Another ghan finished for Faith Mission

Needs to be washed and blocked and then can be on it's way. I like the way the colors change, I like the way I used up lots of odds and ends, and I like how that helped me get re-acquainted with some stuff in my stash. However....I'm not happy with no right and wrong side in order to use up the yarn, and to change colors when the yarn ran out instead of estimating and cutting and changing like one normally would on one side. However, it is warm, bright and cheery and will probably be well received by someone in need. Note to self....don't make one this way again.

2010
Scarves 306
Hats 572
Mittens 143
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5+1=6
Squares 130

**Trying to locate a T. Miller regarding the donated mittens, anyone know a T. Miller who crochets??**

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Squares and Hats Donated

Our friend Rose Marie made more knitted and crocheted squares, hats, and a pair of thumbless mittens. You might remember her knitted squares were used in The blue and burgundy ghan previously, and some more in colorful blocks ghan that's been designed but not yet assembled.

Many thanks Rose Marie for your on going support of our cause, warming the homeless in Central Ohio. We appreciate each and every item you've made. Keep up the good work.


2010
Scarves 306
Hats 566+6=572
Mittens 142+1=143
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 123+7=130

Have you read about Give a Square? Please do, click badge in the sidebar.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Crocheting Warmth for Homeless

Crocheting for homeless continues. Thank you Liz (Minnisoda at The Ville), for your beautiful squares (8) and awesome hat and scarf set. I can tell the hat and scarf used back post, but unsure if it's double crochet or triple crochet. Either way it's a wonderful matched set that will be great for someone to receive. I'll continue to design and work on afghans from the squares folks are sending for Give a Square, as well as some I had here for our homeless at Faith Mission.

I appreciate each and every donation you all make, please keep up the good work.

2010
Scarves 305+1=306
Hats 565+1=566
Mittens 142
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 115+8=123

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Adding Orange for Health

Orange stash. Well I don't have as much orange stash as with some other colors; but believe I have enough variety in shades that this will be a good next color in the color stash busting corner to corner ghan. And everyone knows eating oranges is a healthy thing to do, so making a ghan to keep one warm will hopefully have the same healthy benefit.
As I continue to decrease I feel like I'm on the home stretch with this knitted corner to corner ghan. I've made one other ghan in this method and really like the diagonal stripes. The negative of course to so many changes in colors, will be the number of ends I'll have to tuck in. This is going to Faith Mission, where women and children are given temporary housing .

2010
Scarves 305
Hats 565
Mittens 142
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 115

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Designing an Afghan for Faith Mission

I like to be ready with a ghan design whenever I finish (getting close to done to the blue and burgundy) one so I can jump right into another one. These are more of wonderful knitted squares from Rose Marie. I've worked on a burgundy and blue block ghan previously using her squares. I think this will be make a very colorful block ghan and am currently planning on joining and edging it with the sage green you see on the left side of the photo. This ghan will be made from 20 squares, while the previous ghan using her squares took 18.

Once again Rose Marie, many thanks for your squares. And special thanks to my Darling Daughter who gifted me the pretty sage green yarn that I'll use to assemble this ghan. I'll keep you posted as it progresses.

Accepting squares for the Give a Square Program during the months of November and December.

2010
Scarves 305
Hats 565
Mittens 142
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 115

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Here's a Hat, What a Hat

If you're as old as me, you might remember a song from The Mickey Mouse Club...Here's a hat, what a hat, you're an honorary musketeer. That song, those lyrics popped into my head as I was posting this picture of the 10 fabulous hats from our friend Sandie in Florida (remember we have multiple Sandie's, Sandy's). These hats are nice and heavy, so will be warm for our homeless folks. She's used 2 strands of yarn together (I believe) and loomed this hats. Very nicely made. Many thanks Sandie for your on going support and this thoughtful donation.
2010
Scarves 305
Hats 565+10=575
Mittens 142
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 115

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Give a Square

A nice blue knitted square from Jessica. Who can't use a blue square. Blue will be easy to incorporate with ghans as I continue to design ghans for our folks at Faith Mission. In fact, I've already begun thinking about this blue square with what I've already got on hand........though I might change my mind as other squares come in from our Give a Square program.

Thank you Jessica for your thoughtful donation.

2010
Scarves 305
Hats 565
Mittens 142
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 114+1=115

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

More then just a square

Moving along with the next phase of the burgundy and blue knitted blocks from Rose Marie. Once I finished the first section with the joining and blue edge, I determined I'll not have enough of the navy to do the whole ghan with blue edge; so plan B is that the navy will be used to join, the navy will be used in the 2 inside stripes, and a burgundy will be used for the top and bottom edge. Then a combination of those colors (presumably a row of each), will be used for the final outside edge to pull it all together. Here the burgundy edge facing us looks red, though it is burgundy; a bit lighter then the dark burgundy in the blocks, but I believe with the variegated blocks of blues, burgundy's and tan it will work fine.

Hope everyone is busy knitting and crocheting away, and if you've not yet read about Give a Square, Please do by clicking in the sidebar for details. Thanks.

2010
Scarves 305
Hats 565
Mittens 142
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 114

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Fabulous Scarves to warm the Homeless

Thank you Mary, a fellow Ohioan for these fabulous scarves. I love the way the look. They remind me of Mexican and or Native American style. She tells me she used what's called a knit stitch, though she says it's single crochet. They are bright and cheery, and very nice and heavy so will be warm! Mary is our newest pair of helping hands. Hope to see you here often Mary and keep up the good work. Your thoughtful donation is very much appreciated.

2010
Scarves 299+6=305
Hats 565
Mittens 142
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 114

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Knitted Corner to Corner, Color Busting Afghan

Busting stash, one color at a time. First Pink, then green, and done now with blue. Checking stash to see what's next. Chipping away here on this traditional style corner to corner garter stitch knitted ghan for Faith Mission. Using up lots of odd balls with hues of each color. There will be no right or wrong side to this ghan, as I'm changing when the yarn runs out. Currently, I believe it will be 4th colors. Must check stash to see what color comes after the blue. Stay tuned.

2010
Scarves 299
Hats 565
Mittens 142
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 114

Continuing to work on the squares of the red and burgundy ghan as well. Remember November and December are Give a Square Months.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Congratulations on a Personal Challenge that Helps Others!

HATS, Hats, HATS and more. Count them if you can. 40 fabulous hearts of various sizes and colors crocheted by Yarn Yokel, someone I've gotten to know from The Hive. Congratulations Yarn Yokel (Jason) for completing your wonderful personal challenge. He challenged himself to make 40 hats. This is wonderful way for a win win situation. He wins because he's set and accomplished a goal. A fabulous goal at that, one all about helping others. The 2nd part of the win win is the 40 people who will receive his hats and be warmed by the thoughtfulness it took to make them as well as the yarn that's keeping them warmer.
Had to show you this hat close up, look at the swirl! I've got to find out how he made that. I really love it, so fun, so interesting and so unique. Awesome!

Many thanks Yarn Yokel for your thoughtful donation.

2010
Scarves 299
Hats 525+40=565
Mittens 142
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 114

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Clapping for Mittens!

Clapping wildly, more lovely mittens. Look at all the wonderful sizes and different colors. These fabulous mittens are knitted by Dorothy in Wisc. Dorothy participates in Bev's Charity Challenge. She's also one of the winners of The Mitten Challenge, The Mitten Throw Down! You can certainly see why. Many thanks Dorothy for your thoughtful donation. 7 hats, 1 scarf, and 30 pairs of mittens.
Wanted you to see this cute design. Look how she made the thumb, the edge of the cuff, and tip of the hand in a coordinating color. Shows up so nicely like that. Very cute.
One of the wee pairs for a little tyke, aren't these adorable! Once again let me say how thrilled I am with the amount of participation we had with the mitten challenge. What a great idea, Beth. Thank You Beth for the idea, and thank you to all who participated.

2010
Scarves 298+1=299
Hats 518+7=525
Mittens 112+30=142
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 114

Be sure and read about Give a Square.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Squares Make a BIG Difference

Thank you Judy for these fun, and very pretty granny squares. I love the pattern you used. Is it one you made up, or is it an official granny square pattern? These are fabulous, so nicely crocheted. Thank you for such a nice job with working in those tails when you changed colors. I'm anxious to add these to others I have on hand and get busy designing another ghan. Judy is another pair of helping hands we're thrilled to have. She's a fellow Ohioan too...Waving to you Judy.

Am currently working on 2 ghans, have a 3rd designed and ready to be joined, but will start putting on my thinking cap to see where and how to use these marvelous squares. To date, we've made 5 afghans, 2 went to our friends in Boston for their homeless project Pine Street Inn, and 3 went to our local homeless housing for homeless and abused mothers and children, Faith Mission.

Thank you all for your continued support, your hard work, and your open and caring hearts. Keep up the good work.

2010
Scarves 298
Hats 518
Mittens 112
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 132+8=140

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Warming heads of homeless, a Very Important Necessity

Look at these fabulous knitted hats. They are sooooooooo soft, and such pretty colors too. Thank you Louise-- 2 little girls will be thrilled to have those darling multi-colored hats to keep warm, and 2 boys likewise with the 2 blue ones. Very nice indeed.

These hats are so nice and stretchy, more so then some I've knitted, am wondering is it because of the yarn you used Louise...or perhaps because you used a smaller needle? Very very nice.

Welcome to our group Louise, we help people one stitch at a time. We're happy to have you join us as the newest pair of helping hands.

Thank you for your thoughtful donation.

Tell someone about Give a Square, post our badge on your blog, help us spread the word.

2010
Scarves 298
Hats 514+4=518
Mittens 112
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 132

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Mittens and More from Jean

Jean, one of our winners of The Mitten Contest, The Mitten Throw down crocheted wonderful mittens of many sizes and and colors using Beth's pattern. She extended some so the cuff is nice and long, and in some cases she turned up a cuff, and in other cases she added nice trims. Click to see all the wonderful items she donated. 35 total pair of mittens, 2 hats, 2 hats and matching mittens, a scarf, a hat and matching scarf, a hat and gator set with buttons. Fabulous. Thank you Jean for your thoughtful and wonderful donation. Everything is so very much appreciated.
Tried to get a close up here where you can some of the mittens she trimmed and made a rolled cuff.
Oophs almost forgot to show you these 5 pairs. These are wool, and you can see the blue multi-colored pair have been felted. Also hope you can see how she added color by making the thumbs in some of the mittens a different color. So very creative! Many thanks Jean

2010
Scarves 296+2=298
Hats 508+6=514
Mittens 77+35=112
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 132


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Mittens

Though Mitten Month, Mitten Challenge, The Mitten Throw Down are over, I'm still posting pictures from mittens received during that time. Thank you Sandie for this pair of crocheted mittens. Sandie and I sometimes like to put our brains together on projects and decided we'd do that with this pair of mittens Sandie starting using Beth's pattern, and I snugged them up with rows of decreasing single crochets then add a single crochet chain woven around the cuff and tied in a bow. Just a wee bit different. Though it did make them girly, lol

Thanks Sandie for your ongoing support, it's always appreciated.

2010
Scarves 296
Hats 508
Mittens 76+1=77
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 132

During November and December I'm highlighting Give a Square, so we can make ghans for those at The Mission.



Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

More then Mitten Dancing Here

Thank you Ruth! Beautiful work, lovely colors and a nice selection of sizes. Ruth is another new pair of helping hands, and we're thrilled to have her join us in helping the cause. She's warmed homeless here with 5 scarves, 5 pairs of mittens, and 5 matching mitten and scarf sets! All crocheted. Whew....her hook must have been smoking. lol
Wanted to show you a close up of the yellow scarf so you could see her pretty detail in the pattern. The mint green set is the same pattern.
Here's a close up a pair of mittens. She used several patterns here; though the basis for all was Bev's Marvelous Mittens. I'm not a fan of doing back stitch singles so have only used that pattern once myself; but in some of Ruth's mittens she altered that pattern and used dc instead of sc. I think if you click on above picture you can see that in the green pair. DC's go faster then sc and seem less hard on the arthritis to my way of thinking. She also altered the sizing a bit. She extended the cuff from where is says 6 stitches to 11, and used hdc. She also moved the thumb up for 4 stitches by chaining 18 instead of 14. Where the pattern called for sl. st. she used sc.

Thank you Ruth for your thoughtful donation, and for sharing your twist on a mitten pattern!

2010
Scarves 286+10=296
Hats 508
Mittens 66+10=76
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 132

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Thank you Lisa

Thank you Lisa! Some of you might know Lisa as fussy1 over on RAV.
What a nice collection of donated items here. Crocheted hats (5), scarves (5), a fleece headband, a fleece hat (1), a crocheted shawl, and 6 stripes of fleece a friend gave Lisa to send along. I used my pinking shears and cut the edges of 4 of the stripes, then cut and tied the ends for fringe.

I'm thrilled to have Lisa join us warming the homeless. She's had a personal battle and even going through chemo and radiation has been able to give of herself to help others. This unselfish act makes me warm and tingly all over. Many many thanks Lisa, YOU ROCK!

2010
Scarves 275+11=286
Hats 502+6=508
Mittens 66
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 3
Squares 132

Squares will be collected through out the months of November and December to be joined to make ghans for Mothers and Children at Faith Mission. Read more about the project by clicking on Give a Square in the sidebar.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Slip into these Slippers

Can't you see kids slipping into these cute, warm, and super soft slippers! Thank You Scharlet for your thoughtful donation. These slippers will go to the kids being temporarily housed at Faith Mission. Some of these unfortunate kids are victim of abuse, others were previously homeless. All are in need and these darling crocheted slippers will give them a much needed lift. Scharlet is our newest pair of helping hands here on The Bridge. Welcome and again Thank You. If you're on the Ville, she's IDAGAMMY.

2010
Scarves 275
Hats 502
Mittens 66
Socks 80
Slippers 12+3=15
Ghans 3
Squares 132

GIVE a SQUARE, read all about it by clicking on the badge in the sidebar

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Warming heads with Hats

Our good friend Sandie has 2 more lovely hats for the men living under the bridge. Sandie has been such a good long supporter with her wonderful crochet skills she has warmed many many homeless since we began this project. The colors in this picture are a little odd. The carpet looks yellow....no clue why it's tan? The hats are gray and black though the 2nd one here in the photo almost looks green. Weird sometimes how these colors show up in photos.

As always, Thank You Sandie, your work is wonderful and your donations are truly appreciated.

2010
Scarves 275
Hats 500+2=502
Mittens 66
Socks 80
Slippers 12
Ghans 3
Squares 132

Give a Square, Give a Square, Give a Square. Have you read about it? Have you made squares? Have you added a badge to your blog? Have you told your neighbor? Have you told a co-worker? Have you tweeted it? Have you Facebooked it? Have you posted something about it in a forum? WOW..........so many ways to help. PLEASE and THANKS for any combination there of.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Hats, hats, Hats

Hats, hats, Hats! 9 crocheted hats from Krystine L. Thank you for your thoughtful donation Krystine. Krystine is our newest pair of helping hands. Look at the 2 pink and 1 green frilly little girls hats........ADORABLE!! Click to enlarge picture so you can really see them.

Krystine has a sweet lady friend that crocheted these and she wanted to help. Crochet, yarn, knitting sure break down the walls of age. It's such a common ground for so many of us of varying ages that it binds us together in such a marvelous way. How cool is that!

Krystine, please give our thanks to your little lady friend for her thoughtful and generous heart.

2010
Scarves 275
Hats 491+9=500
Mittens 66
Socks 80
Slippers 12
Ghans 3
Squares 132

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Help for the Homeless in every Corner

Been working on this corner to corner knitted afghan for our folks at Faith Mission. Using the color clean method. lol I dumped my pink stash and organized it, then my green stash, an then the blue. Organized, re-wrap and sorted as I went through each colored bag. Using up the small balls of this and that. Rows aren't even as I had more of some colors then others, no pre-determined pattern, changing colors as I run out. I am now on the 2nd half, as I've started the decreasing a stitch per row as I go so we'll see how it ends up. Not sure whether there will be a color beyond blue; have to see when I get there. Normally, I make a point to have a right and wrong side; but here I decided not to, I've even changed in mid row when the yarn ran out. Kinda fun to just go for it.

Still working on the blue and burgundy too. Gotta keep the fingers moving, there is much need.

2010
Scarves 275
Hats 491
Mittens 66
Socks 80
Slippers 12
Ghans 3
Squares 132


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

More loving warmth for the cold Homeless

Mittens, and squares, and socks oh my! 2 pair of nicely knit and very warm mittens, 2 mitered squares also knitted, and a fabulous really heavy pair of socks. James, long time supporter has done it again. Many thanks James for your ongoing support. I know you've been swamped with moving and all, so finding time to make and send these items is truly special. Many many thanks. Hope you're settled in nicely in your new digs and things calm down a bit for you with the holidays coming on.

Give a Square is in full mode, use up some of those odds and ends with your yarn so you can get more for Christmas presents! It's a good system. lol Details in the sidebar.

2010
Scarves 275
Hats 491
Mittens 64+2=66
Socks 79+1=80
Slippers 12
Ghans 3
Squares 130 (since Give a Square)+2=132

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Drum Roll Please!

The other day I received an email that got me pretty excited. Having just returned to town from vacation, I was in the process of trying to catch up with email, with blogging, with laundry. In catch up mode, I hadn't had the time to respond to the email from Bendy Carter of "Crochet Magazine". The very next day I received a nice phone call from her. Bendy writes a column for the magazine titled, "Caring and Sharing". Each month she writes about a different charity and asked if she could highlight Bridge and Beyond! Naturally I am thrilled and hope you all who've been busy knitting, crocheting, and looming are as well.

The process has several components. Firstly, she creates a design that matches the said charity. She's thinking hat and scarf for Bridge and Beyond. Once she makes the design, she then crochets the piece/pieces. The photo and the pattern along with information about the charity, link to the webpage, and mailing address for items to be donated will then appear in the magazine. Bridge and Beyond is currently slated for September of 2011. It's my understanding it's common place for magazine's to work that far ahead.

Do you all buy Crochet Magazine? Do you have subscription, or do you buy them on line? I am curious to know. Hoping to swing by my local book store on the way to work and pick up a copy so I can be better acquainted with it. Have you read any of her books? Used any of her patterns? Do Tell!

**Edited Dec 4, 2011 to note that the highlighted article appeared in the December issue, not the Sept issue. You can still get a copy. There are lots of wonderful patterns**
2010
Scarves 275
Hats 491
Mittens 64
Socks 79
Slippers 12
Ghans 3
Squares 130 (since Give a Square)

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Special thanks going all the way to France, for helping our Homeless

Donations from across the sea! Look at these wonderful knitted items being donated by Sacha all the way from France! 4 hats, and 3 pair of mittens, and a pair of fingerless gloves. Sorry the sun got in the corner of the picture there on the 2nd red hat. Please click to enlarge picture so you can see her pretty detail work with the Intarsia Knitting. Also wanted to try and describe her fingerless gloves (top right corner). They're a bit different than ones I've seen in the past. The little finger and the ring finger are together covered like they would be in a mitten, and therefore the fingers you do more with are the ones out. There might be a word for that type of fingerless mitten; but I'm not familiar with it.

Sacha and I became acquainted over on The Hive and have enjoyed getting to know one another sharing our love of craft; as so many there do. Thank you Sacha for your thoughtful and beautiful donation, it is so very much appreciated.

Have you read about our latest program, Give a Square? If not please do by click on the words Give a Square.

2010
Scarves 275
Hats 487+4=491
Mittens 60+4=64
Socks 79
Slippers 12
Ghans 3
Squares 130 (since Give a Square)


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Mittens and Slippers for the Homeless, AWESOME

Three cheers for Nelda our newest pair of helping hands. Nelda's slippers and mittens are wonderful. Please click on the picture to see the detail in her mittens (particularly the cute children's mittens). Slippers and mittens are all knitted. She sent a variety of sizes which is always helpful. The 2 larger pair of slippers might be double strand? They're so nice and thick and feel so warm. Warm feet and hands are happy feet and hands. Thank you Nelda.

**Give a Square**



2010
Scarves 275
Hats 487
Mittens 57+3=60
Socks 79
Slippers 9+3=12
Ghans 3
Squares 130 (since Give a Square)


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

And the winner is!

We never seem to get enough mittens, so I thought we'd make this past month, October Mitten Month. Then our friend CrochetPrincess (Beth) suggested we have a mitten challenge, and Mitten Throw Down and so we did. She graciously wrote up a 2nd mitten pattern which you can find in the tabs across the top of the blog to kick us off. I told her I would supply the yarn, FREE YARN to the winner of the contest. The winner of the contest would be the person would knitted and or crocheted the largest number of mittens. Since I was going to be out of town we extended the deadline beyond the end of the month to November 8th, this past Monday. I thought perhaps people were madly still knitting and crocheting though that date and needed a couple of days to mail mittens and so declared though the deadline was Monday and the 8th....today would be the day the announcement was made.

I'm pleased to say we had 11 people participate by sending in mittens. Some you've seen here, some are still in que (generally a new post each and everyday highlighting, counting and documenting someone's pretty heartfelt work). So, you still have some to see...keep checking.

Thanks to all who participated: Sarah S and Sacha from The Hive, James from RAV, and blog friends--Linda, Bunny, Sandie and some new found helping hands who found us from searching on the net even though they don't have blogs Jean, Ruth, and Nelda, and Dorothy from Bev's Charity Challenge. I managed to get a pair in (had hoped for more, but have been madly working on ghans). To date we've collected 96 pairs of mittens, some knitted, some crocheted, some sized for men, some for women, and some for children! 66 pairs of mittens to warm 96 pairs of hands. WONDERFUL! Thank you Thank You.

The winner with 35 pairs of mittens is Jean. Jean you've not yet met, a new pair of helping hands for us. Welcome to the group Jean, Thank you for your lovely mittens. We're thrilled to have you in our ranks. Please email me your snail ady so I can put your yarn...your winnings in the mail to you.

I wrote this blog post early this am before work, and as I returned home this evening had another box of 30 mittens from Dorothy. So, have amended the numbers above. I am thrilled with how many mittens were donated. AND am going to declare 2 winners, a first and 2nd place. I'll be sending out yarn to both Jean and Dorothy.

Our current focus is Give a Square, though we continue to need and accept hats, scarves, mittens all year long.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Progress on Afghan in the works

You might have seen this ghan in it's design form stage 1 HERE, but wanted to share the progress to date with you using Rose Marie's wonderful knitted squares. One row of squares has been stitched together, and the wide border of navy--the crocheted section is complete. The original thought was to use the navy and crocheted around with a border in addition to the navy between the rows of joined squares/rectangles. However, I believe I'll use burgundy after the squares are joined with the navy sections due to the amount of navy I have on hand. A work in progress, one of 3 ghans I'm currently working on for our folks at the Mission.

Working on a knitted corner to corner which you can see here in the green phase.

And have an Autumn Ghan planned with some odds and end here, though edging has not yet started. After staring at this one awhile I believe I will change my joining color, thinking maybe green. Might have to switch out the two squares that have black in them? Thinking still on this one, thus haven't begun the edging.

**Winner of the mitten challenge, the mitten throw down announced tomorrow.
***Give a Square, or more. Have you read up yet on the November and December special? If not, please do in the sidebar.
*****Stay tuned for a very special, and very exciting announcement about Bridge and Beyond and a certain Magazine!

2010
Scarves 275
Hats 487
Mittens 57
Socks 79
Slippers 9
Ghans 3
Squares 130 (since Give a Square)


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Knitted Mittens for the Homeless

More mittens for me to dance about. Fabulous, wonderful, warm, soft mittens! These cute creations come to us from the knitting needles of Bunny (Lynda). Look how darling there are. Bunny's work is always awesome. Bunny has been a long time supporter of the cause, she knits, she crochets; she's awesome!

I thought you might like to know how Bunny and I met. We met after Katrina when we were both working on ghans for the survivors in a group our friend Sandie (ie) organized for that cause. So, it's been lots of years that yarn has tied us together.

Many thanks Bunny for your thoughtful donation, as always it's so very much appreciated.

2010
Scarves 275
Hats 487
Mittens 54+3=57
Socks 79
Slippers 9
Ghans 3
Squares 130 (since Give a Square)

**Remember to check back on Friday for the announcement about the winner of the challenge
AND don't forget to check out Give a Square, it's time to make some squares. See sidebar for details.


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Mittens, lovely mittens for the homeless!

Mittens!!! See me doing the mitten dance? lol 5 pairs of fun colored knitted mittens from our good friend Linda in Florida. Love these Linda. I know I've asked before; but have forgotten and need to post.-- What pattern did you use? These are knitted with straight garter stitch and look like they wouldn't be too hard to make. They're nice and stretching too which is a plus for sizing. I snagged the largest pair for The Bridge and 4 will go to kids with cold hands in the clinics and The Mission. Wonderfully made, and fun colors too.

Announcement for the winner of the contest will be this Friday, the 12th, which should allow enough mailing time from anyone who sent mittens out on the 8th which is the deadline for the contest. That doesn't mean though folks we don't still need them long after the contest ends. Keep knitting and crocheting, please and thanks. 31 pairs thus far. Let's hope we can raise that number a bit with what might still be in the mail.

2010
Scarves 275
Hats 487
Mittens 49+5=54
Socks 79
Slippers 9
Ghans 3
Squares 130 (since Give a Square)

**Remember we're a week into our newest focus Give a Square! Details here

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Frank the Luscious Loomer, Hats for Homeless Galore!

70 wonderful, warm, and fun hats from Frank The Luscious Loomer and Karen. Always so fun to open a box of goodies from Frank and Karen. Lots of different colors, solids stripes and patterns galore! Hugs for your ongoing support for the cause. These fabulous hats will make such a positive difference in so many lives. These knitted hats have been divided between the kids treated at the 2 free clinics, and those living in temporary housing at The Mission. I was able to select some of the larger hats for the men living under The Bridge as well. 70 heads will now be warmer, and 70 people will know they are not forgotten; they are indeed cared for....They DO MATTER. Giving hope is priceless folks.

Thank you again Frank and Karen. Keep up the good work.

Today is the last day folks to get your mittens in the mail for the Mitten Challenge. I'll give a few days for the mail to be delivered and announce the winner on Friday. Thanks again Beth for the idea of the challenge, and for writing up a new pattern. To date, mittens have been received from 9 people (Sarah S., James, Linda in Florida, Sacha, Nelda, Bunny, Sandie, Ruth, and myself).

2010
Scarves 264+11=275
Hats 417+70=487
Mittens 49
Socks 79
Slippers 9
Ghans 3
Squares 130 (since Give a Square)

**please check back often for updates, take time to visit each other's blog, encourage each other to keep up with the good work; and know I appreciate each and everyone one of you and your thoughtful donations!

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Catching up for the sake of the Homeless

Just back in town with many wonderful donation to post and share with you all that arrived during my vacation. Please keep checking each and everyday.

Donations include, hats, scarves, mittens, and slippers.

Tomorrow is the deadline for the contest, the mitten challenge from Beth. Assuming people are working feverishly to finish their donations by that date, add a few days for mailing. I'll announce the winner this Friday, the 12th based on all those received.

Once again many thanks to Beth for the idea of the mitten challenge, and for writing up a 2nd pattern for folks to try. I'll be adding a few new tabs with patterns for slippers in the days to come, so do keep checking back.

Please take time and leave comments, as it helps the placement of the blog which helps us with more visibility on the net which translates to more folks finding us, which gives us more helping hands.

Gotta get boxes opened, items counted, photographed and will begin posting. Thanks to all! Keep up the good work.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Afghan in the Works

I pulled these 18 blue, burgundy and variegated knitted squares from those Rose Marie sent. This is the basic lay out for a ghan in the works. Normally I stitch/edge around all squares before joining; but am doing this one a bit different. To utilize the size, I'm stitching together one row horizontally using navy; then am crocheting multiple rows across for a fairly wide border of the navy between each row of stitched squares. This should make a reasonable sized lapghan for either an adult or male teen. I believe the colors are appropriate for that as well.

By the time you read this scheduled post I should be well over half way on the corner to corner ghan for The Mission as well.

2010
Scarves 264+11=275
Hats 417
Mittens 49
Socks 79
Slippers 9
Ghans 3
Squares 130 (since Give a Square)


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Soft Scrumptious Scarves

Thank you Becki. Becki is a fellow Ohioan and the maker of these wonderful, soft, scrumptious scarves. Look how pretty they are. I think they are knitted? Becki am I right? I love the way you did the fringe. Somehow they are tied? Click on the picture to see the detail please. Becki and I found each other through Facebook. How cool is that. 11 scarves (9 teen/adult sized and 2 cute child sized on the right hand side).

Not only will there be warmer happier people wearing these scarves, they'll be stylish too! Many thanks Becki.

***Please read the details about The Mitten Challenge, thank you Beth; and Give a Square in the sidebar***

2010
Scarves 264+11=275
Hats 417
Mittens 49
Socks 79
Slippers 9
Ghans 3
Squares 130 (since Give a Square)



Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

More Mittens, Thank You Sarah

Thank you Sarah S. Fabulous warm mittens, 4 pair to warm hands for our homeless. A darling little pair of slippers, 2 pairs of socks to warm feet....always such a need. And look at the awesome personal care packages she put together for us. 6 personal care packages include a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, a bar of soap, and a crocheted wash cloth! Awesome. Everything is so truly appreciated. Sarah shared the pattern she used for these (and her previous mitten donation); which I've added above in the tabs. She altered the pattern by not using any of the triple crochets, she substituted single crochets instead. She indicated she often adds a row or two based on the yarn if she feels it's not coming out quite long enough.

2010
Scarves 264
Hats 417
Mittens 45 pairs +4=49
Socks 77+2=79
Slippers 8 +1=9
Ghans 3
Squares 130 (since Give a Square)

***About a week left folks to get in on the mitten challenge. Details in side bar
*****Have you checked out Give a Square? It officially starts in a few days


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Crocheted Squares and Scarf for the Homeless

Such a cute scarf made from crocheted granny squares! Thank you Susan. AND 4 more squares to help us with our ghans for the folks at The Mission. Click on the picture to enlarge so you can see the unusual heart grannies on the left side. I've not come across that pattern before. How cute. Granny squares are always fun and such a good way to use up odds and ends. Thank you also Susan for the nice long final tail on your squares. This does remind me I should remind all you to please not tie and cut when you're changing colors. Work in tails of several inches to avoid having items come apart. Cutting after a knot never lasts.

Make sure you're updated on The Mitten Challenge and Give a Square....details found on side bar


2010
Scarves 263+1=264
Hats 417
Mittens 45 pairs
Socks 77
Slippers 8 pairs
Ghans 3
Squares 126+4=130 (since Give a Square)


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

SWEET, Slippers

Feet come in many sizes, but big or small feet get cold. Slippers warm the heart and the feet. Here's our first round of slippers. They are darling, warm, and so nicely made. Thank you Liz (minnisoda over on Crochetville). Not the most artistic picture I've taken or even the most clear. yikes, must have moved my hand. I wanted to line these up so you could see the variety in sizes of these adodrable 8 pairs of crocheted slippers. By the time you read this schedule post (as 99.9% of the posts are); they are warming the feet of kids and mom's living in the temporary housing at Faith Mission.

I left Liz a message, regarding what pattern she used and when I find out will post, if possible. Looks like a good one that would go quickly and with the variety of sizing available what a bonus.

2010
Scarves 263
Hats 417
Mittens 45 pairs
Socks 77
Slippers 8 pairs
Ghans 3
Squares 126 (since Give a Square


Keep you hooks and needles flying folks. The need is great. You are all important and so very much appreciated. Keep up the good work.

**Still time to get in on the mitten challenge(check out the sidebar for information)
***Like to plan ahead, please read about Share a Square(click on blog badge in sidebar for info)


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Crocheting for The Homeless

Cute and fun crocheted for the homeless, Thank you Tracy! Left to right the blue brown camo crocheted scarf and hat set is probably my favorite. I've not seen that particular style camo before. What fun! next towards the middle of the picture are 3 hats of various sizes Green and Blue both variegated, and a solid blue. Another hat and scarf set with the pretty green variegated followed by another camo in browns and tans. These are all wonderfully made and so very much appreciated. A nice mix of adult and kid sized goodies.

I never tire of opening boxes and pouches to see what wonderful items you all are sending. What great big hearts you have!!

**Remember to check out The Mitten Challenge, there's still time; plan ahead and read about Share a Square**

2010
Scarves 260+3=263
Hats 411+6=417
Mittens 45
Socks 77
Slippers
Ghans 3
Squares 126 (since Give a Square)

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Warming hands of the Homeless

Another pair of mittens for mitten month. Adding this pair to our totals, but they won't be part of the competition for the prize for Beth's Mitten Challenge. I made this pair using Beth's first pattern and a smaller hook. Though the yarn was knitted worsted it just felt a little thinner to me; so used the smaller hook to minimize holes and add warmth. It's odd, but no doubt you've all had this happen. You can buy yarn on the same day from the same store, the same brand, style, type etc. But 2 colors of the same yarn will feel different with regard to thickness and weight. Dying must do that?

Hope you're all busy knitting and crocheting mittens for Beth's Mitten Challenge/Mitten Throw Down. Remember you still have time. Deadline is Nov 8th which is 15 days away (counting today and the 8th).

I've been working on another corner to corner ghan (knitted); and am assembling some squares from Rose Marie for another ghan for Faith Mission.
2010
Scarves 260
Hats 411
Mittens 44+1=45
Socks 77
Slippers
Ghans 3
Squares 126 (since Give A Square)


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Nerds are Cool, Squares prove it

Remember your high school days, when being square meant you were a nerd? Remember the movie, revenge of the nerds? I know we all can relate to one or both of these statements. Fast forward.............being square is COOL, being a nerd is COOL, so be COOL and join the squares!

Jumping the gun a wee bit, because our official start to Give a Square is Nov, but do take time and read all about it. Click blog badge in the side bar. Thank you Rose Marie for these fabulous fun knitted squares. Look at all the cool colors folks. I'm going to have fun designing a ghan or two with these squares. RoseMarie sent 44 squares! YIPPEE

Take a peak in the top right corner, a cute pair of thumbless mitts Rose Marie also sent. Most of the squares are knitted, while the mitts are crocheted. She also sent along a pattern I'm hoping to check out as well.

Keep those fingers, hooks, and needles moving folks. The need is great and each and every stitch you make DOES matter.

We're still involved with our mitten challenge/mitten throw down. I'm really anxious to see how many mittens we can get during that time. Again many thanks to Beth for the idea, and for the pattern. Click in tabs above folks.

2010
Scarves 260
Hats 411
Mittens 44
Socks 77
Slippers
Squares 126(since Give a Square)

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Warming Homeless Heads

10 Fabulous crocheted hats to warm the heads of 10 more homeless. Thank you so much for your thoughtful donation, Robbie. It is so very much appreciated. These hats are made with single crochet back loop making a nice ribbing effect. Hats are all nicely sized and will fit a variety of heads which is awesome. The ribbing allows the hats to be pretty stretchy.

The weather continues to drop so all items are truly needed. Many thanks to all for knitting, crocheting, and looming. Many thanks to all who blog about us, tell their co-workers about us, or who post our badge somewhere. You can now print off a paper flyer to post at work, school, church or your local library....or anywhere people gather. Please help us spread the word. The more helping hands we're able to find, the more homeless men, women, and children we can warm and give hope to. Flyer is available by clicking on tab in the top of the blog.

We're still collecting mittens for our mitten throw down, so keep'em coming. Check out patterns also available in tabs across the top of the blog.

2010
Scarves 260
Hats 401+10=411
Mittens 44
Socks 77
Slippers

AND, for those who like to plan ahead, please read about Give a Square by clicking on the blog badge in the side bar.


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!