Three Little Fishies

While working on my many helmetliners, I would ponder what I could do with that little bit of left over yarn.

Fortunately, my new friend Melissa has come to the rescue!

Tesselating Fish!

You knit and knit and knit your fish.

Then you put them together to form an afghan!
Cute, Clever, and definitely a Stashbuster!

Finished, Fulled, and Fabulous!

Here are photos of the finished Mini Skull and Crossbones Tote from Hello Yarns.

I was worried about my new front load High Efficiency Washer fulling the bag. I put it in on Heavy Duty with some of Brad's jeans, and WOW! It really felted down.

The black fibers have intermixed with the white, but I like it that way.

Brad, on the otherhand, said it looked better before. He was just being a big crab this morning.

I'm going to start work on the Suki Shawl with my friend Melissa. We've gotten the pattern ordered from Ina Braun at Tante Sophie avait un chien, and are searching for the yarn. It calls for 6 skeins of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Superchunky. We're trying to find the best deal for it. Let me know if anyone has any ideas.
Melissa and I keep finding projects we want to work on. I need to work on some helmetliners, too!

The KAL is behind on our goal of 78 for October. We only have 46, I think. I know that the group has knit more than that, but the poll closes on Monday, and I need to do some knitting!

What Should I Be For Halloween?

You should be Wonder Woman You love dressing up for Halloween because it lets you be creative and show people your retro taste in TV. The best part of Halloween for you is the candy, and you definitely look forward to it every year. Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

And How Funny is This?

My blog is worth $0.00.
How much is your blog worth?

I'm A Flapper!

You should have grown up during the twenties You are cool, sophisticated and hip – even by today’s standards. You like things before they are considered cool, and you like them long afterwards. Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

I knew this already. Zelda Fitzgerald is my real life heroine, Daisy Fay Buchanan is my fave literary heroine and I Love Jay Gatsby. Funny because the Weather Pixie that I selected was a flapper, too!

Thanks, Dani! I stole this from you.

Thanks also for your comments.

The Mini Tote is currently stuffed with plastic grocery bags and is drying. I'll post pics tomorrow.

Mini Skull and Crossbones Tote

This is the beginning of the Mini Skull and Crossbones tote from Hello Yarns.

Here it is finished, but not yet fulled.

It is currently in the washer, so I'll post the fulled photos when it's ready!

With this tote and Yorick, I'm ready for Halloween.

New Shipping Address for Helmetliners

There is a new address to ship helmetliners to:

Helmetliners
P.O. Box 236
Auburn, IL 62615

Yorick and the Hardwood Floors

I had quite a time working on Yorick this weekend, when my DH was doing this. He's putting hardwood floors in our entire upstairs. All by himself. So, my guilty conscious wouldn't let me knit while he was so busy working!

Fortunately, he took a nap later in the day, and I was able to knit away on Yorick, and get him fulled.

This is the finished scarf! Pretty cool!

Alas Poor Yorick, His Progress Is Slow

Here is one side of Yorick completed. I've finished the skull of the other side and just need to knit the scarf part.

Then it's the Skull Tote from Hello Yarn.

I'll be Halloweened out, and my Helmetliner break will be over.

Hope to felt tomorrow!

Cincinnati Knitting Christmas Tree Project

This is one of the coolest ideas I've ever seen!

What:
A Completely Knitted Christmas Tree

Made of slippers for branches
With ornaments made of premie hats and socks
To be displayed in the heart of Downtown Cincinnati during Christmas
And then all items will be donated
To the U.S. Military Hospital in Germany and to local NICU units.


What is needed:

1000 slippers
Premie Hats
Premie Socks


What Can Knitters Do?

Knit slippers

Knit premie hats

Knit premie socks

Poor Yorick's Progress #1

Yorick

I am working on Yorick, one of the surprises from Knitty.

I saw this and knew I had to take a helmetliner break and knit this up really quick. I'm using Paton's Classic Merino in Winter White.

Two Thank You Notes for Helmetliners

These make me happy in my heart! My husband thought it was so cool that I got thank you notes from these two servicemen. I do, too. I attach a little note to each helmetliner with washing instructions, and I've included my email address. I had hoped I'd get a response, but really didn't expect to.

Here are the notes! (I've removed their names for their privacy)

Dear Susan ~

I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank you for sending the hats to us over here. They say that the best quality comes in something sent from the heart, and I truely believe that. You would be amazed how much use we will all get out of them over hear...many people, when they think of Iraq, only think of it being hot. But, here in October it is already getting very cold at night, so I can only imagine what it will feel like in January and February...we will put them to excellent use. I just know that, regardless of how busy we are over here, it is important to express our gratitude for the things, thoughts, and prayers that you and everyone else at home send our way. I just feel bad that all we have time to send is an email back in thanks, I wish there could be more. Technology, though, has made our lives so much easier over here. My family hasn't received a hand written letter yet :) But it allows us to keep in contact with folks at home in bulk rather than on a relay basis. Anyway, I didn't mean to break off on a tangent. Please just know that this thank you comes straight from the heart of all of us over here. We are proud to be in service. Thank you and God bless!

Sincerely,

T***** A*****

Hi, my name is Sgt T** W*****, and I just wanted to write, and tell you how much we appreciate the face and neck gaiters. Everyone here is very appreciative of everything that you, as well everyone has been doing for us. We all understand how precious time is for everyone back at home, which is why I personally would like to thank you for taking the time to help us out. The weather has been pretty hot, but here shortly, the temperatures will be dropping off quite steep. The gaiters will be put to very good use for all of us. Once again, I thank you for supporting us while we are away. We truly appreciate the time and effort you have given us, and only hope that we can be the best, for everyone back at home.

Thank You-----SGT W*****

This is what makes this all worthwhile!

Knowing that we can help!

Helmetliners Step by Step

To knit a helmetliners, you need:

Approximately 175 yards of 100% wool yarn in appropriate colors (black, charcoal, brown, tan, olive)

* Helmetheads KAL has an extensive list of yarns that work.

US 6 16" circular needles
US 8 16" circular needles
US 8 double point needles
One stitch marker

Directions:

Based on pattern designed by Bonnie Long, Knit Wits, 3419 Chatham Road, Springfield, IL 62704 (217) 698-6100

and Short Row Revision by Bonnie Evans

NECK:
With US 6 needles, cast on 84 stitches loosely.

Place marker. Join in the round. Knit (K2P2) ribbing for:
5" inches for the Original Helmetliner Pattern
or
4 1/2 " for the Short Row Revision Pattern.

Short Row Revision:

Using the larger needles knit 32 stitches and leave them on the larger needle for later. You will have 52 stitches on your smaller needle and will begin knitting back and forth on them for 12 short rows. On the last row, you will K2, P2 across through the last stitch on the smaller needle, picking up the wraps as you come to them, and knitting them together with the stitch beside them.

Leave these 52 stitches on the smaller needle to be worked later.

This is the completed ribbing for Short Row Revision.

To Make HAT Portion

Original Pattern:

With US 8 needles, knit 32 stitches off of smaller needle. (Leave the remaining 52 stitches on the smaller needle.) Cast on an additional 59 stitches for a total of 91 stitches on the larger needles. Place marker, join in the round, and Knit even for 4".

Short Row Revision:

With larger needle, knit the 32 stitches on that needle. Cast on 59 additional stitches, place marker, join in the round, and knit even for 4".

Shaping the crown:

After knitting 4", begin shaping the crown by decreasing.

1st Decrease Row: *Knit 11, K2 tog*, repeat to end of round.

Next Row: Knit even. (84 sts)

2nd Decrease Row: *Knit 10, K2tog*, repeat to end of round.

Next Row: Knit even. (77 sts)

3rd Decrease Row: *Knit 9, K2tog*, repeat to end of round.

Next Row: Knit even. (70 sts)

Continue decreases as established.

Change to DPN when necessary. Continue decreases in this manner until you get to K2, K2tog. After this, decrease every round until...
7 stitches remain.
Cut yarn 8-9" long, feed through remaining stitches,

and weave in on the wrong side. The hat portion is now completed. Ribbing Around the Face:

Using the smaller needle with 52 stitches on it, pick up an additional 60 sts for a total of 112 sts around the face.

Place a marker, join in the round, and (K2P2) for 1".

For the SRR pattern, you will pick the wraps on the right side and knit together with the stitch next to them on the first row of face ribbing.

On the last row of ribbing, knit as follows:

(K2, P2tog) 2x; K2, P2 over the next 34 sts, ending with a K2; P2tog, K2, P2tog; K2, P2, K2; P2tog, K2, P2tog; K2, P2 over next 42 sts, ending with a K2; P2tog, K2, P2tog; K2, P2.

Bind off in ribbing pattern and weave in tail.

I am mohair

You are Mohair.You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with
others, doing your share without being too
weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely
refuse to change your position once it is set,
but that's okay since you are good at covering
up your mistakes.

What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by

My purchases today

Local Yarn Shops in the Golden Isles

I went to 2 yarn shops today. One of them was The Beaded Lizard in Brunswick. I got some Nature Spun in Latte. Then I went to Fuzzy Mabel. I got some K1C2 Parfait Solids in Jet and Loden, and some Araucania Nature Wool in Peat. Lovely! I need to get the Aruacania wound into a cake, but I forgot to.

I am interchangeable

You are interchangeable.Fun, free, and into everything, you've got every
eventuality covered and every opportunity just
has to be taken. Every fiber is wonderful, and
every day is a new beginning. You are good at
so many things, it's amazing, but you can
easily lose your place and forget to show up.
They have row counters for people like you!

What kind of knitting needles are you?
brought to you by

I am a Knitting Guru

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting
and do it all the time. While finishing a piece
is the plan, you still love the process, and
can't imagine a day going by without giving
some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation
involves leaving ample space for the stash and
supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn
ends and you begin.http://marniemaclean.com/

What Kind of Knitter Are You?
brought to you by

How to Knit a Helmetliner...Part Deux...A work in Progress

I seem to be missing some photos. So these are your steps. When you finish your ribbing, take your size 8 needles and knit across 32 stitches. Leave your size 6 needles on the ribbing. You will use them later.

K2 P2 for 5". Knit Short Rows if desired.

The above photo shows completed ribbing with short rows.

Knit across those 32 stitches on your 8's. Cast on 59 more stitches.

Join in the round and knit 4 inches.

Begin decreases.

Change to DPN when necessary.

Continue decreases until 7 stitches remain.

Run yarn through remaining seven stitches.

Weave in.

Using your Size 6 needles, pick up 60 stitches along the cap.

Join and K2P2 for 1 inch.

Decrease according to the pattern, and bind off.

The completed project.

Photobucket

This is a test post from Photobucket.com

Knitting Needles

I recently won an auction at Herrschners for a set of Bamboo knitting needles. I received them yesterday (great customer service!) and was looking at the needle conversion chart. The size 6 needles were 4.25mm.

All of my other size 6 needles are 4.00mm.

Why is there no standardization of knitting needles in the United States?

I guess I'll need to learn the metric system after all!

1550 Marines Need Helmet Liners

The following is a post from Helmetheads KAL from Linda Swinford of Operation Helmetliner.


Dear Knitters,I have a request from the Marines for 1,550 helmetliners in black or brown.They deploy in Nov. How many do you think KAL can do? I don't know whetherto commit to 40 for a platoon, 160 for a company or the 1,550 for abattalion. It's difficult to know that we have Marines who are cold becausethey don't have helmetliners.Let me know your thoughts.Tnx.Linda


It would be great if anyone out there could help. We think the KAL can do 160. We need the help of all knitters to help these Marines.

Helmetliners

I started knitting helmetliners after reading about them in Cast On magazine. So far, I've knit 10. I wanted to do something for our troops. I had lots of questions about knitting them, so I started a Knit Along on Yahoo Groups called Helmetheads KAL. It is a great group of knitters with a lot of support for anyone who wants to knit helmetliners for our troops.

We have knit 105 helmetliners so far. I am so excited.

Fuzzy Mabel

My mom, Pokey, went to a new yarn shop on the Island (St. Simons) called Fuzzy Mabel. It's an online yarn shop with a brick and mortar shop as well. Pokey went in to get her stuff for making helmetliners. They didn't have any bamboo needles, so she ended up not getting anything, yet. I happened to win a set of Takumi bamboos (16" circulars) on an auction at Herrschner's, so I'm going to give her my 6 & 8 16" circulars that I already have, and I'll have my new ones. I don't even use the bamboos to knit helmetliners. I prefer my Addi Turbos. Pokey doesn't like the slipperiness of them, and prefers the bamboos.

I want to get her started knitting on these things, so she can spread the word! Her friend Bonita is going to knit some, too.

I'm going down to the Island next week, so I'll check out Fuzzy Mabel, and see what it's all about.

How To Knit A Helmetliner...A Work in Progress

This is my first feeble attempt at instructions for knitting a helmetliner for Operation Helmetliner.

Using 100% wool, (This is Paton's Classic in Grey Mix) and US 6 16" circular needles, cast on 84 stitches.






Join in the round.












Add a stitch marker and K2, P2 for :
4 1/2" for Helmetliner with Short Rows or
5" for the Original Helmetliner.