Weekly Update - Feathers To And Fro Afghan & New Project - Batik Cascade

I made a little more progress on the Feathers To and Fro afghan from Learn to Make Monk’s Cloth Afghans by Marilyn T. Magly.

My quilting has been calling me, so on Friday I started Batik Cascade by Karen Combs.  At least that's what she was calling it when it was published in the Oct./Nov. 2009 issue of Mark Lipinski's Quilter's Home.  It's now for sale on her website under the name Batik Go-Round.

I've already finished the 1st row and part of the 2nd. I've also got a bunch of patches cut and marked.

I'm keeping Feathers To And Fro out since I know there will be days -- like the last two -- when I just won't feel like messing with the iron.

Weekly Update - New Project, Feathers To And Fro Afghan

I actually started this project last Saturday, but I've been sick with a nasty cold and haven't been up to posting anything. Sorry about the poor quality of some of the photos, but I was dealing with light and space issues.  Hopefully next week I'll be over this cold and be a bit more organized.

I finally finished preparing the monk's cloth I've been working on now and again, and I started stitching Feathers To and Fro from Learn to Make Monk’s Cloth Afghans by Marilyn T. Magly. If you've been reading my blog for a while you may remember that I did a towel using the smaller motif from this pattern. This time I'll be using the entire design with these yarn colors:

I'd already squared off the ends of this monk's cloth, basted temporary hems, and washed it. Saturday, I undid the basting along one of the long edges, and cut the selvedge off, carefully following one line of the weave.

Then I folded the edge over 3 squares and pressed it.

I folded it again over 5 squares, pressed it and pinned it.

Then I sewed the hem down.

I did the same thing on the other long edge, then on Tuesday I was able to FINALLY start stitching. Here's what I had done on Wednesday:

 

Finished - Coasters & New Project - Barefoot Summer Days

I finished the last 2 coasters day before yesterday.

I also started Barefoot Summer Days, a scrap afghan designed by Kathy Wesley.

Weekly Update - Cell Phone Cozy, Bright Feathers, & Coasters

I got a cell phone this past week, so naturally I had to crochet a cozy for it. It took me about an hour.

I made a little progress on Bright Feathers.

I finished the Glove coaster.

I got the quilting done on the Ringo coaster.

And I basted the George coaster together.

New Project & Free Pattern - Dishcloth

I need some dishcloths, so I started knitting some. They’re as simple as it gets – just a garter stitch square knitted on the bias.

This is one of those ubiquitous patterns that get handed down through the generations, but in case you haven’t run across it yet, here it is:

With worsted weight cotton yarn and whatever size needles feel right to you* cast on 3 stitches.

Row 1: Knit.

Row 2: Inc by knitting into the front & back of the 1st stitch, knit across to last stitch, inc by knitting into the front & back of the last stitch.

Repeat rows 1 & 2 until the dishcloth is the size you want, ending on row 2.

Row 3: Knit.

Row 4: Ssk, knit across to last stitch, k2tog.

Repeat rows 3 & 4 until you have 3 stitches left, then bind off and weave in the ends.

I like to mark which side I do the increases and decreases on so that I don’t have to count rows.

*Gauge isn’t important on this project, so it doesn’t matter much what size needles you use. I used a size 10, but I knit loosely. You might want to try a size 11 or 12.

Finished - Feathers To and Fro Towel, New Project - Purple Passage

On Monday I finished the towel using part of the Feathers To and Fro pattern from Learn to Make Monk’s Cloth Afghans by Marilyn T. Magly.

 

I’ve revised my opinion of the Charles Craft towel a bit upwards: after washing, the appearance improved greatly and you can’t even see the snags from the packaging anymore. However, the towel is too small and thin to be anything but decorative. If I want more practical towels I’ll have to buy some huck fabric and make my own.

My next Swedish weaving project is Purple Passage from Learn to Make Monk’s Cloth Afghans by Marilyn T. Magly. I’m stitching it on a 15”x18” piece of 14-ct. turquoise aida using purple shades of #5 perle cotton. (Note: My camera refused to photograph these colors correctly, so I’ve had to adjust them manually. So, if you notice any discrepancies in color amongst these pictures, that’s why.)

Here’s what I had done as of Monday:

I still plan to post a weekly update later today.

New Project - Bright Feathers

On Sunday, 6-12-11, I started stitching my Bright Feathers design. I’m stitching it on 28 ct. black Jobelan.

Here’s what I had done on Sunday.

I’ll post my progress so far later today after I’ve finished stitching while listening to Creative Mojo.