Smaller Items to Knit

Dad's arm rest tidy - it's pale blue, not grey

It's always been my 'thing' to take on larger projects, because I feel somehow that I should, that I enjoy knitting, but must make sure that I make something really worthwhile.  This strange approach is something to do with my obsession that time spent must be productive in some way and it often leads to disappointment.
I'm starting to learn that it's ok to just enjoy stuff and that not every piece of knitting has to be something to wear. 

Now I've learned that, I'm starting to find that smaller, quicker knits can be really useful too and that I actually finish them and they work.  The arm rest tidies knitted for my parents are already in use and much appreciated.  I used some aran from the stash, three strands knitted together to make a super chunky and Voila!  Such a worthwhile knit on so many levels :
- a gift
- a useful gift
- I enjoyed making them (I love cable knitting)
- they were quick
- they used up some stash
- they got  me into the notion of using more stash by knitting several strands at once

Presents

Gedifra Easy Wear - very very chunky

I had a birthday recently and I got presents!!!

Very, very chunky Gedifra - hat? bag? arm warmers?  So soft, so cuddly, it would  be nice to use it to keep warm.

Noro Sekku

Oh the fun I have had already with the Sekku.  Just looking at all the lovely possibilities on Ravelry has kept me quiet for hours.  I'll have to make a decision, but not yet.

And another mystery object

Can you see what it is yet?

This may not look like much, but there is a cunning plan.  Mum has difficulty holding things and uses a wash mitt rather than a flat flannel or washcloth.  This way she doesn't have to grip it, just puts her hand inside.  So, thinking about my large stash of boucle and other cottons, I thought about knitting up some wash mitts as a little present for her birthday.  I'll wrap them with small bars of special scented soap.

The colour is a sort of khaki green and I have put a light blue with it.  Not a combination I would have naturally picked, but the yarn was there and although the photo may not show it well, there is a sort of seaside feel to the combination.

The cotton knits up pretty much as DK and I have used linen stitch which gives a very close texture and should prevent too much bagginess.  When using linen stitch you knit on slightly larger needles than normal for the yarn because of the closeness of the fabric, so I have done this one on 5mm.  Thinking about trying the next on 4mm to see what happens.

Linen stitch is one of my favourite slip stitches and I have knitted all sorts in it and have plans for more.

Mobile phone cover in linen stitch

You can try it in two colours and get interesting effects :

Row 1,  Col 1 :   K1 *yfwd, sl1pw, ybk K1*    last stitch K1

Row 2,  Col 1 :   K1 *sl1pw, yfwd, p1, ybk*    last stitch K1

Row 3,  Col 2 :   As row 1

Row 4,  Col 2 :   As row 2