20 Year Anniversary - Berlin Wall

This is the type of image I was used to seeing on the news when I was a child. There were many news articles about people being shot and killed while trying to escape over the Berlin Wall.
In October and November 1989 there were many pro-democracy demonstrations in Communist Europe. I was very afraid for those brave individuals. I thought that Communist tanks would start rolling.
I never expected to see the Berlin Wall come down in my lifetime!

Recent Knits

Last week, I sent off some knits to Warm Hands Innu Knits in Ottawa. This is a great charity that ships knitted items to Natuashish, on the north coast of Labrador. You can read more about them here. The need is huge for knits for kids aged 5-15, and also for baby items. I made up a few baby blankets, some made of fleece with blanket stitch around the border, and this one, made of flannelette on one side and cotton on the other:
Here's Anita's photo of one afghan I sent, which I prefer to the picture I took:

This was my photo, taken on my couch: This afghan was given to me by a co-worker, whose great-aunt had started it, but left off at 11.5" wide. I added some to make it wider.
This one was made from six 9" squares:

Warm Hands will be sending another shipment on 31 December 2009, so if you'd like to help out, their address is:
Warm Hands Innu Knits
240 First Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1S 2G6

A Possible Solution for my Stash

Please have a look at this video, where Rachel John knits with 1000 strands of yarn, all at once.

Blogoversary Today!

3 years already - my, how the time flies!

It Pays to Keep Up-to-Date with the E-Mail

I've just read my e-mail from July 29, where the site that hosts my free patterns was notifying me that they removed my "Baby Cloth" pattern. They claim that there is a similar pattern to mine out there. My pattern has a copyright date of July 5, 2007, so I would guess that the "similar pattern" must have been developed since. So for now, I suggest that anyone wanting to download the pattern, should "copy and paste" onto a Word document. Meanwhile, I will look for a different hosting site (possibly Ravelry). Thank you for your patience!

I've Been Lazy Lately

I've been feeling very lazy in recent months, not with knitting, but with just about everything else. Anything I do takes a tremendous effort. My doctor has diagnosed Vitamin B12 deficiency, which can cause fatigue, so at least I have a reason for my laziness! :o) I've started on a B12 supplement, and if that doesn't work, I'll go on injections. Either way, it's an easy fix.

Charity news: The Warm Hands Network
is making 2 shipments to Northern Labrador this year. The first deadline is Sept 30, and the second shipment will be on Dec 31 (not sure about the deadline for that one). The address is: 240 First Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1S 2G6

Caring 4 Canadians
had their 3rd annual BBQ on July 11, and everyone had a great time, chatting and admiring the donations.

Mittens for Akkol are again knitting about 600 pairs of wool socks for 2 orphanages in Kazakhstan. The deadline for this year is the end of Nov 2009.

Some of the knitting:

And crocheting:

Another Year, Already!

Happy New Year, Everyone! I hope that the coming year finds you healthy, happy and employed!



I've got a headstart on 2009's socks for Akkol, with these socks.
They're knit from Judy Gibson's pattern, "You're Putting Me On Socks", which are knit toe-up. For the cast-on, I used Planet Shoup's "Rectangular Toe for Toe-Up Socks". I knit these socks with "Georga 100% Wool", and 3.25mm DPNs. They're a slightly variegated brown, which I hope will appeal to a teenage boy.











I've recently found the group Caring for Canadians, so I've been knitting preemie hats and booties for St. Joseph's Hospital's NICU, in London, Ontario, Canada.
The hat pattern is from Carissa Knits. It's knit with 4mm DPNs, and Cottontots pastel purple.


The booties are from Bundle of Love's "Easy Knitted Booties". They're knit with 4mm needles and Cottontots in pastel purple. Ironically, until 2005, I worked at this very St. Jo's, and didn't know that the NICU was in need of handknits. :) Ah, well. There's no time like the present!