Co-worker's Project

One of my co-workers crocheted a baby blanket.  She wanted to add a little hood to one corner for the baby's head.  She had to work out the design herself and I think she did a great job of making it work.

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Request for Spare Yarn

Zionsville, IN- The Kappa Theta chapter of Zionsville, Indiana has been very busy during November over the past three years collecting warm winter gear for homeless veterans. It started with only one collection site and has grown to five sites in only three years. Last year a library volunteer who works at a collection site offered to have her knitting group donate hand knitted hats for the veterans. Their goal was 100 hats and they exceeded it with 107 hat and 3 scarves. Kappa Theta is also concerned about the growing number of homeless service women, and are brainstorming ways to meet this new challenge.

If you have any yarn that you are not going to be using full rolls or partial we would love to take them offer your hands. Just bring them to Fall Conference on September 29. The yarn will be given to the knitting group to help our veterans and others in need.

If you live near this area (Zionsville), please consider giving your spare yarn to someone in the Kappa Theta chapter.  If you live in Jackson County, Indiana, please donate your spare yarn to Julia at the library by September 28.  She will see that it gets to the people who will use it for homeless vets.

Thanks and happy crafting,

Kathi

Ergonomics for Knitters (and Crocheters and Other Needleworkers)

Sometimes we enjoy our needlecraft so much, we don't take care of protecting those fingers, hands and arms from ruin. Take a break and follow these exercises! http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2012/08/29/ergonomics-for-knitters.aspx

New Knitting Book

New book just in at Jackson Co. Public Library for knitters is Teach Yourself Visually Color Knitting by Mary Scott Huff. 

Mary shows you how to knit more than one color in any project.  She explains stripes, slip-stitch, stranded colorwork, intarsia (cool looking cardigan patterns), entrelac, modules, and embellishments.

This is, in fact, a very visual book loaded with photos and charts to show you exactly how to accomplish the design you've always wanted to knit.  After each explanation, there are several patterns for assorted projects you can make using that technique.

Stop by the library and grab it off of the New Books shelves.

Happy crafting,

Kathi

More Projects

Three crochet projects by a Jackson Co. Public Library staff person:

Hawaiian Flower pattern - shawl

Pink mile-a-minute shawl

 

 

Man's lap-robe

 

 

More projects to come.  I'll keep you posted.

 

Happy crafting,

 

Kathi



August Projects by Our Group

Here are some of the projects that are keeping our knitters and crocheters busy and happy.

Please feel free to join us with whatever you are working on at the moment.  If you are new to the yarn arts, we have willing and capable teachers in the Thursday night Knit and Crochet Night group.  They meet on the second and fourth Thursdays every month at 6:30 pm.

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Two New Knit Books

We have two new books on knitting for those of you looking for a new project.

First is Scarves by The Guild of Master Craftsman Publications. 

 

There are patterns for cables, and leaves and moss stitch and lace.  Some patterns look easier than others.  One very cool looking pattern is called Waffle Wrap.  It has interlocking layers that separate out into strings of diamonds.  Other cool patterns are a garter stitch spiral and a braided scarf. 

 

The other new book is 60 Quick Baby Knits: Blamkets, Booties, Sweaters & More in 220 Superwash from Cascade Yarns.

 

 

 

There are all sorts of things you can knit for babies in here, but I have to mention one adorable hat that looks like a sheep standing on grass.

 

 

Please come in and check out these books.

 

Happy crafting,

 

Kathi

 

 

 

Tiny Knit and Crochet

Let's say that you have a pile of scrap yarn left over from your most excellent projects.  You'd like to start something new, but that pile of odds and ends sits there and mocks you.  What to do with it?

Perhaps you'd like to read the blog post just before this one for inspiration.  But if that doesn't meet get your blood pumping, maybe you'd like to think ahead to the holidays.

For the knitters, we have a book of patterns for mochimochi - Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi by Anna Hrachovec.  For crocheters, we have books of amigurumi - Ami Ami Dogs 2 by Mitsuki Hoshi and Amigurumi Two! by Anna Paula Rimoli.  These are small knitted things most of which have eyes. 




                   

Or you can crochet various kinds of food:

 
 I've even seen patterns for fried eggs and bacon strips.

Don't throw those scraps away.  Have some fun with them. 

Thanks again to Lion Brand Yarn for allowing us to use their photos in our blog.

Happy crafting,

Kathi

9th Annual 60 Scarves in 60 Days

It's time to gear up for the annual 60 Scarves in 60 Days event.  The rules seem to be pretty simple.  Try to make a scarf every day between September 1 and November 30.  Give the scarves to the charity of your choice.  http://crochetwithdee.blogspot.com/2011/09/eighth-annual-60-scarves-in-60-days.html

Maybe you have a local shelter, community provisions, clothing closet, or some organization that helps people with warm clothes for the winter.  No postage required. 

If you don't mind shipping your work a little farther afield, Crochet 'N More has a list of charities that welcome contributions.  http://www.crochetnmore.com/123charitylinks.htm  One that especially asks for scarves is The Red Scarf Project.  They distribute red scarves to foster children who are entering college.  Foster children who turn 18 are technically on their own.  The scarf reminds them that someone still cares about them.

Maybe you aren't super speedy with your knitting or crocheting.  Although this project is specifically scarves, you might challenge yourself to make smaller pieces for charities. 

Warm Up America (http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/how.html) takes knit and crochet sections 7"x 9" and sews them together to make afghans for various groups. 

Perhaps you would like to make laprobes for wounded soldiers. No fringe please.  It can get stuck in a wheel chair.  https://soldiersangels.org/blankets-of-gratitude.html

Even your scraps can be made into something useful to warm the heart of someone who needs a little something to make their life easier.

We have books at the library with a skazillion patterns for everything from afghans to caps and booties for tiny people.  (Think premies in the hospital who need caps and warm blankets or chemo caps.  Soft, think soft.)

Here are some knitting for charities books available through the library:

Knit Along with Debbie Macomber: A Charity Guide for Knitters by Debbie Macomber
Knit Red: Stitching for Women's Heart Health by Laura Zander
Knitting for Peace: Make the World a Better Place One Stitch at a Time by Betty Christiansen (in EI system)
5 different knit or crochet books on making prayer shawls

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Suggestion from Georgiann

Ladies,

Georgiann sent me an email with suggestions from Bernat yarn for August knitting and crocheting.  They are promoting making baby things this month. 

I'll post the link here so you can see what they suggest:

http://link.e.newtrackmedia.com/s/ve?eli=c2902645&si=5486911781&cfc=3html

Happy crafting.

Kathi