Oodles of Caps

 

The Caps for Good project is complete.  My church knitting group at Blessed Kateri dropped off all our hats to Eneri Knits in Exeter for shipment to the a central collection center.  I did truly enjoy using up all my leftover yarns for such a very special cause. 

 

We’re now working on prayer shawls, lap afghans, monk cloths, etc., for donation to area nursing homes.  I’m thinking of making lap quilts as a way of working down my fabric stash.  They too work up quickly and are another way to jump start my creative juices.  I’m still working on my promise quilt, but it really seems to be going fast.

The best news was I was able to get back to the Langworthy Library Knitting Circle.   I truly missed my friends  their stories and projects.  I feel renewed!!  Of course, now I’ve got more ideas for more knitting projects. 

Snow Day !

The weatherman was right about this one.  We sure did get a lot of snow…well over a foot.  Closer to 16”.  While my DH and his assistant are pushing the mounds of snow around, creating huge snow banks along the walkway and driveway, I remain in the house, not much use to them at all.  However, it is the perfect atmosphere for knitting.  I’m currently still in “baby hat” mode.  It’s a great way to clean out all the orphan half skeins I keep finding in my stash.

They stitch up so quick.  I can usually make a couple a day.  

Cast Off

Well, the cast is finally off and I'm in a "boot".  Still in the wheelchair, but therapy should begin next week, so I'll be introduced to crutches.  I can't wait to be more mobile.  The only good thing about this long recuperation has been all the knitting I've been getting done.  Here are a few of the finished projects.

This  neckwarmer was made with some sock yarn I received for Christmas.  There was only one skein of only 192 yards, so there wasn't enough to make a pair of socks.  So this was what I came up with.  I made my own pattern as I went along.  Looks great as a headband or earwarmer as well.  Maybe it looks so good because of my model (my dear granddaughter).

Neckwarmer pattern:

Materials needed:

Size 6/ 16 in. circular needles

One skein sock yarn (I used Plymouth Yarn's Happy Feet 192 yds.)

Cast on 108 stitches

Row 1:  K2, P2 ribbing

Row 2 & 3:  Repeat row 1

Row 4: Knit

Continue row 4 until piece measures 7 inches

Last three rows: repeat rows 1-3.

Bind Off

I crocheted two rows of scalloping on both ends just to give it a little character. 

The endless scarf below was a real quick project.  My fellow knitting buddy, Kim, told me about this pattern she found on Knit Picks.  She was knitting it one day when she came over for a knitting visit.
I used some very inexpensive yarn sold at a local Job Lot and it really came out better than I expected.  I used the whole skein (7 oz.).   I also used a different size needle than the pattern called for, at Kim's suggestion.  She used size 13, so I did too.  The results were perfect.  I like the shorter look better than the longer one. 

                          

Click here for the link to the pattern.

The last project I wanted to mention was Baby Hats.  Another knitting buddy of mine, Selma, recently forwarded me an e-mail about a local knit shop owner who was participating in program called "Caps for Good Campaign".  For some reason this project really struck  me.  I've been knitting baby hats for local hospitals for some time, as have several other knitters in the area.  However, the need for caps for the baby's in these developing countries seems urgently needed.   As a result, I am focusing on making hats for this cause at the moment.   In case you're interested, click here for more info.