Monday 24 November 2008

Snowmen Pot Holders or Hot Pads

designed, test knit, painted & photographed by Marilyn To make the pot holders double knit a square....How to double knit is explained in the tutorial below...

http://www.stitchdiva.com/custom.aspx?id=142

How I Did My Double Knitting~

Hold the two strands of cotton (ww) together & cast on 25 st. Your work will become two sided using this method. Your front side will be knit & the back side will be purl on the inside but it will be stockingnette on the outside....You knit 1 (using front colour) then purl 1 (using back colour). Trust me it works. The secret is to move both yarns together at the front even tho you just use 1 strand & then move both strands back & purl with the 1 strand, making sure you have the right colour if you are using two colours... You are really knitting an empty pocket that will only be joined at the sides & top & bottom. You eventually get a rythm & it feels like weaving & knitting.... At the start I made so many mistakes..... (1 stitch would be the wrong colour in amongst all the others..... practice makes it much easier..... I am a stickler for getting something to work & have way too much patience at times but I can now make one in no time.......

Cut a double thickness piece (so you don't get burnt) of heat resistant material to fit inside the empty pocket...Insert insulated material in the empty pocket & then sew the top together....of the potholder.... I bought my heat resistant material at Walmart... It is what is used for ironing board covers....
Crochet a small loop in one corner for hanging up....

I crocheted a picot border around the edges...Use any pattern you wish......

Crochet Picot Border

Skip over 2 stitches…starting with right side facing you....In next stitch (Chain 2 st., 1 hdc, 1sc in same st… skip over next 2 st.) Repeat this pattern(in brackets) around the sides of the cloth… Join & sew in ends…

Hdc is half double crochet. Wrap yarn around needle as if doing double crochet & pull through all three stitches…



Paint on the SnowMan

Using fabric paints I painted on the snowmen & the snowflakes...I outlined the snowmen in black & painted on the face, hat, scarf & arms.... Make matching dishcloths & you will have a gorgeous gift......Fabric paint does not wash off..... If you use fabric paint on dishcloths the paint becomes an excellant scrubber factor..... My Snowmen have lasted 2 years now....


Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays Marilyn