Sunday 20 December 2009

Rose Spa Cloth




My New Rose Pattern from a Spa Cloth/Dish Cloth©
~Marilyn Wallace~


1..Knit a spa cloth/dish cloth.... I like to knit the Bee Stitch or the Rose Stitch http://www.knittingknonsense.com/beestitchcloth.html as there are little protusions that make it look like a cabbage rose.....This rose is a Spa Cloth so I used Bernat CottonTots...



2..Fold Cloth..... check out how to do this from last year’s rose ....NB You don’t need to baste...
http://rachelsknittingroom.blogspot.com/2008/12/dishcloth-pattern-day-countdown-to_21.html



3. Get 3 or as many as you prefer very small elastics for holding back your hair...Crochet all around the elastic with a chain st.... till it is very full... In every chain st. crochet 5 treble crochets until the elastic is full.... The treble stitches make it look like long rose petals....



4. Place scrunchies on the bottom part of the rose & adjust to make them look like rose petals.....Some I pointed downwards to look like a fully opened rose....You will have extra scrunchies around when needed..... Makes a nice double gift.....

Tuesday 3 November 2009

Crocheted Textured Dishcloth




This was my first crocheted dishcloth ever... It really intrigued me when I saw the pattern & I knew instantly I had to try it..... In the beginning my cloth just did not look like the picture in the pattern..... I finally figured out that you crochet in the front loop for the textured look & to make the textured row stand out you crochet into the back loop of the same stitch.... You never turn the pattern either... I just had to keep count of how many bars I had so I didn't get the great slant going on the left side..... Crocheting around the sides help to make the cloth look even nicer.....

Thursday 29 October 2009

Best Witches

Best Witches
designed, test knit & photographed by
Marilyn Wallace
 


Materials:
4 mm short, circular needles (knit straight on them) or US#6
1 ball cotton yarn for a Dish Cloth or
1 ball CottonTots for a soft, Spa Cloth

Special Instructions:
B5 means to do border for 5 stitches (always keep the seed st. sequence)
How to do seed st. on odd number of stitches & even number of st.
Cast on 54 st.
Row 01 seed st. across row
Row 02 seed st. across row
Row 03 seed st. across row
Row 04 seed st. across row
Row 05 seed st. across row
Row 06 B5 k44 B5
Row 07 B5 p44 B5
Row 08 B5 k44 B5
Row 09 B5 p44 B5
Row 10 B5 k44 B5
Row 11 B5 p44 B5
Row 12 B5 k44 B5
Row 13 B5 p1 k3 p3 k3 p1 k2 p3 k2 p4 k3 p2 k2 p1 k2 p1 k4 p2 k4 p1 B5
Row 14 B5 k44 B5
Row 15 B5 p1 k4 p1 k4 p1 k2 p3 k2 p3 k5 p1 k2 p1 k2 p1 k4 p1 k5 p1 B5
Row 16 B5 k44 B5
Row 17 B5 p1 k2 p1 k3 p1 k2 p1 k2 p3 k2 p3 k2 p1 k2 p1 k2 p1 k2 p1 k2 p3 k1 p2 k2 p1 B5
Row 18 B5 k44 B5
Row 19 B5 p1 k2 p2 k1 p2 k2 p1 k2 p3 k2 p3 k2 p4 k2 p1 k2 p1 k2 p5 k2 p2 B5
Row 20 B5 k44 B5
Row 21 B5 p1 k2 p2 k1 p2 k2 p1 k2 p3 k2 p3 k2 p4 k5 p1 k4 p2 k2 p3 B5
Row 22 B5 k44 B5
Row 23 B5 p1 k2 p5 k2 p1 k2 p3 k2 p3 k2 p1 k2 p1 k2 p1 k2 p1 k2 p3 k2 p4 B5
Row 24 B5 k44 B5
Row 25 B5 p1 k2 p5 k2 p1 k2 p1 k6 p1 k5 p1 k2 p1 k2 p1 k4 p1 k5 p1 B5
Row 26 B5 k44 B5
Row 27 B5 p1 k2 p5 k2 p1 k2 p1 k6 p2 k3 p2 k2 p1 k2 p1 k4 p2 k3 p2 B5
Row 28 B5 k44 B5
Row 29 B5 p44 B5
Row 30 B5 k44 B5
Row 31 B5 p8 k5 p2 k5 p2 k4 p4 k2 p12 B5
Row 32 B5 k44 B5
Row 33 B5 p8 k6 p1 k5 p1 k6 p3 k2 p12 B5
Row 34 B5 k44 B5
Row 35 B5 p8 k2 p2 k2 p1 k2 p4 k1 p3 k2 p3 k2 p12 B5
Row 36 B5 k44 B5
Row 37 B5 p8 k5 p2 k5 p4 k2 p4 k2 p12 B5
Row 38 B5 k44 B5
Row 39 B5 p8 k2 p2 k2 p1 k2 p6 k2 p5 k2 p12 B5
Row 40 B5 k44 B5
Row 41 B5 p8 k2 p2 k2 p1 k2 p5 k2 p2 k1 p3 k2 p12
Row 42 B5 k44 B5
Row 43 B5 p8 k6 p1 k5 p1 k6 p1 k6 p10 B5
Row 44 B5 k44 B5
Row 45 B5 p8 k5 p2 k5 p2 k4 p2 k6 p10 B5
Row 46 B5 k44 B5
Row 47 B5 p44 B5
Row 48 B5 k44 B5
Row 49 B5 p44 B5
Row 50 B5 k44 B5
Row 51 B5 p44 B5
Row 52 B5 k44 B5
Row 53 seed st. across row
Row 54 seed st. across row
Row 55 seed st. across row
Row 56 seed st. across row
Row 57 seed st. across row
Row 58 Cast off…..
©Copy Right Protected Marilyn Wallace 2009

Check out on my free blog how I do my blocking….. Blocking makes a big difference…. I like to block my cloths to take pictures for patterns or when giving as a gift…..After I wash & dry the cloths I find the names show even better…..

Thursday 22 October 2009

Sunday 3 May 2009

My Twilight Series





















Twilight










Bree

Charlie

















Be Safe
©Copy Right Protected Marilyn Wallace 2009
http://marilynsknittingheavenonearth.blogspot.com/



Materials:
4 mm short, circular needles (knit straight on them) or US#6


1 ball cotton yarn for a Dish Cloth or 1 ball CottonTots for a soft, Spa Cloth



Special Instructions:
B5 means to do border for 5 stitches (always keep the seed st. sequence)How to do seed st. on odd number of stitches & even number of st.



http://knitting.about.com/od/stitchglossary/g/seedstitch.htm



Cast on 42 st.
Row 01 seed st. across row
Row 02 seed st. across row
Row 03 seed st. across row
Row 04 seed st. across row
Row 05 seed st. across row
Row 06 B5 k32 B5
Row 07 B5 p32 B5
Row 08 B5 k32 B5
Row 09 B5 p32 B5
Row 10 B5 k32 B5
Row 11 B5 p32 B5
Row 12 B5 k32 B5
Row 13 B5 p4 k5 p2 k2 p2 k2 p1 k2 p4 k5 p3 B5
Row 14 B5 k32 B5
Row 15 B5 p3 k7 p1 k2 p2 k2 p1 k2 p4 k5 p3 B5
Row 16 B5 k32 B5
Row 17 B5 p3 k1 p4 k2 p1 k2 p2 k2 p1 k2 p4 k2 p6 B5
Row 18 B5 k32 B5
Row 19 B5 p7 k2 p2 k2 p2 k2 p1 k2 p4 k2 p6 B5
Row 20 B5 k32 B5
Row 21 B5 p6 k2 p3 k6 p1 k5 p1 k5 p3 B5
Row 22 B5 k32 B5
Row 23 B5 p5 k2 p2 k1 p1 k2 p2 k2 p1 k2 p4 k2 p6 B5
Row 24 B5 k32 B5
Row 25 B5 p4 k2 p3 k1 p1 k2 p2 k2 p1 k2 p4 k2 p6 B5
Row 26 B5 k32 B5
Row 27 B5 p3 k7 p1 k6 p1 k5 p1 k5 p3 B5
Row 28 B5 k32 B5
Row 29 B5 p4 k5 p3 k4 p2 k5 p1 k5 p3 B5
Row 30 B5 k32 B5
Row 31 B5 p32 B5
Row 32 B5 k32 B5
Row 33 B5 p9 k5 p3 k6 p9 B5
Row 34 B5 k32 B5
Row 35 B5 p9 k6 p2 k6 p9 B5
Row 36 B5 k32 B5
Row 37 B5 p9 k2 p2 k2 p2 k2 p13 B5
Row 38 B5 k32 B5
Row 39 B5 p9 k2 p2 k2 p2 k2 p13 B5
Row 40 B5 k32 B5
Row 41 B5 p9 k5 p3 k6 p9 B5
Row 42 B5 k32 B5
Row 43 B5 p9 k2 p2 k2 p2 k2 p13 B5
Row 44 B5 k32 B5
Row 45 B5 p9 k2 p2 k2 p2 k2 p13 B5
Row 46 B5 k32 B5
Row 47 B5 p9 k6 p2 k6 p9 B5
Row 48 B5 k32 B5
Row 49 B5 p9 k5 p3 k6 p9 B5
Row 50 B5 k32 B5
Row 51 B5 p32 B5
Row 52 B5 k32 B5
Row 53 B5 p32 B5
Row 54 B5 k32 B5
Row 55 B5 p32 B5
Row 56 B5 k32 B5
Row 57 seed st. across row
Row 58 seed st. across row
Row 59 seed st. across row
Row 60 seed st. across row
Row 61 seed st. across row
Row 62 Cast off….



©Copy Right Protected Marilyn Wallace 2009




Thursday 5 March 2009

My Blocking Technique

Letters really need to be blocked well as they will show so much better.... 


Place cloth or bookmark on table & generously spray with water.... Take a tea towel & place your hands all over it to flatten it out so it lays nice & even; then spray with water again......Let the water soak in for about 20 minutes... I now use the handle end of a wooden spoon....... & press down all around the cloth...Using the end of a knitting needle(this is your fine tuning) I then press around the letters & inside the letters till the areas around the letters are quite flat...This makes the letters pop.... I move it to where I am going to take the picture & flatten some more just around the letters... Let the cloth dry overnight as this makes the cloth look better too.... The yarn relaxes & the cloth will pop even more.... hope this helps....& don't be afraid to spend time doing this as the efforts are well worth it......
Your cloth or bookmark will look so much nicer for presenting...

Tuesday 24 February 2009

Fabric Decoupage Bag & Knitted Hooded Bath Towel

I saw some fabric decoupage at Michaels & I knew I had the perfect project for it.....I covered a black carry bag that I had kicking around for a long time with some left over Winnie the Pooh material..... I coated the outside as well & it feels just like canvas......I couldn't imagine what difference the fabric podge would make but it sure is nice. The bag will be so durable & stain resistant.....I would sure use this product again but the next time I would just leave it long enough to air out so the glue smell is minimized.......before gifting....
For my hooded baby towel I knit grandmother's favourite dishcloth pattern on circular needles....size 5 Canadian or UK(US 8)When I increased the stitch I placed my yarn over on the opposite side of the needle so there would not be an small hole left.... I don't want baby to get his little fingers caught in one of the holes... I knit it til I had 100 stitches before decreasing....I knit it in CottonTots by Bernat so it is nice & soft.....For the little hood I cast on about 38 stitches & decreased 1 st at the beginning of the needle only... on every row...I off set the decrease by knitting 2 st. first before knitting 2 together....I sewed it into place & it looks like it was knitted in 1 piece....of course I had to make our new grandson some washcloths to match again with CottonTots...... As baby grows I will just make bigger towels by increasing to more stitches... It would make a nice blanket too......

Tuesday 3 February 2009

Cherished Moments to Remember~Johnny and Dee 40 years, Graduations, Weddings, Engagements, Birthdays, Anniversaries & Special Times In Your Life

Johnny & Dee 40 yrs
Dakota Dale



Feb. 12
2009
7:23 PM
Chris has a new grandson, Dakota Dale & she asked me to design a cloth with his name on it as well as the birth date & time.... What a clever idea Chris!!! She is going to present these to her new grandson in a few days when she sees him for the first time!!!! Congratulations, Chris.... I know it will be thrilling......







Here is the completed afghan Liz made for her grandson's upcoming wedding... I love how Liz incorporated the squares to make 1 big square.... You did a beautiful job Liz & should be very proud of your work.....



These squares will be knit into a wedding afghan..... Wonderful idea Liz...... I hope to see pictures when you have completed it......







Thursday 15 January 2009

Something I always wanted to try & I finally did.....

Purse made from red plastic bags(Zellers) & black cotton.

I don't have a set pattern for my bags I just make them up as I go along.... The red one I did cast on 24 st.... I use two large needles one being a lot bigger than the other just for effect... They called it Condo knitting when it was the rage...I knit it as deep as I would like & fold inside out & sew together with black cotton yarn..... I lined the red bag with black duct tape(you can get all kinds of colours at Canadian Tire).... You can see I ran out before doing the flap....Make the flap by decreasing 1 st each end of the needle....I knit handle by casting on 4 stitches & knit to desired length & then cast off.... Sew to the sides & voila a spiffy little bag/purse.....You can have a new purse every day of the week..... Eat your heart out Paris Hilton!!!


Purse made with VHS tape lined with Duct Tape
Purse made with grocery bags & ball of yarn


A break over Christmas afforded me some time to knit involving recyled material......The pink bag I looked up plarn on You Tube & learn't how to make plarn... It is so much fun & relaxing but time consuming......I don't like the crochet look so I used two different sized large knitting needles & mixed in an odd ball of yarn I had around never to be used.....I felt I needed to give the bag stabilty....Voila, I had a purse.....


I read that VHS tape comes up nicely & it surely did....... It is already cut evenly for you & is already on a spool..... How easy is that!! I added some cotton yarn in black for stabilty.... It left little openings as I used the big needles again & I didn't want things falling between the cracks.....I duct taped the entire inside with matching black duct tape.... The duct tape makes the purse stand up so nicely & nothing will get through that baby.....I didn't use the VHS tape for the handle as I felt it would be too rough on your hands but I double stranded some cotton yarn.