Critters!

We have an official go-ahead for our next recipient. The Albany Police Department will distribute our hand made friends to children they might encounter in stressful situations. The critters are already growing in numbers. Winnie the Pooh down in front needs his facial features but everybody else has a face and now we have to work a back story for them. I thought it would be cute to put their names and something about them on their labels. For instance, Butch on the far left likes to play softball on the Little League team. His friend to the right is Heidi. She lives in the mountains and skis to school. This is going to be fun!

 Barbara K. started her "Owl Puff" this afternoon. His big eyes make him look curious.

 Barbara B. is making this cute little hedgehog.

 We were both stumped over the wording of the directions but I think we've figured them out. I'm sure she'll have it finished by next week.

 Dorah opted out of making critters and we do still need hats so her sock yarn hat will be added to the inventory for a later donation. I love this yarn!

 Margaret joined us tonight as she had a day off from yoga class for election day. She brought us a few FO's. This hat is a gorgeous teal tonal color.

 And her Helix hat looks almost like school colors.

 She had more of that yarn and decided to make up a hat as she knitted along. Great job! Margaret, you could make money writing and selling this pattern!

 Carole decided to crochet a hedgehog and will soon add his face using a bright green yarn.

Dorah planned her next hat will be this Helix hat.

It will look great in these colors. 

It's a great pattern for using up small amounts of yarn which are left over from larger projects.

I went to my last fiber festival of the season last Saturday and caved in and bought 3 skeins of beautiful yarns. I'm not sure what to make with them. They have to speak to me so it could be some time before they become wearable. But that's half the fun of knitting. 

Keep those needles clicking and I'll meet you back here next week!

Free pattern

There is a free pattern from Ravelry. But you must act quickly. It will be free for a limited time.
 It’s called Callis. Check it out on Ravelry.com. Winter is coming so knit faster!

Making prototypes and other woolies

Our next recipient has to present our toys to a committee to be approved so we Chicks are making some sample toys. Barbara B.'s teddy bear has one ear so far. He'll have the other by next week.

 My boy teddy bear is sporting a jaunty cabled jumper. The little girl beside him is not into body modification! She is just awaiting her nose and mouth.

 Elaine's teddy is going to have black trousers. I think she chose red for his sweater.

 Janna's teddy will be a bright fuschia with a colorful sweater made from the yarn she used for a hat and socks from the last donation.

 Carole's teddy will be dressed for the fall with leafy autumn colors.

 Jan forgot her tools for the toy knitting so she is catching up on a cowl. The yarn is soft with a nice fluffy halo.

 Dorah made some great progress on her hat. We think it's going to be a slouchy style because even though she's been decreasing stitches, it looks quite long.

 Maureen worked on the cowl that coordiates with her hat. The diagonal line of stitching adds just enough interest to keep it from being a boring knit.

 I crocheted a little hedgehog to add to the menagerie. He fits right in the palm of my hand.

 And here is the little miss with her curls peeking out from under her beret. I think I'll name her Collette. Don't you just love her little white socks and Mary Jane shoes!?!?

I'm hoping to set an appointment to get approval for the toys this week so we can cast on for more. I have some ideas floating around in my head for other variations too. I guess that means I won't be getting much sleep as the ideas materialize. 

Have a great week and keep those needles clicking!

The Chicks on tv

Last Friday when the Chicks joined the Delaware Avenue Stitch Angels to yarn bomb around the library, Jeff Hunter of WTEN reported on our project. Follow the link to see our story.

https://www.news10.com/video/delaware-stitch-angels-%e2%80%9cbomb%e2%80%9d-trees-and-shrubs-at-the-library-on-delaware-avenue/4027635/

It's that time of year again!

Ah! The sights, sounds, and smells of the annual New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY feed my soul and inspire me for another year of knitting.

 I love to walk past the booths to see the samples knitted with the yarns for sale. So many colors! So many fibers!

 And then there is the sport of people watching. Almost everyone is sporting something they have made. I don't think I'll be adding this octopus pattern to my knitting library. But I can certainly appreciate the talent it took to make it!

 The festival has more than just knitting tools and fibers too. These hand felted gnomes were adorable!

 I always make sure I stop by the barns to thank the animals for sharing their coats with me so I can stay warm. This little guy was truly enjoying his snack.

 The angora bunny knew she was on display and made sure everyone had a chance to admire her. I would loved to have pet her but allergies! I'll appreciate her from afar.

 Her fur was blended with silks and wools to make these beautiful yarns.

 The crowds were manageable so I could see everything I wanted to check out.

 And even though it was overcast and a bit raw, the weather did not deter the fiber addict in me from enjoying the stroll from exhibit to exhibit.

 One of the merchants was selling hand felted cat shelters. The faces on them were hysterical!

 I made it to the parade of Llamas too.

 Just look at this show-off! He is regal and beautiful though.

 I stopped long enough for lunch before I hit the road for home. I had some really good, authentic Greek food. YUM!

 When it started to drizzle, I took my cue and headed out.

So another day at Rhinebeck for the books. And in case you're interested, no I did not buy any yarn! I did however, get a new shawl pin and an Egyptian cotton wrap that is as soft as that angora bunny! One more festival this season and I'll be ready to hunker down for the winter. Mark your calendar for the Fiber Festival of New England on November 2 and 3 at the Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, MA. See you there!

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan wished us well on our "Yarn Bombing"

My Chicks collaborated with my Stitch Angels from the Delaware Ave. branch of the Albany Public Library to conduct a yarn bombing of all the hats, mittens, scarves, etc. that we've been preparing for today. Mayor Sheehan took time out of her busy schedule to thank us and send us off.

 But not before we took a group picture.

 Anne and Maureen were assigned the local elementary school on Hurlbut Street.

 They arrived just as the children were running outside for recess.

 They said the kids were thrilled with the opportunity to pick out warm hats and scarves.

 And today was the perfect day for it with the 15mph winds that were howling.

 Barbara, one of my Chicks and an Angel, and Anna Mae, one of my Angels, took care of hanging items from the park benches in front of the library.

 This is what it looked like when they finished. 30 minutes later it was almost all gone!

 We hung hats and scarves from trees too.

 And then we all celebrated and warmed up with some hot cocoa.

 Thank you Chicks and Angels for all your hard work to make it a successful day. I truly appreciate your talent and dedication. And I'm blessed to call you my friends.

Thank you Mother Nature

Well, we had a pleasant surprise this afternoon...it was warm enough to knit outside! We were blessed with the beauty of nature and my sweet little Bloodgood Japanese Maple. It is always a pretty red but the autumn turns it on fire in the sunshine.

 And just like all summer long, one of the neighbors was mowing his lawn at 1 o'clock sharp! We always know it's Tuesday around here because someone adjacent to our yard ALWAYS mows the lawn at 1PM. You can set your calendar by it.

 But it was over quickly and we could then enjoy the sounds of the birds and crickets while we knitted and chatted.

 Barbara K. started these fingerless mitts...

 with a pretty purple yarn.

 Barbara B. is almost done with a Classic Cuffed hat from Purl Soho.

 Janna cast on (casted on?) stitches for my Seersucker Cowl (the pattern is written in the notes section of my project library on Ravelry.com). She's using a pretty teal colored yarn.

 I've been busy trying to finish a cowl for myself so I have something new to wear to Rhinebeck this weekend. As a result, I have not yet finished my Sockhead Slouchy Hat. That 3.5 inch ribbing seems to be taking FOREVER!!! That's what I get for using fingering weight yarn and tiny needles.

 Dorah has almost finished her cheerful hat, also using fingering weight yarn. Obviously, she has knitted on it more than I have on mine.

 And Maureen is approaching the decrease portion of her hat. Dorah gave her the remainder of her yarn from...

 the hat she finished which matches exactly so maybe Maureen will make a matching cowl.

Don't forget this weekend is the New York Sheep and Wool Festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY. It's an annual ritual to enjoy the seasonal changes and breathe in the fiber fumes. It feeds inspiration to keep me knitting all winter long. I hope Mother Nature continues to cooperate and keep the temps comfortable.

Also on Friday, weather permitting the Chicks are joining forces with the Stitch Angels of Delaware Avenue Albany Public Library to yarn bomb the neighborhood surrounding the library with the hats, scarves, cowls, and mittens that my two groups have been making these past several months. Keep your fingers crossed that we have another pleasant day so we can distribute the collection without getting drenched in rain. 

Have a great week and keep those needles clicking!