Squares and Hats

First of all - this is a very cool present my friend Eileen gave me - it's a quiver! It's old and fragile and very cool - I will put my favourite dpns in it.
I've been in a hat mood for some reason... can anyone guess why? It got cold and made me start to think about Winter. I'm not complaining because I am a winter girl. Last Fall I knit a lot of socks, this Fall will be hats.

An acrylic (yes, really! I have never knit with acrylic yarn before!) hat. It's not from a pattern - I just knit as I went. It's Lincraft yarn 'Surprise'. The proof will be in wearing. I just liked the colours.

This is Maizy - corn fiber yarn. I really love the colours. I had a vague memory of this pattern from somewhere but I just sort of put this together as well. Often my off-the-cuff patterns don't work out but a hat is not such a big committment if I have to rip, if I screw up.

On to a more important message. Corrine from Thicket is organising knitted blankets for the Victoria fire victims. I have a special motive to tell you about this project because when my son's house burnt down in the Canberra fires the wonderful quilters and crocheters of Australia made him a quilt and a crochet blanket that is still his cuddle blankie today. I really can't explain how wonderful it was to have something made with pure love to give him when everything he owned was gone.

I haven't asked Corrine if it is OK if I put her email on my blog so I am just going to say that she is asking for woolen squares and if you would like to contribute please email me and I will send you the details. rhonich at gmail dot com

Honestly, it is such an easy way to help but believe me, from one who has been there, these handmade items are treasures that people will keep forever, to remind them that the whole of the country was thinking of them. Dry goods, toilet paper, showers and soap are all very important in the immediate and all of those things were appreciated. But the thing that touched my heart deeply was the lovingly made quilt and the blanket.