comfort doll project

My students and I are making comfort dolls to send to the AIDS orpahns in Africa this spring. I have around 40 students from first to seventh grade and they are each making at least one. Our goal is 100 dolls by April 1st. Anyone interested in doing a quick project that will use up leftover yarn and make a little child very happy?

The pattern is quite simple. I use worsted weight yarn and size 8 needles. CO 32 sts with brown yarn for the feet. Knit 8 rows. Change colors and knit approx. 3" for pants. Change colors and knit approx. 2" for shirt. Change to brown for face and knit approx. 1 1/2". Change colors again for hat and knit as follows.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: decrease 4 times evenly across row
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: decrease 4 times evenly across row
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: decrease 4 times evenly across row
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: Knit 2 together across row

Thread needle and sew through remaining stitches pulling tight. I like to make the face before I sew it all up. Sew up center seam in back. Stuff head. Weave a string around neck and pull tight to make a neck. Stuff body and sew up feet. Using a backstitch sew from waist to just below neck to form arms. Define legs in the same way sewing from bottom to just below waist.

This is a great project for beginners and a quick knit for more experienced knitters and a great way to bring a little love to a little person. Email me if you have dolls and I will give you the address. Happy knitting!

I'm finally a blogger!!!

I have been thinking about blogging for a couple of years now just to have folks with whom I can share my love and passion for fibers and knitting. I believe my family and friends get a little tired of hearing what project I am working on and what new yarn I have acquired. I have just finished my first knit from your stash project- some new leg warmers. Now that I teach I find that I wear more skirts and the leg warmers make this possible in vermont winter. These are made with 44 stitches in Manos del Uruguay yarn.

I am trying to finish up a hat/scarf set that my mother requested and bought the yarn for. This is a big deal because she is not into any animal fibers. It is a soft alpaca in pastel green and blues that we got together at the VA sheep and wool festival. The colors are not as nice in the photo as they are in real life. I am hoping to get better at all of this over time.

Well, the picture is up at the top. I don't know yet how to put it in the right place. I just cast on the second sock for my first month's gift project. I am a little behind but more than half way! Here goes the posting. Thanks for reading!