Free Knitting Pattern: Pinwheel Basket

I love baskets for decorating and organizing things, and this knitted basket pattern is one of my favorites.  I had this pattern on my Hubpages for a while, but I haven't posted a link on this blog until now.  This is a quick, fun knit that uses Zoë Scheffy's free Pinwheel Coasters pattern for the base, then builds up the sides using a lattice pattern in two colors.  All the directions are on my Hubpages.

Just as an FYI - you won't find this pattern in Ravelry.  Since it uses part of Zoë's pattern, I felt uncomfortable posting and taking credit for this pattern there.

A few (knitted) projects around the house

We're slowly getting unpacked and settled in our new house.  And I'm glad that I had some time to knit a few things for our home.  These projects have become welcomed and useful additions.

First up - place mats for our kitchen table.  I'm still working on these.  I've completed three so far and want to make a set of six (we have six chairs). 

I've been all over the place with these place mats (no pun intended).  I started with the Woodsy Place Mat pattern, which I was lucky enough to tear out and keep from a Creative Knitting magazine my Mom found at the recycle center.  I love how this pattern looked in the Red Heart Fiesta I've been using, but after blocking these place mats shrunk and the edges got all wonky.  I was not a happy camper :(

I swatched a bunch of other patterns, but didn't find anything that I liked as much as these.  So, I re-knit them (again), but this time I added a garter border (5 rows on the bottom, 3 stitches on each side, and 4 rows on the top before binding off).   With the garter border they keep their shape much better.

Next, coasters - I've talked about these before, but you haven't see the wonderful thing I found to keep them in!

I have this little wood-fired ceramic cup from a pottery class I took a few years ago.  My six coasters fit perfectly in it, and I'm thinking  of making a couple more coasters if I have enough yarn left.

And finally, my knitted basket, also made from the pinwheel coaster pattern.  Once I finish my (never-ending) place mats, I plan to make another one of these baskets to cover a glass jar and hold my knitting needles.  I hope to use some self-stripeing yarn for the contrast color.

And then one future project - I have about 3/4 of a skein of cotton yarn left over from my latest sweater project.  I want to use this either to make a hand towel for my master bathroom or a couple of face cloths for my guest bathroom.  I'd certainly get more use out of a hand towel for my own bathroom (we don't have many guests), but if I make a few smaller cloths, I'll get to try a couple of different patterns (which would be fun).  What do you think I should do? 

Coffee Tables, Coasters, and Ottomans (Oh My!)

More about the new house, decorating and knitting...

We will be buying new furniture for the living/family room.  Everything we have now is stuff my husband or I bought after college and have been hauling around with us for years.  I'm particularly excited about getting a nice(ish) coffee table, something like this beauty from Macy's.

from Macy's website

(Actually I can't see paying this much for a coffee table, but I like the glass top and the medium wood color, and I think we can find something similar at other stores).

Of course, if we invest in a nice coffee table (i.e. something that hasn't had three previous owners and was bought at Goodwill), then we need to treat it well.  Do I hear coasters?

I just finished these babies last night.  Using the pattern for Pinwheel Coasters from Ravelry, I knitted these using some leftover Red Heart Fiesta from a previous project.  I made 6 coasters with a #8 needle, then used various scrap yarn to darn the center hole, adding the different colors.  I like how funky this set looks.  And very utilitarian, too! 

And on another decorating note, I think I may have found my ottoman:

I bought this ottoman at Target for around $55 (but I had a gift card).  It doesn't really "match" the chair, but I love the fabric and all the colors.  I think I'm going to keep it.  Heck, its my knitting room - I can have whatever furniture I want, right?