Yarn Made from corn? Yup, I have some!

Today I went to one of my favorite local yarn shops, www.3kittensneedlearts.com to follow up on Laura's recommendation of the linen yarn for dish cloths. I looked through the colors and decided on a cantaloupe colored hank. The linen feels very stiff. Apparently after it is washed it becomes very soft.

While I was browsing I found a pretty apple green colored yarn. When I touched it the softness was surprising after handling the linen yarn. The most surprising thing to me was the fiber content. It is 100% corn! I can't even begin to imagine how some kernels of corn get transformed into this...



We will be getting more dish cloths soon!!

Knitted Dish Cloths are the greatest!

We are back into knitted dish cloth mode at our house! I knitted several over the weekend. One (the blue one) during the very fun but disappointing in the end, Viking Game. The top one I started while getting the oil changed and finished in the carpool line. No I do not knit and drive! The carpool line is full of great pauses. It sure does take the kids a long time to get into a car with all their snow gear! The fall and spring line do not pause enough for me to knit. So, hey, take advantage of the time given!

My experimental dish cloth, the blue and mango stripped one has been through one use and wash. I will keep you all posted as the wear develops. If you are new, I am watching the wear progress of two different yarns knitted into one dish cloth.

My latest accomplishment is that I have loosened up on my casting off! Remember, the Minnesota State Fair judging sheet said that my casting off was a bit tight. This is true of the blue/mango dish cloth above. Note the blue edge on the right. So, being very aware of this I think I am improving as you can see in the variegated dish cloth above.

The Yarn Arrived and I am knitting again!

The yarn came from www.knitpicks.com in just a few days and it was so fun to open. The colors jumped out at me, they were just what I was expecting!! These colors are so fresh and alive! The website color swatches were a very close match to the actual colors I saw in my box when it arrived.

I also started to knit my knitting bag. It had to cast on 192 stitches to start. I think this is my biggest project to date. I used my stitch markers after every set of 20 stitches while casting on. Then it was easier to count as I added more and more stitches. Now I just need one at the beginning of the loop.

Now for a bit of time in front of the fireplace knitting before everyone comes home!!

Yarn Comparisons with a Knitted Dish Cloth

I have been very busy making dish cloths. Making dish cloths goes quickly and we really needed some! I started to think about the quality of my dishcloths.

As I shopped for yarn the thrifty side of me bought Sugar and Cream yarn at Wal-Mart for 1.59 for 50g ball of cotton yarn. Then I went to The Three Kittens yarn shop in Mendota Heights, MN www.3kittensneedlearts.com. They are my favorite goto yarn shop for knitting help in the afternoons, and for a beautiful selection of yarns. I asked Laura about dish cloth yarns and did they have something a step up from the Sugar and Cream. She showed me a great color selection from CoolSpun Cotton. It cost 2.75 for a 50g ball of yarn. I selected a pretty sky blue and a great spring colored variegated ball.

Next I came home and knit this dish cloth.


The feel of the two yarns the mango(Sugar and Cream) vs. the blue (CoolSpun Cotton) was very similar. I was curious about how each yarn would hold up after cleaning a kitchen used by 7 people and lots of washing. Today I will weave in the loose ends and then put it to use with our chicken with oriental vegetables dinner.

One other yarn that Laura showed me was a beautiful 100% Linen hank of yarn. Wow! It looked beautiful! Once I complete this project I may just splurge on the $24.00 yarn and see how the linen looks (I'm sure it will be beautiful) and holds up in the laundry.

I found the yarn for the knitting bag!

Once I found the pattern for my knitting bag it did not take too long for me to find the yarn I wanted.

The pattern called for Patons Classic Wool 100g. Of course it did! The pattern was created by Patons. However, being the thrifty woman that I am I looked around the Internet to find a good deal. When I looked on Patons the classic wool was not on sale. So, I browsed around several on line yarn stores. I found what I was looking for on www.knitpicks.com. I enjoyed the easy browsing feature and the sale on 100% Peruvian Highland Wool.

I redesigned the colors of the bag. I went with my personal favorite combination of navy blue, yellow, green, and white.

When the yarn arrives I will share the colors I selected. I am curious to see how close the color swatches on my monitor compare with the actual colors.

I need a new Knitting Bag!

As you can see from the photo, I am in need of a new knitting bag.!

I'm not even sure where this cute paper bag with ribbon handles came from. I love the rectangle shape. It can hold a few small projects at the same time, yet is shallow enough that there is not too much hiding on the bottom of the bag. However, the paper is not holding up well, and I have lost a few items out of the bottom corner...

So, my search began. Of course the thrifty side of me started by looking for a free pattern. BINGO! I found one. It is unbelievable how many free patterns are out there! The trick of course is can you follow the instructions??? That is a post for another day.

I started by googling felted knitting bags. You could spend a whole day, maybe even a whole weekend looking through all the patterns. I finally found one that I liked through the ravelry.com web site.

This was found at www.patonsyarns.com, via the Ravelry web site. The things I like about this bag are the big opening at the top, the attached handles, and the ability I have to make it a bit shorter so it is more of a rectangle. Also, this will help me to achieve another of my goals for 2010, felting something.

Next, finding the yarn for the project...

Weavers Guild of Minnesota Open House

Here is a great opportunity to see the Weavers Guild of Minnesota in action. They are having an open house this Sunday, January 16th from 11:00 - 2:00.

They have a great gift shop with knitted, felted, crocheted, and woven items. Also, this is a great place to buy gifts. They have jewelry, scarves, handbags, and my personal favorite...the bargain room.

That is where I bought some interesting yarns.

I have not had a chance to use the glow in the dark purple yet!

I'm Rolling My Eyes Now!!

OK I can cross of goal #11 off my list. I now know how to make a knitted ruffled edge.

I found out through some very basic research one way to make the ruffle on the edge of your knitting. Also, my mom let me know of another way.

Option 1 Thanks MOM!!
If you will be knitting with size 8 needles for the main part of your item, then start with size 11 and knit for a row, then switch to size 10 for a row, then switch to size 9 for a row, then switch to size 8 for the remainder of your work.

Option 2 Thanks Google!!
Cast on four times as many stitches as you need. In the first row knit 2 stitches together across the row. In the second row knit or purl 2 stitches together across the row.

HELLO!!!

So cool, now I'll have to try it.

One more Goal for 2010

Learning to knit a ruffled edge is my #11 for 2010.

I have always wondered how this is done. It is probably super easy and I'll roll my eyes once the mystery is revealed to me.

Baby blankets for Africa

While I am in my lull waiting to be inspired for the next great project, or starting in on my 2010 resolutions...I have been working on a baby blanket. In Africa many newborn babies die because of the cold. A lot of Africa is desert, so even though it is very hot in the day time, it is also cold in the night.

The blankets need to be about 30 x 30 inches. They can be made from cotton or acrylic yarn, NO wool is recommended! They also like light colored yarn. I'm not sure why this is??

If you feel inspired to help, or just need to knit something for someone else, you will find all the information you need at the Global Health Ministries. http://www.ghm.org.

Knitting Goals for 2010

As a perpetual planner and strong believer in setting goals...I have created the following list for myself for 2010...

1. Finish the Coral Sweater!! Really all I need to do is attach the sleeves!!

2. Explore all that Ravelry has to offer. I joined, but have not done more than that!

3. Make something to felt.

4. Try ordering yarn on-line. The prices seem to be great. I want to find out if the colors will be close and the service will be fast.

5. Visit more local yarn shops.

6. Attend a knitting event this spring.

7. Make a knitting basket. This one may be the felting project I am looking for.

8. Teach someone how to knit.

9. Find a nice yarn for knitting dish cloths.

10. Knit a sweater for me! (I already have the pattern picked out.)