May 2020 Community Chatter 🌸

[Char]

Here is a thread for May 2020 Chatter. For those of us in the northern hemisphere spring is in full force, flowers will begin blooming, and we’ll all look forward to getting out for some summer sun. In the southern hemisphere you are likely headed into your winter colder season. May you always have warmth in your home and your heart.

We all need positive vibes, inspiration and uplifting moments shared. Share your projects, your flowers, or whatever else moves you. I look forward to seeing what May brings.

Char

[TexasPurl]

Happy May everyone! My goal this month is to finish a WIP, any WIP will do. I currently have 5.

1. Mills Cardigan in Malabrigo Worsted...Needs sleeves & shawl collar.
2. Bag Lady Bag...Needs pockets & straps.
3. Edie Tee in Dream Baby...Almost at sleeve separation point.
4. Bruges Lace Doily...making flowers for outer ring.
5. Stay Longer Sweater in Cascade - Fascination...Just past the sleeve separation.
6. Fishtail Wristwarmers in Wool Tree Yarn Merino Silk...1/3 of the way on 2nd. (Found with stash, notes say I started in 2015 )

We'll see what this list looks like at the end of the month!

[Char]

Yes, I’m just trying to figure out how to tempt you further in the sock area. :-)

[pinesprairie]

I'm waiting for that Edie Tee....

[rkennell]

Looking forward to seeing some pics! Sounds like a lot of them are getting close to the finish line! Btw, socks are a nice on--the- go project! (Just trying to help Char out. 😉)

[Char]

Good afternoon!!! I am donating 50 more masks today to a local nursing home. Then on to the next two orders. :-)

[lovestostitch]

Wow, you are so productive.

[pinesprairie]

Holy cow! (Can I say that here?) You work at warp speed, although once you get a rhythm it's not so bad. So I'm imagining all the recipients that will be so grateful to have a mask, and a very nice one at that. Thanks for doing this for others, Char, it's such a kind thing to do.

[Char]

Awww - thank you guys. I haven’t done much of anything else. I don’t believe I have even finished the towel I have been working on. There is such a need.

[knitter131]

Hi, everyone 😊. We have a beautiful, partly sunny day here in Indiana, doors and windows are bringing in the fresh air.

I’m getting back into my normal routine, but surely was not as productive in my yarn crafting this week. I have a lot of WIP’s and hope to get to them next week. I’ve been trying to do some more stashbusting and will continue this next week. Two types of yarn I’ve been using up to make scarves, and I’m getting close enough that I needed to stop and plan my next moves before continuing. If I do it right, I will have enough leftovers to make a charity scarf or two.

Only one pair of socks completed this week, with another pair on the needles.

My next fun projects will be some baby layettes with baby yarn I’ve been purchasing little by little. Hopefully later this month.

So far I’ve set up for two new scarves with a lace weight very soft acrylic yarn. Two strands makes a very nice scarf. Here are my plans, hopefully to complete in the next week or two:

[Kathy7661]

Pretty colors!

[lovestostitch]

They are both going to be really pretty.

[pinesprairie]

You are just cooking here!

[Kathy7661]

Well, I am pleased to announce that I have finished my Battenberg Blanket!!!

[patipoint]

Beautiful! I have just begun working on mine! Using left overs from all the socks and lots of ordered and in the mail white. Gotta love all the ends to tuck in! You should get a gold star!

[Kathy7661]

patipoint Thank you for the nice comment! Yes, there any many ends but if you take care of them as you go it's not too bad. 😊 I look forward to seeing your progress!

[FreedomLover]

patipoint, I look forward to watching your project's progress, this is such a beautiful pattern.

[pinesprairie]

I went off the UFO a bit and did a quickie baby blanket & washcloths. Also, finally got a pic of the bit of Mandala Madness I came down with.

[knitter131]

Looking pretty, those mandalas are beautiful 😀

[FreedomLover]

Your work is just beautiful.

[pinesprairie]

Thank you Char, TexasPurl, knitter131 and FreedomLover, I appreciate the kind words.

[knitter131]

Hello everyone 😊

So, Indiana is prepped to begin opening with caution Effective Monday. DH and I will be staying at home at least until we can see the affect of this, probably at least until end of May.

Another beautiful day here, with a high of about 80. Doors and windows open.

i finished a couple of small things this morning, bringing my stash buster numbers up a bit. WIP’s for this week are 3 Crochet scarves, a pair of socks, a knit cowl and a knit lace wrap. Goal is to make good progress on these projects before starting anything else. However, I have some beautiful DK in White and shades of gray that’s just itching to become a mile-a-minute lapgan. Hhhmmm. We shall see.

have a good day, stay safe

🧶🧶

[Hellokitten]

I wish California would reopen. Some are doing it anyway here. We have no cases in my area.
It's not like I go anywhere but I haven't seen my kids in months. We were going to travel more this year;, look how that worked out!

Primarily I want things to reopen for the working people. (We're retired.). I m really worried for the many people who have lost their incomes. This is horrendous for so many. And the economy is really going to slide. It will take time to catch up again and get back to where we all were.

My son who teachers doesn't see how kids are going to social distance when they go back to school. They are already so crowded and can't afford more classrooms and teachers. Plus kids just naturally group together. it's going to be interesting.

[qfknit]

In some areas, the concern to re-open quickly is not based solely or primarily on economic concerns... but on health concerns.

Unfortunately, many areas are forgoing routine medical tests, regular doctor appointments, treatments including cancer treatments, and "scheduled" surgeries: Only COVID-19 patients are seen.
This despite hospitals having plenty of capacity.
It seems arbitrary & capricious, and the health of many is at stake.

Meanwhile, hospitals are under-utilized, losing money, and down-sizing...
meaning that they may be unable to see many patients once the lockdown is lifted.

It makes no sense.
Doctors want to see their patients.
Patients want to see their doctors.
The government is keeping them apart, to the detriment of all.

[qfknit]

I'll add that a desire to re-open is also often a desire to preserve our rights.
Here's a link to the April 27, 2020 Memorandum by Attorney General Barr:
Balancing Public Safety with the Preservation of Civil Rights

[Char]

Good morning!!! I hit a bit of a road bump in the mask making. Power went out!!! Oh no!!! I thought I would weave for a bit but instead I think I’ll clean the sewing table, and piece things together. I have twenty more pieces together ready to be sewn.

Off to the cutting and piecing stations I go!

[Char]

You know it is bad when the power returns, the worker climb down off the pole, and the large pop happens. Poor guy looks back at the pole all confused.

[FreedomLover]

Yikes.

[Hellokitten]

Char That's sad.

[Char]

More masks with a purpose completed today! :-)

Off to get my table cleaned off and start the next batch.

[Char]

pinesprairie my DH and kiddos do an excellent job taking care of me. :-)

Everyone in the house is contributing. We have stations set up, it is cute - most evenings you can find all four of us at a station. The boys are learning an amazing lesson about giving back and chipping in however we can.

[rkennell]

I love that you have the whole family involved!

[lovestostitch]

What a great family project.

[knitter131]

Good morning, everyone! So, my WIP'S are sitting, and I couldn't wait to begin a lap afghan with some new yarn I purchased.

Nothing on the agenda today besides laundry and more of the same. Weather today is sunny and cooler, but still warm enough to open things and let the fresh air in.

Here's the first row of the afghan, it will he a total of 12 squares, checkerboard. The squares are approximately 14" each, for a total size of 56" long and 42" wide.

[lovestostitch]

This is going to be nice! Do you know who you will give it to?

[knitter131]

Thanks, Kathy7661 😊. lovestostitch, I have no one in mind. I might actually keep this one 🧶🧶

[TexasPurl]

Very nice!

[TexasPurl]

The 2nd earwarmer I made from the Whims Merino I received with the Furls hook using the Star Stitch.

[TexasPurl]

pinesprairie ~ Thank you! I liked the hook, though it feels a bit too chunky in my hand. I suppose it'll take a bit more time to become accustomed to it. So many years using straight aluminum & steel hooks. I'm sure my hand will thank me in years to come if I make myself use the ergonomic hooks now. 😊

[pinesprairie]

TexasPurl I know what you mean. It took me quite a while to get accustomed to the size as well. It does make me hold/use the hook a bit differently though which supposedly is the purpose.

[babajayne]

So cute, love the color! I had my eye on those fancy hooks, but I rarely crochet now that I knit.

[lovestostitch]

I'm preparing for my first grocery shopping trip in months. I wouldn't go into a store except we really need a Costco stock-up and Costco doesn't have curb side pickup. We will be out of dog biscuits soon and that would not go over well! I don't want to carry a purse and worry about having a germy purse. I decided I needed a bare minimum, washable purse that could carry a credit card, hand sanitizer and my own pen. I saw some different ideas on Pinterest and really liked the ones that made the sanitizer ready to squeeze, Here is my first try. The strap is long for making it a cross body.

Before assembly:

[TexasPurl]

Great idea! Looks as though it will work for you nicely!

[Kathy7661]

Great idea!!

[pinesprairie]

This really is a good idea. I might have to make a couple.

[knitter131]

That’s so cute! Looks pretty easy, too 😊

[FreedomLover]

We went to the beach yesterday.

[FreedomLover]

I think the blue sky, white clouds and yellow sun are the reason most people love those colors together.

[rkennell]

Looks lovely!

[FreedomLover]

It is, we love living this close to the beach.

[Char]

Can I just take a moment to say how wonderful you all are?

ok - you are WONDERFUL!


Char

[Lemming13]

And I'd like to say the same back to you - your mask making factory is amazing, and your work as admin here is amazing. Three rousing cheers for Char! (and Texas Purl, and all the other hard working mods and admins).

[Char]

Thank you everyone

[knitter131]

And a HIP, HIP, HURRAY for Char ❤️❤️