March 24, 2006

- this is a shawl and we wanted you to see our fancy stitch markers made by Melissa






- this shawl is being created by a client who h
as a definite eye for combining colors!!










- this is a pocketbook made by a client who has only been knitting for two weeks!!!!












- these washcloths are being made by our newest knitters


















- this blanket is being created by one of our outpatients








- Melissa sent us wool she unraveled from a sweater. Our client is making it into a shawl












- this is a blanket by Lucia our volunteer!











- this is a wide shawl created by a client who has only been here for two weeks!





The word for the day: Gratitude

Thanks to all who have donated yarn. There is so much gratitude from all of us here.

Today we talked about different yarns, shared different ideas, and talked about projects for the spring. With some of the cotton yarns we talked about making shawls and bathing suit cover ups. The different yarns are beautiful and the clients are coming up with their own ideas on combinations.

March 17, 2006

felted bags by leslie













leslie, one of our volunteers, modelling her coat in progress











our visitors
Kathleen in the middle
inspired to try her hand at knitting




























lucia, modelling her hand knitted sweater with the fancy yarn border!











A client's baby blanket which she will decorate with crocheted flowers


















A client holding up her knitted blanket in progress, my photo doesn't capture all of the intricate stitches!









Some of the handbags felted by our clients!










The word of the day: INSPIRATION

We are inspired by each other week after week both by the persistence and the resulting creativity. It is inspiring to have many different ideas, personalities, and energies come together in this knitting group. As I watch us each week I see this happening over and over again as the communities change. Lucia spoke about her being inspired to try her hand at felting after seeing all of our clients successes. Her knapsack is now being created by other knitters in the group---each as different as the person who created it. The black intarsia scarf is finished. Each color represents the person who gave the yarn to our client who had the idea to do this and then created it.
We had visitors this week and I have their photo displayed. I also have finally figured out how to put captions next to the photos, thanks to Abby, one of our volunteers. We got some great news: a yarn donation is coming with some different yarns to use for spring and summer. Stay tuned for photos!






more handbags felted by our clients!

March 10, 2006

The word for the day: Connection. A very bright spot in this knitting group is that many of our residential clients who are discharged are coming back offering to teach the new admissions how to knit. Not only is this helpful from a knitting point of view but very helpful in that we have role models for recovery able to share their experiences in staying clean and sober. We have a residential program consisting of approximately twenty five women and each one joins in our group and brings their very special talents,ideas and creativity. They are designing their own handbags and they are fascinated with felting. It is fun to teach about different fibers and explain how wool turns to felt. Most of the women have never been in a yarn shop. Knitting seems to have given many of the women a new world in that they are connected with knitters wherever they go. They notice scarves and clothing others are wearing and it immediately is a connection as they discuss knitting with others they meet as they travel to appointments throughout the week. Many have told me that their grandmothers knitted and then knitting becomes a connection with a past generation. Many are teaching their children to knit: another connection.

There were many beautiful projects completed and being worked on this week but unfortunately (being a new digital photographer) I ran out of space on my disk. I managed to get a few photos but will add more throughout the week.

One photo that I got before I ran out of space was Leslie(our volunteer)wearing a coat she has been working on using Noro yarn. I also have two of the clients handbags. the green is a "before" and I will post the "after" and the other is a handbag that has been worked on by a client for weeks! Everyone loved the end result of all of her work.

March 3, 2006

The words for today: the Interim House Women are Creative!!!

We started our group with each of us showing what we were working on this week. Leslie came back today after being away for several weeks and gave us many new ideas: a jacket, socks, and gloves! The gloves are made with bits and pieces of leftover yarn. Lucia and Zelphia completed their felted bags.

February 24, 2006

sherri's socks






The word for the week: THANKS!
Maryanne our volunteer who comes every week now has a job that takes her away from our knitting group. Thanks for all of the teaching you have done with the women over this past year. We will miss you!

Felting and knitting handbags has been keeping many of the women busy! They are creative and so beautiful and all different. It has inspired two of our volunteers to begin a felting project. Stay tuned for Lucia and Zelphia's felted handbags next week. That's Lucia in the photo with a knitted afghan she is working on.

Our newest knitters have caught on quickly. Thanks to Melissa at http://crazycatladymel.etsy.com. who sent us yarn and needles just perfect for beginners.

The exercisers at Jenkintown Curves continue to save yarn for us as well as Knit Together a yarn store in Bucks County, PA. It makes such a difference having different yarns from different places being put together. I try to show this in the few photos I display but there is so much knitting going on throughout the week and so much excitement over the creations. Thanks to all of you!