Craft-a-thon

Friday, February 8, 2007
8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Pappajohn Pavillion Lobby (near Elevator “I”)

Day Long Marathon Crafting for PreemiesJoin us in support of critically ill infants at the UIHC! Bring your favorite preemie project or purchase supplies at the event. See our exciting schedule of events below, including visits from former NICU families, NICU nurses and special guest Betty ChristiansenDrop-In Knitting LessonsVolunteers will be on hand to give knitting lessons throughout the day (Starter kits will be available for $5).Clothing and Diaper DriveWe will be accepting donations of newborn sized clothing and diapers for donation to the UIHC NICU social services program.Special Crafting Technique SessionsCrazy Girl Yarn Shop and other local craft stores will be teaching special classes during the day. Click here for session and registration information.

Crafting for Preemies ContestBe sure to enter the Crafting for Preemies Contest for a chance to win one of the wonderful prizes donated by our generous sponsors. Click here for contest guidelines and the official entry form.

Book Sale Sponsored by Wild Rose Books!Wild Rose Books will be selling craft books. Wild Rose Books has generously offered to donate 10% of all craft book sales on February 8th to The Preemie Project (TPP). This means that 10% of sales at the Craft-a-thon and 10% of all craft book sales in Wild Rose Books on Feb. 8th will be donated to TPP. Thank you Wild Rose Books!

Special Guest Betty ChristiansenWe are thrilled to announce that Betty Christiansen, author of Knitting for Peace, will be attending our event. We hope you will attend her trunk show, talk and book signing. Wild Rose Books will be providing copies of Knitting for Peace for sale! Again, 10% of the proceeds from the sales of Knitting for Peace will be donated to The Preemie Project.

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

Have you read?