New E-Mail List Announcement

I am a big girl (some might even say a very big girl), and I love to knit. But, it can be hard to find patterns that flatter--or even fit. It can also be hard to find knitting-related e-mail groups that deal with this. There are a couple, but there's room for one more: Big Girls Knit Too. Come and join me and hopefully many others who share those characteristics. We'll learn from each other and, though we'll try to stay on-topic, well, I can't say we won't stray.
Big Girls Knit Too is a Yahoo group. If you have trouble finding us, let me know (ida@idawalker.com)

Gnitting Gneedles

I love gnomes. They're about the only things I collect--except for yarn, of course. I even have them in my office. Imagine my delight then when I discovered the website www.DesignsbyTami. And what to my wondering eyes did appear but gnomes sitting atop knitting needles. It is impossible to say just how fast I ordered those little cuties, and I wasn't disappointed when they arrived. Those little gnomes are adorable.

I was visiting eBay the other day and noticed that she has items up for auction--including needles and stitch markers with alpacas on them. Yep, they are on their way to me.

So--if you're looking for the unusual, check out www.DesignsbyTami.com. (NAYYY)

OTN: Berroco's Maura sweater and the Cocoon Jacket

The Red Scarf Project

We knitters are a compassionate bunch, and there is an organization that needs our compassion. The Orphan Foundation of America sponsors the Red Scarf Project, and I encourage everyone to participate.

The Orphan Foundation of America is collecting 2,000 scarves to include in their Valentine Care Packages that will be given to America's college-bound foster youth. Your knitted, crocheted, woven, or sewn scarf will be the personal touch in these packages and bring students the support they need to move forward and graduate to a brighter future.

Here are the guidelines:

Size: Approximately 60 inches long and 5 to 8 inches wide. Scarves should be long enough to be wrapped around the neck with tails long enough to be tied in the front. Fringe is optional.

Style: Unisex collegiate. Both males and females will receive these scarves.

Color: RED!! But, that covers a lot of territory, including burgundy, cherry, russet, red stripes with other colors, multicolor hues including red. Don't like red? Well, other unisex colors such as black, navy, gray, teal, olive, or gold are also welcome.

Texture and weight: Soft and supple. They should not feel scratchy on the neck, and they should drape and tie easily.

Finished and Tagged: Yarn ends should be secured. For the personal touch, attach a tag saying "Handmade for You" with your name, city, and group affiliation, if any. If you wish, you may include washing instructions or a brief message of encouragement as well.

Scarves should be mailed in January to:
Orphan Foundation of America
Red Scarf Project
21351 Gentry Drive, Unit 130
Sterling, VA 20166

Or, if you'd like to send them to me, please e-mail me and I'll give you details (ida@idawalker.com).

Please help send warmth and encouragement to these special young people.

My Knitting Buddy

On May 7, 2006, I lost my knitting buddy, McKittycreek Lily McMunster, to a blood clot. She was just a month shy of her fifth birthday.

Lily and I had a special relationship. I love all of my cats, but there was just something unique about the bond she and I shared. She was my first female and my first Maine Coon. I never had to keep track of when my period was due; she let me know. Uncanny, but amazingly accurate.

I've been lucky that my cats generally don't bother my knitting. Of course it could be that they think I'm making something for them. Clarence likes to hit the end of the needle while I knit, but that's about it.

Now, that is. Lily didn't really bother the knitting. She'd lay quietly on a box at my feet, and I'd not notice she was there. Until the feeder yarn became a bit wet. I'd look down, and she'd be grabbing the yarn as it went from knitting bag to my project.

I miss that kitty slobber. And I miss my knitting buddy more than I can believe. The pain of loss is almost unimaginable.

I love you Lily. I always will.

On the Needles

My delight in easy patterns is no secret. Frankly, I see nothing wrong with anything knit in a garter stitch in bulky yarn and with big needles--got to love those 50s!
This week I used Homespun (OK, shoot me), but I used small needles, a size 7. And what was I knitting? Why, I mat for a baby mouse--or as I call it, a mousepad! (I crack myself up.) My boss's son found a baby mouse on his bedroom floor. As much as I dislike mice, it is a cute teeny thing. I have a habit of knitting blankies for new pets, so of course, Thimble the mouse got his. Around mother's day they got a new kitten, and I knit 2 blankies for Minnow.
A coworker adopted a very young kitten this week. The poor thing survived the flood, and except for some fleas and mud, seems amazingly healthy. I'm off to knit a blankie for Noah--in green, his new mom's favorite color.