So Many Blankets--All Made from the Heart

The fleece blankets for Project Linus continue to pour in and also the help to put them together.  Nancy showed up and lent her hand tying knots along the borders.  She was more than happy to do this.

Mint Hill Branch Library has been designated as a drop off location for all blankets.  Shelia who also attends the Project Linus meetings received the labels that are sewn to each blanket.  Phyllis worked sewing them to all the  completed fleece blankets.

There was plenty of sweet stuff and hot chocolate (those are snowman marshmallows) to keep everyone happy as they stitched.

Rita's McGnome sports a kilt and a super curly beard.  She keeps coming up with her own original designs and was more than willing to share how she made the beard, one of my favorite parts.  She would like to make them smaller as there are many more hours of labor on this size gnome. 

A different kind of yarn produced a totally different beard look.  The hat was upcycled from a boiled wool jacket.  The pointy boots were constructed the same way.  Rita's gnomes have bendable arms made possible by the wire she inserts as she fills them with fiberfill.  She has not named this one yet.

This is not Shelia's creation but someday she would like to be able to make one.  She was willing to pay $40.00 so she could reproduce it .  I'm sure she will.

She has learned much working on crochet hats and proudly showed this one she completed.

Janet received a very nice gift from one of her children.  On a recent trip to Alaska her husband took a beautiful picture which was made into a puzzle. The short row scarf she knitted made her very happy too.

 

Finally on my way out I snapped this picture of Jan reading and working with her hands.  There is no reason why you can't do two things at the same time.

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:

Heart Ornament

Gold Christmas Ornament

Popcorn Wreath Ornament

Snowflake Ornament

Knitted Ball Ornament

Santa Hat Ornament

Sweater Ornament

Knitted Santa Ornament

Knitted Christmas Tree

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.

Crochet Edging - 101

The beautiful edge on this pink flannel blanket was stitched by Claire.

This video clearly shows step by step how to make the crochet edge. You can use flannel or fleece. This is one of the quickest methods of making a blanket. Project Linus stipulates the fleece blankets should be done in a single layer in the following sizes: For a child - 36" by 45", For a baby - 36" by 36".

Mint Hill Branch has been designated as a drop off location for Project Linus. Several ladies are enthusiastic about this and have put their needles and hooks to work. We have received approximately 12 hand made blankets.

Zelma who recently joined us demonstrates her pineapple doily creation.

Julie completes one baby blanket and starts another one right away. She said, "Babies just keep coming into the world". This knitted pattern is one of her favorites.

The Season of Giving and Sharing

Just about every week I see a new face during Stitch In. Sue P. is fairly new and she has thoroughly enjoyed coming to our meetings. This week she brought along her friend Sharon. Sue continues to work on scarfs as she tries new techniques. The garter stitch scarf made in the Panther colors pleased her and she decided to learn how to work cables by making another scarf.
Here's a link I found online showing a beginning cables technique.

Sue's garter stitch scarf

Speaking of scarves, Neily completed the multi directional she was working on. She also brought another short row scarf she made following a Lion Brand Pattern. On the latter she used Tweedly Dee chunky yarn from Moda Dea. She is also using left over yarn from other projects to make the Flame Stitch afghan.

Neily's Multidirectional Scarf

Short Rows and Garter Stitch makes Neily's stylish scarf

Anna is working on her own afghan design. When finished she will give her creation to Project Linus.

This year sure has gone fast. Just like last year Janet was seeing working on a beautiful cross stitch winter scene.

The refreshments were not only tasty but beautiful.

Summer Knitting

The hot summer days have not slowed down the ladies who are participating in the service project NISA Knit Hats to benefit the children from the mountain regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Fifty eight caps have been collected so far. Different techniques have been used; crochet, knitting and loom knitting. Sewn or store bought hats will also be accepted. Nisa is a non-profit organization in the state of North Carolina which states Education is their mission. Their goal is to collect 2,000 hats. The collection dates run from May 1 through September 2008.

Hats should be sent to: Nisa Knits Hats!
PO Box 481444
Charlotte, NC 28269
Their telephone Number is: 704-819-3076

Our Stitch In Group has been contacted by Geocities to knit more helmet liners and knit or crochet more scarves for our service men and women in Iraq. Crocheted helmet liners are no longer accepted. The revised helmet liner pattern is pretty much the same; some minor changes were made. A new pattern for the knitted or crocheted scarves is also now available on the website. The new requirements state that the yarn label which specifies the type of yarn used must be submitted. Only 100% soft wool (worsted weight) in black, charcoal, brown, tan, olive drab can be used. No blue or green camo will be accepted.

On a recent visit a young lady by the name of Anna who donates crocheted afghans to the Project Linus brought a beautiful star afghan she's been working on. She puts so many hours on her work and finds joy giving them away.