Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Well, I've been busy knitting, but wanted to take a few minutes out to stop and say THANK YOU to everyone who has helped Delaware Head Huggers and Kozy Kovers for Kids get off the ground.  It's been absolutely amazing working with everyone and seeing all the beautiful items all these talented people are willing to donate! I never imagined when I started this that there would be so many people wanting to help.  People have donated money for postage, materials to be used to create hats and blankets and moral support - all of which is needed, wanted and appreciated!

Every week, I am completely in awe at some of the beautiful items that come in......each made with so much love that you can see it in every stitch.  I've met so many inspiring people through these organizations........people suffering losses, grieving, injured and ill themselves, who somehow reach inside themselves to create gorgeous things for others.  AMAZING!!

Delaware Head Huggers is in need of hats - and I couldn't be happier.  I've been contacted by several hospitals and chemo centers that received hats last year asking for more.  We're managing to supply individuals who hear about us with hats as well!  Hats are constantly coming in and I am shipping them out as fast as they come in. As of 11/20, we have received 5.359 hats!  More are in at the library as I type this and even more are on their way. 

I've heard from patients, family members and health care providers telling how much a handmade hat means to a patient undergoing treatment.  It's a wonderful feeling to hear that our work is making a difference to people.

Kozy Kovers for Kids is also booming right now!  Our latest total was 577 blankets with more on the way.  We were able to donate many blankets to the State Police and local hospital for children suffering from abuse or neglect.  We have also sent many to foster care agencies to be given to children placed in foster homes, so that they at least have one item that is truly their own.

We will be working with Kind to Kids and their "My Blue Duffel" program.  The program supplies duffel bags so foster children do not have to use trash bags to transport their belongings. Kozy Kovers is going to try to donate as many blankets as needed so that each duffel bag comes with a blanket too!

I am truly thankful and grateful to everyone who has helped. We are a success because of each individual who contributes an item, a penny or a positive thought to us.

Please spread the word about us! 

Delaware Head Huggers is on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Delaware-Head-Huggers/250229674280

and on the web at www.delawareheadhuggers.org

Kozy Kovers for Kids is also on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kozy-Kovers-for-Kids/253991638070

and online at www.kozykoversforkids.org

Visit, support us or just see what we're doing.  I bet you'll be inspired too!  I know I am!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Happy Knitting!

A Cowl for My Puppy (or yours…)

Schnapps loves to have a cowl on in the cold weather……he started with scarves (he was the only one willing to wear my first knitting attempt!)...... but the ends would unravel and drag on the ground, so I decided to try out a cowl.  He loves them and I can switch them out for different occasions without spending a ton of money on holiday collars.  This one takes about 30 – 45 minutes to make and can be adjusted for dogs of any size.  You MUST knit this loosely!!!  Especially when binding off……..you want it to have enough stretch to go comfortably over the dog’s head.

To be sure you are making the correct size, take your dog’s collar and hold it to a circle loom.  The collar should be the same size or slightly smaller than the inside of the loom.  I use the blue “preemie hat” loom for Schnapps. Larger dogs would need larger looms. But I think, using the Knifty Knitter set you could make a cowl even for a Saint Bernard!

Use two strands of worsted weight or bulky yarn held together as one.  You could also just use one strand of super bulky yarn. I like to use colors that are seasonal......this one is in fall shades, but he has an orange and black one for Halloween, a Christmas one, a red and white one for Valentine's Day, a green one for St. Patrick's Day and a blue one for 'everyday' use. 

Make a slipknot and attach it to your anchor peg.

E-wrap the entire loom.  Start with Peg 1 by bringing the yarn towards the inside of the loom and wrapping it around the peg in a counterclockwise direction.  Repeat for each peg.  There should be one loop on each peg when you are finished.

E-wrap the entire loom again, being sure that there are 2 loops on every peg when you are finished. 

Knit off each stitch by bringing the bottom loop up and over the top loop, taking the bottom loop off the loom.  When finished, there will be one loop on each peg again.

Repeat the above two rows, e-wrapping and knitting off until your piece is about 5 inches long.  Make this longer for larger dogs.

Bind off very loosely, using the basic bond off, as follows:

1.  Knit the first 2 stitches.

2.  Move the loop from peg 2 over to peg 1.  Knit off. 

3.  Move the loop from peg 1 over to the now empty peg 2. 

4. Knit the next peg

Repeat steps 2 through 4 until you have only one stitch left on the last peg. 

Cut your working yarn, leaving about 6 inches and e-wrap the last peg.  Knit off and pull the tail through the stitch.

Your cowl is complete!  

And yes, you could use the same pattern to make a cowl for a person - but I have not done so yet.

Since in the past some people have had trouble printing things from here, you can always email me at robin@delawareheadhuggers.org and I will send you the pattern.  You might want to try copying it and pasting it into a Word document also - that works for some people.

Visit www.delawareheadhuggers.org and www.kozykoversforkids.org to learn about the 2 charities I run from my home.  

Find us on Facebook too - 

Delaware Head Huggers:   http://www.facebook.com/pages/Delaware-Head-Huggers/250229674280   

Kozy Kovers for Kids  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kozy-Kovers-for-Kids/253991638070

Happy Knitting!!