This week I spent quite some time with a new friend who has battled breast and other forms of cancer for 21 years. It was amazing the information I gained from her regarding headwear and prosthesis.
If you've read my blog you will know that knit4charities has recently been knitting titbits (breast prosthesis) for mastectomy survivors. Until this week I had never seen an actual proper prosthetic! Now I have seen one I have realised that our knitted or crochet varities could be designed better. This I am taking up as my next challange! I already have an idea for a crochet version so watch this space ______ as the saying goes
It has been a busy time, lots of knitting and crocheting done, packed and sent off to hopefully help people in crisis. My spare bed is still covered with items but they will be going out in the very near future. I get a lot of donations from friends these days so it's great to be able to send off a big parcel to all of our Charity of the Month projects each month.
I am away from home for most of April so now have to make a list of what I would like to make and what I need to take for the April CotM's. One good thing is that I wont be far away from Yarn Shops if I run out Lincraft, Spotlight --- Oh Heaven!!! Not much variety to be found in Big W which is all I normally have to shop at.
Our Bushfire Survivors appeal has been well supported. Lots of squares sent in to be made into rugs/blankets as well as beanies and animal pouches. Thanks to everyone who has helped with an item or two. Our Beanies are being distributed to people in the Whittlesea area and the pouches etc. for wildlife rescue are being used by North East Victoria Wildlife Rescue who are also sharing extras with other similar organisations. We have yet to sort out how to get our finished rugs to the right people. There are lots of stories of items not making it to where they are needed (e.g. just being put into warehouses etc.) so until we have someone definate in the affected areas we will wait a while. The blankets all take time to make up anyway and will be needed as the weather gets colder.
Until next time.....
Happy knitting/crocheting
Hope you are all enjoying this weekend.
It is a special one for me this year because I was nominated for Australian of the Year!!! I am still in shock but it must be true because I have a certificate that says so....
http://knit4charities.webs.com/Australian of the Year nomination certificate.pdf
We had a lovely Christmas/New Year and now it's hard to believe we are almost at the end of January already!! Where does the time go?
Our new kitchen and wardrobes are proving to be problems! Well not them so much but the cabinet maker :( we are in for more fights this week about the quality of his work.
The idea was to upgrade the kitchen and bedrooms to add appeal to our house - it's still on the market - and also to make life a little easier especially in the kitchen. We have changed over the large drawers instead of cupboards -- they are just great. No more crawling on the floor to find something that has worked it's way to the back of the bottom shelf of a cupboard!!!
In amongst all the rubble I have been inundated with wool of all descriptions -- balls and balls of it. I will give a lot away to be made up into items for charity, use some for competition prizes and use some myself. One lot was 4 balls of Moda Dea Wild! it is the softest yarn I have ever used. I tried making a Chemo Cap but it is too soft for that so instead of doing the decreasing for the top of the cap I continued on until the piece was 18cm(7") deep, cast of loosely and made it into a neck warmer. It will make up into the warmest of scarves too.
When I think back I have done quite a lot of knitting and crochet since arriving home from holidays - 2 beanies with matching fingerless gloves, 1 childs jumper, a childs poncho with matching hat, 20 gecko pocket pets, 2 beanies, the neck warmer (of course) and I've started knitting up oddments into a dog blanket. Not bad for an oldie
Oh and we went to see the movie AustraliA on Friday -- we loved it!
and I am going on holidays tomorrow YAY!!!
Well, I tell a lie because I still take my work with me :( If I left it for 3 weeks it would take me 6 months to catch up so much easier to do a little each day -- keep on top of things.
We will be spending Christmas with DH's cousins in Bendigo. So looking forward to seeing them again and also catching up with some of our knit4charities group members while I am there.
I am just so organised!!! Normally I am running around at the last minute throwing things in my case but not today --- all done!! I just so cant believe it that I am going to go and recheck to make sure I have everything LOL
I am taking some pure wool to make more pouches for wildlife rescue along with some 8ply acrylic and new patterns I want to try. One is a cuff to cuff childs jacket which looks easy and interesting. I have a couple of different slipper patterns that I also want to try for the nursing homes we are supporting in 2009.
Recently I have been busily making pouches of various sizes from tiny palm size up to pillowcase size for Joey's, birds nest and..... crocheting little gecko's as Pocket Pets for boys. They are so cute! I sent my 2 grandsons one each for Christmas and I am waiting to hear what they think of them. I am looking for a similar pattern for girls. I found a gingerbread girl and boy that I will try after I get back from holidays. I also have a cat and a pig pattern that might be OK too.
I love trying new things and getting new ideas especially for traumatised children. Lots of people think it is too hot to knit in summer but there are loads of things to make from cotton for example that are easier to handle. When I am knitting with baby wool in summer I continually dust my hands with baby powder -- stops the yarn from sticking and makes the garments smell like a baby.
I would like to wish everyone who reads this a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. If you are travelling drive safely!
I hope you will join me again in 2009
Happy knitting!! Pamela
