There were also some minor stash acquisitions while I was away. I generally avoid the New Jersey Turnpike at all costs, so I planned a route through Lancaster, Pennsylvania to stop at an LYS. It was a store in an old house, crammed to the rafters with yarn (which is how I like my yarn stores), and I bought this:


More sock yarn, yes, I know, but it's kettle-dyed! And I don't actually have pink socks. I was quite tempted by some possum-blend laceweight (New Zealand possum, though not from the linked company--somebody based out of New England, I don't remember now), but with the allergies I decided against it. Very soft and fluffy, though.

Also, that same day I went Olbermann-watching and froze my butt off, I stopped at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio downtown. I don't know what I was expecting, but...eh. Kind of underwhelming. The store looks great, at least. I bought some Sock-Ease, since you can't buy it around here in stores.


Does that look grey or lavender to you? I think it's supposed to be grey, but I definitely see purple there. I swear, though, every single damn colorway has chartreuse in it! Who are these people clamoring for neon green stripes in their socks?! Nobody I know.

Still no photos of Mark's completed socks, or his fake Noro scarf, or my remade beret--I'll make him do it this weekend if it kills me. But in the meantime, a PSA. There's a Darfur awareness group on Ravelry, and they're knitting pencil cases for donation and/or sale. I'll be making Wendy's as soon as I finish the damn stranded mittens. I'm not big into the charity knitting, but this seems like important and useful charity knitting. Read more below...

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Sudan is an extremely war-torn country, and that for a long time. The current genocide in Darfur, before that the Second Sudanese Civil War, in which over 2 million people were killed have made it difficult for the Sudanese people to go on living normally, like sending their children to school.

HELPSudan was formed by the Lost Boys of Sudan to establish learning facilities, recruit teachers and provide school supplies as well as provide health resources and clean water especially in Southern Sudan. HELPSudan is raising funds for the purpose of starting more schools in Southern Sudan; ”providing pencils and notebooks for hands that might have taken up arms, and an education for minds that once only understood war.”

The Ravelry Darfur group thought the knitting and crocheting community could help raising funds, and at the same time making something useful for the Sudanese children.

The object to be made is a pencil case, because they’re easy, quick, inexpensive and light, and because they can be both sold to benefit HELPSudan financially as well as given to the Sudanese school children along with pens and notebooks.

Some other generous designers have made patterns for the project, too, and are publishing them in their own blogs and Ravelry. You will find the current link list of available patterns at www.worsted-knitt.net.

Once the knitting gets going, there’ll be a voting on the most beautiful pencil case on Flickr with lovely prizes!

The challenge is here: HELPSudan’s next Annual Fund Raiser is just few weeks away. They say some pencil cases would be a great addition to their Silent Auction of arts and crafts… however, HELPSudan have said that they will have need for pencil cases after the event, too, so this KAL/CAL will be active for at least until the end of March. Updates will be published at www.worsted-knitt.net as well as Ravelry Darfur group.

The finished pencil cases can be sent directly to HELPSudan at

HELPSudan
5255 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640 USA