Special Olympics Scarf

 Long story, but the scarves I was making in the Michigan colors for the Special Olympics which I posted about here and here were ruined in my home disaster last summer. When I contacted Special Olympics, I was told they had enough of those and that I should knit using the National colors. So I managed to get one scarf done in time and mailed it today on my way home from school. Hope it makes a special athlete happy!

WIP Updates

Here's what I've been working on today, not bad for a morning's progress. I was up at 3:45 this morning in order to take my hubby's aunt for her cataract surgery. So I started scarf number three for the special olympics while I sat in the hospital waiting room. All went smoothly and she is at home now.

 I like to keep a small project going to take with me whenever I know I'll have to wait. I get very cranky if I don't have something to work on while waiting. And I get nervous once I've finished something, if I don't have another project in queue.

 It has been too hot to do much outside, so I've had a chance to get some sewing done on the "quilts for kids" kit. The top is all pieced,  just waiting for me to baste the layers and then machine quilt it. I haven't decided yet how I am going to quilt it.  Pink is not my color, but I think the cat fabric is very cute and I'm sure some little girl will love it.

 Tommorrow, when I'm not so tired, I hope to browse around the 'net at some quilting ideas for this.

Loves Music, Loves to Knit

Last night the hubs and I had a rare special treat,  we went out to a concert. We had our 25th anniversary a few weeks ago, so this was to celebrate it. We went and saw Kansas, Styx, and Foreigner. It was a great show and I had forgotten how much I liked Foreigner.  As all of you who are parents know, the kids always come first. When you are raising a large family there's often no time and and even less money to do things like that. So we really enjoyed ourselves.

The concert venue was just over an hour away,  so I brought along my knitting to keep me occupied in the car. I made pretty good progress for just over an hour's work. This scarf will be going to the Michigan Special Olympics, which I posted about recently. I am knitting it in mistake rib, which couldn't be easier, it's great for those times you just want mindless knitting -  cast on  a multiple of 4, plus 3 extra stitches. Then k2, p2 across, and p the last stitch. Just keep repeating this row.  I am knitting it on big size 10 needles, so it goes fast and feels nice and squishy:) This will be scarf no. two, I don't know how many I'll get done this summer.

Summer Knitting For A Good Cause

It's been unseasonably cold here, but I know it will soon be too hot to continue handquilting the queen size quilt I've been working on. So I've been thinking about my summer project.

There are so many bad things going on in the world today, including the devastation of the gulf and the poisoning of so much wildlife, that it is easy to let them get me down. Helping someone else even just a little always makes me feel better. So I decided that my summer knitting project will be for a good cause.
 I then found out that the Special Olympics group in my area is asking for scarf donations for their Winter 2011 games.  Each participant of the winter games will recieve a hand knit or crocheted scarf. Perfect! These special folks put their heart and soul into everything they do, and I feel honored to be able to contribute.  This is a great project for the warm months and is portable, so I can take it everywhere. Now I know what I'll be knitting all summer:)

The one I started in the photo above is knit using the fibonacci sequence. I will post my progress as I go.

They can use a lot of scarves, so if you'd like to help out, I've posted the info. I recieved from them below. 

Scarf Project for Special Olympics Michigan Winter Games

Scarf Project Deadline January 15, 2011

Yarn: Coats and Clark Red Heart Soft Yarn #9518 Teal

Yarn: Coat and Clark Red Heart Soft Yarn #9925 Really Red

These are the official colors of the Special Olympics Michigan.

The requirements for the scarves are that they are hand knit or crocheted using a combination of the above two colors. Sizes for the scarves are 6 inches wide and 50 to 60 inches in length. You may use any pattern.

A Sample Pattern

Main Color (MC) 1 skein, Contrasting Color (CC) 1 skein, Size 8 needles straight or

28” circular needle. With MC cast on 220 or 200 or 180 stitches, *With MC Knit 4 rows, with MC knit 4 rows, repeat from * 8 rows 4 more times. With MC Knit 3 rows, bind off all stitches. Finish narrow ends with 5 one pompoms on each end or a one inch fringe on each end.

Please send or deliver completed scarves to:

Special Olympics Michigan 
3800 Hamlin Road
Auburn Hills, MI 48326

or

Virginia Schultz
21 North Main Street
Clarkston, MI 48346

Any questions 11 am to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday 248-625-3122

We need 2500 Scarves-Start Knitting. Yarn Available thru Coats and Clark Website

Thank you for your help in helping our Special Olympians look fantastic! The games are February 2-4 at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City!!!!