Laundry Tips and Tricks!

Laundry Tips and Tricks!

Ever have any questions on how to wash your clothing? Here are some tips and tricks to help you out! Post any other tips that you would like to share!

Laundry 101
1. Separate by colors: White, Lights, Brights, and Darks
2. Check all pockets
3. Choose a cycle: Hot/Warm for whites and lights, Cold for darks and brights
4. Add Detergent
5. Hit Start

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Free Pattern of the Week!

This weeks free pattern is Angkor Wat Dishcloth from KnitPicks.

Finished Measurements 8.5” square, 1.25” hanging loop.
Needles US 5 (3.75mm) 16” circular and 2 DPNs

 The body of the dishcloth is worked corner to corner diagonally, then stitches are picked up around and an applied icord is worked before adding a little loop hanger is added to finish. 

Seed Stitch (worked flat) 

Row 1: *K1, p1; rep from * to end. 

Row 2: Purl knit stitches and knit purl stitches. 

Backward Loop 

Cast On Wrap working yarn around thumb, securing the end with your hand. Insert the needle up under the front end of the yarn on the right side of your thumb, making a loop on the needle by pulling on the end of the yarn in your hand. 

Directions 

With circular needles and MC CO 2 sts. 

Row 1: K1, p1, blco1 – 3 sts. 

Row 2: K1, p1, k1, blco1 – 4 sts. 

Row 3: P1tbl, k1, p1, k1, blco1 – 5 sts. 

Row 4: P1tbl, k1, p1, k1, p1, blco1 – 6 sts. 

Row 5: K1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, blco1 – 7 sts. 

Row 6: K1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, blco1 – 8 sts. 

Continue in this manner, working sts in Seed Stitch, using Backward Loop CO to add 1 st to the end of each row. If the first stitch is a purl, purl that stitch through the back loop. Continue until you have 40 sts total. Work 2 rows even in Seed Stitch. 

Dec Row: Work in Seed Stitch to last 2 sts, work last 2 sts together in pattern by either p2tog or k2tog – 1 st dec’d. Work this row until 2 sts remain. K2tog – 1 sts. Cut yarn and pull end through remaining loop to secure. 

Finishing

Weave in ends, block to make a 8x8” square. 

Applied ICord With circular needle and starting at your BO edge, pick up but do not knit 28 sts along each side of the square – 112 sts. 

With CC, CO 2 sts on left needle. K3 – 2 CO sts and the first picked up stitch. Slide these stitches back to left hand needle. *K2, sl 1, k1, psso – 3 sts on right needle. Slip these stitches back to left hand needle. Rep from * until all picked up stitches are worked – 3 sts. 

Swich to DPNs and work an icord for 2 ½”. Cut yarn leaving a long tail and pull end through remaining stitches. Sew this end to the start of applied icord to attach, and put a little stitch at the top to join the bottom of your hanging loop. Weave in ends and block again to measurements.

The Original Pattern can be found at http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Angkor_Wat_Dishcloth__D55804220.html

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Here is a list of Educational Websites, some are free and some have small costs. Education is always important in this day and age. Please fell free to comment if you have any other suggestions!

Free Pattern of the Week!

This weeks free pattern is Little Leaves Dishcloth from KnitPicks.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS Approx. 10” square
HOOKS F-5 (3.75mm) crochet hook

Bobble (yo and insert hook in st, yo and draw loop through st, yo and draw through first 2 loops on hook) 3 times all into the same st, yo and draw loop through all 4 loops on hook to complete the bobble. 

Directions Loosely ch 40 stitches. 

Row 1: work 1 bobble in 4th ch from hook, ch 1, *sk 1 ch, 1 bobble in next ch * repeat to end, turn. 

Row 2: Ch 3, *1 bobble in next 1-ch sp between bobbles of previous row, ch 1* repeat to end, working last bobble in tch , turn. 

Repeat Row 2 until dishcloth measures approx. 10” in length.

Weave in ends, wash and block to size.

The Original Pattern can be found at http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Little_Leaves_Crochet_Dishcloth__D55583220.html

Building Penny Pincher Ideas

Many construction yards, lumber mills and brick companies have side yards where they store left over materials from other projects. Some will sell you the supplies for next to nothing. Most companies are real happy to get those material out of their yard.

Free Pattern of the week

This weeks free pattern is Field of Flowers Dishcloth from KnitPicks.

Finished Measurements 9x9”
Needles US 7 (4.5mm) straight or circular needles

Field of Flower is a very pretty dishcloth or face cloth with a lot of texture. The high relief makes is efficient for scrubbing. 

Garter stitch (worked flat) 

All rows: knit 

Daisies Pattern (worked flat, over a multiple of 4 sts +1) 

Row 1 (RS): knit 

Row 2 : k1, *Purl next 3 st tog (P3tog), leave sts on left needle, YO, P the same 3 sts tog, drop sts off left needle, k1, repeat from *. 

Row 3: knit 

Row 4: k1, p1, k1, * Purl next 3 st tog (P3tog), leave sts on left needle, YO, P the same 3 sts tog, drop sts off left needle, k1, repeat from *, end with p1, k1. 

Directions 

Cast on 47 sts. Work 8 rows in garter sts. 

Row 1 (RS): knit 

Row 2 : k8, *p3tog, yo, p the same 3 sts together again, k1, repeat from *, k7. 

Row 3: knit. 

Row 4: k8, p1, k1, * p3tog, yo, p the same 3 sts together again, k1, repeat from *, end with p1, k8. 

Repeat rows 1-4 another 10 times. Work 8 rows in garter stitch. Bind off. 

Finishing Weave in ends, wash and block gently

The Original Pattern can be found at http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Field_of_Flowers_Dishcloth__D55805220.html

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* I am in no way getting any gain for advertising these services.

Free Pattern of the Week!

This weeks free pattern is Fruity Loops Dishcloth from KnitPicks.

Finished Measurements 5.5” Square
Hook US I/9 (5.5mm) hooks

Start your day off right with a dishcloth of deliciously intense fruit flavors. Made with whole cotton fiber and lightly sweetened, Fruity Loops makes dish washing fun, and is a good source of rainbow cheer. The star stitch is not only fun and relatively simple, but also crochets along very quickly. It creates a wonderfully textured stitch and thick, sturdy fabric. 

Directions 

Chain 21 or any number of odd stitches. 

Row 1: With C1: 1. Pull up a lp in 2nd ch from hook. 

2. Pull up a lp in each of the next 4 ch (you should have 6 lps on your hook). 

3. YO and pull through all 6 lps on hook (this is your first star stitch). ch 1 to close the star (this becomes the “eye” of the star). 

4. Insert your hook in the “eye” (ch 1 space) of your completed star and pull up a lp (2 lps on hook). 

5. Insert hook into the back of the last lp of the previous star and pull up a lp (3 lps on hook). 

6. Insert hook into the same chain as the last lp of the previous star and pull up a lp (4 lps on hook). 

7. Pull up a lp in each of the next 2 chains (6 lps on hook). 

8. YO and pull through all 6 lps. Ch 1 to close the star. 

Repeat steps 4 – 9 all the way across and end with a hdc in the last ch (same ch as the last lp of previous star. Ch 1, turn. 

Row 2: Sc in the top of the hdc. Sc in the “eye”of the next star. 2 Sc in the eyes of each star, all the way across. Sc in the top of the turning ch. With C2, ch 2, turn. 

Row 3: YO and insert hook in 2nd ch from lp and pull up a lp. Pull up a lp in each of the next 3 sts. YO and pull through all 6 lps on hook. Ch 1 to close the star. Continue with star stitch (Steps 4 -9 of Row 1) all the way across, ending with a hdc in the same ch as the last lp of the previous star. 

Row 4: Still using C2, repeat Row 2 

Row 5: With C3, repeat Row 1 

Row 6: Still using C3, repeat Row 2 

Row 7: With C4, repeat Row 1 

Row 8: Still using C4, repeat Row 2 

Row 9: With C5, repeat Row 1 

Row 10: Still using with C5, repeat Row 2 

Row 11: With C6, repeat Row 1 

Row 12: Still using C6, repeat Row 2 

Row 13: With C7, repeat Row 1 

Row 14: Still using C7, repeat Row 2. Fasten off. 

Finishing Weave in all ends, block if desired. 

The Original Pattern can be found at
http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Fruity_Loops_Crochet_Dishcloth__D55582220.html