Using Donated Yarn

This is the start of a patch work style afghan.  Truly only a start.  These blues are from my stash of donated yarn.  This will indeed be a long term project, as it's a learning project for me.  I've not knitted with multiple colors before so this grill stitch using 2 colors is a first for me.  It's always nice to learn new skills or techniques.  Sometimes I find I don't do that, I stick with what I know in order to move through the process faster.  So this got me thinking, wondering what your knitting and or crocheting style is with regard to donating?  Do you stick with the tried and true or do you venture out of your comfort zone?

As I age, I realize how important it is to keep learning, so am going to work...probably pretty slowly through this patchwork sampler style afghan learning new techniques as I go.  I ripped this out and started over after about 2.5 inches...but think I'm ok now with this beginning stage.  Will let you know how I progress...or not, as the case may be.

Tell me about your style in the comments below.  Tried and true or adventurous?  Neither is right or wrong, but I am interested.

**I should note mixing yarns like I did for this square, probably wasn't the best of ideas.  Been so long since I've used Caron Simply Soft I'd forgotten how untrue to gauge it is.  Wonder why they classify it as WW, seems like it should almost be in the sport weight class or perhaps DK?  Thank goodness this is a pretty stretchy stitch, otherwise using it with Red Heart WW would probably not work at all**

2015 Donations:
Hats: 55
Scarves:12
Mittens: 18
Slippers: 20
Rain Poncho's: 3
Cotton Washcloths:13
Afghans:1
Socks: 7
Fingerless gloves/wrist warmers:
Cowls/Infinity scarves: 11
Shawls: 1 (just realized it wasn't listed, don't think I missed any?)
Misc: personal care items and anything not listed above

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.

Crocheted Donation from a High School Friend

Thank you Joy for this lovely donation of crocheted goodies.  Joy's a high school friend of mine and while we don't get to see each other often, it always feels special when I open a donation from her.  I feel like we're visiting.   Look at all the time she spends with hook and yarn thinking about us here in Ohio.  That's pretty special to me.

Love the colors you used in your hats and scarves Joy.  Wonderful soft hats of various sizes to warm many heads.  Please keep up the good work my friend.

2015 Donations:
Hats: 47+8=55
Scarves:9+3=12
Mittens: 18
Slippers: 20
Rain Poncho's: 3
Cotton Washcloths:13
Afghans:1
Socks: 7
Fingerless gloves/wrist warmers:
Cowls/Infinity scarves: 11
Shawls: 1 (just realized it wasn't listed, don't think I missed any?)
Misc: personal care items and anything not listed above

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.

Knitting Stripped Afghan for Homeless

I started this ghan awhile back while out of town and have been chipping away adding stripes here and there in between working on Pink Persuasion which is now finished.  This is straight garter stitch, nothing fancy in the stitch work, but I do love this color combination.  You might remember some time back this yarn was donated by our good friend and long time supporter, Gail B.    This will no doubt be a long term project, though I have made headway since the last time I photographed it on Sandy's Space.  It's now 15 inches.

Do you typically have multiple projects going on at one time?  I do usually.  Partially because with something like this ghan which takes awhile, it's easy to tire of working on the same thing...so it's nice to switch off and on.  Sometimes I feel like knitting, and sometimes I feel like crocheting.  Sometimes I need smaller projects to tote with me,  and work on the larger projects at home.  Sometimes the projects you're working on can't be done in the middle of chaos, so an easier project is needed.  And sometimes...........the yarn simply calls your name and you find you have to start another project, because we all know, we often are not in charge of our stash.

What are you all working on?  Please tell us in your comments below.

2015 Donations:
Hats: 47
Scarves:9
Mittens: 18
Slippers: 20
Rain Poncho's: 3
Cotton Washcloths:13
Afghans:1
Socks: 7
Fingerless gloves/wrist warmers:
Cowls/Infinity scarves: 11
Shawls: 1 (just realized it wasn't listed, don't think I missed any?)
Misc: personal care items and anything not listed above

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.

Knitting Helps Homeless

Thank you fellow Ohioan, Linda W for this thoughtful and warm donation of knitted goodies.  Linda's been busy with her yarn and knitting needles, as you can see.  She needed warm wonderful slippers, and hats.  Both items are so very necessary to keep people warmer.  She's also knitted 2 cotton washcloths which are always a big hit at the various shelters, as well as with those living in the elements.

Many thanks Linda for your support, please keep up the good work.

Hope you're all staying warm, it's been frigid here lately with temps in the negative at night and early mornings.

2015 Donations:
Hats: 45+2=47
Scarves:9
Mittens: 18
Slippers: 17+3=20
Rain Poncho's: 3
Cotton Washcloths:11+2=13
Afghans:1
Socks: 7
Fingerless gloves/wrist warmers:
Cowls/Infinity scarves: 11
Shawls: 1 (just realized it wasn't listed, don't think I missed any?)
Misc: personal care items and anything not listed above

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.

Pink Persuasion Afghan Donation

 Pink Persuasion is done.  It's being blocked here after being laundered.  The picture still has the colors a bit off, it's not that bright, the darker blocks are really more a dusty darker mauve.  It must be because we're not getting any good natural sunlight these days here in Central Ohio, because the last picture I took of it showed it darker like this also.  The squares were donated by several different people.  I edged each square with a row of DC, crocheted the blocks together and edge with 2 rows of SC.  Between the additional edges, and the blocking it turned out just over a 50 inch square, nice size.  I started edging these squares while away recently on vacation and had about half of it edged and joined by the time I got home.  I also continued knitting the striped ghan and it's coming along, though knitting is much slower so it will be awhile.

I was able to collect some personal care goodies in my travels to add to the donations as well.

Hope you're all staying warm, it's been frigid here lately with temps in the negative at night and early mornings.

2015 Donations:
Hats: 45
Scarves:9
Mittens: 18
Slippers: 17
Rain Poncho's: 3
Cotton Washcloths:11
Afghans:1
Socks: 7
Fingerless gloves/wrist warmers:
Cowls/Infinity scarves: 11
Shawls: 1 (just realized it wasn't listed, don't think I missed any?)
Misc: personal care items and anything not listed above


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.

New York Crocheter Helps Ohio's Homeless with her Donations

Thank you Barbara F for this thoughtful and generous donation.  I can see you've been very busy!  I'm partial to the combinations of blue and green together...even if I arranged it that way for the sake of the picture, lol.  Hats of varying sizes, awesome........many heads will be made warmer through your efforts.  LOVE the pretty shawl, sized nicely I think for a teen.  Barbara's included cotton washcloths also.

Keep up the good work Barbara.  Lots of warmth here which is so very much needed.  Bless you.

2015 Donations:
Hats: 35+10=45
Scarves:6+3=9
Mittens: 18
Slippers: 17
Rain Poncho's: 3
Cotton Washcloths:9+2=11
Afghans:
Socks: 7
Fingerless gloves/wrist warmers:
Cowls/Infinity scarves: 10+1=11
Shawls: 1 (just realized it wasn't listed, don't think I missed any?)
Misc: personal care items and anything not listed above

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.