Sugar Addiction

To Sugar N Cream yarn, that is. I think the Lily yarn company is wonderful and genius. Really! They create a yarn that is made from cotton, a wonderful, non-itchy, earth friendly, natural fiber. They dye it in gorgeous, irresistible colors or leave it beautifully natural. Then, they sell it in little balls for .99 cents to a couple dollars. Who could resist? Beautiful and so cheap that I can buy it guilt free! And, I do...over and over and over! I've bought a lot of balls just because they were pretty and cheap. I have over a dozen in my stash. However, I prefer to buy it with a project in mind and most of the time I do. I've gone through dozens of balls of Sugar N Cream yarn to make dish cloths, wash cloths, shower puffs, placemats, doilies, coasters, bags and more.

I love Sugar N Cream so much that I'm always trying to find new projects to use it for. A few weeks ago I was playing around with some crocheted motifs. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I found a pattern called, "Double Bump Dishcloth" and quickly got started on it. What fun!


This turquoise yarn was in my stash. I love the color!


The texture of this pattern is really nice and the pattern was fun to do. However, I decided it's a bit too stretchy for my taste as a wash or dish cloth. So, I used the other half of the ball to make a plain dish cloth, like the many I made a few years ago for gifts. The pattern is also used for a scarf. I think it would work great for that and I might make one someday.


Right after I got started on the "Double Bump Dishcloth", I stopped in at a local Michael's store and saw a new color of Sugar N Cream that I couldn't resist. The color is "Earth Ombre". It's so pretty!


I couldn't wait to use it! So, after I finished the two turquoise dish cloths, I quickly found another pattern I liked and got started. This pattern is called, "Basket Rib Hand Towel". The texture is similar to the dish cloth I had just finished.


I'm using size 5 needles and I love how it's turning out. The texture is nice to look at and it's soft and thick for a hand towel. It's knitted with a four row repeat that is easy to memorize and fun to knit. I originally bought one ball but went back for another so I'll have enough to make a towel.


I've been working on this when I'm not working on my Maia Shawl. It's a nice break for my hands to switch back and forth between knit and crochet.

Crossing the Border

I've been slowly working on my Maia Shawl and I've reached the part of the pattern where I'll cross into the border section. It might not seem big enough to start the border but the border is pretty wide. And, the shawl will be a lot larger after it's blocked.


This crochet shawl is very different than any of the others I've made. And, it's going a lot slower because of all the detail and the single crochet rows that are very short. The pattern is written very well and is easy to understand and follow. It's a lot of fun and I love how it looks.


The flower rows are my favorite to do and they're so cute.


I'm using a size "G" hook and Madelinetosh Lace yarn in the color, "Baltic".

Over the border I go! :-)

Success

Someone posted a quote on Facebook this weekend that I absolutely love. It immediately became one of my favorite quotes. It's awesome and I thought I'd share it...along with a photo from my visit to Yosemite a few weeks ago and one of my favorite spots in the park. Enjoy...


"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Beautiful Butterflies

How about a "Floral Friday" type of post and some beautiful butterflies? I saw these beauties a few weeks ago in San Diego in the Zoro Garden at Balboa Park. There were dozens of them. They flit and fly around so much that they're hard to get pictures of. But, with a little patience, I got some...










Happy Labor Day! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!