As any of my regular readers know, my charity crafting of choice is for Alice’s Embrace, because I have a personal connection to the cause. But this month, there is a little extra reward for getting current projects done and mailed in:
I thought I’d share since I just finished these two blankets, and if you need a little extra boost to get some things finished and mailed in to them, this is the perfect time. The contest ends June 30.
As you may remember, I lost a dear friend close to this time last year to Alzheimer’s, and on the very same day, met the lovely people from Alice’s Embrace at Stitches West. Since then, I have been knitting (and crocheting) items for them, on and off throughout the year.
They have a great selection of patterns for knitters and crocheters with varying levels of difficulty. So far, out of all the patterns I’ve knit, Journey has been my favorite.
If you are looking for a charity to contribute to in 2018, I highly recommend Alice’s Embrace. As an added bonus, it is alot of fun to keep an eye on their Facebook page because you never know when your item will pop up. And as before, if you’re making things, please post in my Ravelry group so I can see your items, just for fun.
Most of you probably think I’ve disappeared, so I’m sorry for the lack of posts! I have done alot of knitting, including knitting for another designer, and also had to get through the end of the school year, which is always as busy as the week before Christmas.
I finished another piece for Alice’s Embrace, and this one is particularly close to my heart because I made it for the husband of the friend I lost.
The pattern is Faith, and I love both the name and the pattern. To see it in photos, however, it has to be viewed from an angle, almost like illusion knitting. I am very happy with how this turned out.
It is not one of those patterns you can memorize very easily, but is so pretty I definitely want to make more. I paired a brighter green yarn with a more muted olive green strand, and I love the effect. This is definitely a trick I will use again in the future.
Please share in my Ravelry group if you have been doing charity knitting – I would love to see your pieces!
Thank you all for your support of Alice’s Embrace. When I started this KAL/CAL, I received lovely messages and encouragement, so thank you! It was much appreciated. I am going to do this as an ongoing thing – I always need to have a project going for when I want to relax and not do the work of designing.
You are still welcome at any time to jump in and knit or crochet shawls and blankets with me. If you do, please stay in touch, and post photos in my Ravelry group or on Facebook so we can cheer each other on.
I really love the patterns and they work up very quickly, as they are all done on size 13 needles and use chunky weight machine-washable yarn.
And on to the next project…
Please keep in touch if you’re making along.
Facebook.com/ElizabethKayBooth
Twitter: @elizabethkbooth
Instagram: @elizabethkaybooth
As most of you know, I recently lost someone dear to me to Alzheimer’s, and learned about Alice’s Embrace the same day. I was inspired to knit for them, in my friend’s honor, and I am hoping you will knit and crochet along with me!
As promised, I am keeping you updated, and I’m happy to say despite alot of unexpected things going on this week, I made progress. Compare the photo above (from last week) to this one! 🙂
I love this pattern – it is working up quickly, as you can see, and is relaxing to knit. It’s not complicated, and so it is a piece I can work on even at the end of a long day when my brain is too tired to deal with anything too complex.
I am doing this piece, but feel free to browse their site and pick a shawl or a different pattern to best suit whatever yarn you are planning to use. Please keep in touch with me by posting in the Ravelry thread or tagging me on my social media:
Facebook.com/ElizabethKayBooth
Twitter: @elizabethkbooth
Instagram: @elizabethkaybooth
I apologize for not finishing the yarn love challenge. In the last month, there have been two deaths in my family (well, one in my family, and a dear friend who is like family), so as you can imagine, my usual routine of posts and working has not been happening. I also attended Stitches West (more about that coming in another post!). I appreciate the comments and am so happy you all enjoyed the yarn love challenge posts, so thank you for reading and supporting!
I will share about my Stitches West fun soon, but I want to start it off by highlighting a charity organization I learned about while I was there, and explain why it seemed like serendipity to meet them at that exact moment. Before we moved to California, we lived in Ohio for 10 years and met our dearest friends (who also became my son’s godparents). They were older than us – old enough to be our parents, actually. We had many dinners at each other’s houses, and they were always there to support us and offer helpful advice when asked. But trouble waits for no one, and she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about 4 years ago, then cancer, and her husband became her round the clock nursemaid for that time. She passed away the same day I was at Stitches West and stopped by a booth called Alice’s Embrace.
This charity organization was started in memory of their loved one who was plagued with Alzheimers, and ended up being taken too soon also. They immediately offered to send something to my friend when I told them my story. The charity is very straightforward and legitimate, which of course, is my ideal kind of charity organization. You pick one of their patterns, use appropriate yarn, do the knitting or crocheting (your choice), and then wash it and send it to them. They deliver bunches of items to institutions with Alzheimer’s patients, and do their best to give the patients the choice of what item they would like.
To me, this represents the best part of our community – creating something out of love, to offer softness and comfort to someone during a time of suffering. The item goes to the family when the person passes away. Although it is too late for my dear friend to enjoy a handmade piece, I decided to do some knitting for them anyway, in her honor. I also want to make a piece for her husband. The items need to be machine-washable, so the point is to create something usable, as well as soft and comforting, not necessarily expensive.
I invite any of you who are interested in doing charity crafting to join me in a knitalong (or crochetalong!), with the idea being that when we finish our pieces, we will send them to Alice’s Embrace. I am doing this piece, but feel free to browse their site and pick a shawl or a different pattern to best suit whatever yarn you are planning to use. Please keep in touch with me by posting in the Ravelry thread or tagging me on my social media:
Facebook.com/ElizabethKayBooth
Twitter: @elizabethkbooth
Instagram: @elizabethkaybooth
I am grateful to have learned about this charity, and I not only want to bring attention to a good cause, but hopefully see them receive more donations as a result of spreading the word. I would be very grateful for anyone who wants to join me, and I will be posting weekly updates with my progress, and hope to see yours as well!
ELIZABETH KAY BOOTH 