Done—It will even make it into the
wash today, for fulling/shrinking. I have just finished weave in the
ends- I have taken some before photos, (to show the shape and the
unevenness of the stitching.) and will take some after photo's and
show how a good soaking in hot water, with some agitation, evens out
the knitting and at the same time brings the potholder closer to a
square shape.
Potholders 2 is square—but square
isn't square once it has be washed and shrunk—see below. It will
end up being a big one (even by my “I love oversized potholders”
standards).. More of a counter mat or hot mat than a potholder. It
working name is Awning...I am not sure if that will stick.
In any case, Square is 11 inches
square, so I will continue till it is 14 inches or so. Small for a
place mat, but actually just about the perfect size for my dinner
trays. I have some real serving trays (for carrying food or plates
for company) but I daily I use small trays just big enough for
coffee, a small bowl of cottage cheese and another bowl for fruit..
(and a single rice cake.) Its the old dieters trick use small bowls
and plates, so the food fills the plate and makes small portions look
bigger.
Meanwhile, here is old old potholder..
the once dark black has faded to pale grey (this potholder might have
found itself in a load of white wash, and been bleached)
It started out Taller than it was
wide.. A rectangle.
But repeated washing, and with each
one, the ratios changed... Its a rectangle again, but now it is way
wider than it is tall. I can stretch it into an almost square shape.
But it wants to squat!
Of course, seconds after potholder 1
was off the needle, potholder 4 was cast on. (3 times before I got it
right!) I know it's out of order.. Potholder 3 (part of the black/white/red
set) should come before potholder 4.. but potholder 3 is a design I
have knit before
It's a natural part of the black/white/red set, as
is pot holder 5 (if I ever get to 5) which is just going to be
another window pane or gingham one.. designs I have knit so often I
could do them in my sleep.
Potholder 3? Something total new (for
me)--A round potholder.. Lucy Neatby's round and rounds of round
double knitting is just too interesting to pass by! I am not sure
that I NEED seat cushions, (and I KNOW I don't need an other lap/mid
sized blanket) so what a person to do? Clearly I need to knit some
round potholders, or round hot mats, or well, something of that sort.
Maybe if I like round flat double
knitting, I will go all out and knit a rug—Loosely in wool, and
then full it into a nice thick rug for my living room. I bought a
bunch of yarn years ago, to do just that (knit a floor rug) and I
have never gotten around to it... Maybe what was holding me back was
the ROUND to it part.
If I hate double knitting in the round,
I can always go back to my original plans for a rug knit in very
uneven stripes, in garter stitch.