STASH

     There are some things in life that seem to be a mystery.  For instance, my accumulation of yarn, whole skeins, wound balls, worsted to fine, acrylic and wool, all colors, fancy and plain,  that are now organized in plastic bins on shelves in my laundry room. This is my stash.  If I didn't know better, I would say that yarn regenerates itself and grows when you're not looking like zucchini in your garden.  However, my hand has been in the growth of this stash: yarn I've bought at Goodwill, online, Walmart, yarn stores, yarn I inherited from my sister, and yarn given to me by friends. That's the best reality I can come up with.  This organization has been my summer accomplishment.  Although I've found a few stray balls of yarn in drawers and plastic bags. Now I know what I have and can get my hands on it when I need it. I won't have to buy any more yarn. But you never know. (There are a few more bins on the opposite wall)

                                                                            Georgia's Stash.

     Again, as shown in previous blogs, I'm using my stash to make blankets/mats for the Chico Animal Shelter cats and kittens. I use three yarns as one and size 15 double pointed needles.  I've also crocheted one mat using a very large crochet hook and going free style, since I'm a novice at crocheting.  My favorite knitting pattern is the tried and true Grandma's wash cloth pattern - corner to corner, and it's variations, especially the one that shows how to knit a rectangle instead of a square.  I've included links to patterns and websites I've used for all of my projects.  

And one in crochet.

How to Knit a Corner to Corner (C2C) Garter Stitch Blanket

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjPlv1cXg1k

How to knit a diagonal rectangle: Make a blanket in 5 days!

https://www.smilingcolors.com/2019/10/how-to-knit-a-diagonal-rectangle/

Rectangular Hand Towel

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rectangular-hand-towel

I'm also working on two other knitting projects: a scarf for the Red Scarf Project and a baby blanket because I was curious about this yarn and bought a skein.  I ended up making two scarves.

Red Scarf Project. https://www.fc2success.org/programsmentoring-and-support/red-scarf-project/ 

                         

Scarves knit in Mistake Rib. I used pattern by Joan Janes as a guide with random striping. 

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mistake-rib-scarf-8

Vertical Lines Baby Blanket from Plymouth Yarn using their Hot Cakes yarn.  One skein makes the blanket.  My blanket will be just like the one in this picture. 

F828- Hotcakes Vertical Lines Baby Blanket.pdf 

https://www.plymouthyarn.com/f828

Also working on a lap blanket for Alice's Embrace.  Found I had enough yarn in my stash to make one.  

https://alicesembrace.org/  Finished product in the next blog. 

Leaving this blog with pictures of our garden treasures.

Until next time...

minipurl.

    

     

KEEPING OUR EARS AND NECKS WARM

    Hello visitors to mini's knits and purls.  It's been quite awhile since I've been here. I've taken on a long-term substituting job at ECHS teaching English four periods a day.  No one applied for the open position last fall so I was asked to take over until June.  Fortunately, a new full time teacher has been hired for the 2022-2023 school year. I've tried keeping up with my knitting, but a two hour commute back and forth has cut into my knitting time.  However, I have a couple of knitting projects completed recently to show you.

                 These ear warmers were commissioned by my niece, Dina's golfing friend.  The mornings on the way to the golf course in Arizona can be cool enough to require some head warmth.  So I knit two for the friend and two for Dina.  These patterns are easy to knit, however, I struggled with the flowers which were knit, also. Crochet flowers are prettier, but I need to practice my crochet before attempting one.  

 

 

Dina looking ready to meet the cool morning.  

                                      https://www.ravelry.com/patterns//library/mornng-walk-headband-earwarmer

Wool Scarf - The Goodwill store in my town is one of my haunts to find yarn.  Sometimes I'm surprised by the good selection of enough to make a scarf or hat.  The yarn for this scarf is Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool.  Two skeins -Maple Tweed and Oak Tweed #4. I used size 9 needles. The pattern is the basic boyfriends scarf: row 1 - Knit, row 2 - knit, row 3 - knit 2, purl 2, row 4 - knit 2, purl 2.  Sometimes I start and end a scarf with ribbing.  On this scarf it's about two inches. I cast on 30 stitches. I knit the light tweed for 21 inches, then added the dark tweed to make a stripe pattern for 26 inches, and finished with the dark tweed for 14 inches.  This scarf will surely keep someone's neck warm this winter. 

And so will this hat knit in bulky yarn. 

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/big-chunky-comfy-hat 

I used Lion Brand Home Town USA yarn - color: San Antonio Spar.  The hat went together quickly, knit in the round on size 11 needles.  

It's definitely not cool weather now here in Northern California. Here are some results of sunshine on our backyard. 

Until next time.  Here's minipurl.
 

 

           

 

RASTA

Rasta Hat. 

     The colors of the Rastafarian religion are red, green, gold, and black and have specific meanings. If you want to know more here is a good web site: https://www.islandoutpost.com/outpostings/2016/01/18/10-things-everyone-know-rastas/           

    However, the colors are appealing in a nonreligious way and probably are related to the popularity of the music of Bob Marley. This is the second Rasta hat and one similar that I've knit for family and a friend.  The similar hat is open on both ends to accommodate dreadlocks. The first Rasta hat was made for my son, and when I posted a picture of it on Instagram, my sister, who lives in the cool Washington climate,  asked for one like it.  Surprisingly, after I knit the hat, I had enough yarn for two wrist warmers and a scarf.  These patterns are basic beanie and wrist warmer patterns, not Rasta patterns.  I had to the calculate rows and inches to create the color pattern - math and some trial and error and luck.  

    YARN: I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes worsted weight yarn ordered from the Knit Picks website.  One skein of each color. I used size 7 needles. I've included the patterns I used for the hat and wrist warmers.  The scarf I made without a pattern. 

HAT: Easy Breezy Hat by Jen Stone-Gerardy 2010

http://knitolution.blogspot.com/2011/08/easy-breezy-hat-free-pattern.html

WRIST WARMERS: Beginner Wrist Warmers Knitting Pattern 

from https://www.simple-knitting.com/wrist-warmers.html

The wrist warmer pattern does not include a thumb opening so I made one after measuring my own hand. 

SCARF: 

     Cast on 24 stitches and knit every row (garter stitch) for 44 inches.  The final scarf is 5 3/5 inches wide / 44 inches length.  There are two blocks of each color .  You could knit smaller blocks similar to the wrist warmers. I knit the scarf last and used all the yarn I had left.

How do you look in Rasta knitting?

    My niece, Dina, wears the finished products.  Looks fabulous on her. Her mother, Christina, will be wearing the warm knit hat, scarf, and wrist warmers this Washington winter, while her daughter basks in the Arizona sunshine where she lives.  

     There's a nice slouch to the hat that accommodates her hair and covers her ears. 

Thanks for modeling, Dina. 

     More knitting to come more often.  I've pledged to myself to take notes and photos of my knitting projects so I can share them here.  I have two scarves in the works because I love the yarns and want to see how they work out.  So far I'm pleased. 

A worthy cause: The Mother Bear Project

http://motherbearproject.org/

minipurl

                         

 

VAX

 

First photo of the new year. Our combo tree - apricot (white) and nectarine (pink), blossoms responding to the sunny/rainy days we've been having.  Other plants are still dormant like a lot of us have been since the pandemic has kept us in doors limiting our outside activities.  Nature, however, doesn't stop doing what comes naturally blooming when the weather warms.  These blossoms are a symbol of renewal and hope for our futures.  I titled this post VAX for vaccine - which is also a symbol of hope and good health for our futures. I received my second Moderna last week through Butte County and Enloe Hospital.  I commend them highly for their organization, for the volunteers, and the medical staff who created a safe and welcoming atmosphere for a lot of anxious people. Relief - we got our VAX.  As I was waiting my 15 minutes observation time, the room was quiet, we were the last group of the day, when I was taken by a feeling of sadness considering why we were there, especially thinking about my friend, Char Thompson, who had died. Like the combo tree -  thankfulness and sorrow at the same time.  Time was up, I was greeted by a gentleman at the exit, who wished me a good day, a good afternoon, a good weekend, and finally a good life.  I thanked him, wished him the same and walked out into a warm, sunny afternoon. My thoughts and memories kept me company on the drive home. It was a good day.

STAYING HOME in COVIDVILLE-WEST.

What to do? Stay home, stay safe and not go stir crazy.  For me, it's been fairly easy - knitting helps keeps me focused on something I can do to help during this unusual time.  I dived head first into my yarn stash to dig out tried and true acrylic yarn to make blankets/rug for the animal shelters.                                                                                                               

  

Talk about tried and true.  Those of you who knit will recognize "Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth" pattern, knit corner to corner to make a square.  

Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth

• Row 1: knit 4.
• Row 2: knit 2, yarn over, knit to the end of the row. Repeat row 2 until you've got 44 stitches on your needle.
• Row 3: knit 1, knit 2 together, yarn over, knit 2 together, knit to the end of the row. Repeat row 3 until you have only 4 stitches left on your needle.

      I made one change to the pattern in Row 2.  Instead of "yarn over", I increased with a "make one", that way eliminating the hole made by "yarn over."  Worried about little toe nails getting caught in the hole. I used three or four strands of yarn at a time on size US 13 or 15 needles. The number of stitches on your needles will determine the size of the rug.  I made them a variety of sizes keeping in mind some will be used in animal crates or cages.  I made a crochet border on some, but added a red heart to all of them.  Just a little comment on human love of animals that hopefully will find forever homes. 

     There are many good heart knitting patterns, but this one is my favorite. 

     The pattern, Garter Stitch Heart by natajia can be found here:  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/garter-stitch-heart

     I also used this pattern to make some of the blankets rectangular in shape: Cage Cozy by Vicki Mikulak   https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cage-cozy  

      However, with time on my hands, my mind wandered to some sweet people I know but cannot go visit, who have beautiful long hair - the perfect place for a scrunchie or bow on a ponytail or bun.       

                                           

  Again, I found a variety of yarn in my stash and brushed off my crochet skills. The scrunchies are crochet and the bows are knitted.  There are many patterns both crochet and knit on the Internet. 

Flower Hair Tie by Dorothee Grall: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flower-hair-tie 

Crochet Scrunchie by Kinjinlu Khumba:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crochet-scrunchie-3

http://www.creatinglaura.com/2013/06/hair-bow-knitting-pattern.html?m=1 for the bows:

These are so easy and fun to make and use such a small amount of yarn, it's easy to make a bunch adding a little creative touch to each.  I finally put my little bundle of "hair accessories" in the mail and will soon receive photos of my scrunchies being worn by two lovely girls who were so excited they couldn't choose which one to wear first. (Grandma said.)

Finally, here are my bears for the Mother Bear Project. 

http://motherbearproject.org/about.html

Whether you knit or crochet, if you want to make bears for this project, there are patterns for both and plenty of guidance for sewing them together plus patterns for making clothing.  I used basic acrylic worsted yarn from my stash.  Get creative - give each bear a personality.  There's a child waiting to give it some TLC.

minipurl was never bothered by the toilet paper shortage.

Stay safe everyone.  Knit on. 

NON QUID PRO QUO

     "Non-Quid Pro Quo" - Giving and not expecting something in return.  

     Here are two organizations for knitters and crocheters to share their talents: Red Scarf Project and Knit Your Bit. Their web pages provide information and patterns, too. See if you can help. This might be the time to learn to knit or crochet.  Creating a scarf is a good place to start.  I try to donate to these two organizations every year. 

     The Red Scarf Project does have a window of time when they accept scarves: Between September 1 and December 15 annually. My red scarves went in the mail a few days ago just in the nick of time.  

https://www.fc2success.org/programsmentoring-and-support/red-scarf-project/

         Knit Your Bit accepts scarves year round and distributes them to veteran's homes and hospitals nationwide.  There will never be a shortage of veterans that could use a warm scarf as a way of saying "Thank you for your service." 

                http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/knit-your-bit/

            

     Many more charitable organizations accept knitted and crochet items, from blankets to hats to prayer shawls and scarves and more. Martha Stewart and Lion Brand have a list of charities for knitters where you might find a place for your talents. 

8 Ways to Knit or Crochet for Charity

https://www.marthastewart.com/1515746/ways-knit-or-crochet-charity

10 Charities for Knitters and Crocheters

http://www.lionbrand.com/blog/10-charities-for-knitters-and-crocheters/

Or you could knit or crochet for special people in your life. 

      Kingston-Axel's journey through life on Facebook 

KBG Foundation 

minipurl

     

KINGSTON-AXEL SUPER HERO

     This blog is dedicated to my favorite knitwear model, Kingston-Axel.  It's gratifying to knit for someone as special as he is.  I've written about him in an earlier blog telling about KBG syndrome which is a rare genetic disorder that affects children in a variety of ways. When he was born, not much was known about KBG syndrome.  But in the past two years more families have shared information about KBG and their children which has helped everyone to learn more about this rare condition. For more information, the KBG Foundation can be found here: http://www.kbgfoundation.com/

    Kingston-Axel's grandmother recently wrote: He will soon be two has 15 doctors now isn’t talking yet has some upcoming surgery he finally got his special walker called a gait trainer he loves it and is now mobile he is is eating thicker baby foods however they still want to evaluate him for a feeding tube hoping he doesn’t have to go that route and is successful eating on his own

   Kingston just turned two, and I'm happy to share that he is beginning to successfully eat on his own and is mobile with his gait trainer.  He regularly has physical therapy and many doctor's visits in Sacramento. He also has his own Facebook page: Kingston-Axel's Journey Through Life.  He is a superhero.  Last year I sewed a weighted blanket (4 pounds) with the Captain America - super hero theme.  Look for the buttons on the vest.  Some people, children and adults, sleep more comfortably with the extra weight of a weighted blanket. This blanket helped Kingston to sleep securely yet he was strong enough to kick it off. 

     So here's the knitting - a French Toddler Body Warmer fitting Kingston-Axel perfectly. He's looking so handsome.  Pattern and yarn info below.  

    Notice the Super-Hero buttons found at Joanne's.

Simple French Style Toddler Body Warmer 

by bebeknits
Purchased at bebeknits Etsy.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/208359076/bebeknits-simple-french-style-toddler?ref=pla_similar_listing_top-1

     I had enough yarn left over to make a sweater for Sophia.  I mistakenly thought her name was Zeena, consequently a giant Z is embroidered on the sweater. She'll always be Zeena, Queen of the Jungle to me even though she's smaller than my cat, minipurl. 

Here's where you can find the pattern for Sophia Zeena's sweater:
Pink is the New Puppy Sweater!

http://web.archive.org/web/20070818215833/http://www.theirishewe.com/mt-static/free_patterns/

     I used Lion Brand Yarn - Acrylic & Wool Yarn for Knitting & Crocheting.  

Soft Yarn Bulky #5.  This yarn is warm and machine washable and dryable. Perfect for kid's wear. 

 

     Looking good, little music man.  Kingston-Axel, you can model my knitting any time. 

Cap and booties knit by me for Kingston.  

minipurl