Why We Knit Wednesday-- Nutmegknitter

Thank you all for your kind comments on my post last week, it was a wonderful homecoming to my blog. I am intrigued by this question, because as we all know you can buy socks at walmart, sweaters at Old Navy, and hats at Target. . . Why knit?

I hope to have visitors to my Blog with their responses to this questions. We will start with Nutmegknitter. She is not only a fantastic knitter, she is also a fabulous mom and most importantly to me a wonderful friend. In her house, I am known as "aunt Betsy, your knitting friend" I don't know if I am allowed another catagory, but I'll take it.


Why do you knit? 
It makes me slow down and focus, one St at a time. It is relaxing and quiets my brain.

Couldn't have said it better myself. She is a great one for finding just the right thing to say. I have a large and sometimes overwhelming family. When I am without my knitting, or a spindle, I feel awkward and I never really know what to say with them. With my knitting, I am relaxed, the chaos around me doesn't seem so bad. No matter how fast  you knit, and some people are pretty speedy, knitting takes individual stitches that must be crafted individually. Each one must be in the right place, or the pattern is lost.

Thank you Becca for being the guinea pig at this project, so now I ask you. . .


Why do you knit?

Introducing Pat Pats Hats!!

Introducing Pat Pats Hats!!!!!

Okay, so in yesterdays post I mentioned knitting when I found out my nephew was sick. Well, here it goes. . .

On Aug. 30th my nephew was brought to Yale New Haven Children's Hospital Emergency Room. For a few days he had been complaining of a "boo boo " on his head and he was vomiting. The Doctor told my sister that it was likely a stomach bug when the symptoms presented, unfortunately, he wasn't getting better. The doctor told my sister to take him to the ER.

The Doctors int he ER were amazing, and immediately took Patrick into an MRI (he will never be an astronaut, he now hates space ships). The MRI revealed a mass on the back of Patrick's brain.

The next day, Patrick went into surgery to remove 3 brain tumors. We were informed that these tumors were malignant, and Patrick had Medulloblastoma.

We know that Patrick, after everything, will be okay. He will be enduring 6 months of Chemo to ensure that there are no lingering cancer cells, but in the end this little man is going to grow up and hopefully never remember this experience.

As a knitter, the first thing that I did when I found out about Patrick's impending surgery, I knit a hat. Then i found out about chemo, I knit another one. What else was I supposed to do, I'm a knitter and my nephew is bald. It's the PERFECT excuse to stash dive and cast on.

I decided that rather than only knitting for Patrick,I could knit for others (also, the stress of the situation made me forget just how big Patrick has gotten in his almost 3 years, and one of the hats was CLEARLY meant for a preemie). This got me thinking. . . . What if I asked people to donate hats to the hospital?

Thus Pat Pat's Hats was born

On January 6th 2012 (a few weeks after Patrick's 3rd birthday) we will be donating hats to Yale New Haven Children's Hospital. I am looking for hats of all shapes and sizes. . the softer the better. These hats will be donated to the hospital so that the children receiving treatment can take a hat home if they need one.

How much does it take to knit one hat? barely a skein?maybe a day or two?I know that you can do it, and these kids are sure to appreciate it.

I need to personally thank nutmegknitter and the yarn harlot who have helped spread the word about this project.

I hope to be able to donate hats every year, so keep those needles and hooks moving!!!

if you would like more details about the project you can check out our facebook page, or you can email me at
patpats.hats at gmail.com

Also, the Ravelry Group has been created
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/pat-pats-hats