Saturday, May 19, 2012

Crochet Post! #247 - 250 and 251-254


Back to it - heading to the beach today and running around like crazy!  The past week I have been working on different projects and trying to decide which ones to take with me!  It is always hard to pare down and choose!  It's a little crazy that my project bag is larger than my clothing bag :-)  But I think most yarn addicts will understand :-)

Anyway - this is it for today - I think my favorite is the Pansy cloth this week.  Remember that all these patterns are from Maggie Weldon's 2011 Dishcloth Challenge and are located in the September archives at www.bestfreecrochet.com  Go grab a pattern and join me in the fun!


#247  Popcorn & Stripes Crochet Dishcloth  pictured below on the upper left.. I enjoyed doing this one - once I figured out what I was doing!

#248 Pansy Crochet Dishcloth - below on the upper right - LOVE the way this one turned out!!  Not too hard to figure out and looks exactly like a pansy :-)  I would definitely do this one again simply because it's so pretty :-)


#249  Who Knows? Crochet Dishcloth - pictured above on the bottom left....  a very basic easy pattern with some stitches added on top at the end.  It is a technique that adds some interest to the final product!

#250 V-Stitch Variation Crochet Dishcloth - above on the bottom right.  Like most of these patterns, it was pretty easy to figure out and fun to do!

The next set of 8 dishcloths are pictured below:

#251 - Lavender & Spearmint Dishcloth - pictured below on the bottom left.  I apologize for the lighting in the photo.. you can't really see how pretty it turned out!  But I do like the round patterns because they work up so quickly.  I'm not sure how this will do as a dishcloth but I am certain that if I made another one and stitched them together, it would make a really pretty and useful hot pad for the table.

#252 Striped V-stitches Dishcloth - on the bottom right.... this one is a basic v-stitch, works up quickly and shows off variegated yarn nicely :-) 



#253 Flat Rose Dishcloth - pictured above on the upper right.  I am already smiling thinking of using these pretty flower cloths while doing dishes or cleaning.  What a joy not only to create but also to use!  I am already plotting to start over with the patterns I had fun with so I can use up the many different colored scraps I have left from this big project.

#254 Nascar Dishcloth - uh.. I feel certain you can guess this one!  I had fun doing this cloth - but will have to hunt for a racing fan to give it to :-)  I do think it is pretty in it's own right though!



Friday, May 11, 2012

Big Goals!

I've been stalled for a few months.... not really sure why.... maybe because all my little goals are boring!  I mean, if they interested me, I wouldn't have to work so hard creating new habits, would I?

Little goals are important - but for me - these little goals are more about building habits.  And why would I want to create habits??

Because I want some things in my life to be on auto-pilot.  I do not want to be fighting with myself forever about things that would make my life easier.....  like routinely cleaning things out... or working down the debt and not creating more....  like eating more fruits and veggies than anything else.  These are things that are not my easy habits now - BUT would make my life infinitely better if I just did them....  these are small things that will build a life that will make me happy and bring me closer to the person God intended me to be.

I do need to look farther though.....  I never want to have to say what I hear so many people my age say....  "I CAN'T because I'm too old..... too sick.... too tired.... too whatever"

I want to be in a position where I can say "I CAN"  or "I can TRY".  Being ready to participate in new experiences.... go new places.... add thoughts and ideas to my life-long cache of mental treasures - oh yes, this is what I want my life to be.

To that end, I've been thinking lately of adventures..... of "what would I like to DO?"  My husband chuckles at me... he is pretty happy with the status quo.  But for some reason, I am always itching for a little bit more.

A friend is talking about celebrating her 60th birthday at the end of the Appalachian Trail... (having hiked the whole thing beforehand).  And you know what?  I am seriously considering joining her.  I will turn 60 that year too..... I will turn 60 a few months later.....  I had also said to my husband some time ago that I would like to participate in the Honolulu Marathon (because sometimes it is held on my birthday)... oh yes, you guessed it - the next time it is on my birthday is that same year.

So it's kind of rolling around my head that I have 2 big challenges/adventures to prepare for in a few years... how to turn a 'never camp' kind of girl into someone who will spend a few months walking from Georgia to Maine.... and then come home to train for the marathon (walking!).. BIG goals....  I like it...

And in the meantime, my hubby will turn 60 first and has responded to my diea by talking about New Zealand....  I can practice hiking there, right?  

Sounds like I have a purpose for any money I can raise selling stuff :-)


Thursday, May 10, 2012

Crochet Post! Dishcloths #239-242 and 243-246

I have been working like crazy on these dishcloths.... I can see the end!  I have fewer than 20 left if you count the ones in my sewing basket waiting for me to stitch them!  And I am glad :-)  I have a pile of requests waiting to fill over the next few months.

Lots of baby boys on the way - several of whom have older sibling who need to feel the love too :-)  So I can see that I will have a lot to share here if I can get myself writing again!  I am not being very productive in life - and maybe the writing (or lack thereof) is why - I am not sure but hopefully I am pulling myself together again!   Anyway - the week's cloths to share are below!

#239  Florets Crochet Dishcloth - pictured below on the bottom left.;  I apologize for the poor photo.. the dark blue cloth doesn't show up well against my dark green background.  The pattern is fairly easy to figure out and make - a pretty addition to a gift but probably not the best dishcloth.

#240 Bayberry Crochet Dishcloth - pictured on the bottom right.  I had fun with this one.  Not too easy - but clear instructions and predictable repeat pattern.  The bobbles make things interesting and I got to use up some odds and ends....  The resulting cloth is sturdy and will be good for its intended purpose.  I would do this one again!



#241 Shells Crochet Dishcloth - pictured on the upper right... another pretty one.  It's hard to see in the picture because of the dark background - but it is a lacy shell pattern that worked up quickly.

#242 - Lazy Daisy Crochet Dishcloth  LOVED the final product!  It wasn't that hard to do but the edging was annoying to do :-)  It is worked on top of the flat daisy and is a little tricky.  Looks great though.. I might do again but would have to think about it!

The next 8 cloths are in the photo below:

#243 Plain Peach Crochet Dishcloth - pictured below on the upper right.  This is a fairly simple pattern which makes a basic dishcloth.  Functional, not fancy but a pattern that works quite well!

#244 Soul Heart Crochet Dishcloth - on the upper left... this was a fun cloth to make.  Not too difficult and a fun shape to create - it's a good-sized cloth.  Also a good one for scraps - Definitely a repeat performer!





#245 Daisy Crochet Dishcloth - pictured above n the lower right.  I really enjoy making some of these cloths!  The flowers in a circle are so satisfying because they work up quickly and are pretty as you do them!  The only trouble I had with this one is keeping it flat... it seems to want to ruffle a little but it is really pretty anyway.

#246 Diamond Filet Crochet Dishcloth - I liked doing this one too.  Filet is always fun as it unfolds.... I am not sure how well this will work as a dishcloth but I can visualize it in a panel of an afghan!


www.bestfreecrochet.com   #239 - 243 are in the August archive - #244-246 in September

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Crochet Post 231-234 and 235-238

Wow - it's been a while since I posted my dishcloths!  I did some Easter goodies for my grandgirls - I think I posted those.... but since then - it's been dishcloths and dishcloths and dishcloths!  I am ready to be finished with them :-)  Finished with the project that is - I am still enjoying the quick little crochet ventures.... this is a super way to try out new stitches and ideas!  But what am I going to do with 365 dishcloths??

That should be my next challenge!

At any rate - I will begin again :-)

#231  Rickrack Crochet Dishcloth - pictured below on the bottom left.. this is a combination of stitches with a really pretty effect.  The photo doesn't do it justice.

#232 Tannenbaum Crochet Dishcloth - I bet you can figure out which one is the Christmas tree :-)  One thing I can say after all these cloths is that I am getting quite proficient with crocheting in a couple of colors and following a chart.  I can also say that I don't want to do a lot of them!  It really does make a pretty cloth though - and would make a nice afghan if you really liked doing them...


#233 Christmas Wreath Crochet Dishcloth - pictured above on the upper right.  I had fun doing this one!  It worked up quickly and looks adorable.  I could see doing a bunch of these as Christmas gifts in varying combinations of red, white and green!

#234 Red Apple Crochet Dishcloth - above on the upper left.  All the comments I made about the charts are still true BUT if one had a favorite teacher, this would be worth the work!  The finished cloth is absolutely adorable.   I would definitely consider doing this one again for a special someone.

The next 8 cloths are pictured below:

#235 Summer Shells Crochet Dishcloth - below on the bottom right.  I LOVE the color combinations I chose for this one.. really just using up scraps and coordinating colors... doesn't match my kitchen at all but makes me feel like summer :-)  It wasn't hard to make but I don't think it's my favorite pattern... the cloth is nice and thick so I am pleased with the end product.

#236 Tropical Breeze Crochet Dishcloth - on the upper left... more juggling with the scraps.. another nifty pattern to try.  Not really difficult but not a fave... the cloth turned out cute though!




#237 Lacy Shells Crochet Dishcloth - pictured above on the upper right.  This one was easy to do - and quick - and turned out gorgeous!  The BUT is that I'm not at all sure it will be a good dishcloth :-)  In a different size, it would make a fantastic afghan panel.  It will make a nice addition to a kitchen gift package though.. and may serve someone else just fine.

#238 Flower Child Crochet Dishcloth - on the bottom left.  LOVED doing this one - it is like a granny square.  Quick to work up - and very satisfying.  I will probably use up a lot of scraps making more of them.... Two of them stitched together would also make a good hot mat for the table.

These cloths are still available on www.bestfreecrochet.com and are located in the August 2011 archive