Knits For Sanity

Last FO of 2005

So I'm back, again.  I've spent the last two weeks on a couple different projects for The Preemie Project.  We've been lucky enough to have assistance from the Cedar Rapids Iowa Embroidery Guild.  They are working on Mother's Tears Hankie's as well as adding the faces to stuffed bears and bunnies.  I would like to have at least 35 stuffed animals for our 2/24/2006 bereavement donation.  So I've been cutting, sewing, turning, clipping, pinning, pressing, stuffing and sewing up bears and bunnies.

After all of that work I think I ended up with between 50-60 animals ready to send to the embroidery guild.  Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to take a picture of them before they were picked up.  To show what they look like, here is some that were made by Preemie Project volunteer Tracy Batchelder.  (Mine are in pastels.)

Next I finally have a picture of my last Finished Object of 2005.  Yea!  It is a sweater I made for my baby cousin, Emma.  I just adore her!  She'll be a year old in April.  So I made the 12-24 month size.  That way she'll be able to wear it next year too.  (She is a tiny thing.) 

Once I had sewn all of the seams and weaved in the stragglers I was pretty unhappy with the way it turned out.  It just wasn't what I had pictured in my head.  I decided to block it to see if it would improve.  I had NEVER blocked a FO before and had NO idea what I was doing.  So my mom helped me.  We washed it in the kitchen sink, wrapped it in a towel, squeezed the water out and spread it out on the ironing board.  A little light stretching and many pins later, the sweater looked much better.  I left it to dry:

Pattern: Debbie Bliss- Special Knits: Ribbed Jacket

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora (3-4 balls)

On the Needles:
Thanksgiving-Christmas

I really enjoyed knitting this sweater.  It was a quick easy knit that turned out really cute.  I'm trying to decide what to add as a closure.  Help me!  Do I add a flower, ribbon on each end to tie in a bow or two?  Any suggestions?

Now I'm off to prepare for a Preemie Project event on Friday.  We've been invited to attend the University of Iowa, Day of Action event and the Iowa Memorial Union.  I'm really excited!  I hope that we gain a lot of interest and spread the word about premature birth and neonatal death.

Next time I'll have my first FO of 2006 to show as well as everything that is currently on the needles.  I have SO much to finish up!  Yes, my mom's Clapotis is STILL on the needles!  SORRY MOM!  It's next on the list.

2005 Wrap Up Part 2

I did a lot of knitting in 2005.  I'm sure that I would have done more if I could.  I learned something new with each item.

#1 The first item I finished after starting my blog on 1/28/2005:
Fiber Trends Felted Clogs
Lesson Learned: Learned how to knit in the round.  This was also my first experience with felting.

I LOVE these clogs.  They really helped to keep my feet warm last winter.  My bad foot was SOOO cold b/c of the the nerve damage.  Sometimes it would get 3-4 degrees colder than my good foot.  To warm it up I would put on 2 pairs of socks and my clogs.  Then I would wrap a heating pad around it and sit for an hour while it warmed up.  These clogs helped SO much.  I'm not having such a problem with my foot being cold this winter.  It is more of a nuisance now.  I still wear my clogs around the house everyday.  I'm wearing them right now!

Item #2:
Black Scarf
Lesson Learned: I really hate fun fur and most novelty yarn.

I tried to sell this scarf on ebay but it never sold.  It was nearly impossible to make a profit anyway.  I ended up giving it to a friend who liked it.  I'm glad that someone did!

Item #3:
Sirdar Raglan Sweater
Lesson Learned: This was my second sweater and my first attempt at raglan sleeves.  I learned that I don't like to wear scratchy sweaters much.  Even though, I still really love this sweater.  I probably won't ever use Lopi again.

Item #4:
Laines Plassard Sweater
Lesson Learned: How to pick up stitches and frog an item OVER and OVER and OVER.  I can't believe that I actually got this finished.

I love this sweater just b/c I actually finished it.  I can't believe that I stuck with it and ripped it out SO many times.  It is so warm and cozy.

Item #5:
Emma's Baby Blanket
Lesson Learned: Hmmmm, Sometimes it is okay to leave a flaw in an item if you're the only one who will notice it.  Oh well!

Item #6:
Emma's Baby Set
Lesson Learned: I discovered Plymouth Dreambaby.  It is SOO soft!

Item #7:
Gift Sachets
Lesson Learned: How to change colors.  It's easier than I thought it would be.  What was I SO scared of?!

Item #8:
My First Pair of Socks
Lesson Learned:  This one is obvious...how to knit a pair of socks.  I was really hooked.  I was so proud of my very first sock that I walked around all day with just one sock on.  I couldn't knit fast enough!  Sometime last year I somehow placed these socks in the back of a drawer in my dresser.  Thankfully I discovered them this week and put them on right away.  I like them even better now!

Item #9:
Rainbow Bear
Lesson Learned: I didn't learn any lessons about knitting, except how to knit a teddy bear.  I did learn about a little girl who had just lost her leg in a lawn mower accident.  I felt for her so much that I gave this bear to my brother to give to her.  I later learned that it is the only teddy bear she owns and that she carries it everywhere with her.  Makes me want to cry my eyes out.  I pray that she is doing well.

Items #10 and #11:
Emma's Bonnet and Booties
No lessons learned here.  I was just really missing my baby cousin and wanted to send her a gift.  She is just gorgeous.

Item #12:
The Softest Baby Blanket
This was a gift for my boyfriend's newborn nephew, Will.  It was a very simple pattern

Item #13:
Purple Felted Tote
LOVE this!

Item #14:
Sockapal-2-za Socks
Lesson Learned: How to turn a heel properly.  I also learned how important a gauge swatch is.  I had to frog the first one b/c of that mistake.  Hopefully I won't ever forget this one.

Item #15:
Pink BamBoo Scarf
Lesson Learned: I discovered reversible mistake rib stitches.  I love the way this scarf looks and I wear it all the time.  I just wish that it was longer.

Item #16:
Last Finished item of 2005.  I am going to save this item for tomorrow's post.

Thank you for sharing the past year with me.  This year is going to be a lot of fun.  I have a lot of new project's to share very soon. 

I was ROAKed!!

Yesterday I received the sweetest gift in the mail.  It's so cute and even better, someone knit it for me.  What's better than that?! 

Thank you Caitlyn for the very sweet gift.  I immediately tried it on and had a picture taken for you.

I love it!  It fits perfectly too.  This hat will keep me so warm during this cold Iowa winter.  I will wear it often.

Thank you for being so thoughtful.  I was so surprised! 

2005 Preemie Project Items Wrap Up

With a few exceptions, 2005 really was a good year for me.  It pretty much consisted of starting The Preemie Project and watching it grow.  Actually the best thing about the past year is the success of the project.  I still can't believe it.  TPP was just a thought I had at this time last year.  I never would have dreamed that it would get this big.  The yahoo group actually has 80 members!!  Plus I have a list of 50 local volunteers and most of them are not a part of the yahoo group.  Craziness!!!

Here are most of the items that I made and donated to the project in 2005:

3 burial gown sets (SEPT '05)       


30 Hat and Bootie Sets. (SEPT '05) Some of these were knit by my mom.  We also donated 27 fleece and flannel sewn blankets.  We forgot to get a picture of those.

Pumpkin Push Items 
Booties to be paired up with misc hats donated by other volunteers. Pumpkin hat and bootie sets.  Halloween themed blankets.

Blankets for the 12-5-05 UIHC Donation (4 not pictured)


Some bereavement Items donated in November '05


Finally, the items for Winter Holiday 2005 Donation: 20 Blankets that mom and I sewed together on her vacation.  !5 Santa Hats, some with booties and some without.

Mom's Santa Hat Sets:

I believe that those are all of the items I made and donated in 2005.  It was really a lot of fun.  I learned a lot about knitting this past year.  I also learned how to use a sewing machine.  I can even sew a straight line now!

After all of those santa hats I have become a little sick of hats and booties.  Because of that, I've decided to spend the first months of 2006 knitting misc booties to pair of with hats.  I also want to put some time into sewing bereavement mementos, like teddy bears.  I'm just finishing up some pink ones and plan to cut out some blue bears this evening.

Part of the reason I stopped blogging in October was due to a feeling that my blog was getting boring.  I was spending so much time working on administrative duties for TPP that I didn't have a lot of time to knit.  What knitting time I did have was spent on hats and booties and sewn blankets.  I felt like I kept showing and talking about the same thing over and over.  It seemed like posting wasn't even worth it anymore.  I really want that to change this year.

Don't get me wrong, TPP IS my life.  I definitely won't stop talking about it.  I just want to make room in my life, and my blog for other knitting projects.  That's the plan!  I suppose you could call that a New Years resolution.  Hopefully I will remember that one in a couple of months.

Happy New Year!!!

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
hmmm...I don't know?  I guess that I learned some new knitting techniques.  Oh and I learned to crochet too!

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any next year that I can remember.  I guess that means that I didn't keep them, huh?  I am making more for this year.  Let's see if I still remember them in a couple of months.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yep!  My boyfriend's Sister In Law gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, William Charles Farnsworth.  He was a gift and a blessing.

My aunt Vicky gave birth to my baby cousin, Emma.  She's the most gorgeous baby!!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
My Freedom and my whole Life.  I feel the need to run wild!  With patience things will be much better at this time next year.

6. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
One of them is 9/2/2005.  That's the day that The Preemie Project made the very first hospital donation.  We even made our goals!!!

7. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes, an injury.  I've been recovering from a nerve injury in my left leg.

 8. Where did most of your money go?
The Preemie Project, Yarn  (That's what happens when you have no job, no money, no apartment)

 9. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?: MUCH happier
ii. thinner or fatter?: thinner
iii. richer or poorer?: Same, just plain poor

10. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with my boyfriend and family.  It was really wonderful this year.

11. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Does deeper in love count?

12. What was your favorite TV program?
24, The Shield, LOST, Desperate Housewives, Gray's Anatomy, The Apprentice, etc.  That's a lot of shows, I know.  Again, that's what happens when you have no life.  Really!  I'm serious!

 13. What did you want and get?
Relief

14. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 23 this year.  My little cousins were in town and they threw my a really cute princess party.  It was a lot of fun.

15. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Since I spend a lot of time at home I mostly wear anything that is really comfortable for my leg.  Pajama pants are my fav!

16. What kept you sane? 
Did you even have to ask?! KNITTING!  The Preemie Project, my family

17. Who was the best new person you met?

The wonderful people I have "met" through The Preemie Project.  I've "met
people from all over the country who continue to amaze me with their generosity.  I'm blessed.

18. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
Patience.  I earned that your life is only what you make it.  It may not be exactly what you had hoped, but that's okay/  Sometimes your path in life changes unexpectedly.  There is always a reason for it, even if you don't realize it at the time.  The reason will be revealed when you're ready to see it.  Then things seem to fall into place.  Even though my life isn't what I wanted 2 years ago, I still feel as if I've found my place in a way.

Five things that 2005 taught me:
1. Family is SO important.
2. Remember to recognize your own faults not just those of others. 
3. Your Happiness is up to you. 
4.
5.