Knitting Passion

Time for a Share a Square update, I’m thinking. Shelly tells us that she now has all the squares she needs. She could use a few people to put black edging onto the squares and/or sewing an afghan or two together.

I’m finishing up one - one is completed and in the box to be returned - I should have this one finished by tomorrow and into the mail by the next day - Saturday at the latest.

I have the first row of black around the second afghan and will follow that with a colorful row and then another row of black. Then it is off to the Post Office.

Now, if you have not been able to help out the SAS (Share a Square) project, how about a HAP project? Even though Deborah has been busily collecting 6×9 inch squares for the HAP (Homemade Afghans Project) project, she has found time to also donate squares to Shelly’s SAS project. There are some very cool people out there in the great blue ether, aren’t there?

So - HAP - 6×9 inch squares can be knitted or crocheted (several patterns available at Deborah’s site), sent off to Deborah who finds volunteers to stitch them together. The finished - bed sized - afghans are packed up and sent to military hospitals where they are given to returning, wounded, troops.

It’s a worthwhile project if you have a mind to help out.

I’ll be headed to Anchorage next week for a two day conference for work. I have a skein of cream colored acryllic that will go along with me - to be made up into HAP squares. Won’t you join me?

5,723.49 miles is the distance one of the Share A Square squares has traveled to get to me - it came from Fredonia, New York, made a stop in Denton, TX, and then was sent here to Kenai, AK to be placed, along with 47 others, into an afghan to help fulfill one woman’s dream.

The most cool thing about this particular square, however, is that it was made by a friend of mine - a friend I haven’t met yet, but one whom I hope to meet someday. When I opened the box Shelly sent me and found two squares from this friend . . . well, it was just VERY cool.

AND - a square from one of hubby moose’s coworkers was also in the box - actually TWO squares from each of these ladies, as I received two “kits” to put together.

So, HER squares (the coworker’s squares) traveled from Kenai to Denton to Kenai - and will soon make it back to Denton - for a total of 8420.24 miles for those squares.

The ones from Fredonia will have travled a total of 9933.61 miles (give or take). And you know, there are squares that have traveled even further! I’ve placed squares into afghans from the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, and . . . now I’m drawing a blank - but these squares have come from ALL OVER!!! Way to go, internet folks!

Of course, the squares won’t stay in Denton, TX as Shelly is gathering up the afghans - 140 is her goal - to present to kids at Camp Sanguinity this summer. She had a dream, you see. And, unlike some of us who have a thought that doesn’t quite make it to dream stage . . . Shelly set out to make her dream come true.

She’s had a LOT of support and help from people in the great blue ether - people whose hearts were touched by her request and who set out to help make her dream become reality.

Shelly and I have been talking about another way to make these afghans more special. Stay tuned for information on that project. Maybe some of you who don’t knit or crochet - but who DO sew - might be able to help with this.

Stay tuned.

You’ve noticed over the past months that I have linked to Shelly’s Share a Square project several times. I’ve sent her a bunch of squares, pieced together 4 afthans, and have encouraged at least one person in Alaska to do the same. That is very cool.

But what is even more cool is the fact that Shelly is doing the project in the first place. Sometimes we get these ideas and then file them on the back burner for someone else to do it - to put forth the effort - to get things accomplished.

Not Shelly - she got the idea, put it out there for the great blue ether to digest and then started the hard work to get it accomplished. And it has snowballed and people from all over the US and around this great big blue ball of ours have contributed to the project.

Shelly is over half way to her goal of completed afghans for Camp Sanguinity. A lot of people are taking a bit of a break for the Christmas holidays - but will begin again after that. In the meantime, won’t you go over to All Tips and Tricks - see the link in the quote below - and put in YOUR vote for Shelly?

It can cost $20 or more to send off a box of squares to a volunteer to piece together. A lot of those boxes have been sent off on Shelly’s dime. She hasn’t complained, but I’m sure that the $100 prize for the most votes will be sure to help out. My vote goes to Shelly and I hope yours will as wel.

thanks, everyone!

Simonne at All Tips And Tricks is having a group writing project asking…’What is Your Best Blogging Achievement?’ You can see the entries here. I vote for Shelly to win.

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

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?

(more…)

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!

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.
————————–
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.

Many of those knitting items for soldiers during World War II had Knit for Victory as children or young adults during World War I. Knitting provided warmth and comfort for the soldier and therapeutic distraction and a sense of civic participation for the knitters. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was often photographed knitting for the war effort or at least carrying her voluminous knitting bag. In the evening listening to war news on the radio, idle hands were turned to service as Americans once again knit for victory.

The Red Cross supplied patterns for sweaters, socks, mufflers, fingerless mitts (which allowed soldiers to keep their hands warm while shooting), toe covers (for use with a cast), stump covers, and other garments. Cold, wet, sore feet were the enemy as surely as German or Japanese troops. Socks wore out much faster than sweaters, and needed changing many times more frequently. These were to be knitted in olive drab or navy blue wool yarn. Surviving patterns show that these knitting patterns were typed and retyped with carbon-paper copies and shared among the knitters. Many knitters chose to knit the same item in the same size again and again so that they could memorize the pattern and produce pieces more quickly.

“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!

————————–

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!

This should be one I can keep . . . giving home made for Christmas. As the grands have asked for certain things already - and those things being from the needles - I think I am on my way to keeping this pledge already.

I’d like to thank Summer at Creative Mom Cafe for the link and the idea. It’s not too late for you to get in on the fun . . . click on the buy handmade button above and go on over to sign up.

The bag for oldest granddaughter is coming along - but all of that stockinette stitch gets old after a bit - so I have to set it aside to either pick up something else to work on - or come back here to type about the latest projects.

either way . . . heh

If you’re looking for a new project . . . other than Shelly’s Share a Square, that is . . . check out the Jesse’s Branch Charity Crafts site. There are lots of ideas there, including Duffel Bags for foster kids. These are sewn, not knit, but worth looking into if you have time and the capabilities to do some up.

There are also patterns for baby sweaters and Christmas ornaments. How cute are they?!

I sent a batch of mini socks off to a charity that requested them awhile back and have been working on some for coworkers for Christmas gifts. I am thinking I NEED to do some of the little hats and sweaters and mittens, too. Maybe I will take in my Mom’s mini Christmas tree for my office and place some of the ornaments on it! Actually, I think they might dwarf the tree. Ah, well.

handmade Christmas gifts, mini socks, mini hats, mini mittens, mini sweaters, Christmas ornaments, charity

The Box has been repacked and returned . . . with two lovely afghans stitched together and a couple of surprises for Shelly added also. For some reason the box cost $8 more to return than it did to get here. Didn’t realize that black yarn would weigh so much. Hubby looked at me last night and said “you don’t look right without all that black yarn around you.” Ha, ha, ha. He is a punny fellow.

Afghan #1 . . . and a

close-up of one corner.
Click all pics for a larger version

I edged this one with a blue yarn in between two rows of black.

and, here’s number 2. I used green for this one.

While these are headed back to Texas and Shelly’s overflowing (with love) house, I have started two of the Skully dishcloths. Figured it would go just as quickly - AND get two done in the same time - if I put black and orange on the needles. Pics tomorrow, perhaps.

hmmmmm - who shall receive these spooky cloths?????

Tell you what . . . leave a comment telling me why YOU should receive one of these dish cloths and I will choose from the comments on Wednesday (the 24th) and put one into the mail Thursday.

For a bit of extra fun - mention this in a post on your blog before Wednesday - come back here and let me know via comments that you have done so - I will pick from them and send the writer of THAT blog the other cloth - also on Thursday. (the 25th)

Off you go now . . . See you back here soon.

share a square, knitting, crochet, skully dish cloth, contest

Hubby had his second cataract surgery Thursday. I talk a bit more about the surgery and staff over at Diabetes Health Talk. You’ll want to check out where we ate lunch before leaving Anchorage. Oh, my!

I like to keep my fingers busy - especially when going through something stressful - like hubby’s surgery - so I took some squares from the Box I received from Shelly’s Share a Square project to edge with black while I waited. Several times the staff walked by and commented on the different squares. Some thought I was REALLY fast to do so many in such a short time. I had to tell them I was only adding the black.

Finished the rest of them yesterday and this morning after getting home. Have just started to stitch the squares together for the afghans now. I hope to have that part done by tomorrow, Shelly. Then I will start on the edging around them. I bought some bright colors - and more black - while in Anchorage.

click for larger view

Shelly has given me until December to finish these, but I would like to finish them a lot sooner - then if she wants me to do a couple more she can send those to me - and, while waiting for those I can work on the requested Christmas items for the two older grandkiddos.

Hubby’s feeling a tad puny today - I don’t think it has anything to do with the surgery, thank the Lord. He got chilled Friday while pumping gas for the return trip home. And, he hasn’t been able to get warm since. He’s in his chair sipping on tea and snuggling in a fleece blanket the Ladybug made for him.

He’s resting up for our shopping trip with Master TAT. Have a great weekend, everyone.

share a square, afghans, camp sanguinity

Yesterday I received a surprise in the mail - okay, I was expecting it, but it was still a surprise. Seeing that there is a key for the package cluster box is always fun.
it was a bit crumpled - but the contents were just fine.

Squares - lots and lots of lovely squares. Enough squares to put together two afghans for Shelly’s Share A Square project.

The ones in the upper left hand corner I have already added black to. I think I’ve done about 20 so far of the first 48. There are 48 more in the bag on the right waiting to have black added to them.

But now i have a favor to ask of all of you . . . It’s the big push, everyone. If you have been meaning to take up that crochet hook and your leftover yarns, now is the time to do so. Come on, you know you wanna!

Grannies are so quick to work up, too, and what a fun way to use up all of those leftover little balls of yarn rolling around in your stash closet. A person can whip up several while watching evening shows on the telly - well, unless you’re like me and tend to fall asleep with hook in hand during the news! The news! Yes, I fell asleep tonight while watching the news and putting black around a square! How tired can someone be to do that? Come on, you can laugh along with me.

But, seriously, folks. Shelly is working on a really neat project. 140 kids attending Camp Sanguinity next summer will be given their choice of one of the afghans we’ve all been stitching the squares for this fall and winter.

I can only imagine the looks on their faces when they find out the afghans are THEIRS for keeps. And, each afghan will contain 48 hugs from 48 different people. 48 prayers tied up in many variations of colors.

Okay . . . at least 48. But there are other prayers and hugs going into each afghan. Each person who has taken time to edge a square in black . . . each person who has taken time to stitch an afghan together . . . each person who has then edged the afghans . . . each of those folks has breathed a prayer for the recipient.

As I have been edging the squares, I have offered simple prayers to my Lord to bless the person whose hands stitched the square. May He bless each and every one of you who has been working on the project. May He bless each and every one of you who is considering adding to the project. May He bless each and every one of you who is doing something to make your world a better place - whether with this project or your own project.
————-
Hubby and I are off to the big city tomorrow. He is having his second cataract surgery sometime after noon. We have to be at the doc’s office at noon. Your thoughts and prayers are coveted and we are thankful.

Have a great rest of the week.

share a square, crochet, knitting, charity, camp sanguinity

While I am waiting for hubby to come home from a meeting so that we can pick up one of the granddaughters to take shopping with us, I thought I would pop in here and have a little chat with all of you.

Hello to my faithful local visitors!! And,hello to all of the rest of you out there. Take a minute and drop me a comment, will you? Thanks!

Shelly has updated the Share a Square page. She is getting near to a stopping (for the holidays) point. And, she is still looking for a few good souls to help with either crocheting and sending squares - OR putting together the afghans - OR helping out with postage costs.

If you can help, won’t you stop by her site and let her know that you are willing? Thanks so much.

Hey! while you’re over there, check out her Name that Tune entry and submit a guess (or two). Let her know you saw the link here.
———————
I visited with my fried “B” this morning and took her some new dish cloths. I’ll post pictures and links to the patterns either later today or tomorrow. We had a lovely visit (thank you, friend!) and we’re planning a day trip to anchor-town next Saturday. We’ll visit the LYS - Knitting Grounds - and also look for some new office clothes for me.

It’s a 3 hour (or so) drive each way so we’ll have loads of time to talk and share sister to sister. We’ll also stop for lunch somewhere - she’ll need to let me know her “druthers” on that. That’s one neat thing about the big city - lots of eating establishments.

Have been working out in the high school pool each morning this week - this was my third week. Friday my daughter and one of the other ladies “encouraged” me (by encouraged, of course, I mean “nagged” - albeit gently nagged) to SWIM some laps rather than spend all of my time running half laps in the pool.

Well, I’m not a very good swimmer - there’s just something about putting my face in the water- but I can at least do the back stroke and side stroke and a modified breast stroke. So, Friday I completed SIX laps (even in the DEEP end!) in the pool. I alternated with my normal half laps running and swimming. But, people, I did SIX whole laps!

Yeah, I know, exciting stuff, huh? Well, it is to me. AND, after only three weeks I am noticing a change in my jeans. THAT’s some exciting stuff right there, I’ll tell ya.

Have a great weekend. While you’re blog hopping - check out Lessa’s interview with Big Brother’s Jessica.

ducky!

Here’s the dishcloth with the rubber ducky - just finished it tonight. It is a rectangle - more than a square, but still cute nonetheless.

And . . . . the Kenai Lions are my heroes!

Yeah, that’s just pretty darned cool. It’ll be deposited tomorrow. And, registration for the trips for the Girl and me will be booked shortly afterwards.

If you have a Lions club in the area near you - please check them out. They do great things for kids (and adults) who have vision problems.

Long, long, LONG time ago - when I was only 4 years old - the Lions club in my hometown bought my first pair of glasses. I have had a love affair with them ever since.

Several years ago they held a fundraiser for my hubby to help with medical bills due to his eye problems (diabetic retinopathy) and we are - again - forever grateful to them.

We have purchased ducky race tickets many years - and this is the very first time we have ever won. How very cool is it that God allowed it to happen when we needed it for such a good thing.!?!

God is good - ALL the time.

Just how many combinations can I come up with using the above colors?

Well, I’m not sure yet, but I’ve been giving it a good shot:

oooh - ahhh - pretty!

I thought I would give the next few grannies a bit of perking up colorwise. I’ve just about used up all of my leftover balls of yarn - oh, I still have a few, never fear. But I don’t think that I have grannies out of my system yet - so, I bought some brighter colors while waiting for a class to begin this week.

Kids love color - bright is best - so, they should love these, or at least I’m hoping so.
Be sure to check out Shelly’s update on how many squares have been donated - AND see the first of the afghans that have been stitched together. Beautiful!

camp sanguinity, granny squares, share a square, this eclectic life

40 more squares being mailed out Tuesday

Calling all Crafters - Calling all who have a heart . . .

Check out Shelly’s Monday labor of love and see where the first granny square afghan found a home.

Calling all Crafters - Calling all who have a heart . . .

Every square helps toward the goal of covering 140 campers at Camp Sanguinity during summer 2008.

Calling all Crafters - Calling all who have a heart . . .

Not a crocheter? Not a knitter? It’s really okay - there are other ways to help. Shelly is making a call for prepunched tags to attach to the squares that come to her without - she’d like each square to hold its own little message for the recipient - its own little hug. Some folks forget to attach the tags (some even come completely anonymously so that she doesn’t even know who sent them) so she has been making and attaching them herself.

orrrrrrrrrrrrr - you could perhaps send a donation to help cover the cost of postage as she sends squares to volunteers who will edge them in black and then put them together into an afghan.

orrrrrrrrrrrr - you could send her a skein or two of Red Heart brand black yarn to do the edging. (or a $$ donation to cover the cost of the yarn).

See? Lots of ways to help.

one more BIG way to help . . . pass the word to your crafty friends and neighbors.

thanks so much!

crochet, granny squares, charity, love, fun, Camp Sanguinity