I got a request from DD1 to help with a Christmas hamper for a rather large family with all girls; specifically they needed hats and mitts. Usually I have some of these items set aside in my charity box, but this past summer/fall I had been focusing on baby blankets and there was not a mitt or hat to be found.
So last week I dug into the yarn stash, I came up with several large balls of Phentex Chunky, and grabbing my 6mm circulars I cast on and began knitting like a mad women! I had a road trip planned to the Eastern Townships of Quebec for the weekend, and knew I could get about 6 hours of straight knitting time there and back, and figured I could add another couple of hours in the evening and shuttling my Aunt around during the day on her various errands. So maybe about 10 hours or so over the weekend. My tally after the weekend – 4 hats and 1.5 pairs of mitts! Not bad! As of Monday, 4 hats and 2.5 pairs of mitts. Last mitt on the needles Tuesday night!
I didn’t know if there would be enough time to crank out 4-5 hats and matching sets of mitts, so I put out a call to my Sunday Knitting buddies, and God love them didn’t they check their own stashes and WIP’s to see what they had that would be suitable. Anja had 2 beanies already done up, just needing mitts, and Kirsti had a full set on the needles she could send along. Trust a fellow knitter to understand the need and step up to the plate! And at Guild last night, Yvieknits let me know if I ran short she had a hat to spare too!
Between the three of us in just a week, we managed 4 sets plus 3 extra hats (2 in a soft cotton which we will send along to the Chemo ward at the hospital where DD1 was treated, as we well understand the tender needs of the heads of patients who are undergoing treatment!). Outstanding! Pics to follow in the new year!
Kirsti, Anja, Yvonne – thanks for helping out! You guys are the best! It is so heart-warming for me to know that I can turn to my knitting friends and say “I need…”, and they always step up to lend a helping hand. Truly I am blessed to keep such fine company.
Merry Christmas all!
