Happy 7th AnniversaryKnots of Love!

I can't believe it's been 7 years since I first found Knots of Love online (Hand crochet & knitted caps for chemo patients and others facing life-threatening illnesses) and had the pleasure to get to know Christine Fabiani, the dynamic and dedicated founder of knotsoflove.org! Today, I invite you to visit the website and take in all the love and giving of the Knots of Love community.

Congratulations to Christine,the Knots of Love team, volunteers, and the wonderful people who knit and crochet from the heart for the Knots of Love cause.

It's truly a happy day! 
Be the love.
Margaret

Needles busy - hearts open...

Caps for KOL

Monday is a great day to get organized.

Today is a beautiful snow day here in Maryland and the perfect time to bag up some hand knit caps for Knots of Love.  Just a little reminder with the approach of warmer weather that knitting charities are still busy working for others all year round.  I urge you to keep your needles and hooks busy as these charities rely on our skills to make items for so many in need.  

Needles busy - hearts open.  Sounds like a winning combination to me.

Knit-Share-Go!™ knit1fortheroad.com

Margaret

Knit1fortheroad content, patterns,and photographs are the property of Margaret Nock, knit1fortheroad.com, Knit-Share Go!™ and for non-commercial (personal) use only. Unauthorized reproduction or use, sale in whole or in part, or distribution of the content, pattern, or knit items is prohibited. All rights reserved.

iGive for Knots of Love!

Reminder:  Click on iGive to donate to Knots of Love.

Join me in helping rasie money for Knots of  Love.  iGive is an easy way to shop at some of your favorite online stores and donate to charity.  It's free to sign up, plus there are some great discount offers.

Here's to joyful giving, knitting and crochet opportunities!
Margaret

Knots of Love needs your vote!

Please help Knots of Love with your vote!

 

 

   Your vote is a quick and easy way to help this wonderful organization and would mean so much for so many in need.  Vote Sept 6 - 19th and spread the word to family and friends. 

Vist the Knots of Love website for more info!

 

Please take a moment to read this messsage from Christine...

 

 

How to Help

Supporters can help by simply voting for Knots of Love through the Chase Community Giving program on Facebook Chase Community Giving program on Facebook starting Sept. 6. Chase Bank customers can also vote on the bank’s website. Voting will continue until Sept. 19. You can also earn a third vote by sharing a link to the Chase Community Giving app on your Facebook timeline. If one of your Facebook friends then links to their own timelines and casts a vote, you will earn a bonus vote, which you can use either on one of the charities you already voted for, or a third charity.

1. One vote on Chase.com website http://www.facebook.com/ChaseCommunityGiving

2. One vote on Chase Community Giving Facebook page www.Chase.com/ChaseGiving

3. One BONUS vote by sharing a link to Chase app http://www.facebook.com/ChaseCommunityGiving/app_162065369655

From our hearts to yours, I thank you for your time and your votes!

Christine Fabiani

Founder

www.knotsoflove.org

 

 

Check out this video!

 

 

 

 

Hope you're knitting and voting!

Margaret (voting for KOL! yay)

UPDATE:  DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING RESPOSNE, YOU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY VOTING ON ONE OR MORE OF THE WEBITES. They are working on it so PLEASE TRY AGAIN AND FOLLOW UPDATES ON FACEBOOK - and I love you for reading this post:)

One Skein Weekend

This past weekend, I had a little time to finish knitting these chemo caps.  Each hat was made with LionBrand's CottonEase and took less than one skein each.  The remaining yarn will be used to finish off other caps,slippers, potholders, bathcloths, etc. 

Tip to keep it simple:

Choose colors that will compliment each other and lay them out before you start knitting or crocheting. Experiment with the placement to see what color combinations work best for your particular project. 

Enjoy a wonderful one skein and stash busting week.
Margaret

Knit1fortheroad patterns, content and photographs in this document are the property of Margaret Nock, knit1fortheroad.com and for non-commercial (personal) use only. Unauthorized reproduction, sale in whole or in part, or distribution of the content, pattern, or knit item is prohibited. All rights reserved.

 

a little jelly bean inspiration...

Jelly bean inspired chemo caps...
Margaret Nock, All rights reserved.

Over the holiday weekend, I had a chance to crochet these chemo caps with Caron's Simply Soft (caps 1 & 3) and Lion Brand's Cotton Ease (center) .  My inspiration?  Gourmet jelly bean colors, of course.  I hope you're feeling inspired to pick up your hooks and needles this week, even if it's just for a few minutes.  It will definitely lift your spirits...

Margaret (floating on jelly bean cloud #5 for a bit longer)

CAL and KAL update:

There's a new crochet along with Vickie Howell. 

You might also enjoy Hopping along the knitalong trail...

Our stitches can...

Caps made with Caron Simply Soft

These are some caps I made over the holiday weekend.   This is the time of year I really enjoy creating chemo caps and other items for people in need.  Our stitches can create small miracles for others and open our hearts to more life, love, and gratitude.  Cool!

Happy stitches, everyone!

Margaret

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”William Arthur Ward

Find more quotes on gratitude at thinkexist.com

Follow knit1fortheroad along on Twitter.

Visit knit1fortheroad.com for knitting resources, free patterns, insightful interviews and more!

Shop at MargKnittinARound on Etsy, for knitting patterns, signed copies of my books, and ready to wear items.

Find my books on Amazon, Kindle and the AuthorHouse/Bookstore.

The Power of Three...

Monday always seems like a great day to look ahead and discover patterns for the ultimate knit and crochet season.  Here are three patterns that really caught my eye today and I hope you like them too.

Vokuhila Socks (knit) Free download at Vogueknitting.com. (note:  you'll have to login to dowload patterns, but it is free!)


Noni Tablet Bags Pattern No. 149 (knit and felt) at Dreamweaver.com. Dreamy!

Downtown Hoodie (crochet) in the latest issue of Crochet Today! September/October 2011.

Knit, hook and felt your worries away.

Margaret (making chemo caps for KOL in preetty, preetty colors)

Know, then, whatever cheerful and serene

Supports the mind supports the body too.
~John Armstrong
The quote garden

Knit Knitavian Style: Allow your knitting adventures to begin.
Full color with 20+ knit patterns, interviews and resources. Read the inspiring interview with Knots of Love (KOL) founder, Christine Shively!

The Seven Daughters of Eve: The Science That Reveals Our Genetic Ancestry

Charts Made Simple: understanding knitting charts visually

Are you a busy crafting bee?  Join me on Creating the Hive and find out what all the buzzzz is about.  It's free and 0 calorie!

Follow along on Twitter! @knit1fortheroad

CAP-tivating Tuesday

The caps pictured are chemo caps made for Knots of Love that are going out this week.  Three are made with LionBrand Cotton Ease and two are made with Caron Simply Soft.  All are improvised crochet patterns.

I find that gratitude knitting and crochet not only helps put a smile on someone's face, it also relaxes me.

Hope to see you on the de-stress express soon.

Margaret (feeling stitchy)

©MargaretNock, 2011. All rights reserved.

“There are thousands of causes for stress, and one antidote to stress is self-expression. That's what happens to me every day. My thoughts get off my chest, down my sleeves and onto my pad.” Garson Kanin
http://thinkexist.com/


The Cancer Survivor's Guide: Foods That Help You Fight Back

The Cancer Survivor's Guide: The Essential Handbook to Life after Cancer

 



Knots of Love Giveaway Day!

Note to my readers:  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you all for participating.  Stay tuned for another giveaway soon on this blog.

It's here!  Today is the official KnotsofLove.org Giveaway day. Hooray!

Many of you already know that Christine Shively, the dynamic founder of KOL, is one of the people interviewed in my latest book, Knit Knitavian Style: Allow your knitting adventures to begin.
Christine has graciously sent a kit as a special giveaway on this blog.

DESCRIPTION:

The goodie bag contains what you need to create one of the Knots of Love chemo caps.

1 skeing of Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Almond
1 package of double pointed Lion Brand needles, 8" Size 7 (4.50mm)
1 circular needle, from Boye (Balenell) US size 8 (5.0mm) with speed tips
Free knit pattern  Madeline's Cap (there is also a crochet version included)
2 stitch markers
1 tapestry needle
1 portable tape measure

1 Gift Card for Best Chariteas from Bestchariteas.com

1 handy and portable laminated Acceptable Knots of Love Craft Store Yarns and Specialty Yarn Stores card.

Additonal brochure with info on Knots of Love to share with your local knit/crochet group.

Okay here's the question of the day for you - IF YOU ARE THE FIRST TO ANSWER CORRECTLY, YOU WIN THIS ADORABLE KNOTS OF LOVE KIT.  Please send your answer to knit1fortheroad@gmail.com. Okay, put on your girlie thinking caps and give it a whirl. Good luck!

What is the name of the fabulously successful TV show (now in syndication) about a single mom and daughter living in a small town in CT.  Hint: It was well know for its clever banter and starred Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel.

Knots of Love.org

Christine and her organization, KOL provides chemo caps to people in need. Her yarn standards and guidelines for making chemo caps is rapidly becoming the standard for many hospitals and treatment centers throughout the U.S. KOL's prescence is also growing in Europe, as well.  I have been a member of  KOL and can tell your from experience that it's a very organized and professional charity and you are notified of your beautiful caps destination. Please visit the site and learn more about this exciting and growing organization. 

More giveaways soon!
Marg (working on the Autumn Challenge for CreatingTheHive)

Yarn Pick!

There are many exhilerating challenges with the beginning of a new year, but one of my favorites has to be the yarn sales at local yarn stores and online.  It's a great chance to stock up on the staples of knitting and crochet. 

This week's yarn pick is TLC Cotton Plus worsted from Coats & Clark.  I'm happy to say that Coats & Clark is in Greenville, SC.  Love that!  I orignially purchased this yarn for chemo caps, but soon realized it's a perfect cotton that you can use throughout the year. I like the color choices, as well, which in my knitty world, is always a plus.

Shop around!  When you're searching through the sale bins, be sure to consider the flexibility of the yarn - will you be able to use it on more than just one type of project?  Is it really a deal?  It helps to have a yarn list with you when you shop as well as price jotted down.  Consider the colors you're choosing and if they will be compatible.  Lay them next to each other as you gather your skeins in the store. I think yarn shopping reminds me of buying the right outfit.  Is it versatile, does it go with any other piece of clothing, how about texture? These questions might help you make better decisions, eliminate the impulse to buy a bunch of skeins that aren't compatible to your yarn needs and cause you to spend way too much. 

Sail through January sales with your list, budget and can do attitude and 2010 will be the best knit and crochet year for you.

Marg (sooo not over budget this month)



















You might also enjoy reading...

Nanotechnology + cotton yarn = smart yarn
Crochet for a rainy day....

Knit and Crochet with Ease

Chemo Caps made with LionBrand Cotton Ease

Over the New Year holiday weekend,  I was able to whip up a few chemo caps with LionBrand Cotton Ease.  I found it delightful to crochet with, surprisingly soft and definitely durable.  There's a wide range of colors, which is always a plus for any knitter or knotter. It's 50% cotton and 50% acrylic and falls into the weight category of 4, medium worsted weight which makes it an excellent all year round yarn. If you're making chemo caps and would like to use this yarn, please check with you're  organization's yarn list first, to make sure it's an approved yarn. 

Hope you have something wonderful on your needles this week.

If you'd like to share what your knitting or crocheting, please comment...and as always and forever, spam is a lunch meat on this blog, so save it for a tasty treat for yourself.

Knit and crochet with lots of warm colors this week to chase away the wintery blast blues.

Stars of OrionNecklace from ModCloth.com

Marg (surrounded by warm colors today)

My Needles are Smokin'!

It's Tuesday and time for a little charity...projects, that is. Here's what I'm sending out this week to various charities.

BB'sKnittedMittens made with Woolease, worsted weight. Made for RavelryGroup Knitters for MCCNY, a teen homless shelter in NY. The site I downloaded the pattern from is no longer available, but the designer, Bonnie Batten is on Ravelry.

Crochet caps for Knots-of-Love.org

Update: If you are a fan on The Young and the Restless, a knots-of-love cap will be worn by the character Lily, this week. Exact air date was not available so set your DVR's.

And as promised, I finished the knitted scarf from the Knitting Therapy Experiment and will be mailing it tomorrow to Scarves from the Heart.

Binding Off with my smokin' needles

That's a wrap! Hope your needles are smokin' too during this season of gratitude.


Knit-Share-Go discover you inner knitty self and let it shine through to the world.

Marg(I'm wearing shades in the blinding glow of you knitty self)

Dog Days of Summer Crochet

Cotton Blanket crocheted for Tails of Hope Foundation, “Blanketed With Love™” Campaign

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July celebration filled with all the good stuff of life...hot dogs, illegal fireworks (heehee, just kidding), the people you cherish and lively crafting projects. Today, I'd like to share with you some projects I've been working on.

During the holiday, I found some time to crochet this small blanket for the Blanketed with Love Campaign. Normally, I make a larger blanket, but I had enough of this yarn on hand to make this one for comforting a smaller dog. I used worsted weight cottton by Lily Sugar'nCream Stripes, Violet Stripes. I used 3 skeins and a double crochet stitch (with sc for the edging) and size H crochet hook. Fast and simple to make.















Chemo caps crocheted with KnitPicks Crayon Boucle which is a soft pima cotton perfect for chemo caps because it's so soft and comfortable.


Also finished the Doris Scarf from Pop Goes Crochet that I had been working on and am working on scarf number two. I chose yarn from my stash to make these two scarves. The one pictured is made with Yang (Joy#835) from SWTC and the second with SWTC Vickie Howell Collection, Craft, Candi #770. This is a quick and easy project - fun to make too.

made with Yang (Joy #835) from SWTC.





Here's wishing you lazy summer days filled with summer knitting and crochet with all the yarns you love on sale...and a few stashbuster projects sprinkled in along the way.



Marg (filled with visions of sunshine, sparkling water, and a cool breeze)

Shake, Stomp and Roll aha aha!

Today I'd like to share with you what's on my needles and hooks and my projects for the future.

Here are some crocheted caps I'm getting ready to send to

Knots-of-love.org made with KnitPicks Crayon and Caron Simply Soft yarn. These are very soft yarns that are great sleep caps for chemo patients and part of a stash of long forgotten projects.

Next, is my Doris scarf from Pop Goes Crochet by Vickie Howell. I'm using another yarn that I already had but is similar to what the project calls for. VickieHowell Blog. This project is new, yarn is fairly new, and this will definitely get made, probably more than once.

I also have a couple of LionBrand patterns that I will be working on when I can.

The Moderne Jacket

and the

Shaded Triangles Wrap.

Both are free patterns.

Most of us have projects hanging around waiting to be made. Hope this blog inspires you to reorganize, evaluate and jump on the time management train to happy knitting and crocheting this summer. Can't quite jump on that train yet? Try donating yarn and project sheets (a copy of course) that you've had forever and probably won't make. Try a swap with fellow crafters and discover a project that you will make right away.

Shake your knitty life up a little! Opportunities abound to make room for new creative adventures and share your love of crafting with others.

Marg(finally learning to shake it, stomp it and roll with the projects)