Knitting for hope

My local knitting guild supports a wonderful organization here in northern California called Keaton Raphael Memorial. I have provided the link in case you're interested in reading more about it. I know I have posted about it before, but basically, worldwide a child is diagnosed with cancer every three minutes. In the U.S., one in five will not survive. One of the programs the foundation has is called "Hope Chest", which provides the family with educational material, financial assistance, and gifts for members of the family. Our guild provides knit hats for the child, which we are told they are very well received. The lady who heads this project up in our guild even provides you with the yarn they want us to use, and there are several patterns to choose from. At our last meeting, I chose this one and I sat down yesterday and knitted this adorable hat...

 

While I was knitting it, I got a call from a friend from high school wanting to know if I would knit or crochet a baby blanket for her. A friend of hers is having a new grandbaby, so she told me what kind of yarn she wanted and I ran out and got it so I could get started on it. We are having the perfect weather today too...a much needed rain for our drought stricken state!! My plan is to curl up on the sofa today with my dogs, and get started.

 

When my granddaughter came to see me and have lunch with me a week ago, her and I were talking about her "hope chest", and how one day her and her boyfriend will get married. The thought occurred to me that she needs to have an heirloom quality piece in that chest from her grandmother. And out of all of my grandchildren, she is the one that would love and appreciate something like that the most. She's an extremely mature 19 1/2 year old, doesn't put up with any crap from people, is capable of maintaining her own separate relationships without persuasion from outside sources, and is loving and very beautiful!!! It brings me such joy to watch my 13 year old granddaughter, her cousin, look up to her. I love knitting for my 13 year old, but she is far from ready to start a "hope chest". She's the one I love knitting garments for because she actually wears them and that's the fun part for me where she's concerned! For my Alex, the 19 yr old, I'm considering this tea cloth by Marianne Kinzel. It's the Daffodil design, and is a true work of art, that I would consider to be an heirloom. Alex knits her own garments, but she doesn't really have the time to learn to knit lace. I went and already got the thread for it, even though I'm not sure when I will be able to start it.

 

My 13 yr old on the left, Alex in the center, and her boyfriend. Love these kids!!!

 

My sister called me yesterday to tell me her and her husband just got back from vacationing for a week at Convict Lake (their fav camping spot) in the eastern Sierras. It is so beautiful there, but so very cold at night. She started hinting around for some more wool socks for her and her hubby for Christmas. At least she knows she better put in her request early! :)