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!

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!

2009 PROJECT 1: THE RED SCARF PROJECT

DETAILS COMING SOON!

Misti Chunky Ribs & Ruffles Scarf | Free pattern from Misti International, Inc. | CLICK HERE FOR PDF

GALS FROM MASON-DIXON KNITTING

Last Friday, October 17, In the Loopers had a surprise visit from the authors of the new Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines. Kay and Ann hung out for an hour, chatted and signed books as we worked on our season projects.

Visit their blog, www.masondixonknitting.com, and read the post about stopping by the Winter Garden on their busy book tour.

Thanks Ina!

OUR GOALS

Before the busy holiday season begins, set a goal of making TWO pair of socks or TWO sets of hats & mittens. We have ONE month to accomplish this goal, so let's get busy!

The recipients-a seafaring worker or a mother and child-will appreciate the care and creativity in our warm, handknit pieces as the temperature drops outside.

Join us for our next evening session on October 29 under the palm trees in the Winter Garden where we'll continue to help each other through the projects. The final lunchtime session with Ina Braun is November 21 where she will continue to give instruction for socks knit on double pointed needles as well as assistance with the hat and mitten patterns. REMEMBER to bring your own needles (see post below for needle sizes). We still have sock, hat and mitten yarn in the stash.

We'll collect handknit pieces through December 1, 5pm, either at the In the Loop events or in our offices. We'll deliver the pieces to the two charities on Tuesday, December 2. Please make sure that each piece is completely finished-all ends woven into the fabric and lightly blocked.

We're around the office if you need assistance with a pattern, so call or email us from the blog.

Happy Knitting!

A SEASON OF SOCKS

In the Loopers are working on socks this season! Our next session is FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3 AT 12PM IN THE WINTER GARDEN. We'll be under the glorious palm trees again.

Ina Braun, our intrepid knitting teacher, will conduct several SHOW AND TELLS: 1) turning the heel 2) working with double pointed needles (DPNs) and 3) knitting socks on two circular needles.

To make the most of this session, bring a sock knit through the heel flap. It's easy, once you get your stitches arranged on the DPNs, it's just straight knitting to this point. You can also start from the beginning in this session because the next meeting is in two week, October 17, perfect amount of time to work up a pair of socks to this point. Ina will repeat these tutorials.

Here are several pictures of a sock in progress:





Ina recently discovered a great sock tutorial on Purl Soho's Purlbee (click here to link). The pictures coupled with the instructions are really helpful in visualizing the sock's several sections, in particular the heel.

SOME REMINDERS TO PARTICIPANTS
Please bring your own needles to the classes. For these patterns we are using DOUBLE POINTED NEEDLES. Bamboo is highly recommended. SIZES US 2 OR US 3. These needles are affordable and a great investment. Word on the street,: everyone who learns to make socks always has a pair on the needles. Just in case, we will have a few sets on hand for use in the class.

We have some yarn, washable wool/acrylic blend from Encore called Colorspun D.K., purchased from our main charity, The Seaman's Church Institute Christmas At Sea, who distributes our handknit socks to men and women working at sea.

Hope to see you this Friday!