Doulas in Portland, OR are running a charity knit-along blanket drive for two charities in their area.
This website, http://babyloveblanketdrive.blogspot.com/
gives drop off locations, or if you’re not local and want to donate, a mailing address to send your knitted blanket.
Blankets must reach them by December 15, 2007.
The UK Store, Origins, is donating £1 from the sale of every Ginger Essence™ Sensuous skin scent bottle wearing a mini scarf (which you knit and donate by Nov. 20, 2007) to help the housing and homelessness charity Shelter ( http://www.shelter.org.uk/ ).
See details how you can help here:
http://www.origins.co.uk/customerservice/spa_details.tmpl?ngextredir=1
The Journal Register in Medina, NY, ran this article, “BLOGGING FOR BLANKETS: Local writer unites nations with knitting project to aid Orleans Habitat for Humanity families (link ….
http://www.journal-register.com/local/local_story_052123033.html ) about a local woman, Jackie Fleckinstein, starting a program called Gracious Parcels which makes blankets (based on Warm Up America 7 x 9 in. sections) to give to NY Orleans county Habitat for Humanity . You can get more information at her blog:
Dubbed as “America’s largest day of doing good, Make A Difference Day, is the fourth Saturday in October. ”
This year - Saturday, Oct 27, 2007
http://www.makeadifferenceday.com
There are all kinds of things you can join to help, or come up with something on your own. You can even find local events featuring knitting, crochet, sewing, crafts, etc. if you enter the keyword on the Find a Project page.
http://www.warmupamerica.com/how.html
Knit or crochet 7″ x 9″ sections, that when joined with others, create an afghan to be given to someone in need.
Warm up America encourages you to contribute locally.
Here are some patterns that they have listed on their site ( http://www.warmupamerica.com/patterns.html ):
| BASIC CROCHET SECTION PATTERN |
Crocheting Patterns
Materials: Worsted-weight acrylic yarns
Gauge: 9 stitches = 2 inches
Finished size: 7″ by 9″
.Hook: Size G crochet hook or size necessary to obtain gauge
BASIC SINGLE CROCHET
Chain 30 for the foundation chain.
Row 1: Single crochet in 2nd chain from hook, and in every chain in the foundation row. Chain 1 and turn your work.
Row 2: Working under the 2 top loops of each stitch in the previous row, single crochet across the row. Chain 1 and turn.
Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 9″. Fasten off.
BASIC DOUBLE CROCHET
Chain 27 for the foundation chain.
Row 1: Double crochet in 3rd chain from hook and in each chain of the foundation row. Chain 2 and turn your work.
Row 2: Double crochet in each stitch across the row. Chain 2 and turn. Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 9″.
Fasten off.
SHELL STITCH
Chain 31 for the foundation chain. (This stitch requires multiples of 6 chains plus 1.)
Row 1: Work 3 double crochets in the 4th chain from the hook. *Skip 2 chains. Single crochet in the next chain. Skip 2 chains, then work 5 double crochets in the next chain.* (You’ve created your first shell.) Repeat the sequence of stitches between the asterisks (*) across the row, ending with skipping 2 chains and 1 single crochet in the last chain. Chain 3 and turn your work.
Row 2: Work 3 double crochets in the 1st single crochet. *Work 1 single crochet in the center double crochet of the next shell, work 1 shell of 5 double crochets in the next single crochet.* Repeat the sequence of stitches between the asterisks (*). End with 1 single crochet on top of the turning chain. Chain 3 and turn your work.
Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 9″.
Fasten off.
FLYING “V’s”
Chain 33 for the foundation chain.
Row 1: Double crochet, chain 2 and single crochet in the 4th chain from the hook. *Skip 2 chains, then work 2 double crochets, chain 2 and single crochet in the next chain.* Repeat the sequence between the asterisks across the row, ending with 1 double crochet in the last chain. Chain 2 and turn.
Row 2: Work 2 double crochets, chain 2 and then work 1 single crochet stitch in the first chain 2 space of the previous row and in each chain 2 space across the row, ending with 1 double crochet in the last chain. Chain 2 and turn. Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 9″.
Fasten off.
LITTLE SCALLOPS
Chain 33 for the foundation chain.
Row 1: Skip 2 chains, and double crochet into next chain. *Skip 2 chains and work 1 single crochet and 2 double crochets into the next chain.* Repeat the sequence of stitches between the asterisks until the last 3 chains. Skip 2 chains and single crochet into the last chain. Chain 1 and turn.
Row 2: Work 2 double crochets into the first stitch. *Skip 2 double crochets, then work a single crochet and 2 double crochets into the next single crochet.* Repeat the sequence between the asterisks until the last 3 stitches. Skip 2 double crochets and single crochet into the top of the turning chain. Chain 1 and turn.
Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 9″.
Fasten off.
ALTERNATING HALF DOUBLE CROCHETS
Chain 31 for the foundation chain.
Row 1: Half double crochet into the 3rd chain from the hook, and into each chain across the row. Chain 2 and turn.
Row 2: Skip 1 stitch. *Work 1 half double in the back loop of the next stitch and 1 half double in the front loop of the next stitch.* Repeat the sequence between the asterisks, ending with 1 half double worked into the top of the turning chain. Chain 2 and turn. Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 9″.
Fasten off.
| BASIC KNIT SECTION PATTERN |
Knitting Patterns Materials:
Worsted-weight acrylic yarns
Gauge: 5 stitches = 1 inch
Finished size: 7″ by 9″ Needle size: 7 needles or size necessary to obtain gauge
GARTER STITCH
Cast on 35 stitches.
Knit every row until piece measures 9″.
Bind off.
STOCKINETTE STITCH
Cast on 35 stitches.
Row 1: Knit all stitches.
Row 2: Purl all stitches.
Repeat these 2 rows until piece measures 9″.
Bind off.
SEED STITCH
Cast on 35 stitches.
Row 1: Knit 1 stitch, purl the next stitch, knit the next. Continue alternating stitches across the row.
Repeat this row until piece measures 9″.
Bind off.
DOUBLE SEED STITCH
Cast on 35 stitches.
Row 1: Knit 1 stitch, purl the next stitch, knit the next. Continue alternating stitches across the row.
Row 2: Purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, alternating stitches across the row.
Row 3: Work the same as Row 2.
Row 4: Work the same as Row 1.
Repeat these 4 rows until piece measures 9″.
Bind off.
LINES
Cast on 35 stitches.
Row 1: Knit all stitches.
Row 2: Purl all stitches.
Row 3: Knit all stitches.
Row 4: Purl all stitches.
Row 5: Knit all stitches.
Row 6: Knit all stitches.
Repeat these 6 rows until the piece measures 9″.
Bind off.
CABLE
Cast on 36 stitches.
Row 1: Purl 13 stitches, knit next 2 stitches, purl next 6, knit 2, and purl remaining 13 stitches.
Row 2: Knit 13 stitches, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, and knit 13.
Row 3: Repeat Row 1.
Row 4: Knit 13 stitches, purl 2. Slip next 3 stitches onto cable needle, hold in back of work. Knit next 3 stitches, then knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle. Purl 2 and knit the remaining 13.
Row 5: Repeat Row 1.
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7: Repeat Row 1.
Row 8: Repeat Row 2.
Repeat these 8 rows for 9″.
Bind off in pattern.
SQUARES
Cast on 35 stitches.
Row 1: Knit 5 stitches, purl 5, knit 5. Alternate knitting 5 and purling 5 stitches across the row.
Row 2: Purl 5 stitches, knit 5, purl 5 and repeat pattern across the row.
Row 3: Repeat Row 1.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Row 5: Repeat Row 1.
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7: Repeat Row 2.
Row 8: Repeat Row 1.
Row 9: Repeat Row 2.
Row 10: Repeat Row 1.
Row 11: Repeat Row 2.
Row 12: Repeat Row 1.
Repeat these 12 rows until piece measures 9″.
Bind off in pattern.
SHADOW TRIANGLES
Work in multiples of 5 stitches.
Cast on 35 stitches.
Row 1: Knit all stitches.
Row 2: *Knit 1, Purl 4, repeat from * to across the row.
Row 3: *Knit 3, Purl 2, repeat from * to across the row.
Row 4: Work the same as Row 3.
Row 5: Work the same as Row 2.
Row 6: Knit all stitches.
Bind off in pattern.
permission to reproduce patterns given here:
http://www.warmupamerica.com/how.html
For Our Troops,
ways you can help (#7 is craft projects):
Updating, Deadline is midnight today - Monday, Oct. 15, 2007!!
source, site given below:
“Microsoft Corporation in partnership with the United Service Organizations (USO) is recognizing the contributions of the military community – the friends, family, and other individuals who support U.S. troops throughout the world – with the creation of the first annual Above and Beyond Awards.”
http://www.microsoft.com/industry/government/federal/AboveandBeyondAwards.mspx
Five Above and Beyond Awards will be given -
Effort Award
Medical Attention Award
USO Promotion and Success Award
Everyday Difference Award
Youth Leadership Award
Additional information, Requirements, and the Above and Beyond Award Nomination Form can all be found at the above Website address.
Nominations are accepted through midnight October 15, 2007.
Xerox is sponsoring the Let’s Say Thanks in Support of Our Troops program. You can pick a postcard at their site and they will print it and send it along to our troops.
Update at end of this post on Oct 14, 2007
Knit or Crochet hats for Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Further info at Hospital Web site:
http://www.archildrens.org/volunteer/Knitting_for_Noggins.asp
Patterns (pdf) available:
http://www.archildrens.org/pdf/volunteer/K4N/k4n_patterns.pdf
Susan B. Anderson, author of Itty Bitty Nursery and Itty Bitty Hats will be at Arkansas Children’s Hospital on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007, 2-4-PM for their 2nd annual Knit-A-Thon.http://www.archildrens.org/volunteer/knitathon.asp
UPDATE: Oct. 14, 2007
ArkansasMatters.com reports that Knitting for Noggins was a success today!
http://arkansasmatters.com/content/fulltext/?cid=60735The hat count is at 19,794! Their goal is reach 30,000 hats.
Here’s a video clip about the day:
http://www.todaysthv.com/video/news/player.aspx?aid=53598&bw==
The Ships Project sends handmade hats, slippers, cool ties, and cool heads to our troops.
They have an Approved Pattern Page (knitted, crocheted, and sewn) and an Items Guideline Page , as well as a link to join them.
Knit Your Bit © 2007 - 2008
