socks for a good cause

HEY ALL - just joined , better late then never - recieved my pattern from ramona today - will pick out the yarn, can't wait to start

pat j

So far behind.

To everybody who is waiting for a swap-package/contest-prize/blog-post acknowledging your magnanimity/email/answer (and perhaps a word or two about my knitting) - please please PLEASE accept my heartfelt humblest apologies and assurances that it's all still underway or on the way.

I am having a little trouble (*ahem* - understatement) digging out from the (literal and figurative) avalanche of obligations and the piles of debris (not to mention the basic life-supporting chores) that were dropped when I was sick and then compounded by the recent spate of concerts.

Soon, my friends. Soon.

New to KAL...

Hi! I just got my pattern, and two skeins of Knit Picks Gloss in Woodland Sage. I'm really looking forward to casting on and knitting these socks up!

First Toe-Up Heel

I turned the heel on my first toe up sock and I think it's a pretty neat heel - I'm really happy with it and this soft comfy cotton yarn too...

Campanula Progress

I'm just about ready to turn the heel on my first Campanula.

I'm using Bernat's Cool Cotton in white and they are so pretty and lacy - they'll be perfect for next spring/summer. I may even be tempted to wear them with sandals - something I never do...

Contest #4 - Pay it Forward - Winners!!!

I am finally here to post the winners for contest number 4. Since only four people actually posted their contest entries, I decided that all four should be winners of this contest. Thank you and congratulations to H-star, Carol, Lisa L, and Affectioknitter. Winners - please contact me at mezzodiva AT sympatico DOT ca with your mailing address so that I can arrange to get your prizes to you ASAP.

Though only four of you posted here regarding your "pay it forward" projects, I hope many of you were somehow inspired by this contest to think about what you can do and look for opportunities to make a difference in your world in your own way, whatever it may be.

My Cure "Pay It Forward"

Ramona has been kind enough to encourage us to share our stories here. I thought I'd take her up on the invitation and post a video link. My surgeon contacted me a few weeks ago to ask if I'd be willing to do an interview for a local news station related to breast cancer. They wanted to find someone who had been diagnosed through mammography. I decided to go ahead and really "go public". If it encourages even just one woman to pick up the phone and make an appointment, it will be worth it.

So here I am, new short CURLY GRAY hair and all!

http://www.fox23news.com/mediacenter/local.aspx

Click on the link and then go to October Buddy Check Reminder.

Lisa L :-)

Moving Right Along

My goal this past weekend was to get the heel turned on the second Campanula sock. Ta Da!

Nothing happened on it today, I'm afraid. I'm shampooing the carpet and I'm wiped.

Soon, I hope, soon it will be done!

I'm Ba-a-a-a-ack!

Don't pay the Ransom! I escaped!

No, really, I wasn't kidnapped. I've just been delayed by the lingering effects of the nasty flu from which I am still recovering, and swamped with all the work that got delayed while I was sick. I have done very little knitting and still haven't entered anything on Ravelry, though I accepted my invitation three weeks ago.

But please don't feel too sorry for me! I did actually manage to finish a Campanula sock that I am making for myself. That's right. You heard me. These babies are MINE!
This was photographed early last night at Knitomatic SnB and I then completed another half pattern repeat and the cuff's twisted ribbing, so all I need to do now is cast off and make another one. Despite the photographic evidence, it's actually a perfect fit. It's being modelled here by the lovely Shelna whose feet are a half size longer and whose ankles and calves are much slimmer than mine are.

I'm just a little busy for another couple of days, but I wanted to drop in here to say a quick "Hi!" to all of you and I promise to post the winners of Contest number 4: Pay it Forward ASAP (The MezzoDiva is swamped right now). Meanwhile enjoy the lovely fall weather - such terrific inspiration to knit wonderful wooly things!

Just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Now that we are all awash in Pink this month, here's to helping myself to a gorgeous pair of socks!

These are J.Knits in San Jose. My first toe-up sock and I thought it was going to kill me!

AfternoonMoon http://girlinfox.blogspot.com

Silly Me

I just spent most of my afternoon working on my second Campanula. I spent so long in one position that my back started to ache!

I believe I have figured out why I kept postponing the casting on of the second sock. Somehow, I had built up in my mind that it was going to be a fiddly knit. Which it isn't. Which I would have known if I had just cast on the second sock right after I finished the first one. But no, I kept putting it off, and the bogeyman kept getting bigger. Until today. I was just sailing along. which is why I didn't realize how long I had been knitting until my back started to complain.

Silly me.

Finally Started Sock Two

So, waaaaay back in February(?) or thereabouts Mezzodiva asked me to test knit her sock pattern. I was hesitant since I had never done any real lace projects at that point. But I decided to take the plunge and knit up a lovely sock. And stopped. So I had 1 lonely sock.

Due to a chain of unfortunate events, (check my blog if you want the story) recently I found myself looking for a project to cast on. Apparently, a higher power of some sort really wanted me to finish the pair! So, I took the bull by the horns, picked up my needles and cast on.

I am now the proud mother of a toe-cap. Soon to be a sock. One hopes.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, all!

Pay it Forward

I've received so many blessings in my life...

I'll be taking a group of 1st through 3rd graders to Red Willow Bible Camp http://redwillowbiblecamp.org/index.asp - and I've recruited another woman to help drive. (Neither of us has a child in this age group - so don't think that you can't do things with kids if you don't have any of your own).

I'll be volunteering as Cub Master this year and will help the scouts 'pay it forward' as well. Last night a group of about 10 scouts collected litter in our neighborhood.
I'll be participating in Operation Christmas Child http://www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC.asp?MPGID=1

This one is a lot of fun and kids love to buy the little things to put in the boxes. It helps them to become aware of needy children in the world.

Contest Number Three Extension: keep on Paying it Forward!

Good Mornin', Campanula!

Well, I must say it's good to be back here in Blogland. I've missed you guys, though I have peaked in on occasion to see some lovely new Campanulas completed! I apologize for my prolonged absence, but it's been a heck of a ride here at casa MezzoDiva for the last three weeks.

Because I have been out of commission and I haven't seen very much action here for Contest Number Three, I am extending the deadline for Pay it Forward postings to October 15th.

Come on, Campanula Campers! Let's see more of your great plans to make our world a better place! Just think of three ways you can contribute to your own community. There are NO other rules than this: Get involved. Think small or think big. Do something for your family, your neighbours, your school, your country, the world. It's up to you. Pledge to make your best effort to engage in an activity or make a plan to support a cause that you consider important. And please remember to cross-post here so we can all see them. Also, while I do try to keep up with each and every one of you, it makes my record-keeping so much easier if I see it here!

And in case you need some inspiration, here's a terrific site I came across recently: My Good Deed.

Drumroll please....

TA DA! The finished Campanulas:




I LOVE this pattern. Thanks Ramona for coming up with it. Just to recap, the wool I used was Claudia Handpainted in the Baby Doll colourway

Thanks, Ramona!

I'd like to express my appreciation for my lovely prize for finishing the first Campanulas. The postal service tried to eat the package, but as far as I can tell, all the contents made it.

I got Dream in Color yarn in pale fire, the same colorway I made my Campanulas in, so I think I will use it to make my sister a lovely pair of socks for the holidays. It will be her first time to get two pairs of socks! I know she will like them. I also got a beautiful stitch marker from one of the sponsors--it was very kind of all the sponsors to provide prize material!

I'll keep on reading about people's socks!

I am now SunaSAK on Ravelry if you'd like to be my "friend."

Wa-hoo! Campanula is done!

Wonderful pattern and a great cause! If you are still knitting your Campanula and have extra yarn consider taking them up to knee high. If I hadn't been so impatient I would have kept going!

And, no, that isn't a white sock underneath that is just how pale my legs are! I guess I should have worn shorts more this summer.

Alice
Ravelry: Justafew

Hello Campanula

I just started my Campanulas. I've always knit my socks top-down and this is my first time knitting toe-up socks and I'm really excited about it. I did a little research before I started and I've used short rows with wrapped stitches in other garments before so it was pretty straightforward.

I've had this Bernat cool cotton in my stash for a while and wanted something light and lacy for it - I think this pattern will be perfect.

It sure does make a nice roomy toe box - that should be really comfortable...

Pirk's socks

Sept. 25, 2007:
I changed the picture from yesterday. The socks are now getting the leg part.

Hi,
I am so far behind with my socks, but started working again on them on the weekend.
I had the first one done to the heel turning and now I have the second one as well to the heel (increases).

I am still not sure how to do the heel, unless it's done the same way as the toe part. There are quite a few instructions in the web, and I have printed several of them.

Here is a picture of my second sock.

C'est Fini!

My Campanula Socks are finished! And they feel great! And on a nice note, I finished them last week just as I was finishing up my last radiation treatment - YAY! Many thanks to Ramona for creating this beautiful pattern and setting up this wonderful KAL!

Still Knitting...

I realise I've been rather remiss in posting pics of my Campanula's (still in progress). I am going to knit up the leg until I run out of wool.



I love how this pattern knits up, but it's a little hard to do on the bus since I can't seem to memorize the pattern.

I received my prize wool today! It came with a cool stitch marker and I love the name of the colourway: singed tomato...It was the name that sold me:



I think I might turn this wool into a pair of Campanula's as well. If I am able to do the Walk for Breast Cancer here in Ottawa next year, you can be sure I will be wearing the Campanulas!

Finished!

I finished the Campanula socks tonight! They turned out ok. I made some mistakes but I like 'em. :) And here they are!



Whaddya think?

Robyn

pay it forward

hey all,

unfortunately i don't have a sock to show off (i've been up to my ears in wedding garments), but i've got a "pay it forward" cross-post!

The fight continues: 60 more in 2008!

Congratulations! You did it! WOW! You stepped up and out on the street and made a real difference in the fight to end breast cancer. You were an invaluable part of the family of 5,521 participants who raised $17.3 million to support breast cancer research, clinical enhancements and continuation of the Survivorship program at Princess Margaret Hospital.

The Weekend to End Breast Cancer was a huge success for the fifth year in a row - thanks to dedicated people just like you. On behalf of the doctors, researchers, Board of Directors and other staff of Princess Margaret Hospital and The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, we deeply appreciate YOU for making The Weekend such a spectacular success. Because you committed to supporting breast cancer research, thousands of women and men throughout Toronto and Ontario will directly benefit from advancements like the rapid diagnosis pilot program, interoperative radiation clinical trial, the Breast Cancer Survivorship program and leading edge research done at The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research at PMH lead by Dr. Tak Mak and his research team.

Of course, the fight does not end here. The funds our participants have helped raise over the last five years are phenomenal, but cancer is not a five-year problem. Research and cancer breakthroughs take time and money to support and realize The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation has long term goals that require long term funding so we hope you've signed up to keep fighting cancer in 2008! If you have friends who'd like to join you, please invite them to come on out for this amazing journey.

For a limited time, everyone can register for just $25. Make next year the next leg of this wonderful tradition in our community. Tell your friends and family to register for The 2008 Weekend to End Breast Cancer benefiting Princess Margaret Hospital!

Congratulations and thank you so very much for your important contribution to this record-breaking walk! You've made our community very proud.

Visit here for the news release about The Weekend.

Sincerely,

Paul Alofs
President & CEO
Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation

What a world we could make!

DH posted at I Think: It is time to put aside a few minutes to remember the innocents who were executed on this day in 2001 for the crime of being American, without trial or evidence or representation by counsel. My condolences to the families and friends of these victims, and to the world that has suffered the ongoing consequences of these crimes against humanity.

I couldn't say it any better.

At 5:30 am on Sunday, on my way to Day Two of the recent WEBC, I had the most amazing conversation with a cab driver. He asked me what all these people were doing and why and I explained to him that we were raising money and awareness to combat this scourge that is cancer. We discussed the Weekend and the PMH foundation and recent/imminent breakthroughs in research and treatment. We discussed the sad state of the world, the ubiquitous wars official and unofficial, and our society's all too pervasive culture of impotence, the prevailing impression cultivated by our conglomerate driven economic-political machine, that as individuals most of us are unable to make a difference, so we might as well just slog along as cogs in the system and try to buy ourselves as much consumer-happiness as we can grab to soothe our frustration, but without rocking the boat too much, and please - leave the world-altering decisions and actions to the big boys.

The driver asked many questions about what I was doing and after I told him how deeply moved I was to be a part of this endeavour, how incredibly empowering it was to contribute in even my small way to making this world a better place, he responded in the most profoundly thoughtful, and uncannily appropriate way. He said: "What a world could we make if instead of violence and hatred, all that anger and passion could be channelled into healing and helpful directions, to curing diseases and feeding the hungry and consoling the desolate."

Please remember - this KAL is continuing, and so is Contest Number Three: Pay it Forward. Please let me know when you have posted about your initiatives to make the world a better place. Better yet, cross-post them here so we all can share our ideas and our energy.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
(16 December 1901 – 15 November 1978)

"If you think you're too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room." - Dame Anita Perella Roddick,DBE
(23 October 1942 – 10 September 2007)