Mission Statement

Operations for Bridge and Beyond will cease on Dec 31, 2021, last mailing date should be Dec 24th

GOAL FOR AFGHANS

Afghans
Goal: 30
Start: #24
Current: 26
0.8666%
START
END

Friday, April 3, 2015

What is Crochet

 This afghan, titled Blue Sky
And this afghan titled Purple Iris are crocheted and on their way to our friend Sarah S to be assembled.  This won't be the easiest of jobs, as you can see the squares aren't the same size, in fact a few in Blue Sky are rectangles and not squares; but she has graciously agreed to lend me a helping hand by putting these together.  Thrilled to have some help on that score.  Many thanks Sarah, we're all looking forward to seeing the end products.


 Today's A-Z challenge is C.  C=crochet.  The two afghan above will be assembled then donated as part of our project for "Welcome Home".  Crocheted and knitted afghans are donated to Homeless Families Foundation discussed in the A post Here

**For new readers, I always name the afghans, based on what they look like.  And when I get stumped some of the good folks who donate to Bridge and Beyond turn their creative juices on and help with the naming as well.

So what is crochet...well wiki says:

Crochet (English pronunciation: /krˈʃ/;[1] French: [kʁɔʃɛ][2]) is a process of creating fabric from yarnthread, or other material strands using a crochet hook.[3] The word is derived from the French word "crochet", meaning hook. Hooks can be made of materials such as metals, woods, or plastic and are commercially manufactured as well as produced by artisans. 

Some folks get confused about crochet vs knitting.  Crochet is as stated above a hook...knitting is 2 needles.

I learned to crochet when I was very young, about 7 I think from a friends Grandmother.  My friend Pam's Grandmother made magical things from string...that's what it seemed like to me.  I'd sit beside her and watch, and probably drove the poor woman nuts with all kinds of questions.  Then one day...she handed me a red plastic crochet hook and a ball of mint green yarn and proceeded to show me how to make a dollie.  I'm sure it was lovely, lol.  Anyway, it's a fond memory and I was very proud of that green dollie....no clue what happened to it though.  Mom probably, being a good Mother used it until I lost interest, lol

I didn't crochet anything else until years later when my husband was working and going to college.  I had a lot of alone time, time on my hands and decided I needed a hobby.  I think the next thing I made was 
a green vest, very similar to the blue one in this old hippie pattern.  In fact, I think I had this pattern book, or at very least I actually remember looking at it.  Thankfully my skills have improved and what you can make with crocheting has improved.  The yarn now available is 100% better then what used to be available.  AND, it's very popular again, it's not just for Grandma's.

2015 DONATIONS:
Hats: 179
Scarves 67
Mittens/Gloves/Wrist Warmers: 45
Slippers: 50
Rain Poncho's:  53
Cotton Washcloths: 109
Afghans: 6
Socks: 126
Cowls 12
Shawls 1
Misc: items like personal care and things don't fit into above categories aren't counted


All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

30 comments:

  1. BRAVO SARAH thanks for helping Sandy with these two projects. These will be lovely when completed and I am sure as I am with all the afghans that they will be loved by those who receive them. As Sandy said these will be a labor of love but well worth the effort. Again thank you. My favorite is the Blue Iris,Sandy. At this time of the year I am all about flowers. You said you had a marigold. I have no flowers yet, but am watching my daylilies come up,start of early tulips breaking through, and I have a pussy willow bush that is about 10 feet tall and fantastic this year.
    The roller coaster is heading down again for the day. 29 degrees to start, sunny and heading into the 40s. Only to last one day but a little hard after an 84 degree day two days ago.Fun times in MN. GOD BLESS THE HOMELESS. marj in minnesota

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your continued support Marj, sorry your temps are plunging again. We're warm today, but expecting several days of rain. Daffodils are what I've got up so far, my tulips don't usually come on until after the Daffodils.

      Delete
  2. I'm intrigued to know how you set about putting an afghan together with so many different sizes of squares. It must be a mathematical exercise to work out how much "filler" you need.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It could be a math thing, but I don't approach it much in that matter. I lay things out and see how they fit or don't and start adding here and there and when I have several squares fairly equal I start building from there; I'm very good at visualizing what something will look like, but I think lots of folks count the stitches to even things up. Depending on how varied the sizes are, I measure the smallest and the largest and decide how many rows and whether I need double crochet or single crochet or a combination there off. It's like a puzzle for me.

      Delete
  3. There are going to be 2 families totally blessed to receive these afghans. Can't wait to see them finished. Seeing these vests reminds me of my Nana. My mothers Mom. She made these for me in different colors when I was in middle school. I loved them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sweet memories, those vests...I might have to make myself one with fun yarn to feel young again.

      Delete
  4. never did learn how to crochet..love the story about how youstarted- and look what grew.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Zannie, it was enjoyable for me to go back and realize how it did grow.

      Delete
  5. My sisters used to crochet. They passed the art down to their daughters. They still sew too, a lost art these days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I taught my daughter to crochet also Stephen, and I do sew, but just have never enjoyed it as much as the knitting and crocheting.

      Delete
  6. I learned from a great aunt around age 9 and I think you're right about driving them crazy. That's why they gave us a hook dontcha know?? lol Fixed us didn't they? :) Great post and best wishes in helping your charity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for sharing your story too. I often thought it too bad I didn't get to tell that Aunt how much that influenced my life.

      Delete
  7. I started with crocheting and moved over to knitting. Most of my blankets that I made when crocheting were simple single and double chained blankets, making them really, really heavy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Crochet is heavier, but with the squares that aren't real solid all the time like a complete blanket made of sc or dc are works out pretty well and is so durable. I also knit probably now more then crochet, partially for the weight and partially because it bothers my arthritis less.

      Delete
  8. Those will be very pretty afghans when done. I don't crochet, but my C for the day is comment. I love reading all the comments. I had a vest like the black one, my Mother had someone make it for me for Christmas.
    Have a Blessed Good Friday Everyone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love all the comments too Sue. Smiling that you had a hippie vest too!

      Delete
  9. I do love crochet, albeit not very good, but this does bring back a good memory for me: When I first left home in 1972 a girlfriend, her dog and I hitched a ride from the Bay to Lake Tahoe to work. On the way we stopped at Russian River and shared rent with another couple. I learned to crochet.. there was absolutely nothing else to do there. (I need people). So I crochet little squares for weeks. Finally we left and got to Tahoe with our money. I stayed for 3 years and on the nights in front of a TV I did crochet. I never learned how to put all those squares together. Guess what... I still have them. Dusty and dirty. Every now and them I look at them and smile.

    As I See It Daily

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Katy, if they're washable...made from washable yarn, and you want to donate, I'll put them together, either as they are or add them to my stash and blend them in with others. The key is, are they washable. Most yarn back then wash, less variety then, unless they're wool.

      Delete
  10. I remember having those crochet vests that my mom made in the early 1970s. My sister crocheted, I never could get the hang of it when she was trying to teach me. I've looked for classes here because there are so many wonderful patterns of things to crochet, but haven't found any yet. I have an afghan that my sister crocheted years ago that I still use; keeps me warm; I can imagine those that get a gift of a crocheted afghan from your organization appreciate the warmth of it :)

    betty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fun how many of us had those hippie vest, fun memories. How nice you have a ghan your sister made, very nice. Thank you Betty for the sweet comment.

      Delete
  11. I’m pretty sure I had that vest book. I still love some of the old patterns. You have motivated me to find a similar organization in my area that I can help out with my hand made items.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thats awesome Lynda, let me know what you come up with and certainly feel free to join us if you don't find anything in your area.

      Delete
  12. Those two afghans look very nice, even before being assembled, I hope you'll post the completed ones, or at least link us! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Blissy I always post the finished pictures so will keep you in my mind. Thank you for the visit and sweet comment.

      Delete
  13. this is such a wonderful venture - and i'm glad you're spreading the word even farther with the challenge! I remember an afghan my great grandma made, but i think my sister got it! And my mom used to crochet owls in the 70s - it was big then!
    happy c day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the visit Tara, funny Owls are big right ow too. What goes around, comes around. It's nice someone in the family has a family afghan.

      Delete
  14. I love to crochet. Mostly do squares, though. Probably because I have such ambitions for what I want to do with them one day. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hopefully you'll put them together and make an afghan. Good luck with the project.

      Delete
  15. I've made some good progress on the Purple Iris afghan...I have most of the squares outlined in purple as needed to make them all the same size. Then I'll be able assemble them and put a border on. :-) I didn't learn to crochet until I was an adult, but I love it and find it very relaxing to do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awesome Sarah, glad to hear things are moving along nicely. Enjoy and thanks for popping in and commenting, both are appreciated.

      Delete

PLEASE leave your name and url, NOT a profile link, not a google or google plus. Only name and url will take me directly to your blog to return the favor of a comment.

Where are You and Your Yarn From?

I'm trying to identify where everyone is from, partially for fun. Take a look at the map. Also, believe it will aid me in cases where we have several people with the same name. Please look at the lists of bloggers and non bloggers and see if I have the state you hail from. If not, please leave a comment and let me know.

Additionally, we've had help from Scotland, England, Germany Puerto Rico, Canada, and France! They don't appear on the map, but their help is still greatly appreciated.

Where The People Who Donate Come From, is your state represented?