Hat #4 for Red Andrews Dinner – Brangelina Hat

This was the first time I’ve used a bulky weight yarn for a hat and I wasn’t sure I’d like the final result.  It’s Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick and I *love* the color (barley) and enjoyed knitting with the yarn.  And one thing about it, knitting with big yarn means you finish a project very fast!

So when my lovely model (husband!) and I headed outside for the photo shoot he told me that this is the most comfortable hat I’ve made – and said that without any prompting from me!  I did tell him I’d make one for him since all these hats were for charity and I’m a little embarrassed I haven’t knit a hat for him yet.

The pattern is by Crazy Aunt Purl and is called the Brangelina Hat.  I bought the yarn at Michael’s, of course using a 40% off coupon.  I think this pattern and yarn might be my “go to” combo for hats for charity going forward.

A note about personal goals/quotas – I had said at the first of the year that I planned to knit a hat a month to donate to the Red Andrews Christmas Dinner in OKC to follow in my mom’s footsteps.  Of course when you say something like that life will happen and I’ve only gotten 4 done so far.  But here’s the thing about personal goals/quotas – even if you don’t make the number you hoped for, there will still be 4 people that will be a little warmer this year with my hats.  I’ve looked at this several different ways and it all comes out good to me.  I’ll try again next year for more.  :)

And in case you want a reminder, here’s the previous 3 hats I knit:

Hat #3 – Cross Skull Hat
Hat #2 – Hurricane Hat
Hat #1 – Classic World War II Watch Cap

 

** Linking to I’m Lovin’ It, Show and Share, Get Your Craft On

Hat #3 for Red Andrews Dinner – Cross Skull Cap

I really don’t know why I procrastinate as much as I do.  This hat, The Cross Skull Hat, was started on March 11 and was probably completely finished, except for that final run the needle through 8 stitches, on March 12.  But I waited until today to do that and weave in the one end.

Regardless, I do like this hat.  It looks good and there was enough happening in the pattern that it wasn’t totally boring to knit.

Once again I used Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn in Dark Country Blue, though it looks kind of like an electric blue here.  The yarn is nice to knit with and I know will be good for many washings.

Hat #2 – Hurricane Hat
Hat #1 – Classic World War II Watch Cap

Linking to Get Your Craft On!  It is a large weekly event with all kinds of crafty things.  After visiting a bunch of these posts I’m always ready to create!

Ravelympics Gold Medal – Charity Curling

The Olympics are over…and sadly, so are the Ravelympics.  For the non-knitters that might be reading, let me explain.  Knitters and crocheters have the most awesome site ever to keep track of the projects we complete, find patterns, see what others have done, etc.  called Ravelry.  For the Ravelympics we were to choose a pattern that would challenge ourselves, cast on during opening ceremonies, must complete the project before the Olympics flame was extinguished,  and could join teams of like-minded individuals.  I was on the Charity Curling team as I was knitting for the afghans 4 Afghans team.  They send items to Afghanistan a couple of times a year, including mittens, vests, sweaters and socks.   

I chose the Classic Mitten pattern and used Paton’s Classic Wool Merino with Lion Brand Fun Fur Prints held with the wool for the cuff.  I am enormously pleased with how they turned out!  And I did actually finish in time, in large part because of the gold medal hockey game on Sunday afternoon between the US and Canada.  It was a very exciting game and the gold medal match that we were hoping for from the beginning.  Unfortunately the US did not win the gold, but we did get silver and Canada getting the gold did make us happy.

AND….this was my gold medal award from Ravelry!  The dog on the award is Bob, he’s the mascot of the Ravelry site.  :)

This was a lot of fun to do and I now know that knitting mittens is not difficult.  I kind of think I might be knitting a pair before next winter rolls around – for a certain adorable granddaughter.

Hat #2 for Red Andrews Dinner – Hurricane Hat

The Hurricane Hat is such a great pattern to knit – easy and so satisfying to watch the purls spiraling around.  I followed the pattern exactly and if I were to knit it again I’d knit probably another inch before starting the decreases as I like a hat to cover the ears better.  I think this hat looks like more of a beanie to me, which is not a bad thing, but just not my preference.

  

I used Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn and even though it’s 100% Acrylic it is oh so soft.  This color is Dark Country Blue and the model is my beautiful daughter Lynne’.

This makes the second hat for my Red Andrews Dinner Hat Project.  I’ll link below to hat #1 in case you missed it.  :)

Hat #1 – Classic World War II Watch Cap

Hat #1 for Red Andrews Dinner

When my kids were little my best friend and I went to garage sales every single Saturday morning.  Between us we had five kids, so when we would go there would always be a couple of them with us and it might change week to week as to who would go.

It was during this time that my mom starting knitting hats for the Red Andrews Christmas Dinner in Oklahoma City.  If I remember right she would donate 30-40 hats every single year. 

This ties into the garage sales because she always had me keep an eye out for yarn.  Lots of times at a garage sale you’d find somebody selling a grocery sack of yarn for about a dollar, which meant lots of warm heads for a low price.  Mom would even use the partial skeins to put stripes in the hat, so really nothing went to waste.

So this year Mom and I were emailing one day and I said I was thinking about making hats for this dinner.  She replied that it funny because she had been thinking about knitting the hats again.  We now have  a plan for hats and I figure I can give my stack to mom at Thanksgiving so she can take them to the drop off point.

I’m not a fast or every day knitter, so my commitment was less than hers.  I’ve decided to do a hat each month and any time I think that’s not enough I’m reminded that eleven people will have warmer heads this way.

Hat #1 was finished yesterday.  I used the Classic World War II Watch Cap Pattern, derived from Beanie #212 pattern.  I’m here to tell you that it’s very satisfying to knit a hat with a history like this behind it.

I used Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn in Ivory Tweed.  Very happy with how this turned out and Keith liked the large cuff on the hat – he said it would be good when it’s cold to roll it down over your ears more. 

30-Day Giving Challenge Continues

Before November is but a memory I wanted to give a few more ideas for giving.  Keep in mind that there will always be needs, not just around the holidays.

- Overtip the wait staff.  Keith and were enjoying dinner out recently and noticed that they seemed to be short staffed for the crowd. Our poor waitress was running herself ragged trying to keep everybody happy. We came up with the idea to leave a larger than called for tip in the hopes that it might give her a smile.

- Pay for the person behind you in the restaurant drive-thru (an oldie but goodie).  This is something I've done for some time now, kind of my way to justify eating out perhaps. What I didn't realize is that apparently Keith had never been with me when I've done it.  It was perfect timing because the young man at the drive-thru window had apparently never heard of this and he was so appreciative. I like to think maybe it opened his eyes to future opportunities.

- firstgiving.com  I don't remember who sent me this link or I'd give them credit, but the main thing is the site - tons of giving opportunities. The link I was sent went to San Diego Food 4 Kids and if you have a minute click through to the site. This is such a fantastic idea and maybe somebody reading about it will be able to start a similar program in their community. It only takes a spark...

- Fire stations.  As we sit down to our Thanksgiving meals across America this week remember the the police and firemen that keep us safe. Perhaps take something to them as a thank you.

- Sales clerks.  Black Friday approacheth!  Honestly, if you never had to work retail on this day you can't even imagine how exhausting it is. Maybe tuck a $5 gift card to a fast food restaurant in your pocket and give to a harried clerk - you know you'll see one or five - as a thank you for working on this day.

- Food baskets. I am certain that food banks would love to have gifts this time of year.  Our church is putting together baskets and made it very easy for us to donate to this project.

Again, these are just a few ideas to think about.  With the slow economy even donations to the "usual groups" are way down, so if you are at all able to give this year I know it will bless you.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galations 6:9

30-Day Giving Challenge

One of the blogs I follow is Keeping The Kingdom First and for the month of November she is having a 30-Day Giving Challenge.   The premise is simple - give something away every day in November and write it down in a journal.  The other side of this is to write down all that you receive each month.

The most important part of this challenge is to ask God to lead you each day.  The glory is for Him, not for us.

I will not be writing in my blog what or how I give as I feel strongly that if I give something simply to blog about it I am not doing it for the right reasons.  I'm not saying this is true for others, but I know it's how I need to do this.  I'll probably blog reminders though as I do love this idea.

It's also important to remember that all giving is not monetary.  When we give from our hearts it might also be an act, rather than a check.

For example:

- the next time you bake some cookies package some up and share with a neighbor

- send a card to one of the kids on the Make a Child Smile list 

- give of your time - maybe watch a neighbor's children while she gets the house ready for the holidays

- when buying food for your holiday meal consider buying extra and donating to your local food pantry

- knit a hat and donate to a homeless shelter

As I think of other ideas this month I'll share them.  And if those of you reading my blog have any ideas, please do share.  There are so many ways we can give beyond what we ordinarily think of.

I'm going to close with the same Bible verse that Alyssa used on her blog as it is so perfect for this challenge:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galations 6:9