Project with a Purpose

I apologize to my Facebook friends who are thinking "seen this, done that", as I will be repeating myself somewhat in this blog post. But I'm really excited that I finally have a project that has lit a fire under me! 

I love to run because it is my "me time" and it makes me feel so damn good. I heart endorphins!! I love to knit because it gives me time to think. To really ponder my life, who I am and where I'm going. Very much the same thing as running except usually done sitting down, with a cup of tea (or a bottle glass of wine). Knitting can be an issue if I'm working through something very emotional or all-encompassing while I am working on lacework and have to really stay engaged in remembering to count my stitches or focus on the pattern. It actual proves to be an exercise in frustration and futility as I mess it up over and over. Annnd, I can't just keep going if I know it's not right. I have to pull it out and start again or spend a large amount of time knitting backwards to fix. I really do view it as a form of therapy. 

I love to knit for other people. I find that some people really appreciate it - others not so much. I've had people ask me to knit them something and they would pay me for it. I just can't do it. I have all good intentions to do so, but it just doesn't feel right and it becomes something that I don't love. I love to knit and to give. I finally figured it out! Knit something to give that some people really have a need for. Knit from the heart.

As most of you know, I lost my Mom to cancer five and a half years ago. Someone knit her a prayer blanket to use as she was undergoing chemotherapy. She wanted me to teach her how to knit so she could "pay it forward" and help someone else out. Unfortunately she passed away not long after she shared this with me. I kept the blanket and have it tucked away. It always reminds me that someone spent hours and hours making a precious gift for someone they didn't know. And they probably don't know how much it meant to my Mom.

I could make lap blankets to donate, but I would probably only be able to make a few a year. I want to touch as many people as I can. So I've decided on hats. I'm going to make chemo caps for warriors undergoing chemotherapy so they can have something nice to wear and something knit from the heart with love and prayers built into every stitch. I have a few patterns, but I want to eventually design my own. I only want to use soft, natural yarns. I started my first yesterday in a soft baby cashmirino Debbie Bliss yarn I was going to make a tank top out of. I think this is why I never started it- it was meant for someone else. This one is a special request and will not be part of my big donation- but is for someone that I know and truly care about and will be thinking of as I knit it. It's a great honor and I hope that it arrives as a huge hug to her. 

I also want to knit little hats for preemies, and will donate these to a local hospital. I can knit these fairly quickly and should be able to do a bunch before I am ready to make my donations. I was able to do four this weekend while still having a full weekend. These make my heart smile.

I'm going to make my donations on Sept 16th, which will be the 6th anniversary of my Mom passing. I have 6 months to knit. I'll update this periodically with my counts and photos. I feel so good about starting this project. I'm always looking for ways to give back. I am so grateful for each and every day that I have and being able to help out making something just a little bit better for someone else is what fuels me. 

Love to you all!

C