Recycled Yarn Hat

I made my son a scarf when he was in 6th grade.  He had gotten a $20 dollar bill for a birthday present wrapped in one whole skein of red, white, and blue variegated yarn.  He loved the fun of it and the yarn so much he asked if I'd make him a big thick scarf.  I did using 3 more skeins in addition to the birthday skein.  It was just what he asked for long and thick.

Fast forward 6 years and my college boy is cleaning his room and comes out with this scarf.  With "hope this doesn't hurt your feelings" in his eyes he asks if I want the scarf.  I said, "Out grown it?"  He says, "Yes" with "glad you understand" tone to his voice.

My first thought was I'll never use this scarf.  It's too big and too thick.  My next thought was maybe I could recycle this yarn and began to unravel it.  Then I wrapped it into balls using my yarn winder.

Listening to the commentary to the latest "Ice Age" movie I decided to make a hat with one of the skeins.  I was amazed as I knitted this up on my Toyota Bulky KS 650 at how differently the variegated yarn came together.  As a crocheted scarf it was very pretty, but as a machine knitted hat it was down right beautiful!  I decided then I'd knit all 4 skeins up into hats for donation.

This was a little tight on me, but for donation people will have different sized heads and will be just fine.

What I did was on tension 5 I e-wrapped on 70 needles.  I proceeded to knit 40 rows in stockinet.  I rehung the first row so the hat would have a finished edge to fold up.  I like that in a knitted hat.  Then I knitted 60 more rows.  This left plenty of yarn to sew it up into a hat.  Using a tapestry needle I weaved the yarn into each stitch on the machine needles.  Then I moved carriage over the project to remove it from needles.

I pulled the yarn to gather the top.  After doing that I proceeded to do the mattress stitch down the hat toward hem.  Once I got to the hem I continued the mattress stitch down the outside around to the inside until I met where I had rehung the bottom e-wrapped edge.  I then ended the sewing and wove the end in.  Tada hat!

MOCK CABLE EDGE

Interesting edging to try called a Mock Cable Edging.  Check out link to see it at the original site with pictures.

MOCK CABLE EDGE
Forms a spiral, non-curling edge that is worked along vertical sides as you knit.

CO (closed method) the number of sts called for in pattern. COR. Knit 1 row. COL.

Transfer 4th and 5th stitches on both sides to adjacent needles and put those needles in NWP. Keep all other needles in WP.

Work 6 rows.

From the back of the knitting, insert the latch tool under the first “rung” of the ladder of stitches to the front of your work (facing you) and catch the top rung.

Pull the rung all the way down and around the edge stitches. Place it on needle #3 from side edge. There will now be 2 sts on the one needle.

Here’s what the two stitches on needle 3 will look like. Put needles #1,2.3 and 6,7,8 in FWP and knit 6 rows. COL.

Insert the latch tool under the rung of row #13 (which includes the first set-up row) and catch the top rung.

Bring the rung down, around and hook it on needle #3 as above.

Cont from * for total length of piece, ending on 6th row. K 1 R. Bind off.

Stitch n' Ride Final Update

Stitch n' Ride info is now up on the Capital Corridor website.

Stitch n' Ride Update

Just spoke to a gal at the Capital Corridor Train and she said she just read an article written regarding what I was asking. She read it off quickly (wouldn't read it again) and what I heard was that there is not going to be a dedicated train this year, but they will offer special fares all four days of Stitches West (February 25-28).

She said they'll be updating their website soon. Check capitolcorridor.org. Click on the "Fares and Tickets" tab then click on "Promotions." It wasn't update just now while I had her on the phone. She said check back in about a week. You can click here for a direct link.

My first thought was WELL POOH!  I finally find out about this fun trip and they essentially discontinue it.  The first year it started 5 years ago they had 1 car and less than fifty people.  Last year they nearly 500 people.  They said the ridership had increased every year and they looked forward to the next year.  The write up she read to me made it sound like there wasn't enough riders to offer the special train anymore.  I'm a little disappointed.

I suppose we could arrange our own group and get on the train using the special fare.  Still would be a lot of fun.  It was awfully convenient to crochet all the way to Santa Clara rather than drive.

For schedules, fares, trip-planning and train status call 1-877-9-RIDECC (1-877-974-3322)

Stitch 'n Ride 2009... Will there be a Stitch 'n Ride 2010?

I haven't found anything on their website regarding this years' train. I'm going to contact them via email and or phone to find out. Rumor is there is construction going and there isn't service all the way to Santa Clara from Sacramento. I sure hope the rumor isn't true.

I found an article regarding last years' train. Julia and I were on it and it was such an enjoyable ride. Being on a train with 468 fellow crocheters and knitters really made our day. We each had made 3 Chemo caps to donate. I've been making chemo caps off and on all year. I wanted to at least double the amount I donate last year.

Capitol Corridor’s 2009 Stitch ‘n Ride Train Benefits Cancer Patients


March 5, 2009


Oakland, CALIF., February 28, 2009 — Today, Capitol Corridor’s special Stitch ‘n Ride(TM) train attracted 470 charitable crafters confirming the increasing popularity of train travel and demonstrating that charity and crafting are a successful combination in this economy. Capitol Corridor states 693 caps were collected on the one-day train event, making Stitch ‘n Ride the biggest mobile chemo cap drive in California.


“More and more crafters have discovered that riding the train is the best way to get to the annual Stitches West expo in Santa Clara,” said Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Managing Director Eugene Skoropowski. “Instead of sitting in traffic, crafters can enjoy the company of other knitters traveling to the convention, share ideas and showcase their prized projects to others. Stitch ‘n Ride is not only pleasant, easy and cost-effective, it’s the greenest way to go. A train with 470 passengers pollutes less and emits less greenhouse gases than 470 cars on the road.”


Again this year, Capitol Corridor offered a special dedicated train just for yarnaholics and combined fun with charity. “Not only do the Stitch ‘n Riders get free goody bags and the chance to win prize giveaways, they also have the opportunity to donate to cancer patients,” said Capitol Corridor Marketing Manager Priscilla Kalugdan. “We’ve teamed up with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to promote knitting for a good cause by hosting a chemo cap drive to provide warm hats for children and adults currently undergoing chemotherapy.”


“We are delighted to kick-off The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 60th Anniversary by partnering once again with Capitol Corridor for the 2009 Stitch ‘n Ride and chemo cap drive,” Megan Kilkenny, LLS San Francisco Chapter Senior Director of Marketing and Communications said.
“Stitch ‘n Ride is a very special opportunity to raise awareness about blood cancers, while also linking riders to our patients and our mission by doing something they love,” Brittany McFall, LLS Silicon Valley Chapter spokeswoman added. “This event truly demonstrates that there are many ways to get involved with our cause and make a difference in the lives of our patients.”


About Stitch ‘n Ride
The annual Stitch ‘n Ride event is sponsored by Capitol Corridor. The Stitch ‘n Ride train is a special dedicated train for crafters that features goody bags for passengers and onboard giveaways. Due to it’s growing popularity, the Stitch ‘n Ride train is the longest train that Capitol Corridor will run this year. Five years ago, the first Stitch ‘n ride event attracted 50 knitters. This year, 470 crafters rode the train.


About Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Team in Training
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services; visit http://www.lls.org for more information.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training (R) (TNT) is the world’s largest endurance sports training program. For the past 20 years, TNT has trained people to run or walk full and half marathons or participate in triathlons and century (100-mile) bike rides. To learn more about Team In Training, visit: http://www.teamintraining.org


About Stitches West 2008
Stitches West takes place February 26th through March 1st at the Santa Clara Convention Center. It features the huge Stitches Market where crafters can pick up new yarns and other fiber arts goodies, classes to perfect a technique or learn a new one, fashion shows, book signings and demonstrations. For more information, visit www.knittinguniverse.com.

Swirl Round Baby Blanket Number 3

And darn it if I didn't forget to do something I decided yesterday would be very important when I share my projects... measure the diameter! Well, I gave it away and don't know if I'll get a measurement of it. Giving it away was even anticlimactic the little 2 year old cousin was at home with her sick mommy. The flu is going through their house. Poor honeys. Any how I decided to pull it out of it's gift bag and show every one at the party any ways. So, I did have fun showing it off.
I made this on my Toyota KS650 bulky machine on a tension of 6. I used Sensations Rainbow Classic in the Bright Multi Rainbow Classic, which I bought at JoAnns. I used about 1 1/2 of the 2 11 ounces skeins I bought. I just loved the color of this yarn and wanted to do something with it. Then it hit me a blanket for a 2 year old girl. This yarn is a bulky 5, but knitted up beautifully on my machine. I find my bulky Toyota to be such and easy machine. It's not fussy with yarns like my standard.

Now my opinion of using a variegated yarn and using just one color... I wasn't terribly fond of it. It didn't quite have the umph that my red and white one has or even the blue and brown one. Oh it's beautiful and loved giving it as a gift, but I think using 2 or three completely different colors on this pattern would show off the swirl better.

I used the 60 needles as Diana says in her video and it took me probably about 4 hours to complete it.