Knitted, Crocheted or Loomed Mittens Needed

A-Z Challenge = M= Mittens
Mittens are an item we never get enough of.  Mittens aren't the easiet things to knit (as shown in the picture) or crochet shown below.

There are many styles, these are just 2.  Because they're not the easiest to knit or crochet we just have a harder time donating lots of them; but we continue to strive.  We also accept fingerless gloves/wrist warmers.

Each item we collect and donate has it's tab across the top of the blog with necessary information regarding size, colors, and fibers types to use as well as what to avoid.  We also list some patterns that people find helpful to use.  If you can help us with knitting, crocheting, or looming mittens and or writst warmers...........Please do!  Every shelter asks us for more then we've been able to donate in the past.  They are needed for folks living under the bridge, as well as the kids in schools with need.

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 Looms

A-Z Challenge =L= Loom
These are plastic colorful looms in 4 sizes with the special hook one needs along with a darning needle.  This is what you typically get in a kit.  The kits are inexpensive and easy to use.  They produce knitting and have become very popular.  They're a good way to knit, if you don't know how to knit, as well as just something different to do.  When they first became popular they were primarily used to knit hats.  Some looms are plastic, some are wood and some are super flexible.

The size is consistent regardless of what brand you buy.  The knitting gauge is based on the space between the pegs.  Some folks even make their own looms.  Now looms come in ovals, rectangles, and stripes in addition to these basic circles.  People have tweaked patterns and you can make scarves, mittens and more on them.  We have those who donate to Bridge and Beyond for the Homeless using these types of looms.  They are generally used with double yarn, or bulky yarn and many feel the knitting goes faster on looms then hand knitting with needles.  I confess, that while I have a set of looms (have for years), I've not really used them.  Perhaps someday I'll give them a try.

When we were kids, we used looms...looms made from wooden spools of empty thread.  Yes!  I am that old that I remember wooden spools of thread, in fact I still have a few, lol  You could pound small nails evenly around a large wooden spool and for a hook.........we used a diaper pin.  See told you I was old....diaper pins, mothers today don't even have any on hand.  All we could make back then was a cord, but we did it for hours at a 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.

Knitting

 A-Z Challenge = K= Knitting

Definition:

Knitting is the name of the craft that involves two needles and yarn or thread. Loops in the yarn are manipulated with the needles to make a knitted fabric.

The pretty primary colors you see in the yarn is reminiscent of the very first yarn I used when my Mom taught me to knit.  I was very young, I think maybe 7.  I knit a little scarf that was about 3-4 inches wide, similar to a headband, except that it covered the top of your head, your ears, then tapered and had ties to tie under your chin.  My Mom used a crochet hook to make the tapering and the tie.  I used 2 stitches knit and purl.  You knit on the front side and purl on the back side which means your doing the stockinette stitch.

Which looks like this.  It's what you see most often in sweaters, it's a smooth rather flat stitch.  Variegated yarns are fun cause you don't know the colors will come out.  That little scarf is the only thing I knitted.............took me what seemed like forever.  I didn't pick up knitting again until I was in my 40's.  It'a fond memory though of Mom teaching me.  Too bad she's no longer alive to know how much I enjoy the craft.

We knit, we crochet and we donate to help homeless and those in shelters.  Please join us.

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.