Knitspired: flocking together

The last two weeks have been a blur.  We've been just so busy this season that I can't even remember why I didn't post last week.  Sorry, guys. 

We were super excited to see (and hear) such enthusiasm for our Handknits For Hardknock Kids clothing drive and are more determined that ever to match best our 2009 - 2010 collection.  We seem to be on the right track, as the donation box has filled up significantly within the past week!  And that doesn't even include all the hats that I know you and I are knitting.  Not to mention the mittens.  I am told there are mittens in the works.

Now, in response to the results of the last poll, we've decided to go three for three!  Check back next week for a FREE pattern, prizes, and official knit-along information.  Why not share the love, amirite? 

Since this is a holiday weekend coming up (please note: we will not be open on Saturday), it seemed like a fun idea to share all the staff projects - many of which are gifts.  Never doubt that we LYS employees are as guilty as the next knitter of Last Minute Gift Knits Syndrome - a tragically unacknowledged and untreated seasonal illness that makes the holidays especially stressful for knitters.  Hint: that's how we come up with our annual Last Minute Gift Knits list every year ;)

Anyway.  Below we have an in-progress baby sweater being knit by Eva:

Eva's baby hoodie, knit with Vintage in 'Ink'

It's super-cute (this picture isn't quite current) because it has a little intarsia owl on the pocket!  How sweet is that?  I'll be sure to ask her for a finished photo to share.

Then we have a decadent scarf being knit with Pashmina:

Eva's Scroll Lace Scarf, knit with Pashmina in 'Lepidoptra'

Also by Eva.  Which is actually blocking on the table in the next room right this minute.

Next we have Lindsay's very manly ribbed scarf:

Lindsay's Ribbed Scarf, knit with Prime Alpaca in 'Charcoal'

Pattern is her own.  Yarn is a suitably drab and rugged color that will not be considering 'fussy' or 'weird'.  Guess how many times we've heard those two words by DH's in the store with their knitters?

Moving on, we have a sweet surprise - Jenny's first pair of socks, knit for her boyfriend's mother:

Jenny's Monkey socks, knit with Sock in 'Breeze'

I'm sure we can all agree that it's not fair that her first socks turned out so perfectly or so quickly (2 weeks!).  But that's life.  Jenny also recently cast on a sweater that she's designing, using Joseph Galler Prime Alpaca.  Here's where it was last week...

Jenny's Wrap Cardigan, knit with Prime Alpaca in 'Camel'

I'm sure it will make certain people twitch to know that she now has 18"+ inches and is shooting ahead, progress-wise.  Let us all take comfort in the fact that we have a new convert, eh?  The next time she has it with her, we'll get another photo.  This thing is going to be cool, especially since our resident Knit Doctor helped Jenny devise the pattern. 

And, lastly, we have a little shawlette I am making for my mother:

My (Sara M) Mystery Shawl, knit with Tosh Merino Light in 'Filigree'

Using my new favorite yarn.  This stuff is crack.  Only it's legal.

And that's everything - for now.  Keep an eye out for the knit-along info, some beautiful customer projects (we just have to find the camera), and other store happenings. 

Have a warm and wonderful holiday!
Sara M.

Knitspired: Spirit of the season

So, this is somewhat of a non sequitor, but I think flu shots should include immunization against the stomach flu.  It seems obvious to me - flu shot = flu + stomach flu - but I work with yarn not pharmaceuticals. 

The reason for this irrelevance?  Your intrepid (if occassionally tardy) Knit Purl blogger has been down and out with the stomach flu for over a week now.  Which is why there hasn't been much going on here lately.  To make up for the lack of content, I've tried to cram in as much as possible into 1,000 words or less*.**

First and foremost, today we had a visit from Dina of the Yarnfest BSD Project.  For those of you unfamiliar with the effort, Dina is trying to collect over 1600 hats, scarves, and mittens for the over 1600 homeless children currently living in Beaverton, OR.  Beaverton, for you non-PDX residents, is a Portland suburb that has been hit very, very hard by the recession.  The fact that there are over 1600 documented homeless children in a city of 86000 is pretty darn disheartening.

Dina's original goal, to collect 1617 handknits for the homeless children of Beaverton by Thanksgiving, hasn't been met.  So we're trying to help her reach that goal by Christmas.  Dina collected several donations from Knit Purl knitters today, but considering the generosity of our blogfans (50 lbs collected for foster care children last winter!) I think we can do more.  So, through December 22nd, we'll be collecting donations for the Yarnfest BSD Project.

If you'd like to donate and aren't in the area (I know you're out there), please mail any donations you knit to:

Yarnfest BSD Project
c/o Knit Purl
1101 SW Alder
Portland, OR 97205

There's no denying that there's a need and a home for anything you can knit.  And if you can't make the deadline, we will very likely continue to collect donations for Dina after Christmas. 

Fuzzy Pink Hat, knit with Casbah & Merino Worsted held together

Of course, there always is our Handknits for Hard Knock Kids foster care clothing drive (second year around!) to think of, too.  If you miss the Yarnfest deadline, don't worry, we'll find a child in need who'll love what you've knit. Now the donation requirements for our Handknits for Hard Knock Kids clothing drive are much looser:

• Handknits are preferred, but not required (store-bought clothing is more than fine)
• Used clothing is acceptable, provided it's clean and in usable condition
• Donations of intimates (such as underwear, socks, and diapers) are very, very welcome
• Toys are also welcome (especially given the season)
• All donations must be made by February 15th, 2011 - on that note, we will make three trips to the Oregon Foster Care Office.  One each in December, January, and February.  But, don't worry, we'll keep a running tally of the donations!

Please send all donations to:

Handknits for Hard Knock Kids

c/o Knit Purl
1101 SW Alder
Portland, OR 97205

And, same as last year, there will be a prize drawing.  I just have to nail down some details with local dyers.   To show my own support of the cause, I have both raided the stash and picked out some pretties from our new Madelinetosh stock...

I already have six hats and plan to knit at least a total of a dozen, though I'm hoping for 18 to 20.  What can I say... other than that I'm a softy and my stash needs pruning?

But Dina and I (and Sandy Kay) can't do it alone.  There are a lot of needy kids out there who could certainly use some handknit love.  Especially considering the sad quality of store-bought knits.  What child wouldn't benefit from a soft and warm 100% wool superwash hat?

Exactly.  So, to entice our lovely blogfans to participate, I have a question for you...

What would encourage you to cast on?
	A free pattern!
	Pattern suggestions.
	A knit-along
	Prizes!!
pollcode.com free polls

Is it a special Handknits for Hard Knock Kids hat & mitten pattern?  Or a list of pattern suggestions?  or a fun knit-along?  Or some really great prizes?

You tell me, and we'll see what we can do.

Preemptively, of course (cough), I have assembled a list AWESOME hat suggestions!  Should, y'know, any of you amazing blogfans decide that you simply MUST cast on right this minute...

L to R: Flurries Slouch Hat, Struan Hat, Fair Isle Hat

Poet Society Tam, Ripley Hat, Fleeced Earflap Hat

Button Hat, Slouch Hat, Earflap Hat, Children's Hat & Mitten Set

So, c'mon, join the virtual party and knit a hat (or several) for a child in need.  You'll be all warm and fuzzy inside and they'll be all warm and fuzzy outside.  Clearly a win-win.  Questions?  We have answers.

Now, this post was originally (i.e. last week) going to be about something completely different - our colorworKAL projects' progress and a little Madelinetosh lovefest.  As we have no new photos of colorworKAL progress (and there has been some, honest), we're going to just go with the one thing we got - lots of love for Madelinetosh.

The first of which has to be for this awesome hat Lindsay, our Fashionknitsta, wouldn't take off.

Poet Society Tam, knit with Vintage in 'Lichen'

And, thus, was featured in last week's Newsletter: Cuddle Up With THIS.  It is a pretty awesome hat.  Then we had Eva's lovely Ishbel, which she's been wearing to work a lot lately:

Eva's Ishbel, knit with Pashmina in 'Terrarium'

In a word: Scrumdiddlyumptious. Seriously.  Pashmina around your neck... yummmm.

Then, lastly, my yet unnamed Purple Mystery:

My Purple Mystery, knit with Tosh Merino Light in 'Duchess'

Which I (and everyone else, too, it seems) LOVE.  The yarn is to die for.  Just delicious to work with.  In fact, I've already cast on another of these with a skein of Tosh Merino Light in 'Filigree' using the same pattern (mine!).  Too pretty.  But now it's 6:25pm and I must away.  Check back next week for a colorworKAL update (even if I have to nag my coworkers all week) and more fun happenings around here.

Until then, stay warm!
~Sara M.

*Any of you sassy knitters out there claiming that a picture is worth a thousand words shouldn't mention that while I'm living off of Saltines and toast.
** I dare any challengers to try and do better under the circumstances.