In Like A Lion, Out Like A Lamb

March is a tricky month, a bit of a wild card. As I type this, I'm dreaming of spring. A have a seed catalogue open on my desk and informed my husband last night that we need to have a serious discussion about the garden and what we're going to plant this year. I daydream about afternoons spent running around the backyard without coats, pounding my way down the running path without a hat, or gloves, or extra layers, of just a morning cup of tea for the sake of a cup of tea, not a half-dozen cups downed just trying to get warm.

Spring is elusive and when it's finally here, fleeting.

I always loved the expression "In like a lion, out like a lamb" used to describe March. Even as I contemplate that, the forecast for northern Virginia is not looking promising, with wild accusations from the weatherman of a foot of snow today. In like a lion, indeed.

smallcloth5

Yet even as I warily push my snow boots aside when I come inside, or prop the snow shovel against the back door just in case, not quite ready to banish it to the shed, or hold off a few more days before ordering my seeds, I know spring is coming. My neighbor's crocus have bloomed in a purple slash across their yard, a reminder that the winter I love, yet have grown tired of this year, is coming to a close. There are less and less hats worn by the kids at the playground, and while I ran without gloves last night and regretted it halfway through my 4-mile run, it felt a bit rebellious and springlike.

smallcloth4

Who doesn't love a good knitted washcloth? I have a knitting friend who knits washcloths by the dozens. Dropping by to say hello? Take home a washcloth. Do a favor for her? Take 6 and put them in your pocket. She gives them away like it's going out of style. I love the idea of washcloths, yet found 100% cotton to be a bit harsh on my young son's delicate skin. I contemplated a blend and when I came across Cascade's Avalon, knew this was the perfect worsted yarn for a washcloth. A blend of 50% cotton and 50% acrylic, the acrylic makes it softer and pliable. It makes me happy because I can throw it in the washer and the dryer (regular readers know that's a must in our house!) and I know it will get softer with each washing. With 175 yards per hank, I was able to knit 3 out of 1 hank, so I grabbed another in a cheerful yellow and knit another 3. 6 clothes out of 2 hanks? Love it! There are just shy of 30 colors and these are great on-the-go knitting projects knit on US 7s. I can see getting a handful of bright colors (this yarn is incredibly affordable) and knitting cloth after cloth (they have some GREAT purple shades just like the crocus in my neighbor's yard). Can you ever have too many?

smallcloth1

smallcloth2

The fun thing about this pattern is the designs are completely reversible. If you're familiar with sculpture at all, you're heard the term "relief" used to describe sculpture usually done on a flat surface such as a wall, with 3-dimensional elements. Same with these 3 washcloth designs! I knit up a lion, a lamb and a tulip. Flip them over and what popped out on the front now recedes into the back. Cool!

smallcloth3

March may come in like a lion and out like a lamb, but the tulips are coming, the snow shovel will go live in the shed soon and I'll eventually get to put the snow boots away. In the meantime, I'm going back to dreaming about my seed catalogue and the bounty to come.

Free In Like A Lion, Out Like A Lamb pattern available here.