Quilt Colors DW Dishcloths

Here are some more DW dishcloths using varigated yarn:

These came out great too!  They are heading into my stash of completed projects for when I need a quick gift!

Supplies:
Pattern: DW Darrell Waltrip Dishcloth by Rhonda White
Yarn: Lily's Sugar N' Cream #19003 - Quilt Colors
Needles: US 7 on 24" Cables

Weathered Rose Squidge Cloths

Here's another cool textured pattern that I recently discovered:

Here is a close up of it too:

I love that this pattern is totally reversible!  Plus the cool zigzag of colors is breath taking!

Supplies:
Pattern: The Squidge Cloth by Sasha
Yarn: Lily's Sugar N' Cream #19001 - Weathered Rose
Needles: US 7 on 24" Cables

Check This Out!

Look what I started yesterday:

I figured that I knit two socks at a time, why not try it with dishcloths??!!  I was going to try two of the same pattern in different yarn.  Then I realized that I was going to have to do it again to make the other half of the set.  So I wound some more yarn to knit four dishcloths at a time!!!

I have the four balls of yarn lined up inside the bag and I flip it when it is time to work on the other side.  There are lots of strings but it is pretty easy to keep it all under control.  As long as the cat does not come to sit on my lap!  LOL!

This pattern, Redeeming Grace by Sue Schaefer from Harvest Moon Designs, casts on 33 stitches so I was able to use a 32" cable for it.  I will have to change to a 40" one if I need to cast on more stitches next time.

The Journey (Kentucky Brothers #1) - Wanda E. Brunstetter

Summary from Good Reads: Discover along with Titus Fisher how life can begin anew in Christian County, Kentucky. Moving from Pennsylvania, finding rewarding work, and leaving a broken romance behind is the best decision Titus ever made. But is he ready to consider love again when he meets two women: one who seems perfectly suited for any Amish man and one who challenges long held ideas of the woman’s role. Who will Titus chose, and will it be the right choice?

Titus lived in Pennsylvania with his family, including his twin brother Timothy.  Titus was a 22 year old baptisted Amish man who is not married.  He was in love with Phoebe since she was 13 but she was still unsure about becoming Amish.  She leave Titus and her family to venture to California to discover the English world.  A friend, Allen, comes along and is looking for some help in woodworking down in Kentucky.  Since Titus was trying to deal with a broken heart, he takes off to start a new life in another state.

Titus's job brings him to meet the Yonder's who own the woodworking shop where he will be working.  He meets their unmarried daughter, Suzanne, who bears a striking resemblence to Phoebe.  As Titus become comfortable with his new life in Kentucky, he makes several friends and starts to like it there.  But God confornts him with the biggest challenge in his life so far.  How will he decide?

I really enjoyed this book!  This is the continuation of the story of the twins, Timothy and Titus, who were from another series, The Daughter's of Lancaster County.  I loved that series and to read about the characters all of again made reading this book feel like talking to family and close friends.  I am looking forward to reading the next book in the Kentucky Brothers series, The Healing.  Thanks Wanda for bringing this family back!!!

Psychedelic DW Dishcloth

I found this cool pattern that focuses on varigated yarn.  Here is my first set of dishcloths in this pattern:

Here is a close up look at the pattern:

This pattern was so much fun to knit!  It was easy to memorize and the results are amazing!  I will be ordering more varigated cotton yarn just to knit this pattern!!!

Supplies:

Pattern: DW Darrell Waltrip Dishcloth by Rhonda White

Yarn: Bernat Handicraft Peace and Love #W260865 - Psychedelic

Needles: US 7 on 24" Cables

Blue Yonder Maddox

Here is Maddox:

He is for Gavin's first birthday!  He will be the perfect size for him to carry around and love!

Supplies:
Pattern: Maddox The Mischievous Monster by Rebecca Danger
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Tonal #25418 - Blue Yonder
Needles: US 5 on 47" Cables
Accessories: Navy Blue and White Embroidery Floss

Leftover Ribbed Dishcloth #2

This is the last ribbed dishcloth using the remaining yarn from the three previous solid color.

I think that I have made enough dishcloths for myself for a little while.  I have added 12 new ones in the past month.  I should be good for a while.  Now I can start making some more, in a different pattern, as Christmas presents!  My MIL requested some while we were on vacation in Maine in August so I need to get going on them!  LOL!

Supplies:
Pattern: Dishcloth - Ribbed
Yarn: Lily's Sugar N' Cream #18010 - Yellow & #18712 - Hot Green & #18004 - Ecru
Needles: US 7 on 24" Cables

The Promise of An Angel - Ruth Reid

Summary from Good Reads: After a barn raising accident, Judith Fischer's convinced she's met an angel. However, her attempts to convince others end up frustrating her Old-Order Amish community. Only Andrew Lapp believes her, but the rest, including Levi Plank, the man's she's waited to marry, demand she forget the nonsense. Meanwhile, her younger sister Martha has taken a fancy to Levi and sees her sister's controversy as a perfect distraction for turning Levi's head.

In a dream, the angel tells Judith she must choose her path. As her faith continues to grow, so do her feelings for Andrew. Will she continue to place her hope in the angel's message, even if it means losing all she knows and loves?

Judith is good with entertaining children with stories.  When her younger brother, Samuel, has an accident at a barn raising, he becomes paralyzed and is told that he will never walk again.  Judith sees an angel who tells her differently.  When she starts talking about it with Levi, Andrew and her family and everyone does not believe her and is convinced that she is making up more stories again.  The bishop becomes involved and it may affect her as a member of the community.

I felt that this was a heart warming story!  My friends over on Good Reads have been commenting about wanting to slap Levi and I was dying to know why!  I now know and I totally agree with them!  With that aside, Judith discovers a friendship with Andrew that was never there as he is the only one who believes her.  I enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading more from Ruth Reid in the future!

Ecru Ribbed Dishcloths

Okay, here are the last of the three colors in the ribbed dishcloth pattern:

I just LOVE this pattern (as you can tell)!  It is so easy to memorize and I can get one completed in about a day!  I think my personal stash of dishcloths is pretty full for right now.

Supplies:
Pattern: Dishcloth - Ribbed
Yarn: Lily's Sugar N' Cream #18004 - Ecru
Needles: US 7 on 24" Cables

Leftover Ribbed Dishcloth

I had some yarn left from the hot green and sunshine ribbed dishcloths so I decided to make one out of the leftovers:

I am going to make some more using ecru yarn too!  I added it to these colors to make it look better.  I will make dishcloths in this color next!  After I make those, I will make another leftover ribbed dishcloth to finish all three of these colors.

Supplies:
Pattern: Dishcloth - Ribbed
Yarn: Lily's Sugar N' Cream #18010 - Yellow & #18712 - Hot Green & #18004 - Ecru
Needles: US 7 on 24" Cables

Sunshine Ribbed Dishcloths

Here are even more mindless vacation dishcloths:

I love how these come out and knit so quickly!

Supplies:
Pattern: Dishcloth - Ribbed
Yarn: Lily's Sugar N' Cream #18010 - Yellow
Needles: US 7 on 24" Cables

Hot Green Ribbed Dishcloths

Here are some more dishcloths that I made for myself:

These were great for some mindless knitting while I was on vacation in Maine last week.

Supplies:
Pattern: Dishcloth - Ribbed
Yarn: Lily's Sugar N' Cream #18712 - Hot Green
Needles: US 7 on 24" Cables

Rose Quartz Sunrise Socks

Here is my first pair of socks that has a pattern to it:

I am knitting these for the Sock Knitter Anonymous group KAL (knit along) for July 2011.  The patterns that could be used were any from designer Wendy Johnson or using the technique of colorwork/intarisa or to participate in the mystery sock challenge.  Since I am still a newbie to knitting socks, I chose a rather easy pattern, but new to me, from Wendy Johnson.  It was not as difficult as I thought!  I will be exploring more patterns in the future.

Supplies:
Pattern: Sunrise Socks by wendy Johnson
Yarn: Premier Yarns Serenity Sock Weight #1778760 - Rose Quartz
Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm) on 47" Needles

KNITFreedom Ebook Videos

I thought I would share some recent knitting purchases with my fellow knitters that follow my blog.

I subscribe to the KNITFreedom newsletter.  It is great!  She has tons of helpful videos for newbies and seasoned knitters alike.  The videos help explain how to correct common knitting mistakes, shares free patterns and even teaches new techniques.  I received a 25% off coupon via email yesterday on single videos so I purchased:

1) How to Knit Continental Style

2) How to Knit Faster

3) Beginner Socks - Top Down (2AAT)

I purchased all of these through Ravelry!  You can also get them through the links above.  I personally bought them through Ravelry so I could have them saved into my ever growing library!

I started watching some of the videos for learning to knit continental style.  I think I need to finish my current projects first so that I don't get confused.  If it is as wonderful as it claims, I am going to be so happy!

I have already learned how to make two socks at-a-time from the top-down from 2-at-a-Time Socks: Revealed Inside. . . The Secret of Knitting Two at Once on One Circular Needle Works for any Sock Pattern! by Melissa Morgan-Oakes.  But sometimes it is harder to do learn from a book than from a video.  I have been wanting to make a full sized pair of socks (I've only made the sample socks so far) using this method so this ebook will be very helpful!

I was also able to save all these ebooks on the home page of my iPhone just like an app.  I now have these videos with me away from home.  Thanks Liat for your help with Knitting Faster!  It is working now!

I have used "Learn Magic Loop" Video E-Book and "Toe-Up Socks: One Or Two-At-A-Time On Magic Loop" Video E-Book with great success!  Liat explains everything throughly and precisely and her voice is very gentle.  I am so happy I discovered KNITFreedom!  I don't think that I would be the knitter that I am today without it!

Treasuring Emma - Kathleen Fuller

Summary from Good Reads: Emma has put everyone else first in her life. Now at nearly 25, has she missed her chance at marriage?

Emma was Adam's first love but circumstances made them both choose different paths in life. Emma's heart breaks all over again when Adam returns to the Amish community of Middlefield, Ohio, years later.

For the past ten years, Emma has been raising her siblings after their parents' untimely death. She's put their needs above her own and now, with them grown, she can focus on herself and her dream of opening a yarn store in the vacant cider house on her land.

With Adam's return come feelings Emma's long buried. They're older and life hasn't turned out the way they thought it would. Adam's feelings for Emma are stronger than ever, but will he be able to convince her to put others aside and give their love a chance?

Emma has had a rough life.  Her father passed away, then she had to care for her mother who eventually died of cancer, she takes care of her grandmother and has never married.  Emma had her heart broken two years ago when her childhood love, Adam, decided to leave the Amish faith and move to Michigan.  Emma's granmother, Leona, wrote to Adam after Emma's mother passed to have him come back for a visit.  Upon returning, all of Emma feelings returned for Adam at the wrong time in her life.  She had a house and farm to care for while worrying about how to make ends meet.  She did not have time to deal with Adam and his confused emotions.

All things happen for a reason.  If it is God's will, He will take care of it.  God showed Emma and Adam the direction their lives should be going to but does Adam listen.  Emma is afraid to get close to him again because she does not want her heart broken again.  This was a wonderful story by Kathleem Fuller.  I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to reading more about these characters from her in the next book in this series.

A special thanks to Book Sneeze for allowing me to review this book in advance!