Throwing In The Towel(s)

About three weeks before Christmas a decision was made in my honey's family that we would do a Secret Santa gift exchange instead of buying everyone a gift. I thought it was a great idea as this is something we did in my own family years ago.

After I selected the name of whom I would gift some sort of fabulousness, I was stumped. This person themselves are very creative, but as being a creative person myself, I know how purchasing supplies for whatever their craft is can be very personal. Sooooo I scratched that idea.

Then one day about a week later a light bulb went off! This person always comments how much they love my knitting. So that's what I decided to do. However, with only two weeks until Christmas, what could I possibly knit quickly?!?!?!?!

Honey said socks. I said no.

I also said no to myself about knitting a Lap Blanket or Throw Pillow Covers. Not enough time.

After spending what felt like countless hours of Ravelry browsing and losing a million minutes of sleep, I decided I would knit an oversized dish towel and then purchase some lovely items from O&Co to go with it.

I had the perfect cotton yarn already in my stash so we were a GO!!!!!

Pattern: Stripes and Texture Dish Towel
Yarn: Knit Picks Dishie; Colorway - Coffee
Needles: Knit Picks Circs Size 5
Started: December 13, 2014
Finished: December 16, 2014

After knitting a few rows, I was really pleased with the texture of the knit. The original pattern called for Size 7 needles and one skein of yarn. I decided to use Size 5 needles and two skeins of yarn. I wanted a firmer fabric since it would be used as a dish towel.

It quickly grew and before I knew it the towel was done! So I cast on for another. Yup, one towel turned into two as I thought this would be perfect to gift to another!

Yarn: Knit Picks Dishie; Colorway -  Linen
Needles: Knit Picks Circs Size 5
Started: December 17, 2014
Finished: December 20, 2014

Sadly I am a bad blogger as I forgot to take FO pictures of these two towels before I wrapped these babies up for the intended recipients.

However, I did cast on for one more towel before the year ended!

And finished it in the new year!

Yarn: Knit Picks Dishie; Colorway -  Pomegranate
Needles: Knit Picks Circs Size 5
Started: December 21, 2014
Finished: January 2, 2015

When the towel is open it measures at 16.5" by 23" and used up practically every little bit of yarn. I love it when there are no real yarn leftovers.

This towel truly lives up to it's name of Stripes and Texture. I love it!

Besides changing the needle size, I did a couple other things that I thought made this pattern more to my liking. I completed a crochet cast on because I wanted it to match the traditional bind off. My formula for knitting the alternating pattern rows were 6 rows of seed stitch and 4 rows of garter stitch for nine repeats and then I knitted 5 rows of seed stitch before binding off.

The question is, will I knit more of these? Absolutely. They are like potato chip knitting for me and I think make really quick (i.e. last minute) gifts.

So there you have it. My last two FO's for 2014 and my first FO of 2015!

I'm done with towel knitting for now. I currently have a couple new projects on the needles which may or may not be socks. I am also tackling some of those old WIPs I mentioned in my Knitting Goals post. We'll see where I am at with that at month's end.

Right now I am gearing up for a little trip to see my family at the end of the week. I will be gone from the frigid temps, to something hopefully a little more balmy, for eight whole days. I cannot wait! Rest assured knitting will be packed.