Bags to Family Violence Center

We filled hand knit bags with soap and a washcloth or net puff, toothpaste and a toothbrush, and a brush or comb. Brena took these beautiful gifts to the Family Violence Center. They LOVE the bags.

They also set forth a new challenge for us. Would we like to teach knitting to those they serve? I think this is a great mission for us.

Welcome Esther, our newest member. I SO delighted that we have a member that is 100. Getting to meet people through knitting is amazing.

Gift Bag Pattern

Gift Bag

This is a simple bag with an i-cord closure. It can be embellished so many ways. This pattern can be adapted for any stitch pattern – adjust the number of stitches cast on to accommodate the pattern repeat. Use stripes of eyelash yarn, boucle, or other “fancy” yarns for interest. The closure can be ribbon instead of the i-cord.

Yarn: Select a washable, non-feltable yarn – if the yarn you have is fine, use doubled.

Needles: Size 8-10 depending on the weight of the yarn

1. CO 64(small) 72(medium) 80(large) stitches. Join for working in the round, being careful not to twist.

2. Knit

3. Purl

4. Knit 3 rows

5. Purl

6. I-cord slits *YO, K2tog* repeat this all the way around the bag.

7. Purl

8. Knit for 6” (or more or less depending how long you would like the bag to be). This is where you can try a new stitch pattern. Just look through the variety of stitch dictionaries and try a new one.

9. For a flat bottom bag, use a 3-needle bind-off. At the end of a round, put both needles together parallel in left hand. Grab another needle and use this to Bind-off.

a. *Slip new needle into first stitch on the front needle as if to knit, slip the same needle into the first stitch on the back needle as if to knit, knit these two stitches together and slip off onto the right needle.*

b. Repeat so there are two stitches on the right needle.

c. With the tip of the left hand needle, pass the first stitch on the right needle over the second. One stitch on right needle.

d. Bind off all stitches in the same manner. Work away the end into the seam with a tapestry needle.

10. Make an i-cord

a. Cast on 4 stitches on a DPN (double pointed needle)

b. Slide stitches to the opposite end of the needle without turning the needle. The working yarn should be leading off the leftmost stitch on the needle across the back of the i-cord. Knit these four stitches. (This little technique is really magic…we are taught to turn at the end of the row, but don’t do it and you will end up with a lovely cord.)

c. Repeat until i-cord is the length you need and cast off.

d. After threading the i-cord through the bag, tie knots in the ends of the cord

Knitting in church March 8th 9th

We have selected March 9th as our day to knit in between worship services on Sunday morning and before and after worship on Saturday evening. We hope to let our congregation know our mission and what we have accomplish so far. We hope those that might be interested will ask questions and consider joining us. We aren't a very scary group :) and we welcome a fresh face at our fun gatherings.

We are making bags now

Our knitting has an add dimension. We are creating beautiful bags to fill with feminine goodies to share. Dianne's visit to the Women's Resource center resulted in a list of basic needs we think some of our bags could fill. Besides we have discovered that making bags is a bit like an upside down hat. Cool.

Thank You Thrivent

Just got the news from Faith's Anne Lindaman - The Stitch and a Prayer knitting group is now the recipient of $600 a year supporting funds. We can use the gift to buy yarn that won't irritate little preemie heads, sparkly yarn for special bags for women at the Family Violence center, soft baby yarn for the other little ones.....this is really a blessing.

Where does my help come from? It comes from the Lord. He must approve of our little gifts of hats laced with our prayers.

Preemie Project garter ridge hat

Added the coffee cup in the photo so you can see the size. 36 stitches with worsted weight yarn. So cute.

Look for new yarns in the stash

I dug through the stash of eBay bargains at home and discovered many yarns that might be perfect for our charity group. Many are wool and variegated. I hope you enjoy stitching our prayers into them. With wool, you may not want to create a tiny tiny baby hat. It might be a touch itchy. It they would be perfect for the Baby Suprise Jacket however. I will bring the pattern with me on Feb 11th.