UPDATE:
Although PROJECT ITTY BITTY BLANKET officially ran until Spring 2015, the donations have not stopped! Bags of Itty Bitty Blankets, lovingly made by charity knitters, were submitted to HCKids Headquarters for donation. THANK YOU KNITTERS! As long as you knit, we at HC Kids, will continue to drop them off for you. So keep 'em coming! Your determination to use your art work to make a difference in this world has rippling effects of positivity.
On Saturday, my two sons, Aidyn and Aryn, my little daughter Ciara, and her two friends accompanied me to drop off the blankets at Royal Columbian Hospital. It was not only fun, but also very educational and eye-opening. Shannon, the Patient Care Coordinator, allowed us to take a peek at the tiny little precious babies who are fighting their way to health and vitality. She gave us a mini tour with lots of interesting information.
Another 136 Itty Bitty Blankets, made by YOU, will help to keep the babies warm as they gain strength and vitality. ! :) THANK YOU KNITTERS!
The photo above is of the lovely blankets under my Christmas tree in early January 2017.
During one of my conversations with one of the many charity knitters who have donated to HCKids, I learnt a neat trick which I thought I just have to share with you. Charity knitter, June, who organizes our monthly Knit2Gethers at the Tommy Douglas library in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, always, without fail, seems to whip up these AMAZING knitted gems. Her baby blankets are truly like works of arts infused with some interesting stitch or jaw dropping cable work. I asked her how she thinks of these things and how she plans them out. Her response was such a light bulb moment that I thought I just have to share this tip with you! She responded that she simply tries her hand at one of Barbara G. Walker's afghan squares, from her book: Learn-to-Knit Afghan Book. It is filled with a plethora of interesting knit stitches--already in squares! What a great way to try out something new! And how much easier can it get when making an Itty Bitty Baby Blanket that much more special with a pattern already set to go in the right size?!
June also suggests, as an alternate tip, to check the gauge on the yarn label. The stitch gauge is for 4" so since the width of Itty Bitty Blankets are about 8", June says to cast on at least double that number (adjusting depending on the stitch pattern you would like to try).
So why not try your hand at a stitch you have been meaning to try. Barbara Walker has many many books with a plentitude of stitches to try. Treasury of Knitting Patterns and Mosaic Knitting are some of her other books. I have in my library a wonderful book of knitted squares called Knitting Block by Block by Nicky Epstein. This would be PERFECT for an Itty Bitty Baby Blanket. These tips can be easily adapted for other charity projects that involve squares. For example larger blankets that sew together a number of knitted squares, knitted bags or backpacks or simple block style sweaters.
I'd love to hear about how you approach your charity knitting. Comment below and share with the world. Together we can make a difference!
Although PROJECT ITTY BITTY BLANKET officially ran until Spring 2015, the donations have not stopped! Bags of Itty Bitty Blankets, lovingly made by charity knitters, were submitted to HCKids Headquarters for donation. THANK YOU KNITTERS! As long as you knit, we at HC Kids, will continue to drop them off for you. So keep 'em coming! Your determination to use your art work to make a difference in this world has rippling effects of positivity.
On Saturday, my two sons, Aidyn and Aryn, my little daughter Ciara, and her two friends accompanied me to drop off the blankets at Royal Columbian Hospital. It was not only fun, but also very educational and eye-opening. Shannon, the Patient Care Coordinator, allowed us to take a peek at the tiny little precious babies who are fighting their way to health and vitality. She gave us a mini tour with lots of interesting information.
Another 136 Itty Bitty Blankets, made by YOU, will help to keep the babies warm as they gain strength and vitality. ! :) THANK YOU KNITTERS!
The photo above is of the lovely blankets under my Christmas tree in early January 2017.
During one of my conversations with one of the many charity knitters who have donated to HCKids, I learnt a neat trick which I thought I just have to share with you. Charity knitter, June, who organizes our monthly Knit2Gethers at the Tommy Douglas library in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, always, without fail, seems to whip up these AMAZING knitted gems. Her baby blankets are truly like works of arts infused with some interesting stitch or jaw dropping cable work. I asked her how she thinks of these things and how she plans them out. Her response was such a light bulb moment that I thought I just have to share this tip with you! She responded that she simply tries her hand at one of Barbara G. Walker's afghan squares, from her book: Learn-to-Knit Afghan Book. It is filled with a plethora of interesting knit stitches--already in squares! What a great way to try out something new! And how much easier can it get when making an Itty Bitty Baby Blanket that much more special with a pattern already set to go in the right size?!
June also suggests, as an alternate tip, to check the gauge on the yarn label. The stitch gauge is for 4" so since the width of Itty Bitty Blankets are about 8", June says to cast on at least double that number (adjusting depending on the stitch pattern you would like to try).
So why not try your hand at a stitch you have been meaning to try. Barbara Walker has many many books with a plentitude of stitches to try. Treasury of Knitting Patterns and Mosaic Knitting are some of her other books. I have in my library a wonderful book of knitted squares called Knitting Block by Block by Nicky Epstein. This would be PERFECT for an Itty Bitty Baby Blanket. These tips can be easily adapted for other charity projects that involve squares. For example larger blankets that sew together a number of knitted squares, knitted bags or backpacks or simple block style sweaters.
I'd love to hear about how you approach your charity knitting. Comment below and share with the world. Together we can make a difference!