Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Warming Hearts and Bodies

The first donation happened and I can't help but share the incredible news. The photo is from our first donation from the knit in. The adult blankets and caps were donated to Gibson Cancer Center, which is part of Southeastern regional Medical Center. Sherita Jenkins accepted our donation from Margaret Crites. Crites is the Director of the Rape Crisis Center and one of the three organizers of the first knit-in. Jenkins is a social worker at the center and you may remember her husband, Rod Jenkins took part in the knit in. He learned how to knit and knitted a pink baby cap as part of the knit in. Sherita promised that all of the items knitted with love would go to people who needed them and she said they were greatly appreciated.
Stay tuned for more information about our next drop off which we hope will take place in the next week. Also if you would like to take part in the second annual knit in you can get more information from face book or you can e-mail me at this blog and we will be happy to add you to our knit-in e-mail list.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Travelling to Building Inventory


For those who know me they know I can not sit still. I have to be doing at least one or two things at a time. If I sit still I will likely fall asleep, and that might not be attractive. So when I travel, I make sure to pack yarn. Right now I have construction going on at my house so everything is topsy turvey. That means I grab what I can reach. To that effect I grabbed to skeins of this poofy fun fur. The yarn is black with fuzzy blue and purple balls in the yarn. I took it with me to Virginia as I traveled over Memorial Day Weekend and knitted this scarf in just one morning. It is a fairly narrow scarf only measuring four inches across. It is almost five feet long (four feet 11 inches) but is perfect to wear as an accent under a coat. It is conservative but full of whimsy for someone who wants to make a subtle statement. This will be a $20 scarf and you can by it by e-mailing me at this blog or send me a message.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Productively Waiting

I recently had the opportunity to sit and wait. For those who know me I am not good at just patiently sitting and waiting. Even if I watch TV I have to do something else. On this occasion I started working on one of my other blogs (http://www.customcake4you.blogspot.com/ and http://www.robeson4-H.blogspot.com/ if you are interested). When the computer battery started dying and a plug was not nearby it was time to switch to something else. Needless to say all I had to do was reach into my purse and pull out yarn and knitting needles to keep me busy for a few more hours. I was able to knit two dishcloths with Peaches and Cream brand cotton yarn. This specific color is lemon and lime which was a variegated white, yellow and green. I must say the final product was bright and as one person said to me it looked like something from Jamaica. I knitted two of these with the skein of yarn, and promptly gave them to those around me. So I guess you could say I was productively waiting, even if I wasn't patient.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Robeson County's First Annual Knit-In

What an incredible day! Who would have imagined that a few people with a love of crafting and knitting would be able to put together Robeson County's 1st Annual Knit-in which was such a fun event that netted more than 112 items. Honest to goodness 112 items. We had about 17 volunteers who knitted and crocheted during the day. We had another three of four people who came by and dropped off the most incredible items; preemie caps, baby caps, blankets, pillows, etc. The generosity of the community was incredible.
One of the other great things that day was that four people who had never knitted before learned how to knit, including our Assistant County Manager Rod Jenkins. Margaret Crites used the looms we brought in and taught Rod, Stacy Kinlaw, Amanda Swisher, and Kerrie Roach how to knit. Each of them completed at least one cap that day and two of them completed two at the knit in while Kerrie went ahead and completed another at home. Jessica Drake knitted the most adorable caps and crocheted. Jane Hurst worked diligently crocheting a beautiful blanket. Cherry Witherspoon taught several knitters/crocheters how to crochet flowers for baby caps. Her secret is that she attaches them with a button to the hat so they can be removed before washing. Tanya Underwood knitted the most adorable teddy bear. I worked away and completed a pair of booties and matching cap. Janice Fields brought her sewing machine from home and put together the most beautiful pattern for a baby blanket. She is finishing it up at home with batting and a backing. It was a fun and successful day of knitting, crocheting and sewing all to benefit those who might not otherwise have something like this made with love.
In a week or so we will make a trip with United Way representatives to the hospital and Gibson Cancer Center to donate all these incredible items. This was such a success that we are already planning on doing it again next year. For more information about Robeson County's 1st Annual Knit-In please check out our Facebook page. If you would like to sign up for next year's event you can comment here on this post or send me an e-mail. You can also sign up through our Facebook page. Our goal next year will be to top 112 items donated. Wouldn't you like to help?

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Extras=Something Nice for Someone Unknown

I admit this blanket is similar to the last. Actually I had two skeins of left over yarn and thought the first annual Robeson County Knit-In is coming up and I should go ahead and knock out a blanket. This baby blanket is a pattern of squares that are created from a combination of pearl and knit stitches. The edge is a seed stitch of P(1) K(1). It is the baby version of the blanket I made for Miss Mary about two years ago. I used the skein and green and blue yarns that I used for the previous blanket, giving it an interesting coloring. When it was done it measured about 28 x 32.
This blanket was not made for someone specific but is being donated as part of Robeson County's 1st annual Knit-In (check out their facebook page). The Knit-In was the brain child of Margaret Crites who is the Director of the Robeson County Rape Crisis Center. She invited myself, since I am a knitter and Stacey Kinlaw from the Partnership of Children to take part in the event. The other thing we all have in common is that as part of our day jobs our agencies receive funding from United Way of Robeson County. The Knit-In will be part of the annual Day of Caring that will take place May 12. Many community service projects will take place across the area including building of wheelchair ramps, canned food drive, landscaping and more. If you would like to take part in the Knit-In you can sign up on the facebook page. Or post a comment through this blog to me to let us know you will be there. The Knit-In will take place at O. P. Owens at 455 Caton Road, Lumberton, NC on May 12 beginning at 9 am and ending at 5 pm. All items donated and made that day will go to Southeastern Hospital, Hospice and Gibson Cancer Center. We do not have a goal for our first Knit-In but would love any baby, child, or adult items made with love so that we can brighten someone else's day and let them know there are people who care about them. We will have yarn, needles and hooks available for knitters, crocheters, and fleece available for those who know how to make fleece blankets. We will also provide lunch for those who join us. So please think about joining us for our first annual Robeson County Knit-In.