Hats for the Homess

Thank you Karen S for your on going support of Bridge and Beyond in aiding the Homeless though your knitting and crocheting.  Karens has included 7 loomed hats and a scarf.  The hats are nicely sized and are super warm, since they are doubled on the loom.  She's also added her cute size tags on the hats. 

Many thanks for all your support Karen!

PLEASE keep checking in, as I will continue to show donations coming in, and provide listings of charities you might like to support after operations cease here on Bridge and Beyond come Dec .31.  Please remember the last date to mail donations is the 24th of Dec.

Some of the charities aid the homeless, some pregnant women, some kids transitioning out of foster care, and native Americans on Pine Ridge Reservation.  Locations vary, so you might find one of the charities listed is in your area, or close to you like a border state; making postage perhaps less costly.

Below is the listing with a very brief description, but PLEASE click on the links to see details about what they accept, what fiber to use, who benefits from the charity and where to mail items.

Afghans for Pine Ridge (Ravelry Group completed Afghans with options for 6-8- and 12 inch squares)

Red Scarf Project (benefits kids transitioning out of foster care

Warm Up American (Benefits homeless and others in need, rectangles, hats and scarves, or make your own full afghan).

StreetKnit (Benefits homeless in Oklahoma, accepts afghans, lapghans, hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, socks (not store bought); as well as yarn and knitting needles.

Homeless Families Foundation and Faith Mission (benefits homeless for those that are local and can deliver donations in Columbus, Ohio.

Salvation Knitters (Ravelry Group)(benefits two charities in Lansing Michigan, that focus on pregnant mothers and their babies, getting them off the streets.)

Welcome Blankets, Lapghans for Refugees (knitted, crocheted, sewn and or quilted)

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Cro-Knit Scarves Warm Homeless

Thank you Karen S for this thoughtful donation knitted scarves and a loomed hat.  The sun was truly streaking through the day I opened and photographed this donation....that doesn't happen to often this time of year here in central Ohio.  So I welcome the sun screaking, though it makes it a bit difficult for you to see Karen's donation really well.  The colors on top left are tan and green, middle one is light blue and brown.  The third one is the easiest to see pink and maroon.  

As you all probably know by now, Karen uses the croknit technique, so her donations are easy to identify. I call it the Karen special, lol.

With this donation, we're a bit over 96% of our goal for hats!  How cool is that folks!!

I've been posting snip-its of stats and history of Bridge and Beyond since making the announcement on Nov 1st, that Bridge and Beyond would stop operations on Dec 31st of this year, 2021.  If you've not read the announcement or any of the following post in subsequent days, please do click or scroll back and read.

AND, please continue to pop in daily for updates with our current numbers, as well as history about our 13 years of operation.  As of the writing of this blog post we have 2,189 blog posts.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Knitting, Crocheting, and Looming Help Homeless

Thank you Karen S for this thoughtful donation.  Karen has been busy looming hats, and crocheting scarves.  As always, kudos for taking time to make your cute size tags for your hats.  Please click to enlarge picture folks so you can see what I mean.  She's used a nice variety of colors and sizes, something for everyone.  

While it is Spring, and weather is getting better around the country, I want to let you all know; we're still having nights below freezing.  In fact 2 of the last 3 nights have gotten down into the 20's here.  Yesterday morning it was only 24 at 8:30 am, so the need is most definitely still there for warm items for our homeless friends.

It's been awhile since I've shared the video on how to make these two colored scarves.  If you've not seen it, wanted to give you the chance to watch.  This stitch has many names, two sided crochet is just one.  Click HERE for the video. 

Many thanks Karen for you continued support of Bridge and Beyond.

Hope you all are watching our numbers climb in our goal graphs, it's exciting to me each time I add more and figure our percentage.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Hats and Scarves Warm the Homeless

Thank you Karen S for this thoughtful donation of crocheted scarves and loomed/knitted hats.  Karen is starting us out with both hats and scarves for the year 2021.  

As always, remember to click the picture to enlarge (you can always do that here on Bridge and Beyond), so you can see the details.  She's made her cute heart shaped tags for size...such a nice tough.

In 2020 we knitted/crocheted and donated 351 hats, which was about 50% of our goal of 685, however that 351 was better than we did the year before in 2019 with 300.  I've set the goal for 2021 at 323, which is our average of the last 4 years, so hopefully, we'll pass that by and maybe even donate more than we did in 2020.

Karen has also started us off with scarves for the new year.  In 2020 we donated 146 scarves which was less than our goal of 218.  I've set the new goal which is the average of the last 4 years to 209, we'll have to work to meet that goal I think, since it's considerably higher than where we were last year.

As always Karen, many thanks and please keep up the good work.  

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Loomed Hats, Scarves, and Afghan Warm Those in Need

Thank you Karen S for this awesome donation of knitted (loomed) hats and afghan.  The afghan is nice and solid so will be very warm.  AND loomed hats are always great.  As always special thanks for your cute tags on the hats with sizes.  It really adds a nice touch.

 AND in a 2nd pouch more great loomed hats and a scarf.  Karen has been a long time supporter of Bridge and Beyond.  Your work is so appreciated Karen.  I know the folks wearing these hats are much warmer and happier.  I delivered a large donation last week, but have been a bit pre-occupied with all the Covid and the election, so am behind in my blog postings.  My apologies.

I hope everyone is staying safe from Covid and warm with the changing weather.  Please be extra careful folks as we move indoors.

Many thanks Karen for your on going support, and please know you make an important difference.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Crocheted Hats and Scarves Help the Homeless

Thank you Karen S for this awesome donation of crocheted hats and scarves.  

Karen often uses this different style of crocheting with her scarves that gives you a light and dark side of a scarf.  It's been awhile since I've talked about this method, but thought I would again; for those who may be here to Bridge and Beyond for the first time, or simply not seen it before.

It has many names, and here's the video showing you how to do.  If you try it, let us know.


Karen always adds cute little size tags to her hats.  These hats are knitted on a loom.  This style hat is made with double yarn making it especially warm.  And while many of us around the country are nice and warm now that it's summer, we will be in need of warm hats and scarves before you know it.

Many thanks Karen for your thoughtful donation, please know what an important difference you make.  AND please keep up the good work.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Loomed Hats Warm Homeless

Thank you Karen S for this awesome donation of knitted hats and scarf.  Karen has loomed the hats which are always great.  The method of knitting hats with a loom provides a double thickness for the brim area (which covers the ears), and is always nice.  She's added cute size tags.  Please click to see the details of tags which are heart shaped and say handmade specially for you.  They include the size and are tied onto the hats.  Perfect!

She's always included one of her signature scarves made with the cro-knit method.  I've posted the video on how to do this interesting stitch several times here on Bridge and Beyond.  If you're interested, use the search box in the right hand sidebar and it will come up for you.  You get a two tone effect, lots of texture and added warm, as this stitch is a bit thicker by nature.

Many thanks Karen for your on going support of Bridge and Beyond and Ohio's Homeless.  Please keep up the good work.  You do make a difference.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Loomed Hats Help the Homeless

Thank you Karen S for this thoughtful and generous donation!!  Karen has been busy with her loom knitting these wonderful warm hats.  Loomed hats are always so nice and warm because they're made with a double thickness of yarn.  Additionally, they have the brim area which is actually thicker still.  

What a nice mix of colors Karen.  Something here for men and women.  AND I love how you've upped your game with the adorable size tags.  Folks, please click so you can see the details.  She's cut out hearts, added the size to the hearts, punches a hold and tied on the hats with yarn.  Really nicely done.

We ask everyone to tag their hats with size, as it helps the volunteers at the various shelters get items into the right area for quick distribution to the folks in need.  

8 People will know they are cared for with this lovely donation.  As Always Karen, please keep up the good work and know you make a difference in the lives of many.

*****hey folks did you notice the goal counter in the left side bar.....with this donation, we're now just over 40% of our goal for hats!!!

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Thank you Karen S, Crocheted Scarves Help the Homeless

Thank you Karen S!  I bet by now most of you who frequent my blog, Bridge and Beyond are able to recognize Karen's donations before I give her name!  Her signature stitch, is very recognizable.  I've posted video's a few times of how to do this stitch of many names.

Seriously this stitch is known by lots of different names:
Cro-hooking
Crochenit
Reversable Tunisian Crochet
Double Ended Crochet.........are just some of them.  Click here for the video if  you've not watched before or want to see how it's done.

Karen has also included a toothbrush and paste.  Which brings me to something about personal care items I thought I would pass along to you all.  I've often mentioned collecting those little samples as you travel for leisure or business.......I've done it myself often when traveling; but........apparently some hotel chains are starting to do away with that for environmental reasons.  In an effort to reduce the plastic, they are going for larger, refillable containers with soap, shampoo and conditioner.  I know Marriott has announced that it's phasing it in and I've seen in thus far in a few hotels in my travels.  I'm not familiar with others; but thought I would mention it here, so you can at least be aware.  Due to being members, we always stay at Marriott's.  I would imagine other chains are doing the same thing?

Many thanks Karen for your donation, and your on going support of Bridge and Beyond and Ohio's homeless.  Please know we truly appreciate you, and your skillful hands.  Please keep as the good work and know you do make a difference in the lives of many.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Scarves Essential in Keeping Homeless Warm

Thank you Karen S for this wonderful donation of two sided scarves.  Love the texture and the contrast between the two sides of the scarves.  If you've been to this blog before you probably recognize this technique, as one I call Karen's signature stitch.  If you're new though to this sight, or just haven't seen this before, please check out the video I've posted a few times demonstrating how to perform this technique.



Karen has been a very generous and long time supporter here on Bridge and Beyond who does beautiful work.  Many many thanks Karen, we truly appreciate you and your skills.

Please keep up the good work and know you make a difference!
**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Matching Hat and Scarf Sets for Ohio Homeless

Thank you Karen S for this thoughtful donation of hats and scarf sets.  If you've been to this blog before, chances are, you've seen Karen's signature style.  The scarves are made using the method called Cro-Hooking, Crochenit, Reversible Tunisian, Reflective Reversible, and Double Ended Crochet.  Apparently there are a raft of names for this method.  The scarves are crocheted, but with a crochet hook at each end of the needle.  I can see why it's called Reflective Reversible...look at the light and dark sides of the scarf.  The feel of scarf is added warmth, it's a bit thicker then crocheting would be, from my touch.

In this post, I have a u-tube video showing you how to perform this technique if you'd like to give it a try.  Until Karen started donating hat and scarves sets to Bridge and Beyond, it was not a technique I had seen or heard of.  Let us know if you give it a try.  I must admit, I still haven't, though it's on my list of things to try.  I really like the look.

Click Here for my post with the video

Please keep up the good work Karen and know you are so very much appreciated.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

The Gift of Looming Hats Help Homeless

7 more heads will be warm!  That's something to cheer about for sure.  Thank you Karen S for these awesome warm hats for Ohio's Homeless.  Karen has been busy looming, as you can see.  Hats in a variety of colors and sizes.......suitable for men, women, and or teens.  

Karen always tags her hats with these cute handmade tags.  Thank you for your ongoing support of Bridge and Beyond, your caring heart, and for taking the time to add the size tags........it's such a huge help.  It saves me time and energy and saves time at the various shelters as well.  

Please keep up the good work Karen S, and know you are making a difference.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

First Donated Afghan for 2019 is Crocheted

YIPPEE!  Our good friend Karen S get's the applause for the first afghan to be donated in the year 2019.  It  looks sorta blue here in the picture, but really is more gray...blue-is gray.  It's nice and warm and crocheted beautifully.  The size and the color is suitable for anyone.......male or female.  Whomever get's this afghan will be thrilled and know someone cares.  Showing someone they are cared for, and not forgotten is so important.  That's why we focus so much on hand made.  Take your time, and your talent to knit or crochet something for someone you don't know shows them the caring, shows them the love.

Many thanks Karen, and please keep up the good work.  YOU do make a difference!!

I've got two afghans in the works right now myself.  What are you all working on?

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Loomed Hats Warm Ohio's Homeless

Thank you Karen S for this thoughtful donation.  Karen has loomed (knitted) 5 awesome hats in great colors to warm 5 heads.  As I type this scheduled post it is 7 degrees out.  7 degrees folks, that's 25 degrees BELOW freezing.  It's 72% humidity out, all that dampness makes it even colder.  The only good thing is, with time I type a post........we're one day closer to spring.  Which in my opinion can't  come soon enough.  I truly detest winter, the snow, the ice, the cold.  With each year I age, I find my patience with winter becomes even less.

Karen always tags her hats with such cute size tags.  I encourage everyone to remember to tag your hats with size.  When they aren't tagged with size, I have to guess what size head they'll fit as do the the volunteers at the shelters in order to get it to the right area.  Tagging helps a lot.  Tags don't have to be artistic, or cleaver; but these cute little round circles do add to the gift.  And that's what our donations are, they are gifts.

These colors Karen has chosen are wonderful.  These are colors that work well for men or women

Thank you Karen and please keep up the good work, and know YOU make a difference in warming up a cold homeless person.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Crocheting for Bridge and Beyond Helps Homeless

Sorry the picture turned out so yellowish.  I even tried editing it, but the light was so bad the day this was taken I had every light in the house on...thus is looks odd and.  However this lovely warm crocheted afghan was brown and orange and was made and donated by our good friend Karen S.  Karen I love it, I love the boldness of it and how the color really work for anyone; but particularly some of our men folk.

Karen has also been busy looming several hats and crocheting an awesome scarf to match any of the 3 hats.  Thanks for remembering to tag the hats with size (nudge nudge to some of you...please remember to do this).

AND, she's also included 7 nice cotton crocheted washcloths.  I love this variegated yarn, not sure I've come across this one before.  Again, colors work for anyone, but are nicely geared male!

Thank you Karen for your hard work and on going dedication to helping Bridge and Beyond help Ohio's Homeless in Need.

Please keep up the good work.
**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Hats, Scarves, and Lapghans Donated

 Thank you Karen S....for this thoughtful donation.  Bet you all knew it was from her the minute you saw the scarves; though others have now started crocheting scarves in this fashion as well.  You can't go wrong with the color of blue.  Blue works well for men or women...and blue works well for any age group.  Always LOVE the look of the light and darker side with this stitch.  And Karen's also included some nice warm knit on a loom hats.  Many thanks Karen for taking the time to tag hats with size, that's always appreciated by the folks at the shelters as well as me.  It also spends up time in getting donated hats to the right folks....size wise.

AND...look, Karen's also crocheted a lapghan in nice blues and tans, again suitable for men or women.  The size (lapghan), can also work nicely for a younger child to snuggle up in.  

Many thanks Karen for your on going support of Bridge and Beyond and Ohio's Homeless.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Crocheting and Donating to Help Homeless

Awesome!  Look at this nice warm afghan from our good friend and generous supporter, Karen S.  I LOVE the nice dark colors and how warm it is.  This afghan is great both in size and color for either a man or a woman.  I know whomever wraps up in this will be thrilled.

And...Karen's included 20 crocheted cotton washcloths in her donation.  The green works for either men or women, and so does the tan white camo....and I LOVE the fall blend of brown, orange and green.  I've not seen that particular color blend before.  Very nice indeed.  Cotton washcloths, knitted or crocheted have so many uses and are always so well received.  They're used as personal washcloths and are so nice on the skin...more so than purchased washcloths, for those that have been living out in the elements.  They're used as dishcloths as well.  Folks getting a night in the shelter use them, they're put in welcome home packages when people transition from shelter living to a permanent housing situation.  Men, women and children use them.

Look at our numbers folks, with this afghan we're now just past 3/4th of the way to our goal of donated afghans!!  It's almost Halloween, will we make it?  Are you working on an afghan, as we speak?  I'm hoping to have one finished shortly...how about you?

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Crocheted Goodies for the Homeless

 Look at this pretty blue and pastel yellow lapghan our friend, Karen S crocheted.  Isn't it pretty!  Please click so you can see the texture created with the stitches she's chosen.  The lapghan will work for a young child as an afghan, or as a lapghan for a lucky lady to snuggle under.  

Yippee for more cotton washcloths.  Always a hit regardless of where they get donated to.  The shelters love them, as do the folks living in the elements.  They're also used in welcome home packs provided by Homeless Families Foundation when a family makes the transition from shelter living to a permanent housing situation.  Cotton cloths are used as personal washcloths, and dishcloths.

Thank you Karen for your on going support of Bridge and Beyond and Ohio's Homeless.  Please keep up the good work.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Knitting and Crocheting for Homeless

Our good friend, Karen S has been very busy with her crochet hook crafting wonderful warm scarves using her special technique.  I LOVE the way they look.  What's particularly cool with this donation is, she made two of the blue and gray...so, I've laid them out so you can truly see the light and dark side to fully appreciate it.  

Additionally, she's been very busy with her loom and knitted 6 hats, some of which match the scarves to make sets.  She always takes the time to make these cute size tags for her hats.  The beauty of her method is...you don't have to purchase special tags.  Small pieces of colored paper, cute with pinking shears and tied on with yarn scraps.

I stress the tags because we still get hats, mittens, and slippers without size tags and would really like again to request that all hats, slippers, and mittens have size tags attached.  This takes less time for the maker, then for all the volunteers to guess when sorting.

Many thanks Karen, and as always, please keep up the good work.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Hat and Scarf Sets for the Homeless

Thank you Karen S for this awesome donation of scarf and hat sets made with your special method of double ended crochet.  Love the texture it gives the scarves and how cool that it looks two toned.  If you've not checked out this method, please click on the link above where I've posted a video tutorial of it.  It's pretty cool.  I keep saying I'd like to try it, haven't yet though.  Have any of you?  The brown will of course per wonderful for the men and purplish for a woman.  Very nice!  

Plus Karen has included 3 cotton washcloths, suitable for men or women!  These are always so well received.  

Thank you Karen for your on going support of Bridge and Beyond, and your support of Ohio's Homeless in Need.  Please know how much you are appreciated.

As always, keep up the good work.

**The counts on our progress bars are current, the percentages not quite. I'll not be figure the percentages with each update of numbers, but will be updating again next at least by the 20th. I have in fact made a reminder not on my cell phone for the 20th of each month to do percentages. If we're at a milestone, or I just have extra time I may do it more often...but certainly at that scheduled time.

** 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.