Villager confined to rehab center continues to knit for charity

Villager confined to rehab center continues to knit for charity
from The Villages Daily Sun

Susan Heck isn�t able to attend Busy Hands and Happy Hearts meetings, where members knit, sew and crochet items for patients in hospitals and residents of assisted-living facilities � yet she contributes just the same. She�s a homebound member. Heck, of the Village of Silver Lake, knits blankets, therapy balls and baby booties in her room at Lady Lake Specialty Care � just as she�s done for the last eight years she�s lived in The Villages. �I do enjoy this and I enjoy making new patterns,� said Heck, who loves working with brightly colored yarn. Knitting and crocheting, she�s found, take her mind off her health woes. �Just for a little while,� she said. And for Heck, there�s always a sense of satisfaction once a project is completed.

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Stitching up a better life

Stitching up a better life
from Berwick Gazette

A STITCH in time may save a life if knitters from across Casey-Cardinia continue their good work. Local residents have been busy knitting woollen outfits to keep underprivileged children in Mongolia warm during the winter months. Guardian Pharmacy in Beaconsfield is running the Guardian Angel program and is offering free knitting books for interested knitters. The patterns featured have been specifically chosen by Guardian Pharmacies and World Vision to assist needy families in Mongolia. Pharmacist Chris Warne said the program was a great way to help disadvantaged children get through a chilly winter.

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On course for success

On course for success
from Reading Eagle/Reading Times

Some entrepreneurs get an idea for a home-based business by looking toward the future and trying to predict what trends might lead to profitable niche markets. But Diane M. Gracely of Ontelaunee Township got the inspiration for her venture, Kewl Tubes, from the past. �A lot of the golfers actually call them old-school head covers,� said Gracely, describing her retro product. �A lot of women used to knit them for their husbands.� Gracely�s pompom head covers protect putters, drivers and other clubs from clanging together in golf bags. She said the pompom style probably was most popular with golfers in the 1950s and 1960s.

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Senior ladies knit caps for preemies

Senior ladies knit caps for preemies
from Montgomery Advertiser

They knit and crochet caps small enough to fit an orange. Some of the blankets they make aren't even big enough to fit across their laps. Though small in size, the caps and receiving blankets are a big help to those who receive them -- babies, most of whom are premature, born at area hospitals. Once a week, the women, who call themselves the Purl & Chain Gang, gather in a sitting room at Westminster Village in Spanish Fort to knit and crochet the baby caps and blankets. They also make lap blankets for adults at Westminster's nursing facility. They make blankets and caps in matching pastel colors that range in size from caps that can fit in the palm of your hand to ones big enough for a full-term infant.

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Sharing a passion for crafts and charity

Sharing a passion for crafts and charity
from Asbury Park Press Online

It was a scene reminiscent of the sewing and quilting bees of Colonial times: a group of women gathered in a circle, knitting and sewing, chatting about their lives and sharing refreshments in the shade of an oak tree. But the 18 women at Cathy Peach's Berkeley home Aug. 6 were gathered around a large table in her air-conditioned kitchen, where they had a view of the lagoon out back, and were taking a break from their knitting and crocheting to have a slice of cake with cannoli cream filling and a cup of coffee or tea. The women, who have dubbed themselves the Happy Hookers for their penchant for doing needlework, spent the evening showing off their latest creations, the new stitches they've tried and deciding who would swap patterns with whom.

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Get exposure for your blog or website

Did you know the Daily Knitter accepts submissions of articles related to knitting and knitting patterns? It is a great way to get exposure for your blog or website. Check out the guidelines at:

http://www.dailyknitter.com/submissions.html

The mark of a knitter: cheap pants and selflessness

Make sure you take the time to read this great article. I am still giggling from the idea that we all wear an exquisitely beautiful sweater with pants from Goodwill. Why? Because we spend $200 on yarn and had no money to buy pants!

The mark of a knitter: cheap pants and selflessness
By Lu-Ann Farrar
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

Funny thing about knitters: They will wear an exquisitely beautiful sweater with pants from Goodwill. Why? Because they spent $200 on yarn and had no money to buy pants.

http://www.kentucky.com/620/story/34688.html

American Needlearts Survey 2007

The National NeedleArts Association is asking for input about needle art, including knitting and crochet, experiences.

In an effort to help needle arts shops, product makers, and associations The National NeedleArts Association (TNNA) is conducting the American Needlearts Survey 2007. They say:

"Your survey responses will...

**** Help shops and product suppliers enhance your enjoyment of the needle
arts
**** Help The National NeedleArts Association promote the needle arts to
kids and adults
**** Raise money for cancer victim support and needle arts mentoring
**** Make good use of your thoughts and time

The survey asks about your experiences with whichever needle art you enjoy:
crocheting, cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting or needlepoint. We'd like to
know what inspires you, your activities, the sorts of projects you like to
do, your early experiences, where you make needle arts purchases, and what
you'd like to see needle arts shops do better. We want to hear from
beginners and experts!"

TNNA will donate $1 for each of the first 800 online surveys to Living
Beyond Breast Cancer or the Helping Hands Foundation Needlearts Mentoring
Program.

Go to American Needlearts Survey 2007 and fill out the 10-minute survey there.

Great Big Hug from a Thankful Citizen

"Great Big Hug from a Thankful Citizen"

Calling all who knit, crochet, work with fleece or can help by donating yarn and other materials.....


Recently, my son who serves in the Army and is stationed in Germany was home and I made him a scarf. A simple thing I thought. He was so grateful because he and his fellow soldiers do a lot of walking between the 8 bases in the area on their time off (only one base has the PX and other amenities). During the winter months, they can get quite cold as they have to wear civilian clothes so they fit in with their surroundings. I also found out that due to their mission, not many of the 60 or so soldiers are granted leave for Christmas, nor can most afford the airfare to come home. I wished I could give everyone in his unit a scarf if he was that thankful. This started me thinking that if I could get friends, family, and others to help we could put a scarf in all of their hands for next Christmas! Think of it as a "Great Big Hug from a Thankful Citizen".

My goal is to collect at least 200 scarves for my son's unit and for the soldiers recovering in the Army hospital in Germany by September 1, 2007.

So, if you or someone you know are interested in helping me with this project for our troops, please let me know, either by email at bjhfam@aol.com or by phone at 480-467-7002.


Thank you,
Judy Housley


ITEMS NEEDED

Skeins of yarn
Yards of solid color fleece
Pre-made scarves

The Handknitters Guild & The Daily Knitter Puzzles

The Handknitters Guild of North Central Texas, that meets in Arlington, Texas, had their annual retreat at the Pecan Plantation in Granbury, Texas. The date of the retreat has varied each year, but it has always taken place in February. This year, the retreat was held on the 9th, 10th and 11th of February. Part of the group left Arlington mid-day Friday for the drive to one hour drive to Granbury and a day of antique shopping and lunch. The rest of the group joined them for dinner on Friday evening. There were a total of 21 members in attendance. After dinner the group went upstairs to the Open Lobby of the Inn and broke into teams of three to do the Crossword Puzzle from DailyKnitter.com. Prizes were given to the teams that had the most correct answers. Knitting projects were then pulled out and a weekend of knitting began.

Saturday was much the same with breakfast, knitting, lunch, knitting, dinner, knitting. The projects varied from socks to afghans, sweaters to scarves and on and on and on. Projects were started and projects were completed. Laughter was enjoyed by everyone. Saturday night a couple of the women who spin brought out their spinning wheels and had an evening session of spinning.

Sunday morning everyone rose fairly early and had a very nice brunch. This has been a special Treat each year because everyone gets custom made omelets and pecan waffles in the shape of Texas. The group then went back upstairs and knitted until check out time.

Each year has been special but for this year the stars were shining right and it was a GREAT knitting experience. Guild retreats are a great way to become better acquainted with your members and enhance your knitting experience.

Dixie Butler, President
Handknitters Guild of North Central Texas

Knitty Gritty Show Time Change

Write to HGTV and ask them to bring back to mid-morning hours the two shows Knitty Gritty and Uncommon Threads. They have moved them to 6 a.m. Central Time and 7 a.m. Eastern Time.

Send an email to the programming department of HGTV. Here is the link to the email comment page on HGTV's website:

Email HGTV

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Customer Services link to email the programming department. This link is printed in brown and is underlined. It is hidden --- hmmm, what does this suggest? -- in the very last paragraph titled "You Still Didn't Answer My Question."

What's New at DailyKnitter.com

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Shop till you drop.

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Knit daily.

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We tell you how.

"Old Pueblo Knitters" Knitting Group

From the Arizona Star...

"If you love knitting, consider this group.

Thoughts of knitted sweaters may fill the heads of gift givers and receivers this time of year, but there's more to the stitching technique than clothing.

"I'm personally into lace," says Elizabeth Wells, who organizes workshops for the Old Pueblo Knitters."

For the full article, click here.

Welcome to Men Who Knit - and the Women Who Love Them.

Thank you to The Daily Knitter reader who directed us to an article in the Boston Herald titled, "Men, women share purls of wisdom". It begins...


“Should I move my thumb?” 25-year-old Andrea Lee Estrada of South Boston asked Mike Attisha yesterday, as he took her through the first steps of knitting.

“Yes, unless you want to knit your thumb into it,” Attisha replied. “But who knows, that could be your thing.”

Welcome to Men Who Knit - and the Women Who Love Them.


For the full article, click here.

What's New at DailyKnitter.com

The Daily Knitter is celebrating!

We have now received over 1.5 million visitors and are proud to be:

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All statistics as of Oct 4, 2006

Sparkle with Sophia


Our latest exclusive pattern is an evening wrap.

View the latest Book reviews

Northern lights and lace.

View the latest Product reviews


Knitting in the dark.

Check out the 30 new Free Patterns just added

Our database of free patterns continues to grow.

You can now search the Yarn Shop Directory

Many updates have been made. Help us keep the listing current.

Mark your calendar for the many Knitting Events


Updates with new knitting events, including 2007 listings.

Over 100 Local Knitting Clubs

The most complete listing on the web. Is your club listed?

The Daily Knitter accepts Submissions

Your creation could be in the next newsletter.

Share your yarn knowledge with Yarn Reviews


View reader's opinions on yarns -- many with photos.

Purl for a cause with Knitting for Charity

New additions have been made.

See the Knitting Marketplace

Shop till you drop.

Shop with The Daily Knitter Merchandise Shop


Knit daily.

You asked how to Support the Daily Knitter

We tell you how.

Check out the latest posts on the Daily Knitter Message Boards


Get and give knitting help.