Flower Coasters

Pattern: Springtime Coasters by Doni Speigle (found here)

This was another addition to my friend's birthday gift. These were very easy to make, and I could make 2 or 3 of them in an evening. Again I used scrap yarn that I think was either Sugar and Cream or Peaches and Cream and Lion Brand Cottonease. I really love Lion Brand Cottonease because it is so easy to work with. It is much easier on my hands than 100% cotton. Besides dishcloths, I have used it to make spring and summer baby blankets, and I think I might use it to make a summer cardigan someday.

Multidirectional Dishcloth

This is another dishcloth I made for a friend's birthday. It is a great pattern to use up stash. I must say that knitting dishcloths is a great way to learn new stitches and great for summer knitting (light and portable). They also make great gifts because everyone needs them, and they make mundane chores at least a little more aesthetic. Cotton is a hardworking and easy care fiber. You can wash and dry it, and the texture of the dishcloths helps with washing dishes.

I found this pattern on Ravelry here.

Circle Cloth

Here is the next dishcloth that I made for my friend. I found the pattern on Ravelry here. It was a free download, and I just thought the effect was really cool. The blue yarn is cotton, but I'm not sure of the brand. The natural yarn is Peaches & Cream cotton.

Crochet Textured Dishcloth

I put together a birthday gift for a friend of mine, and since she has just moved into a new house, I thought I would make some functional, yet pretty items. The first was this crocheted dishcloth. I am not sure what brand of yarn this, but it is cotton. It is a really, simple pattern, but I liked it so much, I'm thinking of making one in green for my kitchen.

Pattern:

Chain an odd number of stitches the width desired.

Single Crochet in the second chain from the hook, and then in each stitch across row. Chain one and then turn.

Single crochet across row, alternating crocheting through the back loop and then the front loop.

Repeat last row until dishcloth is the size desired.

See it is so simple, functional, and pretty!

Simple Knitting

Lately, I've been drawn to simple, meditative knitting. I was in a bicycle accident in early March. Right now I'm struggling from postconcussive syndrome and weak wrist. I can knit simple things, but crochet makes my wrist ache. I'm getting better, but not as fast as I would like! I have been working on a shawl, but I can't seem to figure out the edging. I hope my brain heals from all of this trauma. I've made dishcloths. The simple pattern soothes my spirit, and this is as close to meditation as I can get.

Here is the age-old simple dishcloth pattern although I've used this same pattern to make shawls and baby blankets:

Cast on 3 stitches.

Knit 1, Yarn Over, Knit remaining stitches.

Continue 2nd line until you reach desired size. (45-50 stitches for dishcloth with worsted weight yarn) (Bind off here for triangle shaped shawl.)

Knit 1, Yarn Over, Knit 2 together, Knit until 3 stitches remain, K2Tog, Knit 1

Continue last line until 3 stitches remain, then bind off.

Such a simple, practical, and even meditative pattern ...