Preemie Project Contest

It's time for a contest! Everyone that reads this blog knows how much I care about The Preemie Project, so it's no surprise to learn that to enter all you need to do is make something for the little babies.

Gerlinde, one of The Preemie Project volunteers, has generously donated all of the prizes for this contest. Since she doesn't have a blog, I have agreed to host it for her. This contest consists of three drawings. Think of it as three contests being held at the same time. You may enter one drawing, two drawings or all three. It's up to you. Anyone can participate, so I hope you will enter and spread the word.

You have one month to sign up for your chance(s) to win. Three winners will be randomly selected on June 1, 2006. There will be one winner chosen from those who contribute hat/booties to Michigan, one from those who contribute hat/booties to Iowa and one winner from those who contribute 6"x6" squares for blankets. Before I explain the specifics, I want to show you the prizes.


If you contribute to Michigan, you could win...



ten skeins (50 g each) of Lana Grossa Basics Stop Print,
50% vicose, 50% microfiber.


If you contribute to Iowa, you could win...



ten skeins (50 g each) of Junghans-Wolle Cotton-Plus,
100% cotton


If you contribute blanket squares, you could win...



ten skeins (50 g each) of Schachenmayr Crazy Cotton,
100% cotton.


Now the specifics...

How to enter the Michigan and Iowa drawings:
Knit, crochet or sew one hat and one pair of booties. Mail it to the Michigan Chapter or the Iowa Chapter of The Preemie Project. You can find the addresses here. Send me an email at preemieprojectcontest(AT)gmail(DOT)com letting me know it's in the mail and how many sets you are donating. For each set you donate, your name will be entered once. Also indicate whether you are donating to Michigan or Iowa or both so I can enter your name in the correct drawing(s).

*Use yarn or fabric that is very soft and can be machine washed and dryed. Do not use wool, as some babies are allergic. All sizes of hats and booties from 1-11 lbs are needed (see measurement guide). Ideally, the size of the hat and the booties should be the same, but is not necessary to enter this contest.*

How to enter the Blanket Square drawing:
Knit or crochet three 6"x6" blanket squares. These squares will be mailed to a volunteer who will sew them together to make blankets for The Preemie Project. I will give you the mailing address when you email me at preemieprojectcontest(AT)gmail(DOT)com. Also I will enter your name once for every three squares you make. So if you make six squares, your name will be entered twice.

*Use yarn that is very soft and can be machine washed and dryed. Do not use wool, as some babies are allergic. Either worsted weight or baby yarn is fine. Color really doesn't matter, but pastels, whites or brights will work best.*


I hope I have explained everything so that it makes sense. If you have questions, leave them in the comments or use the email address for this contest. Please know that your donation to The Preemie Project is very much appreciated and this contest is just a way to say thank you.

Changing It Up

Most of the hats I've been making for The Preemie Project lately have been simple and basic (like the blue one and the multi-color one). That's because I can finish these quickly and therefore have more to donate. Sometimes though, I need a change of pace, so I searched my patterns and made the pink one that was designed by Libby. It's still a quick hat to knit and it turns out so cute! I need to make this one more often.

Pattern: Mock Rib and Eyelet Preemie Hat
Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby
Needles: US 5 DPNS
Size: I used the instructions for the Large Preemie size, but mine ended up one size smaller--Circumference 10"-11" for a 3-5 pound baby

New Knit-Along

Some of you may have noticed a new button on my blog. It's for The Lucy Ladybug Knit-Along, a charity knit-along that provides burial clothing to hospitals in Utah in memory of "LucyBug". Check out this worthy cause and consider joining. There are no deadlines and items can be knitted, crocheted or sewn. While you're there be sure to read the poem called The Incredible Feats of Lucy. I know it will touch your heart as it did mine. Though most of the bereavement outfits I make will be donated to The Preemie Project, it is my goal to knit one outfit a month for this charity. This month I have two tiny buntings to donate.


All the pattern details are posted on The Lucy Ladybug Knit-Along Weblog.
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Sock Fever

Hobby Lobby was having a sale on their books and I picked up several. Judging from the titles (The Sock Journal, The Sock Calendar, Sock Hop, Christmas Stockings, The Knitting Stitch Bible), I think it's safe to say I've officially come down with sock fever. I'd been warned that sock knitting was addictive. How true! I'm tempted to cast on a pair right now, but I'll show some discipline and knit some other things first. Right now I'm working on some baby items (also addicting) and there is a lace shawl I'd like to cast on too. Soon there will be socks on the needles though. I can feel it. And now the action photo of the last pair I knitted. Remember I said I was going to get John to help me with the picture? Well, he was willing, but I decided not to interrupt his fishing. He has addictions too!

On the Pier
Baffin Bay
Loyola Beach, Texas

The Curtain Closes

This picture was taken on Baffin Bay in Loyola Beach, Texas. We were in the area to attend the UIL Region One-Act Play Contest that my son, Matt was in. He played the role of Henry David Thoreau in The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. You couldn't have asked for a better performance from the whole cast. And, I have to say I think it was Matt's finest performance ever. He had me crying during the flogging scene and the also the scene where he recounts the death of his brother. This is the third time I've seen this play, but it still got to me. I think it touched everyone. After all the schools had performed, we felt Needville had a good shot at advancing to the state competition, but the judge chose two other plays instead. Needville was selected to be the alternate play, which means if one of the other schools cannot compete, Needville will take their place. This rarely happens though. I'm not sure it's ever happened at the state level. In happier news, three actors from our play were chosen for awards. Matt was one of them, receiving a medal for All-Star Cast. Congratulations son, you are amazing! I'm really hoping that an encore performance can be scheduled for our community. I would love to see this play again. It's that good!

Sock Collection

There's a new pair of socks in my collection! Finished in only five days. That's a record for me. I find it difficult to take pictures of socks on my own feet, so this time I'm going to wait until I can get John to help me. Check back in a few days for the action photos. Now, back to knitting for the little babies.

Back To Basics

I almost called this post Believe It Or Not, because I'm sure you're surprised to see a finished sock here so soon. I'm a little surprised myself. I've been dying to try out my new sock yarn from Sugar Bunny Boulevard, so on Friday I knitted a swatch, chose a pattern and cast on. I decided a basic ribbed sock was all that was needed to show off the pretty colors in this yarn. The first pattern I chose is not the one I ended up with though. Evidently I'm not good at measuring my gauge, even with the aid of my new Gauge Wizard. I had gauge at 6 1/2 stitches per inch on size US 2 needles (or so I thought). That was perfect for the pattern I wanted to use, so I cast on 60 stitches and began to knit. The cuff was huge! I knew something was wrong. I switched to a pattern I've used before from the 2004 issue of Knit It! magazine. It uses a cast on of 56 stitches and this was just perfect. It seems I was knitting at a gauge of 7 stiches per inch instead of 6 1/2. Not off by much, but it makes a big difference with socks. The cuff of this sock is a 1x1 rib, then the ribbing switches to k3, p1. I decided to carry the pattern down the top of the foot which is like the sock I wanted to make in the first place. I really enjoyed knitting this basic sock. It doesn't require a lot of concentration, so I can watch a baseball game and knit at the same time (very important this time of year). And, it works up quickly. Maybe I'll have a new pair of socks by the end of the week...maybe.

Yarn: Hand Painted 100% Merino Sock Yarn
Color: Moccasin
Purchased from Sugar Bunny Boulevard