Tuesday, August 23, 2005

 

knitting along...

- I am still knitting along on my hats for A4A - finished one more and started on another one. Things have been really hectic at work lately and the hours have been longer than usual so I have not had as much knit-time as I would like but that's life. I have been carrying my hats in my bag and doing a stitch whenever I have a spare moment during the day. The need is so great and I want to try to get as many done as I can for the children. If you have not decided to do one - let me tear at your heartstrings with some kid-bits:
"...A4A's campaign for 5000 children is only a drop in the bucket. In Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, 3 orphanages alone house and support over 15,000 children. There are also orphanages in other parts of the country, too. There are *tens of thousands* of kids in these orphanages or on the streets. All ages -- babies to teens. The International Orphan Care web site reports over 700,000 orphans
in Afghanistan. A4A is only trying to clothe and warm a small number of 5000 in the big picture...."

Can you imagine - 700,000 orphans! So many cold, hungry children.
Ok - off the soapbox - but this is a project that is very dear to my heart.

- DD called yesterday and needed some preemie sets for a friend of SIL. Their GD was born premature and weighed in at 2 lbs. 4 oz. I gathered together some hats, booties, sweaters, blankets and a stuffed animal for the precious one and sent it off to DD via UPS. Remember this little one and her family in your prayers - I know that they will appreciate it so much.

- Got a few more inches done on the loomed prayer shawl this weekend. I have not had too much time to work on it so progress is slow. But it will come about.

- Got my new catalog from Knitpicks yesterday - ooh.....at some of the new colors for Fall. If you did not get a catalog check them out online at: www.knitpicks.com. But beware, it is really hard to look and not buy :)

- Well I will leave you with a pattern tip that I have used for years. It has saved me many hours and alot of stress:
Pattern Tip: When copying or printing a pattern for later use that calls for a "specific yarn", always make a note with the yarn info (needle size, gauge, etc.) at the bottom of the pattern. This will make choosing a substitute yarn much simpler when you decide to use the pattern and find that the yarn called for has been discontinued."

Enjoy - and Happy Knitting all :)
*GB2G*

Sunday, August 21, 2005

 

Hats! We need more hats!


A4A is in need of hats, socks, mittens and sweaters for the children of Afghanistan. They have set a goal of 5,000 and they are running very behind on their donations. They need help to meet that goal - come on, knitters let's join together and knit for the kids. Here is their plea:
".....For the upcoming winter, we especially need newly hand-knit and crocheted WOOL hats, mittens, socks, sweaters, and vests in sizes for children of all ages.
Please use 100% wool or mostly wool for these garments to provide maximum utility in harsh weather. (Acrylic garments will not be sent to Afghanistan.) Your gifts are needed by September 16 to ensure that our warm gifts arrive before the cold. Our goal is to clothe 5,000 girls and boys. If you have thought about participating, now in the time."

So..This weekend I have been working on wool hats for the kids. It is a wonderful project so if you have some spare time and some wool please consider this project. I have been using my super simple garter hat - it works up really quick and make a warm cozy hat for a little child. Bobby Bear is shown here modeling my latest hat made with Knitpicks WOTA yarn in Winter Night Blue. My pattern uses takes one (1) 110 yd. skein of wool but if you have some scraps it is lovely in different colors. Please help A4A keep these little children warm. All the information that you need concerning the project is on their website: http://www.afghansforafghans.org/.
If you would like to use my pattern - please feel free (only for charity purposes, please). It is a wonderful take-a-long pattern - no row counting - no stitch changes - just cast-on and knit. So get out that wool yarn, cast-on, and go. Short on time - drop it in your bag and do a few stitches on break at work, while watching TV, waiting at the doctor's office, at your child's ballgame - let's join together and keep a child warm this winter.

Super Easy Child's Hat
No. 8 straight Knitting Needles
110 yds. 100% wool yarn (I used Knitpicks Wool of the Andes)

Cast on 50 stitches.
Row 1: Knit
Repeat row 1 until rectangle measures 8.5 inches long.
Cut yarn leaving a tail 14-15 inches long. Remove from needles using gathering method. When you have gathered the top do not cut yarn, make a knot to hold top gathering then use yarn to sew side seam. Cut yarn, weave in ends, roll up brim and voila! Hat finished!
If you prefer not to sew side seam, then use circular needles.
....A perfect beginner hat, or an easy, no concentration project for the experienced knitter. It works up very quickly and will be so appreciated by the children.
...Well back to my hats - happy knitting all :)
*GB2G*

Monday, August 15, 2005

 

Toes and Pies

Well, the rest yesterday really helped - a lot of the swelling has gone down in the toe but it is really black and blue. I did however, find an old pair of stretched out sandals that I could get my foot in so off to work I went! I tried to really stay off my foot as much as I could and since I have a desk job that helped a bunch. I got quite a bit of knitting done on the market bag that I want to felt for DD for Christmas so my day of rest was not a total wash although I missed getting to go to Church.
My youngest DD requested a copy of the recipes for the two rhubarb pies that I used to make when she was little. I guess she has a taste for rhubarb today so I thought that some of you might like to have them too. So here goes..

Rhubarb Crisp


2 cups Rhubarb, chopped fine
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup sugar

Topping:
¼ cup oatmeal
¼ cup butter
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup flour

Mix rhubarb, flour and sugar and pour into 8 x 8 pan. Blend topping ingredients together and sprinkle over rhubarb mixture in pan.
Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.



Rhubarb Pie

1 ¾ cups sugar
4 tablespoons flour
1/8 teaspoon of salt
2 eggs, beaten
3 cups raw rhubarb, chopped fine

Stir sugar, flour and salt together, add eggs and stir to make a batter. Add rhubarb to batter and blend well.
Pour into 9" unbaked pie shell and bake at 350 for 30 - 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Enjoy and happy knitting :)
*GB2G*

Sunday, August 14, 2005

 

Oops and..Oh well

Yesterday was housecleaning day, laundry day, dog bath day and also my grandson's birthday party. So...Naturally, I was hurrying to finish all my chores so that I could attend the special party. In the process of carrying a load of laundry from the bathroom to the laundry room I in my infinite wisdom decided to step over the doggie gate instead of opening it and you guessed it!...I fell. Dirty laundry goes everywhere, I am flaying in the air trying to keep my balance, the gate falls down, puppies and dogs run everywhere to avoid the crash and....In the middle of it all I try to save myself. Well...Oops...I failed. The gate hits me in the back of the leg and my left foot goes through the mesh of the gate. The end result - a terrible bruise on the back of my leg and a broken big toe. Congratulations Teresa! Did this stop me? Oh no, in my brilliance I bandaged the toe, completed my chores and went to the birthday party.
So today, I get up with a throbbing toe, a foot too swollen to fit in any of my shoes and a body that aches beyond measure. Needless to say that I could not attend my church services in a bedroom shoe so DH and I opted to stay at home today. I spent the day on the couch with my foot elevated to attempt to get the swelling down. Oh, well....A good time to catch up on some knitting. Life and knitting must go on :)
*GB2G*

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

 

Hectic

..Things have been very hectic lately. I have been up to my nose at work, so many on vacation, and in a small shop that makes a big load for everyone else. But...I know that someone has to cover for me when I am on vacation so it is only fair. So, my WIPs have taken a back seat lately and I have missed working on them.
..I did get my delivery made to the hospitals for TTT. The nurses were so appreciative - they were all diving into the bags to look at the baby items. It is such a joy to see that the items are so loved.
..I got my items sent to Ellen for Ship Support. I did not get to finish as many hats as I would have liked but there will be some soldiers who will know that someone in the states is praying for them.
...I have started a prayer shawl on my loom and completed a few inches on it. I still have one on the needles but I wanted to use the loom for the next shawl. Since it takes me longer to do one on the looms I figured that I better start on it before finishing the needle knit one. We will see how it goes.
..I have some baby booties on my preemie loom, a baby hat on the needles, and a hat for SS on a set of circulars, and a poncho for me on another set of needles. I love to have several projects going at the same time - I can change around - especially on big projects like a shawl, poncho, or afghan, as it keep me from getting bored with the color scheme before I finish the item. Working on it a little at a time makes the item seem new every time I look at it. Strange, I know but it works for me.
..The puppies are getting bigger - 7 weeks now and are becoming a joy to watch. They are ready for their new homes now - so we are patiently waiting while their new owners are found, just enjoying them while we can.
...have a wonderful week all!
Happy Knitting :)
*GB2G*

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