Saturday, July 29, 2006

Bathmats, Bathmats Everywhere....

OK, so I'm over my little snit of yesterday. As Kathy wisely pointed out, it's often hard to come across in writing the way one wants to. So, no hard feelings, MDK blog folks; I'll be over there blogging again in no time.

But first, here's my latest bathmat-in-progress:















Cool, eh? It's based on the Ballband Warshrag pattern. I used 6 strands of Sugar-n-Cream on size 15 needles and cast on 51 stitches, all white for the slip-stitch rows and a mix of yellow ombre (Peaches-n-Cream, actually) and solid yellow for the other rows. It's coming out sooooo soft and squishy, I just can't wait to sink my toes into it. I'm pretty sure this will be the pattern I use to make my Christmas gifts: Ballband Bath Sets (a bathmat, two hand towels and two washcloths).

Oh, and the red/orange/maroon warshrag is there to provide a sense of scale; it's done with a single strand of SnC on size 6 needles, exactly following the Ballband pattern. Amazing what multiplying strands and going up a few needle sizes will do to gauge, isn't it?

And Kathy, since you asked, it's the same "formula" for my Absorbas: 6 strands of PnC on size 15s. For the bathmat in the previous post's photo I used plain white for 3 strands and off-white for the other 3. And thank you so much for the nice compliment. It never would have occurred to me to knit a bathmat of all things before reading MDK, but now that I've started I just can't seem to stop.

But lest it seem that the only thing I'm interested in knitting these days are bathmats, take a look at the absolutely stunning skein of hand-dyed merino I just received in trade from Jaye in Ohio:















Is it not just gorgeous and scrumptions and to-die-for? And it feels even better than it looks. Mmmmmmm..... I'm thinking moebius scarf for the fall, and this project I'll keep for myself. :)

5 comments:

bfmomma said...

I love the ballband bathmat idea! I want(ed) an Absorba, but the log cabin doesn't appeal to me as much as the ballband...

Thanks, too, for the input on the castoff method for my socks. Have to brush up on it and I think I'll try it. ;)

Zonda said...

Hi, I found your blog on the MDKAL and I love your ballband bathmat. Will keep checking on your progress!

Denise said...

what halfround floor mat or rug are you making? Do you have photos of it or a website for a pattern? You have me quite curious!

Denise

Splindarella said...

Thanks, all, for your nice comments!

Denise, the halfround rug pattern is in Yarn Harlot's "Knitting Rules" book. You basically create a series of pie-wedges radiating out from a center point using short rows. Knit up as many connected wedges as you want to create a full circle, a half circle, etc. I still need to get out to AC Moore to pick up the third color I need for the rug. Once I do that and get it on the needles, I'll start posting pics here.

Annie said...

Loving the ballband bathmat!!