Free Dishcloth Pattern

I have quite a few skeins of kitchen cotton which have been asking for me to use them.
I decided to tinker around with an idea that has been in my mind for a dishcloth.


This is my pattern that I created:
Materials
Size 4.00mm needles
50g of Bernat Handicrafter Cotton, pattern above shown in Hot Green
Stitches used are stockinette, seed, purl and knit.
Cast on 44 stitches and begin working 3 rows in seed stitch.
Seed stitch is worked all around the dishcloth to keep a nice border, 3 stitches on the sides and 3 rows at the top and bottom.
The first row of brick is worked as follows:
The first 3 stitches in seed stitch, knit 7, turn work, purl back across 5 stitches, turn work, knit across these 5 stitches. Repeat these rows for an additional 7 rows. On final round, wrong side facing, purl back across 6 stitches. Turn work, slip 1, knit 12. Repeat this section until the end of the row, with 3 stitches at the end left for the seed stitch border.
The second row of the brick section is started after knitting across 10 stitches, turn work, purl back across 5 stitches, turn work, knit across these 5 stitches. Then do exactly what you did on the previous row to repeat the brick pattern.
Continue repeating these 2 rows until you have your desired size or you run out of cotton.
I was able to complete 9 rows of bricks for my dishcloth.
After ending with 3 rows of seed stitch, cast off and weave in the loose ends.
I hope you have enjoyed my little pattern.

painting: February

Titled February
Oil on canvas
30" x 40"
Completed February 16 2015

This is a painting I have been working off an on since February of 2010.
I had started a new phase of my life. It is based on a photo I had taken on my first night in my new apartment.

I might go in and tweak it a little bit, but for now I am happy to say it is complete.

February

That is the title of what I have been painting on and off for quite some time.



I like how it is progressing. I am not sure if it will be changed any further.

Jackie approves.

Note the chewy. I cannot leave her unsupervised for extended periods of time. Recall the cornflake incident? She seems quite content to hang out while I paint for a bit. We both win.

New Security System

When Hubs arrived home the other day, he walked in on a huge party between the cats, dog and a lot of Cornflakes.
Apparently, Jackie has developed a thing for grain cereals.
Several days later, we are still finding those corny flakes in everything. I do mean everything! The sheets on the bed, the bag I take with me to work, tangled in the cat fur, everywhere!
That was way too much cleaning for one person to handle. This sent Hubs to his workshop to create some sort of system to keep the four legged children out of our kitchen cupboards.

It may not be pretty, but it is effective, much to the disdain of Jackie.


When she is angry, Jackie likes to grab that squeaky toy (which no longer squeaks) and shake it for all it's worth. Since the new security system was installed, she has been been trying to shake it off!

While all the commotion has been going on, I've been knitting my Simple Skype socks.


I have also been listening to a lot of Hozier. I love this song with Annie Lennox!


So begins another week. I hope you all have a good one!

Happiness

For some reason my Pinterest and Facebook feeds seem to inundated with wedding stuff. They keep showing me these big, fairy tale, happily every after weddings. My thoughts about that subject were always that is well and good for that day but, what about the rest of the marriage?
I think a lot of people plan on this spectacular dream wedding. There is an industry dedicated to the event. my secret television addiction is to binge watch Say Yes to the Dress. I don't think there is anything wrong with having the wedding of your dreams. I just wonder about the rest of your life.
I was married once. Right from the start, it was something that should not have happened.
I felt pressured.
I was told, by a certain magical age, you should have a boyfriend by now. There must something wrong with you if by now you do not have a boyfriend.
Then, what is wrong that you are not married now? All your other friends are married.
Then someone came along and started to pay attention to me.
Family members were relieved. At last she is finally at that stage in life she should have reached years ago.
And he is tall. Like height makes a good relationship.
To be honest, I didn`t even really feel anything real for the guy. He was suitable. He worked. He said all the magical things that rom-com movies are about. When he asked that magical question, it was not even knee dropping, special event. It was more like a business transaction. We should get married for the following reasons, a., b., c. I agreed verbally. In the back of my mind, I was screaming NO! What are you thinking? This is not going to work.
Maybe with those thoughts, I doomed that marriage from the start. Even when the minister was saying the words I could barely hear over my protests, I was thinking, you have not actually said yes yet. You can still escape. I did think that word. Escape. I should have said no. I should not have cowed down to the pressures of what other people deem socially acceptable. I know better now.
If I had to live that portion of my life all over again, I would still make the same mistakes. Otherwise, how could I be the person I am today if I had not traveled down that path. I can now recognize and fully appreciate what it means to be happy. That is a pretty good lesson.

Sunday Problems

The squeaker in my squeaky is broken. :(


Too much squeaky. I broke it.

Smurf Eater

I have only a few episodes left and I am all caught up on Orphan Black.
While I have been feeding my television addiction, I have been working on my cardigan.

I am currently knitting the sleeves.

I have also set aside a bit of painting time.
My helper looks like she slaughtered a smurf.

Good thing tomorrow is bath day!

That is about all that is going on in my little world. When I am more comfortable with the progress of my painting, I will take a picture to show you all.
Stay warm everyone.