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hillstreetmama
Permanent Resident
USA
3448 Posts |
 Posted - 09/16/2012 : 7:45:23 PM
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If you make dishcloths, then you probably have a bag of tiny bits of leftovers, right? I had two big gallon ziploc bags stuffed full, and put off using them because of all the resulting ends to weave in.
Here was my idea: I set up my ball winder by my sewing machine, and set the machine to a narrow zigzag, with neutral cotton thread. I sorted out the little balls by color families, and began to wind the first ball till I had just a couple feet - enough to reach my sewing machine. I took the tail from the first ball, overlapped about four inches from the next ball, and twisted them together. Holding the two strands, I zigzagged them together for at least two inches (the feed dogs won't touch them, so you have to pull it through), then trimmed the loose ends, and continued winding. When I was down to two feet, I grabbed the next ball, and did it again. I used up over a pound of scraps making these new yarn cakes.
The result? I put the new "cake" on my yarn buddy (my newest toy) and started knitting the "granny's favorite", which is my best way to use scraps. The first cloth I knitted had 5 different yarns. I did have to trim a few little frayed ends after they were knitted, but normally, this would have required TEN ends to weave in, whereas this way, I had TWO.
Obviously, this technique is only for dishcloths. It isn't perfect, but weaving in rough cotton (I only use the cheap stuff) is such a chore that I was willing to try it. The joins should be very secure, and it is still 100% cotton, so I'm happy with it.
Jan
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EmEm
Warming Up
USA
78 Posts |
Posted - 09/16/2012 : 8:56:20 PM
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| What a good idea! I figured I'd get around to knitting my leftovers some day, but all those ends! I'll definitely give your idea a try. |
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ikkivan
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
429 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2012 : 5:53:59 PM
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Terrific! I'm not only going to use this idea myself, but will share it with my knitting group tomorrow ... there are several there who make dishcloths and I know they will appreciate this, too.
Donna, with intentions always bigger than her available time. (OkieDokieKnitter on Ravelry) |
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sjanova
Seriously Hooked
USA
960 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2012 : 3:50:58 PM
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Cute idea. I used some ends to make "drool bibs" for the last DGS. I don't think they used them (no evidence when I was there and he was very drooly), but I made 7 of them usually using 2 colors per bib and thought they were cute.
sja |
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purlthis
Permanent Resident
USA
2715 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2012 : 4:01:54 PM
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Love it!
Rachel
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As I get older, I prefer to knit. Tracey Ullman
http://purledthis.blogspot.com/ UPDATED! WITH PICS! |
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Consuelo
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
582 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2012 : 04:08:42 AM
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You are SOOOOOO clever! I love the idea.
Consuelo
"Perfect" is the enemy of good! |
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Grand-moogi
Seriously Hooked
Australia
773 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2012 : 05:51:23 AM
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An excellent idea. Thanks for sharing it. I will definitely use that one.
I knit a hug into every stitch |
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susan14_23
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
550 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2012 : 08:55:23 AM
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That's a great idea! I have lots of scraps and I've been looking for a way to use them up.
Susan |
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pqpatch
Seriously Hooked
USA
616 Posts |
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Grand-moogi
Seriously Hooked
Australia
773 Posts |
Posted - 10/04/2012 : 07:00:01 AM
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This is a great idea! Many thanks. I will definitely be using it and telling others about it.
I knit a hug into every stitch |
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hillstreetmama
Permanent Resident
USA
3448 Posts |
Posted - 10/04/2012 : 4:49:20 PM
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I've made five dishcloths from the new scrap-balls so far. Only one was so ugly that I have to use it myself. (It had some solid country pink and a burgandy/tan variegated that made up the biggest part...hideous!) Otherwise, I've been happy with the result. I'd been toying with the idea for years of how to attach all these bits so I wouldn't have to weave in all the ends. I'd prefer something that would wrap around the ends, but it would have to be pliable, and I just couldn't come up with anything doable. This idea was just a wild hair that I got one afternoon while straightening up my yarn piles. Please let me know how it works for you, and if you find something that will make it better, please pass that on.
Jan
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Using up bits of dishcloth cotton.
