Tuesday, September 22, 2009

NEW WASHCLOTH PATTERN FOUND (click here for PDF)!

We had a great Brown Bag Social last week, thanks to everyone for hanging out with Ina and Sarah! Let's make our goal of 100 washcloths for Baby Buggy!

Another washcloth pattern has been found on Melanie Falick's website, see link above, and splurge on a skein of cotton chenille! See link to the left for the classic Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille at Jimmy Bean Wool.

A REMINDER ABOUT FINISHING: If you do not know how to properly weave in the two ends of the washcloth, please bring the piece to the next Brown Bag Social. Ina and Sarah will be on hand to quickly show you how to weave in the ends on both corners. Then you'll have this skill for life!

A REMINDER ABOUT YARN SUBSTITUTION: Please do not substitute acrylic yarn for the washcloth project! Use the cotton yarn we've provided, Lily Sugar 'n Cream, or purchase a cotton blend like Lion Brand's Cotton-Ease. I will not accept any washcloths made from acrylic yarn!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

PATTERNED WASHCLOTHS FOR BABY BUGGY

We're finally announcing our fall project! We're making washcloths out of soft cotton for our babies at Baby Buggy.



There are many patterns on the web and I've posted some links to free and downloadable patterns on the left. Instead of posting the patterns, we are creating KNIT & CROCHET pattern booklets. They will be available at this weeks BROWN BAG SOCIAL this Friday.

About the yarn, I've purchased 75 skeins of Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn in a variety of colors. For both crocheters and knitters, you'll get two washcloths out of a single skein. We're giving each member only one skein.

I would like to encourage each member to buy 1, 2 or 3 skeins of this yarn (aprox. $2 per skein at Michaels) or choose another "kitchen" cotton like Lion Brand's Cotton Ease which is a little more expensive (approx. $5.50 per skein) but has better yardage. You'll get 3, possibly 4 washcloths out of one skein. I've posted some links at the left.

You need three tools: needles or hooks, scissors and a "chibi" needle for weaving in the ends. Needle and hook sizes vary, so bring a variety if you're staying for the BBS this Friday.

See you Friday! MEET UNDERNEATH THE WINTER GARDEN STAIRCASE ON FRIDAY! It's Motorexpo week so there are cars everywhere!

Monday, August 24, 2009

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Baby Buggy Blankets

Get ready for next Friday's Brown Bag Social! We can't wait to see the progress you've made on the blankets. Ina and Sara hope to help with the pattern.

Remember, bring your tools!

For those who signed up for a kit, they will be waiting for you. Unfortunately, for those that didn't make it to the first meeting of this season, there are no more kits but I would encourage you to buy the yarn at the Lion Brand Studio and donate the blanket to our New York City-based charity, Baby Buggy!

Happy Knitting!

Friday, June 19, 2009

WE'RE TOO POPULAR!

Wow, our tables were full 10 minutes before the event started! Great day everyone, all the kits have been taken home to be lovingly knitted and crocheted into gorgeous blankets. Even the extra hat yarn was given to 10 ambitious knitters for a few more Gilda's Club chemo caps.

So now the bad news, for now I will only purchase enough yarn for a few more kits for those In the Loopers that stopped by the Brown Bag Social today. At the next event on July 19, we will concentrate on making the blankets and there will be no kits for distribution. I may come up with a fall project if all the blankets are finished by the end of the summer. Watch the blog for updates.

Happy Knitting! Hope to see you at a few of the free music and dance events at the Winter Garden. New York City Opera performs three free concerts next week at the Winter Garden, South Street Seaport and Rockefeller Park! Visit www.RiverToRiverNYC.com for more information.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

WFC In the Loopers who can't make it to tomorrow's Brown Bag Social, I'm Tweeting from the event! Follow me on Twitter by following this link: http://twitter.com/wfcloop

Monday, June 15, 2009

BLANKETS FOR NYC'S BABY BUGGY!















We're starting a new project for a great cause--baby blankets for Baby Buggy, an organization dedicated to providing New York City’s families in need with essential equipment, clothing, and products for their infants and young children. 

The patterns are easy, the yarn great for summer crafting, and our goal achievable--25 cotton baby blankets by early fall!

Patterns can be downloaded from the sidebar. We have a limited number of kits so first-come, first-served for this project. Ina will concentrate on finishing techniques as we near the end of each blanket, so make time to visit the Brown Bag Socials in September and October. 

AND . . . please bring your tools this Friday . . . CROCHET NEEDLE SIZE J-10 . . . KNITTING NEEDLE US 8, 32" CIRCULAR.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

OK FOLKS, we're nearing the end of the chemo cap project but for those who would like to make one more hat for Gilda's Club, we have more yarn . . . a few skeins of Lion Brand Cotton Bamboo and a few more of Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Cotton. I'll bring the beauties to next week's Brown Bag Social or email me if you'd like to stop by the office.

We'll accept finished caps until the final summer Brown Bag Social on July 17.

Our final project of the year will begin next week on June 19 and finish on October 16. I'll post the project description and patterns by early next week. Wanna clue? Snugly, cute and pretty! We'll of course provide patterns and yarn next week. Remember to bring your tools. Ina and her trusty side kick Sara will be in the house! 

A final note, we are preparing to send a first batch of chemo caps (16!) to Gilda's Club and over 50 scarves to the Red Scarf Project this week. Congratulations everyone, we're doing great work!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

NEXT FRIDAY'S BROWN BAG SOCIAL

Bring you hats . . . bring your questions . . . bring your leftover yarn from HAT NUMBER 1 . . . and bring your lunch, coffee or snack!

We'll toss the remnants into a basket and you can choose your own color combination for HAT NUMBER 2. Ina will assist with quantities.

See you on May 15 . . . Happy Knitting and Crocheting!

P.S. Bring your tools!!!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

FANTASTIC FRIDAY EVENT!


We had an amazing event on Friday, new faces, new challenges! 

We still have 20 crochet kits and about 5 knit kits. Can we challenge knitters to learn the crochet pattern? 

Remember to bring your remnants back to the next event. These fragments will be used to make second multi-colored hats.

We will add a note about the tools you need to bring to the Brown Bag Social events in every e-blast.

We are all now working on the chemo hat projects, so please do not bring last season's scarves to the Brown Bag events for more help.

Knitters, you're casting on for largest size because we're making hats for adults this season. On the first hat, skip the striping. 

Knitters who borrowed the 16" circular needles, please purchase your tools and return the needles at the next event. See link to the left to Jimmy Bean Wool for discounted tools.


Happy Knitting and Crocheting! See you on May 15!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

SPRING SEASON PROJECTS!

This Friday we begin our new project, chemo caps for members of Gilda's Club New York City! Our goal is 50 hats by the end of the season in June.

We're making two hats, both easy and created in the round (a new skill!). Both yarns are beautiful to work with and will create breathable, comfortable fabric for these hats. The knitted Skinny Striped Hat pattern from Blue Sky Alpacas uses their Skinny Cotton. The crocheted Roll Brim Hat pattern from Lion Brand uses their spectacular new Cotton Bamboo from the LB Collection.

You can find Ina's Tips for Success on our website as a downloadable PDF, http://www.artsworldfinancialcenter.com/ and click on Events Calendar. We'll include them in each kit and bring copies to the Brown Bag Socials.

YOU NEED TO BRING . . .

CROCHETERS . . . F or G hook

KNITTERS . . . 16" circular needle size US
5 or 6

We've included a link (see left) to the Jimmy Bean Wool on-line store for tools at discounted prices!

See you this Friday from 12-2pm in the Winter Garden!

Friday, April 3, 2009

SCARF COLLECTION

Bring your scarves to the next Brown Bag Social on April 17, 12-2 pm. If you'd like to drop your scarf off before the next event, our offices are located at the World Financial Center. Email us (intheloop@brookfieldproperties.com) and we'll arrange a drop-off time.

The scarves will be finished and mailed to the OFA the first week of May.

Happy Knitting!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

CALLING ALL SCARVES!


Friday is our last Brown Bag Social of the season so bring your finished scarves, leftover yarn, and borrowed needles. We're finishing and fringing in preparation for packing up the beauties to send to the OFA!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

LOOK AT ALL THE COLORS!


I received a special package from Ina yesterday . . . 25 skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca Skinny Cotton in gorgeous colors, wound into balls and ready to be stuffed into their kits!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

SNEAK PEEK


A sneak peek at next season's project for our In the Loop knitters. Blue Sky Alpaca has donated 25 skeins of beautiful Skinny Cotton. Check out the colors at Purl Soho and mark your calendars with our April 17 Brown Bag Social to get your kit!

Project pattern for In the Loop crocheters coming soon!

Monday, February 23, 2009

GREAT SUCCESS!

While I was in sunny LA I heard that last Friday's Brown Bag Social was a great success and Ina was busy, busy, busy!

Thanks to everyone who dropped off a finished scarf and picked up another kit.

Welcome to all new members, we hope to see you next month!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

NEWLY FORMATTED PATTERNS

Our amazing graphic designer, Quarn, has redesigned our patterns so that each is easier to read and follow. Click on the links to the left!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

ARE YOU MAKING PROGRESS?

Some musings as we count down to our second Brown Bag Social and we all finish our first scarves:

Knitting/Crocheting for others . . . 

. . . is like meditation: it can take us out of our lives for tiny moments of pleasure,

. . . gives purpose to our creativity and skill, and

. . . is really fun!

We're making more knit & crochet kits for the upcoming February 20 Brown Bag Social. 

Do you need help? Plan to spend time with Ina who will get you through any crafting quagmire!

Finished scarves are welcome! 

Saturday, January 17, 2009

INGRID STARTS THE 1-2-3 SCARF

PROJECT PATTERNS


TOOLS FOR THIS PATTERN: SIZE N (10 mm) CROCHET HOOK















TOOLS FOR THIS PATTERN: SIZE US 8, SHORT, STRAIGHT BAMBOO NEEDLES, 9" or CIRCULAR, 24"










RIBS & RUFFLES PATTERN PDF LINK CLICK HERE. TOOLS FOR THIS PROJECT ARE SIZE US 13, STRAIGHT BAMBOO NEEDLES, 9" or CIRCULAR, 24"

We had a great event last Friday, thank you to everyone who picked up a kit and spent their lunch hour starting the projects! 14 kits were signed out (the last Palindrome Scarf kit is available) and we are now making more for the next Brown Bag Social on Friday, February 20. If you'd like to pick up a kit before the next event, email us through the blog and we'll make arrangements to connect you with the kit!

A few improvements to the Brown Bag Socials:
  • project patterns are now posted and downloadable
  • we will have tools on hand at the the Brown Bag Socials so that if you forget to bring a hook or needle, you can start a project
  • we're introducing name tags to help Ina as she works with multiple crafters during the events

Next post: pictures from the January 17 Brown Bag Social!



Monday, January 5, 2009

A NEW BEGINNING

Let's begin the new year with renewed energy and focus! We're embarking on a new project, THE RED SCARF PROJECT and we have beautiful yarn and easy but interesting patterns.

CHANGES TO IN THE LOOP
In the Loop will formally meet every third Friday throughout the year at 12 noon to 2 pm. We'll take a break in August and will not meet in November or December. Evening sessions will no longer be held but I would encourage In the Loopers to organize their own after-work sessions.

We've created crafting kits which include the pattern and yarn. Each In the Looper will sign out the kit and return the finished scarf. The In the Loop patterns are clearly written with notes on tools, gauge, yarn and of course instructions and tips for success.

Instead of posting the patterns on the website, we want you to stop by the Brown Bag Socials and pick up a crafting kit.

In the Loopers still have to buy tools to create the projects. REMEMBER TO BRING TOOLS TO THE BROWN BAG SOCIALS!

Generally, I will post to this blog once a month, after the Brown Bag Social event. We will send out two email blasts, one a reminder of the upcoming of the Brown Bag Social, and the second a notice that I've posted to the blog.

We really want to triple our working members this year, from 15 to 50. Tell your friends and colleagues in the office. We will supply you with flyers to post in your office kitchens and copy rooms, and we encourage you to tell us ways we can reach out to your companies.

PROJECT 1: THE RED SCARF PROJECT: JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH

We're finally knitting scarves for young people in their first year of college as part of the Orphan Foundation of America's Red Scarf Project - perfect for this cold weather! We have skinny yarn and chunky yarn, pure wool and wool blends, soft and squishy, dry and elegant. We hope you'll try it all, learn some new techniques, and have fun!

ABOUT the OFA, Orphan Foundation of America
Founded in 1981, the Orphan Foundation of America (OFA) serves thousands of foster teens across the United States. Whether we're providing them with college scholarships, connecting them with mentors and internships, sending them care packages, or testifying before Congress, OFA is a passionate champion of foster youth. Visit www.orphan.org for more information and ways to contribute.

ABOUT The Red Scarf Project: A Great Charitable Knitting Initiative Provides Warmth and Encouragement to Foster Youth
In 2005, OFA launched a unique initiative to warm the hearts (and necks) of college-bound foster youth. We began taking donations of handmade red scarves to put into our Valentine's Day Care Packages. Word spread quickly around the charitable knitting/crocheting community. In the first year, we took in 3,500 scarves. The following year, that number swelled to over 15,000! For more information, visit www.orphan.org.

THE PATTERNS
For our crocheters, we've got the 1-2-3 Scarf, a fun and easy pattern created by Ina for In the Loop. We're using Lion Brand's Thick & Quick wool/nylon blend in four colors, fig, citron, apricot and lemongrass, that look great on both women and men.

For the knitters, we've got two patterns. The first is In the Loop Palindrome knitted with beautiful yarn donated by Sunday Knits, and the second a free pattern from Misti Alpaca using their gorgeous chunky alpaca donated by Stix-n-Stitches in Montclair.

Happy New Year, see you on Friday!