Knitting for the Homeless

For those of you who haven't had a chance to hear about Knitting for the Homeless (http://www.knittingforhomeless.blogspot.com/), it is an online blog as well as a world-wide incentive to knit items for those who are less-fortunate and street-bound and place these items anonymously beside individuals as they sleep in the street. In New York, this is not accomplished without difficulty. In other cities I have visited and lived in: Bangkok, Tokyo, Yokosuka, Buenos Aires, it is also possible to make such donations.

I am giving a little blog shout-out for those who are possibly just getting started on their knitting for the homeless donations. Here in New York I have a small core group of women (and men too!) who are interested in making afghans (individuals making squares and then sewing the squares together), hats, gloves and other items. I have also suggested (by way of discovery) that individuals donate old sweaters or knit items that I can felt and turn into afghans, hats, sweaters (embellish old sweaters...which is something I have done recently with a great deal of success!).

I know that when I worked as a drama therapist many of my clients had been homeless at one or many points of their lives. Many of their dramatic works would focus on this fear of either becoming homeless again or their experiences with homelessness. I enclose the following photos as inspiration for our mission in Knitting for the Homeless. May our season of giving, sharing and knitting be long and fruitful.

Felting Firsts-Before Pictures

MUTTIE'S BAG-PRE FELTING!

I am surrounded by kitties (catch Nina, my newest addition), getting over pneumonia (yuck!), and have officially finished my first felted bag (it hasn't been felted yet). My kitties love it. Shiva, the elder kitty, prefers to be inside for snuggles.
To give some perspective, you can see the bag on me (pre-felting)!
* I decided to get creative and use two yarns at the same time (inspired by Muttie, of course), in our favourite yarn shop in Colorado Springs. I was a good girl and took notes: The yarn is Cascade Yarns -Ecological Wool (100% Peruvian Highland Wool) Shade 8017. Then, I blended with NORO Kochoran #47. The result....voila, beautiful and also voila BIG! We were told by the vendors that one ball of Cascade's Eco Wool would do the trick...we failed to count in the two yarn-at-a-time gauge (on larger size US 11 needles). So, in fact it took 1 1/2 balls of Eco wool and 2 1/2 balls of Kochoran. Hopefully Muttie likes the result. The pattern: Bucket Bag by Anne Swanson and Katie Ngorney: Knagorney@aol.com. A wonderful pattern (easy to follow...even for pattern ignoramouses like me)!

And, of course, little Nina is happy with the final results, and who can argue with a cute little grey furball?

Knitting Flourishes!

My latest functional knitting piece. I used Ace Hardwares cotton string (it is more like rope than string). My mum asked me to create a holder for her pot, in order to hang this spider plant. Using two double-pointed needles, carefully placed yarn-overs and a little measuring here and there, I was able to create this plant knitting two strands at a time (for stability). Next time, I would measure gauge a little better for a tighter fit. I attached the excess yarn together, made some strategically placed knots and voila! In one evening, I had a simple potted plant basket (Shiva is looking at the screen and approving of my craftsmanship). She enjoys yarns of all varieties, but only attempts to chew on wool. Clever cat. Luckily, I don't leave any out for her to attempt to digest. (Yarn can be deadly to cats when ingested).

Resciat en Pace Radha

Pictured are Radha (top) and Shiva (bottom). Radha passed away three weeks ago of feline panleukepemia virus
(otherwise known as distemper). I had adopted the sisters under the guise of being fully vaccinated and was awaiting the vet records. Within two weeks of having them, Radha passed away very quickly. She was a sweet lovely girl and her sister is a little lonely without her.
We miss you Radha!