Saturday, December 4, 2010

Knit A Square at our school's holiday bazaar today

My son and I are off to our school's holiday bazaar this morning, where we have a booth for our Square Circle Knitting & Crochet Club! We're selling mini KAS square ornaments for $2 to help raise money for our club's postage fees this year. Every ornament sold will have a Knit A Square business card attached. :)

We also have handouts - cards and rulers - to spread the word about Knit A Square!

We have a spot for folks to have a go - knit or crochet a row, and we'll be working on squares all day long as well. 

Praying we spread the word to new folks who haven't yet heard about Knit A Square, and that they tell their friends, and so on!  Wish us luck!

Ok I have to run now, finish my hair before it dries in this crazy condition - need to be presentable and proud in my KAS shirt, to represent! :-)  Sorry for all the exclamations, but I'm very excited!!!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Mini KAS Square Ornaments to fund raise our postage

Today I loaded my Mini KAS Square Ornament to Ravelry, my first pattern I've listed there!  I'm hoping that other KASers can use it for fundraising, gift-giving, awareness-raising, all the good stuff that can help KAS!

I started some of our knitting club kids making them two weeks ago, and they are doing great.  We're going to sell them for $2 each at the school's holiday bazaar in a few weeks.  If we sell 30, we'll cover the cost to ship one box of 8" squares to South Africa. I've made a bunch, and Mrs. M, our teacher sponsor, is making some, too.  We have 14 pre-orders from teachers - it's so exciting!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Christmas countdown 48 days!

I just downloaded a Christmas countdown app, and there are 48 days left! 48 days to knit and crochet gifts, not to mention cleaning, decorating, shopping, baking, cooking - its overwhelming.

All I have to say is thank Heaven for FlyLady! Check out her Holiday Control Journal at http://www.flylady.org. After several years I'm embarrassingly still just a sporadic FlyBaby, but her routines work. I love the Thanksgiving menu mailer, too. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail, and that's the truth! Ok, so much for the FlyCommercial - just check it out, you'll be so glad you did, I promise!

Happy Sunday, hope you are enjoying the extra hour that comes with the time change. Me, not so much - I can never seem to sleep in when I could, so of course I was up and at 'em at 6-ish with our Little Lady this morning. No problem, we're enjoying a leisurely morning cuddling under afghans to stay warm in the chilly hours. Rugrats marathon via the Wii-flex it is! [Netflicks through the Wii]

I stabbed two fingers on my right hand at the Home Depot on Friday, love the nasty staples on the packaging. We had a broken water pipe in the playroom's baseboard heating (boiler system), and luckily the fourth plumber we called was able to see us that afternoon, and we had to break concrete to expose the pipe so he could replace it. My husband did an amazing job excavating it, and by late afternoon we had heat again on the main floor, and for way less money than we feared. Thank you, Jesus!!!

So I'm working on Christmas gifts that I have less than 48 days to complete and wrap, even fewer if I want to ship any out East, and my fingers are still pretty sore holding the crochet hook. I have squares to make for Knit A Square, and finger puppets and small dolls to knit for the AIDS orphans in South Africa as well. It'll all get done, I just need to skip some sleep, lol!

So there you have it - one over-stretched working mom trying to make some home made gifts full of love outside of working hours, balancing work and three kids and a husband, plus cub scouts, kempo karate, and possibly cheerleading again. Here's praying we survive the season without too many meltdowns and nervous breakdowns.

Happy Sunday!!!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Online amigurumi pattern generator

Oh my I think I may have died and gone to heaven -- check this out:

http://www.knittink.com/amigurumi/

An amigurumi pattern generator. I'll have to be trying this out someday soon!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

KAS summer square challenge results

I realized I didn't post our summer results for knit a square - an amazing 20,000 squares! I was able to make my 200 square goal, now I just need to come up with the postage to send them to South Africa. I'm so proud of all the members who helped. What an awesome job!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

crochet your own frog closure link

Found a great tutorial today- how to crochet your own frog closure. I'm going to make some of these for sure!

http://crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com/2009/05/do-you-frog.html

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Tweeted by Sandy McDonald of Knit A Square this morning:
The big square blitz! http://flic.kr/p/8stSsU
Flickr • 8/15/10 8:43 AM

I'm up to 177 personally, trying to make 200 by end of August. If I do two a day I'll make it.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

40,069 squares needed!


15,831 squares made, 40,069 to go by end of Aug for http://www.knit-a-square.com Every 8" square helps! Knit or crochet one today!

I've made 158 so far, and my personal goal is to make 42 by end of August. I can do it if I hunker down and only spend free time on squares and no other projects.

Here we go!!! Strong to the finish!!!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

152 squares for Knit A Square

We have posted over 14,000 squares for Knit A Square so far, and I've made 152 that I've been saving up to ship and try to do one each day to meet the 55,900 squares need by end of August. The number is daunting, but I believe that God will make a way where there is no way, as a good friend once taught me.

http://www.knit-a-square.com

I'm also working on a wedding gift for my brother and his bride for their August wedding, so that's taking up some of my time outside of work, as well. I feel guilty not spending 100% of my free time on squares, but I have to get this gift done in time. I'll do a big reveal but after the wedding, just in case!

Seems I can't ever have just one or two projects going. Besides memorial squares I promised to make, I'm also making a Refreshing Afghan for Bopchie in lapghan size to bring to her during our road trip visit.

I've also started an attic24 Lucy-inspired granny stripes lapghan for us here, meaning probably just for me. But it will probably find a different home, seems they always do.

Then there's the cheerleader ami I started last year for M., washcloths I've planned to do, and Christmas gifts to start on. The navy and white scarves I have to redo and more to make so we all 5 have one for football games this fall. Oh and the Every Way Wrap I started for myself in Impeccable cadet blue.

Pretty sure there's more waiting patiently in bags in my office. I'm just a WIP factory! Better update my Ravelry notebook so I don't forget anything.

Oh yes, and my first pair of socks as well....

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Mandela day today - what will YOU do??

It's Mandela day today - "On Mandela Day people are called to devote just 67 minutes of their time to changing the world for the better, in a small gesture of solidarity with humanity, and in a small step towards a continuous, global movement for good. "

I'm supporting http://www.knit-a-square.com/ by making more squares to keep AIDS orphans warm in South Africa.

What will YOU do today?? http://www.nelsonmandela.org/


Sunday, June 27, 2010

Gramma Cookie's Solid Granny Square for KAS

My father's mother was known as Gramma Cookie, and she passed away about 12 years ago.  She was a nurse, and she also sewed and crocheted.  She wasn't around when Knit A Square was formed, but I know that she would have sent a square or two to South Africa to help the AIDS orphans and vulnerable children there. 

This granny square design is in her honor, with the sample square done in her favorite color, purple.  I'll add a step by step photo tutorial later.  This one works up really quickly - you can bang out a few of these a day, if you have the time.


Love you and miss you, Gramma Cookie! XXXOOO

Gramma Cookie's Solid Granny Square
















See the free pattern at the KnitASquare forum.

You can personalize the pattern by alternating stripes of color around, or even using different variegated colors to make it super colorful.  You could also switch up the stitches each round by switching between dc, hdc, and sc.  I would not make any stitches longer than dc, to keep it tight and warm for Knit A Square.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Square 122 done

Just finished my square #122. we're doing an Avatar the Last Airbender-a-thon this weekend, getting ready for the new movie on Fri.

Tues night M and I will do a Twilight-a-thon and I'm rereading the saga books for the Eclipse premiere on Weds. Seeing it on XD, at least twice on Weds. Yes, I'm taking a vacation day for Twi-Day :)

Can I ever do one thing at a time?! Multi-tasking is in my nature I guess. Watching Avatar, reading Twilight, knitting squares, and yes now I'm blogging lol!

Happy Saturday!

Friday, June 25, 2010

Squares progress 9,636

The men and women of KAS are amazing - they've reported 9,636 squares made so far towards our 55,900 goal by end of August. That's 364 until we hit 10,000 - so exciting!

Whether we hit the goal or not, there will be a lot of blankets wrapped around such needy children, and we can all be proud of being part of that.

I'm working on #122 now, and hope to make more over the weekend. Go KASers! :)

Monday, June 21, 2010

Squares of hope

We are over 8,000 squares towards our 55,900 square goal for Knit a Square. I have 119 and another on my needles now. I can't seem to get them done fast enough.

The lovely folk in my ravelry bakers dozen group are sending 8" squares for KAS instead of the 12" we send to the member of the month - I figured that's at least 12 more for the children in South Africa!

Is is totally pathetic that I can't wait for vacation the end of July, so I can knit squares around the clock?!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Squares and socks

I volunteered to help keep the KAS tally for Sandy's call for 55,900 squares Jun thru Aug. It's so exciting to see the numbers grow day by day! All the KASers are just amazing in their response to the call. Over 3,600 so far!

My shoulder was hurting from crocheting too many squares recently, so I took a bit of a break and started my first pair of socks. Well, started again - I wasn't in love with the free pattern from the store, so I've been in search of one to use, frogging the first cuff several times.

I settled on the Universal toe-up sock formula by Amy Swenson on Knitty.com, and ended up restarting the toe twice. Sigh... First it didn't look right, then it was too loose. I mismeasured my swatch gauge. Hey, at least I made a swatch!

So far I have 3" done! It's self striping Patons Kroy socks jacquards in fern rose jacquard colorway. 75% wool/25% nylon. Making 1" cuff anklets so I can wear them in the warmer weather. Who knows, if I can get the hang of it, I may be making everyone socks for Christmas. ;)

Oh and I made two squares today as well, feeling guilty that I only have 113 done so far lol!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

KAS: We desperately need just squares . . .

The call has gone out, KAS needs 55,900 squares over the next three months, and we can do it!

See Sandy's  post detailing where the blankets are committed to going.  We are all energized and already at it, and I'm helping to keep the tally.

Let's go KAS!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

KAS business/calling card

Ok folks, we have a new resource available -- a printable business/calling card! Sandy tweaked my idea and has incorporated the KASCare logo, and it's in hi-def images and just beautiful. I've uploaded an image of it on my page.

She will post it on the main KAS page under resources, but in the meantime, if you would like a copy of the .pdf, please just email me here and I will forward it out to you. It is two cards across by five cards down, so 10 in all on the page, with cutting lines so you don't need to have business card stock to print and use them. They are beautiful in color, but equally lovely in black and white, if you don't have a color printer. Or if you do, you could print just one page, and bring it to a local copy shop to print color copies and maybe save some of your color print ink.

Print up a bunch and bring them to your local yarn shops, drop them around town during your errand runs, hand them out to anyone you meet, and especially keep a stash in your knitting/crochet bag so when people ask what you are making as you happily knit/crochet squares, you can hand them a card and they can come check it out! :-)

Monday, May 17, 2010

Monday, May 10, 2010

Tunisian Squares

I'm working some tunisian squares now, and doing my own simple alphabet pattern, 8" square.

Yarn: worsted
Hook: size K

Chain 29; first stitch is not counted, and last stitch is TKS to maintain smooth edges.
Rows 1-4: TPS across and return. (I prefer Arnie & Kim's Purl)
Rows 5-25: 4 TPS, TKS across (work pattern), last 4 stitches TPS, very last stitch TKS.
Rows 26-28: TPS across and return.
Row 29: Pick up stitch as if to purl, YO and slip stitch, across to end. FO, leaving a 36" tail.

So far I have "A" done.  I'm thinking I'll do some A, B, C, that they can pepper in among other squares when they sew blankets together.  I'll post the finished (and tested!) patterns on the KAS Forum.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

April challenge update

13 squares and 3 hats done so far. I took some time to work on a Lucy-inspired color stripe crochet bag for S.'s art teacher, and a dishcloth and dishtowel that I ran out of cotton on. Back to the challenge!

5/10/10: ETA I finished strong with 32 squares and 5 hats, so exceeded my goals by a wee two squares. Yay!  Not sure I'll be able to duplicate the effort any time soon, but one never knows. :-)

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

txtngcanwait

Txting & Driving... It Can Wait

April KAS Challenge - two down, and a finger sweater

Ok, two squares down for the April KAS challenge -- a couple nice pinky squares -- and 28 squares/5 hats to go.  The one on the left is a Cat Tracks square by Drew Emborsky, The Crochet Dude.  The one on the right is a plain-jane hdc square.

I also whipped up a quick finger sweater (thanks to Yarn Pixie's pattern!), as some of my Red Heart Super Saver is creating a bit of yarn burn on my left index finger while crocheting...

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Knit A Square April Challenge!

The Knit A Square April challenge is here -- to challenge yourself and set a goal and work in a race against yourself.  Just coming off of the Ravelympics (and taking a bit of a break from marathon crocheting hats and squares), I'm getting back into challenge mode, and I'm afraid I'm already behind! :-(  That's ok, I've pledged 30 squares, one for each day in April, and 5 hats, one for each week in April.  I can tell now that it's going to be more crochet than knitted squares, as I can do those much faster. I'll be crocheting and knitting all weekend, I can tell.

I'm just wrapping up a Sheldon Turtle for KJ, so am taking turns between finishing her shell, and working on  squares.  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!

On another KAS note, we started up our third and final term of the Square Circle knitting and crochet club at the school last week.  We have 17 children signed up -- half of them are returning again and have been with us from our first and second 7-week sessions!  It's so heartening to watch them learn and grow, and watch their skills develop and especially their beaming faces as they turn in their finished squares.  Even the teachers and parents are making squares, which is just amazing.  We have a wonderful community, and we're so blessed to have them involved with KAS.

Have a happy Tuesday!!! :-)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Twi-madness

Well it's starting again. That certain bit of Twi-madness that comes over you in the final weeks before a movie premiere or DVD release.

For those of us with our heads in the sand (or without teenage girls at home), the Twilight Saga New Moon DVD release is coming - at 12:01 AM on March 20, to be exact. Yes, I've pre-ordered my copy. Yes, I'll buy more than one - different collector's editions, you know.

Like I txtd our teenager today -- U. Me. Way too many tweens up after bedtime. 10pm fri 3/19 release party. B there r b square.

Yes I'm a TwiMom, and proud of it!!!


Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Knitting Anywhere for Knit A Square!

Had to share - I submitted a "knitting anywhere" picture on the KnitASquare site and it's been posted :0)

Monday, February 15, 2010

Ravelympics casting on

Well silly me, I managed to inconvenience our 15-yr-old enough to take my picture during the Opening Ceremonies/Mass Cast on, but neglected to post it!  Getting old really stinks, I'll tell you.  Anyhoo, here I am casting on the red/white/blue/TeamUSA hat for KAS, with my constant companion on my lap, our poochita Kari, as well as my overloaded knitting bag and my ready-and-waiting stash (also viewable behind my chair).  Notice the new Knit-A-Square shirt that arrived on Thursday, just in time. 

Go Team KAS! :-)

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Molly Weasley housecoat sweater

I finished my first sweater -- admittedly, it's an acquired taste, inspired by Molly Weasley's housecoat that she wears in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.  You can see her in it when Ron, Fred, and George rescue Harry and break him out of his room at Privet Drive in the beginning of the movie.  I've seen some patterns for the sleeves online, and was searching for a thrift store robe that I could attach them to if I ever made them, and then I ran across a pattern at ravelry.com for this sweater by Shellie Cain, and knew this was the one.

Of course, I'm forbidden to wear it outside of our home, per my husband and eldest daughter. ;-)  The sleeves are actually a bit drafty around the forearm, due to the open crochetwork.  I may have to make a second version with an inner sleeve attached... hmmmm....

Anyway, here it is, in all its Molly Weasley glory! :-)


 

Ravelympics finished items

Well, I finished two double-double crocheted hats during the opening ceremonies, and then I started a go-over.  That one may take a while!

I have to say, I LOVE THIS HAT PATTERN by Kathy North!!!  It's very quick and easy, and oh so warm.  The variations are endless -- you can change the size by increasing or decreasing, or changing hook size.  You can change the color pattern by using solids, or only one color, or variegated or ombre colorways by themselves or with solids. The choices are endless.  Thank you, Kathy North!!!

Red, white, and blue in honor of team USA












This one is made with Red Heart Mexicana colorway, plus red and Windsor blue as well.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Ravelympics/KASlympics ravatars for TeamKAS

Here are the ravatars for our Ravelympics/KASlympics TeamKas members, courtesy of my teenage daughter M.:

Alison:
bellalou:
Dawn:
Diane:
Jeni:
Jeanne:
EricaTheGreat:
Erica:
Sue:
squareaday:
Rona:
Kyla:
jow1306:
SassySean:








smbarr:








ramblinroo:








RhondaH:



 




Sunday, February 7, 2010

Squares Squares and More Squares

The December challenge at Knit-A-Square was to make red squares, in remembrance of World AIDS Day.  I pledged five, and here they are:

Monday, January 18, 2010

Saint Theresa’s Prayer

I was reading through Kathi Lipp's blog today, and she has this posted on December 31, 2009.  It was just what I needed, of course  -- funny how the Lord brings you just what you need, exactly when you need it, if you'll only open your eyes/ears/heart to it! :-)  I printed it out and hung it next to my monitor, where I'll see it every day.
 

Saint Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be confident knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

.It is there for each and every one of us.


Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Ravelympics

Hi everyone! I just came across the Ravelympics group over on ravelry.com, where fingers will be flying during the winter olympics starting in 30 days – anyone want to get a Team KAS together, so we can join hands (and hooks and needles) around the world making squares while watching the olympics? :-) I've posted this to the KAS group on ravelry, and the KAS forums as well.