This board has been SO quiet. Yet, I'm still knitting and crocheting. So, what are your favorite summer projects? Let's share!

Dishcloths. :) I love that soft cotton yarn, the fun colors, the price and how quickly they are finished.
My sweet little neighbor just had her 40 year old dishwasher die. I think I'm going to make a monogram dishcloth for her next.

I've been searching for patterns to use the 3 balls of bubble gum pink Cotton Ease I bought a couple weeks ago. I started a little sweater for Caroline but think I'm going to frog it all and do another pattern now.

I'm going to start on some bags pretty soon. I need to finish my ufo sewing pile first. :rolleyes:

Dishcloths. :) I love that soft cotton yarn, the fun colors, the price and how quickly they are finished.


I'm making dishcloths too! I am so impatient with how long knitting takes me, it is nice to finish something so quickly. I have been taking my knitting out to the pool with me and I work on it while ds is having fun in the water, I occasionally get splashed though! :rolleyes:

Not really summery but I've been doing hats. I'm ready for winter lol. I'm working on a wool bag to felt and it's starting to get big enough that I don't take it with me since it's hot on my lap. I just started a wool soaker but that won't do you any good :)
After I'm done that I think I'm going to start a sweater for dd, then a poncho for me. I'm assuming it will be cooler by the time I start that but I'm not sure. I can't stop knitting.
Janessa

I am working on lots of things. I seem to have a problem finishing things. I have a second slipper on a set of needles, a poncho on a set, a purse on a set and need to get started on the girls' school sweaters. They get cold in the AC and will need them by mid-August. Betcha I won't have them finished. They will just be on the needles. :rolleyes:

I'm still discloth/napkin obsessed. Got a whole basket of knitted dishcloths now and I just finished my 7th napkin lol!

I'm thinking about making some dishcloths and embroidered flour sack towels as sets for Christmas gifts.

I'm thinking about making some dishcloths and embroidered flour sack towels as sets for Christmas gifts.

Dannielle, How do you make the "back" of a flour sack towel look neat?? I tried a couple for Christmas gifts last year but the back looked so bad, I didn't give them away :rolleyes:

Onto the topic....

I have been on a kick to use up what I have. Not that my stash is extensive but it sure is a mumble jumble of stuff.

* I just finished a sweater for my son.
*knitting dishcloths, I have 4 done so far and I have one on the needles. My tip of the day is to keep the WIP on the counter so I can do a little bit when I find the time!
*I am using leftover yarns to make a blanket for my son's room
*I just started the Clapotis, from knitty.com with some yarn I bought from LTK with some Christmas money. This is going to be my most pretty project EVER!! And for me.... ALL for me!! :happy:

I also have some various other projects to make, a Thomas pillow for my son, I have to finish binding a little quilt I made for his bed, I have to finish handquilting a bed quilt for my bed (I have been working on this quilt since 1999!!!!!!) I also have some fabric bowls to make (have materials cut out) and I want to make some cloth napkins with some material I have.

Dannielle, How do you make the "back" of a flour sack towel look neat?? I tried a couple for Christmas gifts last year but the back looked so bad, I didn't give them away :rolleyes:


I never knew how to keep it neat either until I started collecting a few "day of the week" vintage towel sets and embroidered pillowcases. The backs of all the vintage stuff I have are neat. They never carry the thread from one area to the next...they always tie off and start fresh. (that was my biggest mistake) And anytime there was any "traveling" whip stitch along a "path" of worked stitches on the back to get to where you need to be.

LIke if you outline a green leaf by starting where it attaches to the stem and you stitch around the whole outside and then up the center rib...so you are ending at the top of the leaf. And you need to get back to where the leaf attached to the stem to start the next leaf. Whip stitch through the back-of-the-work threads going down the center leaf rib to travel back down. That keeps you from ending up with little thread lines all over the back.

I did that on my last embroidery project and it stayed neat on the back. Definitely more work but worth it, I thought. And definitely worth it for gifts. Hope that helps! :)

I've been working on felted bags...they're small, portable, and not as labor-intensive as some other projects. :)

Not Dannielle but one idea I've seen is to cover the back of your embroidery with a fabric patch. Use either white fabric or a contrasting print to go with the "theme" on the front.




Dannielle, How do you make the "back" of a flour sack towel look neat?? I tried a couple for Christmas gifts last year but the back looked so bad, I didn't give them away :rolleyes:

Thanks khogue2002 and Dannielle.

Dannielle, do you knot the end of the floss when you are done with a color area?? If so, how do you hide the knot??

I already ordered a book of flower transfer patterns after my last post in this thread LOL so as soon as I get it, I want to make some vintage towels and dishcloths as gifts being the total copycat I am!!!!! LOL

Dannielle, do you knot the end of the floss when you are done with a color area?? If so, how do you hide the knot??


Yup. I do one of those knots where you're on the back side...and you slip the needle under a worked thread. Then when it's not quite all the way pulled through you stick the needle in the little loop that remains.

Then to make it extra secure I "stitch" under the same worked thread about three times (not catching the fabric) and then stick my needle through those 3 stitches from the side. I leave a tail about 1/4" when I cut it.

I hope that makes sense...it's so hard to explain with words. Wish I could just show you lol!

Thank you, your instructions were very clear. I took a class on how to cross stitch on linen, years ago and that is how they taught us to finish the back, I just kinda forgot about it until you explained it.

Thanks, for the info and the new obsession because the last thing I need is to start another hobby LOL Oh well, it's fun!

Shorts! Dd looks sooo cute in knitted shorts so that is my main summer thrust. I just got a knitting machine so I have spent quite a few hours knock-down fighting with it this summer. And in August I plan to start my Christmas gift list of stockings, hats, socks, convertible cable mittens (from S&B) and scarves. I have to get an early start because my Carpal Tunnel makes everything s l o w and painful.

Wow, looks like dishclothes are rather popular! LOL It's great hearing what everyone else is doing! Now we just need more K&S/C&S!!!!!!

I've been doing soft washies out of organic cotton yarn. My dd loves them and they make great baby gifts. I've been swapping back and forth between knitting them and crocheting them.

I've also been crocheting some mesh groccery shopping bags. They take forever, but SO cute and stronger than the others I have. You know, if I'd just sew a few up, I'd be done in no time! LOL

I'm also knitting a scarf for my Grandfather who just moved up here from SC. He's going to need it this winter.

And, as always, I'm doing knitted/felted things. But NO bowls!!! LOL Nope, not one. :rolleyes:

i love knitting up soaker shorts..well and soakers..but man soaker shorts are so quick and easy..it's great..though i admit next time i am incorporating F&F's new crotch gusset..which looks like it will make them a bit more work. :)