Our Friends at Pine Street

Above crocheted afghan is now done and mailed. You've seen this in a couple of stages. This is made up of squares and rectangles (various sizes) from my DD, Sandie and her DD Kate, Alma and several from anonymous givers from previous groups that disbanned and sent me their odds and ends. It measured about 56 x 52. I had the cream I did the initial edging with in my stash; and the navy came to me about a week ago from Emily (on RAV) who was de-stashing.


This corner to corner afghan is knitted. Actually my first knitted ghan. Believe it measured right around 48 x 48. The yarn in this ghan came from a variety of people before making it to my stash. Donated yarn from my DD, Bunny, and Rae's mother. Lydia and Tony bought me yarn in exchange for me helping them out, one with genealogy and one for making a blanket for a grandchild. In addition to the above 2 ghans, I mailed a few 9 x 9 squares that Alma and I made to our Friends at Pine Street. These will be used as housewarming gifts for homeless who will have a roof over their heads. What a cause to celebrate.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE CONTEST AND WIN FREE YARN, ONLY 11 POSTS LEFT TIL WE HIT THE BIG MILESTONE OF 200 BLOG POSTS!!

2010
Scarves 172
Hats 205+43=248
Mittens 19
Socks 59

2008-2009
Hats 368
Mittens 66
Scarves 147
Socks 79 pair*counts from day 1, Dec 2 2008

Our Homeless Friends need Helping Hands

Have you noticed this new Icon/Badge in my side bar? I hope so. The Hive is a new place to hang out, make connections, and have fun. By making connections I mean connect with other cool crafters like yourself. Some knit, some crochet, some mold clay, some sew, some work with wood, others paint, others bead and on and on and on. Some are hobbyist like me, others professionals, some are artist, others are manufacturers. It's new, it's fun, it's easy.

Always looking for ways to spread the sad news that homelessness exists, and the happy news that we can and DO, make those who are homeless a little more comfortable. We strive to make them realize they are not forgotten. We strive to make their lives better, one stitch at a time. AND we do, each and every day with hats, mittens, and scarves lovingly knitted, loomed, or crocheted by caring crafters. I've joined The Hive.

You can too. Click on the Badge in my side bar, or the Red Words The Hive above. Join, have fun, help me spread the need for more helping hands to help us help the homeless. You can do more then that too. You can enjoy seeing what others work on, you can connect via blogs with folks who share some of your other hobbies. I know most of you do more then crochet or knit. I know many of you try to balance selling your beautiful hand crafts as well as spend your time donating to worthy causes. You can promote your ware's there also.

If you join, be sure and tell them Sandy sent you, and don't forget to connect as followers there.

Corner to Corner Ghan is done, for our friends at Pine Street, and Bit's of this (stage 1 HERE) and that is in it's last stages. I'm hoping to finish it in the next day or so.
You can see once I edge everything to even up sizing a bit with off white (in the previous picture, stage 2 Here), I decided it needed a little something else. Sections of similar sized areas were edged with navy, working now on connecting those pieces then will decide about some final edging. I think the projects changed quite a bit as it's progressed.

**Still time to enter yourself for the free yarn give away**
2010
Scarves 172
Hats 205+43=248
Mittens 19
Socks 59

2008-2009
Hats 368
Mittens 66
Scarves 147
Socks 79 pair*counts from day 1, Dec 2 2008

Edging and piecing together

This is the second stage, stage I here. You can see it's coming together a bit more now that things are edged, or in this picture almost edged. Some squares and rectangles reguired 2 rounds, some 3 and some only 1 to make them fit. Several required a bit more than that. But, it's working. I had taken this photo a couple of days ago so am actually now further along in that this part of the edging is done. It's actually now more pieced together. Will keep you posted. My goal is to finish this in the next couple of days in order to get the 2 ghans out in the mail together to Pine Street. Goal...might not make it, but it's the goal I'm working towards.

**You still have time to get yourself entered in the blog contest and win free yarn.
2010
Scarves 172
Hats 205+43=248
Mittens 19
Socks 59

2008-2009
Hats 368
Mittens 66
Scarves 147
Socks 79 pair*counts from day 1, Dec 2 2008

Before Blocking a Knitted Afghan

This is my completed corner to corner ghan. My first knitted ghan. I do enjoy knitting; but typically crochet ghans. This ghan is knitted corner to corner using the very basic dish cloth pattern starting out with casting on 4 stitches and ending up with 4 stitches before the bind off. I meant to count how many stitches were on the middle row before I began my decease but didn't. Knitting always requires blocking while crochet usually doesn't. One of the reason's I tend to crochet ghans more then knit them. However, I like the mindless ease of the corner to corner ghan and even when just using the basic stitch think the corner to corner business adds to the over all design of a ghan, adds interest I think. It also makes using up odds and ends easier as you don't have to worry about having enough yarn to make really long rows all the time. I didn't count the number of rows before changing colors, changed when I felt like it, or when the yarn looked like it might be running out. You can see some of the colors were repeated, some not. Even where the colors repeated, I might have stopped because I was at the end of that ball. Sometimes you have multiple little balls of the same color.

A good portion of this yarn was from my stash, some was donated by Dear Bunny, some from my DD, some from Rae's Mother, some from Lydia, and some from Tony. So, while I did the knitting, it seemed like a group project to me.

After putting it in the laundry, I blocked it for several days while I was working on the Bits of this and that ghan which will also be for our friends over at Pine Street.

**You still have time to get yourself entered in the blog contest and win free yarn.


2010
Scarves 172
Hats 205+43=248
Mittens 19
Socks 59

2008-2009
Hats 368
Mittens 66
Scarves 147
Socks 79 pair*counts from day 1, Dec 2 2008

Chipping away

Chipping away at my corner to corner ghan. Put it away for awhile as I needed small items to take out of town, and small items to take to work to work on at lunch etc. But, wanting to show the progress here on the corner to corner ghan for our friends at Pine Street. Using up odds and ends, some from my stash some that folks have gifted and donated to me. Fun to see the variety of colors. I'm officially over half done as I'm now doing the decreasing part, though knitting is indeed slower then crocheting. However, knitting seems to bother my arthritis and carpal tunnel a bit less. What really seems to work is a nice blend of each so hand and arms, shoulders etc. don't get overly tired.

Natually am continuing to work on the Bits of This and That Ghan for the same cause picture here. AND, don't forget to read all about the contest where you can win yarn and related goodies. So far we have one our of members entered, Sandie. Best of luck to you Sandie and all others who get involved. Might have more by the time you read this, since this is a scheduled post. So this then makes it 16 posts needed to reach our 200th landmark which is why we're celebrating by having a fun contest and giving away goodies.

Hope you're all continuing to knit and crochet each and everyday to help those less fortunate. O truly believe together we can and do make a difference, one stitch at a time.

Blessings to all


2008-2009
Hats 368
Mittens 66
Scarves 147
Socks 79 pair*counts from day 1, Dec 2 2008

Life gives us bits of this and that

This is the beginning of another project using some of This and That. Not a good picture, looks like I must have moved when I click the shutter, it's blurry; but there will be other pictures. As you can see these squares are all different sizes, but I believe with edging and altering the sizes of some of these squares and rectangles I'll be able to make a ghan that's like life............pieced together. Some of these are crocheted, some are knitted. There's a mix of yarn, but similar in weight. I no longer remember where all have come from as I've gotten items when groups have closed down as well as from individuals. I do know several of these were knitted by my Darling Daughter, several came from our good friend Sandie and her daughter Kate, a couple are from Alma, and I crocheted a couple.

I believe with a good size border this will end up being an appropriate size to send to our friends at Pine Street. In addition, I am still working on the knitted corner to corner ghan. Homelessness is a huge problem so encouraging folks who were homeless is a worthy cause.

Please keep your knitting needles and crochet hooks busy throughout this summer making hats, scarves and mittens for our Bridge and Beyond, cold weather will be here before we know it and each year the need grows.

Bless you all for your ongoing support.

2010
Scarves 147+23=170
Hats 204+1=205
Mittens 18 pairs+1=19
Socks 53 pairs + 6 = 59

2008-2009
Hats 368
Mittens 66
Scarves 147Socks 79 pair*counts from day 1, Dec 2 2008

***When this blog hits 200 posts, there will be a yarn give away. We're currently at 183 posts, so 17 posts from now. To enter you must leave a comment on the 200 post, and the very first post when this blog started. The winner will be chosen by putting names into a hat. If you'd like to increase your chances at winning here's several ways to accomplish that:

1. Make a blog post with link here for another entry
2. And comments to the 100th post (counts as 2 entries)
3. Answer the question who's the luscious loomer? (2 entries, which you can find by poking aound here a bit, leave comment on that blog, don't give away answer here please
   
4. Answer the question when was Sock it to me Month? (leave comment on that blog post (1 entry)
5. Become a follower, Tweet, and or facebook a post you particularly like (1 entry for each), be sure and tell me you did this

Spread the word, the more who enter the more fun we can have while we work together one stitch at a time to help the homeless.

Starts of this and that

Our good friend Sandie teaches crochet and often needs to make a little of this and that to demonstrate a stitch, a shape, a technique. I'm going to use some of this donation along with some odds and ends from my daughter, and squares from Alma to put together a ghan or two that I hope will work out appropriately for The Pine Street Project. No formulated plan yet, need to ruminate a bit; but will keep you all posted.

Thanks Sandie for the donations of yarn as well.


And, PLEASE take a minute register and vote to help homeless financially, with housing etc; even if you personally don't have the means to write a check.





2008-2009
Hats 368
Mittens 66
Scarves 147
Socks 79 pair*counts from day 1, Dec 2 2008

Yarn and needles on the go

Making headway with the corner to corner ghan for Pine Street. Decided to take with me on my travels after all. I worked on it during the flight here, and off and on here; but probably will pack in the suitcase for the return flight as it will be a bit too large to be comfortable to work with on the plane. I've got some other yarn and crochet hook with me for something smaller for the return flight.

Since last posting I've added the dark red strip, the multi-stripe, bright lime green, grey, orange, and the nobby blue. All but the blue are left over in my stash from previous projects, while the nobby blue is from Bunny's recent donation.

Hope you're all busy with yarn and crochet hooks and or knitting needles making hats, scarves, and mittens for our on going efforts here for the homeless connected to The Bridge and Beyond; and remember if you're making squares for Pine Street you can send directly or send along to me with your other donations and I'll forward in one large mailing. Homelessness is a problem in far too many cities and each and every stitch you make does indeed make a difference. Each and every stitch helps keep someone warmer, can in fact make the difference is whether or not they stay alive; particularly in the extreme conditions. No effort is too little, no effort is unneeded or un-appreciated. Even as it's almost summer here in central Ohio I'm asking you to continue your efforts for those less fortunate, those homeless folks without a roof over their heads.

Bless you all, and as always thank you for your on going support.

Stripes of this and that on the needles

I don't usually photograph and show you something in the works; but felt I would this time for several reason. Firstly, this is the start of a afghan which is being knitted with odds and ends; many of which are left over's or donated from lots of wonderful people. Ok, that's not particularly news worthy, we all often use our stash, our odd's and ends. However, this is a little different because it will be a ghan; not a hat, not a pair of mittens, and not a scarf. It is though still an item to be used for charity..........AND it is still an homeless charity at that.

I wanted to tell you all about this charity; not to have you stop making hats, mittens, and scarves. PLEASE KEEP THOSE COMING. But, because I've just added an additional badge to this blog (or did a few days ago), and wondered if you all had seen it? It's a poster I've always LOVED. Rosie The Riveter. The spirit of that poster always makes me think what fabulous things women did when The Men were off fighting World War II. But, I'm getting off track and there's quite a story there.

If you click on the Badge you will be taken to their webpage, Pine Street. They take care of folks on the street, like we do; but they also house homeless. They get some folks off the street and when they get a place to live are given a house warming gift of a hand made afghan. The ghans are knitted and crocheted from 9 inch squares that are put together specifically for these folks to encourage them to continue to stay off the streets. It's a wonderful program worthy of our support. When you have yarn left after making hats, scarves, mittens etc...why not make a square or two?

This can be done individually, or if you like you can send your squares to me and I'll mail in mass as our group donation. Let me know your thoughts, and please take a minute to review their webpage.

Now a wee bit of history on this diagonal ghan I've started. The tan is from Rae's mother donation, the red from my stash, and the blue textured yarn is the same yarn I used to make a scarf with the yarn donation from Bunny. So, as I continue to work on this ghan, I'll continue to let you know how it progresses, and what each strip represents.
2010
Scarves 141
Hats 185
Mittens 13 pairs
Socks 28 pairs

2008-2009
Hats 368
Mittens 66
Scarves 147
Socks 79 pair
*counts from day 1, Dec 2 2008