| I'd like to tell you about an opportunity to help save newborns in developing countries by simply knitting caps for them. The name of this effort is called Caps to the Capital, and it was developed in response to the State of the World's Mothers 2006 Report, released in May. This report revealed that the first 24 hours of life are the most dangerous time for babies in the developing world; of the more than 4 million newborns who die each year, 2 million die in the first 24 hours. A simple knit cap, to help protect and dry the baby after birth, could help save its life.  | | This is a mother and newborn child from Malawi. |  | | This is a newborn child from Vietnam. |  | | This is a mother and newborn child from Bolivia. | Knitters and crocheters that heard about this report contacted Save the Children. Then Warm Up America! joined forces with Save the Children and helped spread the word. The goal of their program, Caps to the Capital, is to flood the White House with knitted caps, thus convincing the President that more basic health funding is needed for the developing world. Simple health measures and education could prevent 70 percent of the newborns' deaths. These measures include antibiotics to fight infections, immunizations against tetanus, training for skilled birth attendants, education on breastfeeding and basic care such as drying a newborn baby and keeping it warm (this is where the caps come in). America's leaders and citizens could save millions of newborns' lives by increasing international assistance for programs that offer these inexpensive life-saving tools. You can read more about this on the Warm Up America! or Save the Children Web sites. Here are the easy steps that will allow you to make a difference. 1. Download the Action Kit, available from these Web sites:
www.savethechildren.org or
www.warmupamerica.org
or call 800-728-3843 2. Make a Knitted (or Crocheted) Cap using the patterns in the action kit; also make sure to attach the tag that is provided in the kit. 3. Write the President using the form in the kit so that President Bush knows you care about newborns around the world. Your note and cap must be mailed by January 2, 2007, to Save the Children, P.O. Box 950, Westport, CT, 06881. Let the President know that saving the world's newborns is an important item to include in his budget. 4. Unite for Newborns by calling the White House on October 10. Send in the Stay in the Loop form in the action kit to receive e-mail newsletters and updates about this situation from Save the Children. I urge you to read more about this and spread the word to other knitters and crocheters. Tell them to visit the Web sites: www.savethechildren.org or www.warmupamerica.org. Post the flyer (provided in the kit) at your favorite yarn shop or community bulletin board. Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org) is the leading independent organization that creates lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children USA is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network of 27 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in more than 100 countries. The Warm Up America! Foundation (www.warmupamerica.org) is committed to motivating, training and coordinating volunteers to knit and crochet clothing and afghans for people in need. Since the Warm Up! America Foundation was founded in the early 1990s, volunteers have knitted and crocheted 12 million squares that were joined into hundreds of thousands of afghans. Do You Love Beads?
My daughter visited me last week, and we went to a bead shop. I am always amazed at how colorful and fun beads are. They come in so many different and varied forms and colors. I chose some beads to use in a project from the new American School of Needlework book, Learn to Knit with Beads. This book, by Edie Eckman, includes a sweater with beads included in the ribbed band edging, a beanie-style cap, a headband, a dressy scarf, a drawstring bag, a quick keychain and, my favorite, socks with beaded cuffs. If you are interested in this book you can check it out at freepatterns.com. Local Children Need a Teddy to Hug The North Coast Knitter's Guild members, who meet in the town of Encinitas, Calif., where I live, have taken chain-store teddy bears and made them special. The addition of a knit garment or hat can change a non-descript teddy bear into a very special friend. They will be donating these little characters to the local children's shelter. I have included patterns for a whole wardrobe of teddy sweaters and a scarf, so you can create similar charitable projects in the area where you live. | Close-Knit Teddies Wardrobe Designed by Kathy Wesley Finished Measurements
Child Bear
Chest: 10 inches
Mama (Papa) Bear
Chest: 14 (24) inches
Instructions are given for mama bear with changes for papa bear in parentheses. When only 1 number is given, it applies to both sizes.
Materials
Bulky weight acrylic blend yarn such as Cozi from Caron International (75 yds/2 1/2 oz per skein):
2 balls fire brick #0008 (A), 1 ball lavender twist #0015 (B), 1 ball blue jeans #0018 ©
Size 9 (5.5mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch holders
Gauge
12 sts = 4 inches/10cm in St st
To save time, take time to check gauge. Pattern Note
Papa Bear's sweater is made with A, Mama Bear's sweater with B, Child's T-Shirt with C, and Baby's scarf is made with small amounts of all 3 colors. Mama & Papa Sweaters
Back & Front
Make 2 alike
With A (B), cast on 21 (37) sts. Work in k1, p1 ribbing for 3 (5) rows.
Work 4 (6) rows in St st. Mark each end of last row with scrap yarn for underarm. Raglan shaping
Row 1 (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 2: K1, purl to last st, k1.
[Rep Rows 1 and 2] 5 (8) times more. (9, 19 sts)
Place sts on holder. Sleeves
With A (B), cast on 23 (27) sts. Work in k1, p1, ribbing for 3 (5) rows.
Work 6 rows in St st. Mark each end of last row for underarm. Raglan shaping
Row 1 (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 2: K1, purl to last st, k1.
[Rep Rows 1 and 2] 7 times more. (7, 11 sts)
Place sts on holder. Assembly
Neck edging
With RS facing, beg with a sleeve, knit sts from holders onto needle in following order: sleeve, front, sleeve, back.
Work 6 rows in St st. Bind off.
Sew raglan seams above markers. Sew sleeve and side seams. Child Bear T-Shirt
Back & Front
Make 2 alike
With C, cast on 15 sts. Work in k1, p1 ribbing for 3 rows.
Work 4 rows in St st. Mark each end of last row for underarm. Raglan shaping
Row 1 (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 2: K1, purl to last st, k1.
[Rep Rows 1 and 2] 4 times more. (7 sts)
Place sts on holder. Sleeves
With C, cast on 13 sts.
Work in k1, p1, ribbing for 3 rows.
Work 4 rows in St st.
Mark each end of last row for underarms. Raglan shaping
Row 1 (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 2: K1, purl to last st, k1.
[Rep Rows 1 and 2] 4 times. (5 sts)
Place sts on holder. Assembly
Neck edging
With RS facing, beg with a sleeve, knit sts from holders onto needle in following order: sleeve, front, sleeve, back.
Work 4 rows in St st. Bind off.
Sew raglan seams above markers. Sew sleeve and side seams. Baby Bear Scarf
With A, cast on 6 sts.
Knit 2 rows A.
Knit 2 rows B.
Knit 2 rows A.
Knit 2 rows C.
Knit 2 rows A.
Knit 2 rows B.
With A, knit until scarf measures
approx 11 inches.
Knit 2 rows B.
Knit 2 rows A.
Knit 2 rows C.
Knit 2 rows A.
Knit 2 rows B.
Knit 2 rows A.
Bind off.
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| New York Area Knitters Save This Date!
I just made my flight reservation to attend the annual New York Knit-Out & Crochet event Sunday, September 17th in Union Square Park. Free knitting and crocheting lessons are the most popular part of this event. In addition to the teaching area, there will be continuous demonstrations, a Show & Share presentation, Editors & Authors Table, Kids' Crafts area, Warm Up America!, guild tables, and more. You can check out the Web site at www.craftyarncouncil.com. If you go, make sure to stop by the Creative Knitting booth and say hi! Happy knitting,
Bobbie Matela
Editor, Creative Knitting magazine Send feedback!
I'd love to hear any knitting tips or special tricks of the knitting trade that you would like to share with others. Please do not reply to this e-mail. Instead, fill out my easy feedback form. I can't answer every e-mail individually, but I'll be reading every one and sharing some of the responses in future e-letters. You never know, I may even feature it in an upcoming issue of Creative Knitting magazine. By sending your feedback, you grant Creative Knitting the permission to use the contents of your e-mail in future publications.
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