Knitting for the Falcons

We continue to make a variety of items for the Falcon Boutique at the Albany High School which provides students with whatever they need, free of charge.

Last week I showed you Jan's Reverb Shawl which she said wasn't turning out the way she expected. So she frogged it and is now knitting the Easy Goes It Shawl which is making her so much happier. It's what I always say, if it's not fun, don't do it!

I decided to take on a mindless project as my level of tranquility has been tested too much lately. I am knitting the Soldiers' Hat, a simple 2x2 ribbed beanie that involves no thinking at all. I am making an effort to knit men's items which is a stretch for me. 

Knitting women's and children's clothing just seems easier. It isn't necessarily but maybe the patterns are more interesting to me.

I finished my own design headband which is sort of non-specific gender-wise. If the knot is worn in front it has a more feminine look as opposed to keeping the knot at the back of the head.

Maureen finished a Helix Hat and a Royal Icing Headband and has started another in blue. This pattern is an easy introduction into learning the Brioche Stitch.

Dorah added more rounds to her LOSY Hat. I just love the colors! She blended a solid blue sock weight yarn with the pastel variegated yarn and they are beautiful together!

Barbara B started another Hoodola in a smaller size. This weekend Laura Nelkin, the designer of Hoodola, released an update to the pattern to include sizes from baby adult so it fits a much wider range of sizes.

Nancy finished her KAL Royal Icing Headband in a vibrant teal blue. 

Her stitch tension is nice and even.

Her next project is the Decision Tree Toque.

Carole and I admired her choice of color (it's a favorite of both of ours). The solid yarn perfectly shows the beauty of the stitch design.

Carole is working on her 2x2 hat and decided to make it a slouchy.

And don't let me forget to show you Barbara B's contribution to our calorie count this week! These sourdough brownies were out of this world!!! 

It's that time of the year that even when the sun is shining a bit, there is a dampness in the air that chills me to the bone. And as much as I love a cold, crisp, sunny winter day in the 20's, these days when the snow starts to melt and the ground is soggy make me want to climb under a blanket. So I'm going to brew myself a hot cup of tea and get back to work. 

Have a great week and keep those needles clicking!

 

Peace and Quiet

Maureen, Annika, Cinzia, and Barbara B. joined me for a quiet afternoon of knitting. We talked about plans for the holidays and who is in charge of decorating. My tree isn't up nor are the stockings hung by the fireplace with care or even without care! But I mailed the Christmas cards yesterday so there's that. I guess we'll get around to it or maybe I'll wait until out of town family arrives and let them do it.😉

The Chicks are still knitting for Knit the Rainbow in New York City. Barbara B. chose the Jelka hat.

The pattern is free on Ravelry, if you click the above link.

 Her vibrant color choices make a great looking hat!

Cinzia is working on child size mittens for our other group, Delaware Avenue Stitch Angels. 

We, who belong to both groups, tend to alternate knitting projects from week to week.

Today she worked on the thumb gusset of the second mitten. And yes, they are the same color. My camera does funny things to colors which I can't seem to correct. The mittens are this color, not the turquoise as in the above photo.

Annika started this scarf a while back and put it aside to work on something else, reassuring herself that she would remember the pattern when she was ready to finish it. Well, who among us hasn't said the same thing?!?! And then when you pick up the project you can't recall or find the pattern?!?! She knew there were purls and knit through the back loops but not the order in which they should be knitted. Finally she found the old email which contained the written instructions hidden in the archive folder in her phone. PHEW! That could have been a problem!

Maureen has reached the decreasing portion of her Bankhead Hat which requires her complete attention so she put it aside to work on...

a baby gift for a friend's grandchild. This is Sunnyside, an adorable baby cardigan with the option to make either a lace button placket or a cable placket. Maureen chose the cable version for hers using a sock weight, machine washable yarn.

I'm at the halfway mark of the Sophie Scarf where I begin the decrease portion to the end. This is the superwash merino wool that Jan gave me. There were ten balls of yarn so I've been using it up. I already made a child's vest for the Stitch Angels and I'm using up about two skeins for this scarf.

Last night I completed this Decision Tree Toque using up another two skeins of the same wool. I found this pattern posted on a Ravelry Facebook page when it was offered for free for the first twenty four hours but now it's a paid pattern. If you have access to the page and see another pattern offered by the designer, NichKnit Designs, I suggest you grab it or buy it when available. This is the second pattern from Shelby Nichols that I made and I enjoyed knitting every stitch of them. She has lovely patterns and writes the instructions very clearly and easy to follow. I can't wait to try other hat patterns from her in my library.
 

The sun is slowly hiding behind the neighbor's house and I can feel the cold creeping in so I'm going to throw on a cozy sweater and keep my needles clicking!