an interlude

I took a little break after I completed my first sock to work on a little side project (and to give my hands a break from the size zero needles- how many times do I need to mention that here? a lot apparently!).  This project was one that I'd been wanting to do for quite some time, especially since I already had a bit of yarn in my stash that was just perfect for it.  It's a wee set of dishcloths for washing dishes!  We wash all our dishes by hand here (we still haven't even tested out our dishwasher after living here for over a year!) and even though we've been using "ecofriendly sponges," I wanted something even more sustainable.  Hence, the handknitted, reusable cloths.  

I didn't use a pattern for these- I just cast on about 31 stitches (you'll notice that one is larger and one is smaller, and two are just right...I was experimenting) and knit seed stitch (K1P1) until it measured an approximate square.  I used two colors of Rowan Handknit DK Cotton in my stash (this must be leftover from a project of my mom's- otherwise I have no idea where it came from) on size 6 needles.  {on ravelry, here}

Stephanie shared these instructions for a dish scrubby over on 3191 a while ago and depending on how these work out, I might try to make one or two that way as well.  I love how she wrote that it brings her pleasure to make "simple and useful things."  I feel the same way and am working on completing a lot of those simple, useful projects around the house that I've been putting off for a while (remember the oven mitts? check).  


Part of the reason I wanted to make these is that I've been on a major anti-plastic kick lately.  I've been trying to eliminate as much plastic as I can for a while now, but I just discovered a new website recently which re-ignited my crusade (I found it via this post).  Claire has also been a great motivator, and if you're not a knitter or sewist, she's got a genius kitchen set in her shop with cloth napkins, cloth produce bags, and knit dishcloths.  I could go on for pages about things I'm trying to do to cut down on the plastic, but I'm afraid I'd bore you all to tears (and I've already managed to go on for quite a while here about some dishcloths that didn't even have a pattern!).  Maybe I'll save some of those ideas for a later post, but for now, I'm heading back to the second sock...