Which ever you like, be aware that a lot of the free patterns are up at GeoCities, which is going to be pulled down at some point in the foreseeable future, i.e., it's already forewarning people.
So, I'm getting patterns from there. The next face cloth I knit, like starting tomorrow is THIS ONE. Sorry, Shaggy, I'm up at 3 am and can't make any noise so my five things to do this weekend went right OUT the window with a BIG whooshing sound.
Anywho, I'll be downloading at least a dozen more from Geocities.
Another great site is the Dishcloth Boutique It's amazing how it's set up, with a passover for a picture of the cloth, using the mouse cursor.
It was a big mistake to go looking at Bittersweet's Blog, because not only am I wide awake at 3 am, I'm hungry. Go take a look at her Whoopie Pies. Yum!
OK, I have a question on knitting dishcloths. The question is, why? I've knitted them, and I've found them to be inferior to the ones you can buy at the store, in the shower, in the kitchen, in all applications. Even the cheap ones you can buy at the store. What am I doing wrong? How am I looking at them differently? Please educate me.
ReplyDeleteHi Sayingthings. Thanks for your comment and I'll try to answer coherently.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I really don't think you are doing anything wrong re: knitted dish cloths because I feel the same way about them; I've made them in the past, and don't really like them for dish washing. I don't like the yarn choice of cotton worsted weight, and I don't like them for actually washing dishes. They get too gummy for me, and pick up all sorts of little bits. I don't like sponges much either, but we use those and launder them frequently, or even re-cycle them into scrubbing outdoor things like flowerpots- we use the flip over scrubby sort of sponges.
I DO like them for dust cloths, when I'm waxing furniture because they work for that well. But how many does a person need? Also, one I have is a lovely pattern, made by a friend, that has little hearts on it. That one has become my favorite flower vase mat. I might make a few more for this purpose just because I really like that one and want to have more colors.
The Face cloths, however, are a completely different story. They are the ones that I am intending to knit more of - to end this knitting funk and have a usable product - as they are a better cloth then a facecloth made of terry, imo. I can make them the perfect size for my hand, They are a little nubby, and I make them out of smaller yarns. IHTH Sorry. this got pretty long; I'm trying to work around my addled thinking processes atm.
Hm, you like them for facecloths? I suppose that means shower use or some such. Hm, well, I don't know why I don't like them much for that either. I did make a set of lacy facecloths for my mom and she uses them as doilies instead (!!) so I suppose that's one thing they are better at than cheap washcloths, eh?
ReplyDeleteThis is curious. I have made dishcloths from a fine cotton on my knitting machine (is that a dirty word here?) and given some as gifts. They want more! The ones I make take a while, as I use a tuck stitch and work corner to corner, then crabstitch around the edge. Seems a lot of work for a dishcloth when you can buy them in bundles of 3 for about $2.00. But they swear mine are superior - more absorbent, etc. I do use a nice unmercerized cotton, it's true. And I've rather liked the ones I've made. They do a good job of wiping off the stove, table, sink, etc.
ReplyDeleteTo sayingthings:
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the lacy ones are good for that, too. *wink* I like them for that.
Really, when you knit lace they are too pretty to even think about using in a shower or bath.
But, They are nice, made of small thread (yarns) on very tiny needles, for face cloths, and gifting along with soaps.
To pogonip:
Knitting machines are the devil!! hehehe just kidding.
I have one and wish someday to clear a space on a table in the smaller space of the SR to accommodate the machine.
Your cloths sound like they are a lot more smooth or something. I'm looking up tuck stitch. Can you do that on a manual machine? And, the finer a yarn the better in these things, so that's one common thread (.. yes I know.. sew trite.. teehee) that seems to be the key in this. I don't like that great big stuff, but sure like the smaller, 20 or 30 weights doily cottons. Mercerized still makes nice cloths but it would be great to have softer stuff, true.
Oh, a package came in the mail!
Love packages in the mail. I've been on a shopping spree and will be getting a bunch, too. Today I got Charlene Phillips' Sewing Machine Attachments book - yummy!
ReplyDeleteI don't know what you mean by "manual" machine, but tuck stitch is one where you keep stitches on the needle without knitting it through. You do stack up the yarn from each row, though, and on the final row (usually 3rd) you knit all the threads through. Not quite the same as slip stitch, but close. With slip stitch, you don't knit those threads.
http://www.woolfestival.com/articles/knittingmachines3.htm explains:
Tuck Stitch
Tuck stitch doesn't really have a hand knitted equivalent that I'm aware of. In tuck stitch, the needles in working position knit normally. The needles in upper working position don't knit, but an extra loop of yarn is laid over them with each pass of the carriage. When these needles are returned to working position, all the loops on the needle knit in a single stitch, resulting in a textured fabric. Tuck stitch uses only one strand of yarn per row, although it can be changed on any row for some interesting color effects.
Ok, I think I understand how it works, though my machine is an older brother, supposed to be electronic pattern setting but I've never taken classes or the electronic advantages.
ReplyDeleteWhat I meant by manual or auto, is there are computerized machines that really can do a lot more than mine can and I was wondering if that's how you could do the tuck stitch on it.
I'm not really sure anymore exactly how even mine works to get the non-working needles out of the way.
I meant to say, now that you've explained tuck stitch, I think I can see how it works.
ReplyDeleteThis brain needs to go on the recharger overnight. lol
You have to move the needles by hand for the first row, I think. Then the carriage will select them and continue in the pattern. If you have a Brother, it will knit beautifully once you learn how to use it. It's not nearly as difficult as it appears at first look. The manual will walk you through all the steps and get you started. Dishcloths are a great place to start. Or a scarf. Or hat.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your confidence, there Pogo.
ReplyDeleteOk, so a set back on the needles, and then pull them back into the working line. Sounds nice and logical
I used it (it's a semi computerized 930E or 940)that uses those marked strips for patterning. In the eighty's I used it to make sweaters but haven't done anything with it for ages. I need to get the G Carriage up and running again, too. Brother stopped making any machines so that sort of put a hole in my wind sock, so to speak.
I want to knit socks on it for fun. lol
That's a terrific machine that will do marvelous things. It may be "old" but there really haven't been many improvements since then. There is support and parts and all, thanks to the Interwebz, so no worries on that score. If you made sweaters before, you're in good standing.
ReplyDeleteMy own machine is a Toyota punchcard machine - no garter carriage, only 24 stitch repeat, but I love it anyway.
Thanks Pogonip. One thing I may purchase for it is a ribber. What I usually do is handknit the ribbing but that's tiresome when you try to set all the stitches on the needles.
ReplyDeleteI'll get the maccina out from it's banishment as soon as the table is clear, sometime this fall I think. Then we are ready to rock and roll. Interwebz is the space between? hehe. I know that there are bulletin boards that need no internet connections, and Yay for that! Is it one of them? I'll go google it.
For now, it's Ceramics club. tfn. and thanks again. That machine deserves to be used or sold, one or the other.