Bread is supposed to be the staff of life. For me, knitting is the staff of life. So, the combination of the two seems pretty fitting!
I finally finished what should have been a “quickie” knitting project, but it seemed to drag on forever. Add the fact that I am not thrilled with the outcome, and you can be sure this will not be added to my Top Ten Favorite Knitting Projects. The project in question is my Bread Basket Liner.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the pattern — it is really cute and is nicely written. I think the problem was with my yarn choice. I was trying to use yarn from my stash (::cough:: cheap ::cough::) — my denim Riveting leftovers. I had to knit the thing 20 inches square so it would shrink to 17-18″. That is a lot of extra knitting for no real good reason. Plus, the yarn just doesn’t look that good for this purpose. I think a cotton-linen washable mix would be better.
I took the shopping advice of a reader and bought the Tree of Life Bread Basket and Warmer from SERRV. I got three: two for gifts and one for moi. They are wonderful — a little more than I had planned on spending (::cough:: cheap ::cough::), but really high quality.
I may or may not knit a liner for the gifts: a nice linen or damask napkin would work, too. I may save my knitting for more rewarding projects, although I just might try different yarn and make another for me, to see if I like it better.
love the color but I think I’d use a linen or hemp yarn for the liner.
Comment by Wool free and Lovin' knit — September 30, 2011 @ 4:02 pm
From here it looks perfectly good to me. Maybe it’s the texture. Or maybe it just needs to mellow.
Comment by Chloe — September 30, 2011 @ 8:08 pm
Everything you knit turns out nicely.
(Jonesin for the unloved basket liner.)
Comment by Kay - From the Back Yard — September 30, 2011 @ 8:31 pm
Try a feedsack dishtowel for a liner- you could dye it.
Comment by Robin F. — October 1, 2011 @ 9:47 am
I actually think that it enhances the rustic quality of homemade bread…I like it (and it’s been in my queue since you first talked about it). Would be great on the table with a big bowl of soup on a cold evening (like tonight maybe).
That pattern and that bread warmer lend themselves to many different uses and situations…from formal white linen with special little dinner rolls to the denim with a casserole and hunks of bread…
Comment by Betsy — October 1, 2011 @ 10:08 am
Oh, how pretty! I love that bread warmer. Must not buy. Especially since I already have one rattling around in the kitchen pantry somewhere. Not nearly as cute, though.
I think the liner looks great in that yarn, at least in the photo.
Comment by Cheryl S. — October 1, 2011 @ 11:43 am
I’ve got a cross-stitched liner that was a gift many years ago. I think it’s just a cream-colored cloth, but not aida. It’s really soft, but has the really defined squares. For the gifts you could find something like that, or a dirty linen, and if you stitch a little, just personalize them with the family names…
Yours is lovely, though. You should keep it and love it and wash it often so it softens up nicely.
Comment by Lisle — October 1, 2011 @ 7:08 pm
Well, it looks lovely from here! 🙂
Comment by Kym — October 3, 2011 @ 12:37 pm
From this perspective, it’s really pretty! Use it and enjoy it.
Comment by Barb — October 4, 2011 @ 8:06 am
I couldn’t resist after seeing your blog post. I’ve ordered 2 baskets, one as a gift and one for me. I also purchased the liner pattern. You are such enablers, and I’m glad! Christmas shopping and knitting is underway.
Comment by Joanne — October 8, 2011 @ 8:50 pm