September 21, 2007

During today's group we continued to talk about what fun we had at the Knit Out last Sunday. One of our clients learned the broomstick stitch and is making a scarf along with teaching the rest of us how to do this. Many clients have been knitting wool handbags to be felted. We have been building in the strap on both sides of the bag joining the two straps with the kitchener stitch. And I, after watching a tutorial on line and trying many, many, many times, am finally able to teach it! I had a computer set up during this group so that everyone at the same time could share in seeing our map online and see all of the places that have visited our blog. Thanks to everyone for the good wishes. It is inspiring.

Our clients are getting ready for the soon to be cool weather and are making scarves and headbands both for themselves and for their families. Many tell me how excited they are to be able to teach their children when they visit on weekends.


Above: a first project, a washcloth. Each new knitter gets to knit their very own washcloth!
This is the broomstick stitch that our client learned at the knit out. And below is a bag to be felted with the pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness.


Above: one of our clients learned flowers at the knit out! She wants to try felting them and use them as embellishments on her felted handbag. And below: this is a scarf that Zelphia, our volunteer, knitted.

Lucia is working on a sweater and Zelphia is working on socks on circulars.
Above: a red fun fur scarf modelled by our client who has been knitting for about three weeks now! Below: Leslie felted her sweater turned handbag.

Above: Welcome Lisa another grad school intern here at IH. She has started her very first project, a washcloth, of course. Below: getting ready for winter!

This yarn is beautiful and our client is making a blanket for her little daughter. Below: very fancy yarn that my camera didn't really capture.

Above and below: more scarves.

Above and below: our handbag collection in all stages of development.

Sept 16 Phila Knit Out and Sept 14, 2007

I have combined the photos from the Philadelphia Knit Out and our regular knitting group. We all went to the Knit Out on September 16. Lucia wrote about it prior to the event and I have included it below.

And I want to thank everyone for your interest in what we are doing here. I will write back to everyone who has questions and I will soon have a direct email link on this blog to make things easier!
Two bags before felting. You can see the finished results further down.

Welcome Michelle! Michelle is one of our new student intern this year. She is going to join us in our knitting group too!
The pink bag was felted and our client was so happy to use it at the Knit Out.
Bye Devon! Devon is leaving IH and we will miss her. Here is is modelling a just finished scarf.
Above: a shawl to wear for the knit out. And below: a bag our client is showing the group that she saw in a magazine. We then began talking about how to add designs using needle felting. We are going to try it!

Above: a new knitter making a scarf for her mom.
Below, Leslie, a volunteer showing us a handbag she is making from a partially finished sweater.

Fun fur seems to be the in thing right now for our clients.

Above, the blanket where every row is a different yarn in shades of blue. Below: Marcella our volunteer came in with some very cool knitted jewelry.




The black bag felted a little more than we thought but it has turned into an evening bag!
Here is a baby hat and blanket above. Below, a blanket to be donated to the Knit Out cause.

Lucia is teaching one of our clients how to knit socks (above). Below: Lucia is working on a sweater for her husband and Zelphia is working on socks. Both Lucia and Zelphia come each week to help with the knitting group.

Below: Megan at the Knit Out displaying her bucket bag!

Above: Our client gave a scarf and headband to her daughter who is modeling it.
Above: Zelphia at the Knit Out (of course volunteering) along with Leslie Pope of Twisted Sistah Beads and Fibers.
Above: My son came to the Knit Out. Of course, he knits. Below: some of the donated knitted items brought to the knit out.

This is Gwen who organizes the Knit Out. We had a great time connecting with other knitters and learning and seeing some of things created by other knitters and crocheters.
The bag felted beautifully!

And Lucia wrote this article about the Knit Out:

My thoughts on the Knit Out

By Lucia Herndon

Try to explain the Knit Out to non-needleworkers. Tell them it's a gathering of knitters and crocheters who spend an afternoon enjoying their craft and the company of like-minded people. If you get a blank stare, don't be surprised. It's hard to describe what goes on and the feeling generated by the event to those who have not experienced it.

The Knit Out is a community event -- community in the best sense of the word. People who enjoyed needle crafts come together to share time. Bonds of friendship are quickly formed, magically formed. Small groups become large groups as room is found for the newcomer. Its like attending a fair, looking at the exhibits. Its just that the exhibits are the people themselves and the items they've made and sometimes wear.

Typically there is an opportunity to make things and donate them to a charitable cause. Last year, needlesmiths shared their talent, skill and passion with District Attorney Lynne Abraham's Urban Genesis Program. Through this project police and court officers provide cuddly handcrafted blankets and huggable stuffed animals (teddy bears) and toys to children found in tough situations such as domestic disputes, family violence or crisis situations. When the word went out and the donations came in, the drop-off table was groaning under the weight of knitted and crocheted contributions.

I am amazed at the quality of work that has gone into some of the items. Intricate stitching, dazzling color work. Imagination has taken the small simple pieces and turned them into extraordinary craft masterpieces. All this work, all this effort, all this time and talent used -- and given away – freely, selflessly, lovingly -- for children they will never know or see.

Yes, I am amazed, but not surprised. I have discovered that is the nature of most knitters and crocheters to be generous to a fault with their skills. It was evident in the way total strangers would sit down together to discuss techniques. It was in the way you could ask a fellow crocheter about the sweater she was wearing, as if she was an old friend. It was in the friendly freedom that allowed spontaneous conversation, sharing and laughter.

While there, I ran across several women who participate in a residential treatment program for alcohol and drug abuse. Their social worker had introduced them to therapeutic knitting and the Knit Out was a much anticipated event. A Sunday afternoon away from the routine. A Sunday with other needlesmiths. “We're just like everyone else,” one woman confided in me. For once, she was not defined by her addiction. No explanations needed. No credentials required. Only the shared passions, interests, and enthusiasm for all things knit and crochet.

That is the Knit Out at its best. Finding common links, ignoring differences. An opportunity to commune with strangers as though they are friends. A chance to meet-up

with old friends and the likely possibility of making new ones.

In a few short hours, it was over. People packed up their yarn and hooks, their instruction books and needles. The event was (and still is) free; no one made a penny from their participation.

But we all went home richer for the experience, the interaction, and the camaraderie. For the time we were all joined by our common thread -- yarn, actually -- the work of our hands are an indication of the working of our hearts.

Let's gather together for another wonderful Sunday afternoon, away from our regular routines for a fun filled time of giving, sharing and camaraderie. The sixth annual Philadelphia Area Knit Out & Crochet Event will be held at The Pennsylvania Convention Center, located at 1101 Arch Street, [between Market & Race], in the heart of Center City Philadelphia, across from The Reading Terminal Market, on Sunday, Sept. 16^th from noon to 5 p.m. Bring your yarn, and a ball or two to share and swap with others, needles, hooks, books and your latest needlecraft project. We're all going to have another great time together.

See you there!

September 8, 2007

Happy Birthday Lucia! She finished her purple mohair sweater and is showing it to us above. Below, one of our clients is modeling it so Lucia can see it on. Everyone loved it and the cables are beautiful. It was a great example for all of us in persisting with a project and finishing it-- especially while working with mohair through the hot summer in Philadelphia. Look at the results!

Lucia is showing the clients a top that she knitted.
Here is a bag in the process and will be felted when it is tall enough.
Above and below: the favorite afghan pattern here at IH. The clients figured out this pattern and teach it to each other and it carries on through all of our communities over the years!



This is Leslie, one of our volunteers who has been knitting all of her life. She is showing the clients a sweater she made years ago to give an example of how she used bits and pieces of her favorite leftover yarn to create a design. We are going to try that here! Well, maybe not in a sweater yet but definitely in scarves!
Above: This is a first project by a brand new knitter. She picked it up right away. Everyone starts out with a washcloth for their first project here.
Here is a beginner knitter working hard on learning how to knit.
Above and below: Zelphia finished that pentagon bag that I posted before. it is also called a bucket bag. It doesn't have the straps yet but we were all very impressed!
Zelphia is working on another one of her intricate shawls! She is a great example for us of the beautiful things that can be made with tiny needles.

Below: This client is having such fun making felted bags. She is learning how to bind off and put the straps in just the right place. We like how they turn out when you go up the sides rather than binding off and making separate i cords. As we make more and more bags here, the clients figure out ways to be more creative.

Below: two just felted bags: the first with Toby is the purple bag that our client has worked on for weeks using cascade and other yarns mixed in. My camera didn't pick up the beautiful colors that are really there! The second bag our client knitted up in a week and used shades of green - many different yarns from many different places felting many different ways but creating a one of a kind bag!


Today we had a party for Lucia and Megan during this group for their birthdays. Megan, our volunteer, is now an employee here so we will be seeing more of her during the week and not just on Fridays. Congratulations Megan. And Lucia finished her purple mohair sweater (still needs blocking and buttons) but the knitting part is done! Congratulations Lucia. Today Lucia taught one of our almost ready for discharge knitters how to knit socks and they had a private knitting lesson. Our client is thrilled to be using four needles and seemed to be doing quite well with it. I will photo this project next week. Somehow I missed it probably because of a digital camera glitch that happened as i ran out of space on my memory chip!

We received some wonderful letters by snail mail and email and i read them at the beginning of group. Thanks to everyone. It means so much to the clients here.