Making in-roads

Today saw the end of my August yarn-drought, and it is time to report on what has been achieved:

I think you can tell from the picture that quite a bit of yarn has been used (and I promise that I didn’t just move it all out of the frame!)

So what has made the difference? I have made two ripple blankets, three hot water bottle covers, two twiddlemuffs, numerous dishcloths, jellyfish, crabs and spiders; and I have experimented with some new things using old yarn – octopuses and the beginnings of a corner to corner scarf.

And what have I learned? Possibly to try harder to buy only one project ahead at a time (I know, it’s easier said than done) and definitely that I don’t need to buy new yarn to try new things. Oh and I have found out which bits of my stash are still there after all this endeavour!

Now does anyone have any suggestions for a worthwhile project using 28 balls of recycled cotton??

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A dishcloth to remember

I know that dishcloths aren’t the most memorable of objects, but this one is also a pattern swatch.

The stitch is called ‘Fan and V’ and it is from Sarah Hazell’s lovely book ‘200 crochet stitches’ which has photo’s, written instructions and charts to guide you through each stitch.

It is made in Sirdar ‘simply recycled’ dk ‘Greenhouse’ (discontinued) on a 5mm hook, and I think I cast on 42 stitches. The final cloth measures 24 x 24cm, and took about 35g of yarn.
So the good news is I have a new dishcloth, and one less ball of yarn in my stash. I am too embarrassed to tell you how many balls there are still to go….

The paintbox blanket

So called because the coloured squares and cream borders remind me of a child’s paintbox

Made in Debbie Bliss Rialto 4 ply 100% wool, on a 4mm hook, using Mauve, Sea green, Pale blue and Silver. The other colours are from my friend’s stash collection (everyone needs a friend like this!) The border is Rowan wool-cotton 4 ply in Antique.
The idea for the blanket came from a French website called ‘knitted art’ (see below) and the chart for the squares is by Denise Plourde on Irishlace.net, although I modified the corners slightly. The border is a lovely triangle shape, from a tutorial by Moogly on Youtube.
Did I have fun? Yes!

http://knittedart.wordpress.com/2013/06/13/sept-jours-sept-liens-22/
http://www.irishlace.net/crochet/granny-squares.html