Polishing up the Week with a Dishcloth

This week went by in such a rush! 

I finally caved an had the hand checked out and an MRI yesterday. We'll see on Monday what tendons I've messed up if any.....have no idea. I can still knit if I don't make extreme movements and pulling with it. I wrap it up tight when I do.

Just finished my first dishcloth and so excited!  Just the plain garter stitch for this one, no fancy, smancy, patterns. I honestly am looking forward to using it and Mr. Darcy is probably looking forward to me using it as well as I've neglected chores in order to knit or sleep long nights in this wintry weather.

The wind was so high today that I was reading and all the way across the window flew a cushion on the porch! The chimes though are beautiful and it's peaceful on days like this.

I can't believe we are looking into the 3rd week of February, but I believe I'm getting ready for some Spring weather.

One night this week the electricity went off at 1am and I woke up the Mr. and he and I went to build a fire in the wood stove and stayed partially awake until 7am. Then, I was up cooking scrambled eggs and toast and coffee trying to wake up and warm up.

All of our electricity finally came on at 6am. The sun came out and oh what a family room mess as it definitely looked as if  someone took camp overnight there. :)

We are looking forward with bittersweetness to the last episode of Downton Abbey tomorrow night.

Oh, how I wish this would play for much longer!!

Well, here is my stitching finish.

Simple.

Functional.

Eye Candy.

Cottage.

Cotton. 

For the Kitchen.

The color is true therapy.

Folded nicely for that first dip in the water.

Speaking of dip in the water, I believe it's time for a nice, hot tub bath soak before bedtime.

 Tomorrow to sampler making again AND more organizing my sewing room that has linen and threads in piles awaiting their homes in the cabinets.

I believe my designing mojo is back for another motif.

Stay warm and cozy,

Jennifer

Twisted Tuesday and Love at the Homestead

Learning something new that is simple. 100% Cotton. Dishcloth~~knitted.

With the top of my right hand still really sore and wrapped, I still am going with the needles until I can't stand it anymore. :P

A friend I had not seen in sooooooooo long told me about this cotton color because she told me all about her crocheting dishcloths and used this.

I started this yesterday and worked on it some today.

It's pretty TWISTED!

Cottage is the name. I LOVE it!

The colors exactly I use in my kitchen and family room.

Why do I keep showing you my work in a plate?????  The lighting is just best really.

It's quite a tightly woven  piece. I cast on 40 stitches and garter stitch all the way. I want to make this a little larger than what most dishcloth patterns call for so probably one skein will make 2.

Size definitely matters.

In needles.......

I started using size 6 as recommended by someone at a quilt store but, I used a 5 instead and it was MUCH easier to slide the cotton over the wood needle + this is the size called for on the package. I think this is Peaches and Cream cotton. (I don't have the label any longer)

Speaking of sweet Peaches and Cream.......this Peach actually fell asleep on the sofa~~~~~~~with her foot in her mouth and arms up. She was nawing on her feet and fell asleep.

The warmth and hum of the wood stove will put one in a trance at times it's so relaxing.

Speaking of relaxing, this is what relaxes me:

my dearest husband

knitting

love for family and friends

music

reading

cross stitching

designing

writing

and 

hot, Cinnabons, fresh from the store........................

a warm fire in the wood stove

my Kindle loaded with good books

My sweet husband brought me a Cinnabon for breakfast for yesterday morning. 

We couldn't be happier together and celebrate everyday, a Valentine's day!

Two more days.....for the official celebration of love and for us, that is a deep, Christ-centered love that is the solid foundation. 

Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Saviour. Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendour, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind - yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of his body. 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.

Ephesians 5

Knitting away.............

Yes. Knitting away again. Did you know that knitting has the same effect as yoga on the body/mind as far as health benefits. It increases serotonin, the happy hormones in our brain. It decrease cortisol, which is a great benefit to the body's aging process.

It calms anxiety and increases the strength of our immune systems.

When I read that, I was convinced to finish this:

 I'm trying to finish this scarf and then onto cross stitching. I promised a close friend I would make her a scarf and she wanted pinks or greens. She hasn't seen this. I know she will love it. I hope to get this done by Valentines for her.

I made a mistake shortly after combining the second skein of which I couldn't figure out, so I carried it to a local town yarn shop and the sweet lady frogged out 4-5 rows and got it straightened out.

I was SO thankful for that. 

I hope to make some dishcloths with cotton as well, in fact while in her store I got this:

I only got one ball of cotton she had. She didn't carry Peaches and Cream so this one was pricey but I was just thankful she helped me out to finish the scarf.

No more sponges.

This is Italian cotton.

I use alot of blue, dark reds, golds and black in my kitchen so this will be nice.

I am looking at some utube tutorials for patterns.

I just want a functional cloth.

I've used handmade ones before and they are GREAT to clean with and very durable.

She said that one of these will make 2-3 dishcloths.

Back to Saturday chores and maybe some stitching time!

Hope you are having an AWESOME Saturday! Today in North GA it's cold but bright and sunny. The wood stove is drawing me near right now along with some English Breakfast hot tea.

 Mr. Darcy has split a second rack of seasoned wood and neatly put on the porch, ready to add to the stove.

Abbie is curled in a quilt for her morning nap and  in a one day flat completely tore off both ears of her new Valentine toy. :0

Chili in the slow cooker for dinner tonight with some homemade cornbread in the griddle.

With peace and love,

Jennifer