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.

Holiday Ornament Exchange

This year's Holiday Gathering will bring smiles to all those who participate in the ornament exchange. I'm excited and already planning on my creation. There are a great number of patterns available online. Here are some links:

You'll love this cow ornament, Shelia.

Santa Hat Ornament

Snowman ornament

Mini Sweater ornament

Mitten and stocking ornaments

Christmas lights

Snowman Ornament

Knitted ball ornament

Snowflake Star ornament

Candy Cane Cozy

Hope everyone has fun making their ornaments.

Fall and Holiday Stitching

The terrific fall weather we have been having brought a good crowd to this month's last meeting. Twenty happy ladies in attendance worked on their projects. All those present received a knitted candy corn made by Shelia.


Neily, Mint Hill's Branch Manager who just retired joined us. She has begun a multi directional scarf and is using the pattern Donna V gave her. Here is Karen Baumer's version of this neat pattern.

Phyllis purchased a pattern called Tropical Tee from Cottage Yarn. Phyllis's speed crocheting is a skill I'm working on. She can crochet a hat in 2 hours.

Jeanne's raglan pullover knitted on the round for one of her grandchildren turned out nice. She shared that the pattern she used was thirty years old and back then she had paid $2.00. This was quite expensive but she has made countless sweaters and is glad she owns a copy.

Julie completed the birth sampler for Gabriel. She will be taking it to Michigan next week. She is also working on christmas knitted stockings.
Janet who also loves to cross stitch also finished her project which she worked on during the cruise to Alaska.

Delores is currently working on a sweater with a penguin motif. The yarn she is using, called Comfort felt wonderful and she shared she bought it at the Peace of Yarn for $5.95.


Sue P. is a beginner knitter and is excited about the scarf she is knitting for her husband using the Panther's colors.

Anna brought the album which shows the Pysanky eggs she had entered to compete in the 2008 North Carolina State Fair. Pysanky is the Ukrainian art of egg decorating. She used goose eggs and won 3rd and 4th place in this category. She is currently working on the Treenah scarf which she will give to her mom this Christmas.

Nisa Knits Update and More...

We are quickly approaching the Nisa
Knits Hats goal of 100. The response is really something to brag about. A heart felt thanks goes out to all the wonderful ladies who have taken the time to make them.





Barb found a neat pattern for flip flop socks in the book Knitted Socks by Anna Tillman. She is making a pair for her granddaughter who wears flip flops year round.


Phyllis worked on her Knit Stitch Cloche. The Dictionary Site defines a cloche as a woman's close fitting hat with a deep, bell shaped crown and often narrow turned brim. She found her pattern in the website a Crystal Palace Yarns website This site is an excellent source of free patterns in all categories. Crystal Palace yarns can also be purchased at this site.

Anna who crochets and donates her creations to Project Linus is currently crocheting a pineapple doily which she would like to enter on the North Carolina State Fair next month. The fair runs from October 16 through October 26. We wish Anna good luck.

Sarah stopped by to tell everyone about the GuidePosts Knit for Kids charity program. She has made kids' crochet pullovers using the pattern provided by this organization. Once you donate an item to this cause you will receive their newsletter.

Rainy Days and Tuesdays

Rainy days and Tuesdays never keep anyone from coming to our scheduled Stitch In meetings. We even were under a tornado watch an we had a great turn out. Seventeen cheerful ladies came to stitch and have a good time. The refreshments were delicious and contributed to everyone's good mood.

Julie finished a baked potato pouch made with the whimsical potato fabric she got from her friend, Janet. The instructions claim that using this pouch will enhance the quality and taste of a potato cooked in the microwave. The cooked potato will come out as one that has been baked in the oven. Janet shared that the potato fabric was purchased online at: Keepsake Quilting

Here are the instructions I found to make one.

Several of the ladies present worked on hats for the NISA service projects. The hat total has gone up to 82. The hats collected will be sent to benefit children in Afghanistan and Iraq. Iola combined yarns and used the loom to make one her hats. You can get better results using a loom to knit if you use bulky weight yarns otherwise the hat will be loopy.

Claire worked on the Carnaby Street Jacket found in Annie's Attic book using sport weight Red Heart yarn and size H hook. The neat thing about her pattern is that the jacket is crocheted in one piece and joined at the sides and sleeves. Claire plans to keep this one for herself.

Shelia has been working on something different. She cut out 1" strips from black and white plastic trash bags to make a unique hand bag. Similar bags can be made using plastic grocery bags. I tried to make one crocheting plastic shopping bags and found it a little tricky. She said that the advantage of using the trash bags is that you end up with longer strips.

Janet was seeing working on a new cross stitch projects.

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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.

A Very Happy Granddaughter

Julie shared this picture of her granddaughter wearing the sweater she knitted this summer.

The original pattern was crochet but Julie modified it until she was pleased with the pattern.