Big 10 Knit-a-Long: Announcing the Charity!

I'm so excited! I just got off the phone with the Carolina Youth Development Center here in Charleston, and y'all, when I say this is the perfect fit for our Big 10 Knit-a-Long for Charity, I am not even kidding! (You can tell how excited I am about it because I sound all Texan...)

In case you're just now hearing about the Big 10 Knit-a-Long, here's what's what:

Last month I kicked off a year long celebration of my 10 year knitting anniversary--a charity knitting project that knitters (and crocheters) anywhere can participate in. Using the format set up by Warm Up America, we will be making afghan blocks that will then be sewn together to make blankets. Each block will need to be 7" x 9" and we need 49 blocks per blanket, which we will create during our sewing up party at the end of the year. (For sign up form and FAQs, read this post. For the first 2 free patterns, read this one. If at any time you need to catch up with all the Knit-a-Long action, just type in "knit-a-long" on the search bar at the bottom of this page.)

Until this afternoon, we had everything necessary to make this a great project: patterns, knitters, and tons of enthusiasm. What we needed was a charity and I'm delighted to tell you that now we've got that, too!

The Carolina Youth Development Center is celebrating an anniversary this year as well, but theirs is A LOT more impressive than mine! They were founded in 1790 as the Charleston Orphan House and have been helping kids for 225 years (!!!).  As I have studied the history of this area, I have heard about the Orphan House and some of the great work they have done over the years, providing housing and more for children in need. And now we can partner with them! I did say I was excited, right??

You're going to be hearing more about this awesome organization over the coming months, but for now let me leave you with this...they have a wish list on their website, with current and ongoing needs for the kids who come through the houses they run. At any given time they can have 20-30 children between the ages of 2 and 18, and they always like to give them blankets, pillows, hygiene items (bar soap, toothpaste, body wash) and basics like underwear, socks and a current big need--plain white t-shirts in any sizes. Even if you're not a knitter, you can help! If you would like to donate things to the Center, I will take wish-list items by there as often as necessary. Contact me through this website or the Facebook page and we'll arrange to get your donations from you.

And of course, you can knit! The next pattern(s) will be available soon. In the meantime, the link above has the first two patterns. If you crochet or want to just knit your own patterns, make sure they measure 7" x 9" and are knit from easy-care acrylic. I have just recently tried KnitPicks Brava worsted weight 100% acrylic and I adore it, but you can use any acrylic you have handy.  Holler if you have any questions, and honestly, isn't it great to be a knitter?

Tutorial: I-Cord, I love you.

I-cord is one of those knitting tools that make me happy I learned to knit. I realize it's not everyone's favorite thing to knit, especially when one is called upon to knit 3 feet of it, TWICE, when making bag handles, but I really like it. I like the way it starts out flat and then becomes 3-dimensional, a little like turning a heel. I like the way it's mindless knitting and one minute you look up from it and when you look down again, it has grown, as if by magic. I love that you can knit it by itself or use it as an edge on a finished project like a blanket. I love that you use double-pointed needles but knit in the round in a way that is unexpected. I just love it.

Today, I'd like to show you how to knit a simple I-cord.

All of the above examples use a cast on of 4 stitches. Obviously, needle size and yarn weight make a difference in the size of your i-cord.

Using a double-pointed needle of a size appropriate for your yarn, cast on 4 stitches (or whatever your pattern calls for). (fig. 1)

fig. 1

Knit one row, then, instead of turning your work so that the working yarn is coming from the right side of the knitting, slide the work down to the other point of the double-pointed needle. Your working yarn is coming from the left side ON THE BACK of your work. (figure 2) Knit one row, then repeat the process of sliding the work down. The tricky bit is to always remember to slide the work and not turn the needle around. With some practice you'll get the rhythm down.

fig. 2

fig. 3

After you've knit a couple of rows (fig. 3) you'll want to give the bottom of your work a tug, pulling it down away from the needle. See what happens when you do that?

Magic. (fig. 4)

fig. 4

You'll notice that your cord looks like a small diameter tube of stockinette stitch fabric. You can also make it look like garter stitch by alternating knit and purl rows. When you have reached the length you need, bind off. If you are attaching the cord to make it a bag handle, leave a long tail when you cut the yarn and use it to sew the cord on where it needs to go.

It really is as easy as it sounds and it's a great tool to have in your Technique Tool Kit.

For you seasoned I-cord pros, what are some of the ways you've used I-cord?

Listener Mail!

Greetings and welcome to the portion of our show we like to call Listener Mail! Our loyal listeners have shared with us their insights and tips and now we will share them with all of you out there in radio land....

OK, clearly, I've heard one too many old radio shows in my time! Seriously, though, here are some Reader Comments on recent blog posts that I thought you'd all enjoy.

The post "Things knitting has taught me..." sparked some thoughts from a few of you:

I think knitting has taught me that one common thread (errr yarn) can bring people together. Finding out someone else is a stitcher can spark an instant connection, and I've made so many friends through knitting! Was just reflecting on this a few days ago when I met someone from out of town. She pulled out her needles and we instantly found things to talk about.--Ashley from The Feisty Redhead

I agree with Ashley, especially since knitting is how we met to begin with!

Knitting has definitely taken me out of my comfort zone. I am a new knitting blogger and I am finishing up the CYC Instructor course to teach at Michaels in Missouri. I am enjoying reading your blog, I think you provide a unique perspective.--Sarah at Cashmere Wishes and Angora Dreams

So true, Sarah! I find it empowers other areas of my life to learn new things about knitting. And props to you on the CYC course--excellent program! And shucks, thanks :) Your blog is beautiful. I also LOVE this from your blog: "Life lesson #1 that knitting has taught me: IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE BEAUTIFUL." That right there just makes my day!

And there's this from Lisa:

Knitting has a miraculous way of calming my spirit, and provides reassurance that all is well...

And from Arrylee:

Knitting has taught me patience.

Isn't it the truth, Ladies? If I had known knitting would have had such a good affect on me, I'd have learned much sooner!

Comments from the Instagram feed included this from sweet Pam:

That I'm not very good, need to practice more, better at crochet😢, but this is beautiful!😊 I'd really like to get better!

And this extremely philosophical note from Mblawson01:

That you need to see the big picture but don't forget the pleasure in the details.

That will make you think!

---

Last Friday's post on "How to Knit (More); plus a free recipe" brought this from Ashley:

Haha, I love it! I just wrote an article for Craftsy about more time for knitting and it included things like devoting an hour each night to knitting, knitting with friends, and other boring ideas that won't get me out of cleaning, cooking, and driving. This list is way more fun!

She's right, her article is chock-full of actual advice. I highly recommend it!

I'm still waiting to hear whether anyone tried my free recipe :)

Thank you to all who wrote in! Keep those cards and letters coming...or at least keep the comments on the posts coming--I love them!

How to knit (more); plus a free recipe

If you reached this post because you googled "how to knit," you're in luck! This post isn't about that, but this entire website IS! I teach classes, write tutorials and talk knitting all.the.time. Please let me know if I can be of any help, because knitting is awesome.

Knitting is so awesome in fact, that once you learn to knit you realize you wish you had more time to do it. Today's post is about how to find more time to knit, because really, isn't that what most of the stress in our lives is about? Stuck in traffic? Cleaning up dog hair? Fights with your spouse? All things that delay us in getting back to the knitting.

Here are some tips from me....

1. Cook less--Seriously, are the folks for whom you prepare food more appreciative of their dinners if you spend twice as long preparing them?  I try to use fresh ingredients (which take more time) but I never waste time researching the newest trendy foods (in fact, my salt is still Morton's Iodized). I've lived long enough to see food styles come and go. (Remember when we put pesto on everything?) Cut corners whenever you can. I use the crock pot to speed up dinner even when dinner isn't a crock pot meal. Here's what we're having tonight, for example:

Chicken Quesadillas

Put a pound of boneless, skinless chicken in the crock pot on low first thing in the morning (it needs to cook at least 8 hours)(make sure you turn the crock pot ON)(please don't eat it raw). Top it with taco sauce or salsa before cooking. About an hour before dinnertime, shred the chicken. On a griddle or in a big skillet, warm a flour tortilla (use wheat if you prefer). Add shredded chicken, a sprinkling of shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese, some diced onion, then cover with another tortilla. Cook on medium, being careful not to burn, until cheese melts slightly, then flip the Quesadilla over and cook for 1-2 minutes. Remove from pan or griddle, cut into quarters (my husband has always called this dish "triangles." He's not from Texas.) Continue making Quesadillas until your ingredients run out, even if it will make way too much for one meal. Remember, leftovers mean less cooking time! Serve with sour cream, salsa, tortilla chips, etc. Then go knit while someone else cleans up the kitchen (after all, YOU cooked, right?).

2. Let someone else drive--We Southerners aren't always proponents of public transportation. Heck, I'm from TEXAS, which is so big and so full of TEXANS (independent types) that public transport is next to impossible. We Knitters, on the other hand, fully recognize the ecological....blah, blah, blah, who am I kidding?----MORE time to knit! No public conveyance to be had where you live? Bum rides off your friends. You'll have more time to chat and save on gas (you should offer gas money though, since you're not a freeloading jerk; you just want to knit more).

3. Clean less--This is not a free pass to star on an episode of "Hoarders," but check yourself. If you're mopping the floor every day and you don't have pets or small children, you might be wasting valuable knitting time. Actually I think this only applies if you've been cleaning your house on a regular basis all along. If you haven't, then trot on over to FlyLady.net and get crackin'! If you can hire help with the cleaning, you must never, under any circumstances, clean the house before they come to clean. Also, knit while they work. That's why they are there, remember?

4. Go places you can take your knitting--This may seem obvious, but if you're really serious, you will ONLY go places you can take your knitting. Don't join a club or volunteer on a committee or attend a meeting unless you can take your knitting. Don't go out to see a movie (it's too dark to knit); wait for it to come out on iTunes or Redbox. (Extra points if you host a viewing party and invite your knitting friends.) Thinking of taking up scuba diving? Only if you can take your knitting on the boat!

5. Cut your hair--Or wear it so long you can put it up. Time spent on hair means less time to knit. If you can afford a stylist to come in every morning and do your hair for you, go for it. You can knit while they work their magic.

Your turn: What ways have you found to carve more knitting time out of your schedule?