Men Who Knit Promoting and inspiring the art of knitting amongst men.

This is a rug I just finished for my sister. She picked the pattern and she picked the colors. She wanted something for in-front-of-the-kitchen-sink so I showed her a pile of pattern books and she picked out the Hearth Rug from “Knitted Rugs” by Donna Druchunas. Actually “knitting” that rug (instead of crocheting it, as I ended up doing) requires skills (increases, decreases and short rows) that I don’t yet have. And I was game to learn them and knit this rug...until I realized that I was going to have to sew all the bits together. At that point I said, “Nah.” This rug was not going in front of a hearth. It was going in front of the kitchen sink. Sewn-together, single-layer, knitted fabric on the floor in front of the kitchen sink did not seem like such a swell idea. On the other hand, one, long row of single-crochet stitched around and around on itself seemed like a much sturdier alternative. Also, of course, light-years easier.

This is actually the second attempt, or rug 2.0. With rug 1.0 I didn’t finesse the color changes, thinking that I wouldn’t notice them and that they wouldn’t bother me. Well, of course, I did notice them and they did bother me. Also 1.0 came out pear-shaped. I avoided the pear shape in 2.0 by measuring more often and and by using half-double crochets, where needed, to increase row height.

I used three strands of worsted weight Red Heart Super Saver for each color and a size N hook. It measures 28” X 42”.

Still working on the double-knitted, Fair Isle, cotton runner for the bathroom. That one’s a bit of a slow train coming.