Knitting Tip - cheat with straight needles

Did you know? If you have two sets of the same size in straight knitting needles, you can actually have three projects going! Yes: three of the needles can each hold a project, and the fourth is swapped between the projects as the working needle. Nifty!

New Pattern - Pine Tree Trivet

After a long hiatus from designing, I'm back in action with a new knit + crochet pattern... Pine Tree Trivet!

Bring the outdoors in with this woodsy trivet! This hotpad uses a slip-stitch pattern to make a double-thick fabric, sturdy enough to protect your table. You need only a small amount of bulky-weight yarn; I used about half a ball of vintage rug yarn. A scrap amount of worsted, such as Sugar ‘n Cream, will do for the optional crochet trunk. You can knit your tree in realistic colors, or do one up in a funky shade to match your décor. Try green and red for a festive Christmas tree! If you don’t crochet, you can easily knit a trunk—just make a garter stitch square and sew it on.

Seeded Stripe Dishcloth

I designed this dishcloth pattern some years ago - one of my first improvisations - and had completely forgotten about it until a friend informed me that it was her staple pattern for everyday dishcloths.  Aww!  Well, I dusted off the pattern, tweaked it, and here it is - the Seeded Stripe dishcloth!  As written, the pattern will make an approx. 7.5" square dishcloth, but you can easily adapt the size.

Classic Ripples Baby Blanket

Adapted from a washcloth pattern, this sweet blanket is my version of the classic baby ripple afghan. It's the perfect work of heart for a hopechest or baby shower. The finished blanket is puffy and soft with its thick, rolling ridges, but lacy strips add a delicate touch. With a little math, you could easily adapt this pattern for other size blankets. Customize your look by playing with the stripe width and trying different color schemes. Easily memorized, the pattern is suitable for a beginner and affords great practice in the shaping techniques of yarn over and knit two together.