I'm actually in the process of making him a little cardigan. It's a knit pattern that uses a 2 stitch twist pattern to make a faux cable. It looks really good, though. I might try to incorporate that into some other project just because I like it so much. It's really easy to do once you've done it a few times, too. One I get more done, like the entire back piece, I'll take a picture of it and post so you all have a better idea of what it'll look like. I'll try to get a good scan of the picture from the pattern I'm using, too.
But what have I actually been up to craft wise since last time? My biggest accomplishment has been making myself a jacket. I've had all the fabric and notions to make it since November of '05. So, two years later I actually sat down and made it (only when the baby was down for a nap and after he had been put to bed for the night). The whole thing took me three weeks. Which isn't bad considering the small time frame I had to work on it each day.
I am especially proud of this project because the pattern was Butterrick. What's the big deal with that? Well, anyone who's ever worked with a Butterrick pattern will tell you just how confusing they are. Well, gee. Why didn't those people tell me before I bought everything?? I can't be mad, though. I conquered the pattern and finished my jacket with all 10 fingers still intact! It was the most complicated thing I had ever sewn. And it doesn't look half bad, either.
A month later I got a call from my previous employer asking if I would like to come back to work. After talking it over with my husband we decided that would be the best option for us and I started working again in January at the Registar of Voters office for my county. Couldn't be more happy to be back in the workforce, but that meant all that time was taken away from my son and my crafts. Well, I have an hour lunch, so if I eat my food in the first 15 minutes I have 45 minutes to work on whatever I brought to work.
My first project was a baby blanket for a co-worker at my husbands work. He had his first baby in Feburary this year. Unfornately, I didn't take a picture of it before we gave it to him. But I had an idea. I had been researching charities online since I had wanted to do one for so long now and came across some preemie charities. I then decided that I wanted to make preemie items and donate them to local hospitals.
I made a second blanket and subsituted the traditional boy colors of light blue and light green for rose and light purple with the same creme colored yarn as the primary color.
I used a pattern I found online and just adapted it to the dimensions I wanted. It's a very easy and fast pattern to use. And very portable. I worked on both on my lunch and breaks at work.
With the information I saw on the internet, I decided I wanted to start my own preemie charity in here in my county. There really isn't on dedicated to it and the one I'm planning on making will cater to all the hospitals with an NICU. I'll make a sample set of everything I'm planning to donate and take it to a few of the hospitals (they need hats, booties, blankets, outfits, etc). There I'll have them inspect every item and tell me what I need to fix. I'll go home, adjust my patterns (or create whole new ones), make a whole new set and take them back. I'll keep doing it until everyone is satisfied. I have the support of my Craft Night buddies and they are willing to help me once I get through the trial and error period so that we could actually get a nice supply going to the major hospitals (like all the childrens hospitals in the area).
I know it'll be a few years until this will actually get off the ground, but it's worth it. Sometimes a hat, or a blanket is what saves a preemies life.
Some people go their whole lives searching for their purpose. I have a strong feeling that this is mine. Knitting, crochet and sewing are all talents of mine and I want to use them to help people. Even if this charity doesn't pan out, I can still donate items and help people, help preemies. Even if it just makes them feel loved for that moment.
