Socks for Soldiers and Update

OK, some of my swaps are finishing up so I signed up for a very worthy cause. My dear nephew ,a Marine, is going back to Iraq for an extended time. He was there before, with his fiancee, also a Marine, and gratefully they came back physically unharmed. He is a good Marine and feels this is what he needs to do. They were set to get married this fall tentatively and now he won't be back until April or May. I am so proud of him and his family for supporting him, but so scared for them all. I was searching the web for something to do in his honor and came across Socks For Soldiers . This is one of the busiest posting groups I have seen. The socks they are knitting and sending over are phenomenal in number. The "Sarge", Kim, has put so much time and energy into the cause. There is an approved list of yarns and patterns. It is truly amazing. You have the opportunity, after joining the group, to purchase yarn and even a start up sock kit. I just joined last week and made my order and seeing how busy "Sarge" is I said I was going away for a bit so not to rush to mail but if there was a chance to get it to me so I could knit some on a sock while in Ireland...well



Please take a moment and check out the group, sign up if you have the time to knit even one pair of Socks for Soldiers. Thanks so much.

At this time I would like to say a quick hello to a new viewer/reader of my blog, Hi Mark.

My Monkey Socks for MSS 2 are complete and ready to go. Here is a pic of one, the other is down in my car right now as I finished it at a lecture during College orientation. They are made with one of my favorite stash yarns . It is so nice to work with . I purchased it from Etsy dealer Kindred Spirits Yarn I love the yarn so much once I started knitting with it I went back and purchased two more colorways, which you can see in the previous post. Etsy dealers are wonderful, please do look and see what they have to offer.

I received my package from Knitters Coffee Swap 2. My swap pal was Sydney and she spoiled me to the umpth degree. She sent me two kinds of coffee from a library, A LIBRARY! That is too cool in itself..they smell wonderful and I can't wait to try them. I also received some wonderful orange cookies, thin, crispy cookies, yummy, ans some hard candies, Jo!!y Rancher$ and W3rther$. Those will be going on the plane with me Wednesday. Sydney sent some of the cutest coffee magnetic bookmarks, and a Chibi in a size I have never seen, the needles are smaller than my Chibi which is great as mine are often too big for sock grafting. There is a beautiful skein of yarn in purple and green (woohoo) from an Etsy dealer, yea!!! And a lovely postcard, but Sydney went the extra mile and noted my love of Eiffel Towers and sent a gorgeous ET journal and some ET stitch markers in colors that match the yarn, I am going to have to think she made them. See, one of the markers has the word Paris hanging from it to indicate the beginning of a round. SOOOOOOOO COOOOOL...Thank you Sydney. You have been a terrific swap partner.

Also in from a swap, the final package from Angela Marie my Punk Rock Gift Exchange pal. She has treated me to some wonderful things over the past three months. I am so fortunate to be blessed with her generosity. In this final package she sent me two felted bag patterns. I have seen the one before but not the Noni. I thought I had decided on the bag for my pal in International Tote Exchange 4, but now I am not so sure. Also there was two kinds of yarn. A beautiful turquoisey Cascade and some very interesting very soft roving yarn. I am going to fondle them a bit before deciding what they shall become. Now do you see the special treats? EXTRA SPECIAL treats.....look at the dishcloths/washcloths. I have assume Angela Marie knit them, there is one with a Devil knit into it and LOOK the EIFFEL TOWER!!! Isn't that fantastic?? It is amazing how well my partners know me. Thank you so much Piper , for everything. I hope to run across you again in a swap.

I have received a few more yarn purchases....once again Sheri at Loopy Ewe captured my attention with a Sneak Up. Look at the two yarns I purchased. There is Wooly Bully in the colorway "Fishing with my Father" to make socks for the man with the very large feet and Fleece Artist Seawool, I think the color was called "Harbour". It has sea cell in it and is incredibly soft. I can't wait to try it out. I also received "Gooey" from Merlin the Cat Yes she is an Etsy dealer with an incredible assortment of colorways. She also happens to be a test knitter with me forSocktopia A terrific KAl with monthly themes and exclusive patterns designed by MommaMonkey. Man she does incredible work...check it out.

I think there is one or two more things then I will let you go. My PRGE pal, Julia received her package so I can post a pic of the tote I sent. I love this little tote. It was a free pattern from Hello Yarn It was a very quick knit. Julie seemed to like it as well. She is a terrific lady and I wanted to send something special in her final box.

Finally, you can find Knitting Books in the strangest places. I was shopping in a local chain food store and there was a table with books marked down by 50% So I saw this immediately, recognizing the design of pattern and picked it up. Now keep in mind it was 50% off...yes 50% off 3.99!! Heehee

OK, for my Ireland trip I am bringing

Socks for Soldiers

Monkey Socks I am doing angel knitting for

Test socks for Socktopia

and Isabella

I will update upon my return with progress on these projects. It is two flights, airport time and two weeks of driving around the entire country. Hopefully this time they will not steal my needles in Ireland. Hope everyone has a a healthy safe blessed few weeks in my absence. Remember to hug your family and every so often put your needles down and listen to them laugh.