Thread Filled Thursdays : Pins and Needles

It’s happened. I’ve packed up my sewing machine, and my creative self needs something to do. It’s also great that last month, I was invited to a tea at the Palmer House to learn about the Save the Children initiative during the Vogue Knitting Live tour. I was enamored with yet another way that I could make clothing and bags, and everything under the sun with my hands. I was also a bit intimidated because when viewed from an audience point of view, knitting seems super hard. I mean, cable knits, and bobbles, and cowl scarves and the such. I had resolved in my mind that I would just blog about the campaign, and stay in my lane of sewing, that is until I saw this big burly man on the green line (an elevated train line in Chicago) knitting a huge blanket for HIS CHILD! Yes. I asked. He said that his wife always wanted a knit blanket for a baby, but she didn’t know anyone who knit, SO HE LEARNED. I could totally see him making an entire set for his baby just like this! 

I took that as a personal challenge to learn how to knit. I mean, I had the yarn, I just needed needles. So I of course went off to purchase needles, and ended up getting double point needles because I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. That’s the way that it always works around these parts. I buy what I think looks like it’s supposed to be with me, and I jump in with both feet. You can never say that I don’t keep it interesting around these parts. 

For the Save the Children Pins & Needles challenge I am announcing that I will be making a sweater. It’s going to be for Lil Miss. Remember, she asked me to make her one when she saw me fiddling with my knitting needles the other day. On December 12, I will pin and share photos of the finished sweater project for the official Make the World Better with a Sweater Day. We are encouraged to wear the sweater that we knit (which Lil Miss will be doing – hopefully), holiday sweater, or any commemorative sweater for the event on this day, and to donate $5 to Save the Children. School-aged participants are asked to donate $2 to the campaign. While my sweater won’t be as intricate as what this little cutie is wearing below, it will be a statement of the love that I have for my own children AND my commitment to Save the Children. 

Since it will be a little while before I knit an adult sized sweater, and believe me, last month, I didn’t think that I would be knitting at all, so I was going to attempt to use the Vogue Knitting LIVE supplied two free patterns, one being a smartphone sweater and the other being a miniature-sweater garland, but participants can join in by making any sweater they wish to knit. 

I’ll make sure to share photos on Thursdays from now until the 12th of December to show you progress, and hopefully, Lil’ Miss will be ecstatic with the outcome, while I will be ecstatic that we’re making a difference during this holiday season. 

While at the blogger tea, I did receive some promotional items (three skeins of yarn, and some ugly sweater pins to use if I don’t come through for this knitted sweater for the little one) but the full heart, and pay it forward message is from me. 

And if you really can’t knit, we’re asking you to don a sweater – ugly or not – on December 12th, and donate! It’s important! 

What’s on your machine, hooks or needles? Share it below and let’s spread some blog love.