coated.  Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  Cool on paper towels.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Turkey Day Dishcloth

Gobble gobble!  Let's pick up our needles and get a jump on our Thanksgiving kitchen decor!





Happy Turkey Day Dishcloth
Supplies:
1 Skein Lily Sugar n Cream yarn

US #3/3.25mm needles
Yarn needle

(Finished size approximately 9" x 8-1/2")



Instructions:
Cast on 49 sts
Rows 1-6: (K1, P1) to last stitch, K1




Row 7 (and all odd rows): (K1, P1) x2, P41, (P1, K1) x2
Row 8: (K1, P1) x2, K41, (P1, K1) x2
Row 10: (K1, P1) x2, K18, P2, K1, P2, K18, (P1, K1) x2




Row 12: (K1, P1) x2, K19, P1, K1, P1, K19, (P1, K1) x2
Row 14: (K1, P1) x2, K19, P1, K1, P1, K19, (P1, K1) x2
Row 16: (K1, P1) x2, K18, P5, K18, (P1, K1) x2
Row 18: (K1, P1) x2, K17, P7, K17, (P1, K1) x2
Row 20: (K1, P1) x2, K16, P2, K5, P2, K16, (P1, K1) x2




Row 22: (K1, P1) x2, K15, P2, K7, P2, K15, (P1, K1) x2
Row 24: (K1, P1) x2, K4, P12, K9, P12, K4, (P1, K1) x2
Row 26: (K1, P1) x2, K3, P13, K9, P13, K3, (P1, K1) x2
Row 28: (K1, P1) x2, K2, P14, K9, P14, K2, (P1, K1) x2
Row 30: (K1, P1) x2, K1, P12, K1, P2, K9, P2, K1, P12, K1, (P1, K1) x2




Row 32: (K1, P1) x2, K1, P11, K3, P2, K7, P2, K3, P11, K1, (P1, K1) x2
Row 34: (K1, P1) x2, K1, P10, K5, P2, K5, P2, K5, P10, K1, (P1, K1) x2
Row 36: (K1, P1) x2, K1, P9, K7, P2, K3, P2, K7, P9, K1, (P1, K1) x2
Row 38: (K1, P1) x2, K1, P8, K9, P2, K1, P2, K9, P8, K1, (P1, K1) x2
Row 40: (K1, P1) x2, K2, P6, K9, P3, K1, P3, K9, P6, K2, (P1, K1) x2




Row 42: (K1, P1) x2, K3, P4, K9, P4, K1, P4, K9, P4, K3, (P1, K1) x2
Row 44: (K1, P1) x2, K4, P2, K9, P4, K3, P4, K9, P2, K4, (P1, K1) x2
Row 46: (K1, P1) x2, K5, P1, K8, P4, K2, P1, K2, P4, K8, P1, K5, (P1, K1) x2
Row 48: (K1, P1) x2, K5, P1, K7, P4, K2, P3, K2, P4, K7, P1, K5 (P1, K1) x2
Row 50: (K1, P1) x2, K5, P1, K6, P5, K7, P5, K6, P1, K5, (P1, K1) x2




Row 52: (K1, P1) x2, K5, P1, K5, P6, K2, P1, K1, P1, K2, P6, K5, P1, K5, (P1, K1) x2
Row 54: (K1, P1) x2, K6, P1, K3, P8, K5, P8, K3, P1, K6, (P1, K1) x2
Row 56: (K1, P1) x2, K7, P12, K3, P12, K7, (P1, K1) x2
Row 58: (K1, P1) x2, K10, P21, K10, (P1, K1) x2
Row 60: (K1, P1) x2, K10, P10, K1, P10, K10, (P1, K1) x2




Row 62: (K1, P1) x2, K10, P9, K3, P9, K10, (P1, K1) x2
Row 64: (K1, P1) x2, K11, P7, K5, P7, K11, (P1, K1) x2
Row 66: (K1, P1) x2, K12, P5, K7, P5, K12, (P1, K1) x2
Row 68: (K1, P1) x2, K41, (P1, K1) x2
Rows 70 - 74: (K1, P1) to last stitch, K1


Bind off in (K1, P1) pattern

Weave in ends and block.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Happy Halloween!

Trick or treat!  We got all dressed up and ready for work and daycare yesterday, all wearing our costumes.  I found this great blue M&M tank dress online and immediately started thinking about how to make a similar one for my little Loreli.  All it took was some blue fleece, white and black felt and some ric-rac to replicate mine! 






Shane decided he wanted to be Agent P from Phineas & Ferb on the Disney Channel (a favorite Saturday morning cartoon channel at our house). Perfect for the man who really doesn't like to dress up on Halloween!