March 23, 2007

Below: a felted handbag without the straps, yet!

Above: a bathing suit coverup planned for a little girl, modeled by the knitter and
Below: Zelphia, our volunteer.
Above: Katie who works here and Megan who volunteers both showing what they are working on and Below: an outpatient client who joined us today but who usually can't make it for a very good reason, she is obtaining her college degree and has school the same time as our group!

Above: this client is making a poncho and
Below: this client was the very first person who learned how to knit here, who graduated, who is now working, and continues to knit.

Look at the beautiful crocheted blankets. Below: this client is making this "her" twelve step blanket. The middle being chaos, and all the colors reaching out the "twelve steps" - and it was not finished when I took the photo.

Above: I am working on a blanket. Each row is a different yarn. You leave the yarn several inches at each end of the row for the fringe. It looks way harder than it is. It is a great way to combine many yarns and now several clients are beginning this project as well. And Toby, my yorkie, loves being the model in his bed!

The words of the day: Welcome to our many new clients!

Our communty has changed again. Many clients have completed their six months it seems all at the same time and we have had many new admissions all at once. We have several women who know how to crochet and they are teaching others and the knitters are busy teaching the crocheters to knit. We have lots of afghans being crocheted, handbags being felted, and shawls being created with bits and pieces of many yarns. We have received many boxes of beautiful yarn. I continue to pace how it is distributed by what it is being used for. Our clients are just beginning to learn about yarn: what is wool, what is acrylic, how to wash it, what felting means. We are careful that the yarn gets used appropriately and creatively. Thanks to all for the inspiring letters and notes to us. I read them during the knitting group and it is wonderful for all of us here.

March 16, 2007

Our client just learned how to increase to make a triangle/shawl for her granddaughter.
Zelphia brought this intarsia blanket she started a long time ago and just picked up again as an inspiration to our knitters. One (our outpatient client) couldn't wait to get home to get started on it. I will have a photo this Friday.
Zelphia, our volunteer, is showing more projects to inspire our knitters.
Leslie brought this lacy scarf with little bow yarn fringe t show the women.
This is one of our newest clients learning to knit.
When our client saw this yarn she was reminded of her high school colors and wanted to make a scarf and clutch bag.
This is a felted bag in progress.
One of our clients made this shrug!
This is the twelve step blanket with twelve different colors of simply soft made with size 8 needles and knitted over our client's first three months here.

Finally figuring out short rows (above)!

Here is a little clutch for a grandchild. Below is a red shawl in progress made with red chenille.

The word for the week: Inspiration
Many people from many places have been destashing and along with beautiful yarn and supplies, our clients have received good wishes and encouragement. Each week I read the notes during the knitting group. We heard from someone in recovery who inspired all of us. We also took some time to think about the women and men who used some of the donated needles and yarn before they got to their new owners. More photos are on the way!

March 9, 2007

Many of our clients have completed their six months and there seems to be a pretty complete turnover of new clients coming in. There has been a lot of teaching going on! The good wishes mean so much to the women. They love hearing from everyone who has sent packages to us. The books are an inspiration with so many new ideas.

Here is Amy! She came again to help out and finshed her prayer shawl. She passed it around for everyone to send good wishes and energy to her friend who will recieve it! Amy is passing through on her way back home, and we are so grateful to have her volunteer here while she is here.
Our client has been here three weeks and is designing clutch bags!
This is a shawl made by the woman who knitted the 12-step striped blanket.
more clutch bags by a new knitter.
This is a scarf with fancy fur.
This scarf has a double row so that it can be tucked inside. Did I explain that correctly?


This is a short row scarf - her first. She is getting it and below she is designing a handbag with a handle.

Here is Toby my little yorkie wrapped in a scarf that I am almost finished knitting!
this client is trying very small needles to create different designs using thin yarn. She has made belts and scarves. She is having fun watching the colors in the yarn make their own stripes.
here is Devon modeling a hat that did not use circulars. Devon works here.
above and below, our graduates who keep coming back to teach others and stay connected with our knitting group. Above, the circular shawl on tiny double pointed needles and below a scarf with bits and pieces of fun fur. These are her specialty!

March 2, 2007

The word of the week: Gratitude

It is heartwarming to receive all of the good wishes for our clients who are in the process of changing their lives. Because of the podcast (Brenda Dayne Cast-On Podcast) and our volunteer Abby who wrote to her about us, knitters have heard about us from far and wide. I read all of the notes to the women during our knitting group and talk about where each package came from. It provides an opportunity to learn about different parts of the country and further-- Australia, Canada, India. It is also a great opportunity to learn about different yarns; e.g., what is wool, where does it come from, acrylics, felting, etc. We have received books and magazines giving the women ideas! And needles and stitch markers. I hope that everyone who has sent yarn can see some of it being used in some of the client projects. How does it work: I keep odds and ends and a supply of various yarns out all of the time for clients to pick through giving everyone the opportunity to create and combine whatever. But along with that each knitter has a project going on; a washcloth, a scarf, a blanket, a shawl and that is separate and ensures that each person can actually complete a project and have enough yarn. Here are some of the latest photos:

our client has 12 stripes of simply soft and calls it her 12 step blanket!
volunteer, megan, got this moda dea cache yarn on special and it felted beautifully!
Amy our social work intern with her blanket and a hat.
Our client knitted this fancy black glittery scarf.
our client made this hat and scarf.

Leslie, our volunteer, worked on herNoro yarn Einstein coat while on vacation. She is almost done.
This is the beginning of a simply soft shawl. Our client is thrilled to be working up a triangle.
We have a client who is working on her crocheted blanket.
Zelphia, our volunteer, working on her latest project. Today she taught one of our clients to make a circular shawl on tiny double pointed needles. I will have a photo of her progress next week.
A collection of clutches by one of our new clients. She is naming them as well. The pink one is called bubble gum!
Welcome back Amy, who is working on a prayer shawl for a friend and explained to our clients what a prayer shawl means.
Lucia is working on a mohair sweater and it will be beautiful. The clients are able to see how beautiful mohair knits and how a sweater is made. Below is a scarf by one of our clients. She was thrilled to use large and small needles creating a different pattern.