Phyl Outdid Herself

My appreciation for Phylis Bates has hit an all time high.  This great sweater really impressed me.  She has been so generous with her time knitting so many sweaters for this project.  I feel that her support has inspired me to keep going and I am almost at my goal.....of course with her help.  This V-neck cardigan is a work of art.  From the beautiful seed stitch ribbing accent to the multitude of duplicate stitched numbers (front and back) it is outstanding.

I love it.  I'm sorry it doesn't fit me.  I would love to make something like it for my new great niece and nephew.  It is with many thanks that I make this post.  Kudos to Phyl.  I am glad to be able to consider her my friend.

A Most Meaningful and Thoughtful Gift

What can be said about truly good friends.  Over the last few years I have spent evenings doing Israeli dancing.  The music and dancing are great for the brain and the body.  The chance to move with abandon and feel the music has been great.  When I started out dancing with Dalya and Yoni

I had no idea that I would make friends of a lifetime.  When I turned 60 this year, my closest friends at dancing made a little dinner for me and bestowed on me a very special gift.  A Baby Einstein Sweater.  Sheila Kirschenbaum, Yairra Haas, Karen Gershenfeld, Judy Rosenthal and Susan Stern each knit a part of the sweater and Sheila put it together and added the final touch of a collar and wonderful buttons.   I was completely impressed with the beautiful sweater and it is one of the most meaningful gifts I have ever had the pleasure of receiving.  I thank you all for this special gift.

At this time I would also like to thank everyone that has participated in this project.  I am so proud of our achievement and our dedication to a cause that not only gives us the opportunity to knit, which we LOVE, but also help those who are in need. 

Coming Into the Home Stretch

Lynn Davidson contributed this adorable ribbed cardigan.  She did a beautiful crochet flower to adorn it. This is a great pattern because the sweater is made in one piece with the ribbing added on.  Check other posts if you are interested in the pattern.

OK.  I was so impressed with my BFF's sweater she was making I had to make my own version. This sweater called Fire Dog is designed By Melissa.  He web site is www.knittingtree.com  .

I think it is so adorable. It is a little round ribbed neck pull-over. Here is just a close up of the adorable intarsia pattern......woof.

The last but not least for this post is another little 

v-neck "Little Man Sweater".  

We are getting close to the 44 Sweaters.  I think I am up to 40.  Thanks to all the wonderful knitters that have helped with this truly worthy project.

Baby Einstein for a Five Year Old

Well this Baby Einstein will probably fit a five year old.   I was thinking that with all the cute small sweaters, I should start focusing on some larger sizes.  Hey there are plenty of needy kids that are older than 1 or 2.  We have a few larger sweaters and so now I have a new goal to fill that need.  Were getting close and it continues to be a great project.

I filled out a description on government web site that features service projects.  So far i haven't heard from anyone in regard to the listing, but you never can tell.  www.serve.gov/index.asp  here's where you can list service project and maybe even find one that might interest you. 

Stitch By Stitch

Thanks currently go out to two more people that donated these beautiful sweaters.  Suzanne Pineau and Li Ma. 

Suzanne knit this Surprise Jacket.  I was in her shop the other day with my BFF.  I dragged her off to the North Coast Knitters Guild.  It was the fashion show for the "Shawl Challenge".  We had a great time.  BFF was inspired to do some more knitting and so afterwards we headed for La Jolla.  BFF bought some great yarn and Suzanne presented me with "Surprise" donation.  Check out the shop at 909 Prospect Street in La Jolla. I think she has every knitting book on the market. Well maybe not every but a fantastic selection.

Thanks also go out to a student of Eileen Adler.  Li Ma made this wonderful cabled vest.  I am very impressed with the quality of Eileeen's student.  I have heard she is a great teacher.  Her commitmet to the North Coast Knitters Guild and and her creativity surely make

 her an inspiring teacher.  Thanks to Li Ma for her hard work.  

Moving (right along) Contributions

I had the opportunity to visit a group of knitters that meet in Mission Hills at the home of Nancy Slayen.  Nancy's sister-in-law, Sheryl Baron and I are childhood friends.  We grew up as neighbors and have remained in contact over the years.  Sheryl invited me to come to their group to share more bout the 44 Sweater Project.  I brought sweaters and was surprised and delighted to receive a sweater from Susan Chenven.  Susan's husband is a physician working at Vista Hill, one of the beneficiaries of the sweaters.  I thank her and the others in the group for their interest and enthusiasm not only in my project but in their interest in knitting.  Sheryl, thanks for the invitation.

Later that evening I went to my regular Israeli dance group and a dancer friend and my contact at Vista Hill was there.  I realized that I had the sweaters in 

the car and so I showed them to her at a break. She was

 flabbergasted and really speechless to see the beautiful work done on the behalf of the needy children that come through her facility. She was so excited and started to plan out how the sweaters would be presented, publicity etc.  It got me even more excited and more dedicated to the project.

OK. This is the cutest.  My BFF, Betsy Frank, made this adorable pinafore for the project. She has decorated the little flower pockets with "bee" buttons.  I can't wait to make this little garment for my new great niece.  Betsy and I have had many years of shared projects. We have had a wonderful friendship and I couldn't think of a better friend.  Thank you, thank you.

Last but not least, a girly "V" neck cardigan. Cute little heart buttons from Michael's are a nice touch.  

So let's see, the count stands at 33 sweaters.  I was also given 3 premie sets by Liz Knapp of the North Coast Knitters guild. I will have pictures of them posted in my next entry. So including the preemie sweaters we are up to 36. Yikes.  It is really exciting.  

Thanks to all participants.

30 Sweaters

Yeah!!!! We are up to 30 sweaters.  Thanks go out to the very  generous hearts that have participated in this project.  

Phyl has done it again.  I know she has other things to do but she has been so kind to continue to participate.  The red and yellow striped pullover with adorable train buttons is great.  

The amazing and talented Colleen Davis designed and knit th

e wonderful pink textured vest with a cable.  I am trying to figure out a way to squeeze myself into it.  It's my favorite color.

Annette Friedlein made the very soft and cuddly blue color block cardigan.  It is as soft as a cloud.  This pattern comes from the One Skein book.  It is the same pattern that I have made several times but it looks so different in the yarn she used. 

I apologize for not getting the latest batch

 of sweaters up on the blog but my dad took a little fall and I have been busy helping out my mom.  I am happy to report he is doing very well and hopefully he will be home in about a week and a half.