Donna Carroll has really been busy.  Lots of beautiful handknits to share with us all.  Many were knit with patterns from this site as well as many others.  We decided to nominate Donna as the Knitter of the Month of March, 2008.  With 10 grandchildren to knit for, it’s no wonder that her knitting boards stay busy.  Thank you, Donna for sharing some of your projects.  

We hope that you will keep sending photos - we all love seeing what everybody else is knitting.  Thanks for sharing!

New blankets for our Veterans’ and our Childrens’ Homes!  Thank you Sue!

 I know lots of people knit for donation, and I guess, we just all feel so ‘good inside’ when we send something handmade to another person that will bring them love and comfort especially during rough times. 

Well, we all love our blankets knit on our knitting boards, right?  They are the softest and warmest blankets and so special when they are knit and given from the heart.  I want to thank Sue Kreitzer for her latest creations.  Sue has knit  and sewn 2 new blankets that we are sending to Help Hospitalized Veterans with special notes on them from Sue.  This organization serves over 50 locations that assist our American veterans.  They are hospitals, transition homes, and rescue sites.  They supply craft kits and donated items directly to our soldiers.  I know they will love the warm, cozy blankets and ’words of encouragement’ from Sue. 

The next blanket in the yummy blues and purple was knit by Laura Carlos and sent in for donation.  Thank you so much, Laura from Neptune, NJ.  This blanket was knit in 3 sections or 3 strips with crochet all around the edges.  This is so pretty.   Laura also knit up 8 additional squares and they are on the way to Sue Kreitzer for sewing.  If anyone has any questions for these 2 knitters, just leave them a comment.  I’m sure you will hear from them soon.

Sister, Molly, models Brock’s Scarf  

We just wanted to share with you a Christmas story that made us smile. Not long ago, we recieved an email from Tina, Brock’s mom. She told us about her son, 8 year old Brock, who had happened across  our website and had viewed our how-to videos.  After viewing the videos, Brock decided he wanted a knitting board for Christmas more than anything else, even  surpassing his desire for an ipod. He even showed the videos to his dad. Tina decides to get him a knitting board, so that his grandma can surprise him with it on Christmas.  Brock was so excited and eager to learn and get started.   Brock put in the DVD himself, and watched and learned the technique of double knitting entirely on his own. 

This beautiful scarf was his first project.  It was a gift for his Aunt. He knit it and added the fringe and just asked his mom to help him trim the fringe so that it would be even and look nice. What a great job!!  Tina remembers when Brock was about 4 years old and learning to hold knitting needles, he told his 92 year old Grandmother,

“Now I know why you love to knit so much; it makes you feel so good on the inside.”

What a great family!!

Brock received a big sack of  thick yarn from his grandmother. For his next project he will be working on a wall hanging for his room, and his next gift of a another beautiful scarf. He is even planning on some mittens. Tina said that she already sees improvement on his new projects.

Molly also knits with 2 needles and has been since she was about 4 years old, thanks to their grandmother. The entire family are all active knitters including Brock’s older brother.

Thank you all for sharing.  We look forward to more photos and projects from Brock as he continues to learn knitting on his knitting board.  He can now work side by side with his grandmother as they both knit up beautiful creations.  Grandma is also very active, knitting for her church ministry.

       Thank you, Sue Kreitzer for the new blankets you have knit, sewn, and donated to our cause.  These blankets are going to the American Foundation for Disabled Children, and, Help Hospitalized Veterans of Washington D.C.  I would like to share our most recent letter from the Foundation for Disabled Children.  I will just copy the message here just as it was written.  We can all feel good this holiday season.

“Dear Pat,

We would like to thank you and your many knitters who have contributed their talent and time in creating the beautiful knit blanket that you sent to us.  We will be so happy to pass it on to a needy child to wrap up in this winter.

Nothing makes us happier than making a difference in the life of needy children and their families by showing them that there are many special people out there who truly do care about them.

Thank you for helping the American Foundation for Disabled Children, Inc.  The kindness of caring individuals like all of you, help to put smiles on the faces of many children in need.  Sincerely…”

So I say ‘thank you’ also.  The new blankets knit in blue yarns with the pretty fringe will be sent to the recovering vets of war.  I just apologize that my photography is not the best.  These blankets are really so great.  We also continue to send scarf kits along with the blankets for the veterans to work on as they are able while recovering.  Your help in all of this is so greatly appreciated.  

Blanket #1:  Blue and white yarns and is knit in 3 strips, each about 30-34 stitches wide.  The color changes make it appear to be in separate squares, but by doing just the 3 strips, you only need to do 2 seams to connect it.  Then it has pretty fringe in all shades of blue.  this one is going to the Hospitalized Veterans in D.C.

Blanket #2:  this one is knit in many large squares.  It’s so much prettier than my photo.  Many different yarns and stitches are used in each square.  this one is also headed to the veterans in recovery.

Blanket #3:  This one is very pretty and is knit in all one piece with yarn changes creating the stripes.  this one is going to the Disabled Children in New York. 

Do you know of a great organization that would appreciate the blankets from the knitting board knitters.  If so, please leave the info in a comment.  Thanks, Pat

Winter is approaching and some of our knitting board knitters have really jumped in with their knitted squares.  We have 2 new blankets.  The first one was knit by Laura Carlos of Neptune, NJ.  Some really pretty designs, stitches, and unusual yarns.  Thank you so much, Laura, for your time, caring and thoughtfulness.  Also thank you, Sue Kreitzer, for all your time and dedication of  sewing these blankets together for us.  We will let you all know where these blankets will be sent. 

The center crocheted square was donated by Nancy DeWitt.  The pretty Teal square was knit by Linda Pagel.  3 squares were knit and donated by Laura Carlos and the other squares were knit by Sue Kreitzer.  Thank you all for contributing and sharing in this project.  The squares were sent to Sue Kreitzer who is doing the arrangement and sewing for completing the blankets.  We appreciate all efforts from everyone.  Let’s keep lots of needy folks warm this winter.  Keep them coming and we’ll keep finding unique homes for them.