No More Repairs

As most of  you probably know by know, 2013 means Bridge and Beyond has been knitting and crocheting for the Homeless for 5 years.  I'm thrilled to say throughout those 5 years, we've grown in so many ways.  We grown in the number of helping hands we have, we've grown in the number of people we're able to help with our donations, we've grown in the variety of the items we collect, and we've grown in the actual number of each item collected.

A few days ago I announced we would be extending to accept quilted blankets/afghans for Homeless Families Foundation, and double thickness with batting scarves.  Please help spread the word by letting your quilting friends know.

With growth however, difficulties/problems also seem to grow.  Because of that, I will no longer be able to make repairs/alterations etc on items that are needed.  I currently have a rather large box of things needing attention before they can be of use.  The biggest issues seem to be Tails not properly worked in.  This problem comes in several forms.  An item with multiple color changes with tails hanging out (even if on the inside of a hat...tails should be properly worked in), and worse yet knots where yarn has been tied and the knot is sticking out on either the right or wrong side of the item.  Knots are uncomfortable on one's head if the hat fits snugly, and knots are ALWAYS the weakest link.  Many of these knots have already started to come un-raveled because tails weren't worked in and or the yarn was cut immediately after knotting.  When you knot and cut without working in a tail of several inches it will not hold.  I've taken time to re-work some hats, scarves, squares etc to make them usable  but it takes time and sometimes after spending the extra time; it's still not usable.  I don't have the right color of yarn; and often it's just simply not fixable.

My apologies if my bluntness here offends, but I think the items being donated should be viewed as gifts you're giving.  In fact, they are gifts.  They're gifts to give someone hope as well as keep them warm.  Something unraveled, or with tails hanging out doesn't present the imagine that someone took time to make  something special just for you.  I've taken time in the past to even fold over and stitch edges that have been one knot after another in an effort to hopefully not have the item unravel after it's first use.  I've had some squares unraveled when a ghan has been laundered.  If it unravels after one washing on delicate; there is no way it's going to hold up to constant use by a family.  I do look over the squares pretty carefully when I edge and join; but have missed some squares that weren't well constructed, causing some fancy footwork after the fact.

My hope/goal for the upcoming year is not have to throw away items that you intended to be donated.  However, I no longer will be setting aside items to be worked on later if they are issues.  PLEASE do not tie and cut when knitting or crocheting anything.  When changing colors, or simply adding additional yarn ALWAYS work in tails of several inches.  Working in tails as you go is a far superior method to working them in at the end, plus you don't forget to do them.

2013 Donation Totals 
Hats:  22
Scarves: 38 (31 flannel and 7 quilted)
Socks: 6 
Afghans: 1


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.

Arapaho Completed After Traveling Miles

 As I was laying out this completed afghan, it occurred to me it almost looked liked it belonged in this living room.  Side chair is blue...soooooooooooo

But, naturally it was not made with this in mind.  This afghan is assembled from strips donated by Katie J.  Over Christmas my Darling Daughter, Christine helped me with designing this and 7 other ghans, and then she managed to get about half the strips edge in light gray from my stash before she had to leave to return home.  I finished up the edging and joining.  The ghan has traveled through Ohio into West Virginia, North and South Carolina.  Got it finished several days after we arrived.  Will get it laundered and do some necessary blocking when we arrive home, so it can make it's final journey to Homeless Families Foundations.      What a nice team effort this afghan was.  This one is titled Arapaho.

**Please scroll back 2 posts to see our final numbers for donations for the year 2012.  AND scroll back 1 post to see the announcement about quilters....AND be sure and check back tomorrow when goals for 2013 will be posted.  With those goals will be some important changes/announcements**

EDITED TO CHANGE NAME FROM LYNN TO KATIE AS THE PERSON WHO MADE THE STRIPS.  SORRY, GOT CONFUSED BY NAME AND EMAIL ADDY FOLKS.

 2013 Donation Totals 
Hats:  22
Scarves: 38 (31 flannel and 7 quilted)
Socks: 6 
Afghans: 1

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. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

First Donation of 2013

Hats, and socks, and a quilted scarf...keep looking

More quilted scarves, and flannel scarves.....don't stop yet.

Thank you Lola for our first donation of 2013.  Like yesterday's post (if you missed it, please please scroll back and read it),  thought it was scheduled to post, but apparently it was still in draft form.  I can't give you the numbers here as this post was truly in draft form and not completed.  Will have to update with numbers on my return when I can check the note laying on my desk at home.  I can tell you there are 22 hats here and lots of scarves.

Lola is a quilter and wanted to try her hand at making quilted scarves to donate to our cause.  Please click to enlarge the picture so you can see her work.  The scarves are a wonderful size, big enough to wrap around which always makes things warmer.  The red, black and gray is flannel.  Stacks of double thickness flannel scarves.  There are a variety of sizes, many look like they'll work well for young children.  Flannel is soft and so I can these might work well for young children...even when they need to tie across their faces to keep warm.  I'll be checking with the various shelters, and schools to see how the flannel is received/used and let you all know what I learn.

Lola's friend Sue (I hope I'm remembering that right, as mentioned note in home on my desk.), has a sewing shop in Westerville and had all her students make 1 scarf before they made whatever item they had signed up to make. (that's where all the plaid flannel scarves came from.)  I'll edit this post with numbers and name if I remembered it wrong.

We've been a knitting and crochet group now for the past 4 years.  While I don't wish to change that focus, I think as we start our 5th year we'll open up the groups mission to include sewers/quilters.  Our focus has always been HOMEMADE.  It's my belief (and others too), that homemade conveys more hope/love then store bought.  With that in mind, I believe we'll reach out for additional helping hands to sewers/quilters.  I think quilts would make a nice addition to our homemade afghans for Project Welcome Home.  I like the idea of the quilted scarves as they are double thickness with batting.   I think we'll limit it to that for the time being, as I don't want to veer from the need of warmth, and  think most sewn items probably aren't as warm as we need them to be.  So, if you have friends who'd like to help but haven't because they don't knit or crochet....let them know they can assist with making quilts and quilted scarves.  Please remind them to check the scarf and afghan tabs for necessary information about size and colors.

**edited to add numbers**

2013 Donation Totals 
Hats:  22
Scarves: 38 (31 flannel and 7 quilted)
Socks: 6

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. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Woot Woot 2012 Awesome End of the Year

Sorry folks had this post in que, or so I thought and it got marked as a draft instead of scheduled to post.  Here are our awesome numbers.  Each and everyone of  you should give yourselves a pat on the back.

Some of you are new to our group and some of you have been with us from the beginning; no matter when you found us and joined in on the important Mission of Helping Homeless, YOU ARE AWESOME.  Together we make a fantastic team.  Some of us knit, some of us loom, some of us crochet, some of us do a bit of all...........what matters is the coming together to help those who are in need.  A single hat or scarf donated can make all the difference in the world to the one person who receives it.

Please keep up the good work, and let's hope we're able to continue to grow.  The more helping hands we have, the more people in need we can reach.  We've been able to reach people in need at free clinics (women and children), people living under bridges (men and women),  people with disabilities who are homeless (women at Nancy's place), families at 3 local family shelters (men, women, and children at Faith Mission, Homeless Families Foundation, and The YWCA), we've helped school age children (Broad Street Elementary, Stiles Elementary, Darby Dale Elm, Highland Elementary, and Teays Valley Middle School), we've donated to men who are receiving a hot meal (Holy Family Soup Kitchen), AND we've been able to extend beyond the boundaries of Franklin County here in Central Ohio.  We've donated items to family shelters through St. Vincent dePaul in Vinton County in Southern Ohio's Appalachia area.

Recently we used donated squares and assembled a comfort afghan (Box of Crayons) for one of the Firemen's Families in Rochester New York.

Yes, we are a team that has reached many and will continue to do so with our collective hearts.

Please stay tuned, I will be announcing some changes as we reach out to reach our goals for the year 2013.

AND Now....drum roll folks here are our final numbers for donations for the year 2012.

Donations: 2012 

Hats 1052  (83 more hats then we donated last year)
Scarves: 666  (195 scarves over what we donated last year)
Slippers: 153 (25 over last year)
Sweaters, Ponchos, Shawls, vests:10
Afghans: 55  (same as last year)
Mittens: 300 (42 more then last year)
Squares: 966 (114 more then last year)
Socks: 281 (52 less pairs then last year)
Rain Poncho's 213 (3 less then last year)
Cotton Washcloths 577 (288 more donated then last year)
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, face-masks, neck warmers, t-shirts, soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes, hand and foot warmers Teddy Bears and footies etc)

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. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Donating Knitted Mittens

YIPPEE!  See and hear me clappy for mittens...I truly admire the folks who are able to do this....I've made a few with my hook; but haven't yet made any with my knitting, so Sally's awesome mittens always make me smile.  She shared she recently learned how to knit with 4 needles (double pointed)...something on my list of things I'd like to do...So Congrats to you Sally and many thanks for your on going support.  The mittens are nice and soft and warm.  Awesome!

Special thanks too Sally for pairing and labeling them.  That helps me, and helps at the other end when the various shelters receive our donations.


2013 Donation Totals 
Hats:  100
Scarves: 78
Socks: 17
Afghans: 2 
Slippers: 14
Rain Ponchos:2
Mittens: 4 
Cotton WashClothes:44
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's: 4
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, handwarmers, cowls/gators etc aren't tabulated

**Working calendar will be forth coming folks, but for the remainder of February, our focus is feet.  Socks for adult males, and slippers for Men, Women, and Children.  See details in the slipper tab.  And be sure and check in soon to find out what the focus for March will be.**

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.

Round and Round We Go

 Thank you Sue F from Ohio for your thoughtful and generous donation.  So nice to hear from you again.  Lots of knitted warm goodies here folks.  She's knitted some nice thick and warm slippers, scarves, and a Baclava. (gonna count the Baclava with the hats)

 She's knitted and donated 2 round afghans.  Both are very colorful.  Got them folded in half. 

 And a nice thick...maybe double strands colorful stripes afghan.  I love all the pretty cheery colors, Sue F.  I've never made a round afghan, but know they've become pretty popular to make by what I see on Ravelry.  Thank you Sue, and please keep up the good work.

**WOOT WOOT, with your 3 afghans, we've now matched last years totals**

Just one more post before we close out the numbers for our donations for the year 2012.  Please keep checking in folks.

January's focus is Slippers....let's see if we can keep some feet warm with slippers.  Please check the slipper tab for necessary information regarding sizing, colors, and fibers.  AND there's several patterns there you might like to try.

Donations: 2012 

Hats 1051+1=1052  (83 more hats then we donated last year)
Scarves: 663+3=666  (195 scarves over what we donated last year)
Slippers: 148+5=153 (25 over last year)
Sweaters, Ponchos, Shawls, vests:10
Afghans: 52+3=55  (same as last year)
Mittens: 300 (42 more then last year)
Squares: 966 (114 more then last year)
Socks: 281 (52 less pairs then last year)
Rain Poncho's 213 (3 less then last year)
Cotton Washcloths 577 (288 more donated then last year)
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, face-masks, neck warmers, t-shirts, soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes, hand and foot warmers Teddy Bears and footies etc)

**I will continue to add numbers to the years totals after Dec 31st, so all donations received by years end will be counted in the year they are received.  Since each donation is a day, they will be some over flow into January.  Thus year end numbers won't be finalized until then.*

 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. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!