Crocheted Potholder, etc

jesslm asked where she could find the potholder (pics here) pattern. I got it out of an old Spin-Off magazine, but I'm pretty sure it's just a standard easy pattern, found in lots of places. I found the same thing, well described, at the Mielke's Farm site, right here - Diagonal Hotpad.

They're easy to do, and if you don't make it too big, they make up pretty quick.

Before the weekend, I managed to spin up a sample skein from the Shanghai Nights fiber I bought at Shepherd's Harvest in May. It's Coopworth and silk threads. I spun it long draw, and then double plied it. I really like the bits of the silk in the fiber. This is about a worsted weight. I think I'll spin up the rest at this weight. The long draw makes it a really light yarn. I'll have to carry the skein (or maybe I'll knit a little swatch - gasp!) and carry it around to check on the pilling potential.


This past weekend we managed a quick camping trip to Frontenac State Park. I did a bit more spindling on the Canyon Shadows fiber. I used my nostepinne, and made another ball, so this week I'll probably try to ply the two balls together. The first ball was 26 grams, this weekends ball is 42 grams. I guess that means I've got about 44 grams left to spin? I did start another spindleful.

This was our morning coffee spot. Overlooking the Mississippi River on a deck-like platform. You could see forever..


We did a few geocaches, did some hiking, even rode our bicycles. It was lovely cool weather, mostly in the mid 70s during the day.


The hike down to the river (the campground
is up on the bluff) is a bit
over 400 feet down. It's a great walk down, but they should give you a merit badge for walking back up!!






Girl of the House had great fun digging in the sand.

Last potholder, start socks

I finished another crocheted potholder. This one was made with some yarn leftover from my last pair of felted clogs. It got plenty big - 8" x 8" - but Paul says he likes them big. It felt like alot of slogging with single crochet, though, so I guess I like them smaller!

This may be it for the crocheting. I definitely prefer the knitting, but it was a nice change.



Here's the recently dyed yarn, skeined up, prewashing. Looks like boucle, doesn't it? Pretty kinky after being in knitted condition for almost two years.






We had a long car trip on Sunday, taking Ben back to school. Lots of time for knitting. I couldn't resist the colors in this newly dyed yarn, so I started up a sock. Just a basic sock, two circular needles, toe up.




We took Ben back to Luther College in Iowa. He loaded up his little blue jeep, and we loaded up the Tahoe. I'm not really sure how he'll organize all that stuff in his dorm room, and fit his room-mate in, too!

Our traditional first day of school picture!

Vacation projects

I ran across an article in an old Spin-Off magazine. It described making crocheted potholders from smaller skeins of handspun. I brought a few skeins along on vacation and gave it a try.

I haven't crocheted since Ben was a baby. But it sure comes back quickly, doesn't it? Especially basic single crochet...

This is probably the fanciest potholder I've ever had. Wool, alpaca and silk. I had a few small sample skeins. I ended up joining two colors, purple and yellow. A bit homely, perhaps, but it is just a sample. I have alot of small multicolored skeins, and I think I'll try a few more potholders.

Side one:Side two:

I did some more camping spindling. Managed to make enough to ball it on the nostepinne, just waiting to ply it with the next spindlefull.
Lots of driving time meant lots of sock knitting time. I'm getting closer on these socks for Paul!
Ben returned from his summer gig at Camp Pepin the same day we came home. You know, looking at the pictures I've posted of him, it appears he never wears shirts. But you can see the tan lines, so I guess he does...
Here's how you can tell he's home. A pile of stuff, dropped by the door. I expect the majority of this stuff will stay right where it is til he goes back to college next week. I know I'M not going to pick it up!