Brookside Knits"To Sit and Knit"

The 9th Annual Knit Out and Crochet Too event was held on January 19, 2013 at Brookside Country Club  in Pottstown, PA. Once again, we had a full house. Thanks for supporting charity knitting and Pottstown Relay for Life and Pottstown Memorial Hospital, among others.

We would also like to thank the Vendors who supported us.

Many thanks to Brookside Country Club. Without BCC these events would not be possible.

We look forward to seeing you all next January for the 10th Knit Out and Crochet Too event!

Tips for 2014:

• Get on our email list.
• Send in your registration as soon as you get it.

Again this year, the Knit Out and Crochet Too will feature a simple pattern that may be used to knit baby hats that will be contributed to Pottstown Memorial Medical Center. Attendees may knit hats at home and may choose any pattern they like.  However, this is the pattern that will be handed out in the Charity Hat Kits. 

The Kits include one set of #10 straight needles, copies of the pattern, and enough yarn for several hats.  Knitters may use their own DPNs or circular needles. If you have no tapestry needle, or simply want help seaming, come to the Help Table.  We will even seam for you!

Knit Out 2013 Ribbed Cuff Charity Hat

Size: Newborn (10-12” around)

Yarn: Worsted weight, 20- 25 g

Needles: Straight, size 10 (newborns); size 8 (preemies)

Tapestry needle

Gauge: Variable (babies vary)

CO 40 stitches.

Ribbed Cuff: *K2, P2* across. Continue rib pattern for 3″.

Body: Change to stockinette stitch (K one row, P one row) .

Continue until hat measures 5″.

Decreases: *K3, K2tog* across. (32)

Purl.

*K2, K2tog* across. (24)

Purl.

*K1, K2tog* across. (16)

Purl.

*K2tog* across. (8)

Cut yarn about 24″ long. Using the tapestry needle, thread the yarn through the remaining stitches. Repeat this step. Pull up snug.

Fold hat keeping right side inside. With the remaining yarn, use a mattress stitch to sew the back seam. Weave in ends. Turn to right side and turn up the cuff.

We would like to thank all of you who registered for the 2012 Pottstown Knit Out and Crochet Too!  Despite the inclement weather, we had over 150 people enjoy a great day of knitting, sharing, and fellowship.

Please save the date of Saturday, January 19, 2013 for the next Knit Out.  We will keep you posted on details as the date gets closer.

Blue penguins in New Zealand are being helped by knitters’ effort. Here’s another way knitters can make a difference in the world:

A good yarn: Knitters make sweaters for penguins after oil spill

Skeinz Penguin Sweater Pattern

Enjoy!

October 2011 Baby Hats Pumpkin Patch

October 2011 Baby Hats in Fall Colors

It’s Fall and Brookside Knitters have been busy all summer knitting and crocheting newborn hats for delivery to–Where else?–the Labor & Delivery section of Pottstown Memorial Medical Center.

Each month we’ve contributed 25 hats suitable for baby boys and 25 for baby girls.  We enjoy adding special hats for patriotic holidays and moving toward fall colors for September & October.

I’ll include photos of the October “Pumpkin Patch” and “Fall Colors” selections and say that we are looking forward to the challenge of “Pilgrim Hats & Bonnets” for Thanksgiving.  All local members contribute, and the Fall hat group includes hats by Joy, Karen, Lenore, LuAnn, and Sandi.

When hats turn out to be too large for newborns we donate them to other charity organizations.  (Newborns  need hats 10-12″ around with no do-dads. They need to be washable, acrylics or cottons rather than wool to be especially kind to tiny heads.)

Baby Hats

Countdown CapHere is the pattern we are using this year (2012) for the Knit-Out baby hat kits.  If you are bringing hats along, you may use any newborn hat pattern.  Pottstown Memorial Medical Center has asked that donated hats have no pompoms, buttons, flowers or other items that may be grabbed by infants. All donated hats will be washed so yarn should be washable (acrylic, cotton, etc., rather than wool). Larger hats, hats with pompoms, or wool hats will be donated to other projects. Thank you for contributing to the project.

CO 40 stitches loosely.
K1, P1 rib for  1 – 1.5 inches

Work in stockinette stitch until piece measures 4 – 4.5 inches from the cast-on edge.

Decrease as follows:
Row 1: *K2tog, K2* across (30)
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: *K2tog, K1* across (20)
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: K2 together across (10)
[Row 6 Optional: Purl]

With cap still on needle, cut yarn about 24 inches long. Using a tapestry needle, thread yarn through the 10 sts on the needle [twice through is more secure]. Pull snuggly. With right sides together, sew up back seam. Weave in ends.