Free Pattern Link

Would you like to knit this beauty? Well, if you follow this link, you will be taken to the free patter information. Isn't it wonderful when people are willing to share these gifts with others?

(photo belongs to Scarlet Fleece and is
only posted here to show free pattern
sample)

KnittingForCharity.org

I am pleased with the momentum we have gained since we began in September, 2009. Every now and then, I do a Google search for various terms that might include us. Today, I searched for "sharing our gifts" and found that we are in the #1 slot, as well as occupying places #8 and #9 on the same page.

I then searched for "sharing our gifts across America" and found a very nice article and review of our projects up to this current one (Project #3). It was written by Nellie on December 10, 2009. I love the thorough review and the inspirational tone of the article. It is entitled: Sharing Our Gifts Across America -- A Knitting Charity that Inspires.

It begins thus: "Learn about a knitting charity that crosses state lines to reach out to those in need." She goes on to discuss how knitting for charity really is a gift, and says that "When you knit for charity, you touch the lives of others in ways you didn't think possible." It is true! It may feel insignificant to you when you are making and sending off your one measly hat, or even a few items. I know it sometimes feels to me like it is just not enough.

But when combined with that one other hat from another knitter, and those two scarves from another knitter, and a crocheted pair of mittens or slippers from another individual, it adds up and makes a difference. These are gifts worth giving. I am inspired all over again when I see the items shared by others of this group project, or when I read encouraging articles like the one by Nellie.

She outlines each of our first three projects and shares links to our blog, as well as giving my email address for anybody who might wish to join us. Thank you, Nellie, for the recognition and sharing of our project.

Visit Nellie the Knittin' Nut at KnittingForCharity.org. She has many tips and links and information about how to begin knitting for charity. She has free patterns. She has instructions, supplies, techniques, and even a post about how to knit for charity if you cannot knit. Her focus is knitting because she is a knitter, but certainly crocheters are welcome and encouraged to create for charity also!

Giving across state lines...
I like it!

For the love of Ravelry

Ravelry is THE knit and crochet community on the Internet. It is the wonderful place where all fiber fanatics can park themselves in soft, luxurious comfort. It is easy to set up one's own little corner of the yarny universe and to share knowledge, patterns, photos, and thoughts.

Questions are answered. Pattern help is just a keyboard click away. Like-minded folk are waiting to form fiber friendships that often spill out into the brick and mortar world. Patterns, patterns, patterns, free and for purchase, can be found in abundance. People, people, people shop, swap, and share in groups.

It is because of the existence of Ravelry that my Sharing Our Gifts Across America project has even been able to accomplish its first modest goals. Almost every person who has donated to the project has been a member of the Sharing Our Gifts group on Ravelry. A few have found us in other ways, but the lion's share of help has been from Ravelry.

I am happy to have found this wonderful website when I was just a newbie knitter, and I have had nothing but positive experiences there. If you happen to be one of those who is not yet on Ravelry, or who has never been there, you must go and have a look.

Once there, you can join the group, share your stash, peruse the huge database of patterns, and even participate in the Ravelympics in February.

See you there!

Pattern Inspiration

I wanted to provide a space where participants might look for pattern help and inspiration. I will be posting the links on our Yahoo Group page, but I am also going to list them here on the blog. For now, they will be in this post, and I will place a permalink on the sidebar that leads here.

So far, we have worked on hats, slippers, scarves, and shawls. All links listed here will be to free patterns that can be used by any participant. If you have pattern ideas, links, or information, please email me or comment on this post so I can add them here.

Hats:

• Knitting patterns:

1. Helmet Liner for Troops
2. Preemie Hats for Charity
3. Fun Fur Chemo hat
   

• Crochet Patterns:

• Sewing Patterns:
  

Slippers:

• Knitting patterns:
  

• Crochet Patterns:

• Sewing Patterns:
  

Scarves:

• Knitting patterns:

1. Besotted scarf from Hello Yarn
2. The Buff by Whorled Peace
3. Cabled Scarf by Yarn-a-G0-Go
4. Chunky Beginner's Scarf by Wooly Mammoth Knits
5. Evangeline Cowl by Orinda 5
   

• Crochet Patterns:

• Sewing Patterns:

Shawls:

• Knitting patterns:

1. Prayer Shawl #70373AD from Ravelry
2. Ruffled Shawl from Straw.com and seen on Ravelry
3. Prayer Shawl from ShawlMinistry.com
   

• Crochet Patterns:

1. Prayer Shawl from ShawlMinistry.com
   

• Sewing Patterns:

Garments:

• Knitting Patterns

1. Neighborly sweater vest, pdf pattern
   

• Crochet Patterns

Toys:

• Knitting Patterns

1. Dr. Who Jelly Baby
2. Charity Kitty pdf
3. Hearts
   

• Crochet Patterns

Prosthetic Breast:

• Knitting Patterns

1. Chenille Boob
   

Thank you for Sharing!

A thank you goes out to Splendid Little Stars for sending this great hat donation to Project #1, and for sharing our projects on your blog. We need as many volunteers as we can find for all the upcoming projects, so it is very helpful when anyone is willing to share our information with readers.

With help from all participants by word of mouth and word of blog, we will keep growing and will be able to help that many more people. It would not be possible without giving and caring people like Margaret, and others who have volunteered and worked on this or other charity projects.

Thanks!

Cable Knit Achieved!

(click the photo to go to weezalana's Ravelry page)

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my camera has gone the way of all defunct electronics. Not because it won't take pictures anymore, but because it will not load those pictures onto a computer anymore. Bad AV output connector.

So, the photo today is brought to you by weezalana from Ravelry. The photo is of the Lucky 7 hat she made, and illustrates for you the hat I just knitted. Mine was knit in a solid sage green yarn by Paton's. It was my first attempt at cables, and mine came out great! I am so happy to be over the cable hurdle and to know that they don't have to be that difficult.

The pattern is available for free on Ravelry (I love that spirit of giving that I can share here!)

happy knitting!

Swap-O-Rama-Rama

(photo from swaporamarama.org)

Have you heard of Swap-O-Rama-Rama.org?

"Swap-O-Rama-Rama is a clothing swap and series of do-it-yourself workshops in which a community explores creative reuse through the recycling of used clothing.

The Swap When you attend the swap bring at least one bag of your unwanted clothing and a small donation (each swap varies depending on available funding). Every swap begins with a giant collective pile of clothing, the unwanted clothing of all who attend. Everyone is welcome to dive in and find their next new/used items from the pile. Take as little or as much clothing from this pile as you like, it's all free"

Doesn't that sound like a wonderful way to share the spirit of giving (and receiving), and to promote recycling and upcycling? I would love to see one of these in my area, and one of the wonderful aspects of this organization is that the opportunity exists for anyone to produce an event in their city. Ashland, Oregon anyone?

Hop on over and take a look...

Vivitar Giveaway

Frugal Freebies is hosting a Vivitar camera giveaway:

"Frugal-Freebies.com is having a great Vivitar Vivicam 8025 digital camera giveaway sponsored by Vivitar.com - "We make it easy!" - with digital cameras, DVR's and accessories. Stop by before midnight Aug 28th EST to enter to win! "

Hop on over and check it out...

The Bin Myth

Today, check out this blog post by Beck and Call Girl. Here is an excerpt to pique your interest...

"We all use them for storage & organization. The question is, do they really work or are they a myth? What am I talking about? Plastic storage bins, of course!

I use them, but I don't really feel organized. In some aspects, I know they help me, but in other aspects, I feel like it's out of sight, out of mind." (read more...)

You simply MUST visit the post to see the wonderful photos of stash, stash, stash! Those colorful "stramers" are absolute eye candy. Makes me want to hang swatches from clothespins as wall art.

Featured Etsian Friday

(photo source)

I bought the above item from Planet Playground in early May. It is so cute! Planet Playground is a member of the Etsy team, EcoEsty. The team is dedicated to eco-friendliness and sharing tips and knowledge to that end.

The quality of the item I received is very good, and the packaging was very eco-frienly. It came wrapped in a sheet of tissue paper inside a re-used Tyvek envelope. Enclosed was a note to remember to reuse or repurpose the packaging instead of throwing it in the trash bin.

This seller has a degree in fashion design, and her mission statement is "to provide unique fashions to our youth without sacrificing the world in which we live." Her description of the items in here shop is as follows: "Planet Playground provides you with Victorian Inspired clothing using upcycled (vintage) and organic fabrics for infants and toddlers."

This seller is extremely friendly and willing to work with certain requests. I highly recommend giving her a try if you are looking for eco-friendly, fun, well made clothing for a child.

Go take a look...

Little Lady Cakes is having its FIRST EVER...

giveaway, so I am sharing the details with you here! I have taken some of the important information from the site and placed it here, but you will have to go to Little Lady Cakes to enter and get the full scoop...

From Amy at Little Lady Cakes:
In honor of my loyal reader friends and of my birthday this June, I would love to give something away! Not one item, but TWO!

Check out Little Lady Cakes Rewards page to take a look of the choice cake decorating goodies you can win. There are over 30 items to choose from! The winner will be rewarded one item from each category!

This Giveaway starts NOW and ends Saturday June 6, 2009 at noon U.S. standard pacific time. A winner will be chosen by random.org and that person will choose one item each from category 1 and 2. I will announce the winner Sunday June 7, 2009.

To WIN: go to Little Lady Cakes and find out how to win!

Good luck to all who enter!

If you know of another great giveaway, or you want to host one here, or you have something to share, email me or leave the comment...

Green your space with Hemp

(photo source)

Some small ways to green your space might include choosing hemp fabric for home decor items, clothing, kitchen towels, and bath scrubbies. Hemp is an affordable, quickly renewable, easily biodegradable resource that is naturally mildew resistant. It is also strong and durable, yet breathable as a fabric. This makes it ideal for placing on floors and windows as well as your body.

Hemp Sisters is a good source for hemp handbags, hats, and hammocks. They also carry hemp clothing, hemp and cotton twine, and other green products. Rawganique.com is a wonderful source for hemp home decor and much, much more. Rawganique is a family run business located on Denman Island. It was born of a family's effort to slow down, nurture the earth, and begin to tread more lightly on the environment. It offers bed, bath, kitchen and home products, as well as twine, rope, and clothing. In addition, it offers many eco books, organic cotton products, and raw foods.

Hemp Guide.com goes so far as to say that many "believe that the plant has the capacity to reverst the Greenhouse Effect; as well as aid in purifying the air, water, and soil." That is quite a ringing endorsement for its use! Even if it goes only part of the way to fulfilling that projection, it is certainly a beneficial plant. Hemp is a much more cost effective source for papermaking, yields four times more fiber than a pine tree, and requires no pesticides in growing and cultivation. In addition, it can be used to make plastic without petro chemicals.The above hand-woven rug is crafted from 100% hemp fibers, and is available at VivaTerra.com. Chic, stylish, economical, and eco friendly hemp can help you geen every space in your home.

Some Blog Giveaways worth a Look

1. Paper & Ink Studio is offering 50 supercute Cherry Blossom Wedding Invitations (contest ends May 30).
2. Vital Industries has a Father's Day t-shirt giveaway that ends June 15.
3. Too Much Sugar blog is hosting a giveaway for child's hair clippies, ending June 3.
4. Papercake Finds is hosting several wonderful giveaways today!
5. Endless Whimsy is having a giveaway of a porcelain figurine, and requesting your opinions. (ending June 19)
   

Saturdays are for Eating!

First, let me say that this is not a paid post, and I have not been asked to review the recommended site. I am speaking from my own experience. Today, I wanted to share one of my favorite links to free recipes, information, and cooking tips on the web. When I need a recipe for something and I am not sure exactly what I want and my books here at home have failed me, I often end up at All Recipes. All Recipes (allrecipes.com) is a social food network of individuals sharing cooking tips, tricks, and recipes. There is a recipe exchange, a recommended blog list, and a section of daily recommended recipes. I see from my visit there today that they are currently having a $10,000.00 giveaway contest opportunity. Couldn't hurt!

The Mother's Day section has suggestions for brunch, dinner, and easy desserts for kids to make. Of course, they also include the ever popular mimosa recipe. What brunch on Mother's Day would be complete without a mimosa? Which reminds me, I need to stock up on indredients!

One of my favorite sections to visit is the Healthy Cooking section. Since my family lives a lacto-ovo vegetarian lifestyle, we often use keyword search or look in the Healthy Cooking section. It has a great collection of recipes and information about the Super Foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans). There is also a specifically vegetarian section, and it has some really tasty offerings such as avocado tacos and pesto pizza.

Often, I end up adding my own flair to the recipe, like black beans to the avocado tacos and making my own pizza dough for the pizza. I also cook with all organic and non-GMO ingredients. I call this practice "recipe rescue" because I take the basic recipe and then change it so that it is acceptable to my eating requirements. I attempt to avoid pre-packaged, processed foods to the greatest extent possible. I believe it is better for our bodies to avoid chemicals, laboratory created additives, artificial colors, and preservatives. I also do not purchase anything that says "natural flavors" added, because that usually means MSG. Visit MSGtruth.org for further information.

I wish you safe and happy eating today,
tomorrow, and always.