Knit-a-While

Spending Time in the Knitting Hoosegow

By Ida | Published: February 6, 2010

So, remember when I mentioned I had an attack of startitis? Well, as you saw in the photo I posted, the Lily Pad was a complete success. Of course, now Eddie seems to have taken control of the blankie, so I may need to make another.

Do you know what this is? Yes, it’s the storage bag that comes with Namaste bags. I’ve mentioned in a previous post that I’ve adopted it as a project bag, especially since I seem to be more prone to startitis than to finishitis. Well, this storage bag has been pressed into service for another purpose. It is now the Knitting Hoosegow. So what did these projects do to warrant a time out? They didn’t

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behave. It’s as simple as that. They didn’t act like good projects in progress should. I had frogged a shawlette to cast on the Milkweed Shawl . Three or four rows in, I noticed I made an error, so I frogged it and started over. I was so happy with how it was going. It lulled me into a false sense of security. It convinced me that the project would be smooth going.

Deceptor!

When I got to the end of the second or third row of Chart C, my stitch count no longer matched. Eek. I’m guessing that I missed a yarnover or two. I say “guessing,” because I can’t find the error. So, after looking and looking for the boo-boo, I put Milkweed on trial. It lost and was sentenced to time in the Knitting Hoosegow.

As you might recall, I also started my first Clapotis 5. This time, the yarn is the culprit. Seriously. It made me think it would make a beautiful scarf. And it probably will–if I can stand to finish the scarf. This is one of those times when I probably should have used wooden/bamboo needles. You see, the Ruca Multy (from Araucania Yarns) is made of 100% sugarcane. When I started using it, I was concerned about its propensity to split. I should have been concerned about its tendency to slip off the needles. I was afraid that frustration would lead to mistakes, so the Clapotis is now the cell mate of the Milkweed Shawlette.

So, now’s the perfect time to finish some of my UFOs. Yeh, right. I cast on another project, using yarn from my stash. HPIM0121 This will be a pair of mittens or fingerless mitts; it depends on my attention span. The yarn is the No Man’s Land colorway, one of Sugarbeestudio ’s Politically Incorrect Yarns and Fibers. So far, so good. The yarn is behaving and, probably since I’ve knit this pattern many times before, I’ve not run into any difficulties. Of course, I’m just past the cuff, so there is still a chance that Milkweed and Clapotis will have a third “roommate.” But, I’m not going to dwell on that. I’m certain that this project will be a winner. I will be victorious. It will not defeat me. (Maybe.)

A New Season of Knitting Daily TV

Our local PBS station premiered the new season of Knitting Daily TV this morning. Why they insist on running the show at 7 a.m. Saturday mornings is beyond me, but at least they carry the show. I’ve had issues with the program through the seasons, but I still watch. After all, it’s about knitting.

I had been reading the new season hype, and this season looked promising. And, I must admit that I enjoyed this first episode. It featured Eunny Jang, showing us how to fix errors and overcome one of many knitters’ fears: knitting something to find it doesn’t fit. Shay Pendray interviewed Adina Klein on location about testing new techniques on baby items. There was no apparently obvious reason why the interview was conducted on location. There was no reference to anything going on around them; they stood behind a table, talking and showing the items (which I really liked, incidentally). Adina Klein has been interviewed in the studio many times. I can only guess that the interview was conducted outside the studio because of time and availability. And while I have no objection to on-location interviews in principle, please conduct them in a less-noisy location. It can be difficult to hear and understand what is being said when ambient noise is so loud.

One of the complaints knitters (not just me) have had over the past seasons of Knitting Daily TV is the frequent, unannounced appearance of other fiber arts on a show that, at least by its title, is supposed to be about knitting. This season, though the name of the program remains the same, there will be a segment called Crochet Corner. New this season is Kristin Omdahl of Red Heart Yarns, who is the host of that segment. She started Crochet Corner at the beginning: making a chain. This segment has the potential of being very helpful to those wanting to add crochet to their fiber love. I found it enjoyable, even though I know crochet basics, but I’m not sure I will be able to watch it. Omdahl has this habit of, well, the only thing I can relate it to is, sucking her teeth–loudly. Perhaps her mouth is dry. If so, I suggest she have a big glass of water before taping her segments. Yes, I found it that distracting.

The folks at Knitting Daily TV had lauded their new opening. I really looked forward to that possibility. First, the program begins by mentioning that the show has been sponsored by–and then lists a very long list of sponsors. If one didn’t know better, he or she could think they were getting in on the end of the program. Then, I’m sorry, but I find that theme music some of the worst I’ve ever heard. And to play it (loudly) while Eunny is introducing the show and again when she’s telling what will be on next week reeks of amateurish production quality. The only thing that has changed is the introduction of the hosts and the addition of a montage. That, of course, was made necessary because of host changes.

Despite these issues, I’ll still watch. Eunny Jang is the show’s strong point, and I’m not ashamed to say I’m a fan. I’ve learned a lot from her during the past seasons, and I look forward to continue to do so this season. Her segments are what keep me coming back Saturday morning after Saturday morning.

Posted in Reviews | Tagged Knitting Daily | 2 Comments

Fiber Friends Feed America

By Ida | Published: February 1, 2010

Did you know:

1. Nearly 1 in 5 Americans said they lacked the money to buy needed food at some point in 2009.
2. More than 38 million Americans—that’s 1 in 8—currently receive food stamps.
3. In the 4th quarter of 2009, 24.1 percent of families with children had experienced problems in being able to afford food.
4. Of the 100 largest metropolitan areas, 83 had food hardship rates of at least 15 percent.

Those are the findings of a Gallup survey, released January 26, 2010.

As readers of this blog and my posts on various social networking sites know by now, fighting hunger is one of my biggest causes. In fact, you’ll find links for Feeding America and Action Against Hunger on my sidebar. I’ve often suggested ways that you can help fight hunger in your area and around the world.

But, I want—need—to do more.

Over the past several weeks, two fiber friends and I have worked together to create something we hope will benefit those who must go hungry in the United States. You’ll be hearing a lot about Fiber Friends Feed America —F3America—in the weeks to come. And, we hope that you’ll be willing to help.

F3America’s first major fund-raiser will be an auction. Yes, you’ll be able to bid on fiber-related items and help feed the hungry. The exact dates of the online auction are still being considered, and you’ll be the first to know.

No individuals affiliated with the auction will be paid for their services. This means that all funds raised will be donated. The recipient organization for this auction is Feeding America 5. You can read about their work if you click on the link. Every dollar that we are able to contribute will help provide 9 pounds of food. Think of how much that will be appreciated by those in need. And you’ll be able to feed your fibery habit.

We’ve already contacted a few of you fiber folk and asked for auction donations. It should come as no surprise that everyone has said yes. There are still many individuals and companies to contact; the more the merrier. If you’d like to contribute to the auction, you don’t have to wait for us to contact you. Just send an e-mail to Fiber Friends Feed America at info@f3america.org. A complete list of contributors will be published on this blog as well as in Knitting Purls.

We hope that you will all want to participate in this and other projects we hope to have.

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

A Follower Shall I Be

By Ida | Published: January 29, 2010

For the most part, I tend to avoid trends. I still don’t have an iPhone, for example. OK, I do have a BlackBerry, but that’s different, and I did have the latest Apple launch marked on my calendar, and yes, I really want an iPad (despite its name). But when it comes to knitting, I’ve been mostly trend free. I’ve not knit a Girasole, though I don’t have anything against it or those who do. It’s beautiful, but it’s not me. But, I did decide to hop on the bandwagon and knit a shawlette. I picked a pattern, knit a few rows, and then discovered another shawlette pattern. So, I frogged that and am working on the Milkweed Shawl . I’m using Palette in Whirpool, which is the yarn that I was using for the original choice. (Incidentally, if you purchase the Milkweed Shawl pattern by January 31, it will benefit humanitarian efforts in Haiti.)

Now, another very popular pattern is the Clapotis 5, which is available for free on Knitty. I don’t dare venture a guess as to how many people have knit it. But, I’ve not been one of them. I’ve thought about it and even downloaded the pattern–multiple times, but that’s another story. Then, the other day, I was looking for a scarf pattern and came upon it again. So, I decided to start that one, too. Since one of my New Year’s goals is to knit from stash, I went stash diving to find enough of one color of yarn. I wanted to use Palette, but I didn’t have enough. But, I did find this:

HPIM0114 This is Ruca Multy from Araucania Yarns. It’s 100% sugar cane from Italy. I think I bought it originally for a lace shawl, which, for some reason, never got made. It’s incredibly soft, but it does seem to be a bit splitty. Anyway, it’s going to become a Clapotis. Now to come up with 18 stitch markers.

There are a lot of people with a Clapotis on their needles or about to be cast on. For some of us, it’s the first one. For others, well, let’s just say some are in double digits in their Clapotis creations. So, I decided to have a Clapotis KAL on the Knitting Purls group on Ravelry. If you’ve always wanted to knit one, or if you’re one who have knitted many, please come and join us. I’m sure some of us will have questions.

So, since I’m going to be knitting a Clapotis, does that make me a trend-following automaton? According to some, probably. But the fact of the matter is that it’s a beautiful scarf pattern. And why do we knit? So we can have something beautiful. Just because we may want to knit something many other people have does not make us unoriginal or nonthinkers. We’ve not necessarily drank the Flavor Aid (it wasn’t Kool-Aid, for crying out loud) or become a Stepford creation. We’re knitting something we like and invite you to do the same.

Book of Fair Isle Knitting

In case you haven’t noticed, there seems to be a lot of Fair Isle out there. I’ve heard several knitters say they’re finally going to take the plunge and knit something Fair Isle. When it comes to Fair Isle knitting, one person’s name frequently comes to mind: Alice Starmore. Someone gave me a Barnes and Noble gift certificate for my birthday, and I knew immediately that I was going to get her Book of Fair Isle Knitting. After all, when I talked to anyone about fair isle, they always told me I had to get that book.

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Now, I have to say that I have been disappointed in some books that people have told me are “must-haves” for knitters. Sadly, among them have been most Elizabeth Zimmerman books. I realize that borders on sacrilege among knitters, but it’s true for me. It’s a writing style thing.

I’m very happy to say that those who told me about Alice Starmore’s Book of Fair Isle Knitting were not wrong! She begins the book with a brief history of the style. The chapter on patterns and the pattern library are phenomenol. I especially love the peerie stitch patterns. These are perfect for smaller items or for embellishment on an item rather than an all-over pattern. The patterns are arranged by number of rows, which helps those designing their own items.

The color section can help one see how the world around them can lead to color selections for Fair Isle knitting projects. The technique section is unrivaled. She even makes steeking unscary. (Well, almost.) There are a few patterns, including ones for a tam, mittens, and gloves that I think I’ll be making. The book concludes with a chapter on designing your own Fair Isle project.

The photos are gorgeous. Techniques are explained thoroughly and clearly; the diagrams are actually large enough that one can see what is being demonstrated. Charts are easy to read and follow.

If you have any interest in knitting Fair Isle or in color, check out Alice Starmore’s Book of Fair Isle Knitting. (Thankfully, some of her books are being reprinted, so we don’t have to pay the $100+ some people are selling the originals for.) It will be a welcome addition to most knitting libraries, even if you only use it for the pattern dictionary. But, I think at least some of you will find the courage to tackle that first Fair Isle project after taking a look at her book.

Don’t forget, you have until January 31 to get your answer in for the latest Designer Discovery .

Posted in Reviews, contest | Tagged Alice Starmore, Clapotis, fair isle, scarves, shawls | 3 Comments

An FO and a New Book

By Ida | Published: January 26, 2010

The other day I had a serious–and I mean serious–attack of startitis. Oh, we have all gone through such things, but this was somewhat extreme even for me. I sat there and cast on 3 projects. I cast on a bed sock, a Lily Pad, and a shawlette. And, I’m using 3 different types of yarn. The bed sock is in DK weight, 100% cotton, the Lily Pad in some long-forgotten type and brand (though it is boucle), and I’m using fingering weight for the shawlette.

Last night I finished the Lily Pad. What’s a Lily Pad? It’s a pet blanket. You can get the free pattern here . I make and collect them for Lily’s Friends, a program of my foundation, The Lily M. Foundation, Inc. It is named after my late knitting buddy, Lily McMunster. Anyway, I put this project on rush. Last week, the toilet decided to overflow and spread into 2 rooms before I got the valve shut off. In my haste to sop up the water, I grabbed what was handy, which included the cats’ LilyPads. Well, most of them. All were saved and subsequently washed. Well, all except one.

Clarence lays claim to the newest Lily Pad

Clarence had taken over the very first blanket I ever knit. It was originally a lap blanket, but he decided it was for him. Well, he dragged that thing all over the house. He’d suck on one end and drag it between his legs. His favorite place to leave the blanket was behind my desk chair, which meant, of course, that it got caught in the wheels whenever I rolled back. No matter where I put it, he’d drag it into the office. Whenever I threatened to wash it, Clarence would throw a hissy fit. So, when it was used as a towel last week, it gave me the opportunity to finally get rid of it.

Cat parents will understand. The minute Clarence went looking for it, guilt hit me like a ton of bricks. Seriously. No, I mean really seriously. As if he didn’t have enough issues, I had burdened him with another: the loss of his beloved blanket. I immediately knew I had to remedy the situation, ergo, the casting on of the Lily Pad. There’s another benefit to knitting a Lily Pad, at least using the pattern I’ve posted under Patterns and which I use most often. It is absolutely mindless knitting. After the work stress of last couple of weeks, I really needed something like that.

Last night I finished the Lily Pad. And as you can see, it met with Clarence’s quick approval. I have been forgiven.

Not My Daughter

Most of the books I receive from publishers to review are pattern books. Which is just fine with me, by the way. But a few weeks ago, I received the novel Not My Daughter by bestselling author Barbara Delinsky. When I read the jacket flap, I couldn’t see why the publisher sent it to me for review. I used to review books for children and young adults, but not for adults.

Then I read the press release, and the reason became clear: some of the characters own a yarn-dyeing business.

46231758 Not My Daughter is the story of three high school girls who make the decision to get pregnant. Sound familiar? Yes, there is the influence of the real-life, Massachusetts high school girls who got pregnant (the pact that wasn’t a pact). The girls in this book are popular, talented, and good students. In other words, their decision to get pregnant makes sense to no one–other than, perhaps, themselves.

Though at first glance it may seem the girls are the focal point of this novel, they are not. The real main character is Susan Tate. Her daughter, Lily, is one of the pregnant teenagers. This is a situation to which Susan can relate, because she was unmarried and pregnant with Lily at the same age. She can relate, but that certainly doesn’t mean Susan is happy about the situation. And complicating the situation is that Susan is the principal of the high school the girls attend. As might be expected, the school board is incensed by what has happened, and Susan finds herself its scapegoat, dodging threats of termination for most of the book. And then there’s Rick, Lily’s father, who has an important presence in Susan’s and Lily’s lives. And Susan’s strained relationship with her family. . . . Well, you get the picture.

Dyers and knitters will relate to the fact that, when faced by stress and frustration, the main female characters turn to their dyepots or yarn and needles. The pregnancies put a strain on the women’s yarn business, but it’s also what helps to hold them together–both personally and as a group. Unlike many novels that feature knitting and yarn, that’s not the case in Not My Daughter. It’s incidental to the plot, not a major player. Still, yarn, knitting, and dyeing do make frequent appearances.

If you’re looking for something fun to read, and I realize “fun” might seem like a strange word for this subject, Not My Daughter might be a good choice. As I read it, I kept thinking that it was the perfect type of reading to be done in front of the fireplace, a winter storm outside, dressed in jammies and handknit socks and with a big mug of tea. Of course ocean waves crashing on the shore wouldn’t have been bad either. It grabbed and held my attention for about two-thirds of the novel. As it got closer to the end, I got the feeling the author was in “hurry-up” mode. Ends seemed to be wrapped up neatly and suddenly. With only a momentary–though potentially bad–moment, the girls seemed to experience no serious consequences of their actions. In retrospect, the book’s plot line is predicable–especially if you’ve seen even one Lifetime movie.

And in a clever marketing campaign, Mountain Colors Yarns 0 is producing the Eclipse colorway for spring.

Incidentally, I loved the fact that the dyers give knitting blogs much of the credit for their company’s success!

Posted in Reviews | 2 Comments

Errata/Erratum: It’s Still an Error

By Ida | Published: January 25, 2010

The other day I got an e-mail from a designer whose pattern I purchased months ago. The designer apologized because an error had been found in the pattern, and she attached a corrected version of the pattern. This was the second time in just a few weeks that I had received e-mails telling me about errors in patterns and that included new versions of the patterns. That’s one of the reasons I like getting patterns from designers. They have the ability–should they choose to use it–to contact those who have downloaded their patterns and let them know about errors.

There seems to be alot of errors going around these days, based at least on what I’m reading on many of the social networking sites. While many of the comments have been understanding, others have been down-right snarky. Sadly, I’ve found some of the snarkiest comments coming from seasoned designers with books of patterns under their belt. Uh, they’re not immune from pattern errors. When I first learned to knit socks, I bought a pattern book by a well-known designer of socks and other things. It had been recommended to me by many knitters, because it was extremely well illustrated, it gave instructions for 3 different knitting methods for every pattern, and it was well-written. When I kept running into problems, I thought it was my fault. I was destined to never knit socks. Well, I finally checked the publisher’s site for errata, it there were many corrections for the patterns in this book. And this was not this book’s first printing. Now I know to check for errata whenever I start a pattern.

I have a 20+-year career in publishing. I can tell you from that experience, it is almost impossible to publish a book or an article completely free of errors. And that’s with a book that goes through every publication stage. There are, however, things that can be done to minimize errors. Here are some designers might want to consider.

Provide a finished first draft of the pattern to testers and editors

This may seem obvious, and I thought it was standard procedure. But, I was communicating with a designer of a mystery project, who said she was designing as the clues were sent out. That might work if you’re doing squares that will be joined for an afghan or such, but I imagine it could open up a whole can of worms for other types of projects.

Engage test knitters

You know what you want your finished project to look like, so it’s easy to overlook errors and mentally–and almost unconsciously–make the adjustments in the pattern to get what you want. A test knitter is going at the pattern “blind,” so he or she has to take the pattern at its face value. They can provide you with invaluable help and feedback.

Usually, the test knitter will use yarn in his or her stash. If you want it tested using a specific yarn, please provide it.

I’ve mentioned before that I don’t think knitter’s should get caught up in experience levels, but they do have their place. If you’re labeling your pattern beginner or easy, make certain it really is. Have your patterns test knit by knitters of various skill levels. Here are the levels as published by the Craft and Yarn Council:

Skill levels for knitting
1	Beginner	Projects for first-time knitters using basic knit and purl stitches. Minimal shaping.
2	Easy	Projects using basic stitches, repetitive stitch patterns, simple color changes, and simple shaping and finishing.
3	Intermediate	Projects with a variety of stitches, such as basic cables and lace, simple intarsia, double-pointed needles and knitting in the round needle techniques, mid-level shaping and finishing.
4	Experienced	Projects using advanced techniques and stitches, such as short rows, fair isle, more intricate intarsia, cables, lace patterns, and numerous color changes.

Involve a tech editor
A tech editor and a test knitter do not do the same things. Though that might seem obvious, there is a lot of confusion about these tasks. The tech editor will not knit the entire project, though he or she might knit a section or two. The tech editor will check your math, provide feedback about yarn selection (for example, will it work with the needles, techniques, and desired outcome), edit the pattern for sense and correctness, and make sure sizing, etc., comply with industry standards. And if the pattern is part of a book or collection of patterns, the tech editor will check for consistency between patterns.

A tech editor should be well versed in yarns, techniques, and industry standards.

Proofread the finished pattern
After the pattern has been edited, and when you think it’s in its final form, proofread it. And have someone else proofread it as well. Again, you know what you want it to say, so your eye and mind will likely automatically correct minor errors.

Before you think that this will cost you money you don’t have, there are some who will do this work for you for free. Well, it might cost you a copy of the finished pattern and/or an acknowledgment, but that’s a small price to pay for customer satisfaction. There are some groups on Ravelry for tech editors and test knitters.

A Word to Knitters

Yes, it is extremely frustrating to come upon an error in a pattern. And yes, you should expect the same level of professionalism whether the pattern was free or you had to pay, or if it was a standalone pattern downloaded on line or from a slickly produced book.

That being said, the simple fact of the matter is that the design and publishing process involves humans. And where there are humans, there is the potential for errors. It’s a simple fact of life. When you run across an error, be sure to let the designer or publisher know. There’s no reason to be rude about it, and the truly professional designer and publisher will welcome the opportunity to make a correction.

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

I’m Here, I’m Here

By Ida | Published: January 20, 2010

Don’t ya just hate when life gets in the way of doing what you really want to do? That’s what has happened to me lately. I’m a freelance publishing-type person, and I have spent the last 10 days or so editing what is most likely the worst manuscript ever written. It was not written in English, and the author’s idea of translation was to run it through Google Translate. That was so much a fail. No, it was a FAIL.

Anyway, it’s finished, and though I have 2 more assignments due this week, I feel I can take some time to get caught up on empire-building type things. Oh, and maybe some sleep, too.

Thank you, Thank you

It’s been said time and again, and it’s true: knitters are a generous group of people. When I checked about 30 minutes ago, knitters had donated more than $800,000 to MSF/Doctors Without Borders as part of the Yarn Harlot’s Knitters Without Borders. We even got a shout-out on Twitter from the MSF.

And designers, thank you for being so generous. There are now 70 pages of patterns on Ravelry for which some or all of the proceeds will go to help Haiti. Check it out . It’s a great way to build your pattern stash and contribute to a wonderful cause.

There are many organizations doing wonderful work in Haiti and would do wonderful and admirable things with whatever amount you can donate. But sadly, there are also scammers, trying to take advantage of the generous natures of individuals who truly want to help. The best way to help make sure you’re contributing to a charity that will use contributions efficiently is to deal with well-known, established ones. Some news organizations, such as CNN, have posted a list of charities on their websites. You can check out a charity on Charity Navigator . Among other things, you’ll find out how the organization uses its contributions. And why is this important? A charity that spends 60% of its donations on administrative costs is likely not being run efficiently, meaning help is probably not going where the donors want it to go.

What am I going to do with all this sock yarn; I don’t have that many feet

So, are you like me? Do you have bins and bins of sock yarn? Have you seldom met a sock yarn you didn’t like. Do you cringe when the theme music to Hoarders comes on? (OK, sock yarn doesn’t count as stash, so you can’t hoard it–right?)

Several people in my Knitting Purls group on Ravelry love the KALs. So, we’ve started another one: What am I going to do with all this sock yarn, I don’t have that many feet. Basically, it’s a KAL for any project using sock yarn–except socks. You can find the details here . I hope you’ll join us.

Designer Discovery

That whole life thing delayed my update of the KnittingQ(tm) Designer Discovery contest page. I have now posted the answer to Week 2 and the clues for Week 3.

Posted in KnittingQ | Tagged Doctors Without Borders, KAL, Knitters without Borders, Knitting Purls, KnittingQ, MSF, Yarn Harlot | Leave a comment

A Quick Update

By Ida | Published: January 16, 2010

If you want to help those affected by the earthquake in Haiti in a knitting/crocheting way, check out the patterns on Ravelry that have been tagged Help for Haiti . You can get some wonderful patterns from generous designers and help those in need.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Thank You

By Ida | Published: January 14, 2010

The generosity of people always amazes me. I don’t know why it does, as it’s been proven time after time. More than $3 million has been donated to the Red Cross by texting Haiti to 90999! Incidentally, that program was set up through the U.S. State Department. And donations are pouring in to Doctors Without Borders as well, thanks in part to the Yarn Harlot’s post of January 13.

DandiDo Crafty is also helping to raise funds for the Red Cross. Simply purchase either her Polaris or Chopstick sock pattern (or both), and she’ll make a donation to the Red Cross! Thanks, Daniella.

If you’re doing something similar, or know someone who is, please drop an e-mail to info@knit-a-while.com, and I’ll give it a mention here on Knit-a-While.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Sending Up the Signal

By Ida | Published: January 13, 2010

You’ve seen the pictures on television. And you’ve likely seen pictures on Facebook or Twitter. Wherever you’ve seen them or listened to the story, the situation in Haiti is devastating. There’s probably a stronger word, but I can’t think of it right now. There are estimates that 100,000 or more people have been killed. There’s no way to know yet. I can’t imagine what these people are going through. And I wonder why such horrendous things keep happening to the country least able to handle them. After all, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world.

And then I think, maybe these kinds of things happen so we can show people how much we care. We’re not selfish (at least not always), and when we see need, we’re more than willing to help. And there are many ways to help. I encourage everyone to visit the Yarn Harlot’s site and her post for today. Doctors without Borders is a wonderful organization. It has been providing medical care for Haiti. Well, until yesterday’s earthquake. None of the organization’s facilities are currently able to provide much needed medical services to the injured. Please note that though the lowest donation amount given in the menu is $35, at the bottom of the list is a blank space, where you can enter another amount.

You can also contribute to earthquake relief using your cell phone. Text the word Haiti to 90999, and $10 will be donated to the Red Cross. The charge will show up on your cell bill. For other ways to help, check out the list on CNN 8. Please note that the warning is already going out that there will likely be some scam artists trying to take advantage of the good and generous hearts of people who want to help. Stick with organizations you know.

Now, I realize that it is a very tough time for many of us. And when you see a list of donation levels that you can’t comfortably meet, it can be discouraging. Most places will allow you to make a donation at another level. If one won’t, another one will. I know it’s a cliche, but every little bit does help. If all you can afford is $1, that’s $1 more than they had before. And while it doesn’t buy much here, it can do a tremendous amount elsewhere. Plus, it will be combined with dollars from other people. You will have done something, and there are people who won’t do anything.

And there is always prayer, in whatever form you prefer. Just help. Yes, I’m begging.

Don’t forget to get your answers in for Week 2 of Designer Discovery.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Doctors Without Borders, Yarn Harlot | Leave a comment

We Have a Winner!

By Ida | Published: January 9, 2010

Thanks to everyone who left comments about their fibery goals. Let’s hope we are all successful in meeting them–at least some of them.

I put the random number generator to work, and the winner of It’s in the Bag is Shelly! Congratulations, Shelly, and check your private plurks.

Don’t forget to get your answers in for the first week of Designer Discovery , the latest contest from KnittingQ(tm). Answers must be received by 11 PM EST Sunday, January 10.

Posted in contest | Leave a comment