Thanksgiving Decorations

The Thanksgiving holiday snuck up on me even though it's at the same time as usual.

In any case, it's high time to turn out a couple of decorations for the table or the entry way.



http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L0109AD.html?noImages=

For the knitters, Lion Brand yarn suggests this for a door or wall decoration.



http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L0106AD.html?noImages=

If you crochet, wouldn't these gourds be cute in this bowl?


http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90536AD.html?noImages=

Red Heart Yarn offers these patterns to dress up your Thanksgiving Day celebration:



http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/tom-turkey



http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/pilgrim-pair

I don't think you will finish this one by Thursday, But maybe you will be inspired for next year.



http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/turkey-talk-throw

Have a happy Thanksgiving, travel safely, and we'll see you in the next holiday season.

Kathi Linz

Fingerless Mitts, Gloves, Wristlets...or Whatever You Call Them

One of the most popular posts I've ever written has to do with fingerless mitts.

I spent my entire life thinking of them as being the standard costume of poor, starving writers. Now I finally found out that the reason they are doing so well today is because people need their fingers free to text! I don't know how I could have missed that for so long. lol

Free patterns abound in cyberspace. If you look on Ravelry.com, you will be able to see photos of the patterns. Some of those are free and some are paid.

Another excellent resource is http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/fingerless_mittens.php.

I scanned down the list and there has to be at least a hundred patterns. The last time I checked, all of these patterns were free for anyone to use. The sister site for crocheters (and with just as many patterns) is http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/mittens_gloves.php

Allfreecrochet.com has many patterns. I don't find it especially easy to navigate, but that might just be me. http://www.allfreecrochet.com/Fingerless-Gloves

The sister site for that one is http://www.allfreeknitting.com/Hands-and-Wrists.

If you are interested in making up some of these for Christmas gifts, you'll find the basic ones take no time at all and not too much yarn. Unless you decide to work in the round, all you have to do is work up a square and sew the sides together, leaving a small opening for the thumb. They should be a smidgen smaller than you think they should be because the stitches will relax a bit with use - and also the patterns are often designed to stretch.

Happy crafting and Happy Thanksgiving,

Kathi Linz

Warm Up America

If you have some small balls of left-over yarn and you don't have any special plans for them, may I make a suggestion?

Warm Up, America is a charity that sends out afghans, caps and friendship shawls to people in need. If you would like to make the smaller items, Warm Up, America will distribute them. If you just have enough yarn to knit or crochet a piece 7" by 9", you can send those to WUA and they will have volunteers sew the pieces together into afghans and baby blankets.

Here's a list of places to which they donate:

• Women's shelters
• Nursing homes
• Children's hospitals
• Hospitals and hospices
• Daycare centers
• Veterans' homes
• Churches
• AIDS facilities
• Homeless shelters
• American Red Cross chapters

Patterns are provided for both knit and crochet items in case you need ideas and/or instructions.

http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/warmup.html

   

Thanks for sharing your craft abilities with others in this season. I'm guessing some of WUA's donations will go to the communities affected by the tornadoes.

Happy crafting,

Kathi Linz