A Potpourri Donation Helps many

Wonderful donation here from our good friend Marjorie M.  I love the variety.  It's a real potpourri.   Marjorie has crocheted 20 cotton washcloths, an item always well received at all the family shelters we deliver to.  In addition to her hand crafts Marjorie has sent socks for both men and women (Rae will be thrillejd), razors, shaving cream, plastic forks, sandwich size zip-lock bags, and first aid kits.  I never thought of first aid kits but feel these compact items will be greatly appreciated by Rae as she cares for the folks living out in the elements.  Yes, it's close to summer folks, but in the last week we've had horrible fog, nights close to freezing, an abundance of rain, and a couple of days that were hot.  The weather this time of year here in Central Ohio is tough when you're without a roof over your head.

**June is slipper month, be sure to check out the slipper tab above, before you begin knitting and crocheting**

**Email me details of when, how etc you learned to knit or crochet, please don't leave the details in the comments below**


2013 Donations:

Hats:  372
Scarves: 288
Socks: 182+18=200
Afghans: 24
Slippers: 132
Rain Ponchos: 202
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 349+20=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.

Donating Hats for Homeless

*this was suppose to post yesterday afternoon, sorry folks been having some troubles with scheduled post...continuing to work on it*

Thank you Marie P from Tennessee for this donation of knitted hats.  She has several sizes, several styles and a nice mix of colors.  The ribbed hat at the very top is probably my favorite.  Ribbed hats are generally nice and stretchy, which means they fit a variety of heads sizes which is a bonus...then again look how cute the mint green stripped one is with the little pompom on it.

Special Thanks for tagging each one with the size.  I know that's truly appreciated by all the shelters and aids them in proper distribution.

**It's June...June's focus is slippers, please check the details of sizes, colors, fibers, styles, and tagging in the slipper tab across the top of the blog.  There's also some patterns there you might enjoy using**

**Who's local?  Would love to get some additional help with assembling our afghans?**


2013 Donations:

Hats:  368+4=372
Scarves: 288
Socks: 182
Afghans: 24
Slippers: 132
Rain Ponchos: 202
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 349
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.

When, and Where did You Learn to Knit or Crochet?

*Oophs, just realized this scheduled post didn't post.  So, popped in to do a little edit.

Last year we shared some of what makes each of do what we do, knit or crochet and donate.  People had very sweet and inspiring stories.  I thought for the next couple of weeks it would be fun to share how and why/where we began to knit and or crochet.

Mo Mother taught me to knit, I think I was about 7 years old and I knitted one little scarf.  The type that's about 4 inches wide goes across the top of your head, covers your ears and ties beneath your chin.  It was everyother row knit, purl...very basis.  I think she then crochet to taper the ends and crocheted the tie.  It was variegated, looked like the variegated you now see that's called Mexicana.  I think it took me forever to finish it and I never knitted again again about 12 years ago when the knitting with big needles and using novelty yarn to make scarves as The Thing.

I learned to crochet from my neighbors Grandmother when I was about the same age.  She taught me to chain, do single and double crochet and I made a mint green Dollie from rug yarn that she gave me.   I never crocheted again until after getting married, back in 1972.  Hubby was working full time in the evenings, and going to school during the days when I worked, so I had lots of time on my hands and decided I needed a hobby.  I got a book, learn to crochet in a day or something like that.  Following the directions some, mostly the pictures and kept at it until I remembered and have never stopped crocheting since then.  Except for a period of a couple of years when I was wearing writs braces for my carpal tunnel

How bout you?  What's your story?  Email at sandycrochet at gmail and I'll be happy to share it.  Do you remember what your first projects were?

The ghan above is one I've been working on off and on for a good long while.  It's knitted, feather and fan pattern.  I've named this one Sea and Sand.  I'm on the 2nd to last section, then need to weave in end...decide if I want an edge, launder and block.


2013 Donations:

Hats:  368
Scarves: 288
Socks: 182
Afghans: 24
Slippers: 132
Rain Ponchos: 202
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 349
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.

Hats and Scarves are Donated All Year Long

Love these colors!  Thank you Sandie P, you've done it again with your skilled busy hands.  Sandie has crocheted 2 lovely hats and scarves.  I love how nicely sized her scarves always are, wide enough to truly cover the neck and long enough to wrap multiple times...even up over the mouth and nose if necessary during cold winter months.

As always, Sandie your work is always so nice.  Many thanks for your on going support of Ohio's Homeless.  You are very much appreciated.

It's June folks...hope everyone is busy making slippers.  Knitted and crocheted slippers.  Please consider making your slippers with double thickness yarn, and please use nice tight stitches.  Loose stitches don't hold up well for slippers.  PLEASE read all the necessary information in the slipper tab.  There are also some nice patterns there you can use.

2013 Donations:

Hats:  366+2=368
Scarves: 286+2=288
Socks: 182
Afghans: 24
Slippers: 132
Rain Ponchos: 202
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 349
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.

Bags for Donated Afghans.

I wanted to let you all know the bags we've talked about before have been found, ordered and are here!  You may remember our good friend, Barbara F sent a donation in these nice zip lock style bags with a handle awhile back.  I liked the bags so much asked her about them and she graciously sent me several boxes, HERE.  I searched around here to find where I could get them with no luck, searched on line with no luck and she did some marvelous detective work with the store where she had originally purchased them.  Though they were no longer carrying them, she was given a link to order them on line and have them shipped to the store.  She passed along the link to me and I was able to order them.  It took awhile (several weeks), to get the whole thing done; but the wait was worth it.

We're using these bags for our afghans.  The bags are 20.5 x 17 inches, are heavy duty so nice and durable.  Not only does it make it easier for me to deliver the afghans to Homeless Families Foundation; but it makes it easier for them when packing up Welcome Home Packages.  They can see if the ghan is more child or adult oriented, as well as whether it's more male or female oriented.  It keeps the afghan nice and clean, and gives the family means of storing it during warmer weather.  A letter from Bridge and Beyond accompanies our afghans wishing them well and gives them laundry instructions. (you can see how they present in this post)

This whole process took several months, thus my excitement at now having the bags at my disposal.  Thanks so much Barbara for all your help.

Each box has 12 bags, and each case had 6 boxes, and I got 2 cases; so am well stocked now with 144 bags.

Love Team Work!


2013 Donations:

Hats:  366
Scarves: 286
Socks: 182
Afghans: 24
Slippers: 132
Rain Ponchos: 202
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 349
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

here's the link to order Click here: Bulk Heavy Duty Zip-Seal Extra-Large Storage Bags, 12-ct. Packs at DollarTree.com
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.

Clapping for Mittens from the State of Pennsylvania

I'm sooooooooooooo excited with this fantastic mound of mittens!  These are beautifully knitted, soft, thick, warm, paired and tagged male and female.  Please join me and thank our good friend, Judy C from Pennsylvania for this donation of 55 pairs of mittens!!!  Nice dark colors for men........ and a nice variety of colors for women.  Judy you are AWESOME!!

There are 36 pairs for the men, which is wonderful; as they are the largest group living outdoors.  These mittens have a nice long stretchy cuff to aid in it's warmth factor.  Judy please let us know which pattern you used.  I really want to pass this information along.  Some of you may remember, we lost our mitten page on a day when I was trying to do an edit and blogger wasn't working well.  I am in need of posting some good patterns for both knitted and crocheted mitttens.

Keep up the good work.

Today is the first day of June......our focus is slippers.  Please check the details in the slipper tab for size, color, fiber information.  Please remember to attach your pairs and label with size.

2013 Donations:

Hats:  366
Scarves: 286
Socks: 182
Afghans: 24
Slippers: 132
Rain Ponchos: 202
Mittens: 22+55=77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 349
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.