November 2005

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Happy Holidays Everyone!

Hello everyone! I hope your holidays got off to a good start on Thanksgiving. It is my favorite day of the year. Although I don't believe in a supernatural being to whom I should give thanks, I like to spend time on Thanksgiving morning thinking about all of the people in my life to whom I am thankful for their love and support. I get up at around 5:30 to make stuffing using my grandmother's recipe, and to stuff a 20 pound turkey and get it into the oven. After that, I sit down with a cup of hot coffee to reflect and to appreciate the goodness in my life. While the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is on TV, I do some last minute cleaning and catch up on all of my laundry. I know it doesn't sound like much fun, but getting my house in order always makes me feel peaceful so for me it's a great way to prepare for the afternoon's festivities.

Happy Holidays from Donna & Dom!

Because there are only three people from my family in the area (me, my husband, and my mother), we usually invite some friends over for dinner. This year we had eight people. Just the right size crowd for a cozy celebration. Inviting friends over for the day reminds me of those who are not as fortunate as we are, to have family and friends nearby to gather together on special occassions, as well as those who don't have the money to create a sumptuous feast on Thanksgiving or to buy piles of presents for their children on Christmas, Hannukah, or whatever winter holiday they celebrate.

According to the U.S. Department of Education every year, over 800,000 children and teens are homeless in the United States. In addition, the number of families and children in poverty in the U.S. has been rising steadily over the past several years. Last year alone, over a million more people fell below the official poverty level of approximately $15,000 a year income for a family of four. While the American people are overwhelmingly generous, our government is one of the stingiest in the world according to former President Jimmy Carter.

I read this quote from a minister on another blog recently: "We are disappointed that the House made cuts to the Food Stamp Program and are poised to cut taxes for the wealthy. Their choice takes food from families struggling to make ends meet and puts more money in the pockets of those who need it the least," said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. "This is morally wrong and will make Thanksgiving bleaker for hundreds of thousands of hard-working families." ( Read the original story.) It will make Christmas bleaker as well.

I'll never forget the day I found out that Santa was not real. I was nine years old and my parents had recently separated. My mother was folding the laundry on the bed in her cheery bedroom. (It was always spring in this room with bold yellow and orange flowered wallpaper covering one wall and sunny yellow paint on the others.)

My mother said, "Don't be disappointed, but you won't be getting so many presents for Christmas this year."

"How do you know?" I replied, thinking that my mother could have no idea what Santa was planning to bring.

"Because we don't have a lot of money."

She didn't tell me any more, but I knew then that

Santa wasn't the one who brought Christmas to our house.

No child should have to find out that Santa is not real because of poverty. For the many children all over the country and the world who won't be getting many--or any--holiday presents this year, I've designed a cuddly teddy bear that you can knit and donate to a local toy drive or to your favorite charity. Please join with me in this time of cheer to reach out to those in need, and in the new year remember to support programs that help the poor and to vote for representatives who will work toward making the United States government as generous as its citizens are.

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November's Links

This month I have a few links to other charity knitting sites that specifically donate gifts to children.

Muench Yarn and the Mother Bear Project. Meunch Yarn works with an ongoing project to help children with HIV and AIDS. The project is run by a grass-roots, non-profit group who's goal is to provide children in emerging nations with comfort through the gift of a hand-knitted bear. Patterns sold for $3 each, and the cost goes to shipping bears to Africa and paying the customs charges for the recipient.

Binky Patrol is a national organization in the United States that sends knitted and crocheted afgans and sewn and quilted blankets to babies, children and teens who are seriously ill, in hospitals, in foster care, in shelters, abused, homeless or experiencing any type of trauma.

Cubs for Kids is an organization that dresses commercial teddy bears and gives them to homeless children around the country at holiday time. They have free patterns for sweaters, scarves, caps, and even overalls on their website. The sweaters are made in several different techniques, including a top-down design and a seamless yoke design. If you don't have time to knit a bear, this is a great way to contribute! Care & Cuddles International in Canada and Bears Who Care in Australia are similar charities.

Caps for Kids provides children in need with hats to keep them warm. Nearly one million caps and other children's accessories have been knitted and crocheted by volunteers since the program began. The hats are given to non-profit, non denominational agencies in the communities of the donors. Free patterns are on the website.

Artists for Children has a page on their website with information on donating handmade toys, garments, and accessories. They have links to a lot of free patterns for knitters and crafters of all skill levels. You can also use your own patterns. They are looking for cuddly, new items to send to children in hospitals. Check it out for some great ideas.

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Pattern: Holiday Teddy Bear Pattern

This holiday bear is easy enough even for beginning knitters. The pieces are knitted back and forth on straight needles and sewn together. With the furry yarn, you don't even have to worry about being good at finishing, because the seams don't show at all. I used a simple whip stitch on my bear and the stitches disappeared into the fur. Childproof eyes and nose make this an appropriate gift for children of any age.

For a holiday accent, I've also included a pattern for an easy sweater. It's knitted flat in once piece and joined at the sides and underarms after the knitting is complete. For Christmas, make the sweater in red and green. Use blue and white for Hannukah, red, green and black for Kwanza, or red, green and white for Winter Solstice. The choice is yours!

Bear

Materials

325 yards of faux fur yarn

I used 5 balls of Stars from Adriafil (50% viscose, 50% polyamide), 65 meters per 5 gram ball

Child proof eyes and nose (available at most craft and fabric stores)

Size 9 US needles

Small bag of fiberfill stuffing

12 inch dowel (optional)

Gauge

Approx 2 1/4 sts = 1 inch in stockinette stitch using a double strand of yarn

Don't worry too much about the gauge. If your fabric is dense enough so the stuffing won't peek out between the stitches, it's fine.

Size

Approx 19 inches tall

Instructions

Tip: tie a contrasting string onto the right side of the work because it's very difficult to see which is the knit side and which is the purl side with the furry yarn.

Use a double strand of yarn for all pieces.

Legs (make 2)

Cast on 10 sts.

Work in stockinette stitch (knit RS rows and purl WS rows). Knit in the front and back of the first and last stitch of every RS row until you have 14 sts.

Work even until leg measures approx 6 inches long.

Leave the first leg on the needle and work the second on the same needles. When you are finished with the second, line them up next to each other on one needle.

Body

Knit across the stitches of both legs (28 sts).

Work even until body measures approx 8 1/2 inches from the legs.

Bind off. Set body aside.

Arms (make 2)

Cast on 6 sts.

Work in stockinette stitch (knit RS rows and purl WS rows). Knit in the front and back of the first and last stitch of every RS row until you have 12 sts.

Work even until arm measures approx 7 inches long.

Bind off. Set arms aside.

Head (make 2 identical pieces)

Cast on 8 stitches.

Knit 1 row. Purl 1 row.

Knit in the front and back of the first and last stitch of every row until you have 16 sts.

Work even until head measures approx 4 inches.

Cast on 2 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows for the ears (20 sts).

Work 6 rows in stockinette stitch on all 20 sts.

Work 4 rows back and forth on the first 8 sts.

K2tog across. Bind off the rem 4 sts. 12 sts remain.

Re-attach the yarn to the head just next to the completed ear. Bind off 4 sts. 8 sts remain.

Work 4 rows back and forth on the remaining 8 sts.

K2tog across. Bind off the rem 4 sts.

Finishing

Weave in the ends or tie them in knots and just hide them inside the bear.

Use a single strand of yarn for sewing.

Sew the center back seam of the body and the inside seams of the legs.

Stuff the legs lightly. Stuff the body. Manipulate the stuffing from the outside so the legs can bend and the bear can sit down. If desired, sew a few stitches between the legs and the body for a joint.

Stuff the arms lightly and sew them closed at the top. Sew the arms to the body.

Sew the two head pieces together. Stuff the ears lightly. Stuff the head. Manipulate the stuffing in the ears to there is an indentation in the center of each ear. Sew a few stitches going through both pieces of the ear and the stuffing to keep the indentation secure.

Squish the front of the bear's face in your hand to form a snout. Manipulate the stuffing to form slight indentations where the eyes will go. Attach the child proof eyes and nose to the bear's head. Squeeze the snout into shape gently, and sew a piece of yarn in and out around the snout to secure the shape. Tie the ends of the piece of yarn together and bury them inside the head.

If desired, insert the dowel into the body so it extends up into the head. This will make the head less floppy.

Sew the head to the body.

Bury all ends inside the bear.

Sweater

Materials

Assorted colors of worsted weight yarn. Appoximately 100 yards total will be more than enough.

I used Galway Worsted from Plymouth (100% wool), 210 yards per 100 gram ball

Gauge

4 sts = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

Size

7 inches long and 7 inches wide at the chest

Instructions

Cast on 30 sts. Work in stockinette stitch, making up a stripe pattern in your chosen colors as you go. The edge will roll up, just let this happen.

When the piece measures 3 inches from the bottom of the rolled edge, cast on 18 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows for the sleeves (66 sts).

Work even until the sweater measures approx 6 3/4 inches long. End after working a WS row.

Neck row 1 (RS): Purl 24 sts, bind off 18 sts, purl 24 sts.

Neck row 2 (WS): Knit 24 sts, cast on 18 sts, knit 24 sts.

Return to stockinette stitch and work the back of the sweater in a solid color or continue to make up a stripe pattern. Work even until the sweater measures approx 4 inches from the neck. Bind off 18 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.

Continue working the body until the back is the same length as the front.

Bind off.

Finishing

Sew the side seams and underarm seams.

Weave in the ends and put the sweater on the bear.

Enjoy!

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Lesson: Sewing Seams

A lot of knitters are afraid of sewing seams, but it's actually quite simple once you learn when to use each type of sewing technque. Here are the three that I use most frequently.

Whip Stitch Seam

Whip stitch is an easy seam that can be used anytime you have a furry yarn where the stitches won't show.

1. With the right or wrong sides of the fabric facing up (your choice), place the two pieces to be seamed on a flat surface.

2. With a tapestry needle and matching, use one smooth motion to catch the stitch on the edge of one piece of knitting and then catch a stitch on the other piece.

3. Continue along the seam, pulling gently on the yarn to close the seam after each stitch.

Mattress Stitch Seam

Mattress stitch is an invisible seam that is sewn on the RS of the knitting.

1. With the right sides facing up, place the two pieces to be seamed on a flat surface.

2. With a tapestry needle and matching yarn, go under the bar between first and second stitches near the edge of one piece of knitting

3. Repeat step 2 on the other piece.

4. Continue to work from side to side, pulling gently on the yarn to close the seam after every few stitches.

After you gently tighten the stitches, they will disappear completely between the two pieces of knitting (not shown here). Don't pull the seam too tight, you you will create a weak point. The seam should be at similar tension to the knitting.

Edge to Edge Seam

This seam is used to join cast-on or bound-off edges.

1. With the right sides of the fabric facing up, place the two pieces to be seamed on a flat surface.

2. With a tapestry needle and matching yarn, catch the knit V just inside the edge of one piece of knitting.

3. Repeat step 2 on the other piece.

4. Continue to work from side to side, pulling gently on the yarn to close the seam after each stitch.

The seam should be at the same tension as your knitting, and look like a row of stockinette stitch.