Sneak Peek at Sweet Liberty Afghan for PFC Jonathan Roberge Memorial Golf Tournament Raffle

This past January was a sad time for the city of Leominster. For the first time since the Vietnam war, one of our own was killed in action. I knew the family of PFC Jonathan Roberge through my daughter's involvement in the high school band where Jonathan's younger sister plays the trumpet.

Later this summer, a golf tournament along with a raffle will be held to raise money for a memorial scholarship fund and I wanted to do something to help. Golf just isn't my Thing, but I do love to crochet! So I thought the afghan kit which I had been saving in my project closet for just the right occasion would be the perfect item to make and donate to the raffle.


The name of the afghan is Sweet Liberty and it is made up of 20 blocks, 10 with blue stars in the middle just like in the picture, and 10 with red stars in the middle. The yarn is Bernat worsted weight and a real pleasure to work with. After reformatting the pattern so that I could follow it easily, I started working on the blocks. So far I have 6 completed. 4 more blue star blocks and 10 red star blocks, then I will crochet the blocks together and do the red border around the whole thing. Hopefully it will all be finished before tee time on August 1st.

I'll keep you posted!

Happy Stitching!

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Circus Circus Oddball Baby Blanket Complete - Crocheted Wavy Border

Once again, a crocheted border around a knitted blanket gives it the perfect finishing touch.

Just recently you saw the oddball baby blanket called Circus Circus after all the knitting had been completed. The colors that each knitter chose to work with were all so bright and cheerful and conjured up happy Circus-like images.

The border has now been added in an equally cheerful color using a fun, and easy, crocheted wavy stitch which you will find below.


Here is Circus Circus in all its happy cheerfulness. The variety of stitches and colors really makes it a fun and uplifting blanket and I just know it will make some little baby very happy.


This crocheted border begins with 3 rounds of single crochet to provide a solid base for the wavy stitch.


Then the quick-to-stitch decorative wavy border is added for the final round. Here's how it is worked:

After completing one or more rounds of single crochet (3 in this case), begin the wavy border by working 2 Half Double Crochets (hdc), 2 Double Crochets (dc), 1 Triple Crochet, 2 dc, 2 hdc, 4 single crochets (sc). Work each of these stitches in a separate stitch. Repeat pattern around the blanket, working 3 of whichever stitch you are on in the pattern into each corner stitch. Join with a slip stitch after finishing the last repeat of the pattern close to the beginning.

My 300th post is coming up quickly, so don't forget to enter my giveaway. You could win 4 crocheted dishcloths in your choice of colors. Tell your friends too!

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheting for PTO Fundraiser Finally Finished!

I'm not usually the kind of person who waits until the last minute to get things done, but I cut it a little close for my donation to the high school PTO silent auction for this Friday evening. I finally finished the woven hot pads to go along with the dish cloths I made last week, and I delivered them to school. Whew! One more thing checked off my list!


Here is one set for the kitchen basket. I love this color combination. It's Lily Sugar 'n Cream Country Side Ombre along with Sage Green.


And here is the other set for the kitchen basket. It is made with the same Sage Green along with Green Twists. These are the same dishcloths I showed the other day. In that same post I also showed a yellow and white Tunisian Short Row cloth that was paired up with the Yellow Duck wash cloth for the New Baby Basket at the auction.

The denim blue cloth and one of my Super Easy Knitted cloths were paired up for the Bed and Bath basket.

If you like the looks of these cloths, make sure you sign up for my 300th Post Giveaway. You could win a set of 4 in the color of your choice!

Happy Stitching!

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Here Comes The Sun - Another Oddball Baby Blanket

Here's another Oddball Baby Blanket all finished and ready to go. The five knitted sections were done in a variety of stitches by knitters in Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I crocheted the border right here in Massachusetts.


The scallop border I crocheted on this blanket is the same one I did on the Tutti Frutti blanket a while ago. If you would like the border pattern and a video showing how to do it, you can find it by clicking HERE. It's really quite simple and produces a sturdy but pretty border for a tiny little preemie blanket like this, or even for a big full size afghan.

I have received my swap partner information for Sheri Howard's Think Spring Swap, and she is practically a next door neighbor! Isn't that funny? When I signed up for the Stitcher's Angel Swap last year, my partner was from all the way across the globe in Australia. And this time I got someone right in the next town from me! I think I'll hand deliver my package and make a new friend! You just never know what will happen when you sign up for a swap, but so far, I have had a good experience with each one. I'll show you a picture of my swap gift before I deliver it, and of course whatever goodies I receive in the mail from whoever got my name!

Happy Stitching!

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Learn to Knit -- Hurdle Stitch

The Cherry Berry Preemie Oddball blanket is now complete and George the mailman picked it up today to deliver it to the generous lady who will wash, block and deliver all the Preemie Oddball blankets. You may be wondering why I have been spending so much time lately on these oddball blankets. Well, here's how it happened...I read in the charity knitting forum a while back that a few more blankets were being started, so I volunteered myself to be the last knitter and also to crochet the borders on some of the new blankets. Little did I know that they would all be coming my way at just about the same time! Each knitter is given two weeks to work on a blanket before it should be forwarded on to the next knitter, so it actually makes sense that they would all be ready for me at just about the same time as each other. That thought never occurred to me! Brilliant! But that's ok because I rather enjoy working on these blankets and it gives me the opportunity to try out some new stitches and make up some new border designs.

The other day you saw the completed Tutti Frutti blanket along with a video of how to do the scallop border. So now on to Cherry Berry.


Here it is after all the knitting was complete. Don't you just love the variety of pink yarns used in this blanket? Not one yarn is the same as another. The yarn used in the middle section actually has some red in it and you'll see in a future post that the border is also in red. The knitted section that I did is at the top of the picture. I used the same pink yarn for this as for my section on Tutti Frutti which was Bernat Softee Baby in Pink Marls.


The stitch I used is called Hurdle Stitch which I first saw in another oddball blanket. I asked the knitter for the instructions on the stitch and I also found it online. I'll share it with you below. The above picture shows what nice texture the stitch has, and the next picture shows what a pretty design it makes.


I have always had a preference for crocheted blankets over knitted, but this stitch is one that I might consider for a knitted blanket. It is thick and soft, almost like a double layer of stitching. It also seems to be more substantial than other knit stitches, not loose and stretchy. I really enjoyed knitting my section of Cherry Berry with the Hurdle Stitch and I know it will be a stitch I will use often on future blankets.

Here's the stitch pattern if you would like to try it yourself:

Hurdle Stitch

Work over an even number of stitches.
Rows 1 and 2: Knit
Rows 3 and 4: (K1, P1) across
Repeat rows 1 - 4.

I just don't think it could be any easier to get such a pretty design with such nice texture in a knit stitch! Try it and see what you think! I'll show the border I crocheted on this blanket shortly along with a video of how to work it.

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheted Border - Simple But Pretty!

A crocheted border on a knitted or crocheted afghan can give it such a nice finishing touch. Depending on who will be receiving the afghan or baby blanket, either a simple border of single crochet or a foofy frilly ruffle border might be appropriate. Of course there is always a Something In Between type of border that could be just the thing too.

The most recent Oddball baby blanket I completed was Forest Greens on which I knitted the last section in a basket weave design. On that blanket, I was also on Border Patrol so I came up with a simple but pretty -- and easy -- border for this one. Here is a close-up of a finished corner...


Working a round or two of single crochet around a knitted piece is a good way to get a border going. It stabilizes the edges and provides crochet stitches into which you can work the decorative border for the last round.


This is the whole blanket all finished and ready to be delivered. The colors in this picture are much closer to real life than the colors in the corner picture above.

Would you like to use this border pattern on your own knitted or crocheted blanket? Here's the pattern:

Work 2 or more rounds of single crochet (sc) around the entire piece, making sure to work 3 sc in each corner so the piece will lie flat.

For final decorative round, * sc in each of next 3 stitches. Chain 3. Sc into same stitch as last sc was worked.* This will create a little loop of chain stitches coming from the same sc stitch.

Continue working from * to * around the piece. Join with slip stitch. Cut yarn leaving a tail of about 10 inches to weave in. Draw tail through last loop to secure. Weave in ends.

Borders are fun to experiment with. Use your imagination and creativity to come up with variations of other borders you have tried from patterns. You can crochet a different border on every afghan you make, creating a truly one-of-a-kind work of art!

Happy Stitching!

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Dr. Seuss Knitted Scarf for Special Olympics

The deadline for sending in the knitted or crocheted scarves for the Special Olympics is fast approaching, so I've been working on this fourth scarf whenever I go somewhere knowing I'll have to sit and wait. I may have to put the wedding gift afghan (which I'll show you soon) on hold and just get this scarf done though.

Anyway, I came across a stitch in a book of needlework (which I'll also show you soon) that I thought would make a fun scarf and I gave it a try with the Red Heart Delft Blue and White yarns of the Special Olympics Scarf project. It is coming out very much like something you would find in a Dr. Seuss book! This is not the look I anticipated, but I really like it and I think someone will enjoy wearing it just because it is so different.


I think I'm about not quite half way finished with it at this point. I don't like scarves to be too short.


Don't you just love the blue and white? Those little rings are a hoot, don't you think?


Here's a close up of one of the blue sections. You can see that the parts between the rings are knit in stockinette stitch. The rings are not actually rings since this is knit flat, but the edges curl up on their own which gives the illusion of rings.


Here's where the white joins the blue. The ring sections are actually knit in reverse stockinette. I'll share the pattern below if you would like to try it.


I've gradually lengthened the stockinette sections as I work towards the middle of the scarf. Once I decide I'm half way finished, I'll start shortening them to match the first half and also alternate the colors to match on each side as well.

So here's the pattern:

Cast on 21 stitches.

Work in stockinette stitch for about an inch ending with a knit row.

*Beginning the reverse stockinette ring section, knit into the front and back of each stitch on next row. Now you have 42 stitches.

Continue in reverse stockinette stitch for about an inch ending with a knit row.

Returning to stockinette stitch, knit 2 together all the way across next row. Now you have 21 stitches again.

Continue in stockinette stitch for as many rows as you like, ending with a knit row. *

Repeating from * to *, alternate between stockinette stitch with 21 stitches and reverse stockinette stitch with 42 stitches until scarf is desired length. Bind off and weave in loose ends.

NOTE:
Stockinette Stitch is made by working the right side row in knit and the wrong side row in purl.

Reverse Stockinette Stitch is made by working the right side row in purl and the wrong side row in knit.

Here are links to videos you may find useful for this pattern:

• Cast on
• Knit
• Purl
• Increase by knitting into front and back of each stitch
  
• Knit 2 together decrease
  
• Bind off

These links and others with useful videos and information can be found on my sidebar under Hooked On Needles Links.

Happy Stitching!

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Oddball Baby Blanket Complete

Today I finished weaving in the ends of my very first Oddball Baby Blanket and I will be putting it in the mail this week. It was a fun and easy project to work on and I'm pleased with the way it turned out. At first I was a little concerned about crocheting onto a knitted piece, but of course that didn't stop me from signing up to do it. And then I was concerned about being the last person to work on a piece that six others had already spent so much time on. What if I ruined it?

Well, it's all fine and dandy and some little baby will just be so snuggly and warm underneath it.

Would you like to see what I did to finish it off?

First I attached my new skein of yarn to the work in progress and finished knitting the last few rows of garter stitch. Then I bound off the knitting using a technique called Crocheted Cast Off which uses a crochet hook in the right hand and the left hand knitting needle that the stitches are already on. This was a nice technique to use since I was going to be crocheting along this edge for the border. I'll be posting a video of this technique in a few days.


After binding off all the knit stitches, continuing with the same yarn and crochet hook, I worked a round of single crochet along all four edges, working three single crochet stitches into each corner. Then I continued going around the blanket with the decorative border pattern that I came up with for this blanket. It's pretty simple and goes like this:

* skip (sk) 1, 5 half double crochet (hdc) in next stitch, sk 1, single crochet (sc) in next stitch, sk 1, 3 sc in next stitch, sk 1, sc in next stitch *

Continue from * to * around working extra stitches into the corners to maintain pattern.

And here it is all finished and ready to be packaged and mailed. I am so excited to be on the list for a few more of these blankets in some very pretty color combinations. I like seeing the different stitches the knitters use and how it all comes together in the end.

Later this week, I'll have a video tutorial on the Crocheted Cast Off method of binding off knit stitches, and also a tutorial for crocheting around a knitted piece and the decorative border I used for this blanket.

Happy Stitching!

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My First Oddball Baby Blanket

In my recent post about how to do a double crochet decrease, I mentioned that I had become active in a knitting forum called KnittingHelp.com. This forum has allowed me to help and chat with people just like me from all over the country who enjoy knitting and crocheting. On this site, I also found a forum about charity knitting and was very interested in that because I have done knitting and crocheting for charities myself for a lot of years.

In this Charity Knitting forum, there was a thread for something called Northeast US Oddball Baby Blankets which sounded very interesting to me so I checked it out. I discovered that lots of crafty people (men too, not just ladies) come up with names and color combinations for baby blankets to be handmade and given to a hospital or other charity for babies. One person starts it then sends it along to the next, and so on until it is complete. Then one more person crochets a border around it and sends it back to the person who will deliver it along with the card that has accompanied it on its journey and has been signed by all who have worked on the blanket.

What a wonderful idea! I just had to get involved in this. So I put my name in as a likely border crocheter, and look what I received in the mail today from a nice lady in New York...


This blanket has been named Jersey Devil and has been knit using Caron Simply Soft entirely in red. So far it has been worked on by people in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York. Now I will finish it off here in Massachusetts with a crocheted border in the same Simply Soft Red yarn.


Look at all the different beautiful stitches these clever crafters have used in making this blanket. Each one has knitted about 5 inches of their chosen pattern, keeping the first and last 3 stitches of each row in garter stitch. It is so soft and cuddly, and most definitely made with lots of love.

I think the baby who receives this blanket will surely be blessed by all the love that has been stitched into it.

If you have the urge to do something nice for someone you don't know and you're looking for a new handwork project, check out KnittingHelp.com charity knitting or other charity links and pick one that suits you. Besides being a nice thing to do, it will just make you feel good!

Once I figure out how I will crochet the border and then get it done, I will certainly show you the finished project before mailing it off to its final destination.

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheted Scarves for Special Olympics

I have finished my second crocheted scarf for the Special Olympics and I love the Red Heart Delft Blue and White combination. The scarves are quick to work up too so I got some pretty instant gratification. I'm not usually a fringe kind of person, especially on something like an afghan which will be up around my face, but I thought these scarves would look nice with fringe, so I put some on and discovered something in the process.

Here's how I did it:



After finishing this scarf, crocheted entirely in the half double crochet stitch, I worked a single crochet stitch border around the whole thing, working one stitch into the end of each row along the sides. Across the two short ends, I worked one single crochet then a chain stitch, then worked another single crochet into the second stitch from the hook and then another chain all the way across. This left nice little holes into which I knotted my fringe.

I got my supplies together which included a very large (size N I think) plastic crochet hook, my latch hook which I had never used for fringe before, my scissors, my white yarn and something to wind it around to make the fringe. That happened to be the plastic packaging in which some linen fabric came. It was sturdy and just the right size for the fringe I wanted on this scarf.


I wanted white fringe on this scarf so I wrapped my white yarn around the plastic 4 times, with the beginning and end of the yarn at the bottom. I held all strands together at the bottom then snipped right through all the loops, at the bottom only.


Then I took the 4 lengths of yarn off the plastic from the top which was the middle of the lengths. I folded the yarn at the middle and hooked all 4 pieces with my big crochet hook that I had put from back to front through one of the holes on the end of the scarf.


I pulled the loop through the hole just enough to open it up and draw the ends of the yarn through the loop.


Then I tightened up the loop against the edge of the scarf and one fringe bundle was complete. Pretty easy. And pretty looking too!


I decided to try my latch hook instead of the big crochet hook to see how that would work and I was quite surprised. I grabbed the middle of the yarn with the hook and pulled it through the hole.


Then grabbed the tails of the yarn and pulled them through the loop with no problem at all. In fact it was much easier using the latch hook than the crochet hook mainly because the latch hook has that little latch that closes over the yarn so it doesn't slip out of the hook and goes through the loop very easily. I had heard of others using a latch hook for fringe, but I always thought the many lengths of yarn would be too thick for a latch hook. I was glad I tried it!


So this is a close-up of the scarf I put the long white fringe on. It is worked widthwise in half double crochet stitch throughout and has three 2-row stripes of white towards each end of the scarf. The white and blue yarns were carried up the side of the piece between stripes as shown in this tutorial, so I only had a few ends to work in after I was finished. I also worked a single crochet border around the scarf using the blue yarn. This was mainly to crochet over the yarn ends and the yarn that was carried up the side for the color changes. It just makes the finished product look neater.


This scarf was crocheted lengthwise using the woven stitch, one of my all-time favorites! The colors were carried up the side in this scarf as well so there were only two ends of each color to weave in afterwards. The fringe covered up where the yarn was carried up the side since it was on the short end. The short fringe on this one was worked in blue and white to match the stripes.


These scarves were fun and quick projects to make and I hope the special athletes who receive them will wear them with pride throughout the games and beyond.


Happy Stitching!

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Charity Knitting and Crocheting

Lately I have been cruising around the web just trying to see what kind of great stuff is out there for someone who likes doing all kinds of needlework. There is only so much one can do to keep for oneself, but people like us must continue to create! I've come upon a few sites where people are doing great things for others so I thought I would share those with you in this ongoing list of links. I will update it when I find new sites and there will be a link to it on my sidebar. If you know of any others that would fit into these categories, please leave a comment and let everyone know.

Organizations requesting handmade articles

• Special Olympics Scarves
• The Ships Project - Military
• Project Linus
• Warm Up America
• CareWear
• Binky Patrol
• Crochetville Toy Drive Challenge 2009
• OFA Red Scarf Project
  
• Your local homeless shelter
  
• Your local hospital
• Your local nursing home
• Your local church fair

Organizations that make items to donate

• KnittingHelp.com Charity Knitting
• Crochetville Charity Crochet
  
• Warmer Winters
  
• Your local Senior Center
• Your local Assisted Living Residence
• Your local Girl Scouts

Patterns you can use to make items to donate

• Crocheted Baby Hat
• Knitted Baby Hat
• Crocheted Woven Stitch
• Knitted Garter Stitch Scarf (knit every row)
• 2 Crocheted Scarves
  
• Organization links above also have links to boatloads of free patterns
  

Happy Stitching!

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Knit or Crochet Scarves for Some Special People

The article I have included below is from the August 26th issue of "Talking Crochet with Carol Alexander" and I thought it was worth sharing with you. You can subscribe to Carol's newsletter and many others by clicking here.

If you would like some ideas for a simple stitch to use to make a scarf, I can recommend the Woven Stitch, the Basketweave Stitch or the Ripple Stitch, which are three of my very favorites. My daughter and I will be making a few to send along for the Special Olympians. I'd love to hear from others who plan to participate in this worthwhile and rewarding project too.

Keep reading and see how you can get involved.

Make a Special Scarf for Some Very Special Athletes!
Crocheters and knitters are well known as some of the most caring and giving folks around, and the Special Olympics always seem to touch a special chord when it comes to lending support to some very deserving individuals. Participating in the Special Olympics can be such a positive and life-changing experience for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. I have witnessed it firsthand and seen the joy and have sense of pride and accomplishment that being part of the Special Olympics gives these extraordinary people who work so hard to achieve their athletic goals.

Knitters and crocheters have a wonderful opportunity to extend a warm gesture (literally!) to these special athletes in the form of cozy, handmade scarves stitched in the colors of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games logo. What a wonderful way to give them a personal "hug" to wish them well in their upcoming games! Please read the following press release from Coats and Clark, sponsor of the scarf project, and show your support for the Special Olympics athletes with the heartfelt gift of a handmade scarf.

Coats & Clark Sponsors Scarf Project for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games
Athletes at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho will be wrapped in a little handmade love, courtesy of knitters and crocheters across the country. Charlotte-based Coats & Clark is sponsoring a project to provide each athlete with a scarf created in white and delft blue Red Heart® Super Saver® yarns, which happen to perfectly match the colors of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games logo.

The Special Olympics World Winter Games Scarf Project is now in its second year. The program began in 2007 when World Winter Games organizers decided to give handcrafted scarves to athletes to wear to the Opening Ceremony. They asked local crafters to participate, and the headquarters office was inundated with over 1,000 scarves!

David Gish, an athlete from Idaho who participated in the 2008 Special Olympics Invitational Winter Games, says his scarf is a symbolic memento from the event. "Getting the scarves was very special for the athletes because we knew someone spent their time to make them especially for us," says Gish. "It is something I will have forever, and I know they will be just as special to the athletes next year at the World Winter Games."

This year, the World Winter Games aims to give a scarf to each athlete, the delegates supporting them and various dignitaries who will be visiting the Games, and they need help to meet that mark. This is where Coats & Clark comes into the picture.

"We're thrilled to sponsor this project. Our goal is to see 5,000 scarves donated. It's a big number, but I'm confident we can do it," says Vicki Blizzard, media relations and special promotions director for Coats & Clark. "Knitters and crocheters are dedicated and generous and are known for rising to this type of challenge."

Coats & Clark is promoting this project through its Web site, electronic newsletters, various consumer shows and magazines, so that knitters and crocheters around the country (and around the world) can send scarves to be given to the athletes. No special patterns or skills are required to create a scarf. Crocheters of all ages and skill levels, as well as schools, scout troops and other local groups are actively encouraged to participate. "Our only rule," says Blizzard, "is that the scarves are knitted or crocheted by hand using delft blue and white Super Saver yarn, because these colors were chosen specifically by the World Winter Games organizers."

Scarves can be simple or complex -- last year's scarves ran the gamut from basic stitches to complicated colorwork and stitch patterns. Personal notes from knitters and crocheters who want to send their best wishes to the athletes are encouraged and should be firmly attached to the scarves, which will be handed out before the Opening Ceremony.

Completed scarves must arrive by January 15, 2009, and should be sent to:
2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Scarf Project
3150 West Main Street
Boise, Idaho 83702

Reprinted with permission from Talking Crochet e-newsletter, copyright Aug. 26, 2008, published by DRG and edited by Carol Alexander.

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A Helping Hand from Patternworks

Have you ever had an odd question about some little detail in your knitting or crochet project and you didn't know where to turn? I recently found this page while checking out some summer classes at my favorite vacation yarn shop, Patternworks, in Center Harbor, New Hampshire.

Their Helping Hand page starts out with their own contact information, then continues with five tutorial videos for knitting: Cast On, Bind Off, Increase, Decrease and Cable Eight Front. These videos would be very helpful for a beginner.

There is a helpful FAQ section with the last entry being "What do the different yarn weights mean?" There is an excellent description of eight different yarn weights, gauge of each yarn, what size knitting needles or crochet hook to use and what each yarn might be used for. Very informative.

If you are looking for someplace to donate your knitted or crocheted items, you can look through the list of Favorite Charities and see which one suits you best.

The Care Tips section deciphers the meaning behind those little pictures on your yarn labels. You know the cute little icons that you can't really make out with words that are even harder to read. Now you can just match them up to this list and know what they are trying to tell you!

There is a little How-To for making the perfect gauge swatch, something we all do for every project, right? Well, ok, I admit it. I don't do a gauge swatch for things like afghans or scarves or mittens. But it really is best to do one before starting on an item that needs to fit well and be the proper proportions.

And the last little Helpful Tidbit of information on this page is a conversion between yarn sizes, something I have had to figure out many times by trial and error. If only I had known about this page, it would have saved me so much time and frustration!

So check it out and let me know if you find something here that is helpful to you.

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