CYDC Annual Benefit Gala

Do you ever have those moments where you think, wow, who'd have thunk I'd be here now?

That was exactly how I felt last night. The hubs and I were invited by some wonderful friends to attend the Carolina Youth Development Center's 2015 "A Night for the Children" Gala. It was a beautiful night filled with beautiful people, especially the young adults who spoke about their time at the CYDC as kids and how much it meant to them to have people really care and be the family to them that they needed. I love this organization and the work they do SO much!

There were amazing items in both live and silent auctions and an auctioneer who knew his stuff, "You said $1000, madam? Someone give her another drink!"  A toe-tappingly good live band, delicious food by McCrady's, and glitz and glamour and laughter and serious fund raising for a very worthy cause.

There were so many lovely moments during the evening, including getting a message from the Palmetto Fiber Arts Guild saying they are going to encourage their members to help us knit afghan blocks for our Charity Knit-a-Long! Wasn't that great timing?

Other lovely moments: partying with our friends Kathy and David (that's him in the tux--a true highlight of the evening was when he walked up with a plate of amazing teeny desserts), catching up with Chief Curator Grahame Long from the Charleston Museum (seriously, Grahame, I really am waiting for your next book! The first two were so good!), and some photo booth fun with hubby. We met a lot of fun people, I managed not to fall over in my new heels, and we didn't get rained on until we were headed home. All in all, a GREAT evening.

Don't forget...during the month of September, if you donate afghan blocks for our Charity Knit-a-Long, you are entered in the drawing for our fabulous yarn giveaway!

Read more about the September contest here and more about how you can get involved here.

Now if you'll excuse me, I am going to put up my tired feet and knit for the kids at the CYDC!

Big 10 Knit-a-Long: Racing Stripes

Racing Stripes Afghan Block by Tamara Goff

This pattern uses slipped stitches against a stockinette background to create a texture of stripes racing along the block. It’s also a speedy knit so you should be able to race right through it! 

You'll need: US Size 7 needles or size needed to achieve gauge of 5 sts = 1 inch; Worsted weight acrylic yarn. Finished size should be 7” x 9”.
CO 32 stitches
Knit 4 rows for border

Rows 1 & 3: K3, sl 1, (k4, sl 1) x5, k3

Row 2: k3, sl 1, (p4, sl 1) x5, k3

Row 4: k3, p26, k3

Repeat Rows 1-4 until piece measures 8 1/2”, then knit 4 rows for border. Bind off all stitches. Weave in ends.

Want to see more afghan block patterns and learn more about our Charity Knit-a-Long? Check out this mid-year update! Did you hear we are having a giveaway for participants in our knit-a-long? Read this!

Stuff you need to know: The Slip Knot

I like to cut corners and save time whenever possible, so when I started knitting and was shown how to cast on using the long-tail method WITHOUT a slip knot, I knew that was tailor made for me.  In fact, I avoided making slip knots for YEARS. It's a little weird now that I think about it, but there it is: Slip Knot Avoidance. Perhaps it stemmed from doing so wretchedly on my knot tying badge in Girl Scouts as a child...(ha! and now look at me, a knitting instructor. Irony!)

Fast forward to teaching classes where slip knots are necessary, and all I could think was, "How on earth can I do this as simply and easily as possible, since I want to make sure my students truly get this...and not become People Who Avoid Slip Knots??" I experimented with a few different ways to walk someone through the steps and tried them out in my classes until we had light bulbs coming on over every head (Eureka!).

Why include this super basic, not that hard skill in my Simple Knitting Tips series? Every time I teach someone how to make a slip knot, even knitters who think they sort of know how to do it, I hear the cry of their hearts, the relief in their voices and the satisfaction of finally getting it. And that my friends, is music to my ears.

How to make a slip knot

Step 1: Pick up the yarn. Left or right hand--you decide.

Step 2: Place the tail end of the yarn across your palm, with the working end of the yarn looped over your fingers, palm facing you.

Step. 3: Pick the working yarn up and loop it toward you over your palm. At this point, hold down the tail yarn (against your palm) with your thumb. The tail will be on your palm and the working yarn that you just looped will be on your fingers. Or if you prefer-->the tail end will be closest to your heart ♥︎ . The yarn is completely encircling your hand, but only once.

Step 4: On the back of your hand, cross the working end over the tail end. Tuck the working end under the tail yarn, bringing that loop through the loop that encircles your hand.

Step 5. Holding the new loop you just made, remove your fingers from the first loop you made around your hand. With the thumb and forefinger of your left hand, you'll be holding the tail end of the yarn. With the thumb and forefinger of your right hand, you'll be holding the new loop. (If you're making the slip knot on your right hand, using your left to work the yarn, just reverse it all. It works either way!)

Step 6: To tighten your slip knot, pull the tail end with one thumb and finger while keep your other hand in the loop.

You should now have a slip knot that can be loosened or tightened with the working end of the yarn.

From here you can cast on stitches for something wonderful!

September Giveaway!

At last count, our stack of afghan blocks for the Big 10 Charity Knit-a-Long is 91 blocks high. If we have 180 blocks by the time we sit down to sew them up, we can make 5 child sized blankets for the Carolina Youth Development Center. FIVE! Wouldn't that be wonderful?

So I'm holding a contest for the month of September. Turn in an afghan block (either knitted or crocheted) and be entered in the drawing for yarn!

I have 3 different yarn giveaways--

1.  Two skeins, Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn, and Euroflax Sport Weight Linen
2.  Two skeins, LB Collection 100% baby alpaca DK weight, and Liberty Wool worsted 100% washable wool
3.  Four skeins Sirdar Snuggly baby bamboo (80% Bamboo, 20% Wool) in DK weight.

That means you have 3 ways to win!

1. The person donating the highest number of blocks during the month of September.
2. The group donating the highest number of blocks during the month of September.
3. The person randomly drawn from the names of all who contribute at least one block during the month of September.

Questions? Let me know!

Want patterns? Check here: Big 10 Charity Knit-a-Long