Knitting Passion

Okay - don’t everyone freak out . . . but . . . there are only twenty-seven knitting days left before Christmas.

ACK!!! I think I just freaked mySELF out! Heh.

I thought I would share a picture of the latest afghans completed for the Share A Square program today.

(click for a larger view)

As you know, I did not crochet all of the squares - many people from around the world (yes - around the world! Australia, Japan, Spain, Mexico, US and more) have joined in on this project - this dream of Shelly’s - to make the world a bit warmer for some kids who have cancer.

So, every “kit” that Shelly sends out to be joined together contains 48 squares from 48 different people who have crocheted (or knitted) and sent them to her.

48 people from different parts of the US - the world - who have felt their heart stirred because of one woman’s dream - and who have put their fingers to the task . . . really, it is beautiful how the different styles and techniques come into play to make a whole.

I love working with the squares - making them all the same size (or as close as possible) by adding the black edge - then joining them one by one, two by two, six by six - seeing a lot of singles coming together to make a whole.

My goodness - it appears that one can wax poetic over crocheting and knitting!

I hope that you are having a wonderful week - and that your FOs are rolling off your needles at an acceptable pace.

As we begin to work frantically to make sure every stocking is filled - let us not forget WHY we celebrate at this season - and maybe, just maybe, we can celebrate HIM throughout the whole year and not just one day.

share a square, crochet, camp sanguinity, shelly, knitting, sharing, finished objects

Ahhhh - the beauty of simplicity and quick knits!

In the past two days I have finished three hats - the Pup’s, TAT’s and Kinzie-bug’s. Pictures are below the cut - surpises and all that.

The girls’ hats are both done in the same yarn - shown on the left. The boy’s hat is on the right. And, I did his with an extra strand of dark blue worsted along with the main yarn. Gives it a bit more body.

So - that leaves me with two more to complete and then I will be finished (yeah, right) with the grandbabies. Then it is on to the Mama’s. And, yeah . . . I likely won’t be showing the mamas’ FOs here - at least not until after the big day. You understand, of course, because at least one of them reads here.

I have been crawling all over the ‘net looking for cool patterns. And, while shopping with the bugget yesterday (why, yes . . . all of our grandkiddos have nicknames - why do you ask?) I picked up Judith Durrant’s 101 One Skein Wonders and can just feel my fingers itching to get into some of those quick and easy and FAST (did I mention, FAST?) patterns. Wow!!!

There are socks and mittens and hats and toys and scarves and, and, and . . . you get the picture. So - break out your stash and get knitting - we are closing in quickly on the big day.

Oh, just checked and see that the finished afghans I sent off to Shelly on Saturday have arrived to her post office. They’re just waiting for her to pick up. It’s not too late, you know . . . you can STILL join in on the fun of helping to make some kids really happy when they arrive at Camp Sanguinity next summer.

More tomorrow . . . don’t forget to click Read the Rest to see the hats.

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Okay - Christmas family projects are beginning to get done.

I’ve decided that since the Girl asked for a bag (completed, btw)

and - the Boy asked for a specific hat - now completed (check behind the cut - don’t let him peek, mama!)

well, I would make ALL of the rest something (hats) as well. That’s five more to complete. I finished the Pup’s today and will show a picture of it tomorrow. Well, it’s all but finished. I still have a seam to do at the top and it will be done.

The hat is a cutie - and I just may make it for all of the others as well.

How many others, you might be asking?

Well, I am the proud gramma of 7 gorgeous grandkiddos. The Boy is the oldest at nearly 16 (March). The Girl is next at 13 (14 in August). The Pup is the youngest of that family at 8 (9 in May). They are all Lessa’s kiddos and live just two doors away from us - at one time our other daughter and family lived on our street as well and we threatened to petition for a name change to . . .

Family Way.

Hahahahaha - we crack ourselves up.

Back to the progeny:

Ladybug’s family has D-Man who is now 11 (Nov. 19th), TAT who is now 9 (Nov. 20th), Kinziebug who is 6 (7 in February) and Zaiah who is 3 (4 on Valentine’s Day).

I bought HUGE needles to do the Pup’s hat - size 19!! And, I spent $16 on them because they were the good wooden needles. But, they’ll last forever, right? Now, if I could just find another project for them.

Hahahahahaha - there I go again - cracking myself up!

On to the Boy’s gift . . . Lessa, turn his little head.
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So - one gift totally finished! That’s important when I say it, because all too often I have been known to get something ALMOST there . . . and not do the final finishing touches. Not this time, my friends:

Mama Lessa . . . don’t let the girlchick peek, okay?

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During the trip to the big city last weekend I, of course, stopped by Knitting Grounds to look around. Of course I didn’t just look around. I had to buy something - right? Right.

The above stitch markers are handmade by someone in the big city area - pretty cute, huh? I was only going to buy one, but she sold them 3 for 10, so I brought home 3 handcrafted little beauties.

One of them is being put to good use already:

That’s the grandson’s Christmas gift in progress. And, it’s a much better shot of the bobble. I’m still learning to use the camera and haven’t quite gotten the macro settings down - they tend to be fuzzy. Ah, well.

So - what else is going on with all of you? I received another box with squares for two afghans from Shelly and have gotten them all edged in black now. Yesterday, since I had the day off, I laid them out and rearranged them until I liked the resultant colors and such. Then I began to piece the first of the afgans together. I’m on row three (of 8×6) now.

Depending on what goes on over the next few days I hope to have the first afghan done and started on the second one by Saturday. That way I should have them both sent off before the holiday.

Yes, the holidays are quickly approaching. I took the pledge earlier - to buy handmade. I always try to hit the area bazaars and get most of my gifts there each year. This year I have finished the Girl’s request (shhhh - a picture soon, as long as I make sure her mama doesn’t let her look) and I am nearly done with the Boy’s request.

There are 5 more grands waiting in the wings for their pressies. And, the daughters (their mamas) and hubby, and other special folks.

Gah! I need to get busy - so I am going to leave you for now - it is time to get ready to go swimming, too.

Have a wonderful day!

Today . . . at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month we salute our Veterans in thanks for all that they have done for us.

A few years ago I discovered that Taps (played at funeral services for men and women who have served in the US armed forces, as well as at memorial events) has not only a haunting melody, but the following words:

Words to Taps
(Note: there are no “official” words to Taps - below are the most popular.)

Day is done,
gone the sun,
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.
Go to sleep,
peaceful sleep,
May the soldier
or sailor,
God keep.
On the land
or the deep,
Safe in sleep.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
‘Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
‘Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.

I can no longer hear this haunting medly played without a lump in my throat.

This page has a “history” of Taps.

My thanks to all who have served . . . those who are still serving . . . and to those who have lost loved ones in service. I have a grand uncle and an uncle buried in Arlington National Cemetery. And, my father and his brothers all served in the Army during WWII. All have now been laid to rest in various places.

I salute you and thank you all for your selfless service to “man and country.”

Had to take a quick trip up north to the big city today - a run for the neighbors - long story, but we made it up and back in just about 8 hours. That is truly not bad.

While there, of course, I had to visit the Knitting Grounds to say hello to Zaynab, pick up some yarn lovliness and a new pattern and some other goodies . . . more about those in the days to come.

I was stopped before going into the store by this in the window:

Inside the store it was warm and cozy as usual - knitters working away on projects, others seeking help for places they were stuck (just how do YOU teach someone to knit when their first language is Spanish?) and a couple of shoppers . . . one of whom was yours truly.

Zaynab flitted between us - helping or pointing towards help - ringing up sales - scolding her little doggy who was quite upset (QUITE!) when my hubby walked in wearing his cowboy hat. Back to the car with HIM!

I wish I could be up there for one of the Friday Night Knitting Groups held there. But, I am a small town gal these days. That big city life is just too much for me.

My daughter, on the other hand . . . enjoys muchly the big city life. Heh.

You see, I grew up in a very large midwestern city. It is even bigger now and when we go back for a visit I feel quite lost. Back in the day - we lived in a “neighborhood” and it was home. I walked everywhere or rode the city bus to get where I needed to go. That was how we did it back then.

I was part of that life then. But for nearly 30 years I have lived in teeny-tiny small town Alaska and find that it has become as firmly entrenched in my soul as that great big city I grew up in during the 50’s. So, while traveling up to the big city up north is fun for a day or so, and there are LOTS of things up there I like to do and PEOPLE I love live there, too . . . it is much mo bettah to be here.

with you

in this place

so drop me a comment . . . okay? Tell me about YOUR small town/big city life. Are your LYS’s better there?

Here’s a way to thank WWII Veterans . . . we can all Knit Our Bit and snuggle them up in something warm. For the past two years this project has been aiming to put a scarf around the neck of every WWII veteran.

You can read the FAQs here.

Here is the 2007 V for Victory Scarf Pattern

The 2006 pattern is also available as is a crochet version of the V for Victory scarf.

Grab your materials and begin knitting your scarf. If you belong to a knitting circle, why not make this a group project!

Mail completed scarf to:

The National World War II Museum
Knit Your Bit Campaign
945 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70130

For questions or comments please contact Lauren at lauren.handley@nationalww2museum.org or call 504-527-6012 ext. 229.

Please include your mailing address, so they can recognize your generosity by sending you a certificate of participation and let the veterans know where the scarf has come from.
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From the website:

Knitting during World War II

On the Home Front during World War II, knitting served as one more way Americans could support the war effort. The November 24, 1941 cover story of the popular weekly magazine Life explained “How To Knit.” Along with basic instructions and a pattern for a simple knitted vest, the article advised, “To the great American question ‘What can I do to help the war effort?’ the commonest answer yet found is ‘Knit.’” Thousands of Americans picked up their needles to knit socks, mufflers, and sweaters to keep American soldiers warm and provide them with a home-made reminder of home.

“The Navy needs men, but it also needs knitters” newspapers cried. Church basements, school lunchrooms, and members-only societies all had knitters busily clicking their needles. Their handiwork was destined to warm and protect, and fated to suffer with the soldiers. After the war, some knitters dropped their needles for good. Others kept on knitting throughout their lives in a wide variety of colors – any color, many swore but Army-issued khaki or olive drab!

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Something new for you to consider as you think about your projects for your own family. Reach out and touch someone with your loving concern. Thanks!

btw - HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Yeah, it’s all over at our house, too - only 7 tricksters and we are related to ALL of them. Ah, well. Lots of things were going on “in town” to keep the kids happy and safe - so it’s all good.

But, you and I both know . . . that next year if I do NOT purchase candy . . . there will be 692,000 goblins at my door. Right? Right. The neighborhood my boss lives it? Well, they have the dubious pleasure of hosting every kid who lives in our small town on Halloween. Parents will drive clear across town to that particular neighborhood and drop their kids off - the houses are close together - the streets AND sidewalks are paved - it’s a GOLD MINE as far as candy goes. Yeah, not fair perhaps, but it is the way it is.

In the meantime - here’s a pic of a couple of works in progress.

These are Christmas gifts - the bag on the left was requested by the oldest granddaughter. It is ready to be felted. On the right is a hat requested by the oldest grandson. It’s coming along rather nicely, considering I just put it onto the needles yesterday.

Speaking of Christmas presents . . . aren’t these just the cutest? I can soooooooo see the littlest grandboy toting a few of these around.

And, say there . . . if you are an American Idol fan, and/or you or someone you love has diabetes, check out Diabetes Health Talk today for information on a contest to win tickets to Elliott Yamin’s concert. He is “Inspired by Diabetes” and is helping to judge a contest. You can find the details in that entry.

You know . . . somebody is going to win . . . why shouldn’t it be you?