FO friday: Irish Hiking Cowl

The Irish Hiking scarf is one of my favorite patterns, I have always thought it was simply perfect. I wanted to make a cowl for my sister for Christmas, so I decided to modify this pattern into a cowl. I couldn't have been more thrilled with the outcome of this project. from the color, to the fit, to the yarn. I was so pleased.

Yarn: madelinetish Baltic

Purchased at: either webs or Windsor button (multiple skeins, multiple shops)

Buttons: purchased at seed stitch a fine yarn in Salem, Ma

Knit for: my sister Jennifer

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

Why We Knit Wednesday

photo.jpg, a photo by theatreknitter on Flickr.

I can't believe that I have been gone from my blog for so long. Last night I had a fabulous experience and realized that I have been gone for too long. This could be what is missing from my life. So I am back. More on Last night in another Post, tonight I am thinking about a question. . .

Why do we knit?
Clearly there are easier ways to get a scarf, a hat, a pair of socks, a sweater, some lace. . . So why do we do it. I asked this question on Plurk and Twitter, and I will ask it to you. .

Why do you knit?

Why do I knit? To Cope.

I can personally remember the fist day I purchased needles. Nope, I really can. It was Sat. Sept 8th 2001. I remember this because I returned home from Michael's Crafts in High Point North Carolina with a pair of needles and a skein of yarn. I'm fairly certain it was pink. Right when I got home I was informed that my Boppie was dying in CT. I went through the next couple of days, I wandered around hoping that I would get home in time to see him, and learning how to knit. Then on Tuesday Sept 11, 2011. . . well we all know what happened that day.. . but I wandered through that day trying to figure out how to get home, because my Boppie had mere days to live.

For my early knitting projects I remember a pink scarf, I remember a hat, I remember a Christmas stocking. But I will always remember the day I purchased my first set of needles, and where I was.

Throughout the years, knitting ultimately became something that I always had with me, and over the past year it has helped me cope with terribly stressful situations.
This past year. . . . well. . . It has been awful. I won't beat around the bush about that.


When my aunt was passing away last October I was working on some blankets. The intention was for them to be given to my cousin and her new twins. unfortunately I don't knit very well when incredibly stressed. I have those blankets still, and I am reminded of the love that was surrounding my aunt during her last moments of life.

Sadly I don't remember what I was knitting while my Grandmother was passing in January, but I do have the February Lady Sweater that I knit for her as an 80th birthday gift. I loved knitting that sweater, and I think she enjoyed having it. Well, at least I hope she did. I wear the sweater with pride now. It doesn't quite fit, and it's a bit pilled, but I don't care.

This year, in early August, I received a call that my father fell off a cliff. . . no really he did. . . he fell 15 feet into a ravine. He broke multiple bones, but is alive and walking. When I was taking the train to meet him. . . . I had knitting.

And when I found out that my nephew was having brain cancer, I knit a hat (see more about that project in another post.

So why do I knit. To cope. sometimes it's stress, sometimes it's family situations, sometimes it's death, sometimes it's coping after a bad day.

Why do I knit?

to Cope

Why do you knit?

Book Review

I don't think that I have ever attempted a book review before,so here it goes. While on the knitters review retreat I got to head over to Story Publishing. While every moment of the retreat is a highlight, this is way up there on my list.

I, along with many others on the retreat, snagged a copy of

Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders: 101 Patterns That Go Way Beyond Socks!

Now those of you who have visited my blog in the past are possibly aware of my love of sock yarn, but also my ambivalence to knitting socks. This book is FABULOUS!!! Of the 101 patterns,I believe that there are over 50 that I cannot wait to cast on. I will likely start with a few hats, thought there are adorable toddler items as well. All of the scarves are fantastic, and lets not forget about the socks. I may actually have to make a pair.

While this is of course a great library borrow, I would HIGHLY advise you to put this book on your Christmas list.

I hope everyone that checks out this book agrees with my reviews.

Central park hoodie

So this is my new beginnings project. So far this is a wonderful relationship. I anticipate a short separation to go towards Christmas knitting, but I am sure that absence will make the heart grow fonder.

At the retreat (the only place where I get lucky. . . . )

Finally we arrived at the Williams Inn. Entering the retreat is quite an experience. A lobby filled with knitters.

We checked in and went to our room. We were happily greeted with our goodie bags. Notice the socks that rock, dirty water dye works, beautiful cards, and there was chocolate as well.

We made our first trip to the stash room, a frequently visited spot at the knitters review. I found my first skein of Lorna's laces. (remember that, it's a theme)

After dinner and stash room it was off to meet and greet. We all discussed our favorite yarns, possibly the one that we would want to marry. I mentioned my hand spun bamboo. I chose this yarn because bamboo is supposed to be lucky. The retreat is the only weekend where I am lucky (remember, I won the retreat last year and I got a door prize of kangaroo dyer)

On SAturday it was time for more stash lounge and classes. I took a class with Clara and it was fabulous. I learned so much about different types of wool and yarns and why different yarns work better for projects. This was fantastic.

After classes it was off to another wonderful meal and then the marketplace. SO MANY amazing yarns. Spirit train fiber works, briar rose, Quince and Co. I was bring very reserved with my shopping, but two new spindles found their way into my bag. a Blue denim pine kundert and my Katherine, a greensleeves 0.8 oz.

Then it was off to Story publishing. 50% off books? yeah, you keep me away. I got 101 patterns for sock yarn, 2 cook books, one book for sis, and another sock book. WOO HOO.

We made one more trip to the stash room wher eI had a lovely chat with Cat Bordhi. Yup, you heard me. She was just hanging out preparing for her bed time story and she reccommended a couple of patterns for me (like I would not take her advise)

After that it was off to dinner, then story time with cat. Clara gave out some door prizes, and I found more lorna's laces. Yup, more.

On Sunday it was yarn church where were were joined with a project. I chose the central park hoodie. Then it was home.

Because the retreat is the only place I was lucky, this lasted with me for the drive home. my car had issues while driving home and it died. Clearly my retreat luck was still with me because someone from the retreat drove past me, and she drove me back to Lexington so that I could get home.

Yup, only on the retreat.

Checking in, and returning from retreat

Yeah, It has been awhile. I know that. I apologize for the disappearing act. It has been a busy fall. Work is crazy, enjoying my new place, and lots of traveling back and forth to CT to be with Family.

Ultimately there is lots of happiness in this post, so we will get the sad stuff out of the way. On Oct. 26th we lost my aunt Candy. This was an extremely difficult loss for everyone in out family. We will miss her more than anyone can imagine. Everyone in the family i grieving in their own way. We all have our moments, but each day does get easier.

I have the pleasure to escape reality this weekend and enjoy the knitters review retreat in Williamstown, MA. This is my second year enjoying the retreat, and it was even better this year because I was able to bring nutmegknitter along with me.

On the way up to the retreat I stopped at Wonderful things in Great Barrington, MA. holy yarn batman!!!!! This shop has everything. I couldn't believe it. After an extensive tour of the shop I came across a yarn that I had never come across before, and left with a skein of Cascade Rustic. It is lovely and I am anxious to put it on some needles.

After Wonderful things I went off to meet Becca at Colorful Stitches in Lennox, MA. This is a great shop with lots of yarns. I must comment on their pattern selection. It was FABULOUS!!!!! I have rarely seen a shop with the number of books and patterns. They also have a great selection of ribbon (frequently lacking at yarn shops)
I left the shop with a fabulous book that includes an awesome afghan.

I am catching up on work right now, so I am looking forward to telling you more later.