I was doing well on blogging frequently and then the holiday arrived, and I took of for the NY-NJ-PA family crescent. But there is knitting news.
Item 1
When disaster strikes I generally roll my eyes when people decide that the victims of floods, famine, etc. need handmade blankets. The folks hit by Sandy need toilet paper, bleach, electricity and food. But after donating to various organizations that were helping victims of Hurricane Sandy, I just needed to do something a little more personal. I did NOT go help people muck out their homes when I was in NY, but I did start knitting. And crocheting. I ended up with a crocheted keyhole scarf and 3 knit hats. See? Here's one of them.
The hat pattern is a very easy and quick one called, appropriately enough, the Easy Peasy Charity Hat. I did the first one with doubled sock yarn, which was a bit too light, and the others with Encore yarn. I still have plenty of the Encore left, and I will continue to make hats to donate. The hats took only about two and a half days to make, which was very satisfying. I also showed my sister how to make them. Anyway, some folks on Ravelry are in the area, and giving away the knit items, which is good, since it is snowing today in NY.
Item 2
I have continued with my system of working each section of the Ribs and Bobbles vest in turn, so that each of the three parts of the vest (back and each front) are progressing at pretty much the same rate. I am also done with the second section, the twisted rib at the waist, which means I will be able to start the chart any day now. Which leads us to...
Item 3
If I am going to be following a chart, I also need some not-following-a-chart knitting, especially to take to knitting meet-ups. So I am taking the opportunity to start the Elizabeth cardigan. This sweater is in stockinette, and is knit sideways, from one cuff up the sleeve, up along the front and down the back, then down the next sleeve. Again, easy peasy. You then pick up stitches to knit the front band and collar. I found this lovely yarn, SMC Riana Color, and swatched it last night. The gauge is perfect. Then I realized I left Ribs and Bobbles in the office (I never take my knitting with me on work days, so this time I did and left it behind. Sigh.) So I started Elizabeth. Which was not a hardship.
Working this in a combination-style knitting is creating a very even stitch, and one night's knitting resulted in about 4 inches from the cuff up the sleeve. I am going to do my best to alternate knitting the Ribs and Bobbles vest and Elizabeth.
By the way, there are lovely concrete ways to help with the Sandy recovery. Occupy Sandy has set up a "wedding registry" through which you can buy items needed for the recovery effort via Amazon, and they will be shipped directly to the recovery effort. There is also this one to help Staten Island victims. I used one to send school supplies to the Union Beach School District. There is also this one, sending cleaning and other supplies. You can see where the supplies are being sent. All kinds of relief efforts are listed on the Facebook page Jersey Shore Gives Back.
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