They're Gone! :(

After THREE years and lots of tired fingers, we have donated twenty gorgeous lapghans to Operation Military Embrace. It's a wonderful organization that provides supplies to our wounded vets and their families free of charge.

It's hard to believe our lapghans are gone. I think I'm suffering from separation anxiety. They've been stored at my desk for what seems like forever and it looks VERY empty now.

I want to give everyone a HUGE hug and "Thank you!!" for all your hard work and time and patience that you put into making the lapghans. I hope you enjoyed making them. Y'all did an AWESOME job!!! And just think, you learned to knit and/or crochet in the process.

The gang with Debbie from Operation Military Embrace.

All boxed up and ready to go to a loving home. ::sniffles::

Special Olympics 2012 Scarves

The details for the Texas athletes for the 2012 Special Olympics Scarf project were just released. 

The 2012 Texas State Winter Olympic Games will be held in Austin. The athletes will be competing in bowling, volleyball, figure skating and powerlifting. Their goal is to collect approximately 3,010 scarves to provide their athletes, coaches, volunteers and supporters a symbol of handmade unity.

Scarf specific requirements:
•  Your scarf should be between 54" and 60" long including
    the fringe (if any) and approximately 6" wide.
•  You may knit or crochet your scarf, and any pattern is
    welcome! Be creative and have fun with this project!
•  Please a red and a blue from the following yarns.
    Michaels, Joann's and Hobby Lobby carry these.
    They're around $3 a skein.
    – Red Heart Super Saver Cherry Red 0319
    – Red Heart Super Saver Soft Navy 0387
    – Red Heart Soft Navy 4604
    – Red Heart Soft Really Red 9925

OUR DUE DATE:  January 15, 2012, to finish our scarves
They are due in Austin no later than January 30, 2012.

Ready for a New Project?

OK...who's in with me?

Red Heart is making scarves again this year for all the American athletes at the 2012 Special Olympics. They can be knitted or crocheted. No special pattern. We just have to use specific Red Heart yarn colors colors and they have to be at least 6 inches wide by 54 to 60 inches long. This year the official colors are...

• Red Heart Super Saver 387 - Soft Navy
• Red Heart Super Saver 319 - Cherry Red
• Red Heart Soft 4604 - Navy
• Red Heart Soft 9925 - Really Red

They haven't set the deadlines yet for each state. I think the rest of the details are suppose to be released on/by May 23. I'll keep an eye out for them and let everyone know.

Check out more information at ScarvesForSpecialOlympics.org and  2012 Special Olympics Scarf Project on Red Heart's blog. 

I picked up a skein each of Soft Navy and Cherry Red today at Hobby Lobby for like $4 each. Not sure how I'll make it yet but I'm pretty sure I'm going to work 2012 into so maybe there'll be some colorwork.

Another Wonderful Donation!!

Check out our latest donation!! Isn't it marvelous!!!!

THANK YOU, Gail, Penny and Beth!!!!

I think there's every color of the rainbow there. Even a couple of baby afghan kits and a third baby afghan started! I'm definitely thinking our next charity project is going to be baby-oriented based on all this wonderful yarn donated.

So keep after those lapghans! We're almost there!!! Then we'll start on something sweet :)

Yarn Out the Wahzoo!

MEGA UBER Thank Yous to Beth, Gail and Penny!!!!!! They donated LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of yarn perfect for our lapghans!!!!! Wonderful blues, greens, yellows, reds, whites and varigated colors. .. I've got two more boxes to bring in. So get your hooks and needles ready. It's lapghan stitchin' time!! No more slackin'!!!!

If you've run out of yarn or are ready to start a new one. Come on by and get some. October will be here before you know it. We've got to get the lapghans to our well-deserving vets at Brooke Army Medical Hospital. ..

Thanks again to our AWESOME friends – Beth, Gail, and Penny!!!!!

New Year's Resolution

Ok gang. I'm going to say the word we all HATE this time of year... RESOLUTION.

WE -- yes, WE -- have a resolution for 2011. All our Christmas crocheting and knitting is finished now. It's time we focus on finishing our lapghans in time to donate them this Fall to the wheelchair-bound soldiers at Brooke Army Medical Hospital.

We've got about 13 finished lapghans. I've got 2 garbage bags full of recently donated yarn. Let's knock out at least 12 more lapghans by September 2011.

Give A Stitch's anniversary is in October. Wouldn't it be nice to make a donation of at least 25 lapghans to our injured soldiers then?

I'm making it my resolution. Hope you join me. :)

If you know of anyone that would like to join us, learn to crochet or knit, or even pick their hooks/needles back up after several years, please tell them they're welcome to join us. Wednesdays at 11:30am in the Citiline Deli.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!
Here's to a safe, healthy and prosperous year ahead...with LOTS of knitting and crocheting. :)

More Fabulous Socks

Check out this wonderful crocheted sock that Debra made! She made the first pattern we had – Crochet Sock 1. She is so talented!! Now she's working on her knitted pair of socks. Debra's needles/hooks are never still!! :)

GORGEOUS SOCKS!!

I couldn't decide which picture I liked best. LOL

Also, here's a pic of the knitted socks I finished.

All the socks are looking great!!! Keep up the fantastic work. It won't belong to everyone will have finished their first pary of socks! WOOOHOO!!

Our First Pair of Finished Socks!

Less than two months ago, we started our first Sock KAL/CAL the middle of July. Less than TWO months later...Look at these gorgeous socks that Liz made!! I love the colors!! Liz did a FANTASTIC job. These are her FIRST pair to ever make...AND she just started knitting less than SIX months ago. She was definitely a fiber artist in a previous life.

I don't remember what yarn she used. Will have to find out and update.

AWESOME, Liz!!!! What's next? :)

Sock KAL/CAL Progress Report

LOOKIE!!!! We have socks!!!

Everybody is doing a SUPER job on their first ever socks. They have done such a fantastic job. Aren't they gorgeous?!

From bottom left: Jennifer's crochet, Michelle's knit, Griselda's crochet, Debra's crochet, and Debra's knit (show off!)

Rumor has it that Liz has finished her socks. We'll take another photo of any finished socks next week.

WOOHOO!!! Keep up the terrific work!!!

Let the Fun Begin!!!

It's official! We have cast on for our KAL/CAL! As it stands now, we have 4 people knitting Red Heart's Self Striping Socks and 5 people crocheting Red Heart's Colorful Crochet Socks.

Liz is off to a great start! She already has 3 inches knit!! Jennifer is moving quickly ahead with 2 inches on her crocheted cuff band.

If you run into any problems are questions, just ask! That's what is so great about KALs/CALs – we are all working through this together and can help each other along.

Keep on stitchin'!!!

Hooks in Texas October Conference

A friend of ours is organizing a great crochet conference in San Angelo in October. Arnie is THE person for Tunisian crochet. It would be fun...and it's very reasonable.

Check out the details at...

http://www.hooksintexas.blogspot.com/

Sock KAL/CAL

Who wants to learn how to knit or crochet a pair of socks?! As of this posting, only 158 stitching days until Christmas! It's never too early to start on your gifts. :)

We have a basic pattern for knit socks for the knit-along. You'll need:

• 100g sock/fingering weight yarn (at least 400 yards) – maybe 2 skeins
• Stitch markers (knitting stitch markers are rings)
• Set of US 2 DPNs (double point needles) (If you’re knitting 2 at a time get 2 sets)
• Blunt bent large eye needle

For the crochet-along, we have two patterns to choose from -- Crochet Sock 1 and Crochet Socks 2. You'll need:

• 100g sock/fingering weight yarn (at least 400 yards) – maybe 2 skeins
• Stitch markers (crochet stitch markers are clasps)
• Crochet hook – Size C-2
• Crochet hook – Size D-3
• Blunt bent large eye needle

You'll feel great after making your first pair of socks. It's a marvelous accomplishment!! You'll be hooked. If the creating doesn't get you, all the varieties of sock yarn will. :)

So get your stuff.

We cast on Wednesday, July 21, at 11:30 a.m. in Bryan Conference Room.

World Wide Knit in Public Day

Not sure if y'all know this or not but Saturday, June 12, is the start of World Wide Knit it Public Day Week. Time to come out of the closet and knit/crochet out in the open.

IF we had a deli, I would suggest we meet there but… :( Wish we had picnic tables then we could sit outside. If I was more organized we could yarn bomb the atrium with crocheted flowers by the creek. ::snicker::

SOOOOOO…how would y’all like to celebrate knitting/crocheting in public next week?

Check out the website for World Wide Knit in Public Day. Maybe there's a gathering near you to join on Saturday.

Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! It's amazing how time flies!

This last Wednesday, we talked about possible places to donate our lapghans to and I think we decided on injured vets who are wheelchair bound and/or with lost limbs at Brooke Army Medical Hospital. I've talked to the volunteer/donations contact there and they would love to have them. We can either mail them to her or we can deliver them ourselves to San Antonio... BUT... we would not be able to meet with any of the recipients. After they received the lapghans, we'd get a letter confirming they were distributed as we requested.

So as of today, we have eight completed lapghans with three project bags ready for someone to make them and I believe there are about 5 more lapghans in the works with various people.

How about this for a goal? Can we try to get these all completed by the end of April 2010? Then we could have them delivered by either Memorial Day (May 31) or Flag Day (June 14).

If you'd like to help complete one of these projects -- let me know.

We're also tossing around new ideas for new projects -- hats, bed socks/booties, etc. Something fast and easy that we all can do after we finish the lapghan project. Let's talk more next Wednesday.

Just remember: If you teach a person to knit, they'll be in stitches for the rest of their life.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

...Everywhere I go....And my Christmas knitting is NO WHERE near being finished!! But what do I want to do? Of course! Add another UFO to my pile of WIPs!! I want to make these slippers to wear during the holidays. Anybody want to join me in a CAL? Let me know – I've got the pattern ready to go...just need to get yarn and a larger hook. I'm wondering even about doing an elf version with green....hmmmm....

So...I was wondering if y'all would be interested in having a crochet/knitting themed white elephant Christmas party. Whatcha think? Check your emails for voting buttons to choose what works for you. Maybe have a $10-15 price limit. I know there's lots going on but go vote it would be fun! :)

Keep up the great stitching! And...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

AWESOME NEWBS!

Welcome to all our wonderful newbies today!!! We're so glad y'all have joined are "skeinky, loose hookers" group. We have a reputation to live up to and I will make every effort that we all hold up our end of the bargain.

It will be frustrating at first but keep practicing the basic stitches. These are the foundation of many wonderful things you can create later. Once you get the chain and single crochets down...the sky's the limit!

Check the links here and on YouTube. You'll be able to find lots of help or ask Debra or me if you have any questions.

And a SPECIAL THANKS to Debra for all her help and patience in getting us starting and learning how to crochet. YOU ROCK, SKULLY!!

Kid N' Ewe Time!

http://www.kidnewe.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1
Be sure to check out the class listings.

WOOHOO-we got class

Ok, for all you intrepid "Gassers" out there. We are set for a "Learn to Read a Crochet Pattern" at Yarntopia on Saturday September 19th, 10am-12pm. Mosey on over to Yarntopia.net for contact info so you can get signed up and paid for. This class is going to focus on a shoulder bag (of my design) and will be intended for felting. Yarntopia rules state that you need to buy your yarn there....so good luck with the choosing just one color(hee,hee). Hope to see y'all there.
Also, for anyone interested, there are 3 chapters of CGOA (Crochet Guild of America) in Houston. One up by Willowbrook Mall called H-town(it was the first); one in Humble-Yarn Fantasies and Crochet Dreams; one on the westside-Westside Chain-Gang.
Westside meets the 3rd Sunday of every month from 2-4 at Dunn Bros Coffee on west Fry. Next meeting is 9/20/09-come on out! There are exciting things happening.
http://westsidecrochet.blogspot.com/
ok, ok....I'm promoting my chapter...so sue me.....

We have AFGHANS!!!

Look at these gorgeous afghans!!! Griselda, Ernest and Debra have been busy sewing squares together. Aren't they awesome!!!! And the afghans are wonderful, too!!! Great job, y'all!!!

In Just Nine Short Months...

I was totally amazed and thrilled at our GAS lunch today. As I sat there with five other stitchers, I watched and remembered how just nine short months ago we didn't have a clue what to do. We still might not BUT it was awesome watching everyone helping each other. It was just nine months ago that most of us didn't know which end of a crochet hook to use much less how to make a chain to get started!

But look at us now!!! We're branching out and gaining more confidence as we trying new patterns and even working on personal projects. We're reading patterns and learning new stitches and helping each other out and doing BEAUTIFUL work. Nine months ago...our eyes would have glazed over at the mere mention of a 3DT TBL YO CH2 (3 double-treble in the back loop yarn over chain 2) but now...NO WAY!! We've got lots of blocks and afghans in the works. We even have a fantastic high school Senior who is now hooked -- HE just loves it!!

It's addicting yet so relaxing. Thanks for all your hard work and time!
Keep up the fantastic and beautiful stitching!!! <3