Yes, I'm here, and inspired by Kathy

Kathy, your post about sending in your Masters Level 1 work got me going again. And I haven't sent you my cap yet, because I decided to make at least one more, so it would be more worth your while to take them in! Anyway, I finished my 16th swatch two days ago, as well as most of the questions, having determined to make the most of the long weekend to just work hard on them. I figured that it would only take me about 45 minutes to knit a swatch if I could focus on it and not get distracted. Now I'm at the point of weaving in all the ends, blocking them, and writing the blocking essay. I hope to have mine sent in by the end of the month. And I've started carrying my knitting with me everywhere, so I can knit while in line at the post office or grocery store, or at stoplights (Elizabeth Zimmerman did it...). That way, I'll get the chemo caps done. Choc, did you start your swatches, as you hoped?

I went to the Yarn Expo here in Anchorage two weekends ago, which was great. Lots of classes were offered - I took a lace class, offered by Donna Druchunas, author of the new book "Arctic Lace" book about the Oomingmak cooperative, quiviut, and the Native knitters (mostly Yupik). It was very informative, and I'm looking forward to knitting some lace scarves and things. I highly recommend "Arctic Lace". It has patterns, as well as a section on designing your own lace patterns. I also took spindle spinning, and a class on making your own needles from dowels of different sizes and woods, which was very easy - you start by sharpening the ends in a pencil sharpener! And decorating the tops of the pairs of straight needles was a fun and creative activity!

Kathy, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you, that all your Masters Level 1 work will be accepted the first time around ('cause it's apparently hard to do). I hope you'll post something about your results, as I'm sure it will be enlightening. I will post again when I send mine in.
Good knitting,
Linda

Is Anyone Out There?

Hey Team,

I just wanted to let you know (and this is mostly for you, Choc) that I finally mailed the Chemo Caps to "Cancer Connection" here in Juneau. I finally admitted that I was only going to make one, for now, and that no one besides Choc was going to send any either. So I sent the three I had collected. If and when time allows, we can always send more.

On another note, I'm wondering how the Level I work is going for Linda and Choc. I mailed my Level I submission one week ago. I'm sure there will be stuff I'll have to "rework," but I'm glad to have gotten it in. The next decision will be if I immediately plunge into Level II, or not.

Choc, Thanks for being such a loyal visitor to Knitting Weather. (I'm back at work 4 days a week and I can see it's going to take a toll on the blogging. Hopefully I'll manage to post something every week or so.)

I hope everyone is well. I'd love to hear what everyone is up to knitwise, if you have the notion.

Take care,
k.

Checking In

Hey Team-
It's been awhile so I thought I'd check in. I still have only the three chemo caps and I haven't yet delivered them to the folks here in Juneau. I've been wondering if any more are coming, and also hoping I could produce at least one more.

Tonight I decided it was time to dive back into TKGA Level I work and I'm wondering if anyone else has been working on their swatches. I was browsing around the message board at the TKGA site and it looks like instruction revisions are expected August 1st. I signed up on August 18th last year, so unless I really hustle, I may have to follow the new instructions. Hopefully the work I've done so far won't be for naught.

I hope everyone has been enjoying their summer. The long days are divine .. the rain a little less so. I guess I shouldn't complain though, as we had a lovely stretch of weather last week which coincided with a visit from my family.

k.

Chemo Cap Show and Tell

The two fuzzy striped hats were made by Choc. They are wonderfully soft and stretchy and I love the colors! Choc, I'm assuming it's the same yarn and is striping differently because of the different sizes?? They don't seem that different in size and yet the stripes are totally different. Curious, isn't it? Mine (Choc has put me to shame, I've only knit one so far) is the pink girly one in the center.

I'm not normally a pink/girly kinda gal .. but it was fun to knit!

I won't rush to deliver these. Maybe some more will come trickling in .. and I'll try to knit up another as well.

Hope you're all well and happily knitting!
kathy

PS
I finally noticed that the smaller hat has the narrower stripes .. that doesn't make sense, does it? Choc, what gives?

Chemo hats

Kathy,

I mailed two chemo hats to you today. Sorry it took me so long to get to the post office with the hats, they were finished 3 weeks ago.

It was good to read of your trip and look at the yarn you purchased.

Glad you made it safely home.

Choc

TKGA Level I

Kathy and Linda,

Tuesday's mail brought my Level I packet! My knitting goal for Tuesday evening was to finish the sleeves of the sweater I have on the needles so I have done that but did take some time to look very briefly at the information. Today, Wednesday, I'll go shopping for a notebook and the clear pockets for my finished swatches.

What type of yarn are you using for your swatches? I am so excited! It's 2 A.M. and I am not sleepy.

Choc

Level One, Here We Come!

Wow, lots of knitters doing Masters Level One!
I’ve been so busy knitting other things, that I only have two swatches done. And I'm only doing Level 1, not II. But Kathy, I agree with you, it seems pretty straightforward. There’s a Masters Group in Anchorage that meets on the first Saturday of each month, for people who are working on one or another level. One of the women who passed Level 1 donated her Level 1 notebook to the Guild library, which is great to have as a resource. I’ve been to two meetings, have looked through the notebook, and have had my swatches critiqued by the people who passed Level 1, so I’m feeling much more comfortable about knitting the swatches. A trick that I learned about checking your tension, on stockinette stitch, is to hold your swatch up to the window or a light, and look at the back of your work. If you can see “gulleys” between rows, your tension is not even, and your swatch will probably not pass muster. In my case, my purling is looser than my knitting, but I found that knitting “Eastern European” style takes care of it – purling by catching the yarn going down, rather than up, if that makes sense. It twists the stitch a little, so that when knitting back, the stitches must be knit through the back to look flat. Not great if one is decreasing and doing SSK, as you have to untwist the stitches first, then knit them together, but it has helped solve my tension problems. I guess I’d better start working on more swatches!

I finished my chemo cap, and hope someone at Cancer Connection finds it to their liking! Kathy, I’ll send it to you in the next couple of days. I had hoped to post a photo, but don't see the icon for adding a photo, today. Hmmm...

If people are looking for a project to follow chemo caps, we might consider knitting something for Lisa in Albuquerque, Team Alaska’s “honorary” Alaskan, as she’s expecting, with her new family addition due in August!

TKGA-Master Knitter Program

Hey Choc (and Linda and anyone else interested in the Master Knitter Program),

I'm so delighted you've just joined up. It'll inspire me to get done if I know you're working on it too! And fun to have someone bounce ideas/questions off of. The first level knitting has been very straightforward so far. I've just been distracted by other projects. I haven't actually tackled the questions yet, but I've been thinking about working on them. Anyway, once you get started let's keep in touch about it.

Linda, aren't you on Level II?

kathy

Chemo Cap News

Hey Knitters-

I finally touched base with a woman at "Cancer Connection" here in Juneau. They would welcome any and all hats we want to knit. I asked, but she didn't offer any guidelines for the hats. Comfort and easy to care for are the attributes I'm going to strive for. When asked, she did say that while they have some hats for women, they don't have any for children. I told her we'd probably make a variety and I'd be back in touch when I have something to deliver.

I'd say that frees us to make whatever we want - and not to fret 'cause whatever we make is sure to fit someone! (Ahh, my kind of stress-free knitting!)

We're going to be traveling a bit in June and I have some other things on my needles right now, but I'll try and get a hat or two going in the next several weeks.

more soon-
k.

Hats Delivered

Today I delivered our 7 preemie hats to the hospital's maternity ward. They were gratefully accepted and Katrina, the Charge Nurse, was very impressed with the wonderfulness of our hats. She oohed and awed a lot. Group, we did well!

Choc

Completed Preemie Hats

I finally finished two little hats, and will send them to you ASAP, Choc. My next project will be a chemo cap, to send to Kathy in Juneau.


Here are the dragon socks that were distracting me. I blocked them before sewing up the backs, so you can see the design better. This was my first attempt at intarsia: 76 yarn ends per sock to weave in when finished! Argyles should be easy after this!


Happy Knitting,
Linda

Hats

Kathy,

Your hats arrived here safely yesterday. They are even more beautiful in the flesh than on the blog. Thanks for your contribution.

Choc

Preemie Hats

I have put each of my hats into its own ziplock style baggie with a copy of the washing
and drying directions for the yarn that I used. That may be overkill but I remember being a bit mindless at the births of my kids and they were fullterm. The address to mail your completed preemie hats to is Choc Schafer, 1415 Millar Street, Ketchikan, 99901.

Choc

Hat update

Greetings-
I made another hat this week. I was worried the first was too small, now I'm worried the second is too big (are you starting to figure me out?). But I'll send 'em both to Choc tomorrow and hope that there is some baby in Ketchikan with a cold and appropriately sized head.

I left a message with the Cancer Wellness folks in Juneau. My husband took a return call from a woman who's name he didn't catch and who was headed out of town, but she was enthusiastic and positive about receiving hats from us. So I think you can safely start knitting assured that I will find a good home for any chemo caps you might knit. Do we want to extend the deadline for these, or is everyone up for getting them done in May??

Thanks to you all for your lovely and supportive sweater comments.

Take care-
k.

Preemie Hat Project

Hey Team AK-
I finally finished my sweater (I hope you don't mind indulging me, I had to show someone) and began a preemie hat last night. I finished it this morning. What a fun quick project. I've never knit a hat specifically for a preemie before (and my babies had such BIG heads) does this look on target to you? Choc, will you publish the address to which we should mail our hats?

I hope to have info to post soon about a chemo hat project. Also wanted to mention that the Dulaan Project (http://www.fireprojects.org/) is only accepting donations until July 1. There is also Afghans for Afghans (http://www.afghansforafghans.org/) if everyone is interested in an international project. Let me know what you're all thinking - and knitting. I'd love to see photos of other projects.

Hope everyone is well-
kathy

Charity Knitting: Hat patterns for babies

Hi Team Alaska,
Sorry not to have posted this earlier, but I've been under the weather for the past week.

Here is an "enormous list of baby hats that can be made for charity knitting" that Jennifer of the Boulder Hand Knitters Guild compiled from the internet (thank you Jennifer!). Not all of them are for preemies, but can be adjusted. I find that, with a pattern for sport or worsted weight yarn, if I use lighter weight yarn and smaller needles, I can easily turn a 0-3 month size hat into a preemie hat. If the hat is for fingering weight, already, then an adjustment of number of stitches and rows would be in order.

The Basic Knit Hat Pattern from "Touching Little Lives" is a good one to start with, and gives an idea of how big to make them. It has small and medium preemie sizes, and newborn. "Baby's First Hat" is a nice lacey one, "Baby Tart" is darling, but has bobbles, so is probably not good for a preemie, Also, "About.com" has free patterns, some of which are specifically for preemies. Check out this blog: http://larissmix.typepad.com/stitch_marker/knitting_hats/index.html/. She has lots of cute baby hats. I made "Lilly's Hat" and used size 3 needles and Jamie baby yarn, and it came out perfectly for a preemie. Another that I made during the Knitting Olympics is the spiral hat listed at the bottom (using 54 sts, size 3 needles, Jamie Baby yarn).

Regarding sizes - I didn't measure the finished sizes of the ones that I made for the KOs, but you can visually compare the size of the four preemie hats with the one 6-9 month hat in the photo that I took and posted.
Happy Knitting!

The List:
http://people.delphiforums.com/knit_chat/knitchat/patterns/babybonnet.htm Garter Lace Baby Bonnet -- uses worsted weight
http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/freeKnittingPatternAnnaHat.asp Anna's Angel Hat Pattern (from Jimmy Bean)-- uses worsted weight
http://www.knitlist.com/96gift/giftapplehat.htm Apple Hat (from Knitlist) -- uses worsted weight
http://www.magknits.com/Jan06/patterns/bee.htm Baby Bee Hat and Bootees (from Magknits) -- uses worsted weight
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/kbs-babyHat.html Baby Hat (from Lion) -- uses DK weight
http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/baby_pixiehat.html Baby Pixie Hat (from Crystal Palace) -- uses sportweight ??
http://www.knitlist.com/00gift/leaf-edge-baby-hat.htm Baby Hat with Leaf Edging (from Knitlist) -- uses fingering weight
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/kvs-babyHat.html Bulky Velvetspun Hat (from Lion) -- uses super bulky
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter03/PATTbabytart.html Baby Tart (from Knitty) -- uses light worsted
http://www.geocities.com/crotiques/babyfirsthat.htm Baby's First Hat (newborn) -- uses worsted
http://www.touchinglittlelives.org/knithatpat.html Basic Preemie Hat -- uses sportweight/ DK/ worsted weight
http://www.thegarterbelt.com/em_beatrixhat.html Beginner's Fair Isle Hat -- uses fingering weight (PDF)
http://freddyknits.blogspot.com/2005/03/beginners-fair-isle-baby-hat-free.html (Another) Beginner's Fair Isle Hat -- uses DK/worsted weight
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/1445260.html Bunny Beanie -- uses heavy worsted/ or lighter
http://www.sweetstitch.com/projects/cablehatpattern.html Cabled Hat Pattern -- uses dk weight (optional fur trim)
http://sarahpeasley.com/freepatterns/cameronscap.pdf Cameron's Cap (from Sarah Peasley) -- uses worsted, with earflaps (PDF)
http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/holbabyeasterhat.htm Easter Egg Hat (from Barbara Breiter) -- uses worsted, zig-zag pattern
http://www.crafts-beautiful.com/projects/?view=view&ID=223 Debbie Bliss Hat (from Crafts Magazine) -- uses sportweight, straight needles
http://www.kerriesplace.co.uk/newbornhats.html Four Newborn Hats (from Kerrie's Place) -- ranges from heavy worsted to DK
http://www.p2designs.com/pdfs/ptn-froggyHat.pdf Froggy Hat/Bottees (from p2designs) -- dk weight (PDF) -- Preemies to older -- (super cute!)
http://www.p2designs.com/pdfs/ptn-duckyHat.pdf Just Ducky (from p2designs) -- dk weight (PDF ) Preemies to older -- (super cute!)
http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/lace-beanie.html Lace Baby Beanie (from Bev's Country Cottage) -- baby yarn -- preemie/newborn
http://larissmix.typepad.com/stitch_marker/2005/09/a_little_hat.html Little Ruffled Edge Hat -- worsted SUPER CUTE!!
http://www.3gcs.com/adcock/free%20patterns/Shell%20Lace%20Baby%20Bonnets.htm Little Shell Lace Baby Bonnet -- worsted to sportweight (preemies)
http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/PATTmissdashwood.html Miss Dashwood Baby Hat with Ties (from Knitty) -- worsted weight
http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/babynewhat.htm Newborn Baby Hat -- worsted weight
http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/babypetalhat.htm Petal Baby Hat -- worsted weight
http://www.p2designs.com/pdfs/ptn-HatPoppy.pdf Pretty as a Poppy Hat (from p2designs) -- sockweight to dk weight (small preemie to older) (PDF)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/my_pages/babywear/hkp/012.shtml Pull-on Baby Hat -- worsted weight, straight needles (easy!)
http://www.minidata.co.nz/major/freepatt/patt03.htm Spiral Rib Hat -- dk weight
http://www.geocities.com/blossomknitwear/superquickbabybonnet Super Quick Baby Bonnet -- worsted weight
http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/iceland_babyhat.html Tri-Corner Baby Hat -- chunky weight

Charity Knitting Thoughts

Choc, Kathy, Erin, and I have found a variety of charity knitting possibilities (see post from 3/10/06). Over the weekend, I came up with a thought: Since we have knitters in several communities, perhaps we should set up a challenge in which we knit things for different communities/charities. Like preemie hats for the Ketchikan hospital in April (and send them to Ketchikan Choc to distribute), hospice hats for chemo patients in Juneau in May (and send them to Kathy), squares for the Keep America Warm Project in June (and send them to Erin to put together), items of your choice for the Dulaan project in July (and send them to Kathy,or just send in). We could make up a schedule that would take us through the end of 2006, if you’d like.

What do you think? My experience with a preemie hat is that it takes me about 4 hours to make one from start to totally complete, with ends sewn in. A pretty small amount of time out of a month, really. I think the other projects would also be equally short to do. We have 15 people on this team, so if almost everyone made just one hat, we’d have over a dozen to contribute! We could post photos, and if someone didn’t have time to contribute one month, they could always make something for another month.

Please comment, and perhaps we can get this going for April. Or even March – there are still 1 1/2 weeks left in this month, which would be enough time for me to knit a preemie hat.

I’ve been knitting hemp bath mitts in the past few weeks. I found a very nice weight of hemp, in four colors, at a fiber shop (The Rookery) on Shelikov Avenue in Kodiak (I was in Kodiak a couple of weeks ago on business), They’ve been turning out really well, and take so little “yarn” that I’ll probably be making them for everyone in my family for birthdays this year…I bought 8 hanks, and each one is enough for at least three mitts…

Oh, one more charity project that I just heard about: The Recycled Lamb, a fiber shop in Lakewood, CO is sponsoring knitters (i.e., supplying the yarn) to make "individually hand-painted, grown and milled in Colorado alpaca shawls which will sell for between $75.00 and $100.00 each" (they'll be auctioned off) with ALL proceeds going to Race for the Cure (Komen foundation). They need to be knit by Labor Day, in September.

Good knitting, and let's hear your thoughts about how we should move on!
Linda

Yarn shopping report

The first shop we visited was the one on Queen Anne hill. It was great. The staff was very helpful and friendly. They also gave us the names of 3 other shops to visit. DD decided that she wanted me to make her a sweater that she saw in the shop but didn't want it in any of the colors available in that shop. The second stop was at the shop on First Avenue, in Belltown. The staff there was helpful too but not as friendly. Then it was off to Weaving Works at 4717 Brooklyn Avenue Northeast in the U district. Again the staff was helpful and the yarn yummy. The fourth shop was Acorn Street Yarn at 2818 Northeast 55th Street. Helpful staff, great yarn and a variety of knitting books. DD decided that the best colored yarn for her sweater was at this shop. The last yarn shop we visited was Fiber Gallery at 7000 greenwood Avenue North. The staff here was again helpful and friendly. I got my yarn for a hooded, cable pullover sweater here. I would go back to all of these stores again to look for yarn or just to enjoy the beauty of all that yarn.

New Challenges for Team Alaska

Here are three possibilities for charity knitting that we could consider, to do as a team.

1. Kathy in Juneau commented... I was very interested in the Dulaan Project which Stephanie mentioned in her blog on Friday. This project distributes hats, mittens, socks, neck gaitors, scarves and sweaters for all ages from babies to adults - especially for children ages 2-10, in Mongolia. http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2005/03/03/kens_dulaan_hat.html and http://www.fireprojects.org/dulaan.htm. We could gather our knitted items together and send them as a group – perhaps by June or July?

2. Erin commented…There is one called Warm Up America that knits/crochets blankets for those who may need them. The organization encourages people participating to donate to local organizations. http://www.warmupamerica.com/home.html The object is to knit 7 inch squares to make into a blanket, using any pattern you like. If we did this as a team, one of us could collect the squares and sew/knit it together before donating it. I can imagine that we’d probably want to set a date by which to complete our squares.

3. And I found this one: www.ptyarn.com/longestline.html "Opal Sock Yarn is sponsoring a project to knit the longest laundry line of baby socks in the world. The project began January 20 and ends April 30, 2006. Knit only baby socks, any size, in any brand of wool, please no acrylic. Enter as many pairs as you like. The socks will be donated by Tutto GmbH of Germany to charity organizations there. There is Opal sock yarn as prizes for the three people who knit the most socks, and some special items as well. However, you must be a member of the OpalChatters mailing list to qualify for a PRIZE. Prizes will not be awarded to non-members. Mail socks to PT Yarn, PO Box 2784, Brookings, OR 97415, Attn: Baby Socks. Socks must reach them by April 30."

Has anyone else run across any other charities that sound good? What do you think of these? Only the third one has an imposed deadline.

Another thing that we could consider doing is a “one gift a month” challenge, to help those of us who like to give knitted holiday gifts avoid the last minute December rush! This sounds good to me. I think I could even do this, plus a charity project, if I keep the gifts small (hemp bath mitts!)