He-Man Chemo Hats

In the last couple weeks my husband and I have spent a little time in radiology departments and I noticed something--they have bales of chemo caps for women and few to none for men.  One of them has a bin with a few ball caps in it but ball caps are not warm and I'd imagine that a newly-bald head needs something warm.

We talked about charity knitting at the last BLKG meeting, about how we've been knitting preemie hats and chemo hats and charity hats since the Guild began, and that maybe we need to branch out into something like scarves and mittens.  That's a good idea, people need scarves and mittens.  But men need chemo hats, knitted or crocheted chemo hats.  Not only do the hats keep heads warm but a pile of them available for the taking says "I'm thinking about you, wish I could do more, but I made you a hat, hope it helps."  At least that's what mine are saying.

Mitch-made hats

So I'd like to ask you to think about making a man-size, manly-colored hat or two and bring it, or them, to the next meeting on December 13.  VP Mitch dropped a couple off to me the other day--thanks, Mitch!  I already talked to Lucy and she doesn't mind if I usurp a bit of her job collecting charity hats as long as I promise to collect and deliver the ones from January and February while she's away.  I will, cross my heart.

Andy and her first charity Hat-stravaganza

Andy brought a whole bag of hats she'd knitted from the partial balls of yarn left from her projects.  They're deeply ribbed so they should fit most heads.  Here's a link directly to the pdf of the pattern; it's one of those awesome ones that you can make for any size head in many sizes of yarn.  Thanks for the link, Andy! 



Reminder #2:  Please if it's at all possible come to the December 13 meeting.  Not only is it our Annual Dishcloth Exchange (bring one to get one) & Potluck, it's also election time for next year's officers and we need you to be there to vote.  We promise no robo-calls or campaign commercials.

November Meeting Highlights

Quite a few BLKG members found their way to the Fellowship Hall for our, one week early, November meeting. That is one huge room!  Vicki Jicha started the meeting with the news that we have a nearly full slate for the upcoming officer elections in December.  Thanks to all who have stepped up to the challenge.


 


We were lucky to have Julie Deprey who teaches knitting through Monterey Yarns (a BLKG corporate member) talk to us about gauge and yarn substitution.  She made a strong case for the need to knit a gauge swatch, especially if you want the garment that you're knitting to fit.  She brought along a warm, snuggly, and elegant vest she'd knitted as a store sample and had made a dramatic and some might say risky yarn substitute.  (I can't speak for anyone else but I confess that wondered if I could make off with it and skip the knitting part.)  She had made wonderful, laminated Standard Yarn Weights cards with samples of the yarns looped into holes along the bottom for each of us to keep.  On the reverse she included a schematic example and an explanation of "ease" which governs the fit of your knitted garments.  Thank you so much for the handy tool to add to our knitting arsenals, Julie.  (Don't worry if you missed the meeting, Julie gave the extra Yarn Weight cards that she'd made to Vicki so talk to her at the December meeting to claim yours.)  She also donated one of Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Guide to Yarn Requirements for the Guild library.  If you don't have one, check it out either online, at your LYS or in the BLKG library.   It's an invaluable tool that helps you decide how much and what weight yarn to buy when you're making all sorts of sweaters and accessories.  Thanks again, Julie, for an entertaining and informative program.  You're welcome to come back anytime, even if it's just to knit and visit.

REMINDER:  The Guild meeting Thursday, December 13 brings not only the Officer Elections, which we need as many of you as can possibly make it to attend, but our annual Holiday Potluck and Dishcloth Exchange too on .  We'll be back in our usual room and look forward to seeing all of you there.