I'm not sure that we should post Lou's address here, but I have it if anyone wants to email me at mhward at bigpond dot net dot au

Mailing address?

Mine is done and I'd like to mail it. Could someone email me the address, please? (I'm in the USA) Thanks!

Finished and mailed

I finally finished my square, mailed it, and off to the races.Not the beat photo, but the square really is square. I liked making this square, and tried to put some joy into each stitch. It was begun in New York, travelled to a Bat Mitzvah in Chicago, where I knit on it in two airports, at the hotel, and at a family party( where we got to discussing Yarn Harlot and the community of knitters.) I finished it back home in New York. Knitting at a party was a great way to get to know distant relatives in a more connected way, so I hope the energy of this blanket brings peace, warmth and the comfort of old and new friends to Melissa.

Finished

I unpinned my square this evening, and it looks nice. I did have to add a single crochet border. Will get it sent off tomorrow before work.

Blocking in Progress

I finished my square this evening & set about blocking it. I was having a devil of a time getting it into shape until I remembered that I actually have a set of blocking wires that I had never used. So I found those and got it all set up on the floor of the bedroom - the only room the beasties can't get into. Hopefully it'll be dry and ready to go by tomorrow, but the recent dampness may delay things a touch. As soon as it's ready, it'll be off in the mail.

Europe sending

This is my square for Melissa - sent to Lou today with my love (and Lena's, Anne's and Brenda's squares. I've got a tracker number, people.) I hope they all go together ok, Lou, thanks for doing this.

Almost There

M-H asked, "How are the rest of you getting along?"

I have to confess that I got absolutely nothing done over the past week and have just tonight sat back down with my square. Even though I was off work most of last week, I seemed to be too busy even to pick any knitting up. I also took the square to work with me last night, foolishly optimistic that I would get a chance to sit down with it. Tonight, however, I've finally had a chance to get back to it and currently have only 18 rows left to go. I shall shorten that gap a bit more before I sleep, and I've got one more day off from work, which will give me ample time to finish it off and wash & block - finally.

How to make the grass and flowers

Lena asks how I made the grass and flowers in my square. They are knitted in. First, you need to get hold of a copy of Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns. Then you just collect some scrap yarns and follow the instructions for the appropriate patterns. :) I believe this book is available from Meg Swansen at Schoolhouse Press.

Mine's in the mail

My square is now on its way, airmail. How are the rest of you getting along?

Square finished

Here's a picture of my square. I am really happy with how it turned out. It has green new grass at the bottom and the flower buds above, on a shiny bright background. I hope that, in time, Melissa will see it as symbolising new life.

Finished!

I knit my square as I sat most of the day in front of the computer, listening to music and deciding which pieces to use for this week's podcast.

The stitch pattern is from former listmum, Sarah's, website and is called Counterpane with Leaves. The larger gauge meant there was not room for the lace border inthe pattern, so I finished the leaf motif, then worked two garter stitch rounds, and ended with a row of YO, K2tog before working a single crochet bind off, to keep the edge nice and stretchy.

The yarn is 100% merino, hand spun from roving I dyed myself.

almost done

Well I'm about 6 rows till I'm done taking a break to eat and thought I would update... My square is white angora/alpacha blend with some cable knot work and two hearts I have pictures but since I'm mobile I can post them so if I could email them to some one and they could post them that would be awesome...

Progress Report

I'm a bit over halfway through. It's a fairly simple design, for all the thought that went into it. You can see the central lace heart motif, which is done on a plain garter background. It's framed by a simple garter-slip stitch pattern that I "unvented" and that provides a nice textural effect. The actual color of the yarn is really much more of a baby blue, but the computer liked it this shade and it shows the stitches a bit better.

I hope to have it done and en route to Lou in the next couple days.

From the other Melissa

This square is made from some of the first yarn I spun. The minute the request came in from Brenda, I set to work, knitting. There is love in every stitch and I only hope this blanket may be of some confort for such a huge loss. 

My square for Melissa

Greetings all, here is my square for Melissa on the Purple Tissue ready to send off to Unka Lou.
I used colors that are bold, subdued and neutral. The pattern represents an intertwining of paths in one quadrant and the parallel timeline of two lives spent together in the other. In the lower part, one hugs the other, symbolic for two lives spent together, as well as the sentiment sent along with the blanket from all of us to Melissa.

Hugs to Melissa,

Gary

My start

Here is what I have so far:











Here is the WIP from the side... OMG, it's an alien! (I found Stitch & Bitch at my library, yay!)










I know, silly, but I'm hoping that will bring some comfort to Melissa.

Square under way

Hi all - here at last! It's a weird thing when you get up in the morning and the rest of the world haw moved on. I hate sprinting before brekkie. But it's worth it to see all your work.

My square is nearly finished. I don't have a camera this week, but here's a progress pic from my phone. I was going for a spring regeneration look - I hope it worked. I have a cunning plan to get a camera tomorrow so should be able to get a better pic then.

Started mine, in CA

I've cast on and have knit about halfway through. Mine is bright acrylic/nylon dk in purple and green. I know, odd, but am hoping she will like it. Can't wait to show the finished square.

Square from Columbus, OH

My heart goes out to Melissa. I feel so thankful for this group of people who care so much about each other, and I'm honored to be a part of it. I hope our efforts bring Melissa comfort. Spring is such a hard time for grieving.

I saw the blue squares posted here, and this color of purple (richer, of course, than in the picture) from my stash seemed to belong with them. I go to the rich website of Sarah Bradberry, the listmum who brought us all together, to find inspiration for my squares. This pattern appealed to me, with the simple cables of Melissa and Lisa's lives twined around each other. I changed the pattern to make the background seed stitch (seeds of comfort, of hope for the future) and knit from the center out -- partly to get the square to the right size, but also so that the energies would spin outward, rather than spiraling in.

Square from Chico, CA

I have a square, but I'm afraid it's not right. I didn't read Brenda's first post which suggested using DK-ish weight yarn. I used Lion Brand Homespun, in a color I like, and which might be reminiscent of a New England coastline. If you still need squares, and there is a place to send them, please let me know. I'll be out of town until the last week in May, so I won't be able to send the square before then. Here's the square. The color which is pointed to by the arrow is the closest to what it really looks like.



With love to Melissa,
Diane
dfnojunk@sunset.net

For Melissa

Melissa, if you read this at some point in the future, please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss.

Green square

I'm picking amongst the greens: stars, rivers, muses, I'll make it up as I go along. I was reading one of Melissa's books when the news came through. Waves would be good.

Anne

BasketWeave

Too blue, is more green IRL. Off to blocking... Where shall I post it?

My plans

I hunted around online last night for a lace heart motif and finally found one in a knitty supplement. Have been swatching it up this evening in both stockinette and garter and I've decided to go with the garter in baby alpaca DK, since I have a lot of it. It's going to be in a baby blue (Tarheel blue, if you're from the Carolinas)because I always find it to be a soothing color. No pictures just yet, as my camera batteries are recharging.

Thanks to Brenda, I've been thinking a lot about Melpomene as I've been planning this out. Today was a beautiful spring day - warm and sunny with an ocean breeze - and I had to hope that just across the river Melissa was feeling that warmth in the midst of her sorrow. I'm sure that all of us will putting a bit of Melpomene's song into our squares.

Duffy square

I have a completed square ready to go and Lou informed me that he has 8 squares.

This is Traveling Vine, done up in Plymouth Encore.

square question...

I'm in for knitting a square and already started working on it.... Do you need people to do two squares??? Cause I can do two if needed....

Brooklynne

Blanket Square

I find myself deeply stunned and a bit, not numb, but in a fog maybe about this news. I will certainly contribute a square for Melissa.

For those who don't remember this is Melissa's blog http://www.galacticsouth.blogspot.com/
This is her other website address as well http://www.pointsman.net/mpage/personal.html

in peace
Samantha

BOL 3

Thank you, Brenda and Lena , for organizing this BOL for Melissa. Losing a long- time partner is an awful thing, so I hope this gives her some comfort..... It is exciting to see the squares as they come in, and to think of what to make. As I happen to be gague-challenged, this time I thought I'd do a mitered square, increasing in the middle until the correct dimensions are reached. I dug thru my stash and found a bunch of 501 machine washable merino in lovely colors, so that is what is calling to me now. So, taking Brenda's words to heart, I *immediately* cast on. Luckily it was only 3 sts....

Blanket of Love III

Brenda wrote:
If you would like to contribute, please begin knitting a ten inch square for the blanket immediately. There are no restrictions on color or fiber, though it will be nicer if the weight of the yarn we all use is similar. Please use DK-esque yarn or equivalent. Where-to-post details will follow shortly.