TREE HUGGERS

I bet you are thinking something "environmental" with that title - well, in a way, you are right! In Columbus, Indiana, they have decided to wrap trees in yarn. It was part of an art project and turned into so much more. Go to the link below the next picture to read the article:

http://hneolive.therepublic.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VFJQLzIwMDgvMDQvMTEjQXIwMDQwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Just in case you can't go to the link - what this was about was a group of women that have been knitting together for a few years, decided to enter a community art project contest and decided to cover the downtown tree trunks with knitting. From there, the creative juices started flowing. One tree actually had hats and was named: "Need a Hat, Take a Hat; Have a Hat, Leave a Hat". It actually had hats attached with safety pins for the purpose of sharing with the needy. The winner of the contest, Bloomin' Fun, won $1,000. The winnings were donated to the Love Chapel. Next year, they plan to expand the project. I've also included a link that is a slideshow of the trees. Please take the time to look at it and if you have any trouble with it - let me know. It's well worth looking at!!!!!! Enjoy!!!!!!

CLICK HERE TO: View a photo slideshow here.

SCARF PROJECT

When Ren brought in her latest issue of Knit Simple about a month ago - I looked at it briefly and thought, "OH, I've got to get that magazine". Come to think of it, when Ren brought in her 365 Stitch A Day Calendar, I looked at it briefly and thought, "OH, I've got to get that" - so, REN, would you please stop bringing neat stuff in - I can't afford it - LOL!!!!!

Ok - back to the subject of this post. While perusing this new issue of wonderful pictures and articles, I came across an interesting article that I wanted to share. It's about donating your time and knitting scarves for the 2009 Special Olympic Athletes. Their goal is 5,000 - one for each athlete. They are asking that they all be knitted or crocheted in Red Heart 0885, Delft Blue and 0311, White. One note - the magazine says 0311 - White, while the website, I'll post further down, says 0316 - Soft White - I'm sure either would do. They want to keep the same colors for all - which represents the Special Olympics. Now how neat is that? You can knit or crochet these scarves, with a required estimated size of 4-1/2" X 50", in any pattern you like. The finished project then needs to be placed in a plastic bag, along with a note card with your Name & Address on it. You are also supposed to include - on a separate card from your Name card - a personal note for the athlete. Is this not a wonderful project? Currently, they have about 1,000 and need to reach their goal of 5,000 by January 15, 2009 - which is the deadline for your scarf to reach the following address:

2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Scarf Project

3150 W. Main Street

Boise, ID 83702

Why don't you think about it? I believe I'm going to head to Wal Mart in the morning to see if they have these colors and get started on one. What a warm feeling to know that you may have given an athlete in the Special Olympics a small little "feel good" boost when they wrap that scarf around their neck. Hey, you might even be able to spot yours while you watch - if they are broadcast on TV.

**A SPECIAL NOTE** - As most of you know, working with most Red Heart Yarns - it is not the softest yarn. However, as we have discussed in our knitting group, and I also just read it on a forum on Ravelry, www.ravelry.com, the best thing to do PRIOR to shipping your scarf, is to wash it in the washing machine with liquid softener and then put in the dryer. It was suggested that you may have to do this twice to soften it up. Just use your best judgment.

For more info on this, you can go to the website:

http://www.2009worldgames.org/volunteer/scarf-project

Tell a friend - get started as soon as possible - you may even want to make more than one.

I thought you would like to see more pictures of scarves that I found online - as you can see, some thought has been put into these:

HAPPY KNITTING!!!!!!!!!

A VISITOR

It's always nice to have visitors to our knitting group. This past Friday, we had the pleasure to welcome Kathryn's daughter, Rebecca. Rebecca was in for a visit all the way from Portland, OR. What was so neat about the visit was RIGHT AWAY Rebecca said she felt like she knew everyone because she reads the blog. Thanks Rebecca, I take that as a complement!!!!

I hate we didn't get more time to chat - I would have loved to ask more about where you live - seems like on the other side of the world to me - LOL. I really think it would have been great if she had just stood up and given a presentation about her life and then we could have asked questions - ha ha - just kidding, or am I? Like I said, we love visitors and new information!!!!!

Rebecca also brought a beautiful project that she is working on - we just LOVE to see different projects that others are making - AND, you'll have to email me a picture (get my email from your Mother) when you are finished and I'll post it. Rebecca has designed and is making a hook rug. It is gorgeous - the picture proves the point.

Have a safe trip home and please come back on your next visit.

We also had another treat to feast our eyes on. Andrea and her husband, Lynn, went on their honeymoon last week to Pigeon Forge and Cherokee, NC. Yep, after 18 years of marriage, they were blessed with this trip and had a wonderful time. You could see it in her face. They had some wonderful "olde tyme" pictures made and what a memory to look back on when they think of this special time together. Congratulations on your 18 years together and, oh yes, congratulations on your new van. You had a great week!!!!!

Before I sign off - next week I'll try to get a picture of the sweather Dot is working on - I WANT THAT PATTERN. It is a simple (and I don't mean that as EASY) lacy bottom pattern - summer sweater and Dot's work is great. Can't wait to show you!!!!

KNITTING SOULS GROUP

Our group has settled into a nice every Friday morning knitting group. We come to relax and chat and show what knitting projects we have completed during the week.

Pam seems to win the award for accomplishing the most!!!!!! She has definitely made some neat items.

Now yesterday was a tad different. I believe we made the mistake of talking about politics, people that can and won't work and it went on from there. Now, put 10 women together in a room and start with these subjects. By the time we left, we were all still laughing, HOWEVER, we did make the comment that it wasn't quite as relaxing as it's been in the past. This Presidential election is going to get the best of all of this year - I'll be glad when it's over - MAYBE - depends on the outcome - LOL!!! AND, I'm NOT going to voice my opinion of who should win on this blog, no, I wouldn't do that - would I? I'll just say, SHE was a good pick!!!

AND, as you may have noticed, I haven't been posting too much lately. Let me tell you why. My husband and I have completely lost our minds - as of last Friday - a week ago - we now are the proud "Puppy Parents" of Buddy and Molly - two 12 (now 13) week old puppies. Whew...........................ha ha ha. The dark faced pup is the female (Molly) and the orange is the male (Buddy). They have succeeded in getting us off of the sofa - which is a good habit to break. By the way, they are Brittany Spaniels.

WHAT IS FELTING?

The Felt Formula Felting is not always a precise science. That is because it is achieved by exposing wool to water, heat, and agitation, but the amount of each of these elements plays a part in the way the piece felts.

Examples of Before:

And After:

Before:

And After:

Felting can be done in the sink, but washing machines can work great too, and they do the job much quicker. However, each washing machine is different, and the amount your machine felts a piece after one cycle may be different than your neighbors’. So, while it’s not hard, be sure to follow the specific felting instructions of the piece you are making, and check your piece a few times during your felting process to make sure you are getting the desired results.

Felting Facts Felting a knit or crochet piece makes it SHRINK. Therefore, the piece you knit or crochet will be much bigger than your felted piece will ultimately be. How much does it shrink? It depends since there are so many factors that go into it – how hot your water is, how hard you water is, how much it is agitated, the amount and kind of soap you use, what color the yarn is (really, it’s a fact!) whether it is the third Tuesday of the month (just kidding)... You can felt your piece more or less. If you felt it just a little (maybe by taking it out of your machine after half a cycle), you will still have stitch definition. If you felt it more, you won’t. Basically, here are the steps:

1. Wash in warm water with soap.

Why soap? It actually speeds up the felting process!

Felting can often be improved by adding baking soda or washing soda to the water!

What about the rest of the laundry? Throw it in! Though it may not be recommended in the directions for all felting projects, washing felted things with other laundry can speed up the process! Why? Agitation is another important element for the felting, and the rest of your laundry does just that (be sure to check out the TIPS below)!

2. Rinse in cool water

Rinsing in cool water sort of “locks” the fibers in place. Most people have a warm wash/cool rinse setting on their machines (easy, huh?)

3. Air dry

If you are making a piece that needs to conform to a particular shape (say, a rectangle piece for a bag), it will likely be lopsided when it comes out of the dryer. Adjust it to the right shape BEFORE you let it dry (remember: once felted, felted for life) or pin it into shape on a blocking board and let it dry there – yup, blocking is important in felting, too.

TIPS

WASHING: When washing your felted piece with other clothing, try putting it in a mesh lingerie bag – it will still get the benefit of agitation from the other clothes, but won’t get stuck!

MORE WASHING: be sure the clothing you put it with won’t run (like colors), and they don’t pill (or the fibers that come off could wind up in your felt!
RELAX! Mistakes in your handwork won’t show up after felted, so relax!

ONE OF A KIND: Don’t worry if you piece looks slightly different than the picture! So many factors go into felting that it is inevitable it WILL look a little different. But that’s the beauty of it – your piece is completely unique!

GAUGE GRATIFICATION: Because felting is indeed pretty different every time you do it, gauge is extremely important. Sometimes, to help control the process, patterns will have you make a gauge swatch, then felt it and take measurements before AND after. That way, you know to work with your machine. If you need it to felt LESS, remove it from the machine earlier. If MORE, leave it in for longer – maybe you need to run it again!

CHECK IT: Check your piece a number of times if felting in the washing machine to make sure it’s just right – not too much, not too little. HAVE FUN!

FELTING FACTOR: It is a good idea to knit a swatch to see how your machine felts. Make a square swatch, then throw it in your machine. Check it a number of times before the end of the cycle to get a sense of your particular machine’s “felting factor.”

CUT IT OUT! Since felting “fuses” the fibers together, you can do something with it you cannot do with knit or crochet pieces – you can CUT IT! Believe it or not, if your piece is truly felted, it won’t unravel. That means you can cut into the bottom to make a cute fringe, you can cut strips of felted fabric and weave them back together, sky’s the limit!

MIX IT UP: Mixing yarns is really fun with felting. Try making a swatch with one strand of fun fur and Lion Wool at the bottom, then switch entirely to Lion Wool. Now felt it. The results are amazing, because the FUN FUR won’t felt,. Talk about FURRY EFFECTS. Try other yarn combos to see what looks coolest – remember, only the wool will felt, so you can create great textural differences with mixing.

HAVE FUN: There’s no limit to this cool craft, so play around and let your imagination be your guide!