Topic: my crochet projects

[bayou girl]

an afternoon's putter... first dishcloth i've ever made

it's trying to pucker a little, but over all, i'm happy with it.

[Tina]

Cute! And mighty cute yarn too!

[bayou girl]

Cute! And mighty cute yarn too!

yep! you have good taste! you've been good to me with the yarn this year and i'm appreciative.

[Triss]

I love the baby blanket Jenn.  Very pretty.  Cute dishcloth as well.  Once it gets used, it will not pucker anymore.

[Dianna]

I have never thought of crocheting dish cloths before. I may have to try one myself. Thanks for the idea, Jennifer...

Ummmm. Are these to wash dishes or to dry them? Gotta ask...

[Triss]

I use them for washing.  They make the most awesome washcloths because they are rough in texture.

[Tina]

They are dishcloths to wash dishes with, Dianna. They also make good wash cloths for bathing. (And great Barbie blankets) They are usually made of cotton yarn because that works best in a wet setting. That is Peaches and Cream cotton yarn I sent to Jenn on Thursday and it got there today.

[Dianna]

Thanks, Triss and Tina...

I will see if I can remember to crochet one up to see if we like them. I usually use the bath washcloths in a different color for the kitchen. Might like the help of the roughness of texture to help scrub the pots and pans or to help exfoliate my body...

[Tina]

There are awesome patterns on websites for free, Dianna. And they work up into neat gift items. And like I said, cool doll blankets too.

[Dianna]

Doll blankets, Tina? Currently I have two babies snuggled up together on the very edge of the bed ( )  and a doll covered with a very special blankie made by Triss snuggled up behind them. Still room for another young'un (doll?) up behind them....

Megan forgot to bring Reyla's blankie with her tonight and I told Reyla I would share mine. Rotten young'un. She's happy....

[duh]

If you use a cotton thread rather than the yarn you can make a mitt that is really good for scrubbing.  I didn't make a pattern but it's very easy.  Just crochet a open net pattern and then go back and connect the edges of each square with a straight stitch using two more stitches than you did for the net.  That's about as clear as mud isn't it?

Chain stitch a length long enough to go around your hand plus a little.
Ok lets say the net is chain 2, double crochet, chain 2 double crochet repeat to the end of the row.  Do the number of rows that will fit from your wrist to your finger tips.

Sew it into a tube and close the top.

On one side only attach the crochet at the bottom on the shank of the double crochet. bottom row.  chain 5, single crochet into shank of next stitch, chain 5, single crochet into shank of next stitch, repeat until you have gone halfway around the tube.  Turn with a 2 chain and repeat until you reach the top.

Make a rib knit patterned tube to fit you wrist snuggly and then stitch to open end of the mitt.  These used to take about one skein of the thread but skeins have gotten smaller so I'm not sure how much you would need to buy now.

[bestofour]

crocheted dishcloths are the cadalliac of dishcloths.  I absolutely love them.  If you ever once use one you'll never want to go back.  Plus, they last forever.

[bayou girl]

sheri, do you crochet?

[bestofour]

I do dishcloths.  Back in the day I crocheted a few afghans and a vest or two.  I've knitted a little too. Sweaters, scarves and afghans.  I started a pair of socks a while back, with 4 little wooden needles and stoppers and whatever.  I never finished them and can't remember how to do it.  I don't think I'm a good sock maker.

[bayou girl]

i remember you starting the socks... i never even wanted to.  i just don't remember seeing any of your crochet work.

[bestofour]

I've never posted any pictures.

[bayou girl]

you need to!

[Penny]

Nice job Jenn!

[bayou girl]

the last two made.  the first two pictures are the same one, with different backgrounds.  the last one just got done after i took the picture.  i was on the last row.

[Triss]

Those are cute too.  What size are they?

[Tina]

yep, You better start adding a quarter or something so we can tell how big they are.
Looking good.
You were going to set it aside and work on a baby blanket or something? That cotton yarn grabbed you well.

[Penny]

Those are nice colors.

[bayou girl]

the cotten did grab me well.  i'll take a picture tonight with something for size.  but while they are all supposed to be 8 inches, the round fits in the star and the star fits in the square.  so they did not make up true to pattern.  but very little of what i do does.  i like them anyway.

a funny about the cotton, kate said "momma, i want my baby blanket (she's not even pregnant yet) out of that.  i love the way it feels"  so then we had to have the conversation about form over function.  how the cotton will fade faster, will not be quite as warm in winter, etc, but how it will wash better (as in she can use bleach if need be), but will shrink.  and so on.  generally talking about the pros and cons of cotton versus acrylic.  so we'll see.  i think she will be disappointed by the color limitations on the cotton.  but might work her up something smallish in cotton anyway.  she's always been my biggest home made fan.  although, ellie is getthing there quick.  i told her we have to go yarn shopping soon.  very soon.  i want to get started so the kid won't be in kindergarden before it gets its blanket!

[Tina]

Before making  baby blanket from the cotton, wash one of your wash cloths and maybe use it a bit to see if it still remains soft after use and doesn't get hard and scratchy. You don't want to have something uncomfortable around baby.

[bayou girl]

that was my thought tina.  part of why i was going to make kate something she would/could wash and use to see how she felt about it.