It’s always the season to be thinking about charitable projects, but there a couple that are near and dear to my heart going on right now.

First, The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee’s fundraiser for the 2012 Dog-a-thon — a walk-a-thon for homeless pets. The page where you can make donations is here. I get so much joy from reading the IBKC blog every day that I donate to this worthy cause every year. You could also make a donation to your local humane society if you prefer.

Second, Lynn Zimmerman in once again participating in the Denver Oyster for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Her donation page is here. Lynn is offering some prizes in a raffle for people who donate — you can read more about them on her blog, here.

Camp Loopy Project

Thanks for all your kind comments about the poncho I am designing/knitting. I have been writing up the pattern as I knit, so I will have it available shortly after I complete the project. While I am making mine from a fairly expensive yarn (because The Loopy Ewe gave a nice discount on yarn purchased for Camp Loopy projects) you could use any worsted weight wool or wool blend to make it: Cascade 220, Encore, etc.

I am still knitting away because, you know, there is nothing better than knitting a large heavy project in a wool/cashmere blend in 105-degree heat. It’s a good thing I have air conditioning, or I would not be able to work on this in the heatwave we have been having. Even indoors in an air conditioned space it gets too warm to work on. But I am hoping to finish it soon. I am halfway through my seventh skein and I have eight skeins total:

Lucy Sez:

“I heart the a/c!”

Spending several days at a knitting event really helps when you are working on a large project.

For my second Camp Loopy project, which must use at least 800 yards of yarn, I went a little overboard. I plan to use over 1500 yards.

I decided to knit a poncho out of this yarn:

This is Three Irish Girls Glenhaven Cashmerino Worsted, in the Eavan colorway. This is the same yarn I used for my first Camp Loopy project (but a different colorway). I purchased 8 skeins for a total of 1560 yards.

I wanted a poncho to wear as outerwear for the cooler months — with a big cozy turtleneck, a cable motif running down the front and the back, and a wide rib pattern. I wanted it nice and loose for freedom of movement underneath.

I was off work last week, Wednesday through Friday. We could start our projects on the 27th of June (Wednesday) and have until the 27th of July to complete them.

I started with a tubular cast-on for the turtleneck.

Then I knit a nice long tube of ribbing. Here it is, folded over.

Then I started the body, with it’s center cable motif.

And on I knit.

I am on my fifth of eight skeins of yarn so by my calculations, I am a bit more than half done. That’s because I spent several days at The Knitgirllls’ SSK retreat doing nothing apart from knitting, eating, and sleeping. I taught some classes, too, but stayed up late each night, knitting while hanging out with old and new friends.

Lucy is happy her momma is back home.