WHAT'S NEXT?

GOOD AFTERNOON!

Now that the 8 Hour Seed Stitch Afghan is complete, wrapped up, and ready for delivery, it's time to finally decide WHAT'S NEXT?

Finally finished my 30 Ballband Dishcloths for the church boutique coming up in October.  I have several Mini Christmas Wreaths already worked up for the event. But they are still awaiting embellishment.  Still trying to decide exactly how I will finally decorate those.  Originally, I used Christmas ribbon and gift wrapping decorations but I think I need to come up with something new.  Any suggestions?

Awaiting Embellishment

Rambling Rows #2

Meanwhile, I could of course pick up my Rambling Rows Afghan by Carol Anderson. As much as I love knitting this entire blanket on straight 8's, for some reason, I put her down and now she has become an official WIP.  Perhaps when Autumn comes I shall pick her up again.

Saturday Night Sock Yarn Blankie

Or perhaps the infamous sock blankie made famous by the Heathen Housewife , Shelly Kang, which I began at the urging of a dear friend?


I do miss those Saturday nights with my friend, Miss Julie, and the Rocker Doo lying between us on the couch (he was a good yarn dog, may he rest in peace), watching Aflred Hitchcock classics, swapping sock yarn and knitting away!

My Beloved Rocky (an excellent yarn dog)

OR...HOW ABOUT A DRAGON?  Specifically the Little Dragon my daughter requested of me.....All but the tail and the face are complete and I can tell already this will be a definite Good and Faithful Knit!  This very well written pattern by Susan B. Anderson came out just as described at every juncture to date.  No surprise there, of course, Susan's work is always a joy to knit.  I just followed the directions and ouila! One dragon! Well, one dragon minus a tail.

I would consider sleeping on my decision as to what I should knit next, but that will not do, as I must have something to work on in the interim.

I am reminded of a post I read by Lene Alve some time ago about the restlessness  of the in between project syndrome...it very succinctly describes my immediate predicament.

Since October is only 3 months away, I should really work on Boutique projects. Namely, Mini Christmas Wreaths, beaded bracelets, Christmas Trees, hanging hand towels, or felted flowers.  Decision, decisions!

Anyone have suggestions? Votes? Any and all input appreciated!


Until Next Time,
Blessings and Adieu My Good and Faithful Knitters!

P.S. Lillies from my garden, cut and vased to decorate the kitchen table!

Yarn Along Wednesday

GOOD MORNING!

Today I am linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along whereby we share our current knitting and reading selections. Thank you Ginny for this opportunity!

Ezekiel and Today's Knitting

Today I began my day finishing up the book of Ezekiel in the New Living Translation Holy Bible by Tyndale.  Although a long compendium of woe and destruction, Ezekiel does show me a clear path toward hope and encouragement, specifically in Chapters 33, 47 and 48.

As a study guide I use a book by Dr. Henrietta C. Mears called What the Bible Is All About.  I am truly enjoying Dr. Mear's book and find it a very useful tool in showing me the thread of truth and continuity throughout the Holy Bible as a whole. And the NLT by Tyndale is an especially "read-able" version, at least for me.

Dr Henrietta C. Mears

As for the knitting, it seems to be my day to be finishing up! I have only 3 rows and a bind off left on my chosen Good and Faithful Knit for today, the 8 Hour Baby Afghan #3 from Plymouth Yarn, P274.

Although this seed and stockinette stitch pattern is part of a booklet, I have seen it sold as individual patterns in my favorite LYS.

 This particular seed stitch version of the 8 Hour Baby Afghan is the only one I have tried and I do go back to it often as I like it quite a bit, not only for its ease of construction, but also because it makes up into an especially fluffy newborn blankie!

8 Hour Baby Afghan from Plymouth

It uses four 200-yard  skeins of Encore Worsted Weight yarn, a 75/25 ratio acrylic/wool, tweed plied worsted, and when knitted in any one of the Drifting Colorways, creates a soft, pallette of colors in an almost plaid-like arrangement. (Give that last link a second, it will come up.) The yarn is held double throughout and worked on a size 13 needle.

I would recommend placing markers between repeats the first time you make an 8 Hour Afghan though, just because it can get a little confusing on the purl side after the first set of row repeats.  Once you establish a habit of reading stitches as you go, however, it all falls into place.

This, by the way, is pretty much the only baby item I can concede to make in pastels.  I tend to gravitate, even for baby items, toward brighter or even earthier tones, like greens or reds. The last baby sweater I knitted was done in teal and rust, at the recipient's request, and the one before that was done in yellows and grays, a popular combination these days.  Speaking of yellow, my first Asiatic Lilly has finally bloomed!

Blessings to You My Good and Faithful Knitters!

Summer Flowers

I LOVE FLOWERS! Always have. Such beautiful color and so fragrant! I'm not much of a green thumb though, so I have learned to plant the "easy grow" varieties.  My Asiatic Lillies have had great big buds for a while now, but have not yet bloomed. We are anxiously awaiting their birth.  But the Clematis is doing quite well.  See the vine on the right climbing up the fence?

Asiatic Lilly Buds on the left.  Climbing Clematis on the right.

Since I am still making Ballband Dishcloths for our church sale in October (27 down, 3 to go....) I shall regale you with my adventure of the day, and save my Good and Faithful Knits choice for next week.

Wrapped up and ready to go!

Today is the first Saturday I have had off from work in quite some time.  My hubby and I decided to take a bicycle ride.  We were blessed with beautiful sunshine for our little jaunt, despite reports of potential rain.

We decided to keep it brief and take it slow and easy, as neither has done much bicycling in recent years (a bit of an understatement here).  So, we pedaled to nearby Essex Park, a beautiful sanctuary of green not far from home.

We passed a multiplex of soccer fields, filled with youngsters playing and families watching.  We went up and down hills, through lovely, thickly forested areas, and over small bridges.  I realize now I should have taken more photos to show you. Please bear with me as I am still getting the hang of this blogging thing.

I did not have to think twice about stopping to take photos of these, however!  I love this yellow! It is so rich! I don't know what these flowers are called, but they are just breathtaking.  Reminds me of a particular shade of yellow Malabrigo Worsted Weight Merino.  Can you see the pink Heather up in the right hand corner?

Anyone know what these are?

Malabrigo Worsted Weight Merino from my stash. I swear it's yellow and not orange!

I did see some Queen Anne's Lace but alas, alac, the photos didn't even come close to doing them justice. These purple and pinks I especially like, though.  Does anyone know what these are called?

 My sweet husband patiently waited while I parked my bike and walked and peered and pointed and clicked away.  He is, indeed, a patient man...34 years patient!  But that story is for another day, another blog!

It was quite an enjoyable day and I am certain we will do more bicycling this summer!

Then it was home to rest with a nice pot of Jasmine tea,

(see my "proper" English tea cosy?), a little knitting, and  a little Acorn TV.  I do love a good British mystery!

Next week, I will share my choice for a Good and Faithful Knits baby blanket. Any babies arriving soon in your neck of the woods?

Blessings and Adieu,
My Good and Faithful Knitters!

The Best Washcloth Ever

Hi There,
Today I am blocking Ballband Dishcloths from Peaches & Creme, which were featured in the Mason Dixon Knitting Book written by Kaye Gardiner and Ann Shayne. You can find the pattern at knit a ballband dishcloth.

I love this pattern! The Ballband Dishcloth is truly a classic, tried and true, Good and Faithful! I vaguely recall seeing this pattern on cotton labels when I was a kid back in the 60's and 70's, before I knew there was anything out there besides Aunt Lydia's Rug Yarn (I still have some) and giant skeins of acrylic.

I like to make my dischloths with cotton and/or cotton blends.  The blends wear better in my experience.  The pinned ones in the foreground are 100% cotton.  Yes, I block my dishcloths.  They fold better!

The blue/white and the brick/green pictured above were made with Cotton Ease by Lion Brand and a mixed bag of mill ends I picked up at a Michael's store in Myrtle Beach about 5 years ago. I have several of these mill end/cottonease dishcloths in my kitchen drawer right now.  They are used daily.  None have any tears or holes and only recently, after 4 or 5 years of use, are they starting to show any signs of fading!

The creme/green (top right) is also Lion Brand Cotton Ease and I see that it is on sale here.  I may just have to order more.  Anyone ever order from Knitting Warehouse before?  I haven't yet but there's a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee seal at the website which is always promising.

This Ballband Dishcloth pattern has just the right amount of satisfaction and challenge for a good movie knit.  It's a fun way to use up scraps, and makes a truly useful item.  Often, I have given them as gifts and they are always appreciated!

Tops in my book as a Good and Faithful Knit!

Blessings to You and Happy Crafting!
Sandy

HOPE

Hello All,
My hope in writing this blog is to create a treasury of my favorite knit and crochet patterns...my tried and trues....my Good and Faithful Knits.

There are many in my giant notebooks.  Patterns, that is.  I have separated them into two groups:

1. Patterns I have knitted and would knit again, and
2. Patterns I have not yet attempted but am anxious to try, with the hope of course, that they too will become a treasured addition to my faithful compendium.

You know the ones I mean. Those patterns that make the yarn flow, effortlessly, through your fingers. The ones you can always count on to turn out...that turn out well and please their recipient, with just enough repetition to make them soothing, comforting, and just enough variation to keep them interesting, challenging, and to keep us motivated, we knitters.

At least they do for me.  And that is why I love them.

That being said, I shall regale you with my latest Good and Faithful Knit upon my return.

Blessings and Good Night, my Good and Faithful Knitters.