Category Archives: Crochet

Review of Village Yarn Craft Cotton Yarn

This is a complete, unbiased review of Village Yarn brand Craft Cotton yarn. Just so you know…I have not been paid nor asked by Herrschner’s who sells this yarn to do this review.

I sell my own handmade items online on a number of sites. In the last couple of years, the sale of my crochet cloths has skyrocketed. In 2016, I literally sold almost 3,000 of these cloths! I keep waiting for my fingers to be “whittled off” but fortunately, they’re still attached and hence I keep crocheting!

For assorted reasons, I recently decided to try different brands of cotton yarn because I felt it was time to consider a change in the brand that I used for years. One brand I tried (and WILL use in making cloths to sell) is Herrschner’s Village Yarn brand Craft Cotton yarn. This is a brand you won’t see in any store. It seems to be a brand exclusive to Herrschners.com. So, it can only be purchased online at the Herrschner’s website. I believe some view it as one of the “underdogs” in cotton yarns since it’s not a major brand that cannot be found in many different stores or websites. However, after trying it, I believe it needs a bit more recognition and praise.

Here is what I found regarding specific points that may be of interest to anyone using cotton yarn…

Ease of Use…Flow Over Crochet Hook (∗∗∗∗∗)
I have made crochet cloths with this yarn using an I size (5.00mm) crochet hook with a half-double crochet stitch for the body of the cloth and a single crochet stitch for the edging. I found it to flow smoothly over the hook with little effort. It was a joy to work with and I found I could work pretty fast with this yarn with little issue.

Although I have not tried knitting with this yarn, I feel it would be a great yarn for knitting any project calling for a 4-ply medium weight cotton yarn.

“Feel” of the Yarn (∗∗∗∗∗)
This yarn has a nice soft feel/touch to it, unlike some other brands of cotton yarn. The finished cloth is soft enough to use as a facial washcloth, yet it is still tough enough to do the job as a dishcloth. I think the softness also helps in giving it a smooth feel on the hook, allowing for “smooth” crochet action.

Ease of Flow of Yarn from Skein (∗∗∗)
The end of the yarn coming from the center of the skein is not readily available. So, it seems it’s designed to be used from the outer end of the skein. Perhaps one could “dig” into the center to pull the yarn from the middle (which might be best), but I have not tried that approach yet (maybe I will…it might flow better that way!). So, when working from the outer end, the yarn does not flow smoothly. I had to stop crocheting and unwind yarn before I could keep working. This is a simple thing, and may not be an issue for many people. But when making thousands of cloths in a year, this represents a good bit of time. Although I really DO love this yarn, I wish it was wound differently so it would flow more readily from the skein.

Size of Skein and Price (∗∗∗∗∗)
The solid skeins contain 2.5 oz/71 g/115 yards
The ombre skeins contain 2 oz/56 g/92 yards
This yarn also comes in a 16 oz cone/454 g/ 743 yards

I have only purchased the small solid color skeins so far. They are usually priced at $2.39/ball. When 3 or more skeins are purchased (in any color combination), they are reduced to $2.19/ball. The cones are normally $14.99 each.

Herrschner’s does not automatically offer free shipping with larger orders; however, they often run specials with assorted discounts and/or free shipping. If you join their mailing list, you’ll receive discount/sale notices pretty often. Careful shopping can save you money when ordering this product during a special sales event.

When using the small skeins (solid colors), I get two crochet cloths per ball, with very little yarn left over. This is absolutely perfect for me! My cloths are about 7-1/2 to 8″ square. This brings my cost per cloth to $1.10 each, assuming I purchased the yarn in bulk (which I always do), and also assuming that I got free shipping (or a discount large enough to offset shipping costs). From my experience, this price is about average for many cotton yarns. Some are cheaper, while others would cost more. I feel this yarn is worth the price.

Colorfastness (∗∗∗∗∗)

Yarn did not bleed!

This is REALLY an important point for me. Some brands of cotton yarn lose color readily and that can lead to unhappy customers. So, I tested this yarn for colorfastness. I took small scraps of sage and white yarns and made a small swatch of a cloth (see picture). I didn’t bother cutting off ends nor weaving them in since this was just a test for color fastness. I used the cloth that is pictured in washing dishes numerous times. The sage did NOT bleed at all. If it did, I would have noticed it in the dish water, and also the white yarn would have been stained. As you can see, the white yarn is still white, not a pale green. Hence, I’m VERY please to say that it did not bleed!

I also tested a piece of the parsley green yarn in water that was heated in the microwave, almost to boiling. The yarn was placed in the water and left there for a few minutes. NO bleeding!

From these two tests, it certainly seems this brand of yarn is color safe. Yeah!!!

Thickness (∗∗∗∗∗)
This is classified as a medium weight 4-ply yarn. However, many cotton yarns are classified the same way, yet some feel very thin while others feel extremely thick and stiff. This yarn seems to meet the “Goldilocks test” where it feels “just right” being nice and thick, but not SO thick that it’s stiff and hard to work with. The stitches in the finished product are nicely filled out, looking evenly distributed, yet it retains flexibility. With these attributes, the crochet cloths are a delight to use!

Yarn Twist vs Splitting (∗∗∗∗∗)
Anyone who crochets or knits knows what it’s like to work with a yarn that splits easily. It’s annoying to say the least. Uncorrected splits can cause weak and even unsightly areas in a project. They are to be avoided if at all possible.

Any yarn can be subject to splitting, but some a lot more than others. That being said, the twist or spin of the yarn makes all the difference. The more or better the twist or spin, the less likely a yarn is to split. Once again, this yarn seems to meet the “Goldilocks test” where it has just the right amount of spin to hold the strands together making it unlikely to split when being used. Yet it doesn’t have SO much spin that it knots up when the yarn is unwound from the skein. Most of the time, I can make entire cloths with this yarn without having even one splitting episode! Yeah!!

Color Options (∗∗∗∗∗)

Colors I Purchased

There are a total of 43 color options available in this line of yarn, with 26 solids and 17 ombres. While no one brand carries absolutely ALL colors possible, this brand does have a good selection to choose from.

The colors I purchased were…

Top row, left to right:
White, Cream, Honey, Linen, Brown

Second row, left to right:
Burgundy, Apple Red, Morning Sky, Turquoise, Deep Sea, Parsley, Sage

Are the Colors True to Their Names? (∗∗∗∗)
I purchased 12 of the solid colors to explore for now. I found that most of the colors I purchased were true to their names. However, two of them were questionable to me. I even double checked the color number on the label with the catalog number to be sure I was looking at the right color!

Apple Red yarn comparison

The “Apple Red” color is not apple red. This was a surprise because the color in the catalog clearly looks to be an apple red. I took a picture of the ball of yarn next to a Red Delicious apple (left), a Braeburn apple (middle) and a Clementine tangerine (right) for comparisons. As the picture shows, the yarn is far from an apple red, yet it’s clearly not orange. It’s somewhere in between. Perhaps the dye lot was off in this batch? Maybe it should be called red coral? Maybe deep conch? Maybe orange-red? I really can’t decide what it should be called. Village Craft does have a “Really Red” color of yarn in this line. Maybe it would be more of an apple red color. I have not purchased that color, so I can’t verify it.

Turquoise Comparison

Another color that I found questionable was the turquoise. The picture in the catalog does look like a turquoise blue. However, the actual skein of turquoise that I purchased looks more like a very nice medium blue color. (See picture…Morning Sky on the left, Turquoise in the middle, Deep Sea on the right.) I really don’t see the “turquoise” in it. To truly appear “turquoise” it may need a bit more green in the dye. Again, maybe it’s just the dye lot of this skein. I’m more inclined to call my skein medium blue and not turquoise. So…if you truly need a deep turquoise yarn, this may not be it.

With the above being said, the colors are not that bad at all, with two colors out of twelve being somewhat off. My suggestion to you: If specific colors are very important in a project, buy one skein of each color you’ll need to be sure they’ll be right for you before investing a lot in a project.

Knots (∗∗∗∗)
I’ve used a number of different brands of yarn. It seems that just about any brand can be subject to having knots in the skeins. However, some brands (yarn mills) do a better job than others of minimizing their knots.

Knot in Parsley Yarn

I’ve made a good number of cloths with this yarn and I don’t recall having any issues with knots along the way. However, when taking pictures for this article, I did easily notice a knot in one of the skeins. (See picture.) Obviously, the yarn mill could have done a little better job of minimizing the knot. When working with this skein, I’ll need to cut the yarn and redo the knot to make it less visible.

Conclusion

Finished Crochet Cloths

I’m very happy with the finished cloths I made with this yarn and will continue to use specific colors in meeting my customer needs. Note that I will be using more than one brand of yarn because I try to carry a wide array of color options in my crochet cloths. However, this brand will meet some of my needs and I’m very happy with it.

I recommend this brand for those who are looking for a good quality cotton yarn! The colors hold up very well. The finished projects are soft yet very durable and scrub dishes well. Crochet cloths wring out easily and dry well overnight. I believe this yarn would perform equally well when used in knitted projects. Overall, I found this to be a great quality cotton yarn. I suggest you try it!

Happy crocheting and knitting!
Judi

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Stop Crochet Pain NOW!!!

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I have been crocheting off and on for probably 50 years and never had an issue with pain in my hand/wrist until recently. I’m sure it’s from overuse of my hand since I’m selling oodles of crochet cloths…hence I’m crocheting for hours every day.

In an effort to alleviate the pain, I tried a number of different things from widening my grip with a foam cushion to investing in different hooks and gadgets. The changes helped, but didn’t really do the trick in stopping the pain.

Then I finally evaluated why my wrist hurt. The bottom line was my hand position. I took roughly a month to force myself to change my hand position and finally, finally (!!) the pain stopped. Now I can crochet all I need to without issue. No surgery, no special braces, no doctor visits.

Take a few minutes to watch my video below as I explain what I did to discover the source of my hand/wrist pain and how I stopped it. You too can do this!

Judi

Unbiased Review of Ergonomic Crochet Hook Set by Athena’s Elements

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This is an unbiased review of an ergonomic crochet hook set by Athena’s Elements. FYI, I have not been paid for this review; I have not received free product in exchange for my opinion; nor have I been prompted in any way to write these comments. This was written purely on my own accord to help those who are shopping for ergonomic crochet hooks to help them in their crafting endeavors. Now that the facts have been made clear, I hope the following will help you in making your decision on what YOU should get!

I have been crocheting since I was very young (and I am now considered a senior citizen by some criteria). I have always used the standard thin metal crochet hooks. I have gravitated toward using the Boye-style hooks because that’s what I learned on and have used for many years, so I’m used to working with them and hence, prefer them over other style hooks.

In the last year or so, I started an online business selling crochet cloths. The business has blossomed into more than I imagined and hence, I’m doing a LOT of crocheting! Recently I noticed my hand (left hand, that is…I’m a lucky leftie) was feeling very “tired”, was starting to ache and my finger tips felt numb. It was obviously from all the crocheting I was doing. So, I decided to see what I could do to help the situation before I seriously damaged my hand. Hence I shopped for ergonomic crochet hooks. I ended up buying a set of hooks from Athena’s Elements. Here’s what I found…

Crochet Hook Case

Nice Set with a Handy Case
The set I purchased came with a cute case with a Velcro closure. There were color options to choose from, so there should be some color that will appeal to most anyone.

The set comes with 11 crochet hooks ranging from size B (2.25mm) to size J (6.0mm). The case holds all the hooks in their own small slots, and also come with a packet of stitch markers (like plastic safety pins), a hook size conversion chart, and a nice letter from the founder of the company.

Crochet Hook Size Conversion Chart

The case feels sturdy and I imagine it will outlast my lifetime. The hooks seem to be of excellent quality and as long as I don’t lose them, they should also outlast me.

Color Coded Handles
The hooks all have different colored handles, so that makes it easy to find the hook you need if you’re working with the same few sizes routinely.

Hook Length and Style
There is 1-1/2″ length of the metal hooks before the start of the grip handle. I have found this to be enough length when making my crochet cloths. I have not tried it with some of the elaborate stitching techniques that may require more hook length. You would need to determine if that’s enough length for projects you typically make.

The hook end is a Boye-style tip. I find that easy and desirable to work with. However, that may be simply personal preference.

Hook Size Markings
The hook size marking on the handle only indicates the mm size, not the US conversion (ie 5.0mm=size H). The mm size is marked on the upper handle of each hook by being cut into the grip on the hook. This way the marking should never wear off nor wear down because it’s on a part of the handle that you don’t hold consistently.

The fact that only the millimeter size is indicated on the handle is only a slight inconvenience for me, since I’m used to using the US lettering system rather than millimeter sizes. As long as I don’t lose the conversion chart, I should be OK. However, I’m sure that conversion information could easily be found on the Internet if the guide does get lost. This may be an issue for some people, but overall I feel like it’s only a slight problem that can be shrugged off.

Crochet Hook View 1

Ergonomic Grip Handles

Above all, the ergonomic grip handles are why someone would purchase this set in the first place. I don’t know what the grip handles are made from…probably some type of rubber or vinyl with a texture or “gripiness” to it.

Crochet Hook View2

The “gripiness” prevents the hook from slipping in my hand or along my fingers. I will admit that the feature took some time to get used to. However, after a few days of adjustment, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. That feature allows me to release my “death grip” on the crochet hook and hold it much more loosely because it doesn’t slip in my fingers. This relieves any tension in my hand and has virtually stopped my numb fingers. I no longer have a “tired” hand after crocheting for some period of time!

Also, the grip handles have a shape to them where you hold them allowing for a good yet light grip, again without having to hold it tightly, and without it slipping in your hand as you work.

Crochet Cloth

Allow Time to Adjust
It took me several days of using these hooks to actually adjust to working with them comfortably. During that time, I wondered if I could really use them in my work. But with time, I adjusted and regained my speed and accuracy in making my stitches. Other people may not need such an adjustment period. I feel the effort was well worth it because of the relief I feel in my hand with the thicker, non-slip, easy grip handles. No more death-grip on the hook. No more numb finger tips. No more tired hand and wrist muscles. No aches and pains!

The time it took to adjust to these new ergonomic crochet hooks was well worth it, and I don’t believe I’ll ever go back to standard less-than-pencil-thin crochet hooks.

I truly hope this information can help you in making your personal decision about any changes you need to make in your crochet tools. The change was worth the effort for me and I highly recommend these hooks!

Let me know (in the comment section below) if this information has been helpful to you!

Happy crafting,
Judi

NEW Handmade Dish Scrubbies Unique Simple Effective

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As I’ve said in previous blog posts, I love to create and am always looking for something a little different to make. I’m a practical person, so I usually stick with “useful” things, rather than dust collectors. When I discovered this new scrubby yarn, I decided to give it a try. To my delight, it makes excellent, nonabrasive, very effective scrub pads that are MUCH less stressful to make than those made with nylon netting. Hence, I’ve added them to the collection of merchandise on my website.

These scrubbies or scrub pads are simple yet very effective at removing dried food and residue from dishes, pots and pans, glassware, ceramics, silverware, etc. They are nonabrasive, so they can easily be used on nonstick cookware, dishes, crystal, glassware, silverware, you name it! I’ve shared them with friends and neighbors and they’ve come back wanting more! They are soft on hands, yet they have a scrubbing power greater than cotton dishcloths alone.

Each is made with two strands of yarn…a cotton yarn plus a scrubby yarn. The new scrubby yarn has little “extensions” that gently remove food from dishes. That yarn is made from 100% polyester, so it does not bleed when washed. I couple it with cotton yarn for absorbency and together they make a real workhorse for washing dishes!

I’ve found that the blend of polyester with cotton makes them more durable than cotton alone, and they don’t tend to sour like all cotton does. When it’s laundry day, simply toss them in the washer and dryer along with other towels and they come out good as new. I prefer to put mine in a laundry bag since they are rather small compared to a bath towel.

The size is roughly 4-1/2 inches square, so they are a comfortable size to handle when doing dishes. Not too big, not too small. They wring out easily too, so they’re worth trying if you’re looking for something a little different that’s new, very effective, simple, nonabrasive, and gentle on skin.

Green and Blue Scrubby Set

I currently have three color combinations available, all in packs of four. One combo has two green and two royal blue, all with cream colored cotton yarn.

Red and Yellow Scrubby Set

The next combo has two red and two yellow, all coupled with cream cotton yarn.

Black with Beige Yarn Scrubby Set

The third option has four black coupled with beige cotton yarn.

Green Blue Scrubby Set

As you can see from the pics, the scrubby yarn comes in bold, bright colors. More combos are coming! Click the links above (or here) if you’re interested in trying any of these wonderful, new, unique and effective scrubbies! They’re worth a try and you’ll be glad you did!

Enjoy,
Judi

Review of Red Heart Scrubby Yarn

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I make crochet dishcloths to sell online and at local craft shows. During shows, I’ve had many requests for dish scrubbies. I’ve tried making them with nylon netting that I cut into long strips and found it a real struggle to work with for a number of reasons. Consequently, I haven’t made many of them from netting. So, when I recently heard of Red Heart’s Scrubby Yarn, I had to give it a try! I’m pleasantly surprised as to how easy it is to work with and yet it’s also effective at scrubbing dishes. With that, I thought a complete review may be helpful to others who are considering the yarn. Here it is…

Size of skein. The skeins come in a net weight of 3.5 oz (100 g) with 92 yards (85 m) on them. The knit scrubbies I’ve made with this yarn (when coupled with a strand of cotton or cotton blend yarn) measure about 4″ wide x 4-1/2″ long. One skein makes 7 scrubbies of that size, with a little yarn left over.

Cost. Watch prices online as they do vary from site to site. I’ve seen prices for this yarn ranging from $4 to over $9 per skein. It pays to shop around!

Cotton Yarn (bottom) vs Scrubby Yarn (top)

Construction. This yarn is interesting in itself. It is made of 100% polyester and has a thin central strand with little “extensions” along the strand. The thin central strand appears to be too thin at first, but it actually works well when making a dish scrubby (especially when coupled with one strand of cotton yarn).When looking online at pictures of a skein of this yarn, to me it looks more tangled than a bowl full of angel hair pasta. It’s hard to distinguish one strand of yarn! However, once you get used to it, the yarn is easy to work with. Importantly, I have yet to encounter any tangles at all. In fact, it “flows” easier than most traditional yarns I’ve used. Literally, no knots or tangles. Amazing!

Color fast. Since it’s made with polyester I suspected it would not bleed its color. But, I tested it nevertheless. I placed a strand in hot water and let it sit for a while. No color loss at all! That’s very impressive to me, considering how much color loss there is in some of the cotton yarns! Also, I have not noticed any color loss with the one I’ve been washing dishes with for a while.

No color loss!

Scrubby yarn in very hot water

Effectiveness. The little “extensions” act as fine scrubbers when removing stuck-on food particles from dirty dishes. They are simple and effective for medium tough jobs. They cannot take the place of a steel wool pad on a really tough burnt-on food mess, but they are effective when washing everyday dishes. As advertised, the little “extensions” make the scrubbies more effective than using standard crochet or knit dishcloths for removing food particles from dishes.

Knitting with Cotton Plus Scrubby Yarn

Knit or crochet? Because this yarn has little “extensions” on it, I found that it’s easier to knit with than crochet. The “extensions” seem to get caught easily on the crochet hook. Knitting with this yarn seemed to be a smoother task. However, even with knitting it does take a little time to get used to working with it. Once you do, speed picks up and there are fewer dropped/split stitches. [Hint…Knit loosely!] Perhaps given some time, one could get used to crocheting with ease with it.

Use alone or with cotton yarn. As per Red Heart’s suggestions, this yarn can be used alone or coupled with cotton yarn. A scrubbie or dishcloth made with this yarn alone has a totally unique character and feel. It is quite stretchy and has little absorbency. To me, it resembles some sort of clothing accessory [like a nice scarf] or part of a child’s toy rather than something to wash dishes with. However, THAT’S just my opinion and the next person may love using it that way.

Thickness of scrubby

I found that I like it much more when coupled with cotton or cotton blend yarn. The cloths have a more sturdy, thicker feel with much more absorbency. I like that sort of feel when washing dishes. However, coupling it with cotton/cotton blend yarn does extend the drying time quite a bit.

Scrubbies

Substitute for nylon netting? When considering if this yarn could substitute for nylon netting in scrubbies, I’d say no. Why? Because it’s simply different. It’s not as scratchy as nylon netting, so the scrubbing effect is more mild. Netting seems more appropriate for those tougher jobs where you almost need a steel wool pad. Scrubbies made with this yarn are wonderful for those not-quite-so-tough jobs. They scrub more effectively than dishcloths, but not quite as well as scrubbies made with nylon netting. So, here’s my rendition of the most mild to the toughest scrubbing power among various options: cotton dishcloths, scrubbies made with scrubby yarn, scrubbies made with nylon net, green scratchy commercially made scrub pads, steel wool pads.

Honestly, I’ve been washing dishes for a while now with a scrubby I made with this yarn (coupled with cotton yarn) and I’m very happy with it for everyday needs. It’s much easier to work with than nylon netting. All things considered, I recommend this yarn for making scrubbies what would meet most everyday needs. Perhaps have a few other things on hand in your kitchen arsenal for handling those occasional really tough jobs that come along. However, this should meet your needs most of the time! Thanks Red Heart!

Happy crocheting and knitting!
Judi

Review of Premier Home Cotton Marls Yarn

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I enjoy crocheting and knitting. I especially enjoy making items that I can sell online and at local craft shows! Crochet dishcloths are items that I make on a regular basis since I sell quite a bit of them. Hence, I go through a lot of cotton yarn!

I’ve tried various brands of cotton yarn over the years and have happily settled with Premier Home Cotton Yarns. If you haven’t given this brand a try, let me encourage you to do so the next time you’re looking for yarn! I’ve already done a complete review of Premier’s cotton yarn. (Click the link to see my earlier post!) This review is focusing on their cotton marl yarns.

About Premier Cotton Yarns
First, the marls yarn is similar to their home cotton yarn, in that it’s made with 85% cotton and 15% polyester. For all you 100% cotton yarn fans, don’t let that little bit of polyester deter you. Actually, I’ve found it to be a great benefit when making home accessories. That little blend of fibers makes the yarn softer and much easier to work with than 100% cotton. AND (and this is a big one to me!) it deters color loss when the item is washed and dried. Really! Furthermore, even though the finished products do shrink a little when washed and dried (which is to be expected), they don’t shrink as much as those made with 100% cotton yarns. I’ve found that my dishcloths made with this yarn hold up much better than those made with the other brands, despite a lot of machine washing and drying. Since I sell the items I make, product quality and longevity means a lot to me because I want to offer the best I can to my customers. This yarn wins, hands down, to me in those respects.

Color Effect of Marls Yarn

4 Strands of “Vineyard” Marls Yarn

4 Strands of “Denim Jeans” Marls Yarn

The marls yarn is colorful in that it is a 4-ply yarn, with each strand (ply) having a different color. The four colors are spun together into one strand of yarn. This yields a different effect in the finished product than standard variegated yarns. It’s colorful, yet uniform throughout. Something different! See the photo below of a dishcloth I made with the “Vineyard” color marl yarn!

Dishcloth made with “Vineyard” marls yarn

Sizes Available
(1) Premier Home Cotton Marls Yarn. This is the smaller skein of yarn, with 2.1 ounces (60 grams, 105 yards) per skein.
(2) Premier Home Cotton Marls Grande Yarn. This is Premier’s larger skein, with 11 ounces (312 grams, 545 yards) per skein.
Both size skeins have the same color options.

Price Point
As you’ll typically find with any multicolored yarn, the price point is a little higher than that of the same brand’s solid colors. This is understandable because of the manufacturing process involved. But, if you compare prices of the various brands, you’ll usually find that Premier yarns are sold for less cost per ounce than the other brands. This is a BIG plus if you’re making items to sell or making a lot of things to give as gifts.

Color Options

“Denim Jeans” Marls Yarn

The color options of the marl yarns are not as many as you might expect. I believe this line is relatively new. So, hopefully Premier Yarns will be expanding their color selection soon!

Advantages of Using Premier Home Cotton Yarns
I’ve found there are a number of advantages to using Premier cotton yarns:

Softer and more flexible than other cotton yarns
Great scrub-ability in a crochet or knit dishcloth
Easy to wring out (No hurt hands!)
Colorfastness (Which is HARD to come by!)
Easy machine washing/drying with less shrinkage
Faster drying time than other cotton yarns
More economical than other cotton yarns
Unique colors (as with the marls and variegated options)

I hope this information will encourage you to try this brand of cotton yarn if you’re not already using it. Once I did, I was sold and haven’t returned to the other brands (and I don’t intend to!).

Best wishes to all and happy knitting/crocheting!
Judi

Safely Remove Odor From Dishcloths (No Bleach!)

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I recently stumbled upon this easy way to remove lingering odor from kitchen dishcloths. It works with any type of cloth…crochet or knit cotton, microfiber, standard kitchen dishcloths…whatever!

It’s better than bleach for a few reasons. First, bleach is quite toxic so should only be used when absolutely necessary. It will quickly remove color from any cloth it comes in contact with if you use too much (which is very easy to do).

Also, (and I know this for a fact), bleach destroys cotton fiber. Yes, really. I learned this during my undergraduate degree in a textiles lab. We took a small piece of cotton fabric and soaked it in 100% bleach. The fabric disintegrated! Moral of the story…Don’t use bleach on cotton if you care about the fabric!

New trick…boil those smelly yet laundered dishcloths. Place them in a pot of water. Bring it to a boil and boil them for a minute or two. Then leave them on the burner and turn it off. Allow them to sit for 5 to 10 minutes to cool down some and continue killing any remaining germs. Then drain the cloths and add cool water until they can be safely handled. Wring them out and (if desired) dry them further by wrapping them in a clean dry towel. Then toss them in the dryer until they are dried. Done!

It’s really very easy and effective, AND no toxic chemicals involved! Here’s a video on the topic! Enjoy, Judi

Cotton Crochet Dishcloths or Washcloths

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Since discovering crochet dishcloths, I’ve made (and sold) LOTS of them. They’re fabulous for scrubbing dishes, pots, pans and counter tops. Yet, they are gentle enough to be used in the bath tub or to wash your face with. How versatile can you get? These things are awesome. The more I’ve sold, the more I’ve learned just how many ladies use them.

Now that I’ve discovered a cotton blend of yarn, I’m even more sold on them. Dishcloths or washcloths made with the blended yarn are even softer than those made with 100% cotton, yet they are just as effective in their scrubbing power. Better yet, they hold their color much better than the all-cotton yarn.

With all that being said, I’ve opened a new line of crochet dishcloths or washcloths and they’re available on my website at HandmadeInIowa.com. They’re made from the cotton yarn that is soft, flexible, holds its color well, is gentle on skin, yet scrubs really well. The array of colors will grow from here, but so far, the following is what’s available to date.

Crochet Dishcloths (5583)

This set of four crochet dishcloths (#5583) consists of one each of forest green, sage, yellow, and cream. They’re a pretty combo that would look great in your kitchen if green is your kitchen color of choice.

Crochet Dishcloths (5576)

This next set of four crochet dishcloths (#5576) has one each of lavender, pastel blue, pastel peach and yellow. The colors are “soft” and remind me of Easter!

Crochet Dishcloths (5569)

This third set of four crochet dishcloths (#5569) has one each of orange, beige, cranberry, and delft blue. The colors are bright and bold and would brighten ANY kitchen!

Crochet Dishcloths (5552)

This fourth set of four crochet dishcloths (#5552) has one each of cornflower blue, passion fruit, pastel pink and fuchsia. Ladies who love pinks and associated colors would love this set. They’re bright and pretty!

More sets are coming, as I can make them! They would make great practical gifts any time of year. Looking for stocking stuffers for Christmas? These would be a welcomed gift!

Judi

Crochet Dishcloths

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Crochet Dishcloths

I grew up knitting and crocheting. I made all sorts of things, from scarves to sweaters. Once I even attempted to make a sweater for the family dog. I had no pattern to follow so we had a huge laugh when I finally finished it. Our dog was somewhat small. Well, the sweater could have fit a Great Dane! When we put the sweater on him, poor Ralph’s ears went back and his tail went between his legs. He couldn’t understand why we were rolling on the floor laughing so hard! It was hilarious! That was the one and only time Ralph got to wear his sweater. It went in the trash. Since then I’ve certainly improved my skills!

I’ve recently discovered crochet dishcloths. If you haven’t tried them, let me encourage you to give them a try! They’re wonderful for scrubbing dishes, yet are so gentle that they won’t scratch anything, including your hands. They’re gentle enough on skin to be used for washing your face and whole body too!

I’ve developed an entire line of crochet dishcloths for my website. Whenever I take them to local craft shows, ladies grab them up quickly. They last a long time, make great gifts, scrub dishes, pots and pans, and counters extremely well, and are easy to wash and dry. How great is that?

Check out the crochet dishcloths at my website, HandMadeInIowa.com.

Enjoy!
Judi

Review of Premier Home Cotton Yarn

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Premier Home Cotton Yarn (Water Lillies)

It all started with a catalog in the mail from a major yarn supplier. I’ve been making (and selling) crochet dishcloths, facial scrubbies and dish scrubbies to sell locally and online. I usually purchase cotton yarn locally, whatever and wherever I can find it. Living in a very small town forces me to travel to buy practically anything, so my local choices have been rather limited. I make my share of online purchases, but I strive to buy locally first, if I can.

As I scanned through the catalog I noticed Premier brand cotton blend yarn (85% cotton, 15% polyester). I had never heard of this brand of yarn before. After reading numerous VERY positive reviews about it, I decided to give it a try. It was on sale with the yarn supplier, so I placed a sizable order. The box arrived yesterday. I finished a crochet dishcloth this morning and was SO impressed I decided to share an extensive evaluation of the yarn.

Easy to work with and soft. First of all, right away I noticed the yarn was much softer to work with than the usual cotton yarn I’ve used all along. It slides easily on the crochet hook and in my hands. It FEELS much softer than the other cotton yarn I’ve been using. The softness alone makes me believe it would make a nicer facial scrubbie…doing the job well while being even more gentle on the skin.

More flexible. While crocheting, I noticed the dishcloth had more “swing” to it, swaying around as I was making it. The usual cotton yarn makes a somewhat stiff cloth, whether I’m working in a double crochet stitch or half-double crochet stitch.

Size 8-1/4″H x 7-1/2″W

Size. My finished cloth (worked in a half-double crochet stitch, and bordered by one row of single crochet) measured about 8-1/2″ high x 7-1/2″ wide, the same size as my cloths worked in traditional cotton yarn.

Weight 33 grams

Weight. The weight came out to be the same as my traditional cotton cloths, 33 grams. This is important to me because it tells me how many cloths I should get from a skein. The Premier Home cotton small skeins of variegated yarn have 60 grams (2.1 ounces) of yarn, meaning I can get one dishcloth per skein. No worries, as I can make facial scrubbies with the rest, or combine it with yarn from a second skein of the same color to make more dishcloths. The skeins of the other cotton variegated yarn I’ve used have 2.0 ounces (slightly less).

Weight of traditional cotton dishcloth (same size)

Note also that the small skeins of the Premier solid color yarn have 2.8 ounces (80 grams) whereas the small skeins of the other cotton yarn I’ve used have 2.5 ounces (70.9 grams). The slightly more yarn in the Premier skein is a bonus to me, as more yarn equals more product.

No color loss in hot water!!!!!

Color fastness. No color loss–no embarrassment. I was TOTALLY impressed here. I placed my finished washcloth in a bowl of hot water. There was absolutely no color loss! Doing that with a freshly made cloth in my traditional cotton yarn would result in a major color loss. In fact, I’ve turned to giving my customers instructions on how to set the color in their dishcloths and scrubbies BEFORE they ever use them. Not setting the color with that yarn results in dingy looking cloths after only one use. Even though it’s not a reflection on ME, it’s still a source of embarrassment to have to hand out such instructions.

No dye loss in water after cloth was removed

As you can see, the water had NO color to it when the dishcloth was removed from the bowl. YES!!

To me, a product should look nice after being used and hold up well without the customer needing to do anything special to it before it’s used. The Premier cotton yarn meets that need, hands down. Way to go, Premier!

Washing dishes. Next I washed dishes with the new cloth. It was flexible, soft and very easy to use. It didn’t feel overly bulky in my hands and was easy to wash whatever I needed, from silverware to glasses, to pots. Also, it was very easy to wring out–not overly dense or thick feeling. Removing excess water from the cloth was no struggle at all.

Machine drying. After washing the dishes, I rinsed the cloth very well and placed it in the dryer with a damp bath towel. After all, I’ve found that clothes and such dry much better with a little company in the dryer. It dried easily and looked nice and fresh afterward. No dinginess or “worn” look like the traditional cotton dishcloths have after being washed and dried. Furthermore, it maintained its softness and flexibility. Nice!

About 1/4″ Shrinkage After Being Dried

Shrinkage. I measured the cloth after being dried and noticed it shrank about 1/4″ to 3/8″ in both directions. I consider this to be normal, and about what the traditional cotton cloths would shrink. No issues with that.

Conclusion. After my evaluation of the cloth made with Premier’s home cotton yarn, I can honestly say I’m extremely impressed. With that, I’m sold! I have no intention of ever buying the other cotton yarn again. I will finish using what I have on hand and will purchase only Premier’s cotton yarns in the future. To me, the color fastness alone is reason enough to continue with the Premier yarn. However, the other properties such as flexibility, softness and ease of use (from crocheting to washing dishes) makes it a far superior choice for me.

Thank you Premier, for offering such a fine yarn! You now have yet another loyal customer. Judi

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