Halos of Hope

The Sharing Our Gifts Across America Group on Ravelry is on their 29th State.  The goal of the group is to do some type of charity knitting in each of the 50 United States. 

This month the state is Illinois, and the charity we are helping is called Halos of Hope.  The information on the group's thread for this month reads:

Halos of Hope is 501 c(3) approved charity committed to providing in-need cancer patients with crafted hats donated by caring volunteers.
Hats can be knitted, crocheted, or may be sewn headscarves. As of February, 2012, Halos of Hope supports over 450 cancer centers in the United States. Donations from our group will go to those centers in Illinois.

The call was for knitted and crocheted hats and head scarfs, "chemo caps."  They wanted them to be especially soft.  Also, they need hats for women, men and kids.

I decided to make a man's hat.  I can't believe I'm saying this, but I didn't have any suitable yarn.  I didn't want to use wool, although wool can be super soft, just in case someone was allergic.  I thought a yarn for baby clothes would be soft enough.  I found some nice brown yarn by Plymouth Yarn, Dream Baby DK, at The Knittery, in Renton, WA.  It is 50% acrylic microfiber and 50% nylon.

The brown in the above photo is pretty close to the color in real life.

The pattern I used is Brennius Hat by Orna Ferenz.  It is a free pattern on Ravelry.  It is very simple, easy to remember, and quick to knit.  I like that it is not fussy, but has a bit of a texture to it.  I also like the slight slouch to it.

I didn't have any needles with a 15" cord, so I  bought a pair of those as well, in size 4 US (3.5 mm).  They felt a bit awkward to use at first, since the needles are so small in the hand, but as I had at first thought to use magic loop, they were a great improvement.

The yarn did feel super soft.  I used most of one skein.  My son, Pookie, who is my model, really liked the finished hat.  He especially liked how the top made a square.  It was just a bit different .  Just different enough.

I hope that whoever gets the hat likes it.  I hope that it gives some comfort.  I hope that this hat lets someone know that people far away are thinking about, hoping and pulling for him.

I want this hat to be a halo of hope.

Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet one hat at a time

Someone Stop Me

Wasp Nest on Our Garage Door

Hello!

Yes, that is a wasp nest (or perhaps hornets' nest) I found on our garage door.  EEEEEK!

I want to say thank you again to my daughter, Moogie, for taking time out from her busy schedule to guest blog for me.  In the fall, I plan to spend a few days in Portland with her, and we can go to some of the places she wrote about.

WIP's

Warning, there are photos of the SolidSocks Mystery Sock Clue 1 in this post.  If you don't want to see it, please don't scroll down.

I have been very busy with my knitting.  I cast off quite a few things last week, and of course immediately cast on some new projects.  What is wrong with me?  or am I just like every other obsessed knitter?

This month for Sock Knitters Anonymous, the challenge is to knit a pattern that is Underappreciated.  The rules are:

"patterns that have up to and including 15 or less projects listed on the pattern’s project page including all active, hibernating, frogged and/or ugh! projects. In the case of one pattern being translated into alternate language versions, the combined total for all the versions must be under 15. Every pattern page has a link in the lower right to all that designer’s patterns. For this challenge, please make a point of checking out the designer’s other patterns to make sure there are no additional versions!"

There are also 2 designers you can choose from, if you don't want to do an underappreciated pattern (or can't find one).

One of the designers is Anne Campbell, who designed Circle Socks, a pattern I have long admired and wanted to knit when I had time.  This pattern really needs a variegated yarn, so if I chose it, it wouldn't count for Solid Socks (whose challenge color is green).  OOOOO and I love doing two-fer projects and getting credit from both groups.

Solid Socks, in addition to the color challenge, has a mystery sock challenge every two months.  This month the designer of the Mystery Sock is YarnYenta (Heatherly Walker).

So what to do?  How can I decide?  I am trying to finish the Belinda Jane Doll from Flutterby Patch for my niece, M's 4th birthday this month.

I'm working on the Echo Flower Shawl for my mom.  I am on the 11th of 13 repeats of the main section.

 I'm making the 5th of 21 Spa Washcloths, idea from the Liz Marino Gift Knits Club.

I'm working on a pair of Better than French Vanilla Socks for my son, J.

I'm knitting a chemo hat for  Sharing Our Gifts.

and am making 2 afghans with 2012 BAMCAL.

So, what do I do?

I decide to make BOTH SOCKS!
Really, someone should stop me.

I have cast on and am about 1/2 way through the first clue of the Solid Socks Mystery sock.  It is called Rombikiri.  I am using the gorgeous Granny Smith colored yarn (remember, the challenge is GREEN) by Huckleberry Knits that I bought during the Puget Sound LYS Crawl at Apple Yarns, in Bellingham, WA.  I loved that shop, and loved their sock yarns.

  I bought a 2nd skein of apple themed yarn there, also from Huckleberry Knits, called Honeycrisp.  Have to say, that is one of my favorite apples, and the yarn's colors really give the feel of the fruit.

I have not cast these on yet, but I have separated the skein into 2 balls (so I can knit 2aat), and am hoping to start them soon.  I just need to get that doll finished!

I have made huge progress on the doll, and can't wait to have her all done.  I am also sewing some quick ballet costumes for my sons' studio performance this Friday.  So, I have somewhat limited time to knit.

EEK!  Why am I making two pairs of socks this month?

Because I love to knit socks.

Where in the World is f1bercat?


I knit another 5 miles today on my spa wash cloths.  I am not pedaling very fast though.  I am trying to watch my speed and not the timer or the mileage as I knit, but I have slowed down a bit from before I got the flu, and just can't seem to get the speed back.  It really doesn't matter how fast I ride, because I am trying to work up to 30 minutes of riding.  The miles don't really count.  Right?  Why must I compete with myself?

I also walked .5 miles while reading The Game of Thrones.  I got a tiny bit antsy because I would rather be Knitting!  ( I love to read, but just can't seem to focus lately), but reading really helps me last.  I am trying to work up to 1 mile a day walking.  I will need to get faster or I will be on the treadmill forever!  I'm so out of shape, that I am very very slow right now.  At least I feel good and not super sore after my "workouts."


View Larger Map

Look, I made it to Milwaulkie.

Stay safe and well.

Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet one, two, three pairs of socks at a time

blurry photo of a deer in our backyard

 

Stitching My Way to California

Hello fellow stitchers!

I'm going to start tonight's post with a quick summary of some WIP's, a FO (finished, yes really finished!  object), and then a short Life post.

WIP's

I have been crocheting like a fiend.  I still have one square for March to finish for the 2012 Crochet Block-a-Month group on Ravelry, but I was inspired by MWitch3's blog, Needles and Hooks and Books, Oh My!  She talks about hooking a square a day for Lent, to make a Lenten blanket to give away for charity.   I decided to hook some extra squares for a baby blanket for the Sharing Our Gifts group in addition to the other baby items I am making.

So I crocheted a stack of 6 in squares using the sweet Never Fading Flower Square by Nellas April.

 

I am still not sure how big, or what the configuration will be, but I love this idea.

I also hooked the "filler" square for March, the  Double Treble Burst Square by Amelia Beebe.

I made 2, of course, the red, white and blue 

one for J's U of Arizona afghan:

and a navy, light blue, and white one for L's Graduation afghan: for this one I tried to "carry" the white yarn behind as I crocheted, and only used it to make the FPDT (front post double treble) stitches, so it would really look like a sunburst.  It was mostly successful.  If nothing else, I am happy that both squares look pretty different.

In addition to the baby blanket, I have started another Berry Baby Hat by Michele Sabatier, this time in blue. So it is my Blueberry Hat. This will also go the Sharing Our Gifts March project.   But, a bit more about this hat, later.  

I finished the socks I was knitting for my sister, K.  This is an unblocked photo.  I washed and blocked them, and they looked much better, I could really see the heart pattern.  I put them in the mail today.  I hope they fit.  They are really fun looking.  K teaches 3rd grade, and I hope she will wear them to school.  Who knows?  She might inspire some of her students to learn to knit their own socks.

I started 2 new pairs of socks, but I think I will write about them more in a future blog.

I am making good progress, sort of, on the sweater for Lewk.  It is getting a bit embarrassing to bring the same sweater to the  Eastside Stitchers meet up week after week.  So, today I reached the neck decreases on the front of the sweater. I plan to finish the front tomorrow, and cast on the sleeves, so I can bring them to Crossroads Mall this Wednesday.  Ok, I will still be knitting that sweater, but at least it will be a different section of it.

I have finished 9 repeats of my Princess Lace Wrap by Betsy Perry, that I am knitting along with the Beginning Lace Knitters group on Ravelry.  I was challenged by Pixiesmom to knit this shawl with her as a knitalong.  I am so happy she asked me.  It has been very fun to compare progress with her, and share our questions.  Anyway, the shawl is now looking like this:

 
I have also been looking at some crocheted toy patterns. I am hoping to make some small, quick items for my nephews/nieces/god kids for Easter.  I will keep you posted.

Life

I have a new idea that I hope I can actually do.  I used to walk every day, and post here where/how far I walked.  But, I pretty much quit walking.  And I really hate that.  So, I decided that I am going to try to make it to the Y, and ride the exercise bike.  Why the bike and not walk. treadmill, or elliptical?  I can knit while I ride an exercise bike.  Ha!  So. I brought the Blueberry Hat today, and knit it while I rode about 5.1 miles.  The hat is just round after round of stockinette in 1 color at this point, so it was a perfect choice.

As I was knitting and pedaling, I was thinking of where I would go if I was actually riding a real bike.  I have always wanted to do long distance biking, but wow, I am so out of shape that I don't know if that would ever happen.  However, I can possibly do it in a virtual way.

So I decided that I am going to try to ride the exercise bike to visit my family in Southern California.  I will keep track of how far I pedal each day, and plot it on a map.  I am not going to cheat, and go by freeway, but instead, I have looked at a route that "avoids highways."  Also, if I am staying off the highways, I thought I might as well stop at LYS's (Local Yarn Shops) on the way.  The first one I have found is at the 17 mile marker, so I should reach it on Wednesday or Thursday.  I will try to do a little post on that shop if possible  (of course that shop is so close, I can ACTUALLY and not just virtually visit it)  and I might do that for fun.

Here is where I am on the bike tonight:


Anyway, I hope you will all follow my progress down the coast as I knit (oops. I mean pedal) my way from the Seattle area to Southern California.

Have a great night.

f1bercat
Shaping the planet one blueberry hat at a time

I Saw You! Friday, November 4, 2011

The Sheepless in Seattle  Group on Ravelry has a discussion topic named, "Knitting I Saw You!."   Now, I don't know if other area type groups have a similar chat thread, but it's so much fun.

I have begun to do this weird (I think) thing for me while I knit.  I log on to (usually) Ravelry, and then I pick a discussion thread, and read while I knit.  This is a bit problematic, since I am not that great of a knitter, and I definitely need to look at my knitting while I'm knitting.  Anyway, I usually check out all of the new socks or sock progress photos in SKA and Solid Socks, and the projects in Sharing Our Gifts.  But since I do that a lot, that doesn't take much time.  So I have been reading other threads, which brings me back to the Sheepless thread, "Knitting I Saw You!" 

In this thread, people just write a line or two saying where they were and what they saw.  It's full of things like, "I was in the back of the 520 bus at 5:30 pm on such and such a date.  I saw you knitting something on circular needles.  It was blue and might have been a sock or mitten cuff.  It looked really soft.  I was too far away (or too shy) to say anything and then it was my stop."  Or, "I saw you knitting at the coffee shop on such and such a corner.  I was with my boyfriend (or you were with someone) so I didn't want to interrupt, but it looked like you were making a baby blanket in pink."  Then farther down, someone might say, "That was me!  I was working on this project" (with a link to their page). 

Knitters (or crocheters) found this way are called "Knitters in the wild."  I absolutely love that term. 

Another funny thing people post in this thread are sightings of FO  (finished objects).  For instance, "soybean in her beautifully crafted grey knitted slouchy beret last week while walking down Cedar across 4th. Looking all stylish and creative :)" .    Here is another one:  Saw lots of awesome hand-knit and -crocheted hats at Magnuson Park this morning during the Resolution Run. Maybe less an “I Saw U” than “I Saw Something U Made”?"  There are a bunch of posts describing knitting bags people carry.  And a whole bunch where people identify the patterns of FO's they spot.  Wow, to be able to identify a pattern in the wild! 

So, I'm reading through this thread, the earliest posts are years old, 2007 and so on.  But, I have such an urge to reply to them.  That makes no sense, but I'm just reading these posts today.  It's kind of a time machine.  Anyway, I knit in the wild all the time.  I just can't stand to sit still, must have something productive to do.  Maybe some day, someone will "see me."

Knitting Knotes:

I have made some progress on 3 of my projects.

Mystery Sweater

I have picked up the stitches for the right sleeve, and am working my way down.

I love this part of knitting.  Right now I reduce the number of stitches by 2 every six rows, soon I will start reducing every 4 rows.  It just gets faster and faster. 

Here is a closer look at the sleeve beginning:

Mr. Pitts Socks

I have finished the cuffs and am starting on the legs.  These have a 2x2 rib on the cuffs (k2 p2) changing to k3p1 on the leg.  I FROGGED the cuffs twice.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Twice.  Because it seems that I am completely incapable of counting to two.  I had almost the 2 inches of cuff finished, when I could just feel that weird wrong row where the purls were on the knits.  Since I am making these TAAT, I decided to just frog them rather than try to knit back to the wrong spot.

I really don't know why I had so much trouble.  Once the pattern of the rib is established, it is so easy to just feel the pattern.  The yarn is dark, and when the Doc is home, I knit with less light, so that causes many pattern errors for me (yes, blame it all on the Doc).  I like to be with him at night.  He watches TV and I knit.  But he likes the room dark for maximum TV watching.  The light near "my" seat on the couch, casts a glare on the TV, also, I like the over head lights on as well, for extra light.  I try to keep a fairly easy project for nighttime knitting.  You would think these socks would be perfect.  Once again, they require the ability to count to two, and now that I am on the legs, count to three.  Can I do it?

Here is the progress photo:

Sorry, they are so dark that it is tough to get a decent photo.  But this On Your Toes yarn is so soft and springy, I just love the way they feel.

Movember Mystery Sock

I have finished Clue 1 of the mystery sock for SKA's November challenge.  I am making these with the same yarn as the Mr. Pitt's socks above, just in brown.  (Kertzer's On Your Toes).  I am not sure this yarn is the best for showing off the pattern, but it feels wonderful, and the color is one I know the Doc will actually wear.  I mean, I can knit my sons pink or chartreuse socks and they will wear them because they are fun.  But the Doc wants socks he can wear to the hospital.  Let's face it, he is not a Pediatrician.  So here is that progress photo:

So far?  pretty interesting knit, and I like what I'm seeing.

Osier Socks

Nothing to report...  In my defense, I really want to get the sweater finished.  It is getting cold.  I think about those high school students with no sweaters.  My socks can wait.

C. A. Losi