Some lovely patron donated old knitting books to the library. We’re adding the best of the lot to the collection. I’m keeping the so-so books for my knitting group; these patterns require reworking since they’re almost uniformly huge, but aren’t dealbreakers. The final group is books of patterns so ugly and busy that I couldn’t in good conscience even sell the lot. First I’ll make sure they’re not somehow classics that go for a lot online (the library could use the moolah). Once I’ve done that, if they’re as unwanted by everybody else as they are by me, I will put them in the book sale, on the off chance that somebody wants to pay $.50 for these collections of almost uniformly unflattering knits.

So, I finished test knitting the sweetest little sweater for my Porkchop. I like the way it came out, although I still have to block it. My MC yarn was doing some weird things (like giving me randomly misshapen knit stitches), and my CC yarn had really inconsistent stretches of color, which means that none of my i-cord embellishments look the way that I want them to, but this isn’t the hugest deal. I hope that blocking will take care of the first, and that nobody will think too much one way or the other about the second. The thing I liked about this project is that I learned something new, namely how to do applied i-cord. I used this youtube video and this Purlbee blog post to help me understand how to do it on lives stitches and bound off stitches, respectively, and am already plotting how great this kind of edging would look on something else (maybe a hat?).

Wherever you are, you can help donate to Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts. If you’re near an effected area and can do something in person, consider giving of your time. If you aren’t, please make a donation. Many charities are accepting donations and helping those in need (although you should definitely be on the lookout for scams). The American Red Cross is accepting donations online, in person at their offices, and via text (text the word REDCROSS to 90999).

You may also donate items directly to those in need via Amazon wishlists that have been set up for specific neighborhoods.

Long Beach, NY

Breezy Point, NY

Staten Island

However you choose to do it, go out there and make somebody’s life exponentially more awesome.