Mason Dixon KAL

I finished my first baby kimono last week. I followed the pattern using SNC in "Cream". It was leftover from my Absorba. The ribbon is too wide (3/4"), but I couldn't help using it because the colors will match perfectly with their baby's room. Next time I'm going with 1/2".



The cool thing is that I sewed the ribbons on Thursday, and then on Friday morning I got an email announcing that the baby was born on Thursday around the same time. Thanks for waiting, baby!

This is my first post but I have loved seeing all the other projects. Many of the world's sinks have been spruced up with all the ballbands people have been knitting. I am on my third and I will now try to post a pick of number 2. Number one went to Boston as a housewarming gift before I thought to take a photo of it. I have also started the potholder loop rug and Moderne blanket.

Now I understand the fascination with the ballband washcloth! I just finished my first one, and I love this pattern. In fact, I started a kitchen towel in the same pattern! Anyway...here's my 1st ballband...

Who on the KAL knits a BallBand Warshrag the fastest? Now, I feel like I'm a slow knitter and I started and finished two this weekend. I estimate that each one took me, altogether, about 3.5 hours of uninterrupted knitting time. What about you?

Oh, and who's knit the MOST BallBands? I've only knit about 10. I know someone out there must have knit about, like, 100. Speak up!

Another ballband warshrag. Same colors as my ballband kimono posted earlier this month. But the colors are used in differently here.

The red was the background in the kimono, the orange is the background here. The yarns are Sugar and Cream red, hot pink, and pumpkin.

Really and truly no-sew.

(Am preposterously excited.)

Explanation/Instructions are a bit long-winded and photo-dense, so I won't duplicate them here (bandwidth!), as they are already here (part 1) and here (part 2).

Anonyknits

I remember reading that the colors of PnC/SnC cotton could be made somewhat more colorfast by washing in vinegar before the first use. Does anyone have specific instructions for how to do this? Soak in pure vinegar then rinse in water? Detergent or no? Or is there a water/vinegar ratio to use when washing in detergent? Or something else? I love the bright colors of my PnC/SnC warshrags, bibs, baby kimonos, etc and would love to keep them looking like that as long as possible.

The hand towels for my friend's wedding were finished and were given to her on her wedding! This is impressive because the last gift I gave to friends who were getting married, I was forced to give it to them much much much later than their wedding.


Here they are with their fancy tags sewn on. That's the backside though. Here's the front side:



They came out really well and are highly absorbent based upon the fact that they took forever to dry once I washed them. But Mom was awesome and waited till they were dry then dropped them off at the reception for me! She even wrapped them individually and then put them in the gift bag I had prepared. Mom's great!

I really loved knitting these. The first one took the longest because each one i knit after that first one got the pattern a little more in my head. After the second one, I wasn't even looking at the pattern as I knit it.

I'm also really glad that I knit each one a different color. I found that my mood changed depending on which one I was knititng. The blue one felt like it was the longest. It actually made me feel somewhat sad. I was inspired by the tan one and the green one really made me happy. I don't think I spent enough time on the red one to really get a whole mood going, but it made me think alot about how I was almost done and how the three of them as a gift were going to be great.

Surprisingly, I didn't have a hard time knitting with the linen. I rather liked the texture, and that it got softer as I kept knitting with it because the yarn was in my bag all the time and rubbing against anything it could rub against to get softer. Also, the project I worked on right after this project was made with Misti Cotton - a pima cotton and silk blend that felt all the more softer after knitting with corse linen.

All in all, I give the pattern two thumbs up!

I'm attempting the 9 square dishcloth but for some reason my mitred square is waaaaay longer than the other squares on the cloth. What am I doing wrong? Should I switch to smaller needles? Am I knitting too loose (which is rarely a problem for me but who knows!)?? Does it just need to be blocked??

Just a quick question: does anyone know if Noro Silk Garden will felt? It's all I've really got in multiple skeins of the same colors in the stash...

And also, if I wanted a sturdier / thicker buttonhole bag, how would I do that? Three strands? I think my wallet and phone is too heavy for the one I just made.

I posted a comment in Christina's post below, but I thought some might benefit from an actual post regarding uploading photos, and helping ease the bandwidth issue here.

I upload all my photos for here and my personal blog at photobucket, and it has many advantages. It seems to me to upload photos much faster, and eats up very little bandwidth vs. uploading directly to blogger.

For those of you who are like me, and need the computer language play by play:You must create a free photobucket account, upload your chosen photos, then cut and paste the img src code underneath the thumbnail for the uploaded photo where you want the photo in your post.

If you then click over to compose from the edit html screen, you may have to resize your photo. I just use the click and drag method by clicking on one corner and downsizing the photo to the correct size. It's really fast and easy.

I just wanted to thank Christina for hosting, and all the headaches she must have; I hope this helps.

I know there are other sites out there that offer similar services, such as flickr. I don't have firsthand experience w/ them, but I'm sure folks around here have plenty of advice!

If most folks upload w/ another service and use html codes to post the pics, I'm sure we won't have the problem of seeing little x's on photos we all would love to see, but can't because of bandwidth issues.

Happy MD knitting to all!

Hi everyone!
This is my first post here at the KAL. I've made two dish/washcloths. I really liked the two color one, and I love the mitered ones people have been doing. My circular one turned out ok, but I think I prefer the more mindless knitting for these, since I have enough other projects where I need to follow patterns. Anyway, here's the pic of my projects!

I think I skipped the last knit round on the purple one, which made it come out a little wonky. All in all, it looks better than I expected it would when I started out. For those wanting to see the yarn I picked up at the Michaels sale, head on over to my blog. =)

Julie Anne

Just wondering if anyone knows how long the Michael's sale is going to last? Everyone's projects look great! I'll be posting some kimonos and who knows what at some point in the near future.

So, I finally started a bathmat based on the Ballband Warshrag pattern. On size 15 needles I cast on 51 stitches using 6 strands of white Peaches-n-Cream; the other rows are done in 4 strands of PnC yellow ombre plus 2 strands of Sugar-n-Cream yellow. At first I was a bit concerned about how it would turn out, but it's so soft and squooshy already I just can't wait to finish it so I can sink my toes in. The red/orange/burgundy warshrag is there for perspective, done following the pattern exactly on size 6's. Must...knit...ballbands.........

http://splindarella05.blogspot.com/

"F" is for felting and fun!!!! This is my first buttonhole bag, and my first felting project. Things were a bit apprehensive there for a while, until I remembered that felting is shrinking, so that huge loose blobby thing would probably become something a bit neater looking. And it did! I used two strands of Cascade 220 on size 13's - I think I could almost promise you'll get a whole bag out of just one skein. The darker color doesn't show well in this pic, but it's actually a "mallard green" heather. I did felt this bag twice, because I wanted to know what would happen, mostly. I think once was enough...I can't prove it wasn't this way after the first time, but it did end up with the increase bump on the left being at a different height than the increase bump on the right. I wonder if I made a mistake, or if the felting just made that happen? Otherwise, it's a great bag, and I even like the size. I might like my next one a little smaller, but I'm not entirely certain how to make that happen. There's plenty more Cascade left to find out!

For the heck of it, here's a pic of a couple Noro Log Cabin squares for the blanket I'm working on. I tried to post these a while ago, and Blogger just wouldn't have it. Now I've got four done, and several more skeins in the stash. These are about 9 in. sq.

Also working on a Moderne blanket in Silky Wool, but there's not enough of it to post. AND I'm making one of those cool circle-of-fun rugs out of SNC. It's progressing quickly, but I'm gonna make myself finish the Fetching Hand warmers from Knitty tomorrow. We're moving to Indy in just a couple weeks, and then I have to return to school after a long year off...while I'm glad to be going back, between moving - which I am still avoiding packing for - and classes and work, I can just feel my knitting time running out!

I was enthralled with the afghan made up entirely of Noro yarn squares (Afghans for Afghans charity project) and decided that I had to have one too! But since I am on a budget, it might take awhile. I decided to use up the odd leftover in my stash and pick up more skeins as they come on sale or go into the "reduced" bin at my LYS. I figured I would make it a "sampler" afghan, with different patterns. Here are the first 3 squares.

Left to right, Stockingette stitch with garter border, straight garter stitch and the bottom one is a mitred square! I didn't bother to change yarn colours since the Noro is self-striping, and I must say it is a striking square. It helps that I like bright colours, I think..... I got the garter stitch square and the mitred one out of one skein of yarn. I had exactly enough yarn. the tail on the mitred square is the left-over yarn! Talk about stash-busting...

Now on to haunting my LYS discount bin.......

My blog , if y'all are interested.

I love the big Dotty cushion in the book but didn't like the idea of doing them on size 3's and I'm not sure I like the linen yarn it seems stiff and not soft . Well there is a new big dotty chair cushion on the mason dixon site and she has used my favorite cotton classic doubled on big needled. I love it!! AHHH but I really really shouldn't start a new project. I have to finish something first. Back to mitered squares.

Please be conservative with the pictures you choose to post on this site.

We can only allow ONE picture of EACH project per POST.

This means:

1. We love to see your progress, but we don't need to see 3 different pictures documenting various stages of knitting project.

2. Please choose the best version of your photographed item.....we don't need to see washrags posing in various parts of the house or kitchen or bathroom. As much as we love to see these....we need to conserve our bandwidth.

3. No more pictures of piles of yarn that you will eventually knit up.

These are all fun pictures - trust me, I like looking at them just as much as you do....but we all must do our parts to conserve bandwidth.

ANY POSTS THAT DON'T KEEP THESE RULES IN MIND WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE DELETED.

If you have any questions about this or about joining our KAL, feel free to contact me: knottieknitter@hotmail.com

I'm going to copy Farrah & post my bibs. The yellow & blue are for our friends who just found out they're having a boy in October. Hopefully the purple & pink will be for my girlfriend due in Dec (she finds out next month---think pink!)

The yellow bib was done with Lion Cotton, the blue w/ fantasy naturale & the purple & pink were done with sugar & cream.

Hey everybody,

I started to knit up the baby kimono and began casting on for the sleeves and I got so frustrated I frogged them and turned it into a bib. I'm a relatively new knitter, so maybe I'm doing something wrong. I know how to do the stitch, but they are so wonky and loose that it just looks awful! Do I have to use the backward loop method or is there another stitch that is more stable that I can use? If I have to use that method, what can I do to make it look better?

Thanks in advance for your help! I'll post pics of my items soon.

Kim

I live in the boonies, (Boone to be exact) and we only have WAL-MART. I'm looking for the best "deal" on SNC online. JoAnn's seems more expensive($2.19) than Michael's ($1.49) but looks like I can't order online there. Where can I get it online (other than JoAnn's)??

Thanks.
www.jilliansknits.blogspot.com

These are the bibs I did for my brand new nephew and godson Jack. I used Sugar n' Cream and star buttons that I got at Michaels. I really liked how they came out and I am going to make more just to have on hand for last minute baby gifts. I am excited to start experimenting with different colors to see how they come out.

My first MD Ballband warshcloth didn't take very long. I started it about 3 PM and was finished up right after dinner (around 8). I made mine a little smaller (33 stitches instead of 45). I like smaller cloths. They are easier to wring out.

I cast on for the "opposite" colorway. I'm one repeat in and I'm not sure I like it. It may be frogged back by tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a great weekend ...happy knitting.

http://thedailystitch.blogspot.com

Finished the first and now on to number 2! I took someone's advice and switched the colors for warshrag #2. I can now be found in the park on my lunch break knitting warshrags while the mommies looking on in amazement. I better hide them before my mother-in-law comes to visit Saturday!

Just got an e-mail from Knitch in Atlanta and passing it along. Their website is www.knitchknitting.com and they are in Virgina Highlands. This is a FABULOUS new yarn store!!!!

Debbie
www.gottaknit.typepad.com


"For all you Mason Dixon Knitters out there...We've received a huge shipment of Peaches & Cream in both 1 lb cones and 71gram balls From Elmore-Pisgah,one of the last surviving cotton mills in the US.Peaches & Cream comes in a wide range of colors! Welove this cotton for its versatility and we love MasonDixon for it's quirkiness. We'll be starting our MasonDixon Knit Along each Friday night in August so besure to stock up on Peaches & Cream now!"

Just one humble baby bib to add to all the lovely MD projects...
Blogged about briefly here.
And pictures on Flickr.

MDK ers--and Cristina, I hope you don't have to delete this because it is related to mdk--I'm in Korea on an extended business trip, anyone have a LYS here? Need more cotton for mitres and logs?

Thanks,

I finally have something to share!! I joined this group a month or two ago and just never got around to making anything to share..well I finished my first project ..the ball band dishcloth..and I LOVE it...





it was a lot of fun to knit too...


maggiibleu

Hi Everyone!
I just got my copy of Mason Dixon Knitting and
was enjoying reading my awesome new book when I got a phone call reminding me of a baby party. I remembered to get a gift but forgot to make something knitted?
This book sure was perfect timing. It has lots of fun, practical and quick baby things to knit.
This little cotton tots bib took no time at all and was fun to knit up.

Now I am off to make some wash cloths!

Just finished up my third Absorba. I think I like this one best of the three -- the edges came out the most even, and I feel like I've really gotten the design down pat. I've pretty much decided on bath sets -- mat, hand towels and washcloths -- for Christmas gifts. Now I just need to figure out which design to use for the sets. If I use Absorba for the mat, I'll have to make the towels and washcloths in log cabin. On the other hand, I could make ballband washcloths and towels and then try to adapt that design to a bathmat...maybe using 3 or 4 strands at a time like with an Absorba. Has anyone on the list tried making a ballband bath mat? If so, how did you like it?

BTW, many thanks to whoever it was who mentioned the $1 sale on SnC at Michael's. I stopped by there today and the sale sign was nearly hidden -- I would have missed it for sure if I hadn't been looking for it. You can see how carried away I got; I think I brought home nearly every color they had! Looks like I'll be making LOTS of Christmas presents! :)


http://splindarella05.blogspot.com/

http://www.knitnride@blogspot.com

I absolutely love all the posted dishcloths but I decided to start with the Moderne Log Cabin blanket in colors to match a spare bedroom. I graphed out my own changes to the pattern to accomodate Sugar'n Cream gauge that is different from the suggested Silky Wool but will still finish with a 60" x 50" blanket. On a #7 circular needle, I CO the first square for 55 sts knitting for a 12" square. After this first square I won't have to count rows, just pick up the BO and row edge sts (according to the directions) and garter stitch the pieces as directed to the following measurements: #2-8", #3-10", #4-10", #5-8", #6-8", #7-12", #8-12", #9-18". You can come up with your own measurements, but it sure beats keeping track of row counts and I like the drape of the blanket in this inexpensive cotton yarn. For kicks, I'm keeping track of knitting hours and have logged 17 hours to this point...

I was online at Smiley's Yarns this morning buying some yarn when I noticed they're selling some cotton yarn by Lily, but it's not Sugar 'n Cream. They have Lily Elite Cotton. I immediately thought of MDK and how a finer cotton would be more suitable for face cloths and hand towels. But has anyone tried it before? I didn't order any and now I wish I had.

The nine-patch (with my first attempt at crocheted edging):

The button-hole bag:

bfmomma

I'm giving up now. I've tried to upload a picture of my circle of fun bathmat, but blogger will not do it. So please have a look here .

I finished the potholder loop rug yesterday. I'm really happy with it. The rug measures 24 inches by about 68 inches. I loved knitting with potholder loops becasue it knitted up so fast. The potholder loops made a really affordable hallway rug. In all I used thirteen 10 oz bags of cotton blend loops. I just need to go out and buy a rug pad to put under it to keep it from sliding around the hallway.

my blog

Bernat's Handcrafter's Cotton works just as well as Sugar n Cream and Peaches and Cream and it comes in big (i believe 12oz) skeins at A.C. Moore for 9.99.

just thought i'd give you all the head's up.

http://morici.typepad.com/bag_n_trash

My first post! Hi all, I've been trying to finish up a couple of MDK items before I posted. So, here they are.

There were some questions in the comments on my technique of keeping the live sts on circular needles. Enlarge the picture so you can see better. You can see that each center section on each side is on a separate circular needle with point protectors on them. Try to use a fairly long ones so the ends stay out of your way. I will be using longer ones as it gets larger. The red section on the right is just started and has one ridge done. You can see that I have picked up the pink and dk green sts on either side of the center sts.

The first ridge might be a bit fiddly but it settles down and you can push the ends of the other needles out of the way. So, when you start a new band, pick up the end sts from the previous band on each side of your live stitches and put them on the circular needle. For the right side, I use a double pointed needle so I can see what I'm doing and transfer them to the circular needle. With the left side you can just use the circ to pick them up. Just slide the circular needle through the "bumps' at the end of each row. If you have 9 ridges, you will have 9 sts to pick up. You will then start at the right side and knit all sts. You are not picking up as if to knit but just sliding the sts onto the needle so no sts have been worked yet.

You don't need a 5th needle. You just use the end of the needle that is holding the center sts, picking up the sts left and right so they are all on the needle, then just knit the band. When you are finished, end with a wrong side row and cap the needle ends with the needle protectors from the next band. Clear as mud? The marker you see on the white square tells me that it's the top and that and the opposite end will get 10 ridges. The side bands get 9 ridges so it will be rectangular.

I don't think getting cord at the hardware store might be a good solution as you would have no point to get the sts onto the needle. It's the same as if you would put all your sts on a strand of yarn. You would still have to transfer them to the needle. This way, they are already on the needle. If you have any questions you can email me at jlhknits AT earthlink DOT net.

date started: 22 july, 2006
date finished: 23, july, 2006
time elapsed: one day (for two dishcloths)

pattern: Ballband Dishcloth from Mason Dixon Knitting
yarn: sugar and creme yarn, three different violet colourways
needles: clover bamboo straight, US 7

notes: never thought I would cast on for a dishcloth (or two), but the pattern and the yarn make this economical and addictive, as well as practical!







more details can be found here

This is my 'stash' of Sugar and Cream yarn and a bib that is ALMOST finished. I keep forgetting about it! My family is going camping this weekend, so I will just take this whole stash and my Mason Dixon Knitting book and get busy!
Mary Beth

I felted my small box and my buttonhole bag tonight and there is only one word... FUZZ! So I'm thinking about shaving tomorrow. Any adivce or words of wisdom? No worries about using DH's razor, he hasn't shaved since 1987! BethC

I started the Log Cabin from Mason-Dixon Knitting and can't put it down! Click to enlarge pictures. I sorted my yarns into warm and cool colors and they seem to be working just fine. I am doing some things a little differently. Instead of binding off each edge and having to pick the stitches up again, I leave them on a circular needle. That way when I come around to another band, I can pick up the end sts from the previous bands and just knit the live stitches. It looks more like a continuation of the stitches. So I have the stitches on four circular needles.

Also, I wanted a rectangular afghan so I'm doing 9 ridges on the side pieces and 10 ridges top and bottom. The one extra ridge will make a difference as it gets bigger. I'm not sure how big this will end up, but I may have to use two circulars on each section to hold the stitches toward the end. I'm using a #7 needle and seem to have lots of those so not a problem. This is a project where you want to do just one more section at midnight before going to bed!

Here's my progress so far on my second Log Cabin blanket:



This one is for my son. It is done in colors to match his room. I'm not too sure I'm totally happy with the way that it is turning out yet. I don't think the colors mesh together quite the way I wanted. Maybe I have too many colors going on at once? As it gets bigger and there are more repeats of the colors I am liking it more - so we'll see. :)

This is in Elann Sonata again.

I know some people have been keeping the stitches live rather than casting off and picking up. I haven't done that because I really like the "put together" effect you get when you bind off and pick up stitches. I think it mimics the feel of a quilted Log Cabin better.

Another Ballband dishcloth off the needles: Made from Fantasy Naturale by Plymouth on size 9 needles (only cast on 33 sts - I like the smaller size):


But Now I have This:

NAKED NEEDLES!!! I'd better cast on another one right away!

I've been sewing alot lately too as it's really hot in Atlanta (I know - some of you are hotter and hey at least we've got AC unlike all those folks in the Pacific NW), and I have a shoulder injury that knitting aggravates so... But that's ok - I've made lots of little bags to carry the ballband projects around in and I'm having a blast.

I'd love to do a Moderne Baby Blanket for my new nephew but the shoulder won't allow it - a quilt will be made instead.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

I was working on a Moderne Baby Blanket for my 3 year old, and I liked it so much I started another. We have friends who are having a baby next week, so I interrupted the pink blanket for a blue blanket.



For being really cheap, TLC Cotton Plus really works for baby blankets!

 I realized after finishing this that I used the same colors as the lace cap 
hydrangea I've been admiring in Bristol RI. Now I'm afraid that I 
might see a giant pumpkin in October. 

I used Lily Sugar& Cream and it is about twice the size of the baby blanket pattern.
-urusuru

Addictive?.... definately
Compulsive?.... certainly
makes your hands ache?...... absolutely!

I'm having a brilliant time knitting this quilt. I have hardly put it down and as a result my back, fingers and hands ACHE but I'm ploughing on through the pain barrier! It's brilliant to see all the other projects going on. I just wish I could touch and buy some of the yarns you are all using. They look so beautiful.

Minxxy http://minxxy.typepad.com

Has anyone else noticed that this book seems to evoke really strong reactions in people? Most people, members of this KAL obviously among them, really love it and often become peculiarly addicted to it. Yet I've noticed some people mentioning on their blogs that it drives them crazy, or just that they don't see the appeal. I find this really curious and interesting, and if anyone else is equally interested, I wanted to direct you to my blog, where I've just posted a long analysis of my own about it. I'd be interested to know what you all think.

And just for decoration:

These nine cloths were a quick and fun knit and they coordinate adorably with ballbands.



























I am working on this random width log cabin blanket using Rowan Denim. I was inspired by Cara on a Mason Dixon blog post. She is at www.januaryone.com for more details on the log cabin. The idea is to use five colors in the same order and every strip is a random number of rows. I did not have five Rowan colors so I am using a checkerboard pattern as the fifth color. For the random numbers I use dice, www.random.org and my kids to choose the numbers. I have no idea how it will turn out but I will post a pic when I am finished.

Just jumping on the warshrag bandwagon.

I received Mason*Dixon Knitting as a gift last weekend, and as you can see I've been enjoying it. I haven't even finished reading through the book, but it's already made me do something I never thought I'd do--I began knitting a blanket! It's not that I doubt my skill or anything, it's just that I've always thought of blankets in terms of crochet. Well, no more! And when I asked my husband what he thought of having nothing but hand made cloths in our bathroom (as well as the kitchen) he didn't seem entirely opposed. :)

I really need to use some of my stash... so I decided to join in on the Log Cabin knitting:



Seriously, it easy and mindless. Looking forward to seeing how it comes out. I am using Knitpicks Wool of the Andes.

I also started a Moss Grid Hand Towel from the book. This was the first pattern in there that caught my eye. I decided to save a few bucks and am using another Knitpicks yarn, also from my stash, Shine Sport. It's washable, so I am all for it.

Hi, all!
Just finished (and felted) my first buttonhole bag. I love, love, love the way that Paton's classic wool felts (have made booga bags with it before) but my buttonhole bag is MINI! Just wondering what sizes some of you got and with which fibers (and how many strands held together)?

Thanks!

bfmomma

I finished the hot pink and neon green warshrag that I posted yesterday. Now, will I have enough yarn to make another from the same two skeins? Has anyone been able to do this with Sugar N' Cream? Thanks in advance!

Squares are piling up around here and I couldn't be happier.
Emily sent these 12...yes 12...colorful squares. They are so soft and bright. Thank you Emily. They will make some little person very warm and happy. To find out more about the blankie project visit my blog.