Left Handed Knitted and Crocheting

Thought you all might enjoy some pretty flowers.  These are Tiger Lilly's in my side yard.  A few years ago Daddy brought me starts from his yard, as he was in need of thinning out.  Aren't they gorgeous!  This is last years picture, yesterday the first one opened for this season.  I love the color, and how much they've spread........so much so my SIL will be getting starts from me.  I also love that we're able to share things from his yard.

I've got another sweet story for you all about how, when, why etc people have learned to knit and or crochet.  I sure am enjoying reading and posting them for you, please keep them coming.  This story comes from Sue F.  Thanks so much Sue for sharing.

I learned to knit and crochet when I was about eight years old. Because I am left handed, my mother had trouble showing me how to knit. I think she must have showed me some of the basics, but then I used a book to learn the rest. What I remember about learning to knit is that I would knit all the stitches from my left needle to my right and then back again from right to left without moving the needle to my left hand. This created a natural stockinette stitch so I was confused when the book showed a sample of garter stitch which is what you are supposed to get when you knit every row. I continued knitting like this for a few days, probably just making a square or something, until my mom noticed my switch-hitting knitting and showed me the correct way. 

My father is actually the one who taught me to crochet because he is left handed. I don't think he taught me any fancy stitches, but he did show me how to hold the hook and make chain stitches and that was enough to get me started. 

Over the many years since I was eight years old I have gone from making misshapen afghans to all sorts of items. On a crazy day, sitting and knitting or crocheting for a few minutes helps to settle my thoughts and calm me down. 

Now that my family and friends have all the knitted items they could ever need, I am thankful to be able to send my items to you, knowing they will be put to good use. 

**Just a couple weeks left to get your slippers made folks, we never get enough slippers so hope you're all busy knitting and crocheting away.  Plus...they're a good item to work on when it's warm.  Slippers needed for Men, Women, and Children.  Please see slipper tab above for details**

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.

A Crocheters Story

 Saw this cute comic the other day on Facebook and thought I'd share it with you all.  While this may be about knitting the same holds true us crocheters too.  I'd be a rich person if I was paid for every-time I said, just one more...how bout you all?

A while back I asked you all to email me your stories about how you learned, where you learned etc. to knit or crochet.  Here's another enjoyable story to read.  This is our friend Tristi's story.  Thank you Tristi for sharing.  Still happy to receive other stories to post. 

 

I learned to crochet when I was a child.  My mom taught me basics, how to chain and maybe single crochet, not that I knew the terms,  I never did much with it then.  When I was in college my roommate learned to crochet so I picked up the hook again, re-learned and started an afghan that never got finished.  

Fast forward a few years and I picked up my hook again, this time to make a baby blanket for my baby, I was maybe 3 months along.  I still have that blanket and I have to be honest I have no idea what stitch I used, it definitely wasn't a "basic" stitch" but it worked so...  once again I laid down my hook.  

Another few years passed and we were in our house and my aging neighbor knew that I, as well as my family, liked to craft (at the time it was plastic canvas).  She offered me 2 or 3 huge black garbage bags of yarn and a few boxes of magazines and books, as she couldn't crochet anymore.  I looked thru the bags picking the yarn I wanted to keep and what I would pass on to my mom and sisters.  I found a swatch of a beautiful stitch and I was determined to figure out what it was so I could make a blanket.

Looking thru the magazines I found a little booklet that taught the basics and a few "fancy" stitches.  I dubbed this my crochet bible.  For the first time I learned what I was doing, what single crochet and double crochets were.  I also learned how to read a pattern.  

That swatch that inspired me was a closed shell stitch and I made a baby blanket with it.  It wasn't the prettiest of pieces as I didn't know how important counting stitches was, it grew in some places and shrunk in others, but it was a jump off point.

I turned into a crochet friend.  I made afghans, toys, bags, dish cloths, anything to practice different stitches and reading patterns.  I finally was brave enough to try making clothes.  I made myself a few tops, some of it was as a pattern tester.  I took a class and made my eldest a hoodie.

I almost always have a project on my hook these days, usually 2 or 3.  It is my sanity.  I have made lots of things over the years, alot of them given as gifts and alot to various charities.   After the birth of my 2nd, I didn't get to crochet as much, a little bit here and there and then she got mobile and loved to play with my yarn.  She's 2 and a half now and she has phases where she's fascinated by my crochet and times when she takes my hook.  It's been challenging but I still find time to do a bit.

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.

Thoughtful and Necessary Items Donated for Families in Need

 Here's a cleaver way to package personal care items.  Thank you Cheryl S for this thoughtful and bountiful donation.  Personal care items are always needed by all 3 family shelters, as well as our folks on street.  I always safe all the sample sized stuff that comes in the mail, as well as the goodies from hotels when traveling.  A great way to make donations without spending money.  Cheryl has crocheted a cute little blue bag to hold it all.  This is also a nice gift idea folks if you need a little something for co-worker or friend.  Put a nice homemade bar of soap, bath scratcher or better yet one of your homemade knitted or crocheted cotton washcloths with it. 

 A beautiful, colorful and very cheery stripped afghan, made in what I would granny type stitches.  Won't this make some family happy!

 Stick with me folks, the box Cheryl sent was HUGE!  I took out a layer and photographed and just kept at it.  I love this pretty ripple afghan that started out with granny squares.  Very very nice.  I can see a Mom with girls loving this.

 Homeless Families Foundations is going to be jumping for a joy when I make the next delivery which will includes these ghans from Cheryl.  Another variation on granny's as the center and building from that.  This pretty purple and pink afghan is made like a never ending square...once the 3 where joined to form the middle.

 Cheryl included some personal care items, a hat, a space blanket and poncho.  And, the cute matching green set of hot pads, dish towel, spatula, dishcloth, measuring cups etc all packaged nicely for Welcome Home.  This will make an awesome addition to those special packs Homeless Families Foundation puts together when folks transition from shelter living to their permanent housing situation.

 Missed getting this in the above picture, more kitchen goodies folks!

 Creative, creative, and always looking ahead....that's our friend Cheryl.  She visits garage sales and came up with this cute doll.  She's made the doll clothes, a blanket, a towel set.  Please click to see all the cute items and their detail here.  This will be put aside for the special Christmas project through Homeless Families Foundation. 

 Another adorable crocheted afghan from Cheryl.  This one is tied to look a quilt.  Nice squares, joined in a pretty blue with the added touch of white ties.  AND...a blue and white ticking (think that's the right word) stripped pillow case.  This will make a nice bed package.  The colors will work for either a young boy or girl in my opinion.  Even a teen girl would enjoy this.

 Slippers in lots of sizing and colors.  Not sure what's going on in the picture...the colors are really funky and not true folks.  No idea why.  In addition to the slippers Cheryl has made a cute outfit for a young girl with a skirt and vest/top.

Another awesome colorful afghan.  Look how she picked up on the colors in the 2 pillow cases with her stripping on the granny stitch afghan.  Nicely done Cheryl.  What a nice idea putting pillow cases to make a bed ensemble!

I do hope you found time to eat and sleep while compiling this box of goodies.  Whew....it took me quite a bit of time opening, counting, photographing....can't imagine how much thoughtful time you spent crocheting.  Bless You!

2013 Donations:

Hats:  374
Scarves: 289
Socks: 200
Afghans: 25+5=30
Slippers: 132+9=141
Rain Ponchos: 202+1=203
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 419
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts etc. : 10+2=12
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, hand-warmers, cowls/gators and all meal prep related items, Dolls & associated items, stuffed/crocheted/knitted toys... etc aren't tabulated.


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.

Cotton Washcloths for Family Shelters

Pick a color!  Look at this awesome mound of fabulous crocheted cotton washcloths from our friend Dianne L. from California.  I love the variety is sizes and colors.  Also click to enlarge, look how she tied them...doesn't that make a nice package look to them.  All the family shelters love getting these cotton washcloths.  They are used as people enter the system and have nothing to get a nice shower, they used in move out packages when folks move from shelter living into permanent housing as both washcloths and dishcloths.  They are always needed, and always well received.

Nice work Dianne, please keep up the good work.  Hope to see you here often on Bridge and Beyond.  

June is slipper month, hope we get huge numbers of slippers.  We need slippers for men, women, and children.  Remember slippers should be made nice and thick (no loose stitches please).  Please check the slipper tab for ideas about how to use double yarn, or chunky yarn, or how to put 2 slippers together.


2013 Donations:

Hats:  374
Scarves: 289
Socks: 200
Afghans: 25
Slippers: 132
Rain Ponchos: 202
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 369+50=419
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's: 10
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, handwarmers, cowls/gators and all meal prep related items, etc aren't tabulated


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.

Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets

Thought you all might get a kick out of this cute cartoon about how nuts we who knit and crochet are.  I can't remember if I saw this on Facebook or on LionBrands site; maybe both.  Anyway, thought it was cute and worth a repeat.

Hope you're all keeping busy now the weather has finally turned nice in most places.  We're still closing windows and putting on fleece some days/nights here.  Normally that's not the case for this time of year, it's been a bit wonky.  Do keep your fingers busy with hooks, yarn, and needles.  We like to collect and delivery our awesome donations all year long.....even in summer.

June is slipper month, hope we get huge numbers of slippers.  We need slippers for men, women, and children.  Remember slippers should be made nice and thick (no loose stitches please).  PLease check the slipper tab for ideas about how to use double yarn, or chucky yarn, or how to put 2 slippers together.


2013 Donations:

Hats:  374
Scarves: 289
Socks: 200
Afghans: 25
Slippers: 132
Rain Ponchos: 202
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 369
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's: 10
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, handwarmers, cowls/gators and all meal prep related items, etc aren't tabulated


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.

Thank you, but No to Anonymous Donations

Anonymous donations came up the other day and it's not something I've blogged about in awhile, so thought it was time to discuss again.
**Isn't it nice when people donate anonymously, that means they don't need or want a public attention?**  Actually, no it's not nice in our setting for lots of reasons.

• In the past when I would receive a donation without a note, I would spend hours, sometimes days trying to determine from whom the donation came.  Why?  Because I don't have a way of knowing if they just forgot a note, or if they want to be anonymous.  It's not uncommon to get a heads up something coming your way, forgot to put a note in the box.  Since I can't look into my crystal ball to know if they forgot or if they wanted to be anonymous, I always expended lots of time and energy tracking people down.  All those I tracked down were in fact people who'd forgotten...so I really never assumed someone wanted to be anonymous.  Luckily, that particular problem has really lessened.  THANK YOU
• When a donation comes without a note, I'm not able to let the person know their items actually made it here.  Sadly, we have had a few situations with items lost in the mail, so it's best for everyone to know their items have been received...AND it saves them spending extra money to have it tracked.  (also less of a problem now with the changes in parcel post.
• Obviously for my record keeping anonymous is a problem.  I need my records to be visible and without question.  You can be anonymous on the blog, but not with me. 
• Sometimes I receive donations that aren't quite appropriate for our cause and it's important I have the ability to privately let the person know so they don't continue to send things that don't quite work.
• Sometimes I have items that require repair by me before they can be donated, and it's very important to communicate that so changes can be made in the future
• And..something I've never discussed here on line; but think perhaps it will help folks understand the magnitude of my being able to communicate with the individual, even if they wish to be anonymous on the blog. .. Bugs can nest in yarn and be transported from one house to another; bed bugs among them.  No, I've not had this happen; but I do know someone that has been unfortunate enough to be in that situation.  I did once, sometime back have a situation with yarn someone donated that I had to discard for related issues.  My apologies for feeling the need to post this; but as we grow it's sadly one negative by product of growth.

Some time back I indicated I could no longer spend the hours and days looking for people and therefore could not accept anonymous donations.  Thank you folks for understanding the ramifications.

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.