It's 2011, there are still Homeless

Before we begin yet another year of knitting, crocheting, and looming for the homeless wanted to discuss a few important issues--the business side of things.

We launched Give a Square, with the idea of it being a 2 month period (Nov and Dec of 2010). My thought was focusing on squares for a given period of time would give us the ability to spread our wings a bit, but keep things manageable in terms of squares piling up here for me to assemble. Once they were assembled they would be given to Faith Mission. They house mothers and children in temporary housing (apartments), who've been abused and or homeless. They have 20 such apartments. I thought it would be nice to donate 20 afghans, lapghans and have a few extra that they would have on hand to give out as others moved in (plus some families need more then one ghan). Once folks move in they work hard to get them back into society; find permanent housing, jobs etc. They could take their ghans with them as house warming gifts. To date we've donated 10 finished ghans and have (at the time of writing this scheduled post) 1 in the works, with 2 others designed waiting in the wings with other squares still on hand. My current thought is we will continue to collect squares throughout the month of January. The Give a Square program will not go away, it will be and off and on program. From time to time I'll re-activate it, based on the number of squares I have on hand etc. So, feel free to continue to make squares and keep your eyes peeled for posts indicating it's time to mail them. Each month I'll select an item to be highlighted; but we will continue to collect all items. The purpose of the highlighted item is to give people an idea of what to make if they're unsure what they want to make. To give us a focus. Typically it will be the item we've collected the least of--or where the greatest need is at that time. With that in mind Janaury's focus will be our "Rainbow Project".

Important Reminders:

Please remember not to knot and cut yarn when knitting and crocheting. When I receive items with knots I worry about them coming apart, and therefore take time to do a bit of repairing before I can deliver them to those in need. When changing yarn, always leave a tail (even if you do knot), and work into your work. With squares work in all tails except the last one please.

Please refrain from using loose stitches, as the items we make need to keep people warm in cold damp conditions, often outdoors for hours.

Please remember to include a note with your name and email ady, your blog url, or your ID from facebook, or Rav, or Crochetville, or wherever it is we've connected. I really do get confused sometimes with folks using different ID's in different groups.

For the month of January, we will partner with a daycare in the area to collect hats and mittens. I was contacted by a local daycare that does a service project during the month of January. The children collect hats and mittens for other children. This is a learning opportunity for them, to learn children their age have less then they do and to be able to help them. We will include their hats and mittens in our donations. I'm calling this project The Rainbow Project. Because they are children, their hats and mittens will be store bought, but our focus will remain knitted and crocheted, hand made. How sweet is that, children helping children! So think children, think rainbow colors, right and cheery if you're unsure what you want to make during the month of January. Hats and Mittens for children will be our January focus.

**Pending donations from Helen, Joy, Sandie, RoseMarie, and Louise to kick off 2011** Keep checking in, leave comments when you admire each other's work. Everyone likes to read nice words about their time consuming donation. And, spending time on the blog, leaving comments on the blog helps the blog's placement which is helpful in people finding us. Hint hint.

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!

Happy New Year, LOOK What we've Accomplished!

Happy New Year One and All. Many thanks for your support throughout this year. Thank you if you blogged about our cause, Thank you if placed a badge and link on your blog, Thank you if you knitted and donated, Thank you if you crocheted and donated, Thank you if you loomed and donated, Thank you if you sent socks and personal care items, Thank you if you told a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker about our cause, Thank you if you printed one of flyers to distribute to help spread the word. THANK YOU!!

I blogged about how we began and what was accomplished in our first month-actually less of operation HERE. I posted a blog about the growth that happened in the year 2009 HERE.

And now I want to list all those helping hands in this calendar year of 2010:(because this is not something I could accomplish by myself)* in no particular order

RoseMarie, Louise, Liz (minnisoda), my Darling Daughter Christine, Sandie in Florida, Jessica, Mary in Ohio, Yarn Yokel (Jason), Dorothy in Wisc, Judy in Ohio, Jean in Ohio, Sandie in Louisiana, Ruth, Lisa, Scharlet, Krystine, James, Sacha from France, Nelda, Bunny, Linda in Florida, Frank, Becki, Sarah, Susan, Tracy, Robbie, Patty in Ohio, Margaret, Karen V, Karen A, Cindy, Taby, Pat, Peggy, Tracey (Tcara), Lex (Alexis), Gail, a 2nd Patty, Joy, Yvonne, Donna, Joyce, Cyndy, Sandra, Anne G, Kate, Alma, Emily, Chris, Shelly, Christi, Jodi, Paula, Brodie Jo, Jennifer T., Esther maddeleine4), Trudy, Jenny, Barbara N, Becky, Bonnie, Mia, Becky P, Theresa, June M, Jan, and Rae.

Sometimes with people use one name or ID on a forum or in a group, a different one if they blog, and perhaps a different yet for their email I have troubles figuring out who's who when the mail comes and has a real name. Sometimes it's taken some time to determine who's who. To date, there is still one person I was never able to identify to thank and that would be Brodie Jo. I posted here multiple times and in other groups and forums I belong to; but never did make a connection. Brodie Jo, if you're out there please know your donation was very much appreciated. If anyone knows Brodie Jo, please zap me a note, thanks.

We really grew by leaps and bounds this year with more and more helping hands, with being able to help more people I was able to add to the mission several times. How awesome is that. We're listed on many additional lists these days. I put forth a real concerted effort at spreading the news several months ago and it has really paid off with more donations coming in daily.

Here are our final numbers of donated items for the calendar year of 2010

Scarves 340
Hats 592
Mittens 151
Socks 101
Slippers 34
Ghans 10
Squares 238

We grew in number of blog posts having 185 in 2010. We had our first contest, a blog contest that our good friend Sandie in Louisiana won. We had a mitten challenge which included another mitten pattern from our good friend and long time supporter Beth which Dorothy and Jean won. We added slippers to the list of items we need, and squares through Give a Square. I'm very happy with what we've been able to accomplish, one stitch, one donation at a time. We do make a difference, an important difference every single day in someone's life. THANK YOU.

I look forward to what we can accomplish together in the upcoming year of 2011.

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!

Fun Girly Ruffle Scarf Set

This was fun to make folks. The pink hat was a start from the garage sell stuff donated by Krystine. It wasn't quite finished, in that it wasn't long enough to cover a head or tight enough to stay on, a whole at the top where it was joined would let lots of cold air in; so I added a good size edge and brim (you see it rolled up here), a fun and funky curly cork screw topper to take care of the hole. And since I had pink yarn that matched made a fun funky curly girly scarf to match. Both are crocheted. The scarf is made from JoAnne's sensations (pink, and gray and white) Mohair which I love, sooooooo soft and nice to work with. The cute camo-ish black, gray, pink and white is I think Italian made Moda Dea. The label is long since gone; but that's what I think I remember.

I think one of the little girls at the free clinic will enjoy this.

2010
Scarves 339+1=340
Hats 592
Mittens 151
Socks 101
Slippers 34
Ghans 10
Squares 238


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 Warmth for the Homeless

Pinks, Purples, Turquoise, Goldish Yellow....25 of the 70 squares donated by Anne, Carol, Pat, and Kris will come together to make a bright and very cheery and girly Afghan. Not sure what color I'll join this with, must check my stash and see what jumps out at me. Naturally it could be done in white, ivory, black, but ....I happen to know I have some of the same variegated.....off the top of my head, I doubt I have enough to only use it; so will put on my thinking cap and see what I come up with when the time comes. Got one in the works as we speak, and a 2nd one designed ahead of this one in que. Love thinking ahead though.

Sure have enjoyed the fun and different squares that have come as a result of our Give a Square program. Those with ones I had on hands will give us the ability to make a good number of ghans for those folks at Faith Mission.

2010
Scarves 339
Hats 592
Mittens 151
Socks 101
Slippers 34
Ghans 10
Squares 238


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, Squares, Can You Count Them?

Connections are made in so many ways. This is certainly the case with this group of 70 crocheted squares. A group of ladies involved in about 10 community, charity type projects through work got together and made these squares. These ladies: Anne, Carol, Pat, and Kris have worked together on bake sales, walk-a-thons and many interesting and worthwhile projects throughout the course of the year. They found a program on line to make squares to be joined into afghans for those in need. Through time it was found that program involved costly shipping fees, as the squares were to be sent all the way to Africa. Looking for a project closer to home they began searching once again on line and through several aborted efforts found The Slipper Project on The Lion Brand site. Once they contacted Joyce at The Slipper Project, she suggested our Bridge and Beyond. Joyce and I have connected through The Hive and our quest for charity knitting and crocheting. So, many thanks to Anne, Carol, Pat, and Kris for these lovely fun and cheery colored crocheted squares, and Joyce for her referral to us, and to The Hive for connecting Joyce and I.

I'm hopeful we'll continue to see Anne, Carol, Pat, and Kris among our helping hands.

Many thanks for the thoughtful donation, sure glad you found us.

2010
Scarves 339
Hats 592
Mittens 151
Socks 101
Slippers 34
Ghans 10
Squares 168+70=238


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 Afghans for Faith Mission

Lovely tangerine crocheted afghan from Mary in Ohio. I love the design. Mary, what pattern did you use? This afghan is suitable both in color and size for a female adult lapghan and or a sweet little girl. It is quite pretty and will keep either warm and cozy.
This second yellow crocheted afghan is also suitable both in size, color, and style for a little girl or a female adult for a blanket or a lapghan. Many thanks Mary in Ohio for your thoughtful donation. Those mothers and children at Faith Mission that we're working to warm will love these. Again...asking what pattern did you use, this is lovely.

2010
Scarves 339
Hats 592
Mittens 151
Socks 101
Slippers 34
Ghans 8+2=10
Squares 168

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!