Dishcloths and Bunting

Good morning!


I hope later today to have time to write out a little post about my Easter weekend adventures, and also my Jingle Belles post, but this morning I am thinking about dishcloths and bunting!


I am sitting in bed with a cup of tea at my side, Radio 4 is in the background, and I am surrounded by a little pile of happiness. There is Swept Off Her Feet, the new Hester Browne novel, and a selection of recipe books ready for me to make my shopping list from for my Royal Wedding Tea Party on Friday, and also knitting needles and a ball of dishcloth cotton.


Yes, really! Dishcloth cotton that I bought yesterday on my way to work. There was a choice of bright white, or a coffee cream colour, and I was drawn to the coffee cream shade. Not just for practical reasons, after all, that bright white won't stay bright white for long, but somehow the coffee shade just sang out to me. Now I know that there is a good reason to wonder why on earth you would knit your own dishcloth when they are so cheap to buy that they are virtually disposable, but you know, I really think that when you spend time and money on this kind of thing (the cotton was only £1.50 and will make 2 cloths, each which will take about 2 hours of continuous knitting, or an evening or two of knitting interspersed with other things) you are not spending these things for the end result, but for the experience of making them.


There is something lovely about taking a bit of time and effort to focus on what is really rather a lowly household item. Something really satisfying in lifting the steaming kettle from the hob with your own made dishcloth to protect your hand from the heat. I can't help but think that a few of these, with some homemade cleaning products would make a lovely housewarming gift too.


Not only that, but there is something very comforting about knitting a simple pattern which is quickly finished, for very little outlay on yarn. A sense of accomplishment, the ticking off of something finished. My favourite pattern to use is 'Chinese Waves', and if you click on the title of this post, there should be a link to take you to it. If not, just ask google and it will take you right to the pattern. It is a delicious little pattern, one row knit alternated with a knit one, slip one row. Like riding the soft waves yourself, knit, slip, knit, slip, and the clicking of your needles soothes you and lulls you into domestic bliss.


One of my little jobs for later on is to sort out my bunting and perhaps give it a quick press in readyness for the tea party on Friday. I love bunting, for its sole purpose is to cheer and look beautiful, and imbue a sense of festivity and frivolity to any occassion. Now I think about it, dishcloths and tea towels can be a kind of bunting in the kitchen. Imagine a drawer from which you can pull a fresh dishcloth and a fresh teatowel every morning, like a magician pulling a string of handkerchiefs from his sleeve! They can be pretty or practical or both, but a joy to produce with a flourish, to decorate your kitchen for the day.

I have my eye on a new set of tea towels decorated with tea pots and the Union Jack. I am waiting to move into my new kitchen, but as I move from this one, I am going to take time to retire those that are past their best.

Wherever you are, I hope you are having a lovely Wednesday!