Welcome to my newest follower, Lonicera!
Hi friends and bloggers,
I've missed doing my crafts while I've been away so much on family related matters this summer. I just had to make a new dishcloth and pull out an unfinished doily.
Here is the new dishcloth I've made. I used a larger set of needles than I am used to using. Normally I use a size 4 mm set of needles but this time I used a size 6 mm as that is what the pattern recommends. I must say it sure is a lot faster though and the tension is a lot looser and the weave more open.
I will be making several of these for a friend who wants to give them as gifts at a headstone potlatch for her deceased brother. Click here for more information about the potlatch of the Southern Tutchone which is my friend's tribal group. This pattern seems to go by various names but I think Grandma's Dishcloth is probably the original name someone gave it though I don't know who set out the original pattern. If I make a lot of these and I get bored with it, there are a host of other patterns out there that I can try.
It will take me a a little bit longer to get used to my tension with this larger sized needles but that shouldn't be a problem as I will be making many more of these dishcloths over the coming months.
I've also brought out a doily I started some time ago. This is a square doily and is my first one of this shape. Normally I make round doilies (click here for a sample). The doily is about two thirds finished. I hope to finish it in a day or two and block it so the pattern is more visible. If you look closely you can see four pineapples which join at the centre of the doily.
I think this particular colour looks really nice for this time of year in North America where it is the Fall or Autumn season. I also have some navy blue cotton which is lined with white which I think will look stunning for a pattern I've yet to settle upon.
Now that the Fall weather has arrived in the western hemisphere, do you also feel the need to "get crafty"? If you live in other parts of the world, do you find the change of seasons spurs you on to certain types of activities?
6 comments:
I love the doily, particularly the colour. I left it too late to do this fine work, I did make some items in a thicker thread.
I am intrigued reading about knitted dishcloths, as I have never come across anyone using a handmade one like this in Australia, yet it seems to be such a tradition in your country. I presume people use them?
I also read about the Potlatch, but cannot relate it to anything I am familiar with.
Thanks so much for sharing and have a pleasant week,
With love, Jan
JAN, thank you for your kind words. I actually learned to crochet at about age 14 when I taught myself to make a doily from one of mom's pattern books. I was sick and bored at home.
The knitted dishcloths are a big hit here with anyone who uses them. I myself was given my first dishcloths about 10 years ago and once I used them, I realized they were much better than store bought ones.
As for the potlatch, there is nothing in your country that you can relate it to but it is a North American native tradition.
I am finally getting to sleep as I have a lot of odds and ends to do tomorrow and some business also. I hope to also find some time to work on my doily. Lots of love and have a great week ;-)
So Potlatch -nakwa'a means "to give" and "a big party." Must be very close (with out having looked it up) in meaning to our Pot lucks? Interesting..the kids are cute. So it's like a gift rather than I first thought (as some type of cover) in relation to the tradition?
I like the blue..but the second design is pretty with the Autumn colors:)
REGINA, hello friend ;-) Potlatch is not really like a potluck at all. The host family provides all the food and gifts. If you think of Native American oral traditions, a potlatch is really the avenue by which the local communities who have potlatches, will "record" all significant events in their lives. It is usually held in a traditional cedar structure called a long house though these days it is often also held in a local community hall. There is feasting, singing, gift giving, speeches and variations depending on the occasion. The oral parts are the "recording" for the community to listen and retain and pass on, as traditionally Native American or Aboriginal communities did not have recorded language and passed their culture only through oral traditions. If you like there are lots of explanations (better than mine) on the internet. Just one final comment, the potlatch is not practised by all Native American tribes but mainly by the coastal ones. Glad you like the autumn colour ;-) Hope you will look into more storage via picasaweb.
The doily is beautiful! And you're right about the colour, how lovely.
I am thinking of starting knitting dishcloths too, but like Jan said it doesn't seem to be such a big thing in the UK...maybe I will give it a go, I think hand-made dishcloths would be such a lovely Christmas present for some of my friends who are just buying houses/getting married/moving...
oh, and I stumbled on your blog via Notes From the Frugal Trenches...Hi! *waves*
Hello Rachel, thanks for stumbling on my blog, lol. That is how I find great blogs also.
So glad you like the colourful doily. I do hope you get to make a knitted dishcloth or two. I've certainly grown to really like them and I do agree that they will make wonderful gifts.
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