More Washcloths

Are you getting tired of washcloth posts? Sorry, I guess washcloths are my favorite thing to knit right now. I think it's because:

1. Each one takes less than one ball of yarn.
2. They don't take very long (unless you procrastinate or get sidetracked, like me).
3. You can try a bunch of different patterns and colors.
4. They're useful. 
5. They're easy to take along and work on when you know you have some time to kill.

Anyway, I diverted for a little while from the book of dishcloths I'm working through so I could make the washcloths in the Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting.

(image source)

That's the book I used to make my dad's scarf last Christmas. The book calls these "Dirty Girl Washcloths". They were quick and easy for me; no new techniques to figure out. I used Lily Sugar'n Cream cotton yarn for all three.

One of them is just knit (garter) stitch, which I surpirisingly hadn't done a washcloth in yet. I used US size 7 needles for this one.

Garter stitch washcloth closeup

Another was stockinette stitch with a garter stitch border (to keep its shape). I used US size 6 needles, which is what the book called for (actually it called for size 6 for all three), but it ended up really wide and not long enough when I followed the pattern, so I added about 10 rows to make it longer.

Stockinette stitch washcloth closeup

The last one was a basket weave pattern (pretty much the same pattern I used on my dad's scarf). I used US size 5 needles for this one, and it came out about the right size (10" square).

 

Basket weave washcloth closeup

I'm working on some vacation posts, so those should be coming shortly.

Watercolor Gifts

Alexis recently celebrated her 30th birthday, so I wanted to do something different/special/unique to her. First, I did a gradated watercolor of the Seattle skyline (she currently lives in the Seattle area). The idea was inspired by some stuff I saw on Pinterest and my recent obsession with watercolor art.

I found the skyline silhouette online, printed, and copied it with pencil. Then I put pieces of painter's tape around the outline so I could paint the gradient of colors. The tape part was pretty time-consuming, but worth it.

Then I thought some watercolors of the states she has lived in would be a good idea, so I did those and decided to combine them into a set. I found some silhouettes of each state online, printed, copied onto the watercolor paper with pen, and then painted them in. I had to include a Clemson tiger paw for SC!

SC Watercolor. Go Tigers!

NC Watercolor

WA Watercolor

She said she liked them, and she actually needed some wall art in her apartment, so I guess it was the right choice. (I signed the state paintings after the photos were taken.)