Knitting and Crocheting

I have received a pattern to use a modification of a dishcloth pattern for a Swiffer cover. It can be used for dry dusting or wet for scrubbing and mopping floors. The pattern has the option of knitting nylon in several rows. If you are interested, please let me know so I can share the pattern.

Swedish Weaving

Today I would like to discuss getting started with the monk's cloth, which is 100% cotton. It has four floats per inch, with an over and under four strand weave. I have talked about the bodkin needle, which you use to weave the yarn through the basket weave of the cloth. The patterns I have used call for washing the monk's cloth prior to weaving. However, I have found that it is easier to weave the yarn through the cloth before washing. Once the cloth is washed, it shrinks the material slightly.



There are many colors of monk's cloth available. I have used white or natural, but I have seen afghans done in a wine color with white yarn and pink cloth with wine yarn. When using variegated yarn with colored cloth, lay some yarn across the color you choose to see if all the colors will show.



The afghans I weave call for 2 1/2 yards of material. You fold the material in half lengthwise and crosswise to find the center. Most patterns start in the very center of the material. A good way to check is to count the rows of weaving and stitches in the rows. I put a piece of yarn or safety pin on the float for a center marker. The raw edges should be zigzagged to keep them from fraying. You can also turn them under with a hem, holding the hem in place by basting with yarn. I have also basted yarn on the center row both vertically and horizontally to visually see where the center is.



Most patterns show starting in the center row and weaving from the center to the left of the row, then reverse your material and work the other half of the pattern from center to the left. It does seem confusing at the beginning! Your pattern tells you how many yards of yarn you will need, depending on the design. I fold my yarn for the row in half and mark it with a safety pin. That way, when I start my row and pull my yarn through, I know to stop at the safety pin, as the rest of the yarn is for the other half of the row. You will have more yarn than needed, but you want yarn left at the end of each row. When the afghan is completed, you will be sewing up the sides and the yarn gets sewed down in the seam. This will keep the yarn from pulling out of the pattern.

Knitting and Crocheting

I would like to show some different ways of using 100% cotton yarn for making dishcloths and potholders/hotpads. I have used both solid and variegated colors in combination to make dishcloths, as one pattern I use calls for solid on one side and variegated on the other side. When I use that pattern, I also make a matching potholder/hotpad with 4 rows of solid, then 4 rows of variegated, etc. The potholders/hotpads are done in crochet, but the dishcloths are knit. They make great gifts in a pinch or as a gift for a wedding shower.

I have included pictures of the various designs and use of colors. I have shown potholders/hotpads that are crocheted only with variegated yarn and dishcloths that are knit in either solid or variegated.

When you are deciding if you want to knit or crochet your dishcloth, consider the size and weight of the finished product. Older people may have trouble with arthritis and are not able to use a large, heavy dishcloth. The knit dishcloth is lighter in weight and maybe easier to use. Another consideration is how long it takes for the dishcloth to dry out. If you use a pattern that makes a solid (no space between stitches) design with crocheting, it may not dry as quickly as a knit pattern.

There are may dishcloth designs available at your local stores. Most variegated yarn has a matching solid color for contrast. Most variegated yarns with multiple colors will have several solid colors to match.

Check out the pictures!

Swedish Weaving

The pictures I have included are samples of how much or how little weaving you wish to do, based on the pattern you choose. The Heritage Weave took much longer to make than Jewel because the design called for more yarn and more weaving to fill in the design. I will continue to display pictures of different designs to give you an idea of how beautiful the afghans are.

Swedish Weaving

My tip for today will be the best type of needle to use with monk's cloth. When I first started Swedish weaving, I was using a needle typically used for stitching on plastic canvas. Then I found a bodkin needle, which is much better. The needle is wider, flat and the tip is at a slight bend. This needle enables you to pass the yarn under the threads of the cloth. The monk's cloth material consists of loose strands that run over and under to make the weave pattern.

The bodkin needle can be purchased at most craft stores.

Happy stitching!

Swedish Weaving

Welcome to my blog! I have been doing swedish weaving on monk's cloth for 5 years. I learned how to weave and was hooked! I also love to knit and crochet. I am making dishcloths from 100 percent cotton yarn, both in knitting and crocheting. I have received a pattern for a dishcloth that can be used as a cover for a mop, whether you use it for dry or wet. I also use nylon netting with the cotton yarn to make round scrubbies for use in the kitchen. If you have tips to share or questions about this, please let me know!