I have been plugging away on the third Hemlock, but a picture would not add to much of anything. That is all I have been working on knitting-wise EXCEPT for the fact that it is United Way time at my place of employment. One of the fund raising activities is a silent auction of Themed Gift Bags — you know, A Night at the Movies with DVDs and popcorn, or a golf-themed bag. The Team Captain for our department had the decidedly brilliant idea for a knitting related theme — now you can see how well I have trained my co-workers!!Â
I of course jumped on the idea and donated most of the stuff, and did the shopping. We started with a felted Market Squares bag that I made a while back and never really cared for. It was in gaudy summer colors and was not felted enough. I threw it in the washer one more time and it did improve. Â
Our LYS donated a gift certificate to a series of learn-to-knit classes (I would give the name but don’t want them to get inundated with requests!). It is a total win-win for the yarn shop: it costs them nothing to add a student to a class, but they gain a future customer!  We purchased a gift card to a nearby coffee shop, and then filled the bag with yarn from my stash, knitting needles, a zippered accessory bag, lots of knitting accessories and a very basic learn to knit book. The estimated dollar value is more than $230 but the cash outlay was only $50 — thanks to my stash and generous donations!
The auction is next week so we’ll see how it goes. I really hope it brings a good price. If it’s a hit, I’m not sure what we’ll do next year – I don’t have any other bags I want to donate! It’s a great cause so it is a nice way to get use out of things that were gathering dust in my yarn room.
I hope to get the Hemlock done this weekend and then I can move on to something I am thinking about…
In Answer to Your Questions:
The picture at the top of our blog was taken in Florence during the first of many road trips for Sally and me. The year? None of your beeswax!! ;) Though the fashions would indicate that it’s VERY recent! 😉 😉 😉
I do not have a picture of the Market Squares Bag that I donated — what a doh!  I forgot to take a picture. I’ll try to catch one before the auction.
And in answer to your questions about the Hemlock Throw, I created a pdf file that combines all the pieces of the pattern into one place for your knitting pleasure!
A well trained employer is a great place to work! Good luck with the drive, it should go very well!
Comment by Carol — September 14, 2007 @ 9:39 pm
Thats a great gesture. Someone will be receiving a gift that will bring them a lifetime of joy. I have to laugh every time I hear the word Hemlock… it brings to mind Warlock…Endora…Bewitched…tee heee I’m so mature! I guess its the upcoming time of year 🙂
happy weekend.
Comment by Michelle — September 15, 2007 @ 7:40 am
Wanted to give you kudos for being so generous! Makes me wish that I worked where you do! I love when my job does things like that for United Way. I think it helps get more people to donate. And I feel like if every person did their little part, the world would be such a better place!
Comment by Lee — September 15, 2007 @ 8:26 am
What a great idea, Susan. We’d love to see a picture of the Gift Bag all put together. (Shameless begging to see the Market Square bag if nothing else!)
Comment by Wendy O — September 15, 2007 @ 8:39 am
I have to ask….is the photo on your blog from Sam Miguel?????
Comment by Cathy Goldman — September 15, 2007 @ 9:34 am
Great idea about the knitting kit – maybe will try that in our next auction. Quick question about
the Hemlock – I just started one. How many repeats beyond the original 87 rows did you do? And on
what row did you start the repeats? Perhaps it will get more clear to me as I progress – I can
follow a pattern just fine, but sometimes have trouble adapting my own. TIA for the help.
Jenny
Comment by Jenny — September 15, 2007 @ 9:55 am
Cant wait to see Hemlock in the heavier yarn. If you don’t post a photo please e-mail me one.
Comment by marie — September 15, 2007 @ 11:26 am
The photograph of the two of us — is that the one you are asking about Cathy? It’s from Florence, Italy. It was taken, oh, three or four years ago. Maybe.
Yes — we need a photograph of the Market Squares bag. How could you possibly think you could post without showing us what it looks like?
Comment by surly — September 15, 2007 @ 11:27 am
Susan- I love photographs, don’t worry about ever boring us.
The Market Squares bag is a terrific gesture, someone will be thrilled
to have it.
Comment by Lorraine — September 15, 2007 @ 11:36 am
Your bag is terrific–just the lessons might not be enough to get the bidders’ interest, but the actual physical materials & tools will really rev them up! Thanks for an inspired idea. People really like an item to take home from these events, however small.
Comment by Pam — September 15, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
In the photo on the blog, which one is Sally and which is Susan?
Comment by Sue — September 15, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
So that is Florence? I had always pictured it in s.e. Minneapolis near St. Anthony Main. But how did you take a ROAD trip to Florence?
Comment by kmkat — September 16, 2007 @ 10:58 am