Clapping my Hands for Mittens!!

Look at these fabulous, cool colored crocheted mittens. Love them and their sooooooo warm. Thanks bunches Jodi. Mittens is something we never quite get enough of so am thrilled to have these. AND she tells me she's already working on more. YIPPEE!!

It does occur to me, that perhaps I need to try my hand (pun intended) at this again. I've made them in the past; but didn't find them all that easy to do. However, with the weather getting warmer this is something you wouldn't have to have on your lap making you warmer. Hint...hint folks. Making mittens in the spring and summer for fall and winter use. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Keep stitching everyone, hooks and needles love to be busy. Thanks to all for you do.

Am continuing to work on my corner to corner ghan for Pine Street, and squares (so's Alma).

2010
Scarves 146
Hats 188
Mittens 13 +2= 15 pairs
Socks 28 pairs
Squares for Pine Street 7


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

Scarves and Squares for the Homeless

Look what pretty colors! Alma's crocheted another scarf for our homeless. LOVE the colors Alma. Many thanks for your thoughtful donation, your on going support and the love you show through your fabulous stitches!

Alma's also sent along 7 (9 inch) crocheted squares for Pine Street. These are our first. Remember you can send directly to them, or along with hats, mittens, and scarves and I'll forward as a group donation from The Bridge and Beyond. Another wonderful charity benefiting the homeless.

Thanks bunches Alma. I've continued to work on my knitted corner to corner ghan for the same cause (Pine Street), and have crocheted a couple of granny squares at work this week during lunch.

**A word of caution, if you're making squares for Pine Street measure them carefully. They need to be 9 inches to be used. Always be sure and measure both directions. Sometimes I can get my granny squares right on; sometimes not. The couple I made this week at work came out a wee short of 9 inches, so added a sc edge all around and then they measured correctly.
2010
Scarves 145+1=146
Hats 188
Mittens 13 pairs
Socks 28 pairs
Squares for Pine Street 7


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

The Faces of Homeless

There are many faces of homelessness. Some are women, some are men, some are children, and some are Veterans. They're in my city, and yours and the country sides too. The numbers may vary from local to local; but the problem exists everywhere across our great land. We don't know there faces, we don't know their names. We see them and want to avert our eyes. In some cases we may be afraid. Perhaps they are too. Afraid of another cold lonely night without a roof over their heads, afraid of another cold lonely night without food, afraid of another cold lonely night when they might have to be on the run or hide or try and protect what little they do have. Yes, I think they too have fear.

According to statastics, there are some 12,000 homeless on any given night in my state of Ohio alone. Of that 12,000 about 1,500 of them go un-sheltered. Like this man in the above picture finding rest in the middle of what appears to be a sidewalk or parking lots. No doubt some heat might exists in the concrete to help warm him.

In Ohio, The FMR (fair market rent) for a 2 bedroom apartment is $683.00. Rule of thumb is one shouldn't spend more than 30% of ones income on housing. To afford an apartment that cost $683.00 (FMR) using the 30% rule a person would need an income of $27,326.00 annually. That annual figure breaks out to $13.14 an hour given a 40 hour work week. The minimum hourly rate in Ohio is $7.30. Given the state's current minimum that worker would need to work 72 hours a week to afford the 2 bedroom apartment. You can quickly see from those stats compiled by localities and the federal government; why so many are homeless. Think of the people you know, how many make the $13.14 an hour and work a steady 40 hour work week. AND, how many do you know who's rent is well above the $683.00 (FMR)?

Please help where you can. We have many ways to help. Our primary goal has always been hats, mittens, and scarves. Those items can be knitted or crocheted and we do collect them all year long. Yes even in the hot months of July and August. We want to be prepared with a ready supply as soon as the first frost hits. In addition we always need store bought socks. Socks are needed during all 4 season. Can you buy a bag? I've added a badge here for Pine Street (click on side panel to read more about it), they are in need of 9 inch squares. Those squares can be knitted or crocheted. Please measure your squares twice. You can forward directly or send along to me with your other donations and I'll mail in bulk.

I wonder who's son, brother, uncle, husband or father the man is the picture is. The face of homelessness is sad.

**Please see suggestion made in comment by Sandie, I think it's a good one. I can buy socks in bulk and if folks want to send along a little something with their regular donations it wouldn't add to the cost of mailing.

2010
Scarves 143+2=145
Hats 188
Mittens 13 pairs
Socks 28 pairs


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

Scarves from Sandie's Hook

LOVE this yarn. Sandie's used this colorway before and it's really cool how no two things come out the same with the way the color fades in and out. Pretty earthy browns and tans, with shades of blue. Both super soft, nice and heavy and large enough for the men under the bridge.

As always Sandie's work is beautiful and I truly appreciate her on going support of this charity. Though you know if you ventured to her page, this is by no means the only charity she supports. She's always busy with hook and yarn. Sometimes I wonder if she crochet's in her sleep. lol Seriously, she's made so many things through the years and her support never wavers.

Hugs a bunch Sandie


2010
Scarves 143+2=145
Hats 188
Mittens 13 pairs
Socks 28 pairs

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.

Corner to Corner Ghan

Making headway on my corner to corner ghan for Pine Street. Though I don't believe it will travel that well since I'm using a bit of this and a bit of that; so probably won't take it with me on vacation. Will work on scarves probably instead. Easier to pack.

But, wanted to share the progress and whom all is represented here. Previous picture showed the first 3 colors (tan, red, and blue texture Rae's mother, my stash, Bunny's donation). The purple was given to me by Lydia when I helped her with family genealogy, the blue my stash, the rose from Tony a previous co-worker, multi-color from Bunny, and back to the tan from Rae's Mother.

Kinda fun trying to remember where all the yarn came from as I knit. It's like we're all sitting together.

2010
Scarves 143
Hats 188
Mittens 13 pairs
Socks 28 pairs

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