Monday, June 28, 2010

Blue Doily, Blue Monday & Socks

I've been making doilies this past week. I finished the second one a few days ago and I simply love the turquoise blue colour. Though this pattern is called Pineapple Blossom and pineapples are yellow/gold when ripe, I think the turquoise thread really brings out the pattern nicely. If you would like, you can see my first doily here.

Next thing I am working on is my first pair of knitted socks. It seems like a simple pattern but I've started over and over again because I'm not used to knitting a rib stitch. I'm working it in a 2x2 knit and purl rib stitch (or at least the first part of it) and I keep goofing. Unravelling the stitches and picking them up again took a little getting used to and I don't unravel all my mistakes. If I can make the first sock, the next one will be much easier. That is always how it goes for me.

I'm hoping to make some of these socks as sleeping socks (instead of slippers) for some of the orphan children near Kericho, Kenya. Many of them don't have adequate blankets and I think the socks will help to keep them warm at night, especially in their winter months.  Socks are easier to ship than afghans or quilts, especially when you want to send a lot.  If I have funds, I prefer to wire funds so that blankets and mattresses can be purchased there by the leadership.  This helps the local economy and also saves a fortune on shipping costs.

If you would like to help with these needs by sending funds or hand made goods, please let me know.  Perhaps you even have a group of women you know who would be pleased to get together to make things and raise funds to ship them to Kenya. I'd be happy to put you in touch with the leadership.

For more blue Monday, click here.

28 comments:

Katy ~ said...

Oh my gosh, you know how to knit and crochet?!! You are just so groovy to me!! I love to see this kind of handiwork. I find these to be a dieing art so I'm thrilled to see someone who does it so well. Oh my dear, you are multi talented. Just lovely.

Joyful said...

Aw shucks Katy. I've never been called groovy before, lol!!! I'm so glad you like to see this kind of handiwork. I really love doing it and for years I never had enough time. Now that I have more time I am doing my best to re-learn (crochet and sewing) and learn (knitting). I still have some cross stitch and embrodiery to get to as well but my focus will likely be on the knitting for Kenyan orphans.

eileeninmd said...

Beautiful doily, you are talented. Happy Blue MOnday!

Mylene said...

May the Lord bless your kind heart :)

Your labor of love will always be remembered.

Jan said...

Absolutely beautiful doily, I didn't master the fine work, not many could make such an item.

I do hope you get help with the socks, I am committed to knitting for Missions without Borders, and also support a child in Chad through World Vision. I will have to look up Kenya, as I always thought it would be warm there, on the equator.

Hugs and Blessings - Jan

Lady Patchy said...

you are good in doing crocheting and knitting .i only knows how crochet but knitting no.

Eden said...

Beautiful doily. What a great choice of colour! Love the turquoise blue. I know how to crochet but not knitting. You are talented.

SmilingSally said...

I agree--that turquoise color is perfect with the pattern.

Happy Blue Monday!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

That is lovely! You did a wonderful job!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Kim, USA said...

OMG you made a very beautiful doilies!! Love it!


BM~Centipede

moonstar said...

Really nice. happy monday to you. Thanks for the visit.

L said...

Hi Joyful!
That is beautiful work that you do. I just meet some of the most talented people on blogs.

You could sell those, they are so pretty!

Hope you have a lovely day.

Joyful said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joyful said...

Thank you to all you lovely ladies for your encouragement about my hand crafts. It helps me continue ;-) Lyn, I hope to sell some of my crafts as I go along and use the funds for the Missions of Hope (www.jonahsmissions.blogspot.com)
I will also make some items to send.

Jan, nice to see you. It is great that you are doing your part to help the children of Africa. Missions of Hope is located in the Kenyan Highlands in the beautiful Rift Valley. The region is famous for tea growing and it can rain quite heavily as well as get chilly at night. Blessings :-)

Marice said...

thats lovely! and it reminds me so much of my mom. she used to create stuffs like this.

Susan said...

You are quite the needleworker!

Here's a tip I learned from a friend's German great-grandmother: When knitting a pair of anything, knit both at the same time (one set of needles - two balls of yarn) and you will end up with the same tension as well as ending up with a pair as opposed to just finishing one!

LV said...

I checked out your first dolie and think it is great. However, the one for today is the best as to design and color. I love all crochet and linens. I have too many, but all I see. Thanks for having the time to drop by place. Trust me, I will not visit that many bloggers anymore. Comments or no comments. You are doing something ore of us need to get involved in. Helping those less fortunate.

Anni said...

That surely is a lovely handicraft - I'm amazed to see how much work you've put in it - but I know that it gives a lot of pleasure as well!

Lovely blue colour!

Joyful said...

Marice, thank you for your lovely comment. May you can follow in your mother's footsteps.

Susan, that sounds like a great tip! Except I haven't a clue as to how to execute it. I'll have to look it up on line.

LV, you always have something nice at your blog so I will drop by again sometime ;-) Thank you for your wonderful and kind words. I feel blessed to help out in Kenya.

Annie, thank you so much. It does give me a lot of pleasure to crochet doilies. But one only needs so many doilies, lol so I am trying to learn to knit more :-)

Gerry's Soap N Stuff said...

Hi Joyful, Your doilies beautiful. I love both, the blue and the white. I can crochet, but am a beginner at knitting. I am sure I would have a problem with anything other than the dishcloths I have learned to make. If I make a mistake, it is curtains for the piece, have not yet learned to back track. Hugs, Gerry

anne said...

ah this reminds me of my sister, she is fond of really making this when she was still here, I miss her but were not in good terms now, I hope we could still patch things up. thanks for the visit

Joyful said...

Hi Gerry, I'm like you. A beginning knitter. I am having to restart my sock. I got tired of losing count and making mistakes. I will try it again after a good break :-) Hugs.

Anne, I'm sorry about your sister. I hope you can patch things up with her too. I lose my dear sister just over 10 years ago to cancer. We never got along very well when she wasn't sick. Her illness brought us much closer and I miss her dearly though I firmly believe she is in a better place.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

delicate blue project...
thank you for the fun!
;)

Anonymous said...

Pineapple design crochet is one of my favorites, but I do not crochet or knit. You've done a beautiful job. ...Karen

Mary Bergfeld said...

You do such beautiful work with your needles. That doilly is really gorgeous and the work you've done is amazing. I have no talent with needles these days, so I really admire gals who do. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

Teena said...

Well done with the turquoise doily, it looks great! Good luck with the knitting! <3

Joyful said...

Beautiful doily, you are talented. Happy Blue MOnday!

Joyful said...

Oh my gosh, you know how to knit and crochet?!! You are just so groovy to me!! I love to see this kind of handiwork. I find these to be a dieing art so I'm thrilled to see someone who does it so well. Oh my dear, you are multi talented. Just lovely.

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