Rolling Hills Afghan for Homess

This afghan has been designed from crocheted scarves that weren't large enough for our needs.  My daughter helped me design this afghan in the works.  I like the blend of brown and green.  The stripes aren't quite the same size, but with some edging which will be in tan, it should come together nicely.  It will need a good size border to make the afghan an appropriate size.  As always, I searched for a name for this afghan and came up with Earth and Sand, or Sandy Grass; but wasn't sold on either of those names.  A Fitbit friend saw the picture and came up with Rolling Hills.  I think that's a good name, makes me think of fields with grass and earth and things growing perhaps in a farmers field.

This afghan to be is currently resting in one of my project bags, waiting it's turn to grow.  Please stay tuned.  Hoping to get this completed in the near future.

This idea of stripes is a good way to use up yarn in your stash, it's also a bit easier or perhaps quicker than the assembly of an afghan with lots of squares or rectangles.  Also, it seems there will be less ends to work in.  If you've not made an afghan using this method, please give it a try.  We here at Bridge and Beyond would love to donate one of your afghans made this way.




**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.

Quilts Keep People Warm

This is a Christmas Quilt I made years ago for my Mother for a Christmas Gift.  After her passing, my Dad returned it to me.  I am not a "true" quilter, but have made several family quilts similar to above with no definitive pattern.  As I continue to work my way through the alphabet...Q was a stumbling block for me.  Then the word quilt came to mind. 

We've not really had people making and donating quilts, but...........we could.  Why couldn't they be part of our afghans that we donate to Homeless Families Foundation?  Though I know making a quilt is quite time consuming and so, I guess I'm asking...is it practical for us to suggest people make and donate quilts?  This one is warm, but realistically, I use it primarily for decorations, and obviously only once a year.  But, if it weren't a Christmas Quilt, could we do that?  Are any of you quilters?

Some of the afghans we've received and donated through the years have looked like a quilt in their design.  If this is a reasonable idea, perhaps there are ways to connect with quilters here on the net?  Perhaps it's too costly a venture.  I don't remember what I spent to buy the fabric, thread, backing, bias tape, or cotton batting...been too many years.  If anyone is a sewer and has some idea of costs, please let me know.  I like throwing out ideas of things I think might be helpful for Bridge and Beyond, but I don't want to spend lots of time trying to find quilters if this isn't a good idea due to time and costs.


**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.

Puppets and Personal Care for Homeless

This little puppet was photographed some time back and previously posted here on this blog, but I thought I would revisit it with you all.  Look how cute it is.  This one is knitted, but would think crocheting one would work just as well.  Puppets, certainly aren't going to keep people warm, but wouldn't it make a cute item for small children spending a night in a shelter?  Small, soft, and perhaps comforting.  Something I presumed to be easier for families to hold onto as they move about from day to day with temporary shelter situations.  Might it be an item that would help a child through the night of uncertainty?  This is something I would suggest we strive to make tons of, but something I do think would be nice for the shelters to have on hand. 

When I spotted this on my blog from some time back, I didn't see a pattern for it, but will do some looking around.  In the meantime, looking at it might be enough for some of our experienced knitters and or crocheters to wing it and make one.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-knit-a-teddy-bear-hand-puppet/


If above link works, it's to a video and what looks to be very similar pattern for a puppet.

Here's a link to a free pattern on Ravelry.  You can create a free account there



Personal Care items is something men, women, and children need and use all year long.  There are used by folks living out in the elements, as well as those who obtain a night in a shelter.  AND they are needed when families transition from shelter living to a permanent housing situation.  Personal care items can be purchased, and collected whenever you visit hotels on business and or vacations.  Shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, mouth wash, combs, chapstick, shaving cream, razors, sunscreen, female products, soap are some of the items we donate all year long.  These are also items that non knitters and crocheters can help with.





**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.