WIP: What’s On My Needles? Pop Blanket Squares and Hand Knit Cotton Dish Cloths

Where ever I go, I always take my knitting with me. I wish I was more organized about it though.

Having packed snacks and a diaper bag/change of clothes for the kids, gotten everyone dressed (including myself – a miracle some days), hair brushed, etc, socks and shoes on, jackets, hats, wellies on, etc., my knitting is the very, very last thing I think about as I am ushering my wee ones out the door. Sometimes, they’re already outside in the cold, and I have to bolt back in the door to grab something…anything, to knit. It looks like this, e-v-e-r-y time. I tell myself, that if I just packed a small knitting bag the night before, with everything that I might need, I could avoid this shenanigan (yeah, right! Like that will ever happen?). I would also avoid carting around an over-sized knitting bag which contains an unrealistic amount of potential knitting in it. I am, after all, going somewhere with my little ones and I will be lucky if I can snag 15 minutes of free time to knit.

In a previous post, I mentioned “inbetweener” projects, which are smaller, easier projects that are great to just “grab-and-go”. Exactly the type of project I need, for the situation described above.

My current inbetweener projects include Hand Knit Cotton Dishcloths and squares for the Pop Blanket.

Since I first posted about the dish cloths, I have knitted several more. They are fantastic to use, and look much more attractive hanging up next to the sink than my old pajama rags! I have also been working on my iphone photography, and trying to capture my finished projects in a better light! Here are some updated pictures of my dish cloths:

As for the POP Blanket, I have knitted about 6 squares so far using Cascade Yarn Ecological Wool in 8010 Raw White, for the main color, and leftover Malabrigo Yarn Worsted, in various contrasting colors for the dots. These are so satisfying, fun, and easy to knit!

Here’s a tasty appetizer:

What are your favorite inbetweener projects and how do you keep your grab-and-go projects organized? I’d love to know! Please leave your comments below.

Until next time,

Be well, and happy knitting!

The Devil Finds Work for Idle Hands

My last big project was the Sanctuary Beanie, and whenever I had a spare moment to knit, I was working on it. I knit so much in a matter of days that I think I got a little bit addicted to the feeling of having a project in my hands and being productive in those moments of the day when I would otherwise feel helplessly unproductive (like when I’m waiting at a bus stop or watching my kids play at the park).

See, this is why I love to knit. I like to be doing things, being creative and productive. Knitting allows me to do this wherever I am, and when I have a few (rare) moments to myself. People often say to me “Oh I couldn’t knit, I’m not a patient person”. This makes me laugh, because it is exactly because I am not a patient person, that knitting is a good for me. It keeps me occupied when I would otherwise feel restless and impatient. It helps me feel like I am doing something useful with my time.

So, when I finished the Sanctuary Beanies, I found myself empty handed all of a sudden, and didn’t have anything else to work on! I felt incredibly antsy. I needed to knit something! But as you may know, starting a new project can take time, because you need to choose a pattern/design a pattern, buy the right yarn, knit a swatch to ensure you have the correct gauge (a step that I’m sure nobody in their right might would knowingly skip), and if all is good, you can cast on.

So, from that day forward, I vowed that I would always have something to work on in between the bigger projects. These “in-between-er” projects need to meet the following criteria:

1. Small – good for taking wherever I go.
2. Easy – the kind of knitting that I can do while at the bus stop, at the park with the kids, or chatting with friends.
3. Stash busting – something that allows me to use up left over yarn, or just use whatever I have available NOW!.
4. Practical/Useful – It has to be something I actually want or would use. 
5. Quick to cast-on and get started – for those times when I need to knit NOW!

Recently, I have been knitting cotton dish cloths and it is the perfect in-between-er project. I started with this one: Double Bump Dish Cloth. Then, I began to experiment with other stitch patterns, developing my own dishcloth pattern along the way.

For months, we’ve been using old, ripped pajamas (cut into squares), as dishcloths, so I am actually pretty excited to start using these beautiful, and vibrant hand knit ones instead.

I picked up several balls of Bernat Handicrafter Cotton while shopping at Michaels, so I will continue to experiment with other stitch patterns and whip up a few more handy-dandy dishcloths, while also keeping the devil away from my idle hands.