Suzie's Gear Corner

Miscellaneous

Portable Night Lights

In a previous Gear Corner, I posted about tiny light cubes you could throw in your suitcase and use as a nightlight. Though I still love them, I've discovered they have a strange characteristic: when left on for several hours, they default to the red or green color and cannot be changed. Now, this is not an earth-shattering problem. But I'm a white or blue-ish sorta girl. The Christmas colors just don't cut it for me. Instead, I've switched to throwing a couple of these tiny, battery-operated tea lights into my luggage. Also easily available and inexpensive. You can find them at stores like Target, online at Amazon, or wherever candles are sold (MIchael's, Hobby Lobby, Joann's). White light (thank goodness) and subtle enough to place in a bathroom or on the table by your bed. You might even be able to knit by its light if your roommate is sleeping -- and you're doing a simple stitch.

Hand Knit Wash Cloths

We've heard it while on the road: There's no washcloth in these overseas rooms!!! Well, sometimes there is and sometimes there isn't. But if you're a washcloth, face cloth or scrunchy user, it's best to bring one along. What? Could this be another opportunity to make something? Yippee! Go ahead. Splurge on a really nice skein of cotton, linen, hemp or even chenille (cotton, not synthetic, or it won't absorb water). Then rustle up a pattern that makes you happy. Remember to add on a loop for hanging it to dry. Here are a few patterns I think would work well. For the knitters among us: Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth (But we'll call it a "wash cloth", thank you very much. ). For those who want to go all-out for complexity in a tiny item, we recommend the Optical Illusion Cloth. Little Tuffys Just the right size. An oldie but goodie, the Knitted Flower Washcloth. Pattern recommends working it up in a cotton chenille. Ooh la la! Lace Face Cloths by Black Cat Designs (available as a free ravelry download). Spa Day Facecloth by Anne Mancine (this one's a little large, so I recommend downsizing). And for the crocheters Something tiny, for traveling... Little Washies by Brenda K. B. Anderson (available as a free Ravelry download). Something lacey... Open Ridge Cloth. Something flowery... Sakura Face Scrubbies by K.A.M.E. Crochet (available as a free Ravelry download). And something fancy... Jazz Age Crochet Washcloth. Sorry, weavers. I've got no patterns to recommend for you. However, I hardly think you need my ideas. Chances are you've already got some length of wonderful cloth lying around just begging to become a fantastic face cloth. If you don't have anything on hand, Audrey recommends picking up or ordering Brooklyn Tweed's Dapple (60% American Merino, 40% organic cotton). She says "Definitely absorbent, soft, scrubby and quick drying!" Here are a few of her sample cloths. And her spokesmodel cat, Forest.