The Mother Bear Project

I recently discovered the Mother Bear Project.

Here is a description from their website of who there are:

“The Mother Bear Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing comfort and hope to children, primarily those affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations, by giving them a gift of love in the form of hand-knit and crocheted bears.

The simple gift of a hand-knit bear with a tag signed by the knitter has touched children who have nearly nothing in the world with the message that they are loved by someone halfway around the world.

The response has been overwhelming, with people wanting to help from all over the world. Thousands of patterns have been distributed, and wonderful bears have been received from people of all ages, backgrounds and knitting abilities. It has brought people together to do something kind in the face of a horrible problem.”

Moved by this project, I decided to try and do my bit, so I ordered a pattern. I received it last week and got to work immediately. I just made 3 bears as the holidays were a quiet period on the design front. Here they are:

Bear #1

Bear #2

Bear #3

I strongly encourage you to check the Mother Bear Project, check the pictures of the children with their bears and you’ll want to help too

The bears knit in no time, any knitter/crocheter can do it.

Happy 2012!

I want to wish all my readers a very Happy New Year!

I hope 2012 is kind to you and your family and you get to fulfill some of your goals or dreams.

Simple Toe-up Knee High Socks for Me

I have been waiting for a little while now for some yarn to arrive so I can get started knitting a secret project so I didn’t want to start anything big or difficult. So, always having a huge stash of sock yarn available, I decided to knit myself a pair of knee-high socks for the cold days. I’m using some Regia Harmony Color. The socks are toe-up with gusset and heel flap and I’m knitting them two at once.

I have just finished the heel on both of them and this is what they look like right now. It’s nice to be able to knit something for myself for a change

Also, you might notice on the picture, I’m using square needles. That’s right, square! This is the first time that I’m using my new Kollage square needle. I have carpal tunnel in one hand still (the first hand was operated about 6 months ago) and I wanted to try those as square needles are supposed to be gentler on the hands. So far, it seems like I’m getting less symptoms when I knit with them so, yay!

A Pair of Socks for My Boy

I just finished a pair of socks for my 7-year old. This was long overdue since the first sock was ready back in June, yes, June! Anyway, the sweet boy was patient and was very pleased today to finally have a complete pair.

I knit a pair of Hiss, using some leftover Wollmeise for the toe, a Regia cotton blend for the heel and a standard Regia sock yarn for the ribbing. The foot and leg is made in yummy Knit Picks Stroll Multi, I love this colour!

But, enough talk, here are a few pictures.

Something Quick

I had surgery for carpal tunnel on my left hand last week and, yesterday on day 8, I picked up the needles for the first time post surgery to “test” my hand. So, I wanted a small project. I chose to make a Squashed Rat Bookmark. My version is freely inspired from the pattern and totally seamless. I really love the little guy, it was lots of fun making. It’s slightly sick, but so funny!

Look at him in action…

Galette des Rois

Today, 6th January is Epiphany. In France (my home country), it is traditionally celebrated by eating a “Galette des Rois”. It’s a puff pastry cake, filled with an almond paste, made of butter, eggs, sugar, ground almond and a little bit of flour. Traditionally, there was a hidden “fève” (big dried bean) in it. The one who finds the bean is the king or the queen. These days, the “fève” is usually made of ceramics or plastic.

As I live in Germany and can’t buy it here, I have to make my own if I want one. Here’s mine from today, just out of the oven. Can’t wait to dig in!

Blog Review for 2010 – By WordPress

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 8,900 times in 2010. That’s about 21 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 136 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 149 posts. There were 420 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 197mb. That’s about 1 pictures per day.

The busiest day of the year was February 22nd with 147 views. The most popular post that day was Who is Corinne?.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were ravelry.com, en.wordpress.com, facebook.com, misskitty1965.wordpress.com, and tierischestrickereien.blogspot.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for agate, newborn mittens knitting pattern, corinne’s knits, free knitting patterns, and celtic knitting.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

Who is Corinne? December 2009
2 comments

2

Cowboy Booties Pattern is Available January 2010
1 comment

3

Sock Yarn Newborn Mittens January 2010

4

Mother’s Love Knot March 2010
2 comments

5

New Pattern: Agate Capelet March 2010
6 comments

Back In The Saddle :D

On day 5 after surgery, I managed to resume knitting! I couldn’t be happier. OK, I’m only knitting for short periods at a time and only did it once a day so far, but that’s a start.

3 Days Post-Op

Yours truly 3 days after surgery…

The grey thingy – whatever that is called – is what I have to wear day & night for 3 weeks, the blue stuff is my “cryo cuff” that I have to use 5x/day to cool my shoulder.

A Knitting Pause

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to knit at least the whole of December. I’m having a shoulder operation tomorrow morning and I’m not sure yet when I’ll be able to resume knitting. What is sure is that it won’t be before January. It’s going to be tough!

Look At My New Scarf!

Isn’t it super pretty?

It is a traveling scarf, done by the lovely ladies in the Scarf Journeys group on Ravelry. Unfortunately, I had to bow out of this scarf journey because of health issues, but the members taking part were super kind and finished my scarf anyway. I’m so happy, it’s beautiful and so warm.

A New Look

Corinne’s Knits is getting a new, funky look! I’m starting with this blog and will also be updating my patterns.

Here is what the old look was like:

I’d love to hear your opinion on this!

More Yuletide Knitting

I’m trying to get organised with all the things I want to knit for XMas presents so I’m starting early.

Today, I made three bracelets for Connor’s teachers using Noro Daria yarn. I’m really happy about how they turned out and they only took me about 15 mins each!

Works In Progress

While my Ederra set is being tested, I’m working on two projects.

The first one is a boy-ish scarf for my 15-year old cousin Valentin who lost his mum a few days ago. I’m hoping the woolly goodness will make him feel at least a teeny-tiny bit better… It’s the One Row Handspun Scarf. I like how it’s coming along, I think he’ll like it.

The second project I’m really excited about. This one is for ME! It’s an icelandic vest, which I’m knitting in Lopi yarn. The yarn is yummy and I’m really excited to get started on the colour part. But, it’s knit bottom-up, so it’ll be a little while until I can get there. I only started last night, so there’s not much to it yet. The main colour is a dark green and I’ll also be using a light green, a dark red and a natural colour for the colourwork. The pattern is Létt Lopi Vest and I’m using the suggested Létt Lopi Icelandic yarn.

I’m Back!

OK, I have been back home for a little while, but life has been hectic, there is no other word, and knitting/designing have been put on the back burner for a while…

I’m working at a design (socks) at the moment, but I have submitted it for publication, so I won’t be able to share just yet, in case it is accepted.

Otherwise, we just got a puppy and that has kept us all pretty busy!
So, instead of knitting, I’ll share some pictures of our new family member, Pepe, a Spanish Hound mix. Here he is:

Bye For Now

Off on holidays tomorrow and will be offline for a few weeks, till later!

And this is where I’m off to:

Happy Birthday to My Sweet Boy!

Today, my son Connor is turning 5, it’s been a happy 5 years! <3

Happy birthday Connor!

About an hour after birth

Today, 5-year old!

Meet “Eastbourne”, my New Hat

The pattern is being tested, I will publish it on Friday, so only 3 days to wait. It’s now ready for me to take on the beach in Eastbourne, hence the name!

Summer Hat Finished, Blocking and Being Tested

I just finished my summer hat, wrote the pattern and started recruiting testers. It is now blocking and I can’t wait to publish it! It should be up in about 4 days…

Here it is, blocking

Working on a Summer Hat Pattern

This one will be for me, we are off on holidays by the sea on Saturday and I need a hat to protect my head from the sun on the beach.

It is made with 100% cotton yarn, I’m using Schoeller+Stahl Record 210, I love this blue-green mix!

It is still in progress, I’m about to get started on the crown decreases.

Here’s a little preview…