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Giveaway: 52 Weeks of Dishcloths

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52 weeks of dishcloths

Congratulations to Carina, Anne L. and Annette!

I love knitting things that I know are going to get a lot of use. Sweaters are great, but even as always-cold as I am, they only get used for a pretty small portion of the year.

That’s why I like knitting things for the home that we can see and use throughout the year. From blankets to pillows to dishcloths, it’s just nicer to use things that you’ve made yourself, am I right?

This week I have three digital copies of a great book all about making dishcloths to give away. 52 Weeks of Dishcloths from Knit Picks actually has 60 patterns, 33 for knitters and 27 for crocheters. They range from pretty simple to requiring a few knitting skills like lace or colorwork, and they offer lots of different styles to suit your taste.

Dishcloths are fun to knit because you get to play with different techniques on a small scale but they’re still done relatively quickly, and they’re great to have on hand for a quick addition to a hostess or housewarming gift.

If you’d like to win one of these ebooks, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, August 23. Why not tell me about something you’ve knit for your home or someone else’s home? My goal for the winter is to finally finish a big stash busting afghan I’ve been working on for a really long time.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

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Comments

  4. I’ve knit and crocheted blankets, and I’m currently working on Christmas stockings for the house.

  8. Oh yes please! This Dame would love these patterns! I am a leftie so I could practice my chrocheting left handed in the priacy of my home!

  9. I have made afghans, but when I was recuperating from surgery, made MANY dishcloths (pain pills + knitting = potential for mistakes). I have also used dishcloths to teach knitting!

  10. My sis and I knit dishcloths and sell them at her church craft sale – ALL of our profits are donated to our local animal shelter to sponsor the adoptions of homeless doggies!!! We call iurselves “Dishcloths for Doggies”. So far in 3 years we have donated almost $4000.00 – some new patterns to knit would be awesome!!!

  12. I have made ‘dish’cloths and given them many times with a pretty bar of soap for little hostess gifts or ‘just because’ gifts at Christmas time. I would love to win one of the e-books because I’d love to give it to my friend who is just embarking on learning to knit and has been making dishcloths to sell for charity at her work.

  13. I’ve knit the basic grandmother washcloths and have modified them for baby bibs too. I also love to knit sweaters and socks!

  15. I’ve been knitting a stash busting blanket, too. Every time I finish a project any leftover yarn is used to knit a few more rows of the blanket.

  17. My family and friends love the washcloths I knit. They were so disappointed the Christmas I didn’t make. Now I make sure I knit them first then I see all these beautiful patterns I start again. I also make them for a local thrift shop that they give away as gifts.

  18. Would love this sometimes i make dishclotjs into washcloths. Great for a new mom shower gift with soap and lotion adde

  19. For some reason I knit or crochet a lot of pillow covers. Maybe I’m hoping to correct buyer”s remorse.

  20. I crocheted all my flowers for my wedding and gave them away (along with yarnbombed wine bottles we used for vases) to my guests as a thank you. A lot of them are being used in various houses and offices as decor right now!

  21. I’ve knit lots of dish and face cloths. I love how quickly they knit up and the variety of patterns there are for them.

  23. I am currently working on a baby cardigan For my best friend who is expecting a baby girl this winter! Can’t wait to give it to her.

  24. Hi there, I haven’t knitted anything for the home yet, but want to start! I’ve just finished a seed stitch gaptastic cowl in a super chunky Drops andes yarn, just delicious! I’d love this book to help start me in the right direction!

  25. I have knit and crocheted oodles of dishcloths/washcloths for myself and as gifts. I also knit and crochet lapghans for charity (for which I sometimes use dishcloth patterns), and baby blankets for gifts.

  27. I knit dishcloths all the time in between projects. I love to give them as gifts.. friends always say that the knitted ones are the best they’ve ever used!

  28. I’m thinking that this would also make and awesome stash-busting afghan sampler! Make all 60 (or however many) in a coordinated color palette and seam into a funky blanket!!!

  29. I knit for my parents a throw that had A LOT of cables. They both reach for it when they want comfort. I made an afghan for a wedding gift for an aunt too.

  30. I have knit a really cool pouf/ottoman for my daughters new apartment. I also made a couple of pillows…
    Great giveaway!

  31. I love to knit and crochet. I find it very calming to relax with needles in my hands. Always looking for the next best pattern. This book looks intising.

  34. i havent knit in a long long time and would love to get back into it by making these lovely dishcloths

  35. Years ago I knit washcloths for all the ladies in my family for Christmas. I am hoping to do it again soon.

  36. I’m halfway through a cotton dishcloth right now–the second of a pair for my nephew’s first home!

  37. the most recent knitting project was a hand bag out of thick wool that I changed as I went along. I wish I would have written down what I did when I did it so I could make a duplicate!

  38. I have knit dishcloths and afghans, mostly for my own home. This would be an awesome book to win! Thank you for the chance to win.

  41. Working on Christmas gifts: infinity scarves, washcloths, cross-stitched ornaments, hats, socks, etc. I’d love to have a variety of patterns. The more projects, the better!

  47. I’ve made washcloths and blankets for the home. I’ve made many grandma’s favorite washcloths and would like to learn something different.

  48. I’d love a copy of this book. My hand knit dishcloths are full of holes and it’s past time to make new ones.

  49. I love to knit dish cloths and surprise friends and family with an unexpected “I’m thinking of you” gift.

Have you read?

Knit a Spiky Balaclava

Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]