End of summer

As my summer officially wraps up, I have been working to get ready for going back to work. I always try to get my house in order, all the laundry and dishes done, food prepared, etc. even though I realize it will go back to "normal" shortly. However, mentally, it helps me to be prepared to go back to work when I do these things. I also plan some fun outings to celebrate the free time :)  I have been doing all these things and that has not left much time for new projects but I am also currently limited in my ability to run or bike due to a minor knee issue so that did leave me a little time to make one quick cap that I thought I'd go ahead and share here. Happy back to school everyone!

Hello Kitty

I mentioned in my last post that I was working on caps for a girl that likes Hello Kitty. I finished that cap and along with a few others in her favorite colors, pink and purple. I was able to get them mailed out to her on August 1, but I forgot to post the pictures here. I left the next morning for a bike ride in Lubbock. This year was the second year of Cycle for Hope, a ride benefiting the UMC Cancer Center and I was on a team with my father in law, brother in law, sister in law and nephew. My mother in law worked the event and we all had a great time. While I was in town, we went shopping and got some fabric and yarn and worked on blankets for the Linus Project (http://www.projectlinus.org/) It was nice to do something a little different with crochet but still for a great cause. We finished several blankets and bought supplies for several more that I brought home with me to finish.

Colorado donation

Kristyn Rose, Grand Junction, Colorado

I received a package today that had not only yarn but additional monetary donations as well. A friend had done a couple of things for Q's Caps. First, she put a flyer up and collected yarn at a Relay for Life fundraiser, and then the board of ADEIL decided to donate the money raised from a silent auction at a conference to the cause as well. As I've mentioned time and again, it's always an extra encouragement to get a package, a note, anything to remind me how people appreciate my work.  It was great to know that someone is out there working for this as well and people are still interested in helping and donating and This past week, I worked on a cap while I was waiting for an oil change, I usually have a nice conversation with someone about crochet when I work on it in public and it's good to share with people. I also started a special request cap yesterday as well and those are nice for a little challenge and knowing a little about the person I'm making it for. Look for a Hello Kitty cap coming soon...

In flight caps

After arriving home from my trip to Kansas, I spent just a couple of days at home before I took off again on another trip. This time, I was headed to Michigan, which involved both airport and flight time, which is perfect for crocheting! I have just returned home from that trip, it was a wonderful time away but I am glad to report that I was able to finish 4 caps total while I was on the plane both going and returning. So these are extra special caps, since they were made on a S80 airplane somewhere over Arkansas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Missouri and Illinois.

Kansas caps

Melissa Isaacson, Salina, KS

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been traveling this summer, including a trip to a few cities in Kansas. For this trip, I was driving so I didn't get any made during the actual travel time. Once I arrived, I spent most of the time enjoying my family and running around Kansas, but there was a little down time that I took advantage of and completed one cap. My cousin also brought along some yarn which she donated and I have added to my yarn stash, so there will be more caps from this visit as well.

Donation stop

I'm late posting this, but as summer started, I've been traveling a bit and my first trip was to visit family in the Kansas City and then Salina areas of Kansas. As you know, I make donations to the Cancer Center in Salina and this trip was no exception. I think I had taken pictures of these caps as I made them, however I went ahead and got a picture with my "co-delivery" helper :) That's my cousin Shelly and she works at the center and takes care of getting the caps to the people at the clinic in Salina.

One year anniversary

One year ago today was the day that Eriq lost his battle with cancer and that means that it's been a while year without him here with me. Knowing today, the anniversary, was coming has been a challenge mentally. However, I made a plan and that helped me get through it. I went to the cemetery and placed a new flower arrangement I made this week and then I put on one movie after another and crocheted nearly the whole time. I tried to find a balance between fairly easy patterns to be able to finish as many as possible without taxing my brain but also a little bit of something different and interesting for each one. I wanted to make sure it was interesting to me while I was crocheting all day and also in making each one of the finished products unique. That being said, I stuck with some yarn types I've used often, rather than some of my fun newer yarn, simply for speed and to keep the focus on my part at a lower level. I knew if I had to think too much about it, I could get easily frustrated today and so I did come up with 7 different caps but there are only slight variations to each one from the others.

From top to bottom, left to right: Green cap is done in front/back post double crochet (Red Heart super saver), Multicolor with purple stripe is done in all double crochet (Caron Simply Soft), Multicolor with ribbon is all double crochet except for ribbon row (Joann Sensations), Blue/Yellow variegated is double crochet with single crochet edge (Red Heart Classic), Purple/multicolor is double crochet followed by half double crochet (Caron Simply Soft), Yellow is all double crochet except for chain ribbons (Red Heart super saver), and the Multicolor with green is double crochet and half double crochet on the brim (Red Heart - new multicolor)