charity giving

I am honored to accept this award for Best Crochet for Charity from Crochet Concupiscence. Kathryn wrote a nice article about the award and specifically my site. Such sweet words! Crochet Concupiscence gives awards throughout December. Check it out!

Charity work is important to me. I feel strongly that we should share what we have and help those less fortunate. I am not able to do as much these days as I might like, and you might be in the same situation. However much you can do, it's a help to someone. Each hat or scarf or mitten or slipper or afghan or square is one less that someone else doesn't have to make and one more than the recipient had before. To a person with no home, living in the cold outdoors, it might even save a life. 

To a parent who is watching a preemie struggle to hold on to life, each little hat or blankie lets them know someone else cares. Each prayer cloth given to someone who needs comfort reminds them that others are praying for their situation and that God cares! Each snuggle donated to an animal shelter keeps someone's future pet alive and warm. Soldiers serving in cold climates appreciate hats.

I often see folks asking where they can send specific items. Here is a site that lists 10 charity efforts that need items. One of these efforts is the Binky Patrol. You'll notice that the picture on the site home page shows fleece blankets which require no knowledge of crochet or even sewing skills. If you watch the half hour video demo, she shows you just how to make this type of blanket. I enjoyed her comments and suggestions throughout as well. Fleece blankets are very warm and lightweight, suitable for all ages and genders.

I also have charities listed on my charity links page at Crochet Cabana (if you see a bad link please let me know so I can correct it). I have a short starting list here in the sidebar of the blog too.

Lion Brand lists charity efforts as does CGOA. Remember that lists can quickly go out of date. Charities may fulfill their need and move on to something else. Before you mail off an item, I would suggest that you contact the organization or coordinator and make sure they are still active and in need of that particular item. Most are very gracious and will answer your questions with no problem. If you are making items for the mililtary, it is particularly important that you have a contact who can let you know colors and materials that are acceptable in that unit.

Now you have a starting point - go crochet something! :-)

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

afghan

We've had several weeks of illness here so I've not been online as much as usual. I did get at least one thing done.

I enjoy making what I call name afghans. This is the one I completed during the sick weeks. I washed it before delivery to make sure any germs were gone. Finished size was about 35" x 50".

I used yarn that I had on hand. I Love This Yarn and Red Heart. The first and last stripes are ILTY red. The other reddish looking one is actually ILTY Terra Cotta. The yellow didn't have a label on it. I think it was Red Heart cornmeal or something like that. The blue is ILTY Royal. The white is ILTY white. I can't find the label for the teal looking color and I can't remember what it was. Each stripe took roughly half of an ILTY skein, made using an I hook. I think that is accurate because both red stripes were made with the same skein and I have a little bit left over.

I used a 3dc filet stitch for the name and worked it on every other stripe. The letters are my own design, but they are really just simple block letters that anyone could do.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! This is our first Christmas without my mother and I have been thinking about her a lot. We do have my 1 year old grandchild, however, and he is such a joy. There is nothing like seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child.

May the coming year bring you all much joy, good health and success in all you do.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Scarves and cowls

I decided I wanted to make a scarf. And I did. But it took me far longer than it would have a few years ago! Part of that is my attention span. heh But regardless, I did finish a scarf and here is the proof.

The yarn used is I Love This Yarn worsted weight in the color Terra Cotta. The pattern is simply dc across. I think I worked 30 chains. I used an H hook.

I made it long - a full 6' and 9" wide. Hopefully it will keep someone warm during the cold days. Not here in Louisiana, of course. We do have some cold days but this week we are back to highs in the 70s.

I probably own too many scarves for the few days of weather cold enough to don one. LOL In any case, my favorite neckwear these days are the two cowls my daughter made me. They keep me toasty warm and I don't have to worry about where they will hang. These are some my daughter has made - aren't they gorgeous? I have a black one and a dark blue one. They are knitted and the free pattern can be found at Ravelry.Gap-tastic-cowl by Jen Geigley

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

baby hats

I've been making baby hats! 

Most of these I worked the same way. I started with an adjustable ring, worked 12 dc in ring for first round, 2 dc in each stitch for Round 2, and increased in every other stitch for Round 3. Thereafter work even (36 stitches in every round) to Round 9. Rounds 10, 11, and 12 are worked even in single crochet.

The yarn used for these hats is so adorable! It is Red Heart Gumdrop in colors Cherry and Smoothie. It's a worsted weight acrylic yarn I picked up at Michael's. I used an H hook to work these hats.

If you're looking for baby hat patterns, here are a few sites I have referenced, including my own.

Crochet Cabana - see hats for babies and children.
Kelley's Yarns (Feb 23, 2008 post) pattern in two different sizes
Cats Rockin Quick Crochet Newborn Baby Beanie (and other baby hats) has measurement information which might be quite helpful.
Bev's Country Cottage also has information on measurements

There are many other wonderful sites with baby hat patterns as well. Just do a search for crochet baby hat patterns.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

hats and sizing

Sandy over at the Bridge and Beyond posted photos of the hats I forgot to take a picture of so I thought I'd share Sandy's pictures. You can see her post about these and all the other donations that are sent for the homeless at the blog site here. 

Sandy asks that items are labeled as to size so I estimated what I thought the size might be for these hats. That's the little white tags you see here. I am TERRIBLE at this but hopefully the hats will fit someone in the right range.

You might recall I've been also working on baby hats. Going from baby hats to adult men hats is an interesting transition. The adult hats always look so large compared to the baby hats. Sometimes I will impose on my husband to try them on and often, although they fit, they could be larger. Men just have large heads! I have a small head so I can't go by my own measurements.

Isn't it funny how we (read *I*) never trust ourselves with sizing. I always wonder if I've made the item too small or too large for the need. Invariably I am reassured by the coordinator of whatever effort I'm sending to, but I still have little confidence! I am not the only one as other crocheters have also talked about it. 

If you are in that situation, there are a couple places with information on hat sizing. One I use often is at Bev's Country Cottage. 

Another one I ran into recently is this one. Southern Threads for Heads sell hats but the sizing info is good for anyone. If you can't crochet or knit and want to just buy one, these are currently $35. (I have no affiliation. I just ran into this site through a link somewhere.)

Of course, I have hat patterns that I designed and I use them myself too! You can find them at http://www.crochetcabana.com/html/patterns_hats.html .

Happy crocheting!
Sandie