Edging and warming Homeless

I've revised a wee bit the color arrangement here, added a couple more yellow blocks which I think really adds to the over all look of this knitted block ghan in the works. Rose Marie sent some more knitted squares so I happily added them to this design. AND, have started edging with a light sage green (thank you darling daughter for the yarn),. These squares when assembled will be another afghan for the homeless and abused housed at Faith Mission.

We continue to collect squares throughout the month of December (please see Give a Square for details), for this cause. Please check in often to see how many squares we collect, how many ghans we're able to donate to help them towards a better life.

2010
Scarves 325
Hats 583
Mittens 143
Socks 85
Slippers 16
Ghans 8
Squares 159


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Ta Dah...Autumn is Finished

TADAH! Got another afghan done for our folks at Faith Mission. This was both fun and tedious to assemble. Fun because it required lots of creative...hum, wonder what this looks like there, and does this fit better here or there. Lots of that. Should have seen me crawling around on the floor flipping squares and rectangles here and there. lol Tedious because there were so many sizes to work with it was truly piecemeal. Looks a little bunchy here, this is before it was laundered and blocked. That always smooth things out (provided you don't have too much bunching). I'm happy with the results, it's big, heavy and very warm. Most of the squares are crocheted, but the two largest squares that DD donated were knitted. The dark sage green edging and joining the pieces was also from DD, a gift from last Christmas. I think from memory the lacy yellow square might be from Sandie, RoseMarie the rectangles, Liz made the multi-colored squares, and there's a few of mine thrown in where I needed a filler.

Thank you ladies for helping me help warm the homeless. You ALL ROCK!

2010
Scarves 309
Hats 575
Mittens 143
Socks 85
Slippers 16
Ghans 7+1=8
Squares 159


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

I LOVE Squares

I love Squares, why? Because it's cool to be a square, it's cool to be a nerd. Why because nerd help people, nerds think of others, therefore nerds/squares are AWESOME in my book. Thank you Niki for these 3 crocheted squares. I've added them to my square stash grown bigger thanks to our Give a Square program (running til the end of December). Your squares tossed in other helping hands squares make a HUGE difference in someone's life. Thank you for your thoughtful donation. Hope to see you here on The Bridge often.

Please stay tuned folks as squares come in and ghans are designed. I'll keep you posted how we're doing.

2010
Scarves 306
Hats 575
Mittens 143
Socks 80
Slippers 16
Ghans 7
Squares 150+3=153

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Autumn Taking Shape

Been working on this ghan with squares donated by Sandie, RoseMarie, Alexis, my DD (Christine), Liz, and yours truly. Some squares are knitted, some are crocheted. Some squares are square, some squares are rectangles. Many hands involved in this ghan. Some of the squares were donated as a result of Give a Square, while others I've had from previous donations. Sometimes things just come together. 24 squares in all here. The dark green yarn I'm edging and joining with was gift from my DD last Christmas. She always knows how to give a gift that keeps on giving.

You might get a better view of this ghan here when it was first designed, without the missing squares that were being edge or assembled together; though there have been one or two changes in the squares since that time.

2010
Scarves 306
Hats 575
Mittens 143
Socks 80
Slippers 16
Ghans 7
Squares 150



Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

A Garage Sale Donation

This display of fun colorful crocheted items (mostly dollies), came through Krystine by way of a garage sale. A little senior's son was having a garage sale while his Mom was hospitalized. Sadly, since then she's lost that battle against cancer. Krystine asked if I might be able to do some good with these items, that the son indicated his Mother would really like that. The navy slippers in foreground just need to be trimmed and all the loose yarn ends taken care of, the super small brown and orange squares are being put to use...as we speak to make a scarf, the red-white-green dollies came in handy yarnwise. I frogged them and used them to finish up a pair of mittens that was the same yarn. Can you believe it? What's the likelihood I'd be able to that. The dollies are going to take some more thinking on part, and work; but I'm giving it some though and will chip away at making something useable for someone in need. There are 3 nice size squares also, have been put in the hopper with the other Give a Square Squares and will most assuredly get used to make a ghan.
A different picture with things sorted and stacked. Thank you Krystine et al.

2010
Scarves 306
Hats 574+1=575
Mittens 143
Socks 80
Slippers 15+1=16
Ghans 7
Squares 133+17=150

Please keep those fingers busy making hats, mittens, scarves, slippers, and squares. The need continues and the dip in temperatures in very noticeable. There's snow on the ground as we speak. And most nights the temps drop well below freezing. All donations are truly appreciated. About 2 more weeks folks for Give a Square.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Knitted Comfort for Homeless

Knitted hats, and squares from Louise. Look how cute, how soft. The yellow square has a clover, and the white square spells out love. How awesome is that! Many thanks Louise for your continued support for the cold homeless here in Ohio; it is so very much appreciated.

I'll be adding these squares to others received keep you all posted when I design another ghan. As you read this 2 more are in the works. We're making wonderful headway in our quest to make ghans for women and children living in temporary housing at Faith Mission where their needs are great. Many of these Mothers and children were abused, some were homeless; but all are in need. For the months of Nov. and Dec. we're accepting squares to assemble ghans for as many of them as we can. Please see details in the sidebar titled Give a Square.

2010
Scarves 306
Hats 572+2=574
Mittens 143
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 6
Squares 130+3=133

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Squares and Hats Donated

Our friend Rose Marie made more knitted and crocheted squares, hats, and a pair of thumbless mittens. You might remember her knitted squares were used in The blue and burgundy ghan previously, and some more in colorful blocks ghan that's been designed but not yet assembled.

Many thanks Rose Marie for your on going support of our cause, warming the homeless in Central Ohio. We appreciate each and every item you've made. Keep up the good work.


2010
Scarves 306
Hats 566+6=572
Mittens 142+1=143
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 123+7=130

Have you read about Give a Square? Please do, click badge in the sidebar.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Crocheting Warmth for Homeless

Crocheting for homeless continues. Thank you Liz (Minnisoda at The Ville), for your beautiful squares (8) and awesome hat and scarf set. I can tell the hat and scarf used back post, but unsure if it's double crochet or triple crochet. Either way it's a wonderful matched set that will be great for someone to receive. I'll continue to design and work on afghans from the squares folks are sending for Give a Square, as well as some I had here for our homeless at Faith Mission.

I appreciate each and every donation you all make, please keep up the good work.

2010
Scarves 305+1=306
Hats 565+1=566
Mittens 142
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 115+8=123

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Designing an Afghan for Faith Mission

I like to be ready with a ghan design whenever I finish (getting close to done to the blue and burgundy) one so I can jump right into another one. These are more of wonderful knitted squares from Rose Marie. I've worked on a burgundy and blue block ghan previously using her squares. I think this will be make a very colorful block ghan and am currently planning on joining and edging it with the sage green you see on the left side of the photo. This ghan will be made from 20 squares, while the previous ghan using her squares took 18.

Once again Rose Marie, many thanks for your squares. And special thanks to my Darling Daughter who gifted me the pretty sage green yarn that I'll use to assemble this ghan. I'll keep you posted as it progresses.

Accepting squares for the Give a Square Program during the months of November and December.

2010
Scarves 305
Hats 565
Mittens 142
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 115

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Give a Square

A nice blue knitted square from Jessica. Who can't use a blue square. Blue will be easy to incorporate with ghans as I continue to design ghans for our folks at Faith Mission. In fact, I've already begun thinking about this blue square with what I've already got on hand........though I might change my mind as other squares come in from our Give a Square program.

Thank you Jessica for your thoughtful donation.

2010
Scarves 305
Hats 565
Mittens 142
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 114+1=115

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

More then just a square

Moving along with the next phase of the burgundy and blue knitted blocks from Rose Marie. Once I finished the first section with the joining and blue edge, I determined I'll not have enough of the navy to do the whole ghan with blue edge; so plan B is that the navy will be used to join, the navy will be used in the 2 inside stripes, and a burgundy will be used for the top and bottom edge. Then a combination of those colors (presumably a row of each), will be used for the final outside edge to pull it all together. Here the burgundy edge facing us looks red, though it is burgundy; a bit lighter then the dark burgundy in the blocks, but I believe with the variegated blocks of blues, burgundy's and tan it will work fine.

Hope everyone is busy knitting and crocheting away, and if you've not yet read about Give a Square, Please do by clicking in the sidebar for details. Thanks.

2010
Scarves 305
Hats 565
Mittens 142
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 114

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Squares Make a BIG Difference

Thank you Judy for these fun, and very pretty granny squares. I love the pattern you used. Is it one you made up, or is it an official granny square pattern? These are fabulous, so nicely crocheted. Thank you for such a nice job with working in those tails when you changed colors. I'm anxious to add these to others I have on hand and get busy designing another ghan. Judy is another pair of helping hands we're thrilled to have. She's a fellow Ohioan too...Waving to you Judy.

Am currently working on 2 ghans, have a 3rd designed and ready to be joined, but will start putting on my thinking cap to see where and how to use these marvelous squares. To date, we've made 5 afghans, 2 went to our friends in Boston for their homeless project Pine Street Inn, and 3 went to our local homeless housing for homeless and abused mothers and children, Faith Mission.

Thank you all for your continued support, your hard work, and your open and caring hearts. Keep up the good work.

2010
Scarves 298
Hats 518
Mittens 112
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 132+8=140

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Warming heads with Hats

Our good friend Sandie has 2 more lovely hats for the men living under the bridge. Sandie has been such a good long supporter with her wonderful crochet skills she has warmed many many homeless since we began this project. The colors in this picture are a little odd. The carpet looks yellow....no clue why it's tan? The hats are gray and black though the 2nd one here in the photo almost looks green. Weird sometimes how these colors show up in photos.

As always, Thank You Sandie, your work is wonderful and your donations are truly appreciated.

2010
Scarves 275
Hats 500+2=502
Mittens 66
Socks 80
Slippers 12
Ghans 3
Squares 132

Give a Square, Give a Square, Give a Square. Have you read about it? Have you made squares? Have you added a badge to your blog? Have you told your neighbor? Have you told a co-worker? Have you tweeted it? Have you Facebooked it? Have you posted something about it in a forum? WOW..........so many ways to help. PLEASE and THANKS for any combination there of.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

More loving warmth for the cold Homeless

Mittens, and squares, and socks oh my! 2 pair of nicely knit and very warm mittens, 2 mitered squares also knitted, and a fabulous really heavy pair of socks. James, long time supporter has done it again. Many thanks James for your ongoing support. I know you've been swamped with moving and all, so finding time to make and send these items is truly special. Many many thanks. Hope you're settled in nicely in your new digs and things calm down a bit for you with the holidays coming on.

Give a Square is in full mode, use up some of those odds and ends with your yarn so you can get more for Christmas presents! It's a good system. lol Details in the sidebar.

2010
Scarves 275
Hats 491
Mittens 64+2=66
Socks 79+1=80
Slippers 12
Ghans 3
Squares 130 (since Give a Square)+2=132

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Progress on Afghan in the works

You might have seen this ghan in it's design form stage 1 HERE, but wanted to share the progress to date with you using Rose Marie's wonderful knitted squares. One row of squares has been stitched together, and the wide border of navy--the crocheted section is complete. The original thought was to use the navy and crocheted around with a border in addition to the navy between the rows of joined squares/rectangles. However, I believe I'll use burgundy after the squares are joined with the navy sections due to the amount of navy I have on hand. A work in progress, one of 3 ghans I'm currently working on for our folks at the Mission.

Working on a knitted corner to corner which you can see here in the green phase.

And have an Autumn Ghan planned with some odds and end here, though edging has not yet started. After staring at this one awhile I believe I will change my joining color, thinking maybe green. Might have to switch out the two squares that have black in them? Thinking still on this one, thus haven't begun the edging.

**Winner of the mitten challenge, the mitten throw down announced tomorrow.
***Give a Square, or more. Have you read up yet on the November and December special? If not, please do in the sidebar.
*****Stay tuned for a very special, and very exciting announcement about Bridge and Beyond and a certain Magazine!

2010
Scarves 275
Hats 487
Mittens 57
Socks 79
Slippers 9
Ghans 3
Squares 130 (since Give a Square)


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Crocheted Squares and Scarf for the Homeless

Such a cute scarf made from crocheted granny squares! Thank you Susan. AND 4 more squares to help us with our ghans for the folks at The Mission. Click on the picture to enlarge so you can see the unusual heart grannies on the left side. I've not come across that pattern before. How cute. Granny squares are always fun and such a good way to use up odds and ends. Thank you also Susan for the nice long final tail on your squares. This does remind me I should remind all you to please not tie and cut when you're changing colors. Work in tails of several inches to avoid having items come apart. Cutting after a knot never lasts.

Make sure you're updated on The Mitten Challenge and Give a Square....details found on side bar


2010
Scarves 263+1=264
Hats 417
Mittens 45 pairs
Socks 77
Slippers 8 pairs
Ghans 3
Squares 126+4=130 (since Give a Square)


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Nerds are Cool, Squares prove it

Remember your high school days, when being square meant you were a nerd? Remember the movie, revenge of the nerds? I know we all can relate to one or both of these statements. Fast forward.............being square is COOL, being a nerd is COOL, so be COOL and join the squares!

Jumping the gun a wee bit, because our official start to Give a Square is Nov, but do take time and read all about it. Click blog badge in the side bar. Thank you Rose Marie for these fabulous fun knitted squares. Look at all the cool colors folks. I'm going to have fun designing a ghan or two with these squares. RoseMarie sent 44 squares! YIPPEE

Take a peak in the top right corner, a cute pair of thumbless mitts Rose Marie also sent. Most of the squares are knitted, while the mitts are crocheted. She also sent along a pattern I'm hoping to check out as well.

Keep those fingers, hooks, and needles moving folks. The need is great and each and every stitch you make DOES matter.

We're still involved with our mitten challenge/mitten throw down. I'm really anxious to see how many mittens we can get during that time. Again many thanks to Beth for the idea, and for the pattern. Click in tabs above folks.

2010
Scarves 260
Hats 411
Mittens 44
Socks 77
Slippers
Squares 126(since Give a Square)

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Pink Afghan for Homeless

You may remember this pile of pink squares.
They no longer are a pile of pink squares. Karen V donated 23 squares of various sizes and colors of pink.

I snatched 16 of them, edged them in 2 rows of single crochet with white yarn and began assembling them. Each strip of 4 where then edged again with single crochet using dusty rose; and joined again. Then once again the whole ghan was edge with 2 rows of single crochet and dusty rose. I had the dusty rose in my stash and thought it blended nicely with the various pinks from Karen V's donation.

These squares/ now are a 40 x 40 inch lapghan and have been delivered to Faith Mission. I'm sure it will keep someone warmer while watching TV, as well as decorate a chair. It also a perfect size for a little girl. The photo was taken before it was laundered and blocked; but since this is a scheduled post....by the time you read his, it's already in use.

2010
Scarves 258
Hats 401
Mittens 40
Socks 77

Don't forget to check out our "Give a Square" in the sidebar. And while you're at it, make sure you read about our Mitten Challenge from Beth. Hope you're busy working on mittens for the challenge. Remember patterns are available on the tabs in this blog.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Holly Cow Batman, Rectangles!

Holly Batman, look at all those rectangles. These 45 rectangles were crocheted and donated by RoseMarie. The photo isn't spot on with regard to colors. The dark pile that looks like black is dark forest green. Several shades of orange, and several shades of ivory/off white also in the mix. Rose Marie in Tennessee...many thanks for your thoughtful donation. I assure you each and every rectangle will be used for good. Please stay tuned, check back frequently to see how things come together. We're happy to have you join us. It's not possible to have too many helping hands. Hope to see you here on The Bridge frequently.

I've recently learned there are 20 apartments at Faith Mission. This is temporary housing for our homeless mothers and children, as well as abused mothers and children. In either case they arrive often with very little. We've recently added Faith Mission to our Mission. I love the word beyond in our Bridge and Beyond. Beyond encompasses others in need beyond those living under The Bridge.

We'll continue our year long quest of knitting and crocheting hats, mittens, and scarves for homeless in Central Ohio. I'm hoping with the addition of accepting squares via The Give a Square Program, we'll be able to supply warm ghans for those in these temporary homes. It gives them hope, hope for a brighter future. When they move beyond the temporary housing of Faith Mission, they can take the ghan with them as a house warming type gift.

This is, as most are a scheduled post. Since first typing this, there has been some planning. Please pop over to Sandy's Space to see the planning that's already happened utilizing some of these rectangles.

And please remember we've deemed this month, October as Mitten Month. Please read the previous post. AND...check out Beth's Mitten Challenge, details upper right on the blog

AND, did you notice the additional tab for printable flyer, Thank You Rachel

2010
Scarves 198
Hats 395
Mittens 40
Socks 73

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Feeling Pink?

Are you feeling pink today? lol If not, perhaps this will help. There are 23 squares, couple of different sizes all crocheted by our friend Karen V. Some square are granny squares (worked in the round center out), while some are sampler squares (worked side to side). Some are pale pink, some dusty rose pink, some coral pink, and some are hot pink (pepto pink). I've measured and separated and currently have 16 squares in the 7 inch inch in a bag with some white yarn. Still in the thinking stages......and waiting to hear about ages, and numbers of kids at The Mission before making a final determination. But, currently thinking pink and off white lap size ghan/child size ghan.

These squares are well ahead of my 2 month collection period of November and December for Give a Square, sooooo I might change my mind. I like to stare and think a bit before putting squares together to make something. lol...they do talk to me, sorta.

Many thanks Karen V. for your ongoing support. It is appreciate on so many levels, and in more ways then I can possible say. Hugs!

Keep those scarves and hats coming....and PLEASE Mittens. We're almost at the end of the month of September. I want to deem October Mitten Month, with emphasis on Men. That doesn't mean we don't need or want the other items those months, but if you're wondering what to make....think Mittens.

2010
Scarves 196
Hats 381
Mittens 40
Socks 73

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!