Lapghans for Alzheimer's patients

I may have mentioned the Alzheimer's Study Quilt Project. You can find info on that here http://www.adcs.org/Research/Quilts.aspx . I had asked about crocheted/ knitted items when I first learned of the project and at the time they were unable to accept them. I am pleased to report that I have received an e-mail letting me know that they can now accept lapghans to keep the patients warm as they have treatment or undergo tests. These are not given to the patient, but kept at the facilities.

The size specified for quilts can also be used for lapghans. I suggest at least 36" wide with 40" being optimal, and either square or slightly longer - like 45-50" long. I know a lot of folks like to make 12" squares. 9 squares of that size, joined and then edged around, would make a nice size lapghan.

If you want to do smaller squares, that is also fine. You just need more of them. Or you can make a one-piece lapghan. All good.

Any pattern can be used and any color. They have both male and female patients. The main thing is that it must be washable, so I suggest acrylic. No wool. You wouldn't want to be ill and then suffer an allergic reaction on top of that so let's not take the chance of that here either.

I know there are so many needs out there and not nearly enough crafters to take care of them, but whatever we can do is something. Since these lapghans will stay in the center to be used by patients, the turnover won't be as great. If you can send one that would be super!

The mailing address is at the link above.

You may wonder why I'm interested in this particular project. The reason is simple - the same reason I am interested in projects for cancer patients, and preemies - I have personal experience with this. My Dad and several other relatives suffered with this disease. Alzheimer's is an especially hurtful disease because it takes the person away from you. Not physically, but mentally. In many cases, the personality changes. The memory leaves and the person doesn't recognize even close family members. It's hard to deal with. In a way, I guess it's not as hard on the patient as they can't remember, but for the family, it's very difficult.

So anything we can do to help find a cure is something important. We can't all be scientists and do research, but we can use the skills we have to help. Like bringing comfort to those already afflicted while they help to further the research.

That's it for now. I'll post photos when I'm done with my first lapghan.

Happy crocheting!

more scarves

Here are the latest two scarves in my ever growing collection of Turqua and Blue scarves.

The one on the left started out as my pattern Front Post Scarf (bottom of page under the green scarf photo).The photo doesn't show it well, but this is a really pretty scarf, if I do say so myself. The front post stitches really add a little definition to the body of the scarf and the different edging gives it a little more oomph as a decorative piece.

I used a foundation chain of 17 for this one as I'm trying to get these within the size requirement for Special Olympics. I never received an answer as to whether they would take smaller or larger. I do see that the official patterns are various sizes, so I think they do but still, trying to stay within those guidelines as much as I can. I'll decide later about sending those that are not within range.

Anyway, for this scarf I alternated two rows of each color. 100 rows to get about 58".The suggested length is 54 to 60". After I finished the length, I did a round of sc, using 3 sc in corners. I worked down my sides with a hook one size smaller. I used to always have some bulging along the sides, but since I've started doing this I do not have that problem. For the top and bottom, I use the hook I worked those rounds with - the original size hook.


The width was about 5 1/2" I think at that point. I didn't want to do another round of sc so I decided to use one of my standard edgings - (sc, ch 2, 2 dc, sk 2). I did this all the way around. The finished size is 6" at valley to valley, and 6 1/2" from point to point. I think if I've worked a dc edging instead of sc and didn't do the box edging, it might have also been 6" width. Just another option to try.

The second scarf looks like squares, eh? It is not. It is very simple. I worked ten rows of shells in each color, per my pattern Shell Scarf (bottom of page) (I'm so good at names. LOL)

It is 6" x 55". There are 5 blocks of each color for a total of 10 blocks. The foundation chain I used was 19, rather than the 22 in the pattern. The size is perfect without edging. See, I even adjust my own patterns. LOL

Here's a link for you today. In my Crochet Me newsletter there was a picture of the Breezy Hat, which was a link to the pattern for purchase. You can find the pattern here. I tried the link to the newsletter online, but it didn't show this hat. It is only in the e-mail.

That's it for today. I need to go make more squares (and probably scarves too).


Happy crocheting!

Ocean Tide scarf pattern moved

You'll notice the post for the Ocean Tide scarf pattern is gone. I replaced it with the one I put up today. The pattern is exactly the same, but I had mistitled the post. To make it easier to find, I redid the post with the correct name.

Of course, you can always find any patterns posted here in the navigation bar at right under My Patterns. If you have trouble with a link (or pattern instructions) here or at the Cabana, do let me know so I can fix it.

On my hook right now are 12" squares and, of course, scarves.

Yesterday, I was fiddling with the instructions for the Crown of Pineapples pattern at Craftown. Some of the instructions on the site are for antique patterns and they use terms that are unfamiliar without any notations as to how to do them and we often get questions. I am sometimes able to interpret. In this case the pattern said " a 4-joined-tr over next 4 tr of rnd 1 ". I suspected this to be a decrease, but didn't want to rule out another explanation. I worked the first 3 rounds and it seemed to work well using a decrease. Yay! Seems like a nice pattern if you like to work doilies and you are an experienced crocheter. I used worsted yarn to test it, but it calls for #30 thread and a 12 steel hook. Wayyy too tiny for me. It's a complicated pattern, so not for beginners.

I also have some UFOs to complete. I have a Spideyghan which just needs webbing and ends sewn in. The police box just needs ends sewn in. Volunteers?? LOL I have to get in the closet and see what else is in there to complete. I think there's a baby afghan that was begun from a kit. I also know I have some white teddy bear squares which need companion squares in color or else I need to border those with color and make a smaller ghan. I had made six white when I ran out of yarn. Bad planning on my part.

Also continue to make scarves with the Turqua and Blue. I'm coming to really like those colors together. I probably wouldn't have chosen them myself, but I like it.

Hope you all have a wonderful week.

Happy crocheting!

Ocean Tide Scarf

Ocean Tide Scarf
©2010 Sandra Petit
http://www.crochetcabana.blogspot.com

Materials: Red Heart Super Saver 512 Turqua and 886 Blue or preferred two colors in any worsted weight yarn, J hook

Gauge (not critical for this project): Pattern is 14 rows, about 4 1/2”, width is 6”

Size:  6” x 58”

Note: You can use ch-3 as your turning chain if you need to do so to get up to the proper height

Note2: You will change color every 2 rows, but do not need to cut yarn. You can carry unused strand along the side. Of course if you want to, you can cut yarn 6” from end to be taken care of later.

Multiple: 3 + 1

Instructions:
With Turqua, ch 19
Row 1: dc in 4th chain from hook and in each chain across, ch 2, turn (17 dc)

Row 2: dc in ea dc across, change to Blue, do not cut yarn—carry unused color up side, ch 2, turn

Row 3-4: with Blue, dc in ea dc across, change to Turqua, ch 2, turn.

Row 5-6: With Turqua, dc in ea dc across, change to Blue, ch 2, turn

Row 7: With Blue, dc in next st (not the one under the tch, but the next one),  (FPdc around next dc, dc in ea of next 2 dc) across, ch 2 turn

Row 8: dc in next st (not the one under the tch, but the next one), (BPdc around next FPdc, dc in ea of next 2 dc) across, change to Turqua, ch 2 turn

Row 9-10: dc in ea dc and FPdc across,  change to Blue, ch 2, turn

Row 11-12: dc in ea dc and FPdc across,  change to Turqua, ch 2, turn

Row 13-14: dc in ea dc and FPdc across,  change to Blue, ch 2, turn

Rows 15—end: repeat Rows 7-14  eleven times, on last row change to blue and ch 1 (rather than 2) to begin edging

Edging: With blue, sc around, covering the carried yarn along the side and using 3 sc in corners