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KnitBits: Knitting for Jimmy Kimmel, Knitting for Charity and Knitting Against All Odds

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Audience member knit a tie for Jimmy Kimmel.There’s so much great knitting news this week, but I think we have to start with the story of Brad Perry, a reporter from KUSI San Diego, who on a whim accepted a ticket to a taping of “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Like all good knitters, he brought his knitting bag with him, and was working on a pair of two-color, flat-knit fingerless gloves during the taping.

A producer saw him and Kimmel talked to him during one of the commercial breaks:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sLvApnT2O4]
Perry says he’s been knitting about 4.5 years, and started because “my daughter wouldn’t knit me a hat.” Also, “chicks dig it.” After saying he knits “pretty much every day, all the time,” he offered to knit Kimmel a bow tie before the end of the show.

This clip doesn’t show it, but he was successful, as you can see above, and in this pic from Bow Tie Aficionado.

Red Heart Yarn is teaming up with the Red Cross to give a little comfort to people in need. You can download their Red Heart Cares blanket pattern in knit or crochet (there’s also a pillow and a first aid kit), and when you buy specially marked red or white yarns in the Super Saver, Soft or With Love lines, Red Heart will donate money to Red Cross North America (they’re donating $250,000). They also encourage people to make a blanket to donate to the Red Cross or other charitable organization and tag their creations online with #StitchaHug.

Finally, you might have thought learning to knit was hard when you first started out, but imagine what it would be like to learn to knit if you were born without fingers. After lots of effort, trying and failing, and perseverance, Jennifer Jeremie Marquis learned to knit (she also paints and does cross stitch). Check out the video if you need a little encouragement to keep trying anything that’s been a challenge to you in life.

[Photo via Emmys.com.]

Comments

  1. Way to go Brad! Your awesome. To bad your not still here in Arizona. We miss not seeing you on TV3! I see you keeping in touch with Tara Hitchcock! Good for you.

  2. Love it!
    I know he was a field reporter in the mornings, I bet he gets some great Knitting time in while traveling and waiting for his que.

Have you read?

Adorable Ghost Knitting Patterns

Adding a bit of knitting to your fall decor is a lot of fun, whether it’s knit pumpkins or a bunch of adorable knit ghosts like these.

Knit ghosts can be super simple like this free ghost knitting pattern from Trixie Zynch on Ravelry. Using about 50 yards of worsted weight yarn, they’re worked from the bottom up and are super cute as a pair. 

This fuzzy little ghost from Forest Knitting Toys is holding a pumpkin and wearing a witch hat, though of course the accessories are optional, as is the fuzzy yarn. The main yarn is chunky and the ghost measures about 10 cm/4 inches tall. It’s worked in the round. 

Another fuzzy ghost in more of a Pacman style is this ghost plushie form South Stitch Girls. It’s worked in the round with bulky yarn and includes a sweet little bow you can make in whatever color you like. 

The ghost doll from Edith Grace Designs has little arms and a curl at the top of its head. The body is worked flat using DK weight yarn and you could also work it in glow in the dark yarn for extra fun. The body and head are worked in one piece with the arms knit separately. 

The Grim Grinning Ghosts from Susan Claudino are super cute and you can knit them in any yarn and gauge you like to make ghosts of different sizes. These are worked in the round with the body done in one piece and the arms are knit separately. The ghosts shown were knit in sock yarn, DK and worsted weight yarn. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

Make a ghost with funny striped legs with this ghost shelf sitter design from Claire Fairall Designs. It’s worked in three colors of DK weight yarn, and the letters spelling out boo are made with strips of garter stitch sewn into shape.