New Faces

Lately, we've had a lot of "newbies". That really means people who have come to join in a meeting for the very first time. They could be rather advanced knitters or crocheters. Or they could be people who have known about us for awhile and finally found the time to actually drop by. They may stop by to ask a question about a problem. Or as happened on one day : "I want to learn to knit" and "I want to learn to crochet". Someone was recently shown how to knit cables. Maybe someone just shows up with a coworker or friend. We were glad to see each and every one and hoped they had a great time while with us. What we like even more is when we get to see them again. You won't be able to pick them out in the pictures, they just blend in. I know I didn't get everyone; don't be disappointed if you don't see yourself.

More Preemie Hats

I hope no one thought that the last entry about Caps for Good would be all the hats this group could put together. How about a few more?

Rebecca came up with a dozen and a half caps. She is the expert when it comes to using up those stretches of yarn that are too short to really do a project but also too long to feel good about tossing out.

Phyllis made 3 knitted caps from the patterns that are put out by Caps for Good.

I'm actually not sure who made the last 2 sets of caps. They ended up in front of me to get their pictures taken. I think they came from "the group in the corner". Then they hopped into a bag with Karen so they could be sent on their way.

We really don't make any one sit in the corner. 3RC has so many "regulars" now that we kind of

end up grouping ourselves to chat and share. Next week a whole new group of people will be in the corner.

Emphasis Moves On

The group has collected all the leftover Special Olympics yarn. I've added some white yarn to add something new to the colors. We had 2 scarves that did not make it to the scarf box, so we are using them as strips for an afghan to be eventually donated to the VA. We are using the same technique as the Feel Good Project in which we put strips together to make the afghan. This time the length will be about 56". Again the number of people involved will be up to the individuals.

We've talked about Caps for Good before, and this where some emphasis will occur since this drive for preemie hats and $10 for medical kits will end with the month of February. This is essentially the same charity as Caps for the Capitol and Caps for Change and is through Save the Children. Each cap gets a short note attached as a message for the mom; this is an important aspect of the program, as the personal touch is very comforting to the moms.

A few people have already made some hats. MaryAnn sent a few hats, the 4 colorful crocheted hats. Denise has sent us 5 knitted hats. Carol crocheted the 5 sweet pastel hats. The great thing about this project is that if you have some yarn leftover but it really isn't enough to make something...... oh wait, it's probably enough to make a preemie hat. (or 2??)

Special Olympic Scarves

Well, I took a chance waiting until the 31st to mail our scarves. Apparently on the same date the Special Olympics Scarf Project met their goal of 1,000. Everyone was mailing on the 29th, I guess. However, our scarves are being forwarded to a state still struggling to meet their goal but not yet closed. So our scarves are being used by special athletes which is what we all wanted. The Trib mentioned we were doing this project in their article last Monday on knitting and crocheting groups.

Of course, it's always fun to see what people came up when they had to use the two colors and could pretty much do what they wanted. The first 3 scarves use the motif that came with the directions. I suppose some of this was due to curiosity about another "Granny" square pattern. This is a good one to keep in your arsenal. Lacy and not a bit old fashioned.

The next two look different front and back. One suggested pattern was crocheting lengthwise in blo only which make an accordion effect, but the dominate color is different on each side. The other is Tunisian and while the color patterns are the same on each side the stitches look very different.

Next are two knitted scarves. One with each side a solid color and the other random stripes. The next 2 scarves start with the same idea: alternating color rows. But how different they look with a straight or shelled border.

Next, one is knit and one crocheted. Large needles holding both colors together makes a lacy scarf. The "granny" hexagons don't seem surprising at first until you realize that they make the unusual edge naturally that so many modern scarf patterns are showing.

The next trio are crocheted. Two are using the granny stitch idea but working down a long axis with a cute curve at the end to establish the corners. Rows aren't boring when you throw in a spike stitch effect.

Next, how about a wave pattern? or a potato chip scarf? Just plain fun.

Then a truly warm knitted scarf that came to us all the way from Missouri because they do not have a winter Special Olympics there. But now our scarves, along with this one, are on their way, too. Makes me think about throwing pebbles in the pond and making ripples. How far will the ripples go?

A few more stripes and granny looks, followed by a Tunisian scarf. The knitted scarf takes advantage of different stitches to have wide and narrow areas.

Some horizontal and vertical stripes. The more I saw the blo scarf the more I liked it.

Then garter stitch with two different pompoms. Followed by even more pompoms on a puffed shells scarf. Again, what fun!

Finally, bagged and waiting on my dining room table to be boxed. 27 scarves: a true feat.

Some did one scarf; some knocked themselves out making so many. Doing a project with the members of 3RC is always great.

Personal Projects

Randy Joseph has been staying in Pittsburgh while her mom, Pat, is convalescing. She knitted up this cowl which easily also covers her head. There's a knit pattern that is difficult to see because the yarn is so dark.

Karen knitted up this cute hat. It has so many wonderful details that's it's hard to choose what I might like best about it. I pick the increasing details on the crown. On top of that, gray and pink is one of my all time favorite color combos, even as a child.

Carol has just finished another grandson's request. He wanted a Steeler afghan for his bed. I like that Carol's afghans are always what the boys want now but I can tell they will still still like the designs into adulthood. She wanted an official patch for the afghan and had a hard time finding one. She ended up cutting this patch from a pair of gloves.

Why are these projects all together in one entry? Each one was a personal design. Seems to me they could all get their designs published, but maybe they would like to keep it all to themselves. I believe creative people find each other. In this case, at 3RC.