Still Knitting, Happy Face!

Since my last post on teaching myself to knit, I have not only finished the dish cloth I was working on but have also finished another one! I am so happy! I started another dish cloth that I will leave in the car to be worked on when waiting for clients appointments or moms therapy. I also started a project for a Christmas present (cant say who because she reads my blog) looks kinda easy from the pattern, but since I am still crawling, not so sure.

I am knitting! well learning

I have crochet since I was old enough to hold the needles in my hands thanks to my sister and grandma, but no one in my family knows how to knit! I have tried over and over the past 12 years to learn, but I have this little problem... I tend to jump ahead of myself (I try to run when I don't know how to crawl) oh well just another tiny flaw! :) Anyway this time I have found a pattern from Rhonda's blog, she got it from homespun living. After 4 days of starting, ripping out, starting getting half done, ripping out, I was determined to get it right! After all I'm not trying anything fancy just knit and purl, why cant I get it? Then, just as I was ready to raise the white flag (as I have so often when trying to knit)  I don't know what has happened (maybe I have slowed down with age or Rhonda inspires me)! But...whoohoo.... this time it is working!! I am almost half way finished with a dish cloth!! Soooo happy this is the picture of it so far below

Yay!! I feel so accomplished its like I have jumped out of an airplane! I am going to make at least 6 more dish clothes before I try something else, this time I will keep crawling! The best part of the pattern for me is I keep alternating from knit to pearl or pearl to knit, I am getting a lot of practice. I know my stitches are not the best yet, but I will keep at it and hopefully they will get better! Yay for persistence!!   :) I am going to accomplish another thing on my list of trying to live a simpler life and I do so love to use a knitted dishcloth!

Round Rug

I started this rug a couple weeks ago, hoping mom will want to help with it! Mom used to crochet a while back, so since she cannot do as much as she used to, my sisters and I are trying different things to see what she is interested in and what she wants to do. With her arthritis and eye sight, it can make some things a little difficult for her. Her and I (along with two of my sisters) plan on taking a few classes on different types of rug making (as soon as the weather makes up its mind!). Since the classes do not start for a while I decided to try this crochet rug. I could not find a  pattern for this rug so I decided to make it the way Grandma Bertie (my moms mom) did it. Mom was not sure if she could remember how but I guess she does because it seems to be laying down, curling up can be a problem, fingers crossed!.
Since dad passed away her and I are joined at the hip, where she goes I go and where I go she goes. I hope this summer proves to be a lot of enjoyment for mom (to much sadness this last year) I feel so blessed to have mom with us. I also have a few quilts in the making, may see if she would like to help me hand quilt them! If so I have a really nice quilting frame I can get out of the attic, (storage room). My hubby's grandma Ernie (his moms mom) had it made for me before she passed about 16 years ago. I have used it a lot and really enjoy hand quilting, its very relaxing. I will post a picture of it with the next one I (hopefully with mom) hand quilt.

Crochet Dish Cloths

I am running low on dish cloths, so my goal this week is to get 6 made (4ply 100 % cotton). I am not sure what the pattern is called but it is just double crochet a very easy pattern I can get one done usually in about 3 hours. I started making dish cloths about a year ago and am hooked! Its very relaxing and they seem to last longer than the ones I usually purchased at the store so its a win win.
I was reading Rhonda's blog the other day and I think the next time I make some I am going to try 2 ply cotton it should make a thinner dish cloth and should be good for windows, polishing etc.
I will try to give pattern, I am sure this stitch is in any crochet book though.
 ( chain 34 turn double crochet in second chain and in each chain across (ending with  total of 33 double crochet), 1st row done, 2nd row chain 3 turn skip first double crochet *double crochet front of the next post then double crochet in back post of the next post* across then last stitch is just half double crochet chain 3 turn, 3rd row double crochet across again chain 3 turn, then repeat next row with front post, back post double crochet half double crochet in last stitch chain 3 turn, across till you get the size wanted end last row with double crochet.