Avon Calling and Helping Homeless

If you're anywhere close to my age, you well remember the saying, "Avon Calling".  When I was young my Mother sold Avon.  I loved watching her open her deliveries to bag up her orders, to play with some of the samples.....it was way cool.  She walked door to door back in the day.  Shortly after graduating from high school, I too sold Avon; though I was not nearly as successful as she had been and it was short lived when I got a full time position as a clerk typist.

Fast forward Avon is now light years ahead of those door to door sales.  They, like so many business have a presents on the web.  YOU can shop from the comfort of your computer chair with a friend of ours, Sherry K and when you do; you'll be helping the homeless and others in need.  You might now be scratching your head saying...Sandy's gone off the deep end..again... how does buying Avon's lipstick or jewelry help the homeless?  The money our friend and long time supporter here on Bridge and Beyond makes from sales goes to her purchasing of yarn...........which turns into awesome goodness from her hook and is then donated to the homeless at Faith Mission, or others in need.  You could make it a double win win, lip gloss, deodorant, shampoo, lotions, soaps all are items we donate on a regular basis.  Personal care items are needed 12 months of the year by families in all the shelters, by those living under the bridges.  You could order from Sherry K, donate personal care to Bridge and Beyond and help Sherry with the yarn she needs to help others.  So hope over to her blog and see the wonderful items she makes HERE, and visit her AVON page HERE.  

AND, the other plus of ordering Avon from Sherry,  you're still helping even when time is tight and you can't knit or crochet.  AND you can tell all your non knitting and crocheting friends, this is a perfect way for them to help.

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.

Yarn Balls a Plenty

 Thank you Sandra L, fellow Ohioan for this thoughtful donation of yarn.  Sandra L and I know each other from a love of history and of graveyards.  Now that might sound a bit odd, but a group of folks whom initially met on line through find a grave, get together periodically and tromp graveyards.  It was on such a tromp through Green Lawn Cemetery here in Columbus where I first met Sandy.  She's a walking history book and is very involved with a special program they have called, First Saturday.  If you're interested in history or enjoy the peace, serenity, or beautiful art work an old cemetery such as Green Lawn has, I encourage you to go.

Sandy is a fellow crocheter who can no longer crochet due painful hands.  She recently cleaned out some closets and asked if I could some yarn?  LOL, if you know me, or have read this blog before you know the answer to that question.  She and I recently got together and had breakfast, visited and I found a home for her yarn balls.  Lots of colors, I may start a scrappy ghan, or I may use these colorful balls of yarn to make some of those wrists warmers I posted the pattern for yesterday.  In fact, I think that's a perfect use.  Thank you Sandy for the yarn donation.  I'm sorry you can no longer crochet; but know that your donation will serve others.

Adding Wrist Warmers/Fingerless gloves to our actual count now.  What is the correct name for them?

**Still looking to make contact with a Carol C with a military address, please if you're reading this send me a pm with the contact form**

2014 DONATIONS:
Hats: 619
Scarves: 331
Socks: 141
Afghans: 16
Slippers: 77
Rain Ponchos: 61
Mittens & Gloves: 68
Wrist Warmers: 1 (the yellow pair pictured yesterday)
Cotton Washcloths: 247
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts, and Shrugs etc. 13
Neck warmers, cowls, gators, wrists warmers/fingerless gloves and other misc items aren't tabulated; as well as personal care item

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.

Wrist Warmers, Fingerless Gloves

Modeling with one hand and photographing with the other hand, sorry folks, that makes for not the best picture.  These are wrist warmers, recently designed by our good friend, and long time supporter, RoseMarie.  She has made them in past using double crochets and I asked if she (she's sooooooooo creative), could mess with the pattern and come up with one using sc?  And here you have the results.  I thought the single crochets would make them a bit more sturdy and warmer.  

Mittens is something we've never gotten enough of, in terms of our donations.  And while wrist warmers obviously aren't as warm as full mittens, I thought it might help us bridge the gap.  Mittens aren't the easiest to knit or crochet and not something many of us have the ability to do.  However, I think this is something many of us can do.  

Turning my hand over so you all can see the other side.  

Here's the pattern:
Chain 24 and join to form circle, being careful to not twist your chain.
Add marker so you can tell where the end of the row is, adds in counting rows.
Row 1: sc (single crochet) across to the end of row, do not increase, do not add extra sc when you would normally add when to go to the next row.  Stitch count remains 24.
Row 2: Repeat row 1 until 27 rows are complete.  Stitch count is still 24, no increases done.
Row 28: Form the thumb opening
sc across 20 stitches (4 stitches remain), chain 4 and join this chain to the end of the row.  Your chain 4 and the 4 remaining stitches are equal, and your stitch count is still 24.  No increases or decreases made.
Row 29: sc across row (stitch count 24) You will sc into the 4 chain stitches at your rows end
Row 30: repeat row 8 more times (a total of 9 rows from forming your thumb opening).
After completing row 37, bind off.
Using a darning needle work your tail in.

RoseMarie used an I hook in this example.  It very nicely fits me.  I'm a small woman.

Using a larger hook would make the wrist warmers larger, using a smaller hook would make them smaller.  Would think we could play with adding a few stitches if we want to fit a man.  Using too large a hook might make them less warm, as they would be more open??

Thank you RoseMarie for your dedication.  You are a AWESOME.

Yarn used, regular worsted weight.


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.