Mary Scott Huff Review of the Strandit Apron

Here is what author, Mary Scott Huff, of Stranded Colorwork Knitting said about our apron on her blog: "The official Mary Scott Huff New Product Worth Seeing award, which I totally just made up, is herewith presented to Jeanne Humphrey, whose innovation will surely rock the world of stranded colorwork knitting. Get a load of this Genius. Truly, if there is anyone in the world who needs this killer apron more than I do, I challenge you to come forth and identify yourself. It's specially made to hold all your balls of yarn at the same time, so they don't tangle, get dirty, or ensnare your legs when the doorbell rings. No Lie - this is a product whose time has come. You can even get extra snap-on pocket sets, so you can gear up with the project du jour and knit like the wind, UPS man or no. Stay tuned for more on this one - I'm gonna give it the full workout as soon as I'm able, because I think Jeanne's sort of behavior should be encouraged." http://blog.maryscotthuff.com/

Knit in Public Day

Friday our little group of charity knitters received a treasure of information and emotional attachment to knitting leprosy bandages for people in Vietnam. President Linda Stocker, of the D.O.V.E. Fund Bandage Brigade, along with her husband Gary presented a powerpoint presentation and excellent visual aids that touched our hearts. She and Gary are truly living a life of service and love for these dear people who suffer with leprosy.

There were tears shed for sure.

Yesterday when our group met fingers were flying a bit faster now knowing how much the people depend on our efforts. I wrote an email to my children reminding them of how much we have and how worthy an effort it is to share our substance with those in the world who suffer so much, quietly. Linda said that they only talk about good things in their lives and always are quick with a smile and hearts of gratitude for every little kindness. What an inspiration this day was!

Knit in Public Day

Let's get together this Friday, June 18, to celebrate the KNIT IN PUBLIC worldwide event. Our charity knitting/crocheting group, along with knitters all over the world are gathering to promote the joy of knitting.

We are meeting at the Covington Library, 27100 - 164th Ave SE, Covington Washington, from 10 am - 4 pm in the large meeting room right inside the doors. You can come for the whole day or drop in for whatever time you have available. Bring your knitting! Bring your crocheting! There will be light refreshments served.

Main Event: 11:30 am - Linda Stocker, President of The D.O.V.E. Foundation Bandage Brigade, has a presentation for us about their recent trip to Vietnam to deliver the knitted and crocheted leprosy bandages to the people. She will be on hand throughout the lunch period for questions and she has great photos of these dear people with leprosy.

If you have a bandage finished, be sure to bring it to the library. Linda will be taking all of our bandages with her. If you are close to finish, bring it with you and maybe you can get it done during our time together.

Charity Knitting Success - Leprosy Bandages

Our group of knitters and crocheters is going great! We started off with a surprise package of 33 crocheted leprosy bandages! Yesterday the ladies were measuring their work because they are so close to getting the first knitted bandages finished, ready to wash, roll and pin.

We have a fun time together and already new friendships are in the making. The group meets the first and third Monday of the month from 10-Noon. Come join us for a great experience. Light refreshments served.

Charity Knitting Group

Those of you in the South King County area of Washington, please join us as we knit Leprosy Bandages for use in Vietnam. We meet the first and third Monday of the month from 10-Noon. Tea and pastry served by a warm fire. Join us this coming Monday, March 1.

The Leprosy Bandage Brigade is through The D.O.V.E. fund, Development of Vietnam Endeavors. You can read more about this project at http://leprosybandages.blogspot.com/.

The yarn is 100% cotton, #10 crochet thread, white or ecru. The following manufacturers: JP Coats Royale, Cro Sheen, DMC Traditions, or Aunt Lydia's Classic Crochet Thread, are easily found at Wal-Mart and JoAnn's Fabrics. Size US2, or US3 knitting needles, depending on how loose or tightly you knit. Even if you have double pointed needles, the width of the bandage is small enough you can use 2 of those needles. If you would like to crochet them, you will need Size D crochet hook.

Finished Size of bandages is approximately 3-1/2 - 4 inches wide and 4 feet long. They don't have to be perfect either! Just join us and enjoy getting to know other people who would like to give back to the people of Vietnam.

It takes awhile to finish one bandage but that will be one more bandage on its way to people who really need them.

NEWS: We got a box of 33 finished, rolled and pinned bandages to start us off. What a great contribution Deanne Sabey's mom has done for our group. She crocheted them.

Back From Madrona

There was so much to see, learn and buy at Madrona's 2010 Fiber Arts Retreat. I took 4 mini classes and learned a lot. It was great to add garter grafting to my Kitchener stitch basic knowledge. Lorilee Beltman of Grand Rapids, Michigan, taught us how to memorize both methods so we don't have to always look it up. I'm always game for any mantra that allows me to keep on knitting and not have to look up all of those pieces of paper I put in a "safe" place.

Kristeen Griffin-Grimes, author of French Girl Knits, taught her favorite magic cast-on using two circular needles. She couldn't remember the name of it so I did a little digging and found two references. Judy Becker's Magic Cast-on: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html and Barbara Walker calls it the Invisible Cast-on. Knittinghelp.com has an excellent video of it: http://www.knittinghelp.com/apps/flash/video_player/play/37/1flash/video_player/play/37/1

I wish I had known this cast on a lot sooner. It would have made a couple of my projects so much easier.

Nicholette Hoyer explained how important knitting a FULL swatch is, not just 2" worth as I am guilty of doing. She recommended you do not count your stitches for the gauge until after knitting 3 inches.

Then it was pure delight to take Charlene Schurch's class, author of Sensational Knitted Socks and More Sensational Socks.

For me her books are the bible of sock knitting!

I finally learned why we should knit socks on the smallest of needles. She said her socks last 15 years. She taught us a clever way to make a swatch starting with number US2 needles, going down to US1 and USzero all in the same swatch so we can see the density and decide which size we want. You know how easily paper tags, notes get lost on swatches you save for future reference? She has you [yo, k2tog] twice for size US2, and once for US1 and it makes two and one holes for identification.

She also suggested continuing the heel flap stitch on into the heel turn for more durability if that is where you wear them out.

The best thing I learned in her class was instead of picking up your gusset stitches after the heel turn, provisionally cast on that number of stitches, knit across instep, then provisionally cast on the number of stitches on the other side. Then you can knit the rest of the sock and go back to pick up the gusset stitches and finish the sock. Why? If you have to repair the sock later you just go to that provisional cast on and fix the hole without having to cut and unknit the sock. So I am ready to apply this and see how it goes.