It's in the mail!

Just packed and mailed this pullover. It is supposed to arrive on Saturday. The pattern is from Paton, called Andrew's Stripes, but I used just a few rows of the peach color. That went faster and avoided all the weaving in of ends. Happy days!

Mittens from Elizabeth's Yarn

Here is a pair of mittens made with the alpaca/wool/nylon yarn that Elizabeth D. supplied, with 3 strands held together.  They're a little bit small on me, but would do.  They're nice and cushiony!  I think I have enough yarn for at least one smaller pair, maybe two.  They should get in the mail tomorrow.

Gwyneth Duncan

One More on the Way

This pullover is packed and ready to mail, along with a hat from the last project. It is a good pattern  for using up stash, called Back-to-School Pullover. Right now I am finishing the second sleeve of the next sweater, so it should be ready soon.

Meanwhile, back in the basement

Ann, Sue, Rachel and I got to spend a sunny Friday afternoon in the shade of the AFSC basement, where packages of all sizes were waiting to be opened up. Here is a small peek at what we found:

Fabulous pullovers for the 500-girl-sweater drive, and

stunning mittens who will keep two young persons warm in style. Not that there is anything wrong with plain warm, cushy, comfy mittens (and socks) in all styles and colors.
I always emerge from our packing sessions with renewed knitting zeal and energy; more than ever, I am determined to finish my current sweater for this drive (one sleeve and a collar left) and to cast on for a second one. April is practically over already and we simply must meet our ambitious goal for this campaign. If you haven't joined me already, will you consider casting on?

Sweater just about ready to send

This is a size 10-12 neck down sweater made from blue grey Eco+ and purple Cascade 220 that is current drying and about ready to go into a box with a couple of pair of mittens and a hat.

Trust in Education's Budd is in Afghanistan this week

We're currently knitting for Trust in Education's new girls school. I happened to email their founder Budd MacKenzie today to find out about his next trip to Afghanistan, and -- surprise! -- he emailed me back from Afghanistan, where he's checking on their projects, delivering supplies, and making friends. I thought Budd was still in the East Bay, on the other side of the bridge from me in San Francisco. He's on the Other Side of the World this week.

Budd sent a few photos from the refugee camp where they're serving some of the residents. I am sharing his photos here. The kids are beautiful, and so is Budd.






Please don't download/take these photos from this webpage. They are just for you to see here.

Every schoolgirl everywhere should have a new, cheerful, cozy sweater for their winter semester. TIE's working hard to see that the girls in Afghanistan have an opportunity to catch up on their schooling. We've signed on to make 500 warm wool sweaters for the girls. Have you casted-on yet?

With friends and art at Afghan Friends Network event

Last night, we had a good time at the Afghan Friends Network fundraising event at the Incline Gallery in the Mission District of San Francisco.

Earlier this year, Afghan Friends Network arranged for the distribution of our knit wool hats, socks, and mittens to their students in Ghazni in the middle of winter.

On the left is Humaira Ghilzai (the organization's co-founder), Ardis (a4A volunteer packer and booster extraordinaire), me in the back, Deborah (Tamim's wife), Tamim Ansary (with his new book "Games Without Rules: The Often Interrupted History of Afghanistan"), and Rahima Haya (Afghan-American women's community leader and activist). The paintings are by Feroza Unvala, a San Francico artist and president of the board of Afghan Friends Network.

I loved Tamim's "West of Kabul, East of New York." Be sure to look for his books when you get the chance.



Ardis points the way to this striking traditional Afghan dress with embroidery and mirrors on display. A party dress!

Socks

What is everyone working on now?  I don't think I'm going to be able to do a sweater this time, but I have mailed the finished socks in the photo, and finished the 2nd pair.  They are being blocked right now.

I'd love to see some pictures of other people's work.  Cheerio!  Sherri

Kay's Thorpe on Jill at the AFSC Basement

We sorted incoming packages on Friday at the AFSC Basement. Slow, but we expect that will change since firming up and announcing our new campaign for NGO Trust in Education for next winter.

I set aside Kay's Thorpe hat until one of our volunteers willingly modeled for all to see. The tale of Kay's hat and parent Icelandic sweater were chronicled on her Mason-Dixon blog in January.

Jill looks so cute and happy in the Icelandic hat and terrific mittens (knitter unknown) with Northern European roots, too. Next winter, these garments are going to be fabulous insulators for their Afghan recipients. Thanks, Kay!

Hurray! A new campaign!!

This one is all for girls, ages 7 to 16. Imagine, a school is being built for girls, by the community -- not too many years ago no one would have believed it.

First on the list -- a sweater for every one of the 500 students expected to enroll. Think about it -- you have a few months. It doesn't have to be fancy, but it does have to be well made, and it must follow these guidelines:

• long sleeves -- no 3/4, no vests; sleeves must come to the wrists. 
• hem well below the waist
• no low necklines -- they don't have to be turtlenecks, but modesty is crucial

Don't like these restrictions? Think of it this way -- if A4A were to send a garment that didn't meet those standards (and they won't, so we don't need to worry) you could literally be putting that girl's life in danger.

Also, sweaters going to Afghanistan should be shaped just like sweaters for kids here at home. You would not believe some of the odd things I have seen in my many years of community knitting!

Here is the link for all the guidelines and more information on the school:

http://www.afghansforafghans.org/currentcampaign.html

Afraid of sweaters, or know you won't finish in time? There is still a need for socks and mittens. Some hats, too, but concentrate on the other things if you can.

Mittens from Trader Joe's!

I was looking through some old photos -- our a4A family album -- and came across this photo of Ann Russell sorting knitted fish in the AFSC Basement. Cracked me up, so I am reposting here.
-- the other AMR (we have the same initials)

Socks and mittens, and alpaca

Although the January campaign has ended, and there's no official due date for the next one, Ann has informed us that we can still send in socks and mittens (hold off on the hats -- there's a surfeit of hats as it is).

So -- once again, I am going to give away some yarn. I still have quite a bit of the Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine that was generously donated to us by a local yarn shop (the one where I now work a couple days a week, in fact). This yarn is 50% wool, 30% nylon, and 20% alpaca, so it is definitely tough enough for socks, and very warm. Each 100-g skein measures 400 meters (433 yards). My friend Beth held 3 strands together and made some very nice mittens. You could also use a single strand as a carry-along with worsted or DK. And crocheters? This would make wonderful mittens - so soft and flexible and warm.

Send your name and post office address to me at yarnystuff@gmail.com. I will pick names on Sunday so that packages can go out Monday morning. Each package will include enough yarn for a couple of pairs of socks or mittens, or, of course, a pair of each. (If you sent me an email last time and were not picked, I will include you in this drawing.) PLEASE remember to include your mailing address; even I cannot email yarn!