Brioche Cowl - AIDS Walk Prize

Not too long after the Walk, I finished up the cowl I was working on to give as a prize. I would have gladly knit on it until the yarn ran out because it is so wonderful to work with, but at some point you have to stop. (So they tell me.)

Before blocking, it measured 11" long and was 15" wide at the cast on edge and 12.5" at the cast off edge. I blocked it to 16" long and 13.5" wide. The cast on edge still was wider than the cast off, but I kind of like that the one edge is tighter than the other. I find it gives you different options for arranging the cowl around your neck.

Doubled with the tight edge rolled over
to the outside.

Doubled with the tight edge rolled over
 to the inside.

Not doubled, with the loose side pulled
over your head first.

Ok, when it's cold enough, it can double
as a snood. I know, even that word
makes it unfashionable. But I like
to be warm, and if this is what it will
take, I will do it.

And, I realized as I was trying it on,
it is big enough to be pulled down as a
sort of capelet. For those who can pull
off this look.

The loose edge on this one was a little too loose for my taste and next time I think I'll do the provisional cast on, start the brioche right away, and then come back later to do the ribbing rows and cast off. That way both edges will be neater.

Project Stats
Started: 5 Apr '14
Finished: 6 May '14
Pattern: My own
Materials: 100 grams of cobweb weight cashmere from an Old Navy sweater ($3.50)
I had the idea of a big bulky cowl out of this cashmere and was surprised not to see any patterns that fit the bill on Ravelry. So I had to make one up.

I chose brioche stitch because it is very thick and cushy, and done on big enough needles it is still light and airy.

It was a gamble on how many stitches to do. (I think I did actually do a small gauge swatch before I started.) It turned out about what I wanted--bigger than a neck-hugger and smaller than a long double-wrap loop. It won't fit easily inside the neck of a coat (which is how I tend to wear cowls and scarves), but it's a big bulky cowl--it's not supposed to. It's got enough size and bulk to be worn outside a coat and make a statement.

I was able to deliver the cowl to the drawing winner on Sunday. Congratulations, again, Clair! And good luck to the rest of you next year!! :)

Pattern Notes:
I used four strands of cobweb (or lace) weight cashmere (100 grams) and size 3.75 mm (US 5) needles.

Cast on 110 sts. [I can’t remember the name for it, but I did a provisional cast on over a waste yarn, and then K1, P1 the first round. Later I just extracted the waste yarn.]
1x1 rib for a total of 4 rounds.
Start brioche stitch in the round til it is long enough (11" pre-blocking in my case.)
Then 1x1 rib for 4 rounds.
Cast off with Kitchener bind off [or your favourite stretchy bind off].

Seeing Red: AIDS Walk 2014 (and Announcing a Winner!!)

The AIDS Walk was today. They asked us to dress in red to celebrate 25 years of helping the community and that was not a problem!

I recently said I would never wear my leather pants with my new leather jacket, but it was windy and cold out there!

Yes, I was knitting even though at first I thought it would be too cold to move my fingers. That turned out to be a slight overreaction.

Other than the wind, it was a great day for a walk. We enjoyed a beautiful route along the river.

And saw parts of the AIDS Quilt.

Thanks to all of my sponsors! Two weeks ago I wondered if we would be able to top last year's total of $1,918. Last week I thought we would be close. But today when I added up everything including the last minute amounts, we smashed the record with a total of $2,130!! Thank you to all who donated.

And, now who won the item I was knitting?

Here's a close up before the walk. I couldn't find a pattern
I liked so I am making up a big, thick, (brioch stitch) cowl
from cashmere raveled from an Old Navy sweater.

Random number generator said it was Clair from church, a first time donor!! Thanks, Clair, and when I get this finished, I will get it to you promptly!!

AIDS Walk Prize: A Billed Cap

I just got home from walking the Michiana AIDS Walk. It was a great walk, and we could not have had better weather. They moved the walk downtown this year and I liked that a lot.

For the last few years, I have knit a prize to give out to one of my sponsors (click to see the 2012, 2011, and 2010 prizes). I was a little stuck this year for what to make because I like it to be fairly generic and useful and easy to do while walking. That is a taller order than you might think!

In pattern surfing on Ravelry, I came across this hat and decided that it would do, except for the "easy to do while walking." I actually finished the hat well before the Walk, and worked on my current dishcloth while walking.

Coming up to the crowd at the Park.

And who is the winner this year? It is Mary who has been a long time supporter and surely deserves to win! (But don't all my sponsors. I know, sorry you couldn't all win it.) I have to admit I don't think I've ever seen Mary in a hat, but I hope she likes it or finds someone to gift it to who will. :)

Along the route of the Walk, they took us by the AIDS Ministries/AIDS Assist office where we could see part of the AIDS Quilt.

Have you heard of this project? There's a great movie, Common Threads, about how it got started if you're interested.

Each individual panel is 3'x6' (the size of a human grave) and is made by family or friends of someone who has died. The panel is sent in and they sew them into 12' square panels, fitting together the pieces so that they all face the right way.

This was the most traditionally quilted piece
I saw. The squares look quite old, so they
could be grandma's old orphan blocks, or this
square may have seen some hard use since
it was made.

The quilt has been displayed in its entirety only three times, and that was on the Mall in Washington, DC. I'm quite sure it is far too big now to be shown in one place. Parts of it travel all over the place to raise awareness. I was involved when it came to Big Rapids, Michigan, when I was in college there. It's always an interesting and moving thing to see.

Now, about the hat: The pattern was very good. It started at the bottom and I used a version of a provisional cast on that I use for double knitting. (The video is here; yes, the one pranked by reddit.) But of course, instead of using two colours, I just used two strands of red. This time I also remembered to use one size smaller needle for the cast on because I have done this before and found it a little loose. I followed that with one row of K1, P1 (on the regular size needles) and then started the actual pattern in the round. It was a perfect stretchy, but not sloppy, cast on. (And has the nice perk of being almost undetectable!)

The hat continues in alternating panels of garter stitch and cables.

When it's time for decreasing, the garter stitch panels fade away and leave the cables to swirl together at the top:

It's all finished with the best little crocheted button:

(Much softer than a regular button with a shank on it!)

And then the hat is finished with a bill:

It's knit from picked up stitches along the edge, and then doubled on itself back to the edge for cast off. The double layer of wool gives a nice amount of body to the bill without being too stiff.

I made the hat from a wool/angora blend that I had raveled from a sweater.

Project Stats
Started: 10 Apr '13
Finished: 14 Apr '13
Pattern: Birdie Hat by Suzanne Frary
Materials: 49 grams of wool blend from an Eddie Bauer sweater (67% lambswool, 19% angora, 14% nylon)

AIDS Walk Wrap Up

This past Sunday I participated in the 2012 Michiana (Stop) AIDS Walk. You can see that I had my knitting all set to go. I have found this one strap knapsack perfect for holding my project while I walk.

I got there early enough to enjoy some great grilled hot dogs for lunch. And then to knit some while waiting for things to start.

We had lovely warm weather. (You can tell I mean it because I'm actually wearing a tshirt.) But as we got started, we were facing a pretty dark and mean looking western sky.

Hmmm...maybe you can't see it so well in this picture, but it was mean looking. I decided to walk a little faster so I could get done before the storm arrived!

But it never did...we continued to enjoy favourable weather as we walked along the river and over the bridge.

Appreciating some lovely sites along the way...

By the time we were done, I had pretty much finished my cloth. I just had to finish off a couple rows and cast off when I got home. That made a lovely set of three:

Small (40 sts), medium (50 sts), and large (60 sts)...hopefully at least one will be "just right." Oh yes, because who is going to be enjoying these cloths? The random number generator determined that Marsha is the lucky winner!! You couldn't ask for a nicer person to win and I will enjoy giving her the prize on Sunday.

You can see that I am throwing in some of Troy's much-loved home made soap too.

Project Stats
Started: 20 Mar '12; Finished: 6 May '12
Time: 13-14 hours
Pattern: my own
Materials: 70 grams of cotton recycled from a Goodwill turtleneck (~$5)
The cloths are a very simple pattern. All stocking stitch with a garter border. These turned out a little thinner than I thought they would, but I hope they will be useful. I am someone that prefers a certain cloth for every little task so I hope Marsha will find a task that she enjoys using these for, be it scrubbing dishes or washing her face.

Thank you to all who donated this year. My total added up to more than $1,600...great job, everyone!!

AIDS Walk Report

Sunday turned into the one shining specimen of a beautiful day in an otherwise crappy week. It was a great day for a Walk.

There was a good crowd and they were all in the mood to have fun. After registering and eating a lunch, I pulled out my knitting and continued working on my second slipper.

The knitting drew some attention, but the best interaction was with a fellow Raveler. Instead of opening with, "Hey my grandmother used to crochet!" she opened with, "Hey, are you on Ravelry?" For both of us, it was the first chance meet up with another Raveler. (And when we got home we immediately friended each other.)

I continued the slipper as we began the Walk and very near the end, I finished it:

Yeah!!

And who won the slippers?? A random number generator selected Mic and Martha who have been generous long time supporters of my walk. I hope they will enjoy them!

Until next year, then!

Project Details:
Pattern: Slippers Triangle Sock (vintage, free)
Materials: Red Heart Super Saver in Cherry Red (0319) (86 g)
Start Date: Apr 19 '11
Finish Date: May 1 '11

The Walk

That's what they're calling it now: Help fight AIDS by joining "The Walk." When I started doing this (back in 1995 in Halifax, NS), it was called the AIDS Walk. It's also been called the "Stop AIDS Walk." That one's my favourite.

But whatever you call it, that time of year has rolled around again. I am walking in the Michigan area AIDS Walk "The Walk" to raise money for AIDS Ministries/AIDS Assist of Northern Indiana. They focus on prevention but also help with referrals (housing and medicine mostly) and support for people affected with HIV and AIDS.

Knitting on the Walk, 2010

Last year for the first time, I made a prize for a randomly drawn person from my sponsors list. I debated and debated this year about whether I could add one more project right now. And then I said, "Bring it on!" So I brought it!

I decided to knit a pair of slippers. They will be given to one of my sponsors. If you would like to be on the list, please send me an email (it's near the top right of this page). I figured something for your feet for giving to a walk would be appropriate.

I looked and looked for a pattern. Something [more or less] unisex; something simple (so I could knit it on the Walk itself--that's my favourite part of all this!); something fast. (I did say, "Bring it." but don't bring too much!)

I settled for a pattern called Slippers Triangle Socks (which I have to say is not a very well thought out name). Triangle Square Slippers would be more apt. Essentially you knit a bias square and then fold it in half to make a triangle and do some sewing. Presto - origami - chango you have a slipper.

Today I was at a seminar all day and managed to knit one. (Really it was one and a half because it came out too large the first time and I had to rip out half of it at lunch. That really confused my tablemates who 1. couldn't figure out what I was making in the first place and 2. really couldn't figure out why part of it seemed missing after lunch!) P.S. I'm really glad my boss who paid for the seminar "doesn't believe in the internet" and thus will never read this. (Seriously, I listened very well, took notes and even participated--so there!)

I have to say the slipper looks a little...odd. Like many things made with bias fabric, it needs to be worn to really be appreciated. On the plus side, it feels good on, will be really warm, and the bias will stretch to accommodate a wide variety of sizes.

In the interest of full disclosure I should also admit that I am making them out of acrylic. I don't know who will be getting these slippers and I would rather give acrylic to someone who appreciates wool than give wool to someone who would treat it like acrylic. So wash, wear, repeat to your heart's content!!

Don't forget, the Walk is Sunday, May 1. Email me if you'd like to sponsor me. I love sponsors!!

Walking in Fancy Shoes

I went for a walk today...the Michiana Stop AIDS Walk 2010. The walk went well; there were a lot of people; the total raised looks like it might make it to $15K. (They weren't quite done counting.) That's a lot!

The day didn't start so well, however. As I was getting ready to leave church and head out for some lunch before walking, I discovered that I had left my change of clothes (and shoes) at home. Argh!

I had fortunately worn jeans to church with flats. If they had been heels, I would have been obliged to buy new shoes. (I know, like twist my arm.) As it was, I decided I could wear the ones I had on and just had to buy new socks. (Aren't the zebra stripes fancy!)

And when I finally got to the step-off location, I saw they were (again fortunately) selling Tshirts. This saved my dry-clean only shirt from a walk on a surprisingly humid day.

I like the shirt. I mean, it is simple, but it's been a few years since they've had any Tshirt available, and the last ones were awful: they had teddy bears on them and were all XL. And of course, being needy and grateful (which I was) makes anything look better.

And what about the knitting?

I did finish the knitting part of the fingerless mittens. I just have a few finishing details and blocking to do. Which means the person the random number generator picked can expect her mittens very soon. "Her?" Yes, her...the winner is [tension-building drum roll here...]:

my co-worker, Deb!!

She very generously had her wallet out almost before I had finished asking for her pledge, and so I'm pleased she won. Of course I would have been glad if you had won too, and really wish I could knit you all a pair. But that's not going to happen. "Better luck next year," is the only hope I can offer you.

Thank you all for your interest in the Walk and your support and pledges. This was my biggest year by far (30 per cent more than my previous high) at $1640. If the Walk raises $15K you all helped me raise more than a third tenth* of that...and more than triple the next highest walker!

I'm very happy to direct your funds to AIDS Ministries/AIDS Assist who do such good work.


____________________________
*ETA: Yes, someone pointed out that my math was wrong. I will just say it wasn't actually a math error; more like a typo error.

Care to Lend a Hand?

Two weeks from today I will be walking in the Michiana area Stop AIDS Walk.

I've been walking since 1995 when my brother died from AIDS; I've not walked every year, but just about!

The first time was in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was a great Walk: lots of people, police escorts, and we walked down the middle of the streets in downtown Halifax. Music and free food afterwards! I didn't make much money that year, but it was great to participate in a group event for the cause.

Since then I've walked in Belleville, Ontario (smallest); Grand Rapids, Michigan (got on TV); Chicago, Illinois (largest); Toronto, Ontario (with the most family); and in South Bend since moving to the area in 2000. Over the years, I have raised over $5,500 to fight HIV/AIDS!

This year I'm shaking things up a little bit to keep things interesting. If you sponsor me for the walk, I will give you a chance to win a pair of Fingerless Gloves handknit in the very luxurious Alpaca & Silk from Blue Sky. I've got one done already so you can see exactly what you're getting, and the other one I'll knit on the Walk!

Here in in South Bend, the Walk is the main fund raiser for AIDS Ministry/AIDS Assist. The people there help educate on AIDS prevention, advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS, and help with housing, meds and emotional support.

They do good work.

If you would like to get involved and sponsor me in the Walk...and of course get a chance to win these fingerless mittens...please email me: christinacreating AT netnitco DOT net. Anyone who gives $10 or more will get their name in a [virtual] hat and have a chance of being a winner!

Details: Winner will be chosen at random. Winner must pay before the mittens will be sent. (If not paid within two weeks, another winner will be chosen.) Chances of winning will depend on how many sponsors there are!

Sponsored by Red Purl, a wee knit shop in Niles, Michigan.