News from Rwanda Knits

Karen notified Cari Clement of Rwanda Knits to tell her to look for the checks and the approximate total. Cari was thrilled to get the news. She constantly works long hours writing to get grants to support the cooperatives.

The first picture is a cowl produced by the knitters for Anthropologie. They made 750.

Indego Africa financed the yarn purchase.

Our donation along with grant monies will probably be used to purchase yarn to support the production of domestic school and team sweaters by the Ingenzi Knit Union (IKU).

The remainder of the pictures shows the women involved in some pretty intense knitting.

It's hard to believe but very rewarding to know that our efforts could be a real help.

Greeting Desk and Historical Display

Karen greeted everyone, explained things, and answered questions. Such as how do I win a door prize? Where do raffle tickets go? Can we eat that food? How do I make out this check?

Periodically we challenge ourselves and do a group project that more or less falls into the arts as opposed to crafts. The "Pittsburghscape" was invented & executed in 2005 and went to the CGOA convention in California that year. Having inspired the book "A Coat of Many Scrumbles", the cape also traveled to the CGOA convention in 2006, where it was photographed with the new cape. Also at the same con was "In the Garden", a wire bra that was entered into a "bra"vo contest. Wooly Dreams can only be termed an adventure into needlefelting; the wool is alpaca fur. Slated for the future? A Slice of Pittsburgh, another wallhanging.

Yarn Ball 2010 October 9

Meet the committee that organized the ball. Theresa, Becky, Lyn, Rebecca, Joe, Diane, and Karen.

This is the atmosphere section. A fantastic, yummy spread put on by Becky.

A fantastic view from the balcony. Great music. This is where I say: A good time was had by all!"

Up On the Farm

On October 2, a few of us went to Highland Alpaca and helped celebrate Farm Day. We taught quite a few people how to needle felt and sent them home with samples of felted alpaca fur. Many of the younger set had fun lacing beads for necklaces and bracelets. There are no pictures of alpaca because you need to go to Highland Alpaca and see them for yourself.

Yarn Arrives

This year Lands' End started a Feel Good project with Warm Up America. They have arranged for free yarn to make afghans.

Through Penny Sitler at CGOA, 3RC arranged to have 5 cones sent, thinking as a group we could complete 5 afghans by mid December. We originally asked for darker colors since our intended recipients are the VA. But we were told no choice on colors.

The yarn arrived today. Think fruit! Cranberry, cherry, orange, grape, and blueberry. If you look carefully, you can see the cones are not equal in size. They suggest handing out 1.5 oz per 7 x 9 rectangle. We've already discussed going about 5 afghans in a different way. Let's see how the colors influence us???

Paulette Finished Tablecloth

Previously we showed this tablecloth as a WIP. Here it is. Finished beautifully and not a mistake in sight! (Sorry readers, inside joke.)

Voila! A scarf

The complementary scarf for the beret. It's not the same exact pattern. It's the basic broomstick stitch.

It's 5 1/2 " wide and 54" long. I did 25 rows and fastened off. Then started again from the beginning chain for 25 more rows. The last rows have a picot worked in.

It really is the same yarn: I feel it is a real taupe, looking grey in some light and brown in others.