Knitting Passion

That was just so very neat . . . I opened my mailbox today to find an envelope all bulky and squishy and special . . .

How very cool is that? Thanks, Robin! Really, the pleasure is all mine. I was happy to help.

And, thanks to all of YOU who helped Wendy meet AND beat her goal of $5000 - she sits at $5380 as of Thursday night.

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Sometimes the question is not so much what CAN I knit - but what SHOULD I knit?

There are so many patterns, so many different sorts of yarns, and really and truly - so little time. (note to all - I can find as much time as the next person to do what I want - yeah? You, too? Thought so)

Here’s a link to an online version of a print knitting magazine, INKnitters with lots of informative articles and links to patterns and such . . .

. . . like this one on Short Row stitches (Learn to Love Open Loops) instead of binding off.

So, you’re just like the rest of us - dyed in the wool (heh, punny!) knitters, right? You have boxes or bags or rooms full of leftover yarn and you’re wondering just what to do with all of it. Have you asked yourself if you should/could knit a floor covering?

Well, if so - here’s your chance. Pretty cool ideas, I’m thinking.

And - don’t forget the charity knitting sites I’ve mentioned in the past - granny squares for kids with cancer - mini socks for kids who have profound hearing loss - chemo caps and the like - they are out there if you want to take some time to help out a cause that is (or becomes) near and dear to your heart.

Let me know what you’re doing.

knitting, knitting projects, charity, granny squares, chemo caps, mini socks

Shelly writes in the 8/21/07 update that the squares I sent have arrived! I borrowed her picture of the squares as my camera messed up that day, if you remember. Glad that she put the picture up so I could do that. (fifth photo down - look for the PurpleMoose on the tag)

So - any of you folks who might be reading this AND who live in Texas near Shelly? She could use some help putting the afghans together. Drop a line to her and let her know you are ready, willing, and able.

And, it looks like she could still use granny squares - so get out those scraps of yarn and get busy crocheting. I still have quite a few partial skeins that maybe could be done up - I’ll see about getting some done in between rows on the granddaughter’s shrug.

The weather is cooling down in Alaska - we are having fall weather with rain and leaves changing color. There is nothing nicer than curling up with a book on a day like today . . . unless it is curling up with a skein of yarn and a project for a favorite person. (the bigger projects are nice on chilly days because they cover your legs as you progress.)

So - drop a note/comment and let me know what project is on your needles today . . .

knitting, crochet, granny squares, fall projects

Two Dolla did it - the hair has been buzzed. Thanks so much to all who contributed to her efforts to raise funds for breast cancer research!

I was hoping that with your help we could see Wendy go over her goal by $100 - instead her total now stands at $5230! You all Rock! And, so does Wendy/Two Dolla and all of her friends.

Yes, I know this is a knitting blog.

What, you might be asking yourselves, does any of this have to do with knitting? Well, I found Wendy and Robin and others because of the auction they held to raise funds. Remember the green and purple bag I won? Yup, knitted.

And, Robin knits socks!!! See, knitting.
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So, Robin wrote and asked about the mini socks I’ve been knitting. My original post about the mini socks is here. I learned about the project from Sock Pixie here. There is even a simple sock pattern there in that post. I am using a different pattern, but similar in size.

There are now 25 little socks

so I am going to crochet up the strings (you might see them in the picture) and get them mailed off today or tomorrow.

Aren’t they just the cutest little things?

I like these so much I am going to do some up in Christmasy colors for my co-workers for Christmas. I always like to leave a little something in everyone’s mail slot for the holidays.

Next project? I am thinking about socks made out of the tofutsies yarn I purchased at the Knitting Grounds last month. My youngest daughter is horrified at the cost of the yarn - while it makes me gulp, too, I am getting used to the price of the nicer yarns. And, doggone it, my feet deserve a nice, warm and toasty, new pair of socks - right? right!

Hubby and I are in the big city (Anchorage) today. He had cataract surgery on his right eye yesterday afternoon. (I can’t really tell you how it went because I am pre-posting this article - due to the fact that we are IN ANCHORAGE!) heh!

I hope you all read yesterday’s post about matching me to get Wendy over the top on her $5000 goal. You didn’t??? Hurry on back to yesterday then and read it, please. Then, pony up a buck or two - I’ll pull a name out of a hat and someone will win the ever popular purplemoose and purplemoose socks.

It could be you!

What do you have to lose?

I’m counting on you, friends. You can buy that perfect skein of yarn you’ve been saving up for another day - today, put that money where it will do a lot of good - right? right!

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so - in my go to big city bag is some leftover sock yarn and my needles - I hope to keep my fingers busy making mini socks. I want to send them off this weekend.

Got the grannies (18 of them) sent off Tuesday - never did get a picture taken. I have no clue what was going on with my camera last night - maybe it was the laptop - maybe I need to defrag or something? Anyway - the pics were there so I deleted them from the camera and BOOM! they were gone from the computer, too. Sigh!

So, I started making some more. I crocheted three new squares Tuesday night while watching America’s Got Talent (go Terry Fator!!! You have GOT to love a ventriloquist with that much talent!)

I’m not sure how many mini socks I’ve got ready to go - but I’ll report back once we get back home and hubby is resting and such recovering from the surgery.

See you soon.

knitting, crochet, charity, America’s Got Talent, Terry Fator, ventriloquism, ventriloquist, 3-day, breast cancer, Wendy, Anchorage

A quick check over at Wendy’s 3 day update page shows that she still have $95 to go to meet her goal of $5000. AND - if she meets that goal - she shaves her head, too!

All monies raised go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research.

We are REALLY getting down to the wire, folks . . . the 3 day begins on the 24th - that’s just 9 days away.

Now, what can I do to entice you?????

Here’s what I will promise to do - for each and EVERY dollar (up to $100) that any of you will donate to put Wendy over the top . . . I will match it. You donate $1 and I will give $1. My cap at this point is $100 - so if one person antes up the entire $100, that will be the end of it - but, HEY, you can up the ante yourself, you see. If you REALLY want to make a difference, write about it at YOUR site and offer to match funds up to whatever amount you can afford.

It’s what we all do together that counts in this world is what I’m thinking.

And, here’s just a little more to sweeten the pot:
Leave a comment here that you have donated - making sure to tell me what amount so that I can match it (if you are not comfortable telling here - email me the amount, okay?) - I will place all donors’ names into a (proverbial) hat and pull one out to win . . .

Yup - that’s a purple moose you see there - and a pair of socks with a purple moose on them as well. You see, I live in Alaska and I make my own fun!

There you go - you can donate to a good cause, have your donation matched, see Wendy go OVER her goal, see Wendy shave her head, AND . . . own a purple moose for your very own. What more could anyone want?

Let’s set a deadline, shall we???? The 3 day begins the 24th - so let’s set the 19th (Sunday) as our deadline.

Okay - fire away - let the commenting begin! Thank you, thank you very much!!!

breast cancer, 3-day, Susan G Komen for a Cure, Wendy, purple moose

Yesterday I mentioned Shelly at This Eclectic Life’s goal of having enough crocheted granny squares to make an afghan for every camper at Camp Sanguinity next year.

She gives a pattern for a simple granny square on her site, but any square can be used - as long as it is a 6 inch square. So, choose your yarn and your crochet hook wisely and work on it until you get it the right size.

There is also a link to Thorne’s World - an entry giving links to and showing pictures of thirteen different squares - easy to harder. I rather like the heart one myself.

Shelly would also like you to tie a card to each square with your name and location so that when the afghans are assembled and received by the children they will know how many hands cared enough to swaddle them with love.

Send envelopes with squares to:

Shelly Kneupper Tucker
P.O. Box 2241
Denton, TX 76202

If you have a boxful, contact Shelly from her website for another, alternate, address.

So - what do you think I might be doing this weekend?

How about you?

Allrighty then!

crochet, 6 inch squares, afghans, granny squares, eclectic life, thorne’s world, big hearts

afghans for kids with cancer
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Yup, one more time.

Shelly Kneupper Tucker wants to make a difference - this time in crocheted granny squares. She’s looking for people with big hearts to help her reach her goal.

The project is similar to the one I highlighted for the Virginia Tech survivors and victims’ families. Read about it first - and then keep an eye on the updates page, too.

The recipients of these blankets will be children with horrific diseases (cancers and blood disorders). They will be summer camp attendees. The goal and hope is to have one for each and every child who attends Camp Sanguinity (what a great name!) in summer 2008.

Do you want to help? Polish up those crochet hooks and dig out those many, many (MANY) leftover balls of yarn - and start whipping them up.

May God bless your hands, your time, and your peapicking little hearts (as “Tennessee” Ernie Ford used to say).

Opened the mail box Monday to find . . . pressies! I lurve pressies!

You will recognize those as the goodies I won during the Boob Haha auctions - you will, if you went over to view said auctions, that is. And, if you do NOT recognize them . . . where have you been?

Thank you, Robin and Wendy for the fun - and to Julie (who donated the photo) and Angie (who donated the bag) for the goodies.

It is not too late for you all to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. Wendy only needs $57 more to make her goal of $5000!!! AND - bonus - she’ll shave her head! Go quickly - go now - make your donation. Thank YOU!

If you cannot find someone close to you who is doing a special event (like the 3-day walks) you can make a donation directly to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

My donations to Wendy’s 3-day were made in memory of my Aunt Mickey and my cousin Marsha. I didn’t know my cousin very well, but I remember my aunt fondly. She lived in Arizona and my Mom, sister and I lived in Ohio. One day my aunt blew into town in a little roadster of some sort and told my mom to pack a bag - she was taking her back to AZ with her for awhile. I was so thrilled - because my Mom never did stuff like that.

Aunt Mickey probably knew she did not have much longer to live - she died the following year (1972 - my Mom died in 1973). She had received many experimental treatments for breast cancer - had all of her “female organs” (as they used to say) removed - the treatments had turned her skin black. She came to Ohio State University Hospitals for her treatments.

I was blessed to know her and so I am blessed to give in her memory.

While I did not know Marsha well, her mother is my namesake. She was my mother’s youngest sister and is the last of the family living. So, while I make donations in memory of my cousin, they are in honor of an aunt I love muchly.

What does all this have to do with knitting? Well - the felted bag is knitted - but if I can knit together hearts and minds, then that is all the better.

p.s. - hmmm - forgot to push “publish” last night, so of course this did not show up on time. Sorry about that - my two faithful readers.

boobhaha, susan g komen, breast cancer, 3 day, charity, knitting, felted bag

So, I promised to share my Boob-haha goodies with you - swag, good and proper swag, my friends.

I lost out on two gorgeous skeins of yarn . . . but was thrilled to get:

the lime green and purple stripey purse crafted by Angie of Fluid Pudding!

annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnndddddddddddddddd. . .

the framed print of the Hope Lives photograph by Julie Zimmerman.

Woot! and Double Woot!Woot! I am beyond tickled pink, friends. My donation is in memory of my Aunt Mickey who died in 1972 and my cousin Marsha who died a few years ago. Both were cut down by this awful disease.

I am happy to help fund the effort to find the cure. AND - it’s not too late for YOU to help. You can go on over to Wendy’s 3Day site and make a donation - if she hits her goal, she has promised to shave her hair. Robin has already promised to dye her hair bright pink because of the money raised so far.

Life goes on - the search for the cure goes on - many of our sisters, mothers, aunts, cousins, friends, BROTHERS (men also get breast cancer) are not able to go on. They succumb. Won’t you join me in helping to find the cure so no more of our loved ones will have to die?

thanks -

boob-haha, breast cancer, run for the cure, 3 day, knitting, felted bag, hope lives, julie zimmerman, fluid pudding

I WON a couple of the items from Boob-Haha! Yay, Me. I will tell you more about that tomorrow.

in the meantime . . .

Lessa over at Watching Survivor tells the tale of a Big Brother contestant’s daughter’s (Rebekah) need for our help now. Go on over there and read all about it.

The Survivor link? Comes in when one of the contestants offers some of his swag to help the little one. So - go on over there now . . . I’ll still be here when you get back.

Be sure to check tomorrow for info on just what did barbara of knitting passion get for her dollars? heh.

boob-haha, watching survivor, survivor, Big Brother, Rebekah, brain tumor, swag

Oh, my! These are some gorgeous skeins of yarn, my friends!

Made from the trimmed ends of silk after saris are woven, this yarn is really lovely. It’s all free trade - and spun by a women’s collective group in Nepal.

Do go and salivate . . . Recycled Silk Yarn

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as of last report I still am winning three of the four items I bid on over at Boob-ha-ha. Are YOU winning your chosen piece???

Boob-HaHa
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knitting, boob-haha, charity, auction, recycled silk yarn, Nepak, women’s collective, sari

A short while ago I wrote much about the Hokie Healing Squares being gathered up by the folks at Mosaic Yarn Shop. I knitted and sent several squares for the 32 planned blankets - mine were but a tear drop in the bucket of squares.

The first 32 blankets were sewn together and then displayed for all to see.

Here is the story of how one of those blankets found its home:

from Skein Cocaine:
They finally decided on one and she and I got on opposite ends of it and folded it up. I handed it to her. We hugged. And she didn’t let go. She collapsed into intense sobbing as I held her. I’ve never felt such sadness pour into my heart. She held on and cried for a good 2 minutes before she let go. I hugged the tearful Father, not much older than me, his eyes were so weary. They thanked me, turned and left. I have to be honest, I’m changed. I don’t know how yet, but I’ll never be the same.

I think a lot of people were changed when they took part in knitting or crocheting and then sewing the squares for the blankets. Way up here in Alaska, I have to be honest, I did not know anything about Virginia Tech before all this happened. In some small way I feel like I am now part of that bigger VT family.

so, there is only one thing left to say:

Go Hokies!

hokies, hokie healing squares, 8 inch squares, knitting, virginia tech, go hokies

the following article is written by

BARBARA WATERS

- not the person to whom it will be attributed over at technorati - THAT person (K A) is the FORMER writer of this blog - not the current writer (moi) - thanks, any who might have gotten here through the tags. I appreciate your support and understanding.
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Have you gone over there yet? Have you submitted any bids?

Boob-ha-ha

Okay, knitties . . . the bidding is fast and furious over there - go on over and join in the fray. Remember, all proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

I submitted bids on four items last night - and so far two of them have been outbid - I’ve just submitted a higher bid on one of those and am still thinking about the other one.

We’ll see if I get outbid on the other two - stretching my 451 Press dollars quite thin to get these, but, it’s a GOOD cause!!!!

Right? RIGHT!!

I am quite aware of what devastation breast cancer can do to a family. I lost an aunt to it in the 70s and a cousin a few years ago. I have friends and acquaintances who are battling it now or who are in remission from their battle. It is NO FUN!

. . . taught my girls the importance of breast self exams and breast health
. . . see my doc every year for a very thorough breast exam
. . . cut back on caffeine (a little anyway - although I quit the stuff for about 3 years once)
. . . have a “bosom buddy” who I take to the big city up north every fall - we schedule our mammogram appointments for the same day - same hour - different rooms, silly! - and make a day on the town all ours. We have a wonderful time.

but most of all?????

. . . I talk about it - and I support the cause - and I hope you will do the same!

Now, off you go - bid on something pretty -

just not MY somethings pretty! Heh!

boob-haha, breast cancer awareness, boobies, susan g komen foundation, charity, bids, barbara waters