Our Service Projects

  • Operation Santa for Service Men and Women
  • Squares for Warm Up America
  • Blankets for Project Linus
  • Hats and Scarves for Turning Point Shelter, Monroe NC
  • Chemo Caps & Turbans for Presbyterian Hospital, Matthews NC
  • Premie and Newborn Caps for Presbyterian Hospital , Matthews NC
  • Scarves For Mens Homeless Shelter
  • Operation Helmet Liner

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Holiday Ornament Exchange


The much anticipated Holiday Stitch In gathering finally took place on this cold December afternoon.  Red was the color that prevailed adding to the festive mood.

These pretty packages contained the 28 ornaments for the Ornaments Exchange.  This is our fourth year doing the exchange. 

 The Refreshment Table

These Red Velvet Woopy Pies were made by Shelia using a cake mix.
To make them you will need:
1 box red velvet cake mix  --- 2 Large Eggs
1/4 cup oil 


Combine cake mix, eggs and oil until well blended


Shape dough into balls, flatten slightly unto a greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 degrees for around 9 minutes.  
Enjoy



This is the work of Sue who has been knitting for around a year.  She is loving it and doing very well as you can see.

Julie's cardigan for Anna will sport lady bugs buttons.

I was pleased to see that Phyllis made so much progress with her short row scarf.  Click on the words short row scarf for a link to a pattern.
 The Holiday Ornament Exchange was the highlight of this meeting. All the participants love this annual tradition and this year the ornaments were great.

 


Thursday, December 3, 2009

Gobble Gobble






Yummy, Yummy Gobble Gobble Cookies brought smiles to the many ladies in attendance.







Phyllis completed her Swirling Bag.  This link will take you to the pattern available from Knitting Daily.


Another one of Phyllis's creations

Nancy embellished her Project Linus blanket with crochet flowers.


Look really careful and you'll see a cat's face hidden in this scarf made by Shelia for a relative.
 

 Janet is taking a break from making baby items and is working on this cross stitch piece which she plans to make for herself.
 


 Once again it's  time to be thinking of hand crafted ornaments. The ornament exchange will again take place during one of our meetings this month.  Here's a few links to crochet and knitted ornaments:
Snowflake Ornament
Knitted Christmas Tree

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Arrival of the Phiaro Scarf to Mint Hill

I was glad to model for Nancy  this gorgeous scarf/shawl called Phiaro.  She shared with me she purchased this beautiful alpaca and tencel blend at the Fibre Studio at Yarns to Dye For.  The name of the yarn is Ballet.  You can purchase this pattern for $3.50 online at the Interweave Store.


The Phiaro as a Scarf

The Phiaro as a shawl

This Christmas color border was done by Iola.  She can't get enough of this technique and is delighted to be able to donate this to Project Linus.

Janet's donation of Premie Hats.

She also made these crochet caps for full term babies.

Janet has also made several turbans.  Jill loved them.  Janet is donating these to the Cancer Center at the Matthews Presbyterian Hospital.

Side View of the turban

Several ladies continue to contribute to the Scarves donations.

Shelia's Prayer Shawl drew the attention of those present.  She has been having fun crocheting flowers.

The refreshments kept everyone happy.

The End....:-)




Monday, November 9, 2009

Fall 2009 Gathering


At least 28 ladies gathered to stitch and enjoy each others company.  Our community room was almost filled to capacity.

Delores lined up to get her plate and she browsed through the new books on display.


Savory and Sweet dishes taste even better in good company.

Phyllis's creativity produced this beautiful fall scarf.



Natalie created these whimsical crochet dolls for Nancy.



She gives some of her creations away, but this kitty she'll keep for a little girl in her family.  She reported that the cat's ears were a tad larger and she had to make some adjustments so the creature would stand. He's got personality.     

                                                


Rita continues to make progress and creating one of a kind gnomes.  Her favorite place to acquire wool for felting is the Goodwill Store.  The hats are lined and she uses wire to keep them in place.  She uses wool for the beard.  Here's another very cute version of a gnome.  Looks like it would also take less time to construct.  Click on the word gnome.




The gnome's feather is from a guinea fowl.  Rita knows someone in Montawk, Long Island who collects them for her.






Rita also made this turban from a pattern Shelia shared with the ladies.



Pat's collection of chemo caps continues to grow.  She is delighted to be able to use leftover worsted weight yarn and eyelash yarn to make these.

Coming together is a beginning.  Keeping together is progress.  Working together is success.  ~Henry Ford

Friday, October 16, 2009

Pink Day






Pink, the color that reminds us of Breast Cancer awareness was seen in all around during our October 13 meeting. 





Ashley came bearing gifts from Charlotte Radiology to celebrate October Breast Awareness Month.  The 30 ladies in attendance received a neat nylon bag like the one Ashley is holding along with other free goodies that came inside the bag.  Patterns for chemo caps are available from Shelia for anyone interested in donating caps to the Presbyterian Hospital in Matthews. This pattern is for a knitted chemo cap.  The Loving Georgia Lee Tyler crochet pattern can be made using worsted weight or sport weight yarn.

Some of the delicious treats served were also in pink and enjoyed by all.  I especially loved the Pink Fluff. Click on the link for the recipe.
Everyone has appreciated the fleece donation from Delores.  The fleece is being used for blankets which will be donated to Project Linus.  See Shelia if you would like to make a blanket using this fleece.
 
The refreshments and books table.
 


Sheila is new to Mint Hill Stitch In and crocheting as well.  She is using a basic crochet stitch to make blanket in Carolina Blue colors.
 
 Rita has been mastering the art of making  gnomes and adds her very own unique touches.  Each felted boot has a hand sewn edge which is time consuming she reported.  She is also thrilled that one of the gnomes has already been sold.
 


Thursday, September 24, 2009

First Day of Fall 2009 Stitch In




On this first day of fall Mint Hill Stitch In participants numbered 21. It is a fact that many people prefer to knit or crochet when the weather is cool. The weather conditions have not really slowed down Janet. She has been busy making blankets and hats which she wants to donate to the Battered Woman's Shelter in Monroe.


Pat is very much in to making baby items and has found a pattern that came with the yarn she purchased.
Shelia had a wonderful show and tell. She won a beautiful quilt during the Make a Blanket Day event sponsored by Project Linus. Mint Hill Branch Library is a drop off point for all donated blankets. She will attend the Project Linus meetings which take place on the second Tuesday of the month from 6:30 pm to
8:30 pm at Candlewyck Baptist Church, 7200 Providence Rd. The church's telephone number is: 704-366-2310 These meetings are open to the public.

This is Rita's gnome design and creation. She used recycled wool for the boots and hat. The nose and face were also made with recycled material. For the beard, she cleverly crocheted a base and hooked the yarn strands. He has a name, I'm sure. I just forgot to ask Rita.




Nancy's asymmetrical sweater can be worn in several ways. The Bernat Bamboo wool has a luxurious feel. Her toddler socks were made using self striping yarn.





Nancy loves yarn; she showed me this colorful yarn by Manos del Uruguay. The price is not bad for the amount of yarn in the skein.

The softness of this silk blend yarn is perfect for the scarf Nancy is making. The colors, rich and warm remind me of the wonderful season of Fall.