The Knit Before Christmas

Last week I got an great email from Marge Shelton of The Mariners Museum in Virginia.  The museum’s knitting group had finished up their knitting for Christmas at Sea and Marge was letting us know that a package was on its way!!!

But not only did Marge send along 44 hat & scarf sets (plus an extra 18 scarves and 27 hats), she sent along this great photo of the museum’s knitting group. 

What a treat!  And look at the output!  I was so inspired, I cast on for my own watch cap. After one night here’s where I am:

A bit paltry, but I’m on my way!

Marge credits not only The Mariners Museum group, but many others: friends and family of the volunteer knitters, the Knitting Sisters and the ladies of the Newport News Grissom Library Thursday Knitting Group.  Many others donated materials for the volunteers.

Marge and The Mariners Museum knitters demonstrate the entire community effort that goes into Christmas at Sea–from people donating supplies and physical space for the knitters, to the actual knitters themselves.  Thank you Marge!

Paige

This summer’s been quite a scorcher, at least here in the NY/NJ area.  I haven’t been able to think of much aside from which flavor of ice cream I’ll treat myself to next, but at last, today, some rains came through, and as I got in my car this afternoon, the temperature read not the typical 91, but rather 71!  Woo-hoo!  71 means not hot, even slightly cool, and that means I can get some knitting done tonight!

Although I’m officially starting with the Seamen’s Church Institute after Labor Day, I wanted to test drive some of the patterns.  I’ve got an excellent stash of my own, so I thought I’d get started with one of those and the beautiful watch cap.

in the running

Yikes-sorry for the blur.  Left to right are Scottish Tweed in Oatmeal, Colinette’s Cadenza, a hand-dyed bright pink, and Andy’s Merino in Indigo.  I’m leaning towards the Scottish Tweed.  It’s slightly heavier than worsted weight, so it will create a nice tight knit.  I think that’s critical, since I don’t want the wind to blow through.

What’s your favorite yarn for hat knitting?  Do you prefer more loosely knit hats, or toques of the tighter variety?  Let’s hear from you!

Paige

Hello Christmas at Sea knitters (and visitors)!

My name is Paige Sato, and I’m thrilled to be taking the helm of the Christmas at Sea program. I come to the Seamen’s Church Institute after a stint as a yarn store owner and as a communications and business development specialist with various New Jersey-based non profits.

Like you, I’m an avid knitter. I grew up in Maine, and truly understand the value of warm heads, necks, and hands.  In addition to hats and scarves, I love knitting sweaters and socks.  Most recently, I’ve been experimenting with some pattern writing, and I hope to be able to share those with all of you.

Thing 3 with Hat for Andy

Meet one of my lovely (and most cooperative) models.  Thing 3 is wearing A Hat for Andy, a pattern that is free on Ravelry   You can use any worsted or heavy worsted weight yarn for this pattern, which is a great broken rib pattern.  What’s really cool about it though is how the crown decreases work–the ribbing stays consistent all the way to the point of the crown!

Speaking of Ravelry, I’m sure many of you are on it.  It’s a great resource for pattern ideas and a wonderful place to show and tell.  I’m there as purlgurl, and I hope to meet up with some of you there!

I’d love to hear from you–and feel free to share some of your fave hat (and scarf) patterns!

Paige

Hello all,

I hope this note finds you enjoying some well deserved summer rest and relaxation. My personal life has brought me to move out of the tri-state area and I’m drawing my work with SCI to a close at the end of this month. I would like to announce to all of my knitting friends the job posting for the Christmas at Sea Program Manager, a position that will now be based in Port Newark, New Jersey.

I’ve very much enjoyed my time with Christmas at Sea and I look forward to seeing all of the new developments in the program in the coming years.

Happy knitting everyone!
Jeanette

Please click on the link below to access the job description and details.
cas-program-manager

If you’re shopping online, please consider using iGive. It’s a search engine and shopping site that donates money to SCI with every click. Some people have known about igive.com for years, and by using the site have earned funds for the Institute. Here’s how it works:

iGive is a free service which enables registered members to earn money for their favorite cause whenever they make an online purchase or search the Web. A portion of each purchase is donated to your cause. Plus, when you shop within 45 days of registering they’ll donate an extra $5.

After registering, point your browser to http://isearch.igive.com/ and use it instead of Google. Also, if you use aggregating shopping sites like NexTag, Shopping.com, PriceGrabber, or other price comparison services, check out igive.com. Popular retailers like JCPenney, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Gap, and Nordstrom list with igive.com. Simply by browsing, SCI benefits!

Use the link below, select SCI as your charity, register, and start surfing. You don’t even have to make any purchases, and iGive is a free service. Read more about iGive at http://www.igive.com

http://www.igive.com/welcome/

As I mentioned in my previous post, I participated in the Ravelympics, aka the fiber olympics on Ravelry. I decided to make my challenge be to design a new hat pattern for CAS that folks could use during Knit 4 Lent this year. I knew I wanted to make a pattern that was a little more challenging. We already have so many patterns for beginners.

I tried knit and purl patterns, I tried cables, I tried colorwork, but nothing really clicked. Finally I decided the best pattern would be one that coordinates with our Seafarer’s Scarf. I had my heart set on a folded brim, and from there the hat seemed to design itself. I will be publishing this pattern in our upcoming newsletter and should have the pdf up tomorrow, but for now, enjoy a picture. I took it myself, so please forgive the close up.

Two years ago CAS asked you to make knitting part of your Lenten discipline by knitting hats for the 4000 mariners SCI serves in the Gulf Region of the United States. Although we didn’t complete the 4000 hats in the 40 days of Lent, for two years now we have collected 4000 hats and distributed them on Christmas day. Thanks!

This year has been especially cold and those gifts have been more useful and more valued than ever. I’ve written a bit about the outpouring of gratitude for our gifts on our website. Please take a look.

For those of you who are participating this year, come and find us in the Christmas at Sea knitters group on Ravelry. Ravelry is a social networking site for knitters where you can find patterns, information about yarns and share pictures of your work. The Christmas at Sea group needs your participation! Although I love finding new folks to join needles with us, I’d love to have the participation of the many knitters that have been working along side this program for years. If you have any questions about how to join Ravelry, or how to find CAS once you are there, please send me a message. I’ll gladly walk you through it.

Also on Ravelry, Christmas at Sea is competing in the 2010 Ravelympics. Knit along with the Winter Olympics by challenging yourself to a knitting or crochet goal. Since it’s hat season here, I’ve challenged myself to write a new free pattern for CAS which will be published in our upcoming newsletter. Since we have so many great patterns for beginners, this pattern will be a bit more difficult.   I’ll be knitting that pattern throughout Lent and come Easter it will thoroughly tested and ready for publication.

What are your knitting goals this year? How do you challenge yourself?

If you’re participating in Knit 4 Lent this year, please label your items Knit4Lent and have them mailed by April 19.

happy New Year knitters and crocheters! As Christmas draws to a close I wanted to share the some of the thank you notes that that real mariners have sent along in honor of your work. These are only a few of the many notes we’ve received so far this year. Our upcoming Knit Before Christmas Newsletter will feature many more along with pictures and stories. Thanks from SCI for each and every stitch you’ve contributed to help CAS reach more than 16,000 mariners in 2009.

I just wanted to take the time to say thank you from the crew, we enjoyed the gifts, card and snacks that were sent to our boat. I will enclose a picture of the Christmas tree that the Cook & Deckcrew put together they had to be a little inventive. They used Popcorn, miniature candy bars, colored macaroni, candy canes and Aluminum foil star. Our package came out of Cincinnati area so would you pass on a heart felt thank you to the children that took the time to make the cards and to the volunteers that made up the scarves. I normally in the past when I could find out where the cards came from have taken the time to write back to the school & children to say thank you and that we (Dear River Person) really exist. As I said before Thanks Again God Bless…

Captain James W Evans II & Crew..

Message from the Wheelhouse

of the Mv Harllee Branch Jr

Please thank everyone for the Christmas care packages they were wonderful.The scarfs and things couldn’t have come at a better time.The weather has took a big turn to cold.Please pass on to the children that the cards sent everyone really enjoyed.them and are being kept as keepsake,.knowing someone takes the time to go to such work means a lot to us.Please Thank everyone involved in making Our time out here a little brighter. Peace and Love,God Bless All!

Mike Rouse and Crew Of The M/V Chip Lacy

P.S. I owe you a Dr.Pepper   Sincerely Mike

M/V CHIP LACY

Dear Seamen’s Church:

It is written that, “It is better to give than to receive.”  We of the Gale C thank you for your giving hearts and kind gifts. We appreciate all the time, talent, and energy that went into making Christmas on the river for us. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

May the Lord keep you always,

Crew of  the MV Gale C

I would love to give ALL the men, women, and children who worked so hard and long at making scarves, hats, cards, and gift boxes a BIG HUG and THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!!! Without people like you, Christmas would not be the same out here on the river! I have been working on the river for 13 years and every year I get a gift from you, and it has always brought a HUGE SMILE to my face!

Thank you very, very, very much! God bless and Merry Chrismas to you ALL!!!

Kevin Roberts

Piolt of the M/V Craig E. Philip

The crew of the Aubrey B. Harwell Jr. would like to thank the Seamen’s Church Institute for all the gifts that we received from them on Christmas. The deck crew would especially like to thank them for the scarves because they really help to keep us warm when we have to work outside. The snacks were great along with the puzzles that help to pass the time when we are off watch. Our hearts also go out to all the kids that took the time to make the cards for us for the holidays. It was really nice to get Christmas cards while on the river for Christmas. Thanks again from the crew of the Aubrey B. Harwell Jr. for the time and the dedication of all the people who have made a difference in our lives, we do appreciate it.  Captain Mark D. Hanlin, Pilot Kevin Baker, Engineer David Honey, 1^st Mate James Byrd, 2^nd Mate Brian Sims, Sr. leadman Buddy Hess, Leadman Virgil Waddle, Deckhand Joseph Sokolowski, Cook Ed Calvert

Each year the knitting group of St. Thomas Church in Mamaroneck, NY knits and collects gifts for mariners and blesses them before making their donation to SCI. Then they go one step further and send pictures.

I love opening my inbox and seeing the smiling faces of SCI’s knitting friends. If you bless your items before donating, or hold some sort of gathering or special collection day, please take a picture and share! Although many of you knit in groups already, there are also many knitters who knit alone and it feels great to see the faces of those who are knitting along with us.

I just saw a copy of Debbie Macomber’s newest publication Knit along with Debbie Macomber A Charity Guide for Knitters, and it’s great!

It’s short stories about 14 different charities including our very own Christmas at Sea. Then there are 18 patterns; each of which can be used for donations to several different volunteer projects. Each pattern page lists the groups that will accept items made from that pattern.

Leisure Arts interviewed me for this project and I’m really thrilled at the product they created.

Here it is on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Knit-Along-Debbie-Macomber-Knitters…

For most of us, good patterns are easy to come by because of Ravelry, but this would be a great gift for the knitter in your life who doesn’t use the internet. It would also be a great resource for a church groups who have members knitting for several different charities at once.

I’d love to hear what you think about it.