Ripple Afghan in Need of a Name, and New Donation Goals for 2019

ITEM	Prev Average	Goal %	6 years totals	6th yr. Average
Hats	675	40%	3649	608
Scarves	415	53%	2303	383
Afghans	35.8	94%	213	35
Socks	169	39%	912	152
Slipper	104	12%	536	89
Cotton Clothes	383	43%	2083	347
Mitten	156	48%	856	142

In my previous post you'll see the numbers from the last 6 years, the averages, as well as our % of goal reached in 2018.  Goal being the average of the last 5 years.

This graphic shows our previous average (the 5 year average), the percent of the goal we reached for 2018, the total number of each item collected in the last 6 years, and the new average.  You can see the average has gone down in each category with the exception of the afghans which stayed constant.  Technically we were a strange 35 point something but I think saying 35 is fine, and easier to deal with, lol.

Reviewing last year, I realized I made 8 afghans, so I will endeavor to make more than 8 for the coming year.  Last year I made, Crocheted Eclectic Afghan, Orange Julius, Mountain Sky, Blanket of Many Colors, Learning Logs, Jeweled Lines, Earth and Sky, and Cardiac Collage.

Hopefully, by the time you read this post, our goals ...the graphs here on the blog will have been updated to reflect the 6th year averages...the number being our goal for the year of 2019.

Currently working on this one.

Barely started.  It's a ripple, a knitted one.  I've not made a true knitted ripple before.  I have made a feather and fan style which falls into the category of ripples, but this is a bit different.  Click to enlarge so you can see the detail from going from garter stitch for the border to the purl patterned stitches.  Current thinking is stripping it with both the blue and the brown variegated.  Trying to use up some stash.  Maybe...a 3rd color?  Since this is scheduled, as all posts typically are; but the time you read this post....I hope to have completed more. 

I just tested this light.  You ware it on your neck.  The light is very helpful on dark cloudy days, or at night when you're forced to try and see dark colors by the light of lamps.  It's a Minger Light.  Suggested by our friend, Sandie P who's been such a long time supporter of Bridge and Beyond.  I add my recommendation to hers if anyone has trouble seeing yarn at night.


**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.

Happy New Years

Maybe you celebrate Father Time, maybe you wear party hats and blow noise makers, or sip Bubbly with your special someone.  However you celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another year, be safe and enjoy  yourselves.

Some people make wish lists, some make New Years Resolutions and some don't.  Personally I tend to make goals, I did that this time last year for Bridge and Beyond.

Here's a look back.
I listed 13 goals last year (posted a couple of weeks after the New Year, as I was still counting donations that came in before the close of the year).  I'll continue to post items that came before; but totals will appear after this post.

1. I wanted to increase our blog's google rank from 3, that didn't happen.  We're still 3
2. I wanted to increase our participation percentage.  We were at 76% with donations from 38 states, and are now at 80% with donations from 40 states.  YEA!
3. I wanted to increase blog visits, that didn't happen.
4. I wanted to increase blog comments, that didn't happen.
5. I wanted to reach new helping hands, and while I don't think we got as many as we have in the earlier times,  we did indeed attract new helping hands.  YEA!
6. I wanted to donate more....jury's out on that until we get our final numbers.  Please check back.
7. I wanted to hold a summer event where people could meet others, and assemble afghans for the squares.  That didn't happen.  Life is just too busy.
8. I wanted to produce a newsletter and or start a facebook group.  I did not (still want to) produce a newsletter, but did start a facebook group.  I do think that's helped communication and reaching others, though there are many who visit and comment there and not here which was one of my fears.  Commenting there does not help our blogs placement.  We have a good number of members there, but many have never donated.  Soooo, it's not been as successful as I would have hoped.
9. I wanted everyone to tag slippers, mittens, and hats with size.  I think we've been partially successful there.  Though there's room for improvement.  The goal remains for people to tag ALL hats, mittens, and slippers with size to aid in getting them to the correct location in a timely manner.
10. Wanted people to read item specific tabs BEFORE they knit or crochet said item.  To eliminate getting items too lacy to be warm, made of inappropriate fibers (wool, suede, novelty yarn), and made of less then optimal colors (avoid white, tan, beige, ivory and light pastels).  We've been partially successful here; but reminders are still needed.  
11. I wanted everyone to include a note with their donations to eliminate my need to spend hours trying to figure out whom someone was.  People maybe anonymous on the blog, but they may not be anonymous to me.  This became enough of a problem I needed to say anonymous donations would not be accepted.  We've been successful here.  YEA!
12. I wanted to catch up with the assembly of the afghans, but haven't been successful here.  I'm working more hours so still have ghans waiting to be done.
13. I wanted to reach beyond.........beyond Bridge and Beyond.  Be that a new location or a new shelter in need.  That hasn't happened, though we have been successful in donating more to a couple of our locations.

So, my goals for the coming year remain pretty much the same; but technically the list will be smaller...as I'll remove those we succeeded in.

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.