Cuz I don't have enough charities to knit for already...

I picked up another one last night:

The Ships Project

I already started a hat. I have wool that was donated to our NIN chapter that we can't use for babies, and much of that is being sent out tomorrow to CIC list members. I also received several MORE bags and boxes of tapestry wool in smaller lengths a couple of weeks ago. Suitable for striped or pieced socks, as the lengths are a lot smaller than the big double hanks. In fact, all that wool is still in the back seat and trunk of my car except for one box I moved to make room for groceries.

I like using the wool for CIC because a) they request high natural fiber content for maximum warmth and b) the Russians are very accustomed to the proper care and feeding of wool. I figure the soldiers have enough to deal with without having to worry about handwashing their handknits and finding a flat place to dry them.

I also have a big plastic bin full of other yarn that was donated to NIN some time ago. Some of it is wool, some acrylic, some cotton, some a mix. Most of it is mystery yarn in random balls. None of it is suitable for the babies. Some of it will be suitable for the soldiers. The gray, tan, black, green, navy, and red stuff....I still have some pastels and some cottons and some random balls of fuzzy stuff that isn't suitable for the troops. I may give some of that to a lady I met at an NIN meeting who knits cozies for animals in shelters. She is the one who told me about the Chicks with Sticks that Care group in Plano. I'm going to try to go to their Monday meeting.

But I don't know how anyone who knits or crochets or sews can go look at the photos of the soldiers on the site above and NOT do something for them. At least a little. I mean, I won't be doing 20 hats a month...probably not even 10, but something is better than nothing, and I may do some slippers too, as those seem to be much desired and I imagine there are more hat knitters than slipper knitters. Basic hats are incredibly simple and fairly fast.

There is a yahoo group for those who are interested in joining up to knit or sew. If you don't knit and do sew, the group also makes cooling headbands for the troops. They contain some sort of gel crystals to help retain cooling moisture. I haven't looked up all the details on that yet....

Yahoo group

So many projects and so little time. I've been quite selfishly knitting for myself for the last couple of months, though, and need to get back to making time for charity knitting. I've been doing charity sewing, but not so much of the knitting. And I also need to start swatching for my next attempt at Corey's sweater. Maybe I can have it ready for next year's cold season.

Speaking of cold, this is about as much winter as we've had here in many years. We didn't get hit with the severe ice to the north and west of us, but the temps have been down there (especially for us, who are much more used to 105 than 25). Seems we are in for a few days of cold rain, and there is little I like less than cold rain. Cold, fine. Rain, fine. Cold Rain, ugh. I rather have snow than cold rain with occasional sleet. I hope it stays dry tonight. Corey and I have another Mavs game in an hour or so that he remembered at about 5pm. He accidentally bought tickets two days apart. So even though it seems like we were just there, the Lakers are here tonight, and I know Corey likes seeing them, so I said I didn't mind going and we'll head out as soon as he gets home. I'd rather stay home and knit a hat, though. No, I don't knit at games, although the thought has crossed my mind. Corey would be mortified if I did.