Archive for charity

Christmas scarves

December 3, 2007 at 12:50 pm · Filed under charity, color, crochet, links, stash, wearables, WIP

I’ve got two in the works, hoping to have something ready for holiday gifts.

One is from Rita Weiss’ “24 Hour Crochet Projects” which is just a simple sc, ch 1 in alternating rows. The book shows it in a multi stripe, but since it’s an easy stitch I’m using Bernat Softee Baby in a pastel rainbow variegated (#31415 Candy Baby) and I don’t know if it’s just luck, but I’m getting a great pattern of large diamonds running up the center. When my fakakte scanner is back up, I’ll add the pictures…

The second I’m also very happy with. It’s the shell scarf from Bev’s Country Cottage. If you’re not familiar with her site, please check it out – she has a multitude of charity cap and blanket patterns, hospital items to make, and many other handcrafts including knit and cross-stitch. Her patterns are always pretty, and so far very easy for a novice like myself. Often, when I’m browsing or googling for a type of pattern, I’ll end up there again and again.

My purple one-skein chenille scarf looks like a big dook, even after the cabbage-beet-grape juice (yum!) bath. I have a few ends to weave in and then I’ll wash it out again and fabric-soften the heck out of it. I made it with a big hook, so it’s very open, but it wraps my neck twice with a lot of extra length left over. It will be functional, at least to wear to the bus stop in the cold weather.

I also made a quickie wreath-shaped xmas ornament with some old green yarn by sc around the edge of a plastic milk bottle ring and increasing for two rows to make it ruffly. I’m totally happy to recycle and NOT end up at the craft store; it’s ridiculous how easily I lose my mind and begin “stockpiling” when I get in there. Not that there’s anything wrong with that ; )

Speaking of Christmas, does anyone have a good idea for a skein each of red, green and white worsted that all have a silver strand running through them? I feel like I’ve had them forever, and each year, I think “yes, I really should use those” – and my mind goes blank. If someone comments with a nice link or something I can actually make before the 25th, I’ll send you my extra copy of the ’07 spring issue of Crochet Today that I bought a duplicate of recently. Note: I just checked my stash; the red and green are Caron Christmas Glitter, but look quite a few years old. The white is Jamie baby from the same era but the strand on this one is pearl, not silver.

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June 3rd is National Cancer Survivor’s Day

June 3, 2007 at 7:11 pm · Filed under accessories, charity, crochet, gifts, knit

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A lot of us who crochet like to give our treasures as gifts to family and friends, some also donate their creations to charities. There are hundreds, if not thousands of large and small groups who make, collect and distribute to those in need. It’s very easy to get involved, and it’s a wonderful feeling knowing you did something constructive for a good cause.

Project Linus was started in 1995 after a Parade magazine article featuring the photo of a young cancer patient clutching a blanket spurred Colorado resident Karen Loucks Rinedollar to begin making blankets for her local children’s hospital. It is named after the “Peanuts” cartoon character by Charles Schultz (who actually coined the term “security blanket”), and has chapters all across the United States and abroad. The organization provides handmade blankets of all types to children who are ill or in need.

If you’re interested in crocheting “Chemo Caps” – soft, comfortable and attractive (or sometimes funny and p’d off, like Sharon Osborne’s) hats that some cancer patients wear when they lose their hair due to the rigors of chemotherapy – Bev’s Country Cottage has pages of patterns, including knit, crochet and sewing, for you to choose from. She also has patterns and links to pink ribbon items to make supporting breast cancer awareness.

The Breast Cancer Site, which funds free mammograms for underpriveledged women, is aiming for 6 million clicks this month. If they reach their goal, they will receive an additional $20,000 in sponsor funding. I subscribe their daily email reminders and try to click every day. You’ll get a free pink ribbon pin if you decide to sign up, and they also have buttons that you can use for your site, blog, or email signature (mine’s on the right if you scroll down) . Click this link to help:
Fund Free Mammograms @ The Breast Cancer Site

Lion Brand has a full page of pattern links, as well as an extensive database of organizations that accept donations of goods and yarn. It’s searchable by keyword, zip code or organization name. It’s a great resource if your knit or crochet group is looking to make a donation.

Whether you make booties or grannies or afghans or hats, just for today, think of how a caring crafter may have comforted or raised the spirits of a cancer patient. We have a lot of opportunities in life, and sometimes the smallest thing we do can mean the world to another.

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