Knitting for Charity

Do you knit? There are a plethora of wonderful charities that could use your help. From donated knitwear to skeins of yarn to cash donations that benefit both individuals and communities.

For a list of many of these charity organizations, go to http://www.interweaveknits.com/community/charities.asp

Tweed Yarn Suggestions for Ballybrae Fingerless Gloves

I knit my first pair of Ballybrae Fingerless Gloves with Paton Ballybrae, a rough, but visually stunning yarn. This yarn has long since been discontinued. And I've knit subsequent gloves with Cascade 220. Cascade 220 is great substitution (nice feel, good price, abundant skeins), but this yarn is not a tweed.

If you are looking for a lovely tweed for your next pair of Ballybrae Fingerless Gloves, I suggest the following yarns:

• Rowan Scottish Tweed DK. 100% Wool. 20 stitches per 4 inches. You'll need four balls of yarn (50 grams and 123 yards each) and will have left-over yarn. Work pattern as written.

• Tahki/Stacy Charles Tweedy Alpaca. 15 stitches per 4 inches. You'll need five to six balls of yarn (50 grams and 81 yards each). This yarn will make thick gloves, and you will need to reduce palm rows. Suggestions for pattern: cast-on 80, complete 36 rows before thumb hole. You will need more yarn if you want to make the gloves longer/bigger.

• Tahki Yarns Donegal Tweed. 100% Wool. 18 stitches per 4 inches. You'll need three balls of yarn (100 grams and 183 yards each) and will have a good deal of left-over yarn. Work pattern as written.

• Berroco Blackstone Tweed. 65% Wool/25% Superkid Mohair/10% Angora Rabbit Hair. 18 stitches per 4 inches. You'll need four balls of yarn (50 grams and 130 yards each) and will have left-over yarn. Work pattern as written.

• Plymouth Paca Tweed. 50% Alpaca/ 40% Merino Wool/10% Donegal. 18 stitches per 4 inches. You'll need three balls of yarn (100 grams and 191 yards each) and will have a good deal of left-over yarn. Work pattern as written.

• Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran. 85% Wool/15% Angora. 18 stitches per 4 inches. You'll need five balls of yarn (50 grams and 97 yards each) and will have left-over yarn. Work pattern as written.

• Alpaca with a Twist Highlander. 45% Baby Alpaca/ 45% Merino Wool/8% Microfiber/2% Viscose. 16 stitches per 4 inches. You'll need three balls of yarn (100 grams and 145 yards each) and will some left-over yarn. This yarn will make thick gloves, and you will need to reduce palm rows. Suggestions for pattern: cast-on 80, complete 36 rows before thumb hole. You will need more yarn if you want to make the gloves longer/bigger.
  
  

Donations to Partners in Health

30% of all Seaside Knitting January 2010 proceeds will be donated to Partners in Health's "Stand with Haiti" earthquake relief efforts.

For more on this Boston area organization, please visit http://www.standwithhaiti.org/haiti

Seaside Knitting Gift Certificates

Gift certificates for use in the Seaside Knitting Etsy shop (www.seasideknitting.etsy.com) are now available in $25, $50, $75, and $100 denominations.

Seaside Knitting gift certificates are sent by regular mail either to the gift giver or the chosen recipient and can be used to purchase any item, including shipping charges.

For more information, go to the Gift Certificates section at Seaside Knitting on Etsy.